Author's note: Happy New Year! I took some time off a bit to spend time with family and also prepare for the new year which I want to take by storm! This will be my final year as a fanfic writer as I plan to try and make my own work in the future and get it out there in the public. Also, I had to quit my job. I don't want to get too into it; but it just wasn't working out for me and I ended up getting a new one quickly which I will be starting this coming week! Anyway, let's get back to the story!

Chapter 10: Lockdown

It was three days since Gajeel and Natsu were forced to take refuge in Shadow Gear's bunker. Since taking refuge, Natsu made the decision to join Shadow Gear since they were providing him shelter in a time of need, and the benefits were unbelievably incredible. Touka has officially taken over the town. Now that she was sworn into office, Touka immediately began to crack down on the crime sprees. Criminals were being caught and arrested for petty robberies, theft, assaults and arson.

Because of this, Levy was forced to temporarily shut down business until they could figure out an alternative. Since the inauguration, Gajeel mainly spent time in the garage, fixing bikes of his fellow members and making sure everything was up to par. One good thing Gajeel could say about Touka getting into office, was the fact that since she did, his garage has never been busier. His fellow members have been lining up and asking Gajeel to check everything. Everyone was scared, Gajeel could relate; so they all wanted to be sure their bikes had no issues incase the police tried tailing them one day.

Gajeel was working on Natsu's standard issue rat bike one day, rigging the motor to go faster, and preventing anything cataclysmic such as overheating. Once he finished, Gajeel stood up, cracked his back a bit and dropped the bike off the lift.

"Alright idiot." Gajeel spoke while wiping his brow "I fixed yer bike. I didn't add any fancy shit like ya want; I just added what's necessary. Don't fuck it up, we're supposed to be on the down low for a while."

"So no flaming rocket?" Natsu asked.

"No you fucking idiot!" Gajeel hollered loud enough half the bunker could hear him "What part of down low aren't you getting?! No flaming motorcycles until that white-haired bitch is out of office!"

"Alright alright! Jesus Christ! Thanks anyway cuz." He threw his cousin the money he had to pay him before taking his bike and rolling it into the bunker's garage. Gajeel began to pack his tools into the tool chest, looking to go on his break when he heard a distinct: knock knock knock!

He looked over his shoulder to find Levy, standing in the doorway.

"Hey Gajeel!" She smiled.

"Hey Levy." Gajeel nodded as he put the wrenches away in his tool box "Need something?"

"Just wanted to see how you and Natsu were holding up."

"Eh," Gajeel shrugged "my cousin seems to be handling the situation well. Idiot tries to be a show off sometimes but he has to learn we can't just go around with rocket powered bikes."

"I think that could be his way of coping." Levy theorized "He's probably not as happy with this as you are."

"Could be. Or he just wants to find a way to flip the cops off."

Levy giggled at his idea before making her way over to Gajeel, a blush creeping on her face.

"Um hey," she began to speak out "do you want to try and grab a meal? I've been in the bunker for a while and I could use some fresh air." He looked at Levy for a brief moment before making a decision.

"Yeah." Gajeel smiled "Steak good?"

"Perfect."

They found a local steak house that seemed like a safe place for the two of them to have some form of privacy. Gajeel ordered two Chuck steaks for him and Levy to eat along with some mashed potatoes, vegetables and some water. They are in silence for a few moments before Levy spoke up.

"Hey Gajeel," she suddenly said "Thank you."

"What for?" Gajeel asked after swallowing some steak.

"For being there. It's been a difficult few weeks and just having you around has really helped improve our gang. I'm glad you joined."

"It's no problem." Gajeel admitted "Personally, I'm glad too. I get paid, I get to do something I like, I get to know you, I-" he suddenly stopped himself when he realized his words. Levy blinked owlishly for a moment before realizing Gajeel's words and blushing.

"Uh-um…." He tried to clear up "I haven't seen Lily in a while, is he alright?"

"I have him on some important work." Explained Levy as she swallowed for a moment "It's a personal request that I feel he was the only one capable to do; so he's going to be away for a few days."

"I see." Gajeel nodded. Again silence filled the air before Gajeel finally decided to break it.

"Listen, I-"

Bang!

Gajeel suddenly froze in place as he and Levy stared at each other, wide eyed in shock. They both looked to the wall and found a bullet hole directly in the wall. They looked at the direction the bullet came from and soon found two people, dressed in white cloaks and holding guns. One a 9mm hand gun, the other a sawed off pump action shot gun. It was members of Liberius.

"Shadow Gear scum!" One member hollered "You'll pay for what you did at the debate!" The one with the shotgun shot at Levy and Gajeel who miraculously managed to avoid the hit. They continued to shoot at them until Gajeel pulled out a small ap pistol and shot the Liberius cultists in their arms. The two cultists howled in pain before the one with the 9mm shot at Gajeel and Levy as they ran out of the restaurant (Levy of course did leave some cash with a small tip so she didn't dine and dashtip so she didn't dine and dash), made their way to Levy's bike, Gajeel hopped on to the front, started it up and left the scene.

"Are you alright?!" Gajeel hollered over the sound of the motor cycle's engine.

"I'm fine!" Levy replied "What about yo- OH MY GOD GAJEEL! YOU'RE BLEEDING!" Gajeel tried to look back and suddenly felt a small pang in his back. Levy pulled out her smart phone, turned on the flash light feature and found a small circular wound that was bleeding. Gajeel got shot in the back.

"Those fuckwits got me." Gajeel growled, now feeling the pain of the bullet wound.

"Oh my God!" Levy yelped "We need to get you back to the hide out! I'm calling everyone to get to the bunker and we're going on lockdown!"

"Hey, don't let me getting hurt influence you." Gajeel tried to reason.

"Gajeel! You're one of my top men! Liberus tried to attack us and you got injured as a result! There could be more out there trying to kill us! We're going on lockdown!" Gajeel stayed silent for a moment before revving the engine up and making the bike go faster.

At a warehouse near the docks, the White Mage stood in pure silence, her cloak covering her body and her hood covering her face. The moonlight shined through the warehouse's window, creating a beam of light over her and causing her cloak to glow in the light.

"As pure as the light of the moon," she spoke "Liberius will dye this forsaken town white." She rose her hands high into the air as if to bathe in the moonlight.

"White Mage!" A man suddenly hollered. Her attention was soon drawn to a male cloaked figure who made his way over to her and bowed in deep respect.

"What do you want?!" She hissed " You know I don't want to be disturbed in my alone time."

"For-forgive me my lady!" The man continued "But some news came in. Two of our members found people from Shadow Gear, one of them was the leader. They shot at them, but they got away. One was injured." The White Mage turned her head and from what the servant could see, she wasn't happy.

"They got away?!" She screamed.

"But they managed to injure one of them!" The servant tried to reason.

"That doesn't mean anything to me! Is there anything else I should be made aware of?!"

"T-the latest shipment of White arrived to it's destination. Our plan to dye all of Oak Town White is entering it's next stage." A small smirk appeared on The White Mage's lips hearing that.

"At least something went right." She muttered to herself "Prepare for the next phase and bring the two who failed to kill Shadow Gear's leader. I think they need to be punished for their failure."

The servant swallowed hard hearing her sudden order before nodding and walking away; he knew this was not going to end well for those two dyed souls.