A/N: HELLO PEOPLE! I'm back with an overdue chapter! I wasn't planning on updating this, but I had this strange urge to write this fic while I was suppose to finish Streetlights and Silhouettes. Instead, I finished this story. Lots of BrOTP in this chapter, especially the Gajeel/Lucy BROTP. And as the title entails, it's introducing another important character in this fic. I cannot say when I'll update the next chapter. All I can say is this fic will be written when the feeling arises.

Now, let's play Murder-sort of-hehee


Chapter Nine: The Bunny Girl

"Wait? Romeo?" Sting slammed his hand on the table, ceramic mugs rumbling beneath the diner's table. Rogue grabbed his mug immediately and Gajeel settled his palm over the rim, feeling the steaming warmth scorching his callused skin. "The guy we took chemistry and physics with? That Romeo?" His blond hair danced along the mix of the diner's fluorescents and morning sunlight. The cobalt blue of his electrician uniform brought out the beautiful brightness in his alike eyes. Sting Eucliffe was a very old friend of Rogue. He knew Rogue far better and longer than Gajeel did.

"Yeah," Natsu sighed, still mad about one of his co-workers dating their Wendy. "He's a nice guy."

"A nice guy, yes, but does he deserve Wendy?" Sting fumed. The four boys pondered in silence, staring at their respective cups of coffee. However, Gajeel just stared at them. He never met Romeo, so he could not say, but his older brother instincts are telling him to never trust him.

"Wendy is more responsible than all of you combined." A high pitch voice cut through the cloud of silence. The smell of her lilac perfume and mix of expensive hair products wafted into Gajeel's nose. A disgusting and yet familiar smell. In the name of Justice, how could Natsu love that atrocious smell? "Wendy can take care of herself, and you all know it." Lucy's heels clicked on the tile floor and gave a kiss to her fiancé, Natsu, before she scooted in beside him, crushing Sting against the booth wall. Lucy flashed a dazzling white smile at Gajeel. A smile that'd fool men, but not him. He was immune to her charms.

"What brings you back in town, Bunny Girl?" Gajeel grinned as he watched the smile disappear from her face. Her glossy lips turned into a slight pout. "Avoiding yer publisher?"

"No," Lucy turned to the waitress who automatically brought her coffee and said her thanks. "Maybe? Said after she took a sip of her black coffee and seeking refuge in its warmth. "Well, I have other reasons for coming back. One of them is to meet Romeo for Wendy's dinner party tomorrow. He was shocked to see no make-up adorned her brown eyes, though her medium length blond hair was straighten and styled in its usual simple design, and of course the gloss on her lips. "You should invite Juvia to the party." She said to Gajeel.

"We're busy with a case." Gajeel shook his head.

"I thought you're working on the 442 tomorrow?" Natsu commented, only receiving a threatening glare from Gajeel.

"After we solve this case." Gajeel sighed.

"Maybe have one of the other detectives do it and call you when they've found something?" Lucy shrugged her bare shoulders. "I mean, you are a sergeant now. And this dinner is important to Wendy." Gajeel remained silent. "And I bet you miss her since she left for med school." Silent still and the big brown eyes kept reading him like an open book. "Anything to have her home for a little while, right?" She leaned back and Natsu slung his arm around her shoulders.

"I ain't one of yer books, girl." He tsked and mimicked her by leaning back and crossing his arms. "This case is big."

"The big museum break-in and a side of brutally clean murder to go with it," Natsu chuckled. "Sounds like something you'd write, right Luce?" The pink haired man flashed his dazzling white smile to his fiancée only to have her glare at him back.

"Like I'd write something so cliché as that." Lucy shrugged his arm off her bare shoulders and set her elbows on the table. "Tell me the details."

"No!" Gajeel scowled. "Like I'm letting' you play detective again."

"I'm just trying to help." Lucy snorted. "I was your partner once."

"No you weren't."

"Ouch" Sting and Rogue said simultaneously only to get alike glare from both Lucy and Gajeel. "Sorry." They both backed off and tried to hold in their laughs.

"Yer tryin' to get out of writin' yer damn novel." Gajeel snarled at her. "Stop meddlin' and do yer job!"

"And stop orderin' me around!" Lucy mocked him. "You need an outside perspective and you know it. Two departments working together isn't going to get you anywhere." Lucy pointed out and raised her chin knowing she was right. "Come on. Just like old times?" Lucy held her hand out towards Sting and Rogue. They had to be included. They always were. Always will.

Gajeel sighed, relaxing his shoulders and rubbed the back of his neck. Years ago, Gajeel wouldn't put up with her bullshit and simply ignored her like a wrought iron statue he use to be. It took some effort, but Lucy found a way into the iron walls Gajeel welded around his heart. The hammer that brought down the "Lucy" nail was his family. His reasons for living and working his ass off were the four people that counted on him the most. That'd be the reason why Lucy was so fascinated by his character from the start. The reason why Lucy created Gael Steel. And as much as he would talk poorly about her, Gajeel would never admit how incredibly resourceful Lucy was during her short time as his partner. Unfortunately, he could not seem to get rid of her. Lucy found herself trapped into this estranged family by falling deeply in love with Gajeel's annoyingly happy-go lucky and surprisingly respectable cousin, Natsu Dragneel.

"The scene." Gajeel finally spoke, pulling out his phone to reveal photos of the crime scene. Everyone at the table leaned in and watch as Lucy touched his greasy screen and swiped from picture to picture. Their eyes studied them carefully as Gajeel continued to describe the scene in blunt detail from the bleach bloody body to the missing sword. "—the module for the security junction wasn't tampered with. Indicating Adelina wasn't working alone."

"Unless—" Sting grabbed the phone and swiped to the picture showing the wires and chips of where the sword once laid. "—see the chips on main board?" Sting zoomed in on the green plate with gold and silver lines running through it and tiny squares with different numbers etched into the circuits. "They were tampered with long before the robbery."

"Yer sure about that?" Gajeel narrowed on Sting who nodded confidently. His blue eyes glanced at him before returning to the photo.

"They were burnt out long time ago." Sting pointed out again. "The residual marks are old. I don't have to be there to see it for myself. The damn proof is in the pic." He shrugged his shoulders and grabbed his coffee mug. The former thief and delinquent now a certified electrician. He was always a smart kid, but played with the wrong crowd back in the day along with Rogue. Both Natsu and Gajeel's influence no doubt. "I say—two months old? Concentration of residue spread through the motherboard. Because of the overload, it completely destroyed the alarms without any safeguard alerting anyone. A fault for this kind of system. That's why maintenance is important to replace the module to prevent burnouts."

"Tampering of the security junctions takes time." Levy's voice echoed in his ear.

"Insurance pays for inspections, but due to budget cuts they haven't had one in a long time." Gajeel pointed out. "So, Adelina could've done it alone?"

"Yes, and clearly intentional. If someone was in charge of running this system, their priority was to maintain it regardless of mandated inspections." Sting said, boasting proudly from his input. "Disabling cameras and other security is another story." Rogue grabbed the phone and looked through the pictures. "No way someone tapped the cameras and the main systems by themselves. That junction can be done by one person over time."

"Is this information commonly known?" Gajeel asked, pulling out the leather bound notepad from his jacket and uncapping his pen with his sharp teeth. He looked over at Lucy, smiling at him when she noticed he was using her gift periodically as he turned more than half way through the small notepad filled with squiggles and sketches. He didn't smile back, though Lucy already knew he appreciated the gift. He wouldn't use it if it didn't benefit him.

"I didn't learn that in trade school if that's what you mean." Sting snorted while Rogue kicked him under the table. "Ow! Jeez, it's not like these idiots were perfect angels!" His eyes narrowed on Rogue before returning it to Gajeel. "Anyone who disabled alarms before know this. Maybe common sense for someone who works on systems like the one at the museum."

"Have you worked on something like this before?" Gajeel asked and watched as Sting's jaw tightens. He sometimes forgets that he became his childhood enemy. Before he enrolled into the police academy, the former Dragon Boys hated the police. They'd never admit to fearing them, but they always express their disinterest on the people that slapped handcuffs on their wrists. A younger Gajeel would spit all over him for what he had become, however, his current self didn't regret a single thing. A respectable job and money to help push Sting, Rogue and the brilliant Wendy to do what they always wanted to do.

Though, the old feeling would creep up from their hearts. Even if it was just Gajeel or Juvia, it made the boys a little uneasy speaking to a cop who knew them too well.

"Telling you?" Sting chuckled. "A cop? No, I haven't. As Rogue's brother and former asshole—"

"Still an asshole," Natsu added, laughing beside Lucy, but all of them ignored them.

"—and good friend, I may or may have not disabled simpler designs of the same caliber." Sting explained. "The only difference between the museum and what I have or have not worked on is the amount of maintenance." He paused and stared at him. "That's all."

"That means this was definitely planned." Lucy added.

"And well done." Natsu exhaled out of his nose. "Not like how we did things back then. Right, Blacksteel?"

"Tch," Gajeel clicked his tongue. "Rampaging through a broken window and grabbing everything we can before the 5-0 show up?"

"Now you are catching them." Rogue laughed.

"Different department." Lucy and Gajeel corrected them.

"Y'all the same." Rogue shook his head. "Like your new partner. She's from robbery right?" Gajeel kicked him, but accidentally kicked Sting instead.

"Seriously?" Sting rubbed his ankle. "You brothers need to calm the fuck down."

"New partner?" Lucy raised a curious brow. "Cana is from the fourteenth. Do you mean her?"

"A temp that Granny Bell mentioned last night during dinner." Rogue set the phone down on the table. "I think I found something."

"Wait—wait!" Lucy set her hand over Rogue's wrist and then looked at Gajeel. "This new partner first."

"No." Gajeel hissed.

"What's her name?"

"Who said she was a she?"

"It's always a she." Lucy pestered.

"Lily isn't a she."

"Lily is a girl's name."

Gajeel didn't say anything. For once he wanted to win against Lucy. Prove to her not all of his partners were women (or female names for Lily's sake). There was another, but not even his family knew about him. It was one secret he'd take to the grave. And at that moment, he wanted to prove to her she was wrong.

Not today.

"Her name is Detective Levy McGarden of the Fourteenth." Gajeel exasperated in defeat. "She was sent to relay information between precincts." They continued to stare in silence, waiting for more information. "A rookie. Promoted this week." Another pause and an uncomfortable silence. "That's it." They weren't all related by blood, but the uncanny way they rolled their eyes almost looked like they were brothers.

"Is she cute?" Natsu was the first to ask, earning flickering look from Lucy. "I mean—"

"No," Lucy laughed. "You're right." She turned back to Gajeel with a curious smile. "Is she cute?"

"I don't know." Gajeel clenched his jaw. "Why does that matter?"

"It always matters." Sting shook his head.

"You work with bombshell women and yet you don't have a girlfriend." Rogue added. "Something wrong with you."

"That's my line." Gajeel tsked. "I don't see you with one either."

"But I don't work with bombshell babes." Rogue retorted.

"Okay, we're getting off track here." Gajeel snatched his phone from Rogue and pulled out his wallet. "I have to get to work."

"But the case?" Lucy whined.

"You offered help, I accepted, and then you idiots started talking about something else." Gajeel whined back, grumbling as he pulled out two crisp twenty Jewels from his leather wallet, tossing it on the table. "Thanks for the help, Sting. I owe you a bottle of whiskey."

"Make it two cases of Magnolia Stout and we're even." Sting held out his hand, revealing the tungsten ring on his pale ring finger.

"Done," Gajeel took his hand and shook it. "See you at home." He turned to Rogue and simply nodded to Lucy and Natsu.

"I'll see you soon." Lucy sipped her tepid coffee.

"No you won't." Gajeel warned her, knowing exactly what she was thinking. "I'll make sure of that."


Levy could get use to this.

The nutty aroma of freshly grounded dark roasted espresso beans brewing into the plain blue mug. The delicious sound of frothing milk as the steam heats it up into a desirable scolding temperature. It was like working in the bookstore cafe during high school all over again, but this time it was coffee for her and no one else. She wished her station would have an industrial espresso machine like this one. Everything from a coffee grinder to a milk steamer and even a dual coffee maker including a hot plate to keep the brew hot. A sign above the coffee maker scribbled in permanent black maker and taped crookedly with scotch tape said to always have coffee at the ready.

Levy poured the hot milk into her mug, watching the cream swirl into the caramel liquid. Her chest expanded, filling her lungs with such a pleasurable aroma, and letting out a satisfying sigh between her drooling lips. As she tops her latte with foam, Levy wondered who the mastermind behind this machine was. The police departments all over Magnolia and even Fiore are having a hard time with budget cuts, it was incredible for one precinct to have something as expensive as a restaurant style drip maker let alone an expensive one like this one.

Deputy Chief Laxus Dreyer was the grandson of the Police Commissioner. No doubt it was his doing.

"Pumpkin Spice Latte with an extra shot." Cana broke her trance, leaning against the break room wall with her arms crossed. Her lavender blouse clung to her curvaceous body with her long sleeves folded to her elbows and her neckline exposed revealing a white camisole underneath.

"Good morning," Levy smiled, picking up her mug. "You want one?" She held up her steaming cup and Cana shook her head.

"I see you're making yourself at home?" Cana stepped over to the already brewed coffee and grabbed a clean mug from the shelf.

"Where there's coffee…" Levy's words drifted as she sipped her comforting cup, waking her up from her early morning haze. "How did yesterday go?" Levy asked only to receive a silent questioning look. "About the guard that called in the night of the murder?"

"Oh," Cana cleared her throat. Her manicured hands grabbed the glass container of sugar and poured a hefty amount of it into the black liquid. "It turns out he was on reserve for the week in Hargeon. A Naval man breaking in the recruits with a coastal patrol. We didn't get any contact, because he was far from cellular range. Gajeel had to contact the naval base to get contact. Either way, he had an alibi that night."

Levy's heart dropped to the floor of her stomach. She hoped to use that to distract the detectives, but it was no use. The wait had to continue and when the opportunity struck, she'd take it. Anything to drive them farther away from Jet and Droy.

"You're here early?" Cana said to her, leading out of the break room and towards their desks.

"I should ask you the same thing." Levy smiled. "You're normally late if I remember correctly." Their heels clicked against the laminate tile. Her temporary chair was nestled at the very opened desk of the Sergeant. He didn't have much on his desk, only a new computer, Police issued ceramic mug filled with pens and his name plate engraved in gold letters. Sgt. G. Redfox.

"Laxus had an early meeting," Cana yawned, sitting on the edge of Gajeel's desk. Levy took a seat at the end of the metal desk, knees hitting against the body. She missed her own desk with her own chair. She hated being confined to a small portion of the metal table like she was a suspect for questioning. "Captain will be surprised to see me here before her."

"I bet she will." Levy said, fighting her urge to yawn. "I need to make some phone calls." She sighed and stared up at Cana, grinning back at her. "What?"

"How's the sergeant?" Cana nodded her head towards his empty chair beside her. "Giving you a hard time?" Levy set her mug down and opened up the files. "I take that as a yes."

"No," Levy shook her head and rummaged through the paperwork. "He's fine. We're fine. Just doing our job." She shrugged her shoulder and smiled at her. It was the truth. The man who hazed her many years ago was no longer that man. Cana stared at her for awhile as her thoughts raced through her eyes. The long chocolate brown curls were tied back into a high pony tail, revealing her model like high cheekbones and big brown eyes.

"Okay," Cana nodded and stood up from the desk. "That's good to hear. But, if he does anything—"

"I know," Levy smiled. "You always have my back."

"Always," Cana smiled and patted Levy on the shoulder.

"Cana," Levy stopped her from reaching her desk. "How did you find out about the hazing?"

"I'm a detective, Lev." Cana laughed and walked to her desk. The phone was ringing and her pace quicken. Levy watched her sit down and answered her desk phone which Cana returned with a smile. As her smile widen, her eyes caught Gajeel and Bixlow exiting the elevator.

"Morning, Detective Levy!" Bixlow winked at her as he walked towards the desk next to her. His steel toed boots accidentally hit the desk and a colorful wooden totem fell on his black keyboard and shattered into five square knobs. "My babies!" He cried out and reassembled the totem back together, paying close attention to the alignment very carefully.

"Hey," Gajeel sat in his chair, groaning and leaning back with an exhausted look on his face. "Did you get any info?" Straight to work. His eyes dropped to her files on her side of the desk.

"Rough night?" Levy had to ask before she continued to look through the papers.

"Rough morning." Gajeel answered with a strong yawn. "I got something for you." He pulled the lapels of his leather jacket and reached into the inside pocket where he handed her a leather bound notepad. "Turn to the last written page while I get some java." His chair squeaked under his weight and momentum as he stood up and walked to the break room. Levy's eyes followed him until he disappeared into the door. She grabbed the notepad and flipped to the last page, but she couldn't help skim through the previous pages and study his notes. For someone who spoke so little, Gajeel wrote detail notes and had a knack for sketching. The ink blots bled through the other side of the pages, and Levy could picture Gajeel pause in thought before continue his scribble. Levy fanned the pages, however, went too far and landed on the back binding where a message laid in elegant cursive. Clearly not Gajeel's writing, but still messy in its own fancy way.

To my real life Gael Steel and for our tales of misadventures on paper and this life. -L.H.

"Gael Steel?" Levy raised an eyebrow and then looked at the break room where she could see Gajeel by the coffee machine through the window. She knew the name quite well; Gael Steel from Iron Shield. Real life Gael Steel? Whoever L.H. had to be someone important to Gajeel. When Levy thought about it further, there were similar qualities between Gajeel and Gael. One for the long ravenous hair, piercings and molten red eyes. A cop, no less, and stoic demeanor that hid a troubled and complex man.

"All I'm saying that there must be a connection." Elfman's voice boomed from the break room and Levy returned her attention to the recent page, skimming it before Gajeel returned to the desk. "It can't be a coincidence."

"I'll look into it." Gajeel said to him. "If Jose was involved, there's a possibility he's rebuilding Phantom Lord." He moved around the desk and sat down.

"Good Morning, Detective McGarden." Elfman smiled.

"Please, call me Levy." She said to him. "You sister said hello and to call her."

"Which one?" His large hand scratched the back of his neck.

"Mira Jane." Levy answered. "I was on the phone with her on my way here." She watched his gaze drop and jaw tighten. Whatever it was, it wasn't good and you could read it all over Elfman.

"Right," Elfman forced a grin. "Thanks. I better not keep her waiting. Isn't manly to keep a lady waiting." He shuffled back to his desk, right across from the Captain's office.

"You can do that later." Lieutenant Juvia marched into homicide like she was in a hurry. Unlike yesterday, Juvia sported a pinstripe gray blazer, hugging close against her hour glass waist. A light blue camisole underneath it brought out her blue hair and dark denim jeans with her fastened gun and glittering gold badge at her leather belt. She appeared to be shorter than before as she wore jet black combat boots beneath the boot cut jeans. Juvia was fashionably ready for battle. "Meeting with Cap right now!" She announced to all the homicide detectives. Without hesitation, everyone stopped what they were doing and marched into the conference room while Juvia knocked on the Captain's office before joining them.

"Did you read it?" Gajeel asked Levy, who was still holding the notepad in her hand.

"No," Levy looked down and turned to the right page. "I'll do it while we wait for the captain." Not even the first line, and Levy's gaze widen at the hastily scribble before her. A lump at her throat nervously formed and she wouldn't dare to clear it if she tried.

Circuits and Modules burned out and no maintenance over time. A staged robbery planned months in advanced. Budget cuts led to sloppy maintenance.

A space between more notes.

Called the security company. Said logged maintenance was recorded and verified. Forged by maintenance worker? Adelina handled maintenance?

"You think you can get a hold of the logs?" Gajeel whispered.

"How did you know the circuits were duds?" Levy swallowed hard, trying to calm her racing heart. She thought no one could see it. The forged logs were enough to make it possible that Adelina cleared it. All she had to do was pin this on poor maintenance and insurance not adhering to their inspections. If Adelina wrote the name of the monthly maintenance worker who was supposed to replace the modules, then Levy won't have anything to protect Jet and Droy. Their aliases would definitely lead them to the two people dear to her.

"I have a source." Gajeel's lips thinned. "Not supposed to be showin' crime photos, but I managed some secrecy."

"He has a good eye." Levy chuckled nervously. "Your guy is good." Who had the experience to know what a complex system fault from a damn picture? This wasn't good at all. She thought she was the only one apart from Cana who knew about robbery forensics, but it would seem these detectives have their own experts they relied on. "I'll see what I can do. I'll call Bisca after the meeting."

Captain Erza entered the conference room with a red folder in her hands.

"Good morning," She greeted them. "Let's get started shall we? Juvia?"


The meeting proved to be uneventful as they tossed around evidence that didn't lead them anywhere. Adelina had a brief association with the powerhouse gang Phantom Lord and before her military life she dealt with Sabertooth in her youth. Even though Phantom Lord disbanded, there was a possibility she met with an old acquaintance and gave her a small job. This brought the attention of Gajeel and Juvia, who Levy found out that they use to run with Phantom Lord and became infamous detectives for bringing them down.

A story for another time which Levy was eager to ask Gajeel when they were stuck in traffic again. Wouldn't be anytime soon as they sat around their desks, waiting for their respected phone calls. All the questioning and seeking suspects were all finished the day before and now it was the waiting game. Robbery was different, where waiting wasn't an issue for most cases, however, homicide had time limits. Evidence could disappear if they wait too long. Suspects could be on the run. Victims could be targeted.

At least it gave Levy time to think about the maintenance logs. Gajeel asked her to retrieve them and her priority was to make sure Droy didn't sign off the junction as they were updated. If it was—well, she'd figure something out when the time comes.

"Redfox." Gajeel answered his desk phone after one ring. He remained leaning back against his chair and eyes closed, resting apparently from his troublesome morning. Levy wondered what made his morning so hectic. "What?" He shot up from his chair and startled Levy, jumping in her seat. Gajeel looked at her, but didn't say anything. His sharp teeth grabbed his bottom lip, biting down hard enough to bleed. "I told you to put her on the restriction list. She doesn't work here anymore."

"She?" Levy muttered, gaining another glance from Gajeel.

"Who waived the restriction?" Gajeel asked, voiced carried through the other desks. Levy saw Cana and Bixlow look up from their computers, but continued to work. "You got to be kiddin' me!" Gajeel hissed and slammed the phone down back on the receiver. He eyed the phone and Levy wanted to ask him what was wrong, though the beep of the elevator doors alerted Gajeel and stared angrily at the person marching out of the metal doors as if she was the devil himself.

"Um," Levy couldn't get a good look at her as a few officers walking by stopped her and blocked her view of the stranger. "Who is—?"

"My nightmare." Gajeel leaned back in his chair, folding his hands behind his head. "I'm going to kill her." He exasperated in surrender. He had no way out and certainly has nowhere to run. Levy looked over to the growing crowd. It would appear they had hardcover books in their hands. Some even have a couple of them in hand as they handed them to her. She could see the shimmering smooth blond hair peeking over the crowd and sun-kissed ivory skin from her jeweled arms. Several gold bangles draped over her thin wrists. She could hear them from where she sat as the woman scribbled something into the books with a black permanent marker.

Then, as one uniformed officer walked away saying his thanks, Levy saw her.

Lucy returned her gaze.

That was when she recognized her.

From the back of the book jacket, to her social media icon, and her book signing posters at book shops and cafes, there was no mistaking that face for someone else. The many book signings in Magnolia she couldn't attend because of her job and Lucy Heartfillia was walking right towards her desk with her strappy brown heels, tight dark skinny jeans and a flowy blue and white tank top with gold hoop earrings.

"I told you not to come here!" Gajeel growled, standing up from his desk and grabbing her arm. "You're under arrest for trespassing."

"Glad to see you too!" Lucy hissed, pulling her arm away. "You're not dragging me down the stairs like you did last time!"

"Nah," Gajeel shook his head. "I'm gonna kick your fat ass to the curb. And Salamander can't stop me."

"Cana!" Bixlow roared in laughter. "Looks like Mom and Dad are fighting again." Gajeel gave him a warning glare and he immediately stopped his teasing. "Okay, Sarge. Sorry, sir. Good to see you again, Books."

"Likewise, Bixlow." Lucy stepped back, giving them some room. "Seems like the promotion didn't soften you up one bit." She set her hands on her hips and shifted her weight to her other foot. "I'm not here for you."

"Yer here to avoid yer publisher." Gajeel said to her.

"No," Lucy shook her head. "Actually I am not." She smiled. "I'm here on business and not your museum case." Lucy finally turned to Levy. Her heart flipped when she smiled at her. Her head weighed heavy on her shoulders, knowing that one of the books she wrote was in her bag at that very moment. And a small part of her cursed for not bringing her entire Lucy Heartfillia collection from her apartment. If she only knew. "You must be Detective Levy McGarden."

Gajeel talked about her? Levy glanced at Gajeel, who was on his phone, reading something important. Her heart flipped again and landed hard in the pit of her stomach. She said her name. She knew her name. If it was Gajeel who told Lucy, she was definitely going to hug him regardless of being her superior.

"Oh no," Lucy answered, almost like she could read her mind. "The Captain told me who you are." She held out her hand, golden bangles clinging against one another and glowing under the fluorescents. "Nice to meet you. I'm Lucy Heartfillia."

"Oh I know who you are," Levy snorted nervously. "I-I am a huge fan." She grabbed her hand and shook it weakly, afraid she'd complain about her sweaty hands. A part of her wanted to reach into her bag and retrieve her book for her to sign. The way Gajeel was treating Lucy, who knew when Levy was going to have an opportunity like this. Lucy may visit the fourteenth from time to time, but Levy wasn't going to be there forever.

"Levy here is a huge bookworm!" Cana startled her by slapping a hand on Levy's back. She felt her face heat up in embarrassment as Cana winked at her. "Her entire living room and guest room is covered wall to wall with books. It's like the second floor of the bookstore."

"Oh really?" Lucy smiled. "You read my books?"

"She said she was a fan, idiot." Gajeel snorted, crossing his arms.

"Yes, I heard." Lucy slapped the back of her hand against his bicep. "Though, I doubt she read the Steel series." She winked at her, long lashes flickering on her cheeks. "Then she'd know who you are."

"What?" Levy stared at Gajeel and Lucy for awhile, trying to put the pieces together. "I read the Gael Steel books. My favorite one from the series is Iron Bones. Layla is one of my favorite characters and the follow up series with Nate Draco is currently my obsession." Levy swallowed her nerves and tried to speak to her properly. They continued to stare at her and wasn't entirely sure what they were waiting for.

"Levy can't seem to grasp Looks and Books?" Bixlow said with his mouth full of glazed donuts.

"It ain't important, Bunny Girl." Gajeel rubbed the back of his neck, lacing his fingers into his long hair. "I gotta make some phone calls." He walked away, trying to get everyone's attention away from him.

"Don't let him get to your head." Lucy grabbed her forearm. "He's being…Gajeel."

"Right," Levy smiled. "I haven't been here long enough to know."

"Well," Lucy laughed. "If you read the Steel books, then you should know him a little bit better." She winked. "Just a little though. I may have taken a liberty or two."

"Lucy." Levy and Lucy turned to Erza standing outside her office. "Excuse me for interrupting, but may I have a word with you?" She pointed to her office and smiled.

"Erza!" Lucy smiled back and released her hold on Levy's forearm. "I am not done with you. Any partner of Gajeel's, temporary or not, is a friend of mine."

"Lucy," Erza sighed. "Levy has a case to solve. If you don't mind."

"Sure thing," Lucy nodded and turned back to Levy. "Until next time."

"Nice to meet you." Levy smiled and watched as she walked towards the Captain and gave her a big hug before heading into the office. She had to remind herself to breath, realizing she just met one of her favorite modern day writers. Lucy was far more beautiful in person than her pictures. "I forgot to ask her to sign my book."

"She'll be back." Cana slapped her back again, pulling her from her star daze. "She tries to visit us when she's not on tour or whatever else she does." She laughed. "Normally, Sarge would try to drag her out of the station. This time she was asked to come here."

"And when were you going to tell me you know Lucy Heartfillia?" Levy crossed her arms. "You know how much I wanted to go to her book signings!"

"I completely forgot?" Cana shrugged her shoulders. "Sorry, Little Blue. I wish I told you."

"It's okay," Levy couldn't stay mad at her. "At least I got a chance to meet her."

"Good!" Cana snickered. "Look at you! Working with the real life Gael Steel! Dream come true, right?"

"What?" Levy stared blankly. The message in the notepad came back to her and slapped her in the face. L.H. was her initials and her real life Gael Steel could only mean.

"The light bulb just turned on." Cana rubbed her head, loosening the light pink ribbon in her blue locks. "If only you could see your adorable face." Her phone begun to ring and Cana answered it. "Alberona." She gave Levy one last smile before returning to her desk.

"Gajeel is Gael Steel?" Levy gulped, turning to her temporary desk she shared with the sergeant and stared at the little plastic sign with his name and title on it. Levy read many books in her life and she could recall most of them by memory. She shuffled through her own mind library and filter out the particular books by Lucy, making the connections with her own observation and to the fictional character.

Lady Justice.

It was her favorite part of Gael's character. The way Gael worships the deity like a guiding light through his dark dealings to get the job done. A guardian angel. A beacon. Later in the first and second books, Justice was Gael all along. A servant of what she represent, though in the third and fourth books that all changed when his loyalties were put to the test. Iron Bones was one of the most popular of the series and Levy's favorite.

"Where did she go?" Gajeel came back to his desk and looked around for Lucy.

"Erza called her in." Levy said to him. "So…"

"Knew it." Gajeel exhaled roughly, sat down and grabbed his mug. "What do you want to know?"

"Gael Steel?" Levy chuckled. "Are you really him?" He leaned against his desk, pushing his keyboard away and settled his elbow along the edge.

"Yeah," Gajeel closed his eyes and wrinkled his nose. "I was hopin' you didn't know about it."

"If I wasn't too busy I'd made the connection eventually." Levy glanced over her shoulder to look at Cana. "Only if Cana told me sooner, then we would have moved on and continued with our jobs." A lie to herself. If she figured it out, an outpour of questions would fall out of her mouth. Most of them about Lucy. Also, the inevitable question of their relationship itched at her. Bunny girl was his partner and now Lucy was engaged to his cousin. If she remembered yesterday's conversation, Lucy the old partner was Lucy Heartfillia the author.

"Whatever." Gajeel set his pierced chin in his palms.

"Do you know why the Captain asked for her?" Levy asked and Gajeel's eyes open into tiny slits, revealing his strangely bright red eyes. "She did say something about business."

"Tch," Gajeel snorted. "Like I care. Besides, she's not here for me. I don't give a rat's ass." Something loomed in his eyes, a small glint in them that proved he did care. "Anything else?"

"No," She shook her head. Another lie. "That's all."

"Good." Gajeel leaned back again and closed his eyes. "Wake me when something's up."

"Yes, sir." Levy nodded and wallowed back to work.


The Captain's office had changed over the two years of her absence. Lucy would stop by from time to time, though never long enough to visit the Captain's office. Mostly due to Gajeel's temper and iron grip, she gets dragged out of the station before she could even drop by to say hello. The familiar sight of the wooden desk greeted her, though new chairs were put in replacing the uncomfortable plastic seated metal chairs you'd find in a high school cafeteria. Erza's black chair was made of beautifully hand-stitched soft leather. Almost brand new as she could still smell the leather from the door. A couch replaced a short bookcase on the other side of the office and a wall length metal filing cabinet was behind her desk with a few potted plants. More than the previous captain, though he had one or two picture frames where Erza did not.

"Thank you for coming in," Erza pointed at one of the two cushioned seats in front of her desk. Lucy watched her walk around the desk and took a seat, hearing the crinkle in the tight leather.

"Luckily, I was in town." Lucy sunk in her seat, placing her purse in the other chair. "New chairs?" She grabbed the arms of the chair and squeezed. "I like what you did to the office."

"I do what I can," Erza smiled, setting some papers and folders to the side. A plastic bag with an empty bakery box was tossed lazily by the small waste bin.

"Did you buy them yourself?" Lucy asked, knowing a department experiencing budget cuts wouldn't be able to afford furniture like this. Not even the former captain relating to the commissioner wouldn't be able to afford it.

"A gift." Erza leaned back. Her long smooth red hair fanned out slightly against the leather.

"Jellal, I presume?" Lucy smiled, watching as Erza's smile disappeared. "Is that why you called me? Checking up on your dark knight in shining armor?"

"I just want to catch up with my friend." Erza's smile returned and set her elbows on the desk. "How are the novels coming along?"

"Good," Lucy nodded, pressing her glossy lips together. "I finished one of the books. Chariot is ready for publishing—" She paused, long lashes flickering against her blushed cheeks. "—I'm still in a slump with the next Steel book." She finally admitted, never in front of Blacksteel, but to Erza she could. "I need something fresh for it."

"Well," Erza coughed. "If you need inspiration, join the case. I'm sure you heard about it." Lucy smile widen slightly. That was easier than she thought. If she wanted to work on a case, Lucy should've gone to the Captain first.

"Not from Gajeel if that's what you mean." She lied, but played her cards. "I could never get a word out of him."

"Nothing new there." Erza replied. "We need all the help we could get. The courthouse shooting, the reopening of the secretary case and now this museum homicide and robbery. We're stretched too thin even with help from the seventh."

The new detective, Levy McGarden. So young for a detective. Small in frame and adorably cute for someone to be in this particular world. More of a pencil pusher, desk clerk or even a teacher, but not a field officer. Then again, Lucy realized she didn't belong on the field either, and recklessly throws herself in the crosshairs with the rest of law enforcement. Lucy couldn't picture her in Kevlar and the whole beat cop uniform. Levy would look adorable than respectably intimidating. Unless you pair her up with someone like Gajeel. Now, Lucy was curious on who was Levy's partner—or better yet—why a cop?

What was her story?

"Speaking of the seventh," Lucy straightened in her seat. "You got a new face under your wing." She stood up and walked towards the window, peeking between the horizontal metal blinds and watched the blue haired beauty focused on the stack of paperwork in front of her while Gajeel rested his eyes. The morning events rushed back to Lucy, still smelling the grease trap diner and weak coffee over her perfume. This morning was something she really missed, but also seeing where all her inspiration came from again was surely nostalgic. Her fingers itched for her pen and journal, wanting to take in this feeling again.

"Newly promoted." Erza nodded. "Works under Mira Jane Strauss."

"Gajeel's old SO." Lucy replied. "What was her nickname again? The Demon Mira Jane?"

"Something like that."

"Not as awesome as Titania." She snickered. "And speaking of which, Natsu showed me that video." Erza wrinkled her nose. "Not even a week and already four million views." The vicious cat fight between the seventh and fourteen's captains while Gajeel and Elfman try to separate them. She couldn't imagine what Deputy Chief Laxus Dreyer had to say to her.

"I don't want to hear it." Erza's jaw tighten. "I've got more pressing matters."

"I am sure." Lucy let the blinds go and walked back to her chair, though she didn't sit back down. "And I know you are busy, so let me cut to the chase then." She crossed her arms, bracelets clinging together like toasting wine glasses. "You want to know where Jellal is, right?" Erza's gaze widen, giving away her secret so easily. Terrible poker player.

"You and Gajeel," Erza laughed softly, shaking her head. "Is it that obvious?"

"Jellal is important to you." Lucy replied, sitting along the edge of her desk. "And to Wendy. And Meredy." Erza smiled and leaned back on the chair again. "But, I assure you he misses you the most."

"Yeah right," Erza chuckled.

"It's true." Lucy nodded. "I don't have to say it twice." She paused and cleared her throat. "However, he's pretty swamped in the Capital. Crocus is keeping him busy."

"I am aware of that." Erza's smile fell. "I'd just hate not knowing."

"I know," Lucy stood up and reached for her purse, pulling out a slender velvet box. "I saw him—well, Ultear and Meredy—gave this to me to give to you after I told them I was returning to Magnolia." She held the box out to Erza and grabbed it while studying it. "I didn't open it. It's not my place." Erza looked up and stared at her.

"You know Natsu and you are family and a dear friend." Erza said, setting the box down. "I wouldn't mind if you did. And I appreciate you delivering some news." Her eyes fell to the burgundy box in front of her. Her slender fingers wrapped around the top of the box and opened it carefully to reveal a dazzling white gold chain bracelet diamond encrusted ruby pendants in between each link. A note was tapped along the top of silk lined box. His handwriting.

No ruby or garnet in the world could come close to your extraordinary beautiful Scarlet hair. I'll see you soon. -JF

Erza couldn't hide her smile nor her deep red blush painted along her cheeks. And Lucy couldn't help but return the smile. They had come a long way from the day they met. All were strangers brought in by that one special case. The case that put the loyalties on the line. Relationships, duty and matters of the heart were tested. Many firsts came out of this precinct and definitely brought Lucy into the spotlight. If it wasn't for Erza and the rest of the fourteenth, Lucy wouldn't be who she really was.

"Drinks later?" Lucy asked, grabbing the box and taking the bracelet out. "I bet Natsu and Gray would love to catch up."

"Sounds fun," Erza nodded, rolling up her sleeve and holding her bare wrist out. "Only one. I'm still on call just in case." She gulped and watched Lucy fasten the sparkling chain on her porcelain skin.

"Oh don't worry." Lucy giggled. "I don't think they'd want you to have more than one drink anyway." She tried to hide her laughter, remembering the ridiculous night celebrating her promotion to Captain—and Jellal not showing up.

"Lucy," Erza warned her. "That was one time."

"Oh no," Lucy shook her head. "Third time. Remember Iron Shield's release party?" Jellal showed up for five minutes before a phone call dragged him away for weeks. "Do I also have to mention about—"

"Okay," Erza sighed, crossing her arms, wrists adjusting to the foreign object around it. "Fine, whatever you say. I'll meet you at the usual around eight."

"Sounds good." Lucy snapped her fingers and clapped her hands. "I'll see you tonight." She grabbed her purse and walked towards the door. Her hand grabbed the handle, but Lucy didn't turn it. She turned her head instead and looked back at Erza. "If Gajeel tries to kick me out again—?"

"I'll tell them you are consulting for this case." Erza smiled, spinning left and right in her luxury swivel chair. "For your new book."

"I'll print out the NDA forms to make it look official." She winked and turned the knob.

"Lucy," Erza warned her again in her captain voice. "One more thing. If I get another phone call from your publisher, I am going to lock you up with a typewriter, no coffee or sweets until you finish a damn book." Her scarlet brows tighten on her forehead. "Do I make myself clear?"

"Crystal," Lucy cringed at the thought of writing a whole novel with a caffeine headache. Also the fact that Erza would definitely do it if she gets the call. Hearing Gajeel bicker about her publisher calling him was one thing, but Captain Erza Scarlet was far scarier than the Sergeant could ever be.

Lucy stepped out of the office and eyes from the detectives went to her almost as fast as the door closing behind her. She was here again, solving cases again with the crew again. This time with two new faces; Levy and Cana.

Cana she knew very well considering she was the rookie and Gajeel's new partner after Juvia was made Lieutenant, but never really worked together on a case. Lucy was looking forward to it, though she was more curious about a certain blue haired beauty temporarily assigned to this case. Question marks danced around Levy's face as Lucy studied her from a far. Those question marks would turn into answers soon enough. She could get into Gajeel's head, there was no doubt she could get into hers.

"Hey, Lucy!" Juvia popped her head out of the conference room. "How are you?" Her dark gray eyes gleamed under the lights.

"I'm doing great," Lucy smiled. "Erza gave me permission to consult."

"Good!" Juvia stepped out and grabbed her jeweled wrist. "Juvia needs you." She pulled her in and Lucy stumbled into the conference room. "No suspects! NONE!" Her frustrations tighten her jaw and brows knitted tightly close together. "Every time we have one, they have an alibi." Lucy stepped closer to the murder board, reading the red and black text under clipped pictures of the body and crime scene. "And the shooting at the courthouse. Elfman can handle it."

"But, you need to help him." Lucy added. "I understand. No new perps in seventy-two hours the case is likely dropped. Let me have access to the case and I'll see what I can find."

"Thank you!" Juvia hugged her. "Please! Everything Juvia has is on the board and the table." Lucy turned around to the long laminated wood conference table. Printed files upon files are spread out over each other. "Everyone else did their jobs. They're waiting for the follow ups."

"But, how could you follow up if there's no one to follow up on?" Lucy asked. "Are there any previous cases similar to this one?"

"Cana is trying to figure that out with records." Juvia replied, gulping down tepid coffee. "And Levy is doing the same for robbery."

"It seems like she's getting along with Gajeel," Lucy mentioned, watching Juvia give her a quick side glance. "You know anything about her?" Her long gaze returned to the board.

"If you want Juvia send you her file." Juvia sighed. "You only need to ask." On paper, Lucy didn't have access to records, but if she asked the right person she could get a hold on anything. The red folder in her large purse weighed heavy next to her. She almost forgot her other reason for coming here.

"Files on cases, yes." Lucy grabbed her purse. "Files to get to know a new recruit? Not my style." She grabbed Juvia's arm and squeezed. "I'll find out my way. I forgot that I need to give Gajeel something first and I'll be right back."

"Drag Gajeel in here too while he waits for his calls." Juvia crossed her arms. "He can help you with these things." She tilted her chin towards the table.

"Sure," Lucy smiled. "If he doesn't want to, I'll wave this in his face." She pulled out the thick file and head towards the door.

Lucy didn't have to say anything. All she did was showed him the folder and he immediately stood up from his desk and dragged Levy with him into the conference room.


Levy felt her phone buzz in her pocket before she walked into the threshold.

"Excuse me," Levy said to them and walked down the hall towards a quiet corner near the tech room. She made sure no one was in the room or around her before she answered the phone. "Gildarts, sir, we may have a problem." She paused and drew the phone closer to her mouth. "Lucy Heartfillia joined the team. And Jet and Droy's identity may be compromised."

"Roger that, Levy." Gildart's voice muttered quietly. "Any info relay it to me immediately. We'll think of something."

"Roger that." Levy said before she hung up the phone. She couldn't do it alone, and she needed help from the other side. All she could do for now was to spy on them.