The music blasted inside the guild hall as Lucy followed the fire dragon slayer through the crowd of mages. The drinks had been flowing and her mind was hazy. She was tripping over the hem of her long dress trying to keep up with the pink haired man in front of her. Lucy could hear Natsu laughing as they wove their way to the back of the guild hall. They stopped just behind the buffet table and stared at one another not sure what to say. Natsu was having a blast; he and Lucy had been dancing for the last two hours without breaks. His mind was stuck on the blonde mage in front of him, they had been pressed close together while dancing and the contact lit something deep inside of him. Natsu would catch himself staring at the celestial mage as her body rubbed tauntingly close to his own, the way she swayed her figure and lolled her head as the beat of the music flooded the room they were in intoxicated him. He could tell her attitude and whole demeanor was more confident and open while they danced. He wasn't sure whether it was the alcohol they had consumed or something else entirely that he had long been suppressing, but all he knew was he needed to be alone with Lucy. Natsu let out a small giggle and swiftly grabbed Lucy's wrist to pull her along behind him. He made his way past the buffet table, trying not to stop and taste some more of the delicious food that resided there, and out the back door to the pool.
There was a chill in the night air, it swept across Levy's heated cheeks doing its best to try and calm the blush that had blossomed across her face. The small bluenette let out a soft moan as she felt the large hand that was holding her back sink a little lower. A shiver traveled up her spine and she gripped the tangled black mane of the man who was holding her even tighter in response to his movement. Gajeel pressed himself closer to the small woman trying his hardest to control the need that was burning inside of him, when suddenly Levy pulled away, a concerned look adorning her face.
"Gajeel? Did you hear that?" Levy asked breathlessly. Gajeel was so wrapped up in the small woman he hadn't even heard the growing laughter that was moving closer to them. Gajeel hastily stood up and adjusted himself, doing all that he could not to smash the faces of the people who were interrupting him. Suddenly a very intoxicated Natsu and Lucy came stumbling up the concrete path. The inebriated pair had their arms wrapped around one another, tangled together, their mouths fighting for dominance. Gajeel let out a small cough effectively getting the attention of the drunken mages.
"Hey Gajeeeel! Wha's up?" Lucy slurred as she tried to regain her balance.
"Wha – whaat are you guyss do – ing out here?" Natsu continued, hiccupping between words.
"None of your business Salamander. How 'bout you take Bunny Girl and go back to her place. I think you've both partied enough for the night." Gajeel stated, still frustrated by the couples abrupt interruption.
"Ya' know, thas not a bad idea! Les go Natssu!" Lucy grabbed Nartsu's arm and dragged him whole-heartedly back through the guild hall. Gajeel waited for the two to leave before turning back to Levy, who was still sitting on the bench, now staring down at her lap.
"Well, that was annoying." Gajeel stated flatly looking down at the small woman.
"Gajeel, can I – can I ask you something?" Levy sat on the bench, running over the last few minutes in her mind. She was trying to make heads or tails of the whole situation. She knew she enjoyed it, and she knew Gajeel enjoyed it but she was concerned that Gajeel may not be interested in her the way she had hoped. Levy was scared that he was only attracted to her physically. I mean, we don't really talk all that much. He still knows barely anything about me. And what do I really know about him? What are you doing Levy? Gajeel gave Levy a concerned look.
"Uh – sure Shrimp. What's on your mind?"
"What are we doing?" Gajeel was taken back. He didn't know how to answer. He wasn't sure he was ready to tell Levy everything he felt for her. What the hell does that mean? I don't know! How am I supposed to answer to that? I mean, hell, I obviously like her, isn't that a good enough answer?
"I dunno. But I like it." He looked at Levy, a small smile made its way across his lips.
"That isn't what I meant, Gajeel. I need to know what this is. What you want this to be."
"Well, I was really having fun earlier, isn't that good for right now?"
"Gajeel, I can't just have fun with you – I mean – I need to know what you want, because I know what I want and I just can't…" Levy trailed off tears forming in her eyes. "I just can't start something with you and not know if it is real!" Levy almost shouted at him trying to wipe the tears from her eyes.
"Levy – I." Gajeel tried to form his thoughts. He wanted to tell the solid script mage everything. He tried building the courage to tell her all of the things he was thinking but couldn't bring himself to confess his true feelings to her. Gajeel's mouth and throat were dry. He felt as if someone had lodged a handful of cotton balls down his esophagus. Levy waited for a reply but it never came. She sat, staring into his wine red eyes hoping to hear him say something that might calm her nerves. Without a second thought, she got up and walked past Gajeel, holding her breath, hoping the tears wouldn't continue much longer.
"That's it? You – You won't even dig – nify my question with a – an answer? I g – guess I had you wr – rong, huh?" Levy's voiced cracked as she tried holding in her sobs. "How was I so stupid?" Gajeel stood there staring at the bench where Levy had sat, shocked. He heard her footsteps receding on the pavement behind him.
"Levy, there you are! Wow! We have been looking every – hey, what's wrong?" Jet and Droy greeted, now concerned.
"Noth – thing. I'm going home." Levy chocked out, in between sobs. Jet and Droy looked over her shoulder to see Gajeel standing with his head bowed and back turned toward them. Rage consumed them as they tried to figure out what Gajeel could have done to their friend in order to make her so upset.
"You!" Droy bellowed.
"What did you do to her?" Jet howled. Gajeel refused to look at them.
"Guys, s – stop it!" Levy cried. "H – He didn't d – do anything." Levy fled, holding her hands to her face, trying to bury her tears.
"Levy! Wait!" Jet and Droy gave Gajeel a scowl before following their distraught friend as she bolted away from them.
Gajeel stood there staring down at his feet; he could feel the fury bubbling inside of him. His body blackened as it covered itself with iron and his wrath flooded over him. With one swift movement Gajeel plunged his clenched fist into the brick wall behind the bench. Why couldn't I tell her?