Author's note: Sorry for the long wait, I have some trouble finding inspiration. Any ideas? Chapter 13 is half way done, I hope I'll finish it by weekend. (long wait, on the bright side, longer chapter) (~w~)
Mechanical-Rose-Sama , sorry to keep the juicy stuff waiting, next chapter, I promise!
Morisanne , the more kids, the merrier. I hope you found the one you were looking for, please tell me more about him in a private mesage, when you have time.
DeAmonQuEen , believe me when I say Levy is me 100% in this fic. I was pretty damn dense and my massage instructor kept going on and on for 8 freaking months about the whole 'therapist-client relationship only'. I was pretty scared, to tell you the truth, especally since all guys ran away from me. Hubby (Gajeel in this fic) was my first man ever. I was 19 when I first met him. So, yeah, a lot of density in my brain lol. About the bro-ship with Natsu, I used my hubby's brother to characterize him in this fic. I'm not sure about adding Juvia, but she is a key character that knows his past even in the manga, so we'll see how it turns out. No need to apologize for any idea you have, just write them and I'll see what I can do.
Sketcher1994 , yep, you tend to make all kinds of silly scenarios when you can't read minds and people don't wanna communicate properly. And, for my lovely Misty~es, yes, the milk thing is totally true.
JustAnotherFairy , Gajeel has a bit more trouble to accept his feelings, since Levy's way younger than him and he had his heart broken.
I kept the conversation I had with hubby on the same day he confessed to me (and I did exactly like Levy, the only difference is that I started blabbering like an idiot in English; he didn't know English at the time). So I was browsing though my folders and came accross the silly chat I had with him. And voila! Silly chat at the end of the chapter lol. As soon as the shock rolled off me, I called my bff and told her the whole thing. Told me a while after me and hubby got together they actually had a chat on my acount when I was sleeping at her place (forgot to log out, figures). She deleted the whole thing, the sneaky little bastard. But, aparently, whatever she told him made my hubby go for it and make the first step. So I'll forever be thankful to my bff (whom I've know for the part 2 decades, and I still can't get rid of XD)
Thank you for the infinite patience, my Misty~es! Lots of love from yours truly, MistyQue!
CHAPTER 12: Now what?
On the promised day, Gajeel opened the door and let Levy inside after she knocked a couple of times. She quickly noticed his strange mood.
"Nee... Are you okay? You've been acting really... strange for the past couple of days..."
"Don't worry about it, shrimp. It's just a phase. I'll get over it." He placed his hands in his pockets, turning away from the blue haired girl. She sighed heavily, feeling a strange pressure on her chest.
"Okay, if you say so…"
The rest of the session was quiet, Levy retreating herself after she finished the massage and checked her schedule for Friday morning. Gajeel watched her go, not daring to say a word. He merely crashed back into bed after he closed the door after the bluenette, Lily quickly joining him in bed. He stroked his fur absentmindedly, trying to make her face disappear from his mind.
Levy came by as programmed, Friday morning. Gajeel's mood and the fact that he didn't want to tell her about it made her feel bad. With a twist in the gut, she stepped inside Gajeel's place after he opened the door for her, Levy noticing again his sullen look. She opened her mouth to say something, but Gajeel was already in his room, taking his t-shirt off and laying on the bed. Levy followed him, feeling his inside twist. That's when she burst.
"Gajeel, this is getting ridiculous!" The pierced man raised an eye brow in confusion. "This mood you're in and you say it's just a phase is getting on my nerves. If you won't let me help you, the therapy is not gonna work. So you're better off if I'm not doing anything at all!" She waited a moment and continued. "Are you gonna tell me what's bugging you or not?" Gajeel smiled bitterly and raised himself on his elbows, resting his chin on his hand.
"It's just a..." He began but was quickly interrupted by an exasperated bluenette.
"Phase. Okay, fine. You know you are my friend and you can tell me anything. I am someone who doesn't tell others what I talk to you and you know it. So, until you're ready to let me help you, I won't come here anymore." Gajeel shot his head up, looking horrified.
"What? Why?"
"Because I'm not doing you any good and I don't like taking money on something I don't feel it's right. So, have a good day, I'll see myself out..."
"Wait!" Gajeel lunged himself out of bed, stopping Levy in her track when his hand shot out and grabbed her hand. She turned her head to see what he was doing and froze. He looked in pain. Gajeel twined his fingers with hers, making Levy blush, and looked intently at her hand, not being able to look her in those big brown eyes. "Please..." He tugged at her hand, pulling Levy closer to him. She gasped when he buried his head in her belly and wrapped his arms around her waist, inhaling heavily. "Don't... leave me..." His voice was muffled by her shirt, but she could still hear the pain.
"Gajeel... " Levy dared to place her hand on top of his head and caressed him softly. "What's wrong?" She raised her other hand and hugged his head, trying to understand what was happening inside his mind.
"Do you know a way to make me un-like you?"
"What?" Levy blushed slightly, her insides squirming.
"I'm... falling for you... That's my problem... So, if you know a way to..."
"What are you saying, Gajeel?" Levy couldn't wrap her mind around his words. She heard them, but she still couldn't believe what he just said.
"Levy... My problem is that I have feelings for you and I don't know if… we would work out..." Gajeel kept his face buried in her belly, pulling Levy closer. The bluenette stared at his head, a blush creeping its way on her cheeks.
"Wh... why.. but... how... and when...?" Levy started stuttering, her heart beat increasing, making Gajeel smile. He looked up and their eyes met. Gajeel released Levy, who was now hyperventilating, looking at him intently.
"Wanna make it more clear? I like you. A whole fucking lot." He placed his face in his hands, exhaling heavily. Levy sat next to him, feeling her legs were about to give, and stared blankly at the door, not being able to utter a coherent word.
"Uhm…" She got up automatically, looking at the floor but not seeing it. "I'm gonna… I should…" Levy started speaking in her native language, making Gajeel smile.
"What did you just say?"
"I can't… concentrate… I… Ay, ay, ay…" She put her shoes on, grabbing her things and opening the door to leave, but Gajeel placed his hand on it, looking intently at the bluenette.
"Did I say something… inappropriate?" Levy could hear the fear in his voice, but she couldn't look at him without losing herself completely and melt on the spot if he looked at her with those blazing red eyes.
"NO! No! It's the first time anyone confessed to me… And I feel… strange… like my knees are about to melt… I'm gonna call, OK?" Gajeel's face dropped. It wasn't the answer he expected, let alone the reaction she had.
"Yeah… sure… Take your time…" His insides twisted painfully watching Levy walk away from him. He closed the door and leaned on in, letting himself slide down. "Fuck! Should've kept my goddamn mouth shut!" He twined his fingers in his raven locks, placing his forehead on his knees. This new, but familiar feeling pressed on his chest painfully, feeling his eyes sting. He didn't let himself crumble, he promised he'd never make himself feel so pathetic and weak ever again. So he raised himself and hunted for his phone. Confessed to her. Huge mistake… He sent an instant message to Natsu, throwing his phone back on the table and heading for the bar to drink something.
Levy walked aimlessly, not seeing the street. The blush was still scorching her cheeks as Gajeel's voice kept repeating itself in her head. I like you a whole fucking lot but I don't know if we would work out. She grabbed her phone with trembling hands, feeling the need to talk to someone, and who better than her best friend. A couple of rings later, Lucy answered.
"What's up?"
"Hey, uhm… I need to talk to you… can you spare a moment and meet me for a coffee?"
"Are you OK? You sound… upset."
"I'm not sure… Can you come?"
"Where are you? I'm on my way." Levy was close to Lucy's office, the two girls meeting half an hour later. Lucy hugged the bluenette before taking a seat and ordering something to drink.
"So, are you gonna tell me what's bugging you or do I start guessing?" Lucy didn't wait for Levy to speak up, watching her fumble with her fingers.
"Uhm… How should I put this…"
"Why not just break it to me?" Lucy took her cup of coffee to sip from it, when Levy blurted out.
"Gajeel confessed to me." The blonde girl choked on her drink, coughing loudly.
"He what?" Cough cough. "When? And how? What did you say? Did he go to first base?"
"NO! Luce, keep your voice down, please!" Lucy smiled wickedly, seeing Levy's cheeks redden. She placed her hands under her chin and waited for the bluenette to tell her. "We had an appointment this morning. I kinda dumped him, come to think about it… I noticed he'd been acting really weird for a while and I asked him what was all about. He kept going on and on with this phase he's in, and he wouldn't tell me, so I said I wouldn't come over till he got over this damn phase and he…" Levy gulped, lowering her eyes in embarrassment. "…Hugged me… And said he really likes me and… he doesn't know if we would work out." She ended with a sigh, Lucy listening intently.
"And what did you say?"
"I… couldn't say anything… I started blabbering like an idiot… Grabbed my things and ran off… Then I called you."
"You ran away after the poor guy confessed to you? Oh… boy…"
"Well this never happened to me before! I have no idea how to react! I've never had a boyfriend and I can't even kiss, for crying out loud! I'm pathetic!"
"Believe me, you're far from one. Okay… Let's see how we can fix this."
"Wait a minute, fix it? I'm not even sure what comes next! What exactly can we fix?"
"Your chances of getting the two of you together, of course."
"B… but… We couldn't!" Levy raised her hands in defense, staring at the blonde girl.
"Why not? Don't you like him?" Lucy looked confused at her bluenette friend.
"Well… Yeah… but he's 10 years older than me…" She gazed sheepishly away, playing with her glass.
"And? Does that really matter to you?"
"…No…" Levy's cheeks reddened.
"Then what's the problem? He likes you, you like him. End of story. Well, beginning, actually." Lucy extended her hand to grab Levy's phone, but the bluenette placed a hand over it.
"This isn't funny! I'm really in a pinch here!"
"Sorry, I just couldn't help it. But, the point is…"
"The age difference doesn't matter to me." Levy realized with surprise. "In fact, I've never thought he'd be 29. I mean, he doesn't show it."
"Neither do you, hon. Believe me when I say it was a heck of a surprise when you told him you were 19. I've been talking to Natsu about him, and he started feeling something for you before he knew how old you were."
"It wouldn't be professional… I mean…He's my client…"
"Oh, come now, you really can't sacrifice your soul mate for something as trivial as that." Lucy waved her comment away, Levy staring with her mouth open.
"Who said anything about a soul mate?" She asked in a high pitched voice, panic bubbling up again.
"It's a figure of speech. Now, we have to fix the whole running away thing. He must be feeling a bit down right now, thinking you rejected him."
"What? How could he…"
"Hon, you ran away after he poured his soul in your lap. If that doesn't scream fuck off, you freak…"
"But I didn't mean it… I like him too…"
"And did you tell him that before you actually dumped him?" The blonde raised an eye brow, watching Levy look away.
"…No…"
"No worries, Lucy's in the game." Lucy grabbed Levy's phone from the table, the bluenette watching her intently as she texted something.
"What are you doing?"
"Texting Gajeel."
"NO!" Levy lunged for her phone, but it was too late.
"I already sent it, what's the big idea?"
"What did you send?"
"Nothing fancy, really. Here." Lucy showed Levy the phone, letting her read. Hey, this is Lucy, stole her phone while she's in the bathroom. Make the first move, idiot, she's too shy to do anything. See you tonight, love ya! Levy groaned.
"No! Why? Why would you send something like that?"
"Shh, he texted back. I see she spilled everything. Gonna keep your advice in mind, thanks. I bet he's jumping for joy right now." Lucy smiled wickedly, raising her eyebrows.
"B… but… He'll… and then… b… boyfriend…" Levy was hyperventilating, cheeks flaming.
"You're welcome, hon. I have a good feeling about this."
"What do I do? I can't even kiss! What do you have to do in a relationship?"
"Lev, relax. You just have to be yourself. You don't have to change just because you're in a relationship. He fell for you, in the first place. I say you should go for it."
"Okay… Thank you, Luce. Now I'm really nervous… Should I text him or call…?"
"Let him talk to Natsu, get everything off his chest. I bet he'll call you. Wow, look at the time. I'm sorry, I have to go back to work. Love you, hon!" Lucy hugged Levy and hurried back to work, letting Levy think hard.
Half an hour later, she headed for the salon, hoping work would make her concentrate on something else. However, her mind kept replaying the whole scene in her head over and over again, the auto-pilot taking over her hands during the massage sessions. Time flew by faster than usual, Minerva yelling at her to get out faster and close the salon.
She didn't even realize when she got home, searching for the keys to her apartment. Levy quickly prepared something to eat and took a seat in front of the computer, logging in to her instant message program. As soon as she logged on, a window opened, Levy almost dropping her plate.
"Hey, you. Got time tomorrow for a rematch? You bailed on me before I got my share " It was Gajeel. She chewed carefully, the butterflies fluttering wildly inside her. Levy placed her food aside and let her fingers take over the keyboard.
"Sure thing. What time?" She wanted to write more, but she felt nervous.
"Morning? 9 or 10, whichever is fine." Levy thought for a long moment, remembering it was the beginning of weekend.
"Okay, 9:30 it is. And sorry I 'bailed' on you…" She thought for a moment before continuing. "Doesn't mean I don't feel the same about you." Levy's hands trembled, feeling the hotness in her cheeks.
"Glad to hear that. I kinda felt stupid for saying anything, really…" So Lucy was right…
"Sorry… I didn't even got a chance to tell you I don't care about the age difference." It was easier for her to put her feelings into words when she was sitting down in front of her monitor.
"Really? Cuz I feel pretty damn old." Levy snickered. Now you're just fishin' for compliments.
"Age is just a number. Old? Why would you feel old? You don't even look you're almost 30. It's the heart that matters."
"I like the way you think. So…"
"So?" She felt a strange knot twist inside her.
"This means I can hope for us?"
"I'm willing to give it a shot, if you want it, too."
"I'd like that. So, how do we do… this?" Ohmygodohmygodohmygod. She was hyperventilating again.
"Don't ask me, I've never been with anyone, so I don't know what to do." Levy replied earnestly.
"Well, all the other ones made the first step, so…"
"So we have a problem."
"Not necessarily, I can work on that. If you're good, that is."
"I think it would be best if you made the first step, since my 'vast' experience might ruin the whole moment."
"I think I might just do that… I'll see you tomorrow, I'm crashing for the night."
"Okay, have a good night." Levy signed out after Gajeel, feeling her insides flutter. What will happen tomorrow? She asked herself, allowing her mind to run wild and imagine his crooked grin getting closer to her. Levy got up automatically, placed her plate in the sink and went to bed with a strange smile on her face.
TBC
How about it? Did you liked it? Loved it? Hated it? Please review, your opinion matters to me as a writer.