Gajeel was resting, his eyes closed and arms folded. It'd been two days since the battle with Garren and his cronies. He was intimately frustrated by the immediate aftermath of the fight. He had wanted to check on Levy, but didn't really know what to say. And then the daft woman had spent time worrying about his injuries! He wasn't the midget!
Of course, he had been bleeding profusely on his last legs, but still.
Tch, why was she worrying about him? Little people should look after themselves first. It wasn't like she hadn't picked up quite a few bumps and scrapes. He wondered how she looked so cute in her bandages, but they made him look like some kind of…well, a big oaf. Hmm, maybe it wasn't the bandages.
He scowled to remember how well off Salamander was, crowing about how he won easily. He and Lucy only had a few injuries and were much better off. He wondered when Lucy had become so strong. He was immensely grateful to her for protecting Levy, not that he'd said that out loud, of course.
Lily had spent the last forty eight hours in an unusually petulant manner. Gajeel wasn't sure if he was angry that someone blindsided him while in his smaller, more vulnerable form, or that he'd let it happen in the first place. Lily was proud, after all. Gajeel didn't agree with the Exceed's self-loathing, though. His cat was the best cat in the world as far as he was concerned.
They were still in the ruins. Trying to get Levy to rest or leave while an exciting new language lay before her had proved to be impossible. Even now, Gajeel was watching her work. He refused to leave her alone again. Sure, another attack made no sense and was astronomically unlikely, but he couldn't leave her.
Garren had buggered off at some point. He wasn't part of the dark guild Midnight Jaguar, who had been arrested by the local magical council. As far as Gajeel could tell from his limited interaction, that Earth dragon was like he had been in the past. Hopefully, Salamander had reached him too. His friends seemed like the worst sort of scum to Gajeel, but who knew? Of all people, he knew that people deserved second chances.
He heard Levy sigh and step back from the wall she'd been transcribing from. She looked disappointed, and he fought down the protective urge within him.
"What's up, Shorty?" He asked.
"I'm beaten," she admitted. "I can't get any further."
"You should rest," Gajeel advised.
"It's not a matter of needing a fresh perspective. There's nothing more that I can do."
"I mean, you're all beaten up. You need to rest," Gajeel clarified. "You've been working nonstop for two days now. I've just been sitting here and I'm still aching. You've got to be hurting."
"I'm fine," Levy said dismissively. Grunting in annoyance, Gajeel stood up, walked over to Levy, picked her up by the scruff and sat back down, plonking her next to him. She puffed out her cheeks but said nothing.
"Oi, you may be smart, but when it comes to the body, I know what I'm talking about. Mostly because I've had the crap kicked out of me lots of times in my life. You need to rest, or you won't heal."
"I assume that ended with 'particularly when you're so small'," Levy said wryly.
"Yep!" Gajeel replied brightly. "Hey, did you know that you have to reach up…"
"…to tie my shoelaces? Yes, you've told that joke five times in the last two days. I heard you."
Gajeel was despondent, but the pair quickly lapsed into companionable silence. Levy closed her eyes and at some point her head drooped naturally to the side, resting on Gajeel's bicep. He looked down at her, apparently confused by the situation.
When had this happened? When had this girl changed from victim in a dark alley to close, trusted friend? He could still remember her eyes as he hurt her, eyes that didn't understand such violence, such sadism. Her screams, though few and far between were still there in his memory. When had she become so comfortable with him that she could use him as a pillow?
His face scrunched up in his confusion as he pondered this. It made no sense to him at all, but it had been part of his life for so long. How could someone so small and frail be so strong? His eyes followed the delicate curve along her shoulders and down her side. He wanted to reach out and touch that body, to feel that warmth…
Gajeel suddenly jumped to his feet, startling Levy who flailed around as she aroused from her dozing. She looked up at him in confusion as he paced restlessly before her.
"Stop it!" He barked.
"Wha-huh?" She asked, rubbing her eyes and trying to regain her senses.
"Stop being so goddamn little! It's fucking distracting!"
"What are you saying?" She snapped, face colouring with anger as she surged to her feet.
"Do you know what kind of women I like?" Levy's face drained of all colour at the question. He was asking her about this? "I like big boobs! I like legs that go all the way up! I like dumb blondes who just want a bit of fun and can handle a little rough and tumble!"
"I don't understand!" Levy wailed with tears in her eyes. "Why are you saying this to me?"
"Because you confuse the shit out of me! The old me would never have looked at you in a million years! You're all brainy and weak! You're cute and tiny!"
"How could you talk to me like that?" Levy was crying now and just wanted to flee with all of the emotions building up inside of her. Before she began to run away, she shouted the two words he hoped he'd never hear again. "Gajeel baka!"
Gajeel stood there alone, not sure what to do as Lily hurried up to him.
"Oi! Levy's crying! What did you say to her!?"
"I…insulted every facet of her physical appearance," Gajeel admitted. Lily hovered there, mouth agape at what had just been said to him. "I was trying say that I liked her appearance, but it came out wrong!"
"How wrong can you be to go from 'you're pretty' to 'you're an ugly cow'!?" Lily yelled.
"I'm not good with women!" Gajeel shouted back. Or the emotions attached to them.
"Clearly! Now, go after her for hell's sake!"
===][===
"This is booooooooooooring!" Natsu complained. He and Lucy were sitting outside the ruin, enjoying the sunshine. He was not used to missions that went on after the big fight with the enemy. That was the fun part! This was… "I'm never going on a mission with Levy again. I have no idea how Jet and Droy stand it. She does all the work and they just sit around?"
"I wish I could help more, but this is far above me," Lucy said sadly. "I should study more, so I can be of better benefit to the guild."
"What are you talking about? You're a brilliant guild member!" Natsu countered, making Lucy turn away to hide her blush. "I mean, after Levy and Fried, you're the best with all this…wordy stuff. And besides, you could fail every mission and you still wouldn't be the worst guild member."
"Nab?"
"Nab. I don't think he took a single mission in the seven years we were gone." They laughed together for a moment, before a more serious mood fell. "You've gotten really strong, haven't you?"
"I don't know. My nakama needed me, that's all," Lucy replied bashfully.
"That's all that strength is," Natsu said quietly. "It comes from the heart."
"You don't need brains!" Happy chirped. "Natsu proves that!"
"Other things come from the heart," Lucy said so softly that if it hadn't been for Natsu's slayer hearing, he'd never had picked it up. He blushed in a manner unusual for him. What the hell was Lucy saying? Was she saying what he thought that she was saying?
There was a rustle and Natsu surged to his feet as Garren emerged through the mountain foliage.
"What are you doing here?" Natsu roared, flames engulfing his body and interposing himself between Lucy and the god slayer. "Gajeel kicked your ass, and I won't go any easier on you!"
Garren smiled thinly and drew a notebook from somewhere on his person. He threw it lightly to land at Lucy's feet who stooped to pick it up. She began to flick through the pages and her eyes widened.
"It's not much," Garren said, "but it's all of the drakonic that I know from Metalicana. Please pass it on to Gajeel's girlfriend, it'll give her something to build upon."
"This is amazing," Lucy said with wonder.
"Why?" Natsu asked simply.
"I'm not Gajeel's enemy. I was just practicing tough love. I have no place in his life; I know that I'm an unfeeling bastard, but at least let me do this much for him." The god slayer turned and began to walk away.
"You could be involved if you want to be," Natsu called. "But there was no need for this set-up. Just come by the guild someday. I'd like a chance to fight you myself!"
"Maybe. I'll drop by someday when I'm ready for a rematch."
"Oi! You don't happen to know where Edolas Igneel is, do you?" Natsu asked as the idea came to him. Garren stopped and looked over his shoulder.
"I don't. But I have met him. Listen to me, Natsu Dragneel, stay a million miles away from him, he is not someone to cross."
"What!? He's stronger than you?"
"I didn't say that, but you've been to Edolas, right? Some people are the same. Some are similar. Some are diametric opposites. Your father, from what I've heard of him, is nothing like his Edolas counterpart. You don't want to meet him." Natsu was looking at him with such a queasy expression that Garren felt forced to go on. "He's nothing to you, Dragneel. He's not your dad. He's just a random stranger, don't go looking for him."
===][===
Goddamnit. Where had she gone? The ruin was so ancient that the odour of dust and dirt filled everywhere, making her scent hard to track and her scent was delicate, just like her. He stopped by a damaged section of corridor, noting little fingerprints on the wall. Clever girl had gone up, assuming that Gajeel would stay on the same level.
He clambered up to the next floor and strode slowly through rooms, searching each to be sure. At last, he found her curled up sobbing in the corner of a chamber, like some kind of puppy or something.
"Listen, Shorty. I was trying to say that I think you're…well, that I like the way that you…" Holy fuck. He could fight dragons and powerful mages! Why was this conversation so fucking hard?
Levy bawled loudly, her words choked by her tears. "Why can't you say something nice? Why is it so hard for you?"
"Listen you little runt, I'm trying to say something nice and-"
"I love you!" Levy shrieked. Gajeel stopped in a heartbeat. "There, I said it! I know that you just look at me as some underdeveloped midget, some little weakling girl who doesn't deserve-"
Levy's words stopped. Mainly because Gajeel's lips were pressing down on her mouth. Her eyes widened. What was he doing? Her heart was beating so fast in her ribcage that she thought that she must be about to explode. He retreated slightly, so he could speak, his voice hushed.
"I was trying to say that you were wrong earlier. You're no butterfly. Butterflies are only beautiful from a distance, but now that I'm close to you, you're even more beautiful."
"I…uh…I…that's," Levy responded in her usually brilliant idiom.
"I'm trying to say that I think you're beautiful."
"I don't understand. I'm not beautiful."
"You're the one who's good with words. What would you use?" He purred, grinning widely. It just felt so right to have said it, and it felt good to have her all red-faced and stammering. "Gorgeous? Sexy? Stunning? Short?"
The last jab worked perfectly, snapping Levy's brain back into working order as she puffed out her cheeks. "I'd use stupid. Idiotic. Emotionally dense. Too damn tall. Rugged. Thrilling. Kind, even if he hides it behind iron walls."
"You forgot handsome."
"Didn't you say that I'm the one who's good with words? I know what I meant to say!" Levy teased.
"What did I say?" Gajeel asked, dragging her into his arms, off of the ground and into a hug. "Cute and feisty, despite no claws. I said you were a kitty, Gihi!"
"Is this your idea of a pick-up line? It's pretty clumsy!"
"And that's why you love me, right?"
"You bet!" Levy replied, moving in to kiss Gajeel deeply. He may certainly be clumsy and bad with words, but that was fine. Levy had those things. He had his own indelible qualities. Bravery. Strength. And being drop dead sexy when his shirt came off!
===][===
"See?!" Levy squealed, bouncing around like the happiest person in the world. With Garren's notebook, Levy had made massive headway in deciphering the writing in the ruins. "It's like a…oh, what do you call it…a last will and testament!"
"What?" Natsu asked, obviously confused.
"This whole place. The dragons made it very recently. The only reason it appeared ancient is because the whole thing belongs to the earth dragon, who was capable of burying it. But dragons from all over the world came here, each to write a message for future generations!"
"What?" Gajeel asked, mirroring Natsu.
"See here?" She asked, pointing to a wall which was laden with text. "This here was written by Babadios, the Dragon of the Sea. It's a poem dedicated to the way life changes. Here Aurakana and Ashang, the Sun and Moon dragons have written an oath to protect their land forever."
"That's amazing," Lily noted, thinking on just how much text was in the ruin.
"Natsu, I haven't found anything by Igneel yet, but Tsukias the earth dragon left a message for his son." Levy pressed a notebook into Natsu's hands. "Can you please make sure that he gets it?"
"Of course," Natsu agreed.
Gajeel stepped forward. "Wait. When you said that you haven't found anything by Igneel, did you mean…?"
"Yes, Gajeel. Please come with me." Levy lead him through a few rooms, until they came upon a wall of text that Levy had marked earlier. She turned her back to Gajeel while holding his hand and began to read aloud. "To my dearest son. I know that you will face dark times in your life, and question why you were left alone. Know this; I love you and I have faith in you. In the dark times, carry yourself with the strength of iron, and when you cannot carry on, rely on your comrades for support. I know that I am not a good father and perhaps I could have done more, but when you have nothing left, remember that my heart is within you, forged from steel, unbendable and unbreakable. The great iron dragon, Metalicana."
Levy hadn't realised it, but as she was speaking, Gajeel had begun to cry. As she finished, she found herself drawn into his ironclad embrace and held onto him as he wept.
"Thank you so much. You are my strength. …don't tell anyone else that I'm crying."
"I wouldn't dream of it," Levy replied, happily snuggling into her man's hair.
===][===
It was about a week later that they left the ruin, giving them time to heal and translate. Levy made transcripts from almost a hundred different dragons, including something from Grandine. But she never found anything from Igneel. Large segments of the ruin had been destroyed. Who knew what was lost.
On one chunk of rubble, she'd identified the word 'summer' written with the inflection of great happiness. Natsu had taken one look at it, smiled and said 'I love you too, dad'. It had almost broken Lucy's heart to overhear.
As they walked back, Lucy fell into step next to him. "Are you alright?"
"Of course," Natsu replied as if confused by the question. "I wish I had more, but I don't need anything. Dad loves me that much I know without a doubt. A few words don't change anything."
Natsu looked over his shoulder where Gajeel was teasing Levy's height. It might be the most normal scene for the pair, but somehow it was all different.
"So…those two are a couple, right?" He asked Lucy. She nodded, smiling like the Cheshire cat.
"Isn't it great? They're perfect for each other!"
"Like Beauty and the Beast!" Happy sang as Lily tackled him into the dirt.
"Do you think that we-," Lucy started.
"Yeah, kind of," Natsu interrupted. "You know that we're always gonna be best friends?"
"Yeah, I do."
"Great. I'm not saying that we can't-"
"Yeah," Lucy replied, smiling.
"Right."
"Tch," Gajeel scoffed to Levy. "When are those two just going to admit that they like each other?"
And with that statement of extreme hypocrisy, this tale comes to an end. I hope some of you enjoyed reading it and a great thank you to all of you who took the time to leave reviews. They keep me warm at night (since I don't have a Levy) and make me want to write more.
I plan to start writing a new story called 'The Thirteenth Key' soon. It will follow chronologically from this story and focus on the relationship of Lucy and Levy to start with. It will also feature Edolas Igneel and who knows; maybe the girls will need a certain pair of slayers to help them at some point? *coughNaLucough*
Because Ophiuchus is awesome.
Thank you to all of you read this story!