I know, I'm literally the worst and you all deserve better. But there's a new chapter up! I haven't abandoned you! Enjoy

"Say cheese, Gajeel," Lucy chimed merrily.

"What?" Gajeel said, tuning his head away from the shelf he was stocking to face his co-worker.

He would have ignored her if not for the cheerful tone. In the past week since he'd been hired the two had done little other than butt heads. It drove Levy crazy, but neither Gajeel nor Lucy would back down. To Lucy, Gajeel was just the ass hole who broke into her best friend's business and home. To her, he'd had some nerve to come crawling to her for a job, despite the fact that Levy had sought him out. As for Gajeel, he refused to be bullied, not by some pampered twit who thought her shit didn't stink.

Lucy's phone clicked as she snapped a picture of the scowling man.

"Perfect!" she exclaimed, spinning away from him and making a break for upstairs.

"Hey, wait! Why did you do that?"

She waved his question away and disappeared up the stairs. Gajeel swore and abandoned his task to chase after the blonde.

"Don't ignore the question, Blondie! And don't be takin' pictures of me without my say so."

"We're not closed yet Gajeel!" Lucy snapped at him from Levy's apartment door. "You need to stay on the floor."

"Why..." Gajeel began, before he could get another word out, Lucy slipped into the apartment and shut the door.

Sighing and shaking his head Gajeel turned back to his shelf. He'd get answers from her later. She'd have to come back downstairs eventually.

"She's working on the website, I think," Levy said, emerging from the back room. In her arms she carried yet another box of books.

"Website?" Gajeel repeated. He went to Levy to take the box. She passed the heavy box over to him and rubbed her arms while walking to the counter.

"Yeah, it's so we get more exposure. We've got a couple of ads here and there, but nothing substantial. A website would be good for that. Plus people would be able to order or hold books without having to call ahead or come in"

Gajeel watched Levy as she settled onto the stool behind the counter and opened her laptop. Before she did anything else, she peered over her computer and gave him a withering look.

"And watch your mouth!"

Gajeel ignored her matronly comment and set his box down. "I don't think exposures something you've got to worry about," he said. "You've got more customers than you know what to do with."

"I'm aware of that." She grumbled, tapping away at her computer. "But, like I said, the site will have other functions that will hopefully bring traffic coming through the store down. They can order a book online, then they only have to come in once to pick it up instead of coming in to browse for it, order it when they find out it isn't here..."

"Okay, okay, I get it. Remember to breath. But I still don't get why Blondie needed a picture of me."

"We've got a kind of 'meet the team' section on the main page." Levy replied. "Do you want a hand putting those away?" She waved at the two boxes sitting on the floor.

"I can handle it if your busy."

Shutting the lid of her laptop, she leaped down from the stool. Gajeel felt a grin tug at the corners of his lips. He found it hysterical the she actually had to jump. It was ridiculous just how short she was.

"I'm not," she looked at him and saw his grin. "What's so funny?"

He just shook his head and grabbed his box. He could hear her sigh as she joined him. For the next half hour the two of them stood side by side, placing books in their proper places. Gajeel had to admit that working with her had its benefits. Since she was so short, she left the books that went to the top shelves for him. She then put away all the books that went on the bottom herself, which saved him from bending down. Also he couldn't resist checking out her ass every now and then. He had a damn good view of it.

Once they finished, Levy snatched up one of the now empty boxes and took it to the back room so it could be recycled later. Gajeel picked up the other box and followed her.

"Well, it's about time we closed up for the night, would you get the sign, please?" Levy asked while she began checking down the isles to make sure the store was truly empty.

"Sure."

Gajeel walked up to the window and flicked the switch on the 'OPEN' sign to off. He locked the door while he was there then slipped into the back to grab his things.

"Alright, I'm gonna punch out and get out of here if that's good with you?" Gajeel asked Levy as he came out onto the floor again.

"Not so fast!"

Both Levy and Gajeel turned their heads to see Lucy standing at the top of the steps. Her legs spread wide with one hand on her hip and the other cradling a laptop. She stomped down the stairs looking like she'd just won an award.

"What?" Gajeel asked. "I just want to get out of here." In a quieter voice he added, "And away from you."

Levy shot him one of her looks, which Gajeel was getting accustomed to seeing.

"Well, believe me," Lucy replied, apparently, she had heard him as well. "I'd like nothing more than to do the same but first you guys need to see my masterpiece that I have been slaving over all day!"

She sauntered over to the front desk and set the computer down before stepping back to admire her handy work. Levy joined her, an eager expression on her face. Gajeel hesitated and groaned before stomping over himself. He peered over their heads to get a look at the screen. Lucy was already gushing over it, clicking on one thing and another to show Levy all the services the site had.

Gajeel couldn't keep up, although he did notice the picture Lucy had taken of him earlier that day. Pictures of the other staff members popped up time and again as well. Gajeel thought he seemed out of place. The other pictures where of the smiling, bright, kind looking people you'd expect to find working at a bookstore. He on the other hand, with his scowling features, long hair and dark clothes seemed conspicuous.

"Hey Gajeel?!"

He tuned his gaze on Lucy, who was scowling at him.

"Did you listen to anything I just said?"

"No."

"Ugh! You are such as ass!" She cussed. She turned back to Levy and gave her a meaningful glance, to which she shook her head.

"Whatever, you can go now. That's all I wanted to show you."

"Great," Gajeel said. Turning to Levy he nodded at her and started, "Night, Boss."

She blushed a little bit at the nickname. "Goodnight Gajeel. I'll see you tom-" Her phone interrupted her and she quickly retrieved it from her pocket. A smile broke across her face.

She's got one hell of a smile, he thought. Levy had one of those smiles that lit up her whole face. A smile like hers could light up a room or make everyone around her feel like they should be smiling too. Gajeel chastised himself. Don't go there shithead, she's your boss. Keep it that way.

"It's my mom," Levy said happily.

"Oh, yeah," Lucy said. "I sent her a link so she could check it out. She's probably calling to congratulate and all that."

"Okay, thanks Lucy."

She hit the answer button and held the phone to here ear.

"Hello M-"

"Who in Gods name is the man with all the piercings?!" An audible shout came from the phone.

Levy was silent, her smiled slipped away, and her gaze slid to Gajeel to see if had heard.

He had.

"Levy!? Answer me young lady! He's not actually working for you is he?"

"Mom..."

"Don't you 'Mom' me," Levy's mother continued to shout, loud enough for Gajeel to hear.

"Mom!" Levy said again, more forcefully this time. She held the phone well away from herself to spare her hearing.

"No! I can't believe you hired that man. Have you looked at him? He probably sells drugs! Works for a gang. God, all those piercings. And his hair! It's longer than yours Levy!"

She'd have hit the nail on the head if she'd said this five years ago, Gajeel mused to himself.

The trio all just stood there, staring it the phone. Lucy and Levy both looked utterly mortified.

Slowly, Gajeel reached out and took Levy's cell from her. She watched, her eyes somehow grew even wider with terror and he had to fight off a smile. The look on both of their faces was priceless.

"Levy?"

"No, Mrs. McGarden," Gajeel said calmly. There was silence on the other end of the line.

"I understand you have some concerns regarding my employment here?"

No answer.

"Mrs. McGarden?"

Gajeel glanced at the girls. Lucy seemed shocked that he could sound so polite and Levy still had that deer in the headlights look. She probably thought he was going to somehow murder her mother via phone call.

Mrs. McGarden cleared her throat and tried to form a coherent sentence. Something akin to an apology, he figured.

"It's alright, Mrs. McGarden. I get your concern," Gajeel allowed himself to grin wolfishly at the girls.

"I'm not the most photogenic."

"It… It wasn't the most flattering picture." Mrs. McGarden managed

"Yeah, Lucy kinda caught me off guard there."

Lucy's face got redder; Gajeel's smile got wider.

"Oh, um, alright then. I apologize again. I- I'm simply very protective of my daughter. I overreacted..." She trailed off.

"It's good. I get it a lot. I'm a mean looking guy, and honestly, the look on the girls face right now is priceless." He nudged Lucy. "Now this would be a good picture for the website.

That snapped her out of it. She huffed and crossed her arms.

Levy also relaxed, she still looked dumbfounded, but not mortified.

Gajeel held the conversation with Levy's mother for a few minutes longer while the older woman got her apologies out of the way.

"You have a good night, Ma'am," Gajeel said before hanging up.

Lucy shuffled back to the computer to pout. "I'll get a proper picture of him up."

"Don't bother, I look scarier when I know I'm getting my picture taken."

She stared sidelong at him and he plastered on the biggest, toothiest grin he could. Levy snorted and a grin tugged at the corner of her lip.

"Right then, we'll just leave it then."

Nodding, Gajeel returned his attention to Levy, who was giving him a kind of funny look.

He held her phone out to her, "What?"

Slowly, she reached out to take it, "You can be so civil." She sounded amazed.

Gajeel raised a brow at her, "Yeah, I can be. We covered this when you hired me."

"Yeah, but, you actually talk the talk."

"And walk the walk, Shrimp"

"Boss."

He held up his hands.

"Boss," he conceited.

"I don't know what I'm witnessing right now but it's making me uncomfortable and you both need to stop." Lucy interjected.

"Just making friendly conversation, Blondie."

"Yeah, the thing about friendly conversation, is that it requires friendly people."

"I'm friendlier than you."

"You absolutely are not!"

"Oh my goodness you two!" Levy almost had to shout over them."Clock out and go home! I'm not financially, or emotionally prepared to pay you overtime so you can argue."

Gajeel and Lucy laughed together, then both stopped abruptly, staring at each other in shock and disgust.

"Well, I think I need to hand in my notice," Gajeel said.

"Hush," Levy said, rolling her eyes.

She turned the man around, planting her hands on his back, and firmly pushed him towards the back door.

"I still gotta clock out."

"I'll do it for you. I just need you out of my shop before someone gets hurt."

He shrugged and allowed the small woman to push him. They stopped and he grabbed his coat and bag from the closet.

Looking into the alley he could see Natsu and Gray waiting for him so they could all go to the gym.

Gray was impatiently looking at his phone and chewing on the filter of an unlit cigarette. Natsu was rooting through his bag and muttering to himself.

"Alright, Boss, I'll see you tomorrow."

"Yep, you have a good night, Gajeel." She stepped back and coughed. "And sorry about my mom, that was embarrassing for everyone."

Gajeel laughed and ruffled her hair. "More so for you guys than me. I thought it was fucking hilarious."

She swatted his hand away and pouted, "Of course you did. Get out of here and don't you dare come back until your shift starts."

He just snorted and open the door.

"'Bout fucking time," Gray shouted, pocketing his phone and turning away. "Freezing my balls off out here."

"Hi, Levy," Natsu said.

"Hi, Natsu."

Gajeel stepped onto the stairs, "Shit, it's cold out here."

"Yeah," Gray hollered, "So hurry the fuck up and lets go."

"Alright, alright, shut up already." He turned to Levy one last time, "See you tomorrow."

She smiled, "See you then."

As always, your opinions are greatly appreciated. I feel like the story is going to change a bit from here from my original plans for it but we'll see. My original plan was a much slower burn but I don't think I've got the time or patience for it anymore. Writing is hard kids. So, so hard. Anywho, see you next time.

Nys