Day 3 - Mistletoe

A/N:Funny enough, this is actually my second mistletoe related Gajevy Story. But I really liked how this one came out! It was definitely fun to write :) Let me know what you think!

Levy rushed down the path of Fairy Hills, hurrying to get to Fairy Tail. It was already afternoon, much later than she normally got to the guild. Ever since she found out about Gajeel's distaste for the holidays, she was determined to get him to change his mind. She had spent all morning mapping out a fool-proof plan. She was going to make it her mission to force him to participate in Christmas tradition. The whole shebang; caroling, baking, wrapping, everything. The tricky part was figuring out how exactly she would get him to participate, but she had some ideas. She even gave her mission a clever title: Get Gajeel Jolly.

Okay, so the name could use some work, but it was something.

She would start the mission tomorrow, Levy decided. She still needed to iron out some kinks, but she would finish that by today.

Levy swung the doors of the guild open, greeted with the sight of a crowded guild. As she walked into the fray towards an empty table, she brought her bag out to pulled out her book. All this planning kept her so busy, she didn't have a chance to read up on her new book. She was eager to squeeze a few chapters out before she started her day.

She cracked open the book to where she left off as she lowered down onto the end of a bench.

Plop

Levy snapped her head up. Oh no. She just sat in something. Something squishy.

After taking a glance to make sure no one was watching, Levy tilted over and snuck a glimpse at whatever she was sitting in.

A piece of Chocolate cake.

Levy mentally groaned. Who the heck left a piece of chocolate cake on this bench?! Didn't they know someone could sit in this!?

She slowly lowered back onto the cake, wincing as she did so. Now what was she going to do? Levy had no desire to get up with a piece of cake stuck to her butt. No doubt Happy or someone would notice it and bring attention to it. She didn't want to deal with that teasing. Oh god, and if Gajeel saw it…

Levy didn't even want to think about that.

No, it was okay. She would just stay where she was seated. Everyone at the guild knew Levy could sit in the same spot for hours when she was immersed in a book. All she had to do was wait for a moment where everyone was occupied and then she could rush to the bathroom. Everybody would be leaving for their missions soon. She shouldn't be waiting for too long. Levy lowered her eyes back to her book, forcing herself to breath calmly. It would be okay. It's not a big deal.

Yet Levy couldn't shake the feeling that now everyone was watching her. She knew it was ridiculous, but she couldn't help but to take a quick peek around, if just to prove herself wrong.

To her absolute shock, she saw a few mages staring at her out of the corner of her eye. Levy quickly looked up. Immediately they turned away, snickering to themselves. Panic started to swell into her, and she turned to the other side. Again, she saw more guild mates quickly avert their gaze. Levy felt herself turn light of breath. Did they see her sit in cake!? There's no way they could have! As far as she knew, she was completely covering the cake. How did they know!?

She needed to find help. Someone who could get her out of her without being seen. Levy scanned the guild for aid.

Her eyes landed on Gray, who was walking by her table.

"Gray!" Levy called out, trying not to sound as desperate as she felt.

He turned towards her voice, stopping in his tracks. "Levy?"

"Hi!" Levy greeted, waving him over frantically. "Come join me at the table, Gray! We haven't spoken in a while!"

"Uh," Gray said, staring incredulously. "I don't think so."

Levy blinked. "Wha-?"

Before she could finish, a dark Juvia appeared from behind Gray, wrapping her hands around him protectively.

"Oh, so Levy-san is a love-rival as well!? Juvia never suspected Levy-san…."

Slowly, she dragged a protesting Gray away, leaving Levy completely lost.

What was that about? Normally she and Juvia had a great relationship. Since when did she consider Levy a love-rival? Levy adjusted in her seat, feeling the cake squirm under her as she did so. She supposed sometimes there was no making sense in how Juvia acted. But that didn't explain Gray's complete refusal earlier. How rude was that?

Before she could give it more thought, a voice called out to her.

Levy looked over. It was Jet and Droy, making their way towards her.

"Jet! Droy!" Levy cried, feeling relief wash over her. "Thank goodness!"

But there was something off. Jet and Droy both had smug grins on their faces. They walked until they were behind her, on either side of her with their hands folded behind their back.

"Uh…" Levy glanced between her teammates. She didn't want to completely turn in her seat and ruin her dress even more, so she was forced to strain her neck just to look at them. "What's with you two?"

"Nothing!" Jet said, grinning. "We just noticed your plan."

"My plan?" Levy said, slowly. "You mean… my plan with Gajeel?"

"That's right!" Droy said, nodding. "Not one of your cleverer ones, but an effective one at least!"

Levy shook her head. "Wait, how did you even know about that? I haven't even told you guys yet."

"Oh, it's obvious Levy," Jet said, with a roll of his eyes. "But since you haven't seemed to have much luck yet, we can help you out. Ready, Droy?"

"Help me with…" But before Levy could finish, Jet and Droy simultaneously bent down, and planted a kiss on either side of her face.

Levy yelped and smacked her hands over her flaming cheeks. "What are you guys doing!?"

"Don't worry Levy, it worked!" Droy said, with a wink. "We'll leave you on your way now."

Her mouth hung open as the two of them walked away, abandoning her. Was today act like a psycho day!? Levy looked around, desperate for some sort of answer.

She was surprised when she locked eyes with Gajeel, on the other side of the guild. But he didn't look sympathetic at all. In fact, he looked annoyed? His teeth were clenched, and his eye was twitching. When Levy stared back, head cocked, Gajeel tore his eyes away, looking uncomfortable.

At this point, Levy could cry. All she wanted was to do was get out of the guild without being made a fool of. And for whatever reason, everybody in the guild was acting completely bizarre and nobody was stopping to help her! Levy was seriously just considering using her magic to make a smoke bomb and sprinting out of the guild, stain or not.

"'Eyy theeereeee, Levy!" A voice shocked her out of her thought process.

Levy spun to her left and saw Max. He was walking towards her, swaying on his feet, and a definite rosy hue on his cheeks.

"Um, hello Max," Levy returned the greeting. She noted his lack of balance and drink in his hand with a narrowed eye. "Are you drunk?"

Max snickered, the action causing liquid to spill out of his goblet. "Maaaaaaaaaybe ah am!" He bent over and put his arm on the patch of table right in front of her, leaning over her. "Ah jus' saw yew sitting thar, and I had ta come over!"

"I see…" Levy said, despite not understanding at all. She bent backwards at an uncomfortable angle, trying to get away from his alcohol breath.

"Ah didn' think yew tha type, Levy," He giggled, "but since yer presentin' this opportunity, ah mighta well take a'vantage of it!"

"Huh?" Levy asked. And then suddenly, Max was puckering his lips and leaning towards her. Levy's eyes widened to the brim. She was already bent at her maximum capacity, she couldn't bend away more without getting off the bench and revealing the cake underneat her. She was trapped.

But before he could get any closer, Max was yanked away by the back of his shirt and thrown to the floor.

"Ey, wha' gives!?" Max demanded of her savior, who was standing over him.

"Scram!" Gajeel growled down at the mage. Max immediately scrambled to his feet and took off, howling.

Levy watched him run off, before looking up at the dragon slayer's back with a newfound appreciation.

"Thank you, Gajeel." Levy said, smiling with relief.

"And you!" He turned to Levy, with a sneer on his face. "Just what the hell are you trying to do!?"

"I – what!?" Levy sputtered. "What am I doing?!"

"You're sitting there!"

The last of Levy's patience snapped. Everything stemmed from the moment she sat in this blasted spot. Fine, she sat in cake! So what!? Even if everyone did witness her embarrassing mistake, that didn't give them the right to act this insane. And now Gajeel was yelling at her!

Levy angrily threw up her hands and all but screeched, "I didn't see the cake, okay!?"

"Cake?" Gajeel repeated, looking thoroughly confused. "What are you talking about?"

Levy's hands froze in mid-air. The frustration fizzled out of her. Her arms slowly lowered. "What are you talking about?"

Gajeel threw a hand up, pointing.

Levy followed the trail of his arm to the ceiling and –

Her jaw hung open. Oh god.

There, hanging above her head in an assortment green and white, was a mistletoe. That explained everything.

She slapped her head into her hands, whimpering. No wonder everyone was giving her weird looks! They thought she was trying to fish for a kiss. Oh god, how desperate and pathetic she must have looked.

"You didn't know it was there?" Gajeel asked, his voice losing the angry edge from moments ago.

Levy wordlessly shook her head.

"…then why don't you just move?" Gajeel asked bluntly.

"I sat in some cake," Levy mumbled out, still hidden behind her hands. "I was waiting until no one was looking."

A moment passed where neither said anything. Levy wanted nothing more than to melt into a puddle and slip through the cracks of the floorboards. If Gajeel didn't think she was an idiot before, he certainly did now. And she couldn't blame him. Who could be so oblivious then to sit under a mistletoe? She wouldn't even believe it if she heard it.

"Here, shrimp." Gajeel said, and Levy felt something land on her shoulders. She looked up.

Gajeel had shed his coat and placed over Levy. "That should cover the stain," He told her, averting his gaze. "You can get out of here without anyone seeing."

Levy clutched his coat tightly over herself. "Are you sure, Gajeel? Your jacket might get dirty…"

"It's fine, Levy. Just return it when you're done." He told her, still not meeting her eye.

Carefully, Levy stood up, attempting to make the least amount of mess possible. After she successfully made it to her feet, she looked up at Gajeel, who was watching her.

"Thank you Gajeel, for saving me twice today." She said, giving him a wobbly smile.

"Don't mention it."

Levy glanced around for a moment, before she gestured him closer with her finger. Gajeel blinked, before bending down, cocking an ear towards her.

Quickly, Levy grabbed a hold of either side of his collar and planted a tiny kiss on his cheek. She let go before he could react and then spun around and ran. She didn't look back to see his expression.

As she ran out the guild, Levy mentally ticked off 'Mistletoe' as the first completed tradition of her mission.