A/N: Thank-you all for the comments/favorites/alerts~!

A/N [continue]: This is a shorter chapter—sorry—but I wanted to get something out to you guys before life gets a bit crazy

{Disclaimer: I own nothing~}


Two

Time to Make Decisions


When there was a knock on her door, she expected Mystogan to be on the other side, shy and understanding smile on his face with a basket fill of pilfered kitchen treats and the promise of keeping the royals—well-meaning but overbearing by nature—at bay until she was ready to face their inquiry.

The last person she expected was the massive blonde scowling arouns the lighting-shaped scar cutting along the right side of his face, directly thtough his right eye. How he managed to maintain sight was a wonder.

"Laxus?"

"Heard Redfox botched the proposal."

"I…I don't know if I would say that…"

"Right," Shouldering past her—though, to be fair, he was so much larger than her that he probably didn't register how his movements overpowered any options she might want to explore, he stepped into the room, gaze lingering on the books. Tomes and volumes placed along the shelves built into every available space of wall. Even then, there were mountain ranges of overflowing literature overtaking the majority of floor space. "Would have to get the words out in order to officially fail. You beat him to that."

Arms crossed along her chest, Levy slammed the door shut. Propriety be damned. She had known Laxus as long as she had known Gajeel. At times, the tattooed giant was more of a brother to her than distant and pensive Jellal. "I don't want to talk about this."

"Yeah, well, neither do I. Yet, somehow, here we are." Flopped down on her bed, only piece of furniture that could sustain his muscular bulk, he cocked his head at the constellations that she had long painted across her ceiling. She may be comfortable with him being in her space, that did not mean he had ever seen such before.

"You can tell your grandfather—"

"Gigi didn't come this year." Looking back down, calloused fingers scraped through already mussed locks. Aggravation found in how his knuckles whited against his scalp. "Nope, instead he's testing out retirement, leaving me to figure out this fucking bag of snacks."

"What's to figure out?" Settling in her favorite rocking chair—hoping the choice didn't make her appear to be the child she suddenly felt like—she settled her face in a determined expression. "I said no."

"Yes, but why?" Arms resting on knees, he lowered his gaze further to lock onto Levy's. "Are you—I don't know—in love with someone else? Is that why you kicked Gajeel and threw a tantrum."

"I did not throw a tantrum."

"Gajeel says different."

Levy tried, and proceeded to fail, not to roll her eyes like a disgruntled child. "Well—"

"As does your brother."

"Mystogan wouldn't—"

Laxus' lips turned into a smile, continuing to clicking off witnesses on fingertips. "And every servant who was within hearing range."

"Just wait—"

"His shin is going to be blue-and-blue come morning."

"Good."

Hand dropped between knees once more; smile faded. "I thought you two were friends."

"We are…or at least were until this debacle…"

"That was why gigi suggested the idea years ago. I mean, he kept having to prevent Gajeel from stowing you away within the wagons that first trip he was with us."

"We were seven and four." The words somehow made it around a snort.

"Which is why he wanted till you were seventeen and fourteen before bringing the idea to your parents."

"Still, ten years ago."

"Which is why he then checked in with Jellal last year, it being bad form to talk politics the time before—what with your parents just having been gone."

"And yet no one thought to consult me."

"Don't women like to be surprised, you know—romanced, with such things?"

"It's insulting." Eyes narrowed with a shake of her head. "Seriously, however did you manage to delude Mirajane into believing she wanted to marry you?"

"And that is a conversation I'm certain your brothers would be against us having. Let's just say that we have two kids for a reason."

"You have three."

Laxus' time to snort with a dismissing flick of the wrist. "Yeah, but the last one is suspiciously silent. He's plotting something."

"Yuri's deaf, not sinister."

"Point of all this being that gigi thought it best to strengthen our alliance through you."

"Because I am literally the only option."

"No, because you're brilliant—don't look surprised, everyone knows it. You're brilliant and have magic."

"That…that's not supposed to be common knowledge."

In some lands, magic was seen as heresy. Beliefs being something that even the mightiest monarchs had issue quelling. Despite having given birth to three children cursed with some in other lands—such as the Empire—saw as a gift. Levy and her brothers were warned about the dangers of their abilities from what seemed to be birth.

Unfortunately, the twins' abilities were too strong to consciously contain when they were of a young age. It was the origin of their matching facial tattoos, suppressors—gifts from the Empire during one of Makarov's first visits into their lands, when peace was shaky with the alliance new.

Levy's ability was far lesser than that of Jellal and Mystogan, simply had to practice vigilance.

It would have been the only secret she had kept from Gajeel if he had not caught her on sheer accident.

"More of a reason for you to come with us. Your brothers, their tied to this land...and, disturbingly enough…each other. Gigi always thought you were made for adventure." He made a show of looking about him once more. "Something that you don't just read about, but experience. Did you seriously turn your closet into a library?"

"Then I'll come to the Empire. No one said that I have to be married in order to leave the country." The country wasn't that archaic.

"I just told you that I know you're brilliant, don't act like a fucking moron. You know that's the only way you're getting out of this country."

"I won't marry Gajeel."

"Well," spreading his hands to illustrate their empty nature, "he's the only option I brought with me."

"Then we'll return to this conversation next year."

Levy went to stand up—showing the end of these negotiations; Laxus waved her back down.

"What about if it isn't real?"

"Excuse me?"

"Your marriage. It's not like anyone is going to be lingering outside his wagon to make sure that he screws you, which I'm not sure whoever came up with that idea was either insanely kinky or murderously creepy."

"But, if we say the vows, in the eyes of the gods—"

"Then we won't have a ceremony."

"Wait…what? How would that possibly work?"

"You can get dressed up—the veil and dress and…whatever else it is that woman layer themselves in, leave the palace with Gajeel—you just have to smile through the trek from departure and destination for the populace's benefit, and hop on his wagon. From there, you two travel back to the Empire and be away from your native public's eye. Who, by all appearances, will believe that you're married. Then, once in the empire, you just have to smile and wave for your new populace to complete the illusion. After that and inbetween, you can hate on and ignore Redfox as much as you want."

That was far from what she wanted, not that she could say that.

Unaware of the constrictions her lungs and heart—everything in the general rib-region—were suffering, Laxus continued to lay out his spontaneous plan. "Simple as that: solid alliance forged. And, once you settling into the capitol's Central Spire, if you happen to find another Dragon who strikes your fancy, you'll be free to 'divorce' Gajeel and go off with him. Or her." He amended with a lift of his brows. "It's recognized in the Empire now."

"I'm not inclined that way."

"No judging, just letting you know that you'll have plenty of options."

So many questions were battling through the pain that wanted nothing more than release a fresh set of tears. One found its way past the lump chocking her throat, somehow coming out clear rather than giving away the sob that wanted to accompany it. "Why a Dragon?"

"You know we're the closest thing the Empire has to nobles; the only level that would be 'appropriate' for someone like you to marry. Any lower and we'd risk any political ties through you becoming null and void. This is exactly why gigi pushed Gajeel's qualifier through."

Levy's nose crinkled. "He's been a Dragon for years."

Laxus tilted a hand from side to side. "Of sorts. There are varying levels within the order. He didn't become a full-fledged and independent Dragon till last winter."

"Why did it take him so long?"

"Because he…you know, no. Marry him—sorry, pretend marry him—and ask him yourself."

"How long do I have to think about this?"

"Need an answer before I leave this room."

"Why?"

"Gajeel needs to get back to the capitol. Only one full-fledged Dragon accompanies a convoy at a time. You know that, or I thought you did. That's why the number of gigi's fucking pet projects have decreased over the years in visits. Redfox only came here to get hitched, then he has orders of his own to follow."

"So, if I agree to this, I would be leaving—"

"In three days." Again, looking at the books. "You can take whatever you want with you…as long as it fits in his wagon…but, you know, you might have to part with some of these."

"And if I say no?"

"Most likely, your brother's will find someone else for you—some other alliance they can work on—and," he added, some sort of glint sparking in normally obtuse eyes, "this would be the last time you see Gajeel."

Her heart gave another lurch before plummeting into her stomach. While she loathed the idea of being bond to Gajeel for nothing more than political purposes. A love less life where she may have to endure the humiliation of enduring him taking others to bed and only gifting her with attention when in the public eye.

Like Laxus said, they only had to smile and bear it when on display.

But yet, she could feel her very soul begin to crack and splinter at the thought of never seeing him again. It was stupid and naïve and pathetic…but, there is was: her hope that, given time, they may be able to get past this. Maybe not into shared love but—somehow—finding their way back to their steady footing of friendship.

Would a farce of a marriage with a—eventual—center of mutual respect and platonic, on his part, affection, be all that bad?

Damn it!

Where was her pride?

And yet she still struggled to consider the lesser of two evils.

Seeming to sense her continued struggle, Laxus rested back on his hands and contemplated the ceiling once more. "You may not be able to take all of this with you but, did you know, there is an entire town—more like a mini-city with a dome—that serves the explicate purpose of being a library?"

That jolted Levy out of her spiral as effectively as a bolt of lightning would have served.

"And, I might add, it is within riding distance to the capitol."

With that subtle bribe, the scales tipped and her fate was decided.


A/N [continue/part 2]: Please continue to let me know what you think? For good or bad, your input is greatly appreciated.