Author's note: Merry Christmas, my Misty~es! I hope you guys had a wonderful time! I wanted to surprise you with a Gajeel pic, but I need to scan it at a copy center, since it's A3. And everything was closed for the holidays... T_T
Sketcher1994 , it was, actually, we still have the plush tigers after almost 8 years.
RikaAltraz , I totally agree. But I think there still are gentlemen left, hard to find, though...
Lexie , mmyeah... I couldn't translate the nickname... Păsă - de la păsărică... Eu sunt păsă, el e păsărelu, cumnata e păsăroaica si cumnatu e păsăroiu.
All in all, thank you for all the patience and love and reviews and reading my fics... And everything! By the way, I'd love to see a review/comment in your native language! (Of course, please consider the writer, as well, since I only know 4 languages: Romanian, English, Spanish and Japanese, so add a translation, as well, if you guys happen to not be a speaker of those 4 languages)
Thank you for the infinite patience, my Misty~es! Lots of love from yours truly, MistyQue!
CHAPTER 14: Lunch
Morning came faster than Levy expected, after only about five hours of sleep. Since her memory brought back all the wonderful memories of her first date, she decided it was no point staying in bed since she was wide awake, so she got up, did her morning ritual and started cleaning her rented place. After all, her Saturday was a bit busier than she ever expected.
A couple of hours later, laundry was done, the windows were opened widely and Levy was just throwing the garbage when her cell phone rang. She recognized the tune, since she added a different song to Gajeel's profile. She practically lunged for her phone with a wide smile on her face, composing herself for a moment before answering.
"Morning." She said in a normal voice, her heart beating fast.
"Mornin'! You're up early!" Gajeel's voice was a bit amused.
"Oh, I got up a couple of hours ago. I actually just finished cleaning the place."
"Good, then you can open the door." Levy looked puzzled at the phone, her interphone making her jump. "It's me, don't worry."
"Oh! Ok…" She went automatically to the machine, pressed the button and unlocked the door after she closed her phone. His heavy footsteps could be heard going up to her place, making her heart race. She panicked for a moment, hurrying to put away whatever cleaning stuff she had laying around, the two knocks on the door making Levy jump. The bluenette hurried to the door, opening the door with trembling fingers, but the man smiling crookedly made her melt on the inside.
"Hi!" Gajeel said in his deep voice, Levy almost letting her knees give.
"Hi." She exhaled, staring at the perfect man in front of her.
"Are you… gonna let me in?" Gajeel asked after a few seconds of staring.
"Yeah! Sorry! Come in!" Levy jumped, making way for him. The raven haired man pulled a hand from behind his back, shoving it under Levy's nose. She blinked a couple of times, confused.
"For you." Levy placed her hands automatically around the pot, admiring the blue orchid. "I remembered you didn't like seeing flowers wilt. So…" He gestured awkwardly to the flower.
"It's beautiful! Thank you!" Levy's eyes lit up, pecking him on the cheek before hurrying to place the flower next to her other pots. "Here's a new friend, my lovelies!" Gajeel snorted, placing his hands in his pockets. Figures she talks to her plants. "Can I get you some water or tea? No alcohol, sorry… Still under aged for this country."
"Whatever is fine."
"I don't brew 'whatever', sorry." Levy joked, Gajeel relaxing slightly. While the bluenette hurried to the kitchen, placing the kettle to boil, Gajeel looked around with curiosity. He headed for the couch, noticing a few open sketchbooks and her opened laptop on the coffee table. He practically lunged for them with a smile, making himself comfortable as Levy picked a few plants for tea. Looking better around the coffee table, Gajeel noticed the drawing tablet he bought her, grabbing the pen. That's when the laptop blinked open from his sleep, Gajeel dropping his jaw in amazement.
CLICK.
The laptop closed, the raven haired man noticing a very flustered Levy in front of him.
"It's not done yet."
"Is that… me?" He asked with surprise, Levy playing with her fingers.
"It was supposed to be a present…" She averted his eyes. "I'm still getting used to digital drawing… It took me days to get the sketch done, compared to the traditional one. I usually finish a sketch in about half an hour… So… it's not done yet…" Gajeel got up and headed for a very embarrassed Levy, wrapping his arms around her waist.
"It looks perfect to me." He lowered his head pecking the bluenette on the lips.
"Not just yet. I still need to work on it." She played with the buttons on his shirt.
"Well, I'm mind blown. Now I'm really happy I got that thing for ya. I know it's in very good hands." Levy blushed, smiling warmly. The kettle whistled, the girl hurrying to the kitchen to finish the tea. A few minutes later, she placed two cups on a small tray, heading for a very concentrated Gajeel.
"Honey, sugar, milk?" Levy pulled him from her sketches, Gajeel taking a small spoon and sweetening his tea.
"Do you have these published?"
"Yeah, I have an online gallery."
"Have you ever thought about selling these puppies?"
"No, not really… I make these for fun, as a hobby. And I don't plan on selling them, either, if that's what you're thinking about." She said intuitively, Gajeel snapping his eyes to her.
"Why not?"
"Because I'm too lazy to finish most of these. I have other stuff that keeps me busy enough, so I'll just leave it as a hobby for now. I dunno, maybe in the future, I'm not sure. We'll see how it turns out."
"I see." Gajeel said with a hint of disappointment. "Ready to go?" He asked after finishing his tea.
"Ten minutes." Levy jumped from the couch, hurrying to the bedroom to grab her clothes and jumped in the shower. A couple of minutes later, she yanked the door open, running a towel through her blue locks.
"Wow, that was fast!" Gajeel said impressed. "Usually, when chicks say 'ten minutes', they mean at least half an hour."
"I don't use make up, I heard that takes ages."
"I noticed you don't apply anything, I like that. I can feel your skin properly." Levy blushed, drying her hair with too much force.
"Done." She grabbed her phone and a small backpack, waiting for Gajeel to unglue himself from her sketchbooks. Once outside of her apartment, Gajeel offered his arm, Levy taking it with a blush. He proceeded to opening the door for her, moments later driving to Natsu's.
"You let Lily all alone in the car?" Levy asked outraged, seeing the small pet box on the back seat.
"I didn't want to trouble you. Blondie told me the landlord is an asshole, so…"
"I appreciate it, but don't do that. He might get lonely. Or hot."
"No worries, I set the AC to start every 10 minutes or so when I let him in the car."
Half an hour later, Gajeel was knocking on the door, Lucy opening it with a wide smile.
"Hey! You came!" She hugged Levy, pulling her inside.
"Hard to refuse those big puppy eyes." Levy joked, laughing when an outraged HEY! could be heard from the door.
"Here they come! The new lovey-doves!" Wendy hurried to Levy, hugging her briefly.
"Shove it, I'm not lovey-dovey!" Gajeel was trying to suppress a blush as he joined Levy, taking her by the hand.
"Suuuure, that's what they all say." She giggled, seeing the flustered couple. "Did you let Lily go?"
"Yeah, he should pop up." Gajeel shrugged, pulling Levy to the couch.
"Hey, Lev! Fuck face…" Natsu said brightly from the kitchen, greeting Levy and Gajeel, the pierced man returning the greeting with his middle finger. Romeo, Wendy and Lucy took a seat in the living room, waiting for Natsu to either ask for help or finish. Gajeel looked around the crowd, flashed a look to Levy and pulled her flustered form into his lap.
"G… Gajeel!" She hissed, her cheeks reddening.
"What?" He held her in place, even though she was trying to squirm out of his grip.
"I can sit next to you just fine…"
"Nonsense, this is much better." He grinned, enjoying her shyness.
"But… There are people…"
"They're all romantically involved, so this is nothing new to them." Gajeel sat back, pulling Levy to his chest with a relaxed grin, the bluenette looking sheepishly around her. When she noticed no one else was bothered by Gajeel's behavior, she sighed, relaxing in his arms.
"That's more like it! It's been ages since someone from the opposite sex actually liked this idiot." Natsu's grin lit up the whole room as he brought snacks for his guests.
"Hey!" Gajeel argued, but didn't motion to get up, Levy and the rest giggling.
"Actually, he's right, big bro." Wendy confirmed with a laughter. Gajeel looked at her incredulous.
"Et tu, sister? What is this? 'Make fun of the elderly' day? Kids these days…"
"Elderly? Really, now, you sound like a lame 60 year old." Gajeel slapped Natsu's leg as he passed him. Everything was quiet after that, the three couples enjoying their lunch an hour later.
"I hope you didn't forget about Laxus next week." Natsu suddenly broke the quiet lunch, Levy looking confused around the table. Gajeel gulped guilty, looking at his plate. "Come on, man, you know he really wants you there!" Natsu said in outrage while Gajeel snapped his eyes to the innocent looking bluenette.
"Do you have any plans for the weekend?" Gajeel asked casually, grinning.
"Not really..." Levy nibbled on her food.
"Good. Then you can be my date for my friend's wedding, right?"
"What?" Levy snapped her eyes to her boyfriend, not believing her ears.
"My friend, Laxus, is getting married and asked me to be his best man. And, since you have no plans for the weekend..."
"Wedding? B...but I have nothing to wear!" Levy was panicking, trying to remember what she had in her drawer. Lucy and Wendy giggled.
"Don't worry about a thing. Clothes, shoes, hair do. I'll manage everything. So how about it? Wanna... go with me?" Levy felt his fear of rejection, but she was embarrassed, looking around the table and noticing five pairs of eyes looking expectantly at her.
"Uhm... Only if you want me there." She said in a low voice.
"Are you kidding me? I've been waiting for you for a long time. I wanna brag. It's a male thing." Natsu bro-fisted him with a wide smile.
"Okay... But keep in mind I have really nothing to wear... And I've never... used make up... Or worn a dress..."
"I said don't worry about it." Gajeel took her hand and squeezed it lightly, feeling very happy.
"That settles it. Will you, at least, remember to tell the guy you're bringing a girl?" Natsu rolled his eyes, getting up and heading for the kitchen.
"Fuck off, I'm textin' him!" Gajeel had his nose in his phone, concentrating on texting something.
The next few hours were spent planning for the 3 hour flight to Laxus.
"He just texted me. Says we'll be spending the whole weekend there. Wants us there on Friday." He yelled after Natsu, who was in another room.
"Perfect! I'm booking the plane tickets!"
"I'm not sure I can take the whole Friday off…" Levy said suddenly, feeling a bit left over. "I can talk to the other therapists, ask them to change my shift…" She said thoughtfully.
"We can take the afternoon plane." Natsu said simply. "Can you make it at the airport by 3 P.M.?"
"If you're done by 2, we can make it." Gajeel glanced to Levy, noticing her confusion. "I can't let my girl get to the airport by herself." He whispered a duuuh and rolled his eyes, Levy smiling warmly.
"I'll talk to Lexa tomorrow."
"Perfect! Just remember to pack some stuff, since we'll be staying over."
"I'll help." Wendy offered, Lucy joining the two girls.
"Well, this settles it. I just got a message, we have booked tickets waiting for us at the airport. Now, who's up for a game of whist?" Natsu pulled some cards and a notebook, grinning widely. Everyone joined him, not wanting to leave just yet.
TBC
How about it? Did you liked it? Loved it? Hated it? Please review, your opinion matters to me as a writer.