AN: This chapter is dedicated to Amanny, raohuyga 18, reestanf, littlelostgirlsx, tigerfire54, Firiare, Master Ka, PirateSwan018, LeNakawaii, ice-rain499, Mags1979, 8spunkangel8, Acinorev17, Guests and all of you readers that read this story for Gajevy^^

Thank you for reading and for your support:) And as always, props to cathelerein for beta-reading!

Chapter 7: He's her Favorite Trope

Levy turned away from the stage, unable to restrain a resigned sigh. Of course, some romantic event with a bookish theme would take place in this bookstore, pegged as a must-see for couples.

Normally, witnessing romantic activities didn't really bother her, but recently it made her feel…low-spirited. If she lied to herself, she could say it was because she was disappointed to be refused the right to participate to a bookish event simply because she was single. However, the truth was that it wasn't the book part that bumped her; it was the reminder of the fact that she wasn't with a certain someone. She hadn't really care before if she was in a relationship or not, but lately it seemed to daunt on her.

But again, it wasn't her relationship status that disheartened Levy. It was rather the fact that whenever she was faced with something remotely romantic, her thoughts always wandered back to a topic both her mind and heart were particularly fond of in the last months: Gajeel.

Levy couldn't pinpoint a moment, a precise event on which she could tell she fell in love with him. After accepting his help for the S-Class Exam, she never expected to grow so close with the Iron Dragon Slayer, but it clicked so naturally. Behind his gruff attitude and his scowling face, which really was just a façade, there was a fascinating soul.

As she got to know him, the bluenette found herself discovering sides of him she never would have guessed he possessed. His gentleness with children. His patience when teaching others. His particular love for music. His not-so-well-hidden softness for everything cute. His sharp mind when it came to strategy, fighting and intel. His frustrating habit of teasing her about everything, especially her height.

Without noticing, she started to look for him whenever she entered the guild. Without noticing, she started to spend more and more time with him, even finding silly reasons to justify seeing him when she felt a weird shyness holding her back. Without noticing, she was talking with him everyday and missed him whenever he was out on a job.

Despite having developed her mind through extensive reading and learning, her brain took its sweet time to catch on what was happening. It wasn't until the snickering remarks and sly glances from her friends nagging her about Gajeel that she did catch on her feelings.

At first, she denied having a crush with passion, but after some time, she finally admitted it out loud. Though, it was obvious to see that her friendship with him didn't feel the same as with the others. His teasing and their bickering should have been good hints that she had a crush, because his words made her react unlike anyone else's. She could ride highs and hit downs simply by the way he looked at her or something he said. Never before had her emotions been on such a roller coaster. It was tiring, but also exhilarating.

And yet, Levy couldn't find it in herself to work up the courage to face her feelings and act. Confess to him. Make a move. No, a petty voice in the back of her mind told her. He would never see her as anything other than that shorty, nerdy friend.

She never had a problem with her self-esteem, although she could admit she sometimes felt envious of some attributes her girlfriends had that she didn't. Even if she never considered herself particularly beautiful or sexy, Levy knew that she was kind of cute and had some pretty traits, like her hair, her lips or her eyes. Still she couldn't help but feel that guys prefer the sexy over the cute. Surely, that's what Gajeel would like…right?

Well, it didn't matter, she tried to convince herself to move on. They wouldn't be a good match, she thought without much conviction. Their interests were too different, weren't they?

Even in the improbability of him returning her feelings, Gajeel would never accept to do such a couple thing with her. She never saw him reading a book for fun. So, no. It wouldn't interest him in the slightest, and therefore, there was absolutely no reason to be sad. Books were her thing and he made it quite clear whenever she talked about her latest read.

Still, there was this intensity he bore when looking at her, listening seemingly intently when she talked about books which made her uncertain about her belief of his disinterest. Gajeel might tease her relentlessly, but he never dismissed her fangirl talk and always listened, not making her feel silly about what she loved.

Maybe, he felt something similar to the fondness she felt whenever he talked about something he liked or was passionate about, like his trainings with Lily or his manual work with the scrap metal he hoarded. The hint of excitement he carefully buried beneath his rough demeanor would gleam back on the surface, a sight she never got tired of seeing. Levy couldn't help but feel somewhat privileged of seeing his layers slowly shading off in her presence, a sign of trust that would make her heart flutter with anticipation. It made her hope that… No. No false hope.

The bluenette massaged her temples. Her weak attempt of moving on was obviously not working. As much as she fought it (and it wasn't much), Gajeel still haunted her mind. She simply was looking for excuses to justify why she shouldn't tell him about her feelings. As if she could convince herself that because "they would be ill-matched", she should give up, and then moving on. As if it would be somehow more bearable.

Could she even manage to do that?

After all, her heart would flutter every time he was near or when their eyes would meet unexpectedly or when he replaced a lock behind her ear or when she knew he was trying to make her smile. Every new discovery about him enraptured her more and yet it was never enough. Levy wanted to know everything about him, to solve this mystery of a man, to have him for herself... She couldn't help but to compare the evolution of their relationship to one of a novel. Like in a book, they went from enemies to friends. It was a trope she was fond of, particularly when the two characters ended up becoming lovers. And even if Gajeel and her weren't lovers, she did fall hard for him.

She chuckled lightly. She was such a nerd, always bringing everything back to books. Just like Gajeel always says. What could she say? She was a helpless romantic. Which meant there was no way she could move on. Not without trying. Her heart was already too invested for her to quit without a fight. She had to tell him. The conversation would make him feel awkward, and she would feel bad about it, but it was necessary because she knew that his "no" would be the only thing to make her move on.

Yet, even with the rational part of her mind telling her that, a fleck of hope still lived on in her heart. It might be crazy, but she sometimes got the impression that… they were about to kiss. It seemed to be on the brink of happening after a long talk or a particularly heated argument. Her wishful thinking could swear that in those moments he was leaning towards her as she would subconsciously tiptoe. But then, he would look away or she would feel too overwhelmed.

After the moment passed, she would curse her cowardice, still wishing it would happen some day. Though waiting idly never proved to make things happen.

Maybe she could be bold and ask him if she could kiss him. Never had it graze her mind to simply kiss him on impulse. She personally disliked when characters would do that in books, kissing without any form of consent being given. Knowing that she wouldn't like that a guy she wasn't interested in romantically kissed her without warning, it was only fair to not subject Gajeel to such a thing. If she saw an opportunity, she should ask… but she didn't feel she had enough courage.

She still feared his reaction, the awkwardness that unrequited love could cause to their friendship. Losing their current closeness was scary. Could she really risk it even for something more, something even better? Not that friendship was any less than romantic relationships, but with him, she wanted something different, because she felt differently about him than with her other friends. She wanted to mean as much to him as he meant for her. She wanted a more intimate relationship, feeling her love always growing. She wanted to build a future with him, be a family…

She sighed, discouraged. She was getting intense again, but she could hardly help it. Even though she was more discreet than Juvia or Erza, she still had those sweet dreams of love. The only problem was to work up her courage.

A good start would be to stop finding excuses, she scolded herself. Maybe she could act upon a sign, something fate or life would send her way to give her the courage she currently lacked. Yeah. She'd wait for a sign of destiny and she would tell him how she felt. Convinced it wouldn't be anytime soon, she felt both relaxed and thrilled by the prospect of her future confession.

"Last question!" the host shouted, jolting Levy from her reverie. "With a possibility of two points, let's hope you can straighten your score…"

The bluenette bit her lips, both amused and discouraged by herself. It was bad enough that the thought of him made it difficult for her to focus, namely on reading when they were both at the guild, but it was worse when it kept her from focusing on a job when he was hundreds of miles away.

No cry nor commotion so far. The peace indicated that the coast was still clear of any kidnapping monster. She checked her satchel, in which was carefully placed her pen and the tracking stickers. If or when an attack would happen, she could quickly reach for both. Giving a quick inspection of her surroundings, she concluded that if the monster struck, it would indeed be on this floor, and it would come crashing through the windows for a swift in-and-out incursion. It would be illogical to go through the staircase as it would alert the people of its coming. So, the windows were the most sensible option. She stayed clear of the tall bay windows but kept a watchful eye on them.

In the distance, bells rang, announcing 6 o'clock. There was still time before anything happened. Skimming the information the mayor provided them on the kidnappings, Levy noticed that the hours of the assaults kind of followed a pattern, depending on the day. If her assumption were correct, as of tonight, it would happen in an hour more or less. She shared her finding with Gray and so they agreed that if neither of their stakeout place was attacked, they would try to find separately the actual location of where the monster was, as quickly as possible. It wasn't the most flawless plan she came up with, but given what they had, it was the best they could manage for now.

Levy decided to allow herself a five-minute break before focusing seriously. She walked to the bookshelves against the wall, that elevates higher than the ones in the middle of the large room. The books were all so inviting… Buying one book wouldn't hurt. Besides, there was a couple of new releases she was impatiently waiting for that were probably out by now. After that, the bookworm would feel much better, or would at least stop reminiscing her feelings. Books could take her mind of anything, so why not indulge herself with one innocent buy?

The label read "paranormal romances", this genre being exactly what the bookworm's mood was down for. Maybe reading about fictional characters pining for each other would take her mind of her own fruitless love life. Looking at the colourful spines, she still debated with herself if she should or not. Those books were always light and fun, the writing setting a nice flow, making the read quite enjoyable. Though, should she really when on a mission?

Being surrounded by books cleared her thoughts from the ache she felt, but it also kept her away from her responsibilities, one of them being to keep people safe from a monster going rampant. Even if she had "time", it was no reason to actually go book-shopping.

No, she shouldn't.

She wasn't here for books. It didn't matter if it helped her, emotionally. She just had to pull herself together, the normal way, the non-bookish way, like a mature woman such as herself would. She wasn't sure what it entailed or meant, but at this point, she simply had to try pushing away the temptation of books.

Levy turned away, crossing her arms, as if it would solidify her resolve. Her willpower wavered. Her eyes flickered back to the bookshelf. One book would really take her mind off what her heart couldn't have, soothe the turmoil within. And then she would be able to concentrate on the mission at hand.

Giving in on her weakness, indulging herself with one exception, she read quickly the titles from down to up when she suddenly recognized a book she was looking forward to get her hands on. Unfortunately, the book was neatly shelved two feet higher. No stool rested nearby, and no employee were in sight.

The petite bookworm pinched the bridge of her nose, annoyed. Why were bookshelves always too high for people with normal heights? Even on the tip of her toes, her fingers wouldn't even brush the shelf on which it was. Gajeel would be able to reach without difficulties.

She sighed, discouraged with herself to always bring everything back to her crush. She really needed to get a grip and stop thinking about him. Well, at least, not so often. Before she could set her mind into asking for help from an employee, a muscular arm grabbed the book. Strangely, light was caught on dots on said arm, looking very similar to studs. Her eyebrows shot through her hairline when she spun around and came face to face with none other than…

"Gajeel?!" the bluenette gasped.

The absurd belief of having summoned him by mere thought did cross her mind. The odds were so improbable. He must be an illusion. Yet not even her daydreams could pay this much attention to details. Before she could utter another word, Gajeel, or his illusion, smiled his trademark smirk, handing her the book.

"Ya would have reached it if ya had drunk enough milk as a kid, Shrimp," he snickered, visibly proud with his comment.

Momentarily forgetting the improbability of him being there, she huffed, "I'm normal size! You're the giant one!"

"Yer just jealous because bookshelves are designed for people my height," he said, falling back to their old bickering routine, as if his presence there wasn't the most improbable thing to occur. He ruffled her hair, messing up her neatly tied orange bandana. She waved his hands away, trying to ignore the heat surely coloring her cheeks because of his touch. He was real. Obviously. But, why was he here of all places?

"Stop messing my hair! What are you even doing here?" she asked, bewildered. Could she have missed something at the guild? Maybe, he was here for the same reason as her. "Are you on a mission?"

"Of sorts," he said, a shadow of a smile on his lips, as if he was amused by a joke only he knew of.

There it was again. The fleeting sight of a secret, just out of her reach, one that her curiosity was dying to discover. It was frustrating how disarming he could be with those smiles, rare and always full of mysteries. She was not going to settle for that weak explanation, because coincidence like that just didn't happen in real life. Evasive answers wouldn't do it. However, true to himself, he found a way to take control of the conversation with one teasing remark.

"Vampires, huh?" he smirked, referring to the book she was holding. "Yer into biting or something?"

"I am not!" Levy immediately denied, feeling weirdly embarrassed. He just had that knack to push her buttons in the most surprising way.

"Hey, not judging you for your kinks, Shortstuff," he said, too smug to her liking.

She crossed her arms, defiant. However, no matter how reactive she had become since being friends with Gajeel, she always gave him a run for his money because, after all, two could play that game.

"That's rich coming from a guy that looks like a vampire," she sneered, before patting wittingly her canines. She could have alluded his red eyes too, but his long canines deliver her message quite eloquently.

"Oi, I ain't some goddamn sparkling vampire!" he objected, almost growling, subconsciously showing his teeth, as if he wanted to prove her point. "I'm way more awesome."

Levy laughed at that. "You brood just like one."

Gajeel stared at her, a stud eyebrow rose with defiance, softened by his smirk. "Ungrateful shrimp," he scoffed. "Just you wait, I'll put back that book high and see who's laughing then."

He made a move to take the book back. Levy promptly pulled it away. She knew full well how Gajeel would not give up his playful threat and would most likely hold the book out of reach, in hope of making her jump hopelessly to catch it. Instead she gave in this time, apologizing, good-humoredly, "No, no! I'm sorry. It's obvious you're cooler."

"Damn straight I am." Gajeel crossed his arms and held his chin higher, proud that she recognized his awesomeness.

Levy rolled her eyes and laughed lightly. He was such a dork. Whenever they were together, they would start to bicker or act witty with the other. It was almost impossible not to. After all, they did nag each other, even on missions. Speaking of which…That thought made her remember that he still had evaded her question.

She looked at him, hugging the book against her chest. Why was he here? Just when she thought of him? Just when she decided she would confess upon a sign of destiny? Why had life such a wicked sense of humor? After all, even if the stars had aligned and he was indeed on a mission in Shirotsume Town, what were the odds that he would be in the same bookstore as her? Gajeel might be stubborn but so was she.

Her willpower on getting answers would not waver whatsoever and if he hadn't learnt it by now, he would discover it tonight. She straightened herself and faced him, although his attention was turned elsewhere, seemingly towards the stage.

"No, but seriously, how come you're here?"

Before she could nudge him and tell him to stop avoiding her question, a booming voice interrupted her.

"Couple number 3: Levy McGarden and Gajeel Redfox!"

She jumped out of her wits when she heard her name being announced. Why on Earthland was she being called? Her overthinking brain went rampage, trying to understand. Going from the most insane explanations to the rational ones, she figured someone might have recognized her as a Fairy Tail mage. The guild being so popular, it happened that people would approach her to take a picture, have an autograph or simply talk. Not quite often as Erza or Mira, but it was a possibility. One thing that puzzled her was the amplified voice. It seemed to come from the stage. Wasn't that for the Bookish Couple Tag? Why? She never signed up for that. Wait, hadn't they called Gajeel too?

Turning towards him, she saw the Iron Dragon Slayer unfazed, which only confused her more. Frozen in place, she watched him walk towards the stage, as naturally as ever. It could only mean one thing…

"Y-you signed us up…?" Levy stuttered. She was too surprised to even judge her own lack of aplomb.

Could this evening go any crazier? It was only mere minutes ago that she had deemed this scenario impossible, this scenario of Gajeel and her doing a bookish activity together. Like a date. Like a dream.

Yet, there he was, standing there looking oddly pleased. Was this…planned? She simply blinked, unable to compute. Giving her his signature smirk, he nodded towards the stage and said, "C'mon, Shrimp, we have books to win for ya."

It hadn't been romantic words by any stretch, but those words coming from his mouth made her stomach flipped, swarmed by an army of butterflies, and her cheek heated with shy happiness. She followed him without a word, afraid of losing her composure when plagued with so many emotions.

The showman welcomed them warmly before turning to the crowd, hyping them with the current scores. She barely caught on what the commentator was going on about until he turned towards them. Her dizziness was barely fading away. Everything was still too surreal for her rational mind, even after realizing it was indeed reality and not some dream.

"First, before we begin, who's the book lover and who's the bookworm lover?"

The question abruptly brought her back to her senses. Before she could answer in an automatic response that she was the book lover, she halted herself at the second part. Bookworm lover? As in…her boyfriend? Would Gajeel…

"The Shrimp's obviously the book lover," he said, not batting an eye at the question's implication. Levy hoped with all her might that she wasn't as red as she thought she was.

"Alright! So, the question will be addressed to you!" the commentator announced, cheerfully, pointing at Gajeel. "Once again, I'll tell how the games goes! You both have a white board before you and you both have to answer our bookish questions as the book lover, in this case, Miss McGarden would. Every identical answer will give you a point. The more points, the more chances to win our big prize. Currently, the best score is 8 points out of 10. Good luck!"

It was a good thing that Levy already knew the game because she had not listened to a single word. She was still too dazzle over the fact that Gajeel hadn't deny the "bookworm lover" implication. She fought her heart to not have too much hope, but it was hard. Despite being considerate, Gajeel never allowed himself to have his relationship label beyond partnership. Besides, hadn't he said they were there to win some books for her? He probably saw her long for the books and wanted to help. How ironic that she longed for him more.

An assistant came up with two white pads and erasable markers and handed them to the white-haired showman. Her heart was pounding against her chest. She had to clear out the misunderstanding before her hopes about the possibility of him reciprocating her feelings piled up.

"Gajeel…"

"Trust me, Shrimp, we got this," he cut her off, as if he thought she wanted to back down. He opened his pen and gave her a smile full of cocky confidence. "Just answer 'em truthfully."

Levy tilted her head, amazed. All her uncertainty was forgotten. That smile…That damn smile. It could have made her forget even her name.

The host called them out, "Okay, no more talking! We start with an easy one! First question: what's your bookworm most recent read?"

It was the book she brought on the train and finished before her nap, earlier. She couldn't recall if she had brought it with her to the guild before leaving. The bluenette gulped. The game was off with a bad start. However, as Gajeel asked, she truthfully wrote the title of her last read. She turned her board when the countdown hit zero. Her eyes widened when she saw the answer on Gajeel's board. Gods of Shadow and Jade. Just as it was written on hers.

"Why, miss, don't drop your jaw! Your boyfriend does listen to you," the host joked, to which the crowd laughed.

That wasn't the point at all! She hadn't talk to him about the book. How did he even manage to catch that title? It took her less than a day to read it. Well, maybe, she mentioned it once to him, because she had waited for the book for a while, but even then…had he really listen so intently to her to remember such a detail? He cared. Not just about her, but the things she loved. The thought brought her more happiness that she would dare to admit.

"Question number two: Hardback or paperback? Extra points if you add why!"

Now she was curious on just how much he could answer about her love of books. She turned towards him, and saw Gajeel giving her a small nod, confident. Levy rose an eyebrow and wrote her answer quickly. She bet he could answer the first part, as it was quite easy, but there was no way he remembered the reason.

When the countdown struck zero, they both turned their white boards at the same time. She almost dropped hers when she saw her exact answer written in his square-ish calligraphy: Paperback. Cheaper and they're easier to carry around.

Her dumbfounded expression drew a smirk on his face. She returned his smile. Maybe, she should stop underestimating him. The man was, after all, full of surprises.

"Question three: Do your bookworm read a book in one sitting or over several days?"

Gajeel snorted loudly. Levy herself had difficulties restraining an amused smile. He answered A book in one sitting, if not several books where she modestly wrote the first option.

"Question 4: A book your bookworm always recommends you."

Once again, they had the same answer: A Study in Scarlet. Although Levy must admit that if he didn't know that one, she would have taken offense on it. After all, every time they went to the park where he would sit by her side while she read, he would complain about boredom after five minutes, on which she would invariably recommend that book. The bookworm knew he complained simply "for good measures", because he had no obligation to stay by her side. He simply did. However, she could not not recommend a book; she found satisfaction in getting back at him like that for complaining.

Besides, having discovered he kind of appreciate the whole detective kind of persona, she figured there was no harm in recommending a crime novel. Sure, he hadn't read it yet, but she always had her copy ready, just in case he wanted to borrow it. A mystery and an awesome partnership, two things he liked! One day, he might let his curiosity get the best of him and give it a try. Just like Lily had. A girl could hope.

"Question Five: Favorite trope."

Gajeel paused, looking a point on the floor, as if stun by a trick question. The host caught on his expression.

"Sir, do you know what a trop-"

"Yeah, gimme a minute," Gajeel cut him off.

Levy was nervous because honestly, she couldn't tell if she knew the answer to that because, well, there was no good answer. It was the kind of thing that changed with her mood. She bit her lips, looked at him, then back at her board, before scribbling the first one that came to her mind.

Unfortunately, her Enemies-to-Friends-to-Lovers answer mismatched his Dark and Mysterious Love Interest. She wanted to facepalm. There was no way he would have guessed that! It was way too specific.

Too specific… She felt her cheeks heat with embarrassment. What an idiot she was! Couldn't she more clearly spell out that she was in love with him?

"Well, well," the host laughed, looking at Gajeel's board. "Judging by your answer, sir, you do know why this young woman is with you, do you not?"

Levy almost choked on air. She re-read his board. How did his answer tell anything on their relationship…?

"I'm sure you were her dark and mysterious love interest," the host spelled out for her, wiggling his eyebrows to her. He then turned to Gajeel, looking as if he had something to add. What she saw surprised her. Despite his tan, she could swear there was a faint blush coloring his cheeks. Their eyes met and Gajeel quickly adverted his, re-directing his attention towards the host. The imposing Dragon Slayer had the exact same face he had before jumping to Natsu's or Gray's throat. The white-haired man sensed the danger and quickly dropped the subject.

"Okay, question 6 is the contrary: Tell us her least favorite trope."

Gajeel's scowl lessened, now considering the question, looking for the answer. Levy couldn't help the smile forming on her lips. His embarrassed side was so cute, and he could never completely hide it, much to Levy's joy. Her own embarrassment was long forgotten, overshadowed by the silly happiness of him, being there and trying to remember her bookish quirks. She wasn't even sure her childhood friends from Fairy Young could have answered as much as him. She stared at him, feeling overwhelmed by the affection she felt for the Iron Dragon Slayer.

No, she wouldn't deny it.

It wasn't like with Gray, where the thought of them together as anything else but siblings felt weird. With Gajeel, it felt good, felt right. She realized she had been lost in thought when she saw the countdown hitting 3. Hastily, she wrote her answer and showed it, matching this time with Gajeel's: Girl's Life Changes Because of a Boy. Another point was added next to their names on the list of contestants. They were faring fairly well with their five points, exceeding the last couple's score.

"On with the next question! And try not being jealous~" the host winked to Gajeel. The man seemed to have no basic sense of preservation. Keeping up with his cheekiness, Gajeel's patience would wear thin. "Who's her fictional husband?"

Gajeel scoffed, as if the mere thought of him being jealous of a fictional character was the most absurd thing he had heard. However, he wrote with too much force, clearly annoyed by the question, probably out of embarrassment and was now pointedly avoiding Levy's eyes. She bit her lips, trying to contain her laugh. She would have to cast some iron for him to thank him for doing this with her. The bell rang and they both gave their answer. She burst out laughing when she saw Gajeel's matching hers with one glaring difference: Fucking Mr. Darcy. The crowd joined her hilarity, and some guys shouted their approval to his choice of word. Gajeel simply shrugged, acting indifferent to his unwavering streak of good answers while Levy was smiling so much it was starting to hurt her cheeks.

"Question 8: The fatal flaw of your bookworm!"

Gajeel rolled his eyes, a smirk halfway between amusement and exasperation, and Levy was ready to be displeased by an obvious jab coming her way. She un-huffed her cheeks when she saw the accuracy of his observation: Cannot DNF. Must always finish the book. They now had seven points.

"It's going good, they might catch up with our finalists!" the host said, excited. "Question 9 will be tricky, though! What is their favorite book?"

The Iron Dragon Slayer gave the man a look that roughly translated to "man, you got to be kidding me with that stupid-ass question".

"So far, no couple has succeeded in having the same answer! Let's see if the streak will continue or will break here!"

Levy let out a discouraged sigh. Well, that was unnecessarily defeatist, but the host surely wanted to keep things interesting by adding some suspense. She exchanged a look with Gajeel and they both shrugged. Levy didn't mind that another impossible question for bookworms was thrown their way. She didn't mind if they didn't win. She had way too much fun with Gajeel to dwell on such an insignificant detail. One of her secret dreams had come true and there was nothing that could spoil it. What wasn't her surprise when once again on both boards was written exactly the same thing: Too many.

The host's jaw dropped while the spectators let out an admirative "woooah". The improbability of a bookworm being decisive about their favorite book was what prevented anyone of having a perfect score. And yet they did it. Levy couldn't contain her joy, jumped off her chair and went hugging Gajeel. She sensed him stiffened, but before she could back off, worrying of having been too forward, he wrapped his muscular arms against her. His signature laugh eased her worries.

"Gihi, we're winning this shit, Shorty," Gajeel grinned. "Told ya you could trust your ma-, trust me with this."

"You're really the best," Levy said, pulling away from the hug to admire his cocky smile. She felt so thankful to have him by her side and her emotions made it hard for her to articulate what her heart yearned to express. "I really don't know what to say…" she finally admitted.

"Your praises are a nice start." His voice had grown quieter, as if volume would diminish the meaning of his words. "But, really, anything for ya, Shrimp…" His hand held hers, soft and warm. With his thumb, he struck the back of her hand. Amazed by the tenderness she saw in his eyes, she forgot everything from where she was to what they were doing and bluntly asked, "Can I kis-"

"Okayyy, lovebirds, before celebrating, let's wrap this up with our last question. Question 10: The upcoming book your bookworm is most excited about?"

Levy jumped and nervously laughed. Gajeel downright growled at the white-haired entertainer. The bluenette went back to her seat, anxiously replacing her bandana which hadn't move at all. She timidly asked the host to repeat the question and then wrote on her board the book release she was most excited about. One she had just talked with Gajeel, half an hour ago. Her answer was Midnight Sun where his was more crudely put as New sparkly vampire book that titled Midnight Something.

"Do we give it to them?!" the host asked to the crowd. "It was close enough, wasn't it?"

The crowd agreed as one. Normally, Levy's heart would have raced with thrill in the anticipation of new books, but right now she only had eyes for Gajeel. And the attention seemed to be reciprocated as his eyes were on her. His rough features were softened by the grin he gave her.

Oh, how she loved him. There was really no point in denying it. Besides, what had just happened was anything if not a sign. Why bother with uncertainty? She was going to tell him, tell him she loved him.

However, someone suddenly came running from downstairs, clearly distressed. The woman, visibly an employee, panted, took a deep breath and yelled the news she was carrying, "THE ICE SCULPTURES MUSEUM IS UNDER ATTACK!"

It took only a second for the news to sink in. Gray! She thought, the panic making the magic of the moment dissipate in an instant. Levy looked at Gajeel, who seemed as alarmed as her. In a silent agreement, they rushed towards the exit, both running to aid theirs friends.

AN: I'm not being very modest since I wrote it, but I really liked the trope thing :') it made my heart flutter:3 And you, if you're not too shy, what did you prefer in this chapter? :3

Next chapter is all Gruvia and I'm really looking forward to it, bcs it will be the first true dive into this ship's emotional baggage! Most people seem here for Gajevy, but I hope you'll all like Chapter 8 as well~

However, I do have a little surprise planned. It might have seemed like I took my sweet time writing Chapter 7 (which is kind of true). But! Since my inspiration is like a bee and likes to travel elsewhere, I wrote simultaneously a Gajevy one-shot. Spending this extra inspiration, I finally got my groove back for Your Crush is My Love Rival, but stay tune for a story titled "Excuse My French, but WTF" ;)

P.S: Thank you Mags1979 and PirateSwan018 for your kind words, I'm now completely healed~