literature

A Big Heart

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Literature Text

This story is the sequel to ‘A Small Heart’.  It contains ideas that have been present in my other fics, so it may not feel original if you’ve read a lot of my stuff.

Gajeel was not a lovey-dovey kind of guy.  But, since admitting to himself that he liked Levy, it had changed him in ways that he had never expected.  She was just so… intoxicating to him.  He always wanted a bit more.  Another smile.  Another glance.

Which might go some way towards explaining why he was acting like some kind of creepy peeping Tom.  She’d left her window ajar in the summer heat and he had pushed it open, watching her in the dark.  Sleeping Levy was the ultimate combination of cute and sexy, and he wasn’t sure how much he could control himself around her.  Watching her small body snuggle under those sheets… he dearly wished to be right next to her.  

Suddenly frustrated, he quickly vacated her room.  Damn it all to hell, this wasn’t fair!  How could she have so much power over him!?  He was the dominant one, the powerful one!  And yet, she chained him to her will.  All he wanted to do was to make her happy.  He wanted to see that smile.  Sure, he also wanted that pout as he patted her head and taunted her height, but that was all part of the same parcel.

Parcel.  An apt word considering the impending date of her birthday.  The correct parcel might just invite a few… pleasantries?  He snarled suddenly.  Damn it, was the great Iron Dragon reduced to plotting to get birthday hugs!?  When had that happened?  Why had Metalicana not warned him about this love stuff?  

Thankfully, on the way home, some fool pulled a knife on him, demanding his wallet.  Sighing with relief, Gajeel beat the ever-loving crap out of him, glad to finally have a relaxing activity.

===][===

Lucy glowered up and Gajeel glowered down.  They stood outside a book store early the next morning.  

“Why are you here?”  Lucy asked archly.

“Same reason as you, I’d guess,” Gajeel drawled.  

“Look, I need to get Levy a fantastic present.  Did you see the custom made print she had done of my early work?  I mean it was leather-bound, and that isn’t cheap!  She’s my best friend – I have to get her a present that’s just as good.”

“Well, I got my own reasons.  So I think I’m the one who should get this bookstore.  You can go elsewhere.”

“It’s Levy, so it has to be books.  And what do you mean, ‘your own reasons’?  Gajeel Redfox are you telling me what I think you’re telling me?”  Lucy grinned impishly and Gajeel looked away, refusing to blush at such a simple taunt.  “I mean, it couldn’t be that the lean, mean Gajeel Redfox has a crush on the sweet, innocent Levy?  That’s be insane, right?”

“Oi, just shut your trap.  You got a problem with it?”

“No!  Of course not.  I think it’s wonderful and gooey and lovey-dovey and all that!”

“It is not ‘lovey-dovey’.  I do not do lovey-dovey.  Now, I’m gonna just go into this bookstore and buy Shrimp a book. How hard can it be?”

===][===

Ten minutes later, Lucy and Gajeel were sitting on a bench outside the store, heads in their hands.

“I have no idea what I’m doing in there,” Gajeel wailed.

“I mean, she probably has every book in there already,” Lucy agreed.  “I want something absolutely perfect, that no one else could give her.”

“No, I want that.  Back off Bunny-girl, I need this more than you.”

Lucy looked up at Gajeel, allowing some frustration to show.  “You know, you may be a crass bastard, but you really care about Levy-chan, don’t you?”

“I am not a crass bastard,” Gajeel whined petulantly, expertly avoiding the question.  He shifted uncomfortably as Lucy kept staring at him.  “Come on, you’re the smart one.  Can’t you come up with two great ideas so that we can both have something?”

“It’s not that easy, metalface!  Levy gave me a custom made book of my own writings – I can’t just… pull… something… out…  Oh my god, I’m a moron!  It was so obvious!  I know what I have to do!”  Lucy jumped to her feet excitedly.

“Hey, wait!  What about me!?”  Gajeel cried, reaching out to stop her by grabbing her arm.  He put on his best puppy dog eyes – which were more like a wolf’s killer stare.  “Please help me.”

Lucy giggled.  It was so nice to see Gajeel’s sillier side, like when he’d adopted Lily.  He was a big softy under all that armour.  “Well Gajeel, do you remember that Levy went on that mission last week?  She took a hit – nothing major, don’t panic – but it crushed her glass case and smashed her gale-force reading glasses.  She needs a new pair, but they’re very expensive.”

“How expensive?”  Gajeel asked, standing, ready to run off and get them.  Lucy drew her pair from her handbag.

“See these?  They’re two times normal speed.  They cost me two thousand jewels.  Levy is much more powerful with them than me, so she used a times sixteen speed pair.  I think they retail at about eight thousand jewels.”

“Eight thousand!?”  Gajeel said slowly.  “Okay, I guess that’ll work.  Expensive and thoughtful.  That’s a good present, right?”

“Can you spend that much?”

“I have money.”  It was true.  Gajeel took high-end missions with high payoffs.  On top of that, his rent was low, and he didn’t exactly spend it on a lot of baubles and trinkets.  Scrapyards had free iron, after all.  His eyes lit up.  “But I think I’ve just had a much better idea!  Thanks Rabbit-ears!”

As he ran off, Lucy puffed out her cheeks. Damn his nicknames.  Still, hopefully he’d get something nice.  She had to hurry, she only had about a week to go, and a lot of work to do!

===][===

As Levy awoke, she stretched her small limbs under the sheets, enjoying the feeling of the fabric against her skin.  Today was her birthday, the day she turned eighteen going twenty five.  She was a bit nervous about her party.  Levy wasn’t shy exactly, but she wasn’t used to being the centre of attention.  The guild was full of such amazing people that she was always in the periphery.  

But what if Gajeel came!?  What if he gave her a present!?  Her face flushed bright red and her heart hammered in her chest like a jackhammer, imagining perfect scenarios where he was the perfect gentleman, with the perfect present… it made her chest feel like it would explode.

She remembered the brief discussion that they had shared at Lucy’s birthday.  Gajeel had said that her chest hurt because her heart was so big that it couldn’t fit inside her small chest.  He thought well of her, to think her generous and kind.  That’s what he’d meant by a big heart, right?  She sighed a little, worried that Gajeel’s grasp of metaphor might be a little shaky.

Still, she would be every happy if he got her anything.  In fact, she was sure that her heart would explode!

===][===

Lucy was a little surprised.  Her birthday had taken up one of the long tables at the guild.  Levy’s took up the same space, but it groaned under the weight of all the presents and people on and around it.  Lucy hadn’t considered the petite mage to be quite so popular.  She could see Levy at the head of the table, blushing at all the attention.  Lucy was a little startled to find Erza at her side.

“It’s amazing, Erza.”

“You’ve only been in the guild for about a year.  If you take out Makarov and the oldies, Levy is one of the longest-running guild members.  She’s the only girl who’s been at the dorms as long as me.  You’d have loved to meet young Levy.  She was the most adorable, shy creature you’d ever find.  Made Wendy look like a giant.”

“So, she’s never changed then?  Gihihi!”  Both girls sweat-dropped as Gajeel swaggered up behind them.  Lucy noticed that he held two small presents, neither a book by the shape.  She assumed one was the glasses, but the other?

“I’m going first,” Lucy stated.

“Go ahead, Rabbit-boobs.  I wanna go last.”

“Rabbit-boobs?”

“Hey, they can’t all be winners.”  They approached the table where Levy was frantically opening presents to assuage the load.  Unlike Lucy who had received a cacophony of evil presents, 99% of Levy’s were books.  She’d open them, flash disappointed at recognizing a book she’d read and then thank the giver warmly nonetheless.  Of course, not even Levy had read every book in existence.

“The Guide of How to be a Man?  I’m not sure I can use this, but thanks, Elfman!  The 100 sword styles of Wutai?  Erm, thanks Erza, but I can barely lift a sword, let alone swing one!  Fishing for Dummies?  Happy, do your own fishing!  At least I can count on Lily for something more sensible – Kiwi Farming for Dummies!?  Who wrote that!?”

Time passed and the pile began to diminish.  Eventually, it was Lucy’s turn.  She recoiled slightly as Levy turned her big hazel eyes on her.  Oh god, it would be like disappointing a puppy if she didn’t like her gift.  Slowly, Lucy offered her package, clearly another book.  Levy looked delighted – the giant mountain of books not dulling her enthusiasm – and quickly unwrapped it.

It was a small book, and Levy quickly noted that it had been leather-bound like her own present.  She traced the title with her fingers.  The Princess and the Dragon.  Quickly darting her eyes over the pages, she swiftly ascertained that it was short novel based on herself and Gajeel.  She recognized Lucy’s writing style easily.  

“That, Levy-chan, is a one of a kind Heartphilia.  There will never be another copy of it, so you now own a completely unique book custom made for you.”  The silence after Lucy’s words were only broken by the fangirling squeal emitting from Levy’s mouth.    Her very own book!?  Just for her!?  Lucy staggered to the side as Levy threw herself at the blonde.

“Thank you thank you thank you, I’ll read it every day, I promise!”

“Well, you don’t have to do that…”

“NO!  I’ll read it every day!”  Levy promised.  And she meant it.  A book of this size could be devoured by Levy in mere minutes, but it wasn’t about the length – it was the heart and soul in every word.  It took about three minutes to pry Levy off of Lucy, mainly because she realised that Gajeel was getting ready to gift her.  

Her face flushed red as he approached the table, her heart hammering in her chest again.  Oh god, she was going to explode for sure this time!  And he had two presents?  Two!  Don’t pop, Levy!  But, they weren’t books, confusing her a little.

“Open this one first,” he instructed, pushing one parcel forward.  Curious, she began to unwrap it, finding a glass case inside.  He’d bought her glasses!?  She flicked it open to look at the glasses inside and froze.  Lucy leaned in, curious.

“Sixty four times speed glasses!?”  The blonde shrieked.  “But they cost…”

“Oi, ain’t it rude to say how expensive a present is?”  Gajeel growled.  “The cost ain’t important.”

“I-I always wanted these, but I could never afford so much,” Levy said thinly.  “As long as I had working glasses, replacing them with an upgrade was too much of a luxury.  Oh, Gajeel, they’re perfect!  But I’m scared I’ll break them again!”

“Then open the second present, dumbass.”  Levy puffed out her cheeks at the insult and picked up the second present which was the same size as the first one.  It was another glass case, but this one was metal, with an etching of what she presumed was Metalicana on it.  

“It’s pretty,” she said, liking the idea of having a Gajeel-themed glass case.

“It’s more than that.  It’s made from a composite alloy that’s incredibly tough but lightweight.  So, while it’s thin and light, it’s super tough.  If you keep your new glasses in it, you’ll never break ‘em in battle again.”

“You made this yourself?”  Levy asked with wonderment.

“Well, it wasn’t a big deal,” Gajeel replied blushing.  Actually, it’d taken about five days of constant work at a forge, using his magic to combine metals into the right ratios.  Levy saw through his ruse and jumped up to hug him.

“You’re so kind!”  She said happily into his chest.

“Y-yeah,” he mumbled, glaring harshly at the crowd enjoying the scene.  “I mean, it’ll help protect you.  You know how in movies, people always get shot, but it hits their canteen or something.”

Levy looked up at him and smiled.  “Well then, I’ll keep it right over my big heart, so it never has to hurt again!”
The sequel to 'A Small Heart'
© 2013 - 2024 Kurisu313
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Nalulover12's avatar
I fell of my chair reading this because it was so kawii... but oh well, it was freaking awesome!!!