Task 2: face (Part 2)

It was so pleasant to hear how she pronounced his name.

She sounded so joyful as meeting him was best thing in the world. Which cannot be truth, but Dragon Slayer quickly decided that whatever reason was behind her joy he didn't care. It was too pleasant, too enticing to be greeted this way. It was a couple of months since this unexpected nice change in her attitude took place, at first it confused him but he promptly got used to it and began to feel greedy.

And that's why after noticing her he didn't turn and go away in search of some non-occupied place as he would usually do. On the contrary, after brief pause his legs carried him to the blanket, on which she was sitting.

It would be refreshing to spend time with her, especially after dealing with obsessed Lily, morons guild mates and this entire fucking ball's lunacy.

As awkward and unsocial as he was around people, he was drawn to quite cheerful Script Mage. Maybe because he was able to relax near her – still mostly foreign concept for him and therefore very welcome.

"Why here all alone? You all right, Shorty?"

Intense look of bloody eyes can be regarded as intimidating, but Levy found out some time ago that it gave her a very different sensation.

She answered with a smile: "Just wanted quiet place to study this book. And it's so relaxing here".

"Yeah," Gajeel lowered his body, lying on his back. "Mind if I'll stay a little? Fucking cat makes me insane with this damp ball stuff. I'll murder someone I swear".

Levy giggled.

"Of course" it was much more than of course for her. "But I thought you made a good progress. Did something happen?"

He snorted: "Paranoid cat gets problems with my face. Can't smile the way to satisfy his fucking tastes".

Gajeel groaned remembering facial exercises Lily made him to do. His jaws can easily crash metal for fuck sake they are not designed to repeat stupid words or to fold into straw making him look like loony fish. Then his thoughts suddenly took other direction.

"Why did you come the other day?"

Levy slightly blushed as image of half-naked Gajeel in a very frivolous outfit appeared before her eyes.

"I wanted to show you this book. I found it during Shadow Gear last mission."

She pointed at tome which was lying on her legs. Very old worn looking book with dark stained cover. There were paintings at it, some big figures, which were impossible to identify now, probably, large animals and strange silver letters in language he couldn't understand. He gave girl a questioning look. She smiled gently in return.

"It written in old fiorian, people stopped to use it about 3 hundreds years ago. The title says "The power of mightiest. Chronicle of stone, diamond and iron dragons."

"Wh…at…?"

He stammered but in 2 seconds his voice died altogether. Levy opened the book about the middle and was showing him a picture now. "It's him, right?"

Oh. Holly. Crap. It fucking is! But how, god dammit?

On the page in all his shining powerful glory was imprinted a very precisely drawn image of Metalicana.

And, it seems, that his clever fierce eyes were looking straight at Gajeel's face.

Seeing his reaction Levy handed the book to him. He took it automatically, not noticing that Levy's hand ended up in his.

"Here, take a closer look. There are a few more full size pictures of him, a lot of sketches and information: history, youth, extent of iron dragon's powers, description of battles and of all amazing things Metallicana and his kind were able to do. I can read it to you, if you want." She offered softly. Gajeel could only manage to nod, starring at book in complete shock. Never in his life he felt so astonished, touched and grateful.

Neither of them could tell how many hours passed since they together have been sitting here. Levy's head was lying on Gajeel's shoulder, book stationed on their legs in a way both can see the contents of it. She read slowly, softly, giving him time to process information, making pauses when she sensed he needs it.

Forest around them long ago became dark. At some point Levy unconsciously created a light spell and they continued their pleasant time. She already felt tired but didn't want it to end and Gajeel looked like he forgot who he was, where he was, lost in the wonderful mix of his own memories and book's information. He was with Metalicana again, discovering things his dragon didn't tell him himself. And Levy was near, somehow it make everything even better.

Her head leaned lower on his shoulder and as pause lingered he understood she had fallen asleep. Tearing his eyes from book he realized with a start that it was dumb late, probably they spend here much more than few hours. He carefully removed book from her grasp, stuffed it and her other belongings to her bag, threw it on his back and gently picked her up. She didn't wake up, only buried her nose in his chest and happily murmured something.

He quietly opened door to his house, holding Levy gently, taking care not to disturb her sleep. First thing which he saw in dim lighted room was fierce looking Lily, who obviously intended to give him a hell time earful but was forced to freeze with open mouth.

Gajeel made a "shhhh face" to him and headed to his bedroom, where he placed Levy in his bed, covered with blanket and watched for a few minutes how she wrapped her arms around his pillow, apparently found it good enough to snuggle and with a contented smile sank into deep sleep.

Oh, how he was tempted to settle near her. But behind the door was waiting bewildered Exceed and Dragon Slayer sighed and quitted the room.

"We were reading," he informed Pantherlily, who still stood at the same place with the same expression on his face. "About dragons and stuff".

Lily remained silent and Gajeel's mind drifted few hours back. He heard her voice, was enveloped in her scent, felt pleasant tingling, where they had touched. He startled when Lily's squeak pulled him out these sweet memories.

"Yes, that's it, exactly what we need! Oh, I knew you are able to do it, Gajeel!"

"Huh?"

"Your smile. You just smiled in absolutely perfect way. Light, tender, without these cocky or frowning tendencies of yours. Now repeat!"

Dragon Slayer just blinked stupidly:

"Huh?"

A/n: Yeah, Gajeel is surely on a right way. But will it be enough for Lily? Nope. )) So which part of Slayer's personality has to be improved next? Well, we'll see. :)