Eight Maids A-Milking
Levy rested her chin on the wooden countertop and opened and closed her jaw with a loud clack. Gajeel's words from the night before rolled around in her mind. Something smelled fishy and it wasn't Droy's socks this time.
It has to be something with the guys. Since when do they put on skits for everyone? And how in Fiore did they convince the master to join them?
She clicked her jaw again and almost fell off the barstool when Mira poked her cheek.
"Why don't you eat this instead of trying to ruin your teeth," the older woman smiled at Levy and handed her a large tankard filled with a creamy, white drink.
"What is it?" Levy asked, taking the spoon Mira offered.
She dunked her spoon into the concoction, a delighted coo escaping her lips when she spied chunks of strawberries mixed into the frothy drink. She took a small bite, eyes closing as the cold, sweet cream flowed over her tongue.
"It's delicious!" Levy cried, shoving another bite into her mouth.
Mira chuckled, wiping her hands on her apron. "I'm glad. Someone made it just for you, so they'll be happy to know that you like it."
"What is it?" Levy mumbled around a mouthful of strawberries.
"They called it a milkshake."
Milkshake...clever.
She savored another bite, letting the cold dessert melt on her tongue. Mira bustled around the kitchen, singing quietly to herself and beginning to prep ingredients for the lunch rush. Levy found herself humming along with her friend.
"On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…"
Levy froze, spoon halfway to her mouth. She tilted her head and lowered it back into her milkshake, stirring it idly. Gajeel's words came rushing back to her and she thought back to all of the surprises their mystery friend had brought to the guild. Her brow furrowed in concentration.
"First the pears and a tree, then turtles. Chickens and eggs. Bird watching, donuts, the invasion of geese right before the play." She dropped her spoon and rested her elbows on the counter. "Hey Mira, who's our mysterious benefactor again?"
Levy heard Mira chuckle from behind the cabinets. "I promised I wouldn't tell you."
Huh?
Levy frowned, leaning over the counter to look at her friend kneeling on the ground. "Was it Mr. Johnson? He did seem awfully sparkly the last time I went into town." She leaned back on the stool and tapped her chin.
"Sparkly?"
"You know," Levy waved a hand, nose scrunched in thought, "Like...like when you're trying to keep a secret, so you don't say anything but your eyes still twinkle. You know...sparkly."
Mira hefted a pot onto the stove. "And what makes you think that?"
"Well," she took a bite of her drink, unable to contain her sigh of delight. "I've been thinking. On that first day we got one jar of pears, then there were two turtles, three chickens, or hens if you want to call them that, then the six geese that escaped in the guild, yesterday there were seven guys, including the master, who put on the play. And then today there's this milkshake, so milking. I think someone is copying that song! You know, that 12 Days of Christmas one!" She took a bite of strawberry, smiling triumphantly.
Mira tisked and waved a finger. "But you only have one milkshake. By your logic, there should be eight."
"Of course there's more…" Levy twisted around in her chair, searching the room.
Several Fairies lounged in chairs and on top of tables. Some talked, some ate small snacks, but none of them had a similar tankard next to them.
"Did no one else get one?" she asked slowly, a thought forming in the back of her mind.
"Not that I know of. Why do you ask?"
Levy shook her head, staring at the top of her milkshake. "Never mind."
"Just tell me, you know it'll eat you up if you don't say anything." Mira gave her a side look and Levy sighed. Sometimes it was difficult being around someone who knew her so well.
"Well, it's just that...none of the other girls in my room got a bird watching book, and the donuts were specifically under my name. It just...it seems like I'm the only one that's participating, so it sort of seems like...maybe...someone is doing this just for me?" Her words grew weaker the longer she spoke.
Doing this just for you? You do realize just how selfish you sound right now, don't you?
Mira chuckled and patted her hand. "Like I said, I promised that I wouldn't tell you anything."
Levy puffed her cheeks and pursed her lips. "I can just figure it out on my own, you know."
"Now I'm not so sure about that. This mysterious benefactor, as you keep calling them, has covered their tracks pretty well."
"I'll figure it out eventually," Levy grumbled, taking a large bite of her drink. A few seconds later she clutched her head in agony and ignored the way Mira doubled over in laughter.
Gajeel was already halfway to Hergeon when he remembered that Mr. Johnson closed shop on Sundays. With a heavy sigh that seemed to fill his entire body, he slowly turned and began to trudge back the way he came. His bag thumped lightly on his back and he kicked a pile of snow with his heavy boot. A small gust of wind blew down the path and he shivered, shoving his hands into his pockets.
The only noise was the sound of his feet crunching in the snow. The woods were strangely empty of the usual bird song and the trees swayed eerily in the silent breeze. Gajeel shivered again, heart pounding in his ears.
He was used to traveling on his own; he had done it on a regular basis back when he still served under Phantom Lord. But the months of constant companionship and laughter had spoiled him. He needed to get used to being alone again, in case he ever had to leave the guild, in case they suddenly remembered what he was and kicked him out.
Gajeel shook his head frantically, rubbing his forehead with the heel of his hand. "Why're you thinkin' like that? You know they would never…"
He was just tired. And stressed. He hadn't had those types of thoughts in weeks and he knew they weren't true. The guild had proven over and over again that they would never abandon a comrade. They constantly reminded him that he was their friend and while his heart still had a hard time believing them, he couldn't deny the conviction he heard in their words.
"Hey, Gajeel!"
"Huh?" He froze in his tracks, searching the abandoned road for the familiar voice.
A green light buzzed to him and in a blink of an eye, Freed turned big and stood next to him in the snow.
"Where are you headed?" the mage asked, flicking his long hair over his shoulder.
Gajeel shrugged. "Nowhere. I forgot that the shops were closed for the day."
"Yeah, I forgot too until I flew all the way there. I'll have to stop by early tomorrow morning."
Freed flipped up the collar of his long, burgundy coat and began to trek through the snow. He glanced over his shoulder and Gajeel hurried to catch up to his roommate.
"The master did tell you about how we do the gifts, right? Something simple and small for everyone, then bigger presents for your closest friends?"
Gajeel nodded, walking next to the shorter man. "Yep. He told me."
"Good. Just wanted to make sure you knew what to expect."
They lapsed into silence. Their feet crunched the snow covering the path and the birds remained absent. The breeze blew quietly through the trees and Freed remained silent for the remainder of their walk, but a weight lifted off Gajeel's chest, allowing him to breathe deeply.
He studied his walking companion out of the corner of his eye. There was something about simply having someone familiar standing next to him that eased the tension in his shoulders. Gajeel shifted the strap on his shoulder, thinking that perhaps he was finally beginning to understand what Levy and the Master meant about being a part of a family.