There you go guys! The Gale chapter I promised you! Hope you'll like it! :)

Levy was sitting next to Gajeel in the small plane flying to Hargeon. The trip in its all exceeding the duration of a normal work day, Makarov offered them to pay for their plane ticket on their way to the car, driving on the way back, to minimise the travelling time. However, the plane taking off only that evening, they'll still bust their hours. Their boss offered them to pay extra hours but Levy assured him that compensating for the travel expenses was enough, much to Gajeel's displeasure. He knew that both of them already owed so much to the old man but he couldn't help himself from expressing his annoyance. Why did he accept that task already? Ah yeah, to prevent dumb and dumber to go with her. However, he was still wondering why the idea of them accompanying Levy was bothering him, making him let out a growl.

- Are you okay? Asked the young women who didn't say a word since the beginning of the trip.

- Fine.

- You don't seem like it, she told unsure.

- If I told you I'm fine it's because I am! He barked.

- Okay! Okay! Jeez! I was only asking, she said a little dreamy.

"Pfffff", he thought, "she asks me if I'm fine and then puts that face on". She seemed to be concerned about something. "Not like I was interested in what she's thinking about" he thought. His mouth decided otherwise.

- What are you thinking about? He surprised himself.

No answer. The shrimp was staring at the seat in front of her and the idiom "lost in her thoughts" never made that much sense.

- Shrimp! I'm talking to you!

- Hen? She said getting out of her trance while he was clapping his fingers in front of her face.

- What are you thinking about? He repeated, now yelling to her.

If he seemed attentive and interested the first time he asked, now, it almost looked like he was threatening her.

- You don't have to yell! She shouted nearly as loud as him.

- Tssss, was his only answer while he leaned on his seat, crossing his arms in from of him.

- You're sulking now?

No answer. The tension feel at once while Levy burst to laugh, holding her stomach whit both hands.

- What the hell are you laughing about? He growled.

- The big bad Gajeel his sulking, hahahahaha!

- That not funny.... And I'm not even sulking. You getting on my nerves that's all.

To tell the truth, her laugh was rather contagious and she didn't get on his nerves that much... just a little.

- So? You'll tell me what you were thinking about or not? He said after a moment, his sulking frown still on.

Levy's expression went back to a serious one. What could she possibly have on her mind?

- I was thinking about the reasons Mira and Laxus would let a car there.

- The old man explained that, she was injured.

- Too many things just don't add up. Starting with the reasons that brought them that far away. Fairy Tail never makes business with Hargeon. Also, why would they take two vehicles to go there if they were working together?

- You're asking too many questions shrimp. What's important is to bring back that stupid car, right?

The bluenette seemed to reflect on that a moment than nodded in agreement.

- You're probably right.

A silence took place between both of them. It wasn't the awkward silence generated most of the time with two people that barely know each other. It was quite the opposite. Gajeel though the silence was actually... comfortable.

***

A silence took place between her and Gajeel. It was comfortable, she though. She didn't felt the obligation to talk or to invent any random and boring conversations just to compensate for the lack of words. Even though she promised herself she wouldn't read during the trip, she took her novel from her bag. It wasn't to avoid Gajeel. Way too often, she used her books to escape from the unpleasant company of someone. This time, as weird as it could seem, she had the impression that reading was getting them closer.

After a moment, she noticed Gajeel looking to her book above her shoulder. Look, not read, because it was practically impossible he knew the language the book was written in. Normally, Levy hated when people did that while she was reading. Then again, when it was Gajeel, it wasn't unpleasant.

The plane finally landed and both of them got out of it a couple of minutes later.

- The port is thirty minutes by foot from the airport. Do we walk or should we call a cab? Asked the blue haired girl.

- By the time the cab gets here we'll already be half there. I'm walking, he decided, starting to walk without waiting for her.

Levy had to run to catch up and, even when she had actually caught up, she had to do twice as much steps as him to keep up his pace.

- Do you really have to walk this fast? She complained, out of breath, after a couple of long minutes.

- Gihi! It's your own fault for having such short legs! He laughed.

- As if I'm short on purpose! You're just a...Umph!!

Levy's sentence was cut off when she ran into Gajeel who stopped without a warning.

- What's your problem? She started before being interrupted by Gajeel's hand on her mouth.

His look, normally careless, was more rigid. He motioned her to be silent and pointed something. She narrowed her eyes to get a better look in the dark before she could identify a ruined car. The windows were broken and it was all battered. Her eyes widened in horror when she realised it was the car Gajeel and her were supposed to recover.

- Who could have done such a thing? She whispered to her partner.

- I'll go take a look, he said without answering. Stay right there.

- Gajeel wait!

- I told you to stay here! Those who did that might still be around.

Before she could retort that it was dangerous for him as well, he was already too far to speak to him without yelling. She wasn't comfortable with the idea, far from it, but did as he said anyway, knowing she could only get in Gajeel's way if she did otherwise. She sighed in relief when he indicated the way was clear. She made a few steps in his direction when a force pulled her backwards. Surprised, it took her a moment to understand that it was a hand, tightening painfully around her wrist, that violently dragged her back.

Far from her, she could hear Gajeel's voice shouting her name. It gave her the courage she needed to hit a precise point in her attacker's throat, thanks to her many action books for the tip, stopping his breading for a moment. It bought her just enough time for her to use the oldest trick in the book: a good old kick between the legs. Once she was free from his grip, she ran with all her might and located Gajeel, running as well in her direction. Giving in to her instincts, she threw herself into the young man's harms, as if he was a shelter.

***

- You're okay? He asked embarrassed and at the same time proud that she chose to hide in his harms.

She confirmed she wasn't injured with a nod.

- We gotta go... Now! He said, peering nervously around. I'm sure he isn't alone.

The young woman, still in his harms, nodded again. Before they even could make a single step, gunshots could be heard in the dark. Shit, he told himself. Impossible to know from where they were coming from. Not wanting to have a tiny person like her off his sight, he took her hand and ran in the direction opposite to the sea. It was their best chance, he thought. Otherwise, they could easily be cornered. Chance wasn't on the side though. He sensed his muscles tightened when he saw the silvery sheen caused by the canon of a gun and then, the man that was holding it. Followed closely by two other man plus the one that attacked Levy.

Obviously, they were implied in a fight not long ago. Their faces were covered in bruises and one of them had a large cut through his eyebrow, clearly the result of a punch. Sadly, whoever inflicted this to them did it when they weren't all armed. They were too close, running would be an invitation to shoot them. A small hand tightened in his. Gajeel's anger only grew more. This little shrimp in love with books shouldn't be in that kind of situation.

- We told Dreyar two weeks! Shouted the one with the damaged eye.

- We don't know was you're talking about! Told them Levy.

"In what mess did that moron just threw us in" thought Gajeel clenching his teeth.

- As if he didn't send you to get the car. I saw you sneaking around it. Whoops! Sorry about that by the way. We kind of accidently broke it, he said with sarcasm triggering his allies' laughs.

- We were told to pick up the car. Obviously, rats damaged it, so we don't have anything to do here anymore, settled Gajeel.

- Not so fast! Said their distasteful interlocutor. What proves me Dreyar isn't simply impatient?

- You really think I'd bring that little shrimp with me if I knew it was dangerous? Stormed Gajeel, Levy's hand still tight in his.

- She nonetheless is a fierce one your shrimp, he said giving a look in the direction of the man still standing oddly after the bluenette's retort.

Gajeel could only smirk to that.

- I can agreed to that! She can hit hard if she wants to, he said with a reference to their first meeting.

He ignored Levy's stare. It wasn't time for jokes. He had to find a way to get out of that shit.

- What do you want with us so we can get it over, spat Gajeel.

- I want you to deliver a message, he said pulling Levy unceremoniously to him, pointing a gun on her temple.

Gajeel's blood was boiling from the excess of rage but the slightest misstep on his behalf and Levy would be the one to pay. It took him all his will to say still when Levy's hand was ripped from his.

- Now we can discuss, said the man. Here's my message.

Without warning, he struck him a blow in the stomach which emptied his lungs from their content. It was Levy's turn to scream his name, but he knew neither of them could do a thing.

- He also forgot that.

He drove his knee to his face, taking advantage of the fact that he was bent to recuperate some air. Blood was streaming form his eyebrow from a wound similar to the one the man had. There weren't any doubts, it was Laxus that hurt him that way and he was passing his anger on him. Satisfied, he grabbed Gajeel by the collar and stamped him into the building behind them.

- Say to Dreyar the next one of his little friends to come here within the next 13 days is dead. I won't let any other chances.

Gajeel glared at him with such intensity he was on the impression he could see, in a brief instant, fear in his enemies' eyes even with his advantageous situation. He finally let him go. The other did the same with Levy who rejoin him as soon as she was free. When they were out of sight, she finally dare to speak, bringing her shaking hands closer to his bruised eye.

- Don't worry shrimp, I'll be fine.

She examined it anyway with attention with her large hazel eyes, looking for any sign that could prove the opposite. Her analyse completed, she allowed herself to sigh in relief.

- I swear to you, that Dreyar jerk owe us some serious explanations, he growled.

Levy's suspicions were founded. The whole thing was shady and answers were missing to too many questions.

Next chapter will be the first where the four of them will really interact together. In other words, the ambience will be...electric! ;)

See you soon!