Chapter 6

The entire bench vibrated. His teammates glared and Lily kept fighting back laughter, but Gajeel couldn't seem to get his knee to stop shaking.

So when the other team gets the ball after it hits the ground, Fairy Tail is allowed to–

Gajeel leaned forward and clasped his hands. His other knee began to shake, earning a grunted laugh next to him.

"Is your secret admirer still there?"

Gajeel nodded, the hairs on the back of his neck prickling as if a thousand eyes were watching his every move.

So Number 24 touched the ball but didn't activate any magic, so it's still their team's turn.

"I think she's finally gettin' the hang of the rules."

Lily nodded, obviously impressed. He gave Gajeel's legs a pointed look and with considerable effort, Gajeel managed to keep them from shaking. He cleared his throat and stared at the field.

"I'm surprised she came," he murmured to Lily during a lull in the play.

Lily barked a laugh. "I'm not. For how determined you said she is, I'm surprised she didn't come to the practice field long ago."

"I'm glad she didn't," Gajeel shuddered, "I'm havin' a hard enough time payin' attention to this game knowing she's up there watchin' me."

Lily smirked and leaned closer. "Do you think she figured out who you are yet?"

The ref called a foul against their team. Gajeel winced.

"Dunno. But I'm gonna figure it out first."

"Yeah, good luck with that. You have to get past this game first without blowing your cover."

"I can do it," Gajeel leaned forward, seeing a shift in their team's formation. He should be heading back to the field soon. "I just need to keep my mind on the game and not think of anything that'll give me away."

The whistle blew and Natsu ran off the field. Gajeel jumped from the bench, gave Flame Brain a high five, and hurried to join the rest of his team. Soft whispers floated past his ear, but they had become such a permanent feature of his day that he could tune out most of the science mumbo jumbo.

As he jogged into position, he realized that he actually looked forward to the soft ramblings. They were like a warm blanket, if said blanket just happened to be filled with science and magical terms that he had no idea the meaning behind. But during the game, the voice in his head cheered along with the rest of the crowd and Gajeel found himself standing taller and playing harder than he ever had before. He knew there was a slim chance of her figuring out who he was, but it didn't stop him from putting on a good show anyway.

The ref blew the whistle and he focused on his magic and the ball in his team's hands. The crowd, and his special voice, cheered when his team took the ball. They groaned with every bad magical move and random tips and bits of advice popped into his head between plays. It wasn't helpful in the slightest, but he could listen to that sweet, soft voice for hours if she let him.

Fairy Tail just managed to get the ball into scoring range when Phantom Lord called their second time out. Gajeel cheered with the rest of his team, then stood off to the side to stretch a crick in his neck. His shoulder popped and two words floated through his mind, filled with enough smugness to put Lily to shame.

Found you!

He froze and stared at the stadium.

No way…

Gajeel shook his head, heard the whistle and got back into position. No matter how smart she was, there was no way she could have already figured out who he was.

His jersey got all twisted.

Before he could stop himself, Gajeel glanced down at his shirt. His number bunched to the side and he barely managed to fix his shirt before the whistle blew to start the play.

Magic blasted and players shouted. A trail of sweat dripped down Gajeel's temple. His body thrummed as his magic gathered inside him.

Let's see here…Number 15…there. Gajeel Redfox, Junior, athletics department. Makes sense, he definitely has the physique for it.

His lip twitched and a rival player sneered at him before launching a stream of eggs at his head. Gajeel turned his arm into metal to block the attack.

Dragon slayer magic! You don't see that every day!

"How about you stop with your weird smiling, eh Fairy?"

Gajeel sneered, dropping his arm. "How about ya go back home and make me some breakfast, chicken boy?"

Of all the high-handed, blasted–

Really? You curse all the time, can't you just take a break during the game before you get kicked out?

Gajeel gave the chicken a last glare and turned his back to the player. He followed after his team, wiping the trail of sweat before it got into his eyes. He needed to focus on the game. On his team and the ball, not the fact that his Soulmate managed to beat him and figured it out first.

It was the strangest feeling, having someone study his every move. She commented when he rushed the field, worried when he took hits from the rival team's puny magic and gave out some of his own. Her voice even bounced with excitement the closer his team got the ball to the scoring line.

The buzzer sounded right before Fairy Tail was able to make the final lunge. His Soulmate finally piped down and Gajeel decided it was time for him to even the score.

While the rest of the team made their way to the bench to enjoy a much-earned break, Gajeel stomped over to the announcer's bench. He could hear his team calling out to him and the murmurs from the crowd, but he didn't care.

What is he doing?

He yanked the mic from the sputtering announcer and jumped onto the table. A gasp rang in his ears.

Oh no…oh please don't, please, please…

Gihee!

"Listen here, ya little nerd!" He called into the mic and the crowd grew quiet. "I dunno who ya are or what yer name is, but ya don't know squat about Magic Ball, so stop jabberin' away. And if ya practice the periodic table after midnight one more time, I'm gonna sit on ya, are we clear?"

A giggle and a snort.

I'd like to see you try!

His grin widened and something warm spread in his chest. "I heard that, little miss sassy pants! Ya really think I can't do it? That I ain't gonna find ya? Well, you don't know how stubborn a dragon can be, Shorty. And I'm callin' ya that 'cause yer voice in my head," he tapped his temple, "is so dainty and cute that ya have ta be short!"

An offended huff told him he hit the nail on the head. The crowd laughed, finally understanding. They twisted in their seats and smiled widely at one another, trying to find the mysterious person. Gajeel scanned the crowd, but his Soulmate blended in perfectly. He was gonna have fun tracking her down.

"So prepare yerself, Shorty," he chuckled, "'Cause tomorrow I'm gonna get ya, whether yer ready or not!"