Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail.
When he and Pantherlily returned from their mission that night, he found her curled up in their bed with moonlight casting a light over her nest of every pillow and blanket they owned.
Gajeel snorted at her, it was the just the beginning of fall and she was treating it like frigid temperatures. Lily sat on his shoulder and helpfully tacked on that there's a lot less heat when he's not there.
The Exceed flitted off his partner's shoulder in search of a midnight snack. Knowing Levy, there was no doubt that his kiwi supply would be replenished for his return. Plus, whatever leftovers she wrapped for them and kept in the ice box.
Gajeel craned his neck to watch Lily putter around the kitchen, the Exceed could be perfectly silent when he wanted to be, but it never hurt to be sure. The duffle still clutched in his fist fell to the floor and his boots were quickly abandoned with the bag. He'd get an ear full about leaving it in the middle of the room later, but it wasn't a main concern right now.
Gajeel's focus was completely drawn on the tiny lump in his bed with an extreme case of bed head, if the angle he saw her from is any indication. A part of him wished that he had given in to her before he left and allowed her to come along.
Dragon slayers were unforgivably enormous worry warts, though.
So he had made her stay behind with the incentive that if she came along, then he couldn't very well bring her back a surprise. They both knew she never cared about gifts, but if he just so happened to be aware of a book or magical trinket she had learned about and had extra time on his hands, then so be it. She was going to hit the roof once she saw what he was able to come into possession of.
Gajeel was nothing short of pleased with himself, so the smirk that crawls over sharp canines is well earned in his book. Sidled up to the bed, he carefully ran his hand over her shoulder to wake her up.
"Levy, I'm home."
She stretched and mumbled incoherently at him, he guessed that whatever it had been was a good thing because there's a tired smile plastered from one ear to the other and she's clumsily trying to sit up on her knees to get closer to him.
Gajeel's laugh rumbled in the hands she pressed to his torso to steady herself. It woke her enough draw half-lidded eyes to his face and act on the short term loneliness of cold sheets. But she can't stand and sleep had started to pull her back in just as she's able to form a welcome.
"'m glad." Levy managed not to knock her noggin against his collar bone when she neared him, somewhere she's vaguely aware his hands have wrapped around her shoulders.
The last thing she remembered that night is worn leather and a stuttered heartbeat beneath her lips.
#67; chest kiss
originally posted: 8-30-13