His body ached horribly. The massive damage the dragons had caused was nowhere near being completely repaired, and they had been working steadily all week. After rolling a piece of debris out of the road so workers could get into the worst parts of town to help the citizens, he straightened and stretched, feeling stiff muscles pinch and loosen. Glancing around, he caught a glimpse of glowing blonde hair reflecting the setting sunlight and smirked as she made her way towards him, skirting larger pieces of rubble.

"Aren't you tired?" She asked, giving him a careful gaze. "You've been working harder than anyone else, and you're still hurt." Her eyes slid to the white bandages that covered his bare chest and arms and he fought the urge to laugh.

"Nah, I'm fine. I'm actually gonna take a break now and get something to eat." He answered quietly. She smiled brightly and laughed at him. "Okay. I don't want you getting hurt more because you're trying to help again. Get some food and sit down for a while. I'm going to help Erza and Juvia for a while and I'll meet you back at the hall, alright?" She patted his cheek gently and left her hand there for a moment, looking like she was going to say something, but Erza called her name and she jumped, startled, and blushed a deep scarlet. He smirked as she scurried away and scratched the back of his head absently.

"Oi!" He turned at Gajeel's loud voice.
"Yeah?" The black-haired slayer grinned. "You gonna go after that bunny, or am I gonna have to catch her for ya?" He challenged.

He spared a glance in her direction and caught her looking his way. Their eyes met and she looked away, smiling, the simple action sending butterflies singing in his chest. "Shut up, stupid." He murmured, still looking at her. "I'm going after that. You've got your own girl, remember?" Said girl suddenly appeared, as if summoned, and Gajeel went willingly with the blue-haired pixie-sized girl after shooting him a smug look.

He laughed and stretched, starting towards the guild hall. One of the few standing buildings, it was still erect only because of the enchantment placed around it. He yawned as he walked through the doors, nodding to some of the others as he passed.

Mirajane saw him and smiled, lifting a plate of food from her counter and handing it to him. "Thanks, Mira," he said, taking it and sniffing curiously. The delicious scent of chicken and rice wafted through his nose and he sighed happily, taking a seat at an empty table.

Before long, he heard her voice and smelled the sweet scent that was so very her; chocolate and cherry blossoms. He glanced up to see her at the counter, just taking a tray of drinks from Mirajane. He watched as she moved around the guild hall, handing out drinks to those who waved her down. She returned the tray to Mira when it was empty and sat down next to him, straddling the bench. He shot a quick glance at her legs and noted with relief that they were scraped, but bandaged and no longer seemed to be causing her pain. For a few minutes, they sat in companionable silence while he ate and stretched his sore muscles. She watched the guild members around them, keeping close eyes on those with the worst injuries.

He noted her watchfulness with a laugh and received a puzzled glance. "What's so funny?" She asked.

"Nothing." He replied softly, looking away awkwardly. She smiled and stood, moving behind him in a single stride. Her hands fell on his shoulders and he tensed, expecting something more…threatening, but all she did was run them up and down his back in gentle, soothing strokes. He soon relaxed happily and let her continue her ministrations.

Her hands were heavenly. It was official, he mused. He loved her even more.

Soon she had him rocking back and forth in time with her movements, and his eyes had long slid shut. He could feel the blissful look that was surely on his face now, but couldn't bring himself to care.

Her hands slowed and finally stopped, and she moved one warm palm to his jaw. "Come on, silly. It's time to go home for the day." He moaned in response and laid his head on the table. She giggled softly, the sound like music, and sat down beside him. "All that work finally catch up to you?"
"No, your hands are the work of the gods. They're amazing." He mumbled, cracking an eye open to look at her. She laughed and grasped his hand.

"Thank you. But my hands and the rest of me are tired and ready to go to sleep. How about you?" He shook his head.
"I should get back to work-"
"No. you've done enough work this week. Everyone has been taking breaks except you, and it's starting to worry us. You need to rest." He sighed and let her pull him up. "Come on. You can sleep in my room tonight." Her fingers were wrapped securely around his wrist and he smiled softly at their entwined hands, slipping his hand from hers only to grasp it again, interlocking their fingers. She shot him a curious look, but didn't comment.

Instead, she led him into the upper levels of the guild, through a winding hallway. They passed Levy, who was hurrying towards the library, her hair tousled, cheeks red and flushed, eyes hazy, and out of breath. A few moments later, Gajeel strode past them, giving him a big grin and a quiet chuckle as he passed, also headed towards the library.

She stopped before a door that had her name engraved on a plate, and opened it with a silver key. She released his hand and went inside. He followed close behind and found himself in a quaint version of her apartment. "here." She called him into her bedroom and told him where the blankets were. He went to grab a few while she changed into pajamas.

When he returned, he found himself captivated by the sight of her in an old, oversized t-shirt. One of his, he realized with a faint flutter in his stomach.

She looked damn sexy.

She took the blankets from him and laid them out on her bed, which he realized was bare before. She crawled onto the bed and looked at him innocently.

"Well?"
"Well what?"
"Are you going to stand there or lay down?"
"Oh." He smiled and shrugged off his vest, letting it drop to the ground. His sandals followed by his pants soon followed, leaving him bare except for the bandages on his body and his boxers. She blushed, but refrained from turning her back to him. He sat down on the edge of the bed and laid down, pulling one of the blankets over his hips. She grasped his arm and pulled him back towards the center of the bed. "You'll fall off."
"No I won't."
""Why can't you just admit I'm right and give up for once?"
"I don't know."

She sighed and laid down with her back against the wall. Soon her soft breathing filled the quiet as she fell asleep, and he rolled over to face her.

She was beautiful in her sleep. Her blonde hair spilled over her shoulders, reaching the middle of her back now. Her eyes were shut, lashes fluttering gently. Her lips were slightly parted in an 'o', full and plump, and he was sure he imagined the shine of moisture on them.

She was angelic.

Slowly he leant down and kissed her sweetly, gently, before sliding his arm under her head and pulling her closer. She sighed contentedly and rested her hand on his chest, just above his heart.

He smiled and kissed her forehead, grasping her hand to keep it there.

She had, literally and figuratively, saved his life and captured his heart, all in the same day.

And there was no way in hell he was going to let that go so quickly.

And besides, if working so hard meant he could sleep with her every night, then cleanup duty would become his second favorite pastime.

Second only to spending time with his angel, of course. His angel, sent from heaven to save him over and over again.

And he loved her every day for it.

I had fun with this one. Sorry it took me so long to upload it, I've been super busy with school! As for my other stories, the ones that are still unfinished are as of now on hold.

thanks so much for sticking with me! Please read and review!

Love you guys so much

Kira'sGuardian