a/n: First day of school over and done with so I can hopefully get around 3 chapters done tonight. Thanks all for reading this story, it makes me so happy. Anyways have a good day all of yous, and enjoy this chapter XD Mer x
Mira shoved them inside the guild and closed the doors shut. The sun was already rising up and tendrils of gold peeked through the cracks around the door. The guild was peacefully calm without the members of Fairy Tail being there. The stools were upside down, hanging on the bar counter and the benches were tucked underneath their respective tables. All three of people in the room knew that the hall wasn't going to remain as clean and orderly once other more boisterous members begin arriving.
"Sit," Mira ordered them gesturing at two stools at the bar. Though her voice was sweet, it held a don't-mess-with-me-else-you-get-the-devil sort of vibe. Gajeel and Levy both sat down, waiting for Mira to give them any extra information. "So Gajeel, please tell me why you looked like you were having the time of your life outside?" She gave him a mischievous grin.
Blood rushed to Gajeel's head and his colour faded from crimson to purple and back again to a dark pink. "I wasna having any time of any sort!" he quickly dismissed the idea that even he, Black Steel 'Chipmunk' Gajeel could develop such human feelings like pure joy.
"Oh..." Levy said very quietly, in shock. She had honestly thought that Gajeel was genuinely happy outside, laughing at her jokes. Why is he so complicated? He looks so happy and then says it wasn't anything and he's just confusing me so much! Try as she might, she just could not figure out Gajeel Redfox's character, for the life of her.
Gajeel's ears were already focused solely on Levy and he had heard her. Shit, I made her sad again. Why do I do this? I just can't stop running my mouth and defending myself. I was having a good time with her. Shit shit shit shit...
Mira watched the pair as they were deep in their thoughts. This was going to be harder than she expected it to be. Especially since one half of her plan consisted of a stubborn and completely oblivious Slayer who ignored his own feeling and that of others. Mira let out a long sigh, snapping Gajeel and Levy out of their thoughts. She had to trust Pantherlily's idea, for now, and if that didn't work, she would publicly expose their attraction to each other and leave them to sort it out.
"So, I haven't found anymore references or any more information concerning the runes, however, I did take the time to get your train tickets in advance. It's holiday season so expect the station to be a bit more packed than usual. Also, as its a long journey to the village, I suggest you catch some sleep on the train. The Master heard a rumour that there are some hidden markings on the wall that can only be seen by the light of the moon. I don't know if that's true or not, but its best to check that out first so that you have some leeway when it comes to actually deciphering what the entire passage says.
Oh, I almost forgot. Erza gave me a message to give to you. She had apparently overheard that you were headed to Aclypha, and knew of some dark guilds around there, so be careful. I also suggest camping out rather than staying at an inn; the villagers aren't very friendly to people from outside of their village. I guess that's all."
Levy nodded at everything Mira was saying, creating a mental notepad with lists of things she had to remember. "Thank you, Mira-chan. That was really helpful."
"I'm sorry I couldn't give you anymore information about the job, but I know that you two can finish it successfully."
Gajeel grunted his thanks and with that, the Slayer and the Script Mage headed out to the train station.
Levy was balancing on the edge of the curb next to the river as they walked towards the station. Her arms were waving up and down and she swayed side to side trying to keep steady.
"Oi, Shrimp! You're gonna fall and get wet," Gajeel tried to call her off the dangerous edge but Levy was having to much fun at the little game she had invented. She wanted to truly see what measures Gajeel would take to get what he wanted and how long it took to frustrate him when she ignored him.
Honnnnkkkk!
Levy slipped, surprised from the sudden noise, and narrowly avoided falling into the murky water to her right when Gajeel grabbed her from the waist and lifted her bodily onto the solid ground in front of him. "Are you alright?" Gajeel asked, concern clouding his features. Levy merely nodded.
He turned his head looking for someone and yelled, "OI! WHAT DO YOU THINK YER DOING PLAYING THAT GOD-AWFUL INSTRUMENT THIS EARLY?". The lanky man he was addressing shrunk back in fear. His face blanched as he saw the dark intense Slayer staring directly at him in fury. He began stuttering incoherently, scared for his life.
"Gajeel," Levy laid a gentle hand on Gajeel's arm as if to prevent him from beating the man up. "He didn't mean to scare me Gajeel. I'm just very jumpy. Let's just go." She began tugging at Gajeel's clothes pulling him away from the man.
Gajeel stiffened as Levy's hand to touched his arm. A faint blush tinted his cheeks but he forced his colour and heart rate back to normal as he backed away from the man, listening to Levy's soft voice. She was tugging at his shirt when he eventually turned around and soon forgot about the man with the trumpet.
They walked silently from then on, not knowing what to say. Levy knew he was trying to protect her; she was flattered by it. Though it upset her that he always resorted to such violent measure for something so little. She presumed it was because she was so small. Everyone wants to protect small things, she'd always been told.
Gajeel didn't know what to think. His arm was burning from where she had touched him. She had touched him before, when she was fixing up his injuries, but this was the first time she had ever voluntarily touched him without needing to stitch him up, or bandage something. He thought it was rather intimate, the way her delicate hand rested on his forearm able to control his movements without much persuasion. He knew he was a fool for seeking a fight in that man, but when she slipped so close to falling, Gajeel snapped and his protective instincts had kicked in. He would hurt whoever hurt Levy, whether it was intentional or not. And that slightly scared him.
The station was crowded, even though dawn was barely an hour ago. Families held hands, trying not to get separated and couples were walking arm in arm. Businessmen and regular folk were walking in a rush, shoving and pushing to get through the building.
Someone shoved into Gajeel, causing him to bump into Levy. "Sorry, Shrimp."
Levy smiled up at him, "It's alright. It's very crowded in here. I thought Mira was exaggerating. Thank the libraries that she bought our tickets beforehand."
Gajeel nodded his agreement. He looked around trying to find the sign for the train they were meant to take. He could see them. Though, he could't exactly read them that well. The letters jumbled up and seemed to turn into a different language as he tried to interpret them. It didn't help that it was extremely loud in the station either. All his senses were confused and he couldn't seem to focus on one thing.
Levy looked up at Gajeel. She could see that he was struggling to read the signs, and that slightly shocked her. She didn't expect him to be an amazing reader but she didn't think that he would struggle as much as he was. Knowing it would hurt his pride if she said anything, she poked him in the rib grabbing his attention.
"I think there is a map of the station over there. We can use it to find our train. We've some time yet," she lead the way, weaving in between people easily due to her small stature. Gajeel would've lost her if it weren't for her scent overpowering the others'.
He was slightly relieved that Levy had suggested finding the map. It was embarrassing enough not being able to read properly, but to have to admit it to a bookworm and someone he deeply cared about was nothing short of torture for him. He caught up with Levy who had already reached the map and was scanning the labels trying to find their train.
"That's the one!" she exclaimed as she slammed a finger on the coloured dot representing their train.
"Hmm. It's on the other side of the building. If we hurry, we might be able to get a compartment to ourselves," Gajeel said, pleased that he could at least read maps easily.
"How long did the she-devil say the train ride was again, Shrimp?" He patiently waited for an answer, and when there was none, he noticed the absence of his Shrimp's scent. "Shrimp?" he looked around, trying to spot Levy in the crowd but to no avail. She was too damn little. "Shit! I lost her!"
Gajeel tore through the crowd trying to find Levy. "Oi, have you seen a girl around this tall with blue hair and an orange dress?" he grabbed the nearest person to him who happened to be an old man and began describing Levy as best he could. When the old man failed to give an answer immediately, he spun around and held a young woman by the shoulders. "You! Have you seen a girl around your age but smaller and with blue hair-" Gajeel was cut of when the woman he was holding on too slapped him across the cheek with her purse. She walked off, leaving Gajeel in the middle of the station, red-cheeked and with still no clue as to where his Shrimp disappeared off to.
He walked back to where he last saw her and retraced his steps to where he noticed she was gone. He did that twice but came up with no clues. He let out a long frustrated sigh, angry at himself for not paying more attention to her. He ran both his hands through his hair, ignoring the pain that shot up his injured arm. Where are you, Levy? he thought, looking up at the sky.
Gajeel's head suddenly snapped around. He had smelled the unmistakeable scent of Levy amongst unfamiliar ones. He whipped his body around to face the direction it had come from, startling a group of toddlers nearby.
He followed the scent as best he could, pausing a little when he lost it, only to find it again and get back on track. I'll find you, Levy. I promise.