. Centuries .
"Some legends are told.
Some turn to dust or to gold,
But you will remember me.
Remember me for centuries.
…
We've been here forever,
And here's the frozen proof.
I could scream forever.
We are the poisoned youth."
~ "Centuries" by Fall Out Boy
Levy had fallen asleep in the museum before. It was normal for her. Security knew that she was often there so late that she'd just curl up on her couch rather than go home. It was easier for her when she was in the midst of a big study to simply rest for a few hours and get straight back to work.
What wasn't normal, however, was for her to wake suddenly with the oddest feeling that something was wrong. She listened intently, hating once more that she was blind, and then threw her legs over the side of the couch. She fumbled around for a moment. When she had her cane in hand, she climbed to her feet, aware that said feet were bare of any socks or shoes despite the cold temperature the museum was currently at. She huffed at the thought. She'd have a word with management; the temperature could hurt historical documents and other such things.
She hunted down her phone until she found it. She whispered clear yet quiet voice commands until the phone had texted Gray, sending him a message. Maybe she should have called the police, but she didn't want to risk a longer conversation and she wasn't entirely sure yet on what was wrong. Not if it meant alerting them to where she was. After she was done, she set her phone aside and took a deep breath, making what was likely the stupidest decision she'd ever made outside of what she'd done to blind herself.
Levy kept her fingers tight around her cane, knuckles white as she made her way cautiously out of her office. She made sure not to make too much sound as she shuffled down the hall and found her way to the main part of the first story of the museum. She listened intently to her surroundings, carefully feeling with her feet for any displays so that she didn't slam into them rather than using her cane. She needed a dog, she thought drily. One of those seeing eye dogs, who could double as a protector. She found her way halfway into another section- the Old Magnolian section - and stopped to listen.
It was then that she heard the footsteps - the slightest sounds of boots squeaking on the hard polished marble floors of the museum. A voice came then, soft and definitely female, though she couldn't catch what she was saying. Her fingers tightened until she thought the cane would snap beneath her touch. Levy wasn't made to handle thieves and intruders. What if they had guns? She took a shaken step back, her toes curling as she contemplated how to get back to her room and call the police before the intruders noticed.
She took a step back, and then another. She retreated step by step until her back suddenly hit the wall. A grunt of surprise escaped her. She pressed her back against it, feeling reassured that there wasn't any way for someone to come up behind her. "Damn it," she breathed, frustrated that she'd not thought to bring her phone with her. It was then that she found the entry way that would take her back into the room that backed the offices.
Relief flooded her and she immediately spun around and through the doorway - only to bounce harshly off of someone's hard chest. She hit the ground with a strangled cry of fear and surprise. Hands immediately reached for her arms, gripping them, and Levy lashed out in terror with her legs, nailing her attacker in what felt like the throat. They wheezed and reeled back with a sound of shock and she rocketed to her feet, abandoning her cane as she took off, sweeping around the intruder. She needed to keep herself oriented, she told herself in a panic. Keep herself from getting lost in the museum she knew so well-
"Oof!" she gasped when she was tackled from behind, the person she'd run into slamming into her. She guessed that they'd thrown themself at her, more worried about stopping her than not hurting either of them. "Let go of me," she spat, fighting viciously to kick herself away. She'd learned long ago that her legs held more power than her arms, and she wouldn't hesitate to use them to get away from this situation.
"Sorry," the person grunted and then slammed an elbow into her gut, driving the breath out of her. Levy immediately curled up, gasping desperately for air that she couldn't suck back in. A sobbed groan left her her attacker withdrew, breathing hard. Footsteps filled the air, someone else running to see what was happening. Another intruder, Levy realized, panic setting in. The best they could do was tie her up and steal priceless artifacts that meant way more to her than money ever could. The thought of those iron cuffs disappearing...those golden keys she would never forget seeing, the scarf, the ancient books…
"What happened?" a voice came from overhead, feminine and incredibly familiar. Levy stilled, still gasping painfully as she fought to remember where she'd heard it.
"It appears," the one who'd tackled her said drily, "that we failed to think about those who'd be here outside of security. Did you find anything of use to either of us?"
"No," the woman replied hesitantly. "What did you do?"
"She'll be fine. I just elbowed her."
"How hard did you do that? She can't breathe. I know we broke in, but you didn't have to hurt someone!" Softer hands suddenly touched Levy's back and she recoiled away, fighting to catch her breath. "Don't worry, we're not going to hurt you, we just want information on some people. We wanted help. I wish we could see, it's so dark."
Levy was bewildered. Where had she heard their voices? "Help?" she croaked. "You broke into my museum! Why would I help you?!"
"She has a point there," the man said in amusement. "We did break in."
Where had she heard their voices?
"Okay, but to be fair, Jellal, we wouldn't have broken in if it wasn't three in the morning," the woman pointed out. She huffed. "Look, can you just tell us where we might find someone by the name of Ultear Milkovich? Or Gray Fullbuster and Erza Scarlet? We need to find to find the other, I can feel it. You know what? I'm going to go and find the lights in this place…" Levy heard her footsteps as they faded away.
It clicked. "Jellal Fernandes?" she breathed. "You're Jellal, aren't you?" The woman - Meredy, Levy would bet - had said as much, but she still wanted it to be clear.
She'd heard of them. She'd only met Jellal and Meredy, who Levy believed the woman to be, in person once in the old days, during the time the dragons had roamed the streets after the Grand Magic Games. They'd saved her life and ensured she was safe before moving on to help others.
But if they were searching for Ultear, Gray, and Erza, then that meant-
"You've heard of me?" Jellal answered calmly, sounding a little startled. Levy faltered. Maybe they just knew the pair from this life? They didn't know...but they were looking for information! Why would they look for information if they knew Gray's family and Erza? Levy's head was spinning around and around. Did she admit that she remembered him from a life before and risk ruining everything? Or did she lie? Say she'd heard his name somewhere else?"
"Ah ha!" came the distant voice of Meredy just a second before Jellal swore quietly. She must have found the lights, Levy thought.
"Levy McGarden," Jellal said suddenly, as if recognizing her in the lights. "Yes?"
He knew her name, too. Did he remember though? Or was it just seeing her name somewhere regarding the museum? What did she do? She'd never been in this situation! She'd never even dreamed of being in a situation of questioning whether or not someone knew who she was from this life or another. She clamped her mouth shut in panic.
What did she do?
"Yes," she answered finally, voice nothing more than a whisper. She was grateful he said nothing about her eyes. Even more grateful that in the scuffle, the cloth she'd tied around them hadn't fallen off. "Where's my...please, could...my cane-" She wanted to get up, get on her feet. She felt better when she was standing, could think straight.
"Of course, here." It was pressed into her hands and she heaved herself to her feet.
"Thank you," she said hesitantly. She swallowed thickly, listening as Meredy came back. Her feet squeaked far less than they had before on the hard floor. She licked her lips and then said slowly, "Why are you looking for them? The people you mentioned?" She'd pick her words carefully.
"They're old friends," Meredy said as she joined them. Levy could feel her gaze on her, surprised.
"Meredy, this is-"
"Levy McGarden," Meredy said, cutting Jellal off. "I know." She hummed softly under her breath for a moment before saying, "Do you know them? We've been looking for them since- well, for a long time. We couldn't find anything out on the internet, so…"
"Why come here?" Levy asked in response. "Why come to this museum and ask about people that you're looking for? We're a museum. It's not like we house people. Except for me apparently." She did spend most of her time here in the museum rather than at her own small apartment, where she was constantly in her thoughts.
They were caught by surprise by her question. Meredy stammered in surprise while Jellal remained quiet. But it was enough for Levy. "You remember," she breathed, her heart skipping a beat. Gray had remembered now, but she'd never dreamed that there'd be other people out in the world. "You remember, don't you? Everything. From before."
"...you remember, too?" Meredy whispered, caught by surprise.
"Of course," Levy said, tapping her cane thoughtfully on the ground. "I work here. How could I not?" She was crying she realized. She'd not even noticed. She noticed when the tears began to soak through the cloth and dribble further down her face, though. "I didn't...I thought I was alone. I thought I was the only one...and then Gray...and you guys!"
"Gray?" Meredy perked up. "Gray remembers, too? And is Ultear-"
"His sister. Ur adopted he and Lyon again in this life." Meredy made a happy sound, excited by the prospect that someone she'd shown interest towards was also around. "And Erza...I'm sorry, Jellal. I've not met her here, but Gray said that she showed up at the Heartfilia Bakery and it's kind of what triggered his memories-"
"Who else?" Meredy demanded. "How many people are here in Magnolia?"
Levy smiled to herself, realizing for the first time just how many people resided there in the town. "More than you'd ever believe."
Gray got the call at approximately four-thirty in the morning. Grumbling as his phone shook and shook as he picked it up, Gray squinted at the screen. Levy, read the name on the front. Suspicious of why Levy would be texting him so early in the damn morning. Sitting up with a yawn, Gray opened the text and skimmed through it.
He froze halfway through and stared in horror. At the museum. Help.
"Shit!" Gray snarled, leaping out of the bed. He yanked on his clothes quickly, found his car keys and coat, and then flew out of the apartment he'd just recently started renting, storming down a flight of stairs without bothering to so much as lock his door. Levy needed help and that was far more important. Maybe he should have called the police, although he hoped Levy had done that before she'd contacted him, but he felt as if it would slow him down.
The museum was only twenty minutes or so away without traffic that usually lined the roads. But with it being so early, the streets were near empty, and he made it there in ten with a little bit of risky speeding. He shot out of the car, noting that there were no other cars in the parking lot and that the lights were on all throughout the museum. Gray eyed the front doors and then made a beeline for the back one that Levy had told him she left unlocked at night so that if she needed help, someone could get in while the front doors were locked.
He practically stormed down the hall, following the twists and turns. He ducked into Levy's office and then scowled when he found no sign of her. If she wasn't in there, then what the hell had she been doing that she'd need help?
Gray ducked back out and headed for the first section of the first floor. He paused to look around, frowning again at the fact that all of the lights were on. He found no sign of Levy in there, but heard the murmur of voices nearby. Wary, he edged forward through the room until he found a group of three, one clearly Levy, standing in the entrance to the next section. Levy was tapping her cane nervously on the ground, a habit she'd fallen into long ago.
"Levy!" he called, stopping where he was. He refused to get closer in case something happened. Immediately, all three turned towards him and he faltered, caught by surprise. Complete surprise crossed his features. "Jellal. Meredy." Their names left his mouth before he could help it. "The hell-"
"Gray!" Meredy said cheerfully, wiggling her fingers. She looked so different from what he remembered...clad in jeans and black military-style boots, fingerless gloves and a rather heavy and thick leather coat on. Jellal, too, looked different, although there was still the familiar sight of the red symbol on his face.
His mouth opened, closed, and then opened again as he comprehended that they remembered like he and Levy did. Because why else would someone he'd never met in this life - someone he didn't know at the same time that he did - greet him? He retreated back a step nervously, unsure of how to proceed. But before he could go anywhere, Meredy was latching her arms around him in a hug.
He tensed beneath the hug, not at all pleased. As gently as he could, he pried her off and pushed her back, breathing coming raggedly. "What the hell," he snapped to Levy, "is going on? I came because I thought there was some kind of danger, not because...not because people are showing up claiming to know who we are!"
Meredy retreated, looking startled. "But-"
Jellal silenced her with a touch to her arm, shaking his head, and Levy said evenly, "I thought someone had broken in. I mean, technically they did, but-"
Gray jabbed a finger at her. "First off, McGarden, if someone breaks in, you don't call me! You call the goddamn police! And secondly, I don't...why me? Just because I remember doesn't mean I want to! I don't want to remember." He was angry. He'd never realized it, but he was angry that he'd remembered. His life had been so easy beforehand. And now...he couldn't even see Lucy without a stab of agony racing through him, a vicious pain over the fact that she had no idea just who exactly he was and what they'd been through together. "I don't want any part of this kind of thing. I'm not the Gray from before. Got it? I'm not him."
Levy's lips had parted in surprise, her entire face shifting with hurt, but Gray angrily shook off the guilt it made.
Remembering had ruined his life, he thought as he turned and stalked away. He quickly left the building, hands shaking violently. He couldn't even see Juvia again, not without seeing who she'd been centuries prior.
And he wasn't about to celebrate the fact that they'd found two more who were as screwed up as the rest of him.
That was what they were.
They were broken, ruined people who had to live dual lives and pretend that one didn't tear them apart as they longed for it. What was the point of all of this, if there were only a few who remembered? Why remember at all if so many others didn't? Why remember if they couldn't go back?
Gray hated that he'd ever been given a part in what he expected was a fucked up fate.
The end of this chapter wasn't planned until I'd finished it and I'm quite happy with it, actually. Really matched the lyrics I felt like.
Thanks to reviewers (Tabatha Evans, 1-anime, stranger1999, and ThaDesperado64!) as well as those who favorited and followed!
