AN: So I got an idea from watching a tv show with undercover federal agents, and having already been toying with writing a FanFiction about Gajeel, I decided to go ahead and write one. This is an AU and there are two plots here, a Past and a Present. The past is italicized and the present is normal text. They will eventually meet in the middle.
Storyline: Gajeel has tried to separate the past from the present for years, doing his best to protect his family from his previous mistakes. When his daughter is suddenly kidnapped by his old cartel boss, her only hope is to fight her way out with what her father taught her. But Gajeel won't sit by idly and ignore his raging instincts - instincts that scream his past has finally caught up with him. One thing still hasn't changed: no one messes with a Redfox.
Two separate plots - the past and the present- collide as events unfold.
*Rated Mature - There is intense language, violence, drug, and some sexual situations. Reader discretion is strongly advised.
*I do not own any of the pictures.
*I do not own any of FairyTail - that's all Hiro Mashima.
Chapter VI
Gajeel quickly closed his eyes against the crash of the empty liquor bottle against the wall. Sting watched with caution, fighting not to cringe as Jose yelled at them.
The veins in his neck were clearly visible, and his brow was deeply furrowed.
"What do you mean, he got away? Please tell me 'he got away' means that he's dead." Jose bit out, squeezing his hands into tight fists, looking ready to sock them both in the face. He faced them where they stood in front of the desk.
Gajeel cleared his throat, knowing that his boss wasn't going to like the answer. He opened his eyes and spoke, "It means that we failed to kill him. He left through an emergency exit before we had a chance to-"
"Damn! You are one of my best, Redfox and you fucking let me down!" Jose cried, hitting his fist on top of the desk behind him. He uttered in another language and looked up, putting a hand loosely around his throat.
Sting glanced over to Gajeel, who stared straight ahead, past the desk and to a picture on the wall. It was a painting of a dressed up lady with a groomed chestnut horse standing beside her. It looked rather old, and he guessed that it had belonged to someone somewhere in Jose's family line; there were no other paintings or other decorations in the office.
Jose took an audible deep breath and held it for a moment, looking between the two. "You are lucky that I don't kill you myself... now that bastard will be ready for another attempt on his men, no doubt acquiring more security as we speak. It was a simple task. Two for three, as you said, is not good enough."
"I understand, sir. It won't happen again." Gajeel said, nodding once.
"It damn well better never happen again. I have spent an considerable amount of effort to convince Ivan that I'm alright with him pushing boarders, that we could one day merge into a magnificent base of cartel operations. I'm actively allowing him to sell in my distribution sectors and he's eating it up. I'm usually a patient man, but it's swiftly running out."
Both Sting and Gajeel nodded. "It's understood."
Jose walked around his desk as the phone rang, and he glanced at them before he picked it up. "You may leave, but think hard on what has been said."
Once out of the hallway and through the doors leading to the grounds outside, Sting turned to Gajeel. "I thought he would have been more angry."
Gajeel snorted and dug around for his cigarettes while they walked on the sidewalk outside of the building towards the parking lot. He had seen Jose angry before, and today was mild. He lit a cigarette and stopped at his jeep. The red jeep had been given to him by Jose, back when their cartel was at the top in the major surrounding cities. He was told he could keep it if he stayed on as the boss's trainer for new recruits.
"He was holdin' back, Sting. His gun was on his desk. There was nothing stopping him from snatching it up and mowing us down right there."
The blond looked shocked. "Are you serious?"
Gajeel swung his head around and gave him a look, his eyes serious with the white wrapped smoke in his mouth. He saw the look on Sting's face and commented, "Can't back out now, kid. You're in too deep."
"I know, it's just a lot to take in."
Gajeel climbed into the driver's side and started up the engine. "You got a ride?"
Motioning to the motorcycle on the other side of the small lot, Sting nodded. "I'll see ya."
"Yep."
Gajeel backed the jeep out of the space and waited for the road to clear of traffic before taking off. He did have a lot to think hard about. Jose was playing a dangerous game with Ivan. It was only a matter of time before the top dog got a whiff of the scheme his boss was trying his best to weave. Then it wouldn't do to hide; Ivan would hunt them all down.
He pulled out onto the road and headed for his apartment on the other side of the city, hearing a motorcycle rev and pass him in the other lane at the green light.
Thinking of the fuck up they had created with Bora at the club, he frowned. Everything had gone the way it was supposed to, only Bora was slick. The man must have had an experience with an attempt on his life before last night. He had wasted no time in leaving.
Shaking his head, he blew out the last bit of his lungful of smoke and threw the small orange filter over the jeep door. He couldn't wait to get home and sleep. Levy came to his mind then.
For some reason, he badly wanted to see her again. He wasn't about to show his face at her place of employment though, not yet at least. If that was the only place he would find her, he'd have to suck it up and wait a few weeks until the hype from the shootings died down. He pursed his lips and scowled as the thought of some other man luring her to him with lies and sweet promises struck his consciousness.
Her smile was clear in his mind's eye, and it tormented him. She was too beautiful for him. Too good. Too innocent. As involved as he was in the business, it was clear if she knew of his activities, he'd never see her again. That is, if he saw her before then. It was yet another moment of regret at his poor choices. But he had to see her again. The question was when.
The ballpark was quickly filling up with people for the softball game that was scheduled for the night. It was still the early evening, but the players for the night's game could practice in the second field to wait on the game already underway.
Sitting on the first row of the bleachers, Levy held her hand up to shield her eyes from the bright sunset, and looked out into the practice field. The spring air was slightly chilly, and would only get colder once the sun slid below the horizon.
"Hey mom." Melina called as she glided around a group of people. Her hair was pulled back with a clip and surprisingly, she wore a little yellow sundress.
Levy smiled when she saw her daughter. She had bought her the dress she had on some time ago, thinking that she'd change her mind about wearing more feminine attire now that she was going to be a junior the next school year. It pleased her and warmed her heart that Melina had donned it on her own free will.
Someone was behind her, and even more of a surprise to Levy, Melina was holding his hand. His. Hand. The brown haired boy was considerably taller than her and wore a Letterman jacket with the school's colors of red and silver. She could tell that he was physically fit even with the heavy jacket on.
"Who is this?" Levy said cheerfully.
Melina moved to the side, still holding the boys hand. "This is Chase."
"Nice to meet you Chase. I'm Levy, Melina's mother." She replied happily and reached out to shake his hand.
He returned her smile with his own. "It's nice to meet you too."
"Did you too meet in school?"
"Yea, we're in three of the same classes. He'll be a senior next year." Melina said, a smile fixed in her expression.
They sat down next to her, and she turned to give her six year old a handful of popcorn from the concession stand. She turned to check on Galen at the playground behind the bleachers. He was playing tag around the slides with a group of other children. She heard Melina giggle and Chase laugh as he said, "What, it's true!"
It was cute to listen to the two of them talk together. Her thoughts floated to the days when her and Gajeel had started to see each other, when he took her out on their first date. A contentedness crept into her core. They both had come a long way.
She started to watch the players on the diamond. The pitcher was warming up, throwing the ball to the catcher, who threw it back. A few players stretched on the grass between the dugouts and the infield. They all wore their own clothes. Most were sleeveless or cut off shirts and gym shorts. It was a league they had joined for fun.
Gajeel was standing in the outfield with his glove in his green cut off shirt and grey shorts, waiting on one of the others to launch a fly ball to he could catch it. His hair was loose, and a rolled up bandanna was wrapped across his forehead, going under the mass of black.
At the home plate, someone called out to the farther players, and his metal bat hit a softball, the loud tink echoing across the field. It flew up into the air. Gajeel ran for it, positioning himself under it and caught it. He threw it back with some power behind it.
Rhett was also out there in left field. He loved baseball and he wanted to be on the school's baseball team for the next year. When his father asked him if he wanted to play on their softball league, he jumped at the chance. He was all smiles as he watched for another fly ball.
The game in the other field ended, and the people who had watched from the stands began to leave. Soon they would have to move to that field. Levy picked up her purse and opened the small cloth bag she used to carry when Karia was a baby. "Get your toys and put them in the bag, Karia. We have to move."
While she did so, Levy saw her husband's team start to gather in the dugout to walk over to where they would play their game. They started grabbing bags of equipment. When she saw Gajeel, she remembered that Melina wasn't here alone. She bit her lip.
He would most likely get in a mood if he saw her with a boy, and then she'd have to deal with that, along with their sleepy youngest when they got home too. Before that could happen, she pulled out some money from her purse and handed it to Melina.
"Why don't you two go get some food and me and Karia will meet you over there. Save us a seat." She said easily. She watched them go and sighed. Her oldest was growing up too fast.
Gajeel emerged from the gate that led to the diamond with Rhett behind him, carrying his bat that he bought himself with his allowance money. He stopped beside his dad and waited as they shared a quick kiss. "Where's Melina?"
"She'll be along soon. Do you think it's going to be a good game?" She asked.
Gajeel laughed and took a drink of his water bottle. "Gihihi, it'll be a huge blowout."
"It better be! I've been working hard!" Rhett exclaimed happily and ran ahead.
The game began smoothly, each team gaining runs with every inning. The lights came on once the sun went down. They lit up the field, and bugs soon began to congregate in the white light. Gajeel's team was at bat, and Rhett stepped up to the home plate.
"Come on, buddy." Gajeel yelled, and leaned against the fence.
His son crouched into his stance and waited for the pitcher. As the ball came at him, he swung and missed. Levy watched intently with her fists clenched, hoping he wouldn't strike out. He readied himself again, his face stiff with concentration.
The crack of the contact echoed and it was a ground ball to left field. Rhett took off to first base, watching the other players throw the ball towards the first basemen. He stepped onto the white bag before the player caught it.
Gajeel gave him a high five -as their dugout was on the first baseline- and walked up to home plate for his turn. He knew the pitcher, having played them before. He gave him an evil grin and pointed the bat at him before swiftly bringing it behind his shoulder in his stance.
His bat made hard contact with the softball. He launched it far into the air, and it landed just inside of the outfield fence. The people in the bleachers cheered for the team and Gajeel and Rhett both had enough time to run to two more bases, and then the next batter came up to the plate.
Levy smiled deeply and rubbed her arms in the chill of the night air. She had put on her light sweater but the cold was determined to annoy her. Karia climbed onto her lap and she wrapped her in it as well.
"Did your dad play baseball in school?" Chase asked Melina as he gazed at the people on the ball diamond.
She frowned. She honestly didn't know that much about her father from before he met her mother. It had always been a sore subject and they never talked about it. She glanced at Levy's happy face, thinking she could ask her, but she never gave away information involving her husband unless he allowed it. She turned back to Chase. "I don't know... you'll have to ask him."
There was a strike out and the other team started heading for their dugout to prepare for batting. Gajeel jogged up to the fence, motioning Levy to him. "Ya got a tie?" he asked and began to gather his black mane. It was plastered against his neck with sweat.
She looked up from her purse and noticed his eyes widened as he stared behind her. She turned around to follow his light of sight.
An inner growl threatened to become public. He saw Melina sitting close to a boy, and was holding his hand. And she was wearing a dress. And the boy's jacket was around her shoulders. His red eyes narrowed with pursed lips, taking the hair tie without looking at it. He flatly asked Levy, still looking at the pair. "Who's that."
"Her friend from school." She responded, looking innocent.
"Who's a boy. She's got a damn boyfriend..." He quietly spat, never taking his eyes off them.
They grinned at each other and it seemed as though they didn't even know which team was ahead, let alone what the score was. He finished binding his hair behind his neck with choppy motions. He had to hurry out onto the field, as the first player to bat was waiting.
Levy took a breath. Just how she had suspected he would act. When he reached his position, she could see the scowl dead set on his features. The last few innings would be interesting.
Every time their team went to the dugout for batting, Gajeel would forego the chance to sit on the bench to stand by the fence just left of the small player hut with his massive arms across his chest, the bleachers within view. He kept glancing at the two of them, his eyes hard and mouth set in a grim line.
Levy shook her head, not bothering to keep the grin off her face. He was overreacting. When he saw she was watching him with that grin on her face, his scowl deepened. She knew it was a big deal to him what Melina did. She was sixteen now; he couldn't keep her from growing and exploring new territories in her life. One of those would be boys at some point. And then after Melina, Rhett would be in the same unexplored section of life with girls.
The ball game soon ended, Gajeel's team winning by one run. Rhett high fived the other members while cleaning up their dugout of trash and sports equipment. They said goodbyes to their friends and Gajeel roughed his hair. "Good job out there. The school coach would be stupid not ta let ya play on the team."
"I hope I get to!"
He scampered off to get some candy before the concession stand closed down, leaving Gajeel at the bleachers with the rest of his family. He took a long drink of his water, looking down at Melina and her... boyfriend. The word disgusted him when it pertained to his daughter.
"Who're you?" He said bluntly, looking straight at the boy by her side.
"Dad..." Melina said, giving him a look.
Chase swallowed, but put on a small smile. He rose from his seat and reached out his hand. "I'm Chase. I'm in some classes with Melina in school."
Gajeel reluctantly shook his hand, still looking unsure.
"Did you play baseball in school? You were great out there." Chase commented, glancing at Melina beside him.
"Nope." Gajeel simply. "Just pick up on things. I'm a fast learner."
They started walking to the parking lot. Melina and her boyfriend were several paces ahead, laughing together. Gajeel carried his bag on one shoulder, and a sleepy Karia on the other, watching them intently. Levy looked up at him. "They're cute, I think."
"Eh. No one told me she had a boyfriend."
"Oh, Gajeel. They're just teenagers." Levy said.
Gajeel snorted. "Yea? Tell that to teenage me. They've only got one thing on the mind."
"And that is?" She asked, crossing her arms.
He gave her a look, careful not to shake Karia too much. "I don't have ta tell ya what I mean. You of all people should know."
A blush appeared on her face at the thought, knowing he was right. "I don't think we need to worry about Melina right now. This is her first boyfriend. It's going to be alright." She said, upbeat despite the subject and the time of night.
"Did you... ya know... did you talk ta her about..." Gajeel struggled to get the words out. It made him sick to think about the subject in relation to his oldest daughter.
Levy shook her head. "Not yet, but I think she understands. We're not the only people in her life she talks to. With the media these days... she's bound to learn about it regardless."
They found Rhett waiting by the car, eating a bag of cotton candy. Galen ran ahead and took his bag of candy, enduring smacks to the arm and shoulder, but managing to grab a handful of the blue floss. Levy shooed them into the car, giving them an earful about sharing and to behave it public. She waiting in the front seat while Gajeel buckled Karia into her booster seat. He looked up to the restof his children. "Where's Melina?"
Levy pointed to the side mirror, where she could see the two of them hug before he got into his own vehicle. Gajeel turned to his wife, his brow furrowing. He slid into the driver's seat and hissed, "He has his license? Hell. No."
She laid a hand on his arm in an effort to keep him calm. He ignored her and leaned his head out the window. "Oi! Hurry up, we've been waitin'!"
They parted and she made her way to the car. "What, I was just saying goodbye."
Gajeel expertly backed out of the space. "It takes physical contact to say 'bye'?"
"Honey, let's get home first. Karia's sleeping now and the boys are tired." Levy said with a sigh.
Relenting, Gajeel settled for muttering things that only Levy could hear as they made their way home. He kept glancing up in the rear view. Melina had her music playing with her ear buds in her ears. The screen on her phone kept lighting up, and she kept smiling.
"If he's driving, don't text him." Gajeel said, looking at her before staring at the road. He gave up with a roll of his eyes, knowing she'd do it even if she had heard him.
They pulled into the drive and were parked when Melina finally spoke as the boys jumped out to run for the front door. "Are we still going to that picnic tomorrow?"
"Yes, we need to be ready to leave by eleven, so make sure you're awake." Levy answered as she unbuckled Karia. She started to whine to be picked up in her sleepy voice, laying limp in the seat.
"No sweetie, you're too heavy for mommy." Levy said and tried to get Karia out on her own feet.
"But I'm sleepy! Please carry me!"
Levy sighed again, handing her purse to Melina so she could carry her youngest inside. Gajeel came around the car and gently moved his wife away from the door with an arm. He looked at Karia.
"Uh no. Yer mother said yer too heavy for her."
"But-"
He grunted and lifted her out of her seat and headed for the house with her in his arms. "Spoiled brat..."
Gajeel longed for a hot shower and his recliner, or time with Levy upstairs, but he knew what she dealt with on a daily basis with the children, so he helped her put them to bed, starting with Karia, who was easiest.
Looking back on his rough life before marriage, he never thought he'd be helping his little girl put on pink pajamas and have to check under the bed for monsters. He never pictured having nightlights and step stools in different cartoon designs in just about every room in the house, or seeing kid safe toothpaste and brushes in the bathroom and having to wash dinner plates in odd shapes and colors. Not to mention all the different types of baby food when they were all less than a year old. It had all be extremely odd and awkward at first.
But now, he couldn't picture his life without it all.
He found himself smiling down at his youngest, despite feeling physically drained and with dried sweat caked on himself, while she struggled to stay awake. What a completely contrasting image it was in comparison to what he used to see. He had vowed to take care of Levy no matter what. And he would promise to do the same for all of his children.
AN: I'm thinking in the next few chapters, I'll commence the kidnapping... Also "Gajeel and Levy" begin.
