Iron Gray Chapter 20 Jet and Droy
"Levy!" They both were shouting simultaneously as they busted into the room. They smiled upon seeing her, but it was quickly shattered once they saw what was happening. It didn't look good; Levy had her small hand settled over Gajeel's face and she was standing very close to him. All Gajeel would have to do is wrap his arms around her waist and his body would practically engulf hers. The two men looked absolutely mortified at what they had possibly walked into.
Levy knew exactly what they were thinking too. She was practically rolling her eyes at them, because she knew what was coming. She took her hands off of Gajeel's face and they went to her hips. She shot them both a very crossed look that made them both jump. Gajeel just stared at them both as if he was bored, but inwardly he was getting a strong satisfaction out of their crazed reactions. He had to keep himself from smirking smugly at them, because he found it so amusing.
"Chill out!" Levy snapped at them, but Jet had his eyes on Gajeel, his gaze was steady and fierce. Droy just had his mouth hanging open as he looked between the two of them.
"Why's he got his hands on you!?" Jet shouted and Levy's hands whipped to her sides in tightly balled fist.
"I had my hands on him!" She shouted back. Jet's mouth slammed shut at her words and his expression, became one of hurt and shock. Droy looked like he had just taken a major blow to the stomach, as he stumbled back slightly on one foot. A heavily tensioned silence fell between the three of them, as Levy just glared at her two teammates and they stared back at her with painful confusion. Gajeel was silent throughout the whole ordeal; he had his two crimson eyes rested on Levy, anticipating what she would say next.
"Levy…" Droy finally started to speak, but Levy quickly intercepted his words with her own.
"I was helping him." She stated flatly, before they could say any of the ridiculous accusations that she was sure they were forming in their minds, out loud. They both stared at her oddly, maybe a bit guiltily, because she had indeed been dead on with her thinking.
Honestly, how could they even think that for a second? Gajeel and I? That's just completely crazy… But for whatever reason, her cheeks had been a slight shade of pink from the moment they barged in on them and throughout the whole exchange. Maybe it was just her aggravation shining through?
Jet and Droy turned their heads to look at each other and exchanged a very serious glance. After a moment, they both looked back to Levy again. Droy was the first one to speak.
"Then he didn't hurt you and you didn't feel in danger?" Gajeel's head snapped in Droy's direction, tearing his eyes off of Levy. His red eyes narrowed in on Droy in pure spite of his words. Droy could feel the dragon slayer's stare of death, but he ignored it completely; his concern for his teammate, outweighing his fear of Gajeel, as he kept a steady gaze on Levy in wait of her response. Levy gave both of her teammates a once over with her eyes carefully. They both stared at her with crossed brows waiting patiently and she knew that they trusted her. She closed her eyes and let out a breath.
"No of course not. I brought him here… So no, I don't feel in danger. He didn't touch me. He was hit in the face remember? I was just treating it… That's what you guys saw when you came in." Levy explained calmly, her aggravation fading as she spoke.
She realized they had both just been very worried about her and maybe that was understandable, considering everything involving Gajeel. Just, because she was trying to forget about it, that didn't mean they were ready to just yet. Even though they had witnessed Gajeel save her and he had let them take revenge, by beating him up. In truth Levy wasn't really sure where her two teammates stood, when it came to the iron dragon slayer. She had accepted Gajeel, but had they? It didn't seem like it, not after the way they had just reacted upon seeing her with him. Jumping to the absolute worst conclusions and then to the most awkward. Levy shook her head, not wanting to think about that part of it again. Luckily Jet's voice stopped her mind from going there.
"We lost sight of you after that whole scene with Natsu and Erza and we noticed Gajeel was gone too."
"Yea we just got… Worried. Sorry." Droy added rubbing the back of his neck uneasily. Levy smiled back up at them weakly to show that she forgave their small outburst, but Jet was too busy glaring at Gajeel again to see it.
"And you! You should be thanking Levy for her, helping you!" He suddenly shouted, pointing a finger accusingly. Gajeel glared at Jet for a moment and then scoffed and looked away with folded arms. Jet began to clench a fist and grind his teeth angrily; Droy rested a hand on his riled teammate's shoulder in an attempt to calm him. Levy began to wave her hands up in front of the dragon slayer who had yet to move from his spot on the bed, to draw Jet's attention back to her.
"No! No! Jet… I offered to help, in order to repay him for what he did!" Jet shifted his glare onto Levy. He still looked angry, but he stayed silent and listened. "I don't want any thanks." She added once his eyes were on her and she looked at him with desperate sincerity, her eyes pleading that he understand and let it go. She didn't want another fight to break out, especially because of her, but luckily Gajeel hadn't budged, seemingly unimpressed. Jet watched her for a moment taking in the look she was giving him and its meaning and his gaze finally eased and so did his fist.
"Alright… fine. If this is what you feel like you need to do..." Jet responded, his eyes going to the floor. Levy felt a relieved smile grow on her face; glad she was able to get through to him.
"It is." Was all she answered and this time it was Droy who matched eyes with her.
"It's hard for us to figure you out sometimes, even after all of these years." Droy stated, but his tone sounded cheerful as he matched Levy's smile. His hand still rested on Jet's shoulder and he gave Jet a pat. Jet just folded his arms and continued to stare at the ground.
"Yea well, I think you're far too nice Levy." The speed mage mumbled under his breath as he practically stood there pouting. She knew he meant no offence by the comment, but it bothered her nonetheless, because it was true. She couldn't deny it and while her two teammates found this quality about her admirable; Levy often times felt like it was a weakness. She knew though, that they didn't feel that way and that Jet had meant it more so as a compliment, and so she let it go.
"Thank you for understanding. I really appreciate you two." She said softly and the two of them both began to blush at her sweet smile, their faces going dopey.
Gajeel was watching them and he shook his head at their growing stupidity. There they go bein' the lovesick puppies again, he thought and his eyes shifted back over to Levy. This time he was unable to conceal his amused smirk and Levy caught him in the corner of her eye. Her head snapped over in Gajeel's direction with an irritated expression and he caught her on coming stare with a triumphant gleam in his eyes. He didn't bother to try and mask his overly confident smirk either as Levy glared at him clearly annoyed. If anything, his smirk only grew into a crooked grin, his fangs being revealed on one side of his mouth. Levy's eyes widened at the reaction and then his mouth seemed to say one word to her, without actually saying anything at all, dogs.
Jet and Droy were too enthralled with their love filled dazes to notice any of this. Levy felt her face practically glow red, as her irritation with the openly smug dragon slayer intensified dramatically, upon his one silent word. She felt the sudden need to slap his mammoth sized ego right back in his face. Oh you just wait Gajeel… You think they're dogs now… She thought to herself furiously. What was it about him that irked her so much?
The color in Levy's face began to fade and so did her pointed glare. Her eyes narrowed on Gajeel, almost as if challenging him and she had the tiniest little smirk grace her lips, mirroring Gajeels. This made Gajeel's own grin disappear as he instead began to puzzle over the change in the small girl's face. He had no idea what it meant, part of him was a little worried, while the other part of him was kind of excited.
His fascinations with her only seem to grow with each passing second he spent in her company mainly, because she kept him on his toes. He couldn't anticipate her and he enjoyed that, because it felt like she was challenging him, even without throwing fists or using magic. It was an entirely new concept for the dragon slayer to be challenged like this and he found it entertaining. He could feel himself tensing up slightly, almost as if anticipating every move she made and every word she said.
He watched her turn her sights back on Jet and Droy, just as they seemed to be snapping out of their lovesick state. Then to Gajeel's amazement the tiny mage pasted on the most sickeningly sweet smile she was capable of and it reminded him of the barmaid. I don't believe it… she's totally fakin' it, he thought as he stared at her completely flabbergasted by what appeared to be a manipulation?
He was pretty sure he was right about this, because he had already seen her genuine smile… Well he thought so at least… Of course now he was second-guessing himself again. He didn't really know for sure, he had to remind himself that he didn't really know her well enough to make such a call. He could feel himself getting frustrated with his own confusion over her. He just wasn't good at this stuff! He needed to stop trying so hard to figure her out, but he didn't want to. He was having far too much fun.
Jet and Droy finally noticed Levy looking at them again, with her suspiciously cute smile and they stood there frozen, in wait of what she was going to say.
"You guys think I could ask a little favor from my awesome team?" Her voice was so syrupy that it made Gajeel groan uncomfortably, but Jet and Droy's eyes were bulging. The small script mage giggled at their reactions playfully, making both of their faces go beet red.
"Of course you can Levy!" Droy shouted enthusiastically.
"What do you need?! I'll do it for you Levy!" Jet exclaimed looking like he was about ready to run off at a moments notice. This made Droy turn on his partner instantly.
"You will?! What if Levy wants my help?!"
"I didn't hear her ask you!" Jet shouted back and now the two of them were quite literally butting heads.
"Actually… I need both of you for this!" Levy chimed in happily, instantly distracting them from their fight.
"Really?!" They both questioned simultaneously as she memorized them. Levy just let her eyes close happily, still with the same sweet smile and nodded at them excitedly.
"Yes! I need you guys to watch that!" Levy responded happily and her finger pointed towards the bed. Jet and Droy followed her arm and looked around confused. Gajeel saw her finger face him and raised a studded brow rather animatedly and he also began to look around either side of himself. What the hell is she talkin bout? He couldn't see what she was referring to and so it didn't make any sense.
"Um… Levy?" Came Jet's voice as he blinked at her. She just stood there, still pointing with her eyes shut and a large smile plastered over her face.
"What do you mean?" Droy asked next. Levy opened her eyes and looked at them with realization. She looked at her own arm, then her finger and then at Gajeel, who was looking at her like she had lost her mind. She looked back to them understanding that they didn't get it and her arm fell back to her side. Then she said it plainly, almost as if it was just a small detail she had forgotten to mention on a long list of stuff.
"Oh I meant Gajeel."
Jet and Droy's faces went instantly white at the request and they looked shattered once again, just like they had, when they had first barged into the room. Gajeel's face went red with anger and he couldn't seem to help himself. No way in hell!
"Why you-! No-! What the hell- HEY!" The words couldn't seem to form correctly and instead just stumbled out of his mouth in half hazard sentences. He was just so mad and blown away by the sheer gull of this tiny girl. Levy didn't seem to care at all though; she completely ignored his protest and kept her eyes on her two teammates. Her face now changed to a more serious look as she began to explain the situation to them.
"I need to go get him some ice to bring down the swelling on his face, but I don't trust him to wait for me. I think he will try and sneak out while I'm gone, but I need to do this." Levy was standing in a proud stance and she pointed at Jet and Droy, her face full of determination. "I need you two to keep him in place while I'm gone! That is your mission! Can you do that for me?!" Gajeel could feel his face sinking as he watched her, she's freakin' serious!
Jet and Droy stood at the other end of Levy's finger with wide eyes as they took in her firmness. There was a moment of silence as they realized the gravity of her request.
"Okay you got it!" Jet suddenly yelled pumping his fist, breaking the silence.
"We won't let him go anywhere, don't you worry Levy!" Droy added getting in his own stance. Levy smiled at the two of them proudly and they smiled back at her in much the same fashion.
"I knew I could count on you guys!" She stated and then she began to skip past them towards the door. Gajeel's wide angry eyes were following her every step. It was almost like the three of them had forgotten he was even there, ever though they had been talking about him the whole time.
"Oi! Don't I get a say in this?!" Gajeel shouted, raising a fist angrily at Levy's back, but she didn't acknowledge him again. She walked to the door and rested her hand on the doorknob and started to step out, but she paused one last time to look at Jet and Droy.
"Oh, and no fighting!" She commanded. Droy shot her an innocent glance, but he also looked a tiny bit nervous.
"No way, we wouldn't!" He answered. Gajeel was seriously pissed and so he yelled again.
"Eyy! I was talkin' to you!" Levy continued to ignore him though, as she kept a steady glare on Jet and Droy.
"We promise Levy." Jet added with sincerity and Levy smirked as she stepped out of the room finally. Gajeel was still yelling at her and right before she disappeared, she made it a point to match eyes with him, almost as if she was taunting him.
Son of a bitch! That little…. The door slammed shut and Gajeel was quickly realizing that, that small girl had out foxed him. Who knew she could be so cunning? Not only that, but she had seen right through him as well. She had figured out that he was going to sneak out as soon as she left the room to grab the ice as she had mentioned… She was clever… It was just another thing he had learned about her to add to his growing list.
Levy sighed after having shut the door behind her. Part of her was wondering if she had made the right choice. She had decided to make Jet and Droy stay with Gajeel, instead of sending them to fetch the ice to see what would happen. It was certainly a risky move, but she wanted to see where they stood with Gajeel. Could she trust Jet and Droy to not go after him? And Gajeel… He hadn't fought back the last time, but that didn't mean he wouldn't this time necessarily. He won't hurt them… Not like he did in the past. She thought, but how could she really know that?
We're all part of Fairy Tail now… So there would be no reason… She began to jog down the hall as her thoughts continued. I have to trust in that and somehow she just did.
Gajeel looked up at the two mages before him, who were still staring at the door Levy had just left out of and he scoffed. These two ain't nothin'… Gajeel was thinking. There's no way they can keep me here and with that thought Gajeel was on his feet. Jet and Droy both snapped their heads at the iron dragon slayer with angry glares.
"Where do you think you're going?" Jet seethed at him unafraid. Gajeel set a deadly crimson stare on the speed mage.
"I ain't stayin here." Droy pointed a finger at Gajeel angrily.
"That's what you think, you heard Levy! You're staying put." He shouted. Gajeel's glare shifted over to Droy and he practically bristled with intimidation.
"And how exactly are you two plannin' on stoppin' me?" He growled, his voice was low and menacing. Droy did seem a little bit shaken by the iron dragon slayer as he took a step forward. Gajeel's towering height aiding with the intimidation, along with his threatening voice, but Droy stood his ground nonetheless. He refused to step back or move out of Gajeel's path and Jet moved a little closer as well, as if to back his brave teammate up.
"We're not breaking our promise to Levy!" Jet snapped. Gajeel was surprised by their tenacity; he had expected them to back down immediately. He was a bit let down that he couldn't seem to strike fear into them like he wanted too, but he was kind of excited that they were challenging him as well. He gave them a toothy fang-revealing grin that screamed evil.
"How cute. You two always do everythin' she says?"
"So what if we do?! We're a team!" Droy yelled, his voice sounding even more confident. Gajeel's grin disappeared, but he continued to glare at the two of them, as they stood in the ready stance, incase he attacked. A moment of silence passed and Jet rose up, out of his stance and closed his eyes.
"We're not going to fight you either, so you might as well just sit back down." Gajeel raised a brow at him.
"Why? Because you promised?" The last word Gajeel emphasized mockingly. Jet opened his eyes and glanced over at Droy. Droy looked back at Jet and then the two of them nodded at each other, before glancing back at Gajeel, who had watched the whole weird silent exchange perplexed.
"That… And…" Droy started and then without warning both mages immediately fell to their hands and knees before the dragon slayer. Gajeel was so shocked that he stumbled back a step and he stood there slack jawed at them, eyes bulging. The two of them stayed there, both had their eyes slammed shut hard. They were both shaking slightly too, as if the act was very hard for them physically, even though that wasn't it. "We owe you!" Droy cried out.
"For saving Levy!" Jet added and now the two of them were crying as the words came out.
"We weren't able to protect her yesterday!" Droy shouted between tears. Gajeel couldn't see their faces, because of how low their heads were bowed, but he could tell by the way they sounded. "You did what we could not and we are thanking you!"
"She's more important to us than our pride!" Jet was the last one to speak.
Gajeel couldn't bring himself to move. He might as well of become a statue as he just stared at them in a complete state of shock. The two of them didn't seem to care though; they were slowly rising back up to their feet. Their heads stayed bowed in sorrow as their eyes stayed glued to the floor in shame. Jet was finally the fire one to glance up at Gajeel slightly.
"This doesn't mean we trust you entirely yet…" He stated flatly.
"But we're not going to attack you again either… Or cause you any trouble like we did the other day. We had no intentions of getting Laxus involved in that whole thing…" Droy finished.
Gajeel still couldn't believe that any of this was happening and he absent-mindedly sat back down on the bed. This was the last thing he had expected to come out of their time alone in that room.
"So you got that now!? Dragon slayer?!" Jet pointed at Gajeel furiously. "We won't bother you or pursue revenge, but you better not mess with us! Especially Levy!"
"She is way too forgiving! You better not harm her or let any harm come to her either! Not if you can help it!" Droy shouted at Gajeel and now at these words Gajeel felt an evil grin returning to his face.
So that's how it is, huh? These dogs think they can order me around, do they? Gajeel let out his unique laugh at them, but they didn't budge or back down. I have to admit… They're a lot more gutsy, then I gave 'em credit for. The shrimp was wrong… They are indeed her guards, whether she likes it or not… Even if she doesn't think she needs 'em, but that remains to be seen… Gajeel's fangs were showing and his head bowed slightly as his crimson eyes stared at the two other team members of team shadow gear.
"I got it." Was his reply.