Lucy's POV

"Fraternizing with the enemy I see, you wouldn't be planning on telling Natsu our battle plans now would you Lucy?" Mira gave me a taunting smile, my cheeks most likely flushed red as we walk back to the inn. 

"It was just a small conversation we mostly talked about going on a mission together once this is done, and he said it was okay if I brought Joy along but I didn't tell him who she was or her name and now I'm kinda feeling like I should have, he looked a little hurt for a second there but I also want her to be a surprise you know?" 

"Lucy your rambling," Ruby cut me off and I noticed I had been twiddling my fingers during my rant. 

"Oh, ha I was, wasn't I?" as sheepish as I was they all smiled at me anyway, "You know what, why don't you guys head on to the inn I'm gonna take a walk to clear my head."

"Alright, Lucy-chan see you later," Yukino waved, her and Kagura heading on ahead of the group.

"You guys go I'm going to go with Lu-chan I could use some air myself, I'll make sure she doesn't go off telling people our master plans either~" Lev-chan came up beside me not missing her own chance to tease me. 

"Levy!" I cried my palms now hiding my burning face. 

"Alright see you ladies later~!" Mira sang as her and Ruby left the two of us alone. As we walked through the town I soaked in the suns warmth stretching my arms above my head, when I put them down again I looked over to Levy who wasn't looking to hot, honestly she looked a little pale and her eyes seemed dull. 

"Hey Lev are you okay? you don't look to good," I asked concerned, she blinked before looking at me. 

"Huh, oh sorry yeah I'm okay just lost in thought I guess-"

"No Levy, you look like you're sick," my worry growing the longer we walked, "Maybe we should head back."

"No, no really I'm just tired, it's been a long time since I've used these powers and there's a fountain near here where I can rejuvenate my powers, I'm fine really." She stepped in front of me waving her arms in refusal to my idea. "Please Lucy, I actually want to talk to you about something. About being a Dragon Slayer."

Heaving a sigh I gave in, "Alright, but only because this seems to be important," She visibly perked up at my words a smile gracing her lips, "But we're getting you a bottle of water on our way to this fountain you mentioned." Agreeing with my terms we continued on our venture through town stopping at a store to by a few water bottles so that Levy could restore her powers and as she said we found ourselves in a garden with a running fountain. "So what is it you wanted to tell me?" I asked as we sat on a bench close to the fountain.

"You know how you were rambling earlier about not telling Natsu about your exceed Joy?" she was looking down at the ground beneath us as her legs swung lightly. 

"Ugh, how could I forget, that was soo embarrassing-"

"He's your mate."

"Eeh!? Nani!?" I looked at her incredulously. 

"Those feelings you were dealing with earlier, some of that would have been the pull from being each others mate, the other part would have been all you," she looked up at me completely serious, "And honestly I know exactly how you're feeling right now. If it weren't for my own mate I wouldn't have my powers back right now, and I know I should tell him but..." 

"You don't know how," my heart ached for my best friend, we've known Gajeel for a long time now and if it weren't for the fact that their mates she wouldn't be a dragon slayer again, "Oh Levy.." 

Gajeel's POV

I was walking around tired of hearing the guys cheerin' bout our victory today when I found bunny girl and shrimp sitting on a bench talkin' to each other and what I overheard pissed me off, "-honestly I know exactly how you're feeling right now. If it weren't for my own mate I wouldn't have my powers back right now, and I know I should tell him but..."

"You don't know how," Lucy pulled my shrimp into a hug and I swear I smelt tears, "Oh Levy..." they hugged for a few minutes while my hands began bleeding from clenching them so hard, but I was furious, she's my shrimp, I don't care if it'll hurt her I'll kill him. (A/N:  me as I'm writing this 'You are him metal head' -_-)

Levy's POV

Lucy finally let go off me and I cleared the couple of tears that escaped, "You stay here while I get you some more water, honestly I don't know how you've survived this long, you literally emptied the four bottles we bought before we even sat down!" she half scolded, I laughed with her before she waved goodbye and left the park. As I sat there I closed my eyes before moving over to the fountain. Perching myself on the edge I gazed into the clear ripples as I gently moved my hand around the water soaking up its relaxing energy. I could feel its power flowing through my veins when a presence appeared behind me, opening my eyes I looked at the reflective surface before me to find an enraged Gajeel and I can only assume he overheard my conversation with Lu-chan. "What do you want Black Steel?" I tried to remain detached focusing on the pool in front of me. 

"Who is he?" even through the water his crimson orbs burned into me as my other hand clenched in my lap as I tried to play it off as being clueless. 

"Who is who?" 

"You know who Levy! Who is he!?" I flinched at the harshness in his tone but it irritated me nonetheless. 

"And why do you care!?" I turned facing him head on knowing my strength had returned just by soaking in the coolness that flowed through the fountain, "My life is none of your business anyway, so why should I tell you!?" As I went to shove past he gripped my bicep preventing me from moving further.   

"Levy you'll tell me or I'll-" 

"Or you'll what?"