The Contract

Chapter 17

The next day, everyone was up in the mountain, searching for supplies, and food. Levy kneeled next to Lucy, searching through bushes.

"So, have you talked to Gajeel yet?"

"No...I don't know how to right now. He said to give him space, I just don't know for how long..."

"Men...They can be so stubborn."

Larcade clears this throat, showing his face from the other side of the bushes.

"Not all men.." They laugh at his expression.

"Not you, Larcade. We haven't seen you act like that-."

"Yet, we haven't seen him act like that yet." Lucy adds, playfully hitting Levy. She tries not to laugh seeing a branch hit Larcades face when he moves his head to look at Lucy. Then she hears Larcade fumbling in the bush before standing up. He looks at them a shooting look, his lip twitching. He stood there for a moment, just glaring at them. They look at each other then hear, "Ppffbbtt." He smiles which makes them smile.

"If I am ever stubborn, I have that right. I am never wrong."

Levy watches them tease each other for a moment, shaking her head.

"Luuuccccyyyyyyyy!" Levy looks up to see Natsu and Happy flying towards her. Lucy's eyes go wide right as Happy drops him. He lands right on her, with an omph! Levy blinks seeing Natsu start to get up, smiling all happily.

She looks up at Natsu, feeling his hands on her boobs, like usual. Her eye twitches, and she moves her hips, wrapping her legs around his neck. Holding him in a wrestling move. "Natsu, I have told you before not to do that!"

He chokes, grabbing onto her legs, gasping, "S-sorryyy." T

he smile on his face said otherwise. Larcade watches them, thinking, these people are a weird bunch. I'm surprised that there noise didn't reveal where they were sooner.

"They are a loud crowd huh?" He turns his head to look at Levy who was looking at him with her brown eyes before looking back at Lucy and Natsu.

"Yeah, its...weird." He watches her for a moment, seeing her eyes look sad, longing?

"I am surprised they haven't killed each other yet."

Levy smiles, saying, "They might fight, but it is not hostile. They are a big family. A family you are a part of now."

She looks at him once again, and he felt his heart beat. A family? A life, Larcade thought. In the corner of his eye then, he sees Gajeel looking at him. He looked pissed from his stance. Then noticed the look in his eyes, which made him look at Levy. He blinks, then smiles.

"Not unless, I get trampled by an iron fist first."

She pats his arm, comforting him. Gajeel stood there, watching Levy converse with Larcade, who he still didn't like. That stupid smile on his face, or his fucking body that stood there-.

"Would you just go to her already." Lily stood there, also watching her. "Actually, nevermind. She looks happy."

Gajeel glares at him.

"She is to come to me. She did me wrong."

He rolls his eyes at the statement. "Seriously?"

Gajeel bit his lip, chewing, debating. I want her to make the first move, he thought. "Change topic. We need to gather in a small group with Ezra, and everyone to discuss the issues of our plan."

Lily nods in agreement, saying, "I'll get them. Meet you in the Shrine, 10 minutes."

He nods, about to walk away then hears Levy's laughter and sees her, looking from Larcade to Natsu. Natsu had fire breathe while Larcade sprayed Natsu's mouth with water. Lucy was even laughing, pointing at Natsu.

"Natsu!" Bellows Gajeel.

They look at him, and he meets Levy's eyes for a moment. She quickly averts her eyes away, the expression of conflict flickers across her face.

"Natsu, Lucy, and...Levy, we are having a meeting right now. Let's go."

Levy looks over at Larcade who shrugs.

"He will have someone else look after him." Gajeel said, sounding a bit impatient.

"But if you are going to use his idea, we should have-"

"That is still up for discussion. I do not trust him yet and I want you away-I mean, to come to the meeting."

Gajeel watches Levy look from Larcade to him. He sees the looks on there expressions, as if Levy and Larcade were having a conversation.

"Shoo, shoo, don't feel bad. I get it. I'll see you later right?" Larcade asks her.

She nods, answering, "Of course. I'll be back."

He smiles giving a thumbs up. Levy looks at Gajeel who grabs her arm. "Come on then." The instant he touched her, he forgot how soft her skin was. A sensation of relief and calmness washed over him. His red eyes meet hers for a moment, and her cheeks turn pink. He choked on his own breathe, causing him to cough.

Levy blinked, asking, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, yeah. Just got caught off guard."

"Off guard?"

"Shrimp, you-we need to focus on what we need to." He mentally kicked himself for feeling like a tongue tied teenager. Walking in the Shrine, everyone was filing in. "Good, everyone is here."

"You sure this can't wait until tomorrow or after tomorrow. We haven't even set up properly." Evergreen asks.

"We have nothing right now, but that doesn't mean we won't. At the top of my list is, deciding our plan of attack or hide."

"We do not hide! Men do not hide." Elfman bellows. Gajeel sighs, thinking, I feel like I am going in circles.

"I think what Gajeel means is to seek refuge to give us time to sort everyone out. We had supplies, packed food, weapons. The kids had to leave there own things behind. So, it is natural to look after one another, to come together to reach what is planned out. Like right now, he wants to set up that focal point to reach it. No matter how much time it takes." Levy said, and Elfman nods.

"Men always look after family."

Gajeel looks at Levy, nodding and mouthing, 'Thank you.'

Gajeel walks back and forth, remarking, "Now, let's take a vote before we proceed. Do you want to attack or start our focal point at ourselves? Raise of hands for attack."