==[o0o]==
As Levy walked up to her room, Wendy peeked her head out the door clutching something, "Levy-san, um... These are your books..." she said timidly. Holding out her arms towards Levy, her eyes widened,
Hadn't she left these at the guild?
"If you love books so much, you shouldn't just leave them lying around" Carla added impolitely
"Carla..." Wendy looked upset that her best friend would say such a thing. Her little white Exceed simply shrugged, her tail flicked irritably as small bell on the end rang softly.
"Oh.. I'm sorry!" breaking into a small forced laugh, "I completely forgot about my books! Where did you get them?" Levy rubbed the back of her head smiling.
"Evergreen said Gajeel had thrown them at her, saying that 'she was too busy to wait around for you to stop crying and come home' so she gave the books to me and Carla" Wendy looked down, embarrassed for being honest. However she did sugar coat it a tad. Ever still hadn't fully warmed up to everyone and was from time to time very vocal on her thoughts.
Levy placed her hand on top of Wendy's head, and patted it gently.
"Its alright Wendy, thank you for looking after them for me temporarily," smiling as she spoke, Wendy looked up and handed the books over to her, feeling a wash of relief. Levy hugged her books and said goodnight to the little dragon slayer, and unlocked her door, entering.
Levy hadn't even computed who had returned the books, she was so thankful that the guild members looked after everyone else. "I mean I could of got them in the morning..." speaking out loud to her self as she placed her books on top of her almost over flowing desk, filled with other types of books, texts and sheets of ancient material. Levy stretched and kicked off her shoes, collapsing on her double bed, her duvet almost engulfing her, she loved how big and fluffy it was, "mmm... so snugly!" the bluenette lay there for sometime, her brain thinking of constant book titles that she needed to get her paws on, and those books she needed to finish reading... she had so many! But something at the back of her mind was trying to claw its way to the front of her subconscious.
Who had given Evergreen the books? Reedus? No no... he wasn't in the guild hall earlier, Oh maybe Lucy! But... Lucy could of entered Fairy Hills... And simply left them at her doorstep...
Levy really was ignoring the elephant, no dragon in the room!
She shot up from her bed and went over to her desk, picking up the first one she ran her fingers along the books cover, "Ga-"
She was interrupted as there was a loud rapping on her door.
"Levy?" It was Erza. "I was wondering if you'd like to come relax with some of the girls in the communal bathroom?" She paused, leaning closer to the door "Help take your mind off today..."
Levy looked her stack of newly returned books, brooding alone wasn't healthy. She took a deep breath.
Erza pulled away from the door and waited a moment, sighing sadly she turned and started off down the corridor. The bluenette's door creaked open, "Sounds like fun!" she beamed, Erza smiled back as Levy ran up beside her "I could definitely do with a long soak!" the girls giggled as they made their way to the bathroom.
==[o0o]==
Most of the girls were already either in the bath soaking or washing themselves by the basin's.
Levy and Erza headed over to the bath joining Cana and Juvia , Levy sat with Cana on her left whilst she drank sake. Juvia was enjoying the small fountain falling onto her back opposite. Bisca was currently washing the soap from her hair as she sat on the decorative seat at the basin.
"So... How long did you think you were gonna keep that secret?!" Cana shot at Levy before she had even got comfortable in the soapy water.
"I couldn't believe my eyes when Gajeel showed up at the door!" Bisca added, "I thought Ever was just joking!"
"He did walk all the way up from the guild to get here" Erza added as she sat to the right of Levy.
Levy sunk under the water, only her eyes visible above the water line. This is far too embarrassing bubbles emitting from her mouth. Her face going bright pink.
"Gajeel-kun has visited Juvia a few times before" Juvia added, not really understanding where the conversation was truly headed.
"I don't think its the same Juvia," Bisca added chuckling as she washed her body with the shower head removing the soap bubbles.
Cana slid over to Levy, resting her arm around the small girl's shoulders. Her bosom's squishing up against Levy's side.
"Did you really think you could hide it?" Cana teased
"Juvia would love to know how you both got together, Gajeel-kun has told Juvia so much about you"
Levy choked under the hot water
"Huhh?" she almost wailed. Shooting her head above the water, "He told you things about me?" feeling violated, she never spoke about him behind his back. Levy's face was bright red, almost rivalling Erza's hair
This man who avoided her at all costs and upset her, was talking to Juvia about her?
"Juvia did not mean to upset you, but Juvia thought you knew? She meets with Gajeel-kun every now and then" Levy shook her head almost in shock. Cana repositioned herself next to a startled Levy and squeezed her reassuringly.
"Levy... Did you not notice how he is always around when you are?" Erza asked motherly as the bluenette's head shook slowly. Bisca stood up as the water and remaining soap slid off her exquisite frame onto the tiled floor, she strode over and slipped her legs into the water, seating her self on the edge to fully join the conversation.
"I never thought anything of it... It never occurred to me" the shock subsiding as Erza now sat closer to Levy
"H- he always ignored me..." The girls listened intensely as Levy started to explain how over the past few weeks, whenever she tried to approach him or even try and talk to him he either ignored her, walked away, or stared at her so demoniacally she ran back to her friends.
"Levy, why do you try so hard with him?" Erza asked almost naively.
"Erza, its because she likes him" Bisca winked at Levy as she turned to looked at Erza
"Aha! But you haven't even admitted your feelings to Alzack!" Cana goaded, Bisca's face flushed, her whole body went ridged slightly as she became deep in thought, thinking of that wonderful Gun wielder mage.
The bath fell silent for a moment, "Juvia has a wonderful idea" Clapping her hands together, "Juvia thinks that you should ask Gajeel-kun to join you three on a job!"
"Yeah! Then you can get some alone time with him!" Cana pushed into Levy winding up the little woman.
"I think that you should be careful, he should respect you as a woman. You must make him wait!" Erza interjected. "Only until you are married may you follow that route!"
"Uh..." Levy couldn't handle this, it was as if they were trying to control her relationships, Wait, it was not a relationship! All she could do is hide under the water until they stopped teasing
The girls laughed heartily enjoying each others company.
I don't... Like him do I?
Certainly not in that way... I think
==[o0o]==
Turning the water off in the shower, Gajeel stepped out, grabbing a towel to dry his hair. His broad shoulders and toned chest dripped with water. He threw the towel over his head and rubbed his hair dry vigorously. Wrapping the towel around his waist loosely, he strolled out the bathroom into his bedroom, stepping over bits of iron, dirty clothes and some odds 'n ends.
Eventually he found a pair of clean boxers and threw them on as he walked out into the living room where Lily was reading a paper. Throwing down his towel near Lily's seat. The poor exceed's face became racked with turmoil, trying to ignore what had just happened, he hated mess and had made it his duty to keep their home tidy. Except Gajeel's bedroom, it was just too much for the poor cat.
"Did you know that book's a fake?" Gajeel opened up with suddenly. Lily's raised his eyebrow.
"Pardon?"
"That book, it's called 'Almanac Tie's Dragonic's Lore' " Snorted Gajeel "I can't believe shorty thinks its a real book!" Lowering his paper Lily looked directly at him, he had made him self comfortable on the sofa in front of their window, his strong muscular arms latching onto either side of the sofa back, Gajeel threw himself forwards "It's a fake Lily!" He laughed, spooking the exceed by the sudden movement.
"And how do you know this?" regaining his nerves.
"I got the real one, don't I?" Gajeel smirked "Its not 'Almanac Tie's Dragonic's Lore', its Metalicana's Draconic Lore"
Lily sat there, listening to him explaining that he had in fact, found it after Metalicana abandoned him. Sitting back in the large chair, the black exceed listened to the dragon slayer as he moved on from his history to begin whittling about Shorty this and Shrimp that.
"I don't get it. That damn short stuff keeps on trying to make nice" huffing, "Don't she get it? I aint interested in being her nakama or whatever" swatting his hand
Lily interjected Gajeel's train of thought, "If you knew the book was fake, why did you not tell the poor girl?"
"Why should I? Should of known from the start!" Gajeel started to avoid direct contact with Lily, turning his head away when faced with these questions folding his arms defensively.
"Because a friend should always be honest" scrutinising the black haired man.
"I'm honest!"
"Oh? Then tell me" Lily started "What is Levy to you Gajeel?" pausing.
Closing his eyes, his face hardening. Gajeel stared right back at the exceed. His red eyes bore into the cats own. The dragon slayer let out a audible grunt and stormed off, changing.
"I'm getting a job – you can stay here. Or you can come. I don't care" Gajeel had stepped outside the front door, holding it open as he spat. Hurriedly Lily flew after him as they headed to the guildhall together.
"humph, what I thought" sneering.
==[o0o]==
"Huhh? Where are all the jobs?" Gajeel's jaw hit the floor. He had his eye on a particular one, 3 million jewel just for pounding some guys into the ground. Him and Lily would of easily completed it in less than a week.
Maybe two if he wanted to savour it.
He stormed over to Mirajane "Where they all gone?"
"Ahhh I'm sorry Gajeel, but its been very busy lately!" Mira lied through her sweet face "There is only one job left, but I think Shadow Gear are going to be taking that one"
Jet walked into the guild, tutting at Gajeel being rowdy to Mira, no need for such rudeness averting his eyes from Gajeel's scene.
"I found this passage so funny Droy!" Levy bubbled, holding a yellow riddle book in her mitts "If we read this phrase here, and then take these letters... and Voliá!" Levy doubled over, it was so funny to her "Oh oh! I read this earlier on, What do you get when you cross a joke with a rhetorical question?"
Droy tried to answer but before he could open his mouth, "Its rhetorical!" She couldn't contain herself this morning, she was like the energiser bunny, nothing could ruin this mood her face going slightly pink from laughter.
Picking up the only job on the board Jet looked pleased, calling across the hall, "We've got a job Levy!"
Levy jumped up onto the bar stool, fidgeting, she loved getting requests where she got to read ancient text, or in fact, read anything.
Gajeel was fuming, no job. No jewel. Shit he needed a job to pay rent. That was not going to happen,
I guess it'll be alright being homeless again... But my Iron, I cant let it go outside...
Gajeel threw himself on the barstool and flung his arms over the counter, feeling sorry for himself,
what's gonna to happen to me poor iron if I got evicted?
He squeezed his poor exceed slightly in his sad thoughts of either eating all of his iron or getting rid of it.
"Oh dear, this doesn't look good" Mira looked upset as Jet handed her the request "I'm afraid just the 3 of you wont be able to take this job after all"
"What do you mean?" Droy asked confused
"Well... If you had a forth or even fifth member, then I could let you go, but... it'll be too difficult on your own" Mira looked at Gajeel then to Jet and Droy. "Oh I know! Gajeel, you need a job right? Maybe you could go with them!"
You bitch.
Gajeel's head turned and looked at a frozen group
"N-n-no way!" Droy stammered
Jet just looked in horror at Mira Why... his eyes pleading with her
Mira stared straight back Don't argue, shooting back at him, her face never souring, if anything it looked happier.
"I think it'll be fun!" Levy squeaked as she got grabbed by Droy and Jet, shaking her,
"Who are you and what have you done with our Levy?!"
"Wha-?!" Gajeel tried to interject saying that he'd rather go homeless, Mira simply looked at him. "It'll be fun right?" her eyes closed smiling at him as he nodded his head.
"Well that settles it! Here! All stamped for you, better get going, the train will be leaving first thing!" Mira looked pleased with herself.
"I have to make sure I pack everything!" Levy peeled off the boys hands, and excitedly ran to get packed for the job.
"O-ok..." The boys including Gajeel floated like ghosts out of the hall to get prepared.
"Did you really think that would work?" Lily spoke
"Of course, have you not been watching them?" Mira giggled, "Anyway, this is the only idea I can come up with to make them get together, I have my romantic fingers in many pies!" winking at Lily before she darted over to the board and repined up the jobs she had hidden behind the bar. "It's not a certain water mage mentioned anything about the idea to me, no no!"
This woman scared Lily, how much did she know about everyone. She truly was a demon.
==[o0o]==
Lily and Gajeel were the first to arrive at Magnolia Train station, lazing on the bench, they'd closed their eyes to rest.
"I ain't goin' nowhere"
"I never asked" Lily quipped, pausing to think, "why did you turn up then?"
"Cause'"
"Because...?"
"I need Jewel to store me iron somewhere" Gajeel folded his arms, huffing. He hated small talk.
"I'd believe you if you didn't toss and turn all last night and then arrive early at the station" Lilly nudged Gajeel.
Gajeel sniffed slightly, he knew that smell, it entered his lungs, swirling around his head, it alone was pure pleasure. That wonderful book musk. Shrimp.
"Sorry to keep you waiting!" a small voice carried across the station's platform, Levy came running up to Gajeel and Lily grinning and waving.
She had changed into a yellow strap top, with beige khaki shorts. Jet and Droy watched Gajeel carefully as they followed closely behind her.
"What took yah so long?" he looked up at her with one eye open. Stepping in front of Levy and her oversized backpack, Jet spoke out "Don't get any ideas, You don't wanna be here, we don't want you here, so lets keep out of each others way, understand?"
"You are only here because we need someone else according to Mira" Droy added, both of them staring daggers at Gajeel. He looked them both in the eyes, it was almost too much for him to contain, they looked like little puppies trying to fend off a dragon, a fruitless endeavour.
"Whatever. I'm here for the Jewel – that's all" Gajeel stood, squaring up to the both of them, he was going to threaten them a bit more however they were broken up by the train sounding the horn.
Gajeel pushed through the middle of Jet and Droy and headed to board the train, Lily hung back and flew next to Levy. Her face looked pained. "Don't worry" He put a small paw on her shoulder. He couldn't believe this little bluenette had started to break away at his solid exterior.
"I'm not worried" her face looked like an angel as she smiled "I can't wait for this job!" as she grabbed Lily and hugged him, carrying him onto the train.
==[o0o]==
AN: Ahh ! Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, let me know, it helps me think!... And thanks especially to Yaodai who actually guessed my plan! ;3 and thank you for the support from everyone else ! The next chapter I can't wait for – Lemooon! 3
Muahaha.