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: All songs the band performs on a stage or for an audience are in the Set List chapter at the very beginning, near the bottom. I strongly recommend listening to those, at least, so you know what they sound like as you read.

Thank you for all of the favorites/following/reviews, logged-in and guests alike! It is very much appreciated! It gives a boost to my motivation to write another chapter :)

** I have no idea how they record music for an album lol just going with what made some sense. To hear what Gajeel is playing, here are the youtube links to the songs:

-Almost Easy song/drums: watch?v=a06Voru2eFI

(^ that's about the expressions I imagine Gajeel having when he drums, among other things… lol)

-Half Life song: watch?v=XM-NokPkAMg

-Fate song/drums: watch?v=VPwm5-IzmqI

Chapter 5 - Fate: It's Almost Easy

He laid awake in the sheets. It was too hot outside to open the window and the fan he had constantly switched on seemed like it was blowing room temperature air at his feet, which made him even more warm than he wanted to be. Seeing the time was 6 am, he groaned.

Gajeel's mind could not stop. It constantly reminded him of how much fun he had had the night before with Levy. It had been the first time he had gotten a good, romantic-like vibe from her. He was confident that his chances with her were increasing every day they could spend time together. His mind replayed the events later that night, even though he desperately told it to shut up so he could get sleep:

"We are pleased to announce, Black Dragon Realm!" the bar manager exclaimed. His handed the microphone to Laxus and hopped off the stage while the crowd cheered.

The rest of them calmly waited until the crowd died down so Laxus could speak their introductions. Levy stood with Lucy at the side near the stage, listening to him begin his short speech while they set up the merchandise on the small table.

Gajeel sat behind the drum kit. He swallowed. His mouth was too dry and he had forgotten to grab a water bottle. It must have been the mixed drink.

He couldn't get up, they were about to start the songs any minute. Looking around, he quickly saw a solution. His red eyes bore into Levy, trying to somehow telepathically catch her attention. After a few moments, she looked this way. She saw his intense gaze directed at her and her heart skipped a beat. A tooth-filled smile graced her face. He pointed to her and made a small drinking motion with his hand, then pointed to the place where he usually kept one.

She gave a quick nod and turned to leave to fetch him a bottle of water, but when she did, Laxus had started to strum his guitar, signaling the others to join in. Gajeel would have to wait for his water. He began along with the others, automatically playing the familiar rhythm of the song with heavy crash cymbals and then silenced them when Laxus started singing the first verse.

There was a unified pause as Laxus sang the last line, right before the chorus, "I don't know what to do…"

The guitars and drum blared together directly after, entering the chorus with a loud crash that turned into a good, even beat. Gajeel slammed the drumsticks onto the drum heads and cymbals in the fast pace, his feet stomping the base pedals with single and double hits. He closed his eyes as the music he loved flowed from him with ease.

"You locked your arms around my mouth," Laxus sang. He simultaneously strummed the strings, his fingers flying with the notes. His mouth was mere centimeters from the mic as he let loose. "I don't know what to do, I think I'm turning blue. I scream and shout, tear my lungs out. I don't know what to do. I can't get over you."

Gray and Sting played their notes, with Natsu bringing the base with minimal effects from the keyboard. Gajeel easily switched from the different beats he was supposed to play, almost without thinking. He was dressed for the stage; he had tied his gray bandana onto his forehead to keep sweat out of his eyes. His sleeveless cut-off shirt showed his muscular sides and the black tribal designs around his large biceps. They rippled as he moved his body.

Levy was mesmerized. She had come back with a cold water and waited, intently watching. Of course, she had witnessed them doing band things many times. Sometimes getting annoyed with how much they played the same thing over and over again in practice to get a measure right. But seeing them from the crowd was always a big perspective change.

From her vantage point, she could see the tops of Gajeel's knees bouncing up from behind the drums and glimpses of his feet as they worked the bass pedals. The right would sometimes work on its own. A lot of the time, the left would be added to create a rolling effect on the base -one of the signatures of their style. Every time either of them moved, she could see it happen. And that coupled with the different actions his arms were doing and the way he had to sit on the stool to work the foot pedals at the same time, no wonder the man was so heavily muscled.

It was extremely attractive to her.

They began to play the chorus again. Gajeel opened his eyes, focusing on the song and the drums in front of him. He glanced to his left, seeing the blue hair of their manager. She had left Lucy in brief control of the merchandise booth while she left. Levy held up the clear bottle with a slight shake.

Gajeel winked at her in acknowledgment as he nodded in time with the metronome in his head. It caused her to bat her eyes, a sly, knowing grin slid onto her features. The look Levy gave him after was one he had never seen. There was something different about the way those hazel eyes observed him. Something that was almost possessive.

That was new. And damn, did he like it.

Gajeel scrunched his closed eyes and rolled over, effectively severing the memory. 6:30 am. They had their first recording that day at 11 am and was an all day event from what John made it out to be. And they had nearly walked through the front door at two in the morning.

He unplugged his phone from the charger and chose the YouTube app. Maybe watching drumming videos would help him sleep. He selected one and began to watch the teenager perform a cover of a song of one his favorite bands. He continued to watch more videos. The next time he looked at the clock it was after 8:40.

"Fuck…" he groaned. So much for sleeping. He was wide awake.

He slid out of bed, not bothering to put on a shirt. He pulled on his gym shorts and pocketed his phone and earbuds. Was it too early on a Saturday to drum? He could use a few minutes to bang out a couple of songs.

Opening the door, he first looked across the hall. Everyone's doors were shut. Sting's room was technically the basement. He wouldn't know if he was here or if he had gone out to be with that woman of his unless he went looking down there. They'd all made that mistake.

The sunlight was intensely shining through the windows, making it seem much later than it was. Gajeel slipped out the backdoor. It was already humid. The lock screen of his phone showed the time and the weather. It would be a hot one.

He kept the garage doors closed and use the side entrance. There was music in his library, but Pandora was the best source of random practice songs. It gave him no choice in what to play, but if he didn't like it, he bad a limited number of skips he could use to find a better one.

After the first one, Gajeel began to sweat. With the garage door now opened, the morning breeze rushed in. He was cooler, but also louder. He thought nothing of it. The neighbors would just have to listen to him until he went inside for a shower.

He started off on one his rock stations and drummed out half of Crazy Train before skipping the song, as it was too easy. Next was some of Bob Seger, Quiet Riot, and ending with Dr. Feelgood by Motley Crue before switching to the stuff that he really loved to drum.

The entire Avenged Sevenfold's Almost Easy rolled out of the garage like a stampede, loud and unrestrained. By the end of that, he noticed two kids on bikes passing by on the sidewalk, from one end of the street to the other and back.

He was about to stand up, but Smokahontas by Attack Attack! came through his ear buds and he just couldn't pass that one up. He couldn't have picked a better song to end. It used a lot of his feet and more of his arms and high hat skills. In the middle of the song, the kids stopped in the small drive to watch. They gazed at Gajeel as he played. One of them tried to mimic what he was doing with his hands.

"Hey, don't you have a band?!" One of the kids called out when the drumming ended and he stood up to leave. They had heard all of them together in passing before, but never just the drum parts.

"Yea," he simply called out. He reached up to close the garage door.

The other boy smiled and turned to his friend. "We live down the street from rockstars!"

"I'm so gonna tell everyone at school!"

Gajeel watched over his shoulder, walking up the back porch steps as they quickly rode away walked up the back porch steps. He smirked, remembering that's how he was when he was that age. And he had taken up drumming shortly after.

Laxus came down the stairs with a grimace. He moved to the coffeemaker and prepared it to brew for himself and the others if they chose it for breakfast. "Who told him he could wake us up?" He pulled up the blinds in a kitchen window and saw Gajeel unapologetically banging on his kit. He murmured, "Inconsiderate bastard."

In the living room, Levy woke up with drool on the couch throw pillow. Looking around the room, she realized where she was. She hadn't even made it to her room when they came home. She must have been tired not to have slept in her bed. Wiping the spittle from her cheek, she slowly rose.

She shuffled to the kitchen, seeing Laxus stand there yawning. "I-is that Gajeel?" She asked as she picked the sleep from her eyes.

"Who else?" He responded with a small gripe. He handed her an empty coffee mug while he watched the last of the coffee drip down from the top into the glass pot. "He better have enough energy for later today."

Levy hummed her agreement, but she didn't mind being woken by his drumming. There were worse ways to be stirred from slumber. She looked out the blind-less window, seeing two children on their bicycles. They were so intrigued as they stared into the open garage, their expressions ones of awe. She followed their gazes to a drummer she fondly recognized.

The sight of him reminded her of last night. Gajeel swarmed in her head. His scent, his physical looks, his expressions when he looked at her. It all made her stomach flip with a nervous joy. The want to be near him overpowered many other rational thoughts. But no matter how much she tried to ignore those fuzzy feelings she had, the harder Gajeel would inadvertently draw her to himself in just simply being the way he was.

Laxus poured Levy's coffee for her and turned to go wake up the others if they weren't already up. He called down to the basement and sighed when he had to go down the steps, leaving her alone with her feelings. Glancing at the microwave clock, she realized she had just enough time to shower and be ready to leave when they needed to.

One of the only flaws in the big house was that for four bedrooms and a full basement there was only one bathroom. Levy saw the light was off and the door open and quickly snatched up some clothes from her dresser before entering.

She drank her coffee as she got picked a towel from the shelf beside the counter and draped it over the shower rod. With the hot shower running she set her mug by the sink and climbed into the tub, pulling the curtain closed.

Gajeel strode into the kitchen. He saw the coffee had already been made, so he poured himself a cup. He lumbered up the stairs, the scent of his sweat was awful in his nose every time he caught a whiff. When he made it to the second-floor landing, he glanced around. It seemed everyone was still sleeping but Laxus, whose door was open. He shrugged; sleeping in wasn't Levy.

"My drumming didn't wake anyone?!" he called loudly. He snickered when he heard someone's muffled answer. Laxus must have been in the shower.

He hurriedly drained his mug as he entered his room to gather clean clothes from his closet. Laxus would be done soon and the others would be up and moving. One of them was bound to call the shower next if he didn't throw his towel and clothes onto the bathroom counter first.

The bathroom door was cracked open. It silently pushed further open as he came in, leaving it cracked even though the vent was on. The air was stuffy from the steam. He wiped the mirror with one of his clean socks and chose his respective toothbrush to brush his teeth.

He kept silent. Since there was but one place to shower, one toilet, one sink to brush teeth and mostly men in the house, there was an unspoken rule that one could brush teeth, shave, or do anything else not involving using the toilet to take a shit. Those were essential needs. Afterall they were adults as well as close friends.

Spitting out the foamy toothpaste, Gajeel heard the shower water turn off. He had his head down and didn't register the sound of the curtain rings moving, the signal to get the hell out before he saw something he didn't want to. His red eyes glanced into the mirror as the curtain pulled back.

A short, high pitched scream filled the room. Levy quickly pulled the blue curtain to herself, covering the exposed areas of her body. "G-Gajeel! Why are you in here?!"

Thank goodness he had already spit, otherwise, he would have swallowed or choked on the paste. He turned towards her in surprise of the scream and that he had inadvertently spied her naked body out of the corner of his eye, and then turned away, unsure where he should look. "I, uh, I'm sorry, I thought-"

"Levy? Are you ok?!" Gray appeared in the now open doorway, slamming the heavy wooden door open with his hand.

The round, moving door knob punched Gajeel in the lower back above his ass cheek. He went with the impact, smacking against the wall and hitting his head beside the mirror. The door squished him further against the wall. He squeezed his eyes shut and let out a rough groan, reaching back to feel the injury.

"Gajeel?" Gray asked, surprised to find them both in the bathroom, one half-dressed and the other completely naked.

"It's not what it looks like…" he moaned. He shoved the door away from him, still rubbing the affected area. That would most likely become a bruise.

"Gray, it's ok. I don't think he knew it was me," she supplied, still holding the curtain to herself. She blushed, twisting her lips. "Ah, but I need to dry off now… leave please?"

Gray looked between the two of them, still slightly surprised, but the look in his eyes said something different. He tried to keep from giggling as he left. "Whatever you say."

Levy gave Gajeel a nervous smile. "You too…"

"Got it."

Leaving his clothes on the counter, he walked out, pulling the door closed behind him. He tried to remember what she looked like but knew he hadn't seen anything, and if he had, the shock of her reaction to his presence had erased any memory of it. In the hall, he leaned on the wall beside the door. Gray could be heard chuckling from in his room as he dressed.

"Shuddup, asshole," Gajeel growled.

"That is too good. First the swing, now you've seen her naked. Dude, you've done what most men can't and skipped dating completely."

"I told ya it's not what it looked like!"

Gray ignored him and walked out of the room, turning off the light as he did. "Just ask her out ready and get this awkward stage out of the way. I'd rather hear loud fucking than this eggshell shit."

A clothed Levy opened the door as Gray spoke. Gajeel brought a hand to his face as she hesitantly emerged, knowing she heard the last sentence. The blush from earlier was still there and she kept her eyes on the floor. Gray snorted with another chuckle and glided down the stairs.

She all but jogged back to her room. Gajeel stared after her, all fear that he or Gray had messed up his chances with her very present. It lit his stomach faster than any hot sauce he used to smother his food. He looked up at the ceiling, mouthing "fuck me", then began to turn for the bathroom.

Entering her room, Levy gave him a small lingering glance before disappearing.

"It's not taking, hang on," one of the sound crew commented. His fingers adjusted a few knobs and buttons on the board. He held one side of his headset to his ear. "Try it now."

Gajeel sat behind his kit in the maroon recording room with his own headset and drummed out the riff again. "Hear it?"

The crew man gave a thumbs up. He looked to the musician and spoke into the small microphone on the headset. "From the top all the way through, in three two…" he went silent as he pushed the large record button and cued him.

Levy watched with an interest in the process as Gajeel began playing their first song -the one they had last time they were there- with enthusiasm on what would be their starting album. He knew the song from memory, the tempo and when to pause and play softer.

The high-tech laptop used to give readings and other information displayed three bars jumping wildly from green, yellow, and red. A large 'recording' sign slowly flashed in the corner of the screen. The measures scrolled through from right to left with different heights as Gajeel maintained the track speed and volume.

She shifted her gaze from the equipment to Gajeel. His attire was the same as it always while performing away from their home base. He moved his head with his perfectly timed strikes, his eyes closing and lips in a tight line. Her breath caught in her lungs; her mind had automatically gone to that morning when she saw Gajeel standing in the bathroom. A half naked Gajeel.

The stray -and rather inappropriate- thought took her by surprise, almost as much as when the incident had happened. Taking a deep breath, she looked away from him and tried to focus on the bouncing colored bars.

The whole drive to the studio, Levy had tried to look to get a glimpse of Gajeel sitting behind her through the side mirror. The others continuously dogged him about the shower incident, laughing and cracking jokes. She tried not to take offense as most of it was in good fun, the only thing noteworthy to have happened since waking up.

Gajeel had just rolled his eyes and scowled, telling them for the umpteenth time that it was an accident. Everyone knew of his feelings prior to today. She guessed that she did too. She also felt something.

What was she going to do with that? The band was their number one priority. What if something happened to cause them to break up if they went down that route? The band would suffer or ultimately disintegrate as sides would be taken and friendships pushed to their limits.

But what if they were meant to be together?

Levy now risked a glance at him as he finished the song. He was breathing hard and took a swig of the water by his stool. "How was that?"

The crew man nodded. "Good. We can fine tune everything once all of you have recorded and then we'll combine it."

"Who ya want next?" Gajeel asked and walked to the door. "I'll bring him to ya."

"Natsu, please."

Levy met Gajeel outside in the hall when he emerged. She gave him a genuine smile. "That sounded great."

"Course it did," he replied lightly with a smirk. "The world's greatest drummer laid that track down like it was his bitch."

She laughed and rolled her eyes, then led him to the waiting area for band members. His eyes immediately traveled to her ass as she walked, cautious to keep space between the two of them.

The room was large with various activities. There was a pool table, a few televisions hooked up to different game systems, and fancy leather sofas and recliners. The walls were decorated with past artists' posters, forever famous in the building. Some of them Gajeel recognized from the radio.

"Natsu, you're up," Gajeel announced as he entered. His gaze shifted from one side of the room to the other. He was rather impressed with all the trappings the company provided. "Wow, is this the VIP treatment or what…"

Taking a seat at the small bar, Levy waved her hands as she showed him the food and beverages available like a showgirl. "Thirsty?" She asked, and gave him a flirty gaze with hooded eyes.

Gajeel could only stare a moment before weakly lifting his water bottle, but was interrupted before he could speak.

"Hurry! Take my place! I'm crushing Sting at multiplayer," Natsu cried, shoving the black Xbox controller in his hands while somehow managing to still play the game.

"I'm just warming up!" Sting yelled back.

Natsu made a sound with his mouth. "It's been a half hour already. You're stuck in Antarctica."

Gajeel frowned as he glanced away from Levy to his friend. In his hands the controller vibrated, signaling he was getting hit with gunfire. "I don't want to play that shit right now. Wait 'til we start a COD tourney at home-"

Watching the match, Laxus never took his eyes from the screen as the others played the avatars. He spoke up, "Loser with the lowest points buys everyone dinner tonight."

The drummer's hand tightened on the controller. He tossed the water bottle to Levy and bee-lined for the sofa, immediately muttering something about murdering. "Give me the gist. What's the spread?"

"Sting's got dishes for a month if Gray beats Natsu's point average, Grey has to do everybody's laundry if Natsu beats his number of headshots, and Natsu has trash duty if Sting is above his kill-assist ratio. Lowest points in total buys dinner for all. Winner's choice."

Gray rose from his chair to examine the food on the counter, keeping an eye on the screen in case someone died, as he was up next in that case.

"Don't give Natsu trash," Gajeel grunted. "Have you seen his room?"

"Remember you're playing as Natsu too," Laxus reminded. He sat back in the leather recliner with his hands behind his head.

Sting quickly glanced at Gajeel sitting beside him. "What's your bet?"

"I dunno. Don't have one yet."

At the counter, Gray took a bite out of a turkey sandwich and spoke with his mouth full, "Nobody die just yet, I'm still eating."

Gajeel ignored everyone and focused on screen as he searched for cover against an air raid. His silence surprised Levy. He usually lashed out an insult or two in competition, though now he was preoccupied.

Taking a sweet tea from the rack on the bar, Levy sat down there and pulled out her sketchbook to work out a concept design for the album artwork. She continued to work on it, erasing when she needed it while listening to the guys play the video game. As well as glancing at Gajeel.

She pulled the cap off her black multi-liner to give the art defined edges once she was happy with it. Her hand was poised to trace her pencil marks.

"Hello there!" A voice called. John appeared in the doorway, wearing a casual t-shirt and jeans. He looked around the room. "I trust you have everything under control in here. Everything you need."

Turning, Levy gave a small smile. "Hello, and yes, we have more than enough. It was all too kind."

"Nonsense," he smirked and waved a hand as he approached. "It was the least we could do. The well-being of our musicians has first priority."

Levy was very aware of the hand John put on her chair. His fingers brushed against her arm, and she fought the urge to yank it away. She gave a timid, polite smile and leaned over her drawing.

"Is this an idea for the cover?" he asked, leaning towards her.

She knew he was just being friendly. If he went too far she would say something. But as far as she could see, it was just his personality. "Yea, so far. Do you like it?"

"I love it. It fits with the music I've heard from them."

Gajeel's ears picked up everything. He tried to keep an eye on her, on where any part of John was at all times. His avatar on the screen died, and he all but shoved the controller to Gray, now seated across from him. Rising, he stretched and calmly walked over to the bar to grab his water.

He went wide around the pair so he could see John's angle. What was his angle? Did he have his sights set on Levy. He was not going to let him pursue her. Hell no.

Unscrewing the cap and taking a swig, he watched out of his peripheral. Levy was to one side of her chair slightly leaning away from the man. Her eyes widened a bit as certain words came from his lips.

"Listen, I was thinking, there's a nice place-"

And there it was. He couldn't listen to another man ask Levy out for a date.

"Hey Levy, outside for a smoke?" Gajeel roughly interrupted as he pulled out his cigarette pack from his pocket. He indicated with his head nod towards the door, giving her a knowing gaze.

"Um, yea, I forgot my colored pencils in the van," she told John, not looking him in the eye. She slipped from the chair and grabbed her purse, quickly walking towards Gajeel and the only door in the room.

He watched John for a reaction, keeping his expression neutral. The man just stared at them. His head went up as he did, understanding there was another interested in their pretty manager. There was tension in their eye contact, but Gajeel broke away to follow behind Levy.

Neither of them said anything as they walked down the hall and out the double, glass doors at the reception area. Levy stopped at where the sidewalk turned into the black parking lot and faced him. The sun beat down on them, instantly somewhat comfortable. She watched Gajeel light the cigarette tip and suck in a long drag.

"Thanks for that. He's a nice man, but he's a little too… too…" Levy began, pausing when she couldn't find the right word.

"Forward." Gajeel let the white smoke seep out between his lips with his response.

"Yes."

"Yea, well some guys got it. Some don't. "

Levy squinted up at him, placing a hand on her wide hips. "Got what?"

He gave her a certain stare only he could give. "It."

She grinned as she kept looking at him. "It? That doesn't help me any."

Instead of giving a direct answer, he glanced at the cigarette in his fingers. "Some guys have a way of going about it. They wait to see how the woman feels first. Like me."

Levy's grin faltered only the tiniest bit. He knew she understood. "Like you," she repeated. "Well… what are you waiting for?"

They stared at each other in comfortable silence. A few birds chirped in passing flight overhead. Some vehicles honked in the street around the corner. He sucked in another long drag, his eyes locked onto her round face. He willed her to feel what he felt at the sight of her.

Levy was comfortable, content to be there at the present, standing with him upwind from his smoking. There was trust between them. A friendship that had been formed with a stable foundation. They didn't know everything about each other, but enough to make choices. They slept ten feet away from each other, they ate in the same kitchen, worked in the same career, and shared a shower. And they liked one another.

It was the only logical next step.

"For you to say the word," he simply said.

"I see. What if I was waiting for the same thing?"

Gajeel's eyes shot up from squishing what was left of the white stump against the overhang column. His voice was rough. "I'd say we're both idiots for taking so long."

She gave a lopsided grin. A faint blush was rising to her cheeks as she softly replied, "Then do you think we could be idiots together?"

"I'm sure we can work it out," he chuckled.

She let out a relieved breath and her shoulders visibly relaxed. It made her happy to hear the acceptance in his voice. "I just want to take it slow, because I haven't dated anyone since high school," she confessed with a nervous giggle.

"I ain't looking to rush it," Gajeel agreed. He smiled when she did. His heart pounded in his chest. Did they just start dating? Were they finally an item? By the way she looked at him, it was obvious.

"Can we not tell anyone about it until later? It's a new thing, and I know they're not done teasing you about this morning... " Levy suggested shyly when he opened the door for her.

"Yes, ma'am."

"Um, d-did you see anything?" she mumbled. She motioned to herself with her finger in a vague circle.

"I didn't."

"Good."

"Ya know you'll be teased by association, right? Least for a while."

The conditioned air blasted them when they stepped inside. They made their way side by side through the building in no particular hurry. She stole a few glances at him, trying to hide the lazy grin before they joined the others. She really hoped John had already left; her colored pencils were in her bag with the guys.

He walked so close beside her, his top knuckles gently brushed against her arm when he reached to open the last door that led to the waiting area. They averted their gazes, trying not to let their fresh status affect the way they interacted.

It would take some time to get used to, but time they had a lot of.