Hello all! This is my first Fanfic in years and I hope you all enjoy. Basically its going to be a GaLu or if you're feeling feisty Gajucy :)
With little bits of LaLu here and there. But who can say no to all that Manliness!
Hmm any other protocol... Oh yeah almost forgot!
I own nothing, not even my house or car yet... so yeah Fairy Tail is property of Hiro Mashima!
Fear is the unpleasant feeling of being in the presence of danger; and the emotion that seems to coexist within the magical fibers of Fiore's Fairy Tail guild.
From internal fears of Laxus treading on the thin wire of evil, to the destructive power of Arcnologia and Zeref. It seems fear has laid down its roots in this realm of the fairies, this home that consistently harbors nightmares, on the facade of its loving environment. Fairy Tail was meant to be a place of work and a haven for orphans like Erza, Gray and Natsu, sometimes a daycare, but most of all a refuge for its many runaways.
One of these famed runaways is Fairy Tail's own Lucy Heartfilia, a golden-haired heiress from Korzen; at one time with millions under her belt and with the possibility to be wed to any Duke, Knight or Prince. This golden-hair maiden had her life dictated by her neglectful father. Orphan by both choice and misfortune, she roamed all of Fiore for a guild, for a home, for the safe embrace of a loving family. A series of lies, deception and luck led her to Salamander, the pink-haired Fire Dragon Slayer from Fairy Tail. After a plate a food and proof of her magic abilities, she was then taken to her current guild. Upon entering the boisterous guild, Lucy was accepted immediately, then a pink mark of happiness was placed upon her right hand, a mark that erased her previous oppulent title, name and past, a mark that ensured a turbulent, but happy future.
Then there was Gajeel Redfox, a raven-haired Iron Dragon slayer previously from Phantom Lord, and another refugee. Ruthless, aggressive, solitary and shrouded in darkness; hardly Fairy Tail material, but the guild's Master Makarov saw the despair and loneliness within him and brought this previous foe into his ranks. Many distrusted him, others seemed to hate him, many grew to love and accept him, but Lucy just feared.
Are humans forgivable? Are people so blinded by the light in their hearts, that they forget the pain in their bodies? Makarov believes that sincere regret and actions can bring authentic forgiveness, but even with time, Lucy still shivers at the presence of her ex-kidnapper.
The physical scars on her body, the nightmares from that one day still haunt her. Her mind forgave him long ago, but her body hasn't. Every elevation of his voice, the piercing glare from those scarlet eyes and his close proximity just causes her discomfort and uneasiness. Its not fair! He asked for her forgiveness numerous times, he had protected her on multiple occasions, but even comrade seems to be too intimate of a relationship for the dysfunctional duo.
Regardless of the fear she had for this sole guild-mate, she had accumulated many friends and amongst those Levy McGarden had become a sister. Reading books, shopping, having lunch and getting insight on her own story, Levy had become an integral part of her Fairy Tail family. Unfortunately, like everything in her life, Lucy had to distance herself from her beloved sister. The shy bluenette wholly forgave the Iron Dragon slayer and started spending time with him.
"Lucy come sit with us" Levy was heard calling out to her blonde friend, waving from her table... next to her predator, next to the only guild member she could not look in the eyes.
Taking a deep breath she starts walking towards the duo, but as she was approaching his presence, her body betrayed her good intentions and started to tremble. Her palms began accumulating water and her stomach clenched in the memory of colliding steel. 'Not again' she thought as her knees began to buckle. Oblivious to the blonde, Gajeel's keen dragon senses kicked in, noting her fear, her apprehension, he decided to be the bigger person as he shot up from his table and left.
"Oi Shrimp see ya later. It looks like Blondie over there doesn't like me much." He said as he shot a departing arm in the air, his voice was smooth, laced with knowledge, understanding and yet Lucy knew he was hurt. Her mind screamed to stop him, to ask for more time, but so much time had already past and continually she still fears, still remembers and still reacts.
'It was only one day Luce, how can you be so heartless, how can you hurt a brother in guild? Why does this always happen. He's nakama, he has proved himself countless times, he is friends with Levy and she was hurt just as bad during the Phantom Lord days, so why can't you just shut up and forgive?' Tears wanted to fall, but she couldn't cry for Gajeel, she only feared and he knew.
Unbeknownst to all Makarov was watching from the second floor. This was getting out of hand and he was not content with the blonde. Gajeel had become family, he was rehabilitated. Willing, a poet and a graduate of Fairy Tail's anger management course, sure he failed the Natsu portion, but all fairies seem to do poorly there. Sure he's still rough around the edges, but Makarov only saw an innocent victim.
'I can't believe this... Lucy you're forcing my hand.' The current master thought as he departed to the confines of his office. 'A heart of gold, but even gold can rust.' He sighed as he took out a paper and pen from the drawer in his desk and began writing away.
Meanwhile a dejected Lucy had been sitting with Levy, distracted with guilt and unable to finish her strawberry salad. As she danced a fork around a spinach leaf, she noticed her petite friend get a bit restless.
"Lucy what's going on with you and Gajeel?" The petite bluenette asked her friend who just sat there staring at her salad bowl. Lucy only responded with a deep sigh as she pushed the bowl aside to place her head on the wooden table.
"I don't know. We don't talk much. We don't hang out." The blonde irritably said as she nervously straighten her bangs.
"Lu-chan, I'm sorry but this has got to stop. Look you really hurt him. Are you just going to sit there? He's actually making an effort to be friends and then you cower as if he was Zeref himself. This is unacceptable! You're constantly preaching about nakama and yet you can't forgive one instance of violence?" Levy berated the blonde, almost spewing venom from her petite mouth.
Not saying a word, or counter arguing, Lucy got up slowly and as the reality of the situation surfaced, she panicked and ran towards the door.
"Lucy wait! Don't just go like that! You're being unreasonable!" Lucy heard her sister screamed from across the room as her fingers grasped the large brass handle. Closing her eyes, desperation took over as she slammed the door behind her. She ran away from the entrance and then began leaning against a nearby shadowed wall, she let out a sigh; disappointed and embarrassed, but most of all powerless to control her quivering body.
A small man appeared from out of nowhere, looked her straight in the eyes and without a word, handed her an envelope and then just disappeared. Lucy's heart started to pick up pace as she realized that the guild master was not happy. The contents of the envelope were for her eyes only and then she realized that with team Natsu enjoying the Bed and Breakfast atmosphere of her apartment she couldn't go home.
Mind clouded and empty her feet took over and walked through the streets of Magnolia until they finally reached the old rotting oak in the middle of the woods. She took a seat upon a lifted root and with much apprehension stared at the darkening sky. 'It's now or never' thought the Celestial mage as she searched for her master's letter. With shaking hands she opened the small envelope and read :
Dear Lucy,
My child I did not approached you in the guild out of courtesy and not to embarrass you in front of your friends, but your actions towards a certain nakama needs to be addressed. We have all sinned, we all have our dark side, and we all have different capacities to forgive. You, my child have always showed so much ease to forgive, so I am surprised that I even have to put pen to paper to correct you. What is so different with Gajeel? Ever since he arrived at the guild, you have gone out of your way to avoid him, to show your obvious discord of him and yet you forgave Laxus like it was nothing.
I've seen the way you cower when he approaches you, I've witnessed over and over again as the sparkle in his eyes die when you reject him. This is not the Fairy Tail way. If you want to talk, I'm always here, Mira too, heck even Laxus does therapy now on Tuesdays, right after Fairy Bingo. Look child I'm trying to make this easy, I don't want to scold a grown woman, but you are forcing my hand. I will not let my children fight.
Do you even know the reason why Gajeel joined Fairy Tail Team B during the games? Do you know how much bickering and whining I had to endure to convince him to join? I had to bribe his punky self with the promise that he could spend some quality time with you! Did you know I gave him and the others the opportunity to do whatever they wanted to Team A if they won, for a whole day? Instead of making Natsu his pet or slave like Laxus wanted, or torment Gray into marrying Juvia, he chose to spend the whole day with you? Since you won't pay attention to him willingly, he thought if I forced you then maybe you might actually be obedient and give him a chance,
Is any of this clicking in there? I hope so and not in your head, but in your heart. I'll give you a bit more time, but I'm growing inpatient and I don't want him to hurt anymore. Please free your heart from all this fear, or is it hatred? Whatever this emotion is, please look deep inside and accept your nakama.
Love your papa and Master,
Makarov