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Many thanks to my beta Vixen48!

Against Death

Chapter 10

Levy POV

I followed Loki to the infirmary, and sure enough, Juvia was hovering over Gajeel's battered form, a wet cloth in her hand. She looked up silently. "If you plan on beating me to a pulp for doing something out of my control, then you can wait until after I finish tending to this man."

I hovered over and took a seat by Gajeel's head. If Juvia saw me, she gave no indication, just continued to clean his wound. The bowl of water beside her was all ready a fair shade of pink.

"I have no desire to harm you," Loki said. "I just saw you come this way and followed."

"I've been in here for over an hour. Think of a more plausible excuse please."

"Very well," I went into the throne room after you left and defeated your comrades. They are currently unconscious on the ground. I wanted to be sure you would not be an issue, so I tracked you down."

"Mirajane isn't defeated yet, and she wouldn't have let you get away alive."

"How would you know?" Loki asked, approaching her carefully.

"It's part of Mirajanes's curse. She captures when a person is completely broken, easily corruptible. She orchestrates this by watching us, then killing our most important person. From that day on, she knows everything we do, and we always know where she is should she call." The rag was submerged in the water and wrung out. "Nor can we cause her any physical harm, hence the state of this poor man. He is the strongest of all of us. He fought her control, and got beaten for his insubordination." Her voice held a hint of admiration, and more than a little sorrow.

"Thank you," I said, forgetting once again that I couldn't be seen.

Juvia jumped, clearly scared. "Who's there? Show yourself," she demanded, all traces of a cool exterior vanishing.

"Sorry," I said. I looked at Gajeel in his broken state and called up the feeling of blood-soaked fury. I released it soon after, sure that she had seen me. "I'm Levy. It's nice to meet you, Juvia. Gajeel told me much while I sat with him in the dungeons."

Juvia started giggling hysterically. "I'm talking to my best friend's dead girlfriend. I must really be losing it."

We waited calmly while she steadily figured things out, as if riding waves. One second, she was quiet, then she was making a ruckus again the next. The commotion eventually woke Gajeel. "Shut up, Juvia. You're giving me a headache." He glanced at Loki. "Who's he?"

Juvia just looked puzzled and shrugged. Loki extended his hand. "Pardon me for not introducing myself sooner. I am Loki, king of the land you are currently residing in."

"Good to know. I'm-"

"Gajeel. I'm well aware. Levy has spoken of you on multiple occasions."

Gajeel's eyes widened at the mention of my name. "Levy?" he whispered.

"I'm here," I said, trying to show him all my relief and love in those few syllables. Suddenly, the walls shook violently.

"We have to get out of here!"

Loki and Juvia got on either side of Gajeel, supporting him. We raced to the other side of the infirmary, and the door that lead to the outside world.

Next up: Alight Chapter 13

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-LeAcH