"Merry Christmas!"
Erza reached out to hug Levy quickly, then to Gajeel. Levy was relieved that Erza wasn't being so jumpy around her today… The redhead had been avoiding her for weeks, for some unknown reason Levy couldn't seem to figure out. But regardless, today she seemed fine. The holidays always did cheer Erza up, though. She'd been planning this Christmas party for half the year. Everyone was invited, so long as they wear a tacky Christmas sweater—that was not up for negotiation. Jellal opened the door wider, shaking Gajeel's hand and giving Levy a hug before stepping aside to let them in. The whole apartment smelled like sugar cookies and fudge and hot apple cider.
"Wow, Erza!" Levy looked around at the apartment. "It's so festive in here!"
"I-It is, isn't it?" Erza glanced her way briefly and grinned. "I thought it would be appropriate if I went all out this year. I usually prefer more elegant decor, but this year when I was shopping, these colors just spoke to me."
And she did go all out. Garland hung over every door and window, mistletoe in every doorway. There were paper snowflakes hanging from the ceiling all around the apartment and explosions of green and red. Levy heard Jellal snicker, and she turned to look at him. Seeing him in anything other than a suit was rare enough, but his plaid sweater and santa hat looked bizarre. He grinned as Erza proudly showed Gajeel the gingerbread house they'd made, taking his presents to set them with the others.
"She's a bit excited today," he said fondly.
Levy laughed. "I can tell."
Gajeel followed Jellal to where Natsu and Gray were seated in the living room. Apparently they were playing some card game, loudly placing bets and laughing. Levy shuddered to know what they were betting on… Last time they played poker, she came into the room and everyone was half naked and Natsu was balancing a popcorn bowl on his head while reciting Magnolia's alma mater in Spanish.
Pushing that horrible memory aside, Levy went over to the kitchen where Cana was pouring glasses of wine. Cana grinned. "Hey, lady! Merry Christmas!"
Levy returned the sentiment as she set the cake she'd brought on the counter and rounded the kitchen island, bursting into laughter once she saw Cana's outfit. "Okay, it's weird enough seeing you in a sweater, but this is hilarious!"
Cana grinned. "What? I thought this was appropriate."
Her sweater was massive, at least three sizes too big, and bright red. There were crocheted boobs etched into the yarn, bells sewn on for nipples. Blinking lights on the front reading "Come jingle my bells." Levy giggled when Cana shimmied, the bells making unholy amounts of noise.
"Oh my goodness…"
"It's great, right?" Cana said excitedly. "I even pulled my hair up so you could see it in all its glory. I think Freed is a bit horrified, though."
Freed was very proper, and he believed modesty was of utmost importance. Levy could just see his expression—pink cheeks and wide eyes. Poor thing.
"Well you look great. And you're definitely unique," she said.
"And tacky, which was what Erza wanted." Cana handed her a wine glass, then poured one for Erza when she walked up. "And let's see your sweater," Cana said, inching her empty wine glass toward Levy.
Thankfully, this time of year, there was no shortage of hideously tacky sweaters. She'd gone to the store with Gajeel and found theirs almost immediately. Levy's was white and oversized, and it had a ridiculous cartoon image of dancing Christmas trees. Tinsel garland circled the arms of the sweater like candy canes. Getting Gajeel into a sweater was a bit more challenging… When Levy told him that it was an ugly sweater party, he'd flatly answered with no. But she found a sweater even he couldn't resist—a gray knit sweater with a very angry cat in a santa hat.
They heard the door open and Juvia and Lucy bustled in. "Merry Christmas!" Lucy said.
A round of 'Merry Christmases' rang throughout the apartment as everyone replied. Juvia set presents down, went to kiss Gray, and then came back into the kitchen. "Wait until you see what Juvia bought for Gray-sama!"
"What did you get him?"
"Couples shirts!" she said, excitedly. Her blue curls bounced when she jumped, the fluffy ball on top of her knit hat bobbing. "Gray-sama!"
"Juvia!" he called back.
"Can you show everyone your shirt, please?"
They heard a sigh as he stood, but his smirk gave him away. He acted tough, but he loved it. He raised his sweater up, showing off a shirt with half a heart on it. Juvia ran up to his side, lifting her sweater to show the other half of the heart. Gray just laughed and put his arm around her.
"Aren't they so cute?" she squealed.
Levy grinned. "Adorable!"
Gray rolled his eyes but when Juvia hugged him, he smirked and kissed the top of her head. Truthfully, couples shirts weren't exactly his thing… He could picture Natsu and Lucy having some, but never him and Juvia. But as long as she was happy…
"Damn," Gajeel said. "I'm surprised you're wearing that."
Natsu snorted. "I'm just surprise you're wearing two layers. Sweater and a shirt? Scandal."
Gray smirked. "Look, man, I know you want to see me naked, but you'll have to wait until I've had a bit more alcohol."
Natsu honestly looked horrified. "In your dreams, snowball."
Gajeel just laughed. This was going to be a good night.
After everyone else arrived, they were ready to start the party. In true Erza fashion, she'd gone all out with the entertainment. She'd prepared board games and conversation topics written on paper strips that she'd placed in a bowl. No one seemed to need those, though. Classic holiday music played quietly from the speakers, and it would no doubt be annoyingly stuck in their heads for a month. They'd all crowded into the living room, both couches filled, as well as the armchairs. When those ran out of room, people sat on the floor.
The coffee table was piled high with cakes and pie and different cookies. For once, everyone actually brought something, and there was no shortage of food. Or wine. Cana made sure of that one. Freed even brought wine, so there was a ton.
After an hour of just talking, Mira suggested that they play charades. Those who were already tipsy thought this was a marvelous idea. Natsu practically begged to go first, and he tried to act out a drunk penguin balancing on a unicycle. It became a general rule after that that Natsu was only allowed to guess—he was forever forbidden from acting. Juvia somehow seemed to be amazing at charades, and she excitedly guessed correctly almost every time. When Cana suggested they up the ante and take shots every time someone guessed wrong, they all mysteriously got tired of playing charades and decided to open presents instead. No one wanted to face Cana's wrath. That girl could drink you under a table…
"Okay, does everyone know the rules of dirty santa?" Erza asked.
"Yes."
"No!"
Laxus blinked. "Can't we just pick one at random?"
Erza sighed. "That would take all the fun out of the game, Laxus, but I appreciate your enthusiasm."
He leaned closer to Mira, whispering, "I'm enthusiastic? Pretty sure I was trying to be an ass…"
Mira just giggled and swatted at his arm.
"Well, I suppose I will have to explain the rules!" Erza said—her excitement over the need to explain told them that she'd already had the speech prepared. "As you can see, the presents are in a pile in the center." She motioned to the presents. "The first person to play takes a present from the pile. The next person can either steal from them or take a new one. If your present is stolen, you can either choose to steal or take one from the pile. A present can be stolen three times. Once it's been stolen a third time, the one who holds it must keep it. Any questions?"
It was like being at school… "No ma'am," Gajeel said sarcastically.
She narrowed her eyes at him. "Very well! I'll start."
Erza eagerly took an elegantly wrapped box Juvia had been eyeing, and Jellal cast her a confused look. "I wrapped this one," she whispered. "I bought this for myself."
She opened the immaculately wrapped box and pulled out a small jar containing a very expensive face mask from a local beauty store. There were practically stars in her eyes as she pumped her fist.
Jellal just stared at her for a moment before chuckling. "My, my, you naughty girl." He cupped her cheek, brushing his thumb over her cheekbone. "What am I going to do with you, hm?"
Erza's cheeks flushed. "W-Well—"
Oblivious to the game continuing, Erza missed Gray taking her present (only to mess with her). Gray grinned wickedly as he held up the face mask. "I'm going to be so damn hot tomorrow."
"Erza, you need to open a new one," Levy said.
Erza blinked and looked down to where her present had been, only to find an empty box. Furious eyes slid over to Gray, who was waving the jar around tauntingly. Erza snatched the jar from his hands. "Obviously, I would want this."
"Lucy," Levy said. "You're up!"
Lucy grinned, looking at Erza pointedly. Erza's jaw dropped, and she sputtered as Lucy pried the jar from her hands. The third steal. "Mine, now!"
Lucy stuck her tongue out at Erza as she examined the jar. "Oh! This is awesome!" she said. "Who bought this?"
Erza blinked, and Jellal laughed and pointed at her.
"Thank you, Erza!"
She blinked again, anger deflating to leave major disappointment. "Y-Yeah…"
More gifts were stolen, people unwrapping gifts both useful and ridiculous. Laxus just shrugged and opened his present when it was his turn, unwrapping a book titled How to Deal with Stupid Friends. He grinned. "I bought that," Levy said. "I thought someone in this group would like it."
By the end of the game, Natsu wound up with a purple gift bag. He nearly ripped it open when it was set in front of him, and he excitedly pulled out a decorative pillow. Mira smiled. "Sorry, Natsu. I bought that hoping one of the girls would take it."
"Are you kidding? This is awesome! I can give this to Happy for a bed! It'll look good with his new fur!"
Mira's smile fell. "New fur?"
Lucy pinched the bridge of her nose. "He dyed Happy's fur blue…"
"The hell, Natsu?" Gray looked at him like he was insane. "Why would you do that?"
"Because he looks awesome!" he said. "Besides, Happy loves it!"
Laxus' incredulous look shifted to Lucy, and she sighed, shrugging. "That cat really does seem to be happier. I could've sworn he was strutting…"
Laxus just snorted and took another sip of beer. "You're a few screws loose, Dragneel."
"Shut up!"
Everyone had gotten a bizarre assortment of gifts. Gray's was the weirdest, though… He opened a large box containing lace panties with a bunny tail—Natsu, of course, would buy something stupid. And Gray just had to be the one to end up opening his gift.
"Natsu, you're really a freak," he said. "You have some really disturbing kinks, man."
"I do not! It's not like I want to see you in that, you idiot! Maybe Juvia does, though."
Juvia's face brightened, and she grinned.
Natsu laughed. "See?"
"Oh, so you picture us doing that kind of thing?" he countered. "You really are a freak, Natsu."
Natsu's expression went blank, and he grabbed a cupcake from the tray on the table and wordlessly smashed it into Gray's face. The room fell silent as the cupcake slid down Gray's face, onto the hardwood, leaving a trail of icing down his cheek. Bits of chocolate cake clung to his eyebrow, and he gaped at Natsu furiously. He took a deep breath, blew it out, and looked at Natsu calmly. Natsu raised a brow—not the reaction he'd expected. And then Gray reached over to the table, picked up another cupcake and slapped it onto Natsu's forehead.
And then Natsu grinned wickedly, and they knew that a fight had begun. Suddenly they were on the floor, smashing cake onto each other. Lucy and Juvia just sighed as they rolled toward the other side of the room.
"Should've seen this coming," Lucy said, sighing. Juvia nodded slowly in agreement.
Levy and Gajeel ducked down when Natsu suddenly stood, slice of cake in his hand as he aimed for Gray. Gray was standing near Gajeel, directly in front of the end table, where an expensive lamp Erza had bought that spring was perched. Her eyes went from Natsu to Gray, then to the lamp and back to Natsu as her brain processed how this would go.
"Natsu, don't you dare—" The cake hit the lamp, knocking it to the floor.
The base shattered and Erza rammed her palm into her forehead. "Why is it always our apartment…"
Jellal gave her an apologetic smile, but he ducked when a piece of cake came flying at her head. It hit her square in the face with an unceremonious smack. Pink icing went everywhere—in her hair, on the floor, the wall behind her, and all over her face. Natsu froze like a deer in headlights when he looked over at Erza, and Lucy gasped.
"You're going to die," she squeaked.
Everyone went still when Erza brought a hand up to wipe the icing from her eyes. She took a deep breath and glared over at Natsu. He could've sworn that if he looked hard enough, there was fire in her gaze. She was literally about to incinerate him. For a moment, she didn't move, she didn't say a word. She just took a deep breath as she flattened Natsu with a glare that made him want to crawl into a bomb shelter. She was pissed… Her sweater was ruined, the white snowman sweater she'd been so excited about. Natsu swallowed and moved closer to Gray.
"That does it!" she screamed. "I'm going to have to teach you scoundrels a lesson about respecting other people's property!"
"Erza?" Natsu laughed nervously. "It was Gray! I swear!"
Gray sputtered. "What the hell, man? I didn't do that! Erza?" He looked over at her, and backed up behind Juvia. "Erza, I swear Natsu did it, and— Shit! Where the hell did you get the katana? Is that really necessary?"
In one motion, she swung the katana into the cake, sending it flying across the room. It splattered across everyone. The room was now covered in light pink icing, sprinkles, and crumbled chunks of chocolate cake. Laxus looked highly unimpressed with a now very pink shirt, and Mira giggled when he looked down at her and kissed her cheek where icing was smeared.
A breath of silence passed before Natsu laughed. "Now that's what I'm talking about! Come at me, Scarlet!"
She grinned darkly, dropping the katana. "With pleasure."
"Erza—" Jellal watched hopelessly as his fiancé lunged across the room, now wrestling with Natsu and Gray on the floor. "And now she's on the floor…" he said, defeated.
Gajeel blinked when a chunk of cake stuck to his forehead, and he looked down at Levy beside him. The whole left side of her face was coated in icing, and cake bits stuck to her shirt. They just stared at each other for a moment, blinking. And then Gajeel started laughing. It was wonderful and loud and strange and completely, one hundred percent happy. And Levy laughed, too, tears gathering in her eyes as she pointed at his face.
"You look ridiculous!"
He laughed. "I look ridiculous? Shrimp, have you seen yourself?"
She giggled when he reached out and wiped some of the icing off her face, then smiled and pulled her against his chest. He smiled down at her, leaning down to lick some of the icing off the corner of her lip. "I love you, Lev."
"I love you, too."
He was just about to kiss her when an entire piece of cake smacked him in the face, and he whipped his head around to see Erza throwing whole slices of cake at lightning speed. Natsu and Gray were hiding behind the couch now, Mira and Juvia laughing as they ran out of range with Cana. They were smart enough to escape to the balcony. Gajeel scowled and picked up and entire pie pan from the coffee table. "Oi, Scarlet!"
"What?" she snapped, turning. Her hand was upraised, ready to throw, but she stopped, stammering when he threw the pie in her face.
Everyone gasped, Natsu and Gray watching in horror.
"Are you crazy?" Natsu whispered furiously.
"She's going to murder you," Gray squeaked.
Erza threw the empty pie pan down and wiped her face with her sweater. "Alright, Gajeel. You've asked for it."
Gajeel's laughter was cut short when the only surviving cake of their food fight was dumped over the top of his head. Levy, on the other hand, nearly fell off the couch she was laughing so hard.
Ignoring the brawl in the floor, Lucy sidestepped the cake-covered areas and moved in between Levy and Gajeel, sighing with relief when she managed to make it past Erza unscathed. She laughed when she sat on the other couch beside Jellal, who was watching the scene unfold like it was a horror film. He was the only person not to get coated in icing, as he was behind Erza when she decided to launch a surprise attack. Lucy wiped the icing off her shirt and laughed when some sort of pie filling—blackberry, maybe? Or blueberry?—struck the ceiling. The once modern, pristine, and very clean apartment was now a goopy, sugary mess.
"Buck up. We'll help you clean up," Lucy said, giggling. He looked thankful, and she grinned. "I'm sorry, Jellal, but you look way too clean."
He stuttered and tensed up, his jaw dropping when she smashed a cupcake atop his head, the icing sticking in his cobalt hair. Just his luck…that one had a caramel filling… He'd be washing that out for a week. And this evening had been going so well, too… Oh well, he thought. He grabbed a cupcake from the tray and smeared it against Lucy's nose, causing Natsu to fall on the floor laughing.
Jellal smirked and crossed his arms. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.
By the time Gajeel and Levy returned to his apartment, it was very late, and Levy was very tipsy. He was so tired and his muscles were hurting, but thankfully his stomach wasn't too bad. He'd remembered to take all of his medication that morning, so that helped.
Gajeel unlocked his door, laughing when Levy stumbled beside him. They were both coated in icing and cake, and he was pretty sure there was some type of pie in his ear. Levy was worse for wear—she looked like she'd jumped in a pool of frosting, all in different colors and flavors. She had strawberry icing on her face, chocolate on her shirt, and vanilla in her hair. She was actually so messy that they'd stuck a gingerbread man in her hair to top her off, the icing holding it in place. It was still there.
"That was so fun!" she said, stumbling into him when he opened the door.
He grinned. "You're a mess, shorty."
"I need a shower."
Gajeel locked the door and looked back at her. He did, too. At least they smelled good. He reached out for her and pulled her into his arms, bending to lick the icing from her neck. She shuddered in his arms, and he smirked. He wouldn't mind assisting her in the clean up… "Come on," he said huskily, pulling her toward the bathroom. "Let's get you cleaned up."
Levy giggled and waggled her eyebrows at him—an action she'd never do sober. And Gajeel laughed as he pulled her sweater over her head, then tugged her pants off and threw her clothes on the floor. He turned the knob in the shower and pulled off his own clothes before pushing her under the hot water and pulling the curtain closed. His exhaustion could wait—the only thing that mattered right now was Levy. Smirking, he pulled her close under the water.
Levy giggled when his lips pressed to her cheek. "Merry Christmas, Gajeel."
He smiled and tilted her chin upward gently, capturing her in a soft kiss. "Merry Christmas, Levy."
A/N: Some well deserved fluff in this chapter! I have been so excited about this chapter for weeks. I hope you all enjoyed it! Chapter 21 coming on Monday!
As always, thank you so much for all the reviews. Y'all are so sweet and wonderful! *ugly cry* Until next time!
