Hello again, people! Thank you for the lovely reviews, especially the ones who pointed out my mistakes. I suppose a lot of you found Chapter 2 a lil' unrealistic because our protagonists' progress in romance was too quick? Well, sorry about that *sheepish laugh* I hope Chapter 3 made up for it and make things more believable. Though I must say, in my mind Gajeel was never the type who dilly-dallied, so I decided he should be straightforward. I do try to keep everyone in character.

Tips: Italics for thoughts and Bold for flashbacks.

Enough talking and let's get to the reading! Remember to review :)

CHAPTER 3: A LOT OF MISCHIEF

"Look, shrimp I didn't mean it that way. The truth is…" he hesitated.

"Hmm?" she glared.

"…is that I don't even know for sure why I got you here. I just want to. Maybe to talk, I don't know."

The morning after started in silence, though Gajeel was aware that Levy had woken up from her slumber. Her heart rate and breathing increased and his dragon senses allowed him to notice but he decided to feign sleep and remained unmoving as the girl helplessly tried to get out of bed without making a fuss.

Impossible.

She was cornered between Gajeel and the wall which the bed was pushed against. And the blanket was a tangled mess both above and under the Dragon Slayer's legs and arms which meant that she would remain a dumpling in bed unless the man moved out of the way first.

Oh dear. I call to the Holy Spirits of Magnolia, why have you forsaken me? Mavis, why did this happen? Here I am, in some guy's bed, trapped, and shame on me for sleeping so soundly last night. Next to a guy. Who am I? Miss Easy?

Minutes ticked by and Levy was beginning to mentally crumble from her self-berating. She was becoming irritated by herself and at the situation. She was talking herself into hating Gajeel Redfox who had, the most serene expression ever seen on his face. His raven locks, contrary to popular belief were soft to the touch—she realised during the night, a fact that she didn't properly note nor appreciate until now—and he was still semi-hugging her. The studs on his face were exotic, tempting her to trace the patterns with her fingers or even place a ki…

Just what am I doing here, staring at my kidnapper's face!

Despite it all, she, against the better of her logic… traced the bridge of his nose with her index finger. She wasn't even careful. A part of her knew that he would definitely be awoken, knew that she was doomed to fall really hard in love.

With the Iron Dragon Slayer.

Who promptly smirked with his eyes still closed.

"Ga…Gajeel?"

Instead of answering he grabbed her offending hand. He sighed loudly before burying his face in her hair, sniffing as though he had the right to.

Levy, on the other hand was completely frozen. It took her some time to ask, "I woke you…"

"No, I was awake for a while. I like your shampoo."

She blushed furiously, almost letting out a whimper to signify that she's been shaken and offended and embarrassed and helpless.

He chuckled and proceeded to tuck her hair behind her ears. "I like your ears too."

She whimpered.

And he took it as a sign of confusion. "Look I told you I didn't have anything planned when I got you here, 'cause making you come here was all instinctive yarh? But I do know that you shouldn't have gone home last night. You got all scared like a little blue fairy before I got to tell you that part."

She pushed him away from herself to look at his face. Sharp, crimson eyes were looking back at her.

"You could have stayed the night with Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum for all I know. But…"

"Am I in trouble? For instance, targeted by an enemy?" Levy McGarden now had a serious glint in her eyes.

"Close enough. But your two idiots have no clue."

She waited for him to continue but he didn't. He was simply preoccupied with playing with her hair, his callous hand occasionally brushing her warm cheeks.

"Who's the enemy?" she tried. "And what do you mean 'all instinctive'?"

"Shrimp's tryin' to read my mind now, huh? You can try."

"At least tell me who I'm up against."

"Who we are up against."

A fuzzy feeling threatened to break her concentration from the matter at hand. "So, who?"

"A low-life who used to lick my boots back in Phantom Lord," he commented dryly, a hint of disgust showing in his narrowed eyes as he turned to look out of the window.

"Why me?" Levy finally sat up on the bed, staring hard at him, her brain fully activated to solve this mystery.

"He has blue hair fetish."

"What!" He's got to be kidding.

"And he was following your team two nights ago. And he's not that much of a low-life these days, in terms of fighting ability, that is." Levy gasped as she listened. "And word on the streets is that he's been searching for something for years. A sorta raw material that's no longer on the market."

Gajeel seemed to have finished explaining, turning back to look at the bluenette. Levy was staring at her hands, deep in thought when something in her mind clicked.

"He wants my Solid Script to make that material for him."

"Probably," Gajeel said as he reached out with a hand to ruffle her hair. He gave her a faint smile that disappeared too soon to be real, but she knew his smile was for assurance.

It's true that I'm the only Solid Script user in Magnolia… In her contemplative mode she didn't notice the man getting up from the bed. By the time she snapped out of it, alas, he was already standing, before facing her with his palms planted on the edge of the bed as he bent forward and licked her ear.

Levy shrieked and backed away, hitting her head on the wall behind her, which left the Dragon Slayer at the bed side, laughing at her reaction.

"Shhh, I already have a bad reputation in the neighbourhood."

"You…!"

"Sorry, did it on a whim," he looked apologetic, yet his voice was triumphant.

"Get away!" She threw the blanket at him. Her hands then frantically searched for her pen but her purse had been forgotten at the other side of the room.

"Can't do," he retorted cockily.

"Metal-eating pervert!" Her eyes were brimming with tears as she blamed herself for being careless around men.

The look on her face stung his pride. "Alright, enough whining. I apologise, if you hated it that much."

"I'm not whining." Her voice had become quiet.

"It's time for breakfast, by the way," he offered an escape from the awkward topic.

"You don't have human food, so I'll be going." She removed herself from the bed and gingerly walked past him to get her purse, her head hung low to avoid his gaze. He too, busied himself. He picked up a random iron piece, inspecting it to make sure it's clean enough to eat.

Levy was almost at the door.

He chanced a glance at her back.

And then came her overdue and unexpected response. "I don't hate it."

A long pause that was intended for him to come up with a good end to the conversation. He finally responded lamely, "I've already chosen a request for today. Will be outta town. Should be back by midnight."

She stepped outside wordlessly.

"Come back tonight," he suddenly added. "You should." He popped the iron piece into his mouth and hastily swallowed.

He could see her side profile. Her cheeks were pink. But without a word, she shut the door behind her.

"They say I'm a selfish bastard because I want lots of stuff for myself but at least I keep what I want safe."

He needed her to be safe.

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