Merry Christmas! Have a present!
"Yer open on Christmas Day too?"
The question was quiet, a small murmur the broke the silence that surrounded them in the empty shop. Levy, who was wandering from bookshelf to bookshelf and replacing the books that were out of order, simply hummed in response. Outside, the town itself seemed asleep under a blanket of snow.
"Aren't ya spendin' Christmas with yer brothers?"
"Believe it or not, but Jet has a wife," Levy smiled fondly, rearranging a couple of books on one of the lower shelves, where it appeared a child had knocked them down and hastily shoved them back. "As well as two kids; a boy, six; and a girl, four." Done with this particular row of shelving, Levy wandered almost aimlessly into the next aisle. Gajeel followed along silently, watching the petite woman closely.
"What about Droy?"
A small giggle escaped her lips as she smiled at some memory before her eyes. "He's been joining them every year because he gets to dress up as Santa and eat as many cookies as he wants." Grinning, she continued through the shop in this fashion, fixing and moving books here and there, the tall, brooding teen following closely like a fixated puppy. It may or may not have been due to the fact that she was still dressed like an adorable elf, who knows...
The shop had been surprisingly busy today, as it always was on this day each year. Levy, being a kind-hearted woman, always welcomed the lonely into her shop on this day, so that the people who had no-one would have someone to share the day with. Her friends had, as usual, helped out a great deal: Lucy advertised the advent at her interviews, MiraJane provided the food for the main meal at a great discount from her bistro, and Erza provided the delicious dessert treats from her bakery. Levy always found it amusing that the two rivals-since-childhood had taken nearly identical career paths in the end.
With the help of Lucy, Mira's younger sister Lisanna and Cana, who provided a barrel of mulled wine on the house from her pub, the day had gone by eventful and cheerful as they talked and laughed with the elderly men and women who came in for food and company. The whole shop was full of noises, from chatter to background music to the clinking of cutlery and dishes. Now though, the dishes have all been washed and put away, the tables have been cleaned up and the shop was closed for the day. Gajeel had arrived barely moments before the closing time at 6pm, Lucy and the others had left shortly before that.
"So you've been in here all day?" Gajeel concluded, leaning against the frame of the doorway into the back room, since the hanging beads had been taken down hours before, as they got in the way.
"Since about 11am, I think." Levy called from further inside. There was an unsettled look to Gajeel's face, though the blunette couldn't see this from where she stood. "I woke up, made pancakes, opened the presents I recieved from my brothers and friends, then came in to help with the preparations for the day." Her head popped out from the other side of the wall from him, startling him. "How did your Christmas go, Gajeel?"
Said teen grunted, shrugging. "Mum woke up late, handed Raios and I our presents, and went to work. Raios and I opened them and the presents from our dads, since we have different ones. We played a few games together and then he went off to meet his friends and I went to meet mine."
"Sounds like you had a good day then," Levy smiled warmly up at him, and before he could say what was on his mind she turned and dashed into the back room again. Sighing, the dark-haired teen rolled his eyes and wandered over to Levy's desk chair, where he slumped into a comfortable position.
A few minutes later, Gajeel heard Levy call to him.
"Hey, Gajeel, I have a present for you!"
"What? Why?" Gajeel frowned, mildly alarmed. He hadn't thought to get her anything at all!
"Here," much closer than before, Levy whirled her chair around so that Gajeel was facing her. She was still wearing her ridiculous Christmas hat with protruding elf ears, which on any other person would look comical if it wasn't for her short frame making them quite the fitting accessory. However, she now held some above her head...
Mistletoe.
Blushing, she stammered, "J-just on the cheek! Okay?"
Nodding silently, Gajeel closed his eyes and turned his face a little to the side. He could feel his face growing hotter as her face drew closer. Then there was a soft pressure against his cheek, which instantly flushed red. Opening his eyes he turned to face her again only to jump a little at their close proximity. Levy's face was equally red, and brightened further as she watched his eyes wander to her lips.
"Ya know," Gajeel breathed out hoarsely, "yer still holdin' that thing up. And I still need to give ya a present.."
Slowly, his hand reached up to cradle where her jaw met her neckline, then with little resistance, he pulled her head towards his and in an instant their lips brushed, their eyes shut and for a moment they forgot the world around them. And then they pulled away from each other, both a little surprised and had hearts racing a hundreds miles an hour.
But despite this, neither could wipe the grins off their faces.
I wrote this in maybe an hour. It was about twenty to one in the morning on Christmas day when I finished this so forgive any mistakes since I crashed straight afterwards. It's now nearly half past eleven, presents have been opened and now I'm going to see relatives.
Also, I know Rboz requested a kiss scene to come up in this story so I hope this suffices.
Have a good day everyone! Happy Holidays.
