Theme: Work hours

There had been a recent brake in at a nearby shop by the guild lately. Master Makarov decided that they needed a security guard during the night for a while just in case to prevent anything happening after the situation. The requirement was that they were used to being up late. Sadly enough, Levy was one of the two that got chosen, well volunteered, by Droy and Jet, who were so eager to get her into the job. She was mortified, knowing that she'd be stuck in an almost dark guild, during the night, alone, well not exactly. As soon as she heard Mira offer Gajeel to work as well, she was more nervous than ever. Gajeel had objected but Makarov forced him to work. Gajeel felt like he was set up while he felt like this is what happened when he took a long nap, well slept through the whole day whenever he was here, before heading home and staying up all night. Levy felt like the two biggest fears have come closer than ever, darkness and her inner feelings for Gajeel that might possibly be shown to him during the time. The only plus is that it was going to pay her but she didn't know if it was all too good at that point.

The first night was probably the worst. She luckily stayed under the bright bar while Gajeel went around the place to check. Gajeel was the main factor of the anxiety she had while she read her books she bought to entertain her. He was quiet and not much of a talker was it because it was just her there or because he doesn't like her? Maybe from back then…?

The rest of the night was spent reading and Gajeel awkwardly sitting next to her while he stole some glances without her knowing. Gajeel had taken some drinks during the job too but neither of them chose to break the ice. After the night was over at 6am, they went back to their homes to freshen up or in this case Levy slept at home and woke up at noon while Gajeel went back to the guild and took his day long nap.

Once Levy got to the guild, she had a grimace while holding her book that she was reading when she woke up. As she entered she noticed Gajeel in his usual seating place sleeping and Pantherlily with the other exceeds while Droy and Jet surrounded her and asking questions about the night and if Gajeel did something she didn't like. All of them set aside while Lucy butted in trying to get them away since she saw the sign of annoyance that had started to slowly grow on Levy since she couldn't answer them at the same speed as they threw them at her. Lucy led Levy over to go sit while laughing a bit.

"Haha, they need to know when to give you some space Lev!"

"Oh I know…But I can't just turn them down like straight forward or I'll crush them!"

"Well I'll at least give you time to answer back! How did the night go?" Lucy said with a little elbow nudge to Levy's arm with a wiggle of her eye brow, inferring about Gajeel while she saw her get a bit of flush on her cheeks.

"It was terrible! I couldn't start a conversation at all since he looked like he didn't want to talk. Only time was to ask me if I wanted to look around, thank god he did it though. It was really scary and I felt like I was going to pop from the both him and that! Work hours suck too… 10pm to 5am!" Levy said while holding her head from frustration, keeping the part of the conversation a small lie.

Lucy sighed.

"Well I'm sure tonight will be better! Come on it was just the first night! Plus I know you've been up later than that!" Lucy said trying to encourage Levy.

"Hopefully…. And I stay up late because of really good books!" Levy said, puffing her cheeks.

Levy had just closed the doors to the guild while Gajeel began to walk over behind the bar. Levy secured the area before it got any darker, good thing it was still bright out at 6pm. She rushed over to the other side of the counter putting her bag of book on the counter while she signed from relief.

"Ya okay shrimp?" Gajeel asked while having his elbow on the table and looking at her.

Levy jumped from him speaking, she didn't expect it right off the bat.

"Y-Yeah! Just glad I locked up and got to the bar!" Levy said nervously. "Well how was your day?" she spewed.

"Uh… Okay? Just small incidents with Flame-brain and Icicle-face since they woke me up from my sleep."

"Don't hold it to them so much… You basically slept the whole day, almost 12 hours. It's bound to happen." Levy said with a giggle while rolling her eyes.

Gajeel froze for a moment with a tint of red crawling up on his neck. Her laugh was beautiful to him no matter the type she gave, but what she said sorta bothered him too since he had nothing to say back.

"Well you sleep a lot too!" Gajeel retorted, that was the best he could come up with.

The rest of the time, or a few hours, were spent in silence after that before Gajeel asked something relating about checking the place.

"So I'm guessing its yer turn to go round and check the place"

"…Oh…. Uh y-y-yeahh…" Levy said in a worried tone, perking up Gajeel's interest and concern. Levy scrambled to her bag to get out a flashlight while she stood up holding it with both of her hands shaking.

"Umm…umm… could you come w-with m-me? I don't know where to check…" Levy asked trying to get some assistance.

"Uh sure, shorty. Why ya scared of the dark or somthin'?" Gajeel said raising a brow while getting up and getting his own flashlight. By the looks of Levy's face, all red, looks like he hit right on the nail on his guess.

"Yeah…." Levy replied.

Gajeel was pretty surprised; he didn't think she was scared of the dark at all until now. She was all cheery and made herself look like she wasn't afraid of anything. Guess he can't go judging everyone like that. He felt weird too. Has she told others about something like this? Telling someone about a fear like this takes a lot of trust.

"Do others know about it?" Gajeel asked, interested while he walked ahead of Levy with his light ahead of him to check the inside of the guild. Levy followed close, almost at his back with her own flashlight moving side to side on where they were going.

"No-Not many…" Levy replied. The creaking of the flooring made it worse on her, making her all jumpy and her breathing go faster. They were heading up stairs now and she felt even more paranoid while she looked back to see it pitch black. She panicked and picked up her pace faster and moved to Gajeel's side instead of behind, she felt a lot safer than she did being behind. They were now walking down the hallway where various amount of shelves, desks, and tables stood by with lots of little trinkets collected from previous years. Some were little landmarks in time for the guild, like the glued back together shell that Happy came out of. With the stuff in the hallway, barely two people could walk side by side, even for Levy but since Gajeel is so large, it made it equivalent to just two normal sized people.

Due to Levy already rushing, she hit the side of a small rattle that was on the edge, making it roll down hitting the floor with its beads cracking inside it.

KEH-KEH-KEH!

Levy screamed and grabbed whatever was close to her while dropping her flashlight, that thing she held onto was Gajeel. She was crying from the shock in midst of her hyperventilation while she was getting her fists full of his shirt, hiding her face.

"NONONONONO, PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME ALONE, AHHH HELLPPP" She screamed out, feeling like the world is going to end there and now. It was too dark now, her flashlight fell down and turned off while she even bumped Gajeel's flashlight too, making it turn off on impact of the ground, making it to where she couldn't see anything in front of her.

Gajeel was even more surprised, but he had to help Levy out, she was suffering a bit too much. He wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly to his chest, trying to calm her down while he rubbed her back.

"Shhhh…. Shorty it's fine, I'm here. Not going to leave you alone, I won't ever have that happen." He said in a low growl while he had his face down into Levy's hair, taking in the ink and paper scent.

"PLEASE…. Please! Don't leave me….*sniff* Gajeel… please…!" She whimpered, holding on tightly.

"I won't leave ya…I think I care about ya too much to do so…" Gajeel said mumbling the last part while he lifted Levy bridal style into his arms. His eyesight adjusted to the darkness and thanks as well to his dragon abilities, he walked back down stairs and back under the light in the bar.

"It's alright shrimp; we aren't in the dark anymore." Gajeel said while holding her in his lap, trying to clear her face from her own hair that stuck close from the tears. He looked at her, feeling like he should have figured it out before that something was wrong. He felt like he was to blame for all of this. All of that was taken out of the way while he looked at her face, she looked beautiful. He didn't care if she was all wet and puff eyed, he loved it. He loved her, so much so that it was unbearable to control.

"*sniff* Thank you… *hic*" Levy thanked while she tried to calm down, feeling more relieved being back at the lighted bar. She felt safer knowing Gajeel was holding her and being close, his scent over took her nose and his voice soothed her. She felt guilty too, causing so much trouble over a stupid fear she had.

"I'm sorr-"before she could apologize, she felt her lips being pressed on Gajeel's and then parting. It was breath taking, she wanted more, but she was confused yet happy. She felt like Gajeel put as much love into it as he held her. She looked at Gajeel with confusion while her tears slowly stopped with her damp flush face.

"I should be the one saying sorry, I shoulda known ya were scared…" he said looking away from her, having red creeping up his face.

Levy smiled, making Gajeel's mouth hang open a bit from her beauty and her attitude. She brightened up quickly before pecking a kiss back.

"It's not your fault. Though it was pretty embarrassing to cry in front of my crush… More so being icky from crying while still getting a kiss…" She said blushing brightly and looking down.

"I'm not sure if I deserve to be yer crush…" Gajeel grunted, looking away.

"Gajeel Redfox, yes you do. You saved me from my fears and made me happy. Past actions aren't allowed to be in this right now. I forgave all of them… because I love you…" She said holding his face to make him stare her right in the eyes while she puffed her cheeks. Gajeel's cheeks were matching Levy's, but his eyes were wide open, like he was dreaming.

"I love ya too, Levy…" Gajeel said leaning in closer to her face with a big grin. "Are ya sure I can love ya?" Gajeel asked just confirming and having a bit of doubt.

"Yes, Gajeel. Yes." She said smiling brightly kissing Gajeel, slowly moving her arms from his face to around his neck while Gajeel firmed his hold on her, putting a hand on her waist and side. After breaking their kissing, Levy flushed again, she was thinking a bit too much and also forgot about something. She didn't know she could kiss well on her first try. So many firsts that Gajeel would probably end up having now were all crowding her mind, practically steam was coming off her head.

"Ga-Gajeel…. Just to let you know that was my first kiss… and I think I should tell you that there are still a lot of firsts to be broken…" She said shyly looking to the side.

"Gihi! Don't worry shrimp, I have firsts too. I just uh… Did 'research' on em…. If ya understand that." Gajeel said with a snicker kissing her cheek while she turned. "And it'd be my pleasure to take them from ya! Gihihi!"

Levy turned into a blue haired cherry while she puffed her cheeks.

"Stupid, Gajeel! Of course you will!" She yelped flinging her punches at his chest, making no effect.

"Maybe the working hours were not so bad now. Now that she had someone here to protect her and love her… "She thought.

"Do ya wanna do it now?" Gajeel asked, getting her out of her thought with his big smirk there to see closing in for another kiss.

"Yeah…" Levy replied in a small blush, looking half dazed while their eyes locked with each other's into another kiss.

It was really hard to get the theme to get here but I think I did it ;o; I am not sure how I did on the other ones either! Like I feel like it wasn't so much focused on them but more like "oh here" type of thing once in a while. This can turn into probably a few chapters if you guys want it to be for a future thing, but up to you guys! xD Haven't really got a response about the idea. So I might just pick ones I think can last a few chapters (maybe 10 who knows) and do those. XD Sorry if it wasn't a full lemon, I wanna have like that small break between these chapters because it feels repetitive having a whole lotta lemons in a row o_o (peeve of mine that grew now XD)

Hope you liked it still and do what you guys do best! XD