Sup everybody! So I'm back with chapter five. As I mentioned last chapter NANOWHRIMO is this month and since I'm not ready to start my original work I'm going to focus on this instead so if all goes well you'll get some extra chapter updates this month. Just a warning my awesome editor was not available for this chapter and probably won't be for the rest of the month as he is also participating. So there may be a few extra mistakes hidden in upcoming chapters. Feel free to point any out and I'll be sure to fix as many as I can.
Fairy Tail and its characters are owned by Hiro Mashima
"Come on," Gajeel said, stepping onto the sidewalk. "I parked down at the end of the street."
"One second, please," replied Levy as she locked the door behind her. She stowed her keys and turned to follow Gajeel who was already out of the alley. Damn tall people with their long legs, she thought as she rushed after him. Once she caught up he started to move again, quickly leaving her behind with his lengthy strides.
"Could you maybe slow down?" Levy shouted after him, feeling somewhat winded.
Gajeel looked over his shoulder and let out another one of his strange laughs.
"Sorry, not used to being around people with such itty bitty legs," he smirked.
Levy sputtered indignantly and rushed ahead of him.
"Well I'm not used to being around people with such awful social skills."
Again, he laughed and in a few short steps he was beside her again but he slowed his pace so that Levy could keep up easily.
"Thank you," Levy huffed, not feeling all that thankful.
Gajeel grunted and pointed out his bike, which was parked across the street. As they crossed, Levy was able to get a better look at it she realized it was an old Harley Davidson that had been kept in absolutely pristine condition. The chrome gleamed in the sunlight and the leather seats looked practically new. A fierce looking dragon had been painted on the side of the fuel tank.
"Wow," Levy said, marvelling at the fine piece of machinery.
"You like it?" Gajeel asked. "Shoulda' see the thing when I bought it. Fucking thing was practically scrap metal then. Took me years just to get it running."
"That sound like a lot of effort."
"It was worth it." Gajeel turned to her suddenly. "Why'd you wanna come with me to get the new window? It's a fucking boring way to spend your evening."
Levy was surprised by the sudden shift in the conversation, most guys loved to ramble on about their toys but Gajeel was apparently more interested in Levy's motives.
"Oh, well, mostly I'm just kind of stalling so I don't have to do any of my own end of day chores, I guess."
Gajeel nodded and turned away from her. Leaning down he unlocked his saddle bags and pulled out his helmet. Next, he dug out a second helmet and passed it to her before mounting the bike and turning it over. It roared to life and Gajeel patted the fuel tank.
"Well, hurry up," Gajeel said. "We oughta' get to Natsu before he wrecks something else."
Levy nodded and pulled the helmet on. She had expected the thing to be too loose but the helmet fit snugly. In fact, it was almost too tight. There was absolutely no way that Gajeel could get this thing on his head.
"Your spare is really small!" she shouted over the engine, climbing onto the bike.
"It's not mine," he called back, rolling away from the sidewalk and then gunning it.
Levy shouted in surprise as the bike lurched forward and she wrapped her arms around his middle, afraid she might get thrown off. She could feel him shaking with laughter and she punched his in the back.
"Jerk!"
Gajeel couldn't figure this woman out. Less than twenty-four hours ago, he and Natsu had broken into her business and home and she'd been understandably furious. Now she was riding on the back of his bike, taking a trip with him to the hardware store. He'd met some forgiving women in his life but this?
After she'd hit him he had slowed down to a more reasonable speed and she'd unwrapped her arms from his torso and was now loosely gripping his shirt. Honestly he was tempted to speed up again but she was so small. He honestly wondered if a sudden acceleration might throw her from the bike.
"Better not risk it," he mumbled.
"What!" Levy shouted over the wind.
"Nothing, we're almost there," he replied.
A few moments later, Gajeel pulled into the parking lot of the hardware store. Parking next to Natsu's truck, he pushed his kickstand out and turned off the bike. Levy was quick to jump off. She yanked her helmet off and practically threw it at him. He caught the helmet with a laugh and dismounted himself.
"What's up, Shorty? Still pissed about our jump-start?" He asked stowing both helmets and following her into the store.
"I haven't been on a motorcycle in years and that was an awful reintroduction to them, thanks a lot!" she snapped back.
He raised his hands in defeat.
"Alright, lesson learned. Won't happen again"
She took a deep breath and combed her fingers through her hair. She was tiny but she was still one hell of a looker. Gajeel wasn't going to deny that normally he was a shameless dog who would be staring at her ass outright, but he had a feeling that if Levy caught him she'd skin him alive, so for his own good health, he tried to keep his focus elsewhere.
"Good," she said, turning back to him. "Now let's go find Natsu and get that window."
"I don't think we have to," Gajeel said, nodding towards the doors. Natsu was standing just outside chatting with one of his old coworkers. Laki was her name. She didn't really look like the time to work at a tool store slash lumber yard, what with her love of dresses and bows, but she had a knack for wood carving and the owner gave her plenty of free planks and the rest to do just that, so she seemed happy enough.
Natsu waved them both over and Laki did the same.
"Hey, Gajeel," she said. "How've you been? I haven't seen you in forever."
"Fine," he replied, walking past her into the store. He just wanted to get the damn window and get out.
"I have never met anyone as... brisk as he is," Levy stated.
"You don't have to be nice about it," Natsu laughed. "He's an ass and he knows it."
"Go fu-,"
"Don't swear!" snapped Levy. "There could be other customers in here."
"She told you," Natsu crowed, jogging after him. Levy followed close behind.
"You watch your language, too," she chastised Natsu, who deflated under her matronly tone.
"Anyways, Laki, how 'bout that window?" Gajeel hollered over the window.
"Just getting a new one cut for you in the back. Should be done in a minute or two." she replied, cheerily.
"Alright." Gajeel turned to Natsu, "You grabbed some caulking?"
Natsu snorted in surprise then covered his mouth, trying to contain his laughter.
"What the fu- hell is so funny?" he snapped, folding his arms over his chest.
"Cocking?!" Natsu choked out.
Gajeel slapped the side of his head, "Grow up a for five minutes. Silicone, then, so we can seal the window."
Natsu burst into full out laughter at that. He doubled over and clutched his chest.
"What the fuck is so damn funny!" Gajeel shouted.
Levy jabbed him in the ribs.
"Stop swearing!" she hissed.
He turned to glower at her while Natsu tried to get it together.
"Caulking," he muttered, still trying to stifle his laughter "Silicone."
"What?" Gajeel was so confused. He understood why Natsu thought the word cocking was funny. The guy had the brain of a fifteen year old but silicone seemed just as funny to him.
Levy apparently got it, though, saying, "They use silicone in things like lube and-" she clapped her hands over her mouth and turned bright red. "Oh my god, I can't believe I just said that."
"Neither can I," Gajeel replied, blinking at her. Then he turned back to Natsu, "Are you seriously laughing over something that stupid? Did you get some or not."
Natsu shook his head.
"That's all I wanted to know," he started to go down the isle when he stopped and whirled around. "Wait, if you couldn't afford a second window how did you expect to pay for the cocking!"
Bursting into another fit of giggles, Natsu just shook his head, "Didn't know we'd need any."
Gajeel could only groan before heading down one of the isles and grabbing what he needed before going up to Laki who was at the till. She had grabbed the window from the back and was already ringing it through. Levy and Natsu joined him, Natsu still chuckling like an idiot and Levy still blushing.
"Thanks," he muttered, passing her the tube of silicone. He looked at the till and noticed a sign that said Help Wanted. "You looking for another body around here?" Gajeel asked.
"Huh? Oh yes, but I don't think you'd be able to work here. You wouldn't be allowed to keep any of your piercings for safety reasons." Laki replied with an apologetic shrug.
Gajeel sighed, "Worth a shot, I guess."
Five minutes after Gajeel had paid for everything, Levy found herself in the front seat of Natsu's truck with the new window on her lap. Natsu was climbing into the truck, while Gajeel was getting on his bike.
"Don't drive like an idiot and make her drop the window or something," Gajeel growled. "I don't think they'll cut us another one."
Natsu shrugged and grinned like the Cheshire Cat.
"As long as we're paying, I'm pretty sure they don't care how many windows they cut us."
Gajeel rubbed is eyes and groaned.
"Let me rephrase," he ground out. "I don't want to pay for another damn window."
"Phrasing's everything with me, dude," Natsu replied. "Don't worry, I'll be careful."
Gajeel grunted, apparently content with Natsu's answer. He turned his bike over and shot off, leaving Levy alone with Natsu in the parking lot.
"He's... intense," Levy remarked as Natsu turned the truck over and pulled out onto the street.
"Yeah, he's not usually this bad but he's on a bit of a short fuse today," Natsu scratched the side of his face. He looked kind of embarrassed. "We both took a bit of a verbal beating from Gramps, err, Makarov today, but Gajeel really got it good."
"What do you mean?"
"Gaj had a meeting with Makarov this morning, but never mentioned last night to him. Thought it'd be better if we just left you alone, I guess, but my guilty continence got the better of me and I told Gramps everything during training," Natsu laughed and shrugged. "Gaj may have had his ass handed to him a little bit."
"By Mr. Dreyar?" Levy asked skeptically.
"Old fart can be as terrifying as he is charming," Natsu said with a shudder. "The guy does own a gym with some of the roughest fighters in the business. You kind of need to be tough to deal with people like that."
"Oh, yeah, that's right. I remember a few mentions about that. So you and Gajeel are in, like, the UFC and stuff like that."
"Well, we're mixed martial artists but we don't normally do fights in big circuits. You'd be surprised by the drama."
"Huh," was all Levy could come back with.
Back at the Garden, Gajeel was already waiting to be let back in when Natsu and Levy arrived. Levy passed Natsu the keys and carefully slid out of the truck, wary of the small windowpane in her hands. They all went around the back and entered through the back door.
Levy handed the window to Gajeel, who immediately got back to work. Levy backed away from the man. She could practically feel thunderclouds forming over his head.
"Umm," Levy began, "So do you guys want something to drink or..."
Gajeel grunted and Levy couldn't tell if that was a yes or not. Luckily, Natsu was there to interpret. He gave her a big toothy grin and nodded.
"Yeah, that'd be awesome," he said, walking over to her. "Can I help you bring everything down?"
Levy smiled at Natsu, he certainly had a likeable demeanor. She had a feeling that Natsu made friends with almost everyone he met. Not at all like Gajeel. She couldn't fathom how the two of them had become friends. Or how anyone could possibly enjoy the mans company. Levy certainly didn't think she'd want him hanging around after all of this was said and done; and yet, as she followed Natsu up the stairs, she could help but glance over her shoulder to get another look at him.
By the time Levy and Natsu came back downstairs with three glasses of iced tea, Gajeel was already cleaning up. The new window was in place and other than being kind of smudged up and dirty it was like the window had never been broken at all.
"Wow, that was fast," Levy commented, holding out a glass to Gajeel.
He accepted the glass and took a drink before shrugging.
"It was an easy job," he said. "So you're gonna want to let it sit awhile before you touch it. The caulking," Natsu snickered and Gajeel tensed but continued, "still needs time to set."
He pulled a rumpled looking business card out of his pocket and handed it to Levy. "If something goes wrong with it just call me and I'll stop by to fix it again." He pulled out his phone and frowned at it.
"Shit, I'm gonna be late," he growled. He quickly gathered his things and made a beeline for the door, leaving his unfinished drink on the front counter. The door shut behind him and Levy could see him break into a jog.
She gave Natsu a look who blinked in confusion and shrugged, "Job interview, maybe?"
"How can you put up with him?" she asked.
Again, Natsu shrugged and took a drink of his tea, "It helps that I've known him my whole life, I guess and like I said earlier, he's had a crappy day. He's slightly less of a douche when he's in a good mood. Promise."
Levy hummed skeptically. She looked at the card Gajeel had given her and tucked it into her pocket. "If you say so."
Okay, there's another chapter. Sorry for those hoping that this story would get intense fast. It's definitely a slow build story. Anyways, as always I would love to hear from you guys so please leave me a review or whatever. Thanks guys, hopefully we'll have chapter six up real soon.