Levy stared at Blacksteel, not sure she believed the words that had just left his mouth. "You... you like me?"

       "Well, yeah." It was hard to look awkward while wearing a skeleton mask, but nonetheless, she could tell.

      The thought was too good to be true, so she decided to check, "You're not just telling me this to make me feel less like a waste of space?" She saw him stiffen, and guessed he was blushing as he said abruptly "Hell no!"

      Then he coughed, scratching his cheek as he shifted positions. "I swear it, Levy. I really do like you."

       Levy stared at him for a long moment in silence. Then she stepped closer, touching the side of the mask with a pale hand. "I would pay a million dollars to see the expression on your face right now," she said quietly.

      Blacksteel hesitated, then made up his mind. His hands found the side of his mask to pull it off, but she quickly caught his hands in hers to stop him.

        "I said I'd pay, not you," she laughed softly, "A hero needs his secret identity. I can't just take that away from you."

      "But you--"

       "I know, and I appreciate the attempt," she smiled warmly at him, and his face warmed again.  "Besides, you have work to do. There are people in this town who need you more than I do." She gave him a small nudge, "It's your job, hero."

       "Yeah, but..." he hesitated, then realized he'd been hesitating a lot recently. He didn't like that much, but refined his attention in the conversation with a glance at the busy streets below the building. Then he looked back to her face. "What about my job as a friend?"

      There was such a deep level of concern in Blacksteel's half hidden eyes that Levy couldn't stop herself. She stepped forward, closing her eyes and sliding his mask back to the top of his head. She pressed her lips against his, giving him a small kiss that he clearly hadn't been expecting. He went rigid with shock, but only for a moment. His hands were on her waist as he pulled her closer to deepen the kiss.

      Levy cupped her hands around his cheeks, feeling the warmth of his blush though she kept her eyes closed. Then she broke the kiss, instead pushing her head into his chest. "Your mask," she mumbled into his shirt, but he was too dazed to reply. "P-put your mask back on," she repeated.

     "... I... what?"

     "You don't want me to find out your identity, do you?" she said, "Put your mask back onto your face!"

       His mind wasn't working properly, and he was still dazed, but he slowly tugged the mask back onto his face. Then he weaved his fingers through the soft curls of her hair, still a little disoriented. 

     "You... you kissed me," he said aloud.

      "I told you I liked you, didn't I?" Levy pulled away from him. Then she paused as her watch let out a small chirp, and she brought it up so she could see it.

      "Y-yeah, but I didn't think you really meant it," he admitted, scratching the back of his neck. He noticed her chirping watch, "Uh... what is that?"

      "Nothing," she said quickly, stowing it behind her back. "I have... I have to go, okay? C-can I see you soon?"

      "I-I can be here tomorrow," he began, but she gave his hand a squeeze with a hasty "Thanks!" then darted towards the stairs that would lead her away. He watched her go with an odd feeling in his stomach, but he couldn't help but to feel he should've told her who he was.

Elsewhere....

      Levy slipped her mask over her face, exhaling deeply as she stared at herself in the mirror. She was in the bathroom outside of campus, changing into Shadow Script. Her watch had alerted her to a disturbance downtown, and the culprit was one she'd been searching for since her father was killed. She was sure of it.

      Now, she sucked in a deep breath at the prospect of fighting this man again. The first time had ended poorly. The second time her watch had alerted her was the museum, and he had left before she'd gotten there. All other attempts had failed, but tonight... tonight she would catch him at his crime.

      Shadow Script sprinted out of the concrete block that was the bathroom, waving a hand. "Solid Script... wind!" The gush caught her in its icy breath, pulling her into the air to further her search.

      Short chapter, eh? Sorry about that, I just wanted to put the drama stuff to come in the same chapter. I want to apologize for all of the slow updates, because I know it's annoying. But I'm actually changing the plot from the original story I wrote, so what I'm typing up for you guys is actually probably better. I have to adapt it, and I can be lazy, so these adaptions take time... Now, I'm not complaining in the least, and I love to update for you guys! 

       I don't like to badger you guys for votes and comments, but.... VOTE AND COMMENT, PLEASE!!! I really love to hear from you guys, each comment makes my day, whether constructive criticism or just a smily face. I like to hear from you like Natsu likes punching Gray in the face XD

      So just a thanks to all of you amazing people reading this! I owe you all one for staying with me despite all my painfully slow updates. I never really expected to get more than, like, five reads on my books, so WOO!!!! You guys are amazing! Can't thank you enough.

       That looks like all for what I wanted to say (but seriously, thanks for the support), so enjoy your lives and have a great day!!

                        ---Gajevyx99 out