Another chapter in! I'm beginning to feel a bit nervous on whether or not I should keep up with this story. I'm still feeling it but I'm not sure if you guys are going to really like it. Let me know guys!

I grunted at the force of Gajeel blocking my attack. I jumped back and melted into shadows beneath his feet. I could see Gajeel watching for my shadows on the ground, which I used to my advantage. He saw my shadows, but not the shadows creeping up behind him. Like a snake wrapping it's prey, I had Gajeel wrapped from neck to ankles. I lifted him up and upside down as I took my normal shape. I could see Gajeel attempting to free himself in some form, but this time it was no use. "It's not gonna work Gaj. Give up?"
Gajeel scowled. "Pfft. Just gimme a second and you'll be eating those words."
I lifted him up higher and kissed him, "Come on I'm hungry, let's stop by the guild for some food. Then we'll come back out and we'll spar again."
"Fine."
I released him which caused him to drop. I snickered and began to walk away, but found myself pushed up to a tree. "Ya just gonna drop me like that?"
He was close, close enough I could feel his breathe on my lips. I bit back a moan and shrugged. He kissed my chin and slowly made his way up my jaw, his breathe causing me to shiver. Once his lips were at my ear, he spoke again. "Come on, let's get food."
He stepped away, leaving me feeling somewhat flustered. I shuddered a few times before nodding my head meekly. He smirked and led the way back to the guild. As usual the place was loud and full of life. I smiled at the sight. It really was feeling like home. Mira saw us and shouted, "usual you guys?"
We nodded and she stepped away to get us our lunch. We sat in our usual table, a bit far from everyone else. There were a few flyers on the table, halfheartedly left there by whoever was putting them up. I picked one up, showing it to Gajeel. "Look a flyer for the festival!"
He rolled his eyes. "You would be into that sorta thing."
I snorted. "Yeah and you would act that way towards a festival. There's gonna be lots of food, a beauty contest and then the fantasia parade. Mira and Bisca wanted me to be in the parade, but I don't know how exciting shadow magic would be at night."
Mira walked up with our food, which I thanked her for. Gajeel started eating, not stopping as he spoke. "Woman with how shy you are, I don't see you flaunting your magic around anyways."
I laughed a little. "Yeah but I'm gonna be in it ya know. Gonna be a shadow dragon. I'll fly around Natsu's float in my shadow form shaped like a dragon. I'll be holding little fireworks and Every so often light them up and have it look like a dragon shooting something out their mouth."
Gajeel chuckled. "Sounds cheesy."
I nodded. "Yeah but that's what the master wanted so I'll do it."
Bisca passed by the table, which wasn't even in route from her table to the guild doors, to speak up. "You should really consider doing the Contest Toni!"
I rolled my eyes. Gajeel looked confused. "Contest?"
I pointed to part of the flyer. "Yeah, it's a beauty contest of sorts. The women in fairy tail come out and show what they got looks and magic wise. The winner gets 500,00 Jewels."
Gajeel shook his head. "Not gonna do it?"
I laughed. "You know me well enough to know I'm not."

Bisca was sitting in my apartment, preparing for the contest tomorrow. "You sure you don't wanna do it? I bet Gajeel would like to see what you got going on."
I blushed and sighed. "You seem so persistent. Does this mean you're doing this to get Alsacks attention?"
I knew that would change her tune, and luckily it did. "Oh shut up, you're just trying to make me back off about Gajeel."
"Yeah but your blush is telling me that I'm not totally wrong. I can tell you like him."
Bisca suddenly stood up. "Well look at the time it's getting really late! I had better head on home! Remember tomorrow I want you to meet up with me before it's my turn at the beauty contest. Don't forget to wear a cute bathing suit so we can lounge together at the pool!"
I didn't even have time to say anything before she was out the door. I sighed and sat back on my bed. I jerked up when I heard my window open. "Damn you women talk forever" I held my hand to my chest. "What the hell Gajeel you nearly gave me a heart attack!" He turned and closed my window before plopping himself on my bed. He wrapped his arms around me and held closely on to me. "You'll live woman."

I sighed quietly and leaned back into him. "Why were you spying on us?"
I could practically feel Gajeel glaring at me. "I wasn't, I didn't feel like joining in on you and hers conversation so I waited until she left."
I laughed a little. "So you just waited outside my window?"
I felt him look away. "Shut up woman."
I looked up at him, "Why did you come? And why through my window? "
He tightened his grip on me and leaned down slightly, his face in my hair. "Can I not come visit? And the window is actually easier, less people questioning me on why I'm here."
I nodded. "Speaking of that, may I ask a question?"
"Yeah"
"Why do you act different towards me? I mean around everyone else you're so gruff and grumpy in a way, but with me you're so much nicer and... clingy in a way."
I felt him loosen his grip. "What? Got a problem with it?"
I shook my head. "No! Just curious is all"
He scratched his head and looked away again. "Look you're just... special. Different to me than everyone else."
I yawned and curled up into his side. "You can sleep here if you want. It's already a bit late and it's not like we haven't slept in the same room during jobs in hotels."
I felt him shift to turn off the light then get comfortable. I closed my eyes and slowly drifted off.

Gajeel POV

I looked down at her. Even in the dark I could see her gentle face. I could tell by her breathing that she was already asleep. I sighed deeply, god she is beautiful. Metalicana told me about mates. I knew what this was. I also wasn't an idiot. Mating isn't something you can just talk about. I have no idea how to tell her. The way she smells is intoxicating. Her smile makes me smile. In moments of meeting her I wanted to protect her. I still feel a pang of guilt when I think about when I fought her back when I was in phantom lord. I began to fiddle with a strand of her hair that fell out of its bun. I wonder if flame brain ever dealt with this. Shit who knows if his dragon even told him about that stuff. There was no one to talk about this too. The need to mark her was getting stronger. I've never felt like this, and I certainly wasn't going to fuck it up because of this.
I sighed. "I wish I knew what to do."

Toni POV

The crowd in the guild was surprising. Though the fact that 90% of them were men made sense. I walked up to Gajeel. "Didn't think you'd show up."
Gajeel rolled his eyes. "I knew you'd be here, just waiting on you."
"Uh huh. Ok. Well I gotta go backstage and meet up with Bisca. After this she wants some girl time at the pool then you wanna see what the festivals got?"
He snorted but nodded his head, so I took it as a yes. I touched his arm and smiled a little before making my way back. I saw Bisca about the time the show started. I heard Max begin the contest. As I watched the girls I spoke. "Excited Bisca?"
She smiled cheekily. "Oh trust me I am! You're outfit is perfect!"
I looked down at my outfit. It was a loose black and white pinstripe pullover dress. Cute but would be easy to take off and put on for the pool. It hung loosely on my shoulders, exposing my Fairy Tail tattoo, and just a peek of my back tattoo. I raised my eyebrows. "What does it matter?"
Before she could say anything Max began his intro for her. "Hold that thought!"
I peeped out at her show off her gunslinger skills. Once done she walked up smirking. "You ready?"
I furrowed my brows. "Huh?"
"She may be cute but she's not weak! I welcome you Fairy Tails CREATURE IN THE SHADOWS!"
I looked out on stage in shock. I didn't have long to react for Bisca pushed me onto stage. A few people from our guild shouted my name in shock. I instantly blushed and thought about the others. "Well um.. here's my magic.." I cast a large amount of shadows. As I had them whip around me, I quickly shed my dress off, revealing my bathing suit underneath. The bathing suit was black and had lots of straps. The top and bottoms were a normal bikini, but they were connected by strips of black cris crossing across my stomach and back. In this outfit you could clearly see my tattoos on my thighs and hips. I raised my shadows up and behind the curtain, taking my dress with them. I stood with my hands at my hips, cocking them to the side as I smirked. I hoped no one noticed my blush. It was silent for a moment. Then the crowd erupted in a mass of cheers. I flipped my light blue hair over my shoulder as I walked off the stage, doing my best to ooze confidence. Once back I scurried to my dress and threw it on. Back out there I could hear Max. "MY OH MY WHAT A VIXEN!"

I sighed and looked up at the woman coming my way. I furrowed my brows as she smiled at me. The glint of her glasses seemed oddly nerve wracking. "My what a show."
I didn't even have time to react when she pushed her glasses down her nose and looked me in the eye. After that everything went dark.