Gajeel had spoken to Jet the next morning about the team situation and his secret plan to improve the dynamic. Jet wasn't exactly one of Gajeel's biggest fans, and that was putting it very, very mildly, but the speed mage respected him as a wizard and knew that on that front at the very least he was a more than capable individual. Even if he was presently dating Levy. Even if the pair of them were off doing stuff in the woods. Rather loudly. Stuff he didn't even want to think about. All within earshot of him and Droy at their campsite. Jet was positive that Gajeel was aware of all this as well. He knew they could hear them. That just made it all the worse, somehow. Capable wizard. But still a giant dickwad of a Human Being sometimes.
Droy had seemed to come to terms with the new status quo much faster than Jet had expected. "But she seems happy?" had been the man's comeback to Jet's last rant. And it was true. Levy was flourishing. She was more confident and from the looks of it, she'd put on at least fifteen pounds of muscle in the last few weeks and was far more relaxed than they'd ever seen her. On missions in the past she would often stay up into the early hours of the morning, reading or studying. Some anxiety or another, or her fear of the dark keeping her awake and restless. Only to leave her lethargic during the day. Utterly exhausted at the end of the mission. Gajeel was a solid sleeper, however. And when he went to bed, he made sure Levy did too. Clutched tightly to him she didn't so much as stir an inch during the night. As long as they'd been friends, Jet had never known Levy snored. She'd never slept that deeply around them before.
As much as he loathed to admit it, he was going to have to start coming to terms with the realization that Levy wasn't a doll that needed to be guarded; it had never even been his responsibility as much as he'd tried to take on the mantle. Gajeel saw it, clear as day. In the pathetic attempt to protect her they'd only held her back. Within a few days of hanging out with them, at most, Gajeel had broken down every single problem at the core of Shadow Gear and had come up with a plan to help them push passed it. They all had issues. Jet could see that now. Although, the plan itself was unsavory. Deceptive. Underhanded. Jet was pretty uncomfortable with the methods Gajeel was going to employ, but if they pulled it off it might improve things in the long run. As one would expect from a Dragon Slayer, much less Gajeel, the game plan was going to ruffle more than a few feathers. The whole thing was based around upsetting them. Jet was just glad he was a speed mage and Gajeel was a larger target, because Levy might be throwing more punches when this all kicked off.
In the early hours of the following morning after a particularly long day's trek and even longer restless night, Jet took off at speed into the darkness; Gajeel cracking one eye open and flashing him a side grin as he left. The Dragon Slayer letting him know that Droy and Levy were still sound asleep. He had ten miles to cover to reach his destination, and then ten back and about thirty minutes to do it before people started rising with the sun. They could have planned for earlier in the night but this close to dawn it would be much easier to explain his absence if the others woke up unexpectedly.
To Gajeel's astonishment Jet returned back to camp less than fifteen minutes after he'd started out. Sweating profusely and huffing violently he collapsed on his bedroll before giving Gajeel a thumbs up. The Dragon Slayer knew the man was fast but he had zero fucking clue that the man was that fast. That was fucking crazy.
Levy and Droy woke up at dawn and went about their morning routine none the wiser.
"Any problems I should know about?" Gajeel waited until he couldn't hear Levy before speaking with Jet. Just to be sure that no Dragon Slayer hearing could foul things up before they made it to their destination.
Jet edged closer to Gajeel while he collected their supplies around the fire but didn't look up at him.
"Nothing. It was exactly like you said," Jet seemed surprised. "How'd you know about that anyway?" He asked, curiously.
Gajeel looked up at him in sheer disbelief.
"Do yah even read the mission briefings Levy gives you?"
The reason that Gajeel had known about the rainy hills had been the weather section in the travel plan Levy had written up for them. Every stage of their trip so far had been planned meticulously.
"That thing was over fifty pages long. I have a life you know," He sneered but it soon gave way to a grin. "Though, that makes sense. Typical Levy," He gave Gajeel a sad smile. "She's really something else," In the distance Gajeel could hear Levy and Droy moving through the trees, back in their direction. He could smell the usual nuts and fruits that Droy always seemed to find regardless of their location in the wilderness. Starvation was not a concern of team Shadow Gear. Jet saw his attention drift from the conversation and moved closer, drawing Gajeel back to him.
"You know, If you hurt her…"
"Yeah, yeah, you guys'll kill me? Yadda, yadda," Gajeel interrupted the mage. Neither of them would be able to take him down and he knew it. Jet gave him a grin.
"Oh no. We won't kill you. This new Levy will kill you," He smiled at the look of realization on Gajeel's face. As Dragon behaviour went…that wasn't necessarily an uncommon event. "But us? I'll put her on the other side of Fiore in an hour with an airtight alibi and Droy will bury your body so deep not even the worms will get you," He gave Gajeel a toothy grin. "You're a man with enemies and even Dragon Slayer's have accidents."
Gajeel considered the threat carefully before bursting with laughter. He clapped Jet on the back hard enough that the man staggered.
"You guys are growin' on me, y'know?" Levy came through the treeline before Gajeel zeroed in on something Jet had said before. "Hey, did you say fifty pages? Mine was like... about five," He stammered, confused. Jet started laughing at him. Gajeel was vaguely aware that Levy had stalled a few feet away. The woman seemed mightily sheepish all of a sudden. Her face had paled significantly.
"That's because she gave you an abridged version," Droy gave Gajeel a conflicted look. The Dragon Slayer couldn't tell if that was pity or jealousy.
"Abridged?" Gajeel asked.
"Well, I wasn't sure you'd even read any of it at all, so it was just the basics," Levy mumbled before hastily grabbing her backpack and scurrying off.
Gajeel's good mood evaporated.
"Whatever," He growled. "Let's just get going," It didn't help that Jet was still grinning like an idiot, clearly finding it more than a little bit amusing that Levy had given Gajeel a simplified copy. As Jet passed by him the Dragon Slayer gave him a warning look.
"Watch it, speedy. Yah ain't grown on me that much," He deadpanned.
