Chapter 15
Christmas Eve
Even with her late arrival at the guild hall, Levy's usual spot at the back bar counter was still blessedly open. She hurried to her spot and plopped down on the wooden stool. She fiddled with the white fluff on her sleeve, starting at the almost empty room. Mira puttered around the counter preparing mugs and tankards for the day. Master Makarov waltzed through the room, straightening a wreath or garland at every pass. A few other mages lingered about, hardly making a sound. Levy frowned and checked the large clock on the wall one more time.
Am I really one of the first ones?
Apparently, the rest of her family must have stayed up late the previous night after Levy already headed back to the dorm rooms. It was surprising that she was one of the first people in the guild hall; not that she was an early riser, but she would have assumed that at least Team Natsu would have arrived early to start the Christmas festivities instead of deciding to sleep in on the most exciting morning of the year.
Mira bustled at the back counter and slid a steaming mug of hot cocoa across the counter. Levy caught it in her grasp and cradled the warm mug. She breathed in the rich scene of chocolate and cream, eyes straying to the door when it slowly creaked open.
Over the course of the next half hour, more and more members of her family filed into the room. Elfman trudged through the door and collapsed at a back table. Reedus soon followed, dragging his ever present easel slowly behind him. Erza arrived and positioned herself at a far wall, seeming to nod off to sleep where she stood. Each time the door opened, Levy swung around and scolded herself for her ridiculous reactions.
The door creaked open again and Levy glanced over her shoulder. She sputtered into her mug. Gajeel slowly weaved through the numerous tables and benches. His eyes caught hers and she whipped around, staring at the bar counter in front of her. Her ears strained and picked up every movement he made. Moving just her eyes, she watched the back wall and saw Gajeel take up his usual spot at a table well away from the rest of the guild members. Her heart thudded in her chest.
He was dressed in his usual rough clothes, not even a speck of holiday cheer to be found. Gone was the red uniform, the sparkling sword. His face was marked with his usual scowl, nothing like the teasing glint she remembered from her dreams. With a sigh, Levy turned her attention back to her mug of cocoa.
I knew it was just a dream…I'm being silly, that's all.
Before she knew it, the guild hall filled to the brim with mages. Conversation flowed and rattled off the large, wooden beams supporting the large room. Levy smiled at Mira, who waltzed past with four tankards already filled to the brim. Master Makarov made his rounds throughout the room, wishing each mage a Merry Christmas. Levy took another sip of cocoa, proud of herself for only peeking at her Dragon Slayer a half-dozen times.
She startled when the Master jumped onto the bar counter with a loud thud. He raised his hands and slowly the room quieted. Levy leaned away from the counter, trying to give the Master her full attention and not a certain Dragon Slayer, who she could have sworn was staring at the back of her head.
The doors burst open, startling everyone at the tables. Natsu and Happy sauntered into the room, Lucy panting behind them. A loud bark of laughter filled the room.
"Finally decided to join us, eh Sleeping Beauty?"
Levy sighed as the room filled with the usual shouts and insults that always accompanied Gray and Natsu's fights. The room erupted with laughter, each mage egging on the two hot-headed rivals. Lucy skirted around the tousling mages and plopped onto an empty barstool next to her.
"Sorry I'm late," she took a swig of water from the tankard Mira offered, "I overslept and still had to go and get Natsu and Happy. They were completely passed out when I got to their house."
Levy shrugged, giving Lucy a small smile. "It's alright, I overslept too."
Lucy raised a brow. "I know I haven't been here for that long, but you don't usually–"
"Alright brats, quiet down!"
Gray and Natsu froze mid fight. Erza stomped across the room and dragged them to the corner, where she rapped each one of them on the head with her gauntleted fist. Apparently satisfied that the two troublemakers would remain quiet for the time being, Master Makarov cleared his throat.
"First," he said, clasping his hands behind his back, "I want to say Merry Christmas to you all! You're the best bunch of brats an old man could ask for!"
Cheers came from every table in the room. The huge Christmas Tree sparkled with each shout and bells rang where they hung on the walls. Levy slowly clapped her limp fingers against her palm. Lucy stared and Levy cracked a small smile.
The Master raised a hand for silence. "Now then," he rocked back on his heels. "How did everyone sleep?"
Levy managed to crack a real smile; it was the same question he asked every year.
"I hope you all had…sweet dreams?"
A sparkle filled his eyes, making Levy frown. The crowd stilled, murmurs drifting through the crowd.
"I did have a strange dream.."
"I've never imagined there could be so much candy, so I thought…"
"The buildings were so weird.."
"Wait," Max jumped on top of a table, "are you saying that was…real!?"
Levy stared at Lucy, the look on the blonde's face looking just as befuddled as Levy felt.
Master Makarov grinned, "I introduce to you, Fairy Cheer! One of Fairy Tail's secret weapons. I thought a nice, holiday dream inspired by our smallest bookworm," he gestured to her and Levy felt her face flush, "might just give everyone the holiday spirit they needed this year."
The room was pure chaos, each mage yelling and shouting at each other and the Master.
"So Natsu really burned my eyebrows off!?"
Master Makarov chuckled. "Yes!"
"And Droy really ate that entire building!?"
"Yep, that too!" Another laugh.
Levy's skin flushed hot and cold, her heart beating sluggishly in her chest.
If we were all in the same shared dream, then that means…
She slowly raised her hand, already dreading the Master's answer. Master Makarov turned and raised a brow. Levy gulped.
"What if…someone apologized in the dream and you got really close to them throughout the d-dream…and then they threatened to…" Levy swallowed thickly, poking her fingers together, "to k-kiss you, but you…ended up…kissing them first?"
Master Makarov practically glowed, a wide smile crinkling his long beard. "Then you kissed him first."
"Oh no…" Levy moaned, dropping her head into her hands.
"Levy? What's wrong?" Lucy's frantic voice barely registered.
Her face was on fire and she knew it was only a matter of time before…
"Wait a second…"
"Didn't we see…"
"After he finally whacked some sense into Natsu?"
Please no, please no…please, please…
Levy sank lower onto her seat, praying to the mages that the ground would open up and swallow her whole. The room grew quiet, a score of unseen gazes boring into her skull and prickling the hairs on the back of her neck. Slow, heavy footsteps shook the floorboards behind her. She didn't even need to look up to know exactly who it was.
The shuffle of Gajeel's clothes stopped directly behind her. A soft scraping sound followed and Levy knew the Dragon Slayer was scratching the back of his neck. Levy squeezed her eyes shut; she always thought he was cute when he acted all embarrassed.
"So, um…"
Mage up, Levy! You can't ignore him forever!
Forcing iron into her spine, Levy slowly lifted her head and peered up at the towering mage standing next to her. Gajeel startled, a rush of red creeping up his neck and into his ears. He cleared his throat and dropped onto the empty stool at her side. Dark, fingerless gloves covered his hands and he fiddled with a frayed edge.
She could only stare at him, flashes of the dream flittering across her mind; his dare to lick the cough drop stones on the road, falling into the Orange River, running away from Laxus and Gildarts, the wonderful boat ride to Confectionville. The hugs and smiles, the bond that formed between them.
All of it really happened.
But did he feel it too?
"I know that you know," his deep voice rushed over her like melted chocolate, "That I'm many things. But a liar ain't one of them. I didn't…I didn't know it was a dream, alright?"
He glanced in her direction before staring at the countertop in front of him.
"I thought it was a dream, so I decided ta actually try bein' myself for a change. I never lied. Not once did I lie to ya, Shrimp. Every story, all the things we talked about, everything that…happened…between us…"
He finally looked up at her, desperate and pleading, exactly like in the Christmas Wood when he begged her to forgive him.
"...it was all real for me, Shorty."
Levy clasped her hands until she could feel her own pulse in her fingers. She swallowed thickly; if he continued to look at her like that, she was going to do something really embarrassing in front of their entire guild.
"So I guess," he cleared his throat, "I guess the ball's in yer court now. If ya want, we can pretend none of it ever happened, or we can…we can…"
Gajeel cleared his throat again, the trial of red deepening until it was nearly as dark as his eyes. Levy took a deep breath and stood, her heart beating so thickly she was certain it would burst if she remained sitting for a moment longer. Gajeel twisted in his seat, chin up and the planes of his face hard and resolute.
"So are you ready to take responsibility for your actions?" She pursed her lips, staring at the man in front of her.
Gajeel gulped before nodding. "'Course I am."
"Good, because I'm sure you understand that the Master won't take too kindly to what you have done."
"I understand," he murmured, adopting such a pitiful kicked puppy look that Levy felt her lips twitch.
She sighed dramatically and placed a hand on her hip. "Now that that is out of the way, where are you taking me for our first date?"
How she wished she had a recording lacrima, with the way every mage in the room jumped as if a magical bomb exploded. Lucy gasped and nearly fell off her chair. Master Makarov barked a laugh and Mira reeled back in shock. Gajeel simply stared at her, his mouth gaping. Levy bit back a chuckle, shuffling closer to the dumbfounded mage.
"Wha?" he managed to fumble out.
Levy giggled, cradling his head between her hands. "Don't you dare sit there and think that you can make a fair maiden like myself fall in love with you and not suffer the consequences!" She rested her forehead against his, smiling widely. "I expect it all, my good sir. Flowers, dates, snuggles…everything! And you better not regret your decision now, you hear?"
Gajeel's eyes twinkled.
"Yes ma'am," he whispered and claimed her lips with his own.
Levy kissed him back, as sweet and warm as she dreamed it would be. She played with the soft strands of his hair, feeling Gajeel's arms wrap around her until not even a strand of garland could separate them. The room around them erupted with shouts and whistles, the cacophony bringing her back to reality. Her face flamed and she buried her face in Gajeel's shoulder. His arms shook with laughter and he held her close.
"Merry Christmas, Levy," Gajeel murmured into her hair.
Levy tightened her hold, snuggling in close. "Merry Christmas…my brave Nutcracker."