~Gajeel~

I grumbled to myself as I walked to Laxus’s room. Even after searching the entire town all day, I hadn’t been able to come up with any news on the sudden migration of supernatural creatures into the city. I had asked several townspeople if they had noticed anything different in the city, but no one knew anything.

“You’re slow, as usual,” Natsu grinned as I closed the door behind me.

“Shut it,” I growled.

“Now that everyone is here,” Jellal said, “we can get started.”

“While out with Mirajane this afternoon, we went to a supernatural shop,” Laxus told us.

“A supernatural shop?” Gray frowned. “Aren’t those illegal?”

“It depends what they’re selling,” Laxus explained. “I took a look around this one, and I didn’t see anything illegal. The fact that it exists, though, could be a reason for so many supernatural sightings. Maybe they’re coming to Magnolia to visit that shop.”

“Wouldn’t they just visit it and leave?” I asked.

“Or rob it,” Natsu added. “The ones from the report were all wanted, so why would they come all the way here just to buy something from that shop? More than likely they’d just take whatever they wanted.”

“That’s a good point,” Laxus murmured, thinking. “Did any of you find anything?”

“I was here with Juvia all day,” Gray sighed, “so I didn’t have a chance to do any investigating.”

“Same,” Natsu said. “Me and Lucy were doing a bunch of random jobs here.”

“Gajeel?” Jellal asked, looking at me.

“I walked around town for a while, but came up with nothing,” I shrugged.

“Where was Levy?” Natsu asked.

“Out,” I frowned.

“Oh,” he said, nodding in understanding.

With nothing else to report, Laxus and Jellal dismissed us, telling us to return to our leaders. As I made my way back to Levy’s room, I wondered if she was even home yet. I hadn’t seen her all day, and she had missed dinner. When I asked Lucy about it, she had told me not to worry—that Levy would show up when she showed up.

“What the—” A small black cat darted between my feet and ran up the hallway. Where the hell did that cat come from?

“Lily!”

“Levy?” The bluenette ran passed me without even acknowledging my presence. Sighing, I went after her. I caught up just in time to see her fall to the floor as she grabbed the cat, and stick her fingers in its mouth.

“What the hell are you doing?” I asked, staring down at the bizarre scene.

“Give it back,” She mumbled, angrily, to the cat. Finally, she pulled a piece of paper from its mouth and grinned happily to herself as she released it. “I told you I’d get it back. And I am paying for the room this time.”

As I watched her talk to the cat like it could understand her, I remained silent. Is she seriously talking to a cat? What the hell?!

“Sorry about that,” Levy chuckled, getting to her feet. “Lily insisted on covering the bill for my room this month, and he took off with it.”

“The cat?” I asked, wondering if she was crazy. As I thought about calling the looney bin to come and commit her, she pointed down to the cat and smiled. “Gajeel, this is Pantherlily. He has been my friend for about thirty years now, and usually does all of the social networking for me around town.”

“Right,” I said, slowly, convinced now that she was crazy.

“Lily, this is Gajeel,” she told the cat. “He’s my new guard from the capital.”

“Am I supposed to shake his hand or something?” I asked, smirking.

My mouth fell open when the cat suddenly transformed, and a large black man stood in front of me. He held out his hand, smirking back at me. “That’s how two people usually greet each other, isn’t it?” He asked in a low voice.

“You’re a—”

“I’m a shifter,” he nodded, chuckling. “So, Levy isn’t crazy.”

“You thought I was talking to a normal cat?” Levy scoffed, offended.

“Well,” I shrugged, “he looked like a normal cat.”

She burst into laughter, doubling over as she laughed harder. “Gajeel, you’re so funny,” she wheezed, wiping tears from her eyes.

“Tch,” I grumbled, crossing my arms as she calmed herself down.

“Levy,” Lily began, frowning at her, “I still insist on paying for the room.”

It was Levy’s turn to frown. “No. It’s my month, so I don’t want to hear anymore protest.”

“What are you two talking about?” I asked, totally confused.

“In order to live in the guildhall’s rooms, you have to pay monthly rent. I talked Lily into moving in here a few years ago so that he could help me out, and we always fight over who pays his room’s rent.”

“She insists every month,” he sighed.

“I don’t pay you for helping me, so it’s the least I can do,” she smiled, patting the man on the arm. For some damned reason, the act made my muscles all tense with anger. I didn’t like how friendly they acted.

“What kind of help?” I asked.

“He assists me during…emergencies,” Levy said, adding the last word after thinking about it a moment. “If the, uh, need arises too suddenly for me to find someone, Lily helps me.”

“Wait a minute,” I frowned, looking between the two of them, not liking what she was implying, “you two…” Stupidly, I couldn’t bring myself to say it.

“What?” She frowned. When she realized what I meant, her eyes went wide, and she looked up at Lily. “Oh! Oh, no! We don’t—we haven’t—Lily and I aren’t intimate,” she stuttered. I could have sworn she was blushing when the man beside her chuckled.

“I help by finding someone for her,” he explained. “There are a few contacts I keep in town, so that’s what I do.”

“So, you’re kind of like a sex-supplier,” I mumbled, unable to stop the smirk that tugged at my lips, despite my displeasure of the topic.

“Pretty much,” he chuckled.

“Well,” Levy said, clearing her throat, “we should all be going to bed. Gentleman, I’ll see you tomorrow.” She excused herself, leaving me alone with Lily.

“I assume you arrived last night?” He asked.

I nodded. “I came with two others, Natsu and Gray.”

“Levy is a sweet girl,” he said. “Make sure to protect her.”

I nodded, frowning as he left. What the hell? The damned cat acted like he was her brother or something. My mind lingered on the word brother, and a relieved feeling crept its way into my mind. I shouldn’t be relieved. It doesn’t matter what—or who for that matter—she does.

“I need some sleep,” I sighed, stripping down to my boxers before collapsing onto my bed. I was still frustrated that I hadn’t been able to find anything out during my exploration of the town. And, I was even more frustrated by my reaction to that damned woman. I refuse to let her pull me in. I know what she is, so it won’t work. I didn’t care how nice Lily claimed Levy was, I would not let myself be drawn in.

I pulled the blanket over myself and buried my face in the pillow, knowing the next day wouldn’t be any better. Hopefully I can sleep in peace tonight. I thought, fading into unconsciousness. Unfortunately, I could never sleep in peace.

“What took you so long?” The voice startled me, causing me to drop the bar of soap I was holding. It slid across the tiled bathroom floor, stopping when it hit the side of the large bathtub. The tub was full of water, and had a thick layer of bubbles covering the surface. In the middle of the tub, stretched out comfortably, was Levy. She was smiling at me, and chuckled a little at my reaction.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, wondering when she got there. I was only gone for a minute, and she wasn’t in here when I left. I thought.

“Waiting on you,” she giggled. “Why else would I be here?”

“I—“

“Come, wash my hair for me,” she said, sitting up and scooting to the back of the tub.

Knowing I’d lose if I tried to argue, I removed my towel and got in, sighing as the hot water eased my sore muscles.

“Feel good?” She asked. I nodded, tensing slightly when she placed herself between my knees and turned her back to me. “Wash my hair?”

As I poured shampoo in her hair and washed the blue waves, I found myself mesmerized by how soft it felt. Snapping myself out of it, I rinsed her hair then automatically grabbed the soap and began washing her back. Slowly, my hands moved over her skin.

“Gajeel,” she sighed, leaning her back against my chest, “I wish we could stay like this forever.”

“Why couldn’t we?”

She turned to face me, straddling my thighs as she took my face in her small hands. “Because we are too different. You’re too kind, my sweet Gajeel.” Her smile was sad.

“Levy—” She silenced me with a kiss. It was a gentle kiss, one that told me I was her entire world at that moment. “Gajeel,” she whispered against my lips, “don’t make me wait any longer.”

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! My eyes shot open when my alarm clock began ringing. Damn. I had dreamt about her again.

“Might as well get the day over with,” I grumbled as I made my way to my bathroom to take a shower. The steaming water always helped wake me up. And it gets rid of my thoughts of that damned woman, I thought, angrily.

I threw on a pair of black jeans, a green t-shirt, and my black combat boots after I dried off. I quickly ran a brush through my hair, then decided I should head downstairs for breakfast. I grabbed my gun and fastened it to the black belt on my jeans before leaving my room. As I walked passed Levy’s room, I noticed a red sign hanging from her doorknob.

“That must be the red tag she told me about,” I muttered, wondering what it meant.

“It’s best to leave Levy alone when the tag is on her door,” Lily said, suddenly behind me.

“Wasn’t planning on bothering her,” I frowned, heading towards the stairs as he followed.

“How long have you worked for the king?” He asked, taking a seat next to me as we joined the others.

“About a year,” I lied, remembering what my profile had said.

“Weapon of expertise?”

“Gun.”

He nodded. “Good.”

“Who’s your friend?” Gray asked me, pointing to Lily.

“Pantherlily,” he said, introducing himself. “I am a shifter, and in the employment of Levy.”

“In the employment?” Natsu frowned.

“Don’t ask,” I told him.

“Lily, I haven’t seen you in a few days,” Jellal smiled, stopping to pat the shifter on the shoulder as he passed our table with the scarlet-haired Valkyrie.

“Jellal,” he nodded. “I was meeting with a few of my contacts, so I’ve been fairly busy.”

“Hopefully Levy isn’t running you too thin,” Erza grinned, to which Lily responded with a chuckle.

“Never. I practically have to beg her to let me do anything for her at all.”

“Oh, yeah. What’s Levy’s job around the guildhall?” Natsu asked. “Mira cooks, Lucy attends to the clothes, Juvia’s in charge of the laundry, and Erza takes care of the protection of Fairy Tail. So, what does Levy do?”

“She’s our information specialist if you will,” Erza said. “She keeps in contact with other peaceful guilds, and even knows a few supernaturals inside some of the illegal guilds. She tends to hear about big things in the supernatural world before even the Eradicators.”

“That sounds pretty useful to Fairy Tail,” I murmured.

“It is,” she nodded, “but it also puts Levy in danger. Powerful people don’t like for other powerful people to know their secrets.”

“Makes sense,” I nodded. “The Eradicators probably aren’t too fond of her either, then.”

“They don’t know about her,” Erza smirked. “If the government knew about all of her contacts, I’m sure they would force her into some sort of information-gathering position for them.”

“They know she’s smart, and has been alive for quite a while, but the resources and contacts she’s gathered over the years is something of a guild secret,” Lily added.

“And as protectors sent here by the king, we expect you three to keep that same vow of secrecy,” Erza said, almost threateningly.

After she and Jellal left, I exhaled in relief. “Damn, why is that woman always so intense?”

“She has to be,” Lily smiled. “In a world where our very existence relies on our ability to hide what we are from normal humans, she has learned not to trust very many. You five are probably the first, to be honest.”

Gray, Natsu, and I exchanged a knowing look. We weren’t trustworthy. We had lied to everyone about who the five of us really were, and would continue lying to them until we left once our mission was over. And, if it came to it for the sake of the mission, we would betray everyone in Fairy Tail.

“Man,” Natsu sighed as we made our way with Gray to the training hall behind the main guildhall, “I kinda feel bad now.”

“Don’t,” I frowned. “We weren’t sent here to get attached to these monsters. We came to gather information, figure out why the hell so many dangerous supernaturals are making their way into Magnolia so we can fix it, and then get out of here. Making friends wasn’t part of the job.”

“You have to admit that none of these people are monsters,” Gray told me. “They’re actually a lot nicer than most humans I know.”

“So what?” I snapped. “That doesn’t change the fact that they aren’t human. We’re Eradicators, not protectors, so don’t forget that.”

“You’re just in a bad mood because you have to protect the source of your sexual frustration for all these years,” Natsu chuckled.

“Shut up, asshole,” I growled.

“He’s not denying it,” he whispered to Gray, giving them both a good laugh.

“Fuck off,” I grumbled under my breath, leaving the two of them as soon as we got inside the building. They went to the weapons room, and I went to the weight room. I stopped at the first punching bag I saw, put my water bottle on a nearby bench, and punched the thing as hard as I could.

I got a good rhythm going after a while, and allowed myself to get lost in the sounds of my strikes. Since the red tag was on Levy’s door, I was supposed to leave her alone. I didn’t know what that tag meant, so I had no idea how long it would be there. I’ll just stay here until she comes to get me.

When she still hadn’t by the time I stopped for a water break, I began to grow a little worried. Frustrated, I scolded myself for worrying about her. She’s fine. If she doesn’t want to come and get me, whatever. That’s less time I have to be around her, anyways. I ignored the disappointment that settled in my stomach and turned it into power to fuel my punches as I continued my abuse of the punching bag.

“Having fun?” I stopped mid-punch, turning around to face the voice. Levy smiled at me from her spot on the bench beside my water. I frowned, immediately going to her when I finally got a good look at her. Honestly, she looked like hell. Her face was paler than usual, her hair had lost some of its shine, and she looked exhausted.

“What the hell happened to you?” I asked, crouching down in front of her.

She looked startled, then quickly recovered and offered me a smile. “Careful,” she said, “I might think you’re worried about me, Gajeel.”

“Tch.” I stood up, taking the towel she offered and using it wipe the sweat of my face and neck. “It’s my job. If you get hurt, I have to hear about it.”

“Right,” she nodded, her hazel eyes hard, “well, we wouldn’t want that. I’m perfectly fine, so don’t worry about it. I didn’t sleep well last night, that’s all.”

“Good,” I grunted. Sighing, I took a seat next to her, downing the last of my water. “Where have you been all day, anyways? I saw that tag on your door.”

“I was taking care of some personal business,” she said. “I didn’t want to be disturbed, so I put the tag up.”

“What does that tag even mean?” I frowned. “You said before it was bad, but I don’t get it.”

“It’s nothing you need to worry about,” she told me. “Sometimes I just need to be alone, and that red tag means that I can be.” She hopped up, grinning at me. “Anyways, let’s head back. You missed dinner, so Mira sent me after you.”

“Damn those two,” I growled, reminding myself to give Gray and Natsu hell later for letting me stay out there all day.

“Gajeel?”

I looked down at the small woman, raising an eyebrow. “What?”

“Tomorrow let me show you around Magnolia. It’s an incredible city, and I haven’t exactly been the best hostess the last two days.”

“Sure,” I shrugged.

She smiled, causing my pulse to—annoyingly—increase. “Great! I can’t wait.”

“Yeah.”