Title: Jealousy

Fandom: Fairy Tail

Characters: Gajeel Redfox, Levy McGarden, Lucy Heartphelia, Pantherlily

Rating: T (for language)

Pairings: GajLev

Warning: Gajeel's dirty mouth

Author's Note: Ohai, I remember this series, don't worry. Also, this was supposed to be a short thing based on the idea of Gajeel getting jealous of Levy's friendship with Lucy. Obviously, my fingers had a different idea.

Disclaimer: Yeah, no.

He wasn't jealous. Nope. Not at all.

Ok, so Levy had been spending a ton of time with the Bunny Girl, and not paying attention to him, but she was allowed to talk to other people.

He wasn't her keeper, after all, and he knew she'd be unhappy if he kept her from hanging out with her best friend. Hell, he wasn't really anything to her, other than a sometimes-partner.

Oh, and that jerk who crucified her to a tree. Gajeel had a hard time forgetting that little detail, even if she seemed to have moved on from it.

Wasn't that just proof of how strong she was though, how she worked past her initial fear of him to being someone that would willingly talk to him? He didn't know how she still thought she was weak, not when he saw so many ways she was one of the strongest around.

But it still wasn't fair that she hadn't joined him at his table for a week.

"You're staring at her again, Gajeel."

Shit. "Shut up Lily." Protesting had never worked with his cat, and he had given up after day three of this. Now the dragonslayer was stuck with oh-so-witty retorts such as that. In a move to try and get his Exceed to stop with that goddamn knowing smirk, he returned his gaze to the pile of steel on his plate.

But, of course, the sound of an excited squeal brought his attention back to the two book-lovers across the guild. They were too far away for him to know exactly what they were talking about, but Levy was happy, so that was enough for him.

Ok, well, he would feel better if she was smiling that way at him. But beggars can't be choosers. Or, well, double agents didn't get the girl. Gajeel had seen enough movies (Juvia had a habit of dragging him off whenever the Ice Prick wasn't around, and it was just easier to go along) to know that much.

No, Levy would stay in the light, where she belonged.

"If you miss her so much, go join her," the black Exceed commented, taking a sip of his own drink. That caused Gajeel to turn and frown at him. "Can't do that," was the grunted response, but Pantherlily wouldn't have that. "Yeah you can. You don't even have to say anything, just sit down next to her." His smile turned kind. "I think I'll go have a chat with your Erza. It's been a while since we've sparred, after all."

He was trapped, and by his own cat of all people. "Tch, be sure to beat her." With that, he grabbed his plate, the mug of ale the barlady had given him, and stalked over to the two teenage girls.

"And then he said — Gajeel? What're you doing here?" the blonde cut off, both turning to look at him in confusion. He ignored her, plopping down next to her friend, not noticing Levy's expression changing from confusion to contentment.

As he took another bite of a metal plate, he heard the petite wordsmith speak. "He won't interrupt, I don't think. So, Lu-chan, what did he say?" That was Levy for you, open to his presence, and always looking for more information.

As the two continued their conversation, he felt a small form lean against his side; just enough for him to know that it was intentional. A slight smirk tugged at his lips, but Gajeel hid it with a drink of ale.

Dragons may not get jealous, but it helped when their women wanted them near.