Days settled comfortably into weeks.

Gajeel had started writing songs again – not many, but there was the occasional mood that struck him and he lost himself for a few hours with his guitar and some paper. On occasion Laxus would drift into the garage to watch and listen. The swell of magical energy would flow like a tidal wave through the place and Gajeel would always pretend he hadn't noticed the blonde's presence until the song had ended. Oh, how Gajeel could get lost in song. Laxus used to think listening to that kind of passion flow out of someone was borderline erotic but it paled in compared to watching his love throw his head back in near madness, spine snapped straight with muscles taught as he stroked metal cords with half-open eyes. Gajeel enjoyed putting on the show, as innocuous as it seemed, and Laxus felt like he was committing some sacred sin by watching.

Laxus marveled in how confident the man had become in just the short time since defeating Unaven. No longer did he make proud remarks with trepidation lurking behind his eyes. He seemed almost reborn. Like a phoenix he rose with a fire in his heart and unbridled determination. They'd begun sparring and between jabs and jokes Gajeel would say that Laxus was taking it easy on him when really the Thunder God was doing anything but. In falling snow they danced through lightning and blades of iron, narrowly missing each other's defenses and flirting – literally and figuratively – just outside of each other's reach. Laxus felt oddly warm in the biting cold of winter. Any semblance of fear that once hung over Gajeel's shoulders of Laxus's magic seemed completely erased. One of their times alone, panting at each other's side with muscles groaning from fatigue, Gajeel had asked Laxus to fill the air with his silent sparks. He'd said they were beautiful as he ran his tan hand up Laxus's thigh. With no small amount of fire in his cheeks and stirring in his chest, Laxus had obliged. Despite the unexceptional weather, there was an oddity of thunder sounding off in the distance that day, and it may have had a little something to do with the way Gajeel pressed frigid kisses to Laxus's neck as he tried to control his lightning.

They began frequenting the guild together, often side by side wherever they went. On more than one occasion it was remarked about how close the two had become and they merely shrugged in reply, neither particularly wanting to break the air of mystery or give the guild any more cause to rumor than they already did. The couple did receive some prying glances, though, when on one particular day Natsu baited Laxus into a fight and Gajeel responded by mussing Laxus's golden locks in jest, urging him to take the Salamander on already. Laxus smirked and sent the poor kid flying, eyes and fists aflame as he roared for a rematch. Gajeel's hand lingered for just a tad too long on the Thunder Mage's arm before he'd turned and headed for the bar, ordering the two of them drinks before settling once again at his side. Cana pried shamelessly after that, even going so far as to try and get Gajeel drunk enough to let something slip. Innocent jokes were made and sly glances were shifted between the two men, but never was anything revealed other than that the two were seemingly inseparable.

On a particularly slow evening, she goaded Erza into a game of truth or dare and Erza in turn dragged half of the guild into it. Gajeel narrowly avoided being swept up only because Laxus intervened, muttering something about how they had better things to do than play games like a bunch of kids.

Snow was falling heavily on the day that Levy bounced up to Gajeel and asked him to go with her on a mission. Large brown eyes sparkled up at him and it took a lot of restraint on Laxus's part not to do something to completely shut her down. It didn't take too much investigating to figure out that Levy and Jet were once again on the rocks and the bluenette was asking Gajeel just to spite the red head. Laxus outwardly scoffed when Gajeel had agreed but the raven had something up his sleeve, quickly choosing a second mission that required more than just two people and insisting the rest of Team Shadow Gear andLaxus come along. After all, Laxus had nothing better to do and what's a little extra cash? Levy had actually paled when the idea was brought up but Jet had jumped at the chance to stay in between Levy and Gajeel being alone, and if Laxus were honest, he also didn't want the two spending any quality time together.

Since the location was so close – and to spare Gajeel's stomach – the bizarre group decided to make the trip by foot. It required spending the night out on the road but no one aside from Jet seemed to mind. Laxus thought that it must have finally gotten colder than Gajeel could stand because the man actually wore a thick, black leather coat with a long crimson scarf, although even with the additions he seemed underdressed compared to the rest of them. Laxus enjoyed the way Gajeel's scarf accentuated his eyes, making them stand out as more starkly red than usual and he tried to find the time to discretely let the raven know but always seemed to be too close to inquisitive ears for him to voice anything. Levy, though, had no issues bringing up how much she liked his ensemble and Laxus saw Jet visibly clench his jaw at the remark.

Jet quickly waned on Laxus's patience. Any time the man was given the chance he was degrading Gajeel in one way or another but always Gajeel shrugged it off. Maybe he was used to it or maybe his light mood just couldn't be deterred. Either way, whenever Laxus would prickle in defense Gajeel was quick to diffuse him, never letting on that his words or actions put him off, although Laxus was sure he saw once a gloved fist tighten just a slightly at an insult aimed at his singing.

The mission Levy had picked involved restoring some books in an ancient library Laxus had heard of but never been to. Gajeel's mission was to track down some local monsters in the area and fight them off. On the trail, Gajeel showed Laxus how to track and even offered for Jet to come as well to learn. Laxus picked up far faster than the redhead who lacked his sight, hearing, and smell, but even still Laxus was a blind man in comparison to Gajeel's skill. He marveled at how the raven could be so silent, as if made from the falling snow itself; a wraith searching for lost souls in the unbroken white and barren trees. He made a game out of catching monsters, complaining one that he'd fought should have counted as two when Laxus won. Walking side by side down the trail just a little farther ahead than Team Shadow Gear, Laxus had shot him a wry smile and shoved him away playfully, telling him to stop pouting. Gajeel offered his signature laugh and it was a welcome sound amidst the falling snow. Laxus felt like he didn't hear it nearly enough. He realized he wanted to hear him laugh more.

That night when they'd made camp it was Gajeel who did most of the work and the raven didn't seem to mind in the least. Three tents were pitched in the bitter snow. A fire was lit. Laxus decided the nice thing to do would be to get a stew going to help warm everyone up. Droy had brought a pot and he melted snow inside of it, throwing in vegetables and some mushrooms Levy had found. Gajeel caught a couple of hares that were hastily skinned and added.

"This is delicious! I didn't realize you were such a good cook, Laxus." Levy smiled as she sipped, her shivers quickly subsiding as she warmed next to the fire.

"Thanks," he murmured into his bowl, not wanting to accept the compliment. He refused to like Levy despite having no reason to aside from her obvious crush on his partner.

Gajeel plopped down heavily at his side, legs splayed out haphazardly as he leaned against Laxus's arm almost causing him to spill his food. He grinned cheerfully, even daring to show his sharp canines, "Tastes good, Sparky."

"Get off," Laxus elbowed him playfully, his smile surfacing despite himself.

"It's good to see you two getting along so well," Levy's voice seemed a little less confident and she suddenly took to studying her bowl, "I know you two have had problems in the past…"

Laxus blinked and shot a look to Gajeel who didn't seem to have a reply. He mussed the shorter man's black hair as he grinned, "I guess you grew on me, delinquent."

"Like a virus, isn't he?" Jet muttered and Laxus snapped his eyes towards the Speed Mage, barely keeping his magic quiet as he thought of something to shut the man down.

"Give it a rest, Jet," Droy sighed at the thinner man's side, his annoyance clear on his face, "At least be cordial."

Gajeel acted as if he hadn't even noticed his words, quickly finishing his food before standing to throw more logs on the fire. He hummed as he worked and Laxus caught himself staring. Shortly after, they all retired and it wasn't lost on Laxus the look of mischief in Gajeel's eyes when they made their way to their tent. The kiss he'd given him as soon as they were alone was enough to keep him warm for the rest of the night.

Laxus woke the next morning cold, missing the body heat that he knew should be there. His bones ached from the chill that had seeped into him as he rose and stepped into their camp. He noticed Levy sitting close to a stoked fire, eyes cast up into a nearby tree and a pining look clear on her face. He followed her eyes up and saw Gajeel sitting up in the massive barren branches, drenched in crimson light as he stared off into the distant east.

"I tried calling up to him," Levy said quietly, pulling her coat tighter around herself, "I'm not sure he heard me."

Laxus figured there was no way if she hadn't even woken him up with the noise, "Probably not."

"He looks peaceful, doesn't he?" Laxus realized she hadn't pulled her eyes from him the entire time they'd been speaking and her wistfulness seeped into her voice the more she talked, "I was worried about him, you know. He seemed so lost and now… he's like a different person."

Laxus tore his eyes from the bluenette to his love, burying the spiteful jealously that was threatening to make him angry, "He had some demons he hadn't faced yet."

She blinked slowly and finally looked over at the blonde, questions clear on her face. He disregarded her look and instead nodded up to the raven, "I'll get him down."

He took a steadying breath before thunderous energy erupted around him. He jumped and blinding yellow surrounded him, pushing him high into the air in a split second. His eyes trained on the branch just beside Gajeel's and he refused to look down as he alighted. The limb shuttered and bowed beneath his weight and the whole thing swayed when a stiff breeze rushed by. Laxus had a white-knuckle grip on the trunk as he squatted next to him. Gajeel didn't turn to glance at him, just continued staring forward into the sun.

He tipped his head back towards him slightly and there was distance in his voice, "Ya know, my dad used to take me flying before the sun rose."

"Yeah?" Laxus hummed at his side, the intimacy of the moment not lost on him.

"Yeah… We'd watch the it come over the horizon and he'd say that the sunrise was the most precious gold the earth could give us," he finally turned to Laxus and the blonde could have sworn the sun's fire had been poured straight into his far-away eyes, "Never really believed in all that but… it is kind of nice today, eh?"

Laxus smiled softly at him and couldn't stop himself from reaching forward and catching a strand of inky hair that had escaped in the icy breeze, "I guess it is."

Gajeel leaned towards him but Laxus stopped him, placing his hand against his arm gently, "Your girlfriend is watching. I told her I'd get you down."

Gajeel's brow furrowed and his outrage was waiting on his lips when Laxus rose, charging the air with his magic before once again being consumed. He rushed at the ground and landed a little harder than he'd intended. He could hear Gajeel following after him, jumping from branch to branch before landing with far more grace at his side. Levy lit up with Gajeel back on the ground and immediately began asking him what he'd been doing. He shrugged stoically, not offering her the same story he'd shared with Laxus. The blonde took to rattling Jet and Droy's tents, waking them up more aggressively than he probably needed to, but he was ready to go and didn't want to spend more time out in the cold than he had to.

The trek to the library was short as they'd made camp only a mile or so out. The building looked as ancient as the flier had made it sound. Mahogany shelves lined the walls and filled the entire building in haphazard disarray. They seemed more arranged to be a labyrinth than have any sort of ordered rows and Laxus wondered at how anything was found in the place. In the center of the building there was a large dome of glass which filled the building with natural light. Lamps adorned the sides of each shelf for times when the sun wasn't bright enough, but today the sun's rays filtered through unsettled dust and cast soft shadows on the floors. Beneath the dome was a massive tree, almost four stories in height but still not close to reaching the glass panes, and with bark that looked startlingly black. What remained of brilliant red leaves littered the floors and the tops of tables and shelves and it seemed the librarian was in none too big of a hurry to sweep them up.

Once inside, Levy and Droy tracked down the owner and was met with a thin man who could have been as old as the building himself. They had to step over massive roots that had pushed up floorboards as they followed him back to a large room filled with worn and broken books. Torn up spines and frayed covers greeted them and immediately Levy set to work to organizing the more distressed issues and Droy to collecting materials. Laxus watched them work, feeling like a bull walking around as he bumped into tables and knocked stacks of books over. Gajeel disappeared, muttering about looking into something as he walked away, and Laxus didn't miss the way Jet followed him with narrowed eyes. After a few hours of being more in the way than of any real help, Laxus finally gave up and excused himself from them. Levy smiled sweetly at him, thanking him for his help despite Droy's look of relief at him leaving.

The smells of antique wood, dying leaves, and archaic paper made him feel strangely relaxed. He meandered alone through the maze of shelves and roots, realizing that there actually was a method to the madness of the arrangement, although that still didn't mean he had any idea where Gajeel was in the whole mess. There seemed to be a second story although he saw no way to get to it. There were no stairwells and the ladders attached to the massive bookcases didn't extend to the balcony. He had almost given up looking when he caught the familiar scent of iron intermingling with the smell of earth and roots and followed it down one of the tree's massive veins to where tables were chaotically scattered across the floor. His boots crunched on dry leaves as he stepped steadily around the magnificent trunk to find a shock of midnight hair hunched on the other side.

He was reclined back with a boot on his bench and the other with heel tapping on the floor, legs spread so wide he almost claimed the whole bench. His brows were knitted and the faintest of scowls was set across his face. He was surroundedby books, each of them ancient with yellowed pages and bindings that had clearly been refurbished more than once. He could have appeared studious with his scarf wrapped loosely around his shoulders and body hunched over a particularly large tome that nearly filled half the table, but those iron studs on his face and clothing was too obvious to miss and altogether the man looked comical when you stood back and looked at him. Laxus crossed his arms and waited for the raven to notice his presence, a grin set across his face as he shook his head at the spectacle of Gajeel – of all people – reading.

"I know I look ridiculous," Gajeel growled, not even glancing up at him, "You don't have to fuckin' stare."

"Ridiculous? You? Of course not," Laxus couldn't hide his chuckles and it gained him a sardonic smile from his partner, "I was just wowed by how you seem… you seem like such an eruditescholar."

His look became skeptical, "That's not even a word."

"You're in a library. Look it up," Laxus grinned.

"Ok, smartass, and how do you know something like that?"

"I read."

Gajeel raised his brow at him, "Since when?"

"Gramps did make me go to school, you know," he purred teasingly, "Not all of us got their formal education from a guildhall."

"Why do I get the feeling yer callin' me stupid?" he'd turned his eyes back to what he was reading, flipping one of the massive pages as his eyes scanned.

"How did you learn how to read, anyway?"

"Juvia," Gajeel said slowly, his attention partial to whatever was on the page, "Metalicana tried his best but… human language wasn't his favorite."

"They spoke Draconic, right?"

"Mmh…" Gajeel reached over and plucked a small book from one of the many he'd pulled, flipping quickly to a certain passage and sliding it over to Laxus, "The night at the hot spring… the legend about the sun and the moon. Is that what you were talking about?"

"Yeah…" Laxus smirked as he read the old tale. It came from an ancient religion that worshiped what he saw as the mundane; the sun, stars, moon, several types of animals. He'd read some of the legends on one of his many trips with Freed to Magnolia's library.

"Did ya have to pick a story where I died at the end?"

Laxus smirked, "The princess came back to life, remember? As the moon."

"Yeah, and she could never touch her love again. Not a very happy ending."

Laxus shrugged, his smile never wavering. He was actually pretty impressed, "It was spur of the moment. I'm surprised you even remembered it. You were very drunk."

"And youwere very high."

"What even was I on? Any idea?"

"Probably ecstasy with how fuckin' giddy you were," Gajeel sighed and stretched, his spine popping as he sat up straight and moved to cross his ankles under the table. He looked tired.

"Of course you would know…" he smirked and Gajeel only smiled wickedly into his book in response, "What are you researching, anyway?"

"Chameleons," he stated flatly, "Figured now was as good a time as any."

All the humor in Laxus vanished, "Why?"

Gajeel glanced up at him, eyes guarded, "You knew Bianca was a chameleon, didn't you?"

Laxus shifted uncomfortably on his feet, "It was a guess."

"So is Davian," he murmured, burying his gaze back into the book in front of him, "They're related."

"There… there's no way…"

"Ezal – the merc kid with the wicked scar on his neck from Datura – he told me I needed to research these things. Apparently, even their hired help was scared of 'em," Gajeel's voice was low and stagnant, conveying a solemn nervousness that Laxus felt sinking into his toes like lead, "I ain't findin' hardly anythin' on them. How did you know what they were?"

"It was in a book on ancient races Freed let me borrow once. I don't even know why I wanted it. It listed four different lizard races… all of them for the most part died off. I remembered thinking chameleons sounded badass… until one of them tried to kill me, that is," he laughed but it didn't sound right.

"Nearly undetectable when they want to be," Gajeel whispered, "They can even change their smell… which is probably why I could never track the bitch."

"She's dead, Gajeel."

"I know that," he snapped, "but if Davian is some brother, cousin, whatever, it might be why he's after me."

Laxus sat down on the opposite side of the table as the raven, "I don't like this."

"Me neither, Sparky, but I can't just sit and wait for him to come get me, now can I?" he snarled, flipping through a few more pages before finally slamming the large thing shut and grabbing a new book, "Ezal said these guys ate people, you know? Davian looked like a prick but… you think he'd kill a guy and then eat their body? Or Bianca? She was fucked up but…"

"I don't know," Laxus admitted quietly, "All I know is that they can make themselves look human… but even Bianca, when she died she didn't change into anything different. She looked like a woman."

"Aside from the eyes, teeth, and claws," Gajeel blinked slowly, casting his eyes to the side as he thought, "I remember… she'd look like that one second and then the next she was a human again. You know, she pretended to be you a couple of times to try and get me to bite her."

"How…" he cleared his throat, attempting to hide how unsettled he was, "How could you tell?"

Gajeel drew his eyes up to Laxus delicately, studying him, "She didn't… she wasn't you. I knew you then, not as well as I do now, but still enough. The smell was off. She didn't talk like you did. I think you still called me Redfox and she never used my name… if she even knew it." He paused, again looking to the side as he remembered something and he suddenly seemed far away, "You walk with this confidence and… and power. When you come at me you know you're the strongest man in the room. She walked… like a snake would. Like something that's used to being in the dirt… I dunno how to explain it."

"You think I look powerful when I walk?" Laxus forced out a smile, trying to focus on the part of what Gajeel was saying that didn't make his skin crawl. Gajeel blinked a couple of times, snapping out of whatever memory that had surfaced.

"That just went straight to yer fuckin' head, didn't it?" Gajeel smiled but it didn't quite meet his eyes.

"Oh, absolutely," he hummed, "You pay attention to a lot of strange things, don't you?"

Gajeel's smile turned more reserved, "I mean… I was sort of brought up in it. First Metalicana tryin' ta sharpen my senses and then Phantom Lord. It's sort of natural at this point."

"What else do you notice?" Laxus blurted it out without really thinking and Gajeel snickered lightly, resting his chin in his palm as he gazed brazenly into Laxus's eyes.

"What do you mean?" his voice was deceptively coy and the corner of his mouth pulled up just slightly into that mischievous smirk Laxus adored, "About you?"

Laxus shrugged and Gajeel rolled his eyes playfully, leaning forward just slightly and dropping his voice as if he were about to spill some enticing secret, "I know when you feel nervous you touch your scar."

He wanted to refute what Gajeel had said but the objection stayed in his mouth. Gajeel's look was soft and he didn't miss the way Laxus's eyes flickered down reflectively as he thought over what he'd said. He found himself brushing his thumb against the bottom of his scar in reflex, feeling self-conscious as he did.

"I guess I do, don't I?"

Gajeel reached forward and stayed his hand, tanned fingers surrounding his pale, "Can I ask a personal question?"

"Mnh?" he purred, closing his eye as Gajeel's gloved palm ghosted up his cheek and feathery touches traced his brow.

"How did you get it?" fingertips nestled into strands of blonde hair and Laxus leaned into his caress, completely lost in the way it felt to be touched so delicately. Gajeel's eyes were kind and shimmering at him.

"How much do you know about my Dragon Slayer magic?"

"Your lacrima, you mean?" Gajeel murmured and it wasn't lost on Laxus the muted look of wonder in the man's eyes to see him sighing into his palm like a cat in desperate need to be touched, "Is that where it is?"

Laxus pulled back lazily, "Yeah… Dad had wanted to put it in my heart but I was just a kid." Gajeel shot him a quizzical look and he elaborated. "It would have killed me."

His eyes widened, "Really?"

"Yeah."

"Why did he do it, then? Looks like it was painful."

"It was." he felt his heart pounding harder at the memory. His eye started burning and he pressed his palm against it, subduing the phantom pains, "Eh… it hurts when I think about it."

"That bad…" Gajeel's lips were drawn into a firm line.

"Thought it was gonna tear my skull apart," he smiled weakly at him.

"Why…?"

"I wasn't very gifted with magic when I was a kid. Gramps used to say I'd grow inta it, that my great-grandfather was the same way, but Dad said there was no room for weak mages…" Laxus shrugged, "It was one of the reasons Gramps kicked him out."

Gajeel looked down at the table, "Can't say I blame 'im. I think I woulda killed him."

"I'm sure."

Gajeel was thoughtful before he found his words again, "So is that what you used that day at the cathedral? When you used your Dragon Slayer techniques?"

"No," Gajeel started at that, "That was all me."

"Really?" he seemed breathless.

"The lacrima gave me the ability to use Dragon Slayer magic but the power is all mine. Gramps was right, I had just needed more time for my magic to mature, I guess."

"So you've never used it?" Gajeel pressed, studying him.

"Once," Laxus conceded, shaking his head slowly, "It was bad."

Gajeel's brow furrowed in genuine concern, "What happened?"

"Hurt like hell," Laxus remembered being a teenager and convincing Gramps to help him try and master it. Everything went wrong so quickly. The raw energy that had erupted through his body still seared his veins at the memory. The pain in his skull was so intense he'd actually gotten sick. The worst part of it, though, was going blind in his eye. They'd worried it was permanent but with help from Porlyusica his sight had been almost completely restored, "I couldn't control it. Dunno if that would be different now or not. When I tried it out it almost made me go blind. I ain't exactly felt the need to try it again."

"Shit… can't say I blame you," Gajeel he leaned forward again, brushing gently away Laxus's hand so he could run his thumb down his scar, "I'm sorry."

"T's not your fault, Gajeel," Laxus hummed to his touch.

"A dad doin' somthin' like that to his own kid…" Gajeel's words ghosted across his face and suddenly Laxus realized how close they were to each other, "Does it bother you when I touch it?"

"Ya know, for some reason it doesn't," Laxus blinked slowly at him, "I actually kinda like it."

"Are… are you two going to kiss?" Laxus wrenched back away from him, eyes snapping to the slim redhead standing with arms crossed just a few meters away. Gajeel's jaw was clenched and he ran his fingers through his hair agitatedly, letting a tight breath slip through his teeth in what Laxus could only describe as a hiss. Jet threw his hands in the air, laughing nervously, "Joking… it was a joke."

"Whaddaya want, Speedy?" Gajeel's voice was abrasive in a way it hadn't been their entire trip but it wasn't at Jet that he narrowed his eyes in reproach.

"We… uh… We're almost done. Levy wanted you guys to start putting away the books we have done," he shifted his weight on his feet as he talked, clearly uncomfortable. Gajeel slammed his book shut and rose without a second glance to Laxus, his mood thoroughly spoiled. Jet actually stepped away from him as he stormed by, red eyes trained straight ahead as he made his way over roots and around the massive tree. Jet glanced over to Laxus, "It was a joke."

Laxus sighed heavily and didn't offer him a reply as he walked past, quickly stilling the lighting that had been triggered in his agitation. Jet walked quietly at his heels back to the refurbishing room. When they got there, Gajeel was already balancing an array of books on a small cart. Levy chittered away happily at him, throwing in remarks here and there about things she'd found interesting about the old texts. Gajeel listened politely, strangely reserved for how he usually was around the bluenette, making short replies and not showing more than moderate disinterest. When Jet saw Levy standing next to Gajeel, eyes filled with the kind of soft wonder only an enamored girl would have when standing next to the object of their affection, he stomped angrily over to pick up a stack of books and slam them heavily on the table at Gajeel's side. Levy had jumped and immediately began reprimanding him for being too harsh with the things she had just fixed. And again, despite Jet's antagonizing, Gajeel took the cart and left without much more than a slight grunt. Laxus followed him, extremely aware of the tense silence, and decided to break it.

"He really doesn't like you, does he?" Laxus spoke softly as he picked up a book to slide it into place on one of the shelves.

"Can't say I blame him," Gajeel replied, his voice equally as quiet and he watched his hands pointedly as he worked, "I was the guy who hung them up on that tree, after all. Next thing he knows, I'm a part of the guild and to top it off his girl has the hots for me. I'd probably hate me too if I were him."

"She does sort of throw herself at you," Laxus muttered, not missing how Gajeel's red eyes snapped over to him for just an instant before going back to shelving books.

"Women have a thing for thinkin' they can fix damaged men."

Laxus snorted, "Is that what you think?"

He remembered how she'd rushed up to him at their housewarming, her short dress flaying out around her thighs. Being tipsy had given her the courage to slip her arms around his waist and press close to him as she begged him to walk her home. Just the thought made his stomach knot all over again.

"I'm no one's project," Gajeel's words were patient and bordered on patronizing; when he slid the book into place it hit the back of the shelf just a little too hard.

Silence lapsed between them again and it was even more suffocating than before. Gajeel was clearly agitated but Laxus couldn't think of what would have set him off so badly. It was strange to be fighting with him like this, neither of them just coming out and saying what was on their minds. They just continued pushing the cart over roots and around bends, neither touching nor talking. It was a while before Laxus talked himself into disrupting the quiet again.

"I wish you would stop thinking you're not good enough for anyone," he chose his words carefully and concentrated on sounding gentle, stopping himself from touching his scar as he spoke especially now that he knew Gajeel paid such close attention, "You don't give yourself enough credit. You're a good man."

"I'm trying to be."

That was bit of honesty Laxus wasn't expecting.

"Anyone would be lucky to have you, you know," he continued quietly, "Not just me."

Again, Gajeel's eyes flickered up at him for just the briefest of seconds and if he'd have blinked he would have missed it entirely. He let out a gruff humph, recognizing Laxus had spoken but refusing to respond. Laxus sighed. He was sick of the vacuum that had formed between them, the harsh atmosphere that screamed something was wrong but neither of them wanted to admit just what it was. He didn't want to be the one to combust first but Gajeel had more self-restraint or maybe was just more resilient in his refusal to address the issue… whatever it was.

His mind plagued him with the image of Gajeel and Levy going to Dahlia alone together and sharing a hotel room. He'd never asked what had happened between them those two days, had never asked if anything had happened when Gajeel had walked her home and she'd been thoroughly drunk. At the time, their relationship had been fresh and new and so he didn't feel the right to question the raven on it, but in part he really just hadn't wanted to know. Now the doubt bubbled up in his throat viciously and the silence did nothing to help him quell his sudden swell of jealous emotion.

He clicked his teeth and finally broke.

"I wouldn't blame you, ya know," he didn't hide his harshness, in fact, he stopped replacing books altogether in order to stand with arms crossed at the raven's side, "If you decided she was better for you than I am."

"If I decided…?" the words were a breath tumbling off Gajeel's lips but he didn't smile, didn't flinch, didn't show an ounce of what he could have been thinking, "…how unlike you."

"Well, I'll admit she's nice," Laxus persisted, his volume hitching up even more in his resentfulness, "She's sweet and… soft. She's more encouraging, speaks her mind… I don't know how to say what I mean…"

"Funny, ya didn't have a problem talkin' until Jet walked up," there was a quiet in Gajeel's voice that conflicted with the storm in his eyes as he continued, infuriatingly, to shelve books as if they weren't having an argument in the middle of an ancient library. Laxus stifled a growl of frustration.

"Well ya know I'd hate for him to see something and go running to Levy with it."

Gajeel slammed the cart from between them and into the shelf, rocking it just slightly. His gaze was trained on Laxus from the corner of his eye and Laxus found himself setting his jaw as if to say he wasn't intimidated by the shorter man.

"Never took you as one to be petty…" the words were sharp but Laxus wasn't in the mood to let him finish any longer.

"She wants you alone," Laxus simmered, trying to build a case for being so angry, "I never asked what happened the night you shared a hotel room but it pissed me off when you walked her home…"

"She was drunk, Laxus. Women do stupid things when they're drunk."

"Wow, sexist," it was more scathing than it should have been but Laxus finally gave up. Let him be seen as petty. He didn't care.

Gajeel straightened finally, although he looked more annoyed than actually mad Laxus could tell it was just a front. His reply was caustic, "I'm sorry my change from misogynistic asshole is taking too long. Ignoring the fact I came from a place that believed women were more objects than people…"

Shit. Laxus had forgotten about that.

"…please, forgive me for sounding sexist, Laxus," he squared himself against the blonde, looking up to him with piercing eyes filled with blood, "but if I wantedLevy I would haveLevy."

Laxus's lips were drawn into a pale line as he kept Gajeel's scowl. He could feel his heart beating in his chest and damn near recoiled from the man when he clicked his teeth, his lip turning up in a hostile snarl. He could feel the anger coming off of him in waves and it was intimidating to say the least.

"I hate that you're tall."

"Eh?"

Laxus didn't have time to think what was happening when suddenly hands were snapping to his hips and driving him ferociously against the opposite bookcase. He tripped over the corner of a floorboard that had been forced up by tree roots and just barely caught himself from slamming bodily onto the shelf. He cried out at the feeling of Gajeel's hands around his biceps, pinning him down as he crashed his mouth to his, tongue first. Lips bruised and Gajeel's ravenous tongue was brushing deep into his mouth, a sultry groan was forced into his kiss and Laxus could have sworn the noise trickled like frigid water down his throat to pool at the base of his spine. He was open mouthed on him, catching Laxus's lip on his savage canine and raking it down, threatening to slice his lip altogether. He tried to protest when a hand was flicking open the first button of his shirt but with Gajeel's mouth assaulting his there was little he could do aside from moan into him. Gajeel got impossibly closer, his pelvis rocking forcefully into his groin and making his spine arch.

Oh Godsdid Laxus remember a time Gajeel was so rough with him? When Gajeel pulled away Laxus was staring into devious, prurient eyes and gleaming white teeth. He felt the startled expression on his own face as flashes of memory took him back to when they were alone in the forest and Gajeel was in heat. There were no iron scales today, though. The roughness was wrought with a fist curling into Laxus's blonde hair, forcing his head back to an uncomfortable angel as Gajeel ran his tongue up his throat.

"What the hell," Laxus gasped when teeth scoured down his sensitive skin, "Someone is going to-"

His words caught behind his teeth when Gajeel bit down. The feel of suction and his tongue running circles made his chest shudder. He couldn't move. If he let go of the shelves they'd both fall to the ground in a heap, and besides, despite the fear of someone turning the corner to catch them, the whole experience had him out of his mind.

"Gajeel…!" he bit down again, this time at his collar, and Laxus's arms were shaking from holding both their weight as Gajeel again rutted into him, "Fucks sake…!"

A gloved hand was over his mouth, pressing the cold steel of his ring against his lips, and finally Gajeel pulled back. Laxus could feel the bruises on his neck and clavicle throbbing angrily as the space filled with their panting.

"I don't care," his voice was low and dark, red eyes gleaming like a demon's down at him, "I don't care who sees. I don't care who knows."

He pulled his hand off of Laxus's mouth and gripped hold of the shelf behind him, the force making wood creak and threaten to break under his power. Laxus was suddenly aware that Gajeel was terribly good at taking people down and far more physically strong than he let on. He was reminded that he was in close quarters with a man who for most of his life was trained to kill and the irony wasn't lost on him that of all things he was using his prowess to prove a point to a jealous lover. He might have laughed if those intense eyes weren't tearing straight into his soul.

"When I walked Levy home I told her I wasn't interested, twice. When she asked me why I told her I had other things I was dealing with because at the time I was. When she asks me again, I'm going to tell her I'm seeing someone and I knowshe's going to ask me who," his voice was a growl, "I haven't said anything because the woman is best friends with Lucy and as soon as she knows they're going to Mira, and Juvia, and Cana, and Erza, and then it's not just yer goddamn friends asking me which one of us tops, it's anyone who gets drunk enough to stop minding their own business. Laxus. I. Don't. Care. I'll cuss and yell and tell anyone they don't need to know shit about my sex life, but you actually get pissed when people get nosy."

Hands were on his hips again. This time they weren't abrasive but Laxus saw the touch in a whole new light. He was deceptively gentle, hiding a ferociousness that Laxus had forgotten, a ferociousness that could be triggered again. He didn't know what to do with that kind of information but he aimed not to forget again.

Gajeel's voice became soft and gentle and he planted a sweet kiss on his neck where he'd left his mark, "I told you I loved you, Laxus. Do you think so little of me that you'd believe I didn't mean it?"

"People change their minds," his breath quivered as Gajeel's tongue slipped up his neck to his jaw. He didn't know why he was holding onto the argument at this point. Maybe he just didn't want Gajeel to stop.

"I'll tell you when I change my mind," he kissed his jaw delicately and Laxus knew he was being taunted, "The next time you pull away from me because you think you're sparing me from getting caught, we'll do this again."

Laxus's eyes widened and he felt excitement shock its way down his navel, "Is that a threat?"

Gajeel smirked and leaned in, stealing his breath from his mouth again. The feral scent of wrath had dissipated and left lingering in the air just the smell of their breath and warmth and old dust. There were no pointed teeth and Gajeel didn't force him to be still beneath him as he took what he wanted. The kiss was kind and understanding, like the lick of the ocean after a wave had just crashed against the shore. Laxus felt the rest of him that cared slipping away as Gajeel freed a hand slip gentle fingers up the side of his jaw. Faintly, at the edge of his awareness, he heard the clattering of books onto the floor but Gajeel didn't seemed rushed by this in the slightest bit and so neither was he. The movement was deliberate when Gajeel finally eased back, tongue running hungrily over his bottom lip to taste what remained of Laxus still there.

"Are we ok?" Gajeel purred.

"I… yeah." Laxus blinked through the muddling his mind had just been put through, not sure he was even able to speak properly.

He smirked, flashing those devilish fangs at him, "Gihi… good."

Gajeel took hold of his arm and helped him up. With more than a little trepidation, Laxus glanced over to see Jet standing wide-eyed in the isle with what used to be an armful of books at his feet. His face was bright red and he immediately began stammering as Gajeel took a step in his direction. He quirked a brow at him as he passed.

"What's the matter, Speedy? Ya act like you've never seen two men kiss before."

His face turned an even deeper shade of red and Laxus would have felt bad for it except he was suddenly aware of how disheveled Gajeel had made him and he hastily buttoned his shirt and mussed his hair back into place.

"I… uh… I didn't… know…?"

"Well, while you process that, I'm gonna get more books from Shorty," he interrupted him and stepped past, making a point to knock him out of the way with his shoulder. Jet watched him go for a moment, still completely flabbergasted. It wasn't until Laxus started shelving the rest of the books that Jet startled back into reality and began stammering once again.

"So… uhh… you guys…?"

"Yes, Jet," Laxus with more than a little disdain, not looking at him.

"That a recent thing or…?" Laxus gave him an unamused look and Jet scratched at his hand nervously, "I'll, uh… I'll go get more books…"

"You do that."

Suffice to say the rest of their trip went by rather quickly. Jet barely looked at either of them as he helped to put away refurbished books. Laxus didn't shy away from Gajeel's contact anymore. When the raven chose to be near him he welcomed it and didn't notice any suspicious looks from the other two-thirds of Team Shadow Gear. To say Jet had become less hostile was an understatement. Now aware that Gajeel had little to no interest in Levy, he was actually civil, something Levy made mention of as they headed back to Magnolia.

"Finally warm up to me, Speedy?" Gajeel had joked cheekily and Jet had diverted his gaze, not sure how to respond.

No one wanted to spend another night out in the cold so they walked even into the darkening of night. Laxus had caught Gajeel staring up at the stars and asked if he knew any constellations, to which the raven laughed and said only what his father had told him. As it appeared, dragons had very different names for the stars than they did. Levy had tried to work out of him histories and stories to go along with it but Gajeel just shrugged and said he didn't remember, he was just a kid after all. Something told Laxus that he remembered more than he let on but he wasn't going to call Gajeel out on it. His heart grew more than just a little warm at the thought that these were secrets Gajeel reserved only for those he deemed close enough and that Laxus was one of those special persons.

It was well into the early morning hours when they finally got home. Thoroughly chilled and with limbs sluggish, they'd shared a shower and curled up together in Laxus's bed. To Laxus's surprise, Gajeel had nestled into his chest, drawing fingers up to trace over his tattoos.

"I was too rough at the library," he had muttered against his skin, "Sorry."

"Too rough?" Laxus rumbled quietly, "What is it you always tell me? I'm not glass."

"Still… I was angry. I shouldn't have taken it out on you."

"I kinda liked it," he breathed and felt Gajeel's smile. It took Laxus a minute to realize he'd actually said the words out loud.

"Really?" he sounded like a villain that had just learned their hero's most damning weakness, "I'll have to remember that."

"I've given you too much power."

"Oh, absolutely," Gajeel growled, pulling himself up to wrap his arms around his chest and press his body as close to Laxus's as possible, "If I weren't so tired you'd be in fer it."

"Tomorrow, then?" Laxus muttered into the raven's lips.

"Tomorrow."

The next morning, Laxus awoke to the sound of a knock echoing through the house. Gajeel had stirred first, disentangling himself gently and walking over to his room to gather his clothes.

"Laxus," he called from across the hall, and his voice held a tone to it that startled the last bit of sleep from him, "Get dressed,"

He slipped on some pants and grabbed a shirt, quickly coming to Gajeel's room to see the man looking out his window. He'd dressed quickly as well, not even lacing up his boots, and he stood with arms crossed and didn't look over at Laxus as he entered the room.

"What's wrong?"

"I think he got his warrant."

"What?" Laxus stomped over to the window and looked out.

There, in front of their house, waited a containment carriage surrounded by a small troop of Rune Knights. A few steps back, staring up into their window with yellow, carnivorous eyes, was Davian Bishop, an easy smile spreading across his face when his gaze fell on Laxus and he lifted a rolled parchment sealed with the stamp of the Magic Council.