Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail.


"Gajeel! Get up."

"What?! Fu-!" Gajeel shot up in his bunk. It was too early for anyone without a death wish to be biting at his ankles. In his shock, he'd slammed his head into the underside of Lily's bed. He'd be licking that wound for at least week from the way it felt when he rubbed at it. "This had better-" He flung the door open, perplexed by the sight of the small girl in their threshold.

"Lily needs you."

"What for?"

Levy bit her bottom lip harshly, a bruise would surely bloom there within the hour. "It's Aurora."

That got his attention. Lily only called on his help in the cages if it was serious, and judging by the stricken look on the girl's face, he was spot on about that. Gajeel clambered around the room and yanked his boots over his feet, not bothering with the laces in his haste. He roughly rushed Levy from the doorway and into the hallway.

She led the way and cursed every time she stumbled in her doubled pace, her nerves were getting the better of her and that wouldn't be helpful to anyone, least of all to her elephant. A particularly nasty trip would have had her face planting off the train's steps if the man behind her hadn't caught her by the elbow and tugged her back on her feet.

"Levy, breathe." Levy only managed a nod, refusing to trust her voice now that her mind was racing with the worst case scenarios.

For his long strides, she was near jogging to keep up. They reached Aurora's cage, the door wide open, to see Lily squatted near her head and running his hands over her great ears. The poor creature was laid out on her side, slightly shaking from spent nerves.

"What's it, Lil?"

"Infection. I need you to stay up by the head to distract her while I check it out. Can't get a good hold on her ankle by myself."

Gajeel swung his weight onto the raised platform of the cage and stalked toward Aurora, tying his hair back at the nape of his neck. Levy stood beside Lucy, clutching the other girl's hand like a vice. Natsu and Elfman stood not too far off from them. The iron juggler and elephant had never really interacted; this was the closest he'd been to her since he joined, so he lowered to the straw covered floor slowly, watching for any signs of distress in Aurora's exhausted gaze.

"Easy, girl." Gajeel scratched at her trunk and inched closer to her head so he could hold her still when Lily needed. The pachyderm grumbled at his proximity and attempted to jerk away from Lily's reach.

"Careful." Levy took a step forward and craned her neck; if Aurora could just get a look at her, Levy knew it would put her a little more at ease.

The sound of her master's voice set the elephant on alert as she tried to raise her head and stand. Lily cautiously pressed his weight against her torso and Gajeel moved to obstruct her vision and resettle her head on the ground. The actions spooked the old girl and she forced a pitiful trumpet in a wail for her owner. She fidgeted more, trying to work out of their grasp and get to Levy.

Years of their training ingrained a sense of time to her old mind, Aurora could pick up on when her master would visit the cages or when it was time for bed or practice or showtime. She couldn't let Levy down, she had to get up and show her she was nothing to worry about. The pachyderm called out to Levy, curling her trunk around Gajeel and hopelessly stretching for the bars to reach out to the tiny and familiar hand that cared for her.

Happy could be heard pacing his cage, beating his tail against the cage door and restlessly growling in response to the tense atmosphere.

Lily dug around in the bag at his side and retrieved a needle and glass vile of medicine, a light sedative. It was reserved for last ditch efforts, while the elephant wasn't raging, it would be difficult to restrain the two ton beast on a good day. The sun shining off of the long needle sent a sucker punch to Levy's gut, the thought of it piercing into the thick hide made the elephant rider's head swim. The nausea rose in her throat, but she couldn't just stand by and let them hurt Aurora. They were supposed to be setting her to rights!

"No, don't! She'll be good, I can calm her down, I promise!" Levy shot forward and started for the little step ladder leading up into the cage. She didn't want her elephant to be sedated, it felt like the worst sort of betrayal.

Pantherlily laid over the animal to keep her down, and Gajeel had spread out over her neck. He jerkily nodded his head in the direction of the train cars, "Get her out of here."

Just as she was in arms' reach of the steps, Elfman's enormous arm circled around her waist and pulled her away, holding her to his side. A keening wail ripped from her throat in surprise. She had been so close!

"No, let me go. Li-Lily, don't do this! Elfman put me down!" She beat against his arm and attempted to pry out of his grasp, all she needed was the tiniest give and she'd be able to get back to Aurora. "Ga-Gajeel! Stop them! Gajeel, help me! Let me stay, please!"

He hardened his gaze and broke the brief eye contact with her face contorted in pain and pleading. Gajeel kept his eyes trained on the elephant at his lap, brushing his palm over Aurora's forehead. "Go on, Levy. You'll only spook each other more."

"No! Let me go! Gajeel! Lily! Don't make me leave." Her tiny fists slammed against Elfman's arm to punctuate her words and anger, a sob lodged in her throat.

"Natsu, if you don't go take care of that fur ball of yours and get him to knock it off, it's going to give this poor thing a heart attack." Natsu fled from Lucy's side at Lily's sharp gaze and tone.

Lucy was beside herself as Levy continued to struggle and fight her way to freedom and Aurora fought the same losing battle behind her. One last guttural bawl came from the elephant before she was administered the medicine.

Gajeel and Lily set to work running practiced hands over the wrinkled skin, until they came across the laceration hidden in the folds of skin on her back ankle. Lily set to work cleaning the wound and repeated the process. The animal caretaker rummaged for the jar of salve cradled deep in the bag, smearing a generous amount over the injury. Gajeel quietly handed over the supplies, only moving to help heft the creature's leg up so Lily could wrap it.

He surveyed his handiwork and leaned back on his heels, scratching at Aurora's stomach. The older man looked to his friend still set cross legged with the elephant's head in his lap, aimlessly petting her ears, neck, and trunk. Lily snorted at the painfully pensive expression on his face.

"Careful, your face could stick like that." Lily sighed when the jive went unnoticed by his friend, "You know, she's not going to hate you."

"Yeah, I kn- I mean, what makes you think I'm worried about that? The kid was causin' a scene and it needed to be taken care of." Aurora's half-lidded eyes fluttered in contentment with his attentive ministrations, and Lily smiled at the scene.

"That may be so, but you cannot fool me. Like it or not, you've got yourself a soft spot."

"I ain't soft."

"Then call it a conscience, you big baby. I imagine Mirajane and Kinana are fattening her up in the dining car now, if you wanted to speak with her."

"She probably wants to be alone."

"Ah, but not everyone is a lone wolf, Gajeel. I bet she would appreciate it if you told her how Aurora was taken care of."

"I didn't do much, that was you, Lil'."

"Yes, but I think she'd be more relieved to hear that coming from you."

"You don't give up do you?"

"Never."

Gajeel placed the elephant's head on a pillow Lily offered him and stood, brushing the dirt and hay from his trousers before jumping to the ground. He shoved one hand in his pant's pocket and lazily flicked the other over his head in a wave, "Later."

Lily cleaned up the rest of the supplies in quiet, pretending to not notice the sharp eye on his back. Aurora raised her trunk to tug at the back of his shirt for his attention.

"What is it, belle?" He sat back on his haunches, resting a hand on the elephant's cheek.

She responded by curling her trunk up and placing her nostrils flat against his own cheek. It was the very first trick Levy had taught her after Aurora moved to their show, her previous owner had retired and needed someone to care for their precious elephant. He squeezed her trunk affectionately and laughed when she blew air onto his skin.

"Perhaps we should nail up a sign, huh? Open For Business: Advice from Pantherlily and Aurora." The animal snorted and slit her eyes at the man in front of her. "Je m'excuse, Aurora and Pantherlily. If we could get though to those oblivious youngsters, there'd be no stopping us. We'd have a shot at renown." Lily grabbed his bag and stood upright again, "Get some rest."

Aurora curled her trunk around a baby pink sheet off to the side of the cage and pulled it over her body, and once she was settled and satisfied with the blanket's placement, she waved her trunk in farewell.


With Aurora out of commission until her leg was better, something Levy continuously berated herself for, Jet stepped in to help her fill the time frame.

Jet and Droy acted as her assistants, tossing her Aurora's various toys and then taking them back once they were done so they wouldn't be left in the way, and they lead Aurora around the ring while Levy stood atop the elephant for her routine.

They'd all been banded together since she was young, shortly after she came back with Makarov. Back then they hadn't been too thrilled to form an act with a girl, let alone tiny Levy McGarden, but as the years passed, they grew close and Levy rose up as their leader. It was mildly embarrassing when they let the torches they both carried for her burn too tall and bright, taking their conversations away from the situation at hand and leaving her stuck awkwardly in the middle.

Droy had a brilliant green thumb; he raised the soft grass and beautiful blooms that lined the tents and stalls. After Laki would finish her clean up job, he would step in and fix the bending grass and broken petals. He always made the hills they borrowed more beautiful than when they had arrived.

Jet had no creation ability, but he was fast. He used this talent to spread the word to nearby towns that Tail was in and opening that night. Today, Levy used his quick feet and mind to whip up a routine. It was simple enough, a watered down waltz combined with her acrobatics and even dug up the Spanish web that gathered dust in one of her chests.

The master allowed them extra time in the big top to sort out their steps and even allowed them the use of his gramophone to provide music.

Levy cranked the machine and set the needle over the record, a soulful piano slowly keyed out its piece as she approached him. He set his hands at her waist and the other grabbed for her hand.

"I won't let you down, Levy."

"I know you won't." She placed her other hand on his bicep and they began their dance.

Part of her felt guilty for thinking he would take the request the wrong way, they weren't exactly dancing together like friends would. Jet would be great to any girl that caught his eye, she would be lucky in love for sure.

Levy allowed her mind slip to a time where he challenged her to a race and there was never any chance of her ideas being mistaken for anything but pure fun with her friends.

Droy hadn't yet mastered his element, so weeds grew tall over her head in the field they placed the circus that year. She remembered the cattails scratching at her cheeks and legs. Daffodils tickled her nose and the petals stuck to her feet as she ran. Jet had pulled ahead early on, both of them knowing he would win, but they loved the thrill of stretching their legs after being cooped up for days on the Tail's train.

Wakaba was smoking a cigar and laughing with Macao at their sense of adolescent freedom, when the conversation between the adults slipped into talk of Macao and his wife expecting their first child.

The wind tangled Levy's chin length hair and the sun burned her nose, her head thrown back in a laugh the entire time. Droy was hollering at the top of his lungs, Elfman and Lisanna cheering them on. Natsu and Gray had been too busy being pressed brow to brow, ready to trade blows, but Erza forced her hands between them and shoved them apart. Her strength sent them flying into the dirt.

Her happiness fed the pace of her pounding legs, and Jet's back came into view. The thought that maybe she would actually win this one was stark and bright in her mind, even after all these years.

That golden afternoon and the imminent nose-to-nose finish of that race all came crashing down when her foot snagged on a root of the giant willow and she was sent tumbling into the grass. Before a gasp or cry could form on her tongue, Jet was back at her side; shushing her and clucking his tongue at the scraped knees she sported. He'd pulled his sleeve over his hand and wiped the dirt and tears from her face.

"C'mon Levy, we'll get Mister Lily to clean ya up." She had only managed a whimpered assent, fearing if she opened her mouth to speak, the others would hear the childish sob lodged in her throat, and let him pull her up for a piggyback ride back to the tents.

She missed those days, where there were less worries and the world was bigger.

"-vy? Levy? You okay?"

Levy shook her head and blinked, smiling sheepishly up at her dance partner. "Oh, yeah, I just got lost in thought."

Jet chuckled down at her and raised his brow. She never changed. "What about?"

"Do you remember racing in the tall grass?"

"And your first-rate nose dive into the dirt? How could I forget?"

"Gee thanks!" Levy playfully smacked her hand on his shoulder and scoffed at his full laugh.

"Well, I carried you back to get doctored up, didn't I?"

"You did, I appreciate it." She nodded her head and beamed up at her old friend, letting a comfortable silence slip between them again, before he spoke up again.

"Say, Levy?"

"Hm?"

Jet stopped moving and dropped his hand from her waist to scratch at the nape of his neck, "You- We're not ever going to be, huh?"

Just like that, an avalanche rolled through her guts and she felt like she was falling over that willow root all over again. This was what she had been worried about, that Jet would take her request for help as more. It really did infuriate her at times, the way he in particular could carry on. Now, it just left her hollowed out and sad, because they were older now and she wasn't the only one consistently egged on about finding a someone to spend their life with. "Oh, Jet…Don't-"

"No, it's all right. I have a point in bringing it up, I don't mean to put you on the spot. I just wanted you to know, no hard feelings. Droy and I will always be there for you to fall back on if you need us."

"I don't doubt it for a second," Levy tilted her head and scrunched her nose, she knew him all too well. "But that's not all you wanted to say."

Jet flushed and looked down, scuffing his shoe through the dirt like a child before looking back up at her again. "I, I uh, brought this all up because well- and don't get angry- but everyone's picked up on it. Gajeel's got an eye for you, whether he admits it or not. Whether either of you intend to take it anywhere. It's there and, well, we- I- just wanted to let you know that we want you to be happy."

"Well, I've gotta say that Gajeel Redfox having eyes for me, and vice versa, is ludicrous." Levy sighed and squeezed the hand still clasped with hers, "It's a weight lifted knowing I wouldn't be hurting my dearest friends should I find someone, though. I care about you guys a lot and, while I know I don't really need it, it's nice to know you've still got scrawny Levy McGarden's back.

"Jet, you'll make a young lady very happy one day and I hope I'm there to see you sweep her right off her feet at that famous, breakneck speed." She laughed at the pink on his cheeks and winked up at him; it was no secret he could be quite the smooth talker when he wanted to be. Makarov had relied on that little trick of his for years to fill their seats and Levy had not been blind to the tipped ratio of women to men audience members.

"Sure thing, Lev." With a never before seen boldness, he leaned forward and lightly kissed the crown of her head as the music faded. Pantherlily had been right, they were both just off the boat.


Levy convinced herself that his slip up was caused by his unruly hair, not a pass in judgement.

Gajeel Redfox could not be lopped in with common jugglers that couldn't otherwise compete with his sixth sense. He handled iron meticulously. He wasn't allowed to simply slip and slice his skin right open in practice. She'd witnessed him toss them around like balled socks, was even present the evening he'd distractedly tossed a pocket knife and pinned the edge of Natsu's scarf to a wall after getting fed up with the fire breather's wild antics and adamant refusal to sit still.

The scrap material in her hand did nothing to dull the ache of her own fingernails pressed deep into her palm.

He'd probably laugh in her face when she told him there'd been enough left over to provide a belt as well. Gajeel referred to Jet and Droy as her accessories with dispassionate venom, what lead her to think that an actual accessory would be different?

But she had to try.

She would sew the thing to his forehead, piercing that thick skull of his with her fear, if need be.

The situation wasn't funny, not one bit, but the bewildered expression splitting his usually stern visage was priceless. Levy pulled in her lips, refused to make light of the situation, and thrust the fabric into his rough hand before abruptly pivoting on her heel and stalking off.

"Hold up a second!" Gajeel caught her elbow in seven strides, and she hated him for it. "What's this about?"

She should have known someone like Gajeel wouldn't let her off the hook so easily. The man was award-winning with vagueness at times, but ultimately had no patience for it.

"Your hair fell in your eyes last time, right? Obscured your vision just the one time, but you should know better, moron." Levy kept her head held high, but not in his direction. She wasn't prepared to explain all of this out to him, and it wouldn't be the last time Redfox took her precious words away from her.

Pain tickled his brow, the muscles in his face twitched with the odd sensation, and, for once, clarity rung in his head like a church bell. Gajeel couldn't very well forget the way her hands quaked trying to stitch his eyebrow back together or her pupils that had been blown to conceal most of her bright irises.

He opened his palm and studied the pale material in his hand.

"They should pair well enough with your clothes. Wear 'em." The elephant rider cleared her throat and allowed her gaze to drift to the side to watch him.

"All right." At his easy acquiescence, Levy whirled back around and met his eye.

She still had nothing to say that wouldn't incriminate her in several languages, living and dead, so Levy steeled herself just to watch him. For all of her odd behavior, he didn't point it out or sneer or roll his eyes or even flinch with that tell-tale awkwardness he got when somebody shoved him under the microscope. Levy tilted her head and drew her brows down, "It scarred."

Using her weight against her, he pulled lightly on her elbow to bring her closer to him. Gajeel shoved the material in the deep pockets of his trousers and used his newly free hand to flick her in the forehead.

"Tch, don't worry about it."


-French

belle: beautiful

Je m'excuse: I apologize.

-Slang

just off the boat: naive


A/N: I kind of went for the post-7 lost years!Jet and Droy, although Droy never officially appears here. I kind of hate how they get stuck in the comic relief box and never get to rise above meddling idiots. They're stereotyped repeatedly and constantly written just as vile as the main antagonists. I have a lot of love for those guys and for the way they take up as the self-proclaimed big brothers.

As you can probably tell by now, Gajeel's outfit for the entirety of this story is the GMG getup.