It came pretty suddenly. He was in no way prepared for it. He could fight nearly to the death but the thought that suddenly hit him left him terrified.
He had fallen in love.
Levy McGarden had completely and fully stolen his heart away and he was only just now realizing it.
Curse that tiny woman for asking about love and if he loved anyone in that stupidly adorable face, he'd avoided the question and then she had come around again later in her skirt and black shirt smiling a big smile and asking if he'd be okay with talking with her about plans on how to get more information on Avatar. Damn that smile, it had to been cursed to be able to make his chest hurt like that.
He sat quietly on a rock in the woods staring down at the ground below his boots for a long while, or maybe not that long at all he wasn't sure, after some time of that he heard and smelled Pantherlily coming.
"Gajeel what was that? You just run off when Levy tries to talk to you?" He asked sounding a little worried flying over next to him. Damn cat. He wasn't sure if he wanted him to be able to figure it out himself or if he just didn't want him to know. Any other person and he'd be fine. But he just to go and fall for the short, sassy, nerdy, stunning and amazing Shrimp.
He groaned and dropped his head into his hands and Lily sat next to him.
"What is it?" he asked.
Gajeel shook his head a little "I cant. I cant be doing this, its not right. I'm not right. Not for her."
And bingo. Realization crossed Lily's face.
"You and Levy. That's why you had to run off. You finally realized." He said almost sounding proud.
"It aint a good thing Lil. Not with her. I told you I aint right for her. Not after what all I've done. I should be arrested." He shook his head again thinking back to when he had attacked Shadow Gear, it was such a stupid thing to do and he was a terrible person for doing it. Its not something he can just forget about.
He probably would've kept wallowing in self-anger and sadness had Pantherlily not transformed to and smacked him in the back of the head causing him to spit out enough curses to make even a sailor plug his or her ears.
"That's for being an idiot. Love isn't evil. You're not evil and you're not evil for falling in love with her. In case you haven't noticed she's got a thing for you as well you dumb ass. Its not a sin to fall in love with her if she's completely forgiven you already." He said in the voice he used to boss around his men back on Edolas.
Gajeel looked at him unbelievingly.
"I pinned her to a tree. A freaking tree. I've got no right to love or even like her a little bit like that."
Lily shook his head "You've been protecting her ever since, helping her, and being her friend. What's in the past is done and over with, don't forget it but don't let it hold you back from her. You think she would've practically sacrificed herself for you back in that water if she still held a grudge against you about it?"
He sighed and shook his head.
"That's what I thought. It's not a sin to fall in love you idiot, so stop acting like yourself. And before you ask no I will not arrest you stupid dragon." He said and punched his shoulder.
"Aight, aight. Thanks cat." Gajeel said and Lily shrugged
"Don't mention it. Can't have you getting so distracted while we've still got work. Now c'mon there are some people who really need to be arrested."
They both stood and started walking back to camp.
"Gihihi. Time to arrest some real bad guys."
~Later~
"Its not a sin to fall in love." Gajeel told Mavis, "You can't even arrest someone over that." He told her in hopes it would make her feel better but also because those words really were true. It wasn't a sin to fall in love with Shrimp, and he'd be damned if he let a good chance go, he'd get the courage, and then he'd tell her.