Gajeel wasn't one to normally hesitate to confront people when they were in his way. Even so, he never brought him any good... But, that's not the point. There was something that held him back. Her stare was nothing like when she was with her team when she first saw him, it was so much worse. Why ? He would know it soon enough. Though, did he want to know...?

He regained his composure. She was Titania and so what ? He was Gajeel "Kurogane" Redfox and he feared no one. Not even the one who stood up to Master Jose...

They kept staring at each other without vacillating. They would have been able to hear a pind drop. She was blocking the only way out that conduct to the guild hall where all the mages must still sleeping due to a massive drinking contest that some brown-haired chick, fan of tarot, won. The swordswoman finally broke the silence.

"I don't know what you're playing at, but you're going to stop it right now." Titania warned him, plainly informal.

If she wanted to play riddles, she would have to find someone else. He was exhausted, yet again. This place was draining all his energy. So bothersome. He ignored his gut feeling and replied, sharply.

"Stop what ? Being here ? Talk to your Master. Not my problem if you don't like it."

He was going to continue his path, but a rough hand grabbed his shoulder as he passed by, impeding his way out. The hand strengthened the grip and pulled him unceremoniously towards the re-equip mage.

"Cut the crap out. I'll tag along to the Master's decision, but I won't allow you to fool around."

"Fool around ? I didn't know I didn't have the right to perform on stage. Is it because you're jealous of my singing skills ? He provoked her, shamelessly.

Erza wasn't know for her patience. He crossed her –restricted- limit. She threw him violently to the wall, banging his head against it. Due to the shock, he lost his balance which made him titled forwards a little. She hit his back with her armoured-elbow, making him kiss the floor. The impact made it sound like it was going to leave a mark –both on the ground and on him.

"Oi, you crazy woman, what was that for ?!" He growled, getting back on his feet.

"I don't like being taken for an idiot." She severely said.

"Tch, whatever." He mumbled, repressing his urge to add an impertinent replica.

She calmed down –a little. She exhaled loudly, despising what she was going to do –talking to him.

"I don't trust you at all..."

"Old news." He interrupted her.

Bombing fiercely her torso, she took a step forward, reminding him to look out what he was saying.

"...So, I'll say this, once."

She kept the suspence to check if he was listening. He was. So, she continued.

"I don't want to see you around her. If you know what's good for you, you'll stay away from her."

"Her ?" He asked, playing dumb.

She ignored him, pursuing her caution.

"I don't know what happened, but I saw Levy running away on her way out of the library which is odd in itself. And then, I see you. You and her in an isolated place. And I don't like it."

Probably, the woman didn't mean it that way, but Gajeel felt his face flush, thinking about the double hint. She meant that he could attack her again. Like the monster he was to everybody –normally sane which excluded Juvia and apparently, Shorty too.

"I don't see how it concerns you who she's seeing. She's a big girl, isn't she ?" He said, making a joke on the girl's size, incensing the red-haired mage with his smooth tone.

Seeing it as a provocation, Erza was now truly mad.

"I don't know how or why she forgave a guy like you," she spat, "but, I won't let you take advantage of it."

"Take advantage of it ? Who are you, her girlfriend or s'mething ?" Gajeel cackled, finding the pair a strange match indeed.

She couldn't bear his insolence any longer. The space was filled with sparkling magic as she changed in her Heaven's Wheel Armor, multiple swords floating around her. He felt at this very moment like he was so screwed and that his only chance was that she would maybe restrained herself since the building was new. Not a solid hope, but still.

"Don't take lightly the outrage you've done upon Fairy Tail. I don't know if you're fiercely audacious or rather incredibly stupid, but you really hit the spot you shouldn't have. Levy is our dear and lovely sweetheart and I won't allow you to even lay your eyes on her. After what you did, I don't even understand how you can sleep at night..."

In fact, he didn't. He avoided it at all cost. That was most likely the reason why he was tired all the time. He couldn't endure the nightmares. Not anymore. He always had them, but the recent ones were painful, not only psychologically but also physically, somehow.

Since... yeah, you could easily guess, since when. Like, his 'feeling' switch turned on, for some reason. And he had no idea why, now. He beat the living hell out of people for jobs that didn't deserve it more than the trio. Maybe, he grew tired of his darkness that was haunting him for far too long. No way in hell, it was the girl that changed anything. It was purely coincidental.

Nevertheless, he had to know. That one thing that was bugging him. Meeting her vehement stare, he interrogate her about it :

"Has it happened before ?"

The question appeared to catch Titania off-guard. She didn't even get offended by the fact that he didn't listen as she was scolding him. However, she didn't get what he meant by that.

"I don't quite get what you're asking."

"Did anyone do to her what I did ?"

He was careful with how he said it. The last thing he needed was another reminder. But, she got the point and so, she replied spontaneously.

"No. Not that I know."

So, his last theory came to nothing. She didn't encounter another Dragon Slayer who molested her. So, what had she against them ? Wasn't she a friend of Salamander ? She only knew Gajeel for a month and so. But, it looked like she was only adding him to a list of Slayers that annoyed her.

"Why ?" Erza inquired.

He ignored her. An audacious risk. Although, she send back her swords, she still was in her intimidating armour. Gajeel managed to astonish her -yet again.

"Was she part of another guild before ?"

"No. Why?"

He skipped her query another time. He was getting close to a dead-end as Erza was losing patience. She wasn't one to be disregard without consequences. But, Gajeel's thick skull didn't seem to care anymore as he was getting more discontented since all his suppositions were tossed aside.

"Why doesn't she like Salamander ?"

To say that this conjecture gobsmacked Erza would be an understatement. It brought her in a talkative mood in order to toss aside such weird questions.

"Why the hell would you suppose that ? She was there when Natsu joined the young generation, seven years ago. We were all family. Besides, she likes everyone, seeing the good everywhere", said fondly Erza, like a big sister being proud of the younger one. "Sure, it took her time to be around him since she was uneasy because..."

Her eyes opened wide in front of the realization of the blunder she had just committed. She said something she shouldn't have in front of someone who shouldn't have heard it.

"What an awful person I am. Almost betraying a friend's secret. Hit me. I deserve punishment for what I did."

Did Gajeel hear right ? Wasn't she about to knock him out, because he hit her guild mates ? What the hell was the problem in this guild ? Was insanity contagious here ? Crazy people everywhere, he couldn't believe it.

She was raving about the importance of trust and duty in friendship. He was totally losing her or rather she was losing what little she had of coherence. As a mentally disordered chick on hormones, she was useless to his purpose to collect information on the enemy –meaning the Shorty. Acting all inaccessible and wanna-be mysterious classify Shorty as so.

Anyhow, the unpredictability of Titania's behaviour was dangerous. As a survival strategy, he tried to put some sense in that scarlet head of hers.

"Don't make a big fuss just about that. You didn't tell me that much, anyway...right ?" Gajeel said, thinking of a way to make her regain her chatty, but coherent mode.

Lost in her thoughts, she looked at the ceiling. She meditated on something serious according to her face.

"It's true..." She began to mutter and then, with more confidence, she stated her conclusion. "You try to extirpate me confidential information. You shall get punishment for this fault."

Cracking her joints, she was ready to have a good fight. Then again, Gajeel knew that Salamander who had –somehow- beaten him was no match to Titania. Plus, she blocked Jupiter's shot after all. He did the math and came to a supposition for the result of the match. Death. It wasn't quite in his schedule for the day so he diplomatically tried to well-advised her to not kill him:

"Wo, Titania. Calm the fuck down. Don't blame me for ya big mouth."

Her scarlet hair flew gracefully with magic waves as she changed herself in her casual armour, unsheathing a massive medieval-like sword. She probably was intending to end him quickly. He wouldn't give her that pleasure.

He had involved himself in too many worthless fights and that was doubtless what brought him so much trouble in life. Strength meant so much for him, but he lost sight of his true meaning in Phantom Lord. Making his mistakes twice would mean he was plainly stupid. He wasn't. Or that's what he hoped.

He found a simple trick to bring himself out of this shambles. Titania strangely seemed child-like in her reactions. Maybe, because she didn't had a childhood, as likely as it seemed. He noticed that most powerful mages had had nasty things happening in their past. Titania must have had one hell of a challenge in her early life to be such a monster. However, he was going to exploit her immature side. Childish strategy ? Who said he was mature, anyway ?

"I'll tell the Shrimp that you told me stuff about her."

She stopped her run to charge. She measured him to see if he was bluffing. Like a kid who got caught his hand in the cookiejar by his younger sibling who was threatening him to denounce him to their parents, she challenged Gajeel :

"You wouldn't dare."

Grinning, he was glad by the new scent that was coming towards them. His strategy gave him enough time for someone to come this way. Plus, his lack of tact wasn't going to fade, because of his new guild.

"Try me."

"Maybe, if I hit hard enough, he'll lose his memory..." Titania wondered to herself.

"Enough, children." A deep and serene voice said.

"Master!" Erza exclaimed, visibly surprised which wasn't Gajeel's case since he smelled him coming.

Joining his hands behind his back, the small-statured man walked passed Gajeel to stand before Erza. His calming aura made the tension between the two young adults dissipate.

"I know you mean no harm to Gajeel..." He began.

"Yeah...right, deaf fool." He murmured, acerb.

"...Because, you're just worried about the well-being of your nakamas. But, I'll appreciate that you would give him a second chance, Erza." Makarov said, ignoring the Dragon Slayer. "You're better place to know that... People that might seem evil might only labour to find the right path."

Referring to an unknown situation –Jellal-, Gajeel didn't mind being compared to evil. He heard worst. The old master had it with words unlike Gajeel. Charism would have been a quality that Gajeel wouldn't have mind to have.

"I understand. But, Levy..." Erza rebelled.

"...Can handle herself just fine." He completed, smiling to the re-equip mage, but seeing she was not convinced to let it go, so he judged good to add. "She asked me to look after him."

Gajeel almost shocked with his own saliva while Erza's eyes nearly popped out of indignation. The iron mage would have laughed at her nasty face, but she shouted:

"To look after Gajeel ?! After what he has done ?!"

Bitch slap from his past. That was occurring way too frequently to his taste. Couldn't anyone get over it as the concerned person who lived it ? And his stupid "Consciousness" was coming back every now and then. Couldn't they let him be for once ? He knew what he has done was bad and he would try to fix everything if they would just give him his freaking chance!

Oblivious to his inner turmoil, the two Fairy Tail's mage continued their discussion.

"You know her past. You can figure out why she acted like she did." The master pointed out.

That statement caught Gajeel's attention, snapping him out of his train of thinking.

"I am not quite as inform as you are, Master. But, I think I can guess." Erza granted him.

As he saw they wouldn't explain what was going on, he stood out.

"Oi. What the hell are you two are talking about ? Don't act like I don't exist."

When Erza remembered his presence, her face darkened. She definitely disliked him more than he thought. There was no acting there. Good, because he didn't appreciate her either with her stuck-up attitude and her madness.

"We're discussing important matters here. Please, bear with my nerves or you won't even remember your name after I'm finish with you." She portended.

Seeing that the deadly friction between those two was revived, the Master decided to send away Erza.

"Erza, dear! Could you wake the ones that remain in the guild. We need to prepare ourselves for the Harvest Festival."

And then, he realized his error.

"It will be my pleasure." She smiled in anticipation.

Has he just send to death row innocent people to save his sorry iron ass ? He felt some kind of compassion for the still peacefully-sleeping guys that didn't know what faith awaited them. Although, he had other things in mind. He waited until Titania was out of sight.

"Oi, old fart."

"What is it, Gajeel ?" He questioned, not minding his lack of refinement.

"It amuses you to mess around ? Why would you say that the Shrimp asked you to look after me?"

"Because, it's true." Makarov declared, straightforward.

"You said she had her reasons. Mind to tell me what they are?"

He really couldn't see what they were without help, this time. I could get why Juvia did ask. But, not the Shrimp. She forgave him, he got it. But, enough to actually...care about him ? It just seemed wrong somehow. In his perception. He asked for forgiveness and he gets friendship ? Come on, there had to be a swindle there.

"Is it so hard to believe that someone simply has faith in you ?"

"Yes."

Makarvo could see that Gajeel wouldn't let it go. Damn him for having such stubborn children in his guild.

"She is a pure heart who gives without expecting anything back." He described him the young woman. "But, don't go look for answers to her. Sometimes, it's better to not dig up the past...Believe me, son. Don't look further. Just let it be."

It was like the guy was reading his mind, knowing that Gajeel would look for awnsers. He felt a chill run down his spine. He growled and looked away not wanting to promise something he didn't want.

"Well, so that her kindness won't get waste, could you look after her for me ?"

His request got him off-guard –something becoming common in Fairy Tail. Has their stupidity has no limit, dammit ? Asking to her executioner to protect the victim. Even if he said he wouldn't do it again, they had too much confidence. Even though, he had no doubt he would got destroyed by all her guild mates if she had a scratch because of him, making him regret to exist. Still...

"Your naivety will end you."

Not knowing if the iron Dragon Slayer was declining his demand or not, Makarov did something he wasn't used to.

"Then, I ask it as an order. If you fail to this, you will have no further reason to stay here." He stated, seeing Gajeel rolling his eyes, annoyed, he could resist to say as well. "Isn't it why you accept to join...?"

Two people-readers in a conversation was a bad idea according to Gajeel. Makarov knew his weird 'interest' in Levy and Gajeel was aware that the man was just giving him the excuse he was looking for, to look after the girl without having to justify himself. And the Master's order clearly surclassed Erza's warning. So, he would have the old guy as back up. Maybe. He hoped...

"Crazy old geezer...No choice, then. I'll do it. Happy, now ?" He mumbled.

"Yes. Thank you, Gajeel."

"Shaddup."

He quickly walked through the guild hall, avoiding eye contact. Noises provoked by people moaning out of pain and sounds of knocks were echoed all across the room. He took his bag, packaging his guitar.

He learned stuff. Interesting stuff. But, before he could deepen this subject of meditation, his attention was entangled in something he didn't like. Someone touched his things. It stank like Speedhat and Plantguy. He opened it once outside. On a small note, it was written in a direct and unambiguous message.

South Gate Park. 13h. Unfinished business to deal with. Don't be late.

The fanboys wanted to beat him –and if they had sense of humour, pinned him to a tree.

Titania hated his guts and was probably waiting for an opportunity to slay him if he was to close to Shrimp.

Makarov ordered him to look after the Shrimp. Which would be troublesome with the first caution.

The Shrimp was tinkering with his mind and would surely continue her little act, giving him a headache.

Awesome. Just what he needed for his already awesome day to be even more enjoyable. This was going to be so much fun...

He walked away to change himself to be able to face another rough day in Fairy Tail. His life was so much calmer when he was just being the biggest jerk amongst other fellow jerks. But, what wouldn't he do to prove himself to this new and strange world where the future wasn't some kind of dark abyss?

He would do anything.

Not that he would ever say it out loud.

Author's Note :

More GaLe moments in the next chapter !

So, as I forgot to say in the previous chapter, I'll follow the manga rather than the anime (for the storyline, I mean). I got my first paycheck and since I'm crazy I bought the 33 Fairy Tail's manga I could afford (they were second-hand which explained how I could buy so many ^^) ! I could add some interesting stuff in the story.

Stay tuned !

Fairy Tail is BACK in the game. I'm so happy that they will continue it ! Hope for some more GaLe in it ! :3

P.S: I don't own FT.