#‘you should take random strangers making suggestions about your eating habits as a compliment’ is certainly a take I just read

[prisonpodcast]

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[riofann]

Rio Random

You don’t know how long you have been standing there but you watch as their body language speaks for them. You hear some words but you can’t really tell what they are talking about it’s loud at the house. An involuntary sharp breath is taken when you see him push her hair back. 

“Y/N?”  Your head snaps towards the direction of your name “Hey!” Marie a long time acquaintance walks over to you looking cheerful “I haven't seen you in so long” she comments

You force out a smile “Hey Marie! how are you?” you ask leaning into the hug

“I’m good! how are you wow look at you!” she compliments

You smile and look down at yourself “thanks you look good too!”

“We should hang out sometime”

“Yea! Yea text me!” 

“Yea definitely!  I gotta run my boyfriends waiting for me.” She gives you another quick hug “I just wanted to say ‘Hi’” 

“Oh okay”  you don't wait till she walks away before your eyes are trained on them but this time they are looking at you smiling. Trying to play it cool. 

You march towards them and their smiles drop they knew they were caught.  Without a word you start grabbing your things

“Y/N” Krystal calls to you sounding apologetic 

“Excuse me” you say as you push past her and Rio

Rio shoots Krystal a mug pissed that she decided now was the for this conversation. He’s close on your tail as you walk out the door calling your name. 

“Y/N!”  he calls to you 

You spin around so fast he almost runs into you “WHAT?” 

“Its not...”

You don’t want to hear anything he has to say so you cut him off “Why not her huh Rio?” you ask repeating the words Krystal said to him “why not her Rio why Me?” You didn't even know what the context was but you could only imagine and your mind was doing circles trying to make sense of it

He’s calm and puts his hands in his pockets “Its not what it looks like” 

You feel like slapping him its almost like he was un-phased by your emotions “Then what is it? I mean I get it we aren't a couple” you start to gesticulate with your hands  “and this thing doesn't really have a label but”  you scoff “for someone who “didn't know” Krystal you sure don't mind touching her!” 

“Y/N!”  You hear Krystal’s voice approaching you. 

You put your finger up for to stop talking 

“We were just talking” she tries to reason as she approaches you 

“About what?” you ask looking at Rio

They both remain silent, but Krystal keeps looking over at Rio almost as a guidance on how to react or not 

“What?” you pause to catch a breath you were getting riled up  “is this some sick joke between both of you?” 

“No its not....”  she struggles to find the words “Its...uh” 

“So why not her huh Rio i mean what was that all about?”  

“Nothing he was just” she tries answering for him and he scowls at her 

You cut your eyes at her “i didn't ask you so shut the fuck up!” 

You turn to look at Rio and he stands there with an expressionless face. 

You nod understanding that he wasn’t going to respond to you “Perfect!” you say before you walk away. 

It's not like you didn't have an idea about who Rio is or what he does. But for both of them to lie to you and pretend that it was though that they met it each other through you is what you didn't understand. If they knew each other from before why not just admit it? What were they hiding? 

-

Even after he calls you multiple times you refuse to talk to him. Damage control wasn’t really going to work on you. Roughly 2 months pass before you see him again. You were with your Aunt Brenda at the country club near her home accompanying her to a charity event taking place. If you can describe your aunt  she was just like Blanche Devereaux from Golden Girls but don’t get her started on the show, cuz she swore up and down they stole her personality. 

You both sit near the front of the court watching the tennis players play. There were 2 separate events Golf and Tennis and she opted for Tennis because walking around in the summer heat watching golf wasn't something she wanted to do. 

She’s cheerful probably from the mimosas shes had, bubbly and talking to everyone around her. She’s never met a stranger is what you always say, it was partially true. 

You stop breathing and your heart palpitates faster when you watch him walk onto the court.

“Ooh who is that?” Aunt Brenda comments a widow on the prowl she would catch anything that glimmered at her periphery 

You pull your straw hat down a little further and look away and down for the majority of the time he plays. When the games end you're glad hoping to make a beeline for the car. 

“Well that was fun!” she comments

“Yea!” you say as you people watch she had been chatting with friends and you drove her here so it’s not like you could just leave her without her knowing anyway. 

A younger man walk by her, he smiles at her and she fans herself “whoo if i was younger!”

“You're only as old as you feel” you comment looking around you feel paranoid he has to be around the corner I mean you were mingling with the players 

“You're right!...Hey! how about we eat here! Instead of driving across town again?” she suggests when no one else comes up to say hi 

“Uh sure”  you say looking around for the nearest exit

“Come on follow me” 

You both walk inside and you find your way to the eatery 

“Hi Mrs. Richmond how are you?” the hostess greets her with a bright smile  

“I’m good Ashley you look cute today!  Can i get a table for 2?”  

“Thank you! Sure! let me see” 

“Make sure it's somewhere I can see everybody... you know me” she winks 

“Yea!”  Ashley giggles at the inside joke as she looks at the seating chart she picks up two menus “right this way” 

You both follow Ashley to the table by the windows it was great spot you could actually see the whole room. It was kind of full and the tables around you were filled with families  you're thankful because that meant he would have a harder time spotting you, seeing that your back was to the door anyway at least that's what you thought. 

You and Aunt Brenda both look at the menus deciding what would be the best cure for hunger after seating in 90 degree weather for half the morning well into mid afternoon

“I don’t know i’m thinking a crisp salad with fruit will be good but hell i want something savory” she comments 

“Yea i feel the same way” you agree  “the sandwiches sound interesting they could be savory with fries” 

“I’m looking at this salmon”  she looks up at you “Oooh!  someones coming  sit up!” she snaps her fingers at you

You do so out of habit she was always for sitting proper and being dainty, you glance back and  feel your stomach drop it was Rio making his way towards you. You shoot him a half smile and turn to face your aunt bracing yourself for the conversation to come 

“Ladies” he speaks his voice sounding like music to your ears it felt like a long time had passed since you last heard it 

“Oooh hi” she says immediately smitten over his voice she daintily reaches her hand out “how are you I’m Brenda this is my niece...”

He grabs her hand and shakes it rubbing his thumb over it “Y/N”  he turns to face you while finishing her sentence

She looks between you two shocked “You two know each other?”

“Yea Aunt Brenda this is Mr. Rio” 

“Mr. Rio” she giggles “call me Brenda.... WOW!  Y/N!  you naughty thing you didn't tell me that you knew him all that pinning i was doing watching him play” 

You smile” uh i didn't know if it was him really playing” you lie 

You are all quiet for a moment before Brenda interjects “You wanna join us?” 

“Sure if you don't mind” Rio comments looking at you not really caring about Brenda

“Yea its fine!” 

“Y/N move!” she says gesticulating for you to stand up 

“What?”  

“Switch seats”  she explains  wanting you to sit in the seat middle you sigh as you shuffle over to the right Rio pulls out your chair 

“Such a gentleman” Brenda comments and you refrain from rolling your eyes 

“Thanks” 

“So!” she leans over perking her bosom giving all her attention to Rio  “how do you two know each other?” 

You didn't know how to describe your friends with benefits relationship  “We met via a friend” you say 

“Oh okay tell me about yourself Mr. Rio”  she says taking a sip of her water

He smirks leaning back on his seat “you can just call me Rio...what do you want to know Brenda” 

Brenda blushes “well Rio first that tattoo... did it hurt?” she can’t take her eyes off it 

He takes a sip of water and the muscles in his neck only accentuate the tattoo more “A little”  he says flirts back 

“Ooh” she fans hereslf taking a sip of water “i need to find the waiter” she says looking around “he needs to bring another pitcher of water im getting dehydrated here that voice!” 

“OKAY BRENDA!” 

Rio laughs throwing his head back 

“What? that voice that tattoo that face mmmm!”

“BRENDA!” you scold looking at her 

“Wha?”  she looks at you innocently

“Can you” you shake your head don't mind her

“Nah i don't mind at all” he smiles 

Things are quiet again and you and Rio sit staring at each other

“Well i’m gonna go to the bar get us some drinks. Moscow mule for you I know Rio can i get you anything?” 

“Nah ’m good with water thanks” 

“Okay you two behave” 

“Yea”  you say glancing up at her

“Shes fun!” he says chuckling at her looking back and winking at him  

“She’s a trip”  you say shaking your head at her comment “what can I help you with Rio?” you ask cutting to the chase 

“You look good” his voice drops lower 

“Thanks!” you try not to blush  “didn't know you played tennis. Played well” you hope to change the direction of the conversation 

“Thanks. I called you” he points out your lack of answering his calls 

“I know I was busy at the time” 

He nods accepting your excuse “we need to talk” 

“No we don’t.... about what?” 

“I'm sure you got questions for me” 

“You're not gonna tell me the truth anyway, so what's the point?”

“Try me” he challenges leaning forward 

You sigh “no” you were defeated 

“What?” he says noticing the expression on your face 

“Was i just a pawn in your game of chess?.... like you didn't care about me?.....At all?”

He holds a puzzled look “Where’d you get that from?” 

“I” you take a deep breath “nevermind” 

He sees Brenda coming back and stands up “i gotta go call me sometime”

“I don’t even have your number you call me on blocked all the time”

“Check your phone”  he says as he walks away and when you do you have a new message with a simple text of ‘call me’

“Where's he going?” Brenda asks as she approaches the table

“He had to go”  you answer

“Why’d you let him leave?” 

“What was I supposed to hold him down?!” 

“Yes! now i have no eye candy” she says pouting 

“I'm sure you’ll find someone” 

“You're right” She turns to face you and looks at you for awhile before saying “so are you wanna talk about what's going on between you two?”

“Not really” you respond looking down 

“Come on you can tell me I'm your Aunty Brenda” 

You sigh she was right you would often go to her when you had relationship problems and you're actually consider telling her how you got to this point.

-

Even after having his number you still opt to not call him. Every time you get ready to you stop yourself remembering how you both got to this point and figure it's best if you don't even open that can of worms. 

Another month passes before you two run into each other. This time at a dive bar that's kinda how you two met anyway at a bar. 

“So Mike tells me he wants  a threesome for his birthday!”

“What?!”  you say snapping back into the conversation with your best friend Mia

“Yea! that is what i said WTF right?”

You take a sip of your drink “Wow so what are you gonna do?” 

“He can kick rocks unless he wants to find me another man to fuck” 

You both erupt in laughter knowing it would never happen 

You spend the majority of the night talking about life before your bladder is threatening to embarrass you, is when you get up and go to the bathroom. 

“I gotta go pee!” you say jumping from the bar stool 

“Go! Go!”  she shoos you away putting her foot on your stool to save it

You walk hastily across the bar and find the bathroom a mini line with one person in front of you.

When you finally get to pee it feels like heaven on earth. And feel like you can finally breathe. It was such a relaxing feeling to pee when you had been drinking. 

There's a knock on the door  

“Just a minute!” You say loudly hoping they can hear you through the loud music 

You finish your business and go to wash your hands when the person knocks again “GIVE ME A MINUTE!” You scream this time but when the knock happens again you're convinced this person was a true dick and you yank the door ready to have an argument only to see Rio standing on the other side

“Really” you say unamused “excuse me”  you go to walk past him but like true Rio nature he backs you into the bathroom instead locking the door behind him

“What do you want?” you snap 

“Wow no hi” 

“Hi Rio you look good i hope life is treating you well!... what. do. you. want?”

He smirks at your sarcastic tone “You supposed to call me” 

“Yea i didn't want you lying to me anymore” 

He sucks his teeth “how you know i was gon’ lie” 

“Ummm well lets see I know absolutely nothing about you. Oh besides the fact that you play tennis I’m sure your name isn't even Rio. You and Krystal have or had something going on that involved me and unbeknownst to me you were both playing me like a fiddle!” 

He chuckles

“Is this funny to you”

“Yea kinda” he says stepping closer to you 

You scoff “of course” you go to walk away from him but he steps in your way 

“Nah I’m not done talking” he looks down at you 

“What do you want to talk about?” you separate yourself from him, you couldn’t be around him, the cologne the voice, 

He says nothing and just looks at you

“You wanna tell me it comes with the territory and i should know these things by now? I do i also know you probably have 10 other girls waiting for you to call so it's not a big deal I’m not a big deal I don't see why you're insisting on resolving things with me!” 

Truth be told he did try to get over you and move on but he found himself thinking about you more often than not

“Krystal isn't who you think she is” 

“And you choose now to tell me that? I kinda figured when you two were looking like exes at the party” 

He takes in a deep breath and watches you

“ Do you know what it's like Rio. I’m completely exposed to you. You know everything! Everything! the good things, the bad things, things I will take to the grave with me things that I don't even want my parents to know about and majority of it i told you, the others you have your “connections” yet I don't even know your name. And then you and Krystal have something going on I don't know what. I don’t get how I’m tied into all of it.” 

He still says nothing and looks at you expressionless jaws tight

“Are you just gonna stand there and say nothing?” His apathy was really getting to you “........What was i a facade or something” 

“Nah” 

You sigh and throw your head back the liquor getting to you “I can't do this i just”  you reach for the door knob and he backs up against it “can you please” you plead with him, he bits on his lower lip he looks like he’s thinking about what to say next but instead he slowly stands straight, his eyes boring a hole into you as you leave the bathroom 

“Wow that took you long!” Mia comments its been close to 20 minutes 

“Yea i ran into someone”

“Who?”

“That guy” your new nickname for him 

“What?” she said confused  “ohhhh Rio” 

“Yea” you say taking a sip  

“What hes here?” she says looking around

“Yea don't make it obvious”

Her head snaps to face you “Sorry... you okay?” she asks rubbing your arm 

“Yea!” 

“You wanna leave?” she suggests 

“NO! Its our night out forget him!” 

“You sure?” 

“Yup fuck him”  

You both drink and the bar gets full and by now you’ve turned to face the crowd and people watch while talking shit at the same time

“Hey” you hear his voice next to you

“Hi!”  you say looking at him “this is Mia” you introduce her, since they never met before, but they both knew of each other 

He smiles “nice to meet you” 

“Mhmmm Hi Rio” she says as she holds an unamused expression

“Must have heard a lot about me huh?” 

“Some good things” 

He nods “what yall drinking” 

“Knock me downs”

“You want another round?” 

“Yea!” Mia responds for both of you 

“Y/N?” he asks you before lightly grazing his tongue on his bottom lip 

“Sure!” you say adjusting in your seat, its fair to say being around him while you were under the influence was asking a lot of you

“Its packed today!” Mia comments bobbing her head to the music

“Yea its a good night! why aint yall on the dance floor?” 

“You see these?”  Mia says pointing to her shoes “these aren't dancing shoes”

“So you just wanna sit and look cute?” 

“Period” you both say in unison

“Y/N?” 

“Yea” 

“What's your excuse”  

“What she said” you said pointing your thumb backwards to Mia 

“Thanks”  he says speaking to the bartender

“Come dance with me”  he says while motioning his head to the dance floor or rather where people were dancing

“Oh no!” you shake your head vigorously 

“Come on please  just one”  he says with his hand open waiting for you 

“Fine!” you say taking his hand in yours

“I'll save your seat!” 

He has a tight grip on your hand as he pulls you to the middle. He stops turns and faces you the music changes and he pulls you closer to him as you dance to bachata 

“Wow” you’re at a loss of words as you both move on the dance floor  

“What you thought this was?” he flirts 

“I didn't think this” you blush as you both move around the dance floor he holds your hand up so you can twirl for him while he smiles at you. For someone who was apathetic he sure did have moves.He spins you around so that your back is to him and you can't help but squeal as he moves your body along with his sometimes with sudden dips, making you hold onto his arms tighter. You feel his breath on your neck as the tempo changes indicating change of songs. 

With arms wrapped around you tightly you both sway to the music you feel a light kiss on your neck “I missed you” he admits 

You wanna call bs but this was diff he wouldn't even as much as say hi to you in public and now all of a sudden you are at a bar dancing with him 

“You heard me?”  he asks not sure because you didn't react you nod in response and step away so you can turn to face him he pulls you close

He looks deep into your eyes “I'm not lying” 

“Okay”  you say as you continue to sway to the music

“Last call for drinks last call” the DJ announces 

You both step away from each other and look towards the dj booth

When he looks at you again you can't help but blush Rio had a way of communicating with his facial expressions without a word being uttered

“You good?” he asks teasing you

“Yup! Lets go!” you say wanting to get out of the dance floor

“WHOO!”  Mia cheers as you two reach her

“That was cute!” 

“What you getting into after this?”

“Going home”

He smacks his lips “com’on ma” 

“No i think i should go home.” 

He nods respecting your decision

“She needs a date with a Denis she’s been grouchy I have a strong feeling you can fix that” 

He laughs

“Okay time for me to take you home” 

“What?” 

“We are gonna go it was nice seeing you” 

He pushes a strand out of your face and you take in a sharp breath “make sure you text me telling me you reached safe or ima pull up”

“Okay”

[tuxiedjabberwock]

“The Not-Angels” - a Fairy Tail one-shot

Gajevy Week

The Not-Angels

Feb 17th — “Trouble Twins”

Gajeel didn’t like the idea of Levy going on a mission with Lucy and just her, but as long as he refused to go on a mission with Natsu (the prick) or Gray (the naked bastard) he had to deal with something equally as terrifying. So, he sat himself on his couch and made sure the brats’ faulty attention was trained on him and him alone.

 “Alright, kids, listen up,” he started, already breaking off when he noticed Austin’s eyes being drawn towards a silver mirror hanging on the wall. He snapped his fingers until the younger twin looked over again with a frustrated huff.

 “Daddy, ‘m starvin’,” he whined, brown eyes squinted with crocodile tears. Gajeel rolled his eyes in response.

 “No yer not—you two jus’ ate.”

 “Yeah but that was two million minutes ago!” It was actually an hour ago, but the five-year-old couldn’t tell time. Neither could his stomach apparently. But the fridge was pretty damn good at telling time, and at the moment it was peaking Not-enough-food-o’-clock.

 “Hush up, Stooge,” Angel reprimanded, glaring at him. For her name, she was as ballsy as Gajeel, and with a sharp tongue and sharper teeth to boot. And thanks to the brain surely inherited from her mother alongside her light blue curls and big brown eyes, she had the vocabulary to make a grown man cry. (No, Gajeel wasn’t crying that time, he just had some iron fillings in his eyes.) Austin, on the other hand, had the semblance of Gajeel’s sharp face beneath the baby fat, and although his hair was a slightly darker blue, it was just as unruly as his old man’s. He also had a far bigger craving for iron than his sister, or at least had less self-control.

 “Angel, ease off yer brother, would ya?”

 “It’s not my fault he’s a dummy,” she proclaimed, crossing her arms over her chest. Austin glared daggers into the back of her head while Gajeel wondered how their kids could end up as they did.

 “Alright, look: Mom’s out, so it’s up to me to keep you brats entertained for the day, alright? I’m not gonna hit ya with any rules or nothin’, but I’d like that our place stays as clean as it is now.”

 “But that’s not a rule!” With that, Austin leapt from the ground and to the wall right below the mirror. Before Gajeel could intervene, his forehead vulcanized and he slammed it into the wall, creating several miniature cracks but, more importantly, dropping the mirror. He caught it before it could shatter and immediately satiated himself with a huge bite of the ornately-woven silver. While Angel set off to chew his ear off as he chewed the metal, Gajeel just shook his head and wondered how in hell he was going to last another sixteen hours.

“You’re babysitting, huh?” Natsu asked, a slow grin spreading across his face as he looked from Gajeel’s narrowed eyes to the ankle-biters literally biting his ankles. He then proceeded to nearly fall from the barstool with his laughter. “Those kids aren’t gonna last the day!”

 “I know,” he said instead of punching Dragneel’s teeth in like he wanted. “I was hopin’ that yer kid and mines could burn energy off—and hopefully not literally.” It was no secret that Astrid, while as beautiful as her mother, was just as much a pyromaniac as Natsu, a fact that the Master’s hairline was well aware of. As Gajeel worked on prying the two from his legs, Natsu continued with having a ball until Gray thankfully shoved him away.

 “Austin likes Bellamy, maybe he’d be a good distraction,” he suggested. “And anyway, I need someone to watch him a few minutes. Juvia wants me to run to the market.”

 “Again? What’s she want this time?”

 “Dango and wasabi,” he said with a grimace. “And of course, she’ll change her mind by the time I get there.” Gajeel smirked at his dismay.

 “Well that’s the problem with wantin’ to make her yers. Where’s yer brat?”

 “Should be over there with Elfman.” He gestured with his chin to the other side of the guild were Mira and Lisanna were clapping and laughing as Elfman bounced around with the seven-year-old giggling on his large shoulders. Austin detached himself at the sight and ran over excitedly, leaving him with just one. Now, if he could only come up with an apt distraction for Angel, he could go and waste away the remainder of the day at the Guild and essentially come off scot-free.

 “Alright, I know I make jokes about you being a Dad and all,” Natsu started, wiping his eyes, “but it’s just too funny! Like, as much as I’ve imagined you—not that I make a habit of imagining your face, mind you—it was never like this.”

 “So, yer point?”

 “I’m pretty proud of you, Metal-head.” Gajeel raised his brows at the compliment as Natsu grinned.

 “Shut it. I don’t need yer praise.”

 “Sure, sure.” Gajeel didn’t have time to bash in the idiot’s face, however, as Astrid came running, growling slightly as she jumped into Natsu’s chest.

 “Daddy, Bell’s mad that I burned his ass!” she scowled. Gajeel looked at Natsu as he laughed awkwardly.

 “Does Bunny-girl know yer daughter talks like that?”

 “No, and I’ll be grateful if she never finds out.” He turned his attention to Astrid, who looked more excited than repentant, and ruffled her hair. It had been shortened to about Laxus’ length at her behest, which made it spike slightly from Natsu’s genes. “Good job, my little dragon! You’re learning well!”

 “Come back here, Astrid!” Bellamy called, stomping a foot crossly as a visible wave of cold built around him. His hair, while blue, was closer to Gray’s in appearance than Juvia’s, and his lean build was also certainly his father’s, but he took more to Juvia’s Water Magic than Gray’s Ice—in fact, from what Gajeel had seen, Bellamy used Ice Magic as his means of “going easy” on another. Astrid stuck her tongue out at him, then flashed her sharp teeth as he hissed in anger. She squirmed in Natsu’s grip and he released her, watching with wide eyes as she tackled Bellamy to the ground and had her fist buried halfway into his mouth with one move.

 “That’s a little demon you’re raising there, Dragneel,” Gajeel commented.

 “She’s a machine trained to snipe any Fullbuster within a thirty-mile radius,” he said very seriously. “The one person she can’t chew up and spit out is—”

 “What in the world is going on here?”

 The two children froze, eyes wide and jaws dropped in identical expressions of terror as the Guild doors crept open. Erza was there, decked out in just a silver breastplate, plain clothes beneath, but that wasn’t what Bellamy and Astrid were focused on. It was ten-year-old Merlin right in front of her with a plainer but still durable metal top and a double-edged sword clasped to her hip. Her long scarlet hair was pinned back to show the expression of a warrior prodigy that could cause anyone with two balls to wet their pants on sight.

 “U-Um, Merlin, we-we were just, uh, messing around,” Bellamy said immediately, a nervous smile crossing his face as he pushed Astrid away. She landed on her behind with a whump, shaking her head vehemently.

 “Yeah, uh we weren’t fighting or nothing, we swear!”

 “Hmph,” she huffed, “That’s what I thought.” Erza had a gleam in her eyes that was downright creepy as she took her daughter’s hand.

 “Come on, Lin, let’s go see if Mira has any strawberry cake left.” Which was an inane thing to say and they both knew it—although the Guild didn’t buy too much strawberry cake, nobody else dared eat it in fear of the two scarlet demons’ wrath if they so thought of it. The Guild members parted like the Red Sea to allow them towards the bar, and as they were treated to their favorite dessert things slowly returned to normal.

 “Haven’t seen Jellal in a while,” Gajeel commented. Natsu shrugged a shoulder.

 “I think he’s in Bosco? I don’t remember.”

 “Daddy,” Angel said, tugging Gajeel’s pants. “I’m hungry.”

 “Alright, we’ll jus’ go to the—” He cut himself off as he glanced at the Scarlets still occupying the bar and changed his tune. “—the diner downtown. Oi, Austin!”

 “Dad, look!” He ran over with a Tikki set on his hair, grinning. “Look what Bickslow gave me!”

 “One of his creepy dolls?” He wanted to tell Austin to throw it out before it cursed him or something, but he looked so happy he let the matter go. “C’mon, let’s go get something to eat.”

It was far easier to deal with the twins with food in front of them. It was actually the one trait they shared, and by far the easiest trait to deal with, unlike Austin’s tendency to chomp anything metal (whether it was attached to a body or not) or Angel’s mouth (which had gotten him in so much trouble he believed she could’ve gave Jose a run for his money). They sat together on one booth sat while Gajeel sat opposite, Angel tossing fries at Austin’s head while he worked on ripping a steak apart with his teeth. Gajeel actually found the show pretty amusing.

 “Daddy, how come Mama didn’t stay today?” Austin asked with his mouth full, barbeque sauce dripping from the corner. Gajeel, unlike him, waited until he swallowed his burger before speaking.

 “She didn’t want to say it, but she missed goin’ on missions, so I chose to stay back while she did.”

 “And you don’t miss going on missions?” Angel pointed out.

 “You two are a pretty good mission.” He grinned as they groaned, taking a gulp of his beer. “I don’t get to spend as much time with ya rug rats as she does, ya know, and there’s gotta be someone to help the little prodigy Austin with his Dragon Slayer Magic.” He beamed at the praise, eyes sparkling even as he gnawed on his knife. “And Angel can teach me all the words she knows and I don’t.” Angel smiled, then frowned.

 “We know you’re a great Daddy, but how come other people still look at you funny?” He sighed, leaning back in the seat and crossing his arms over his chest.

 “Well… I wasn’t always a great Daddy. I did some bad things before, things you two’ll never know if I have a say in it.” It wasn’t that he wanted to keep secrets from them, but he just didn’t want them to give him the same look. From random strangers, it was whatever; from his own children, he didn’t think he’d be able to stand himself. It was already bad enough when Levy used to give him that look.

 “Daddy!” they complained, but he softened it with a hand on their heads.

 “Don’t worry, alright? Jus’ know that I won’t mess up again, not while I need to keep an eye on you two menaces.” They pouted but continued to eat anyway. It was the truth in any case: he never planned on going bad, not for any reason, with Angel and Austin and Levy there behind him. He had never imagined himself with a family of his own, and now that he had it, he found it to be at the forefront of his mind most of the time, a driving force in everything that he did. It was amazing how much the three of them changed things, and he wouldn’t give them up for the world.

 “Home,” Austin said quietly, bringing Gajeel’s attention back to the two of them. Done with their food, they started passing out where they sat. He glanced out the window from the corner of his eye and noticed that the sun was halfway set—Levy had mentioned a naptime for them around sunset. Going over to pay for their meal, he returned to see them attempting to sleep on each other. He took Angel in one arm, but Austin decided to climb atop his head instead. “Comfy,” he murmured into Gajeel’s hair, wrapping his arms around his neck.

 “Yer pulling my hair, kid.”

 “Comfy,” he repeated, purring contentedly. So Gajeel decided to let him be, and followed that familiar road towards the edge of Magnolia where he lived. Angel nuzzled into the space beneath his chin while Austin clung to him with all the strength of an ape. The contrast between them was so funny he had to laugh aloud.

 Yup, wouldn’t trade ‘em for nothin’ else in the world.

 By the time Levy got back, it was late into the night and the twins were in bed. Gajeel was working on the silver mirror, trying to bend the metal to hide the huge bite mark, until she came in their bedroom with a wide smile. “Had fun?” he asked.

 “A lot! And the client was a book lover, so he spared Lucy and me a few new ones!” She clapped her hands excitedly as he chuckled under his breath. “So, how was your day?” she asked as she sat on the edge of the bed. He shrugged a shoulder with a smile.

 “Nothin’ special.”