I'm getting to the point where I just want to let these drabbles write themselves... I guess the best way to view these now are snippets that will become longer and more complete pieces in the future. I just can't bring myself to stop working on my multichapter laxlu fic yet. I'm getting to the end of that one but watching my niece for the last 3 weeks have left me with little time and energy to edit the chapters properly. Oh well, enough of my complaining and onto today's piece!

Absquatulate: (v) Leave abruptly. The act of leaving without saying goodbye

Crimson eyes opened and were quickly squeezed shut when the sliver of morning light snuck between the shut curtains. Gajeel groaned as he stretched his achy body and tried to gather his bearings. He was in his bed, that was clear. He was also alone, which was normal too. His pillows smelt of strawberries, something that happened occasionally when Lucy came over.

"Dammit," he grumbled, rolling over to look at the empty spot beside him. She'd left without a word. Again.

He hated to admit, but Gajeel Redfox had caught feelings for the blonde he occasionally shared his bed with. Things had been smooth between them for months but over the last several weeks, Gajeel had been struggling to define just what he felt for the celestial mage. He didn't believe that he actually loved the woman, but he knew that she was more than just a friend he casually slept with now..

He'd admitted from the start that he'd always seen her as an attractive woman. He liked her character too but when their arrangement had started, it was just for the sex. For her, well, all he knew was that the attraction she had for him wasn't physical. Ignoring their initial meeting, she told him that she would have never considered sleeping with him unless their relationship was where it currently was because she didn't feel any sexual desire though physical attraction.

He didn't understand it then and he still didn't, but if he had to guess he would assume that she meant she wouldn't sleep with someone unless she knew their character. Their heart. That meant that he was something to her, right? But it had been her that said no romantic feelings. The whole fucking thing just left him confused and pissed off. He supposed that her leaving in the morning was progress since she had been the one to say no staying the night.

"Goddamn woman," he seethed, throwing the sheet back and slipping into his boxers that were on the floor.

He was losing his mind over this woman and strongly considering ending things between them. He relieved himself and washed his face to cool off then went to the kitchen to cook something. He thought about taking a job for a couple days, just to clear his head. The last thing he wanted was to act rash, so he would take some time and figure out what she was to him. And maybe what he was to her.

He'd just gotten out of the shower and was packing an overnight bag before heading to the guild to pick out a job, when there was a knock at his door. The only one who ever visited him was that damn rain woman- Oh shit. Juvia and Lucy had been roommates for a while now and knew that Gajeel had been sleeping with the celestial mage. Did Lucy go home pissed off and Juvia thought he was the cause?

Knowing better than to keep that woman waiting, he hurried to the door only to find Lucy standing on the other side.

"H-hey," she stuttered.

"Princess?" He let his personal nickname for her slip out and looked away, feeling his cheeks grow hot. He only ever called her that on nights they took things slow.

"Can I come in?" Realizing that he was still in the doorway, he quickly stepped aside and ushered her in.

It wasn't rare for the two of them to just hang out without it ending in sex, but she'd never come back so soon after having only just left. But he wasn't the only one feeling a little uneasy. Lucy's pulse had begun to race the farther she walked into his house. Gajeel was distracted by her erratic heartbeat, that he ran into her. He reached out and wrapped his hands around her waist, pulling her flush against him.

"Shit, you okay?" he breathed into her ear.

"No," she confessed.

Gajeel spun her around and looked her over. She didn't look hurt, but her shaky breath told him something was wrong. She fisted his shirt and pulled him to her. He instantly wrapped his arms around her and let her cry.

"I'm sorry for leaving, Gaj." He didn't know what to say, so he said nothing. "I know that we said no feelings-"

"You."

"Wha-"

"You said no feelings," he whispered into her hair. He wasn't sure what he's was trying to tell her but he had to make it clear that every rule and boundary between them had been at her request.

"I don't know what romantic love feels like because I've never felt that kind of pull toward anyone. I told myself a long time ago that I didn't need that kind of love. I didn't want it because all I'd ever seen of it was people being tied down to someone so I made a promise that I'd never let that happen to me-

Gajeel crushed her lips to his and held her in place until she melted into it. "You talk too much sometimes, you know?" Lucy just stared at him wide eyed as he brought his lips back to hers, this time slowly. "Promise you won't leave without saying goodbye?"

Lucy could only smile at him and went back in for another kiss.