I frowned as I watched the Shrimp from the second floor balcony. She was sitting at a table with Blondie, and they were whispering about something. Damn, I can’t hear what they’re saying from all the way up here. Whatever it is, they look pretty damn suspicious.

            “Gajeel.” My head snapped down to where Lily now sat on the banister. “What are you doing?”

            “Nothing,” I frowned, looking back to Shrimp.

            I heard him snicker, so I looked at him again. “What?” I snapped.

            “Why don’t you just go down there?”

            “Down where?”

            His smirk widened, not buying my “playing dumb” routine. “If you want to know what Levy is doing, go ask her.”

            “I don’t,” I frowned, crossing my arms.

            “Whatever you say,” he sighed, crossing his arms.

            When he got off the banister and headed for the stairs, I followed him. “Where are you going?”

            “To sit with Levy.”

            I shrugged. “I’m bored as hell, so I guess I’ll go with you.” Again, he snickered. Damn cat.

            Levy smiled when she saw us approaching. “Hey Lily,” she cooed, picking him up and squeezing him to her chest.

            “Levy,” Lily sighed, blushing, “you realize that I’m a warrior, right?”

            “That doesn’t make you any less adorable,” she giggled, putting him down.

            I frowned, sitting across the table from her. “When did you two get so damned chummy?”

            “Jealous?” Lucy asked, smiling like the devil.

            “Why would I be jealous of a cat?” I scoffed.

            “Well, he did just have his face between Levy’s—“

            “Lu-chan!” Levy practically screeched, throwing her hand over her friend’s mouth.

            The blonde erupted into laughter as she stood up. “Well, I’m off to find Natsu and Happy. You three have fun!”

            Levy’s face was bright pink when she turned back to me. “I’m sorry about that.”

            I shrugged, pretending not to have heard the previous comment—even though it was true.

            Lily cleared his throat. “So,” he began, “what were you and Lucy doing?”

            “Nothing,” she said, obviously lying. That peeked my interest.

            “You’ve been whispering down here for over an hour, so it must be something,” I said.

            “It—It was nothing,” she told me, getting to her feet. “Sorry, there’s something I need to do. See you two later.”

            “That was weird,” I frowned, watching her leave.

            “Very,” Lily agreed.

            “Come on,” I told him, heading for the doors.

            “Where are we going?”

            “I want to know what Shrimp was planning,” I grinned.

            “You don’t plan on following her around all day, do you?” He asked.

            “How the hell am I supposed to figure out what she’s hiding?”

            Lily sighed. “I’ll leave this mission to you, then. I’d rather not get in trouble with Levy.”

            “Seriously?” I frowned. “You act like you’re afraid of the Shrimp or somethin’.”

            “You’re a fool if you’re not,” he chuckled. “I will meet you back at the guildhall for dinner.”

            “Tch, fine,” I growled, leaving him as I went after Levy. I want to find out what she was hiding, is that so strange? It’s not like I’m stalkin’ her or anything. I’m just following her around until I figure out what she’s up to.

            I jumped into an alley when I rounded a corner and found her standing outside a gift shop. She stared into shop’s windows a while before finally going inside. Slowly, I followed her, making sure to stay hidden behind racks of clothes and shelves lined with all sorts of different objects. She seemed to know exactly what she was after, because she went straight to the counter once inside.

            “May I help you?” An old woman asked, giving Levy a toothless smile.

            “Yes,” Levy smiled back, unfazed by the woman’s scary appearance, “I came to pick up an order I placed about a week ago.”

            “Ah,” the woman nodded. “I remember now. You’re Miss McGarden. I’ll go get your order.”

            “Thank you.”

            Order? What would Shrimp want from a gift shop? She’s lived in Magnolia forever, right? So, it can’t be a souvenir. My brows furrowed as I thought. I had no idea what she could have ordered, which just made it that much more suspicious.

            “Here you are, dear,” the woman smiled, handing a small package to Shrimp. “That’ll be three-thousand Jewel.”

            “Thank you,” Levy beamed. She paid the woman, then left the shop, holding the small square package against her chest.

            I frowned as I followed her, noticing how high her spirits were now. Something that makes Shrimp this happy isn’t nothing. What’s in that package? Suddenly, I got an idea. If she wouldn’t tell me, I’d just find out for myself. I knew which room was Levy’s inside Fairy Hills, and it was easy to get in through the window. That meant, all I had to do was wait for her to go to sleep, and then I could peek inside the package.

            Proud of my own plan, I went back to the guildhall to meet up with Pantherlily for dinner.

            “So, what did you find out?” He asked as I began munching on some iron.

            “She got some weird package from an old lady at the gift shop, but I don’t know what it was. I’m going to sneak into her apartment later tonight to take a peek and see what’s inside it.”

            “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Lily frowned. “She’ll be furious if she catches you—not to mention the wrong ideas she might get if she wakes up in the middle of the night and finds you inside her room.”

            “I’ll be quiet,” I shrugged.

            “I still think it’s a bad idea,” he sighed, shaking his head. I waved him off, finishing my dinner.

            I wanted to make sure Levy was home and asleep before I snuck into her room, so I waited until late that night before going to Fairy Hills...just to be safe.

            I climbed over the gate, and crept across the lawn until I reached the back wall, the one that led up to Levy’s window. Grabbing the bricks I used every time I visited her, I climbed expertly, reaching her window on the third floor quickly. I knew it would be cracked before I even reached it because she had told me once she liked to listen to the night sounds as she went to sleep. I easily slid it up far enough for my large frame to fit through, then lowered it back down to where it was just in case she woke up while I was still inside. If she woke up and the window was open it would be a dead giveaway that I was inside.

            “What are you doing?”

            “Shrimp!” I gasped, spinning around. Shit! I was caught.

            “I-I was, uh—“

            She cut me off with a sigh. “You don’t have to lie. I already knew you were planning to sneak in here tonight.”

            “How?” I asked. I wanted to kick myself as soon as I had asked it, knowing I had just given myself away.

            “That doesn’t matter,” she frowned. “Why did you break in here in the middle of the night?”

            “Look,” I said, wanting to defend myself, “you were acting all secretive earlier, so I just wanted to know what the hell was going on. When I saw you buy that package earlier, I got curious, and—“

            “Wait a minute,” she snapped, “did you follow me today?”

            Damn! Looks like the cat’s out of the bag now… I nodded, knowing I might as well fess up. “Yeah, but I just wanted to—“

            “Why did you follow me?”

            “You wouldn’t tell me what the hell you and that damned blonde were planning,” I growled. “You can’t blame me for being curious.”

            “That doesn’t mean you should follow me!” She took a deep breath, obviously trying not to get angry. “Fine,” she sighed, going into the next room. I followed her, figuring she was pissed.

            “Here,” she snapped, holding out the package.

            “What?” I asked, eyeing the package.

            “If you want to know what it is so badly, take it. I got it for you, anyways.”

            “For me?” I was shocked. I reached for the small package tentatively, and stared down at it when I finally had it. “Why did you buy me something?”

            “I-It’s your birthday tomorrow,” she mumbled. I looked at her, feeling heat creep up my neck when I saw that she was blushing.

            “How’d you know that?”

            “Master told me…after I asked.” She whispered the last part, and her blush darkened. “Lu-chan and I were planning a surprise party for you, and I got you that as a present.”

            I looked back down at the package, staring at it in wonder. It was the first present I had ever received, and it was coming from the Shrimp, which made it that much more special.

            “W-Well? Are you going to open it?”

            “Oh, yeah,” I said, eagerly ripping off the brown paper. I nearly dropped the thing once it was open. My eyes grew wide as I stared at it, wondering how the hell Shrimp had found something like it.

            “Do you like it?” She asked, nervously.

            I nodded, grinning as I stared down at the painting of my dragon father. “How did you get this?”

            “I found a picture in an old book, and sent it to an artist friend I know. They sent it to the shop once it was finished, and I had the woman there frame it for me,” she smiled. “I was hoping I got it right and that really was Metalicanna.”

            “That’s him,” I chuckled. On impulse I pulled Levy into a hug, squeezing her tightly. “Thanks, Shrimp.”

            “G-Gajeel?”

            “What?” I asked. Now that it was happening, I was almost too embarrassed to let go, afraid she’d see how disgraceful my face looked while it was the color of Titania’s hair.

            “I-I like you.”

            Too shocked to remember my face, I pulled away in order to gape at her. “You do?”

            “I was going to t-tell you tomorrow after I gave you the present,” she mumbled. “I’ve liked you for a long time, and I—I was wondering if you felt the same.” Her large hazel eyes met my crimson ones and held them determinedly. “How do you feel about me?”

            I suddenly felt very hot. “Of course I like ya, Shrimp. We’re guild mates.”

            “That’s it?” She asked, looking disappointed. Sighing, she stepped back and lowered her eyes. “Sorry, I was just hoping that—well, never mind.” She gave me a smile, though I could tell it was forced, before looking at my present. “I’m glad you liked the painting.”

            Damned coward, just admit it already! I scolded myself as I watched her sad eyes lower to stare at the floor. “I like you too.” There, I said it.

            Startled, her eyes snapped up to meet mine. “Really?”

            I sighed, scratching my head. “I’m not so good at mushy crap like this, but yeah, I like ya.”

            Smiling, she threw her arms around me. “Even if you’re bad at it, I like you how you are.”

            I didn’t answer. Instead, I hugged her back, taking in the feel of her skin and the smell of her hair. Since the day we had met, I knew she was special.

            Although I had an eternity before I could make up for what I did to her, I vowed I would stay by her side until then. And I’ll love you for even longer, Shrimp.

This one was also for Tenryuu! :D Hope you liked it! ^_^ Gruvia is next! And then my first Gratsu will be after that! ;)