Countdown to the End (Gale) {Fairy Tail FF}

6 Days

~Levy~

I stretched as I stood up, looking around the cluttered room. The guest room looked like a miniature library, even just after only three days of my being there. I was finally off of bed rest, and I had managed to convince Gajeel to let me go to Deidre's house for the afternoon.

In my time off, I had finished reading the book I'd found while in the ancient library with Gajeel nearly a month before, and I was eager to tell Elijah what I'd discovered about the light pen. And hopefully encourage him to give it to the council, I thought, remembering the use the book had described for the pen. In all reality, it shouldn't exist.

"Good morning, Gajeel," I smiled, meeting him in the kitchen. Lily was setting the table as Gajeel finished cooking eggs and sausage.

"Mornin' Shrimp," Gajeel grunted.

"You look completely recovered," Lily told me, returning my smile.

"I'll still need the bandages for a few more days, but all of my magic energy has returned," I said. "Since it's back, my wounds don't feel as bad as they did, and they should heal faster, too."

"You're still not allowed to do anything too physical, though," Gajeel said, piling the food onto plates on the table.

"I know," I sighed, taking my seat at the table. "Geeze, you're as bad as Jet and Droy, fretting over me."

"It's because I care about ya," Gajeel huffed.

"Th-thanks," I answered, stupidly. Hearing Gajeel say something like that made me incredibly flustered, so I busied myself with adding syrup to my pancakes.

"You'll be taking the twelve o'clock train to Deidre's today, won't you?" Lily asked.

"Yeah. I promised to go have lunch with her at a little café in town she likes, and then we're going to continue her training."

"You shouldn't be using your magic," Gajeel frowned.

"I won't," I reassured him. "I usually only have to show her once and she catches on quickly. She's a natural with Solid Script magic." I frowned when Gajeel and Lily exchanged a small glance, but chose not to question it.

"I should go pack my bag. My train leaves in about twenty minutes," I said once we had finished eating and cleaning up the kitchen.

"Are you sure you wouldn't like one of us to accompany you?" Lily asked, following me to the guest room.

"I'm sure," I told him, bending down to scratch his ear. "I honestly do feel a lot better. Besides, the doctor said short train rides after three days would be alright, didn't he?"

He nodded. "You'll be returning here again tonight, right?"

I paused after slinging my bag over my shoulder. Would I? Since I was pretty much recovered, I didn't need help doing anything. So, it would be fine to go home. Part of me, however, felt sad about that. I liked staying with Gajeel and Lily. I always had someone to talk to, and the two of them were a lot of fun to be around. Don't kid yourself, Levy. Being around Gajeel all day every day is the real reason you liked staying here.

"She's staying here until those bandages come off," Gajeel said, startling Lily and me. He stood in the doorway, his arms crossed. "It won't hurt to have her stay a few extra days just to be safe."

"Alright," I nodded.

"Shrimp, I know you think you're fine, but—wait, what?" He stared at me, bewildered. "Alright?"

"That's what I said," I told him, going passed him and heading for the front door.

"You aren't going to argue about it?" He asked.