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bumblebeehug · 4 months ago

Text

Some of their own

Summary: Babysitting and a bit of reflection of a past encounter is just the kick Natsu needs to get started on thinking about his future. Notes: At the end. Nalu Week 2023 day 7. Prompt: New Adventures. Ao3

***

For being a mom of three kids, Levy was weirdly calm. Lucy realised that as she spent time with her friend: she was rusty at the beginning, sure, she had two newborns to take care of and she was completely new to everything, but she had a very involved, very loving father to the children, and also what many people didn’t always consider to incorporate – a community that helped her whenever she asked. This community included, but was not limited to, the guild.

Currently, she and Lucy sat and enjoyed their lunch together, as Gajeel and Natsu sat one table away. Gajeel was caring for his and Levy’s latest addition to the family, Akane, while Natsu kept Kanetatsu and Kanae entertained. Though they would never admit it, and would absolutely hate to hear it – Natsu and Gajeel worked well as a team. Gajeel had all the actual parenting down, he did well with the fostering and the diapers and feeding, while Natsu had a natural talent when it came to entertaining. His skills shouldn’t be underestimated: to actually engage with the kids and play in a way that keeps the games enjoyable was surprisingly hard. Natsu, however, was a natural. He knew exactly what ideas were perfect for their preferences, Kanetatsu preferring more wilderness games (he was going through an obsession with ancient reptiles) and Kanae loved Natsu’s story-driven games. She preferred to play pretend, that she was on a mission like the ones her mom and dad went on. And of course, Natsu would be the star of the show by narrating it.

Lucy liked watching him with children. Natsu was otherwise the type of guy you’d want to keep away – having a pyromaniac with no sense of safety around a couple of toddlers wasn’t ideal, but his entire demeanour shifted around kids. She had known this for quite some time. Back when they first met she only got to see a sliver of Natsu’s persona around kids, and that was through Romeo. Still, sliver or not, she definitely saw it. A brotherly connection based on safety and trust, not wavering a second as Natsu went to save his dad from the Vulcans. And after the seven years on Tenrou Island, she got to see it again – Natsu creating an environment where Asuka could both play and learn. It wasn’t the ideal day for them to babysit, considering the fact that bandits attacked them, but not only did Natsu put Asuka’s safety first, but he also engaged her to act and help in the ways she could. Though in Lucy’s opinion the danger in that situation was way too close for comfort.

“... And I was thinking we could go check it out tomorrow after lunch?” Lucy’s attention was brought back to Levy, the scene of Natsu and Gajeel and the kids fading back into the background.

“Sorry, check out what?”

Levy smiled knowingly.

“Something other than Natsu for once.” She winked at her. “The new bookstore that opened on the square. I checked their inventory, and they’re gonna sell your book there, so I thought you’d like to say hi to the owners.”

“Oh yeah absolutely! Meet me at 1 by the fountain?” Lucy finished her drink with a sweeping motion. Levy nodded approvingly and then tilted her head.

“Hey, Lucy… Wouldn’t it be nice if you had one?”

Lucy blinked in confusion.

“A bookstore?”

“No,” Levy laughed, “a kid. It’s a lot less diapers than you think – take it from me, I had two at once.”

Lucy felt her cheeks warm up.

“Well I think I’d need someone to have it with, before I start thinking about diapers.” She let out an airy laugh. But she knew that Levy meant with Natsu. And judging by the shifting eyes Lucy could see in her periphery, Natsu was paying attention to their conversation.

“Don’t you think it’s time to start thinking about it though? We always said our kids would be as close as we are, but I’m not sure how many more I can produce before we run out of money here.” Levy giggled, but Lucy knew she was serious. It wasn’t easy being the single friend in a friend group – even harder being a single friend in a mom group.

“Well, I guess I’ll have to adopt if I’m not knocked up within a year,” Lucy joked, now being more or less desperate to steer the conversation away from the topic of babies. She did, however, pay attention to Natsu’s face. Though she only saw it in profile, she knew he had been listening. There was something in his eyes, perhaps the way they didn’t really seem focused on the task ahead of him, that revealed the many thoughts running through his head.

Their current relationship was messy. Too intimate to be friends, too friendly to be lovers. But Lucy knew she wasn’t the only one thinking about them. The last couple of years, Natsu had been more present, more grounded in their conversations. Like he was soaking up everything Lucy said or did, and savoured that information like treasure. Lucy had noticed it, but she knew that not many else had. Levy included. Because in public and at the guild, they were completely normal. Talked about missions, kept their routines, went on team missions with Erza, Wendy and Gray whenever they got the chance (which wasn’t as often nowadays – Gray’s fault, since he rarely went anywhere without Juvia). But behind closed doors they allowed themselves some secret moments. Movie nights cuddling, hugs from behind while the other’s cooking, Natsu fiddling with Lucy’s left hand’s fingers while she was reading (the right hand had to be free so she could turn pages). There were lots of moments like those, but none that could be pinned down and refused in a “I only do that with guys I’m in a relationship with!”-manner.

Her thoughts were soon interrupted by the cries from Levy’s youngest. As they stirred around, Levy rushing to Gajeel and Akane, Natsu picking up both toddlers on each hip to get them away from knocking over bottles and wet wipes and other miscellaneous items, Lucy found herself drawn to Natsu. She could blame it on wanting to unload him from one of the kids, but they both knew he could manage carrying them both. Lucy should have brought her and Levy’s empty dishes to Mira, to minimise the risk of anything falling down on the floor, but instead she grabbed a handful of toys from the bag Gajeel had packed, and started giving them to Kanetatsu and Kanae, letting them choose from the soft, colourful figurines.

“You want that one?” Lucy asked Kanae, not expecting an answer from her. Kanetatsu had already picked his toy – a boar-like stuffed animal. “How about we go to the library and play? I’ll bring the toys and uncle Natsu will take you downstairs, okay?”

Natsu grinned broadly and started moving towards the stairs, roughhousing them a little to keep their interest. Levy sent Lucy a thankful smile before she went back to focus on the poopy diaper. Lucy took it as approval of the impromptu babysitting and grabbed the bag and a couple of water bottles before hurrying after Natsu and the kids – even if Levy said kids weren’t as stressful as they seemed, Lucy had yet to take her word for it.

In the library, Natsu managed to get both kids to stay on the carpet. Lucy swore she had heard something about the floor being lava, but the kids seemed too calm for that to be true. She quickly sorted out the toys from the actual useful items in the nursery bag and poured them out on the carpet.

“Aunty, play kingdom!” Kanae blubbered and started clearing out a space for the characters to live. Natsu and Kanetatsu swiftly gathered round, eyeing the toys they wanted to use.

“Alright, I’ll be the princess-knight then.” She grabbed the figure of a princess with a big poofy dress. They didn’t actually have a toy that looked like a knight, so this one sufficed once she held a small, toy sword against the plush princess-hand. “Do we want to start from the beginning or pick up where we left it last time?”

When the twins were just 2 years old, Lucy had created a make believe game with medieval themes – knights, princesses, dragons, kings and queens, evil trolls under bridges etc. Ever since, Kanae swore that it was the best game ever, though Lucy knew she preferred watching Natsu’s hot pepper eating contests. Natsu wasn’t actually bothered by the chilies, but he was good at acting out different stages of spice levels. When eating the hottest one he liked setting his tongue on fire, to demonstrate how terrible it was to eat it.

That, however, was beside the point. Even if it wasn’t the absolute best game, the kids still loved it. Natsu did as well, but for other reasons. He was captivated by Lucy’s story telling. All characters in the game were so different – some reminded him of guild mates, some of her spirits, others were more like people they had met briefly on missions. It was like she knew everything about everyone she met, inside out. Their dreams, their past, their reasonings behind certain behaviours. Her ability to read people was beyond great, and that reflected in her books and games. All stories she told, big and small, were taken seriously by her.

“From the beginning!” The little girl almost shouted out her answer, but her brother was quick to protest.

“No, from the part when the dragon eats the troll!”

Lucy held in a sigh. The twins played well together when they were on the same page, but as soon as their opinions didn’t align, their heads would butt together in disagreement. Their fights would often get both loud and violent – it wasn’t hard to figure out which parent had given them that temperament.

Before the twins began their screaming contest, and before Lucy had the opportunity to defuse the situation, Natsu had grabbed the princess-doll in his left hand and the troll in his right and started shouting.

“RAAAH, your fight is pointless, the troll has already taken the princess-knight hostage! Aunt Lucy, what’s gonna happen?” He flailed his arms around to somehow demonstrate the motion of the troll stealing the queen. Lucy sent a quick glance towards Kanae to make sure she wasn��t upset over Natsu picking Kanetatsu’s storyline – with no tears in sight she put on her best storytelling voice and got to work.

“Oh no!” Lucy exclaimed in a light voice. “The troll has taken me and the amazing ninja-wizards are nowhere to be seen!” She was relieved to see the twins scramble together their characters so they could join in – they had accepted the game.

“The two ninja-wizards hurried across the continent as they heard the queen’s cries,” Lucy read in a deeper voice. “They ran through forests, rode over deserts on camels, climbed mountains and jumped over rivers that were over 20 feet wide! And with their amazing speed, they arrived in only fifteen minutes!”

***

Levy waited a moment before making a noise. She had finally gotten Akane back to sleep after cradling her for the last hour. Gajeel was currently on watch, keeping the pram moving, which gave Levy an opportunity to check in on the twins and her two friends watching them.

As she observed her best friend and her pink haired situationship, her heart ached a little. She wanted Lucy to be the happiest version of herself – she wanted all good fortune to reach her, for all her dreams and desires to come true. And she wanted her to experience that one true love. For years, Levy and Lucy had read romance novels that described all kinds of relationships. Enemies to lovers, soulmates, friends to lovers, and all beyond and between. If Levy allowed herself to brag, she would say she won the jackpot. She had found her true love, she had experienced the full story. But in a way, that wasn’t enough for her. Levy took all her relationships seriously, both her familial, romantic and her platonic ones. If a friend of hers was hurting, then so would she. Now, that didn’t mean she thought Lucy was hurting from her relationship with Natsu – the opposite, actually. She was certain that Natsu made Lucy the happiest version of herself, which was only strengthening her resolve to get the pair together soon.

If you asked anyone else about Natsu’s and Lucy’s relationship, they would claim that they were staying out of their business. Levy, however, knew that those people were kidding themselves. Everyone waited for the day they would get together, when Lucy and Natsu finally would release the guild from the tension that had been built up from the constant expectations that lay heavy in the air. It hadn’t passed anyone’s attention that they loved each other. It hadn’t passed anyone on the entire continent – the two of them were meant to be.

Still, somehow their mutual feelings went past each other’s heads. The line between what was friendly and what meant something more had been so blurred that Levy wasn’t even sure if they could tell the distinction. For all she knew, they could have gone all the way, still thinking the other one didn’t love them back. Of course, if they had done that Lucy would have told her. Everything Natsu did eventually went past Levy – unless Lucy promised to keep a secret, she would tell her everything.

***

“Hey there babysitters.” Levy’s voice startled Lucy, who had been caught up trying to storytell herself out of a corner that Natsu had pushed her into. (Being surrounded by wild boars and having no armour, plus the two wizard-ninja-characters being locked up in a cell. Plus, Natsu’s dragon character had surrounded the princess-knight with a wildfire. Surely she could manage to get out of this situation without pulling the saved-by-the-dragon-card…)

“Hey Levy,” Natsu answered, himself not as startled since he had both smelled and heard her standing by the door watching them. “Ya’ got the baby to calm down?”

“Yeah, thanks for your help. Kanetatsu, Kanae, say thank you to aunty for playing with you, it’s time to go home.” Levy crouched down with a smile, catching the kids who charged right at her as soon as she finished her sentence.

“Thanks,” they mumbled in chorus. Levy sent a smile towards Lucy who handed her the bag that contained the toys they had played with.

“Don’t forget, bookstore tomorrow after lunch.”

“I won’t, I’m looking forward to it. Be safe on your way home!” Lucy waved goodbye to her blue haired friend. When she was out of sight, Lucy turned to Natsu, who had been standing right behind her during the parting.

“So, what’s for dinner?” A big grin was plastered on his face as he looked down on her. Their height difference wasn’t very big, but when they stood this close she almost felt like he was towering over her.

“We just had lunch and you’re already thinking about dinner?” Lucy asked, baffled, as she still felt stuffed from her meal.

“Ya’ gotta look forward to life’s pleasures,” Natsu argued. Lucy just scoffed.

“Well I suppose you can pick out dinner tonight, we have to buy groceries anyways. Someone’s been eating all the leftovers I’ve been saving.”

“I don’t get that leftover stuff. How can there be food left from one night of cooking?” Natsu put his arms behind his head. They had started heading home and were just leaving the building, Lucy taking the lead.

“Normally people don’t eat four portions in one go, that’s how.” She looked back at him, slowing her pace so she could walk beside him. “Though I guess I should thank you. I don’t exactly love reheated stuff.”

“Hah,” Natsu laughed curtly, “I know ya’ don’t! That’s why I ate it for ya’!”

“Oh, as if! Don’t act like you did me a favour!” She playfully hit his arm.

The sky was just shifting from blue to orange, making the sun give off a golden shine. Natsu looked good in gold. He looked good in all colours, but Lucy found him especially beautiful, lit up by the sun as if he was one of its rays. His skin had a healthy glow, his brown complexion mingling perfectly with the sunshine. Adding his gorgeous, sculpted profile to the mixture was almost too much for Lucy. Her knees wobbled a little, and she made herself look away before she truly melted.

***

After stopping by the store, the two of them were on their way to Lucy’s apartment. She almost made a mental note of how much money she put out for the food, but reminded herself that Natsu had been the one to pay this time. It was only fair, according to him, but Lucy felt bad either way. Even if he owed her this much, she still wanted to pay for the things in her own fridge. This once, though, she swallowed her pride and let him pay. It was nice to be cared for as well – he was even currently carrying the bags for her.

Natsu loved how independent Lucy was, he really did. However, sometimes he wanted her to be a bit more selfish. Ask for more. She was always the first to offer her seat on a full train, the first to give up her comfort for someone else’s. Even today, Natsu had to argue for five minutes before being allowed to carry both of the bags. He ended up spurting out claims to “need it for passive training” even though he knew it sounded stupid – Lucy couldn’t give up without a fight. Though he reminded himself that that too was a trait he was fond of. Her spirit was unwavering, and that could be quite helpful on missions.

That woman was truly remarkable, he caught himself thinking. He would have blushed, but thankfully it wasn’t as visible on his tanned skin. Besides, as a fire wielding mage, being bothered by having a hot face would have been quite silly. But the truth remained – he was completely smitten by his friend. Always catching himself in a longing gaze, following her movements and being at her beck and call if anything were to happen. It was as if his senses had tuned in with her existence. If she smelled differently, or if her smell faded, Natsu was the first to know. If she was shivering, he felt himself drawn to her like a magnet, like he had to fulfil his job of warming her up. If she made a sound, Natsu tuned out all other sounds. He didn’t even do this consciously – it was just part of life.

He recalled the day they had. He woke up with Lucy in his arms, ate breakfast with her, washed up in her bathroom and went to the guild with her. He spent the entire day in her vicinity, hanging out with the mates she hung out with, eating beside her, having a midday nap with his head in her lap, and then the babysitting. How he loved to hear her voice, no matter the things she was saying – the chirpy, singing tune that felt as natural to his ears as the sound of birdsong. Calming even, with a soothing effect on his mind. The fact that the voice was telling elaborate stories of ninja-heroes with magic powers and villains that could create volcanic eruptions out of nowhere was only a small detail – the content of her words barely mattered as long as he could hear her speak.

After getting released from babysitting duties, the two of them had continued to spend the day together. The trip to the grocery store wasn’t exactly exciting on its own – there was uncooked food and bright ceiling lights, none of them things that Natsu spent his day longing for. However, within this unappealing territory, a secret hid. The actual content of the store never became any more appealing, but walking along the aisles with Lucy was like entering a different world. A world where the two of them could stay together like this always, doing small, mundane tasks and still feeling fulfilled. In this world Lucy would ask about toothpaste preference, what type of coffee he wanted to have in the morning, despite her not drinking coffee, and she’d tell him off for only picking snacks that fit his own tastes. But he wouldn’t mind a little scolding, because at the end of the day, it was the fact that they were shopping together that made things special. She was making small changes in her kitchen so he could feel at home – that’s the world he never wanted to leave.

Currently, Lucy was patting down her pockets in search of her apartment key. He could see them in the back pocket of her shorts, but he didn’t bother mentioning it, since she would find them soon enough. He did, however, take this opportunity to tease her a little.

“Ya’ sure ya’ wanna stand out here and let the milk sour?” He grinned when he saw her whip her head around, her face clad with a scowl.

“I literally have the key in my hand, could you be any less patient?” Natsu could just make out that she rolled her eyes as she turned back around and unlocked the door. He was first to enter, still snickering from the teasing.

“You start chopping the vegetables, I need a shower.” Lucy shivered as she thought of the abundance of toddler-drool that must have been clinging to her body the past hours. Natsu confirmed her commando with a nod and started putting the food they wouldn’t cook with in the fridge.

By now he knew her kitchen by heart. That too was one of those things he felt fond of. To be allowed in her space, trusted with her items – not everyone had the privilege. Her team could be allowed in as guests, granted permission to make themselves at home, but it didn’t really compare with what Natsu could do in her home. He had his own coffee cup, his assigned seat at the kitchen table and in her couch, his toothbrush was allowed in the same cup as hers in the bathroom, and hygiene products had their own little designated places in her cabinet over the sink. He had a drawer in her dresser, snacks in her kitchen, a place to put his sandals as he entered her hallway. He even liked to think that she saved some space on the left side of her bed for him to cuddle up against her at night, even if she pretended to dislike it.

But it wasn’t just her apartment that he had the privilege to share with her. Not just the physical, practical stuff. She always seemed to fit Natsu into her life, whether it regarded an empty chair beside her at the guild, or an open lap for his head to rest on the train. She opened up all conversations she had, for Natsu to join. He couldn’t see her purposefully ignoring or shutting him out if he tried – but now that he was thinking about it, he also realised that it went both ways. Time spent apart from her was time spent in vain. He couldn’t enjoy himself without her by his side.

***

“Do ya’ ever wonder how Nasha’s doin’?” Lucy looked up at Natsu who had broken the silent atmosphear, her fork stuck in the air between her plate and her face.

“Edo-Lucy’s kid?” She asked, confused as to why he’d ask her this out of nowhere.

“Yeah.”

Lucy tried to understand what he was asking for, but his facial expression was vague, not serving her any clues.

“Well…” she began, putting down her fork to think. “I suppose I sometimes think of her, but I’m sure she’s fine. Lucy and Natsu are really good parents, after all.” She couldn’t help but blush when she used their names in that context. She didn’t consider herself to be naive anymore – she could handle talking about their Edolas counterparts and their lifestyles as parents without stuttering and stumbling over her words. That didn’t mean she didn’t still feel a bit affected by the implications. She and Natsu rarely spoke about relationships and intimacy with each other, so naturally her face would get hotter if he brought up a subject like this.

“Guess you’re right,” Natsu said, still seeming lost in thought.

“What brought it on? Have you been thinking about the quest recently?”

It took a minute for him to answer.

“No, it’s more like… I’ve sorta been thinkin’ of my future?” Lucy nodded a little – it was clear to her that he had been thinking hard about it. Normally he seemed so content to just live in the moment, taking life one day at a time, but she knew it wasn’t as simple as that, not even for him. He too had goals beyond just having a good next meal. “Ya’ know, ever since I reunited with Igneel I’ve tried to keep my promise, to keep looking into the future.”

He was looking down at his plate as he spoke. Any time Igneel became the topic of the conversation, he became very aware of the fact that he would never see him again. He knew Lucy could see how talking about him troubled him, and he’d rather not look straight into her eyes as he did. It would definitely open the dams and clog up his throat – right now he wanted to keep his train of thought.

“I guess I’ve just been thinking about what I’m missing.” He frowned, realising that’s not exactly what he meant. “The Edo-versions of us seemed so happy when we met them. And Gajeel and Levy have been weirdly happy ever since they had kids. So I guess I’ve been a bit envious.”

Lucy smiled. She knew how he felt, she really did. Having a big, loving family had been a lifelong dream, so seeing people achieve exactly that before she even had her first kiss riddled her with jealousy at times.

“But do you really think a baby would fill that space?” She asked. Natsu scratched his head. He had already thought about that, analysed their families to really pin-point the differences. The result? Natsu had everything that Levy and Gajeel and Edo-Lucy and Edo-Natsu had, except for kids. He had a home, he had friends, he had a loving guild, and he shared an amazing bond with someone he’d consider his life partner. There really was nothing else.

“It’s the only part that’s missing,” he ended up answering.

“Don’t you want a girlfriend first?” A wife, she wanted to add, but silenced herself.

“Why would I need one? I have you.”

Lucy blushed a little but tried to laugh him off.

“Natsu, you realise that I can’t get pregnant out of thin air, right?” She glanced up at him through her bangs. Was he pouting?

“I know how babymaking works,” he said to her, shifting in his seat. He knew he had started the conversation, but it was taking an awkward direction. Lucy looked like she finally understood what he was hinting at, her mouth dropping slightly agape.

“I... N-natsu! Are you suggesting we…?” She couldn’t finish her sentence before he abruptly interrupted her.

“I want a child.”

Lucy shrieked. Was this man hearing himself?

“I’m ready,” he continued.

“Well, I’m not! Hold on a second Natsu, have you really thought this through?” She crossed her arms over her chest.

“What’s with you? It’s not like we gotta make one right this second.”

“No kidding!”

The blush on Lucy’s face was spreading down her neck. She hurried to take a few deep breaths before Natsu sputtered out more nonsense.

“Look, it’s not that I would hate having a family with you,” she began, deliberately avoiding the dark eyes that were drilling through her. “It’s the part where you and I would make a family, that would be weird. I need romantic love to be involved in that process.”

Natsu observed her as she squirmed in her chair. Was she really this dense?

“Naturally there’d be love involved. What do you take me for?” He deadpanned.

“No, Natsu, I could only do that stuff with my boyfriend, you know that.”

Of course he knew that. He had been listening to her go on about her ideal boyfriend for years, he knew that hypothetical man inside and out.

“Couldn’t that be me though?”

Lucy frantically searched his face for any sign that he was pulling her leg. This had to be a joke – no way was this discussion happening over her dinner table on a normal Thursday.

“Are you asking me out…?” She felt herself blush harder as she voiced the thought.

“I s’pose I am,” he grinned at their odd predicament.

“Does that mean that you love me?” Lucy’s eyes were big as saucers.

“Of course I do.”

“Romantically, I mean. Not like a friend or team mate.” She cringed at her words, but she couldn’t afford mistaking him – her lifespan would actually be reduced to nothing if that were the case.

“Geez, Luigi, just what type of man am I in your mind? He seems awful.” Natsu muttered the last part, really hoping she’d counter it. Lucy, however, was still trying to register what he was doing. The man she loved was asking her out in the most Natsu-way ever, and she was just sitting there with her plate in front of her half full, feeling her jaw drop into her lap. “Of course I love you,” he clarified.

“No way.”

Natsu cringed.

“Is that your answer?”

Lucy flew up from her seat, her chair falling backwards with her momentum.

“What?! No! I mean, argh!” She grabbed her hair in frustration. “I love you too!”

Natsu’s eyes lit up.

“Really?” He grinned, standing up too to get a better look at her. She was sporting a wild blush, but her facial expression was stuck in a frustrated grimace. “You sure? You look constipated.”

Lucy would have reprimanded him if he didn’t have a point. Here she was, in the middle of her happiest moment alive, and her mouth was pressed together into a squiggly line. With a deep breath she softened her face and smiled.

“I’m sure. I really do love you.”

Natsu couldn’t hold himself away any longer. With his mouth twisted into a big smile, he closed the distance between them with a kiss. For a split second he found himself thinking that kissing wasn’t anything special, but that thought fled his brain the second Lucy kissed him back. Plush, soft lips, making movements so small they seemed more like adjustments. He loved it.

When they finally broke apart, Natsu had to ask.

“So what’s that stance on babymaking?”

Lucy giggled against his lips before mumbling her answer.

“Let’s take it one step at a time, stallion.”

_____________________________________

Notes: please pat me on the back for finishing this... it wasn't easy, especially considering the fact that i haven't felt very passionate for this prompt. but i did it! for some reason it was really hard to portray natsu? getting that perfect mixture of goofy and serious is harder than rocket science, please don't hate me if he was ooc. at least they kissed, lol

oh! and here's my crazy long motivation to gajevy babynames: Boy twin - Kanetatsu, has these kanjis 金龍 where 金 means gold, but is also used as a general term for metals. It also covers money, coins, golden colour, just to name a few. 龍 means dragon, an imaginary animal, an outstanding person, a hero. Thought that was fitting with Gajeel as a dad, but also Levy who I imagine came up with all names. Girl twin - Kanae, written with these kanjis 金恵, the first kanji being the same as Kanetatsu’s, whereas the second kanji, this one 恵, means grace, caring and compassion. Most people probably know this, but parents in Japan often use names that will sort of manifest the life for their kids, so I imagine Levy would put extra effort into these things, as it’s a symbol of what the parents are expecting from their kid as well. And then the newborn, I named her Akane with these kanjis 亜金 because I thought Gajeel would like to use the same kanji for all the kids, bc I can imagine he’d want to create a little Redfox-clan lol, and 亜 means companions, which I like as a nod towards the guild, but also to make her be part of her siblings, despite not being a twin.

(wow, what a ramble...) anyways, hope you enjoyed and i'll see y'all the next fic <3 happy october! xoxo

#bumblebeehug writes #fairy tail #lucy heartfilia #nalu #natsu dragneel #fairy tail nalu #gajeel redfox #levy mcgarden #fanfic #fanfiction #nalu fanfic #nalu fanfiction #fairy tail fanfic #fairy tail fanfiction #fluff #nalu week 2023 #new adventures

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e1ectricwords · 22 days ago

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Dating Gajeel

Headcanons and Stuff:

--> Being picked up multiple times a day - he doesn't even ask anymore. In fact, he enjoys it when you yell at him about it. What a little freak. It will happen at the most inopportune times as well; maybe you're talking to someone, looking at new jobs, about to eat something, practicing a really tough new spell and he will just grab you. He has a few favourite positions - over the shoulder like a fireman's lift, bridal style, or even just hoiking you up by the waist and walking away.

--> Back hugs - this will only happen in the quiet, intimate moments. He won't let anyone else see this side of him, not even Lily. It will happen in the moments when you're working on something, and he might just need a minute of connection.

--> Playing with his hair - good luck with it. He will enjoy the touch, and will let you do it in public, but you will have to fight him in private to be able to braid it. Try and use some flowers too. He might let you if feeling vulnerable but if you ever try and take a photo of it (in a modern AU) then be prepared to be chased down until that photo is deleted.

--> Coming home and finding Gajeel has cooked something for you - ah chefjeel. A headcanon I know and love. Please just imagine him in the kitchen. A 'kiss the cook' pink frilly apron, bought specifically for him, and the ability to conjure any cooking utensil needed. He can create strange dishes, but they always work out somehow. You can come home after a long day and have the home filled with delicious smells. Or you can be working on something and he can come crashing into the room, holding a spoon, other hand hovering underneath to catch any drips, and he's yelling to 'fucking taste it now' because he has ten other things cooking but he really values your opinion on if that one specific element is tasty. You always tell him to enter the cooking competition held in Magnolia and he always grumbles that he won't but loves the praise that you think he's good enough to even consider entering. But you can't ever cook together, get out of his kitchen.

--> Head kisses - small, everyday things. They will happen in passing, or in the morning, or if you're stressed. Just appreciate them.

--> Bad jokes - you will laugh, you will groan, you will tell him that he's not funny, but you will miss them if anything happened. At least he will always laugh at his own bad jokes. "Why did the iron rod blush? Because it was steel-ing the show!"

--> Waking him up in the mornings - he can't wake up for the life of him. You will start by the classic gentle pokes, calling his names etc. It will progress to shoves, dropping Lily on him, dumping ice water on him. He will grumble. Classic dragon hibernation.

--> Grumpy days where you two just need some space - it happens. It's a normal part of any relationship and you may take it personally in the beginning, but you can't be around each other all the time. Realising this makes navigating these situations so much easier. He will retreat sometimes to work on things, or go train with Lily for a while, or even just go out solo. He will always come back in a better mood.

--> Protective Gajeel - built-in bodyguard. Half the time you don't even realise what he's doing. People might make a snide remark at you and it's missed by you, but certainly not by him. He might keep silent but show a cold glare, or he might ask them to repeat that remark, but louder so that everyone can hear it. He would make them explain what they meant by the remark, or how the joke was funny.

--> Falling asleep on the sofa with Pantherlily sprawled on top of you two - it would occur after long trips, or late at night with a movie playing in the background. Two mugs of some drink, one finished, one close to being finished. Blanket over the two of you, his foot sticking out of the side for some reason. Lily on top of both of you, fully vulnerable and at peace. He might wake up slightly, look over at the two of you and smile a little. He might decide to take you both to bed, or he would ignore it and go back to sleep; screw a sore back in the morning.

--> Playfighting - oh yeah. This is a given. He'll tease you into a scuffle, using it as an excuse to toss you around. He might let you win just so he can relish in the look of satisfaction draining from your face as he turns the tables so that he wins instead.

--> Writing songs for you - he would put pure concentration into this. It wouldn't be cringey, it wouldn't be out-of-tune. He would spend hours in secret meticulously planning lyrics, finding chords, and editing just to create a song for you. It would never be perfect in his eyes, it will never be fully ready, but he knows nothing can ever fully encapsulate his feelings.

--> Collecting and crafting things - he sounds a bit like a magpie for shiny things. His hands will be rough and calloused, but he would create the most delicate trinkets and jewellery. Eventually, he will make the perfect engagement ring.

--> He can't compliment you - this sounds bad. He will be really bad with words, and is so much better crafting things, it's also why he takes so long songwriting. He will want to compliment you, but will just fall short sometimes. It will look a lot like the classic: "You look really pretty." "What did you say?" "I said you look shitty."

--> Nightmares - he will have nightmares. You both will. His might center around Phantom Lord, and his actions during his time there. He will feel like he has never truly improved himself, despite all of his time reflecting on his actions, and apologising to everyone in the only ways he knows how (being less mean to them). He won't bother you when he wakes up in the middle of the night, but you will reach out to him in your sleep and he will be able to steady his breathing. It takes time for him to open up about his nightmares and his past, but slow progress is still progress.

--> Double dates - it's all planned from Juvia. Maybe you join in too. But it's clear that only Juvia is truly happy to be there on a double date with you two.

--> Big dreams - linking with his ability to craft and his past trauma. He wants a place to call his own. He wants to build a home from the ground up. He might get carried away with the design, "no, Gajeel, we can't have a chandelier made out of swords."

#gajeel redfox #fairy tail fanfiction #fairytail fanfic #fairy tail #fairytail #headcanons #fairytail headcanons #fairy tail headcanons #gajeel headcanons #fairytail scenarios #fairytail hcs #gajeel x reader

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ravewoodx · 2 years ago

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fearsomefairytailfan · 1 year ago

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Fairy Tail headcannons

based on the lore of my long on going kidfic:

Levy has very specific levels of drunkness, when she's just tipsy she gets overly happy, as she gets a bit more drunk she loses her volume control and basically yells everything, at her next level of drunkness she just tells everyone a bunch of fun facts, half of which she makes up herself. Eventually she reaches her clingy level of drunk, which everyone knows means it's time for her to stop because if she gets past that point she gets weepy and existential. Past that is a point that very few people have seen where she tries to fight everyone she sees, luckily she's never gotten that drunk in public, but she has tried to fight Gajeel, Pantherlily, Lucy, Natsu, and Cana on multiple occasions.

Most of the guild members that grew up as part of Fairy Tail have very minimal cooking skills because teenage Mirajane saw a bunch of children running around the guild and decided she would take care of them all, mainly by making sure they never have to worry about a meal, which was very kind, but none of the kids had to learn to cook besides some basic survival meals for missions. This does exclude Elfman and Lisanna because Mira made them help her cook almost every meal, so they are great cooks.

When Jet was a young teenager he somehow learned how to do simple tattooing (basically stick-n-pokes) and he was an absolute menace with this power, first he practiced on himself, then he convinced Levy and Droy to get matching team shadowgear tattoos with him. Soon he got a few of the more impulsive guild members to get one or two, eventually half the teenagers in the guild had small uneven tattoos.

Pantherlily doesn't have a room in gajeel's house, but there's a little attic loft space between the ceiling and the roof that he's claimed. He's got a bed up there, some books, and even a few decorations. When Levy moved in the added a few new rooms to the house (mostly a little library for her books, plus extra bedrooms) and they offered Lily one of the bedrooms, but he decided he liked his loft space better although they added a loft space to every room in the house, so it's like he has a mini house above their house.

Lucy is ridiculously bad with money, she loves buying cute little things in every town she visits and getting gifts for her friends when she travels. Everyone keeps telling her to stop buying them gifts even though they're nice because they are worried she won't have any money left for rent and she doesn't.

#fairy tail #gajevy #fanfic #gajeel redfox #levy mcgarden #fairy tail fanfic #my writing #cana alberona #Pantherlily #lucy heartfilia #natsu dragneel #mirajane strauss #lisanna strauss #elfman strauss #droy #jet

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just-some-jam · 23 days ago

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Fight for Fiore

Gajeel Fedfox -Chapter One

The content of Fiore had always been locked within a time of great strife that was always followed by hardships. Curses, creatures, and defilers controlled the land, and Before the time when heroes, conquerors, legends, gods came and went as the centuries passed by. One horrid story seemed to curse the land like infected blood through a body, a story of every lasting power struggle that affected every great story. It is always the same tale, never changing in ending only in the beginning as the generations started and finished. The first affected was the dragons, a wonderous race of creatures that lived before men ever walked on earth.

Before all things were the stars, big and empty orbs that lay in the endless space of nothingness. Then out of the nothingness flew a great figure, a being of ethereal power. The world had been created in a single bellow by this strong and large of these beings. This dragon, the first of all dragons named Irene, touched what was the heavens above, breathing light into the stars Causing them to shine above. She created the sky where celestials would live, next, this all-powerful being lay in the endless space between the new light-filled stars creating the world that all would exist on. In her effortless display, Irene had become the first mother. Birthing what would become the next from the stars above. As Mother Irene the first of dragons laid upon the sky, she created the dragons Zirconis, Belserion, Atlas, Motherglare and finally Acnologia the last of her children.

Each child was created to serve a purpose in this new world she crafted with her body, all given specific roles on how to use this new world. Atlas the first of her children was to rule, and Irene's only daughter Motherglare was to stay by her mother's side and watch over her mother's body. Belserion and Zirconis the twins were to balance out the world, with peace and tranquility. The last child Acnolgia was to follow after his older sibling’s place, bringing magic to the world, but Acnologia was selfish. He wanted to keep the world to himself, never under his older brother's rule.

In his possessiveness to rule he fought his siblings for control, finally succeeding after decades of battle. In their war which from fourth on was named the clash of dragons, acnologia tore his eldest brother Atlas apart. Turning him into the great flame that circled the world giving light to his new possession. Next, he ripped his sister from his mother's shoulders waving her back and forth through the sky, allowing her screams to make the wind and clouds causing the new world to forever be turning round and round. Spinning through an endless void that displeased the celestials. Lastly, for his older twin brothers Zirconis and belserion the youngest dragon tied them together, for they were the mightiest of the children. The only ones that could stop him, but could never get along with each other.

With the help of the celestials who wanted to stop The Clash of Dragons, acnolgia was able to compress his brothers down onto their mother, molding the twins into the lands that stretch the world now.

With all his foes now vanquished scattered across his mother, acnolgia flew to the now new content of Firoa where he laid claim to the land as his own. There he knocked down the forest with his large wings that had grown in the time of war. Clearing a singular piece of land that would be forever covered by his shadow in the west. Where the dark plains would be named. Next, he breathed a thick stream of fire to the south. Burning all that lay there creating the frugal kingdom of fire forever now summer due to the flame that still lingered. Once acnologia was done the great dragon began to tire comfortably laying his body down onto north. Where great mountains full of rich minerals and irons mixed into his body and the land. Formed from the thick and rich blood of himself. This is how the iron mountains came into creation, finally as the dragon laid upon the earth settling he left one spot uncovered by his tyranny. A single piece of clearing where the city of light got its start, but one last thing was left. As the beast laid its head in the middle of all. He drew his last breath a small island appeared from this final breath the windy isles that would soon come to be a place of peace between the four territories.

Although the great mother Irene was disappointed by the war that occurred on her great body that had become the world. She gave one last gift to the new world now shaped by destruction and death. Out of the scales of her twin sons zirconis and belserion came the first Men and Women. All many different shapes, sizes, races, and forms carried by the winds of her beloved daughter, now scattered all over the world. Her eldest child Atlas provided the sun that these new beings needed to start a life that would now last generations.

For her last child though the first mother Irene would bestow a horrid curse upon his land. Leaving a prophecy that he would play an important part in. Now bound to the land he would hold deep within him the eclipse gate. A sacred place that would one day open to bring on the era of dragons once again to the world when needed at its most. Over time the people of Acnologias land established the four territories that would rule first the Northern Iron Mountains, second the city of Light, third the Southern Kingdom of Fire, and lastly the western Dark Plains. All needed to play a future role in this prophecy that would help cure the land of its past. To always be at war with one another never able to progress like the rest of the world had freely begun to do.

A deep breath huffed in disagreement as he heard the legend being recited he continued to walk shaking his head. A woman of no particular features stood atop a short stone pillar. Speaking into the busy market her loud voice carried through its hustle and bustle. Some had come to stand below the pillar listening intensely to her words, most were children. Joining in to hear the great tale that they had shared so many times before. Others were fanatics who believed what she spewed wholeheartedly. That one day an era of mythical creatures would one day come back to claim the earth and break its curse. Saving the people in their time of need.

“Believers and their bullshit propaganda” Gajeel sneered. Many of the lower class that lived and worked in the Iron Mountains all followed the same thing. That the story of dragons and a cursed land was just an excuse to not fully exist in the real world. A way to desensitize everyone to what was happening in their homes under the tyrannical rule of their king. “I can't tell that people believe that stuff” another equally scratchy voice laughed along. Carrying a large tan bag of tools that the two had just secured. The small trip had been cut short considering most things in this place were either stolen or broken beyond repair. With the few lucky times that a stall would pecure something new.

“People will believe anything in a way to justify their suffering” Gajeel commented under his breath, causing Boze to stop in his tracks. The sunlight bounced off Boze’s bald head, causing his caramel skin to shine brightly in its light. Blinding the unfortunate souls that happened to be passing by.

“That's oddly poetic of you Redfox? Has raising girls grown you soft?” Boze asked beginning to walk again once he received a glare in response which was more than enough of any answer.

The two young men pushed their way through the crowd leading themselves to a long line where many like them stood. Readying to go into the forge, a nickname given to the place below the mountains, it contained the richest of resources. A place where most worked digging deep into the earth's darkest crevasse and few had the job of smithing weapons. Bringing out the riches of things that would be seen once in a lifetime. Only to be taken away straight to the greedyest of all who kept such treasures for himself, he alone controlled the iron mountains. Gajeel stood in line still as a soldier not moving a muscle as he zoned out thinking about the relaxation that awaited him at home. A strict voice echoed from the front of the line calling on the next ten people. This process took way longer than intended, signing each person's name onto a booklet to ensure that they would be paid the bare minimum. Just for their names to sometimes ‘get lost’ when payment came at the end of the day.

Gajeel shuffled his head to the side, his height providing a perfect view of what was seven other lines. One for each mountain, all full to the brim with people who awaited their turn. It was one young boy who caught Gajeel's eye, he looked younger than when he started working. The boy was covered in soot already a nod that meant he had just come from a different job of the day. Now standing in line to work a second shift, gajeel remembered those days back before puberty had hit him. He was around sixteen working two labor-intensive jobs just to provide for his family of three. It was after his father had left, a drunken fool who cared little for his children. Not enough to even say goodbye.

“They just get younger and younger don't they” Boze announced slapping his hand on his olive friend's shoulder three times. On the fourth, it finally caught Gajeel attention to move forward a few places in line.

“Not my problem” Gajeel responded rolling his eyes once again, now shifting them to the tan sack on Boze's shoulder. Full of what they would need for the day he and his associate had spent half of yesterday's earrings on the supplies. That would hopefully make their work less hard. The sack held new grips for a pickaxe that would help Boze. Though he hated to admit it, Boze had sustained a hand injury when he was younger due to a mine collapsing in on him. The two had also bought a new hammer for Gajeel since he worked on the other side of the forge. A space where only a few individuals bestowed the work of creating whatever the king demanded. It was hard work to stand over an anvil slamming down into its steel, Most of the time it wasn't anything special gajeel made, for the last few months now it had been common things that the king needed. Like an engraved brass plate probably for show, pots and pans things of that nature.

“Next” the strict voice yelled loudly as Gajeel and Boze moved forward once again now getting closer towards the front. “See I told you that coming an hour early was a good idea” Boze gloated. His voice faded into the background once more while Gajeel just stood in line buffering out his blabbering from people ahead and behind. At this point, he deserved a medal for his service to the realm. Protecting everyone's ears from his associates' nonsense day in and day out, the raven-haired man nodded along to Boze's words. Something was happening at the front he could see a man cutting through the crowded line to the right of him. Strange.

He adorned a set of big golden armor and the toughest of furs. This man was one of those people that never went cold through the long nights. Like he had done. The man continued to cut through the crowd ignoring the yells and protest of the people around him. Creating a path that would lead him straight to the man in charge of this whole operation. Once at the front, he seemed to disappear, now lost in the sea of formen and officials. Strange. Gajeel thought as “next” was called again breaking his focus again.

An iron hammer slammed down hard onto his steel counterpart, molding the metal below it into a flat surface. “Another damn plate,” Gajeel thought as he released all his anger into the new project he had been given. A tight deadline was enforced to go with his new assignment, to be done with a hundred and two plates before the midday meal. Which in retrospect was nearly impossible for the timeline given but Gajeel had struck a deal with the formen at the front. “I know you need it, so if you make me a few plates boy I'll cut you a little extra.”

The hammer slammed down again this time sending bits of sparks to the ground as gajeel pounded into the metal. His swings grew more and more unyielding from each slam of metal against metal. “Piece of shit” Gajeel yelled on the last slam hitting the center of the plate and finalizing his set. The young man was pissed, to say the least, he had spent his whole assigned meal cutting through the workload he was given. All for a selfish bastard and a few more jewels in his pocket. The smith finally dropped his hammer no longer new, the base now covered in scratches that cut deep. Gajeel slipped off his long protective gloves made from cheap leather that he had saved up to buy a few years back. Encircling his knuckles to take a much-needed break while the sound of footsteps approached his workbench. More like a work zone since the young man had an issue with working with others around him. Being suspended many times over the years for having disagreements with other smiths around him. Now secluded in his area of the forge where no one could bother him and vice versa. Where he could keep to his work without the pitter-patter of other voices bothering him.

“Redfox someone here to see you” sols annoying high pitch voice announced. Sol was the man in charge of all the blacksmiths. He was a spineless man who seemed to cave whenever something occurred under his watch. A fact from an incident in the past had given the strike as a murder. A little girl's death on his hands from his days as a watchman in the mines and when Sol was asked how he handled it all he did was cower over. “Sir Aria wants to speak to you” Sol shouted when Gajeel would not imminently turn around to greet whoever the hell it was disturbing him.

“I hear you old man” the smith growled, turning around with a raised brow and rubbing away the soreness in his knuckles with a warm towel from an off-to-the-side bucket of water. Gajeel had demanded that all stations have one nearby after a fire incident a few days back, although it was common sense to have water near a hot surface. Sol had never thought to assign anything to the station in case of a fire. After months of telling his supervisor that it was a must-have, Sol had to find out the hard way that Gajeel was right once again.

“So you must be the eclamined Black steel of the forge” Sir Aria spoke to Gajeel the man in question immediately cringed from the nickname. Obviously, he was a knight of some sort, why else would he come waltzing in like he had the right to?

“No one calls me that” Gajeel groaned, throwing the towel back into its bin.

“No one to your face” Sir Aria was quick to quip Shuffling towards an abandoned stool.

“Why are you here?” Gajeel sneered which was followed by a quick demand of an apology by his superior. “I mean no offense but Sir Aria why are you here?” He asked again this time with different wording but all the same sneer and tone.

“I came to see the man that created such a wonderous breastplate. You see I recently survived a gruesome battle and I require a few mending here and there." As Sir Aria continued to talk an ease began to set in gajeels brow. It wouldn't be so bad being enlisted for a private job of sorts. “I'll pay you double of what you work here, for your time taken” Sir Aria finally stated, his large frame getting comfortable in the uncomfortable stool.

“What about the smiths in the palace?” Gajeel asked, crossing his arms over one another.

“I would much rather have the man who made it before handle such a delicate procedure. This armor did save my life after all.” Sir Aria replied with a dry laugh mimicking gajeels crossed arms. The two large men watching each other intently both waiting for the other to give in. All the while Sol stood in the center of the room drowning in a pool of sweat nervous from what the young man would say. Gajeel had already said enough that would get many beheaded before repeating another smart remark but Sir Aria seemed to like Gajeel. Evident by Gajeel still being able to draw breath, “I like you Black Steel.” Sir Aria said cutting the silence.

The knight stood to his feet taking off the gold breastplate, displaying the large long scar that dug deep into his armor from the back. It looked as if some sort of large beast had scratched the man from behind, he was right that breastplate had saved his life. “I will be back in a fortnight to retrieve this from you. I expect it to be good as new.” Sir Aria announced turning on his heels to leave once the thick gold plate had hit the ground. Leaving a loud echo in his place. Sol followed behind Sir Aria as he walked down the tunnel further into the forge and away from Gajeel.

“I need a damn drink,” Gajeel said to himself once the room had been cleared out, now scratching his sore face with a displeased look.

The tavern was deafeningly full, the sounds of women and men alike drunky laughing at anything being said followed by the many different instruments being played at the same time. All combine together to make the most headache-inducing experience one could ever have all at once. Drinks flung back and forth from hand to hand, jewels loosely scattered the grounds probably from a customer who had way too much to drink. A glass shattered off in the distance which would have risen an eye if there already hadn't been so much happening. The wooden door slammed shut its wood leaving tough fingers as a figure walked in eyes scanning for a specific someone but finding someone else instead. Boze stood at the top of a round table contributing to the cheering that erupted like an open flame.

Gajeel helped himself to a seat, one right near the commotion that was gonna get out of hand sooner than later. “Drinks are on me” Boze yelled loudly above the cheering crowd, accompanied by a woman loosely hanging underneath his arm. His generosity definitely was created by his favorite choice of, drink. Winter's edge brandy something both Gajeel and Boze had both come up with in their much younger years. The two men finding comfort at the bottom of a cup together through hardships. “Broze we know you're broke” A man's voice yelled from the crowd causing the drunk man to turn over his shoulder stammering slightly. “What?! Who said that?” he shouted back into the crowd.

Gajeel shook his head massaging his temples as chous erupted. Just then a familiar voice snuck its way into his ears. “Hard day?” the drowsy voice asked, in the meliconlic tone she was known for. “What do you think ?” Gajeel asked with a raised brow greeting the cup that had been sat in front of him. Obviously on the house, considering it was from Juvia and if it wasn't the two would share some words. “I think you should be nicer to the person who gives you free drinks,” Juvia replied in a low tone huffing to herself as she snatched the mug off the table.

A loud clash broke through the air, it was Boze who had fallen off the table, trying to stand on one foot. Probably a wager he had just made, boze was like that. Bringing the good times to others even at the cost of himself. “He's gonna have a hell of a hangover tomorrow,” Juvia said sitting the mug back down allowing Gajeel to snatch it before it could be taken from him again. “You're telling me” he replied gulping down what he could in a single breath, it burned like hell in his throat, almost suffocating. “What the hell is that?” gajeel asked beating on his chest with a hand, trying to regain his composure before anyone else could see.

“It's rum. Rimfire rum to be exact” Juvia said with a small smile. Her long blue hair pulled back in a single braid. Keeping any sort of pieces from getting in her or other's way, juvia had tired blue eyes. Something she had inherited somewhere Gajeel didn't exactly know where. The only thing that the two shared in common was their nonexistent father. Both were hurt by the pain he caused, both bastards without a mother.

“Don't tell me you drink this stuff” Gajeel asked pushing the cup away now dont with its fiery liquid.

“It keeps me awake. We just got a large shipment from the south. It's all that they drink over there.” The blue-haired woman responded, taking hold of the mug to finish down the last of it. As her brother watched from his seat a look of pure disgust shown on his face, juvia had always had what people call a dry sense of humor. She never really smiled much, always down in the blues rather than enjoying her young life. That being said she had the resistance of a sailor. Unable to be influenced by the strongest of drinks, unlike someone they both knew. Who was now crawling his way towards the two using empty seats to regain his footing?

“Why should we trust anything they serve in the south? They're all a bunch of uppity rich pansies.” gajeel was quick to say as his half-sister sat in the empty seat in front of him.

“Why would you think that? I hear they're are pretty great things coming from the south” Juvia asked as Boze laid his head on the back of her seat. Finding comfort in what seemed to be the smell of her hair.

“You smell like the open sea” Boze groaned petting her hair while Juvia paid no mind to his actions. “We get our grain from the south.” She said ignoring the obviously drunk man's words.

“Correction the king gets the grain from the south.” Gajeel corrected waving over another worker at the tavern to give him what he called a ‘real northern drink’. The only time Gajeel Redfox ever had northern pride was when it came to the mention of the other territories in Fiore.

“Careful if anyone hears you they'll send you straight to the dead wave and you'll never be seen again” Juvia joked in her same dry manner. Which obviously gained not a single laugh from Gajeel who sipped on his ale quietly.

“You think that's funny don't you?” he asked. Which made Juvia shrug her shoulders never responding to the question he asked. Just then boze began to stir spouting nonsense like he always did when he got like this.

“You smell just like her ju.” boze mumbled to himself still lightly petting the girl's hair, both gajeel and Juvia knew that there was no malice behind Boze's actions. His lips now lose after his third full cup, “I miss Sue” mumbled once more now making an uncomfortable silence surround the three at the mention of Sue. Bozes' sister. Both Juvia and Gajeel exchanged looks never outwardly saying what the two were thinking, like some sort of sibling telepathy. Finally speaking when the both of them felt that it was needed.

“So we both agree Boze needs to go home,” Juvia spoke up in her flat tone even though she tried to say it in a caring way. “I'll take him back.” gajeel agreed standing up as the tavern continued to below out loud sounds. He wrapped his arm under Bozes, lifting the equally large man to lean against himself. So that they could make the difficult walk back, down the alleyways, and to the district that they called home. As the two walked jaggedly swishing side to side boze sang to himself a sad song. Something that he would usually do whenever he got too drunk to be sane.

“In the shadow of the mountains, where the iron veins run deep” Boze hummed dragging out each word.

“I heard the tales of old men, as they speak of things they keep” continuing with the song. The memory of drunken fathers coming from the minds sings the verses that filled Gajeel's mind as he continued to drag Boze through the street.

“Boze, I don't think this is the time to be singing” Gajeel joked in a light tone, his buzz highlighting his giddy feelings.

“The dragons fought, and the world was torn. A land born from fire, where hope is worn. We drink our ales and cry our woes, for the land we live in only sorrow sows.” boze continued to hum now growing louder with each verse. He could be heard through the empty alleys, while his friend dragged him along. It wasn't until they two were halfway home and Boze was halfway through his song till the two stopped. A group of men dressed in long fur cloaks stood near the end huddled together speaking in a hushed whisper. Stopping as soon as they saw the two men coming toward them slowly.

“Oh, the wind that howls, through the frozen night. Echoes the clash of dragons, the endless fight, from the iron mountains to the darkened plains. We carry the weight of ancient pains.” boze continued to sing as Gajeel stopped. Standing still right in front of the men they all made eye contact with each other. Seemingly waiting for the others to move first before any action was made.

“Just let us pass through and we’ll be on our way” gajeels deep voice echoed against the back ends of the stone buildings.

“Go another way” one of the voices spoke up with a measured tone.

“Can't, this is the only way home” Gajeel responded.

“Kid, take the hint, you're not wanted here” another voice spoke up. Stepping forward seemingly reaching for something. Before the first man stopped him with an outreached arm so that any of them wouldn't pass by his authoritative voice speaking again. “If you know what's good for you, redfox. I wouldn't pass through here”.

Redfox? Did this man just call Gajeel Redfox, that means he had to know him in some type of way. It wasn't like Gajeel wasn't known in his district, but not enough to be known as just Redfox. “No redfox around here,” Gajeel said with a raised brow, setting Boze propped up against a wall. So that he wouldn't fall too hard to the ground. “Oh, the curse that binds us, no end in sight. We drink to forget, but we know it's not right. In the north, we bleed, we live, we die. Under a sky that forever cries.” Boze continued on singing, as Gajeel confronted the two men with a narrowed brow.

The back door to one of the buildings opened up, shining a light into the alleyway. “Hey Metalicana, we're about to start” someone yelled letting in the group who slowly trotted in. Wait did he just say Metalicana? He's heard that name before at some point “Wait, what's your name?” Gajeel asked taking a few quick steps forward. Trying to catch up to the men before the door shut loudly. Gajeel stood there not moving having the choice between that door or his drunk friend. Gajeel Redfox had to make a choice.

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