wow! Thank you all for the great reviews, it means a lot to me! I was so excited about how well the first chapter went that I had to post another one; hope you all enjoy!
The warm water mixed with lavender scented bubbles made Levy feel relaxed; she didn't quite remember the last time she had taken anything longer than a 10 minute shower. As if the universe thought it wasn't her time to enjoy another few more minutes of pure bliss, she heard the sound of pots and pans crashing on the kitchen floor. Levy sighed; climbing out of the tub and putting on her orange bath robe.
When Levy reached the bottom of the stairs, she heard her dad moving around in the kitchen; followed by foul language.
"Shit, where the hell is it?" Her dad said, pushing aside the milk in the fridge.
"Dad, what are you looking for?" Levy asked, approaching him cautiously. She could see him stagger; the booze kicking in early today.
Her dad turned around, stumbling and almost running into the side of the fridge.
"I was…I was looking for meh beer!" His sentence followed by the dazed look in his eyes.
"You don't have any more, I cleaned it all up the other day…again…" Levy sighed, walking past him to get a bowl for her cereal.
"Well why'd ya do that?!" He stumbled again, catching himself on the kitchen counter. "I need that!"
"No you don't." Levy protested, one thing he didn't need was another beer. "I think you have hit your limit for the day, drink some coffee."
She heard him sigh, then the sound of his feet stomping through the kitchen to the living room.
"I ain't drinkin no coffee…" He argued with her, she didn't have time for this.
"Well you certainly aren't drinking another bottle of liquor today." She said, turning around to put her hand on her hips; scowling at him.
Levy loved her dad, after all she was all he had. Times like this though, had made her patience wear thin. He drank excessively and whined like a child until he got his next round; it was starting to become too much for her.
"I'm the parent, not you!" He said, plopping down on his recliner and turning the TV on.
"You could have fooled me…" Levy mumbled under her breath, hoping he didn't hear her.
When silence surrounded the house, she knew she had won this argument. Levy took a deep breath before sitting down at the kitchen table and eating her cereal, alone; like every other day of her life.
"Nurse Levy, paging Nurse Levy to the front." The intercom in the ER echoed, Levy quickly changed into her scrubs.
The sound of heart monitors, followed by the waiting room TV filled the environment; these sounds becoming all too familiar for Levy. She practically lived in Magnolia Hospital, living off of cafeteria food and crappy coffee. Sometimes she daydreamed, when her breaks were quite enough; of living a life of adventure. Other days she wished all she could do was read a book, alone with only her imagination to keep her company. Yet, the realization of her all too depressing life had always woken her up from her silly dreams, she knew it wasn't possible now to live the life she had wanted to live. Levy had originally planned to work in the hospital long enough until she had published her first romance novel, from then on she had always wanted to travel; be free. Levy sighed, taking on all of these responsibilities was wearing her down.
"Levy, are you feeling alright?" A kind and familiar voice invaded her thoughts.
Levy turned around from the charts she was looking at and saw Mirajane standing there; a cup of coffee and a clipboard in her hands.
"Yeah, I am. Still a little tired from my double shift I pulled the other day though." Levy took in a deep breath, setting her charts down and grabbing her coffee mug.
"Ok, just making sure." Mirajane looked at her, concern written on her face. "Oh, so you will be off tomorrow correct?"
"Yes, I'll be back the following day though." Levy said, making sure she knew she hadn't planned on being gone too long.
"Levy, you don't have to. Take all the time you need, it would be good for you." Mirajane smiled at her. "Those bags under your eyes aren't doing your pretty little face any justice." Mirajane said, followed by a little giggle.
Levy rolled her eyes and smiled at her, Mirajane was the Human recourses administrator and cared about everyone in the hospital; from the patients to the employees. Levy had long days at the hospital, but working with great people made it worth it in the end.
"Ok, I'll let you know if I decide to take another day off." Levy smiled, grabbed her clipboard and headed to her next patient.
Lucy was prancing around her house like a giddy school girl, in a few short hours she would get to see Natsu; and hopefully get Levy out of her funk. She started packing a few things into a duffel bag, just in case they decided to stay in a hotel after the fight; she was hoping they would anyway. Lucy had gotten most of her belongings packed away when there was a light knock on her front door.
"You can come in, doors unlocked!" Lucy shouted, then heard her door open and close shortly after.
"Hey Luce, you almost ready?!" Levy called out.
"Yeah, almost!" Lucy said, grabbing her bag and walking into her fully furnished living room. "Hey Levy, you ready to have a wild night of fun; maybe a few regrets?!" Lucy giggled.
"Ha, you're funny." Levy sat down on one of Lucy's red plush couches; the cushions devouring her tiny body.
"What? Live a little!" Lucy shrugged her shoulders and grabbed her purse, making sure everything was accounted for.
Levy let out a little laugh, struggling for a moment to get out of the couch. Lucy laughed at her tiny struggle, than offered a helping hand; levy took it willingly.
"How do you sit in this thing?!" Levy straightened up her outfit.
"I'm not as tiny as you, so it's not much of a struggle for me." Lucy smiled and let out a silly laugh.
Levy rolled her eyes, grabbing her purse and following Lucy out of her house; her stomach tying into little knots. It had been a while since she had left home for so long, a big part of her worried how her absence would affect her father.
The hustle and bustle of the arena was a little overwhelming for Levy, she wasn't use to big crowds like this anymore. Lucy had returned, holding two plastic cups in her hands; offering one to Levy before taking her seat.
"What is this?" Levy questioned, pointing at the golden colored liquid.
"Uh, beer…duh!" Lucy said, giving Levy a silly expression.
"I don't know…" Levy looked at the cup.
"Oh stop it, just take a sip…it'll help loosen you up!" Lucy said, taking a sip of her own beer.
Levy looked into the cup a final time before shrugging her shoulders and taking a little sip. The cool liquid went down easily, making her body tingly afterwards. It had been a long time since she had any alcohol of any type, seeing her dad drunk everyday didn't help either.
"Hm, not bad." Levy said, looking at Lucy with a smile.
"See!" Lucy took another sip, looking at the Octagon shaped ring. "Oh, I can wait!"
The arena was filled to the brim with people now, all shouting for their favorite fighters to approach the ring. Lucy was standing up, shouting for Natsu; holding another beer in her hand. She had worn a pair of her favorite denim shorts; which Natsu seemed to like as well. Along with a white t-shirt with "#1" written in red on the front, followed by "Natsu" written on the back.
The lights started zooming in on the ring, then circled around the stadium; the announcers voice rumbling throughout.
"Are you all ready for a night full of brutal hand to hand combat?!" The announcer said. The crowd cheering wildly after.
Levy saw Lucy bouncing up and down, screaming with the rest of them. Then she felt Lucy grab her wrist, pulling her up to stand by her.
"Come on, have a little fun would ya?!" Lucy shouted over the loud music.
"Okay, I just…" Levy was saying before Lucy let out another scream, this one a little louder.
Levy looked in the direction Lucy seemed to divert to, she saw a man walking to the ring; pumping his fists in the air.
"You all know him; you all love him. Give a warm welcome to the raining welter weight champ himself; Natsu "Salamander" Dragneel!" The announcer shouted, followed by another wave of screams.
Levy and Lucy were given great seats, only one row back from the ring itself; giving Levy a great view for as little as she was. Natsu had seen them wave and shout for him, giving Lucy a wink and then stepping into the ring.
Levy saw Lucy's expression change for an instant; the look of concern sweeping across briefly.
"Now, his opponent; Jet!" The crowd shouted, not nearly as much as before.
Once both opponents were in the ring; the rules were announced. Levy let out a low laugh, she thought it was funny that they even talked about "rules"; since there weren't any.
The bell was rung, Natsu and Jet moving into the center of the ring. Natsu landed the first punch; landing directly in contact with Jet's jaw causing him to stumble. Jet shook it off, moving closer to Natsu; he landed a brutal punch to Natsu's gut. Natsu seemed to hunch over for what seemed only a few minutes; giving Jet another opening. Jet took it and lifted his leg to kick the side of Natsu's leg. Natsu fell to the ground, grabbing onto Jet's as well. They were both on the ground, wrestling; until Natsu wrapped his arm around Jet's neck. Natsu had him in a choke hold, waiting for a tap out; Jet wasn't looking like he wanted to give up so easily until his face started to turn blue. Jet struggled, but it was no use; Natsu's muscles flexing around his windpipe. Jet lifted his hand and tapped on Natsu's arm; telling him to release him. The bell rung, the crowd screaming all around; Natsu stood holding his fists up in victory.
"The winner and still the welter weight champion, Natsu "Salamander" Dragneel!" The announcer shouted, the crowd's screams growing louder.
"Yeah Baby!" Lucy shouted, jumping up with joy. "God he is so hot!"
Levy giggled, looking up at her eager best friend.
"Wasn't that amazing?!" Lucy looked at Levy.
"Yeah, he did great." Levy agreed, taking a sip of her beer.
The announcer stated that a short break would take place before the next round of fighters; Lucy grabbed Levy by the wrist dragging her to Natsu's locker room. They waved their all access passes to security, then walked down until they approached a door that had Natsu's name written in sharpie on it.
Lucy opened the door and ran toward Natsu, jumping on him.
"You were amazing!" Lucy shouted, planting kisses on his lips.
Natsu wrapped his arms around her waist, kissing her gently.
"Oh, where are my manners? This is my best friend Levy." Lucy said, pointing to Levy. "Levy, this is my boyfriend Natsu."
"Hi, nice to finally meet you." Levy said, holding her hand out for Natsu to shake it.
"Yeah, same here." Natsu shook Levy's hand.
"So, are you leaving now? Since you're done fighting?" Lucy asked, looking eager.
"No way!" Natsu said, smiling at them both. "I am definitely waiting to watch this main event!"
"What's so special about it?" Lucy asked.
"Babe, this guy is nuts! You gotta watch him, when I bulk up to heavy weight I am so fighting him!" Natsu seemed all too eager.
Lucy giggled and then looked at Levy.
"Mind staying for the final match?" Lucy asked.
"Sure, why not?" Levy said, the night had seemed like fun so far.
Once they were all seated again, the announce spoke. Natsu was sitting with them, his arms draped over Lucy's shoulders.
"Now, for the main event!" The crowd started screaming. "Let me introduce the opponent, newcomer Droy!" the crowd seemed to boo, not many screams of excitement to be heard.
"Ok I see you all want the champ to come out!" The crowd started shouting again, Levy noticed a lot of woman had now stood up; getting a better view. "Now, introducing the Heavy Weight Champ; Gajeel "the Iron Fist" Redfox!" The whole arena went wild, Levy turned to the figure of a man walking out into the crowd.
Levy couldn't quite see what he looked like, even with how close they were; his features being hidden by a hooded black silk robe he wore. He walked toward the ring, his arms dangling by his sides; not pumping his fists like they others before him. He seemed to have a different demeanor; almost assurance that he knew he would win. The tall man stepped into the ring, shaking his arms. Levy watched the crowd, the anticipation seemed to gnaw at them all. Then, the man slipped his robe off; revealing himself. Levy stared at him in awe, he certainly was huge. She never knew muscles that big even existed; no wonder he was the heavy weight champion. His long black hair had caught her attention, followed by is many iron studs lining his eyebrows all the way down to his legs; the man was covered. Levy was even close enough to notice his crimson red eyes; she took a double take and noticed they were staring at her.