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: Thank you to all who have reviewed for this fic and my others, and for your gentle encouragement. It is Greatly appreciated! You know who you are!
Chapter 6 - Alive In The Lights
"Are you sure we're ready?" Levy asked, her voice conveying concern.
She was excited and knew the others would be too, but she was concerned for the band's preparedness. This was the last phone call any of them had expected. She had caught it on the last few seconds of the ringtone, not recognizing the number but answering anyway.
She was sure glad she had. Her hazel eyes glassed over, bouncing on her heels and waving her free hand in the air. Listening to the voice on the other end of the call, she gazed at the calendar on the fridge.
"Oh, wow," she breathed.
A smile grew on her face. It was better news than they could have ever hoped for, considering that they were so new to the professional music scene. "Thank you. Thank you so much for the opportunity. This will be an amazing experience.. You will have helped us kickstart our careers."
Her legs began to shake. The muscles tightened and relaxed in their own rhythm, she thought she'd jump right out of her skin.
"Ok, I have marked the days and the hours. I will let them know as soon as possible," the bluenette replied easily, the smile still present and growing. "Again, thank you so much!"
As soon as the man ended the call, she fled the house, tightly clutching the cell phone in excitement.
The back door flung open and Levy bounded out, her bare feet barely touching the concrete steps that led to the drive and garage. "Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Guys! Guys!" she yelled with a squeal at the end.
Rounding the corner, she hopped as she abruptly slowed to a halt in the middle of the open garage door. Her tank top was halfway off her shoulder, her blue wisps flying all around her head in the air. So excited she was, she had forgotten she'd been in the middle of changing and had been interrupted by the call before she could put on a bra.
She looked frazzled, surprised. Her fingers were spread wide and pointing to the calendar in the house, which was still in her mind's eye as she stared at the confused men. If it wasn't for the gigantic smile, all of them would have immediately jumped to the wrong conclusions.
Laxus and Gray each wore confused frowns, still poised to strum their guitars in their practice session. Natsu and Sting looked between themselves in turn before their eyes settled on their manager. Holding both drumsticks in his fists, Gajeel immediately stood up from his seated position and frowned.
"What's wrong?!" he shouted. He took in her appearance under furrowed brows.
Levy breathed. "N-nothing's wrong, I just got off the phone with Ryan Holstetter!"
"Who?" Laxus asked. His nose crinkled. He glanced to Gray, who shrugged his shoulder.
"Ryan Holstetter," Levy said again. When they still didn't understand, frustration coated her voice. "Oh, you know! Holstetter. Brave Crowe!"
Gray gave her a look. "What does Brave Crowe have to do with this Ryan guy?"
She incredulously looked at him. "He's their manager! Brave Crowe's manager! He just called me."
Gajeel set the drumsticks on the snare and stood up, rounding the set to stand behind Gray. His eyes darted to the disheveled purple tank that covered Levy's chest and quickly averted his gaze when he saw that she wasn't wearing anything under it. As much as he wanted to keep looking, he didn't want the others realizing his and Levy's newly founded relationship. Not yet.
"How do you know him?"
Levy's smiled widened. "I don't. He got my number from the studio and called to ask if BDR was interested in joining Brave Crowe on a quick tour for their Fourth of July concert series."
Gajeel's eyes widened. "No shit?! What did you tell 'im?"
"You tell him hell to the fucking yes?!" Laxus all but shouted. He took the guitar strap off to set it on its stand.
Their manager beamed. "I told him the band would be happy to join them and that we'd definitely appreciate the publicity."
While the rest of them loudly celebrated at Levy's words, Gajeel grinned at her. He struggled not to pick her up and kiss her. He kept his arms crossed, only to untwist them to give celebratory high fives.
"When do we go?" Gray asked.
"We meet the day before, then kick off only three hours from here at Zareh's Park."
"Are you serious? That's a huge venue!" Laxus exclaimed, bending at the waist. He gave Gajeel a wicked smile
The drummer showed his teeth in return in a similar expression. At a place like Zareh's, they would be making bank compared to food venues.
Levy righted her tank on her shoulders when she had calmed down. "It's the weekend, so only one venue to set up for, but it's well-known for hosting music festivals. Bands include Vixot, North Night, Lola's Blue, and us," she listed quickly. She took a breath.
There were stars in the band members' eyes.
"With Brave Crowe. And with The Amity Affliction headlining," she finished with a brief glance at the ceiling.
"Holy shit!" Natsu cried. He dropped his fist down on the keyboard. "We're gonna be on the same stage as them?!"
Levy nodded twice. "Yep."
The guys were dumbfounded. It was amazing that an established band such as Brave Crowe -let alone The Amity Affliction- would think of adding them to their line up. The realization was overwhelming.
"You said it was for the Fourth?" Sting asked. He looked to the ground in thought.
"That's only about four weeks away," Gajeel pointed. He glanced to the rest of the members before his eyes settled on their manager. No doubt they were all thinking the same thing: "Are we ready for this?"
Levy pursed her lips in a line, then gave a grin. "We'll find out."
"This place is unreal."
The rest of them silently agreed with Gray's statement. Their gazes were all over the massive outdoor pavilion grounds. Sunlight glinted off the black and chrome framework that opened up to a high, wide stage platform about five feet up from the grass.
The huge park was full of green grass. Dotted here and there were various trees, picnic shelters with picnic tables, playground areas, and small buildings that held the restrooms. The event crew in black t-shirts went about business as they continued setting up for the weekend, running black cables to and from various places for the amps that would be used.
"Yes, extra of those," Levy was saying. She held the device to her ear with her shoulder as she flipped through some papers on a clipboard. With the pen in her hand, she crossed off a few lines. Her eyes flickered to the stage area. "I didn't expect it was going to be this big."
A man with the sides of his head buzzed, leaving the top and back of his hair in a shaggy mess, called out to them from the side of the stage area. Behind him was more untouched equipment that had yet to be srt up.
"Oi, are you-" he paused as he thought. Sweat dripped from his face from working in the sun. " You guys BDR?"
"Yea," Laxus replied.
"You signed in?"
Normally Levy would speak for them in introduction and direct them, however, she was still on the phone with her back to them. Laxus turned his head to look at them and spoke up. "Our manager's working on it."
Behind him, Gray knocked Gajeel's arm and moved his head to indicate to the other bands. There was a van and trailer with guys coming and going with various equipment. They recognized the members of Brave Crowe as they worked to set up the stage, as they were first on the list that night. Gray flashed Gajeel a starstruck glance.
"You wanna help set up the big speakers?" the man called back. He pointed at the stage where all of the bands would be performing.
Laxus nodded and looked at the rest of them. They didn't have to be anywhere else. Gajeel watched his friends smoothly enter the work scene, mingling seamlessly into the crews. He hung back to tell Levy.
"I know, it's fantastic," she said excitedly. She turned around at his fingers on her arm and saw that her secret boyfriend was alone with her.
He caught her attention and motioned to the stage. "We're gonna set up."
Her eyes flickered to the others and she nodded, giving him a small smile before she answered the voice on the other end of the phone call. "Yes John, I'll need all of it. Bring all the boxes. I'll need your help too."
Gajeel felt an odd pang in his gut as he walked away. He knew Levy was talking to him about the concert nights. Probably about merchandise and possible sales. It still bothered him when she had to interact with the record representative; he knew that John liked her. She was his girlfriend though. That had to mean something.
He pushed it out is his mind as he was handed a few platform pieces. There was work to be done. His thoughts centered around the fact that they were going to be performing on the same stage as two well-established bands, whose music was on the radio.
That brought a smirk to his lips as he strolled over to the stage with a spring to his step.
After several hours of slaving away, the venue setting was finished. The sun was still high in the sky, its heat beating down on the people now filing into the park for the concert set to start at 7pm. The participating bands were then instructed to prepare in their respective areas - large, tarp-covered pavilions.
They would make do until they could get their own bus. Natsu and Laxus were laying down in their own made-up cots, trying to get somewhat of a nap in before they were called to the stage. Sting sat in the corner texting on his phone, while Gray played on a portable video game. Everything was silent, save for the sounds of the handheld game and the hum of the concert going on down the parkway.
Gajeel tightly gripped his black drumsticks as he tapped them on the back of Gray's chair in a quick complicated rhythm. He stopped when the music playing through his earbuds changed songs.
He looked over to Levy seated beside him. Their manager was hunched over a sheet of paper containing a list of all of their merchandise and its quantity. Her finger punched in numbers on her phone's calculator. Her lips moved as she quietly spoke to herself. Across from her sat John.
The man looked slightly bored. He leaned back in the seat and glanced around the large tent-like structure. When he caught Gajeel's sight, he held the drummer's cold gaze before turning back to Levy.
Gajeel tried to hide his scoff. Did the idiot not know that Levy wasn't interested?
"Ok, I've figured up what we could make tonight. Assuming people love us enough." Levy picked up the sheet and handed it to John.
"Psht, I'm sure they will," Gray commented. He leaned up when he felt Gajeel's drumsticks on the back of his chair again and reached around to try to yank them from his hands. When he failed, Gajeel pursed his lips, smacking Gray in the back of the head.
John nodded and clipped the sheet to a clipboard holding other papers. "I think it will be your biggest night," he said with a smile. He was still maintaining eye contact with her, which Levy tried to ignore with a small, polite smile instead.
A man with a headset came through the entrance. Distant bass and other sounds from the stage were heard, along with the massive crowd. "BDR, you're on in fifteen." And then he left.
Laxus stood up and stretched, making a sound with his mouth as he did. "Alright, let's do this."
With a few minutes to spare, all five of them were dressed in their usual type of clothing before doing a show. They headed for the prep area, where they watched the band members of North Night, who had earlier exited the large stage, congratulate each other behind the stage. The crowd was ready for more in the summer night air.
Natsu clutched his bass guitar and waited for the rest of them to catch up. He tried to see over the speakers on the front section just on the edge of the stage floor.
"Remember the lineup," Laxus asked them above the loud awaiting crowd. He looked at all of them in turn to see them nod.
The stage lights dimmed and shut off, and the crowd began to cheer. Above the raised floor was a huge screen set against the structure's frame. The screen lit up with the words Black Dragon Realm, which then almost immediately caused the multitude to begin chanting it.
The band members entered the stage as they had rehearsed earlier in the day after set up was complete. Gajeel sat down behind the drum kit and adjusted the stool height. The others did the same with their designated areas, plugging in their guitars and waited for Laxus' signal. He stood center stage and looked around him. With Sting and Natsu to his left and Gray to his right, he nodded. He raised his hand towards Gajeel.
The drummer counted one measure with his drumsticks in the same time as the first song they would play.
A guitar opened up with a long note along with Gajeel's drumming. It was still dark on stage, which added to the suspense. They were newcomers to the stage, this being their first full-on concert. They hoped they would start off with a bang. With the fifth measure, Gray added his own guitar for a high pitched riff. The lights then turned on with a flash, and before them, a few feet below was a sea of faces. The crowds raised arms looked like a mass of weeds growing and swaying as the musicians continued the first song.
"I am the innocent, I am what could have been," Laxus sang as he strummed his guitar. Gray and Sting were also heard in the speakers to mix in with the drumming, and Natsu nodded along as he manned the bass. "The dreams you talk about now left on broken skin."
Gajeel easily kept the pace. Seated on a raised platform, he had the best seat. He readied for the chorus as Laxus entered the pre-chorus lyrics. Gray edged closer to his microphone to back Laxus for the chorus and matched Laxus' notes in a slightly higher octave while the other two played their own notes.
"A world of hate awaits. We are the Wild Ones," Laxus continued and engaged the crowd. They latched on from his energy and with that of Gray's expert strumming. He leaned towards Laxus with his instrument, giving himself to his craft. Laxus turned to the crowd as he sang the last bits of the measure, "They all look the same… our time has come."
Out of the corner of his eye, Gajeel saw Levy beside the stairs leading up to the stage. She was hidden from view of the concert goers. Her hands were raised up and in fists and the smile spread on her face was uncontainable. He grinned and automatically rolled into the drum fill before the chorus measures, adding in some flare and twirled one of the sticks in his fingers.
His drumming intensified after Laxus' first three lyrics. Sweat hadn't yet begun to plague him, though with the hot and blinding lights aimed directly down at them, he was sure it would start soon.
"...The one they left behind. Fearless, fight until we die. I am broken. The wretched and divine." Laxus' voice rang out as he held his mouth over the mic, with Gray's voice as back up. The guitarist did the same thing as their lead vocalist, with his mouth pressed up against the mic before him. All three of the band's guitarists let their fingers fly as they waited for the next set of lyrics.
When he glanced again, Levy had disappeared from the stairs, no doubt to man the merchandise booth. Gajeel focused on the music running through him. He barely had to think about what his body was doing. It came naturally. The wooden sticks in his grasp were a part of his body, an extension of his hands and mind.
And here at long last, they were in front of a roaring crowd that seemed to take to their music like a boat on the water. He let the smile spread across his face and geared up for the bridge sequence. His feet went wild with the double pedal beat and he let himself slip into the rift he was to play along with Sting's guitar solo. His eyes briefly closed and he opened them to see another spotlight on him as he exited the measure and Laxus began to sing.
The light faded from him to settle onto their lead singer. He took what deep breath he could; it was all surreal. When the song ended, the sea of people before them cheered and whistled. Laxus took a brief pause to introduce them before they went into the second song.
Gajeel began a beat with Gray's guitar playing. This song would have a lot of his bass drum in it. Relaxing and settling into the seat, he began to zone in on one of his favorite things to do while the vocalists engaged with the audience. They played through the first half of the song, knowing the park was just as alive as they were on stage. He entered into a complicated drumming rhythm before the chorus.
"I wouldn't take back a moment. Not one miserable moment. I'll give it all till there's nothing," Laxus sang. He waited for Gajeel's drumming. " I'd walk into the fire, into the fire! I 'd walk into the fire!" The blond stopped playing his golden guitar to sing, letting Gray and Sting briefly take over with the guitars. "Into the fire!"
"Into the fire!" Gray growled into the microphone.
Gajeel felt the trickle of sweat drip from his forehead into the bandana as he continued to drum out the complicated beats with his hands and feet. He pressed himself; the night was a chance for all of them to shine. To show off their skills. He knew he'd be celebrating after with his favorite people no matter what happened.
Gray's growls turned into screams as he went into the song's bridge. The crowd in the front few rows reached out to try to touch him as he screamed into the mic close to the edge of the raised stage. One person managed to touch his uncovered knee from the giant rip in the material. He smiled and pointed down at them and winked as he finished the note. His hands then went to his instrument to position for the next part.
The girl turned to her friends. The excited screams that she had touched him blended with the rest of the music and crowd.
The music silenced so Laxus could sing, "I wouldn't take back a moment. I 'd walk into the-" Gajeel let the bass pedal and his drumsticks explode over the kit in the chorus measures once again. "-Fire!"
At the merchandise table, Levy took a wad of cash and quickly counted it before giving the young man a folded t-shirt in return. When he left, another person came up to buy another t-shirt. Levy was glad she had called John. If he hadn't brought the remaining boxes of merchandise, they would have sold out. Items were going fast. The chaos would only multiply after the band was finished performing.
"How you doin' over there?" John called over to her. He was just a few feet from her, but he had to yell in order to be heard. He reached behind him for a CD.
"It's goin'." She refused to be overwhelmed. It was a good thing that the two of them were swamped. It meant the chance she took on the men still on stage was only just beginning to pay off. "It's going better than I anticipated!"
She listened to the music as the people kept coming, as Laxus sang with Gray as his back up vocals, "Hate me, you can't escape me. And you ain't ever gonna change me. I can't stand it, I've fuckin' had it, I'm about to blow!.'Cause it's one, it's one, one for the money. Two, it's two, 'cause two is for the show. Three, it's three, three to get ready-"
"John, we're out of wristbands!" Levy called. He turned to see her holding up an empty box. She shrugged and laughed. She stuffed the last of the cash she could fit in the money pouch and placed it in the empty box behind her. She produced another money pouch and continued to help their eager customers.
As she predicted, when Black Dragon Realm signed off and exited the stage, more people swarmed towards the table. Levy watched in mixed emotion as they stood patiently in line, looking at the sample merch hanging on hooks on the board behind her. All she heard from their mouths were great things.
"They are so good-"
"I'm gonna buy their CD."
"I hope they're not out of that shirt…"
"Are you their sales manager?" Someone in line asked Levy directly.
"I'm the band's manager," Levy confidently replied, though feeling a tint of red start to creep into her already flushed face. The heat was intense. She had had to pull her blue hair into a tail.
There was a shift in the line when they all started yelling and pointing behind her. She turned to see Gajeel, Laxus, and Gray approach them. She smiled at Gajeel before turning back to help the people in line.
"Thought you could use some hands," Gajeel commented. Sweat glistened off his bare shoulders and arms, and the bandana around his head was soaked. Laxus and Gray chose a spot between them and John.
"Yes, thank you!" Levy turned to her secret boyfriend. "Where's Natsu and Sting?"
"Natsu had a string come loose on the last song so he's fixing that. I don't know where Sting is."
Levy was aware of most of the girls in line ogling the tall man beside her. She let Gajeel hand them their merchandise after she took the money. "Thanks for coming out, there's a lot of great bands still to come," he said.
"Whoa, you stink," Levy mentioned loud enough for him to hear. She zipped the money pouch and found that his arm was around her shoulder. Along with it came the scent she had just commented on. She tried to tug his arm off her with a free hand, but he tugged her closer. "Gajeel!"
"She wants a picture," he laughed. He pressed Levy to his side and pulled Gray and Laxus into the picture. The girl smiled and thanked them. She turned back to her friends with a giddy expression.
They manned the booth well into the following band's performance. With the last few concert goers in the line taken care of, Levy turned to see that there were more empty boxes than there were of items. They had sold almost all of it. A very successful night. Laxus and Gray left them and went off in search of Sting and some food.
John had packed the remaining items into a box. "That's all that's left."
"I'm sure we can find someone to buy it. The night's not over yet," Levy said. She sighed and turned around to look at the crowd now having turned to the next band's manager's table. They were already swarmed as well. "I'm starving…"
"Gray knows where to find food. He probably has some at the tent." Gajeel grabbed the box from John when his phone rang. "I'm gonna take this to the van first."
"I'll go with you," she said easily.
They walked together in the dark towards the parking lot designated for the performers. The air had cooled him down and the sweat had dried, but he still needed a shower. At close to 10pm, no one was near the lot. They found the van and slid the box into the back, stuffing it under the back seat to make room for the equipment later.
Levy shut the door closed and turned to leave. She bumped into Gajeel's chest, her hands coming up in reflex. Her eyes looked into his and saw the heat in them. The way he stared down at her made her feel like prey in a set of crosshairs. His arms reached for her, and she let them pull her closer to him.
Gajeel turned her to rest between himself and the van and bent to close his mouth over hers. Her hands wrapped around his shoulders as he quickly deepened the kiss. They stopped only for brief gulps of air. The long, enduring kiss was the first liplock they had shared in many days.
Every time they had wanted to be close at the house they were interrupted by one of the guys. They had wanted to ease the others into the idea of their dating, only they didn't know how hard it would be to keep their relationship secret when they all lived in the same house. As a result of the constant interruptions, the couple had to forego any form of physical affection until they knew for sure that they were alone.
"Mmm," Levy hummed. When her lips were free from his, she grinned up at him. She could feel her lips begin to redden from their rough interaction. "You were so good tonight. The band did great."
"Thanks," he roughly said. He kissed her jaw. "It went pretty damn well, didn't it."
Levy met his lips with her own. "I've missed you," she said against his mouth.
Gajeel answered with a deeper kiss. He picked her up and pinned her to the back of the van. When she opened her mouth for him, his tongue slipped in. After some minutes, he grunted and pulled away from her to gently set her feet on the ground. He took a breath. "I gotta stop myself, before-"
"I know, it's ok." Levy wiped her mouth with her thumb but continued to give him a smile that was only meant for him. "We need to get back anyways. They may be wondering where we are."
He wrapped his arm around her again and hugged her. He was grateful for the time he was able to spend -alone or otherwise- with her. There would be a time when their relationship would become public. He was content with how it was though. She was his either way.
Levy wrapped her arms around his waist. She took a breath and shifted. "You still need a shower..."
Letting her pull away, Gajeel followed her towards their tent and playfully rolled his eyes. "Let's get you some food before you turn into a gremlin."
Catching up to her in two strides, his hand found hers, their fingers tightly interlacing.