Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail, iPods, TBS, Pinterest, F.R.I.E.N.D.S., or any other recognized brands.

Levy shouldered her duffel bag and locked the car door, a triumphant smile pulled at her lips as she approached the gym's doors. Today, she was operating under strict orders to try the rock wall and she was actually, truly, excited. She was a little shy to admit that she had been so elated to be granted clearance of the wall- Levy even looked into special shoes specifically made for said activity. It was probably a bit much for a grown woman to get so worked up over something as trivial as a rock wall, but replaying Lily's confident smile as he gave her the green light to move ahead in her grand workout adventure got her every time.

Rock wall clearance meant duly noted advancement and responsibility around the gym.

It wasn't something wholly coveted, it wasn't that hard to do, but it was more than enough for her. She'd worked on a few pieces of equipment that targeted the muscle toning in her arms and while the difference was minute in comparison to men-built-like-small-houses, Levy was certainly proud of her accomplishments thus far. Her hand swept up, ghosting over her forearm and allowing the muscle to contract with the touch. A broad smile worked its way across her features, the young woman took a deep breath and curled her fingers around the door handle.

The heavy glass seemed to glide open just a little easier than it had before.

"Well, Lil', I'm here and I'm- Oh." She blinked and awkwardly froze in the doorway, trying in vain to shrink back into her windbreaker.

"Well don't sound so disappointed." Gajeel rolled his eyes, shuffling a stack of papers behind the counter.

Levy blinked once more, uncertainly sweeping her gaze across the main room. She didn't mean it the way he implied, but a part of her was a tad bit disappointed. She had wanted to show the gym owner that she wasn't just some pushover and could at least carry her own weight. Self-consciously, she tugged at the rolled up sleeve of her jacket and giggled breathily. "Lily's not here?"

"Aye, that would be why I'm trapped behind the big fancy counter." His not-really-a-frown expression slowly changed, giving her a subtle smile. No offense taken, no harm done.

Tentatively, she returned his small smile. She cleared her throat and took a few steps closer, folding her arms over the countertop and allowing a chuckle to pass her lips. "A step up then, huh? You get to do more than just glare at people if want them to leave now."

A tiny sliver of satisfaction wound its way into her gut when her remark elicited a chuckle from him. He nodded and the subtle expression shifted again, it began to pull at his eyes and the corners of his lips. "I get to play Solitaire on the expensive computer when I get bored too."

Something tickled in her chest, wriggling its way under her heart to make her laugh. When she opened her eyes, she caught sight of the careful upwards tilt reserved to one side of his mouth, it wasn't like the smirk he had used earlier- this one was something entirely different and warm. Before she could think on it too much, the expression was gone in an instant and she was staring back at the default expression Gajeel usually wore.

"Were you, uh, needin' Lil' for something? I've got keys to everything and the T.V. remote if you wanna watch some more F.R.I.E.N.D.S." His brow ticked up, clearly showing his amusement at her.

Levy ducked her head and twisted her hand into the curls at at the back of her head, nervously scratching and tangling there. "Not this time, thanks." He didn't need to know that she knew the program wasn't even on this early in the day. And unless TBS was running a marathon- which they weren't, she'd checked-, F.R.I.E.N.D.S. was showing later in the evening. "Oh, it was nothing pressing. I was just told to try the rock wall today and had hoped he'd be here to catch me win our bet."

He flashed her another smirk. "A bet, huh? So, which one of you is convinced you couldn't even bench press a pair of marshmallows on a twig?"

"Hey!" Her brows bunched together as her mouth screwed up in protest of his low jibe.

Gajeel muffled his laughter with a cough and straightened. They were barely acquaintances and here he'd already put his foot in his mouth, something Lily specifically warned him against while manning the gym in his absence. In Gajeel's defense, it had been a long time since he had found himself conversing so easily, willingly, with a patron of the gym- let alone the general population. He bit the inside of his cheek to check himself. "Sorry, but, uh, the bet?"

Levy crossed her arms over her chest and cocked her hip, but there was a glint of humor in her eyes. "Not a bet against me, I was merely promised something in the event that I make it to the top and rang the bell. Just wanted to be sure he'd make do on his promise."

"We are talking about the same man, right? If Lil' says he's gonna do something, he's going to follow through. He won't be out long. His stepdaughter, Carla, is in from school on Spring Break. Shagotte made him promise to hand over the gym in the evenings so he'd be there for a few dinners and outings."

Her eyes lit up and she leaned forward on the counter, causing Gajeel to take a step back in the midst of her sudden excitement. "Ah, Carla's in? Shagotte didn't say anything!"

"Yeeeah…" Gajeel glanced off to the side, scratching the back of his head. He looked back to her and raised his brow. "You know Shagotte and Carla?"

Levy tucked a stray piece of her hair behind her ear and smiled brightly. "Mhmm, Shagotte was my mentor in grad school and I've talked to Carla once or twice before."

Gajeel blinked. "Lil' said he just met you a month or so back, though."

He had not meant to admit he knew that. They only just barely knew each other from the other nameless people who frequented the gym, butl he could practically hear the gears cranking in her head. No doubt already deducing that he had inquired about her.

Levy pretended not to notice the way he faltered, or the stapler that clattered loudly to the floor with his fumbling, she merely hummed as she made her way to the locker rooms. She looked over her shoulder just in time to see Gajeel recover the stapler and mutter a curse under his breath. "Funny how the world works, huh?"

The woman manning the rock wall was impossibly stunning.

Not a lick of makeup on her, yet her blue eyes still shone bright and sharp against her delicate features. Long waves a few shades darker than Levy's own were tied back high up on her head. Her name was Juvia Lockser and her manageable hair caused Levy to tick a nervous hand through her own ponytail- in vain hopes of smoothing her much frizzier, shorter locks down.

"You must be Levy, Lily said you would be coming in. I'm Juvia Lockser." She was the cardboard cut out of every 'This-could-be-you' add and Levy found her stumbling with her introduction.

"Right, yes. That's me. Hopefully I won't give you too much trouble."

Juvia smiled Crest would be proud- and offered her hand. "I think you'll do just fine. It's a lot easier than what everyone thinks."

After Levy's harness on, tightened, and double checked, Juvia stepped away to get into her own harness. She didn't even pause in her work or look up at Levy as she spoke. "I haven't seen Gajeel talk so easily to anyone in a long time. It's funny, I don't ever remember him mentioning you." The gym trainer glanced up at Levy then, offering a comforting smile that crinkled the corners of her eyes. "And I definitely wouldn't forget him talking about you. How long have you known Gajeel?"

The shorter woman cleared her throat and smiled nervously, her hand flying back to tangle in her hair and scratch at her scalp. "Ah, that would be because we've only just met recently. I'm not even sure he knows my name, to be honest."

"Hm, you must have really gotten on his good side then." She laughed, the sound like the tinkling of a spring, and lowered her voice. She leaned toward Levy, as if they were conspiring, dropping the volume of her voice. "Gajeel's not the overly friendly type, as I'm sure you've noticed." Juvia didn't take offense to the girl's derisive snort or the muttered, "That's an understatement." "But you must have really made an impression."

Levy shrugged, turning to hook the tether to her belt. "Yeah, I guess so."

Juvia hummed, "Right. Now, Lily told me you were going for the bell today?"

"Right." Her shoulders straightened as she stepped up to the wall, the unwavering stare coming from the area of the front desk not going unnoticed as she reached for the first plastic rock.

Lucy opened her door, gave her a once over, and-

"You've met someone." Her grin was wide and blinding and didn't bode well for Levy as the blonde lurched forward.

In a flash, she wound her hand around Levy's arm with a death grip- wholly unnecessary, as Levy was there for their bi-weekly catch-up anyways- and yanked the smaller woman into her apartment.

"Either I'm rubbing off on you, or you're actually starting to listen to my advice." Lucy fell back into the couch, taking Levy with her. "In either case, spill."

Levy breathed deep, rolling her head back to stare up at the ceiling as she ticked off a list on her fingers. "Well, he's an old friend of Lily's, built better than my apartment building, he remembered I liked F.R.I.E.N.D.S. the one time it was on at the gym, helped me recharge my iPod, and made fun of my height the first full conversation we had. We've really only spoken a handful of times, but he's not much of a talker. anyways"

Lucy snorted, standing from her spot on the couch. "Sounds like a real gem, Lev. Or more like one of the guys that's employed by Best Buy. Are you sure you understand the meaning behind 'I've met someone'?"

Levy scoffed and shoved her foot into the back of Lucy's knee, forcing her friend to stumble forward. "I know what it means! Just go get the drinks and tooth-decaying snacks so you can continue to pry into my personal life without shame."

"Well, at least we have our routine." Lucy winked and ducked behind the swinging door to her kitchen, narrowly missing the couch cushion flung from the living room.

Levy resituated on the couch, straightening her shorts and propping her legs on the edge of the coffee table. She sighed, tilting her head back again and curling her toes back-and-forth to the ticking of the wall clock. She absently noted that a fresh coat of nail polish was needed. Her and Lucy were long over due for a girls' night as well.

A "What's your poison?" came muffled through the kitchen door, the clanking of glass almost drowning out Lucy's words.

"Do you still have some of the lavender lemonade left?" Okay, so Pinterest was good for one thing in her life.

"You got it!"

The door swung back open and Lucy breezed her way back to the couch, setting the tray down before lazily flopping back to the couch. Her legs settled comfortably over Levy's lap and her friend rolled her eyes.

"Yes, we get it. You've got the legs of an Amazon in comparison to me. Let's get on with your prying."

Lucy wiggled her legs and snorted, "Well, gee. You make it sound like I'm about to rip out your teeth. It's not an inquisition, Lev."

"Can we get on with it so I can ask you about the usual blunders of married life?"

"Fine, fine." Lucy waved her hand dismissively, then brought her hand to her chin in thought. "Hm…Job?"

The blue haired woman held up her fingers. "Two- one at the gym to help Lily out when he needs it, plus a regular day job."

"Job or career?"

"Betting career- definitely not a suit, though." Levy bit her lower lip, a wry smile tugging its way to her face. "I can't see him working a mall job…or anything that required he have too much interaction with people."

"Ah, a regular Prince Charming. But points for being a good friend and making a living. How about gym manners?"

"Trust me when I say he looks like he lives in the gym, Lu. If I hadn't seen him come and go with my own eyes, I would think he never leaves. He actually knows personal boundaries and manners. I think I found the one guy other than Lily that doesn't make unnecessary noises when they're working out." Levy made a disgusted expression and shivered against the onslaught of nightmare material she had overheard while working out.

Lucy's grin widened at that. "Ah, a real keeper. Okay, hygiene?"

"You're serious?" Levy knitted her eyebrows, her mouth twisting dubiously. This was a new one to Lucy's usual List of Must Meets.

The blonde merely shrugged. "Well, you did meet him in the gym. And I think you can tell a lot about a person depending on how they choose to dress for certain places."

"Fair. The norm, I guess? I mean, it's a gym. People don't exactly roll in dressed to the nines or anything, but yes, clean. Shirts with sleeves and practical gym shorts. I've seen him with a bit of scruff on occasion, but the next time I see him, it's be gone." She'd noticed the first time he walked in with the faint traces of a beard that he had appeared tired and restless. Of course, it was before they had even spoken to each other, so it wasn't like she could just waltz right up to him and ask him if he was doing all right.

Or compliment the 5 o'clock shadow that made his jawline completely unfair.

Lucy's brow quirked and a corner of her mouth lifted in amusement. "Do I detect the tone of loss in your voice?"

"Oh, stop it." Levy flushed, hiding it by swatting her friend with the remaining couch pillow. She brought the cushion back to rest over Lucy's legs in her lap as she leaned forward on her elbows. She saw no harm in admitting a half truth to Lucy. "Either way, it doesn't take away from his look. Though, I still haven't decided if his hair is a bit much or what's up wi-"

"Hair?"

"As in, growing from the scalp. It's well taken care of, no rat's nests or split ends. Like everyone, it looks a bit rough after he's done working out." Levy tugged a hand through her shorter stands of hair, letting it slip and fall from her fingers as her hand continued to move away from her. "It's just really long a-and it's gorgeous, but he doesn't strike me as the vanity type."

Lucy bolted upright, yanking her legs out from under Levy, nearly sending her tumbling off the couch. "Wait, wait, wait. Hold up. It's black, right?"

Levy slowly glanced at her from the corner of her eye, she did not have a good feeling about the gleam in her friend's smile. "Yeeeah?"

The blonde's hands fluttered to her face, pointing to her wide, brown eyes. "Red eyes? Looks like Khal Drogo without the beard and body paint?"

"How do you-" Levy sucked in a breath and watched Lucy struggle with her words.

"That's Gajeel! He's Gajeel, it's Natsu's cousin!" With that, Lucy slumped back as her body gave into the peals of laughter shaking her frame. "Of all the people- Gajeel. I can't believe-!"

The shorter woman shifted on the couch to face Lucy, holding her hands up in an attempt to calm her friend and gain a minute to understand what was unfolding in front of her. "Okay, you're kind of freaking me out and so what? He's Natsu's cousin, that's not a crime. Wait a second." Levy's eyes widened and narrowed, her voice dropping disappointingly. "He's not a felon or anything like that, right?"

Lucy scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Please, he might look like a tough guy and is about as approachable as a brick wall, but he's a huge softie. And from the way he deals with Natsu and their younger cousin, Wendy, he's a stickler for the rules."

Levy's eyebrows shot up toward her hairline. "That's hard to believe."

The blonde smirked, raising her brow. "I never would have put you two together."

"Hoo-ol-ld up, Lucy. We're not together. We're hardly acquaintances," Levy squeaked.

"But he know's your favorite T.V. show. Natsu doesn't even know my favorite T.V. show and we're married." Lucy eyed Levy speculatively. "Have been for a few years now."

Levy slumped forward, hiding her face in her hands. "Don't give me that look! It's not like we were having some in-depth conversation about our likes and dislikes, Luce."

"Still. Kinda sore I didn't think about it before, though."

"Gajeel would let you, Natsu's wife, set him up?" She peeked at Lucy from the side of her hand, chuckling at the blonde's pout.

Lucy shrugged and chuckled. "Well, not anymore." At Levy's blank expression, Lucy continued. "There was an incident and now we're not allowed to meddle anymore."

"I can't see him letting you meddle in the first place."

"I could meddle again."

"What for?" She had a bad feeling about giving into Lucy's questionnaire so easily. Perhaps it would have been better to wait until her and Gajeel were friends, that way she stood a chance of playing it off and giving him a good laugh.

Lucy leaned forward, meeting Levy's eye and winking. "Your case, my friend."

She was doomed.

TBS is an American television network that plays reruns of F.R.I.E.N.D.S.

A/N: This was a trip to come up with out of nowhere and edited in 4ish days.

Also, I haven't been getting a lot of reviews, I hate asking for them, but I could use some encouragement, y'know? Even if it's just a 'Great chapter!', it goes a long way.