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Lily xx

Juvia sat at the bar of the tavern next to Gray. The later wasn't saying anything, peacefully sipping his beer, but Juvia simply couldn't help herself from staying by his side. When he was there, she simply felt good, as if the young man was her sun, the one that, by a single smile, could make her day.

After a moment, realising she was thirsty, she made a couple of steps in Mira's direction to order her a lemonade. However, getting closer, Juvia noticed that the young woman, who never seemed to let down her bright smile, was looking perplexed.

"I'm seriously wondering why would she go to the palace", said a worried Mira to Laxus.

"Probably another translating contract" let out the young man, not sharing at all the barmaid's concerns.

"No, that's the point", denied the white haired girl. "You know very well I'm the one responsible of giving the missives concerning translations to Levy. I would be aware if such an important job would be given to her".

"You're once again worrying about noting", he grumbled with an annoyed tone.

Frustrated, she hit him with the pile of paper she was classifying.

"Hey! What's your problem woman!"

The replica earned him a second hit.

"Stupid Dreyar" she mumbled.

She however didn't went away, simply staring at Laxus with a frown. Even though she hasn't known them for a long time, Juvia knew Mira wouldn't stay mad for long. In fact, it wasn't the first time the tall young man was getting on Mira's nerves, but she seemed to always stay and forgive him. Juvia even wondered if Laxus could be doing it on purpose to get her attention. "Ah... Juvia would be so happy if Gray would try to get her attention too!" Thought the young woman without realizing the later didn't have to make any effort to obtain it.

She finally managed to focus her attention on the actual situation: Levy had left for the palace for a different reason than work. Juvia couldn't help herself from having a bad feeling about it. She vaguely remembered Gajeel, when he came back from Levy's house, two days ago. Despite making certain smiles she wasn't used to see on his face while he thought she wasn't looking, Juvia remembered Gajeel mumbling something about Levy being stupid. "Shit" she thought. She should have payed more attention at that moment. But how to stay focussed while Gray had been so kind... "Focus!" She reprimanded herself. She scanned her memory a little more. Some elements were added: Gajeel complaining he could fend for himself, that he didn't need a shrimp's help... The young woman started to put the pieces in place.

Despite the paleness of her skin, she lost a little more colours. She had to find Gajeel. Leaving the tavern, she started her research at the room she was sharing with him without success. She then did the same with the edge of the forest where he liked to spend some time and finally to Levy's house, just in case. The discomfort in the pit of her stomach grew a little more every place she looked in vain. There were now no more doubts in her mind: he probably followed Levy to the palace.

***

Levy was crying for so long that she seemed to be out of tears. She hadn't let go of his hand and all he could do was to squeeze her tiny hand in his. He didn't blame her, how could he? Gajeel was however accumulating a lot of anger towards the one responsible of all this. Whoever he was, the person having accused Levy of murder was the origin of his problems, of Juvia's, the only family he ever had, and the problems of that little shrimp who seemed to be the embodiment of kindness. If he had doubted her honesty at some point, his instincts now knew she was telling the truth.

He wanted to reassure her, to promise her everything would be just fine, but their chances of getting out of this alive were slim. "Wake up, Redfox!" He reprehended himself about those depressing thoughts that weren't like him. No way he would lose to that idiot king and his bastard of a counsellor, neither to Phantom to which he was developing more hatred by the minute. If working for the good meant to torment someone as frail and smiling as the shrimp, well working for the good was pretty shitty.

"Stop crying!" he finally said, going against what he meant.

"Sorry" she said.

"Stop apologizing!" he tempered. "It's not your fault, shrimp, you hear me?"

"But..."

"Tsss. I already told you, it really is too complicated in your head."

Despite his lack of tact, he somehow managed to draw out a smile from her.

"I would've like to meet you in other circumstances" she whispered.

The young man's heart sank, realising it would have been pleasant to simply stroll with her, probably annoying her to see to that cute pout she made when he was getting on her nerves... Not announcing her he was seconds away to end her life, not having to constantly make sure she was alive or looking for his back.

"Yeah... Me too shrimp" he mumbled gently, surprising himself doing so.

"I would also like if that wall wasn't there" she dared to add after a new silence, referring to the bars that were keeping them apart.

This time, and for one of the firsts time of his life, red tinted the young man's cheeks. She surely was only saying this knowing they would die tomorrow at the latest, but her words still initiated that reaction. "What's wrong with me?" he thought, surprising himself a little more wanting the same thing.

"Gihi, you maybe scared that coward of a king too much so he thought it was wiser to put you in a separate cell" he let out.

"I can be very dangerous if I want to" she said, playing his game.

"Beside dangerous for yourself, I don't see... ouch!" he complained after she had punched him with her right hand.

"Did I really hurt you?" Asked Levy, half sorry, half triumphant.

"Of course not, gihi" he laughed while she put on that pout he liked so much without really knowing why.

"Stupid Gajeel!" She exclaimed without however taking back her left hand that was still tied to his.

The young man was about to make another comment, but foot steps could be heard in the corridor. His heart skipped a beat, Levy's hand hanging to him more than ever. "Phantom", he thought. Already? He didn't really want to rot in that humid cell any longer, but letting the shrimp here alone... a new wave of anger took over him.

"You can go to hell" he growled while two shapes hidden under the traditional Phantom cape stopped in front of his cell.

They were escorted by one of the royal guard that had started to unlock the door. Gajeel tightened Levy's hand one last time in his own then let her go, rising up. If he had a single chance, it was now. He sadly didn't have his sword but he would have to do without. The click indicating that the latch had turned was heard. Not wasting any time, he was about to knock out at least the royal guard. In a one against two fight, at least, he would have a better chance.

But his impulse was stopped straight, seeing his target collapsing before him. "What just happened?" Wondered Gajeel. He however didn't have time to think about it and decided to take advantage of the situation to derogate his attack on the closest Phantom member.

"Stop!" Exclaimed the other Phantom soldier, getting between him and the one he was about to hit right in the face.

That voice, he could recognize it anywhere.

"Juvia? What the hell are you doing here?" He exclaimed, caught off guard.

"Is simply thanking someone really above your abilities, metal head?"

The pervert's there too? Recognized Gajeel.

"How did you find us?" Asked Levy before Gajeel could say something unpleasant.

"We'll explain everything once we get out of here" said Gray while grabbing the keys from the guard's unconscious body to let Levy out.

"Gray and Juvia managed to knock out the two Phantom emissaries" specified Juvia, "but we probably don't have a lot of time left before they notice the ruse".

Neither of them wanting to linger on the scene, the group stated to run towards the exit, trying to put as much distance possible between them and the dungeon.