(Original published 9/27, updated published 10/7)
[[NOTE: if you have not read chapters 8 & 9 since October 7th, please reread them before continuing with the story. They had been redone to fix issues with pacing. Thank you]]
Okay, this is a new version of this chapter. I decided I didn't really like how I had paced the old versions of chapters 8 and 9 so I rewrote them. None of the plot elements are being removed, they're just being rearranged and combined with new material to make the pacing work better.
Again, thanks to all my lovely reviewers.
Lucy had watched the entire scene from her seat beside Natsu, smiling to herself. It was obvious to her that the two of them were both equally obsessed, judging by how much they each stared at the other when they thought no one was looking.
When Cana gave her a thumbs up she knew that, first off, the plan was working; and, judging by Cana's grimace, that they needed another push.
Shaking her head, the blonde stood and headed for the bar. Neither Levy nor Gajeel seemed to notice when she plopped herself down on the stool next to the bluenette. Rolling her eyes, she loudly began, "So!..." The two of them jumped in unision. It was adorable. "I didn't realize you had any family, Lily?"
The dark man smiled and fondly ruffled his nephew's hair – who quickly swatted him away. Crossing his arms, Lily leaned back against the shelves. "Well… to make a long story short, Gajeel's dad – Metallicana Redfox – and I served together in the Army straight out of high school. We became fast friends overseas. After our time was up, he went back to Boston to marry his high school sweetheart, Leah. I went with him and ended up falling in love with and marrying Leah's twin sister, Shagotte. The four of us ran a gym together for some years. Then…" He fell silent, eyes distant, his face a mask of sadness. Gajeel's face mirrored his uncle's, their sorrow and regret obvious to their listeners.
Lily shook himself out of his memories, sighing. "Sorry. Anyway, we aren't related by blood, but Metallicana and I were brothers in arms and in law. So," he grinned and elbowed Gajeel. "When I heard my cute little nephew, who just so happens to be an experienced bartender, was looking for a new home, I just had to bring him here!" Gajeel rolled his eyes and shoved Lily.
Levy tuned out their bantering, burning with curiosity. What had Lily been talking about? What could have caused so much emotional damage to two of the toughest looking men she had ever met? With a light sigh, she resigned herself to the lack of knowledge. While she was familiar with Lily, she barely knew Gajeel… no matter how instantly connected she felt to him. She shouldn't go prying into his life… Mavis knew she had always hated it when people tried to do it to her.
She was drawn back to the present by Lucy tugging on her arm. "Levy! Let's go dance!" the blonde urged, taking the mug from Levy's hands and placing it on the bar top. She laughed and allowed Lucy to drag her off her stool and away from the bar. Glancing back towards the mysterious new bartender, she met his eyes, cheeks flushed, and called, "Thanks for the drink!"
Hidden away from prying eyes, shadowy figures gathered to discuss their mission…
"Alright, everyone here? Good. As you all know, it's now been several weeks without any noticeable developments. Our job is to change that and ensure that our targets get together ASAP and have lots of cute babies. Now, with regards to the mission, Subject L has been more willing to be my model recently, particularly when I give or sell her the clothes afterwards. She seems to be paying more attention to her appearance."
"Don't forget, she's come in to ask me to teach her more about makeup and hair a few times."
"And I've seen her through Seidhr Cedar's front window a few times, pacing in front of Sew Be It without going in. Nervousness, maybe?
"Right, I had forgotten. Thanks, Green. And thanks for noticing that, Lavender. I hadn't. Does anyone else have anything to report regarding their status?"
The smallest shadow shyly raised it's hand.
"Yes, Little Blue?"
"I've been listening in on gossip at the Sushi Bar and Tower of Treats… there's been plenty of speculation about the subjects but nothing confirmed."
Another raised its hand. "Yellow?"
"I've been asking Subject L, but she either ignores my hinting or changes the subject." The shadow pouted. "She won't even take me with her when she goes shopping anymore!"
Another shadow leapt from its seat. "Ah! Ju- er, Big Blue has something to say! Subject L has been going shopping more frequently, and not just for books. She changed her shampoo to a prettier scent, bought some scented shower gel, got more makeup, and has been expanding her collection of accessories and cute clothing!"
"As expected from our pro stalker!"
"Shhhhh, Little White, don't be so loud."
"Be careful – we might get discovered."
"Oh. Right. Sorry, Big White, Red."
"Anyway, anyone else have anything to report? Any changes in behavior? Yes, Brown?"
"Subject L has been hanging around the Shop a lot lately – granted, she did that before, but now she tends to sit closer to the bar, especially when Subject G is around."
"She has also taken to ordering drinks straight from the bar when he is working, rather than through one of us waitresses."
"Hmm… an interesting development, Purple."
"Indeed."
The shadows all stood up and faced each other.
"Remember everyone… we are women on a mission! We will not be stopped! Operation GaLe MUST succeed!"
"And remember… talk about what happens in this room, and you die."
Muttering darkly, Levy scanned the paper in front of her, slashing and commenting all over it in red pen. The tenses were all messed up, the grammar was atrocious, half the words were spelled wrong, and the topic didn't even make sense! Glaring down at the offending paper before her, she resolved to have a… chat with whoever decided to turn in this garbage.
"You tryin' to set the thing on fire with your eyes, shrimp?"
She looked up, still scowling, blushing slightly at the amused look on Gajeel's face as he set down her usual drink in front of her.
She snatched it up and glared into it, trying to get her mind off of him. "I wish I could burn it. It's an affront to my eyes."
One eyebrow went up as he rolled up his sleeves to start washing glasses. "What is it, anyway?"
She waved her hand irritably, slouching back on her high chair at the bar. "Some stupid kid taking my intro to Russian class did a terrible job on the paper I assigned. Best thing that can be said about him is that he at least remembers the Cyrillic alphabet."
The other eyebrow went up. "Are you a teacher?"
"Sometimes. I work as translator as well as teaching various language classes at some of the colleges around here." She watched his movements as she spoke. Now that his forearms were exposed, she could see old scars slashed across his corded muscles. Idly she wondered what had caused them, itching to trace them and learn their stories. What looked like the very edge of a tattoo peeked out from beneath the folded edge of his sleeve. I wonder where else he has tattoos…
Blushing, she shook her head, mentally scolding herself. A flash of blonde out of the corner of her eye caught attention and she turned to look, knitting her brow in confusion.
"Lu? Er, why were all of you guys in the storage closet?"
This one didn't really change much. Ch 9 bore the brunt of the edits.
