Early Update? WHAAA? I got a ton of feedback from that chapter- which I loved! AND IT MOTIVATED ME! I woke up to tons of emails and smiled like it was Christmas! There were a few suggestions on who this 'monster' should be- and only one person guessed it! I had already known who it was going to be but there were some really good guesses! So without more rambling here we go! Thanks for reading! ~Hana
WARNING- This chapter shows a flashback of Levy including swearing, violence, and generally unpleasant things. Read with caution.
"Levy?" A deep voice said. Levy's head shot up as she looked in the direction it came from. She couldn't see his face, but she'd recognize that monsters voice anywhere. She could feel her heart pound heavily in her heart as her breaths became erratic and heavy. "So it really is you." The voice said again as the figure took a step forward.
When he came into the light, he was nothing special. Orangy blonde hair, purple tshirt, a long coat, jeans and black shoes. Gajeel saw the way Levy reacted to him, and wondered why she did. He wasn't intimidating, or scary, he had no neck tattoos or facial piercings. Compared to him, this guy looked pretty harmless.
"Jet." Levy breathed out lightly.
"Nice to see you again, didn't think I would find you again after you walked out." He leaned against the lamp post that stood a few feet away. "Too bad, even though I did nothing wrong."
Nothing wrong? Levy thought to herself. If you call crushing my spirit and beating me senseless unless I shut my "dirty whore" mouth nothing wrong. "..." Levy looked for words to say. She hadn't seen Jet since the . Luckily she wasn't alone this time.
"Hey." Gajeel gruffed.
"Levy its very rude not to introduce your friend here, I see nothings changed, and who might you be?" The orange haired man asked as he turned to Gajeel. Levy remained silent as she stared down at her feet.
"Gajeel Redfox." He crossed his arms over his chest, flexing his muscles against his thin cotton shirt, which never failed to intimidate the best of men.
"Well Gajeel nice to meet you." Jet said smoothly. "I'm Levy's..." He searched for the word. "We'll you could call me her partner."
"Partner?" Gajeel asked.
"Thats a lie." Levy shot her head up her eyes filled with an unreadable emotion as they started into Jet's.
"Levy, darling." Jet started to walk towards her.
"Don't take one more step." Levy's voice wavered as she held back tears. "You know very well that I told you I never wanted to see you again."
"You were just upset, I forgive you." Jet shrugged his shoulders. "So why don't you come on home." He extended a hand to her.
"Listen." Gajeel cut in, standing in front of Levy with one arm shielding her. "I don't know the story here, and I don't care to. But from what I'm getting I suggest you leave." He said deeply, sending shivers down Levy's spine as she felt the hair on her neck stand on end.
"Who do you think you are cutting in-" Jet spat before Gajeel interrupted.
"I think I'm Gajeel Redfox, Levy's friend. And by the looks of it, you're not." He ground his teeth together. "So once more, I suggest you leave before I have to snap your neck in two." He crashed his knuckles together. "Are we clear?" He asked.
Jet frowned slightly. He couldn't take Gajeel on, not even if there were ten of him. "I'll see you around, darling." Jet waved as he turned and walked back.
"Hey shorty?" Gajeel asked as he looked her his back at the little blue haired girl. She didn't look at him, but he knew she was listening to him. "Let's get you home, okay? I think you've enough excitement for one night." Levy nodded slightly, her eyes still avoiding his. Turning, they walked towards the public parking lot.
"Pip?" He turned around as he noticed Levy was falling a few paces behind his. "Come here." He said. She looked up at him finally. Her eyes were bloodshot, and her faced was dirtied with lines of makeup ridden tears. She walked slowly towards him, and dropped her head onto his chest. Without saying anything, his hand began to rub her back. Her hands crept their way up his chest, clutching his shirt as she nuzzled her face into it.
"You don't have to say anything if you don't want to." He placed a hand on her head rather awkwardly. First outings usually didn't end in tears for him. He pet her hair slowly as she calmed down. She didn't cry out loud, but he could feel her chest pounding against his. She was scared, terrified even just from one encounter.
"S-sorry." She whispered, her voice cracking.
"Why don't we get you home now." Gajeel whispered back.
"Mhmm..." She nodded her head as she pulled away from him.
"My bike is over there." He nodded his head in the direction of a black motorcycle. "Think you can hang on?" He grinned.
She let out a light laugh. "I think so."
"You're going to have to tell me where you live." He handed her a small black helmet.
"Its 221B Main Street, the big yellow one."
"Alright, I think I know it."
Without another word, Gajeel straddled his bike, and turned it on. The engine roared and he turned to her. She lifter her dress to the side, thanks to the leg slit, she could sit behind him comfortably without her shirt riding up.
Once she was settled, and wrapped her arms around his waist, he listed his feet of the ground and they made their way to her house.
Turning the key to the left, the engine dulled and Gajeel placed his feet down. Turning to Levy, he said "We're here."
"Thanks for the ride." She said as she lifted her leg off the bike. Loosing her balance a bit, Gajeel grabbed her hand.
"Careful there, Pip." He flashed his teeth.
"I got it." She smiled timidly as she handed him her helmet. "And I'm sorry about earlier. Jet, he-"
"Don't sweat it Pip." Gajeel pulled on her hand, bring it up to his lips before he gently laid a peck on it. She tightened her hold on his jacket that she realized she still had on.
"Oh, your jacket." She grabbed the collar, ready to take it off.
"You hold onto it." He stopped her.
"But the ride home?" She questioned. "Wont it be cold."
"It doesn't bother me." He smiled as he turned his engine back on. "Besides, it gives you an excuse to see me again." He grinned at her as her face flushed red. "See ya 'round, Pip." He kicked his stand up and rode away.
Sighing, she turned to the house. The lights were on in the front, most likely Lucy's doing. Taking a breath in, she opened the front door and made her way to her room.
*Flashback*
"Jet?" A soft voice rang through the dank apartment as a young Levy opened the door. Sweat glistened on her forehead lightly as she shrugged her heavy ballet bag over her shoulder so she could close the door. Coming home to an empty house after practice was a normal occurrence these days, Jet usually stayed out drinking or gambling with his friends.
Levy sighed as she walked to her room and threw her bag onto the bed. It had been almost a year since Levy had moved into Jet's place. Just about ten months now, and Levy had nothing but bruises and scars to show for it. Sure Jet got drunk and misplaced his anger but that was just the alcohol talking. He loved her after all.
Making her way to the bathroom, Levy locked the door and began taking her hair out of the bun it was hair sprayed in. She hummed a light tune as her fingers worked, nothing in particular, just something her mother used to sing to her when she was younger.
"Flower gleam and glow, let your power shine." She cringed as her fingers yanked a knot, bringing light tears to her eyes. "Ow ow ow..." She hissed. "Make the clock reverse, bring back what once was mine." She let a light breath out her her nose as she admired her hair in the mirror. After high school she decided to grow it out. It was long and wavy and almost reached her bottom. Jet said he liked long hair, so she was happy.
Turning to the small shower, she fiddled with the stubborn knob until the water flowed out. She took off her clothing one by one before hopping into the lukewarm showers. Sometimes Jet would forget to pay the water bill so she wasn't too picky on the temperature. And she knew he was too busy at work to clean, so she didn't mind the brown and black grout in between the tiles. The shower curtain had some mold on it, but whose didn't? That just accumulates over time.
"Heal what has been hurt..." Levy sang lightly as the shampoo worked into her damp hair. "Change the fates..." Her singing slowed as she heart the front door open. He's home tonight. Smiling widely, Levy hurried in the shower and jumped out. Normally she cherished her time in the shower, taking her time as the water washed over her and she replayed the events of the day. But Jet usually never came home early. Sometimes she would wake up to him, but she always had to go to work or to practice so they barely got any time together.
Wrapping a towel around her hair, she used a second to dry her body. After most of the moisture was gone she put on her orange fuzzy bathrobe. Jet had gotten it for her for Christmas that year and she loved it. It was on the thicker side so it kept her warm in the winters. "Jet?" Her voice echoed through the bathroom. He didn't respond. Shaking her hair out of the towel, she ran her brush through it. Deciding it was straight enough, she put it over her shoulders and walked into the house.
"Jet? Are you home?" She asked again. There was no response but she heard rustling in the kitchen. Padding over the yellowy brown carpet, Levy made it to the kitchen. Jet was there alright, sprawled on a chair with his nose pointing to the sky. "Jet, did you come home just now?" Levy asked.
"Didn't you hear me come in?" He slurred lightly. He was drunk.
"Oh, I guess I did." She smiled lightly.
He stared at her, his eyes glazed over. "So?" He asked.
"Yes?" She asked lightly.
"Are you going to make your man dinner or not?" He spat.
"I'm sorry!" She was frazzled. "Would you like something to eat?" She opened the fridge. "We don't have much, we haven't gone shopping in a while-"
"Maybe if all the money didn't go to that stupid dancing," he rolled his head as he stared at her. "We would have more chow 'round here."
"Work has been slow around this time baby..." She added lightly.
"I don't want excuses. I just want something in my stomach." He slammed a hand down on the table, making Levy shutter.
"It'll be just one minute." She said lightly as she got out ingredients for a sandwich. "Save what has been lost." She sang softly as she spread mayonnaise on the bread.
"Babe." Jet commented, causing Levy to stop her motions. "What did I say about the singing?"
"That I'm talentless and should stick to dancing. Oh but I'm also talentless at that so I should stick to making sandwiches..." She let out a light laugh, it helped mask the tears. "Here you are." She said as she set it down in front of him. Turning her back, she started cleaning up the mess she had made on the counter.
"You're not going to cut it." His words cut into her.
"Silly me, I forgot." She grabbed a knife from the sink. "Four triangles, just like you like it." She smiled as he snatched a piece and shoved it in his mouth. Turning once more, Levy put everything back in the fridge and turned to leave the kitchen. "And where the hell do you think you're going?"
"I was going to get dressed." She said lightly.
"Not going to sit down with me are you?" He asked. "After I work all day just to pay for your stupid twirling in that studio, and you cant spend some time with me?"
"No babe, that's not it at all." Levy said. "I'll sit with you, don't worry."
He nodded, and ate on. Levy stayed silent, knowing better not to speak out of turn. "Did you enjoy it?" She asked as he ate the last bite.
"It fucking sucked." He commented. "But what can I expect from a bitch like you." His words stung more and more as the alcohol flowed through his blood.
"My apologies." She bowed her head before getting off her chair. Turning to him, she began to leave once more.
"And where the fuck are you going?" He asked.
"I'm going to put on my clothes babe. Like before?" She reiterated.
"Not going to goddamn clean up?" He picked up the plate. "That's fine, I'll just do every fucking thing around this house." His words sunk in like venom as he threw the plate down in the sink, shattering it. Levy closed her eyes at the sound.
"I would have grabbed it if you had left it-" She spoke softly.
"Too ducking late now." He said.
"If you'll excuse me to get dressed." Her eyes were on is feet, never looking him in the eye.
"What the fuck ever." He waved her away with his hand. Levy walked into their shared room quickly and locked the door. Opening the closet, she looked for her favorite orange tshirt her mother gave her.
"Babe?" She asked. He didn't respond, but she continued anyways. "Have you seen my orange tshirt my mom gave me?"
"I used it as a rag."
"And where is it now?" She asked.
"Threw it away. It was ugly."
"Is.. Is that so." He voice cracked.
"Are you almost done in there babe? I need a beer."
"They're in the fridge." She yelled out, wiping the tears from her eyes.
"Yeah and I'm on the couch."
"One minute." She said as she gather herself.
"Babe." He yelled from the couch. "Babe hurry up." No response. "What the fuck." He got off the couch, and went to the kitchen.
"Here babe, i'll grab you- oh." She rushed into the kitchen.
"What good are you if you cant even get me a goddamn beer?" He stared into her.
"Im sorry I was changing and-"
"Honestly Lev." He sighed. "I do so much."
"I know baby-"
"Do you know? I work my ASS off day and night so you can dance. So you can mother fucking dance. I'm the first one to get there, and the last one to leave work!" He brought a hand up to his face. "I just wish you'd help me once and a while." Grabbing the knife left on the table, he twirled it around with his fingers. "Is that really too much to ask?"
"No babe, I'm sorry I was just changing." She said. "I swear i'll try harder."
"I don't think you really get it."
"I do babe, I do..." She said.
He picked up the knife. "I don't know Lev. I'm still not convinced."
"No babe, I'll do better, I swear. It will be alri-" She yelled as he grabbed her by the hair.
"Will you do better?" He stroked the side of her face with the knife as tears started to stream down her face.
"Yes babe, anything." She said. "Just put down the knife, it'll be like normal." She breathed out. "Just like before, just how you want it."
"Alright." He smiled lightly, moving his hand to put the knife down. "Oh but just so you don't forget this promise," in the blink of an eye he pulled her hair up, brought the knife across, and cut it all off. "There."
"I w-wont forget babe." She breathed out.
"That's my girl." He smiled before a phone rang.
"That's mine." She took it out of her pocket. It read LUCY. "Its work, one moment. Please, watch the football game while I clean up the bedroom for you." He nodded. Levy watched him walk over before she scurried over to the bedroom and shut the door.
"L-lucy." Levy breathed out in a whisper, her voice quivering.
"Levy! Hey I havent talked to you in forever! Wait, whats wrong?" She asked.
"Please don't ask questions but can you come pick me up at Miss Clara's Dance Academy in Oak Town?"
"Sure but its kinda far away-"
"Please..." She breathed out. "Just please come get me." She broke. She started sobbing quietly into the phone.
"I'll be there in twenty, just sit tight."
"Thank you Lucy." Wiping her tears for the second time that night, Levy picked herself up and rushed around the room gathering her things into her dance bag. Picture of her mom, her favorite leotards, her dance shoes, and a few sets of clothes. Anything she could get into the bag.
"Hey babe?" She asked as she came out of the room. "I have to go down to the studio to get some over time." She smiled.
"Why?" He glared.
"Oh just some extra cash so we can get that bigger TV you wanted!" She clapped her hands together. "I'll be back later." She slipped her shoes on.
"See Ya." He waved a hand, not caring to turn to look at her.
Levy walked to the bus stop in the cold of night. Although it was just turning fall, the bitter winds were coming in and she already missed the summer. Sitting on the bench she waited for the bus to come. She wiggled her legs to try and keep warm. Looking for comfort, she got it in the only way she knew how. "Flower gleam and glow, let your power shine... make the clock reverse, bring back what once was mine." She took in a breath as her head looked into the night sky. Tears threatened to fall but Levy refused to give them the satisfaction. "Heal what has been hurt, change the Fates' design, save what has been lost, bring back what once was mine." She sighed as the bus rolled up. "What once was mine."
*Flashback End*
"LEVY!" A scream awake the blue haired girl from her sleep, halting her nightmare.
"Woah!" She yelped as she fell off the side of her bed. "Owww..." She rubbed her butt which so ungracefully broke her fall.
"What are you doing here!" The voice belonging to Lucy rang in Levy's ears.
"I was sleeping." She commented as she rubbed her eyes.
"Why are you home!" The blond almost yelled.
"Because this is where I live?" She questioned. "What time is it?" She looked at her clock, it was five in the morning, right when Lucy went on her morning jog.
"I thought that this marathon ran for a while?" She asked as she fixedher running shorts. "Like almost morning? Well morning for you, so noon." She laughed a bit at her own joke.
"No, no we decided to cut it short." She smiled a bit as she looked down.
"Oh? Not feeling the season three?" She frowned.
"We ran into Jet."
Yay! That was something...
*Updated Authors Note* First off, I would like to apologize for that chapter and to anyone who was hurt by it. It was a gamble putting something so sensitive into the story, and while it was meant no harm, some people were offended. While this is just a fanfiction, written by a fan, I hope you don't hold anything against the characters. I got a few reviews saying that they could never look at Jet the same way, or how they hate how I made him OOC. I truly am sorry and didn't mean anything by that chapter, I was looking at it as a way to explain Levy's deep trauma for not wanting to dance again. There will be no more descriptions of domestic violence in the following chapters, and I do hope you can forgive me for it. I honestly meant no harm to anyone, it was strictly for fanfiction purposes. This will be reiterated in my next authors note as well.
But please leave reviews, I know it was a scary kind of chapter and I'm sorry if you hate me for it but keep on reading! It will only get better from here! Swear! Thanks for always Reading, Favoriting, Following, and Supporting me! Without you guys there would be no story!~Hana
P.S. Reviews Motivate Hana. Share your thoughts for updates