Chapter Sixty-Five
"You all are beasts." Mickey shook her head as Freed looked over at her.
"You asked for training."
"I'm human!" She gasped and bent over and shook her head. "How do you all move that fast?"
"The gravity on this planet is lower than the common gravitational pull that Freed and Laxus have grown up with; therefore they are able to move faster." Alfie stated and Mickey shook her head.
"That's so unfair." She straightened. "But let's keep going."
"Were you like Erza and in the RO…Alfie?" Freed asked when he couldn't remember the rest.
"ROTC Program." Alfie supplied and Mickey shook her head.
"No. But I don't believe that asking others to die for me isn't fair if I'm not willing to fight along side them." She shook her head. "I mean, war amongst each other is different. This isn't…normal circumstances."
"I can understand that." Freed nodded and held out the weapon he was training her on. She groaned but took it and stared at it. It was like a baton, but depending on how you twist the bottom; it would either spark with electricity like a taser, expel fire, shoot small exploding projectiles. And it was also fairly sturdy and could be used just as a blunt weapon. She spun it around and took the starting position he'd taught her. He nodded and feinted left then moved right.
"Agh." Mickey yelped when he landed a blow with his protected tipped sword. She looked at him while rubbing to the side of her lower abdomen. "Why do you always go for that spot? Its freakin' tender at this point."
"Is that not where your vital organs are?" He asked and she looked down and screwed up her face.
"Well like…I think my gallbladder or spleen is there? But not the super crucial ones. The heart and lungs are right here." She thumped her chest and then tapped her head. "Or my brain. But my stomach is just intestines, bladder, bowels, kidneys."
"What are kidneys?"
"Organs that filter toxins out of our blood and helps recycle the blood."
"That's very specific." He looked confused.
"You all don't have kidneys?"
"No. I have a brain, heart, lungs and the stomach and bowels." He said and shrugged. "But as far as I am aware I have no other important organs."
"Lucky." She said and shrugged.
"You forgot several other organs." Alfie murmured and Lyn rolled her eyes. "Yeah but those aren't important."
"You all have more?" Freed looked horrified and Lynn laughed.
"I'm guessing Alfie means the sexual organs."
"What are those?" Freed asked in genuine interest.
"Males have testicles and a…thing." She said and motioned something with her hands between her legs. Then started to rub her stomach. "Women have a uterus and ovaries and fallopian tubes all squished in here, around everything else."
"Ahh…you all consider those things organs."
"You all don't?"
"No…they are less important body parts."
"For humans they're important. For some more than others." She shrugged thinking about it. "Not important. If you want to kill humans, avoid the stomach. Yeah it can kill us but it's slow and torturous. The more important places to aim are here and higher."
"Thank you."
"Yeah, and uh…I remember from movies that there are arteries long the underside of the biceps and the upper thighs that are deadly. But their exact locations aren't something I know. And if you want to kill quickly; you want to go between the fifth and sixth ribs. Straight to the heart."
"Good to know." Freed straightened up. "Are you ready to begin again?"
"No but let's go anyway." Mickey sighed heavily. Freed grinned as he prepared to attack.
"Mickey has finally landed a blow on Freed." Laxus grunted as Alfie informed him about the progress in her training. He was busy looking over a map he had pulled up before Capricorn had left. He looked at everything that Alfie had inputted into the map about the enemy that she knew or had pulled from the drones. Even now, she was updating things with more drone footage.
They had figured out the location of Mard Geer's stronghold and he had to admit that it was a good location given the destruction all around it. Strategic destruction no doubt. He bit his lip and growled lowly.
"Oye, boss man!" Bixlow's voice jerked him out of his thoughts and he looked over at the communication screen. He nodded and saw that Lisanna was glaring hard at Bixlow and he figured it was with anger.
"What did you do to Lisanna?"
"I didn't do anything." He held his hands up and shook his head.
"He saw things he shouldn't have." She sneered and he looked at her and put a hand on his chest.
"I did no such thing. My head was turned and I gave you my cloak. Which you still haven't given back! Or my spare either!"
"Oh shut up!" She screamed and punched him. He chuckled and looked back at his boss. He sobered up.
"Sorry boss man. Mard Geer was out and about."
"What?" Laxus asked his attention fully on Bixlow. Lisanna even calmed down.
"Little bird over here handled him pretty well."
"Don't call me that." She rolled her eyes. "And I didn't handle him. I yelled at him and ran away."
"How did he find you?"
"I was reckless." She looked ashamed and avoided his gaze. Bixlow shifted to block her, and Laxus saw her head lift, surprised.
"She found an innocent female and a hatchling in danger. Got them out of the dangerous situation but to ensure they got away safe, she had to lead the danger away. Mard Geer appeared on the rooftop she'd gotten to. He tried to turn her to his side."
"Lisanna…" Laxus felt worry rush through him. If anything happened to her, Mirajean would skin him alive.
"I"m fine." She pushed Bixlow out of the way and looked contrite. "I told him to shove his cheap words and that I'd die before joining him."
"Bet that didn't go over well." Laxus said, impressed that she had done so; but also not too surprised. He did remember her going after Evergreen on the Guild Station.
"He got pissy and threw black energy bombs." She crossed her arms.
"How did you get away?" She didn't respond and puffed out her cheeks and looked the other way.
"She flew away." Bixlow grinned.
"How? Did the Magi-Hover catch her?" Laxus asked thinking of the time Bixlow and Freed had maneuvered their Magi-Hover to break his fall after a fight on a ledge with a Vulcoran; a large winged individual.
"No boss man…she flew." Bixlow stressed the word and Laxus thought about it when an idea hit.
"Animal Takeover?"
"Animal Takeover." Bixlow said sounding proud and Laxus threw his head back and started to bark in laughter. Lisanna grinned and blushed.
"Congrats Little Bird. Your siblings will be happy to hear that you all are a full fledged magical family."
"Don't call me that." She whined and shook her fist at him playfully. He grinned and nodded, knowing full well he was going to give her animal related nicknames from now on.
"I'm heading to Gajeel's location." Bixlow said, pulling Laxus' attention back to him. "The woman Lisanna saved was injured heavily and I want Wendy to look at the hatchling too. Once they're given the all clear; I'll bring them to you."
"Sounds good." Laxus said and nodded, wondering about where he was going to put a woman with a hatchling. "I'll work with Alfie to find a safe hold good enough to protect a hatchling."
"Sounds good." Bixlow nodded and Lisanna pushed forward.
"How are Mickey and the others?"
"Mickey managed to land a blow on Freed in training." Laxus stated and Alfie hummed.
"She has now knocked him off of his feet."
"Go Mickey." Lisanna looked impressed and smiled. "Thanks for looking after them, and tell Freed thanks for training her."
"Hey…don't I get any thanks?" Bixlow asked and the two started to bicker so Laxus ended the communication and then turned back to the map.
"May I suggest a location?" Alfie inquired and he grunted and she started to highlight a building close to where they currently where. It was close to the library where they had first interacted and he thought about the brief memories that location held.
"What is that building?" He asked as he looked at it.
"It is a bank."
"Ok…I take it they are secure like back on Edolas?"
"As much as Earthland could secure their banks." Alfie stated and Laxus again grunted. He rolled his shoulders and started pulling up images of the building from drones and reconnaissance videos from before meeting the girls of the dorm. He started listing supplies to help secure it more and Alfie was working with him to formulate plans on securing it.
"Whats happening Laxus?" Freed ask, wiping sweat from his brow and Mickey looked down.
"Is that Seventh Street Bank?"
"It is a bank, yes." Laxus said and stood up and groaned as he stretched and twisted. He hadn't realized that his muscles had started to cramp from being hunched over for so long. "We are going to fortify the bank for survivors. Bixlow and Lisanna found a female with a hatchling."
"Hatchling?" Mickey asked.
"A baby." Alfie supplied and Mickey nodded and crossed her arms.
"That bank is a good one. If the vault is open we can put people in there. If it's not; maybe Alfie can open it."
"Good idea." Freed said and leaned his hip on the table and looked at the map. "Anything else we need to know?"
"Lisanna faced down Mard Geer and lived to tell about it." Alfie stated in a bright pitch and Laxus' lips twitched.
"She what?" The Valorian asked and looked concerned.
"Don't worry. Her Animal Takeoverian abilities took over. She flew away from him."
"She flew…. Nice." Freed nodded. "I was hoping for Mimic Takeover but Animal isn't bad."
"I'm so confused." Mickey said and rested her chin on her fist. There was a hum from Alfie. "Are you laughing at me Alfie?"
"Yes." The AI stated and all three laughed and shook their heads.
"A hatchling?" Minerva watched as Gajeel asked for verification from Bixlow on the screen. The helmeted male nodded and Gajeel sighed. "Fine. Bring 'em on over."
"We're only a few skerts away now."
"And Laxus okayed this?"
"Yep. He's working with Alfie, Freed and Mickey to start fortifying a bank to take them to afterwards."
"Whose Mickey?" Gajeel asked and uncrossed his arms and put his fists on his hips.
"Human woman we found." Lisanna appeared and explained. "She's going to help us fight. She apparently took Freed off of his feet in training."
"Then she's acceptable." Gajeel nodded and Bixlow grinned.
"Such praise." Lisanna rolled her eyes and shared a pointed look with Bixlow and he nodded. She turned and left the screen and he looked back at Gajeel and the others in the Magi-Hover.
"I need to see what's up with her, she's acting off." He confided.
"She is hiding an injury." Alfie stated and Bixlow slowly turned and looked at a panel out of sight and Alfie hummed. "I am not in these panels. Why do you all do that?"
"Because ya don't have a face." Bixlow and Gajeel shouted at the AI in unison and Minerva, Rufus, Frosch and Levy all chuckled. Levy watched as Bixlow tensed.
"And what do you mean she's injured?"
"Did you not notice when she was nude and running through the Magi-Hover after her run in with Mard Geer?"
"Whoa….what?" Levy asked; there was a lot to unpack and they saw the skin around Bixlow's mouth turn red.
"It ain't like ya thinkin' I can say that off the cuff." He said and shook his head as everyone looked at him skeptically. "She pulled a Levy and distracted the bad guys who were trying to hurt the woman and her hatchling. She got to a roof top and Mard Geer appeared and tried to turn her to his side. She told him off and jumped off of the roof trying to get to another building."
"Of course she'd get injured doing that!" Levy scolded and Alfie hummed and the bluenette turned her head. "What?"
"The injury was before the rooftop based on drone footage." Alfie stated.
"Oh lord." Levy looked up at the ceiling and shook her head.
"I'mma beat her." Bixlow snarled and expelled a breath out of his nose.
"I'm next, and I bet Mira will want to be in line too." Levy said and huffed in annoyance.
"Why was she naked?" Frosch asked innocently and Bixlow immediately deflated.
"She uh…lost her clothes after jumping."
"How?" Gajeel asked and raised a riveted brow.
"Her Animal Takeoverian magic kicked in."
"Oh!" Levy clapped happily. "I knew that had to have been bothering her she was the only sibling without Takeover magic."
"Gihihihi." Gajeel shook his head. "Got an eyeful of something huh Bixlow?"
"Stupid Gajeel!" Levy reached over and elbowed him in the stomach and he gasped and glowered at her. "Just get her here and I'll jump her with Wendy for treatment."
"Sounds good." He said and signed off quickly.
Levy shook her head and pointed at Gajeel. "What is wrong with you?"
"What? Did you see him blush?"
"Lisanna is probably so embarrassed." Levy covered her face and shook her head.
"Nudity isn't a sin." Rufus said and froze. "Or is it on this planet?"
"No but it's something a lot of people consider to be private and only shared with…growlkins." Levy explained thinking quick. Gajeel shrugged behind her and the others took that in.
"Prudish planet. Got it." Minerva turned an opened a panel and pulled out a container of food.
"Selective prudes." Levy argued and then threw her hands up. "That shouldn't be the focus. We need let Wendy know that there are injured people incoming and check on the empty Magi-Hover. Has anyone come out of the others yet?"
"Nope." Gajeel turned back to the screen and Alfie switched over to the footage of PantherLilly's empty Magi-Hover.
"Does anyone on any of those shuttles have the ability to scan it and see that there is no one in it?" She asked and Alfie hummed.
"No. And I still cannot get into their programing. Something is blocking it."
"Ugh."
"Yes. Ugh." Alfie mimicked her groan as much as possible. Levy's lips started to twitch and she lowered her head to keep from laughing. Gajeel kicked her foot and she kicked his back and lifted her head and looked a the screen.
"We should go out there. They may not come out without seeing someone; worried our Magi-Hover is a trap."
"We ain't goin' anywhere." Gajeel said and looked down at her. "Me and PantherLilly will go out there."
"Now don't you start…" She started to argue and he picked her up, throwing her over his shoulder. She grunted and twisted, grabbed his ear and jerked. He howled and she landed on the ground and scrambled away. He tried to grab her, but she went under the table and then jumped up on the other side.
"You are not going to go all caveman on me. I am healed. And I could be a good bait out there. I look weak, and if they don't know me; they won't know I have Word Magic, and if they do know; having you behind me is fine."
"It ain't fine. It's dangerous."
"Life is dangerous you stupid Dragis!" They were both leaning on the table and glaring at one another.
"Then me and Gajeel will go out there." Minerva offered and Levy turned and snarled at her. Gajeel's eyes widened and Rufus tilted his head and stared at Levy in concern. PantherLilly got between Levy and Minerva, his eyes on the latter.
"No…I don't think so. You and Rufus need to rest. You two still haven't slept much since the last battle. Even with Wendy's healing you aren't rested. Gajeel, Levy and I will go out there."
"Fine." Minerva conceded and walked away. Levy was breathing heavily as PantherLilly turned around and put his paws on her shoulders. She looked up at him through her eyebrows and he looked at her seriously.
"Breathe. Whatever you are feeling, breathe through it."
"I don't…understand…" She shook her head and PantherLilly shot a look at Gajeel who had the decency to look ashamed.
"It's understandable…" He proceeded carefully. "You see Gajeel as a comfort person given everything. You don't trust Minerva, who you don't know, to keep him safe so you know you are safe. Why don't you go to your room and rest."
"I don't trust Gajeel not to sneak out." She said and shook her head and the Dragis dropped his head back on his shoulders. Frosch wobbled over on the table and patted Levy's shoulder.
"Frosch will come get you if they try to leave." He smiled widely and Levy nodded and PantherLilly released her shoulders. She walked out of the main area. Rufus looked between PantherLilly and Gajeel.
"Do I want to know?" He asked and Gajeel growled and he nodded to himself. "I will go rest."
"You are a fool!" PantherLilly hissed and Gajeel threw his hands up once everyone but Frosch had left. Frosch looked around the table top and smiled distractedly.
"You think I don't know that?"
"Frosh thinks this isn't the time." He rocked on his feet and clasped his hands behind his back. "Theres lots we need to do."
"I can't believe I'm sayin' this but the little frog cross-dresser is right." Gajeel rubbed his eyes with his heels and he turned and walked off.
"Where are you going now?" PantherLilly asked and the Dragis lifted one hand and the middle finger on that hand. "What does that mean?"
"It is an Earthland sign of insult." Alfie supplied and PantherLilly growled lowly before stalking off. Frosch looked around and sighed.
"What is wrong little Exceed?" Alfie asked and Frosch spun around.
"No one is here to help Frosh down!"
There was a long, almost musical hum, and then a series of floor tiles rose to make steps down. The Exceed wiggled in joy.
"Thank you Alfie!" He skipped down the steps and walked off to find Lector. Alfie hummed as it retracted the step tiles.
"Gwolmp…" Gajeel started to speak as he entered the room and grunted as Levy's backpack hit him in the stomach. He bent over on instinct and looked up at her through his hair. "Sorry…Levy."
She made a sound of annoyance and went back to packing the bag. He tapped a panel and pulled the seat that appeared close to her bed. She ignored him and he felt her anger and confusion. He gritted his teeth. How did Lucy and Natsu handle feeling the other's emotions? It was adding to his own confusion. He took a deep breath and pushed it down; not wanting it to wash over her. She did have enough on her plate without him adding his issues on her. He released the breath slowly.
"I am really sorry. Surely you can understand, that after seeing you the way you were…" He stopped speaking and looked at the wall and then back at her. She had gone still. "I don't want to see that again."
"I can understand that." She said, her voice small. "But think about if you were locked up…and couldn't see what was happening….couldn't do anything but worry."
"We're both in tricky spots." He conceded, not wanting to think about the extra layer he had that she didn't know. "But getting angry at and attacking Minerva isn't helping anything either."
"I know that." She threw down the healing packs she was putting in her bag and turned and looked at him. "And I don't know why…but when she gets all…flirty with you…it pisses me off."
"She ain't flirtin' with me." He said and her face when from frustration to a look that he knew meant she was contemplating physical retaliation. He put his hands up, both defensively and trying to be sympathetically. "She ain't. Why would she? Have ya seen me? I ain't her type."
"Gajeel…she's been looking you up and down like you are a piece of meat and she's been starving for months!" Levy put her hands on her hips. "I saw her licking her lips when you turned away. She was focusing on your butt."
"My…" He started to chortle. "That's hilarious but not true."
"Alfie!" Levy barked and crossed her arms, tapping her foot. The AI lit up a screen in a panel and Gajeel watched as the video came up. He watched as the images moved; and then shifted as he turned and Minerva did lick her lips; her eyes low on his body. He shifted and grimaced.
"What the hell?" He shook his head. "I don't know what her issue is but it doesn't matter."
"Of course it does!" She stopped her foot. "What if she tries to take advantage of you? What if she distracts you in the field and Mard Geer or some of his men get an advantage on you because you are acting goofy like Natsu when he first started trying to get Lucy to be his growlkin?"
"It ain't gonna happen."
"You don't know that!" She said and pointed at a random wall. "You said Metal Dragis don't often find their growlkin so what if she is yours and she…."
"She ain't my growlkin!" He shouted, shooting to his feet, making her eyes widen and her mouth drop open. He closed his eyes, rubbing the bridge of his nose and slowly let out a tired breath and dropped back to the chair's seat. "Levy, I ain't interested in her like that. She doesn't give me any inkling of her possibly being more than an ally. I promise you that."
"But how do you…"
"Because I can't get over yer dramatics to even give her a thought!" He stood back up and towered over her. "If ya can't take my word that I ain't interested in her, than yer the problem here. And don't take it out on me. Either trust me or don't. But don't put yer insecurities off on me."
"I'm not trying…" She choked out and tears started to run down her face. He immediately groaned and kicked himself. He pulled her close and held her as she cried.
"I'm sorry Shrimp." He said and rubbed her back like he had seen Lucy do with Natsu. Granted he thought it was weird given how large his hands were compared to her small frame. "I know that ya are feeling a lot of things. Near death experiences are hard, and the aftereffects harder. I'm sorry I can't be gentle enough to say the right thing. Ya deserve a lot better."
"Shdmppth gehjebrl."
"Yeah, yeah…that's me. Stupid Gajeel." He smiled softly as she cried softly against him. He bent over, and carefully picked her up and turned to sit on the bed. He cradled her close and held her, still running a hand up and down her back while the thumb of his other hand slowly made circles on the back of her neck. After some time she calmed down, and turned her head sideways and rested her cheek on his chest.
"I'm stupid too so I shouldn't yell at you…or call you that." She said after some time.
"Yer not stupid. Yer the smartest person I've probably ever met." He said and she shook her head and sniffed.
"I'm letting my emotions get the better of me. That's the definition of stupid."
"Nah…" He shook his head and cupped her cheek and tilted her head up to look at him. "Ya just have't had a lot of time to process everything going on. And have probably pushed a lot down. Eventually what ya suppress will come out; either in a slow oozing fashion or spectacular explosions. Ya actually kinda excel at the latter to be honest."
"I just don't understand why I'm so jealous towards you. It's stupid." He went still and she flushed as he stared at her. She tried to look away but his hand tightened ever so slightly and she slowly looked up at him through her lashes.
"Why is it stupid that yer jealous about me? I'm awesome. Ya should feel like keeping all my awesome around."
"Gajeel." She giggled and shook her head and he stroked her jaw and she stilled. Looking back up at him. "I just…"
"What?"
"Its nothing." She tried to pull away but couldn't. His arms weren't shiny like he had transformed them into metal; but they felt like steel bands around her. "Gajeel…"
"Why do ya think ya can't be jealous?"
"Please don't make me explain." She begged and looked at him, her lip quivering. She felt him start to breathe a little faster, and the hand on her back pressed her closer, while the hand on her face tilted it more upwards towards him. "Ga…Gajeel…"
"Tell me Levy. Why can't ya be jealous?" His voice had lowered, and she wanted to shift in discomfort but a discomfort that wasn't wasn't wholly uncomfortable. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. His scent filled her senses and wanted to snuggle closer. Something about his scent and his warmth and his closeness putting her at ease and making her want more. "Levy?"
The huskiness in his voice made her shiver. She looked up at him. "Because…I could never be your growlkin so it's stupid to feel any claim over you."
She watched as his face hardened ever so slightly. She felt pain flare in her chest and she gasped, feeling a swirl of emotions she couldn't place. He shifted her against him, making her straddle his legs, so he could put his hands on her shoulders and make her face him head on. She wanted to blush at the position but couldn't even feel her embarrassment over the rest of the emotions.
"Why couldn't ya be my growlkin huh? It can't be cuz yer an Earthlander. Look at Lucy being half."
"That isn't…" She shook her head and looked down as her hands.
"Levy?" His tone was serious and she took a deep breath. He deserved the truth.
"Because I'm not good enough." She hated that her voice sounded like a whisper. The shame in her tone nearly choked her.
"Not…?" He cut off his words and then his right hand caught her chin and forced her to look up. Before she could question anything, he jerked her forward and his lips crashed down on hers. She went still. Her fingers curled, bunching the fabric of his shirt; and after the initial shock, she kissed him back. It was an intense; while slightly awkward kiss. She could tell he didn't know how to properly kiss; but at the same time; his intensity made up for it. He finally pulled back and she gasped, staring at him in shock. She lifted a hand to her lips and just stared at him.
"Yer better than good enough." His voice was gruff and she shivered and he rubbed her lips with his thumb. "If anyone isn't good enough here, it's me. Ya deserve someone as smart and good as you. Don't ever think that yer not good enough for whoever you want. Feel however ya feel and don't internalize anything foolish. And if ya can't understand anything, just let yerself feel it and then talk it out with someone."
He shifted her off of him and stood up. He had to pull her hands off of his shirt and he ran his hand through his hair. "I'mma go get things planned with PantherLilly. I'll have Alfie notify ya when we're ready to go."
She sat there as he left, staring blankly at the doorway. She wasn't sure how long she sat there, just staring after him as if it would make sense of what had just happened. She finally realized she was shaking and wrapped her arms around herself. She swallowed hard, and pulled up a blanket to cover herself with. She felt so jumbled up. She took a deep breath and pulled her comm device off of her hip.
"Lucy?" She whispered and heard Alfie's hum as she connected the call.
"Levy?" Lucy's voice came over the comm and Levy felt a calmness wash over her. "Levy?"
The concern in her friend's voice helped to center her. "Can you talk in private?"
"One second." She heard Lucy murmur something, probably to Natsu, and there was a few seconds of silence and then Lucy spoke again. "I'm alone. What's wrong?"
"Gajeel kissed me." She whispered and waited. She wondered if she had been too quiet.
"He what?" Lucy all but screamed and Levy squeezed her eyes closed.
"He kissed me! Like…awkward and obviously his first time…but he still full on kissed me."
"Okay..hold on." Lucy took a breath and then a panel flickered to life and Levy watched as Lucy appeared. Her face was flushed as she looked at her, probably taking in her own flushed and embarrassed face. "Like…are we talking an awkward peck or like… a kiss kiss?"
"Kiss kiss." Levy said and Lucy's mouth dropped open and then she squealed. Levy wanted to disappear into the blanket. Lucy calmed down and looked at her.
"I'm sorry. Sorry. You need me to be calm. I'm good now." She said pulling her hand down in front of her face. Levy gave an awkward sound and shook her head. "How do you feel about it?"
"I don't know." She shook her head again. "I'm still not even sure how to contemplate that it happened. It doesn't seem real."
"Well its definitely not something I'd have seen him doing." Lucy said and offered a soft smile. "But how do you feel about it? Did you hate it? Not want it? Did he for…"
"He wouldn't do that." Levy immediately cut her off. She lowered the blanket and pressed her forefingers togethers. "I didn't hate it, but I don't know if I can say I wanted it or not. I mean…he did it so suddenly."
"So like..you two were arguing and he did it to shut you up suddenly…or he just grabbed you walking down the hallway?"
"No and no." Levy blushed and lowered her head and looked up at her friend sheepishly. "We were talking and I said something that annoyed him and he did it to…try and prove a point?"
"Didn't see that kiss theme happen."
"This isn't a romance novel Lu-chan!" Levy lamented.
"I know." Lucy giggled. "But it sounds like one."
"It does…doesn't it?"
"Yep." Lucy gave her a sympathetic look. "How do you feel about it. Honestly?"
"I don't know. I mean…it's Gajeel."
"It is."
"He's also been so weird since the bombing." She shook her head. "And I don't know. Everything just feels so jumbled."
"Levy…what he saw…" Lucy's voice broke. "Seeing you like that…It wasn't easy."
"I know. But…I don't know. It's like ever since I woke up after the early treatments, my emotions are heightened. I beat the shit out of Minerva, an ally, because she insulted Alfie and then I nearly did it again when she was flirting with Gajeel."
"Wow…." Lucy made a face. "Are you…hormonal for any reason?"
"Lu! Its not my period." Levy blushed furiously. "And maybe it is hormonal. I don't know."
"Well, is Gajeel trying to pressure you into anything?"
"No…after he kissed me…he left." She huffed and pulled on her bottom lip before sighing heavily. "He also said I deserved someone better than him. That he isn't good enough to be anything…more than a guildmate with me. That was implied but I think it's what he meant."
"Well…big emotions on both sides." Lucy said calmly. "And I wish I had a simple fix for you…"
"Lucy…it can't be fixed." Levy interrupted. "Gajeel may say I'm too good for him…but I know the truth."
"What truth?" Lucy asked softly and waited.
"That he may think I'm a good person; but that he could never see me as possible growlkin because I'm not strong enough or worthy enough of being a Metal Dragis' mate. I'm too small and I probably couldn't give him hatchlings even if…"
"Whoa…whoa…whoa." Lucy tried to calm Levy down as she started to speak faster and faster. "Do you want to be his growlkin?"
"I don't know!" Levy whined and shook her head, covering her face with her hands. After some time she looked at her friend through her fingers. "Why are you grinning like that?"
"You like him." Lucy sang and gave a joking little shimmy. "Levy and Gajeel sitting in a tree…"
"Shut up!" Levy yelled, giggling and looking at her friend with a smile on her lips. "I do…I do like him. He's always been…honest with me. He never tried to hide anything; he may have tried to deliver information as gently as he could, but it wasn't in a condescending way."
"Well…if a time opens up to tell him. Tell him. Let him decide what he wants. Maybe you'd be surprised." Lucy offered and Levy smiled.
"Thanks for talking to me. Even if I think you are being too optimistic."
"I love you Levy. I'm always here for you." Lucy said softly and Levy smiled even brighter.
"I know. And I love you too Lucy. Thanks. I should get some rest. We're going to try and meet up with three guild shuttles."
"Okay. Be safe." Lucy ended the communication. Levy leaned back and curled up more in the blanket. She sighed and closed her eyes. She drifted off to sleep quickly, missing Gajeel looking in on her. He lowered the lights and stepped back out, giving her one last lingering look.