AN: I love music. I thought Gajeel would too. This is an all new Gajevy story. It's going to be a little different than my last one. I will have added an artist list and songs they do that are similar to what I believe Gajeel's band would be into. If you haven't already, check out my other Gajevy multi-chapter stories, Fighting Redfox and What About Now. I have Gajevy one shots as well.

Storyline: [AU] "Black Dragon Realm" (BDR) is hot on the up and coming list - and they're coming to your city! Gajeel and his bandmates have struck gold on a record deal and their manager sets the sails. When a band member decides to leave for good, they fear they may have to pull on the plug on their new-found dreams. None of them ever expected just who would save their metal-rocking music careers.

*Rated Mature - There is strong use of language, drug usage, minor violence, some sexual situations, and a lot of humor. Reader discretion is advised.

*Credit is due to JadeOccelot for helping me plan.

*I do not own any of the pictures or other media.

*I do not own any of Fairy Tail - that's all Hiro Mashima.

AN: This is a longer chapter. There could be grammar errors.

Chapter 3 - Hearts Alike

Thick, white smoke rolled out from the loaded grill as Gajeel opened the shiny domed lid. He flipped the burgers and turned the hot dogs over the flames and transporting the finished food from the aluminum foil to the plate Sting held at the ready.

"How much longer?" Sting asked, still watching the cooking food.

Gajeel took a quick swig from the beer bottle pinched between his fingers before answering. "A few minutes. Go tell the others."

The young blond turned and walked back into the house. A small breeze rushed through Gajeel's black locks. He squinted as it blew the smoke into his eyes. The whole day the weather had been mildly hot, now the sun was disappearing behind a mass of light grey clouds. The mixture of heat and the coming cold front would quickly turn into a thunderstorm for the evening and into the night.

He loved storms. When he could, he preferred to sit out on the front porch swing to watch the weather roll through. A fierce force of nature, not caring at all when or where it unleashed its fury. It sort of reminded him of his temper, though that was something he had been working on. It wasn't perfect, but it was better.

He took a breath and glanced up to see his reflection in the back window. The picture on his black t-shirt was blurred in the glass. His eyes saw past the reflection and he could see inside the kitchen. Levy's back was to him while she manned the stove top. Her hair was pulled up, but strands escaped the rest near her ears.

She turned around carrying the steaming pot by the handles, walking towards the window to drain the noodles at the sink. Gajeel instinctively looked away, down at the drink in his hands, and couldn't help but to look again.

Levy handed the drained pasta to Laxus so he could add the rest of the ingredients. While she wiped her hands on a dishtowel, her eyes flickered to the window. She gave Gajeel a mousy smile before she turned around again.

The screen door slamming pulled him from his trance. Sting had come back out with another plate for the rest of the food. With the grill now empty, Gajeel carefully turned off the propane and closed the lid; he'd clean up later.

He about bumped into Levy as he blindly took a step towards the house. Raising his arm, he saved his beer and Levy from accidentally getting some of it on her.

"Oh, sorry," she said breathlessly, reaching up to briefly touch his chest to steady herself. Her eyes again flickered to the white sky above. "Do you think it's alright to eat out here? It looks like it'll rain."

He grunted. "I am, but you do want you want. Better make it soon if you do. The temperature is dropping."

"A storm's coming in?"

"Yep." He saw the flash of unease cross her face as he walked around her to the outside table. She didn't mind rain. A good rain was always a refreshing thing. It was the thunder and lightening she didn't like.

She did an about-face and watched him grab another beer from the cooler and sit down at the head of the table. With another quick glance to the sky, she quickly sat down between Gajeel and Laxus as they all started to fill their plates. Paper plates -as no one really wanted to do the dishes- but full plates nonetheless. After a toast to the signing and new record deal, they dug in.

Levy listened to the random conversation as she ate, not saying too much as she steadily filled her belly with the delicious meal they had all chipped in to create. She tried to ignore the flinging of "Texas Ranger beans" as Natsu called them, seeing the saucy beans fly from the end of his spoon as he told a story with his hands. They landed a few feet away onto the porch.

"Whoa there, killer," Laxus said after taking a bite of his cheeseburger. "Food goes in your mouth."

"Says the one who fell asleep with a popcorn on his chest." Natsu loaded his spoon again.

"It was one time," Laxus argued with a frown, cheeking his food so he could talk. He thought he lived it down, the time he drank too much at a Superbowl party and hogged the popcorn bowl until he had apparently passed out. And in the middle of bringing a handful to his mouth.

Gajeel put down his fork to pick up his beer bottle. He glanced at Laxus, trying not to smirk. "One time too many. You're lucky they didn't take a picture."

"Damn, I shoulda. I need to get one as payback for the picture of me working that corner."

Sting snorted with the humor he found in that statement. "I wish you'd stop saying that." Gajeel glanced at the blond kid sitting to his left, moving his bottle to gently clank against the drinking glass in agreement.

"I think we all have times where we mess up," Levy finally voiced. She looked between them all. Her hand rubbed her arm to ward off the slowly dropping temperature.

The breeze picked up a little, sending an unused napkin up into the air to land in Gray's food. He paused in mid chew to pick it off, but another gush of air broke it loose from his fingers and it plastered itself to his face.

Natsu saw it and without warning, immediately spit out the mouthful of water he had been about to swallow, spraying Gray, Laxus, and the plate of hot dogs with a water and spital combination. He laughed, hunched over in his seat at the incident before Gray could pull the napkin off, coughing from the surprise.

"Natsu, you idiot!" Gray growled, using the napkin that had been in his face to wipe the water from his arms.

"I'm sorry, I'm s-sorry," Natsu said through his chortle. "It's not every day that napkins attack."

She tried not to, but Levy let out a small giggle at his joke. Her fingers covered her lips as she sensed Laxus' irritation. Wiping his arm with his own napkin, Laxus shook his head, breathing hard through his nose.

"So does anyone want some oreo pie?" Levy suddenly asked. She stood up to take her plate inside.

"I'll help," Sting offered.

Before following Sting, Levy turned to Gajeel. "Can I take that for you?"

He let her take his empty plate. His eyes landed on her phone she had left. Aware of the others talking, he risked a glance in the direction of the door. She kicked it open and walked into the kitchen.

He sat back in his cushioned chair, relaxed as he had two beers in his system. The whole spital incident had no affect on him. Their usual bickering was more amusing than it was annoying. He looked up as he felt something wet on his shoulder.

The white sky had turned grey, and the clouds were well on their way over the neighborhood. Another fat drop fell on his face. He sat up. Laxus had felt one too. The four of them filed into the house single file, each carrying the food that had been outside.

Gray was the last to come in. He turned to look behind him and whistled. The clouds had let loose their floodgates. "It's already raining pretty hard."

There was a female gasp and then an "Oh no!".

Gajeel's head snapped in Levy's direction, still holding the bowl of macaroni. Red eyes searched her body. "What's wrong?"

She stood against the sink, leaning as she looked out into the backyard. "My phone is out there!"

Immediately relaxing, Gajeel breathed. He set the bowl on the counter next to the foil to cover it. "I grabbed it. It's in my shorts pocket."

"Oh. Thank you, Gajeel," she said turning. She smiled and slid back to the opposite side of the kitchen to finish cutting slices into the dark brown pie. "Do you want a piece?"

A piece of that ass, yea, he thought automatically. He pursed his lips at the stray thought, aware that Sting was still in the room putting the leftovers into the fridge. Instead, he nodded, taking a plate from her with a "thanks".

"Gajeel?" Levy asked sheepishly. She placed the serving utensils on the counter.

"Yea?" He halted when she came up to him.

His heart leaped from his chest when he felt her hands on his waist. The sweet dessert in his mouth threatened to choke him, as he found it difficult to draw in a complete breath. The sensation of her long, tiny fingers touching him through his clothing sent him chills.

She gazed up at him. "My phone…"

"Oh, right." He reached down to dig into his pocket, and his hand brushed over hers, which was still connected to his waistband. Hurriedly he gave it back. The longer she was that close to him, the more he felt his lower half begin to stir. Her eyes, the way they looked at him, all large and sexy…

He abruptly started walking, quickly hightailing it out of there. The trap that Levy usually was for him was starting to draw him in and do things to him. More than usual. There were only two things that could happen if he pursued her any further than he already had. The one he hoped, that Levy would reciprocate his feelings and his pining would be rewarded.

And the one that seemed more likely: Levy would politely reject him, and he would have no choice but to live in silent torment while their lives moved forward. While she lived and breathed around him. A constant reminder of what he would never have.

The thought made him sick.

There were a few bites left of his dessert, but he couldn't make himself eat it. He stood by the couch, looking down at Laxus and his usual pile of lyrics. The blond had a notebook open with various notes spread around it, ideas he had gotten for new songs while at work or wherever his notebook wasn't present. Words were scribbled on napkins, note cards, and the back of a few receipts.

Gajeel held out the plate. "You want the rest?"

Blue eyes turned up to him with a surprised glint. Gajeel never offered anyone the food that he was eating. "Yeah… if you don't want it."

Laxus took it and watched his friend for a moment, noting something different in his eyes. "Everything ok?"

Gajeel's expression didn't really change. He couldn't get the idea of Levy rejecting him out of his head. His tone was flat and he answered, "Yea. Everything's ok. Just as planned."

Opening the front door, he quietly slipped out. The smell of rain on the streets hit him and he felt a little better, his mess of thoughts starting to disappear as he focused on the scent and sound. The thunder rolled above him. The rumble like his own emotions, just tumbling together and accumulating to what end, Gajeel could only guess.

He moved to the wooden swing at the end of the porch that faced out towards the yard. Cool air and a fine mist from the falling water swirled around his body. It was a nice break of the incessant heat. He was relatively calm.

The creak of the screen door made him open his eyes. Through his peripheral vision, he spied a female form. Levy had donned a sweatshirt. She slowly walked towards the edge of the porch until her feet came to the wet sections from the overhang. She took a deep breath, her shoulders moving with it.

Gajeel watched for a moment. "It's nice, isn't it?"

His deep voice made her nod and a small sound came from her. She turned. "It is," she said.

Her lips slid upwards and she crossed her arms over her chest. The rain began to come down in thicker sheets. A dull roar of it on the roof blocked out all other sounds in the streets.

They stayed like that -just enjoying the surroundings- for several moments. A flash lit up the dark sky beyond and a loud crack of thunder crashed overhead. Levy jerked, taking a step backward. He saw her discomfort when she slightly turned to duck her head.

"Come sit," he said, moving over and indicating to the empty space beside him.

She slowly walked over and sat next to him and kicked off her black flip flops. He caught the faint scent of her lotion as it wafted to his nose. It made his stomach jolt. How many times had he smelled that before now? It strongly reminded him of her every time he recognized it.

"It's peaceful."

"Yea," he hummed.

Levy brought her eyes up to him. "Is that why you come out here when it rains?"

"More or less. Gives me a chance to settle."

She looked out across the yard. Puddles were scattered here and there on the paved streets where the potholes were located. She smiled as she remembered the time Gajeel took the neighbor kids' chalk and drew rather inappropriate art surrounding those inconveniently placed tire traps.

Another streak of lightning and crash of thunder brought her thoughts to a halt; she jumped at the unexpected sound, then shivered from the strong breeze that whipped by.

She felt a warmth at the back of her neck. Looking down over her shoulder, she saw fingers draped over the back of the swing lose to her skin. On her other side, she saw Gajeel staring out at the watery scenery. His arm was propped up on the back, supported without touching her. His jaw muscle briefly clenched.

It didn't surprise Gajeel that Levy was hardly predictable. But when she gave an audible sigh and leaned her head on his bicep, he could barely contain himself. His eyes widened, facial features went slack for a second and he looked down at the top of her head. He relaxed again and gently moved his feet so they would slowly swing back and forth.

It was several minutes until the rain ceased. The lightning disappeared, though thunder could be heard in the distance. The light was poking out through the fleeing clouds. Inside the house, Laxus closed his notebook and tossed it beside him on the couch cushion. He was starting to get a headache. Too much time thinking of how to write several songs did that to him.

He stood up to stretch and take the dessert plate to the kitchen sink. Upon returning, he glanced out the window by the main door. The yellow-orange light of sunset was fading, and he saw a glimpse of blue on the swing. Levy's hair.

Gray came into the living room behind Laxus. "Hey, you got the lyrics ready yet?"

The tall blond turned around and blew out a short huff. "Some of it."

"Lemme see your notebook. We're gonna have a quick practice session," Gray said. They had only just played yesterday, but tomorrow was Friday. The Yukon headlining.

Laxus leaned over the couch to gather the paper that had escaped the red notebook he had been going over. "We're not going to be ready to perform these tomorrow. Gajeel needs to come up with something to fit in with the guitars that doesn't sound shitty first."

"I thought he was in here?" Gray looked around, scratching his arm. "Where is he?"

"He's not out in the garage with you?" Laxus asked, surprise in his voice. Gajeel never turned down a practice session. It was a chance to use his drumsticks to take out his frustrations on inanimate objects and not the people that annoyed him.

He turned to the window again, remembering that Gajeel had gone out the front door for some fresh air. He leaned closer to the window, and beside Levy, sat Gajeel. His arms were stretched out across the top of the wooden bench swing. Blue hair rested on his bicep.

Motioning for Gray to come closer, Laxus pointed to the two of them. When he saw it, Gray snickered, "Is this a new development?"

"I don't think so. You ever notice the way he looks at her? Gajeel's had a thing for Levy for a while," Laxus shrugged nonchalantly. He turned to head for the garage and smacked Gray in the chest with the notebook, holding it there until Gray caught it with his hand. "He didn't think anyone knew about it. And I didn't think Levy could be romantic."

"Huh..." the guitarist murmured while staring at the pair. "Better hope shit doesn't hit the fan with them when they start fuckin'."

"Right," Laxus called from the kitchen. The door slammed closed behind him as he exited the house.

Walking up to the glass pane, Gray tapped his knuckles on it. Gajeel's eyes shifted up from Levy. He saw Gray wave at him and make drumming motions with fists before disappearing.

Levy missed the brief interaction, lifting her head a bit too late after seeing where Gajeel was staring. "What?"

He grunted as he removed his arm from around her and stood up, straightening his black t-shirt. "They need me to drum."

She sat up. She kept her eyes up at his face, painfully aware that if she looked straight, she'd inadvertently be staring at his crotch. The thought nearly sent red into her cheeks as it did make her stomach jolt. "The new stuff?"

"We'll see," he replied. He quickly skimmed over the porch steps and strode towards the garage.

"Can I watch?" she asked upbeat and happily, standing up to follow him.

He smiled and walked backward a few steps on the walkway. "You're the manager. You tell me?"

He didn't wait for her to catch up. He turned back around but not before he saw her smile and giggle at his words. Striding into the open garage, the first thing he did was glance at Gray, preparing himself for the onslaught of jokes at his expense.

But none came. He swiftly sat down on his metal stool and palmed the pair of tan drumsticks he had left on the snare drum. He looked over again with a frown. Gray had pursed his lips and moved only his eyes towards him. They shifted from Gajeel to Laxus, who was unaware.

Levy appeared and casually sat in her designated chair in the corner. She quietly waited for them to ready themselves. While she did, she grabbed the notebook and skimmed over what Laxus had come up with for the moment.

With Natsu and Sting talking with Laxus about one of the junk amps they used, Gray made a point to slowly look between Levy and Gajeel over and over again. Levy was oblivious as she read through Laxus' handwriting, though the band's massively-muscled drummer saw it, and the meaning was not lost on him.

Dammit, he wasn't going to let it go.

Gajeel scowled and shook his head once.

A smile spread on the guitarist's face and he parted his lips in preparation to speak.

Gajeel deepened his irritated expression, slightly rising up off the stool and mouthed "you motherfucker". He hated when they teased him.

Gray held up a hand in surrender, looking down and away as he backed off. He smirked, now having witnessed what Laxus having said was true; Gajeel did have a little something for their manager. Strumming a few notes, he tested the sound from the amp.

"Are you playing any of these now?" Levy's voice rose higher than normal in case someone started to play their instruments. She flipped a page over and said as she looked down the page, "These are pretty good."

"No," Laxus replied.

"Why not?" Her head snapped up.

"Blame Gajeel."

"Why?"

"'Cause he needs to come up with something and he hasn't done it yet."

The drummer let out a huff and cocked his head. He pointed the tip of one drumstick at him and circled it towards all of the others. The action caused his sleeve to slide up his arm and his black tattoo peeked out from under it. "I don't see any of you assholes taking the initiative. It don't have to be me. You're the one who writes it all."

Laxus tugged his golden guitar over his shoulder by the strap. "The sound may be different coming from any one of you guys. I wanna see how you interpret it."

"I'm workin' on it, I've been busy."

Without thinking, Gray snorted while he absentmindedly picked individual notes with his guitar pick. He said loudly over the sound through the amp, "Yea. Busy swinging."

Gajeel's head snapped towards him. "What was that?"

He caught Levy's soft eyes gazing at him. Her lips were in the barest of smiles. It grew the moment he shifted his focus on the drums. He scowled and used the sticks to beat out a complicated riff he had just made up on the spot. He fought the tinge that heated his face; he wasn't going to let himself get flustered.

Risking a glance towards her, he saw the smile had grown. Her lips twisted a bit as she tried to stop it. She averted her gaze whenever she saw Gajeel looking. The guys started to play their instruments, randomly throwing notes into a simple beat to see what fit the best. She quietly listened. The smile still present.

Through the entire session, Gajeel couldn't stop thinking of what that smile of hers meant.

While Levy went off in search of the bar manager, the guys worked on lugging their equipment in from the van. The Yukon was bigger than the previous location, complete with a separate dining area for those who wished to be away from the loud bar and a beach volleyball court outside in the back. There was a match still in progress from earlier.

Which happened to be next to the outdoor stage where they would be performing.

Natsu and Gray stood by the small group of tables near the net, watching the game progress. Two teams of three were pitted against each other. The women's bikini tops were a pleasant sight for most of the spectators.

"Five bucks says she loses her top by the end," Natsu murmured with a smirk to Gray. The blond girl in the back of the court closest to them was waiting on the serve.

Gray gave him a look. His one eye closed more than the other as he turned to him. "Dude, this is a joke, right? I'm not betting on whether or not or girlfriend's top falls off."

"I thought you said she was hot," Natsu said with a laugh.

"She is, but come on. That doesn't mean I want to see it."

"Liar."

"I'll take the bet," Laxus spoke, suddenly standing behind them. He gazed longingly at the girls' backsides.

"...Nah, I don't know." Natsu shifted and squinted, looking away from him.

Laxus made a face. "But you just said-"

"Hey, that's Lucy!" Levy exclaimed cheerfully. She tugged the orange strap on her small purse tighter on her shoulder and squeezed her way between the three of them. She turned to her pink-haired friend. "You didn't tell me she was gonna be here."

"She had this match tonight. I didn't know it was where we'd be playing."

A whistle blew as the redhead next to Lucy missed the ball, letting it hit the sand inside the court line. The other team started jumping in their victory. Laxus and Gray exchanged glances and continued to watch the display.

Levy shoved her purse into Natsu's arms, forcing him to hold it as she walked out into the sand to meet her friend. He held the skinny strap between two fingers.

"Orange looks good on you despite your hair color." Gajeel came up and lightly joked. He put his hand on his shoulder and squeezed, grinning when Natsu frowned.

"Shaddup." His voice was flat.

Laxus casually crossed his arms over his chest. "Where were you?"

"Setting up the last of our stuff. Alone. 'Cause my bandmates are worthless," Gajeel replied in time.

The band before them were just leaving when they arrived. There was a ninety-minute break for volleyball and the typical Yukon night atmosphere until they were next. It was the last time they'd be headlining until after they recorded their first album. He didn't care that he had to set up alone. He was just glad to be there early to enjoy the volleyball matches, some food, and maybe a drink before they went on. Unlike at Brown Jug, they would be in the cool outdoor breeze; no hot lights or stuffy building would cause any of them to sweat more than what was normal.

He spied Levy talking with Lucy, both standing in the sand. The lack of clothes he noticed on many people surrounding the sand area didn't surprise him, as the beach setting was like a magnet for customers in the summer who ached to be near the ocean.

He observed a certain bluenette wearing her usual nice shirt and blue jean shorts. She didn't have a particularly large chest as compared to the blond beside her, but what she lacked upstairs she more than made up for below; her wide hips were one of the physical things that attracted him.

"Here." Natsu handed Levy's purse to him.

Gajeel slowly took it. "Levy's purse?"

"You said it doesn't match my hair," Natsu commented lightly. He dusted off his hands.

"I was kidding..."

The man promptly left before he could finish his sentence, sliding up next to Lucy and planting a kiss on her cheek. It was unfair to Gajeel that Stupid-ass had a solid relationship with a hot blond bombshell and he was still single.

Standing there holding an orange purse.

Levy uncomfortably shifted in the sand as Natsu kissed Lucy. She averted her eyes and scratched her forehead as she took a small step backward. Silently sighing, she turned to see Gajeel standing by himself under the canopy. He put his free hand in his front pocket and held up her purse by the strap with his other.

She grinned.

"He dumped it on you, huh," she said and motioned to the purse as she approached.

The management had turned on the outside lights after the sun hid below the horizon. The yellow coils stapled to the wooden beams beneath the roof and columns lit up the darkening atmosphere. It gave the air a cozy feel.

Gajeel shrugged. He let her take it out of his hand. "He could have set it down somewhere instead."

"Where are the others?"

Laxus, Gray, and Sting had gone inside to order food. The busy bar was swarming with bikini clad women from the volleyball matches, which no doubt attracted them like insects to a light source in the dark.

Gajeel nodded his head towards the building. "You wanna get some food?"

Levy had the same look as before when they had taken the truck on a lunch run. Her mouth parted as she thought for a moment and he could see what she was thinking.

"Yea, something light."

"Maybe something light?"

Gajeel smiled down at her while she giggled at their unison replies. Her eyes stole a quick glance at him as they headed inside. Had he known what she was going to say or had it been an accident? No matter which it was, it was pleasant to know someone else was thinking about her. She tried not to let her eyes linger while he opened the heavy glass door for her.

It took him a moment to spot their familiar, broad shouldered blond friend and he pointed him out. Immediately he located the other two. They were seated along the bartop, surrounded by the women. Gajeel rolled his eyes. The slick bastards were trying too hard to get laid.

The dense crowd pooled in certain areas at various tables, the entertainment side with the mechanical bull, and the bar. He looked behind him. Levy was trying to catch up, a few steps behind. She was too polite to push her way through and let the strangers rush past and bump into her. If he continued on, she'd be severed from him completely.

He reached back and grabbed her hand. The moment he did so Levy felt a shock. It took the air from her chest and blocked the next inhale from occurring. The view of Gajeel above her, taking her hand in his and pulling her closer to him from the depths of a dense sea of faces… she sucked in a big breath.

Then coughed as the air going into her lungs swirled with cigarette smoke.

He pushed past waitresses and walking customers, towing her close behind in his wake. She could move her free hand a few inches and be touching his lower back near his waist. When he halted, she bumped into his side. The scent of his deodorant and cologne wafted to her nose, and it was very pleased.

"Food or drink? Or both?" he asked once she was settled on the barstool between him and Laxus.

"Umm…" she hummed. Her eyes skimmed over the laminated menu. She could feel a flake of her mascara starting to irritate her eye while she read it. "The fried cheese sticks and a tea."

He patiently gazed at her, leaning his forearms on the black marble counter. "Nothing else?"

When she shook her head, he flagged down the waitress. "I need an order of cheese sticks, a tea, and a crown and coke."

The waitress nodded. "Are these on the same check?"

Before Levy could formulate words, he immediately answered with a "yes".

The busty brunette eyed Gajeel and the small bluenette beside him with a smile before she dashed off to fetch the beverages. Levy gave him a look, but couldn't hold it before her smile broke through. "You didn't have to pay for mine, Gajeel."

"Well I did," he replied. His lips curved upwards at the corners. "What you gonna do about it?"

She matched the expression. "Thank you."

Their drinks were set down before them and they turned around in their seats to see a small crowd chanting someone's name at the mechanical bull station. Laxus checked the time. "We got thirty minutes."

"We got eyes on Natsu and Sting?" Gray asked.

"Both outside with Lucy and her volleyball team."

The waitress brought Levy her food. She quietly ate while Gajeel talked with the band's two guitarists. He sipped at his mixed drink, content to be sitting with them. With her.

"Want one?"

He accepted her offer and took a cheese stick, biting half to chew. "Don't they have a dip for this?"

"Yes. But I've never liked it."

She finished the last one and clutched at her purse, turning in her seat to find the restrooms. "I'll be back."

The spacious restroom was clean despite the ruckus that usually went on on Friday nights. Levy was alone. And thank God for that. She leaned on the counters and looked at herself in the long mirror. The night was going so well she forgot the reason they were all there to begin with. It felt more like a date than anything.

Her mind pictured Gajeel as he pulled her through the crowd. In his eyes, she saw a softness. Nothing like what she usually saw during band events or even at home when all six of them were together. Her heart thumped hard in her chest.

Had he intended that?

What Gray had mentioned before about Gajeel being too busy swinging implied her involvement. His reaction to Gray merely mentioning it, swearing and looking directly at her, it was a sign of some sort of feeling towards her. Or she guessed.

Whatever it was, she was not complaining.

Turning on the water, she washed her hands and leaned further to see her eye. She managed to get the small black flake causing her minor discomfort with her fingers and left. Before making her way back, she tried to locate them first.

Laxus and Gray weren't at the seats. She didn't know where they could have gone other than out the back doors to hang with the others. Gajeel was still there, but on his right was a woman. She leaned towards him, smiling and laughing. Probably at what he was saying. Levy felt the panic rise within her. A pang of jealousy surfaced as she slowly approached, watching Gajeel's lips moving as he spoke to her.

Within earshot, she heard the woman say loudly, "So you're a drummer? That is actually kind of hot," she giggled.

Levy rolled her eyes. Of course, it was. Everyone loves a drummer. It is the heart of the songs that Black Dragon Realm wrote.

"Yep. We're playing outside soon. You should stay and watch," Gajeel nonchalantly replied. He took a sip of his drink, glancing around the room. Not paying much attention to her.

The brunette smiled. "I'd like that. Maybe afterward we can hit the late night pubs downtown with my crew."

And that was when Gajeel was alerted. He turned to her. "That's a nice offer. But I can't."

"Oh? Why not?"

"I'm here with someone."

"Oh." The woman's face faltered.

"You're really pretty and all, I just like someone else. Maybe I know a few people who'd be interested in going with you."

The woman nodded and huffed. She faked a smile. "Well, I'll still be watching tonight. Good luck," she said. She twisted her lips in disappointment. "That girl is a lucky one if you ask me."

Gajeel nodded as she left, still leaning his arms on the bar top. He glanced to where she had been sitting to see Levy standing there having been hidden from view. She had undoubtedly heard every word that was said. Her expression was shock, as well as pride.

"She was into you, you know," she commented. She kept her face slack. "And really pretty."

Gajeel just stared at her, his mouth slowly moving to form a smirk. "You heard all that, I take it."

She merely gave a sheepish nod. She had even more respect for the massive man now, as he had turned down a chance to run wild and leave the group for the night after their performance. He had said he liked someone else… Maybe he turned it down for her?

"Can't lie when it's the truth," he said with a shrug, then drained the rest of his glass. He hopped off the stool to head outside to do last minute adjustments on his drum kit before they announced the headlining band. "Alright, let's start his shindig."

He grabbed her hand again to keep her with him as they waded through the growing crowd attending for the music. It was soft and warm, fitting snugly in his. He had put his feelings for her on the line. It was there for her to do with what she wished.

What he didn't see was the way she smiled up at him. Her heart as light as a feather.