The window to the safe house was unlocked as Shadow Script had said,  and they slid easily through it into a neatly furnished living room. Gajeel dropped her down onto the dark green couch, looking around the spacious room, "Nice joint," he commented.

     "You got me here," Shadow Script said firmly, "Now scram. Or I will kill you this time."

     "I'd like to think the reason you didn't kill me the first time is strong enough for you to not kill me now. But you're hurt, you can't stand, ya can't walk. I chose to help you 'cuz you helped me when you didn't let those cops find me, so I'm just returnin'  the favor," Gajeel shrugged, looking out of the window at the dark trees blowing in the wind.

     Shadow Script gave him a defiant look, but didn't say anything.

    "So how do you feel?" he asked after a long pause, sitting down on the arm of the couch.

    She gave him a long look, a frown etched deeply into her face, "That I have a very irritating someone hovering around me that won't take the hint to leave."

     He rolled his eyes, "Fine, whatever. " He turned his back, shaking his head from side to side in obvious aggravation. Shadow Script sighed, then said quietly:

     "Thank you. For... for helping me out."

      Gajeel cast her a surprised look at her over his shoulder, "Who the hell are you and what did you do with Shadow Script?"

     She smiled slightly beneath her mask, and for a moment Gajeel thought it looked... familiar. But the smile vanished and the feeling was gone as she flopped back into the couch. He gave his head a shake.

     "You hungry?" he asked after a moment.

     "Yeah, but I can make my own--" she broke off as he vanished into the kitchen, sighing in exasperation as she sank into the pillows. He returned shortly with a plate of food she devoured hungrily, much to his amusement.

     "You're not bad at this cooking thing," she commented when she was done, picking up a glass of water and taking a long sip,  "So, Gajeel... since I can't get you to scram, might as well have a conversation. What were you doing out so late last night?"

     "Escaping idiots I share a dorm with," he shrugged, then leaned forward, "But what about you? Who or what were you fighting?"

     "My fights are my business," she replied coolly, crossing her arms. She broke off into a pained cough, doubling over for a moment before swallowing hard, "Ow..." she muttered, wiping her lip with a wince.

     "I think I oughta let you get some rest," Gajeel said after a moment, "People'll be missin' me if I'm gone for much longer."

     "Too many friends, not enough time," she laughed faintly with mock sympathy.

     "Nah, just teachers yellin' at me for bein' late. " Gajeel shrugged this off, "Don't have many friends. What about you?"

     "I... I have a couple," she said defensively, "And... maybe you?"

     He blinked, caught off guard by the question. He raised a metal-studded eyebrow, "You were going to kill me ten minutes ago."

      Shadow Script shrugged lightly, "I wouldn't have."

     "You're not as bad as people make you out to be, are ya?" Gajeel tilted his head to the side as he watched her closely. 

     "I like to think I'm not."

     "So you're like Blacksteel," Gajeel realized, "You do your own thing, and people make you look bad for it. Everyone thinks he's bad for the city, but he really helps out as much as he can."

     "Yes, I know about him," Shadow Script nodded, "People thought he was trying to show up the police, but in reality, he's a really nice, cute guy!"

     Gajeel stiffened, and even she looked surprised by her own words, "You like him?" he asked incredulously, gawking at her.

     She didn't know why his face was turning red, but she hunched her shoulders, protesting with a blush, "No, o-of course not!! I..." she trailed off, saying meekly, "So what if I do? It shouldn't mean anything to you!"

     Gajeel cleared his throat, "Uh, 'course not. Anyway, m-my point is, people mislabeled Blacksteel. Did they mislabel you?"

     She ducked her head, but didn't say anything.

     "You don't seem evil," he said, ducking his head to catch her gaze, "Why do you do what you do? I mean, it ain't like you have to tell me, but...."

     "My father... was killed last year," she said softly, refusing to meet his gaze, "It seemed like a typical death to the police, but... I knew it wasn't. It had been plotted. He was a technology expert, and an amazing computer hacker. But he had been working on a project before his last shift in his official job... it had been completed, but he hadn't sent in the information he'd gotten. He was killed at his job that night. And I found a message in his room, in code. It had warned him to give up on the project or he would be killed."

    Shadow Script stared up at the ceiling, "The man who had him killed is a high up business man, that's all I've known. He has a henchman with inhuman powers, whom I've been tracking for awhile. He's looking for something, and I've been following him. He hasn't led me to his boss yet, but it's only a matter of time."

     "So you're trying to get revenge," he realized.

     "And stop more murders," she added, biting her lip, "I'm not a monster, Gajeel, I'm just... confused. I don't want to d-do this by myself, to be alone like this, but the police didn't really give me a choice."

     "Hey," Gajeel rested a hand on her shaking shoulders, and she froze like a deer in headlights, "Easy, squirt," he said, and to his surprise, she leaned into his side. He felt a small smile tug on his lips as he rested a hand on the top of her head.

      "I'm such an idiot," she sighed after a moment, wiping her face, "Getting upset like this for no reason," she dragged a hand back through her hair.

     "You ain't an idiot," Gajeel promised her, and she pulled away from him.

     "Maybe you should go back," she said, standing up to step back away from him as she tried to regain her composure, "It's almost morning anyway."

     He got to his feet as well as she turned away, "Hey, can I see you again?"

     "You want to see me again?"

      "Uh, yeah, actually. You mind?"

     "N-no, but why?"

     Gajeel grinned at her, "Well, we're friends, ain't we?"

     A huge smile spread across her face, and she nodded quickly, "Yes... yes, I'd very much love to see you again."

     He shoved his hands in his pockets with a shrug, "Then I'll see you around," he said as he turned away, beginning to walk away and not knowing that she was smiling warmly after him.