Levy's P.O.V.

"Hey Lulu!" I call for Lucy, "Did you finish your novel yet?"

She turns to look at me and shakes her head.

"Not yet. I'm still working on it. I'm having a writers block and I can't think of anything to brain storm." she whines as she puts her head on the table.

"Don't be discouraged, you'll get it, don't worry." I reassure her, "Do you wanna go somehwere to clear your mind?"

"Sure. It might help. But I'm actually really tired, I don't think I want to go today."

"Are you sure?" I ask.

"Yeah. I just need a break today. I think I'm gonna head home."

"Okay."

I watch Lucy walk out of the guild. She really does look out of it.

I'm actually kind of tense too. I don't really know why though, maybe a walk would help me too. I get up and head for the guild doors.

"Levy, where'you off to?" I hear a familiar voice.

"Why don't you wait for us. We have to keep the all-mighty team Shadow-Gear together don't we?" says another.

I turn around with a smile.

"Jet! Droy! I didn't know you guys came in today."

"I knew you were here, so I came over. I'll always be there to protect you." Jet says.

"No I will!" Droy argues.

"I already said that I will, so back off." Jet comes back

"But I'm the better fighter!"

"Thanks you guys. But I just need a walk to clear my mind, okay?" I say.

They stop their bickering and look towards me.

"Hey, are you all right?" Droy asks, "This isn't like you."

"Yeah, I'm fine. I just need a bit of air. I'll be fine on my own you guys."

They look at me unsure. They must be worried about me. They're really sweet, they've always been there for me. But I'll be fine on my own.

"All right, but be careful, okay." Jet says.

"Of course!" I answer cheerfully as I walk out the door.

Hm. It's actually a really nice day for a walk in the East Forest. I start my way toward the forest, already calming down. The sky is blue with only the occasional white cloud here and there. The air is so clear and fresh, I feel like nothing bad can happen today.

I walk into the peaceful forest. The East forest is such a lovely place to walk through. But, I should probably avoid going anywhere near Ms. Porlyusica's place. She hates humans, so it would probably be best if I avoid getting wacked by a broom.

I keep on walking, not a thought in my mind bothering me. It's such a nice day, I feel better already.

Huh? What's that? There's some rustling from the trees. I turn around to see what's going on.

"Ah!" there's a giant green foot coming from the bushes. A forest Vulcan?

Suddenly, the giant monster comes out from behind the leaves and woods. I was right. It's a giant green gorilla looking creature with pink hearts trailing down his arms.

"Ooohhh. Pretty little girl," it says with a low almost non-understanble voice, "Why don't you come back to my shelter and live with me?"

What?! Is it really doing what I think it's doing? It wants me as its mate?!

"Ah! No way!" I run. I don't know where, but I just keep running. I don't want to be trapped with a creature like that. I just keep running away, letting my legs lead the way.

I can hear the giant sound of his steps following me as I run.

"You won't get away!" it yells.

I start to tear up. I have to get away. Why won't it leave me alone?! I have to get away. Maybe I can distract it enough to by me time to run somewhere safe. But if I stop now, he might get me. I can't worry about that now, I have to find a way to slow him down.

I turn around and raise my hand to my shoulder.

"Solid Script: Ice!" I yell and swipe my hand towards the ground, creating a thin layer of ice. Just enough to make it slip and fall.

I start running again. That should by me some time.

"Ah!" I trip and fall over some tree roots.

I look at the roots, my foots in between two of them. I struggle to take it out, but it won't!

"Oh no!" the Vulcan's coming.

"Heh heh. I got you now." it says while reaching a hand towards me.

Oh no! He's going to get me. I close my eyes. This is it! He's going to take me! I'm too far away from the town for anyone to hear me, even Ms. Porliusica wouldn't be able to hear me now, it's no use calling for help. It's over. I might as well leave it be.

"Oooh!" I hear it cry. Is it in pain?

I open my teary eyes slowly. My sight is a bit blurry, but I see a figure standing there. It looks like the Vulcan's down, the other figure is... massaging its fist?

"You all right?" asks a familiar voice.

My vision is clearing up as I open my eyes a bit more.

"Uh! Gajeel!" I exclaim.

"A puny girl like you shouldn't be walkin' around in a forest like this."

"Gajeel, what are you doing here?" I ask.

"Salamander's been workin' my nerve. Since he went on a job with Lucy and that blue cat, I couldn't give him a piece of my mind, so I came here to pound some monsters. This is the only one I found all day." he answers with his usual annoyed scowl.

I can't believe he saved me again. Even though I get in trouble, he always finds me. I've never been so happy to see him.

"Thank you, Gajeel."

"What are you cryin' for?"

"I'm... crying?" I suddenly notice that my cheeks are wet. Then I feel something warm on my cheek, wiping away the tears.

"Don't be like that, you'll get stronger some day, and you'll be able to that monkey by yourself." Gajeel says, looking straight into my eyes.

I look back. Gajeel...

I give him a cheerful smile. He smirks a grin back and chuckles.

"Get up already. Ye'can't stay down there forever." he says.

"But... my foot's stuck." I look at my ankle caught between to roots.

"Oh?" he looks towards it too, "Just hang tight, 'kay?"

He turns his hand into a sword.

"What are you doing?" I ask a bit panicky.

He raises his sword up. Oh god! What's he going to do? I close my eyes and turn my head. I feel a little pinch on my ankle.

"Huh?" I open my eyes and look at my now free foot. The roots were completely cut up in pieces.

Gajeel grabs my arm and pulls me up. I dust myself off when he lets go of me.

"We should get you outa' here before you get yourself into anymore trouble." he says, his face serious again.

"Right." I answer.

We walk our way out of the forest. Half way out, I look up at him. Gajeel is there for me whenever I'm in trouble. How does he do it? I put myself in danger all by myself, but he always manages to find me.

We make it back to Magnolia. Pantherlily is there to greet us just out of the East Forest.

"I've been looking for you Gajeel, where have you been?" he says.

"I've just been walkin' around the East Forest trying to find monsters to beat up. Then I found this one bein' attacked by some green Vulcan."

I breathe some giggles, kind of embarrased now.

"We should head back to the guild." Lily says.

The two of them walk the path towards the guild hall.

"Wait! Gajeel!" I call.

They turn around. I walk up to them and look at Gajeel.

"Thanks again for saving me back there."

"No problem sprout." he says with a smirk.

"Uh... do you want to have something to eat later? It'll be my treat."

He stares at me unsure.

"What the hell, why not."

"Great! I know a great place! I'm just gonna go home and change and then I'll meet you at the guild. 'Sound good?" I say, noticing my close are completely torn up.

"Sure, whatever." he says, and then walks away with Lily.

Okay, I better go home and change.

√ ∂ ∆ *_..._* ∆ ß √

"Mag's Palace?" Gajeel asks as we stand in front of the restaurant.

"That's right. It's a nice little restaurant. It serves great food and all the waiters are really polite." I say cheerfully.

"Sure." he says flatly.

We go inside the buiding. It's a cute little restaurant. The booths are really comfortable, and so are the chairs. One of the waitresses comes up to us.

"Table for two?" she asks.

"Yes." I answer.

She takes two menus from the desk and then leads us to a booth by a window and hands us the menus as we sit down. We each open up our booklets and look through the pages. All the food is great here, I don't know what to pick. Oh! Maybe I'll take the chicken soup. I haven't had it before and Lucy says it's really good.

"Ready to order?" a waiter asks.

We each give him our order and then give in our menus.

"So? How's your first impression of this place?" I ask Gajeel playfully.

"It's not bad, I guess." he answers flatly.

Hm. Stubborn as ever, I see.

"You know, now that I think about it. I've never seen you eat anything either than iron." I say.

"That's because iron is my favorite food, and I would much rather to that than come to this place."

What?! Is he serious?!

"Uh! Then, why did you come along in the first place?" I ask, doing my best to keep my cool. But I'm not doing so good.

He just stares at me, as if he's looking for something.

"Well, I guessed it would be okay if I went out just this once."

"Huh?" I breathe calmly.

Gajeel's P.O.V.

What is it with her? She's always actin' so weird whenever I talk. I say one thing, she's cryin' her eyes out, and the next thing I say, she's laughin' her head off. She's definitely somethin'.

"So, what were you doin' in that forest in the first place?" I ask.

"Oh, I was just clearing my head a bit." she answers.

"What? Is somethin' wrong?"

"No, I was just tense this morning. I really don't know why though. I thought that I'd be able to clear my head in the East Forest."

"The forest is not for a little girl like you." I tell her.

"I'm sorry, but it's usually calm! I didn't think I'd be attacked by a Vulcan!"

"Cool it down, there's no reason for you to be gettin' so upset, I was just sayin', that's all"

She grunts and crosses her arms.

"I was probably better off just letting you eat your iron peacefully. I shouldn't have even bothered asking you to come for dinner." she mutters.

"Why did you ask me to come?" I ask.

She looks up in shock, and then looks away.

"Well I... wanted to thank you... for saving me."

"Uh!" I stare at her in surprise.

Damn it! Now I feel bad for makin' her upset.

"Oh, sorry." I say.

"Huh? That's rare, you actually apologized." she says, calming down a bit.

"I don't do it every day, but I still know the right time to do it."

She stares at me in shock. Does she know how to stick with one emotion at a time?

The rest of the time was actually not that bad after that.

√ ∂ ∆ *_..._* ∆ ß √

Levy's P.O.V.

"That was really nice! I had a great time!" I say cheerfully.

"Yeah, it actually wasn't half bad." he answers.

I smile at him as sweetly as possible.

"Also, thanks for bringing me back to the girls' dorm." I say.

I go up to him and wrap my arms around him. He's actually really warm.

"Thank you, for saving me." I whisper.

He embraces me as well.

"A puny girl like you needs someone like me to keep you from getting hurt."

I giggle a bit. We stay in each others grasp like this for a while. It's nice being near him. It's... very comforting.

As the days go on, their feelings for each other grow more and more. They live happily with each other. And thus ends the story of Gajeel and Levy's first official date.

GaLe one-shot