Happy Friday! And after this week, I think we need a good weekend... Hope everyone's staying safe out there!
I'm glad you guys liked the little bonding moment between Gajeel and Gray. Gajeel is fun to write, but it's not easy nailing his narrative voice. He's such a character!
Where there's Gajeel... narrating opposite will have to be our girl Levy!
- K. Chandler
Levy hadn't expected to run into Wendy. The little Dragon-Slayer was holding both Charle and Lilly, her eyes wide and distressed.
"Oh, Levy, I'm so glad I found you!" she gasped.
"Calm down, Wendy!" said Levy. "Now, what's wrong?"
"There's something wrong with Gajeel!" blurted Wendy.
Panic rose in the back of Levy's throat. "What? What happened?" asked Levy.
"What has that fool done now?" demanded Pantherlilly, wriggling violently.
Wendy put the Exceeds down.
"I… I think… Come quick!" stammered Wendy. "I don't know what to do…"
Levy rushed after her as she headed for the back of the guild.
"I swear, I leave him alone with Gray for a few minutes and he gets himself into trouble," complained Pantherlilly as he and Charle toddled along behind.
"Where's the fire, you guys?" asked Lucy as they rushed by.
"Actually, maybe you should come too," said Wendy, biting her lip. "It involves Gray…"
Lucy and Levy exchanged glances.
"Uh-oh…" said Lucy. "I'm right behind you guys."
They heard them before they saw them. Through the door of the back room was something that sounded a little like music. Jazzy sounding music.
"In there," said Wendy.
The girls huddled together, ears pressed against the door.
"Are they… singing?" asked Lucy.
"I… I think they are…" said Levy. "Yeah… That's definitely Gajeel singing."
"What are they singing?" asked Lucy, looking towards Wendy. "You can hear, can't you?"
"Sort of," said Wendy, wringing her hands.
"Tell us," said Lucy. "Don't keep us in suspense."
Wendy shot Levy a worried look, thumb tapping against her knee anxiously.
Suddenly the music swelled, and all the girls could hear the words loud and clear.
"Reunited, and it feels so good!" the boys sang. "Reunited 'cause we understood!"
Charle gasped, and Lucy gaped. Pantherlilly whisked his tail furiously.
What on earth were they doing in there?!
"I didn't know how to tell you…" said Wendy, hanging her head.
"This isn't your fault, child," said Charle.
"You did the right thing," said Levy.
"We need to get a better look," said Lucy, shifting to try and peer under the door.
Levy put her hands over her eyes. "I'm not sure I want one," she moaned.
"What's going on?" asked Juvia as she found them crouched outside the door. "I saw everyone run off this way and— Oh, my! Is that Gajee and Gray?"
Lucy nodded, grinning. "We need a better look."
"Leave it to me," said Juvia. "I have plenty of experience figuring out what Gray is doing at all hours. Lyon disapproves of my breaking and entering, but I think we can make an exception, just this once." Juvia devolved into a splash of water and seeped her way under the door.
The music continued.
What was taking Juvia so long?
Levy tried to be reasonable. This probably wasn't anything. The guys were probably just messing around, like they always did. That was the logical explanation for this.
But what if they weren't? What if they… were serious?
Levy sat down hard, her knees folding under her like limp spaghetti. She couldn't help but think of the worst.
What happened if Gajeel left her for Gray? Levy pulled Pantherlilly into her lap, hugging him to her chest like a stuffed toy.
"Hey! Levy!" he complained.
"Sorry, Lilly," she said, managing a half smile.
"You're awfully pale," commented Charle.
"Am I?" asked Levy.
"Are you all right?" asked Wendy.
"Whatever you're thinking, it probably isn't true," said Lilly.
"I know that. I'm sure there's a perfectly logical explanation," said Levy evenly, even though the words rang hollow in her own ears.
"You're right. I doubt he's leaving you for Gray," said Charle.
Levy swallowed hard. Somehow Charle's judgmental voice only made things worse.
"Charle!" scolded Wendy, frowning.
"What? I said that Gajeel wasn't—"
"Charle, please just stop…" said Wendy.
Levy wasn't sure if she was relieved or filled with dread when Juvia finally returned. She flowed back under the door, rematerializing before them.
"Sorry it took so long," Juvia said, stifling a giggle. "I just couldn't look away."
"What are they doing?" demanded Lucy eagerly.
"…I think some voyeuristic photos are in order," said Juvia, lowering her voice to a whisper.
Levy's stomach did a flip, and not the good kind. "What?"
"Joking, joking," said Juvia. "But you really have to see this for yourself. You won't be sorry."
"How are we supposed to—"
"Just push the door open gently. They won't even notice you," Juvia reassured them. "Hurry! Go!"
Needing no more invitation, Lucy opened the door. The three girls and the Exceeds pressed together to spy on the musical duo.
Levy's jaw dropped at the sight.
"I told you," said Juvia.
Gray was pounding up a storm on the tabletop, rocking in time to the music. And Gajeel, her Gajeel was strutting around the far side of the room, singing to an imaginary audience at the top of his lungs.
"I'll give you all the love I have with all my miii-iiiiight," he yowled. He had sunk to one knee as he threw his arms wide.
Lucy stifled a snort of laughter, shoving her fist against her mouth to muffle the sound.
"What a relief," sighed Wendy. "I honestly thought… something else."
"You had me worried," said Levy.
"That's… oddly attractive," mumbled Charle.
"Gajeel isn't the only one who can do that," said Pantherlilly. "I, too, have musical gifts."
Charle blinked, looking at her fellow Exceed in surprise. "You'll have to show me some time," said Charle.
"Of course," said Pantherlilly. "I am an Exceed of many talents."
Levy looked back at the boys, shaking her head. "Are they… drunk?" she asked.
"Nope. Believe it or not, they're completely sober," supplied Mirajane, who had joined the group with Cana close behind.
"Besides, Gray's not a happy drunk, he's a melancholic one," added Cana. "I would know. I got him completely smashed a couple weeks ago. Fun times! Though it did absolutely nothing for his mood."
"What are you two doing here?" asked Wendy.
"I was wondering what you girls were up to," said Mira innocently.
"She means she was wondering what the boys were up to," corrected Cana.
"You knew?" asked Wendy.
"I had a feeling something interesting would happen when Gajeel asked if he could use the back room," chirped Mira. She waved for the girls to move away from the door, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "You missed them doing I Want It That Way. Don't worry, I've recorded the whole thing on hidden lacrima."
"Movie night at Fairy Hills!" cheered Cana.
"Tell no one," said Juvia seriously. Then she cracked a smile.
"That mean's everyone's invited!" Cana sang out. "Hey, Mira, how much do you think I could get for a copy of that lacrima? I've been a little short on Jewels lately."
"Maybe you'd have more money if you didn't drink so much. Or maybe cut back on all those wagers?"
"But where would be the fun in that?" said Cana.
Levy took one last glimpse at the musical duo, satisfied that her relationship would survive another day.
I know that some people really like songfics (or songs referenced in fics), but I find that your mileage may vary because people have different opinions about various songs. (Or maybe they don't know them at all and the meaning is lost.) Still, for anyone who remembers the 90's classic I Want it That Way, can you imagine Gray and Gajeel jamming to that one? I'm grinning like an idiot just thinking about it.
That's a wrap on this fic. I'd make my day if you gave it a like... but only if you actually liked it, though. :) (I'm shamelessly stealing that line from one of the YouTubers I like.)
Gray's going to be okay. He's still single, but I think he's got his feet under him. No more mopey Ice Pervert.
We're going to turn our attention to someone else who's feeling alone at the moment. I've been neglecting her lately, with all of the attention that we've given Gray. Who's up? It's Lucy... and she's wondering why she's the only single girl left in the guild. (She's not, really. But she feels that way...)
Stop back next Friday for [Mazeverse] Fifth Wheel, or just follow me, Karine of R011ingThunder.