H is for Hoarding
"Gajeel..." The black man scoffed at the exceed and turned his back. "Its not that bad, Lil', I can handle it!" The black exceed shook his head before looking around his home. The house was nice, small, meant for just two people, or one dragon slayer, his cat, and his hoard... The house was filled with sharp objects, rusted Iron, and even a few bolders and rocks. In one corner there was a simple pile of gold and rubies, ones that Gajeel had gotten and found on jobs. In another corner were un-used pieces of iron and metal. It was a dangerous disaster for anyone who did not now there way around it."Gajeel, this has got to stop, or...at least get rid of some of it, its just trash-" Before he finished the word the exceed found himself in the arms of an angered dragon-slayer. "No, we are not throwing anything away, I am not throwing anything away. Got it Cat?" The black exceed growled and just shook his head, before brushing the Iron dragon-slayers hands of of him. "Fine...Ill just go then." The dragon slayer growled and just turned his back on the red eyed exceed. "Tch, Fine, I could give a crap..." Lily rolled his eyes for the hundredth time that day before heading to the door. "Ill be back later..."
The black exceed had been walking the town of magnolia for a few hours now, and he was staring to get board. Mira had shut the guild down for the day to get situated after such a long time away, it had been almost a month since the guild had gotten back together, and everyone was just going to take a day off. The exceed continued to walk when something out of the corner of his eyes caught his attention. Or, rather a blue something. Lily turned to see the Iron dragon-slayers new girlfriend. At least she was new to the guild, Lily had known they were dating about a month after they joined the council together. He raised up a paw to great her but was surprised when she began to go to her side, a mountain of books in her arms. "aH? A-ahhh!?" The blue haired girl was about to hit the ground when Lily shot forward in his battle form and caught her and her books in his arms. Levy McGarden opened her eyes to find herself in Lily's arm, and her books in his other. "Lily! Oh thank Mavis!" Lily let the small blue haired girl down and handed her her books as he transformed back into his small form, the people around them getting startled by the adorable exceed turning into a muscle bound behemoth. Levy smiled at him, but when she was starting to lean back again, Lily swooped up and took a few books from her arms. "hehehe, thank you Lily. What brings you to the center of Magolia, I thought you and Gajeel lived to the south?" Lily nodded. "Hello Levy, yes, we do live to the south. But Gajeel is being a dumb ass and I need a few hours away from him." Levy giggled, smoothing out her dress. "Oh? Would you mind telling me about it over a cup of tea?" Lily smiled up at the woman and sprouted his wings." I would love to join you." Levy smiled and both she and Lily began to take her books to her apartment in Fairy Hills.
"Well Lily, make yourself at home, Ill just put these books away." Levy grabbed the books from Levy's arms after dropping her bag and headed to her library/home. Lily smiled after the bluenette and looked around her small apartment. It was obvious Levy collect's books, even so obvious as to say she hoards them, so why was Lily so mad at Gajeel for doing it when Levy was doing the same exact thing? 'Because Levy is a clean hoarder' and it was true, while Gajeel just picked something up and threw it into his 'pile' of 'treasurer', Levy had a system. Lily had watched her, more than once, rearrange all of her books and even rent out the room next to hers to tare down the wall and make another shelf. Lily flew the the blunette to see her reach for one of the higher shelves, Lily snicked and few up behind her. He picked her up and flew her closer to the high shelf. Levy looked behind her and smiled. "Thank you Lily, I forgot my stool in the other room, hehehe." Lily nodded. "It is nothing..." After doing what she was supposed to do Lily put Levy down and she headed to her small kitchen. "Come, lets have that tea now so you can tell me what my pig head of a boyfriend did, hahaha" And Lily fallowed smiling.
"mmm, alright, I guess that would be a problem..." Lily snorted, putting his kiwi down. "Guess? Levy, the man built a death trap of scrap metal and gold, there is no 'guess' to it...The only place with no scrap metal is my room, and that is slowly not becoming true..." Levy stared at the exceed for a moment before bursting out it laughter. "Oh that is precious, hahahah!" Lily rolled his eyes and just chowed down on his kiwi, letting the bluenett run through her laughter. A few minutes passed and Levy finished laughing, but not before whipping a few tiers off of her face. She took in a deep breath and began to talk. "Well, I understand why he hoards Lily." Lily raised a non-existent eyebrow before fishing off his kiwi. "Oh? how so?" Levy smiled before taking Lily in her arms and heading to her sleeping area. Lily looked around and Levy's room was much different from her library. There weren't many books in there, actually only one or two book shelves. Levy put Lily on he bed and headed to said shelves. "You see, Lily, dragons are natural hoarder, there is no actual explication, but they are, everyone is at one point. Some people even say dragons are the physical reincarnation of Greed. Funny, isn't it?" Lily looked at Levy as she pointed to a few books to explain. "You see I was reading these book when I first met Gajeel and you, and I was reading this one when I met Lucy. This is the first book Erza taught me to read, and this is a book my mother gave me, this is is the first one I got at the council...don't tell anyone I have it. "Lily chuckled at the woman and continued to pay attention. "This one is the last book I read before Tenro happened, and this one is the one I was reading during Edolas...You see, Lily, the scrap metal and gold things might mean something deep for Gajeel..." Lily rolled his eyes before standing up. "Yes, Levy, I understand the point you are making, but he comes home with a new piece for no reason, when we are out on a mission, or just walking, and he sees something he likes he just picks it up. Sometimes when he doesn't find a piece he is looking for he makes it. Its infuriating!" Levy giggled and nodded before pulling out a huge heavy looking book. It was almost bigger than Lily himself. It had a gold dragon looping around a red ruby, and it had gold lettering that read. 'Drake and its habits'. "Yes, Lily but there is a reason for that too. You see dragons hoard when they just find something different, or even special looking. To you it may seem like a random piece of metal, but to Gajeel... For example," Levy put the book on the bed next to Lily and pointing at another one, on the shelf. "You see I already have this book, but this one comes with a typo on page 708, and this one has a gold rim, not a yellow one. And this one, I have 6 of these already but they are all a centimeter bigger than the one before, Lily...Do you understand what I am saying?" Lily stared at the book worm as she stood sheepishly by her shelves, almost worried about what he would say. "Yes...I understand..." Levy exhaled before going over to her bed and sitting next to the black exceed. "What did you tell Gajeel, before you left?" Lily thought for a moment before speaking. "Well, I told him to get rid of it...and..." Levy lifted an eyebrow. "and what?...Lily?" Lily's ears went down as he looked down. "I...I told him that is was trash..." Levy gasped, "Oh Lily...How did he react?" Lily took in a deep breath before speaking. "He got angry and I just left." He looked up at Levy and she just gave him a small smile. "Lily...That must have hurt him...Dragons pride themselves in there hoards, and to have a loved one trash talk it, he must have felt crushed, Lily...You have to apologize...Come, lets go." Lily felt Levy pick him up and head to her door, but he didn't look up. 'was that metal-head really bothered with what I had said?' Levy looked down at the exceed and just brushed his make. "Come on Lily...maybe...maybe we can help him organize, yea. We can put everything in piles, maybe Gajeel will let us."
Lily looked up at the blue haired woman. "What do you mean 'let'?" Levy giggled at the exceed. "Ill let you barrow my dragon book later...well a dragon prides itself on its nest, it wont let just anyone touch there things, I remember my first time going over to Natsu's place and when I tried to pick the place up, he got all jittery and bothered. He asked me to leave so I did, a few days later I went back and it was exactly the same as before I even touched it, so I decided to research it. Good thing I was a loved one, if not i'm sure Natsu would have killed me, ahahaha." Lily nodded his head as he understood what she was saying.'So they don't like having there things touched, interesting' "And then Lu-Chan went over and cleaned his house up! At first I was worried, because Natsu just ignored me for a few days after the ordeal and we had known each other for years. I had no idea how he would react to Lu and they only knew each other for a few months! But I was surprised when Natsu found out he was over the moon, thanking her and even paying for a moth of her rent. I looked deeper into it and It turns out when a dragon is courting a female they fix there nest to the females liking, and having the actual female organizing the nest! It must have sent Natsu heaven. Though I don't think he knew what he was feeling at the time, he just enjoyed the thought of Lucy organizing his mess. I mean he is not fully dragon, just a slayer" Lily nodded, remembering how Levy always hinted in Natsu and Lucy getting together, of course he knew they would end up together because of the dragon slayers link together and Gajeel telling him one night that 'The bunny girl smells like Flame brain, its disgusting...' Lily smirked at the memory before Levy began to talk again. "...The nest is also to take care of young, so I guess that is why it is dangerous and put the way it is, usually the females are in charge of the young so its no wonder Natsu felt safe in his house after Lucy, he was always jittery when I slept over sometimes." Lily lifted a questioning look to Levy. "You slept over? I thought Dragons were territorial?" Levy looked down at Lily before continuing to walk down magnolia. "Oh they are, viciously territorial, But sometimes Dragons would take in, how would I say it...umm, hatchlings? As seen in Gajeel, Wendy, and Natsu's past. They would often take in weak creatures and nurture them back to health before kicking the out...I just looked weak to Natsu, and so did Romeo, and a few of the guild members children. But that is probably the human instinct in the slayers. I have no way of knowing if an actual dragon will take in a really weak creature. Natsu, Wendy and Gajell must have just seemed strong enough" Lily chuckled. "Isn't that a bit demeaning, Levy?" Levy smiled, turning a corner, "Well, Natsu protected me for most of my young life, but because he was human, he didn't just push me away, we just sort of drifted apart before he took in Romeo...you see how they treat to Wendy, they want her to be strong, but they cant help to act like big brothers to the kid, hehehe. Espetially now that they have been apart fo a year. You saw how Gajeel reacted when Natsu suddenly left. It almost tore him and Wendy apart." Lily nodded, his small house coming into view. "But don't I need to be female to be able to re-arrange his 'nest'? I mean you said-"
Lily was cut off by Levy as she hopped over a bump in the road. "Yes, but the nest is also used to take care of Hatchlings. A dragon usually makes its nest to attract a potential mate, by filling it with exotic and special things. Even a few items there mate might enjoy. And though dragons don't mate for life, because they are usually solitary animals, they only mate with one person there whole life, and when the other dragon dies that's why nests were invented. To keep each other from going insane. Dragons might prefer to be alone but that doesn't mean they can stand it." Levy waved the book at him so he can take it. "Its common for a dragon to allow hatchlings to re-arrange the nest to that they feel safe. But in hindsight Gajeel most likely sees you as a pet, than an actual hatchling. hahahah!" Levy laughed at the face Lily mad when she said. Lily scoffed and held the dragon book to his chest. "What is a hatchling?" Levy looked down at Lily before looking back up at the path. "A hatchling is like a baby dragon, they explain them in the book, i'll let you barrow it if you like. But you have to bring it back, I went through a lot of trouble to get it." Lily nodded as his home became more prominent over the horizon. "Alright...what about you? Do you think Gajeel will allow you to organize his things?" Lily felt Levy stop and he looked up with questioning eyes at the bluenette. She was suddenly nervous and she had a sweat drop at the side of her face. 'she didn't even think of that!' Levy began to speak as she walked on, a little less brave than before. "Well...I'm not, sure...I'm not sure Gajeel is courting me so...Ill just sit and watch you do it, maybe catch up on my reading." Lily began to think about what she said. 'not court her? yea right, that idiot is courting her and she doesn't even notice him, hahah!'Levy finally made it to the house but as she was about to knock the front door swung open.
"Oh, hello Gajeel..." The black haired man stared at his small girlfriend and smirked. "Shit shrimp, couldn't get enough of me so now your chas'en me? gihihih." Levy puffed her cheeks up and just glared at her red eyed boyfriend. "hello, Gajeel..." The man looked down and his girlfriends arms was his black exceed staring up at the man with a stoic look on his face. "Hum...came back did ya'?" The black exceed rolled his eyes before speaking. "Are you going to let Levy burn out here in the sun, or are you going to invite her in?" Gajeel growled before opening the door more and ushered his small lover in. "Yea, yea, yea, shut yer' trap cat." Levy smiled at the men and just sat down on the couch, or the small space that was not occupied by the Iron. Gajeel sat on the floor in front of her and just closed his eyes, almost meditating. Lily handed Levy the book before looking back at the huge man on the floor. "Gajeel..." The man opened one eyes before huffing, indicating he was listening. "Gajeel...I would like to apologize for my actions. I should not have messed with your things without your permission. But I am just tired of all this-" He was cut of when Levy gave him a small nudge and coughed. Lily took a deep breath before finishing." I do not feel comfortable with how your things are arranged, please allow me to 'fix' it up a bit...I will not throw anything out...I give you my word." Gajeel looked up at lily and then glanced at Levy before tasking a deep breath. "Alright...but...The shrimps got to help you." At this Both Lily and Levy were shocked, Levy began to stutter as she held the book tightly in her hands. "B-But, w-why? I'm not, We are not, I ...what?" Gajeel chuckled before standing up and stretching. "Ya' heard me shrimp, if you don't help the cat, i'm not moven' nothen', Gihihi" Levy blushed before nodding her head and Lily smirked. "Lil' just don't touch my room, let the shrimp take care of it. Ima' go get some food." Then with that Gajeel walked out of his home, leaving the cleaning to a cat and a very flustered solid script mage. Lily turned to Levy to see her face was darker than Erza's hair. "Well, Levy, It turns out Gajeel is courting you after all. Gihih"
A few hours past and Lily and Levy were almost done with the 'cleaning' of Gajeel's home. It was much safer than before and everything was organized. Though they still kept the pile of gold and rubies were it was, not knowing were to put it. Lily looked at Levy as she quickly flipped through the dragon book, she huffed and put it down heading over to Gajeels bedroom to clean it up. "Levy...is something the mater?" Levy looked at Lily before opening the door. "well...I cant find anything on a dragon inviting a female to arrange his nest...I cant, I cant draw a reasonable conclusion..." Lily chuckled and flew over to the girl opening the door for her. "Levy, obviously Gajeel is courting you, he is just doing it in his own way, let it be." Levy smiled entering Gajeels room, it looked normal with sodden furniture and black walls, but the one thing that stood out was. "Books?" Levy gasped at the amount of books in Gajeel's room, they were all over the floor and even a few book shelf's. Levy's face lit up as she ran over to the shelves and gasped. "These tomes look ancient! I-I cant even read this one! This one is from before Mavis! OH MY GOSH! LILY! LOOK!" Lily watched the small woman run around his partners room. He chuckled and began to head out. "Well, I will leave you to it, feel free to sleep over if you like." Levy smiled and began to pick up most of the books on the floor. Lily chuckled as he made his way to the newly cleaned living room as an iron dragon slayer made his way into the home. Gajeel looked around and huffed. "Yea, I guess ya' did a good job...didn't throw anything else out did ya'." Lily smiled at his partner and was about to speak when a squeal broke out on the other side of the small home. "OH MY MAVIS! and this one can only be opened with a spell!" Gajeel and Lily froze but broke out in a chuckle at the bluenettes reaction to Gajeel secret hoard."Guess Lev' likes the books. gihihi" Lily smirked and looked at Gajeel with a taunting glare. "Gajeel, I recall a certain bookworm said that when dragons are courting a potential mate, they tend to fill the nest of things the female might like..." Gajeels ears began to redden at what the black exceed was saying. He huffed and just turned his back on his partner. "Yea, and? what dose that have ta' do with anything?" Lily smirked and flew closer to the Iron dragon slayer. "Gajeel Redfox...are you hoarding Levy McGarden?" The man blushed and just shook his head, glaring at his cat. "tch, you can just suk' it Lil'!" And he stomped over to the kitchen. Lily laughed and a little later heard another squeal from the oblivious book worm on the other side of the house.