Beauty of Fairy Tail (Gale/Gajevy AU)

Chapter 3

Time skip: 5 months

I still remember the day I joined Fairy Tail. Especially when I look at Levy. She took in baby Juniper and has raised her well. Now, she's your average kid who enjoys playing games and helping out around the guild. She tags along on any job of Levy's she can.

I have been watching Team Shadow Gear slow get stronger by being their practice attack dummy. I'm tough enough to withstand their attacks for long periods of time. It makes me ideal for the role.

I've caught up with Juvia on a few missions, but I usually go it alone. Juvia is impossible to work with since she seems to always be stuck in her wild imagination.

Often, I hear her whisper about Gray. And sometimes I pick up something about a love rival and Lucy Heartfillia. If I hadn't seen the way she is around Natsu, I would more likely think she had a thing for her celestial spirit, Leo.

The guild has become my home and family. Though we fight, we all care for each other. The way a family is supposed to be.

***

Levy

I walk back to my house alone that night. Jet and Droy stayed at the guildhall for a few drinks after our latest mission. I need to go home, so that I can read and take a bath. I have a large gash on my shoulder that I need to wrap, too.

I turn down an alley as a shortcut home. In the fading light, shadows lear throughout it. It seems ominous, but I don't take time to think about it. I take a few steps down the alley and feel hands clamp down on my arms.

A pair of large and dirty thugs have me pinned to a wall. They chuckle to each other.

"Nice catch, huh, Ash?" the larger of the two says.

"Yeah, the boss is in for a treat tonight." The second man, Ash, gave a menacing smile. "This one looks like a fighter, doesn't she, Slash." Slash nods. Grinning, he brushes my injured shoulder and licks the blood off his fingers.

"But, he never said that we couldn't have a bit of fun with her, first," says Slash. He pulls out a knife and puts it to my throat. "Now, you stay quiet if you don't want me to use this. I'd hate to demage such a pretty face."

I flinch as Ash hands my left arm to Slash and grabs the bottom of my dress. I shut my eyes, not wanting to watch. This is when I hear a metallic 'clang' and the air get knocked out of Ash.

I open my eyes and see Gajeel beating the crap out of Ash. Slash growls and throws me to the ground, pulling out his machete. I lay on the ground in shock as Gajeel pummels the pair. Both are left unconscious and bloody.

Gajeel looks down at me. He scoops me up in his arms, carefully.

"Where ya live?" the dragon slayer asks.

"Arond the corner, two houses down, on the left," I told him. It occurs to me that, in the five months we have worked together, we have never visited each other's homes.

Gajeel cocks his eyebrow at the large, brown-bricked building. I nod and we enter. I direct him to my apartment on the fourth floor.

He sets me on the couch as gently as he can, but it's a bit jarring.

"Hey, Ga-"

"Where do you keep your first aid kit?" Gajeel cut me off.

"In the kitchen, under the counter. But, Gajeel, why were you-"

He sits down and turns my injured shoulder towards him. The bandage unravels as he wraps it around me. Thank Mavis for my crop top dress that makes it so that I wasn't topless.

He works with care as his rough hands finish tying the bandage.
"Hey, Gajeel? Gajeel." I can't get his attention. I sigh.

"HEY, JACKASS!" He is so surprised, that he falls off the couch with a loud thud. He rubs his rear end in slight pain.

"WHAT?!" he hollers back.

"Why were you following me?" I ask, lowering my voice.

He barely blushes as he says, "I wanted to ask ya a question. I saw ya leaving so I thought I could catch up with ya. Then, I saw ya get grabbed and manhandled and thought to go save ya, Shrimp."

"Well,... thanks," I respond after a while. "What was it that you wanted to ask?"

"I... wanted to see if you-. I don't know, wanted to go on another mission." We haven't gone on a mission together for around a month now. We had to stop some thieves in Hargeon. I love that town. As I recall, that's where Lucy met Natsu.

"Sure. I'd love to," I say. Gajeel smiles and I get a funny feeling. My chest feels lighter and my stomach tingles. What is this? I've never felt like this before.

"Ok. Meet me at the guildhall tomorrow morning. After sunrise," Gajeel responds, standing to leave. He walks out the door and is about to leave when I speak up.

"Hey, Gajeel? Thanks. For saving me."

I blush as he turns, smiles, and replies, "No problem,... Levy."

***

I run to make sure I get to the guild early. I don't know why, but I can't wait to on this mission. I don't even know what we're doing. No matter. A mission's a mission.

I only wait a second before Gajeel arrives. He seems to have left Lily at home. He's wearing army shorts and a black t-shirt. His black boots are replaced by tan sandals.

"Hey, Shrimp. Ready for the mission?" Gajeel asks.

"Yeah. What is our task anyways? And who sent it?" I was starting to wonder if this was a good idea.

Gajeel unfolds a piece of paper and offers it to me. It reads: This is a job that can only be done by one mage. She is to walk, with her friend, to the pier. The fiend will be left at the oak tree. Once on the pier, a question must be answered. The reward is a special surprise.

The note doesn't have a designated instructor. Only the initial 'R' on it.

"Hmmm..." I think to myself. "This sounds like a pretty wierd one, but if Gajeel thinks that it's worth it, I might as well play along."

"So you chose me to go on this mission?" I ask.

"Yep. Figured you'd be the right person for the job," Gajeel responds.

I have more questions about this, but I doubt that Gajeel can answer any. I shrug and walk with him to the pier. It's not far from the guild.

We arrive and Gajeel leans against the tree. He waves his hand for me to walk onto the pier. The sky is a pretty color and dotted with puffs of cumulus clouds. The wind is blowing softly and the water is calm, the sun reflecting off of it.

A piece of paper lies, folded and taped, on the railing. I pick it up and read the question. I am in shock.