A/N: So the prompt for today is AU and originally I was going to do a zombie AU, but that got out of hand and now I'm writing it as a long one-shot/multi-chapter fic (haven't decided which yet).
Mermaids and dragons. That's all I have to say about this. Also this was sorta another last minute thing so very little editing has been done...
Oh my god. I started this one because I was at 2,000 words on the other one and Gajeel hadn't even appeared yet, and then this one got out of hand and I feel like the characters are still a bit off and it's worse now that it's an AU and I'm sorry. It ended up really rushed at the end because that's what happens when things get out of hand. I'M GONNA CRY! This was just supposed to be a short ficlet!
"Do you ever wonder what it's like to walk on land?" Levy asked, staring at the beach dreamily. There were humans scattered across it, some just lying in the sand, others running and splashing through the waves. Levy was envious of them.
"Not really," Lucy said, glancing at the humans. "I've seen those legs up close and personal and they get hairy."
Levy turned her attention to her friend, one of her brows raising. "When were you up close and personal with a human and why haven't you told me about this yet?"
Lucy flushed, her golden tail flicking against the surface of the water. "It was nothing. Just an idiot who happened to be drowning as I swam past."
"So you ogled him as you saved him?"
"No!" Lucy covered her face with her hands and Levy laughed. "I mean it's hard to not notice those legs when they're flailing about in the water. He almost kicked me in the face."
"Y'know according to the legends mermaids are supposed to drown their victims, not save them," Levy pointed out and Lucy snorted, lowering her hands.
"Says the girl who saves every sea creature in need of help."
Levy smiled and leaned back against the rock, letting her blue hair float on the water below. "You going to see him again?"
"We didn't exactly make any plans. He was unconscious for most of our meeting and the minute he came to I was back in the water."
"Why?"
"Why would I see him again?"
Levy pushed herself up, her eyes shining. "It could be like a fairy tale. The human in love with the mermaid. Maybe you could ask Aquarius to give you some legs and you could go on a date."
Lucy snorted. "Aquarius hates me."
"So? She's always talking about how you don't have a boyfriend. I bet she'd support you getting one."
"I doubt it. If she did then she wouldn't be able to bug me about not having one."
Levy sighed and stared up at the sky. "I think it'd be romantic."
"You read too many fairy tales."
"Maybe..."
Levy fell silent as she watched a bird soar through the air. She wondered if there was a prince waiting to rescue her.
Suddenly she was rolling off the rock and she yelped as the water enveloped her. Her head popped above the surface and she glared at Lucy who was laughing on the rock.
"C'mon," Lucy said, diving into the water herself. "Let's get home."
Levy lingered for a moment, watching as a child ran across the sand and dove into the water. With a small smile she slipped back under the water, her blue tail slapping against the surface once before disappearing from sight.
x
The underwater city of Atlantis, home to thousands of merfolk and the location of the Sea King's palace. Levy shared an apartment with Lucy on the edge of the city. Levy liked the location. They didn't have to deal with the hustle and bustle of the inner city, but they were close enough that they could visit whenever they wanted. It was nice having the ocean right outside their window.
Lucy had gone into town with Cana for a night of drinking and partying. They waved as they headed into the city and Levy waved back at the door, waiting until they were out of sight before returning inside. She curled up in her favorite armchair and opened the book she was rereading. It was a tale of romance and adventure. The prince rescuing the princess from the dragon's nest. She smiled and flicked to the next page. Lucy was probably right about her reading too many fairy tales, but they were just so cute.
She sighed when the prince appeared with his shining sword. The dragon didn't stand a chance, and sure enough a few pages later it was falling at the hands of the prince.
Levy smiled when she shut the book and sat back in her chair. She couldn't wait for her own happily ever after, although she had a feeling it was quite a ways away.
She swam to the bookshelf to return the book to its home and paused at the window. It was her favorite time of day, when the sun dipped just below the horizon and the water turned to flames. The city didn't get much sunlight being at the bottom of the ocean, but she could still see it flickering miles ahead on the surface. A few fish swam past and she waved at them.
As much as she wanted to walk on land, she had to admit that the sea was a beautiful place to live.
And then a bleeding fish swam past, clearly panicked and she was out the door and following it faster than she could blink. The fish didn't make it very far before it fell to the ground, not moving anymore.
"It'll be alright," she murmured, cupping the fish in her hands. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, borrowing power from the ocean. Her hands warmed and began to glow with a pale blue light and soon the fish was wiggling out of her hands and swimming away. She smiled and turned to return to her room, but froze at the sight that awaited her.
The shark looked to be almost 10 feet in length and its black eyes were focused on her. She swallowed thickly, feeling fear settle in her stomach and crawl up her throat tasting like acid. Her eyes flickered to the city, alight with noise and life. She'd swam further than she'd thought and there was no way she could get back, not with the shark blocking her way.
Which meant she only had one choice.
She turned and swam as fast as she could towards the shore.
x
Mermaids were fast, one of the fastest creatures in the sea, but not fast enough apparently. Levy was able to keep some distance between her and the shark, but her stamina was wearing out and the shark was gaining on her. She could see the gentle slope of the shore and she willed her tail to go faster-
A scream tore past her lips as the jaws clamped down on her side. She didn't know when the shark had changed directions, but it was too late. The sharp teeth easily tore through flesh.
Her vision started to swim and she took a deep breath, pressing her hands against the shark's nose. She'd never tried to use her magic as a weapon before, but she didn't have a choice.
She forced what strength she had left into her magic and pushed with all her might. There was a moment of resistance, but then the shark loosened its grip and she was thrust away from it faster than she thought possible. Her back hit a rock and pain shot through her body as blackness swept over her.
x
Death was too dark for Levy's liking, too bleak. She wondered who would break the news to Lucy. Maybe they'd laugh at her stupidity. A mermaid taken out by a fish.
"D'you think she's alive?"
She looked around in confusion when she heard the voice. It was deep and gravely and Levy wondered if maybe the shark was talking. A shark would probably have a voice like that.
"Clearly," another voice said. This one was softer. Maybe the shark had a friend. "She's breathing."
"Maybe she's in a coma."
"Well maybe instead of standing here discussing it we should get her to a hospital."
Levy groaned, and slowly blinked her eyes open. Her entire body ached and she felt like her head was about to fall off.
"She's awake!"
Suddenly the sun was blotted out by two faces staring down at her. One belonging to a... cat? She blinked a couple of times and sure enough that was a cat standing over her, and next to him stood a...
"Human!" she yelped, scrambling back only to wince as pain shot through her. Then she realized there was something wrong with her tail, it wasn't working like it was supposed to. What if she'd wounded it beyond repair? She glanced down and... "I have legs!"
The human glanced at the cat, raising one of his studded eyebrows. "Did ya hit your head?"
"Well yes," Levy said, momentarily forgetting the pain at the realization of her legs. She pushed herself to her feet and swayed for a moment, smiling as she got them under her.
"Alright then," the human said. "Well you seem to be in good health so I'll just be going."
"Not so fast Gajeel," the cat said. Wait... the cat said?
Levy snatched the small black cat off the ground and held it close to her face. "How did you speak?"
"Uh..."
"Put my cat down," the human - Gajeel - growled, stalking closer. Levy glanced towards him and dropped the cat, waddling forward on shaky legs. She fell against his chest and grabbed his face, pulling it down towards hers. "O-oi. What're you doing?"
"You're eyes... They don't look like human eyes." She peered at his metal studded face and those eyes, crimson with slitted pupils like a cat's... or a dragon's.
Gajeel swatted at her hands and she released his face so he could straighter to his full, towering height.
"What's wrong with ya? First ya wash up on my shore passed out and naked and now you're all... touchy."
"Naked?" Levy glanced down at her body and yelped, with the addition of legs she lost her scales and gained an odd tuft of hair between her legs. "Oh... oh my. Humans frown on this don't they," she said. "Do you happen to have some clothes I can borrow?"
Gajeel held out a piece of black fabric and she pulled it over her head. It fell to her knees -she had knees!- and covered all the important bits. "Thank you," she said, only to realize that he'd offered up his shirt.
She'd seen plenty of chests - most human men didn't wear shirts while visiting the ocean, and merfolk never wore clothes, they had no reason to. The scales covered all the parts that humans deemed inappropriate - but there was something about this man's chest that her cheeks flushing. She dropped her head, her hair falling in front of her face and stared at the ground.
An awkward silence fell over them, broken by the cat.
"How about you come to our house and dry off," he suggested. "We'll get you some real clothes and send you on your way home."
"No!" she shouted, startling them. She flushed and pushed her hair behind her ear. "I mean thank you for the offer, but I can find my own way home." She started walking away only to be tugged in the opposite direction. "Oi!"
"My shirt is not a dress," Gajeel growled and continued to tug her along the beach. She crossed her arms over her chest and planted her feet, but little good that did in the sand.
"You were the one who lent it to me."
"And I'll be taking it back."
She opened her mouth to respond but was cut off when he practically threw her through a door. She yelped and hopped a few steps before toppling backwards onto a couch. She stared up at the ceiling in a daze, surprised that her body wasn't protesting at the movements. She had been mauled by a shark a few short minutes - hours? - ago.
She sat up and glared at Gajeel who wasn't even paying attention to her.
"You're awfully rough, you know that?"
"Che."
"You're nothing like the princes in my story," she muttered under her breath. Something whacked her in the face and she scowled, yanking the fabric off her head.
"Wear that. The bathroom's the third door down the hall."
Levy glared at him for a moment longer before getting to her feet and stomping down the hall. And she'd been hoping that maybe she'd finally found her fairy tale, clearly she was wrong. This man was no prince.
x
"Gajeel," Lily started, staring at the door that had just slammed closed. "She's not..."
"Human? Yeah I know." Gajeel dropped to the couch that she had just been occupying and munched on a piece of scrap metal.
"Is she another dragon?"
Gajeel snorted. "She's too weak to be a dragon."
"Then what is she?"
Gajeel shrugged and grabbed another piece of metal. "Doesn't matter. She'll be gone in an hour."
Lily stared at Gajeel and glanced back at the door. Would she?
x
Levy had been a bit hesitant to touch the water. All the mermaid tales said that once a mermaid touched water her legs would revert back into a tail, but she apparently didn't have to worry. After her shower she wrapped one of his surprisingly plush towels around her body and stared at the clothes he'd thrown at her. They were clearly girl's clothes; short shorts and a baggy shirt. She wondered why he had them. She found it hard to believe that someone as rough as him had managed to get a lover, but she supposed anything could be possible. Hopefully his girlfriend wouldn't mind that she had to borrow her clothes.
The shorts were a little loose and the shirt was definitely loose around the chest area. She sighed, glad for the design of the shirt that made it hard to tell that she didn't have much of a chest. The clothes were actually rather flattering on her and she smiled at her reflection. The only thing left was to take care of her hair.
She had to do a bit of digging but she finally found a bandana she could use to tie her hair out of her face. The end result wasn't great, but it was passable.
She left the bathroom and threw the shirt at Gajeel's head. He snarled and glared at her, which she returned with an innocent smile.
"Thanks for letting me borrow your shower and your girlfriend's clothes." His brow furrowed in confusion and he opened his mouth to speak, but she just kept talking. "You can tell her I'll return them as soon as I can." She moved towards the front door, but once again he stopped her by tugging at her shirt.
"First, you're not going anywhere."
"Excuse me?"
"Second I don't have a girlfriend."
"First," Levy said, struggling out of his grip and turning with a scowl. "I'm going where ever I want to. And if you don't have a girlfriend then why do you have girl's clothes?" She put a hand over her mouth, her eyes widening. "Oh... is this a hobby of yours? I didn't mean to make assumptions, these clothes just seem to small for you."
His ears turned read and he glared. "They're not mine! I have a friend who sometimes comes here after swimming and she likes to keep a change of clothes lying around."
"Well, now that we've cleared up your relationship status I think I'm going to go."
She turned again and again he stopped her.
"I said you're not going anywhere."
She huffed and crossed her arms over her chest. "Why not?"
"I've got questions."
"Of course you do, but I don't have time to answer them. I have to go exploring." She tried walking but quickly gave up when it became clear she wasn't going anywhere. "Will you let go of me!" she snapped, whirling to smack at his arm. He released her shirt but grabbed her wrist, tugging her to the couch. She struggled, hitting at his shoulders and he pinned her wrists above her head. She tried to kick him in the crotch, but he got his knees between her leaned over her.
"I wasn't gonna use force."
"You say as you pin me to your couch."
"You made me do it."
She sighed and dropped back against the couch, all the fight draining from her. "You're worse than the shark."
"You gonna answer my questions?"
"It seems I have no other choice." He smirked, flashing teeth that looked almost like fangs. Her eyes narrowed at the sight and he leaned back, releasing her arms. She slid out from under him and curled on the couch. "Ask away."
"What are you?"
The question took her by surprise and she blinked at Gajeel. "What?"
Gajeel leaned close again, his nose almost bumping against hers. "What are you?" he repeated slowly.
"Human of course."
He snorted and leaned back, throwing an arm over the back of the couch. "You ain't human."
"Oh? Then what do you think I am." Levy's heart was thudding in her chest, but her voice was surprisingly steady. She'd heard stories of humans who hunted mermaids for their magic. She wasn't sure how Gajeel figured out what she was, but she wasn't going to go down without a fight.
"I'd say fish, but that makes no sense since you've got legs and look human." He studied her and she felt warmth gather in her stomach from his gaze. "Which makes me think mermaid."
"Why not human?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, and there was that grin again.
"No human smells as salty as you."
Her brow furrowed in confusion and she sniffed her arm. She smelled a bit like soap, but that was all she could detect, and there was no way he could smell anything on her that she couldn't. Unless...
"You're not human either."
He stared at her and his lips twisted in a smirk. "What makes you say that?"
She knew she was right, she could see it in the way his body had tensed ever so slightly. "Well for one your eyes. I haven't met any humans, but I know for a fact they don't have eyes like that. The talking cat doesn't help." She wondered briefly where the cat had run off to. "And your comment on my scent. There's no way you'd be able to smell anything that I couldn't smell because, you're right, I'm not human and my senses are better than humans, but yours seem to be better than mine." She hadn't realized that she'd practically crawled into her lap as she spoke, studying his face for any hint. "So... what are you?"
He stared back at her and their breaths mingled in the space separating them. Up close he smelled like metal and smoke and she found herself wanting the rub the scent all over her. She gave herself a mental shake and focused on staring him down. If he knew what she was then she had the right to know what he was.
Then he grinned and his hand came up to tangle in her hair and he was leaning closer and pulling her back so her neck was exposed. He bumped his nose against it, the metal studs cold against her skin.
"You're right," he growled, looking up at her. "I'm not human." He grinned and there were the fangs again, glittering the dim light of the room. Her heart felt like it'd tried to crawl up her throat and she couldn't help but feel a little... turned on by this man.
"What are you?" she breathed, her curiosity spiking. Lucy had always said her curiosity would be the death of her, maybe her friend was right.
His eyes flashed and he smirked. "I'm a dragon."
His breath puffed against her cheek and his face inches from hers and she licked her lips, noticing how his eyes focused on the movement. She'd never felt like this before, this need to feel his lips against her, his hands on her skin.
She leaned forward to close the distance between them, to taste his lips and see if they were as soft as they looked...
"Gajeel!"
In a flash he was on the opposite side of the couch, his eyes wide and an almost guilty expression on his face.
A woman walked into the room, her hair as blue as Levy's and she stared at the two of them on the couch. Surprise flickered across her face followed quickly by a knowing smirk.
"I'm sorry. I didn't realize you had company," she said. "I'll come back later."
"Juvia," Gajeel snapped, stopping her from going. "What did you want?"
"Ah well, I was going to tell you about the festival that was happening in a few hours because I thought you might want to get out of your house." Her eyes flickered to Levy and the smirk was back. "But I see you already have plans."
"Festival?" Levy's eyes lit up and she leaned forward. "I want to go."
"Oh? And you are?"
"I'm Levy." She bounced off the couch. "Will you take me to festival?"
Juvia smiled, a small blush appearing on her cheeks. "I already have a date, but I'm sure Gajeel would love to take you."
"Wha'?"
Levy turned to him with a wide smile. "Will you really?"
"Uhh..."
"That's a yes," Juvia said. "Now come with me. You can't wear those over sized clothes." Juvia dragged her out the door, calling over her shoulder, "I'll have her back in an hour."
"Don't bother!" Gajeel yelled after them and Juvia snickered.
"I think he likes you."
Levy arched an eyebrow, but didn't say anything. I think I might like him too.
x
Juvia took her to multiple stores until they decided on an outfit that was deemed good enough. Levy found herself having a lot of fun with the woman. It reminded her of her shopping trips with Lucy down in Atlantis, but she tried to not think about her friend too much. Lucy was probably worried sick about her and as much as she wanted to reassure her friend that she was okay, she didn't dare risk going to the ocean. She wasn't sure why she had these legs and she wasn't about to give them up. Especially not now that she had a reason to keep them.
They were in a food court and Levy was sipping something called a shake, thinking about Gajeel and what he'd said.
"Is Gajeel really a dragon?" she asked suddenly, sure that this woman called Juvia would know the truth.
"He told you?" Juvia sounded surprised, but she smiled. "Yes, he's a dragon."
"Hm... I always thought they were big and scaly."
"Not all myths are correct. Mermaids don't drown innocent sailors, do they?"
Levy started and stared warily at Juvia. It was one thing to be called out by a dragon, but a human.
"Don't worry. I'm like you."
"What? But- You're-"
Juvia smiled again, the expression distant. "I lived in a small town a few miles away," she said. "One day I saw a boy on the shore and he took my breath away. I asked the local witch to grant me legs and she did, but there was a price. I could never return to the sea or my legs would vanish. That was three years ago."
"You've been living on land?"
She nodded. "I met Gajeel shortly after coming ashore and he knew right away that I wasn't human. He helped me out and taught me about the human world and for that I'm grateful."
"He's really a big teddy bear isn't he?"
Juvia laughed. "He really is."
"So this human boy?"
The blush was back and she pressed her hands to her face. "I finally asked him out to the festival tonight. He said yes."
Levy smiled, happy that this person seemed to be on her way to her happily ever after.
"Why'd you ask for legs?" Juvia suddenly asked.
"I didn't," Levy admitted, staring at the tabletop. "I was attacked by a shark and when I woke up I was on shore and there were legs where my tail used to be."
"Hmm. Well, you're here and that's what matters." Juvia glanced at her watch and winced. "The festival starts soon. You know the way back to Gajeel's?"
"Mm."
"I'll see you around, Levy."
Then she was rushing out the door. Levy sipped at her drink one last time and stood, grabbing her bag.
Why did she have legs?
x
"Hmph, you came back."
"Hi to you too," she said, walking past Gajeel. He was still seated on the couch, but Lily was back and next to him. "Juvia says the festival starts in 20 minutes."
"Are ya really making me take you?"
Levy disappeared into the bathroom and quickly changed out of her borrowed clothes and into the ones purchased by Juvia (using Gajeel's money apparently). "No," she said, stepping out of the bathroom and fixing her new hair band. "I'll gladly go alone, just thought I should offer."
Gajeel snorted and Levy waited for the comeback, but nothing came. She glanced at him to find him staring at her with his mouth open. "What?" she asked, tugging self consciously at the hem of the little orange dress. "Does it look bad?"
"You look great, Levy," Lily said, hopping off the couch. "I'd love to accompany you to the festival."
She smiled down at the cat. "That would be wonderful."
They headed towards the door and Levy paused, glancing back at Gajeel. He hadn't moved from the spot and she frowned slightly, but didn't say anything. If he wanted to sit at home then so be it, it wasn't like she expected anything from him. Hell, she barely knew him. She'd rather have fun anyways, and he didn't seem like someone who was up for fun.
x
The festival was funner than she imagined. There were games and Levy won an orange monkey. Lily didn't talk much, but Levy understood that he was probably pretending to be a normal cat, or maybe he just had nothing to say. For all Levy knew the cats on the surface really did talk and the books had just been lying, they'd certainly lied about dragons.
No thinking about him.
"Hey little girl," someone said, grabbing her wrist. She flinched and yanked at it, but the man was strong and he smiled at her, his breath smelling of alcohol. "You alone?"
Lily growled and attacked the guy's leg only to be kicked away like a pile of trash.
"Let's have some fun."
"No thank you," Levy said, tugging at her arm. The guy refused to let go though, in fact it felt like he was starting to hold on tighter. "Please let go."
"Aw, c'mon. A cutie like you shouldn't be alone."
Suddenly a shadow loomed over her and there was a hand around his wrist. She winced when she heard the cracking of bones and glanced up at Gajeel's glowering face. "She's not," he growled, glaring down at the man.
It only took a few seconds for the stranger to scram and Levy rubbed at her wrist, staring up at Gajeel. "Thanks." Lily walked up to them, rubbing his head and Levy crouched down to give him a hug. "Thank you too."
She straightened up and grabbed Gajeel's hand. "I knew you'd come," she said, grinning up at him.
"I knew you'd need protection, Shorty," he said gruffly and she laughed.
"C'mon." She tugged him down the pathway, waving goodbye to Lily as they went.
"Where are ya taking me?"
"It's a surprise."
They had to climb over some rocks, but then they were there. It was a small stretch of sandy beach that not many people knew about, and Levy's favorite place to visit. She'd always imagined what the sand would feel like between her toes and she kicked her shoes off, laughing at the freedom.
"I swim here all the time. There's some of the best shells laying around." She walked along the beach, pausing just out of reach of the waves. "I always imagined what it would feel like."
She felt Gajeel move up behind her and she turned to face him.
"So... you're a dragon?"
"And you're a mermaid."
"Do you breathe fire?"
He scoffed and wrapped his arms around her shoulders loosely. "Not all dragons are fire dragons. Thank god," he muttered.
"Then what are you?"
"Metal." He removed one of his arms from her shoulder and held it up in the dying sunlight, showing her as metal scales ate his skin. She held his hand between hers, feeling the cool metal melt back into warm skin and she pressed it against her cheek, her eyes fluttering shut.
"I suppose it isn't too bad."
"What?"
She opened her eyes and smiled up at him. "Having a dragon instead of a prince."
At that moment something broke through the surface a few feet away and they both turned to see a blonde head appear, followed quickly by the rest of a woman. Levy's eyes widened at the sight of Lucy and she stumbled forward a step, breaking out of Gajeel's embrace.
"Lucy?"
Lucy looked up and smiled. "Levy! Oh thank god you're okay." She threw her arms around the smaller woman before pulling back and glaring down at her. "I'm going to kill you! I had to beg Aquarius to give me legs so I could search land because I wast terrified I was going to find your lifeless body lying on one of the shores. What do you think you're doing?" Then she saw Gajeel and her eyes widened. "And who is this?"
"Lucy this is Gajeel," Levy said, stepping away from Lucy. "Gajeel, this is my friend Lucy."
Gajeel nodded at her and Lucy gave him a once over. She looked like she had something to say when they were interrupted again, this time by a form appearing over the rocks.
"I knew I smelled you!" the voice said, and then there was a body barreling into them and both Lucy and Levy fell back into the ocean. The transformation was almost instantaneous as her legs melded together and the blue scales slid down them. Levy frowned when she saw it and turned a scowl on the boy who was grinning at Lucy. "You're the girl who saved me."
"Natsu! What the hell are you doing here?" Gajeel barked, glaring down at the trio in the water.
"Gajeel?" the boy's, Natsu apparently, head snapped up and he stared at the towering man. "You can't have her! I saw her first." Natsu threw his arms around Lucy who was blushing and Levy forgot her annoyance at being transformed into a mermaid for a moment.
Gajeel sighed and Levy held out her hand to him. When he put his in her she yanked and yelped as he got soaked as well. "I figured you should join the fun." He scowled and wrapped his arms around her, picking her up and wading a bit deeper before tossing her. She shrieked as she submerged and when she popped up she was laughing.
Levy swam up to him and slid her fingers through his.
"You don't mind the tail?"
"It looks nice."
Levy grinned and tugged on his hand, urging him to lower his head. Their noses brushed and she paused, staring into the endless red of his eyes.
"Ever heard of a fairy tale where the dragon gets the girl?" she asked and he chuckled.
"Yeah," he breathed, his fingers sliding up to tangle in her wet hair. "This one."
Then they were kissing and Levy stopped caring about princes and legs. All she could think about was his lips on hers and the distinctly metallic taste that filled her mouth.
This coulda been better, so much better. I'm sorry. I wanted to just write a fairy tale like story where the mermaid falls in love with a dragon and then it got chaotic and I just don't feel like editing. The problem with AUs is that I always want to explain everything and then it ends up turning into an original story basically with canon character names... Maybe I'll explore this universe a bit later, after I finish up the week and that zombie story.
Although now I really want to write one where Gajeel is a merman who is part shark, because Gajeel is such a shark.