A/N: My favorite two couples in a story. I hope you like it :)
When Gajeel entered the guild with a possessive arm around Levy, a certain celestial mage had to smile. The often rough looking dragon slayer was smirking, but who looked closer could see a hint of a smile as well. Lucy was happy for her best female friend. The script mage had long ago admitted to her that she was in love with Gajeel, but she had been too shy to confess because she had believed that he wouldn't returned her feelings. Knowing her best friend's feelings and seeing that Gajeel felt the same, Lucy had played match maker. It hadn't been easy to convince Gajeel that he should confess, but in the end Lucy had annoyed him until he caved.
While she was thinking about all this the new couple had moved over to the far corner where Gajeel normally sat alone. Most of the guild didn't even seem to notice them, too busy with the normal craziness that was the everyday life at Fairy Tail. Even though the others ignored the fact that the relationship between two of them had changed, Lucy would. She wanted to be the first to congratulate them to their happiness.
"I'm happy for you guys." Lucy smiled at them and sat down at the table.
"Thanks, Lu-chan." Levy returned her smile and a light blush dusted her checks.
The three fell into an easy conversation, at least Lucy and Levy did, while Gajeel remained silently listening. However when after a while the script mage offered to get them drinks and was out of ear-shot, the dragon slayer spoke up for the first time since Lucy sat down.
"Thanks for your help, bunny girl."
He looked uneasy saying it, probably because he wasn't used to showing his softer side to anyone but Levy and Lily, but his words were genuine.
"Don't mention it. I'm just happy that you two are finally together. It was obvious that you cared deeply for her and she confessed her feelings for you to me a while ago. All it took was a little bit encouragement." Her smile faded a little and her eyes shifted to newly arrived other dragon slayer in the room, who was currently fighting with Gray. "I can imagine that it's a great feeling to know that you're loved just as much as you love someone. Not knowing if you even mean anything to him in that way or if he even sees anything else than a best friend in you is the worse."
Gajeel watched the blonde in front of him closely. He might not be the expert for love, seeing that he hadn't even realized that Levy was in love with him until yesterday when she had told him, but he could see why Lucy was so upset.
"He cares about you." He offered clumsily. That definitely wasn't his forte. Dealing with a whole dark guild seemed easy than dealing with feelings and a woman's feelings none the less. Levy would probably know the right words to say, but he was left with his awkward attempts at comforting Lucy.
"He should, I'm his best friend after all." She laughed, but there was no real humor in her tone.
The iron dragon slayer felt useless. He would never admit it out loud, but hadn't it been for Lucy, he wouldn't been brave enough to confess to Levy. Fighting, he could do, but love was a battlefield he had no experience with until Lucy helped him. Sure, she had annoyed him a lot with her constant teasing that he was just too shy to confess, but in the end she had done it to help him. Lucy had realized that she had to use his pride to conquer his insecurity and when she had told him yesterday, before he went to confessed to Levy, that she wouldn't set him up for heartbreak he had believed her. Looking at the other dragon slayer Gajeel decided that he would help Lucy, just like she had helped him.
"You're more to him than a best friend, but he is an idiot so he hasn't realized it yet." At his words Lucy turned around and when he saw that her full attention was on him he continued. "There is a way to get him to finally realize what you mean to him and I'm willing to help, but not because I care, just because I don't want to own you something."
"You would really do that?" Lucy asked hopefully. Normally she would deny her feelings for the fire mage, but after trying anything to get him to notice her, she was willing to do almost anything.
"He is a dragon slayer just like me and we have heightened senses. We have also a lot of instincts and behavior from dragons, which also applies to courting our mate. To make it short, I'll scent mark you and if I'm right about his feelings for you he will be furious about that."
"What do you mean 'scent mark'?" Lucy asked confused.
"You're really making me reconsider helping you right now." He almost growled. The only thing he had wanted to do was repay the favor, not tell her about dragon courting rituals. Her pleading look however broke through his defensive. "All I'm telling you is that when a dragon decides on a mate he marks them when he starts courting them. It's done to scare other dragons off and tell them that the other is already chosen by another."
"Then didn't you already do that for Levy?"
"Again with the questions, bunny girl." He rolled his eyes annoyed, before he added in almost a whisper. "I didn't want to do that without her consent. I haven't told her about dragon rituals yet, so it would be unfair to her."
Lucy had to keep herself from squealing at the sweetness. Gajeel really cared deeply for Levy. She had done the right thing in helping him and now he was even willing to help her with Natsu.
"Thank you, Gajeel." She smiled at him, but then frowned slightly. "Wait, wouldn't Natsu know that it's fake when he sees you and Levy together?"
"That idiot wouldn't even realize that two people are a couple if they would make out in front of him and Levy is going on a mission with her two idiot teammates, so the plan should work."
"Sadly that's true." Lucy agreed. "Then thanks again Gajeel. I'll let you spend a little more time with Levy-chan before she leaves for her mission."
Seeing that his soon to be mate was really coming back to the table, the dragon slayer nodded.
"Alright, I'll see you tomorrow. Meet me in front of the guild so I can place the mark on you before you go in."
The next morning Lucy almost skipped to the guild. Hopefully Gajeel was right and however he would scent mark her would make Natsu finally react. Just as Gajeel had promised, he was waiting in front of the guild for her. He had never told her the way he could place the scent mark, but when Lucy saw an iron bracelet in his hand she had an idea.
"Morning bunny girl. Take this." He threw the bracelet at her. "I transferred just enough of my magic in it so it will smell to the idiot as if I really scent marked you, which I obviously won't."
Lucy put the bracelet on and hide it under her sleeves. Thankfully she had chosen a longer shirt today. The bracelet was heavy, but then again it was out of iron. Together the two waited in front of the guild and it didn't take long for Natsu to show up. Judging by the piece of paper in his now balled fist he had been searching for her so they could go on a mission he had found. After he saw her with Gajeel however he seemed to have forgotten all about it.
The celestial mage had seen her best friend angry before and him and Gajeel fought all the time, but the way he looked at the other dragon slayer now was absolutely furious.
"You marked her." With these words the fire dragon slayer punched Gajeel with such force that he landed against a tree in the nearby forest. Not wasting any time Natsu ran to his rival, ready to continue the fight. Lucy ran after them only to find them clenching each others throats while punching the other in the face.
"How dare you mark her." Lucy heard Natsu scream. "You have to know that she is my mate. I'm always with her, I protect her, my scent is all over her. She is my mate and you dare mark her as yours."
Sure, Lucy didn't know much about dragon slayer's ways of courting, except for what Gajeel had told her, but that sounded a lot like a list of things that involve courting.
"So what? It's not like you ever told her that she is your mate or made it official." Gajeel provoked him further.
"What does that matter? She is my mate and I love her." Natsu screamed.
"Finally you admit it." Gajeel smirked at Natsu and then looked over Natsu's shoulder. "Did you hear that, bunny girl?"
Gajeel's smirked widened when he saw the other dragon slayer's shocked expression when he turned around and also saw Lucy stand there. Gajeel took that opportunity to shove Natsu away and walk over to Lucy. Almost gently he removed the iron bracelet around her wrist and his scent immediately vanished from Lucy.
"I knew this would work on an idiot like you. I didn't mark her. I already found my mate and it's definitely not her." Gajeel explained to the stunned fire mage before he turned to Lucy, his tone a little bit softer than before. "Good luck with that idiot, bunny girl. I hope he makes you happy."
Natsu didn't even react to the insult, his eyes only focused on the beautiful blonde who stood a few feet away.
"Luce, I-" Natsu began, but stopped himself.
"Is it true? Am I your mate?" When an almost shy nod was his response she stepped closer to him. "And you love me?" Another nod and Lucy kissed him.
It was on impulse, but hearing him finally say the words that she had waited for for so long was overwhelming her. He loved her, he really loved her back. Smiling into the kiss she made a note to herself to thank Gajeel again later. Finally, just like Levy with Gajeel, she found her happiness with her dragon slayer.
A/N: I'm considering to write a story about how Lucy helps Gajeel and Levy get together. It could be a little prequel to this story. Please review and tell me what you think :)