"H-he loves me?" Levy whispered softly.
"There's no way that's true," Levy thought to herself," I've only known him for a week, we've barely gotten to know each other. But why is my heart pounding?"
"Very much," Juvia replied," It's your move now."
"Huh?" Levy said, looking up, a confused expression on her face," What are you talking about?"
"Juvia finds love to be like a game of chess," Juvia continued, stirring her coffee with the little spoon absentmindedly," Each person makes a move, some defensive, some offensive. Each of these moves changes the way of the game, or in this case, the feelings between individuals. Gajeel made his move by telling you how he felt, but you ran away. It's your turn to respond properly."
Levy's jaw was slack as she listened to this incredible woman. Juvia's intelligence rivaled her own and it made Levy think about her next move.
"I need to go," Levy exclaimed, standing up quickly," I...I need to find him."
"That's fine and all," Juvia smiled," But do you know where he is?"
"Isn't he at the bar?" Levy asked, but Juvia shook her head softly.
"After the shock of you leaving wore off, Gajeel ran off to find you," Juvia explained. Levy felt her hopes come crashing back down.
"How am I gonna find him?" Levy groaned. Gajeel seemed like the type of guy to slink off into the shadows. It would be impossible to track him down, especially if he didn't want to be found.
"Luckily, this isn't the first time Gajeel has gotten upset," Juvia explained," So Juvia knows where he'll be."
"Can you take me there?" Levy asked in a pleading tone.
"Of course," Juvia smiled, getting up," Let's get the bill and I'll take you to Gajeel."
…
In Levy's car, there was silence. Levy was sitting in the passenger's seat as Juvia said the route was too confusing to explain. Juvia had offered to put the radio on, but Levy had politely declined, opting to stare at the ever changing scenery as they drove into the night.
"Can I ask you something?" Levy quietly asked, breaking the silence between them.
"Of course," Juvia replied.
"Why do you say "Juvia" instead of using pronouns?" Levy questioned.
There was no response.
"I'm sorry," Levy panicked, remembering the girl's past," I didn't mean to offend you, it's just that-"
"It's fine," Juvia replied quietly. But this time something was different.
"Your voice!" Levy exclaimed, both in shock and awe.
Juvia's sweet voice was now heavy and rich. A clear Russian accent filled the car.
"Are you Russian?" Levy asked in excitement. She loved to meet people from all over the world and she'd never met anyone from Russia.
"Da," Juvia replied before realising she'd spoken in Russian," I mean, yes."
"Um, stupid question, but why did you change your voice?" Levy meekly asked.
"Juvia was sold off as a child by her parents to Jose," Juvia explained," Jose didn't like my voice so he'd beat me if I spoke Russian. But I managed to retain the accent by simply masking it."
"Do you speak any other languages?" Levy asked.
"Oui," Juvia smiled," I can also speak French."
"I don't get why you still hide your accent though," Levy exclaimed," Your Russian is so nice."
"Net," Juvia heavily sighed ," The accent isn't very pretty. Juvia doesn't think Gray will like it."
"Are you kidding?" Levy gasped," He'd love it."
Juvia's Russian accent wasn't soft and delicate like some others but it was rich, sensual and intoxicating. When she spoke, Levy felt entranced by the woman's speech.
"If you insist then," Juvia giggled.
"Does Gajeel know about your accent?" Levy asked.
"Da," Juvia smiled as she reminisced," He didn't mind it."
"But that doesn't explain why you don't use pronouns," Levy said.
"It's very hard to learn a new language and as well as that, it was a childhood habit," Juvia explained," I didn't receive the best education under Jose and in such a stressful environment, it's easy to cling to little quirks."
"Oh," Levy mumbled.
After a few more minutes of silence, the car slowed to halt. Levy looked outside to see an abandoned tenant block.
"We're here!" Juvia smiled," Let's get going, da?"
"Yeah," Levy quietly replied as she slipped out the car. The building was a crumbling mess, splattered with graffiti and empty bottles. Juvia entered the building first and Levy followed her, down twisting corridors and desecrated halls. Finally, Juvia opened a wooden door.
There sat Gajeel on a second hand couch. He looked drained, both mentally and physically.
"What are you doing here, Juvia?" Gajeel growled, as his eyes narrowed at the Russian. He liked to be alone at times like this and didn't need what Juvia called "moral support".
"You have a visitor," Juvia quickly replied, shoving Levy into the room. Gajeel's eyes widened and he stood up quickly.
"Fuck, Levy, what are you-" he began before Levy jumped in.
"I'm sorry!" Levy interrupted.
"Eh?" Gajeel replied, a look of confusion spreading across his face.
"I'm so sorry, Gajeel," Levy whispered, tears pooling in her eyes as she stared at him," I didn't listen to you. I panicked and ran off without giving you a chance. I hurt you and for that, I am sorry."
"Levy, you don't need to apologize," Gajeel countered, taking a step back as if to try and distance himself from the beautiful girl," I deserved your reaction."
"No you didn't," Levy snapped," I promised not to hate you, but all I did was judge you. Juvia came and told me everything. About the people you killed, how you did good."
Levy bit her lip and looked down to the ground before she continued.
"...about your feelings for me."
Gajeel froze up and he gulped, trying to ease his frantic heartbeat. Damn Juvia for telling Levy.
"Levy… I… I'm not right for you."
"Who decided that?" Levy emphasized, looking up at Gajeel with fiery eyes.
"What?" Gajeel asked, not understanding Levy's question.
"Who decided that you're not right for me?" Levy repeated, her voice steely and full of passion.
"I'm an ex-gangster," Gajeel exclaimed," I'm still a target. You don't need to get involved in this shit."
"I'll protect you," Levy quipped, flexing her invisible muscles. Gajeel wanted to laugh but this wasn't the right time.
"I'm not very rich," Gajeel confessed.
"Money can't buy happiness," Levy quoted with a smile.
"I'm a bad person," Gajeel argued, taking another step back. But Levy wasn't about to let him leave and she moved forward as well.
"I like bad boys," Levy smirked, causing Gajeel's heart and mind to explode.
"I have a lot of baggage," Gajeel snapped, hoping Levy would get the picture.
"I'll help you unpack," Levy sweetly remarked as she stared up at him. Gajeel wanted to punch himself. His tactics weren't working.
"Look," Gajeel sighed," I can't be your knight in shining armour."
"Who said I wanted a knight?" Levy retorted," Maybe I want a dragon."
At those words,
"You want a dragon?" Gajeel smirked, walking over to Levy.
"Yes," Levy breathed," Screw those fairy tales, I'm in love with a dragon."
At the word "love", Gajeel's eyes widened and his cheeks went slightly pink.
"Loving someone doesn't mean their good for you," Gajeel whispered, caressing Levy's face with his rough hand.
"But this isn't one of those times," Levy softly replied.
" I've never done… this before," Gajeel explained.
"We can take our time, Gajeel," Levy replied, grabbing his free hand and looping her fingers through his.
"You're not gonna give up, are ya Shrimp?" Gajeel laughed.
"You got it!" Levy chirped.
"Fine," Gajeel sighed, shaking his head in defeat," So where do we go now?"
"Uhmmm… I'm honestly not sure," Levy laughed nervously," I didn't think you'd actually be willing to forgive me, so I didn't plan ahead."
"How about you head home?" Gajeel suggested. Levy's jaw dropped.
"Seriously?" Levy demanded," After all that, I'm supposed to go home and sleep!"
"Were you wanting to do something beside sleeping?" Gajeel smirked. Levy immediately turned a magnificent shade of red.
"N-No!" she protested," It's just… we have so much to talk about."
"I'm not going anywhere Shrimp," Gajeel said," We can talk about this tomorrow, but right now, you look like you're about to drop dead."
"Drop dead gorgeous you mean," Levy quickly replied, before a large yawn escaped.
"Always," Gajeel smiled, picking her up bridal style. Levy squealed.
"Put me down!"
"I don't want ya to trip or stumble into a pile of glass or something," Gajeel insisted, carrying her out the building, where Juvia was standing next to Levy's little car.
"Juvia guesses you two made up?" the woman giggled.
Gajeel simply grunted in response.
He went to put Levy down but she was fast asleep in his arms, her angelic face glowing in the moonlight.
"Open the door," Gajeel mumbled to Juvia who did so. He slid Levy into the back, making sure to do up her seat belt so she was safe. Juvia watched with a thoughtful expression on her face.
"You really care about her, don't you?" Juvia softly exclaimed.
"Make sure she gets home safe," Gajeel replied, ignoring Juvia's previous comment. The swimmer decided not to push her luck and nodded, getting into the driver's seat.
"Do you need a lift as well?" Juvia asked, but Gajeel simply shook his head.
"Nah," he said," I'll be fine."
"If you're sure," Juvia smirked, before starting up the engine," Wait, what's her address?"
Silence.
"You don't know where she lives, do you?" Juvia pressed.
Nothing.
"I'll give Lucy a call," Juvia decided, pulling out her phone.
Ring. Ring.
"Hey Juvia!" Lucy answered," Is everything okay?"
"Everything's fine," Juvia answered. Lucy gasped.
"What happened to your voice?" Lucy exclaimed.
"Crap," Juvia thought to herself," I forgot to change my accent."
"I'll explain tomorrow," Juvia exclaimed," But I need to drop Levy home, so do you know her address?"
"Isn't she with you?"
"She is, but she's fast asleep."
"Oh, alright, just give me a sec," Lucy said before Juvia heard mumbling," Okay Mira has it."
Lucy went on to give Juvia the address.
"So, are you gonna tell me what happened?" Lucy asked, curiously.
"Juvia thinks Levy should tell you," Juvia cooly replied.
"That's fine," Lucy laughed," I love your voice by the way. You're definitely telling me why you hid it, okay?"
"Sure," Juvia smiled," I need to get going so I'll see you tomorrow!"
"Bye!" Lucy chirped, before Juvia ended the call. Putting her phone away, she turned back to see the still sleeping Levy resting her cheek against the window.
"Let's get you home," Juvia whispered, as they began to drive off into the night.