I am so happy that everyone is enjoying this story, it is becoming really fun to write. I decided to post the next chapter because all the positive feedback has really given me a lot of motivation. Hope you all enjoy...Reviews and Follow/Favs are very much appreciated!
Gajeel sat in is locker room, zoning out the sound of screaming fans coming from the arena. His hands placed over his lap, head hung low; taking in deep breaths. He didn't understand many things, his childhood was one of them. He spent years pining for his mother's approval; after his father had abandoned him. In the end it was all for nothing, he was left alone; at the young age of 12. After that it was foster home after foster home, until he finally decided a family wasn't for him. He despised all of them, learning to live off of hate; despair. Growing up in the wastelands of Fiore, you develop a hardness to every aspect of your life; Gajeel understood this more than anyone.
Fighting had become his way of survival, anyone who opposed him would feel his wrath. They ended up avoiding him as time went by, not wanting any altercations; leaving him alone again. Gajeel finally realized that was one thing he became good at, fighting. He learned to live off of it, fighting in underground arenas and making profit when he had won them. He had become a champion in their eyes; undefeated. Yet, he still lived a lonely life, he became use to it. Knowing that was the only way he was allowed to live, the words of his mother always ringing in his ears.
"Gajeel, you ruined everything! He left because of you!" His mother would say, abandoning him when he would cry. "It's all your fault, nothing but a disappointment!"
Gajeel believed those words for a long time, until he eventually didn't care; becoming numb inside.
It had been nearly 2 years now, since Jose from The Phantom Lord Agency; had found him. They had seen something in him apparently, it seemed to pay off in the end; now earning the title of Heavy Weight Champion. He had everything he had ever wanted, money, fame and women; he didn't need silly things like love and family. Yet, when he would lay awake in bed with a woman from the night prior; he felt a void inside him.
Gajeel took another deep breath, standing up and shaking off any unneeded and unwanted thoughts.
"Let's do this!" Gajeel said, walking outside; toward the arena.
Gajeel heard his song playing, Iron man By Ozzy Osbourne; it always seemed to get him pumped. He stepped out into the screaming crowd, walking down the long walkway; only looking ahead of him. He approached the ring, stepping inside it; shrugging his robe off. The crowd had now become louder, hearing the amplified screams of woman; he always seemed to get that reaction from them when he revealed himself. He scanned the crowd, looking for anything interesting; until his eyes landed on something he couldn't look away from.
She sat in the second row from the ring, with short blue hair; pinned back by an orange headband. Her expression had shown him that she saw his gaze on her; the complexion on her face turning a very bright red. Her eyes diverted to look to the ground, embarrassment taking over; yet he even seemed intrigued by that as well. She seemed to try to avoid looking at his gaze; now looking to her blonde friend sitting beside her. Before he could notice anything else about her, the sound of the announcer introducing his competitor echoed through the arena.
The man that walked up seemed to be a decent size; his muscles nowhere near Gajeel's though. Levy took a quick glimpse at the champ again; his focus now on his competitor. Maybe she was seeing things, there was no way he would take notice of her; someone so little. They walked into the center of the octagon, eyes meeting in a prefight stare. The referee named the rules again; being that there were none. They tapped fists and separated; waiting for the bell to ring.
The bell had run, Levy wanting to look away; for some reason she was nervous. Droy, his opponent seemed to be sizing him up; side stepping around the ring. Gajeel seemed irritated, wanting the match to end quickly; that was when he struck.
Gajeel landed a right hook to Droy's face, sending him staggering back a few feet. Droy tried shaking it off, walking forward again; throwing a weak punch. Gajeel blocked it and countered with a swift kick to his side; Droy doubled over with pain. Gajeel took his opening, landing multiple punches on his opponent; the fight seemed all too easy for him. One thing he hated more than anything, were weak opponents; it felt like a waste of time. Gajeel than felt Droy's fist slamming into his face, he shook with fury. One thing he didn't take lightly was being hit in the face; big NO in his book. Gajeel stepped back, slipping his gloves off; he was done with this side show of a fight.
"Our champ is serious now!" The announcer spoke, crowd screaming. "Looks like he is going to throw is signature punch; The Iron Fist!" The crowd screamed louder with anticipation.
Levy wasn't quite sure what the announcer meant until she noticed Gajeel's bare fists. They had Iron studded piercings on them; which didn't look good for his opponent. Levy didn't know if she was prepared for what was about to happen, she took a huge gulp of her beer.
"Levy, you ok?" Lucy inquired, looking at her.
"Huh? Oh yeah, no worries!" Levy said, looking back at the ring.
"This match is so over!" Natsu said, leaning forward; excitement showing in his face.
Levy looked over at him, she didn't quite understand what was going on.
"Ok, so this is what he does whenever he wants to finish a fight; it's like his secret weapon!" Natsu smiled.
Levy looked back to the ring, Gajeel's bandaging and gloves were lying on the floor; his pierced knuckles gleaming in the light.
Droy seemed to register what was happening, taking an awkward step back. Gajeel smirked, walking toward him; fists in position to strike. Droy put his fists up as a defense; yet it didn't seem to have an effect. Gajeel swung a punch right into the center of his jawline; little circle indentations already starting to show. Gajeel didn't stop there, he swung faster and harder; every punch connecting to a part of Droy's body. Droy seemed to get in one last punch before Gajeel swung his final blow, right dead center in his gut; literally knocking the wind right out of him. Droy fell to the floor, the sound of him hitting the padded ring echoing throughout; the crowd went silent.
"The winner and raining Heavy Weight Champion! Gajeel "The Iron Fist" Redfox!" The crowd went ballistic, woman screaming and even the occasional bra flying across the arena.
Levy was dumbfounded, she hadn't seen a fight like that in forever; yet she didn't really watch fighting quite often.
"That….was…AMAZING!"Natsu flew up in his seat.
Lucy just giggled at his outburst, turning to look at Levy.
"Well, that was quite the fight." Lucy said, giving Levy a smile.
"Yeah…" Was all Levy could say, she than turned her gaze back to the ring; Gajeel sending a quick smirk her way.
The party was held at the Blue Pegasus club; strobe lights and loud music surrounding them. Lucy had gone to the bar to get a round of drinks, leaving Levy and Natsu to sit around awkwardly.
"So, how long have you and Lucy been friends?" Natsu inquired.
"Um, hmm….about 5 years." Levy smiled, thinking back on it. "Yep, 5 years."
"Wow!" Natsu scratched the back of his head. "So, she tells me you're quite the worker…"
"Yeah, unfortunately I have to be. Some family issues came up, so I had to be the responsible one." Levy sighed.
"It'll all get better, it always does." Natsu said, patting her on the back. Levy managed to lose a little footing, he was certainly strong.
As if Levy couldn't feel any more awkward, she saw a figure approaching them; a tall one at that. Her stomach dropped and she felt heat rush up her face; she was sure she looked ill.
"Well, if it isn't Salamander!" Gajeel said, giving Natsu a hard pat on the back. "How's welter weight treatin ya?"
"Fine, for now…I'm actually in the middle of bulking up!" Natsu replied, a wicked grin showing on his face. "I'll blow your undefeated title to smithereens!"
Natsu stood tall and pumped his fist in the air; Gajeel looked at him and chuckled.
"Gihi, whatever helps you sleep at night; speaking of…" Gajeel turned his attention to Levy. "Who's this?"
Natsu looked from Gajeel to Levy and then slapped his hand to his forehead.
"Oh, this is Levy, my girlfriends really good friend." Natsu said. "They came to watch me fight."
Gajeel walked closer to Levy, only inches away from her; his body smelled amazing. He leaned over and whispered in her ear.
"Well…I hope you got a good look…" Levy could feel the smirk on his lips.
Her face turned bright red, the rush of heat coursing through again.
"Umm, yep! Sure did!" She said, trying to end the conversation.
Just when she thought her night was going downhill and fast; Lucy showed up holding a plate of shots. Levy snatched one up quicker than the rest and tilted her head back, letting the clear liquid run down her throat. She felt the burn and then her body started to relax.
"Much better." Levy said, looking at Lucy's stunned expression.
"Wow Levy!" Lucy looked at her friend in bewilderment. "Didn't think you had that in ya…"
Levy blushed and then her attention was to Gajeel, his smirk becoming more devious by the minute; he looked hungry.
"Careful ladies, don't want to be taking anyone to the hospital tonight!" Natsu said, trying to sound like a joke.
"Nah, we'll be okay…after all Levy is a nurse!" Lucy interjected.
Gajeel turned to attention at the comment.
"Hmm, now that I think about it... So you're a nurse?" Gajeel said, that smirk still plastered on his face.
"Um yeah…" Levy wasn't quite sure where he was going with this.
"I had a rather nice dream about a nurse last night…want to help me re-enact it?" Gajeel's face was next to hers; whispering in her ear.
Levy thought she was going to pass out, she looked to Lucy; trying to get a little help for the situation. Lucy was already too far gone, she had finished off the plate of shots and had gathered another one full of what looked like red jello shots.
"Umm, no that's alright…." She started to back away from the all too alluring fighter. "You don't look hurt or sick to me…so therefore there wouldn't be a need for it."
"Oh trust me, there's a need." Gajeel looked Levy up and down, the blush rushing through her face again.