Hide and Seek.
By:LemonSherbert
Chapter 4: Hearing
I do not own fairy Tail, as it is the work of Hiro Mashima, anyway, enjoy and don't forget to review.
"Gajeel...!" It was faint, very faint, like it was far below him and he took a deep breath, following the slight echo and hoping he didn't bump into anything, though it wasn't like he'd feel it. He searched around, looking for the stair case because she clearly wasn't on the fourth floor, he began making clicking sounds with his tongue, listening to it bounce off of the walls, like echo location. Okay, he was about a meter away from the stairs, he hated his slow movement's it was just going to make it longer to find Levy. "Gajeel...!" The shout was clearer but still far away so she was definitely under him... from the sound it was on the second or first floor. He made it to the stairs and steadily began to descend them when he heard a small groan...
"Gajeel... what are you doing, what happened?" Came Lilys voice as he kept going down the stairs, not wanting to keep Levy waiting.
"Just come with me, tell me where I'm going because I can't see and I'll explain on the way!" Gajeel said and he heard Lilys breath right beside his ear, meaning he was sat on his shoulder.
"Okay, you're almost at the bottom, the door is open so you don't have to open it..." Lily said and Gajeel nodded as he kept moving doing what Lily said.
"Gajeel...!" Came Levys small shout that was closer now which was good and he kept counting, he was running out of time, he needed to hurry up.
"Right long story short, the old guy is testing me, making me use only one of my senses, right now it's hearing, if I don't get to Levy on time then he hurts her, now where are the stairs?" He asked and he heard Lilys small annoyed growl.
"They're about three meters away to your right..." Lily answered and Gajeel headed that way hoping that he didn't run out of time because he didn't know if he could live with seeing her get hurt a second time. "So this guy why is he testing you... did he say?" Lily asked and Gajeel shrugged as he headed down the stairs. "Steady, you're almost missing the steps..." he said and Gajeel steadied his pace.
"He want's more magic, I'm a dragon slayer with strong magic but he wants to see my abilities without my magic..." Gajeel answered which was a very short version of what was going on and Levy Hmm'd as they moved.
"Gajeel!" Her shout was so loud, it was coming from the left, she was on the left side of the corridor.
"Lily, go ahead and tell me which door you can smell her from!" Gajeel said and Lily made a grunt as he jumped from his shoulder, he could hear the exceeds small feet patting against the floor and sniffing before it stopped.
"She's behind this door, follow my voice!" Lily yelped and Gajeel walked towards him before stopping and he slowly opened the door, his sight was instantly given to him and he saw Levys beautiful, beaming face as he grinned.
"Found you..." he breathed and Levy nodded as she was let go so she could run towards him, he held out his arms and he engulfed her in a large hug, almost crushing her because he couldn't feel his own strength.
"You did it, I told you, you would didn't I?!" She squeaked and He nodded, stroking her blue hair as he gently kissed the top of her head, thankful she didn't get hurt because of him. "Lily... Lily, you're okay!" She shrieked, letting go of Gajeel and scooping up his cat, making him grumble as Lily smiled, accepting her pats and hugs.
"Just a little bruised but I'll be fine, don't worry" he said and Levy nodded as she looked up at Gajeel with a bright smile that wiped away any traces of jealousy on his face as he ruffled her hair, making her pout which was adorable.
"This is all well and good but you had help and that wasn't in the rule book..." the old man spoke and Gajeel looked up to see the venomous glare etched into his wrinkles and Gajeel shot one back just as angry.
"You said nothing about having help... so old man, you can't say a fucking word!" Gajeel snarled at him and the old man grinned.
"Oh is that so, then what will happen if I hurt you little girl friend again hmm... that would certainly teach you a lesson in cheating...?" He muttered with an evil smirk as Gajeel moved Levy behind him.
"You said fuck all about having help, you can't change or make up rules just because I won!" Gajeel argued as the mans black smoke began building in his hand, he didn't know what to do, Levy would get hurt because Lily helped him despite nothing being said about not having help. No, this was going to end once and for all!
"Well, you can-Oof!" The man groaned as Gajeel ran at him, to fast to do anything and punching him in the face, the old man was catapulted backwards into the wall and something cracked. Gajeel wasn't sure if it was a piece of furniture or the man himself but it sounded like glass shattering for a moment and he could feel all of his senses come back. Not to mention a surge of power and he heard Levy gasp.
"That man... he was using a magic item, he's you've just broke it so... he... he's not a real mage!" levy squeaked as she signed something in the air and flowers puffed out of the word making him grin at her happy face. Though a dark laugh stopped them from celebrating as the man stood up, his bones cracking as he seemed to grow in height and width until he was almost breaking the room.
"You puny mages, that was just one of my items, I can still inflict pain on you, I can still keep you trapped here... you're never leaving!" The man cackled and Levy felt her whole body go cold, he was terrifying and the memory of the pain she had to endure was still so fresh, she didn't want to go through that again.
"Then I guess I'll just have to cut you down to size won't I?!" Gajeel snarled and Levy saw the metal blade merge with his flesh, though it was much bigger than his usual sword and he had to hold it length ways instead of right in front of him. Before the man could say anything there was a yell as Gajeel swung his arm. "Eat my Iron god sword you fucker!" He snarled as the sword sliced through the room, slicing straight through the man and Levy watched on, not knowing what to do as the man yelled out. Gajeel stood panting as the man fell backwards and they stared at each other, Levy was about to say something but the ground began to shake, making them almost fall over.
"This place is about to collapse, we've got to leave..." Lily said and they nodded as ran out of the room, Levy was in front, running down the stairs, Lily was flying beside her with Gajeel close behind them. They ran to the door bracing for it not to open but it did, making them all go flying outside into the mud though Lily hovered above them as the stood staring at the building that seemed to be eaten up but the ground. Levy sat panting on the wet ground as the rain beat down on them and she sighed, falling back, letting the rain soak her thankful to be out of the house...