"You told me once to never leave your side," she shouted at his back, tears forming in her eyes and an unexplainable rage building in her chest. "What makes you think I would leave it now?!"

The iron dragon slayer said nothing, keeping his back to her throughout her entire rampage. What the little blue-haired script mage couldn't see was the way his eyes darkened and his jaw clenched tightly at her pleading.

He didn't want to do this. He had told himself after he joined Fairy Tail that he would never hurt her again. That he would do whatever it took to keep her safe and happy. And yet here he was again, making her cry and causing her unbearable pain.

"Gajeel," she said so quietly that it was only his enhanced dragon slayer senses that allowed him to hear her over the noise of the battle. "Please," she sobbed placing her hands on his arms and leaning her head against his back. "Don't leave me."

Her plea nearly sent him over the edge. He clenched his teeth tighter until they ground together painfully, and a single tear ran down his cheek.

After taking a moment to try and gain control of his voice he said flatly, "Sorry Shrimp, but I have no choice."

He felt her head lift from his back at that statement and his gut twisted, wishing she hadn't moved, wanting to feel her touch one last time. "Don't have a choice?" she said softly, her voice thick from crying. "There's always a choice Gajeel. Please you don't have to do this."

At that he turned and looked back at her, his normally cold, hard eyes soft. "Yes," he said in a tight voice."I do. I have to do this to protect the guild. To protect you."

Her large hazel eyes stared up at him, filled to the brim as tears streamed down her cheeks, washing paths through the grime and blood. "Idiot!"she shouted as she flung herself at his chest, pounding with her tiny fists and sobbing so hard that her entire body shook.

For a few moments, Gajeel did nothing. Merely standing there letting her take out her rage and grief on his already bruised and bloodied chest. Once her hits began to weaken, he carefully grabbed her arms and pulled her close, wrapping his arms tightly around her as though the action could protect her from the pain he was causing her. He felt her arms wrap around his waist tightly, and they stood there for a few short moments, completely ignoring the battle raging around them.

After what seemed like only seconds, Gajeel leaned down and gently kissed Levy's tear-stained cheek. "Goodbye Levy," he whispered softly in her ear. "I love you."

And with that, he unhooked her arms from around his waist, backed away a few steps, and turned and walked away. His heart twisting as he walked away from the best thing he had ever had.

Levy fell to her knees in the mud, her fists clenching on her thighs as tears dotted the backs of her bloody hands. Suddenly, she threw her head back and screamed over the sounds of the raging battle, "GAJEEL!"

She dropped her face into her hands, sobbing uncontrollably, hardly caring that she was surrounded on all sides by enemies. He was gone. Her dragon slayer was gone and at that point in time nothing else mattered.

"I hate you," she whispered softly.