Author's note: Ever had that feeling that there's something in your life you want nothing but to go well only to see it slowly crumble before your eyes? Kinda going on in my life. I don't want to talk about it; but lately it's been making me feel a bit like crap. Anyway, getting back to this story will help me feel better.
I'm also announcing since the holidays are approaching, I'll be taking a small break so I can focus on writing more chapters, and also spend time with family and friends in the coming weeks! Also, I'd like to dedicate this chapter to Pocketwoman7, a friend of mine in the Gajevy community who recently just gave birth to her first child!!!! Many blessings to you and your family pocket and Merry Christmas!!!!
Chapter 9: Changes in the Air
A few days passed since the debate and all across the town was pure silence. Not a single crime had been committed since Jose was killed by Liberius and Touka won the election. Hardly anything was occurring because everyone was pretty much afraid. Liquor stores didn't have to worry about robbery, Natsu wasn't lighting cars on fire for fun, Gajeel hasn't been stealing motorcycles and selling them to a sketchy dealer, and Levy called off all drug production for the next two weeks.
The members of Shadow Gear now sat in the main lobby of their hideout, drinking booze in silent, playing pool or darts or watching the game on tv. They were doing everything in their power to try and forget the horrific events from a few days ago. This was a living nightmare for everyone. How the hell were they going to get by? Minutes of silence ticked by before Slam! Cana slammed her mug on the table.
"This is horse shit!" she hollered out loud "Why do we have to suffer for this?! We should be out there selling drugs and shit!"
"We attacked Liberius you drunk." Laxus spoke up "Even though it was to save everyone, we're still going to get shit for it."
"But we still shouldn't have to hide all the time! We should be out there making money!"
"We should." Levy admitted as she joined the conversation "But Touka White is going to be inaugurated later today. Three hours from now to be exact."
"We could use this time to make money while we can!" Cana retorted "When Touka gets into office is when we should worry!"
"You have a point, I admit it Cana;" Erza suddenly spoke up "but you forget we attacked Liberius. They made it clear they wished to "Dye us white". Whatever the hell that may mean, I'm going to be honest, it's best we keep our heads low for a while."
"Erza's right." Levy explained "I don't regret sending Laxus and the Thunder Legion in, we saved a lot of lives that night; but we opened Pandora's box by doing this. It's only a matter of time before something happens to us."
BZZT bzzzt BZZT!!
A cellphone suddenly went off, alerting everyone to Gajeel. He looked at his cellphone to see who was calling and noticed it was an unknown number.
"Da fuck?" Gajeel grumbled. He picked it up, rolling his eyes for a moment before answering.
"If you're calling to try and sell me something, you can fucking forge-"
"Gajeel! It's me!" Gajeel looked into his phone for a moment before recognizing the voice.
"Salamander?!" Gajeel hollered when recognizing his cousin's voice "What the fuck?! Why you calling me on this number?!"
"I'm using a pay phone." Natsu explained "I was home watching some shitty tv and the door broke open. I hid in our basement and I found out the cops invaded our house!"
"What?!" Gajeel hollered and walked away from his colleagues "Holy shit man!"
"I'm fine thank God." Natsu sighed "But I learned my phone might be tapped and I had no choice but to head to town and find the only pay phone that didn't have a hobo sticking his dick in the change slot. I need you to come get me."
"When now?!" Gajeel spoke.
"Not much of a choice isn't there?" Natsu replied "Cops are after me. If I were you Gajeel, I'd also watch yourself on your phone. Same with your gang. And take money out of the bank. We don't know if they're gonna freeze it." With that said, Natsu immediately hung up.
"Fucking hell!" Gajeel cursed as he shoved his phone into his pocket.
"What's wrong?!" Levy asked with pure concern.
"That was my idiot cousin." Gajeel explained "Our house just got raided. He made it out before he got there; but he's in deep shit. Needs name to get him before the cops do."
"Holy crap." Gray muttered under his breath "Is he okay?"
"Yeah yeah he's fine, just needs a place to hide is all. Better go get his ass."
"I'll come with you." Levy volunteered as she grabbed her biker jacket on the nearby coat hanger "And he can stay here until further notice. Same goes for you Gajeel. Now that your house was raided, you're going to need a place to stay."
"Yeah you're right." Gajeel realized suddenly "Only thing I'm mainly pissed about to be honest, is the fact I left a bag of weed on the coffee table. Ain't getting that back that's for sure."
#
Gajeel and Levy left the club house and soon found themselves at a shady part of town. A place that made even Levy's skin crawl. Gajeel soon spotted his pink haired cousin, hanging around an alley way before making his way over to his cousin's bike and hopping onto the bike.
"Thanks man." He sighed in relief "I managed to get a huge amount of money out of my account before they could try to freeze it. What about you?"
"Same here." Gajeel nodded "Thanks for the warning." Natsu places on his helmet and clipped it on before grabbing his cousin and riding off with him and Levy.
"Why were the cops after you?" Levy hollered to Natsu over the sounds of the engines as they rode back to the hideout.
"I really don't know!!" Natsu hollered back "But I think it may have something to do with the fact I stole a cop car a few weeks ago, messed with some hookers with it by turning the lights on then burnt it off the side of the high way when I was bored!"
"You did what?!"
"Why am I not fucking surprised you did something that stupid!" Gajeel screamed as he joined in the conversation.
"The hell you want from me!" Natsu replies "I mainly sell the cars I steal; I can't sell a cop car! And besides, I always secretly wanted to do that."
"Burn a cop car?!" Levy asked.
"No! Scare hookers with one!" both Gajeel and Levy rolled their eyes at that, and for the rest of the trip, they just ignored Natsu and made their way back to the hideout.
#
Three hours passed and Natsu, Gajeel and Levy were in the deepest parts of the bunker. With extra clothing in her hands, Levy brought them to Natsu's room and soon brought it to Gajeel's room. The bunkers weren't that special to be honest. They had a simple bathroom, a simple bed, a desk, a tv and a poster of a crude drawing of outside. One thing Gajeel noticed was a lot of graffiti, of dicks and boobs. Whoever last slept here obviously had a problem.
"I know, it's terrible." Levy sighed at Gajeel as she came in the room "Our last border really was a fan of vandalism and he wrecked the place. He was kicked out of the gang; but we've never been able to remove the paint."
"Might know a way," Gajeel revealed "dad had a trick that worked for me all the time. Teach it to ya next time." Levy blushed at Gajeel's offer before the sudden sound of the television distracted them.
"Welcome back mother fuckers!" Said the newscaster "Were bringing to you live coverage right now as Touka White is sworn into office! Damn, I'd love to bang that ass!"
"Ugh, Erza's right, he does need to be fired." Levy commented about the newscaster as the screen changed to that of the inauguration. They watched as Touka held up her right hand and swore on a bible with her left to uphold the title of mayor and to follow the laws of being one. Once she finished, the crowd cheered and she made her way to the podium for her speech. What caught Gajeel's attention, was a small smirk on her face, one that didn't look too good.
"What's wrong?" Levy asked Gajeel with concern.
"She just smiled." Gajeel revealed.
"So? It's her big day, of course she's smiling."
"Not a good type of smile I mean. It was one that showed she was up to something." Levy looked at him with serious concern.
"Are you serious?"
"As a fucking heart attack." Levy stares at the tv screen as she watched Touka give her speech to the crowd of onlookers, trying to figure out a way to explain what Gajeel saw. As she watched the tv, on the bottom screen, a minor "Breaking News:" appeared and revealed a small amount of people were recently found dead in the nearby desert.
"Hey look!" Levy suddenly spoke out "Three people found dead in Oak Town Desert. While cause of death remains unknown, it's believed to be dealing with a new street drug called White. An unknown substance that's been making an appearance in the past three days."
"Why's that catching your interest?" Gajeel asked her "We sell fucking meth for crap's sake."
"I don't know, but it seems something's off with all of this recent stuff. Call me crazy, but I think Liberius may have something to do with all this."
"The fuck you mean?" Gajeel asked her in a confused tone.
"I don't know how to explain it," Levy sighed exasperatedly "but didn't you find it odd they only killed Jose and not Touka? The new street drug that just came out is being called White?"
"I guess White Mage or whatever the fuck her name is is obsessed with white. Fuck, I don't know. Chick's crazy, that's all I can say."
"Something just doesn't feel right." Levy admitted "and I'm sure you can agree Gajeel, you did just witness her smirk oddly." Gajeel looked at Levy for a moment and realized she had a fair point.
"I guess you got a point." He admitted a bit sheepishly "What do we do now?"
"I don't know. I know you and Natsu can't go home; but I may consider making all of our members to stay here until further notice. I can sense the changes in the air beginning to take form. And they won't be good ones. I better go to my office and think about this."
She began to walk out of the room only for Gajeel to grab her hand, she looked back at him with pure curiosity.
"Mind if I come with you?" He asked suddenly "I- I can cook ya dinner and shit…." Levy stares at him and realized he was being very serious about this. Levy smiled at suggestion and gave him a nod. The two then left the bunker without realizing Gajeel's hand was enveloping Levy's.