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not-just-any-fangirl · 7 years

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Blue Skies (pt 2)

A/N; PSYCHE

y’all thought I’d leave you with that angst?? psssh, no way! Have some fluff to soothe over those broken hearts, and I hope this makes up @snogfairy <3 so do I get to keep hearting lol?

Second ending begins after the break, or ctrl-f ‘I love you’.

Natsu asks Lucy on a picnic and emotions are revealed. Two endings. Avian AU.

Pairing: Nalu, Fairy tail

Words: 4864

Rating: T

Part: Oneshot (Angst) (Fluff)

Lucy loved flying.

She loved the feel of air whipping through her hair, of the strain on her back muscles as she rose herself high enough to find a current she could rest on, the crisp scent of pure oxygen that swirled above the clouds.

He favourite part of flying, however, had less to do with the act itself and more with the company.

“Bet I could reach that cloud that looks like an upside down cat first!” Natsu called, wings beating steady and strong as he held his position beside her. His wings were coloured like flames, yellows and oranges shimmering in the down of his feathers and close to the arch of bone that structured them, reds a rich jewel tone at the tips of his feathers with blacks and greys scattered along the outer layers like hidden shadows in the forest they played in.

“And what do I get if I win?” Lucy asked, grinning at her best friend’s challenge. While Natsu may be fast, Lucy was faster, not weighed down by a seven-foot wingspan and coiled muscles. Lucy’s wings were much more modest in length, only six feet across, but she knew they were beautiful in a way that was unmatched in her hometown. They were pure white with a soft golden undertone from the down feathers, silver tips of her outer feathers reflecting light and creating a glow that surrounded her like a halo in the moonlight.

Or at least that’s what Natsu had told her that one night they had stolen a bottle of strawberry mead from the guild kitchen and had picnicked along the edge of the lake under the light of the stars.

“I’ll fix all damaged boards and doors in your roost, but when I win you hafta cook for me for a week!” Natsu crowed, circling Lucy in an effort to expel his growing restless energy.

“My roost is damaged because you keep crash landing in it,” Lucy pointed out sourly, following Natsu’s movements as she kept her face towards him as she talked. “I mean I leave the window open every night, how you keep overestimating your landing is beyond me.”

“So you do leave it open for me,” Natsu leered, rising slightly so he could look down at Lucy. She felt heat crawl along her neck and she pouted at being caught. Stupid boy.

“Go!” Lucy shouted instead, allowing herself to drop slightly into the current below them and get a quick boost as she shot towards the cloud Natsu had pointed at.

“Cheater!” Natsu howled, following quickly on her heels. Lucy kept her arms close to her sides, laughing as Natsu cursed her loudly, voice barely carrying through the air rushing past them, words lost to the wind. Time blurred as they raced, Lucy’s heart pounding and sweat starting to bead on her temples and hairline, whipped away before she could fully register their creation. Lucy saw Natsu start to crawl into her peripheral, his eyes glinting with competitive joy and challenge. She swore under her breath, pushing herself to beat harder and cut through the air before her, weaving through different air currents and timing her beats of her wings for the most energy gained, every decision made in a millisecond through reflex alone.

With a triumphant cry Lucy burst through the cloud top, water particles clinging to her skin and feathers as she did back flips in front of Natsu. Both panted hard and grinned at each other with flush faces, cool air a relief on their skin, not so much on Lucy’s lungs as she dragged in deep breaths.

“You only won ‘cus you got that head start,” Natsu grumbled. It didn’t teach his eyes though, deep onyx glittering with flecks of green as rich as pine needles breaking through the dark colour in the bare light of the sun.

“But I won, and you have to fix my roost,” Lucy cooed. She spread her arms as she allowed herself to fall backwards through the cloud, grinning up at Natsu. Her sight was overtaken by the condensed water for several seconds, grey monotonous save for the locks of her hair that danced beside her face as she fell. She broke through, clear blue of the sky quickly surrounding their cloud, its shape ruined by their playing.

Lucy laughed when she saw Natsu disperse more of the cloud, wings tucked tight against him and grin bright as he dove towards her. She shrieked when Natsu caught her around her middle, bare skin of his arms pressed tight to her back where her halter style top left her bare. Which was considerably low, as the dark blue coloured fabric revealed the dimples on her back. Natsu’s forehead pressed to hers as he laughed, the pair tumbling through the air and Lucy tucking her own wings in to stop any chance of injury, knowing Natsu would snap his open before they got too low.

Lucy never feared falling when Natsu was around.

Natsu stopped their tumble, holding Lucy tight to his chest as he opened his wings. They jolted as air filled under him, Lucy grinning as she watched the concentration on his face as he steadied them. Lucy pushed away from him and fell into sync with him as they neared the clearing they had left their bags in. The grass was soft as Lucy and Natsu landed, the sound of them returning to the earth muffled by the thick blades and rain-softened dirt.

“If it makes you feel better I packed your favourite cookies,” Lucy teased, poking Natsu’s face as he resumed pouting about his loss.

“I already ate those,” he whined, dropping his weight on Lucy’s back when she turned to the pack she had hidden behind a tree. He wiggled between her wings until he was cocooned by them, chin resting on her shoulder as he watched her try and maneuver the pack in her hands. “Lushi, I’m hungry!”

“You sound like Happy,” Lucy snorted, chirping happily when she found the package she had been looking for, tucked into a hidden inner pocket. She let the canvas bag fall back to the ground, unwinding the string she had wrapped around the pink cotton in her hands. Lucy felt Natsu perk up behind her, leaning more heavily on her as he sniffed the air. Unfolding the final triangle Lucy revealed several chocolate and hazelnut cookies, rested neatly in her palm. Natsu cheered happily, stealing the bundle of cloth from under Lucy’s hands and ducking away, munching on one already as he stepped away from any potential swats. Lucy’s lip curled when he grinned at her, crumbs falling from his chocolate covered lips.

Lucy dragged the blanket down from the branch Nasu had thrown it on, laying it out on the edge of the lake a few dozen feet away from the tree line of their clearing. She smiled when Natsu placed the basket down in the center, following suite as he dropped to crossed knees, last cookie caught between his teeth.

“You should thank Juvia for the water hazelnuts that you just polished off,” Lucy teased, settling into a spot beside him. She stretched her wings out, enjoying the way her back muscles pulled and the joints in her wings cracked.

“Pretty sure Aquarius has her on cave arrest for the next week for being caught with Frost Tips,” Natsu sniggered, pouting at Lucy when she slapped his hand away from the food satchel. “At least that’s what Levy said. She and Gajeel better be careful or Aquarius will scale her tail for sure.”

Lucy giggled with Natsu as she thought of her friend’s and Natsu’s cousin’s budding romance. The raven winged giant that was Gajeel didn’t look like he’d be the type to cross the water-air divide, and yet it was him who struck a friendship with the mermaid Juvia first. The close bond they had formed had led to the tentative treaty between their groups, and the following interactions between Juvia and Gray, and Gajeel and Levy. If Lucy were honest, the peace between them was beneficial in their struggles with the Night Flyers.

“C’mon Luce, if we keep talking about Stripper and Metal Mouth I’m gonna lose my appetite,” Natsu complained, trying to sneak a hand into the bag and snatching it back when Lucy slapped it.

“Gajeel only has the two piercings in his lip and a few in his eyebrow,” Lucy chastised gently, handing a deer steak sandwich to Natsu and taking a pine butter and cherry jam one for herself. “It’s quite light considering the colony he hails from. Your uncle’s face has so many more rings and studs!”

“Do you think I’m a stud?” Natsu asked, waggling his eyebrows at her suggestively. Lucy choked on her bite with a laugh, shoving his shoulder playfully. “C’mon, Lushi, tell me! Am I studly enough for ya?” he crowed, putting down his sandwich to crowd Lucy, who placed her food to the side as well.

Lucy tried to crawl away when Natsu reached his hands to her, but she was too slow as he gripped her waist and pulled her back to him, squealing. His clever fingers ran along her sides and the base of her wings, tickling her relentlessly. She extended her right wing in his face, escaping as he spat out feathers and fell back onto his butt. Lucy launched into attack then, tackling Natsu to the ground as she tickled him, access easy at his bare chest and sides by his vest, wings pulled through their loose holes to maintain a full range of movement. Natsu howled under her, tears streaming down his face and finally relenting as he grabbed her hands. Lucy beamed down at him, allowing her hands to rest but not pulling away from Natsu’s touch and instead leaving them trapped his in hold. She looked over his face, studying him as he caught his breath. Freckles danced over his rich brown skin, colour darkening in the summer months spent in the sun. They coated his nose and cheeks, a patch of three or four just under his lip on the left side of his face.

Before she could stop herself her hand was brushing his bangs from his face, pink colouring natural and stark against his deeper skin tone. And beautiful, Lucy had found herself thinking a few too many times to be considered friendly.

“You got a weird look on your face,” Natsu commented, grip tightening fractionally around the wrist he still held. Lucy huffed a laugh, drawing away slightly. She was stopped from moving off his hips by a tentative hand on her thigh, pads of his fingers warm through her tight pants. “I didn’t say it was bad,” he mumbled, eyes darting away before finding hers again, shyness new to them and making Lucy’s heart skip in her chest.

“Natsu,” Lucy breathed, biting her lip as her gaze flickered to his. She wet them when she looked back at his eyes, slanted shape widened as he stared at her. Lucy took in a depth inhale, releasing it shakily as she fixed his quilted scarf, pillowy and cool under her fingertips, a signature of his. Lucy didn’t think she could ever imagine him without it, like the pale scar that crept over the right side of his neck that it hid. “Why did you want to have a picnic today?”

Lucy shifted back as Natsu sat up, both his hands resting on the tops of her thighs as they settled, Lucy straddling him and Natsu keeping his grip on her to ensure she wouldn’t move. She blushed at the position but made no move to leave it. Lucy looked at him when he said her name gently, blush growing on her cheeks and ears when he lifted a hand to the base of her wing, soft fingers firm but cautious as he applied pressure along the top of her wing, encouraging her to spread them for him. Lucy followed his silent request, stretching them to their fullest on either side and slightly above her, the midday sun causing no shadow to cross his face but still catching in her feathers and down so that the light danced in the air around them, following each shift of her feathers that the wind carried in their small clearing.

“You’re so beautiful,” Natsu said, voice low as his eyes traced the sections of her wings and from there her body. He reached out a hand, hesitating just before his fingers brushed her feathers, eyes flicking to hers and lighting at her small nod. Lucy hummed softly when Natsu ran his hand through her plumage, touch gently as he stroked her. His touches grew bolder and Lucy bit her lip as her head tilted back, basking in the heat of the summer day and low and heavy pleasure that radiated from her wings. It felt like when her mother used to brush her hair but comforting feelings focused into a sharper pleasure, relaxing like a massage but gentler in that the soothing heat spread through all her body rather than just points of it. Lucy knew that this was an intimate thing, to allow someone else to stroke and clean your wings, the trust higher due to the fragility their wings held compared to any other kind of touch.

His skin was warm where Lucy cupped his face, opening her eyes and looking at him through her lashes. “Why did you bring me here, Natsu?” Lucy asked again, leaning forward slightly.

Silence surrounded them, Natsu leaning forward to match her. Both continued to inch into the shared space, nerves making Lucy fidget and run her thumbs along Natsu’s jaw line. Natsu dropped on hand to rest on the small of her back, guiding her closer. Lucy’s lips parted, desperate to close the gap but nervous about what it would mean. What it would mean for their unit, for their friendship, for Lucy. Their noses bumped and Lucy’s breath caught, Natsu nudging her to the side slightly, angling so he could come closer to her. His eyes flickered to hers from where they had stayed trained on her lips, darkened with some intense emotion that stole Lucy’s breath and made her mouth dry. Natsu’s lips brushed Lucy’s lower one, Lucy pulling back half a hair at the touch before finally closing the distance herself.

The kiss was clumsy at first, their lips not quite lining up and their noses bumping into one another again. Natsu chuckled against her lower lip, pressing a chaste kiss there as they fell into it. Lucy smiled and nibbled at his, running her hands through his wild and spiky hair, rose coloured strands soft under her touch and pulling a purr from Natsu. Lucy sighed when Natsu deepened the kiss, his tongue curious and light as it swiped at the seam of her lips, unsure as he pressed past her when she let them fall open for him. Lucy smiled before taking the lead, guiding his tongue into her mouth with her own, sliding along his and teasing him playfully. She pushed back into his mouth, confidence growing at his low sounds caught in his chest as she raked her nails along his scalp with rougher strokes, pressing onto her knees more for leverage as she tasted Natsu’s mouth. Shade fell around them when Natsu extended his wings while they caught their breath, Natsu chasing her mouth and swallowing her laugh as he copied Lucy’s motions and swiped his tongue along her teeth, sucking on her tongue roughly in retaliation for her laugh.

Lucy wrapped her wings around them too, a gentle dome made just for them as their feathers brushed and mixed, sealing them from the rest of the world.

Lucy giggled when she pulled back, panting for breath. She bumped her nose into Natsu’s when he chased after her again, his eyes finally opening to stare at her in breathless awe. His lips were kiss-swollen and his pupils were blown wide, Lucy sure she looked no different.

“I love you.”

“I love you too,” Natsu whispered. He kissed the tip of her nose, grin wide when Lucy giggled softly at the gentle touch. She pulled back with a large smile when Natsu continued to press kisses along her face, tracing the swell of her cheek and the slope of her nose with his lips, catching her lower lip every fifth kiss or so, Lucy losing count as she giggled and squirmed in his arms under his onslaught of butterfly kisses.

Lucy wound her arms around his neck, securing Natsu as she kissed him. The kiss deepened when Natsu’s hands ran up and down her spine, tight between her heated flesh and her wings. She moaned when Natsu massaged the place where her wing met her back, fingers kneading expertly at her sensitive joint and growing bolder with each low mewl Natsu swallowed. She ran her tongue along his teeth, feeling his sharp canine dragging along her and sending a flash of desire tightening her gut.

Natsu groaned when Lucy’s hands began to stroke his feathers, soft and full under her fingers. He ducked his head into the crook of her neck and shoulder, lips ghosting over her skin as Lucy preened and primped him, fluffing out his down and causing his wings to expand in pleasure.

Lucy allowed herself to drink in the sight of him when she pulled back slightly, broad shoulders and well defined muscles. He was lithe, streamlined like all flyers were, but Lucy knew how his muscles twisted and flexed under taunt skin on his back, powerful cords mouthwatering when Lucy had stolen glances before. But now she was allowed to look, and she drank in what she could. Natsu shivered as she drew her fingers down his front, dipping into the groves of his abs and chest, thumb brushing on the scar on his left side from an altercation with a Night Flyer a month or two ago.

“And you say I’m the beautiful one,” Lucy murmured, flushing under Natsu’s wide eyes. She leaned into him again, kissing him tightly as her hands roamed over the skin of his chest and his back, his vest pushed down and falling to the grass without a second thought, scarf quickly following.

“You’re definitely prettier,” Natsu grinned. He ran his hands through her hair, pulling it the side and off one of her shoulders. Lucy smiled and dragged her nails along his scalp and the ridge of his wings as he kissed along her neck, lips rough on her tender skin and making Lucy squeak as he nipped at her playfully.

She squealed when he pulled her back, spreading his wings to cushion them, his arms strong and hard as they wrapped around her. Their kisses became slow as Lucy took charge, savouring the sweet taste of the cookies that remained on Natsu’s tongue. “I’ve been thinking about this since last fall,” Lucy sighed. She nuzzled his cheek, settling into a comfortable position on his chest.

Heat flared through her where the rough pads of Natsu’s fingers drew along her skin, loose circles and designs drawn along her shoulders and back. “The Rainbow Festival?” Natsu asked, lips brushing against her temple when he talked.

He chuckled when Lucy nodded. “You shooed off everyone who tried to join our perch in the Sakura tree until I showed up. It was the best view of the rainbow winds I’ve ever seen. The night was perfect. You made it perfect, Natsu.”

“I knew you were special the first time we met,” Natsu said, voice low and rough as he continued to run his fingers through her feathers and hair. “Ya crashed into me, unused to flying but not backing down from that creep. I don’t think I’ve seen a worse landing.”

Lucy huffed at his short chuckle, curling into his chest more. “You forgot my name,” she reminded.

“But I brought you home with me, didn’t I?” He kissed her forehead again, Lucy feeling him grin against her.

“You did,” she said softly. Lucy lifted her head, heart melting at the fondness Natsu’s eyes held as he gazed at her. “Besides, I’ve gotten better, haven’t I?” Lucy teased. Natsu rolled his eyes at her, tugging gently on a lock of hair.

“Obviously, Weirdo. You wouldn’t be on my squad if ya weren’t one of the best.” Lucy pinched his cheek, narrowing her eyes at him in pretend irritation. “I’m giving you a compliment!” Natsu whined in defense, tugging on her hair harder. He’d wound a piece between his forefinger and thumb, releasing it when Lucy let go of his cheek.

“So mean to me,” Lucy drawled, giggling and covering Natsu’s face with kisses when he scoffed in offense. “I love you,” she sang. Lucy trailed her fingers along the side of his face as he beamed up at her, eyes squinting closed and sharp teeth revealed. Her heart stuttered at his look, and Lucy couldn’t help returning it. He made a low noise of surprise when Lucy kissed him, a soft giggle bubbling from her chest as he kissed her back eagerly.

“Am I interrupting something?” A voice called, melodic even through her wry tone.

“Levy,” Lucy groaned, hiding her face in Natsu’s neck and shielding them with her wings. Natsu chuckled at her shyness, patting her head in comfort.

“Stop hiding behind your wings I can see your legs,” Levy chastised, sounds of scales gliding along rock letting Lucy know that her friend had pulled herself on shore. Lucy groaned into Natsu, blushing deeply when he stole a chaste kiss before releasing her. “Aww, you two are adorable.”

“Almost as cute as you and Gajeel,” Lucy teased back. She rolled to her feet, walking towards the edge of the lake and rearranging her wings into their proper closed position. Levy blushed blue, stammering over denials and avoiding Lucy’s sharp grin.

“Oi!” Natsu called, brows furrowed as he joined Lucy and Levy, arm wrapping around Lucy’s waist and under her wings as he pulled her into his side. “We’re way cuter than anything Lead Foot could be a part of.”

Levy rolled her eyes at Natsu’s insult, spraying him with water as she flicked her tail at him. Lucy giggled at his high yelp and attempt to duck behind her, hiding his wings from the spray of fresh water.

“You know a bath wouldn’t kill you,” she hummed as she looks over her shoulder at him.

“Excuse you I have sand baths plenty! I just don’t need water making me poof.”

“But you’re so cute when you get all fluffy,” Lucy cooed, touching her finger to the tip of his nose lightly at his disgruntled mood. He jerked back at it, pouting down at her but keeping his hands firmly on her hips.

Lucy leaned into his chest, batting her lashes at him before yelping at the finger he dug into her side. She glared at him, a look Natsu returned mockingly, laughter dancing in his eyes as his lips twisted down.

“Jerk,” she mumbled, leaning back against him again. Lucy shared a small smile with Levy.

The mermaid sat on a large boulder that was covered in moss, elbows resting on the lip of the edge of the lake, holding her chin in her hands. Her tail was made of light blue and white scales, swirling patterns of the white cutting through the water-like colour of her base. They were slightly darker than her hair colour, which was more sky blue than turquoise but within that family, shorter bob barely brushing her shoulders wet. She was small for a mermaid, tail only seven or eight feet long and upper body two at most. Her tail fin flopped above the water lazily as her tail swayed with the current, webbing translucent and shimmering between the dark spines.

“Oh!” Levy called, ducking under the water for a second before reemerging holding a seaweed pouch and placing it on the grass before her. “Your water hazelnuts in exchange for that last chapter you gave me, Lucy. Oh, it was so amazing, the way you described that fight scene made me feel like I was there!” Levy pushed off, clutching her hands to her chest as she sighed dreamily, swimming in slow, tight circles. “When will the next chapter be ready?”

Lucy laughed, taking the wet pouch of nuts and handing them to Natsu, wagging a finger at his gleeful look sternly before turning back to Levy. “I’m hoping next week, but I can’t promise. Erza has us running drills almost daily now.”

“Same with Aquarius,” Levy grumbled, pulling herself further up the edge of the lake side. “The Night Flyers are throwing off all my plans, Gajeel can barely get away from Laxus’ squad to get to my cove anymore.”

“Don’t worry, it’s clear to anyone with eyes how much he adores you,” Lucy soothed. Levy smiled at her brightly, double row of sharp teeth flashing pearl white at Lucy. Her gills flared with her light giggle, running from beside her jaw to her shoulders on either side of her neck.

“You think so?” She asked, plucking a flower from its place and toying with the pale yellow petals.

“I know so,” Lucy assured, holding her friend’s hand.

Levy giggled again, giving Lucy a squeeze before pulling away. “I need to head back, or Juvia won’t be the only one barred from the surface for a week.”

“Thanksh f’r th’h’zelnush!” Natsu called as Levy dipped back into the water, waving a hand and spitting half chewed food particles from his stuffed cheeks.

“You’re so gross,” Lucy complained, nose scrunching as she eyed Natsu’s spittle covered chin. She shied away from his wide grin.

“But you kissed me,” Natsu said after swallowing his mouthful and wiping his chin. “No take backs!”

“Why would I ever want to take it back?” Lucy asked. She clasped her hands behind her back as she watched Natsu stride towards her.

Lucy leaned into his touch when he cupped the side of her face, smiling at him as his thumb stroked her cheekbone gently. “I love you,” he repeated.

“I love you too,” Lucy smiled, raising onto her toes to brush his lips with hers.

“I got ya something,” Natsu said, voice husky as he knocked his forehead against hers. Lucy waited patiently, Natsu taking in a deep breath and shoving his hand into a pocket on his pants, body tense. Lucy shrouded them with her wings, nudging Natsu’s nose with hers to remind him that she was there. Natsu hummed and relaxed when she placed her hands on either side of his neck, rubbing her thumbs in gentle circles on his skin.

Lucy gasped when Natsu revealed the present in his fist between their bodies. A necklace sat in his palm, pink and silver shells and stones and jewels were threaded with a golden cord, hair thin but sturdy and beautiful.

“A suitor’s gift?” Lucy asked, awed as she ran her fingers over a star shaped pink and white marble stone.

“Is it too forward?” Natsu asked, starting to pull the gift back.

“No!” Lucy squawked, snatching it out Natsu’s hand and clutching it tightly to her chest. She eyes Natsu warily, making sure he wasn’t about to take it back before inspecting it closer. Se shifted her wings to allow more light in, ‘ooo’ing as the light glinted off it and showed the shifting glazed colours of the trinkets attached. “It’s so shiny.”

“You’re such a bird,” Natsu chuckled, lifting her chin up with his finger. Lucy smiled at him brightly, preening under his loving and amused look. “C’mere, let me put it on you.”

Lucy nodded eagerly, tucking her wings in as she -reluctantly- handed Natsu her necklace and turned around for him. She shivered as his fingers ran along the skin on the back of her neck, gathering her hair to one side so he could place it on her. Lucy gently touched the lowest charm, a thin and sparkling crescent moon, silver metal shaped so that the inside was a curling and twisting lattice. She hummed and tilted her head back as Natsu kissed her neck tenderly, the clasp done and cool on her skin where it rested against her.

“Thank you,” she said, turning her head to capture his lips in a soft kiss. She turned around, walking backwards deeper into the clearing, grinning at Natsu. Winking at him, she saw his large grin fall slightly in confusion. Lucy raced past him at her top speed, wings snapping out to glide her over the lake before beating hard to rise her into the air. “Race you home!” She called, doing a backflip as she laughed loudly at his curses.

Without looking back, she flew high into the air, clear blue bright and perfect as she raced back to her roost. Natsu was beside her in an instant, cackling as he overtook her, grin infectious.

No, Lucy’s favourite part of flying was definitely Natsu.

#nalu #fairy tail #ftfanfics #natsu dragneel #lucy heartfilia #Levy McGarden #just any writing #blue skies #avian au #au #HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOO #hope yall like it!!!#fluff #both birb and emo

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impracticaldemon · 7 years

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Gajevy Week 2017: Chapter 2—Levy of the Shinsengumi

Fanfiction by: Impracticaldemon

Summary: Some reincarnations are harder than others. Left behind in Kyoto at age five, Levy is a servant-girl in late Edo Japan (1864), at a time when girls are barely taught to write. When the Kyoto police raid the inn where she lives and works, how will she defend herself and her adopted family? Can she trust a certain black-haired, red-eyed police officer who seems to know magic when he sees it? Ch.2: A looked-for meeting and an unexpected proposal.

Prompt: Matching

Words: ~ 2850

Read on FF.net HERE | AO3 HERE

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 [here]

Chapter 2: A Second Home—Levy of the Shinsengumi

[I] - What Now?

Levy had fled in haste from the disaster of the Shinsengumi's raid on the Ikedaya Inn. Whether by Gajeel-san's design or just luck, most of the men at the back of the building had been called into the fight, and her escape hadn't been as difficult as she feared. Still, finding herself in hand-me-down boy's clothing (she usually slept in the short kimono and kept the hakama (1) handy), with no weapon and no money in the middle of Kyoto wasn't a tremendous improvement in her situation. Her small bag contained her one decent woman's kimono, a comb with two broken teeth, a tiny figurine that had been hers since she was a child, and whatever food she had been able to scoop up on her way out of the kitchen.

She'd eventually snatched a few hours' sleep on the outskirts of town, but she'd been awake before dawn as usual and that had given her quite some time to ponder her situation before there were too many people around for her to remain in one place without attracting attention. Gajeel-san had said that he would find her, but that seemed unlikely in a town the size of Kyoto. Moreover, why would he bother? Levy was smart enough to know that he had not been surprised by the magic writing, or by her real name, so obviously it had to do with those things, but since she didn't know her own background, that didn't help.

By late morning, she had somehow made her way toward the southwest of the city—toward the village of Mibu where the Shinsengumi were quartered. She hadn't asked her way, of course; for all she knew, the police were still looking for Aoi, the Ikeda family's blue-haired servant girl. And yet… maybe it was the nearly-empty streets, or the frightened faces, or the whispers, but she had known what direction to go and had gone there as if pulled by an invisible line. Now she stood in the shadows between two buildings—a small tea shop and a rather run-down tailor's—and watched the small flow of people on the street, and in particular the two armed men in blue haori (2) standing in front of the main gate to the Yagi estate where the Shinsengumi executive and other key officers were housed. Most of the rest of the Shinsengumi were housed next door on the Maekwa estate.

So far, the regular morning patrol had not been out, based on the whispers in the street. This left Levy uncertain what to do next. If she left for the countryside around Kyoto, she ran a very high risk of running into thieves and ruffians—bandit groups had become more problematic recently, especially on the two major routes between the Imperial Capital and the major cities of Osaka and Edo. (3) On the other hand, she was almost equally at risk here in the city, although the southern quarter was fairly well-patrolled by the Shinsengumi, which presented its own problems for a vagrant without any documents to attest to her name and city of residence.

Levy was used to being bored, however, and her patience was rewarded not too long after noon, when she saw a big figure with a mane of black hair come through the gate from the Shinsengumi headquarters. She saw him pause not far from the gate guards and pause, his head tilted almost like a wolf trying to catch a scent. The Shinsengumi nickname—the Wolves of Mibu—suited this man extraordinarily well, Levy thought. It was a little troubling to discover that she hadn't exaggerated either his size or his heavily-muscled build the night before.

A minute or two later, Gajeel-san abruptly turned and hurried off down a side-street. Cursing under her breath for having been caught flat-footed, Levy was about to leave the safety of the shadows when there was a soft sound behind her and then a large hand closed over her mouth.

"Don't move or cry out and I won't kill you. Just nod if you agree."

She recognized the deep, almost growling voice immediately. It shouldn't have been possible, but Gajeel-san was behind her, and he sounded perfectly capable of carrying out his threat. She nodded as quickly as she could, hampered by the arm around her head.

"Good choice. Now, put your arms out from your sides and turn slowly."

Again she complied, wide-eyed and frightened but not panicking or in tears the way that other girls she knew would be. As Keiko-san had always said, whoever she was, she was made of tough stuff. Tough or not, she found it difficult to repress a slight whimper as the man's presence hit her in full again. His black mane, imperfectly contained in its high black ponytail, seemed more wolf-like than ever, and his biceps were easily as big around as her legs—not that that was saying much, really. He wasn't wearing the Shinsengumi haori, so she presumed that he wasn't out on official business—had he come looking for her? That thought made her feel marginally better, but the glare in his terrifying, blood-red eyes kept her silent. Oddly enough, his next words seemed to echo her thoughts.

"What colour are my eyes, girl?"

Levy hesitated, but he'd asked and she didn't dare lie: "R-red, Gajeel-san."

The big man immediately frowned, but he closed his teeth on whatever he'd been about to say and nodded sharply.

"Hmm, yes. My fault. Don't use that name unless you're really sure we're alone, understand?"

"Yes? But—"

"I know, my fault, like I said. Most kids your age know better, but you're obviously clueless."

Stung, Levy had to press her lips together against a stinging retort; however, years as a servant had made her learn to watch her words. Gajeel-san smirked, obviously noticing her flash of irritation.

"You've still got a bit of the temper of the People, don't you? Still hasn't been beaten out of you quite yet."

Ignoring Levy's expression of unfeigned confusion—and curiosity—the Shinsengumi officer raked his eyes over her and then walked slowly around her, obviously looking her over. It made her flush uncomfortably; she had learned to avoid the eyes of men at the Ikedaya and she hoped that she hadn't made a mistake in coming to look for Gajeel-san.

"Gods, you're tiny, aren't you?"

Levy ground her teeth but refused to be baited. She was a little on the small side, but while she was maybe an inch or two shorter than most women, not many women reached five feet tall. In contrast, Gajeel-san had to be close to a foot taller than most men. She'd heard that foreigners tended to be taller than Japanese men, but she'd never imagined a man built like an oni. Between his red eyes and his size, he might even be one of the ogres or demons of the old tales. (4)

"You don't know your parents?"

"No, Gajeel-san. My father brought me to Kyoto twelve years ago, but he disappeared and I… I don't know his name."

"Mmm. And you know enough not to show people magic?"

"Hai."

"Is all your magic based on writing?"

Levy was surprised—the question presented a wider view of her strange ability than she had considered before.

"I… don't know? Maybe?"

Gajeel-san sighed deeply. Apparently the depth of her ignorance troubled him.

"Well, I'm too busy to get you to those who could help you—at least for a while, maybe quite a while. Truth is that the People tend to avoid places like Kyoto an' any of the bigger cities. Not that there aren't quite a few of us here but… well, we tend to be the misfits."

Once again, Levy was left to sift the meaning of the words from tone and nuance. She could only hope that Gajeel-san wouldn't abandon her without giving her more information.

After more than a minute of silence, Gajeel-san patted her roughly on the head. She flinched, but it didn't hurt. There was even a hint of kindness in the gesture, like a man taking pity on a stray kitten but without being entirely sure what to do with it.

"Well, I can do one of two things for you: I can spend a bit of time with you and teach you what I can so you can go looking for the nearest Hall—it's not too far, but it's not really close either; or you can stay with me until you're a bit better able to look after yourself. You can't stay on your own in Kyoto, cause eventually you'll give yourself away, an' means being killed one way or the other."

"What?!" Levy was proud that she kept the word under a shriek, but it wasn't exactly quiet either.

Gajeel-san looked at her sombrely.

"The humans'll kill you if they think you're a witch, an' even if they don't then the People'll eventually hunt you down for being too noticeable. They might even ask me to do the job, an' I'd have to obey."

Levy was appalled. These people, whoever or whatever they were, sounded like monsters. Of course, Gajeel-san looked like one.

"Why did you ask me about your eyes?" she asked, mostly to change the topic for a few moments.

"Cause most people wouldn't notice they're red."

"How?"

"Basic stuff, I can teach you that. Well, I'll have to, won't I?" Gajeel was frowning again, and Levy had the idea that he was regretting not having killed her out of hand in the first place. His next words reassured her slightly, however. "Look, I can't stay much longer. I think you're safer with me than going it alone, but it's your choice. You're not my direct kin—not at that size an' with blue hair—but you're obviously one of the People an' I'll help you if I can. So, what'll it be?"

Levy blinked at him. Both the words—the direct offer of help—and the suddenness had caught her off-guard. But the prospect of being alone in Kyoto—or worse, trying to find some kind of mythical people who knew where—was even more daunting.

"You mean I can stay with you—with the Shinsengumi?"

"Won't be easy. But you've made it twelve years as a servant, so you're tough. The blue hair and the script magic means you're probably really smart. People bring their relatives into the Shinsengumi all the time. Well, not all the time, but it does happen. I'll tell them you're a boy, kind of a second cousin of mine or something—they'll be okay with that. I'll say you're what—fifteen or so?—and they won't believe it 'cause you look about twelve, but everyone lies about their age if they run away from home to join the Wolves of Mibu."

"I'm seventeen," Levy protested.

"Yeah, but that's ridiculous so don't even bother. Think ya can learn to carry a blade? Make yourself useful as a page runnin' messages an' doing chores? Somethin' like that? Come on, kid, I'm tryin' ta give ya a break here."

Gajeel-san's accent got rougher when he wasn't paying attention, Levy noticed. And yet she still, somehow, wanted to trust him. He felt familiar and she had no idea why.

"Okay. You tell me what to do and say and I'll do my best."

"If you get caught out I'll be in deep shit along with you," Gajeel warned her. "The Shinsengumi rules are kind of inflexible that way."

"Oh." Levy hesitated—it would be poor repayment for her life if the man lost his job because she screwed up. Then she stiffened her spine. She wasn't going to mess up. "Don't worry, I won't make you lose your job."

Gajeel-san—or rather, Tani-san, since that was his Shinsengumi name—snorted and seemed to be laughing silently at her. He shook his head.

"You misunderstood, kid. If I screw up I have to commit seppuku—you know, cut my stomach open an' spill my guts? So don't screw up."

[II] - Joining Up

Vice Commander Hijikata glanced at Sub-Captain Tani's young cousin with a jaundiced eye. He wasn't unused to kids hoping for a chance at freedom coming to the Shinsengumi to get away from home. At the same time, this kid looked awfully frail for the toughest—and most hated—armed force in the city.

"Alright, Tani. Since it's you asking and the Commander would've been screwed yesterday without you. The kid'll have to billet with you and the Inspectors though."

"Arigatou gozaimasu, Fukuchō." (5) Gajeel bowed, and Levy did the same.

"Well, it's on you if he fucks up, but you know that." Hijikata-san exchanged a humourless smile with the sub-captain. He turned his gaze once more on Levy. "Okay, Yukimura, Tani says he's told you the rules, make sure you understand 'em, got that? And frankly, if you put one toe out of line I'll kick you out just to avoid having to kill you later. Got that?"

"Hai," said Levy, bowing again.

"Welcome to the Shinsengumi, then. Good luck—you'll need it."

Gajeel-san took this as a dismissal, bowed, and led his young "cousin" out of the room. He looked down at Levy.

"Good job, kid, you didn't get us killed."

Levy very much wanted to respond, but she'd been told not to speak unless absolutely necessary and to keep to one-word answers when possible. She settled for a very ironic bow. Gajeel-san laughed.

"You know, you look pretty cute dressed like that."

Levy glared at him. She was wearing a dark blue hakamashita and dark grey hakama, just like Gajeel-san. He'd cut her hair—meaning that it now came just past her shoulders instead of well past her waist—and it was tied up in a boy's pony-tail. Sadly—from a certain point of view—there hadn't been much need to bind up her breasts. Gajeel-san had even bought her a short-sword to wear, although she had strict instructions not to draw it under any circumstances. Apparently she held it like a girl, whatever that meant. Levy sighed, and momentarily forgot her orders.

"You mean I look like you," she muttered.

Gajeel-san tossed his head back and laughed.

"Yeah, we match. Give or take a couple of feet!"

Still laughing, he jerked his head in the direction of their room, and she followed him across the courtyard, wondering what on earth would happen next.

[END of CHAPTER 2]

A/Note: Please review if you have a moment or two! Even a few words can be very encouraging and let me know what you liked, or even what you didn't care for as much. Or feel free to send me a message here or on tumblr with your comments! Also, likes, and especially reblogs and notes on tumblr are much appreciated. Thank you for reading my story! \(^u^)/

Endnotes:

(1) Traditional loose trousers worn over a kimono or kimono shirt (hakamashita)

(2) Coat, generally styled to be worn over a kimono and usually open in the front (but held partly closed with ties or other more formal decoration). The Shinsengumi haori was designed to be easily recognized because of the light blue colour and the "mountain" design on the sleeves (white triangles).

(3) By design, the Shogun's government, the bakufu, left most roads in very poor repair. This made it difficult for citizens to move around much. However, the roads between Kyoto (the Imperial Capital), Osaka and Edo were kept repaired and were heavily travelled, making them prime targets for bandits (often ronin—masterless samurai trained in combat but unable to find "acceptable" work). Edo (present-day Tokyo) was the principal city of the Shogunate.

(4) "Old tales" are roughly equivalent to western folklore or fairy tales, but not exactly parallel. The term oni generally refers to a type of yōkai, a term that in turn refers to a wide variety of supernatural or mythical creatures; ogre is one of the most common translations of oni but not the only one (demon is also used, since oni typically have horns).

(5) “Thank you very much, Vice Commander!”

A special thank you to all those who answered my question last time about whether to write more of Gajeel of the Shinsengumi. Also, I expect that you will see other Fairy Tail mages in the future, as I expect at least a couple more chapters.

#fairy tail #fanfiction #gajevyweek #gajevy week #gajevy #prompt matching #impracticaldemon #shinsengumi

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