Levy was lost. She had never been good with directions, and had lost Gajeel in the crowd while she was following him. Her short legs were at a disadvantage compared to his longer ones and she was soon straggling behind him.
After being distracted by a proposal at which many people had gathered to watch, Levy had realized that she had lost Gajeel. She desperately looked around, trying to find the Slayer but couldn't see anything.
She tried to find her way towards the map, thinking that she could try to find her way to the train again, but she had taken too many wrong turns and was completely and utterly lost. As the day grew older, more people were surging into the station making it even more jam packed than it was before. Panic settled in her stomach, threatening to rise to her throat. She didn't know what to do.
Slowing down her breathing, she tried to calm her heart rate. The rational part of her mind took over. She could hardly use any magic to alter Gajeel of her whereabouts since the walls of the station included magic binding enchantments ensuring that no travellers were hurt by magic. She inwardly groaned. He couldn't see her because of her height and she'd lost her lucky bandana the day before so waving that around like a flag wouldn't work either.
"Levy!"
She perked up, thinking she heard her name being called. She strained her ears, thinking she had imagined it. When no-one called her name, she was disheartened. She had imagined it after all.
"Levy!"
The voice was louder than before and definitely real.
"Gajeel? I'm here!" she called out in the direction of the voice.
When she heard no reply she called out again, "Gaj-aaaaaah!" Levy shrieked as something grabbed her around the waist from behind, pulling her backwards.
"I'm here," Gajeel whispered in her ear as he hugged her tight.
He had thought that the unthinkable had happened to Levy. That she was forever lost to him and that the very last thing he had said was out of anger to an innocent man. The thought made him regret everything he had ever done all over again and he felt like his insides were torn apart. Finding Levy safe and unharmed made him act before he could think. He grabbed her in his arms, crushing her small body into his wishing that he could absorb her into him so the she would never leave him again. This small body did so much to him that he couldn't even understand but couldn't bear to live without. He was glad he found her.
"Gajeel." Levy simply said. She wasn't asking him anything. She said his name just to say it. Levy didn't know that Gajeel would react this way but knew in her heart that had she spotted Gajeel first, her reaction would have been the same. She stirred in his arms, trying to turn around.
"No. Don't move." Gajeel stopped her from turning by gripping tighter before releasing his hold a little. "Please..."
Levy sank into his body and rested her head back against his chest in reply. Gajeel having received the message, rested his chin on her soft hair and closed his eyes. She was safe, he thought, and that was all that mattered.
They stayed there like that for a while in the middle of the station, completely oblivious to their surroundings. No one bothered them either..
"Train 238 from Magnolia to Acalypha leaving in ten minutes. Train 238 from Magnolia to Acalypha leaving in ten minutes." The announcement suddenly sounded, jolting Levy and Gajeel from their state of contentment. Their moment now ruined, Levy turned around to face Gajeel with a faint blush high on her cheeks.
"That's our train."
Gajeel nodded, a twin blush adorned on face. Levy turned around to start walking, before he grabbed her wrist. "Wait!"
Levy spun to face him, completely aware that he still held her wrist in his large warm hands. "What is it, Gajeel?" she asked, her eyebrows shooting up in concern.
"Yer to short, Shrimp. I'll lose you again if we keep walking in this crowd."
Levy huffed her annoyance at being called short yet again and shook off Gajeel's comment by walking off again. She had forgotten that Gajeel still held her wrist and was yanked back again.
"You didn't let me finish, Shrimp. Either you walk holding my hand," he paused looking down briefly at their joint hands, "or I throw you over my shoulder and carry you to the train. Yer choice, gihi." he smirked.
Levy narrowed her eyes at him. "I'm not going to let you throw me around like a sack of potatoes. So...we better go otherwise we'll miss the train." she slipped her hand up from Gajeel's grasp on her wrist and entwined her fingers in his. Her blush grew more prominent than before and was just shy of becoming red.
Gajeel squeezed Levy's hand and began walking fast towards their train.
When they finally arrived, Levy was exhausted from having to take so many steps just to keep up with Gajeel. They boarded the train with three minutes to spare and had even founded an empty compartment at the back of the train. After stowing their bags above them, Gajeel collapsed on the seat looking slightly nauseous. Levy sat down next to him, looking out the window.
The train began to move slowly out of the station, gradually gaining speed as they rushed out of the city of Magnolia and into the countryside.