Task 5: helping friend (Part 3)

Small living room remained silent for a few moments. Then seeing that his friend regards the entire business solely from one perspective, Lily decided to assign himself in charge. He was actually worried as he also liked kind cheerful Script Mage and, unlike Iron Slayer, couldn't imagine that her absence was caused by such a reason. There was something behind this. Something disturbing. And the more Lily thought, the more uneasy he became.

"Did you check in the Guild?"

Silence.

"Gajeel, did you check in the Guild?"

Iron Dragon Slayer didn't hear him, spaced out into his own misery consumed universe.

"Gajeel!" Pantherlily repeated third time, raising his voice. "Did you check in the Guild?"

"She doesn't want to see me." Dragon Slayer muttered mechanically.

Such way of thinking doesn't help. Small cat had jumped, opened his wings, flying toward his friend's face. Then he stretched his paws and placed them on man's cheeks, small razor sharp claws slightly digging into skin not intending to hurt, just enough pressure to return iron mage to reality.

"Gajeel, take a grip! No time for moping, situation requires clear thinking and fast reactions. Back to my question. Did you check in the Guild?"

"In Guild? Why the hell…"

Gajeel's still dim eyes looked at Lily when he answered, then something passed through them, he stopped abruptly and suddenly turned pale.

"You imply… something happened to her? Something… bad?"

Such possibility didn't cross Gajeel's mind. After waiting several hours past appointed time he settled on only one logical conclusion – she did not come, because she understood that he wasn't worth her attention, her time, her caresses. It was devastated thought, it hurts like hell, but he realized it was way better than gut wretched fear he felt now. If she doesn't want to see him anymore it was ok if it means that she is well and safe. She must be well and safe, it's crucial point! It's just can't be otherwise. But what if... what if she met someone... someone like him in his Phantom time? What if she was attacked? What if...

"I suggest we don't rush with conclusions…let's check first…" Small cat tried not to add fuel to Slayer's growing panic. Without success.

Gajeel jerked to the door, threw it open and barely stopped himself from smashing Lucy, who stood there with a hand raised to knock.

"Later, Bunny Girl" He brushed her off, intending to disappear in the dark, but Lucy managed to grab his tunic firm enough to slower him a little and inquired hurriedly "Is Levy here? With you?" Her eyes hopeful and voice worried.

He stopped mid jump.

"Did you see her today?"

He couldn't compel himself to utter a single sound.

"You didn't…" Blonde mage deduced from his frozen pose and terrified eyes and her own filled with tears. "I hoped she is with you." Suppressed sob followed. "No one see her a whole day. Something happened in the morning, it disturbed me and I decided to check. I… we… looked, but could find her nowhere, not in her room, not in the library or in the Guild. No one saw her. But it can't be that he did something bad to her. He wouldn't. He just wouldn't, right?"

"What happened in the morning, Lucy?" Lily instantly inquired. Subtle piece of information, but still a lead, which can't be ignored.

"Who?"

The word was pronounced with such violent emotion, that both Lily and Lucy twitched slightly. Gajeel stood before them pale faced and shaking, surrounding with aura so gloomy that night's air seemed lighter somehow. Killing intentions clearly were emanating from him, but it was obvious for both the girl and exceed, that behind that wild rage was fear so powerful that he couldn't face it. They were supposed to meet at noon and now it was already dark. 10 hours. 10 fucking hours and maybe all this time she needed help. And how he was occupied all that time? Sat and sulked? 10 hours! Goddamit! What if something irretrievable happened? NO, he won't think about it!

"Wh…ho?" He forced through clenched teeth.

"Jet. He heard something and… maybe got upset…and…" Celestial wizard admitted dejectedly.

"Jet?" Lily repeated. He shifted in his battle form and was beside Gajeel now in case there will be necessity to calm enraged Slayer. But Jet? It was unexpected. Levy's teammates adored her, what could have happened that Lucy decided that Jet might be responsible for girl's disappearance? They needed more information.

"Lucy, please, tell us what happened." Exceed asked.

"We were in the Guild…" Celestial wizard started but was interrupted by loud thud as something massive dropped in front of them. Upon observation it appeared to be Natsu, who was holding Fairy Tail's Speed Mage by collar with firm grip. Gajeel jerked toward them, Lily immediately grabbed Iron Slayer, successfully preventing him to reach for Jet.

"Found him!" Natsu announced, in the process slightly shaking Speed Mage. "Levy's scent is on him and it's still fresh, 4-5 hours, so he has to know something. Though he refused to tell."

Gajeel sniffed frantically and sure slightly faded but definitely today's scent of paper, ink and sun-kissed flowers was tangible on Jet's closes. "Bastard, what did you do to her?" Gajeel roared and it took all Lily's strength to keep his hold of him. It felt like restraining enraged iron locomotive.

"Lucy, lead Natsu and Jet to our house, please." It was necessary to remove Jet from Gajeel's line of sight.

The girl understood and nodded. As 3 mages disappeared behind the door, Lily faced his partner still tightly holding him.

"Gajeel, you need to calm down or at least better control yourself. You understand?"

Dragon Slayer just panted heavily not sparing an answer.

"We'll find her, but for that we need information from him. Beating, hurting him won't help, we'll only lose time. We can't afford that. Promise me you'll control yourself."

Gajeel breathed fitfully, desperately trying to calm himself a little.

"I…'ll… try."

"Good. And I promise you that if he… did something bad to her I'll help you to kill him later."

They entered the house and approached Gajeel's couch where their 3 forced guests were now sitting. Natsu was frowning, eyeing Jet with unusual for him disapprovingly-puzzled look. He still didn't release his grip. Lucy looked wretched. As for Jet he had few bruises and scratches, but still attempted to shoot Gajeel hate filled gaze. Iron Dragon came close almost breathing fire but confined to speak for now, not attempting to do something else.

"Talk!"

"…"

"I said talk!" Iron fingers curled threateningly around Jet's neck.

"Gajeel!" Lily warned.

"I am not going to tell you anything. Damned metal monster, you won't be with her!"

Lucy's eyes widened and she turned toward Jet with utterly terrified expression.

"You did something to her! You did! How could you? What you did to her?"

Lily through strongly wanting to slice Jet in two by this moment, concentrated on remaining calm and watching over Gajeel. Black haired Slayer looked bad, his body was partly covered in iron, metal drifting above his skin as he was losing control of his magic. Lucy collapsed on the couch in hysterics.

"You hurt Levy? Our guildmate? Our friend?"

Jet was in the air now, his feet dangled in a good foot from the floor, hot fire burning near his face. It wasn't Gajeel, who choked him now, it was Natsu. Infuriated literally blazing Natsu with flames in his eyes.

"I didn't!" Jet yelled, waving his hands madly. "I just wanted to keep her away from him!"

"Where is she? For god's sake, Jet, tell us where is she. Is she alright? Is she not in danger? It's night already. What happened? She is your teammate, your childhood friend, you assured that you care about her. Where is she?" Pantherlily tried to reason being the one still able to talk more or less calmly.

And Jet broke, whined suddenly, awful sound caused Natsu to drop him.

"I don't know, I lost her!" He cried that snapped at Gajeel. "It's all his fault!"

Once again Virgo was in Gajeel's house, fastening special physical and magic restraining ropes around both Slayers.

As Gajeel had irresistible personal reason to crush Jet right in place, Natsu was similarly affected. Fire Dragon Slayers couldn't stand when his friends were offended. And Levy was kind of special too. Always quiet and nice, she had been reading stories to him when they were kids, soothing him when master scolded him for daily destructions, encouraged him and created fire to eat every time he asked. And she was Lucy's close friend. And he can sense how important she was for Gajeel. Natsu can't name the feeling, but it felt like kind of unity, Dragon Slayers thing. And altogether it was too much. His fists were on fire, they itched to connect with Jet's face.

"Jet!" Lily stood in front of Speed Mage in his bigger shape, muscles tense and eyes angry. "I am capable to control myself much better that Gajeel, but I am really furious now and unless you'll start talk, I won't try to remain patient and polite. And I assure you that I know a lot, I mean a lot ways to inflict pain. If needed I'll use them all to make you talk. It's up to you. Decide. And fast. We are waiting."