Whelp. Here it is. Ridiculously short, I know. But I'll be honest, I didn't have many ideas and had run out of steam on this one. Next chapters will be more along the usual size. I promise. This was just a peak into Lucy's inner turmoil before I get to the real evil angsty shiz. Muahahaha! Enjoy! :)
Gajeel was never one for displays of affection. In all honesty, they made him uncomfortable due to the fact that never in his life would he be able to come up with an idea on his own. Though if someone were to ask him, he'd probably say something along the lines of "it's not manly. Besides, emotions are stupid." And damn the idiots who knew him to hell for knowing that was a lie. But whenever he saw the small, blue haired spit-fire, he wanted to do something special for her. Though she'd probably just laugh at his efforts. She was a lot tougher than people gave her credit for. That was definitely one of the things that he found attractive of her. She was small, but she wouldn't take shit from anyone. Especially him.
It was a couple days after Blondie had moved into Erza's apartment when he almost literally ran into the object of his (ok, he'll admit it) obsession.
"Oi, watch where you're walkin', shrimp." She gave him a quick glare at the nick-name.
"Sorry. Good book." She replied, closing said book.
He let out his signature chuckle. Oh, he knew. And he may have 'accidentally' stepped in her way just to get her attention. Not that he'd ever admit to it.
"Hello, Lily." She turned her attention to the small black cat sitting on Gajeel's shoulder.
"Good morning, Levy." He replied, flying from Gajeel's shoulder to her own. "Is that a new book? What's it about?"
A slight blush crept up Levy's neck. "Oh nothing." She mumbled. "Just...Lucy lent it to me. She said it was really good."
"Pirates?" Gajeel questioned, glancing at the cover art of the small novel.
Levy's blush deepened, crawling up her face, turning her into an adorable little tomato. "It...well...yes...there are pirates...but...other things too..."
"Other things like what?" Gajeel smirked. He'd heard about this particular book from Natsu earlier that year, when he complained constantly about the book that Lucy was rather occupied with for a while. He knew it was a rather racy book about a princess who (typical) falls for the pirate captain who steals her away for ransom. He pounded Natsu good for wasting his time on that one.
"Just...just other things. Why do you care?" Levy shot at the large man hovering over her. "You've never cared before."
"Gihi. No reason..." He smirked. "Just didn't know you were into that sort of book, Shrimp."
That made Levy stutter and almost trip over her own feet.
Lily cleared his throat, anxious to avoid the awkward silence he knew was coming. "So. Levy. How is Lucy doing, anyway?"
Levy dragged her eyes from the red ones boring into her soul. "...Lucy...Lucy...Oh! Lucy. Ya. She's still pretty freaked out..." Her voice softens, remembering last night, and the quiet sobs she heard from the room on the other side of the wall. "It...It's got me a little worried. She's never been like this before. She can handle stuff like this usually, but this time..." She trails off, not able to find the right words. "I...don't know. Something's different this time..."
Her mind drifted back to Lucy's first night staying with Erza. All the girls home at the time had a giant sleepover. Just for fun, as well as to try to make Lucy comfortable with her new living arrangements. It had started off well, but as soon as she thought everyone was asleep, Levy could hear her crying softly into her pillow. It really scared her that her amazingly strong best friend was that terrified over something that most definitely not new. To anyone in the guild, really. Lucy had always been the strongest out of all of them. Even Erza, according to the warrior mage herself.
"Oi, Shrimp!" Gajeel waved his hand in front of her face, snapping her out of her thoughts. She looked up at him, noticing the slightly concerned crinkle in his eyes.
"Sorry...just...lost in thought." She mumbled.
"Do you think she'll be ok?" Lily asked softly.
Levy thought hard. "...I really don't know..."
