Hit or Miss Chapter 20, a fairy tail fanfic

Bad language and some steamy love in this one! You've been warned!

Gajeel stood under the pounding of their hotel room shower, thankful that this one at least had good water pressure, lost in his memories of the tour that was finally coming to an end. He was startled from his thoughts at the feeling of cold hands sliding around his chest, jumping a little at the unexpected touch.

"Jesus Shrimp, are yer hands ever warm?"

"Nope! Thought you'd be used to it by now" she giggled, her face pressed against the heated skin of his back as she slid her hands down over his enviable musculature. "Last show tonight. Are you ready to go home?"

He groaned as her hands began stroking through the ends of his hair, nose twitching at the scent of the conditioner she was working through the length. "I'm so ready to be done with hotel rooms and travellin'. I miss home, an' Lily, and havin' a fuckin' seat in the shower for when I wanna do this." He spun to face her, bending to lift her into his arms as he set about covering her neck with kisses and tiny nibbling bites. Levy's legs settled around his hips, and she ground herself against his rapidly hardening member, gasping as her back collided with the cold tiles, head ringing at the collision.

"Don't hold back, Kitten. I wanna hear you." He growled out, sheathing himself inside her with an easy roll of his hips, delighting in how hot she felt around him, the way her arms tightened around his neck when he set about fucking her with all he had, no preamble about it, it was hard and rough and exactly what he needed to drive away his nerves.

"Oh, God. Gajeel!" She cried out in surprise, his pace shocking her into an unexpected orgasm, walls fluttering around his studded cock.

"Fuck, I love the way ya say my name Lev'." He whispered against her skin, turning his head to catch her lips in a kiss that was sure to leave her bruised. Never one to back down, Levy sucked his tongue against her own, dragging her teeth along the muscle and smirking as he shuddered, his hips faltering for a moment before driving against hers even harder than she thought possible.

When he moved one hand away from where it has been planted on the wall to tangle roughly in her wet hair, wrenching her head to the side so he had full access to her neck, Levy moaned sinfully.

"Yes, Gaj" she breathed, loving the way he was treating her, trying to encourage him to keep it up, knowing full well he sometimes worried about being too rough with her.

Levy wished he would do it more often, she was a big girl and she could take it - more than that, she adored it when he would let go, lose control over himself and absolutely just pound her into the nearest surface. There was something so erotic about knowing she could drive him to act like that.

Taking the hint, Gajeel's hand tightened in her hair, tugging her head until he had it tilted just so, his lips attaching to her skin, teeth nibbling at the corded tendons. Satisfied she wasn't going to move yet, he took his hand from her hair, gathering her hands from behind his head and lifting them to rest above her head, large hand easily covering her dainty wrists and pushing them forcefully into the tiled wall.

"Look. At. Me." Gajeel gritted out between thrusts, moving his head back to stare at her, his crimson eyes bored into her amber ones, her pupils blown wide even as her irises shine brightly up at him. "Don't stop lookin' at me." His hips thrust at an almost frantic speed, smashing against her own with a force anyone else would have been worried about, but he knew she could take it, knew she was loving it as her breathing became laboured and her walls began to flutter around him. Blinking some water out of his vision, he kept his eyes on her, watching her slender neck tense, her lips parting as her moans increased and her eyelids flickered, trying to close from the pleasure. Groaning, he tried to stave off his release for just a little longer, knowing how close she was. "Come on Lev', come with me" he managed to gasp out as her walls clenched around him and his climax tore through him with the ferocity of a freight train, the look of absolute rapture on her beautiful face increasing his orgasm ten fold, and Gajeel would swear black and blue he would remember the way she looked then, his name on her lips as he brought her undone, until the day he died.

As the tremors shaking her body slowly petered out, Gajeel carefully set her down to stand on trembling legs, lovingly massaging her shoulders and arms as they dropped back down by her sides. Standing under the steaming spray, they lovingly rinsed each other clean, sharing easy kisses and soft smiles.

It was their last show, the final concert of what felt like a very long tour, and Levy was in high spirits as she bounced onto the stage, waving enthusiastically under the glow of the lights. They'd decided to do things a little differently this time around, the entire group walking out together under the lights, able to witness the sea of faces staring back at them. Tonight, in their biggest venue, in the capital city just a few hours from Magnolia, they would do away with the theatrics and play their hearts out to a very different set list. She watched as Gajeel stepped up to the front of the stage, his raven mane glistening under the wash of lights.

"Hey!" He sung, pausing to let the crowd sing back at him. "Crocus! How y'all doin' tonight?" As the roar died down, Natsu began to play a light riff underneath Gajeel's spiel. "Tonight is our last show! So we're gonna do things a bit different, if that's alright with ya? It is? Good, 'cause we were gonna do it anyway" he laughed, as they launched immediately into 'Hit or Miss', following it up immediately with 'Static'.

Levy laughed as she watched Natsu goofing, playing nonsense riffs as Gajeel one again spoke to the crowd.

"Thanks for comin' out tonight, we all appreciate it! I'm sure most of ya know we're from a small town, not to far from here, so to finish up tonight so close to home, in front of the biggest crowd of the tour, is pretty damn special to us. Speakin' of special, ya ready to meet some special folks?" He laughed at the enthusiastic response. "On lead guitar, Natsu Dragneel!"

Natsu shredded a solo that had the crowd cheering, before laughing into his microphone "Dad always said I was special!"

"Yeah, you're definitely somethin'!" Gajeel shot back, laughing at the good natured teasing. "On the drums back there, the exceptional Wendy Marvell!"

Wendy waved, beating out yet another incredible solo, finishing with a cacophony of cymbals.

"Alright kid, quit showin' off. We a special treat for ya tonight - for the first time all tour, on the keys, Mr Gray Fullbuster!"

Gray smirked, launching into the melody for 'Bohemian Rhapsody' to an almost ridiculous level of noise.

"Alright, alright. Jesus, is everyone up here tryin' to show off tonight?" He laughed, gesturing to his left where Levy was standing, violin at the ready. "She needs no introduction, ya know her, I love her, on strings tonight - Miss Levy McGarden!"

Levy laughed as she swung her violin into position, drawing her bow across the strings soulfully, her solo blending seamlessly with the piano intro to the next song on their list as Gajeel began to sing.

"Drifting beneath the horizon. Body is weak but I'm trying, To make it to shore, but I'm falling short, I need you more. Wave after wave, I've been sinking. So unto Your promise I'm clinging. You say that I'm strong, to You I belong. Keep holding on"

It was the first time the public were hearing the song, and though it was different from their usual style, Levy was overjoyed to see the response they were getting. Having worked side by side with Gajeel on this one, it was deeply personal to them both and she had been nervous for him, knowing how hard it was for him to open up the world.

"You are my anchor. So steady me, steady me now. You are my anchor, You're keeping my feet on the ground. In angry oceans, You've never broken through, Every wave of the storm. You are my anchor, So steady me, steady me now. Come steady me, steady me now"

Gajeel turned, angling his body to face hers, his eyes locked onto her face as he sung, the two of them oblivious to the camera focusing on them, broadcasting the moment onto the screens either side of the stage for the entire audience to see.

"When I get tired of finding, All of the fears I've been hiding. You gave me a breath, and tell me to rest, You never left. I can, I can, I can hear You, calling me by name, Pulling me up from under my shame. I'll never be the same, I can face anything, so let it rain."

Levy vaguely registered the lighting changing colours, knew everyone's eyes were on them, but it was all she could do to concentrate on playing, overcome with just how proud she was of Gajeel, seeing how far he had come, how much he had grown. Watching him stand here, on stage, in front of thousands and be this vulnerable had her heart swelling.

Alone, with just the tinkling of piano keys, Gajeel stood dead still under a spotlight, his eyes closed, and Levy thought she'd never been more attracted to him than she was in that moment.

"Don't let go, I don't want to do this alone. Don't let go, I know that I'll drown on my own."

The lights slowly came up, in time with the swelling music, and Levy had to furiously blink away tears. She hadn't expected to be this moved, but there was something in the air tonight, and she saw Gajeel do the same thing, apparently just as affected as she was.

"You are my anchor, So steady me, steady me now (I don't want to do this alone). Anchor, You're keeping my feet on the ground (I know that I'll drown on my own). In angry oceans, You've never broken through, Every wave of the storm. You are my anchor, So steady me, steady me now. Come steady me, steady me now"

As the song faded, Levy turned to face the crowd, lowering her violin as truly thunderous applause broke out. Gajeel blushed slightly, awkwardly scratching the back of his head as they moved immediately into the next song, following it immediately with another new one, the transition a little jarring in Levy's ear as she signalled for the volume to be lowered.

"Target on my back, lone survivor lasts, They got me in their sights. No surrender no, Trigger fingers go. Living the dangerous life".

She watched as everyone sprang back to their usual antics, feeling more at home with the familiar sound and style, the audience responding in kind to the change in energy as she opened her mouth to harmonize her part.

"Hey, hey, hey everyday when I wake, I'm trying to get up, they're knocking me down (Chewing me up, spitting me out). Hey, hey, hey when I need to be saved, You're making me strong, you're making me stand (Never will fall, never will end). Shot like a rocket up into the sky, Nothing could stop me tonight"

Gajeel's energy was infectious, and Levy found herself moving in time with him, her body uninhibited by an instrument, she let his bass thud in her chest.

"You make me feel invincible. Earthquake, powerful. Just like a tidal wave, You make me brave. You're my titanium, Fight song, raising up, Like a roar of victory in a stadium. Who can touch me 'cause I'm (I'm made of fire). Who can stop me tonight (I'm hard wired). You make me feel invincible. I feel, I feel it, Invincible. I feel, I feel it, Invincible".

Levy cast her eyes out on the crowd, the front section of the mosh pit visible to her under the glow from the lights. She could see everyone having a good time, hoping they were being safe down there, although the large number of high vis vests at the railing helped set her mind at ease as the intensity of the chorus died down.

"Here we go again I will not give in, I've got a reason to fight. Every day we choose, We might win or lose. This is the dangerous life"

She saw Gajeel fiddling with his ear piece, settling for taking it out entirely, apparently unhappy with something he could, or couldn't hear. She wanted to go see if she could help, but he answered her arched brow with an almost imperceptible shake of his, lights glinting off his piercings as he moved, and Levy stepped up to her microphone in time with him.

"Hey, hey, hey everyday when I wake, They say that I'm gone; they say that they've won (The bell has been rung, it's over and done). Hey, hey, hey when I need to be saved, They're counting me out, but this is my round (You're in my corner, look at me now). Shot like a rocket up into the sky, Nothing could stop me tonight".

Levy had to stifle a giggle as she heard Natsu's growl over her monitor, looking over at the two men to her right as they began to bounce in time to Wendy's drumming, unplanned and unrehearsed but completely in sync.

She stepped back, bouncing over to Gray while they each had a quick reprieve. She smiled at the thumbs up she got, glad he was enjoying himself, mouthing her song choice for that night so he knew what was coming up. With a gasp, she realised she'd better get back to her spot, dashing back to grab her microphone just in time.

"(You make me feel invincible. You make me feel invincible) Shot like a rocket up into the sky, Not gonna stop, invincible! You make me feel invincible. Earthquake, powerful. Just like a tidal wave, You make me brave. You're my titanium. Fight song, raising up, Like a roar of victory in a stadium... You make me feel invincible. Earthquake, powerful. Just like a tidal wave, You make me brave. You're my titanium, Fight song, raising up, Like a roar of victory in a stadium. Who can touch me 'cause I'm (I'm made of fire). Who can stop me tonight (I'm hard wired). You make me feel invincible. I feel, I feel it, Invincible. I feel, I feel it, Invincible".

And just like that, the song was over, all band members looking out over the crowd as their chests heaved, greedily sucking up oxygen after the energy they had poured into the last few songs. Gajeel gave her a nod, picking up his beer and making for the wings along with Natsu, she guessed so they could change their sweat drenched shirts into something dry and comfortable, Wendy taking advantage of the quiet moments to dry herself and her kit, guzzling water.

Levy screwed the lid back on her water bottle, moving into the centre of the stage, gesturing to the lighting operators to bring up the house lights so she could see everyone.

"Well, hi everyone! Oh gosh, you guys go all the way back there, huh? Wow. Hi! How's everyone doing tonight?" She giggled brightly, wiping her wristband over her forehead to mop up the slight sheen of sweat that rested there while she waited for the cheering to subside. "Right about now, I like to kick the boys off stage so we can share a moment. You guys are okay with that, yeah? Great! How about we all take a breath, relax a little bit, and what's say you and me sing a song together?" She smiled brilliantly at the roar she heard in response, picking up her guitar from its stand and began to play, Gray's keyboard following along as she began to sing, the crowd singing every second line back at her.

"You don't have to move, you don't have to speak (Lips follow biting). You're staring me down, a glance makes me weak (Eyes follow striking). Now I'm twisting up when I'm twisted with you (Brush so lightly). And time trickles down, and I'm breathing for two (Squeeze so tightly). I'll be fine, you'll be fine. This moment seems so long. Don't waste new, precious time. We'll dance inside the song"

She winked over where she knew Gajeel would be watching from, lurking in the shadows. She hoped he'd get the message behind her choice for tonight, fighting the blush that threatened to appear on her cheeks as she sang the first chorus alone, with just the crowd screaming along with her.

"What makes the one to shake you down? Each touch belongs to each new sound. Say now you want to shake me too, Move down to me, slip into you"

Natsu bounced back onto the stage, always one to make an entrance, and he came and stood right beside her, shooting her a look that told her he knew what she was up to, and all of a sudden she couldn't suppress the blush any more, cheeks blazing under the swirling lights.

"She sinks in my mind as she sheds through her skin (Touch like taste like fire). Hands to know what I no longer defend (Hands to fuel desire). I'll be fine, you'll be fine, This moment seems so long. Don't waste new, precious time, We'll dance inside the song."

Levy stepped to the side, turning to face Natsu as he did the same, their hands playing in time as they sang together, the audience bobbing and swaying like waves out of the corner of her eye, and she couldn't help but grin back at him.

"What makes the one to shake you down? Each touch belongs to each new sound. Say now you want to shake me too, Move down to me, slip into you"

They leant apart, Natsu stepping perilously close to the edge of the stage to deliver his solo, while Levy kept place by the mic stand, vocalising softly as his frantic playing slowed, giving way to Wendy's rhythmic drumming.

"And I'll be fine, you'll be fine. Is this fine? I'm not fine. Give me pieces, give me things to stay awake (stay awake)"

Gajeel joined them then, standing behind her and leaning over her shoulder as he sung with her, subtly pushing his hips against her to demonstrate that yes, he well and truly received the message.

"What makes the one to shake you down? Each touch belongs to each new sound. Say now you want to shake me too, Move down to me, slip into you. What makes the one to shake you down? Each touch belongs to each new sound. Say now you want to shake me too, Move down to me, slip into you. Move down to me, slip into you".

As the reverb died out, she slipped her guitar off, placing it back in the stand as she waved to the crowd, before Gajeel caught her by the bicep, pulling her against him to kiss her like they weren't in the middle of a concert, leaving her panting when he pulled back to whisper against her lips.

"Cheeky".

Thankfully, Levy had a rest as the band launched into some of the crowd favourites, and she desperately needed it to calm her racing heart after the way he had kissed her. Her brain was spinning in overdrive, trying to work out what was so different tonight that they all seemed to be playing at a whole other level, but all she could put it down to was the combination of having Gray back, and the joviality of knowing that tomorrow, they could all go home and enjoy Christmas with their loved ones. She was pulled from her thoughts by the now familiar opening notes of the song Gajeel had secretly written about her, and just like she had every night since he'd debuted it, she moved to the front of the stage to sit, legs dangling over the edge from her spot wedged in between two monitors.

As the song ended, and Natsu began his extended intro for 'Vicious Love' - which Levy swore got longer every time - Gajeel came and helped her up, keeping their hands linked for longer than was strictly necessary, although of them was complaining about the extended contact, not with the desire burning just below the surface for them both.

They made it through one song, and then the next, standing almost impossibly close, sharing the same microphone the entire time, their breath mingling in a way that felt almost too intimate for the middle of a concert while thousands upon thousands of people watching.

As the familiar sound of 'I Don't Wanna Know' faded, Gajeel drew her under his arm, waving their farewell as the group exited the stage to catch their breath, the crowd reaching a frankly ridiculous volume as they called for an encore, knowing full well they were going to get one.

Seeing everyone was in dry clothes, no longer breathing heavily, Natsu began to riff the familiar chords of 'Coming Home' as they made their way back onto the stage, feeling like it was an appropriate song for the final encore of the tour. As the last notes hovered in the air, Gajeel motioned for quiet so he could address the crowd.

"Crocus, ya've been the best damn crowd we coulda asked to end the tour with. We're gonna leave ya with a new one. We've been the Dragon Slayers, and this is 'Terrify the Dark'.The song started slowly, Levy tucked securely under his arm, his large hand wrapped around her waist made her feel impossibly small next to him and she had to stand on tip toe to reach the microphone to sing.

"No power on Earth, no power in Hell, Is gonna steal my peace. Ten thousand enemies, they will End up on their knees. When I'm hopeless, I can know this, you're with me"

She stepped out from under his arm, darting across to her own microphone and dragging the stand back so she could stand near him, craving the proximity to him, his voice warm and soothing as he sang about his feelings for her, adding her own voice, bright and clear, to echo his words.

"Your light will terrify the dark. I call upon the name, That tears another part. My doubt will answer to your scars. And fear will have no place, No hold upon my heart Your light will terrify the dark (Your light will terrify the dark). Your light will terrify the dark (Your light will terrify the dark)".

Gajeel turned to face her, love shining in his eyes as he smiled at her, reaching his hand out to hold hers as he sang, oblivious to anyone else in the world.

"Where could I run? Where could I hide? You're breaking in on me. Restoring ruins of my life, From rags to royalty. I can see you, I believe you, I trust you"

The music swelled around them, Levy adding her voice to the chorus once again, hoping her eyes alone were enough to communicate the depths of her love for him.

As everything else seemed to fade away, it felt like there was only Levy and Gajeel alone in their flat, just like it was when she had held him as he poured out his heart, confessing the darkness he carried around, and she had soothed him with words of love and belonging, their voices the only things that could be heard throughout the arena.

"Your light will terrify the dark (Your light will terrify the dark). Your light will terrify the dark (Your light will terrify the dark)".The lights came up, flooding the stage a warm amber, reminiscent of Levy's eyes, and the music swelled to include the entire band, her voice wavering as she sung with man she loved more than anything.

"Your light will terrify the dark. I call upon the name, That tears another part. My doubt will answer to your scars, And fear will have no place, No hold upon my heart. Your light will terrify the dark (Your light will terrify the dark). Your light will terrify the dark (Your light will terrify the dark). No fear has a hold upon my heart (Your light will terrify the dark). Your light will terrify the dark (Your light will terrify the dark)".

Taking one last bow, the lights went down to rapturous applause as the gang made their way off the stage to catch their breath. Gajeel was swiping at the tears on Levy's cheek when the venue manager came storming over, pieces of his colourful language making their way over the deafening cheers of the crowd to the ears of group, as he yelled at Erik until he was red in the face.

"You guys are going to have to do a second encore. Either that, or someone needs to tell them to shut up, the old guy over there is not happy. If this noise keeps up, he's gonna get a fine and he's gonna make you lot pay it." Erik stood back, arms crossed as he watched the group look amongst themselves.

"Oi, ash breath, I got an idea" Gajeel called, walking a few paces away from the group with his cousin, back to them as they plotted. When he turned back around, it was with a roguish smile on his face as he winked, hands shoving something into his pockets. "I got one surprise left up my sleeve".

Levy quirked a brow at him, curious as to what he meant, as he gathered his cousin's around and, in hushed whispers, filled them in on the plan. After a quick fist bump to each other them, Gajeel sauntered over, casually throwing an arm over her shoulders as they headed back towards the stage.

"Uhhhh, Gaj? Do I get to know what's happening?"

"Nope! Dontcha worry ya pretty little head about it, yer gonna pick it straight away."

Before she had time to question him further, he was pulling away from her and running back onto the stage as everyone followed, taking their place to joyous screaming from the audience.

"Ya like us that much, huh? Lucky for yer, we got just one more in us! See if ya remember this ol' thing!"

"You say you're down on your luck. Hey baby It's a long, long way up. Hold back now, hold back your fears. You say you're really down and out, And you feel like there's no way out now. Let go now let go of your tears some more".

Gajeel's voice rang out, slightly raspy from the hours of performing, and the audience went wild as they picked the old tune. Levy broke into a grin as she recognised it, the first song they ever wrote together.

"How many times have you asked yourself? Is this the hand of fate now that I've been dealt? You're so disillusioned this can't be real, And you can't stand now the way you feel. I don't care about what they say, I won't live or die that way. Tired of figuring out things on my own, Angel's wings won't you carry me home?"

Levy joined them, having snagged her guitar from the passing stage tech, hands strumming the still familiar chords without any real thought, content to watch her man do his thing.

"And when you're down on your luck, Hey baby It's a long, long way up. Hold back now, hold back your fears. And when you're really down and out, And you feel like there's no way out now. Let go now, let go of your tears some more."

Gajeel shrugged off his guitar, passing it off the waiting roadie, gesturing for her to do the same. Curious, she obliged, copying his movements, moving on autopilot as she took his outstretched hand, standing front and centre with him.

"I triumphed in the face of adversity, And I became the man I never thought I'd be. And now my biggest challenge, a thing called love, I guess I'm not as tough as I thought I was. I don't care about what they say, I wanna marry you some day"

'Wait, those aren't the words" Levy thought to herself, spinning to face Gajeel as her entire world fell silent, heart pounding in her ears as she watched him sink to one knee in front of her, right there on the stage.

"Lev'. Yer the single most incredible person I've ever met, I know I don't deserve ya, but I wanna walk side by side with ya, forever. Ya taught me what it means to love, ya have given me so much. Fuck, I love you Shrimp. Be my girl forever? Marry me?"

Heeeey! Told you guys we were getting to the good stuff! Well, at least for now - it can't all be rainbows and sunshine constantly, you know something's bound to go wrong for these two at some point...10 points to whoever can pick why I chose some of the songs, and also where part of Gajeel's proposal came from. The set list is laid out below, I chose the songs and their order really carefully (I spent hours working it out because I'm a nerd). I knew right from the start the Angel's Wings was going to be the proposal song, something about Mike Ness' voice just seems to perfectly Gajeel, at least in my brain, anyway.As always, please PLEASE leave me your thoughts etc, I absolutely adore reading them all!Set list for this chapter:

Hit or Miss - New Found Glory

•Constant static - New Found Glory

•Anchor - Skillet

•Lions - Skillet

•Feel invincible - Skillet

•Dance Inside - All American Rejects

•Mary - Bayside

•Vicious Love - New Found Glory

•I Don't Wanna Know - New Found Glory

•Coming Home - New Found Glory

•Terrify the Dark - Skillet

•Angel's wings - Social Distortion