a/n: This is my first fan fiction ever and its rather like a Fairy Tail spin off so not exactly set at any precise moment, however its definitely when the guild hall was still intact and after Tenrou island.

disclaimer: I do not own any of these Fairy Tail characters. They belong to Hiro Mashima.

It was just another day at the guild; nothing particularly out of the ordinary except for the fact that the main source of all noise and commotion came from Team Shadow Gear's cheerleaders rather than Natsu and Gray's typical head-to-head bouts.

The pair causing the current ruckus was standing in front of the crowded request board arguing over whether to go on a mission involving gardening and the banishment of nasty critters or to head to the mountains to help a farmer transport raw materials from the summit to the base. Neither cared for the other's opinion and so Jet was talking over Droy, while Droy then began talking louder than Jet thus creating an incomprehensible argument with no obvious winner.

As per usual, sweet book-loving Levy, was sitting with her back to the board and her partners, bent over the newest addition to her ever growing library. Seemingly absorbed in the contents of the tome, she barely even noticed when two other guildmates joined her at her table.

"Hey, Lev-chan!", Lucy said as she slid next to her small blue-haired friend. Lucy giggled as Levy didn't even flinch at her greeting, obviously completely engrossed in her book. "Yo Levy!" Natsu exclaimed while sitting across from Lucy. Levy then looked up and blushed slightly, mumbling her 'hello' before returning to her book. Natsu on the other hand, rolled his eyes at Lucy with a smile. "She found another book, huh?" he remarked. Slightly shaking her head while smiling Lucy replied with the ever so popular, "That's Levy for you.". The conversation soon switched topics, and Natsu and Lucy left Levy to her novel.

On the other side of the hall, Happy the blue Exceed was loitering around Carla and Wendy's table, gathering enough courage to offer his crush another fish despite subconsciously knowing he was to be rejected. Again.

Everything else was as it should be: busy and boisterous. Gray was avoiding Juvia as she confessed her love for him; Elfman and Evergreen were pretending they weren't just making out behind the building; the rest of the Raijinshuu were crowded around Laxus ready to see to his every need and Cana was drinking by the barrel as usual.

Gajeel entered the building, fully aware of everything happening before he opened the doors. The sensitive senses a Dragon Slayer acquires and the knowledge one receives after being part of Fairy Tail prepares you for whatever lies behind the guild doors.

He strode in with his black Exceed, Pantherlily, in tow. Lily was unusually in his warrior form despite the absence of imminent danger. At the back of room, sensing the Slayer's arrival, a curious pair of brown eyes glanced up from her book to make contact with a pair of intense red eyes before looking back down again.

He's alright then, Levy thought after a quick scan of the man in question, as she always did after this particular man's return from a mission. She sensed a small burden being lifted of her chest and a quick wave of relief washed over her. Immediately after the feeling went, she scolded herself. There was nothing to be worried about Levy. You know he can take care of himself. He doesn't need you worrying over him. He doesn't want you worrying over him. Her silent thoughts lead to a tiny crease between her eyebrows, reminiscent of a frown. To others, she would have seemed absorbed in a frustrating scene in her book, though Gajeel knew better.

What's wrong, Shrimp? he thought, noticing the out of character frown. Still pondering over her expression he walked over to his table in the corner of the room, soon joined by his partner.

"You're thinking about her again" Pantherlily remarked as he saw the strange look his friend got whenever a certain mage was on his mind. Gajeel looked up with a scowl, "Am not! Stupid cat..".

"Yes you were. I saw that starry look in your eye, and if you weren't, would you care to explain then why she was the first person you were deliberately looking for as soon as we came in?" Lily smiled. He had Gajeel stuck.

"I-I, that is she ain't the first person I saw. And you're probably imagining things again. I don't get starry-eyed."

"Yes, you do."

"No, I don't."

"Yes. You do! Don't bother arguing back, you get that look in your eye and you can't deny it!"

"Yer growing old and seeing things. My eyes don't look like nothing other than iron."

"That made absolutely no sense. You have red eyes."

"This conversation is getting out of hand! I know what I saw."

"Mmmphmm," Gajeel snorted, "yeah, well- uh, well go be a good cat and join your friends." He lamely finished the argument while pointedly looking over at the other Exceeds talking amiably with Wendy.

As Lily walked off, now in his regular form, to join his friends, the atmosphere in the room shifted slightly. With his advanced hearing he could pick out voices coming from behind the bar where the Master's office was. It wasn't an argument but he couldn't tell quite yet. As the voices got nearer, the hall gradually got quieter, until all was almost silent. He knew that by now everyone was waiting for whoever was talking to emerge and were hoping to listen in on their conversation.

Finally, from a door behind the bar, Mirajane and Master Makarov appeared, both engaged in conversation. It wasn't an argument, Gajeel concluded confirming his earlier thoughts, but rather a one-sided agreement. The She-Devil was doing most of the talking with the Master chiming in with comments of agreement.

Their conversation stopped as soon as they realized everyone was listening, however, both Mira and Gramps had already decided on whatever they were talking about in the first place.

"Haven't you nosey lot ever heard of respecting others' conversations?" Gramps suddenly said facing everyone .

Despite his short stature, his voice easily carried out to all four corners of the room.

"Leave them be," Mira replied with a giggle. "They were curious after all. It's only in our nature as Fairy Tail members."

After a long serious look around the room, the Master burst into giggles. "Listen to any conversation you want brats! But don't listen to mine.." With that final statement, he turned back around and into his room, pausing just once more to shout behind him.

"Levy! Come to my office. Now!"

All eyes were on the petite mage, who in shock at being called out had dropped her book. Her frown was more pronounced as her face scrunched up assuming a confused expression. I don't know why she was called out but damn she looks cut- Gajeel cut himself off from finishing that thought instead wondering, like the other guild members, why Levy was called into the Master's office.

Levy stood up and walked to the door the Master just disappeared behind, all the while thinking What did I do wrong? As usual, Jet and Droy, Levy's biggest cheerleaders followed her, adding their own exclamations to the confusion. Just as Levy was about to go through the door, Mira put out her arm, preventing Jet and Droy from following her. Both of them annoyed they began convincing her to let them through but Mira just shook her head at them and shut the door.

"Come on Mira! We want to know what's happening!"

"Yeah, she's our team member. We deserve to know!"

"She didn't do anything wrong!"

"If Master is going to punish her, let him punish us instead. We would be as much responsible as she is!"

Mira finally had heard enough. "She's not being punished. She didn't do anything wrong, don't worry. But I can't let you through. This is between the Master and Levy". She looked at them in thought, "And me too, I guess" she added with a little smile before returning back to work.