The crowd was lighter than she expected tonight, filling the little square with a soft hum of whispers and quiet giggling. She bit her lip, then beamed as she glanced up at the large time lacrima that stood above them all.
Soon, she thought, and felt a little shiver race up her spine in excitement. She was a little early, but she couldn't wait any longer, ignoring the titters and chuckles from the others at the guild as she ran out past them. She was a bit nervous, though she knew she shouldn't be; after all, they'd gone on countless dates. Even when they were on missions they would sneak in a date or two.
Perhaps it was the dress she wore tonight. It was rare when they had the opportunity to really dress up for dinner, but she relished every time they did. It made her feel like she was in a dream, and she couldn't help but silently cheer when Gajeel's speechless gaze landed on her. It made her immensely happy.
Or maybe it was the delicate lace headband she wore. Her smile widened as she thought back when he gave it to her, shyly holding it out and stammering as she stared at it, stunned. She was even more amazed when he admitted that it'd taken longer than he wanted to make, and then it clicked; he had made it for her. She studied it carefully then, taking in the staggering amount of detail in each inch. He was continually full of surprises, and she loved every one.
So tonight, she thought she'd surprise him in turn. Taking advantage of the fact that they were going out in style, she'd chosen a new dress to go with her new head band. It was similar to her favorite dress, but had layers of gold and pink gossamer, complete with a golden sheer wrap that shimmered in the light. The only accessory that didn't match was the necklace that he'd given to her, but she couldn't think of anything else she wanted to wear for him.
With a sigh, she plopped down on the bench just under the lacrima, looking back up to it for the umpteenth time. She could feel herself growing even more anxious for time to hurry, eager for time to pass by. After a few moments, she couldn't help herself and jumped to her feet, scanning the crowd. She climbed up the bench for a better look, biting her lip as she slowly spun in place, hoping to catch sight of him.
Suddenly, strong arms wrapped around her from behind, and she found herself swept up and spun around. She squealed in protest, only to end up giggling when she was finally lowered to the ground and spun around.
"Gihi, thought you could spot me before I could surprise you?" Gajeel laughed. Levy couldn't help laughing as well, even though it hadn't been her intention. She shook her head, then wrapped her arms around him as far as she could reach, hugging him. Then laughed again when she realized that he was trying to hide how out of breath he really was. Had he been running to meet her?
He pouted when she grinned slyly at him, then poked her forehead. "But don't go climbing things that aren't me," he admonished, chuckling wickedly as her cheeks started burning. She was about to protest loudly when his eyes flicked up, widening in surprise. She beamed, taking the chance to check him out while he was distracted.
She loved when he wore suits, especially on dates. This time was no exception; in fact he wore the chocolate suit far better than she expected. His hair was tied back, making access to his neck and jawline easier to access for future kissing and nibbling. Under his collar she could make out the faint imprint of the necklace that matched her own. She opened her mouth, about to compliment him when he leaned closer and kissed her.
It was slow, and gentle, yet it still startled her. She hadn't expected him to kiss her so early, but she wasn't going to complain, sighing as she leaned closer to him. He pulled back, leaving the both of them slightly breathless. He brushed his nose over hers, smiling gently at her.
"Words can't describe how pretty you look tonight, Lev," he murmured, kissing her nose. She sighed, reaching up to grasp his lapels, tugging him closer for another kiss.
"I think I can think of a few," she teased, laughing gently as he complied.
"Word games before dinner?" he asked, leaning back. "How about after when I can properly tease you? And preferably naked as well."
She burst out laughing, rolling her eyes at his antics. Of course he'd try to use what she loved to weaken her. And it would work no matter what, leaving her quivering and hot. But, he'd still tease her over dinner, slipping in a promise at the worst time and flustering her in the worst way. She'd bet that he still would tonight too, no matter what promise he made on behaving.
Regardless, she was more than happy to slip her arm through his as he turned to offer it, ready to be whisked off and join the happy couples in the square.