#i say that as i just bought his stupid plushie (affectionate)

[so-mq]

oh yeah hi i live (crawling back into my cave)

[angel-of-the-moons]

Little Scarab

Layla el Faouly x Reader

TW/CW: None!

A/N: I got this stupid idea for Layla so have it asksskks

Divider by @/silkholland

"She'll love it!" Steven chirped at you as you held the little plush in your hands.

"But are you sure?" You sighed, a frown creasing your lips.

"Of course, Layla loves silly little things like that." Steven chuckled, elbowing you.

It was your girlfriend's birthday today, and you've been having an internal struggle over the past week trying to think about what to get her. It's what drew you to the museum, where your best friend, Steven Grant worked.

He'd texted you about the new, two-foot-tall scarab plushies the gift shop just got in, and well... he figured it would be a cute gift idea. What with her Avatar name and nickname and everything...

"But are you sure--"

Steven laughs and shook his head, muttering your name. "She'll love it, I promise you that. Now, shoo! You've already bought it, now go on and tell me how it went tomorrow!"

You make a complaining noise as he playfully pushes you out of the gift shop, "Go, go!" He laughs some more.

As your feet slowly trudge out into the misty London afternoon, you protectively tuck the plushie you'd procured for your girlfriend beneath your jacket and zip it up.

You had to waddle awkwardly up the stairs to your flat, cursing yourself once you realized the lift was out of commission again--forcing you to trudge up the dingy corridors until you made it to your floor.

You kept your loot hidden beneath your jacket. Layla shouldn't have been over, just yet. She said she had work she was doing for Taweret today, and you hoped it took her longer than she said so you could have some time to wrap the soft toy up in some gift wrap to surprise her when she returned.

But... that was not your luck.

You poked your head into your flat, carefully pulling your keys out and slowly closing it the door, locking it behind you.

"Baby?" You hear Layla call out, "Is that you?"

You jump and fumble, dropping your keys, "N-No!" You immediately deny.

The slip-up makes you cringe. Gods, that was such a stupid response. No, of course it wasn't you. You were some burglar who just happened to have keys to your flat, and locked the door behind you after sneaking in.

"Oh? So there is just some random person who just happened to wear my partner's face, who just happened to have the keys to this flat in particular?" Layla's snarky voice said as she leaned in the counter in the kitchen, popping a marshmallow into her mouth.

You don't turn around, feeling a nervous sweat creep down your brow; "Uh--well, I just... No, but, I mean..."

"You're so cute when you babble." She giggled, pushing off the counter to walk up to you.

A dark eyebrow curves upwards on her forehead, "...Uh, babe? You gonna turn around?"

"Yes!" You reply a little too suddenly, your voice all too squeaky. "Er--no. Not til you turn around."

Layla sighs, grabbing your shoulder and spinning you to face her; her cheeky smile dropping in confusion as she spots the lumpy mass beneath your jacket. "Uh--"

"It's nothing!" You say, cursing the panicked crack in your voice.

"Theeeennn..." She looks you up and down. "Why do you look like you're pregnant with a lumpy pumpkin?"

Your eyes anxiously dart across the room, trying to come up with excuses--but of course, your floundering brain can't think of anything. Resigned to your fate... You unzip your jacket and hand your head, holding out the plushie to her, unable to make eye contact.

The silence is palpable; your heart fluttering nervously in your chest.

When you finally look up, she was squishing the plush scarab to her chest and giving you the biggest, cutest eyes you'd ever seen on a person.

"You got this for me??"

"Well... it's your birthday," You mumble, fiddling with your jacket. "I couldn't figure out what to get you, and Steven figured... Y'know... Scarlet Scarab..."

Layla sighed affectionately as she played with one of the legs on the plush toy, "Of course Steven would help..."

"I... sorry if it's not... fancy or anything." You apologize, rubbing the back of your neck.

"Who said a present needed to be fancy?" Layla asked, sounding almost offended on her new squishy friend's behalf, clutching it to her chest in disbelief, "This just means I have something to cuddle when I'm not home! You can't cuddle like, a necklace or anything!"

You blink dumbly, "You... you like it?"

Layla smiled and leaned in to place a soft kiss to your lips, "I love it."

You smile at her, and anyone looking at you two could practically see the cartoon hearts fluttering off the two of you.

"Love you." You sigh a little dreamily, pushing a stray mass of poofy curls behind her ear.

Layla kissed you again, smiling against your cheek;

"Love you more."

[the-fiction-witch]

Lovely Tag Thomas Brodie Sangster

A - Affection [How affectionate are they with you?]

He's very affectionate, when at home but never in public. He likes to be affectionate and a little weird with you he'll poke you and then just lick your nose for no reason but its so cute and adorable, he'll just walk behind you and cuddle you tightly while your looking in the fridge, and he'll spank your butt as you bend over just generally cute fun affection

B - Butter [How much do they coddle you, and how?]

He does like to coddle you a little, he keeps you away from the press, the internet and all the sorts of things that would upset you, and really anything that you could get hurt in anyway he will not allow it full stop not going to happen, he wasn't even that thrilled about you being on his bike for the first time but he bought you so much gear that if you where to have an accident you would be as okay as he could possibly make you, he very much stands as your night from all the bad things that could hurt you even if you whine about being allowed to do more then you are

"god damn it! I am not going to electrocute myself Thomas! I'm just changing the light bulb"

"I wasn't worried about you electrocuting yourself I'm worried about you falling off the chair.... and shocking yourself"

C - Confide [How easily do they confide to you?]

He was open to confiding with you, however it was sort of an unspoken thing that it was sort of tit for tat as it were, if you confided something in him he would confide something in you almost like a trade, he would never keep a secret from you or anything just didn't feel the need to tell you unless you asked really or if you had said something,

D - Defensive [How protective are they over you?]

He can get very defensive especially with the internet he knows the sorts of things they say about you and he tried so hard to protect you, he tries to make sure the press stay out of your business and away from you, hides you behind him a little when there is camera's around because he knows the sorts of things they will say about you so he tries very hard to protect you.

E - Exhausted [How do they take care of you when you're tired or feeling low?]

It takes him a little while to notice but once he's realized he'll make you something nice to eat that won't make you feel any worse, let you sit across his lap and tell him all about it or just fall asleep on him whichever you need at the time, he'll cuddle you as tight as you want make run his hands across anywhere that hurts, petting your hair and soothing you with kisses and reassuring lovely words

F - Fluffy [How sappily sweet can they get?]

He can get pretty sappy if he wants to. but its a rare thing its saved for date nights and celebrations, but you can tell he's in a sappy mode because he'll be leaning his head on his hand and looking at you with that stupid dorky smile and he'll tell you out of the blue how much he loves you.

G - Game [How much do they play around, and are they a tease?]

He loves to play around, licking your cheek, poking your nose, eating your hair, doing all the stilly childish things that make you laugh even if its just an awkward laugh of weirdness, picking you up and carrying you around on his shoulder like his personal damsel in distress,

H - Happy [What's their favourite thing to do with you, that makes them happy?]

He loves having you on the back of his bike, He likes wrapping you up in all the gear and in his spare helmet he loves feeling your arms around him as you hold him close as he speeds his motorbike though London, going a little fast as you go around round about's going super fast on the duel carriage ways, taking you off to little unknown beauty spots for you to lean on the bike and cuddle.

I - Initiate [Do they make the first move?]

He will always make the first move, unless your in public then he always waits for you. He'll wrap his arm around you and give you a little kiss as you watch tv or cuddle up and have some kisses as you make dinner.

J - Jealousy [How jealous can they get and how do they show it?]

He'll glare. If he starts to get jealous He'll get very quiet and just glare at whoever it is talking with you, One day you where out to dinner with Dylan while he was visiting London for press and the two of you where just having a nice chat getting along really well and you could have sworn Dylan was about to burst into flames the way Thomas was glaring at him.

L - Love [How do they react to you giving them affection?]

He blushes and giggles a little when you give him affection and he'll always give you some back ,if you give his cheek a sweet kiss then he'll give you one back, if you give him a cuddle he'll cuddle you even tighter, he loves giving you affection and it always makes him smile and go all giggly

M - Married [What's it like to be married to them?]

its lovely, he's very kind and sweet as well as playful so it never gets dull or boring. Luckily he likes to ticker so he's a very handy husband doing household tasks like fixing the sink or building furniture, he's a perfect husband and you wouldn't change it for the world.

N - Newborn [How are they with having kids, and how would they be as a parent?]

he got so happy, he wanted to show the whole world your baby bump, he told every human being he possible could that you where pregnant and that he did it! he treats you like a princess anyway and when you where pregnant he treated you as if you where his queen, he held your hand every moment from the second you knew to the moment your baby was born. you where worried due to his work that he would end up being a bit absent from your children's lives but he always makes time for them, taking you all with him or even turning things down when he can't have the time with you, you and his children became the priority above everything on earth, and he spoils them a lot, but not enough that they become spoilt little rich kids they still learn to work and a good ethics, and still have to earn there pocket money even if Thomas spoils them around Christmas and there birthdays. And your children respect him, as the man of the house and as there father likely because of this odd wise father sat in an old chair with a facial hair and a cigarette look that he sort of developed when you had children, they love him and he loves them all very much too.

O - Outdoors [How are they with you in public?]

He likes to hold your hand, keep you close but not so much with kissing and such like probably because London is a very busy place and he doesn't like people seeing you kissing and cuddling,

P - Propose [How would they propose, and where would that be?]

He did it quiet classic, with the beautiful ring in a little red velvet box, getting down on his knee telling you how much he loves you, he made sure to make sure you did your make up and your hair and wear a nice dress even if it was hard to make you do so without letting out something was happening. He took you to your date spot in hyde park and tricked you into looking for an ice cream cart so he had time to get the ring and get down on one knee before you turned back.

Q - Quarrel [How are they after a fight, and will they try to make amends right after?]

if there is a fight between you even if it is very rare he goes and sits in his shed for a while on his little stool pondering with his tools until he knows he was a dick or he did wrong and he goes out on his bike and returns with a bottle of wine, the biggest box of your favourite chocolates and a nice bunch of flowers or perhaps a little cute potted plant and he'll apologize a thousand times until you smile again

R - Romantic [How much of a hopeless romantic are they, and how do they show it?]

He's romantic with gestures, buying you plants and plushies, making you a nice dinner, helping you with your favourite crafting, putting on your shows and such, he likes spoiling you with whatever you ask for even stuff you don't ask for.

S - Snuggles [Do they like to cuddle, and how do they do it?]

He is okay with a cuddle its just never completely cuddly as he doesn't like trapping you or making you feel claustrophobic, and he likes to be the little spoon a lot just rests his head on your shoulder or your chest an arm around your waist while he nuzzles up and tells you he loves you before bed time.  

T - Touchy [How touch starved are they, and would they show it?]

He doesn't show it as its kinda his default state being away from you for work so much and often when he is home being off with jack on the bikes or at auditions and such being touch starved is actually pretty normal for Thomas, but you can always tell when he's got it bad because he'll just hold you for... well until you move yourself.

U - Urchin [What's one negative trait about them that hurts you?]

He at times gets lost in what he's doing he tends to focus on one thing like if he's in his shed working on his bike he won't respond to messages, he won't do anything else unless you literally go to the shed and poke him, which can be great when you get him focused on something you want him to do, like cleaning the house, he won't stop of change focus until it's spotless but if he gets stuck on something like playing his video game he will not move until you force him or he gets bored.

V - Vibe [What energy do they give off when you're with them?]

Just pure joy. Whenever he's with you he feels like a child in love, giddy, excited and full of joy.

W- Wedding [What are they like at their wedding?]

teary, He could barely get thought seeing you before he completely  bursting into tears, Barely though the vows before getting teary. but its okay it was all tears of joy and you kissed away all his tears after the ceremony.

X - Xtreme [What lengths would they go to for you?]

he would do anything you asked, and he would often offer if you wanted something off him. He'll do his best to do what you ask even if at times he can't help it, like if your sad and you miss him when he's away working. He'll do his best to call you up or skype you for a while maybe flight you out to visit him if possible, but even if he can't due to time zones or anything he'll make it all up to you buy taking you out and spoiling you when he's home.

Y - Yogurt [What's their ideal place for a date?]

Thomas loves taking you on a nice motorbike ride to the seaside or the beautiful grounds and gardens of a nice house or Park, a little dinner in a small not to busy restaurant and an ice cream before heading home for a cuddle and a glass of wine.  

Z - Zipper [What clothes do they like seeing you in?] His, he can't help but go bright red and almost verbally awww at you when he sees you in his clothes. But he also loves when you dress up as he says himself its fun to dress up so you always have a day once a month or so where you get fully dressed up in heels a dress, and he gets on a full suit and you have your own little red carpet trip in his vintage car, to go and get pizza.

[shadowtsukiyo]

Gajevy Week: Prompt: Longing Missed Glances

Gajevy

Smidgen Gruvia

JuviaxLevy BrOTP

Rated:

Prompt: Longing

One-Shot

Missed Glances

Post Eclipse Celestial Spirits Arc

Levy goes to Juvia for some advice, it turns out, while she may be smart, she missed a lot more than she ever did.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Juvia glanced at her bedroom door, it had been a couple days since she and everyone else returned from the Spirit World. Outside of everyone who went, no one had memories of what had transpired.

It left a lot of people in a weary state, especially those that had been transformed into constellations.

“Juvia, can I talk to you?” Levy’s voice came through the door, and Juvia tilted her head. While she and Levy were friends, they didn’t hang out too much.

It was disappointing when she thought about it. But, she noticed Levy was a very quiet girl when it came to things like that. Outside her small social ring or Jet, Droy, Lily, Gajeel, Cana, Wendy, and Lisanna. Even then, she spent most of her time with the first four, and that was mainly because them men all hovered around her.

Juvia had taken a bit to realize, Levy was extremely friendly, but also extremely introverted. While Lucy could be seen as the blunette’s best friend, the two rarely hung out outside of the Guild, and here at Fairy Hills, the smaller blunette hung out with Wendy because the youngest female spent a lot of time with Levy, reading and learning about different types of magic.

Outside of a more familial bond with Wendy, Jet, and Droy and outside the affectionate and friendship type relations she had with Gajeel and Lily, respectively, she didn’t open up very much.  

“Of course, Levy. Juvia is always willing to talk.” Juvia replied as she opened the door. She wasn’t greeted by the usual warm smile that screamed Levy. She was met with a nervous look that made Juvia want to hug the girl and never let go.

“I-I know you and I don’t talk much. And I know that’s mainly my fault. I… I’m sorry. But… can I ask for your advice?”

Her slow stutters made Juvia worry.

“Of course, come in.” When the door opened wider, the cornflower haired girl slowly entered the room, a small smile playing on the Script Mage’s lips when she saw the handmade Gray plushy.

“You’re very talented.” She said gently, making Juvia smile.

“Juvia thanks you!” The elder bluentte chirped. The thought made Juvia pause. Was she actually older than Levy?

If she remembered right… Levy and Lisanna were the same age. Thus, Juvia was a year older… or at least several months older than the script mage.

“How can Juvia help?”

“I… I wanted to talk about Gajeel.”

This line terrified Juvia for a moment, while she adored Gajeel, he was her best friend. Her big brother. He was the only person that had accepted her, rain and all. While he was all of these things, she knew the male had hurt Levy… that Jose had wanted him to kill her and her team. Juvia also knew how easily he could have.

“Did Gajeel hurt Levy…?”

Levy gasped and her eyes went wide. “NO! He’d never!” Suddenly her face flushed and her loud cry turned into nearly a whisper. “Juvia, Gajeel… he’d never hurt me… Not after… He’d never do that again…” The Script Mage paused. “You didn’t see how it broke him… how… when he apologized.”

Juvia actually didn’t know he apologized, but from the worried, lost look in her eyes. Gajeel had been broken apart when he had apologized.

Juvia knew he regretted it. Especially after he saw that to some degree, Levy was like a little sister to Natsu. Juvia recognized that Natsu was to Levy as Gajeel was to Juvia.

“Juvia is glad… Juvia never wanted to think…”

“I know Juvia. It’s not something he did… I just…” Levy blushed and looked down at her feet. “I love him.” Her voice was just above a whisper. “I realized it… when I thought I was going to lose him… when I jumped and pushed him out of the way of that blast from the Eclipse Spirit King…”

Levy’s confession made Juvia’s mouth turn into a massive smile. Arms wrapped around the small female, and the ameonna noted her small flinch. Levy didn’t like being touched unexpectedly, she noted.

Juvia slowly released the smaller girl, gently grabbing her hand to guide her to the bed. Juvia sat down, gesturing for Levy to join her.

When both blunettes were comfortable, Juvia leaned back, having Levy lean into her.

Levy was hesitant, but slowly leaned down into Juvia’s warm embrace. It took her a moment, but Juvia’s embrace made her feel safe. Reminding her of Mira’s embrace, or even Elfman’s embrace when she was younger.

“I was ready to die for him… Just as you would for Gray.” She whispered softly, holding onto Juvia. Once she got comfortable, she was practically clinging to the girl.

“When you love someone… Your life is meaningless if they’re in danger. Juvia realized that on Tenrou. Meredy was ready to kill Gray… She was going to use Juvia to do that.” Juvia closed her eyes and held Levy close.

“When did Levy realize she loved Gajeel?” Juvia smiled and stroked Levy’s hair, gently removing the ribbon as she held her in a sisterly embrace.

Levy closed her eyes and let her body relax under the motions. “I realized it on Tenrou, but I didn’t…didn’t understand the extent until I pushed him out of the way of that attack. It’s hard… why would he want someone like me?”

Those words made Juvia freeze and frown, she knew Levy had a bit of self-confidence issues, but she didn’t realize it was to this extent. It was an inferiority complex.

Levy felt like she was less than people.

That she didn’t deserve love. That maybe she didn’t deserve friends.

“No.” Juvia said firmly. “Levy is amazing and wonderful. Levy deserves the sun and moon and all the stars in the sky. Levy is not weak, is not stupid, is not worthless…” Her voice was softening as she felt Levy stiffen. “Levy misses the looks Gajeel gives her. How he watches her with a ghost of a smile. How he’s never wanted to protect anyone as he wants to protect Levy.” Juvia stated, looking down as Levy looked up at her with tearful eyes.

“Levy is beautiful. Maybe small, but that doesn’t mean anything other than that Levy is a different kind of beautiful. Levy has perfect breasts, and a butt even better than Erza’s!” She smiled, earning a watery laugh from Levy. “Levy is Levy, and that makes her perfect.”

“R-really?”

That whisper and question of near disbelief made Juvia sad. She knew people joked with Levy about her height and breast size, she also saw Levy join in the laughter, but it was now that Juvia noticed in her memories, the laughter never met her eyes. That those bright smiles dimmed.

Cana teased her. Lucy teased her. Erza pushed her to flaunt herself as the redhead would. Mira would dress her in more childish outfits.

Juvia realized it made Levy feel like a child. Not a woman. It made her feel inadequate.

“Really.” She moved to help Levy sit up. The ameonna moving to her closet and she grabbed her sewing set. “Levy should stand in front of the mirror.” She commented, moving to grab a long, sea green dress.

“Levy is going to tell Gajeel, and Levy will dress nice and feel as beautiful as Juvia knows she is.” The taller woman said firmly.

“Y-you don’t need to.” Levy stuttered after moving in front of the tall mirror.

“Levy.” Juvia looked at her. “I didn’t know you felt this way. I didn’t know the jokes and comments hurt you. If I had… I’m sorry. Because you… you’re better than me. Better than anyone I know. Gajeel feels the same ways as you.” It was rare she spoke in third person, but she knew she had to get her point across.

“Just as Levy struggles to see her worth. Gajeel struggles to see why someone would love him. Gajeel feels like he doesn’t deserve love. Juvia sees it. While Levy doesn’t need to go today. Levy will go when she is ready, but Juvia will still get this for Levy.”

Juvia quietly draped it over Levy’s body. It was obviously fitting a bit loose because it was one of Juvia’s dresses new dresses. Bought in the taller woman’s size.

“Would Levy…?” She motioned to Levy’s dress under the green one.

Levy quietly undid the white bow, letting it loosen the halter straps. Soon her dress fell to the floor as it loosened. Her cheeks aflame. She wore just a simple white strapless bra under the dress.

She didn’t argue or say no, because in the end, Levy trusted Juvia as much as she did the other women of Fairy Tail… if not more, actually. The Water Mage just apologized and she said something that made Levy think.

“Gajeel doesn’t know how to show love. Juvia saw that when he joined Phantom Lords.” The woman mumbled, some pins in her mouth as she tightened the dress at Levy’s waist, pinning it with a couple pins she had between her lips. “Juvia thinks he feared they’d leave like Metalicana did.”

“I understand.”

Juvia had a feeling Levy had a deeper understanding then just understanding what Juvia was saying.

“My parents are gone.” Levy confessed quietly. “I think it’s obvious since I’ve been at Fairy Tail for nearly as long as Gray and Cana.”

Juvia hadn’t known that. She did know Cana was the first of their generation to join Fairy Tail, and that Gray joined after Ur died.

She hadn’t known Levy had been so young.

“Laxus actually found me. He would have taken me to Mermaid Heel, but I clung to him. Since I wouldn’t speak back then…” Levy trailed off.

Laxus.

Juvia remembered Gajeel muttering that he took a bolt of lightning for the Script Mage when she had been a, likely, unintentional target for the Lightning Mage’s rage.

“Gajeel told you, huh?” Levy noticed the look.

“Yes. Gajeel told Juvia.” She said lightly. “Gajeel doesn’t protect people unless he likes them. Juvia was the exception in Phantom Lords, even then Gajeel usually let Juvia fend for herself.” She pulled the last of the pins from her mouth. “Levy is special. Because Gajeel could have considered his debt repaid…”

“Before Tenrou?” The smaller blunette questioned lightly, earning a smile from the mage behind her.

“Yes.” Juvia nodded, her cerulean hair bouncing. “Gajeel choose Levy. Even if Gajeel was a jerk about it. He wanted to protect Levy. Like… Like Natsu does for Love Rival.”

Juvia giggled, Levy let out a small snort and laughter as she heard Juvia once again call Lucy, Love Rival.

“You know she doesn’t want Gray, right?”

“Of course! Juvia likes to tease Lucy. She gets so flustered.”

Levy nodded, another snort escaping the girl. “Must have been the reason you and her enjoyed the Love, Love slide.” Levy teased with an arched brow, watching Juvia’s cheeks turn a nice shade of red in her reflection.

“Like Levy did with Gajeel?” Juvia shot back.

Levy sighed at the memory. “It would have been amazing, until he got sick.” She commented lightly. She remembered screaming in fear, but soon she was just weakly crying out, peeking her eye open in hope as he clutched her closer.

Levy’s heart had skipped a beat. She had hoped he would have kissed her, or promised to protect her. Sadly, when she looked up, she had seen his face, cheeks puffed out, trying to fight the urge to vomit. It made her sigh sadly.

“Dragon Slayer motion sickness ruined the moment?” The ameonna asked with a light giggle.

Silence fell upon the two for a while.

The comfortable silence fell apart after a while, Juvia pulling away with a proud smile. “There, Levy looks beautiful.” She paused. “And her age.”

Levy was in awe, smiling happily. The sea green fabric cut around in a sweetheart neckline, the straps thin on her shoulders, and a loose amount of fabric hanging just above her knees. If the girl spun, she knew it would lift up playfully. She noticed a light bit of lace that Juvia started putting on the dress.

Juvia had fixed the looseness of the dress, hemming it until it fit the small blunette beautifully. The cut top allowing a small bit of cleavage, working well with her bra that was fit under it.

Even though they spent more time talking to each other about missed opportunities and teasing, Juvia had given her much insight into the man she was falling for. It was the small things.

To Levy, the most important knowledge was: Gajeel wasn’t much different from her.

She believed herself not to be enough for Gajeel, as he did to her.

“Hey, Juvia.” Levy said softly, her fingers moving to smooth the dress down.

“Yes?” She asked, blinking as she moved to pick up the scraps of cloth. The ameonna adored how the dress looked on Levy.

“Thank you for everything.” Juvia dropped the cloth in shock as Levy was suddenly hugging her. Her arms quickly wound around the younger woman, holding her tightly.

“Juvia is glad she could help.” She whispered and kissed her temple in a sisterly manner, smiling against the girl’s skin. “Juvia hope one day… Levy can see her as close as Levy sees Lucy or the others.”

Levy paused and looked up at Juvia. “I do. I just, I admire you so much, so very, very much. I felt intimidated, but I see that… you’re not just powerful, but you’re amazing.” Levy confessed.

Juvia flushed deeply and tightened and hugged her more.

Levy and Juvia were soon laughing.

“I’m going to go see Gajeel… I’m tired of missing those glances, Juvia.” The script mage whispered and closed her eyes. “It is thanks to you, that I finally realize what I’m missing.”

Soon, Juvia pulled away with a smile. “Go, Levy.” She whispered, encouraging the girl.

Levy moved to bite her lower lip. “Gray loves that new shaved ice shop by the park, yet he hasn’t been able to go in a while.” The younger blunette was inching towards the door. A small smirk played on her lips, “And he has a crush on you, but he doesn’t now know to explain it since his past.”

The male had talked to Levy about it, explaining his situation. How he felt for Juvia, but how it left him so confused.

“Start small. Let him get comfortable. He doesn’t know how to process this… he’s afraid. Aside from that, it would be a nice place for a small date.” Levy smiled, offering a small bit of advice to the older blunette.

“Similar to Gajeel…” The water mage had a bright red face, a hand cupped over her mouth. “Thank you, Levy!” The ameonna squealed, turning around to go grab some supplies as she let Levy go.

Levy moved to leave Fairy Hills.

She was tired of missed glances.

“Gajeel Redfox, you better be prepared. I’m coming for you.” She had a small smirk before sighing happily. “I want this. I’m done missing what I want… so long as you want it too.”

She repeated the mantra in her head until she moved to the other side of Magnolia, towards the forested area that his home was. Where she had been during her training with him before they went to Tenrou Island.

She hadn’t even realized she got there and knocked on his door.

“Oi, what do ya wa—nt…?” Gajeel’s yell broke into a soft tone. His eyes were still, locked on the small blunette clad in a small, darker toned dress.

She usually wore bright, cheery colors, not a deep seafoam green shade... and her hair was often pinned back with a colorful ribbon.

Levy had been so distracted to go off, she had her hair left free. Cornflower locks falling into her eyes, wild curls framing her head and face.

Gajeel recognized Levy looked older, not by much, but she looked like an adult, no longer like a young teen.

“Can we talk?” She asked quietly, a blush staining her cheeks, one of her sandal clad feet swinging to scuff against the porch.

“U-uh.. yeah. Course, Shorty.” He mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck, moving to step back, allowing her into the small home.

Levy quietly strolled into the room, her eyes surveying the area. It seemed that Lily wasn’t there.

“Sorry ‘bout the mess. I was kinda sleepin’ I got back from that mission later then I thought I would.”

“No, no. It’s fine. If I had known that you were sleeping I would have waited.” It explained his disheveled appearance. Wrinkled T-shirt pulled over him in almost a haphazard fashion, from the look of it, now that she saw him clearly, it seemed to be inside out. A pair of sweatpants on his legs.

“Naw, it’s fine. Whadda need?’

Levy swallowed, almost losing her never.

“Levy misses the looks Gajeel gives her. How he watches her with a ghost of a smile. How he’s never wanted to protect anyone as he wants to protect Levy.” Juvia’s words crashed back in her mind.

“I like you!” she blurted out when he started opening his mouth to ask her again. Her face turned to a flushed grimace at how she said that.

“I… like ya too?” He questioned, very confused by the ordeal.

“I… I mean. I like you Gajeel… more than a friend. I… love you.” Her voice was soft, just a touch above a whisper.

Gajeel’s hands shook as his eyes widened a fraction.

He had to be dreaming. He had to be. There was no way in hell that Levy could feel for him like this. Not after what he had done.

“Stop that.” She mumbled, still flushed. “You do deserve love… and I do love you…” She felt bolder, Juvia’s words bouncing around in her head, giving her courage. “I took that shot from the Eclipse Spirit King for a reason, Gajeel.”

She had been utterly terrified, but she had been willing to die for him.

“I stay with you… I talk to you like I do. I go on missions with you, that I know are out of my league... You’re a friend, yes… but I love being around you... more than anyone else. Whether we’re talking… fighting… or even just sitting in silence.” She couldn’t stop talking. The blunette ended up rambling about anything and everything that filled her head… until.

“—ke you too…” A finger hesitantly curled under her chin.

“What…?” Her voice was soft, and she realized Gajeel had a shy half smile.

“I like you too… I know I’m fucking nuts for even having feelin’s for ya. After everything…. But I do like ya. A lot.”

Levy couldn’t help the happy giggles that escaped her.

“Juvia was right… I did miss a lot…” She commented as she gently moved his hand away from her chin to embrace him. “I’m sorry I missed all of your glances…” She whispered into his chest, feeling how, with hesitation, his arms wrapped around her. He was afraid of hurting her…

Levy had never felt more powerful and amazing in that instant.

She was happy, and she would try everything she could to make him happy.

This was their start.