"Are you sure you want to do this, Lev? I mean, I support you and all, but you did just find each other."
Levy slung her bag strap over her shoulder and pushed her glasses up her nose. She stared at the large building in front of her, her heart already pounding in her chest. And she hadn't even gone inside yet! But if Gajeel could go through all the trouble of tracking her down and surprising her for her birthday, showing up at his work to talk to him in person was the least she could do.
"Yes, I'm sure."
"And are you sure he's ready?"
Lucy stepped out of her car and shut her door with a loud thump. Levy jumped and quickly shut her own door before flies found their way into the tiny car. She stared at the building, mustering even an ounce of Gajeel-like courage.
He had only returned home a week ago, but to Levy it seemed like almost a lifetime since she had last seen him. She had cried ugly tears when he mounted his bike and prepared to put on his helmet; his second helmet he left at her house, saying he always wanted her to have one in case she wanted to ride again.
She had wrapped her arms around his neck and refused to let go. He kept telling her he had to leave, that he had work the next day, but his arms tightened their hold and he held her as close as his bike would allow. It made her cry even harder, which made him hold her even tighter, until Lucy had to literally pry them apart for him to leave. Gajeel gave her a raspy goodbye, shoved his helmet over his head and drove off without another word. She would have been offended at the lack of farewells, if she hadn't seen the tears that were beginning to form in his own eyes.
She texted him immediately, telling him to have a safe trip and to call her the moment he got back home. It had taken them a few days to get used to talking on a phone instead of on their arms, but they both had to admit that a phone call was much faster than if they were restricted to just their skin.
"Well, Levy...you ready to go in?"
Lucy's patient voice forced Levy out of her musings. With a small nod she walked to the building, trying not to be intimidated by the noise and scents coming from the mechanic shop.
A bell chimed overhead as they stepped through the door. A man greeted them from behind the counter and after a brief conversation informed them that Gajeel and his group were on their lunch break in the back. The girls thanked the man and made their way to where the mechanics worked.
Levy opened the large door slowly and peeked around the edge. A tall, dark man walked past, but paused at the open space.
"You seem lost?" he said with a small smile.
Levy shook her head, pushing up her glasses. "Actually no, but do you happen to know where-"
"Hey, Gajeel! There's someone here for ya!" Levy jumped when the man cupped a hand to his mouth and yelled.
"Oi, Lily! Can't you see I'm trying to mope here?"
"I think this'll help you feel better, Mr. Lovesick."
Lucy opened the door wider and pushed Levy into the room. Levy glared at her friend over her shoulder, almost missing the sound of heavy footsteps coming closer.
"Really man? I am not lo...Levy?" Gajeel stepped around a table, his once-white coveralls rolled to his waist. Sweat glistened on his face and neck and Levy smiled sheepishly, realizing just how brash she had been to barge into his work space.
"What? Levy's here!?"
Levy squeaked as two other men barrelled their way to them. A pink-haired mechanic pushed his way past Gajeel, earning himself a cuff on the head, and slid to a stop in front of her and Lucy.
"I'm one of Metal Man's roommates! Nice to meet you! Wow, you're really pretty!" The mechanic grabbed Lucy's hand and pumped it up and down. Levy heard someone snort behind them.
"Wait, I'm not-"
"We've heard all about you! Love-for-brains hasn't stopped telling all about his trip, but won't show us any pictures cause he's a jerk. Is this your friend? Hi! You're cute too, but I'm not available, sorry...I've already got a soulmate that I'm crazy about."
"Um, actually…" Levy raised her hand slowly, feeling very small under all the attention, "I-I'm Levy."
The two men froze, but the tall man just smirked and leaned against a shelf and watched. Gajeel walked to her with a wide grin and rested his forearm on her head.
"Guys, meet Levy, my soulmate. Shorty, that's Lily laughing over there, dark hair is Grey and N-"
"Hey, what gives then?" The pink mechanic jerked his hand from Lucy's hold. "You can't just be holdin' hands with any ole person...I've got a soulmate too, ya know!"
"You're the one who grabbed my hand, you jerk!"
"You're just jealous cause your soulmate's probably not as good looking as me," he grinned, jerking a thumb to his chest.
Lucy crossed her arms, "Maybe not, but at least he has more than two brain cells."
"What'd you say about me? Gajeel, give me your pen-"
"Oi!"
"Just you watch, Blondie...I'm going to tell my soulmate and you'll be in trouble." He yanked his sleeve to his elbow and wrote furiously on his arm.
"Oh real mature-" Lucy rolled her eyes and reached out to snag the pen. Her sleeve shifted, revealing dark words on her skin.
Levy leaned to the side and read around her friend's shoulder, seeing Gajeel do the same to the mechanic.
"'Hey Luce, there's a girl here trying to steal me from you. Come beat her up!'"
"Wha!"
Lucy screamed and launched herself away from the mechanic, who stood frozen, pointing directly at her. Grey sat heavily in a chair, holding his sides in laughter. Lily smirked and pushed off the counter.
"I think they might need some time for their brains to reboot. Why don't you two talk over there?"
He pushed her on the shoulder and Levy reluctantly followed Gajeel down the path, glancing over her shoulder to her still frozen friend. Gajeel took her hand and led her to a cluttered space in the corner of the shop. A car stood on four lifted jacks, its hood open and what looked like its engine dismantled on the numerous tables.
He leaned against a table and immediately drew her into a tight hug. "Been wanting to do that, but Pinkie over there messed it up. I've missed ya, Shorty."
"I missed you too," she mumbled into the crook of his neck.
"Sorry, I probably smell like grease…"
"I don't mind," she said, holding him a bit tighter than usual.
"So...and not that I'm not thrilled to see ya, but why are you here?"
"I um…" She fiddled with his hair, trying to delay the inevitable. "I needed to talk to you about something."
Gajeel's shoulders tensed under her arms. She felt him take a deep breath before he pushed her gently on the shoulders. She backed up a step and refused to look him in the eye.
"What did...what did ya need to talk to me about?" He cleared his throat and looked at her expectedly.
"Well, um...you know how you told Grampa that you weren't quite ready for a relationship right now? And that we should wait a year before we decide anything?" She fiddled with her shoulder strap and peeked up at him over her glasses.
"...yeah?"
"Well, I really appreciate it...and I respect your decision and all, but um…"
"What are ya tryin' to say, Shorty?" Gajeel crossed his arms and Levy could see the strain in his hands.
"Wh-what I'm trying to say is that I don't need a year to think about it, because you've already been my best friend my entire life and I fell in love with you long before I even saw your face. So I guess I'm trying to say is...and I know that it's asking a lot from you, with having to find a new job and money will be tight, but we already have permission to use the guest house for cheap, and I know that we haven't known each other for very long. Well, I mean we have but not really-"
"Shrimp, I'm not followin' ya…" Gajeel stood and ran a hand through his hair. "Are ya...do you wanna break up with me?" His last words were so soft they were almost a whisper, but she could hear the brokenness lacing each and every letter.
"Break...what? No, not at all! I-I actually wanted to ask." She took a deep breath and straightened her shoulders. "Will you marry me?"
Gajeel blinked, looked around his work space and blinked again. "Wh-wha?"
"Will you marry me?" she repeated slowly, smiling at the blush creeping up his neck.
Gajeel swallowed and pointed to the ground. "Like, right now?"
Levy nodded sharply. "Yes, right now. Or tomorrow, or the next day. But not in a few years, not in a couple of months. It took us this long to find each other and I'm not going to let anything get in the way. So, Gajeel Redfox…" she stood directly in front of him, tilting her head back to look him directly in the eyes. "I'll ask again...will you marry me?"
He didn't answer. Just stood staring at her until her heart hammered in her chest. Her confidence swiftly flew away and she had just taken a single step back when Gajeel smiled broadly.
"Gihee, I thought you'd never ask. Sure, Shorty...I'll marry ya."
Tears filled her eyes and her heart filled to bursting. Her mouth stretched into a smile so wide it almost hurt and she jumped on her toes to wrap her arms around Gajeel's shoulders. His arms snaked around her waist and lifted her up, holding her so close that not even the wind could pass between them.
As his lips captured hers in a silent promise, their souls sighed in contentment and their hearts beat in time with one another. A final meeting place for two hearts, two souls, joined together through the most powerful and unexplainable bond in all the world.