Bookworm And The Dragon {GaLe}

Chapter One: Another Spell

"Aren't you happy for her, Gajeel?"

Red eyes of the Iron Dragon Slayer himself glanced over to his cat, sitting at their signature table in the back of the guild. Lily was eyeing him with an amused smile, whereas Gajeel was leaning against his hand, a frown that suspiciously looked like a pout on his face. He glanced away, back towards the doors of the guild, where Juvia and Gray had just come in, holding hands in public no less, smiling like goofballs as they greeted their nakama.

It had almost been two weeks since they came out of the book Levy had translated, sending them into some story Gajeel didn't care to remember the name of. Today was the first time Juvia was finally well enough to leave the Old Hag's house since they came back.

His frown deepened at the thought. That day had been a stressful one. After Levy had finished reading what they now knew as the Book's Spell out loud, Juvia and Gray had just disappeared. Everyone was in a panic and Levy most of all did everything in her power to try and fix it. That was about the time she found that the once empty pages were starting to fill themselves out. Levy read everything out loud as it happened from then on, and it had left Gajeel feeling conflicted.

More than anything, he never realized how tough Juvia really was not only physically, but also mentally. Sure, everyone knew how she felt about Gray, but nobody thought she would go so far for him. He had more respect for her now than ever before. He even understood Gray's standing a bit more now too, though part of him still wants to kick his butt for making her wait so freakin' long.

When they finally came out of the book, everyone was anxious, worried, and panicked. Wendy treated Gray in the guild's infirmary and when Juvia needed Porlyusica's attention, Gajeel was the one to take her. He was worried sick as he ran as fast as he could, her arm bleeding down his own. When he finally got there, he was banned from entering as she had to do immediate surgery. Lily found him hours later, pacing in front of her door until it finally opened. She informed him that she would be fine after a lot of rest thanks to the fact that he had got her there in time.

Gajeel looked back at his cat after the memory passed, ignoring the part at the end where he cried in relief. "I'm just glad she's okay."

Lily nodded and smirked as the topic of choice came up to their table as Gray was bombarded by his teammates on the other side of the room. His red eyes met her blue ones as she smiled gratefully at him and he decided to cut her off before she could say anything. "If you're about to say something really sappy, I don't need ta hear it."

The Water Mage giggled as she took a seat, covering a wince as she did so. Gajeel eyed her. "Should you really be out of bed?"

She only smiled. "Aw, Gajeel-Kun is still worried about Juvia!~"

Gajeel blushed as Lily chuckled, until the full sentence registered and he raised a brow. "What do you mean, still?"

She giggled behind her hand, giving a side glance like she was about to reveal some dirt to blackmail him with. "Juvia knows how worried Gajeel-Kun was when she was hurt. And that he cried tears of joy when he heard she would recover safely!"

His blush became darker. Why did she have to know everything? Now he'll never live it down! "I-I did not! Not that much!"

Lily rolled his eyes. "You cried like a baby."

He turned on his cat. "My cat, shut it!"

Happy popped out from behind Juvia's chair. "He liiiiiiikes her~ Like a Big Brother!"

Gajeel glared down at Happy. "Salamander's cat, shut it!"

Juvia and Lily laughed and Gajeel grumbled as he chewed on an iron bolt. Lily went over and started talking with Happy, letting the two talk alone. When Gajeel swallowed, he noticed Juvia was holding something. "What's that?"

She grinned, and he couldn't tell if it was a happy grin or one with hidden motives. Then she held it up and he recognized it as the same book she had been dragged into. "Juvia and Gray-sama's Love Story!"

Gajeel blinked before bursting out laughing. "What? Fullbuster just lets you carry it around like a badge of honor?" She pouted and hugged the book closer to her chest, as if he was going to take it from her and try to burn it. He calmed down and patted her on the head. "Geehee! I'm just messin' with ya."

She eyed him a moment before what looked like an idea crossed her face, making her smile as she set the book onto the table, opening it to the first page. "Juvia heard that everyone was there when Levy-Chan was reading the book out loud."

Gajeel blinked, but nodded. "Yeah...That was some day." He narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "What about it?" He knew that tone of voice, the same voice she used when she convinced him putting on a concert in the middle of the guild was a good idea.

She slid the book towards him. "At the time, Levy-Chan could only read it, right? But lookie! The spell that Levy-Chan read is in our language now, so anyone can read it. Juvia knows that Gajeel-Kun has been struggling with confessing to his beloved, so maybe he needs this more than Juvia now."

Gajeel's jaw dropped, his face turning a new shade of red. Since when did his closest friend become a matchmaker? She must be in cahoots with the Barmaid! He always claimed she was crazy, but this was something else. "That thing almost killed you!"

She gave him a knowing smile, moving her gaze to the table. "Juvia knows that, but without it, Juvia may have never been this happy." He blinked as she looked back up at him. "Juvia wants Gajeel-Kun to feel that happiness too."

He looked away from her honest gaze, grinding his teeth as to keep himself from becoming too emotional. Why did she have to be so darn caring? He glanced down at the words, written neatly in black ink. His ears caught a familiar laugh and he glanced over to find Levy talking with her two Dweebs. Looking back to the text he contemplated for a moment before making eye contact with Juvia. "You really think it'll work..?"

Juvia smiled brightly, nodding. "Juvia thinks so!"

He looked down at the book again. He knew full well that he was in over his head, but he was running out of options and maybe the book, if it worked, would be able to give him the push he needs. Finally, he shrugged.

What did he have to lose anyways?

"Why the heck not? It probably won't work anyways..." With that he began to speak the words out loud, his tone already bored. "Be careful as you read, Or you will find yourself in make believe. Be careful as you tread, Or the story may never end. Continue onward as you'll find, You may run out of time. Love and happily ever after, Could turn out to be disaster. Endure the journey and you will see, The possibilities there could be. Multiple endings may occur, Prove your love to be pure..."

He looked up at Juvia, who was watching him expectantly and grinned. "Geehee, see, I know it wouldn't work. This could make a good song though..." He trailed off as his vision started to blur. The sound of Juvia's worried -or was it excited?- voice drowning out as everything swirled into black.