Nest Egg - PaintedZecora

Disclaimer: Fairy Tail is the property of Hiro Mashima

They were nearing the two month mark, and the egg still hadn't shown signs of hatching any time soon. Levy paced around her apartment, fanning herself as the summer heat took its toll on the citizens of Magnolia. Her legs were cramped from having to sit with the egg for hours on end. Unable to stand it for a moment longer, she decided to carry it around with her. Pressed against the center of her torso and with her arms wrapped around it, the egg wasn't too much of a bother, though the extra weight made her arms ache.

Gajeel and Lily were out training by themselves. Having returned from a two day job the night before, Levy was too tired to accompany them. It was a nice opportunity to relax at leisure, so she turned on the radio lacrima and listened to some classical music.

She stood by the window, just close enough so that the sunlight that filtered in hit the egg. A little extra warmth wouldn't hurt, she decided. Not many people were out on the streets today. The Mayor's office had sent out a bulletin advising elders and children to stay inside and avoid walking in direct sunlight. An easy solution to beat the heat would have been to simply Solid Script: Ice or Cool, but unlike many other mages, she preferred not to use her magic when most other people got along well without it. And she liked the heat; it reminded her of Gajeel's warm body whenever she managed to catch him in a rare hug.

She leaned against the window frame, lost in her thoughts when a familiar blonde crossed the street in front of her apartment. Levy opened the window a little higher and stuck her head out. "Lu-chan! Up here!"

. . .

"I didn't know you moved,"Lucy said reproachfully as the two young women embraced. "I didn't think you wanted to leave Fairy Hills in the first place."

"I figured it was time to strike out on my own. And it's cheaper as well." She swiftly whipped up a pitcher of sweet tea. A quick casting of Solid Script:Ice and the cooled beverage was ready to serve. The egg was safely tucked on her bed, where it would be safe and out of the way for a little while.

"It does look cozy." Lucy admitted, sipping delicately at her drink and patting her lips with a folded napkin. Born into virtual aristocracy, old habits died hard.

Levy beamed; she'd worked hard on decorating the apartment when she first moved in. That one of her closest friends approved of her new home solidified her certainty that she had made the right choice after all.

Lucy tucked a golden tress behind her ear, and Levy was struck by how her friend was able to maintain a perfect appearance despite the hot weather. Unlike herself, the humidity didn't wreak havoc on the celestial mage's hair. Nor did she shed even an ounce of sweat. Though Lucy had several minor flaws, she was an intelligent and generous woman, and Levy hoped to edit her stories when they were ready for publishing.

"So, how did the training go? Are you coming back to the guild now?"

"It was better than I expected, really. Between Capricorn, Loke and Aquarius, I learned a lot of new things." Her face fell. "I just wish it didn't have to take so long."

Levy smiled. "Natsu missed you, you know."

The dour look on her face told the Script mage she wasn't buying it. "I've kind of been laying low since I came back the other day. After we lost the last Magic Games we grew more...distant. I tried to talk to him about it and he just ignored me." She put her head in her hands. "I completely blew that last fight."

Levy leaned over and gave her friend a comforting touch on the arm. "It's not your fault we lost the games. Besides, you know Natsu isn't the type to be mad over something like that."

"Really?" Lucy asked in a small voice.

Levy took a sip of her own drink. "Is there something going on between you and him that I don't know about?"

The Celestial mage flushed. "N-no! Nothing at all." At Levy's disbelieving look she added: "Enough about me. I heard something interesting today."

"Hm?"

Lucy smirked. "I ran into Mira earlier. Is it true that Gajeel's shacking up with you?"

Levy reddened, and quickly explained about the situation with the egg. Her blonde companion punched the air triumphantly. "Hah! It's about time you two got together. It's been what, two years since we got back from Tenrou?"

"Two and three quarters," Levy mumbled.

"Exactly! And you've liked him forever."

"Only since that thing with Laxus." She squirmed uneasily. "And it's not as if we're sharing a bed or anything. But he is...nicer. We talk more, now that he's here."

Lucy nodded in agreement, and Levy remembered that she wasn't the only person in the room whom the iron dragon slayer had hurt badly a decade before. "Lu-chan."

"Hm?"

"Do you like Gajeel?"

The celestial mage's eyes widened. "Ehhhh? Er...I mean, he's not a bad person but...I'm not into all the piercings, and I'm pretty sure that just being near that guy is like asking for a tetanus shot."

Levy rolled her eyes. "I don't mean that kind of like. I meant, as a person. What do you think of him?"

Her friend tilted her head thoughtfully. "He can be a bit intimidating...but other than that, he does remind me a bit of Natsu. He's the sort of guy who would stick up for his friends."

Levy nodded in agreement. "I trust him completely. And..." She took a deep breath. "I think I love him."

Lucy choked on her drink. " I know you've liked him for a long time, but love? That seems extreme, coming from you."

"Extreme? How?"

"In all the time I've known you, I've never heard of you having a boyfriend, or even going out on dates. You just seemed so focused on your team, and studying runes."

She shrugged, feeling self-conscious. "I don't know what else to call it. I just feel that if I ever lost him, I couldn't stand to live another day."

"You need to tell him this," Lucy stated matter-of-factly. "And soon."

Levy's brow furrowed. "Why?"

"You're both guild mages. Just being in Fairy Tail puts our lives at risk. You know how many enemies we have. Not to mention the sorts of jobs we go on, the things we have to do. As impossible as it may sound, what if Gajeel goes on a mission and doesn't come back? You'll never again have the chance to tell him you love him, face to face." Lucy's voice quavered. "My dad...I would give almost anything to see him one more time. Just to tell him that. To let him know that I've always loved him, even when he ignored me."

Levy didn't know what to say. As she watched tears roll down her friend's face, she suddenly saw herself in Lucy's position. Gajeel was always going off on dangerous jobs. He would walk gleefully into den of thieves if it meant a good fight. The thought that he might never return made her blood run cold. She silently handed Lucy a tissue and went to top up their drinks. "I'm sorry," she mumbled, feeling as though she could have said something better.

"Ugh, I'm just being a pain now." Lucy laughed weakly as she dabbed at her cheek.

Levy shook her head. "No, you're right. But what if...what if he doesn't love me back?" Gajeel liked her, she knew, but like for Gajeel was probably very different compared to other people. For all she knew, "like" was synonymous with "barely tolerable" to the Iron dragon slayer. And it wasn't like he went out of his way to treat her affectionately either. She wasn't sure whether to count the way he often ruffled her unruly hair in a deliberate attempt to piss her off. Lucy looked at her as if she were insane.

"Levy-chan?"

"Yes?"

"You know how your crush on Gajeel is the worst-kept secret in the guild?"

Levy winced. "Are you serious?"

Lucy nodded. "Well, it just so happens that Gajeel's crush on you is the second worst-kept secret in Fairy Tail. Even before Tenrou."

The Script mage gaped as Lucy struggled to hold in laughter. "I...he...that can't be..." she sputtered, turning a deep shade of pink. Lucy had to be joking. There was no way something like that could completely escape her notice. Then again, Gajeel had been unaware of her attraction to him for the past several years...

But since before Tenrou? They hadn't even been friends back then...

"That's not possible,"she whispered in denial. "How do you know?"

"Levy." Lucy said seriously. "It was kind of obvious. After Fantasia, he looked at you every time you walked into the guild. Why do you think he likes to sit all the way at the back? So he could see you." The Script mage cupped her glass and bit her lip.

"But...why didn't he say anything? All this time..."

"I think you can answer that yourself, Levy."

Levy closed her eyes. Now that she thought about it, she could see why the dragon slayer would hide his feelings. He wasn't the sort to open up, especially back then. But it all went beyond his reclusive personality alone. When he joined the guild, she was afraid of him. Scared to the point of hiding in corners whenever he was nearby, where she would hold her breath and try to still her shaking hands until he left. He wasn't stupid. He must have known how she felt about him. That there was no possibility of friendship because of what he'd done. He went out of his way to ignore her even-up until Team Natsu returned from a mission at the Tower of Heaven, they hadn't exchanged even a word of greeting.

She shook her head. Lucy and the others might have read into it a bit too much. Gajeel's reasons for watching her might have been motivated by guilt or curiosity more than attraction. She refused to believe she had been that oblivious to someone else's feelings. How could she not notice? No. Lucy was mistaken. She said as much, and her friend shrugged.

"Either way, we could tell he had a thing for you. I guess you could say that you two were like Alzack and Bisca- completely blind to how the other felt." Levy glared sullenly at the blonde, barely holding herself back from saying the same about her and Natsu's relationship.

"I need some air," she said coldly, getting up from the table and going to her room. The egg lay where she left it, safely ensconced in a makeshift nest made of her blanket and spare sheets. She slipped on a pouch suited for carrying the egg and after making sure it was secured, poked her head in the kitchen.

"Lucy, mind if I go out for a bit? Help yourself to anything, I'll be back..." Anything to escape the suddenly stifling confines of her apartment.

"Levy, wait..." Lucy stood up as well. "I'll come with you. I'm sorry if I upset you. "

"I'm not upset, just a bit...surprised," she admitted.

"You're going to look for Gajeel, aren't you?" Lucy asked slyly.

'How did you...?"

"I know you too well." She grinned, and Levy chuckled and took her hand as they headed out. It was good to have her friend back.

Gajeel stared up at the looming rain clouds, lips slightly parted as he caught his breath. Beside him on the grassy field sat Pantherlily, and further away, blowing lazy smoke circles into the sky, was the fire dragon slayer.

"You're a bit slow on the offense, Metal Head," Natsu teased. "Eating too much of Levy's home cooking?"

"Che. Shut up," the iron dragon slayer huffed. The three of them had sparred for hours, and it was only now that they decided to stop for a break.

The Grand Magic Games were only about three months away, and the two dragon slayers were determined to cement their spots on the guild's team. After to Sabertooth by a single point the year before, the Fairy Tail mages were determined to win back the title of Strongest Guild. Though he hated losing, he didn't take their failure to win as badly as he would have back in his Phantom days. He had other things to think about that. More important things, starting with Levy. He closed his eyes. If someone had told his younger self he would one day lose to his heart to-of all people-a Fairy he would have punched his lights out without a second thought.

He watched idly as a ladybug crawled onto his hand and sat there, it's short antennae waving. Before Levy had come into his life, he would have simply squashed it flat. But his bookworm's gentleness was infectious, and so he just lay there and watched the spotted beetle fly away. He had changed.

But it was better this way. He had his Shrimp, and his Exceed, and for the first time since his mentor left he felt as if he had achieved an almost perfect balance in life. Despite his reservations, he eventually gave in to Levy's invitation to stay with her, and soon came to enjoy spending his time there. At first, he tried to pay rent but the Shrimp wouldn't hear of it. So he improvised, and did chores like taking out the garbage and washing dishes after mealtimes. And, of course, they both cared for the egg.

Like it matters now, he thought despondently to himself. Wondering how to break the worst to his Shrimp.

"Ready to go again?" Natsu asked, a challenging gleam in his eyes."Or are you still sleeping off that last meal?"

"Ya ain't funny." Gajeel growled under his breath. Levy certainly had a talent for cooking, and he wasn't afraid to admit he took second and third helpings at mealtimes. Use of Dragon slayer magic burned off excess fat, so his companion's jibe had no merit. "Feeling jealous, just cuz your girl won't cook you nothing?" Natsu's eyes widened in confusion.

"I didn't know I had a girl."

"The Demon Barmaid's sister. Lilyanna, Lissandra, Betty...somethin like that."

"Lisanna?"

"Huh, that's it." Strange how he could never remember that girl's name.

"Yeah well there's nothing going on between us. We're just childhood friends."

"Then what about Bunny Girl?"

Natsu's lip curled, showing a bit of fang. "Lucy's gone off to train, remember?" He said bitterly.

"How could I forget?" Gajeel said bluntly, remembering how the other dragon slayer had turned the entire city upside down in his quest to find the celestial mage. "She skipped town right after the Games." Natsu stiffened, and Gajeel belatedly realized that her absence was still a sore point to his friend.

"I'm not gonna lose to Sabertooth again. I already let Lucy down last year-"

Gajeel rolled his eyes. "Sheesh, ya still going on about that?"

"...but this year will be different. Once she hears we beat 'em, she'd definitely want to come back." Natsu went on as if he hadn't spoken. "Isn't that right, little buddy?"

"Aye, sir!" Happy chirped.

"I don't think it works that wa-"

"It was my fault we lost the last time. If I had gotten another two points on that one event..."

Gajeel scoffed. "If you really think Bunny Girl left for a reason like that, you're a few circuits short of an engine."

"What do you know?" The pink haired dragon slayer aimed a low kick at him; Gajeel rolled away from the strike and sprang lightly to his feet. He took up a defensive stance.

"Unlike you, Flame Brain, I actually use my head. And that ain't going to work on me," he added, barely dodging to the side as the other man feinted and lashed out with another kick.

"You know something about Lucy, don't you?" Natsu snarled.

Natsu utilized his fists more than anything else in combat, so his sudden shift in fighting took Gajeel off his guard. Still, he did his best to hide it. Flame Brain was stupid as fuck, but he was a more than worthy sparring partner. As they exchanged blows, he noted the fury in the other man's eyes, and slowly started to recognize himself in them. Had he himself been so full of fire and passion when he was younger? And was Natsu right? Had he actually grown soft? Natsu's flaming fist grazed his cheek, and he barely managed to keep his footing as his cheek was burned.

A feral grin slowly made its way across his face. Maybe it was time to take the lid off the self control he'd so carefully maintained...

"You asked for it, punk." He growled, releasing his inner reserves of magic. Just this once, to knock him down a few pegs. But Natsu wasn't looking at him.

"Oi, what are-" at that moment two familiar scents hit his nostrils. Levy's and...

"Lucy!" Natsu breathed.

"You've gotta be kidding me," Gajeel deflated as none other than Shrimp and Bunny Girl appeared over the rise.

"Lucy!" The two figures stopped stock still, the taller one letting out an audible squeak as Natsu took a determined step forward. Lucy took one back. Naturally, Natsu stepped forward again, and his blonde teammate repeated her movement. Then turned and ran.

He was after her in an instant.

"Why are you running from me?" He yelled. His eyes blazed, a wide grin making its way across his face.

"You're going too fast!" Lucy screamed as Natsu bore down on her, his arms outstretched. Levy wisely stepped aside as the dragon slayer sped past and slammed into the celestial mage, sending them both tumbling down the slope.

"Lucy! Are you a-"

"Just leave 'em." Gajeel strode up beside her, his shirt thrown casually over his shoulder and a disgusted scowl on his face. His chest glistened with sweat; he had trained hard.

Levy chuckled, poking him playfully in the cheek. "What's with that sour look? Natsu pull an illegal move on you again?"

"Tch. Like I'd let that happen. Laugh if you want, but setting fire to my fucking hair is overkill." He glanced over at the pair on the ground. "I see Bunny Girl came back. "

"Natsu, get off!" Lucy was screeching. Natsu grinned wickedly and pressed her into the grass.

"Do you know how long I spent looking for you, Lu? How many times I'd catch your scent only to lose it the same day?" His teammate shut her eyes, a whimper escaping her lips.

"Natsuuu, I'm sorry..."

"I'm not letting you out of my sight ever again," the fire dragon slayer said seriously. "Because..." He bent forward and whispered in her ear. Lucy's face flushed a bright pink.

"Let's go." Gajeel said abruptly.

Levy tilted her head questioningly and looked back at her friend. "But Lucy-"

"We'd only be in the way," he said tautly. His gaze dropped to the egg she carried with her, and for an instant a pained look entered his eyes. He turned quickly and headed away towards town.

Wondering what was suddenly up with the dragon slayer, Levy ran to catch up to his long strides. He was tense; his fists were clenched and he barely acknowledged her with a glance as she fell into step beside him. What's his problem?

Unable to resist it, she looked back at the friends she left behind and suddenly understood why the dragon slayer insisted on leaving them alone. Natsu and Lucy were no longer sprawled on the slope; they sat side by side, their heads close together while they spoke quietly. As she watched, Natsu slowly reached over and placed his hand over hers. Levy's breath caught; the raw emotion in the scene filled her with yearning. And envy.

She drank in the sight, and when she finally dragged her eyes away she turned to see Gajeel standing several yards away with a frustrated look on his face. Suddenly she remembered what Lucy had said earlier. Her throat felt dry, and she swallowed thickly to get rid of the feeling.

"Gajeel," she forced out, her heart hammering. "There's something I want to tell you."

*On hands and knees*

I'm sorry! I completely lost my muse this past month, and only now have I managed to sort myself out a bit. I apologize for the errors that are no doubt running rampant. Also, when I'm stuck on both stories, I end up writing something else completely, which ended up happening this week. Stay tuned for more T^T...