A/N: Hey there! Sorry for the delay. This chapter ended up being twelve pages long, so I am cutting this chapter in half! I'll upload the next chapter either the following Monday or Tuesday. Before I let you go, I want to thank all the follows/favorites. I only a few reviews, which is fine. I'm just glad to see that people adding this story to their favorites and follows. I truly appreciate it.
Please enjoy the chapter. Oh and warning! NSFW! Mature content in this chapter.
Chapter Seven: Fairy Scars
The dingy tavern was different from what it was several hours ago. Earthy burn of smoke combined with the hoppiness of cheap ale was slowly masked by the muggy smell of a wet mop and a tinge of floor cleaner. The bar was completely empty from the patrons, leaving their warm seats in the dark cold night, resting from the long day of supporting the sober and the not so sober. A small sound of a dreary tune echoed hauntingly from the dry lips of one of the bartenders, mopping slowly and thoroughly through the hopelessly dirty aged wooden floor. He had an audience; two at the bar. Though, they weren't paying attention to his melody.
"I said, I ain't here for a drink." Gajeel threatened the old Bartender. He pressed his wrinkled mouth in a hard line, setting the glass of ale on the bar anyway.
"Just serving a customer." He gave a small smile and swung the dingy dish towel over his flannel clad shoulder. "You bought beers for those idiots. Let me at least pay you back for that." He pointed at the glass, but Gajeel didn't budge. The first time Gajeel saw him, he didn't see the resemblance. Now, he was up close and staring at the old man. He guessed that his dark gray hair use to be blue just like Levy's and the droopy eyes and the series of lines beside it hid the same hazel eyes. Only that her father's eyes were bloodshot and dilated, almost appearing black in the smoky lighting. For being an elevated bar, Gajeel wasn't entirely sure if Levy inherited his lack of height too.
"Now," He cleared his hoarse throat. "What do I owe the pleasure of having Gajeel Redfox in my bar?" He let out an uncomfortable chuckle that soon turned into a heavy cough. It wasn't from the smoke from the bar. It was blatantly obvious that he smoked for more than a decade, and that his pipe with a chewed up black mouth piece was sticking out of his oversize flannel pocket.
"You know me?" Gajeel was surprised, however, he didn't budge from his harden expression.
"Sure," He grinned. "Everyone knows about you. You played for Fairy Tail last summer's Grand Magic Games. And apparently you're acquainted with my daughter. Possibly…more than that?" His smile grew wide from ear to ear, eying him to get an answer by reading Gajeel, and like everyone else he had no luck in doing so.
"You sent the flowers." Gajeel went straight to the point. "Why?"
"I'll tell you why if you tell me you're dating my daughter."
"That ain't your business."
"You are dating her."
"I didn't say—"
"I saw you two near the fountain down Fairway."
"Why are we wasting time when you already knew the answer?" Gajeel tsked. "Jeez, now answer mine."
"What do you think?" He answered with no hesitation.
"I don't want to think. I wanna know." Gajeel hissed, arms crossed against his chest. "You were also in the alley where the old lady with the flowers disappeared to."
"And what of it?"
"Why?" Gajeel remained still like an iron statue. The Old Man tilted his head slightly. Levy would do the same when she was contemplating quietly to herself, biting the bottom of her lip, though the man in front of him only pressed his lips into a hard line.
"Why?" He smiled uneasily. "What am I supposed to say to the daughter I left to a guild full of strangers? 'Hey, Chestnut! How are you? How's life? Any grandkids that I don't know about? You—'" He paused, shaking his large finger in the air, trying to come up with a set of words. His index curled, having a hesitant fist wavered in the air. Gajeel continued to say nothing as he watched the Old Man sigh in disappointment, softly setting his fist on the bar. His eyes loomed over Gajeel, waiting for some response from him, and clearly he wasn't getting anything but a stoic stare.
"Look," The Old Man sighed again. "I reacted. I went after you two without any given thought." His fisted hand relaxed and reached for a clean rocks glass and a bottle of brown liquid with the other. "Once I saw her, I panicked. What was I supposed to say? Sorry?" Gajeel shrugged his shoulders. The only response since the Old Man set the beer on the bar. "A good friend of mine owns a Flower Cart. Luckily, she was in my vicinity and I asked her to do me a favor."
"The scarf?" Gajeel said bluntly.
"A stand that happened to be there." The Old Man shrugged. "I was surprised she kept that style. I didn't know how to fix girl's hair, so I only fixed it the way I know how." He chuckled, taking a swig from the glass. He then pointed at the poorly placed dingy blue headband on his head, trying to cover the receding hairline, and his shaggy greasy hair matted back. Gajeel wished that he didn't inquire that pointless information, knowing that Levy's favored hairstyle was influenced by the same man that left her. However, her cuteness and her luscious short hair trumped his hate for the horrific fact he had listened. "So, how long have you and Chestnut been together?"
"Don't change the subject, Old Man." Gajeel ordered. "I came here to know why. Now tell me."
"About the sending the flowers or why I left her?" The Old Man inquired, however, Gajeel remained unmoved. "Okay, Mr. Redfox." His bony shoulders shrugged, defeated by the very vague young man. "You are really tough to talk to. I wondered how Levy gets a word out of you."
"She doesn't." Gajeel remarked. His red eyes locked with the Old Man's shaded eyes, watching intently at the vast expressions he had to showcase on his wrinkled face. The Old Man didn't move his eyes as he pulled the glass to his mouth and took two long sips of the hard liquor, lines on his face bunched towards his button nose, cringing at the long swallows of the burning liquid.
"I did come back." The Old Man finally spoke. "I finally got a job here, and I had time off to travel back to Magnolia to pick her up. When I finally arrived at the Guild, Chestnut…" He paused, pulling his eyes down to the glass in front of him. "Levy was smiling. She was happy with all the kids there, it was like a blind man seeing a sunset for the first time." He coughed heavily into his hand, and soon continued. "I couldn't take her away from that. Even if I took her with me, she would be alone anyways. At least in Fairy Tail, she would be reading with friends and people to be with. And all the crap I am dealing with the debt collectors, I don't want to put her through that. Do you understand?"
Gajeel didn't say anything. Only a small nod.
"Well, that's pretty much everything." He said to him. "I have no other reason than that." Silence fell for thirty seconds, but it felt much more like minutes. The other bartender mopping the floors was gone and his whistling left with him, leaving them to their own devices. "I am sure Levy would like to hear the sad reason."
"Levy doesn't know I am here." Gajeel said to him. "And she will not know I was here."
"You came here on your own accord." The Old Man nodded. "I see that is quite nosy of you."
"That's my business, Old Man." Gajeel hissed. "I came what I asked for. Goodbye." Gajeel stood from his stool.
"Tell me," He grinned. "Does she want to see me?"
Gajeel replied with an unspeakable stare.
"I see…understandable." He strained, clenching at the sudden pain in his chest. "I know you won't tell her, but I am sorry for leaving her. I understand if she doesn't want to see me anymore. It's been too long."
"It's not a no, Old Man." Gajeel finally clarified. "One day."
"But, for now…" The Old Man grinned. "I understand."
"Thanks for the drink," Gajeel pointed at the untouched beer.
"You care for her." The Old Man hoarsely chuckled. "I am thankful for that." He paused, watching Gajeel turn his back on him and started for the door. "Wait, Gajeel! Can I ask you a favor?" Gajeel stopped his trek and turned half way, side glancing the old man. "Chestnut—I mean Levy's mother left her in my care. I didn't know she was pregnant, and to be honest I was scared shitless. But, Levy is the best thing that ever happened to me, and what I did was clearly the hardest thing I had to do. Her family left her alone. I left her alone." He paused again, huffing out the bubbling hoarseness in his throat. "Would you be so kind to not leave her? I know it sounds outlandish, but I would like it if someone would stay by her side. Please?"
"No," Gajeel answered immediately. The Old Man's eyes widen at the unexpected answer, and his wide orbs turned into a fearsome glare. "Her family didn't leave her. They never did."
"What?" A small laugh erupted from the Old Man. "You saying that I never left her heart? I was always with her even though I really wasn't?"
"No," Gajeel turned around completely facing him, tone smacking the smile off his wrinkled face. "Fairy Tail is her family. They'll never leave her." He cringed at the softness of his voice, internally cursing at Wendy, Levy and the others making him a sap. "And she won't leave my side. I told her to promise me that." For the last time, Gajeel turned his back at the man, taking stride towards the door. The Old Man was taken back at his words, almost astounded coming from the stern young man.
"Well," The Old Man curved a smile. "That's good to hear." Gajeel pulled at the tarnished door handle and brought in the light from the impeding sunrise. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Gajeel Redfox."
The Old Man watched as Gajeel disappeared into the outside world, leaving him alone in the dimly lit tavern.
The sun peered through sandy beige curtains, rendering them useless from the inevitable rise of the morning sun. The script mage was in a deep slumber until light has awoken her to a warm bed. The foreign feel of the blanket caressing her bare skin was strange but very satisfying as she stretched out her body. She turned her pleasingly sore body, reaching her arm out for Gajeel, only to find it empty and cold.
"Gajeel?" Levy's voice was dry and hoarse. Nerves started to bubble in her throat and the added dryness didn't help. She sat up, pulling the comforter towards her chest, and clenching them tightly into her fist. The room looked so much bigger without Gajeel, and it was an eerie silence that didn't match the silence of her own library. Was everything that happened between them a dream? It couldn't be considering that she was naked and the sight of her dress and undergarments were on the floor. Her body was sore, but in a good way to be fair. Levy's face nearly became flushed from recalling the events from the night. However, with Gajeel gone, she didn't know if it was just a fleeting dream.
Everything came tumbling into her mind of the reasons why Gajeel left. Levy's eyes darted to the nightstand and then the cherry wood desk for a single piece of paper. Leaving a Note wasn't Gajeel's style to say the least and his stuff was still by the sofa chair along with her bag. Relief only lingered softly in her mind, however, the other wild theories pulled at her heart strings, remembering this cliché in some romance books.
A click from the lock and the creak of the heavy door pulled Levy from her thoughts. The comforter was clenched tighter against her, but then she let her hands relax and quickly ran her fingers through her tangled blue locks. Her fingers curled around the blanket again and pulled it towards the base of her neck as Gajeel came into view.
"You're awake?" Gajeel smirked, holding a white paper bag and two beige cups. "Thought you would be asleep when I got back."
"I just woke up." Levy smiled. Her nose caught the smell of hot sugary goodness and the bitter aroma of coffee. "Where did you go?" She looked at the bag. Before he could answer her, he took three big strides to the bed and leaned in to kiss her lightly on her lips.
"Went for a run and got food." Gajeel said and kissed her again. This time a little longer. Levy could smell the earthy sweat and the saltiness that lingered on his lips. It brought a wave of desire from the pit of her stomach and slowly spreading through her body, causing her to nibble softly at his bottom lip. A heavy groan left Gajeel, but he pulled away before the two coffees in his hand ended up on the floor. He cleared his throat and continued, "I didn't know what you like so I got a bunch." One of the coffee cups was taken by Levy. He set the grease stained bag on the nightstand, and took a seat on the edge of the bed.
"Thanks," Levy said happily and Gajeel nodded in response. The cup in her hand was hot and felt great in her hands, the black liquid hit a satisfying spot at the back of her coarse throat, muttering intangible words with a pleasing groan. She reached for the bag and pulled out plain cake donut and handed it to Gajeel, knowing that they were his favorite; no frosting or powdered sugar or sweet fillings. Levy squirmed when a custard filled sugar glaze was in the bag. They scarfed down their sugary pastries and drank the scolding coffee.
"Jeez, you're hungry." Gajeel said as he watched Levy pull another cream filled donut out of the bag. This time a chocolate long john. Levy nodded and smiled, taking two hefty bites.
"Aren't you?" Levy grumbled with her mouth full. "Mr. I-am-always-hungry?" She washed it down with the coffee, bitterness replacing sweetness that coated her tongue.
"Yeah," Gajeel answered, and then he leaned to the side. "I'm hungry alright." Gajeel planted a wet kiss against her ear after whispering into Levy's ear. She stiffens from the contact and her head turned to the side to meet his hungry gaze. If it wasn't for Gajeel's fast reflexes, she would have dropped the coffee on her, though the donut wasn't so lucky. The chocolate frosted donut landed awkwardly on her chest, and when she tried to grab it, the pale yellow custard dripped out of the bitten end landed thickly on Levy's abdomen and upper thighs.
"Gajeel!" Levy laughed, setting the pastry on top of her coffee cup which was now on the night stand. "Look at what you—" Levy stopped talking once Gajeel grabbed her wrist. And before she could turn to look at him, Gajeel claimed her glazed finger into his hot and slick mouth. "G-Gajeel." She instantly moaned, feeling the heat pool in her belly.
"Gihii, you did that on purpose." Gajeel smirked devilishly at her, and slipped her finger out of his mouth. His lips caressed where he held her wrist and gradually left a wet trail up her forearm, bicep, slowly licking along her collarbone and finally down her chest. The chocolate smear at the center of her sternum was thick and it glistened from the hot body heat admitting from Levy, though it wasn't entirely his goal. She leaned back against the mountainous pillows and watched as his mouth claimed her ample peak within his hot mouth. It was only for a brief moment before he switched over to her other, hearing her moan beneath him. His eyes looked up to see her staring back at him, mouth agape and eyes fluctuating from hooded to completely awed. His tongue fluidly slicked over her skin, making its trek to the center where the chocolaty mess awaited.
Levy could feel the rumbling moan coming from Gajeel by the sensual way he was licking her skin, teasing her nerves and making her skin hot as she squirmed. His eyes darted upward towards her gaze, smoldering in their red pools that would leave her heart doing cartwheels. Gajeel made his move downward where the custard on her abdomen awaited, and he swiftly licked it off with one swipe of his thick tongue. Lips continued to caress her skin, skimming past her belly button, spanning the skin of the width of her hips, and planted wet kisses on each side of her hip bone.
"Wait—Gajeel." Levy sat up, gasping when his slick tongue quickly licked the custard on her thighs clean, and finally trailed kisses at her inner thigh. "I don't think—Ah!" She would speak, but she did not resist and her head reeled back with an intoxicating groan escaping her lips. The same tongue and lips that left a trail on her body reached its goal. Gajeel flicked his tongue at her clit, causing Levy to moan from the contact. He did it again, and this time he rolled his tongue over and over again, receiving much more from Levy. His name tumbled from her lips, fingers finding its way into his hair, pulling softly at his thick threads as pleasure ripped through her delicious body.
If the last couple of days had taught Gajeel, it was that Levy never ceased to amaze him. He knew she was amazing to begin with and he believed he knew enough about the shrimp. There was much more to learn about Levy, and if last night was any consolation she was far from shy. Gajeel couldn't get enough of her sound, her taste and her touch. He didn't say much, but he had a feeling she knew him better than he knew himself.
Sweat glistened on her skin as her body clenched from her orgasm, cries were louder and his name rolled out like a dear mantra. Her panting slowed and her closed eyes cracked open to see Gajeel pulling his shirt over his head and removing his sweatpants. He rejoined her on the bed, nudging her legs apart for him to take his place between them. Levy gasped when his member met her wet opening, and Gajeel muffled her sound with a sealed kiss, tasting coffee, sugar and herself on his tongue. Without breaking the kiss, Gajeel shifted his legs, angling his hips, and with one swift thrust, he was inside Levy.
Levy cried out at the intrusion, breaking the kiss, and digging her nails into his shoulder. Her body opened to him, welcoming him, and he moved in and out of her with long, controlled thrusts, watching her flushed face and panting rhythmically with each thrust. Gajeel plumped her soft mound, running his thumb over her sensitive nipple, and he claimed her lips once more.
"Levy," Gajeel rasped, and Levy couldn't get enough of hearing her name rarely said by his luscious voice. "You feel so good." His lips sealed over hers, quieting the moan that barely escaped her mouth. Only to be muffled by his hot tongue. "Shit—" Gajeel grumbled against her ear, leaving kisses along the nape of her neck. He could feel her. Levy's wall started to milk him, muscles clenching, and her breathing desperately ragged against the side of his face. Her hands moved from his shoulders, sliding down his slick back as she felt her body quake, and her fingers dug along his flesh towards his shoulders once more, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Ah—Gajeel." Levy moaned, grinding her hips against him, and he met to her demands, pounding into her slick sensitive core.
Gajeel slowed down, watching Levy ride out her quake, her flushed face glistening with a thin sheen of sweat. The fingers that dug into his flesh gently touched his face, sliding the pads of her fingers along his sharp jaw line. Brown eyes stared lovingly at him with a small smile on her face, moaning softly as Gajeel continued to make slow and heavy thrusts. The smile alone was enough to make his chest ache, and to add to her touch, the way she looked at him…he would have never thought someone like Levy could ever make a man like Gajeel to feel this way.
Soon enough, Gajeel came to his own conclusion, moaning her name into the nape of her neck as he emptied himself into Levy. They didn't know how long they laid there for, this time they didn't doze off like last night, and the late morning sun was also in the room, giving them light to see one another. Levy rested on his chest, his arm left arm wrapped around her, fingers dragging them along the soft skin of her waist. Her hand lay splayed out on his chest, palm against his sternum, fingers curved slight along his pectorals, and the pad of her ring finger set on top of his dark nipple.
"How did you get the scars?" Levy broke the silence. Gajeel's eyes went to his right arm, looking at the familiar pale slashes made sporadically along the span of his arm. The rigid iron rivets on his forearm greeted them, almost forgetting that they were there, though they were as pervasive as the scars.
"My old man gave them to me." Gajeel answered. Levy shifted her head up, looking at Gajeel with a concern face. "It's not what you think. It was my fault." He chuckled. "He was teaching me one last thing before he disappeared. I became reckless, didn't listen to his flapping mouth, and I got sliced by one of his sharp plates." His arm was in the air, twisting it to get a better view. "Two days later, he disappeared."
"I'm sorry," Was the first thing Levy said, but Gajeel took his scarred arm and poked her on the forehead.
"Jeez, Shrimp." Gajeel smiled. "I said it ain't bad."
"Yeah, but you were only a kid." Levy lifted her head and turned her body so she was facing him.
"I was a Dragon's kid."
"But, you are still human." Levy smiled. "Yes, you are a son of a dragon, but you are human too. No kid should go through pain like this." Her fingers went to one of the pale scars and traced them gently. Gajeel had nothing to say after that. She was right to say to least. He didn't know how Natsu or Wendy were treated with their dragons, but he knew his old man was tough. And so was Gajeel.
"I'm going to take a shower." Levy leaned in and kissed him. "The game starts at four." She crawled over him and leaped out of bed, taking the cup from the nightstand and took a sip of her cold coffee.
"Okay," Gajeel said, grabbing the bag of donuts and pulled out another plain one. He took one big bite and watched as Levy swayed her hips towards the bathroom. He returned to his donut and grabbed his coffee, which was also cold.
"Don't you need to take one too?" Gajeel look up to see Levy's head peering around the corner. He nearly spat out the contents in his mouth, receiving an adorable chuckle from Levy. She continued to laugh as she disappeared into the bathroom.
Gajeel finished his donut in two hefty bites, chugged the rest of his cold coffee, and rushed to the bathroom to join Levy.
A/N: That's it for Chapter seven. I'll upload the new chapter in the next few days. I am truly sorry for the delay. It isn't fair for many of you for waiting so long. I appreciate your patience and gratitude!
I am currently working on a new multi-chapter Gajevy series. I uploaded the first part of the prologue on my Tumblr, so if you haven't read it or following me on tumblr, you can do so by searching my writing blog: KissedbyIron.
The next chapter will be the second to last, since I have to cut this one in half.
