Wow. WOW. Okay, I'll admit it. This was bad, even for me. I'm supposed to post on Sundays, and instead posted this on a Tuesday. That's bad. Two days late. Awful. Horrible. Shameful. I'M SO SORRY. Maybe this (semi-) longer chapter will make it up to you, yes?

On a different note, how is school going? First week of school, new academic year, same bad cafeteria food. These are also the reasons why my chapter was late, but I digress. Seriously, I hope it's going well for everyone.

S/O to hana rika for the wonderful review and insightful medical advice.

Special thanks to my beta Lissa for helping me when I rant about my car that it too low to the ground and cannot survive floods.

Disclaimer (since I haven't done one in a few chapters): Not mine. Not even a little bit. Otherwise Mr. Tinkles would definitely be Laxus's Exceed. They fit so well together.

Now, on to the story!

"Everything?" She looked at him in confusion. "What's everything?"

"It's…" Gajeel shrugged. "Most of the basic stuff. Where you came from, where you were, how you ended up here." He thought for a moment.

"So that's- that's good… right? I mean, now we can… do… whatever. It's- that's good." Her voice cracked one the last sentence and she cleared her throat, squinting at her clasped hands. They were trembling. She tried to muster up a smile and failed, lips twitching downwards though she attempted to pull them back up.

She was obviously… not happy, like he'd thought she'd be. She seemed more upset than anything, and that was definitely not what he wanted.

"Let's play twenty questions."

"Twenty questions? Isn't that a game for, like, strangers? An ice breaker sort of thing?"

"Don't be ridiculous, it's a game of all trades."

"But aren't both people supposed to ask and answer respectively? I can only ask, and you can only answer."

"So we're bending the rules a little."

"Aren't both people supposed to participate?"

"Fine! Fine! You can ask me questions and I'll answer, okay? Are you happy now? Are you satisfied?" He growled at her and huffed. Was she never content? Did she always have to poke and prod at things? Were they never good enough for her?

Beaming, she nodded. "I call first question!"

"You're the only one asking the questions."

"Yay!" She squealed, then quieted herself quickly, clasping her hands under her chin and thinking furiously. "Okay, okay, let's see here…" Peering at him, she continued muttering absently, eyes flicking over him. "Alright, I have it. Ready?" She waited for him to nod, then continued. "Okay, here it is: what's with the hair?"

"… Come again?"

"The hair." She waved vaguely towards his head and shoulders, then down to his stomach region. "I mean, c'mon. Seriously, it looks like something out of, like, an anime or comic."

"What?" He reached a hand up and touched his hair. "No it doesn't!"

"Yes it does! Wanna hear a joke?"

"Huh?" He was confused at her turn of conversation.

"What's ridiculously long, jet black, and spiky all over?"

"Okay, look here Shrimp-"

"Your hair," she cut him off. "That's what. It's ridiculous. It looks like those styles you see in the books at the hair salon that nobody ever seriously considers getting done. Except you did. What gives?"

Rolling his eyes, he heaved a sigh. He'd said he would answer, so he would… even if the questions were completely stupid.

"When I was little, my family didn't really have a lot, y'know? And I'd try to pitch in however I could. Well there was this one guy- a barber, who ran a shop two streets down. He approached me one day, and, well…"

Gajeel heard the scissors snip around his ear, and he tried not to flinch. The scissors were cold though, and the snipping sounds were really loud.

The guy must have caught his flinch anyway, or else Gajeel didn't suppress it enough, because he stopped for a moment and patted his shoulder. "Don't worry kid- you'll get used to it soon enough. It'll be a shock at first, but after that…" He shrugged and went back to clipping.

Black, silky locks of hair floated through the air- down, down, down, until they finally stopped and curled in strange patterns on the blanket. Beyond the blanket, he could see the black-and-white patterned floor. It was better this way. He was helping his family this way, and someone else would benefit from his hair, too.

"…And just think of the money you can bring home."

The stranger in the mirror sighed.

"I did it for my family, and I didn't regret it- not much, anyway. But I never liked having short hair, and I always said that when I got better off I'd never sell it again. If I ever got it cut, it would be on my terms for my own reasons- and one of them would never be money."

"That's really… noble." At his snort of derision, she smacked his arm and continued. "No, really. It sounds silly, but the way we look… it defines us, in a way. It shouldn't, but it does. And giving that up without complaint for someone else, even someone you love, it's difficult. So yes, you're noble." She smiled at him. "And there's nothing you can do about it."

He made a gagging sound and waved a hand at her. "Move on, already. It's your turn."

"Let's start with the most important- what's my name?"

The woman smiled up at the man standing close behind her. "She's beautiful, isn't she?"

"Hm," the man hummed happily. "She has your beautiful hair." He raked a hand through the woman's blue locks, identical to the child's.

"And your eyes." The woman stroked a finger along the child's head, then reached up to cup the man's jaw, bringing him down for a kiss. "What should we name her?"

"Whatever you want."

"Oh posh." She smacked his arm lightly. "Come on, be serious. Names are important."

"What about your sister?" He looked down at her, watching her face closely and gauging her reaction, ready to backtrack at a moment's notice. "You always talk about her, about how she was. Everyone always assumed she'd be the one to have children first- maybe she would have, if…" he trailed off, and let a moment of heavy silence hang before moving on. "Maybe it will bring her luck, to have an angel of the same name watching over her."

There was a moment of pregnant silence, and then the woman smiled and him and nodded. "Levy it is, then."

"And the last name?" Seeing clouds of anger wash over the man's face, the woman hurried on. "I love you- never doubt that. But this baby… she won't have that. She won't have our love, our understanding… she won't have us. I want her to have the best chances possible- and if that means cutting us out of her life, or giving her a name that won't label her as a bastard, then so be it."

Looking around, the man sighed. "I hate it, but if it's what you want… McGarden." He spoke seriously to her. "McGarden."

Watching the butterfly flutter away from the flowers to her baby's hair, the woman smiled. "Levy McGarden. Welcome to the world, baby girl."

Levy leaned back and rolled the name around in her mouth. "Levy…" She looked up at him. "I like it." Her nose scrunched up and she continued. "I dunno about the last name though… McGarden. It sounds kind of weird."

"Everybody's last name sounds weird, it's natural. I'm sure you'll get used to it."

"Mm, I suppose so. Okay, my turn again!" She tapped a finger against her cheek. "Alrighty, let's see… oh, of course! How do you know Natsu?"

Gajeel watched them wheel Juvia away, the cushioned restraints clicking against the bed with every movement. Juvia's bright hair was a stark contrast against the snow-white clothes they had her in. She'd be upset about that later, when the drugs wore off and she became lucid. She hated white- she always said that white wasn't a color, but rather an absence of one.

"Hey." He turned to see a pink-haired man in a guards uniform standing beside him. "Natsu Dragneel."

Gajeel grunted and turned away from him, watching Juvia's cart turn a corner and disappear.

"That's your… what? Wife, sister, friend, co-worker? You don't seem like the good Samaritan type, so I'm gonna nix the co-worker option." After realizing he wasn't going to get an answer, the man prattled on. "You're too ugly to be married, so I'm narrow it down to sister or friend." He was silent for a moment. "I'd tap that."

"The fuck?" Gajeel rounded on him and shoved him against a wall. "The fuck did you just say, Bubblegum Princess?"

"Sister then- friends don't usually react like that."

Disgusted, Gajeel unclenched his fists and let the man drop to the floor. "Shut the hell up."

"You cuss a lot."

"No shit."

The man grinned at him and dusted off his clothes, standing easily. "I like you. What's your name?"

"None of yer goddamn business."

"That's a long name. My name is Natsu Dragneel."

"So you've said… Gajeel Redfox." He held out his hand, and they shook roughly.

An orderly came back and handed him some papers. "Admission forms. Sign here, here, here…" The man continued, pointing to several areas marked with post-its and droning on dispassionately. He left soon after, promising to return shortly and collect the stack of tree that would officially commit his baby sister.

"This is so fucked up."

"Tell me about it." He patted Gajeel's shoulder comfortingly. "It gets better- I promise."

Gajeel sighed. "I sure hope so."

"Yeah… wanna meet my girlfriend?"

The idiot didn't know who to befriend and who to stay away from. If he had any sense at all he wouldn't've come within a hundred miles of me that day."

"Well I suppose it's a good thing he did."

Gajeel shrugged. "I guess. He really helped me through some tough times. I don't know, he's a punk but…"

"But he's your punk," she finished for him. "I get it. Next question… Where did I come from? I mean, where was I before I came to live here with you? Was I happy?"

Levy screamed and grabbed the bookcase, slamming it against the wall until its contents toppled over. "Shut up! Shut up shut up shut up!"

"Now, Levy," Kinana stood up slowly, setting the clipboard down on the chair behind her gently. "I know-"

"Shut up!" Levy whirled around and pointed a shaking finger at her. "You're lying!"

"You know that's not true, I would never-"

"Yes you would! You're a horrible, hateful person!"

"Levy, why don't we-"

"NO!" She stamped her foot and bared her teeth at the woman. "Let's not! Let's not calm down! Let's not sit back down! Let's not keep talking! I don't want to talk anymore! I'm leaving." Stalking over to the door, she jiggled the knob and screamed through her teeth in frustration when she found it locked.

Kinana sighed from her place by the chair, spreading her hands in a placating motion. "Levy, you know you can't leave yet, our session isn't over."

"Well I say it is!"

Another sigh, and Kinana picked up her clipboard and sat back down. "That's not how it worked. We have to talk about these delusions you seem to be clinging to."

"They're not delusions, they're here! They're in my room! What are you even talking about, you've met them!"

"Levy, I have not met anyone, you know-"

Levy put her hands over her ears and screeched to drown out Kinana's voice. "Shut up, I can't hear you, you're lying! Shut up, shut up, shut up!"

"It was a sort-of halfway house, I suppose. We can talk about it later, if you want. Maybe we can go there someday- in the future, of course, way way in the future."

"Well fine, though I don't know what's so secretive about it that you can't just tell me."

"Move on, Shrimp," Gajeel warned.

She rolled her eyes and stuck out her tongue, but otherwise complied. "Okay, here's one I've been wondering about for some time now- how exactly did you and Lily come together?"

He mumbled under his breath and mocked the boy from the playground.

"Stupid kid, thinks he's so special because his daddy's got money. Bet his dad doesn't even like him." Gajeel sniffed and scrubbed a hand over his cheeks. It had been such a good day; his mom and dad hadn't been too tired after work, they had enough money to buy some food, Juvia had made a friend at school… it had all been going so well. And then he'd stopped at the playground on his way home from the scrap yard. He liked the swings, they made him feel happy, free- they made him feel like he was flying, as if he really was the dragon they'd nicknamed him after.

He'd been swinging happily, feeling the rush of endorphins and power that always came with it. It also helped that they playground was made of metal instead of plastic. It made him feel full.

Then he'd seen a cat wander by. Of course he'd stopped swinging to pet the cat- it was a pretty cat, pure white, with a huge poofy tail.

But suddenly he felt two hands shove against his back, not hard enough to push him over but still hard enough to make him rock forward.

"Get your filthy hands off Mr. Tinkles!" Some blonde kid in a school uniform snatched the cat up, looking at him with disgust. "Go on, get out of here before I call the cops on you for kidnapping!" He raked his eyes over Gajeel, taking in the raggedy clothes, haphazard haircut, and bodily grime. "Street trash like you should stay in the gutters where you belong!" And with that he'd stalked off.

Now Gajeel was here- ironically, 'here' consisted of the very gutters the brat had sneered at. 'Here' was his home, exactly as the snob had said. It was depressing. He sniffed again and stared hard at the bricks around him, determined not to cry. All he'd wanted to do was pet the crummy cat…

The trash cans rattled and he jumped, dropping down into a crouch and calling up his magic just in case. The cans continued shaking and banging until suddenly a cat yowled and leaped out of one.

Oh. Gajeel relaxed and stared at it. The cat ignored him, licking its flank.

It was an ugly cat, nothing like the one from earlier. It was a mottled black and white instead of the pure snow color of the previous cat, and it's fur held none of the volume or bounce. It actually seemed to have very little hair. It's tail also seemed to be damaged, as well as one of the ears. It was a very ugly cat.

Gajeel lunged at it suddenly, grabbing it and stuffing it against his chest. The cat screamed at him and lashed out with his claws, raising bloody welts across his face and chest. Gajeel just hugged it all the tighter.

"You're coming home with me."

"I can't believe you. What happened to all that stuff about how he was a ferocious alley cat, how he was free to come and go, how a wild animal shouldn't be caged?"

"I wanted a cat, okay? Besides, I don't need your approval- Natsu already said it was the right thing to do. Tch."

Levy sighed, shaking her head and looking at him with exasperation. "You know, for someone who complains about Natsu so much, you two sure are close."

"Well… yeah, I suppose we are. We've been through a lot together. He helped me a lot with Juvia when she was going through a rough patch. And he introduced me to Bunny Girl- Lucy, sorry- and that was certainly an experience to remember."

"Lucy?"

"Natsu's girlfriend- pretty sure it's gonna be wife though, soon. You two were friends, ya know."

"We were?"

"Oh yeah- you two were actually really alike…"

"Hi!" Levy flinched and looked up, feeling only slightly reassured when Jet and Droy slipped in front of her protectively.

"I'm Lucy!" The voice continued, and Levy examined the woman it belonged to. She was… gorgeous. Silky blonde hair, huge boobs, luscious curves, legs that went on forever… Perfect, in short. What did she want? Why was she talking to her? No one ever talked to her.

"Er… you're Levy, right?" The woman kept speaking, though doubt crept into her voice at the lack of silence from Levy. "They- some of the nurses, I mean- said that you were really into reading and stuff."

"I… I am." Levy finally spoke, ignoring the looks of surprise Jet and Droy sent her.

Relief washed over the woman's face. "Oh, great! That's great! Because, see, I'm really into reading and stuff- actually, I'm writing at the moment, not reading. But that's what I wanted to talk to you for! I was wondering, if- that is, maybe… Would you read my book?"

"Come again?"

"Will you read my book? Like, proofread it and tell me what you think? And maybe would it be okay if I shoot ideas off you and stuff?"

"That… that sounds…nice." She smiled tentatively. "I'm Levy, and it's nice to meet you. Oh! And these are my brothers, Jet and Droy." She gestured to each of them and they smiled, bowing their heads.

Lucy greeted them and smiled. "While we're doing introductions, let me show you two of my closest friends. This is Virgo and Taurus." She gestured to a pink-haired woman and cow standing beside her.

"It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Pleasure's all ours!"

Levy smiled and sighed, rubbing her hands along her arms. "Wow. A best friend. Can I… meet her?"

"Of course- maybe a little later, though, okay? We've still got the better part of twenty questions to get through."

"Fine, fine." She rolled her eyes. "Let's get back to it. Okay…"

And there it is! Like I said, a slightly longer chapter but it's not the longest I've ever done (at least I don't think so).

Review, review, REVIEW and ye shall receive ice cream sandwiches.

Some things for this chapter:

#1. When Gajeel implies that he sells his hair for money, that is exactly what he does. In the past, body parts like hair, teeth, even eyes could be sold for money in times of need. It was actually very common, and the practice is still in place today (though the teeth and eyes are usually prosthetics now).

#2. Levy's name-scene-flashback-thing may have been confusing for some, so I shall explain it in person. I know nothing of her mother and father, they are merely creations of my imagination in this instance and for that reason I used very broad and vague descriptions. It is implied that Levy's mother had a sister (I intended her as the older sister) who died, and whose name was also Levy. The tiff about the last name refers to the practice in some countries to give general last names to bastards, orphans, etc. When her parents talk about not wanting Levy to inherit the name, it can mean a few things: that her father or mother was a bastard/orphan, that their parents were bastards/orphans and they inherited the last name themselves, that Levy was a bastard/future orphan, etc.

#3. Gajeel was not entirely truthful with Levy about everything, as you probably noticed. More will be revealed later, I promise, and she will eventually find out that she was a mental patient.

#4. More on the backstories of Juvia, Gray, Natsu, and Lucy will appear later. Be patient, my fantasies.