Day 5- decorating

A/N: The grinch is cracking :)

"That job went well." Gajeel decided.

"We destroyed their city hall." Pantherlily responded blankly.

"Oi, we stopped the monster, right?" Gajeel said. "I consider that a victory."

"I suppose they shouldn't expect anything less from Fair Tail." Pantherlily sighed.

Pantherlily sat perched on Gajeel's shoulder, as the two of them returned home from their mission. After being away for a couple days, both were ready to get home and rest. Nothing sounded better as their simple isolated little house.

After turning a bend, their home came into view. But to both Gajeel's and Pantherlily's surprise, it was not as empty as they had left it. Or as dim. Their once plain little home was covered in lights, and wreaths and trinkets. Gajeel would have wondered who in their right mind would have done this, if the perpetrators were not still present.

"Oi!" Gajeel yelled, bristling. "What do you think you're doing!?"

Three sets of bodies baulked at the same time, whipping around. It was Levy and her teammates, looking guilty.

"Uh," Levy said, still holding a strand of lights in her hands. "Well, you see…"

"IT WAS LEVY'S IDEA!" Jet and Droy shouted at once, pointing to the mage.

"H-hey!" Levy yelped, indignant.

"I don't care whose idea it was!" Gajeel growled, whipping out his arm. "Take it down! Now!"

"But Gajeel!" Levy protested, "your house looks so pretty!"

Gajeel was about to angrily retort, until his cat flew off his shoulder to get a closer look.

"It does look pretty good, actually." Pantherlily agreed, observing the house. He flew and took the colored strand of light from Levy's hand, raising it to the rooftop. "We could probably line the house with this."

"We had some white lights for the roof," Jet said, from atop the house. "We were going line the windows with those."

"That could work," Pantherlily said, nodding. "I think we have some nails inside."

"No!" Gajeel yelled, stomping over. "Stop planning! We're not keeping these!"

"Why not?" Pantherlily asked him. "The house looks nice with the decorations."

"I said no!" Gajeel repeated, glaring at his cat.

"Just for a few more days Gajeel," Levy begged. "Once Christmas passes, we can take them down!"

Gajeel looked from Levy to his cat. He couldn't believe this. It was bad enough that he had to put up with this Christmas shit at the guild, and now it was invading his one sanctuary? Gajeel felt his jaw start to grind.

"It's my house!" Gajeel yelled, causing Levy and her teammates to flinch. "I said no lights, and that's final!" He stormed past them towards his door. "This shit better be gone by the time I come out, or I'm taking it down myself!"

"Wait – !" Levy tried to say him before he entered his home, but Gajeel already wrenched it open and slammed it behind him.

When Gajeel turned around, he froze.

He was too late. His house had been already invaded.

Gajeel assessed his house, in horror. A fully decorated Christmas Tree stood in the corner of his home, complete with a star on top. Stockings hung in in front of his fireplace, with a huge wreath perched above it. Lights and garlands were strung on his walls, lighting up the house with a soft glow, and festive candles were everywhere.

He let his bag drop down to his feet, in utter defeat. Gajeel lost. Plain and simple.

Gajeel turned and opened his door. Levy and the rest were still in their previous positions, watching him for a reaction. Gajeel's shoulders slumped with a sigh.

"If you're gonna put up lights," Gajeel grumbled, taking the lights out of Pantherlily's paws. "at least don't use these stupid rainbow ones."

Immediately grins broke out on all their faces. Gajeel was handed a hammer and soon enough Levy was holding strands of light from his roof as Gajeel was hammering them in. Behind them, Jet, Droy and Pantherlily wrapped lights around a tree.

"Isn't this fun, Gajeel?" Levy asked him, smiling at him with flushing cheeks, while her hair fell around her in curly waves.

He stiffened slightly at her look, nearly hammering his thumb in, but he regained composure again.

"It's not bad." Gajeel grunted, hitting in the nail.

Levy just hummed good naturedly, lining up the next section.

He watched Levy out of the corner of his eyes. He still wasn't into this whole Christmas business, he doubted he ever would. But putting up decorations didn't seem like such a bad thing. Not while stringing up lights next to Levy's glowing face.

Maybe this wasn't such an annoying holiday.