Hi guys !
So, this is my first one-shot in english, I hope you'll like it ! This was originally written in french, for GajevyWeek14 and the second prompt, demons.
Gajeel woke up, startled, dripping of sweat. He sat cross-legged on his bed and tried to slow down his heartbeat, catching his breath. He looked at the time on his clock to his right and read 6:00 am. It was early but, now that he was awake, then better get up.
When he went to the kitchen in their flat, Gajeel came across Lily, the latter being an early bird. The exceed did not ask him why he got up this early this morning, contrary of his habits of late riser. Lately, the young man had terrible nightmares, waking him constantly. He never told his friend the topic of his night terrors and Lily waited for him to make the first step. After all, Gajeel would self-withdraw even more if he asked him. So he waited.
A few hours later, they took the path toward the guild. When they arrived, it was incredibly calm. One must say that, given the time, only a few people were there. They sat directly at their remote table and waited for Mirajane to bring them their respective breakfast. Once done, they were eating silently when a little blue head showed up.
- Hello guys ! Levy said, smiling.
- Hello Levy, Lily answered.
Gajeel, him, only grunted in response. For that matter, this surprised the young girl. The dragon slayer maybe wasn't the talkative kind but he would always mumble a simple "Hey Shrimp". With a simple look, she asked Lily the reason of his behavior but he only shrugged, having no explanation to give. So she leaned forward, in order to have her face in front of his.
- Gajeel, are you okay ? You don't look to be in a good shape and seem tired ... she said, worriedly.
He was rather surprised and had a slight start, almost imperceptible. He was lost in his own thoughts and was still thinking about his continuous nightmares.
- Yeah, yeah ...
- Please, tell me ... Levy pleaded him, ever more concerned.
Gajeel grunted and frowned. She made such a face that the man had trouble resisting the urge to tell her everything. But he restrained himself, more stubborn than ever. Lily sighed. He too was preoccupied his friend's state. The grand magic games had been over for a month now and his nightmare appeared more than two weeks ago, restraining him to find the rest he needed. The small blue-headed girl decided to give up, at least for the moment, understanding he wasn't determined to tell her what was going on.
Gajeel, exhausted because of his lack of sleep, fell asleep in the guild. His sleep, at first peaceful, was soon full of his nightmares. He woke up suddenly, short of breath, and hit the table, drawing the attention of the other wizards present in the guild, now crowded. He seemed lost at first, taking time to understand where he was and what was happening.
- Gajeel, tell me what's wrong !
She had approached him when she saw his state and was now holding his arm. Gajeel, with a simple movement, made her let go. He turned his head, looking in the opposite direction.
- Nothing, leave me alone ... he simply grunted.
Lily was looking at his two friends, frowning. He didn't like to see Levy worrying but, out of respect for his comrade, he was hesitating to tell her what Gajeel had. He was still thinking when he saw the girl's face, especially her eyes. She wasn't going to cry, he knew it, but it was as if the tears were threatening to appear in the corner of her eyes. The exceed sighed loudly before deciding to confess everything.
- He has nightmares, he said, ending their argument.
- Lily ! the iron wizard grumbled.
Levy told nothing. She was pondering. How could nightmares make him in such a state ? What were they dealing about ? So many questions were rushing in her mind but one in particular : why didn't he tell her anything ?
The cat was now wondering if he shouldn't have kept his mouth closed. Levy didn't seem more reassured, quite the contrary in fact, and Gajeel held a grudge against him. He regretted now to have told her. The girl remained silent and her gaze passed from Lily to the dragon slayer, her worried expression not changing. Whereas the young man continued to yell at his cat, she cut them off :
- Gajeel ...
Instantly, the two boys looked at her. The more time passed, the more she seemed on the edge of crying. That made Lily feeling a bit guilty. However, that made Gajeel decided to tell her everything. Sighing, he pulled the seat near him, nodding/beckoning his comrade to sit. While she took place, he leaned on the back of his chair and crossed his arms, looking at the ceiling.
- Why didn't you tell me anything about it ? she asked him slowly.
- Don't know ... he muttered in response.
That made Levy sigh. How could she help him if he didn't do the slightest effort ? He will have to decide to open himself to her a bit for her to understand. She pleaded him with the eyes and the latter grunted before answering, mumbling :
- I didn't want to worry you, happy ?
"Well, too bad it didn't work !" Lily thought. Levy didn't know what to answer. Of course she was happy Gajeel thought about her and didn't want to preoccupy her, but it only made her even more worried. She thought silently a few minutes. She couldn't ask Gajeel frankly : given his personality, it was the best way to know nothing more. She glanced at Lily, who didn't seem to know how to do so neither. As for Gajeel, he felt ashamed that his two friends knew about his nightmares. He thought that being tormented by simple dreams was more the kind of someone else, Juvia for exemple, than him.
- Are your nightmares on the same subject or are they fundamentally opposed ? she asked him.
- Funda-what ?
- Are they the same or not ? Lily explained, amazed by his lack of knowing.
- Same, simply said the dragon slayer.
Levy waited a bit before continuing, hoping that he would decide himself to continue discussing about it. But it was expecting too much of him. He didn't like talking, a was a first class loner, you always had to draw information out of him. But it must be admitted that, unlike his habits, he had told her a lot today.
- Can you tell more about it ? she tried.
But her attempt to learn more failed, the man only grunting in response. Levy was starting to think it was a waste of time. She didn't want to give up, she was determined to help him, but how could she if he didn't make an effort ? Levy sighed for the umpteenth time and put her chin in her hand. Gajeel met Lily's disapproving look and he only frowned in response. The small blueheaded sit up straight and asked once again the dragon slayer to tell her what his nightmares were about, a face ever more worried. He sighed louldy before making up his mind to, finally, answer her.
- They're nightmares about what I did to you and the two dumbasses ... he mumbled to himself.
Levy was more than surprised, almost shocked. Why did this event disturbed him that much ? She who, however, forgave him long ago, she'd never thought it would cause him that much worries. She gently touched his arm, encouraging him not to retreat into himself more.
- Gajeel, you know that I have for-
- You can't forgive me that easily ! Don't you remember what I did ?! You should do like your two morons ! I thought you were smarter ! he shouted, almost hurting her as his words were harsh.
- Gajeel ! Lily called him to order calmly but curtly, making him sigh once again.
The young girl was looking for words. She would never have thought that her friend regretted that much his past acts. She suspected that he didn't live very well his past decisions and his choice when he was in Phantom Lord, but to that point ... She made him a kind smile, as she always did, and continued :
- But I have. I have forgiven you and this for a long time. And I'm sure Jet and Droy did too. Maybe you're right and the three of us are stupids, but I'm fine with it. Gajeel, don't let your demons win. Accept the truth. The only one that can't forgive you ... is you.
His look, usually harsh, was unrecognizable. He almost seemed lost. How could this shrimp know if he had forgiven himself or not ? But, above all : How could she have forgiven him ? Soon enough, his iron shell resurface and his face harden. Levy's soft smile stayed on her face and her hand was still on his arm. Lily did the same and got closer. He smiled too and put his paw on his friend's muscular arm. They were hoping that, this way, he would open up to them and this would make him aware that the guilt he felt was only his, no one else's.
Unfortunately, the man didn't decide to speak more. He still had his arms folded on his chest, frowning and he fixed his attention on an invisible point on the table in front of him. Suddenly, he stood up, to the great surprise of his two comrade, and exited, letting his steps guide him. He wasn't looking where he was going at all and simply walked. When his steps stopped, meaning he had arrived, and he lifted his gaze, he realized he was just in front of the tree where he had pinned the team Shadow Gear. He remained there still, without doing anything. He turned around only once, just to see if Levy and Lily had followed him.
A few minutes later, they arrived together, one was walking tranquilly whereas the other was flying. But they weren't alone : Jet and Droy were with them. When Gajeel smelled their scent, he turned around a few seconds before reporting his gaze on the tree in front of him. Levy stood beside him, still smiling, and Lily did the same. The two remaining, as for them, stood in front him, nervously.
- You know ... hum ... Levy spoke to us and ... Droy started, letting Jet finish.
- She wanted you to know that ... we have forgiven you for what you did to us and ...
- Well, you don't need to feel guilty ...
Thereupon, they quicly went back, leaving Gajeel a bit surprised. However, he didn't move and said nothing. Levy took his hand. He let her do it, not against this, although he wouldn't admit it for anything in the world. They stayed that way a few long minutes, none of them wanting to break this peaceful silence. Then, Levy decided to speak, her little smile still there.
- Don't let your demons win, Gajeel.
The latter didn't reply right away. His face had a dark look, even if he seemed emotionless. Lily looked at Gajeel from the corner of his eye, waiting for him to answer. Shortly, his strange grin found a way on his face. With his free hand, he rubbed Levy's hair, as usual.
- Got it. Have you already seen me lose, shrimp ? Gee hee !
A these words, her smile widened and she couldn't stop herself from hugging Gajeel. She buried her head in his chest and laughed a bit. The dragon slayer, not at ease and not good in this kind of situation, asked Lily for help with a glance. This one motioned him to answer to her her embrace, so he placed clumsily his arms on her frail shoulders and her head. They stayed that way a moment before deciding it was time for us to go home. The boys walked Levy home to Fairy Hills and, before leaving him, she quickly hugged Gajeel once again before rushing in her room, blushing madly. That made him confused, but his grin didn't leave his face.