Hit or Miss

Chapter One: Nostalgia

"Come on Levy!" Lucy hollered into the night, holding open the door that led into the bar, the noise and the warmth spilling out onto the street.

"I'm coming, I'm coming!" Levy laughed in answer, footsteps measured as she climbed the stairs, worn and uneven from a lifetime of use and still damp from the earlier rain. "Remind me again why I couldn't just stay home?"

If she was hoping for a response, she was sadly mistaken, Lucy giving her nothing but a smile, grabbing her hand and pulling Levy into the crowded room and through the sea of people to reach the bar, shouting orders over the low hum of conversations. Levy turned towards the stage as the strains and chords of a guitar being tuned floated over the noise and into her ears, eyes growing wide at who she saw there.

"Lucy! You knew? And you still dragged me here?" Levy hissed at the blonde, cheeks flushing with colour as the anger and the embarrassment rose within her. Standing tall on the small stage, with his back to them was the unmistakable silhouette of one Gajeel Redfox - current rockstar and ex-boyfriend of one Levy McGarden.

Lucy just smiled, either completely oblivious to Levy's anger or completely ignoring it, choosing instead to wave at the pink haired guitarist, taking Levy's hand and picking their way through the crowd until they reached the stage.

"Natsu! Told you we'd make it!" Lucy's voice was bright as she pulled Levy up onto the stage, turning into Natsu's arms and kissing him quickly.

"Never doubted you Luce. Hey, Levy! Long time, no see! Loving the hair." Natsu looked genuinely happy for them to be there, for which Levy was enormously grateful - if this interaction wasn't quite as painful as she'd feared, maybe the rest of the night wouldn't be quite so bad. She smiled back brightly, hand coming up to fiddle with the ends of her blue hair, recently cropped short.

"Hey Natsu. Good to see you again." she paused to laugh nervously. "Liberal arts college will do that to a girl!"

There was no chance for further awkward conversation, the moment interrupted when a tiny woman with long, inky blue hair launched herself at Levy with a squeal that caused a few patrons to wince at its pitch and volume.

"Levy! You're really here!"

The woman in question found herself tackled, slender arms wrapped firmly around her waist, and she just laughed with joy, returning the hug with equal ferocity.

"Wendy! It is so good to see you!"

Pulling back, Wendy smoothed down her top and gave Levy's hands a quick squeeze as the shadow of their lead singer loomed over her shoulder.

"We're about to start, but I'll come find you later!"

With that, Wendy was gone and Levy's eyes fell on him.

"Gajeel".

His name slipped out on a breath, and her hands shook at her sides as he stepped fully into her field of view, the sheer size of him blocking almost everything else. He looked good - better than Levy remembered, even. Outrageously tall next to her, he was broad and heavily muscled, and his hair - thick raven locks had grown out over the years, they sat heavily on his shoulders and ended well down his back, and Levy wondered if it would be soft against her fingers.

Shaking herself free from her thoughts, Levy offered him a small smile when his crimson irises met her own amber ones.

"Hi".

"Hey, Shrimp. Like yer hair."

There was mischief in his eyes, longing and maybe even regret in the set of his mouth as he looked down at her, and Levy's heart gave a weird stutter at his use of her old nickname.

"You look good, Gaj. New jewellery suits you".

She gently touched her own lip, subconsciously trying to convey that she'd put metal into her body as a way of holding desperately to their connection.

"Gonna talk t'me later?"

"Mhmm. Break a leg!" Levy nodded, turning to collect Lucy and take up their seats - hopefully near the bar where Mira would keep the drinks flowing freely. Levy had a feeling she was going to need them tonight.

Levy was doing her best to focus on the conversation happening around her, trying to listen over the music and answer whatever questions were directed at her, but her eyes kept wandering back to the stage and the lead singer of the Dragon Slayers, so it was a complete surprise when their keys player - Gray - appeared in front of her and basically dragged her up onto the stage, ignoring every one of her protests as he held her shoulders to keep her in place near the back of the stage.

"We gotta treat for y'all t'night" Gajeel spoke down the microphone, eyes focussed on the crowd before him. "There's a special woman here, who wrote a lotta our early stuff, includin' the song from tha' started it all. Whaddya say we git her up here fer ol' times sake?"

The crowd cheered, their friends hollering as he turned to face her with a soft smile and a whispered 'please?' It was quiet enough that no one else would have heard, but it was enough for Levy - she took his outstretched hand and let him pull her to stand beside him. His hand was strong in hers, his fingers calloused from so many years of playing. It felt warm, and right, and Levy had to fight down a pout when he withdrew from her grasp to hand her a microphone.

She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, stepping forward to stand level with Gajeel, nerves making her hands shake slightly as the all-too familiar chords sounded. Channelling the energy, Levy tapped her foot in time and replaced the microphone in its stand, smiling back at Gajeel when he winked at her. With her hands wrapped around the microphone, Levy opened her mouth and began to sing.

"Your eyes were covered in sunglasses

When they first met mine.

I sat there and stared at you.

You didn't seem to mind"

It was their story - or at least, the start of it, and Levy could feel the memories she'd tried to hard to suppress come rushing back as Gajeel began to harmonise with her, his deep voice in such contrast with her bright and clear notes, but still somehow perfectly attuned.

"The awkward ways we meet.

First comes heavy breathing

Staring at the ceiling

What will happen next?

I don't wanna know

I don't wanna know"

She stood back slightly, listening to Gajeel sing his part. It took her back, reverting to her teenage self and the awkwardness she had felt at being slightly younger and so, so much smaller than everyone else - it brought back that initial rush that came from being noticed by someone like Gajeel.

"I never cared how I dressed before

But I cared that night (cared that night)

Anticipation ran through my bones

And my clothes never fit right"

Levy couldn't help but stare at the man beside her - she'd always been so attracted to him, and standing here only drove home how that had never faded, had never changed. It made her heart stutter and skip again, seeing him under the lights, and Levy's next inhale was shaky as she tried to find her cue.

'I can't wait 'til we meet again.

First comes heavy breathing

Staring at the ceiling

What will happen next?

I don't wanna know

I don't wanna know"

Knuckles white, Levy held tight to the microphone as she fought down the feelings that threatened to choke her, the memories of their relationship in those early days of touring were bittersweet - flying visits during breaks from his shows or her schooling had been cherished moments, the taste of him keeping her warm on the nights they'd been apart.

"Framed pictures start to be put on the walls

Constant visits while I'm out on the road

It's hard to leave sometimes

But you know where I lay my head at night"

As the last chord rang out from Natsu's guitar, the bar erupted into applause, cheers and whistles smattered through the constant noise, and while Levy tried to make her escape, her departure was halted by a large hand resting softly on her bicep.

"Thank you".

Two words, that was all Gajeel said, his voice rough and so quiet that no one could hear him. She just smiled in reply, leaning up to press a soft kiss to his cheek, and then she was gone, weaving her way back to the bar and the safe embrace of her friends who were waiting.

The remainder of their set seemed to speed by in a blur, Levy's attention firmly fixed on the Scotch and dry in her hands as she more or less ignored everyone around her, her friends all too aware that she needed some time and space let her be, save for Mira who kept her supplied with a fresh drink.

And then, Gajeel announced their last song.

"This one's fer someone special. Sorry I took so long."

"The needle on my record player has been wearing thin

This record has been playing since the day you left with him.

No more long rides home

No more of your station

I never liked it anyway"

Well, fuck. He'd gone and written a song about their breakup, and now he was singing it in a packed bar, in their hometown, in front of all their friends. Levy wanted the ground to open up and swallow her, the heat blooming on her cheeks as every one of her friends swivelled to look at her. He was telling the world another piece of their story - of the way he'd walk her home just to steal a kiss at the front gate before he learnt to drive.

"Have I waited too long?

Have I found that someone?

Have I waited too long

To see you?

Maybe it's for the best?

Maybe it's not for anything?

It wouldn't be so bad

To take this right from me"

Levy couldn't look away, held captive by his eyes locked onto her, the pain swimming behind merlot irises was fathomless and gut wrenching to see. Gone was his usual swagger, and in its place was an oddly vulnerable Gajeel who stood like a statue, almost hiding behind the comfort and security of his bass.

"How many times I've tried

It's simple to you

So simple to lie

How many times I've tried

Blatant mistakes of your design"

There was anger behind the words, but it was an old wound now, nothing but regret and sadness visible in the set of his shoulders, and heat flashed through Levy, pooling low in her belly as she caught the smirk he sent her way. Lucy caught the interaction and winked at her friend, laughing quietly as Levy shook her head at her antics.

"I've had so many chances

Turn my back and run away

I've had so many chances

To see you".

Gajeel mouthed something that looked suspiciously like an apology as the song ended, before he turned away from her. Downing her drink, Levy slid carefully from her stool and made a quick dash to the blissfully empty ladies room. Splashing cool water on her cheeks, she cleaned up her slightly smudged eyeliner and looked herself dead in the eye in the slightly grimy mirror. A quick pep talk later, and when she was satisfied with her reflection, Levy strode back to the bar with more confidence than she actually felt and snagged the tray of drinks off the counter.

"I got it Mira!"

As most of the patrons were trickling out into the night, she had an easier time making it to the stage and climbing up without the extra bodies in her way. Her first stop was Natsu, where she handed off his regular order of fire whiskey.

"Some things never change, Natsu".

"And some things change a lot" he joked, gesturing in her general direction with his glass.

She let him be, smiling as she moved around the stage leaving drinks on various amps and stands for everyone else who was preoccupied with packing away their gear. Tray successfully emptied, Levy made her way back to the bar, just in time to be accosted by the blonde who was undoubtedly to blame for everything tonight.

"Levs! Natsu finished loading his gear, so we were going to head out. Are you okay to get home?"

Internally, Levy wanted to scream. Her traitorous friends were determined to get her and Gajeel alone together, and they certainly hadn't been subtle about it. But she hid her annoyance behind a smile, waving off her friends concerns.

"It's literally around the corner, I'll be fine. Go on, get out of here - and don't do anything I wouldn't do!" With a wink, Levy pushed the couple towards the door and happily sat back in her perch at the bar, gladly accepting the cold beer Mira slid her way. She would have been content to sit in silence and nurse her drink all the way through until last call, but Wendy had other ideas.

"Levy! Gosh, it's been years tell me everything!"

Wendy's enthusiasm was as infectious as ever, and Levy couldn't have stopped the smile from spreading across her face even if she had wanted to.

"I know, and I'm sorry! But after everything, well you know... Anyway, I finished school and I've been travelling. Got my degree in linguistics, a master's in anthropology, and I'm waiting to hear the result of my phD - sent the dissertation in a few weeks back".

"Wow! And here I got my high school qualifications by correspondence".

That got them both giggling, and Wendy took advantage of the moment, quirking her eyebrows at the older bluenette.

"What about boys?"

"Not much to tell. Haven't had a relationship since..." Levy trailed off, using the bottle in her hands to gesture over her shoulder to where Gajeel was helping to finish loading all their gear away.

"If it helps, I don't think he's even had someone warm his bed for longer than a night. Oh, Levs! This is my Romeo!" Wendy grinned as a young man appeared next to her, giggling as he kissed her cheek and reached over to shake Levy's hand. "And we're going! Call me!" Wendy yelled as she grabbed Romeo and they beat a hasty retreat, just as Gajeel appeared over Levy's shoulder.


Songs -

I Don't Wanna Know - New Found Glory

Hit or Miss - New Found Glory