As they paced the length of the street, Levy chatted lightly with Lucy. The blonde looked amused with her companion as they talked, glancing over at him every few seconds. He had his arms folded behind his head, his sharp onyx eyes thoughtfully watching them. Levy smiled at the way he'd look at Lucy every now and then, like he thought she didn't notice.

"Thanks for walking me," Levy murmured as they went along. "Today freaked me out a little."

"No problem," Lucy reassured warmly. "We don't mind, do we, Natsu?"

Natsu shook his head, pink hair falling around his forehead and cheeks. "Nah. I don't mind." He glanced at the blue-haired solid-script mage. "How's learning Draconian going?"

"Very well," Levy said happily. She recited a phrase to Natsu, who looked surprisingly delighted and responded.

"Okay, okay, no more," Lucy laughed. "I can't understand a word you're saying."

Natsu grinned at her and playfully began to tell her something that Lucy didn't understand. Levy smiled gently as she caught a few words, recognizing that he was complimenting her. Lucy furrowed her brow, not understanding.

Amused, Levy cleared her throat and gestured to Fairy Hills, which wasn't too far away. "I'll go now, if you guys want to head back. Thanks for walking me."

"No problem, Levy," Lucy said, giving her a quick hug. "Let me know if you need anything. I'll send Natsu to deal with the problem."

She laughed.

"Gajeel!" Levy cheered when she saw him enter the guildhall late the next afternoon. That earned a laugh from Juvia beside her and a small scowl from Jet across the guildhall, but Mirajane and Lucy exchanged knowing looks that weren't as playful as they usually were. This time, the pair were serious. Levy didn't notice.

"Hey, shorty," Gajeel rumbled, face softening a fraction when he saw her. He reached out and dropped his hand heavily onto her head, ruffling her blue locks. "Been practicin'?"

"Every evening." She launched into a few simple phrases and he smirked when he didn't need to correct her.

"Good job." Her lips quirked when he praised her. He responded in the language and then left her to sort through the words. His made his way to the bar and smacked down a paper in front of Mirajane. She blinked at him with wide blue eyes. "This is for the old man, wherever he is. From the person I worked for. Private message."

Understanding ran through her eyes and she snatched it up, tucking it into her pocket. "Okay. Thank you, Gajeel." He turned to leave, but she stopped him. "Gajeel," she began when he looked at her, "do you know anything about that Elroy man? The one that pesters Levy?"

Gajeel paused. Very slowly, he crossed his arms, leaning in. "Yeah. I know the bastard's not supposed to be in town. He here?"

She nodded a fraction. "Don't tell Levy I told you, but...Gray came in with Juvia and said they saw him approach Levy in the park near here. You know which one. She goes to it all the time. Well, Gray said that he and Juvia saw him grab Levy's wrist-"

Gajeel froze. He had what?

"-and Gray had to step in, but I'm still worried." Mirajane fidgeted with her hands. "I know Levy can fend for herself, but...Gajeel, could you please stay close to her? I know I want you two to hook up, but that has nothing to do with this. I'm worried that something will happen."

He grunted. "Tch. I'll watch her."

Mirajane relaxed. "Thank you."

He shrugged his shoulders and then waved noncommittally before making his way over to the solid-script mage. She looked up from her book and smiled largely. He wanted to squirm like a child. Her hazel eyes shone as she looked up at him and he merely scowled before dropping to sit across from her, speaking bluntly. "The hell's this I hear about that bastard Elroy grabbing you?"

"Just my wrist," she reassured hastily, frowning. "Gray chased him off."

"Doesn't matter. He grabbed you, shorty." She glared at him, but he ignored it. "Ain't good. Next time he does it, I'm gonna knock him into next year. And you ain't leavin' my sight until I haven't seen him for over a year."

"While I appreciate your concern," she huffed, "I'm fine-"

"Levy," he rumbled, leaning over the table suddenly. She squeaked in surprise at the blistering look he wore. "Listen to me. This guy is too clingy. You're going to get hurt if it keeps up. If he touches you like that again, I will remove body parts. Got me?"

She frowned. Recognizing that he wasn't threatening her, she nodded. Finally, she blurted, "I...I'm a little worried about it. How did he know I'd be at the park? I don't broadcast it."

Gajeel sat back and shrugged his shoulders. "Dunno, shrimp. We'll just keep an eye out."

"Okay." She sighed softly and he felt a twinge of guilt for being so harsh with her. He eyed the shrimp with hesitation for a few moments, faltering, and then began.

"Levy, I-"

"Levy!" a voice cut in, cheerful. Gajeel bit back a growl when he saw Wendy flouncing over. The small girl smiled at him and he forced himself to snort playfully at her in way of greeting. Her smile widened and then she gave an envelope to Levy. "Levy, this is for you. A man handed it to me on the street, said it was for 'Miss Levy McGarden of Fairy Tail'-"

Wendy hadn't even finished speaking before Levy was ripping it open. She stared at the words. Her face twisted with disgust and she threw the letter on the table. Gajeel plucked it up and glared at the words.

Miss Levy, would you be interested in dinner tomorrow evening?

~Elroy

"Thank you, Wendy," Levy nearly growled, forcing herself to smile at the confused girl.

"No problem." She blinked and then scampered over to where Romeo waved.

"I have a problem," Levy said, covering her face with her hands. "Gajeel...what do I do?"

He grunted. "I can beat the hell out of him for ya."

She shook her head.

Laughter filled her ears as Levy smirked at Gajeel, eyes twinkling as she sat back. He squinted at her suspiciously and she wiggled her eyebrows, readying herself. "You start."

"This is dangerous," Lisanna murmured behind her, leaning over her shoulder.

"Nah," Bickslow said as Gajeel smacked a card down. He slapped his own down. "This is fun."

When Natsu put a card down, the sound of an explosion rang out. All four men playing with Lucy, Juvia, and Levy slapped the table over one another's hands and Gray shouted in triumph, waving his collection in the air. Levy started the next round and Lucy and Juvia timidly put cards down before it returned to Gajeel.

"My fingers hurt," Lucy whimpered.

"Mine, too," Juvia admitted.

Levy laughed and then slapped her hand down a second before Gray's cracked down sharply. She gasped and Gray grinned, giving her an apology as he let her take the stack. The rounds continued until Levy had - miraculously - claimed every single one. The other six stared suspiciously at her.

Waving the cards like a fan, she winked. "I win."

"Cheater," Natsu muttered, pouting, and Lucy giggled, patting his arm comfortingly. He leaned into her, mocking the need for comfort and Levy raised a brow. Did he really think he was sneaky?

Stretching after setting the stack of cards down, Levy checked the clock. She made a face. She had to head out to meet an in-town client soon…

Gajeel caught her look and raised a pierced brow. She rolled her eyes playfully. She supposed he could go with her… Climbing to her feet, she smiled at the others. "Excuse me, guys, I have to go meet a client...I'll play later if you guys are still at it, or try something else?"

"Strip poker?" Cana called hopefully.

"No way in hell," Lucy said darkly. "Not after last time."

Levy was inclined to agree with her. She looked to Gajeel. "Do you want to come?" she offered. "I wouldn't mind some company."

Ignoring the smirks on everyone's face and shooting his cat a sharp look, he grunted, "Why not?" He climbed to his feet and then paused to wait for her. Together, they set out for the address that Levy pulled out of her pocket.

As they walked, Levy folded her hands behind her back and hummed, "I didn't think it'd be smart to go alone and Jet and Droy went out earlier today."

He snorted. "Look at you, shrimp. Small, but smart."

"Look at you, giant," she retorted. "Tall, but...tall."

Gajeel cackled. "That's the best you could come up with? What kind of insults have you been coming up with?" Shaking his head, he playfully reached out and ruffled her hair. She angrily glared at him and fixed her headband. "Any problems with what's his name?"

"Not since the letter I ignored." Levy furrowed her brow. "I'm a little concerned. I'd rather be bothered and know where he is then be left alone and not know…"

"We'll deal with whatever the hell happens," Gajeel sighed. He looked at her, quiet, and then suddenly demanded, "Levy." She looked at him and he furrowed his pierced brow in thought. "Wanna go get something to eat?"

Her eyes sprang wide with surprise and he grimaced, expecting rejection. But she smiled broadly instead, delighted. "Yes!" she said happily. "Definitely. When do you want to go?"

Gajeel relaxed a fraction and grunted. "Up to you, shorty," he muttered. "I'll go where you go."

She hummed in thought for a few moments and then decided, "There's a corner shop on the end of the main street in town. I get tea and coffee there a lot, but they do food, too. We could go there."

The idea of Gajeel Redfox, Fairy Tail's Black Steel, in a small coffee shop made her want to laugh until her stomach hurt, but she didn't. Gajeel wanted to take her out and she was perfectly happy to accept his offer. She'd liked him for long enough, no matter her protests to Lucy or Mirajane.

He grunted. "Sure. I'll try not to eat the forks."

She giggled. "Thank you, Gajeel." He looked pleased that she'd accepted, his crimson eyes glittering happily.

Until Levy's face suddenly filled with a mixture of concern, annoyance, and anger. And a small bit of fear, but...she pretended that emotion didn't exist as Elroy's face lit up and he scampered over. "Miss Levy!"

"Fucking hell," Gajeel growled, "I'm going to rip his face from his head and then his head from his body and I'm going to let Salamander turn all of it into ash."

Levy elbowed him in the stomach and then pressed her lips together. "Well, I wonder who they'll go to when they find his body in the street after I've murdered him." Gajeel sputtered and then roared with laughter, not noticing the nasty look Elroy gave him.

"We don't have time right now," Levy told Elroy sharply. "I have a client-"

"I know," he said cheerfully, eyes lighting up as he looked at her. "I'm your client."

"Oh, fuck no," Gajeel snapped.

Elroy ignored him. "You wouldn't come see me, so I decided to request you. I lied about my name-"

"That's illegal." Levy crossed her arms. "Elroy, leave me alone. I'm trying to work and enjoy my life, but you're kind of making it a living hell right now. And you're upsetting Gajeel, which - with personal experience - is not a good idea."

"Thanks, shrimp," Gajeel muttered sarcastically. "Not like I don't think about that every five seconds."

She squeezed his arm reassuringly and apologetically. "Sorry, but I'm serious. Do this again, Elroy, and my guildmaster can have you arrested. Understood? Leave me alone."

He lost his smile. "Miss Levy," he began, but Gajeel was suddenly pressing forward, teeth bared and red eyes blazing.

"Leave her alone," he rumbled, shoving his face aggressively near his. Elroy looked shocked. "She's not some toy that you can keep coming back to play with. Fuck off."

Without another word, Gajeel nudged Levy back in the direction of their guildhall, furious. She let him. Her gaze darted nervously over her shoulder and she shivered a little when she saw Elroy looking after them in frustration, glaring irritably at the way Gajeel rested a hand on the small of her back and urged her forward.

"What the hell is wrong with him?" Gajeel rumbled.

Levy tugged her headband from her head and ran her hand through her hair.

"I don't know, Gajeel. I really don't."

Some happy Gajevy business! Elroy's a pain in the ass. Wait 'til the later chapters.

NighttimeWonder (aka Bubbles) left you all a note. ;)

Thanks to reviewers (yorusorra, HummingBird742, Typhlosion8, Guest #1, BUBBLES!, JcL107, Guest #2, RandomAnimeNerd, and Lifelover1989!) as well as those who favorited and followed!