Beauty of Fairy Tail (Gale/Gajevy AU)

Chapter 4

I pick up the note and read it. I wasn't expecting it to happen so soon or the it was even possible. I mean, it was a good surprise, but I am totally unprepared.

The note says: Hello, Levy. I have admired you for these few months and had one question. Would you go out with me?
~Redfox

"Redfox..." I whisper, exasperated. I turn to see Gajeel standing at the first boards of the pier, holding a white rose and smiling. I smile back and nod.

"Of course I will," I say in a staccato breath. He walks out to me and gives me the rose. It smells lovely.

"Geehihi," Gajeel laughs. "I knew ya'd like it."

We agree to keep 'us' a secret. We are going to have a week of avoidance to take away some suspicion amd fake an argument after a mission.

***

We carry out the plan immediately. Gajeel already grabbed a real mission from the board and we walk to the train station. Once there, we buy tickets and head to Oak Town.

Now that the Phantom Lord guild is gone, the town is a beautifully scenic mountain village. There are an assortment of colorful flowers and winding rivers that give it a romantic feel, but we aren't hear for the view.

A historian wants us to clear any straggling members of the dark guild out of Phantom Lord's old castle. He wants to make make it into a Dark Guild History Museum. That way, people can learn about the guilds, past and present.

Gajeel and I, first, check into a hotel and drop off our things. We are going to be in town for a while, so we will also need a place to sleep.

Gajeel walks up to the counter. "Hi there. We need a room with two beds and we'll be needing it for a few days."

The portly gentleman behind the counter replies, "I'm very sorry, sir. We only have one room available today. And... it only has one bed."

Gajeel gruffs, "Are you sure there isn't another option?"

"No sir. I'm very sorry," the man says. Gajeel scratches the back of his neck.

"Alright. How much?" Gajeel asks.

"1,000 jewl." Gajeel digs into his pocket and hands the man the money. The man hands him the room key.

We take the elevator up to our floor and enter the room. It's nice with white walls, a large bed, a bathroom, and, thankfully, a couch. Gajeel thows his bag onto it and I set my bags on the bed.

"Gajeel, you should take the bed. That couch looks really small and you could use the space," I tell him. He lifts his eyebrow, but accepts my offer. We pick up and switch places.

We grab some lunch at a sandwich shop down the road. Gajeel has roast beef and mustard, while I have a BLT. It's rather delicious.

Then, we take a magic mobile to the castle and begin looking around. We find a few strange characters still lingering about the decrepit castle. We have to fight to get them out. Most try pleading with Gajeel as 'an old friend,' but why?

Gajeel

The last room we check brings back so many painful memories for me. It's my old room. My old bed and old clothes still here. I gather the clothes into an old pack that sits in my closet.

I grab a small, iron statue off of my empty dresser. It's a heart with a rearing dragon on it. I've had it since I was being trained by Metalicana. I stuff it in my pocket and I walk out.

Levy slaps me on the arm and glares at me.

"You really shouldn't steal things from here," Levy scolds.

"You can't steal from yourself." The script mage stops dead. I stop after a few steps. I can't look at her.

"You were part of the Phantom Lord guild?" Levy asks.

"I left, and so did Juvia. They were broken up a year after. I believe I have Fairy Tail to thank for that," I respond. Levy is so quiet that I think she left. I am wrong.

I feel her arms wrap around my midsection and buries her face in my back. I place a hand over hers to try and comfort her.

She seems alright after a minute or so and she starts to let go. Then, a large crack of thunder booms near my room window and Levy grabs me again.

Looking down at her, I see how strong she is. She's small and thin, but is still so powerful. Even as strong as she is, she is still afraid of the thunder.

I put my arm around her shoulders and we take another magic mobile back to the hotel. It has begun to rain harder and the thunder echoes in the hills.

Levy and I return to our room. I walk into thw bathroom to change into some dry clothes and shake out my hair. I remember that Pantherlily is back in Magnolia. He's probably hiding out at the guildhall. He really doesn't like thunder.

I toss on fresh clothes and dry my hair. I can hear thunder outside and the rain pounding our windows. I also hear frantic footsteps and the bed squeak.

'What in the name of Earthland is that girl doin' out there?' I wonder as I slide my hair back. I grab the doorknob and swing the door open. Levy's not there.