chapter five
"I can't believe I let her talk me into buying this." Levy groaned, standing in front of the full-length mirror in her new suimsuit.
If you could call it a swimsuit. As far as Levy was concerned, she might as well be wearing string. The bikini was tiny.
The halter top tied up with a string at her neck and upper back, her breasts covered only by two curved triangles of fabric, solid black except for the electric blue stripe crossing both. The bottom half was no better, tied at the sides with string, showing a shockingly large amount of her hips before widening into a scrap of black fabric that barely -Levy cringed as she turned and checked in the mirror- covered her butt. As in, her cheeks were definitely visible.
"Oh my god, Jet and Droy..." she moaned in horror, covering her face. How had she not understood that they would be there, too? They were teammates, yes, but it would be so humiliating... "I can't wear this." Levy decided, and was just searching for her usual orange tankini when she remembered that Lucy had dropped by and seized it earlier that morning, for this exact reason. "Damn you..." Levy gritted her teeth and sighed again, squinting at herself in the mirror. She didn't look bad, she just looked... scrawny. And flat. "This would look so much better on Erza." she sighed, frowning down at her small breasts.
It wasn't like she didn't have any -there were definite curves of pale flesh being hugged by the bikini- they were just quite small to begin with, and in comparison to basically every other mature female in Fairy Tail... she was definitely more cutting board than bouncy castle. "Aw, jeez." she grumbled, digging around in the rest of the shopping bags for the new clothes Lucy had dubbed her 'va-voom duds'. She pulled out the sparkly red tank top and sighed, remembering how tight it was. Lucy had reasoned that there was no point hiding how skinny she was, because loose clothing just made her look larger.
"We have to emphasize your assets, Lev. You may not believe me, but you definitely have some. Show off those gorgeous shoulders! Make him drool over that toned torso! And definitely make all that yummy junk in your trunk noticable." she had said, shoving a pair of striped booty shorts into her arms. Over two hours later, Levy was still unconvinced. She put all the new clothes back in their bags and shoved them under her bed, then slung on one of her usual t-shirts and baggy shorts over her swimsuit.
"Sorry, Lucy." she murmured wryly, well aware that her friend would be pouting when they met at the pool. She just didn't feel comfortable in all that tight stuff. After a moment's hesitation, however, she shoved a few of the new clothes into her bag, just in case.
Half an hour later, Gajeel, Lily, and Levy walked together to the pool. Levy was on edge the whole way there, panicking slightly as she imagined what Jet and Droy would say... and how ridiculous she'd look in comparison to all the other girls.
"Are you nervous, Levy?" Pantherlily asked her, and when Levy looked up at him, she caught Gajeel glancing at her, too. "I thought you were excited about this party." the cat continued, flying lower down to see her better. Levy nodded and forced a smile onto her face.
"Yes! Yes, I'm really excited! I haven't seen everybody in a while, since they've been out on jobs so much..." she said. At least it was the truth.
A few minutes later, they entered the pool, paid, and parted ways, Lily and Gajeel heading for the guys' locker room, Levy disappearing into the girls'. Seconds after stepping through the door, she was grabbed from the left and pressed tightly against a huge pair of breasts.
"Lucy?" Levy guessed, her voice muffled.
"Levy! Way to go, way to go! I wish I'd thought of it myself!" her friend squealed, releasing her and clapping her hands together.
"Thought of what? Cute swimsuit, by the way!" Levy grinned, looking down at Lucy's floral bikini.
"You like it? Look, it matches my pigtails!" she said, pointing proudly at the flower-adorned elastics holding her blonde hair up.
"Very nice. But what are you talking about?" she asked as they walked together towards the lockers.
"Your outfit!" Lucy pointed.
"But... it's just my regular stuff..." Levy said, confused, as she shoved her bag into the locker and slipped off her shoes.
"Exactly! Gajeel won't know what hit him! By looking normal on the way here, he'll be even more surprised by your bikini! You're going to slap him silly!" Lucy chortled as Levy tugged off her t-shirt and shorts, wrapping her arms around her chest bashfully. "Levy, don't be silly, you've got nothing to hide from me." Lucy tutted as Levy clicked the lock and they began to walk towards the pool exit.
"That's the point, I've got nothing to hide." Levy muttered, but lowered her arms anyways and waved at the others in the changeroom.
"Come on, Levy... this is it!" Lucy said excitedly as they entered the pool area.
It was full of Fairy Tail members, all swimming and laughing and splashing and screaming.
"Everybody's having a good time..." Levy murmured, a smile spreading on her face in spite of her nervousness.
"Exactly. If it makes it easier, just forget about Gajeel and the plan, and come have fun!" Lucy said, offering her friend a warm smile and linking their arms. "Come on, let's hit the water!"
"Uh-huh!" Levy said excitedly, and ran into the pool with Lucy. Natsu and Erza started a game of water-basketball, and they joined in, laughing and splashing around until Juvia got in and joined with the water, flooding the pool momentarily.
"Waterslides, waterslides!" Levy cheered, pulling Lucy and Cana with her, running up the spiral staircase to the huge slides above.
"Awesome!" Cana cheered, tipping back her can of beer.
"Is that even allowed in the pool?" Lucy teased, earning herself a shove. As soon as they reached the top, Levy rushed in line for the steepest one with a happy squeal.
"This is so fun!" she cheered, waving at Lucy, who was in line for the one next to her. A few minutes later, Levy pushed off, whizzing down the slide, screaming with delight as she sped down the twisting, turning slide. She splashed into the water at the bottom, laughing as Lucy did the same with a shriek.
"Oh my god, that was the best!" Levy cheered.
"Levy!" She could have sworn her heart stopped.
"Jet? Droy!?" she cried, whirling around to find her teammates swimming towards her at lightning speed.
"Levy, you're wearing such a small swimsuit!" Jet exclaimed, holding his bleeding nose.
"Did you hurt yourself?" she asked in surprise.
"Don't worry, Levy! We'll protect your beautiful body! No-one will get near!" Droy promised, spreading his arms around her defensively.
"You... you kind of sound like Taurus." Lucy said, her eye twitching. Levy turned to her friend.
"Lucy! Help!" she whispered as Jet and Droy continued to fuss over her, glaring at Elfman and Laxus as they passed by. Lucy grinned, but came to her friend's rescue. She grabbed her keys, which hung from her bikini bottom, and opened the gate of Aquarius.
"That's a little overkill, don't you think?" Levy shrieked, clinging to the bottom of the waterslide as what felt like a tsunami washed over her, sending Jet and Droy spiralling off to the deep end of the pool as Aquarius huffily went off to hang out with Juvia.
"It worked, didn't it?" Lucy said, but she, too, seemed to think it had been a bad idea, as she felt her wet hair with a sigh. Both of them perked up when they heard a cry of "Chicken fight!" from down in the wave pool.
"Awesome!" Lucy cheered, and the two of them followed Cana as she rushed back down to join the group.
"Come on, Lucy!" Natsu said with a grin, pulling the blonde towards him.
"Yeah, let's kick their asses!" Lucy cheered, climbing up onto Natsu's shoulders and giving Evergreen and Elfman a challenging smile.
"I'd like to see you try." Ever smirked, and the fight was on. All around them, everyone was pairing up and clambering onto each other. Levy laughed and clapped as Erza and Mirajane wiped out team after team. Juvia and Gray paired up and cheated, by having Juvia merge her body with the water, so she was impossible to tip over.
"Levy, Levy, pair up with me!"
"No, me!" Levy turned to find Jet and Droy, back again, battling it out a few feet away. She sighed, and looked around hopefully for Gajeel, thinking that she hadn't seen him since they entered the pool.
"You're too fat, Droy, she'd slide right off you." Jet growled, his teeth gritted as Droy's fist collided with his cheek.
"Fat? What are you talking about? She's always liked me better, anyway, Jet!" Droy insisted, fending off Jet's kick to his head.
"Come on, you guys, don't fight, it's not a big deal!" Levy cried, wading towards them to break it up. Jet glanced her way, then suddenly gasped, leaping towards her.
"Levy, look out!" he cried. She turned her head, surprised, and hew jaw dropped when she saw Gray, finally pushed off of Juvia's immense water-body, falling straight down, right above her. She had barely started to scream when she was grabbed around the waist, swung out of the way, then up onto Gajeel's right shoulder.
"Gajeel!" she exclaimed, looking down at him, ignoring Gray's shout and the ensuing spash as he landed right where she'd been standing. The shock had passed, and now she was just embarassed, remembering her bikini, and feeling very tingly where his hand was gripping her thigh, holding her in place.
"Let's show these assholes what the meaning of pain is." Gajeel said with a pointy grin, and Levy laughed.
"Right!" she cheered, and placed one hand firmly on Gajeel's shoulders.
"Hold still." she instructed, well aware of Jet and Droy's groans and gasps of disappointment, now that she was pairing up with Gajeel instead.
"Got it." Gajeel said, and froze in place. Levy gripped his shoulders tightly, raised herself off of his right shoulder, swung her legs up and around, then straight over each shoulder, settling herself behind his neck.
"Ready?" he asked, taking hold of her ankles.
"Ready!" she agreed, placing her hands on his head.
"Come and get it, motherfuckers!" Gajeel roared, launching them into the melee.
Levy laughed as they took on Alzack and Bisca, and Gajeel easily tipped the married couple backwards into the water, then began to face off against Lucy and Natsu. As the guys traded insults down below, Lucy and Levy grappled up top. Levy was trying to concentrate, and knew that she could send Lucy into the water easily- she wasn't all that much lighter than Natsu, so he was less steady when she moved than Gajeel was- but kept being startled by Gajeel's movements underneath her, the way she was gripping him with her thighs, the way her butt flexed and dragged over his shoulders when she twisted, the way his fingers would brush her ankles when he used her feet to kick Natsu in the face.
"Distracted?" Lucy teased, leaning forwards to try and overpower her.
"Shut up, Lucy!" Levy hissed, hoping to god she wasn't blushing. Suddenly, Lucy's expression turned into a wicked grin, and she raised their interlocked hands above their heads, and tugged backwards, making Levy's back arch and making her press harder against Gajeel. She cried out, but turned her head and muffled the sound in her arm just in time. Below her, she heard Gajeel groan as Natsu connected a hit to his chest.
"Lucy!" Levy gasped, shocked. Lucy giggled, covering her mouth with her hands. With a grin, Levy's hands shot out and shoved Lucy hard. Her friend shrieked loudly, losing her balance, her legs clutching at Natsu, and they both toppled backwards into the water. "Gotcha!" Levy cheered, laughing as Lucy emerged from the water, spluttering.
"Nice one." Gajeel said from beneath her. They then took on Jet and Droy, who had paired up specifically in order to seperate Levy from Gajeel, but they were quickly sent flying by a shove from Gajeel, who didn't even look at them.
They swiftly took out every other pair still standing, until it was just them and Erza and Mirajane left standing. Everyone else was standing in a circle, watching and cheering. Levy was nervous, twisting around, trying to somehow get her swimsuit to cover her butt properly, well aware that Jet and Droy, standing behind her, were getting a better view than she was comfortable with.
"Stop squirming and concentrate. Do you want to kick their butts, or what?" Gajeel said, drumming his fingers on her ankles.
"Right." she said, patting his head.
She looked their opponents up and down. She'd been watching them for a while, analyzing their weak points- there weren't many, but since Erza and Mira rarely went on jobs together, their teamwork wasn't as smooth as it could be. They often attacked the same target instead of spreading out their blows, and Erza, who was on the bottom, would sometimes stumble in the water if Mira leant back.
"Come on, Gajeel. You gonna get your ass kicked by girls?" Erza jeered, tightening the strings of her swimsuit. Gajeel snorted and walked towards them.
"Of course not. Levy and I are gonna rip you apart." he replied, cracking his knuckles. All around them, the Fairy Tail members were shouting out bets and cat-calling.
"Here we come!" Mira said happily as she activated Satan Soul, her face and body changing as Erza charged towards them.
"Take her down, Levy! Do your stretches!" Lucy called from the crowd, and Levy bit her lip nervously as Mira's transformed arm swung back, prepared to strike, and Gajeel moved suddenly below her, dodging a strike from Erza.
Just the thought of going up against Mirajane, even if it was all for fun, terrified her. But Lucy's cheer had given her an idea, and as Mira's arm shot forwards to shove her off, Levy exhaled hard and relaxed her torso completely, letting her body slip back, hanging straight down, only her legs holding her up.
"Gajeel!" she shouted as Mira's arm went straight over her, and he grabbed her arms when she reached for him, holding herself up with his iron grip. As fast as she could, aiming for the pace she hit when training, Levy kicked out her her feet rapidly, making contact time after time.
A shriek and a splash told her that Mira had lost her balance. Around them, all the other guild members began to cheer, and Cana and Macao drank to the winners. Levy raised herself back up, panting, and looked down to see Gajeel grinning up at her.
"That was over in like, five seconds!" she said, beaming and raising her arms in triumph.
"I can't believe it!"
"Levy, you were amazing! You kicked Mira's butt!" Lucy shrieked, swimming over and jumping up and down, clapping her hands before hurrying over to pat Mira's shoulder.
"I have to say, I'm impressed." Erza said, coming over and patting Levy's foot. "I didn't expact that- and Mirajane sure didn't. Gajeel certainly made sure I was concentrating on him, not on getting Mira out of the way. You two make a good team." she said, tightening her long ponytail and smiling in approval and Gajeel, who shrugged, bumping Levy into the air.
"Hey!" she said, smacking his head. He laughed, but stopped suddenly when Jet and Droy appeared, congratulating Levy.
"Hey guys! Did you see me?" Levy asked excitedly- it certainly wasn't every day she beat someone in a fight, and she was going to enjoy this moment as long as it lasted.
"Of course! We couldn't take our eyes off of you!" Droy said with a wide smile.
"You were amazing! Nothing less for Levy of Shadow Gear!" Jet agreed. Levy beamed down at them.
"You guys are always so supportive, I love you! Hey, do you want to go get ice cream together tomorr-ack!" Levy squealed as Gajeel suddenly turned and walked away, going deeper into the pool.
"Hey, hey, hey, I'm talking here!" Levy said, smacking him on the head and twisting around. "So, tomorrow, ice-cream, I'll call you!" she yelled, waving her arms at Jet and Droy, now left in Gajeel's dust. "Well that was rude!" she complained.
"So?" Levy frowned down at Gajeel.
"So, it's not nice to be rude."
"Who ever said I had to be nice, Miss Redundancy?" he countered. Levy's pout quickly turned into an unwilling smile- she was sure he was grinning.
"Well, nobody. But I don't get why you're nice to me, but not everybody else." Levy said, drumming lightly on his head as they continued deeper into the pool, Gajeel now up to his chest.
"There's an exeption to every rule." Gajeel muttered, and Levy sighed, leaning back and looking up at the ceiling, which was completely made of windows. "Look up there! Look at the sky..." she said, pointing at the pink-tinged clouds above. Gajeel tilted his head back and Levy squeaked when she slipped backwards as well.
"Careful." he said, grabbing her feet quickly. She pulled herself back up, laughing.
"Thanks." she said, swinging her feet back and forth and smiling at the ceiling again. They were quiet for a few moments, Levy gently running her fingers through his damp hair, he watching the Exceeds dive-bombing Gray and Natsu on the waterslides.
"Are you going to put me down sometime?" Levy asked at length, realizing with a wave of embarassment that they were the only chicken-fight partners still in position. Gajeel smirked up at her.
"Oh, I don't know, shrimp. I kind of thought you'd like the change, being so tall now and everything." Levy rolled her eyes and told him to shut up. "Fine, fine, I'll put you down." Gajeel agreed, and bent down, allowing Levy to slip off of him into the water.
"Thank yo-" Levy sank down, finding only water where she expected tiled floor. She was too suprised to tread water for a second, simply sinking like a stone until Gajeel's hands grabbed her waist and lifted her up out of the water.
"Do you even know how to swim?" he asked with a frown.
"Of course I do!" Levy said irritably, coughing and pushing her wet hair out of her face. "It's just that you're so ridiculously tall, you've walked us all they way out into the deep end! I can only touch the ground over there!" Levy said, almost yelling as she pointed back to the shallow end of the pool. Gajeel tilted his head to the side and smirked.
"Oh, I see. You're so short, you can't reach the floor." Levy scowled.
"You can put me down, you know." she said, folding her arms, nodding at Gajeel's hands, which were still raising her up out of the water.
"I don't think so, you might drown." he teased, walking back the way they'd come. He hoisted Levy up higher and bent her over his shoulder, apparently oblivious to her shrill protestations.
"No, no, no, put me down, put me down, this swimsuit doesn't cover my butt-" she hissed in panic before realizing what she was saying and shutting up.
"Not my fault you're hardly wearing anything." Gajeel said snarkily, apparently having heard her, but he put her down a second later, now back in the shallower water.
"Thank you." Levy said stiffly, but broke into a smile despite herself.
"Anytime, shortie." Gajeel said with a shrug, and walked off and joined Juvia in conversation.
Levy watched him for a few seconds before grabbing an innertube and paddling off to find Lucy.
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