Well I think I got my mojo back! flew through this chapie pretty good, and it aint too bad. The story is taking a different twist to it than I had originally wanted and I'm not sure if i like it or not. I think it might have something to do with the fact that I haven't written any fluff in here all that much, kinda, at all... IM HAVING A FLUFFY WITHDRAWAL! ARIES!

Here is chapie #7 Enjoy! :)


Chap 7: Confrontations

Levy sat at Gajeel's usually occupied table in the back of the guild hall. The sun had set hours ago, most of the members had gone home long ago and only she, Mira and a nearly passed out Cana were left. Even the master had retired to his room. She sighed for the 100h time that night and strummed her fingers on the open book that sat forgotten on the table. She glanced at the guild hall doors for the 1000th time that night with anxious eyes.

Where is he!? He couldn't have gone home, he went into the guild hall… unless he climbed out a window or something. But why would he do that? Why would he do any of that… I don't get it, what's his reasoning's? I would ask him If. He. Were. HERE! Ugh Gajeeeeell where are you?

Another sigh slipped by her lips and she slumped onto the table top with a groan. Her chin rested on her folded arms as she let her red rimmed eyes slide closed. All she wanted was to go home and take a nice hot bath and then sleep for a very long while. The events of that day were too taxing. She forced her eyes open and rubbed her tear stained cheek, then settled down on the table. What was more important, was that she had to talk to Gajeel. He had to leave the Guild hall at some time.


(Earlier)

Levy gaped at Droy, then Jet, then back at Droy "Wh-what are you two talking about?" Levy was finally able to form words as she struggled to free herself from Droy's arms. "Gajeel didn't do anything to me! What's gotten into you two? And put me down!"

Droy set her down carefully, the dragon in Gajeel's chest snorted his approval at the action growling that they should keep their hands off of her, "You just disappeared! We didn't know what happened to you!"

"We were soooooooooo worried about you Levy!" Jet interjected, whining. "When we saw you just now, coming in with…with," the boys shot Gajeel dirty looks, the dragon glared back at them from the ground, "HIM… we thought he must have kidnaped and done something to you! Are you sure that you're ok?! He didn't hurt you did he?"

Levy stared at her teammates, frustration slowly rising in her chest. Weren't they over this already? It had been what… nearly nine months since they had gotten even with the iron dragon slayer, and when Laxus had attacked? Were they really still holding on to their feelings? Then did these past few months of peace between the iron dragon and the boys of ShadowGear mean nothing? Were they lying to her all this time? Jet and Droy? Her best friends!?

"Jet! Droy! What's gotten into you? I told you that I was taking a mission and that I was leaving! You knew about this." Levy was starting to get upset now, "Besides, you two were out of commission and I needed to be able to pay rent this month, I didn't have a choice but to take a job!"

"Well fine, but why did HE have to go with you?" Droy pointed an accusing finger at the place Gajeel had just vacated. "Huh, where'd he-"

"I went with her to make sure she wouldn't get hurt. At least I know how to keep her safe without getting my ass kicked and having her drag my worthless corps back." Gajeel was standing behind Levy now, she could feel the tickle of his shirt on her bare shoulder blades as he growled at the two boys, his arms crossed sending them a glare and a light breeze to ruffle Levy's hair.

Jet looked as though he was about to retort back but Levy cut him off.

"Anyway!" Levy ignored the growling dragon at her back, "I thought you were finally getting over what happened? It was a long time ago and the past is past. You two seemed like you were letting go! Were you just lying-"

"Levy! We would never lie to you!" Jet protested.

"Then why-"

"We had no idea where you went!" Droy assisted in the change of subject.

"I told y-"

"Well we don't remember that so it doesn't matter! What happened to YOU Levy!?"

"Doesn't matter!?-"

"Yeah what did the brute do!?"

"Jet! I told you-"

"Oi! Watch yer' mouth whelp!" The dragon leaned over the short woman in front of him, snarling at the two boys. Levy quickly turned to the side and put a hand on his chest, Jet took a step closer to the pair.

"Gajeel! Not you too-!"

"Is that a threat!?"

"Jet! Droy plea-"

"And what if it is? What're you gonna' do about it?"

"Stop it! Gajeel-"

"You dogs can't even manage to protect yer'selves on missions, what in hells name makes ya think ya can protect Levy? I'm tired of watching her drag yer' sorry butts back to the guild all the time! It's about time someone who was capable to protect her go with her on a mission!"

"Gajeel! Sto-!"

"Watch what you're saying you stupid dragon! We're more than capable of protecting Levy! Why do you think we're always busted up?"

"Ya' can't protect yer own asses you mean?"

"Guys stop it!"

"Oh and you can!? You? You Hypocrite! Protect her!? You're the one that destroyed her in the first place!"

"STOP IT YOU GUYS!"

The three males were pushed apart by Levy, one little hand on Gajeels chest, the other grabbing the shirts of Droy and Jet. Forcing herself between the opposing sides Levy stood panting. The boys glared at each other, but allowed her to separate them, snarling. There was a pause in which all parties caught their breath. Levy slowly lowered her hands, letting them fall limp at her sides. She gathered her breath.

"Look, Jet, Droy, I did tell you that I was going on a mission. You two were still recovering and needed the rest, and I needed to pay rent since we couldn't complete the last few jobs we went on, so I was looking at some that I could do myself. Gajeel offered to help me out and I knew I could take on a higher paying job with him since I'm weak and lack fighting ability."

Her teammates started to protest at her self-criticism, but she barreled on.

"I needed to pay rent guys! So I went with Gajeel. No big deal! The job was easy and the customers paid us extra because they appreciated us so much. Gajeel didn't do ANYTHING to me! I wasn't kidnaped, I'm not hurt and I'm just fine! Well I was before you two jumped to conclusions. Which brings me to my point!"

Levy turned to face her teammates, pointing a finger at the now very humble looking boys. To any passerby, the scene might seem comical – a short brisling, mother like woman lecturing her two very tall boys who were hanging their heads and scuffing their toes in the dirt, while a very smug boy stood behind the woman sniggering into his hand at is companions who were being lectured. The scene was anything but comical however.

"Jet. Droy. This 'Gajeel is the bad guy' baloney needs to stop! I have forgiven Gajeel for what happened and moved on. No one can hate someone forever! And he's proved himself on several occasions! You two are acting like children and it's really annoying. Gajeel is our nakama and nakama do not fight or hurt each other."

She spun on her heal facing the snickering dragon.

"And YOU!" Gajeel choked on his laughter.

"You need to stop antagonizing them! You're not making anything better, in fact you're making things worse! Don't you want everyone to like and accept you? Going around picking fights with people who look at you funny is stupid! You are a good person Gajeel, You are better than that, I know you are! I know you're not what everyone says about you, I know it! I know it!"

The dragon stared at the little mage before him, stunned. What had she just said? He was a what?

There was a drawn out silence. Then a snort from Gajeel broke it.

"Oh whatever shrimp! I could care less what people think about me! You were the one that needed help and I was just being nice ta ya'. If ya can't appreciate that then whatever, I guess. Looks like your dogs are done licking their wounds so ya' won't be needing me no more."

Gajeel tucked his hands behind his head as he spoke, turning up his nose and closing his eyes. With his final statement he turned and strode past the mass of people who had gathered in the entrance of the guild to see what all the noise was about, disappearing off to somewhere inside.

PantherLilly, who had wisely been staying out of the scuffle flew over the heads of the Fairy Tail guild after his dragon slayer.

Levy stood rooted to the spot.

What had just happened? One moment the dragon had been defending her, and she had preceded to be complementing him, then he was throwing it back in her face and criticizing her in the same sentence. What was going on!?

"Pfft what an ass" Jet mumbled then spat on the ground.

"Yeah, Jerkoff." Droy agreed then turned to Levy, "Lev? Don't listen to him ok?"

"Ok ok everyone! That's enough, go back to your business." Erza's voice rung out crisply from the crowd of people in the guild's doorway.

Levy flinched and glanced over her shoulder. She hadn't realized that practically the whole guild had come out to watch the little performance. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment and frustration. Before anyone could stop her, she ran into the guild, shoving past people, ignoring the shouts from Jet and Droy, and raced to the guild Library. As she ran angry tears spilled down her cheeks.

The doors of the dark library burst open with the script mage flying through them, then to the back corner behind the tallest and thickest and more populated shelves were. There she threw herself on the enormous over stuffed fluffy pillow that master had let her bring into the library for reading on, gasping for breath finally and sobbing into the light blue fuzz. She hadn't bothered with the lights, and the soft creek of the doors closing was almost drowned out by her raspy sobs.


(A little after the events outside the guild)

Gajeel sat on the slanted shingles of the Guild hall roof, one leg stretched out the other pulled up to his chest. One arm rested on his knee, his chin on his arm, the other folded in his lap. He stared blankly at the setting sun over the ocean front the guild faced. On a pillar a few feet away, sat Lilly, who also was watching the beautiful sunset. The two sat in silence, as they had been for some time now. The dragon's mind was blank. The occasional though dragging across his brain.

"You're a good person"

"You're better than that"

"You're not like what everyone says about you."

What does she see in me?

Why does she care?

Why do I care so much about her?

Do I really care about her?

I feel like… like I have to protect her. I have to keep her safe. I have to make sure that she's ok. I have to know that she's ok. I have to see her happy. I WANT to…

I want to keep her safe. I want to protect her. I want to know that she's ok. I want to make her happy. I want to protect that smile forever…

"Protect her!? You're the one that destroyed her in the first place!"

I don't have any right to do this. I shouldn't do this. I can't do this.

His mind wandered to the little adventure they had just completed. The way she had been so determined and flustered in the beginning. The look on her face when she saw the children of that stuck-up rich family. The way she played with and looked after the children, and the way they clung to her with big, aw-filled eyes adoring her with every fiber of their being.

Like him.

He loved to watch the blue haired mage. She was so gentle and kind. She could see the good in everything. He loved her laugh. The way it fell so freely from her lips. The way it always seemed to lighten his mood. He loved her smile that smile. The smile she seemed to hold for him only. The smile that melted his iron heart. He loved everything about the script mage. Her silky hair and her amber eyes, the softness of her skin, the forgiveness she held for him.

Even though he didn't think he deserved it, not with what he had done, and though he would never admit it, he wished so hard that she would love him the way he loved the little things she did. The way he loved her. That he loved her.

He loved…her…

"You're a good person"… "You're better than that"… "You're not like what everyone says about you."

She believed in him, he had seen so. She trusted him, she had said so. She cared for him, she had shown him so.

She was attracted to him? Hadn't she proved that?

Absently, his fingers traced the spot Levy had kissed that night he walked her home after the feast Mira had prepared. A smile tugged at his mouth remembering how damn adorable she seemed just before she plucked up the courage to kiss him. The courage to try to hold his hand as they walked. The courage to protest when dumb-ass #1 and dumb-ass #2 had taken their revenge on him and then to yell at that prick Laxus. Then to come and make sure that he was ok. That had truly surprised him, when she had shown up at his door and offered to heal him, as a thank you for taking Laxus's attack. He remembered how gentle and warm her hands had been on his battered and bruised body, the warmth and weight of her head as she slept on his thigh on this last encounter.

He couldn't prevent the smirk for stretching his face, or the soft "Gihihi" from slipping out.

"Oh-ho? Something amusing my boy?"

Gajeel jumped so violently he nearly fell of the roof.

"MASTER! What are ya' doing sneaking up on people like that!?" The dragon roared at the tiny old man that stood on a flat part of one of the castle towers, grinning like a fool and snickering behind his bright white teeth.

"My apologies my boy! I thought that a dragon for sure wouldn't let anything surprise them!"

"Gah… forget it. What'dya want?"

The master sobered. "I have a favor to ask of you Gajeel. It is not something I would ask you if I didn't think you capable. It is not an easy task by far, nor is it the most… noble... I admit. Sometimes, to get what you want you have to play dirty."

"What'r ya' going on about? What kind of favor is this?"

The master gave him a hard look.

"I want you to spy on my son. To act as a double agent between Raven Tail and Fairy Tail."

"A double agent?" Lilly settled on Gajeel's head, giving the master a hard look. "For your son?"

"Yes. I am aware that Ivan has been trying to contact you on several occasions. I want you to respond in secrete to him. Make it look like you don't want to but want him off your back, you know I'm sure."

"hnn."

"And I also know that you may be wanting to get away from the Guild for a little while, with recent events being as they are…" the master offered him a smile and a raised eyebrow.

The dragon flushed and muttered nasty things under his breath, folding his arms over his chest and glowering at the corner of the roof.

"So… what do you say my boy?"

"Oh alright. Now what da ya' want to know exactly?"


"Leevvvyyy… Levy! Wake up, Leevvyy!" Mira continued to shake the little mage a little as she tried to wake her. "Come on Levy dear, it's time to go home."

A groan was her only reply. Mira straightened and sighed. She had spent several minutes trying to wake the girl, but had accomplished nothing.

"Something the matter Mira?"

"Oh, Master. No nothing much, it's just that Levy has fallen asleep and I can't wake her."

"Hmm. Poor thing must be exhausted. Why she is still here is a wonder though."

"The Shrimp's still here?"

"Oh Gajeel, you're here too?"

The dragon didn't answer her, he was to intent on watching the shoulders of the woman rise and fall as she lay slept with her head on her arms on the table top. His eyes glittered with something dark. He moved. Easily, he scooped the sleeping woman into his arms bridal-style. Holding her with one hand he skillfully tossed the open book into Levy's bag and picked that up as well, his hand returning to support the woman's legs.

"Gajeel?"

He turned away from the white haired woman, "I'll take her home." And with that he crossed the hall to the guild doors and out into the night.

Mira turned to the master with a perplexed look. "Master? Care to explain?"

"No, not really my dear. Just let the man be. He has a lot on his mind, and shoulders as it were."

"Ok then! Goodnight Master!"

"Good Night My dear!"


The temperature outside had dropped significantly since that afternoon when the trio had returned to Magnolia. When the cool night air hit Levy's exposed skin, she immediately snuggled closer to the source of warmth that was on one side of her. Someone must have opened the door… Gajeel…mmhhmm…damn… so sleepy… her mind mused through her sleeping state. Surrendering to sleep fully Levy sighed softly.

Gajeel looked down at the mage in his arms. He had tensed when she had stirred, but she only let out a soft mummer as she snuggled into his chest just under his collar bone. He relaxed when she let out a contented sigh, a small smile on her lips. The ghost of a smile flitted across his mouth as well. He was having a very hard time convincing himself, and the dragon inside, that he shouldn't be enjoying this so much. The dragon in his chest "gihi'd" his approval resting his head on long paws'.

Gajeel tightened his grip on the little mage pulling her up closer to his chin. He dipped his head and closed his eyes, trusting his feet and dragon senses enough as to stay on track (literally), inhaling her scent deeply. The smell of old leather bound books, fresh ink, lavender and that one smell that he couldn't name that she always smelled like. His brain went a little fuzzy at the edges as the sweet aroma filled his body, warmth fallowing behind it. He turned his head closer to hers. His nose brushed the bridge of hers and he opened his eyes lazily, his forward motion coming to a stop.

He gazed at the hazy image of Levy's face directly in front of his eyes. He eyes burned, not with a fire, but with that of molten rock, bright and glowing, intense and powerful, honest and true. He blinked slowly. He didn't know if it was the scent of her, the feel of her tiny body in his arms, the aftershock of his emotional revelation, or the fact that he just didn't want to be a lonely soul anymore. Whatever it was, he was happy. This felt to right to be wrong. The dragon purred. Gajeel closed his eyes and pressed their foreheads together, face contorting with emotion that he hadn't let himself feel in far too long.

Overhead, Lilly watched. He had been hovering just off the dragons left shoulder, glancing down at him every now and then, just to make sure everything was ok still. Watching as Gajeel stopped walking and cuddled the little female in his arms. Lilly had come to know Gajeel well enough that usually he just needed to be there with the dragon, no words, no comfort, no nothing, his presence was enough. But when things turned to Levy, it was as if Gajeel had a physical need to be near the script mage. Lilly was unsure of what to do in this case, he could see that Gajeel was struggling, but he didn't know what to do to help his friend. So, he did the only thing he knew worked, he simply stayed by the dragons side, a silent shadow, always watching.

Gajeel pulled away from Levy and continued his trek to Fairy Hills Dorm. They weren't far now, he could see the building just on that hill over there.

Reluctantly, the dragon stopped at the mane door to the building. As he gazed upon the stone, a sudden thought hit him.

"Tch…. How am I supposed to get inside?" Gajeel glared at the building as if it should have provided an easy answer a long time ago. Then he remembered. Top floor, the third, the second window to the left of the mane door, the corner unit? Damn… this one's closed. He turned and walked around the side of the building. He smirked. The window around the corner facing the woods was open a small amount, enough that he could get up there and open it more. The dragon looked around.

"Lilly?"

"Hmm"

"Can you fly me up to that window?"

"I can try, I may have to transform to do so… you're not exactly light, plus you've got her."

"Awe c'on, she doesn't weigh as much as you do! Just get me up there huh?"

"So impatient, and so rude." Lilly shook his head before swooping down and grabbing the dragon by the back of his shirt. He wouldn't have told Gajeel, but the dragon had been correct in saying that Levy was quite light, but the exceed was sure he was lighter. Lilly easily lifted the dragon and his armful of Levy to the window, hovering as Gajeel used a foot to open the window farther.

Gajeel lightly landed on the carpeted room. Yup. This was Levy's place alright. There were books everywhere. Stacks towering to the ceiling, against every wall, on every solid surface, on the floor, everywhere. The dragon chuckled, he knew she was a bookworm, but damn! The Shrimp could get lost in this maze of pages and no one would be the wiser.

He carefully began to pic his way through the mess to what he figured would be the bedroom in the apartment, his dragon-ness allowing him to see in the dark rather well. He nudged the door open he thought would be the bedroom and entered. He was correct. The room wasn't too large nor too small, it was just, Levy-sized. Against the opposite wall was her queen size bed, which was, of course, made. Gajeel noted the lack of mess, at least compared to outside the bedroom. He dropped Levy's bag on a chair, and jerked back the covers, laying her down softly and pulling the blankets up to her nose.

Levy made a noise of complaint as his body heat disappeared and was replaced by the cold blankets. She shifted around until she was comfortable. Gajeel sat on the bed by her side, watching her sleep on. A hand brushed a few locks of blue hair out of the sleeping girls face, his fingers resting a moment on her cheek then tracing down her chin. He sat and watched for a few moments longer then stood and made to leave. HE stopped with his hand on the door, peeking in on her one last time.

"See ya' 'round, Levy."

Climbing out of the window, the dragon balanced himself on the sill and closed the window firmly – but softly – then back-flipped off the window landing noiselessly on the ground three stories below. Without a backwards glance, he and Lilly made for the dragon slayers layer.


yeah so idk how i feel about the newish angle? ya feeling it or nah? TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT! :P Reviews? until next week!

OH YEAH! IF I CAN GET TO 75+ FAVORITES AND 45 COMMENTS FOR THIS STORY I'LL POST 2 CHAPTERS NEXT WEEK, MAYBE EVEN 3! think of it as a Black Friday Special hahah... but really i'm serious, its gonna get reallllllylyyy good in the next update, like i think all my fluff needs will be met, and the one after - the sexual stuff starts... ok bed now _