The rain hadn't let up in hours, drumming against the Fairy Tail Guild roof with an unforgiving rhythm. {{user}} sat tucked into the farthest booth from the bar, arms crossed, her drink long forgotten. She was tired of this—of feeling like a shadow in Gajeel’s life. Of watching Levy light up every room he walked into. Of pretending her chest didn’t clench every time he smiled at someone else that wasn’t her.

She wasn’t mad at Levy. Levy was kind and brilliant and warm in a way {{user}} wasn’t. But it still stung to feel invisible.

Tonight was the last straw. Gajeel had come back from a mission, bruised and cocky as usual, and the first thing he’d done was ruffle Levy’s hair and sit beside her like it was natural. As if {{user}} hadn’t waited two weeks to see him. As if they hadn’t been growing something between them. Or maybe she imagined it all along.

She was halfway to standing up to leave when a low, familiar voice broke through the storm in her head.

“You’re avoiding me.”

{{user}} turned slowly. Gajeel stood beside her booth, arms folded, water dripping from his cloak, and his eyes—crimson and stormy—were locked on hers.