Leaning against the railing that led up the steps to the front of the high school with his book bag at his feet the long spikey black haired man chuckled at something one of the other men said his red eyes flicked across the courtyard in front of the high school as he watched the students file in through the entrance. He was extremely grateful that this would be the last year of his high school career and he could finally put time into the things that he actually enjoyed doing. Not because he wasn't smart or good at the whole school thing, because he was smart, he just wasn't the best at the school bullshit. But he'd made a promise a long time ago that he wouldn't walk away from his education until he'd graduated without getting suspended or semi to permanently expelled from any schools that he'd attended. And aside from the one incident where he'd simply been defending himself against an idiot determeined to 'teach him a lesson' he'd managed to keep that promise. So now here he stood leaning on the damned railing waiting for the first day of the last year to start and he quite frankly wanted the bullshit assemply to get started so they could get to class and get this shit show moving along.
"Hey Gajeel," One of his friends said nudging his arm and Gajeel turned his attention to the spikey pink haired idiot that had somehow become his friend. "Did you hear about that new transfer student?"
"What transfer student?" He demanded.
"Apparently she's transferred from out of country, and she's skipped ahead a few years." The guy said curiosity in his eyes as he scanned the crowd.
"Yea, I heard she's apparently wickedly smart." Another friend chuckled.
"And hot, she's supposed to be a total babe." Yet another added.
Rolling his eyes Gajeel looked around at the guys clearely salivating at the thought of a smart hot chick. "Are all you idiots think about is hot chicks?"
They three idiots shrugged. "So what if it is?" The pink haired one said his gaze flicking to Gajeel. "By the way what the hell happened with you and your girlfriend?"
Gajeel shrugged his already somber mood darkening slightly. "Called it quits during the summer."
"Why?" The man pressed.
"Because it was time." Gajeel snarled. "There wasn't a spark there anymore."
"So what, she wasn't doin' it for you anymore?" Another asked.
"Get your head out of your porn videos Gray." Gajeel snarled and pinned him with a viscous look. "We just called it quits, mutual agreement. That's it, no more."
"Alright, alright no need to get so snippy." The pink one said and waved his hand at him. "Geeze so touchy aren't we?"
"Oh dudes look that has to be her!" The last one hissed and the other two scooted closer, whispering to one another.
Frowning at them Gajeel shook his head before he glanced towards the bottom of the steps as a commotion drew his attention. Apparently the bullies were back at it this year, making life hard for the freshmen as he watched a fellow senior smack books out of aforementioned freshmen's hands before the man's attention jumped to the base of the stairs and they widened. Gajeel frowned slightly, nothing ever made Laxus Dreyar stop in his malicious antics but in this moment something clearly had drawn his attention more then terrorizing freshmen, aside when the principle was in proximity of either ear or eyesight.
"Gajeel Redfox." A soft feminine voice said teasingly from the base of the steps and he frowned as something naggingly familiar about the voice tugged at the back if his head. Turning his attention back to the base of the steps he felt as if he'd just been sucker punched right in his solar plexus as the air rushed out of his lungs as his eyes widened in shock as he took in the younger teen standing there staring up at him with a smile on her lips. Long blond hair brushed the her lower back as her amber colored eyes twinkled up at him as she shifted her book bag higher onto her shoulder as she just stood there staring at him. "Oh c'mon, I know it's been a while but don't tell me you've forgotten me?"
"How the hell could I forget you?" He growled and shoved passed his friends as he jogged down the steps and bending slightly he wrapped his arms around her in a tight hug before he could even hesitate. Thankfully it was a hug that she returned, her own arms going around his waist just as slightly as she buried her face in his chest in the way that she used to. "It's good to see you Blondie." He murmured softly.
Lucy Heartfilia closed her eyes as she let the warmth of his man's hug seep into her tired bones, she'd been a nervous wreck all freaking week about when they were going to meet up after school today, but apparently the fates had had another idea when she'd stepped through the entrance to the school and had seen him leaning against the railing. Sure she hadn't seen his face at that time, but she'd known that that was her Gajeel, there had been no doubt in her mind. She'd missed this young adult, a young preteen when her father had picked his family up and moved them to a whole different continent, but they'd made sure to keep in contact with one another through the years. First with letters, then emails, and finally texts and phone calls when her father had finally caved and given her a cell phone of her own with an international plan.
"It's good to see you too Metal Head." She teased back softly, loving that even with all the time apart it still felt natural to tease each other with their nicknames.
"What are you doing here?" Gajeel finally prompted after he pulled away and took a step back, shoving his hands into his school uniform navy blue slacks. "I thought you didn't get in until later?"
Rolling her eyes Lucy smirked at him. "And if I had actually told you that my plane got in an hour ago would you or would you not have pressured me into skipping the first day of school to hang out?" She teased.
He smirked at her before he chuckled. "I so would have."
"You so would have." She said at the same time before she laughed softly before she motioned around them. "I didn't know you went to Fairy High, I was sure your dad would have preferred you go to Magnolia High instead."
"Nah, the shops finally making enough money so dad was able to transfer me here my sophomore year." He said and shrugged then smirked down at her again. "I would have sworn you dad would have demanded you attent that fancy ass boarding school overlooking the town."
Grimacing Lucy shuddered. "No thanks, did the whole boarding school over in Alveraz, and I hated it. With a burning passion, literally I tired several times to set the place on fire."
"Really?" He pressed the single rows of metal studs that were his eyebrows arching as he rocked back on his heels. "You actually went to boarding school in Alveraz?"
"That's the only schools they had there." She explained and shuddered. "And you have to live on campus too, oh and they make everyone take a mandatory etiquette class each year."
He stared at her for a moment before throwing back his head and letting out a belly laugh that had her folding her arms in front of her and frowning.
"It's not funny Gajeel!" She snarled. "It wasted valuable time each damned day on bullshit stuff that I'm most likely never going to use."
"That's to funny!" Gajeel laughed shaking his head. "I'm imagining you sitting in an etiquette class, no doubt your shoes muddy and your clothes a mess! The teachers must have had a blast whipping you into shape!"
Wicked humor lit her eyes and she smirked. "Oh they tired, but I made sure to wrinkle my clothes and stomp in the muddiest of puddles just before heading into that class each day. By the end of the year the teacher practically threw me out of the classroom."
Barking out another laugh Gajeel shook his head again. "How the fuck did you pass the classes then?"
"Oh, on exam days I was the pristine little princess that they were attempting to shape us into, but every other day I was the little tomboy that refused to give in to their demands! Drove them nuts!" She laughed maliciously. "And when they realized I was transferring they threw a damned party!"
"What year are you in?" Gajeel asked after they finished laughing.
"Fourth year class A." She said then paused. "And you're in?"
"Fourth year class C." He said and stared at her in amazement. "You skipped several years."
"Yea, that's kind what happens when you attend prestige academies, you skip a few grades because you're pushed to succeed." She said and shrugged. "But I got used to it pretty quick."
He nodded then jerked his head towards the stairs. "Shall we, I'm sure the assembly is going to start soon."
He waited until she'd nodded before he side stepped so she could walk side by side with him as they climbed the stairs, not even pausing when he leaned down and snatched up his bookbag up off the stairs as they kept going, ignoring his stunned friends as they went. It was clear that the three other teenagers weren't at all sure how to react to the situation that had just taken place at the base of the stairs. And truth be told, neither was Lucy. Had she expected Gajeel to recognize her? Yes, she pretty much looked like she had six years ago just a slightly older and taller version with much more prominent curves and not so chubby cheeks. But she hadn't expected him to give her that crushing hug the moment his shock had worn off. Nope, that right there had been the curveball that had thrown her carefully laid plans into complete and utter turmoil yet again, because this young man had always held her heart in his hands. Even with she was a devastated ten year old forced to say goodbye to the twelve year old boy who'd somehow forced back his tears in order to not make her feel even sadder as she'd been bundled into the car and whisked away from him for what felt like forever.
And now she had to figure out what the hell she was going to do before things got complicated. Because she had no intention of letting what the two of them had get convoluted by unsure feelings before she was even able to unpack her bags.
Pushing open the door to the roof Lucy rested against the doorjamb and smiled at the surly frown she got before it melted away into a look of welcome. "Figured I'd find you up here." She said by way of greeting before she stepped out of the doorway and allowed the heavy door to swoosh softly closed behind her. "You always did prefer the roof to the cafeteria."
"It's quieter up here." He grumbled passing the rolled and lit joint he had in his fingers to her as she reached for it as she moved to sit beside him. "Not as many idiots to bug me."
Chuckling softly she took a drag before passing the joint back she slowly let out her breath. "So I take it this school doesn't really care if you smoke pot?"
"As long as it's not a over debilitating amount they could care less." He said and smirked. "I went straight to the dean on this one."
"And I guess it helps that the dean is also your father's best friend?" She teased after slowly letting out her breath and bumped his arm with her shoulder as she stretched her legs out in front of her, crossing her ankles.
"That helped." HE agreed with a nod before he too took a hit. "Also helps that this makes me less homicidal too."
Nodding Lucy rested her head on his arm. "Has youre aggression really been that bad?" She asked softly.
"Yea." He sighed. "Got bad after you moved."
"You never told me that." She said and frowned as she took a drag on the joint then passed it back.
"You had just moved, I wasn't going to put that stress on you on top of everything else." He snorted.
Rolling her eyes Lucy sighed and rested her head back on his arm. "Have you found ways to vent this aggression?"
"Yea, four days a week at a aikido dojo." He said then held up the joint. "And one of these at lunch and I'm normally not as prone to aggressive rage then I used to be."
She nodded. "Good, I remember I used to have a helluva time getting you to calm down." She teased.
"Yea," He agreed and chuckled. "That's why they put you in my class because for some reason you always managed to calm me down when I went full aggression."
She shrugged. "It was nothing." She said softly.
Clearing his throat Gajeel looked down at his hands where he had them resting in his lap. "So what made your dad move you two back to Fiore?" He asked after a silent moment.
"He didn't." She said and sighed. "Our agreement was that I wouldn't make a fuss as long as by the time I turned sixteen he moved me back to Fiore, anywhere of my choice, if we didn't move back before then. And seeing as dads company is flourishing in Alveraz I knew that he would never pick up and move back here so I proposed that he just move me back here."
"And he did." Gajeel stated.
Lucy nodded against his arm. "And he did, he got me my own apartment not far from the school, fully furnished and everything. I have a monthly budget I have to pay for my bills, necessities, and what little is left of I can spend on whatever I want."
"Damn, what did you have to agree to with that?" He chuckled.
"That I go to college after I graduate from high school." She sighed and shrugged. "I was already planning on doing that anyway though, but that just makes it so that he knows I'll for sure go. And that it was his doing that made it so that I had to go to college if I wanted to come back to Fiore before I turned eighteen." She grumbled and rolled her eyes. "For such a crazy brilliant man, my dad can be such an idiot."
Gajeel snorted. "You got that right." He agreed.
"So," She finally murmured. "How's the girlfriend?"
"We ended things at the start of summer." He stated.
She frowned. "Why? You really liked her."
"I did, and I still do." Gajeel sighed and shrugged. "There just wasn't that..."
"Spark?" She asked when he trailed off.
"Yea," He agreed. "I still like her, but in a plutonic friends kinda of way."
"I know exactly what you mean." She sighed. "That's what happened with my boyfriend last year, I just realized that over time it became somewhat...mundane and tasteless to be around him even though we both did care for one another. Thankfully we parted friends and all, it was just... not right leading him along like that."
"Yea." He nodded and rested his head on the top of hers. "So what are we gonna do then?"
"I dunno." She sighed. "Hope that one day the right person shows up and strikes the flint in our hears and that spark turns into a flame that never dies?"
Gajeel snorted at the description. "Why the hell are you so weird?" He asked after a moment.
Lucy shrugged. "I dunno, I just am. Now, what do you want to do after school gets out?"
"I'm sure the old man would love to see you." He supplied on a sigh.
Face lighting up Lucy jerked up right and beamed at him. "I would love to visit him!" She cheered excitedly.
Gajeel cast a glance down at the smaller companion at his side as she listened politely to the story his pink haired firend was animatedly telling her, though it was clear that she was only semi-interested and listening to it, though he kenw that if she were to be quizzed on it she'd recite it word for word. She had that much of a steel trap of a mind. She'd surprised him today, not only had she arrived early today and even though she was extremely jet lagged she'd gotten herself through the day and was now trudging through the streets just to visit with his old man. He'd been slightly concerned that his friends would be a bit to much for her when they'd pretty much ambushed her when she'd met up with him at the gate of the school. But she'd calmly waited until the three idiots had quieted before she'd looked each and every one of them up and down and told them that there was no chance in hell that she would ever be attracted to them, though they could try to change their minds, but time and time again she'd squash them like an ant. Then she'd turned her attention to him and flashed her genuine smile that he'd remember from their shared childhood and told him that she was ready to go. Not only had she stunned every single man within eyesight of that megawatt smile, but she'd left him speechless by not only her blunt rejection of his friends but the way she'd smiled at him. Even though he had pictures of that smile framed around the house, for some reason it left him a little breathless.
"So what gave the confidence to shoot them down like that?" He finally asked when his friends headed into a convenience store a block away from his fathers garage. He'd been ready to smack the backs of his friends heads mere seconds before she'd shot them down.
She blinked up at him then smiled and shrugged hefting her bag higher onto her shoulder. "Alveran men are... pushy when it comes to hitting on women, especially teenage girls." She said then shuddered and grimaced. "I don't know how many grown men I had to pepper spray and kick in the nuts."
"What?" He demanded feeling his carefully contained rage bubbling in his stomach.
She sighed and rolled her eyes. "Look, it's the past, get over it." She retorted and gave him a droll look. "I learned how to handle it, my confidence grew, as did my self defense knowledge. I took classes and I'm pretty sure I could even put up a good fight against you." She teased.
He snorted before he could stop himself. "You? Fend me off?"
Lucy's smiled turned slyful seconds before she moved, her book bag slipping off her shoulder. Blocking a kick to his side and taking a step to the side Gajeel frowned as he suddenly realized his mistake as his world suddenly tilted as she set him off balance then effortlessly knocked him off his freaking feet using her whole body as leverage in the move tossing him over her body in a simple throw. Slamming into the sidewalk he glared up at the sky then at Lucy when she loomed over him grinning. "Believe me now?" She teased her hands resting on her knees as she tilted her head at him.
Glaring at her he opened his mouth.
"Dude she just tossed you on your ass!" One of his friends shouted laughing.
Growling Gajeel rolled up onto his feet and snatching his bag off the ground he turned and glared at the small vixen behind him, holding up his finger he leaned down slightly until their faces were separated by mere inches. "Don't do that again." He warned.
Smirking she tilted her head again. "If we spar I am so going to do that again. Putting you flat on your back has such gratification in your face." She teased.
Snarling wordlessly he turned and snatching her bookbag off the ground he passed it to her and stormed down the block towards the five car repair garage he and his father ran. Knowing from the laughter behind him that those assholes and Lucy were following him as he stormed off. Glaring at the old bastard that straightened up from the car that he was working on he grabbed the rag off the rolling tool table that he had next to him and started wiping off his greasy hands.
"What the hell is with your face?" The man growled his deep voice even more gravely then Gajeel's.
"That." Gajeel snarled and jerked his thumb behind him.
The older man leaned over and looked around him with a frown, shock on his face as he pushed himself off the car his eyes widening as a grin filled his wrinkled face. "Lucy Heartfilia!" He called.
Turning slightly as he folded his arms across his chest Gajeel watched Lucy's face fill with the same warm loving look that she'd given him much earlier today as she jogged towards his father and going up onto her tiptoes wrapped her arms around his shoulders even though he protested due to the grease on his garage work shirt, before his own arms went around her though he carefully kept his hands and forearms off of her. dropping a kiss on her temple as she pulled back his father took a step back and looked her over. Gajeel lifted his his hand in acknowledgement as his friends turned and meandered down the street no doubt towards Natsu's house, having picked up on the fact that this was going to be a private homecoming that they weren't particularly invited to.
"It's good to see you too Metalicana." She said with a laugh.
"Girl you are still as pretty as the time you spilled oil down the front of both you and Gajeel." He teased and smirked when her mouth dropped open and she smacked his arm in faux outrage.
"And you still look old!" She retorted as she took in his father's appearance, no doubt noting the countless wrinkles on his face and the way his naturally silver colored hair seemed to be flecked through with white strands, the way his striking slightly dark silver eyes seemed to appear tired. "And tired." She finally murmured, concern twinkling in her eyes as she ever so slightly narrowed her eyes at him.
Rolling his own eyes he folded his arms in front of himself. "Stop that worrying that you do, I'm healthy as a horse." He grumbled then grinned. "What are you doing in Fiore, last I heard you weren't going to be getting in until later today."
"Flight got in early this morning." She smirked and shot Gajeel a look. "Couldn't tell him that though."
"Cause he would have convinced you to skip." Metalicana sighed and shot Gajeel a look.
Rolling his eyes Gajeel growled softly. "As if you wouldn't have demanded that I bring her over here." He retorted.
Shooting him an amused look Lucy chuckled softly. "I managed to convince dad to move me back to Fiore by my sixteenth birthday."
"And damned if he didn't." The older man laughed and shook his head at her. "You always did know how to get your way, girl."
She shrugged. "Alveraz isn't for me." She stated and wrinkled her nose. "To hot and the men there are perverts."
"What?" His father demanded and Gajeel could almost see the flames filling his father's eyes as he smirked slightly.
"Apparently," Gajeel cut in before Lucy could speak. "She had to fend off attackers with pepper spray and kicks to the balls, got so bad she had to take self defense classes."
"What?" Metalicana snarled. "What the fuck did your father do?"
Rolling her eyes Lucy shot Gajeel an irritated look. "You know as well as I do that dad was barely home as it was." She said and shrugged. "When I brought it up on the time that he was home he just arranged for me to take self defense classes and left a can of bear spray on the counter for me with a note 'flick off the safty, aim, and don't let up until their dead' pasted to the side of it."
Gajeel sighed. "You know that that wasn't enough." He growled, drawing their attention. "He should have arranged for a car to drive you."
Lucy sighed and folded her own arms around herself. "Be real, guys, my dad hasn't really excelled at the whole parenting thing since my mom died." She pointed out and shrugged. "Not trying to defend him, cause I agree totally with you, he should have done more. But he did what he thought was enough. And I have never been assaulted so I guess it kinda paid off."
"Or you just got lucky." Gajeel growled.
Glaring at him Lucy opened her mouth.
"Enough you two." Metalicana cut in waving his hand between them. "Gajeel take her into the house I'll be in in a few minutes after I get cleaned up. Get some tea on."
"Yea, yea ya old bastard." Gajeel growled and jerking his head towards one of the doors that would lead to the fenced yard that backed up into a two story house that was immaculately kept. Opening the gate he stepped through and waited for Lucy to stride through before reaching it and following her along the path that took them to the porch on the back of the house. Dropping back slightly he watched her walk and felt as if he were finally... at peace for once since the day she'd left. She'd taken... something the day her father had packed them up on the car and drove away, leaving him standing in the middle of the road staring after their car even after it disappeared from view. Frowning slightly he clenched his fists at his side as he realized that what he was feeling right at this moment wasn't just one friend being happy to see another, no it was much deeper then that. And he had no idea how the hell he was going to broach it to Lucy seeing as he had no idea how the hell she felt about him, given the fact that this was the first time that they were seeing each other in six damn years.
Stepping into the house after Gajeel unlocked the door and stepped aside to let her in first she looked around as she lowered her book bag onto the padded bench beneath the coat rack next to the door as she toed off her shoes and nudged them neatly underneath the bench before she strode deeper into the living room looking around at the room at all the pictures that riddled the walls. Eyes halting on one picture she strode slowly towards it and reaching out gently touched it as she felt her throat tighten slightly with emotion. The picture captured above the two of them as they had slept, the two of them facing one another as they had slept curled up on their sides holding hands in their sleep surrounded by pillows and blankets from the fort that they'd made in the living room, bathed in the soft glowing lights with shadows swirling around them though the soft light easily illuminating them.
"I remember this day." She murmured softly when she felt Gajeel loom over her. "I couldn't stop crying, so you made a fort out of sheets and pillows and Christmas lights you found in your attic. We stayed in there for hours, and I finally fell asleep."
"It was the last night you spent here before you left." He murmured behind her after a moment. "I didn't know dad had snuck into the fort and took the picture until I walked in and saw it hanging on the wall, I slept with it by my night stand for over a year and a half until I finally moved it back here." He admitted softly after a moment, clearing his throat he shifted slightly. "I'll go get the tea started."
Lucy smiled and turning her had she watched as he turned and headed towards then down the hallway to the left of the room, he'd clearly just embarrassed the hell out of himself. He clearly still hated being embarrassed just like he had when they were kids. Turning her attention back to the picture she sighed and drew her hand away realizing that the young boy that she had known then and had cared for with such crazy intensity had grown up into a man that she barely knew. Though there would always be parts of Gajeel that she would know, there was much more that was a mystery. And whether or not there was room for her in his life or not she still didn't have a read on. Because no matter what she knew that she'd clear space for him in her life in a heartbeat.
Turning away from the picture she strode down the hallway that passed the down stairs bathroom and finally opened to the dining room and the kitchen beyond that. "So your dad drinks tea?" She asked as she leaned her hip against the arched doorway to the kitchen.
Gajeel looked up from where he was setting the tea kettle onto the burner and shrugged. "His doctor told him that he needed to cut back his coffee intake, and that while tea didn't have as much caffeine in it, it still had enough to affect him."
Chuckling she shook her head. "I bet he loved that doctor!"
Rolling his eyes as he reached up into a cupboard he pulled out three mugs. "Thought he was going to punch the poor bastard." He chuckled as he set them on the island then jerked his chin towards the chairs across from him. "Sit, I know you've gotta be tired. I've put on a pot of coffee." He said wickedly as his eyes twinkled at her.
Out rightly laughing now she sank into one of the stools. "You're terrible!" She said shaking her head up at him as she laughed.
"Just because he had to quit coffee doesn't mean I had to." He winked at her before turning and striding to another cupboard he pulled it open and reached in.
Gasping Lucy sat forward her hands shooting out and grasped wildily for the bag in his hands. "Oh my gods!" She breathed.
Eyes widening at her reaction he passed the bag to her. "Uh...?"
Glancing up at him as she ripped open the bag greedily shoving her hand into it once she had it open. "Alveraz doesn't sell these anywhere, I had to special order them all the way from Fiore." She explained and shoved a chip into her mouth and closing her eyes moaned in what could only be explained as pure ecstasy. "It's been over a year since I had any of these!" She sighed and shook her head. "Gods I missed them!"
"You could have told me." He growled softly and she opened her eyes to see him frowning at her. "I would have shipped you several bags."
She crinkled her nose and shook her head. "Gods no, do you know how expensive shipping things between the two continents is?" She prompted. "That's why I said no presents!"
"What are you talking about?" He demanded.
"Shipping anything over a pound starts at a hundred bucks then goes up fifty bucks every pound." She said and grimaced. "I got one helluva lecture when I ordered four bags of these and the total came out to two fifty not including the actual price to get it packaged and shipped to the shipping company. I wasn't going to make you pay for that just for me to have my favorite snack!"
He stared at her then snorted and gave her a look. "That must have sucked!"
"Like lemons, big fat juicy lemons." She said and shook her head as she shoved another chip in her mouth. "That's another reason I didn't like Alveraz. Their snack selection was disgraceful!"
Laughing he shook his head at her.
Sitting back in her chair Lucy just watched him as he moved about the kitchen with a smile on his face. She felt her heart clench as she just studied him before turning her attention back to the bag of chips in her lap. She'd missed that laugh with every fiber of her being, and the way his pronounced canine's flashed with his grin and small dimples appeared at the corner of his mouth. She'd just missed... him.
Yawning Lucy flopped down on Gajeel's bed, her hair splaying out around her as she bounced slightly. "You're a lot neater then I remember you to be." She told him as he flopped down next to her making her bounce on the bed and laugh as she did so.
"Yea, well after you left the old bastard decided that it was time that I start cleaning up my room since I didn't have you here to nag me about it ever day." He teased and nudged her slightly.
Laughing again Lucy grinned. "Are you just saying that because you don't want me to know that you've actually kept your room a pigstye?" She teased. "And because I was supposed to show up today, you hastily cleaned it last night?"
"Nah," He grunted as he shoved one hand behind his head. "I just kept it neat when I realized that it would keep the old man off my back about it."
"Mm." She murmured softly before she took a deep breath. "Gajeel?"
"Yea?" He prompted.
"I missed you." She said softly and blinking rapidly when she felt tears prick the back of her eyes as his large hand closed around hers where it rested beside his on the bed.
"Yea," He finally murmured. "I missed you too."
"I almost ran away several times, made it to the airport and had nearly bought my ticket before I finally turned around and went back." She confessed.
"What made you stop?" He asked.
"My promise to you that I wouldn't ever give up." She said. "I couldn't break it and be able to look you in the eyes with my head high."
"You saw running away as giving up?" He asked turning his head towards her.
Turning her own head so she was staring at him she stared at him for a moment. "Wouldn't you have?" She asked softly.
"Yea, I would have." He murmured then paused and took a deep breath. "I almost killed a man." He said.
She blinked at him then frowned as she waited for him to continue, knowing that given time he would continue with the story.
"It was four years ago," He finally murmured still staring at her. "He was a few years older then me and talking shit about the fact that I was reading your letter at lunch that day. And he went to far and I just snapped like I used to. I was smaller then him but so much stronger it was so easy to tackle him and then I just started beating the fuck out of him."
"What made you stop?" She asked softly.
"The promise I made you." He told her. "I would never do permanent damage if I lost my control on my rage. See we were outside, and I'd grabbed a rock beside his head and had it lifted above my head when all I could think about was the promise I made you. I brought it down beside his head and told him that if he ever spoke shit about you again I'd kill him. He never came near me or my friends again, I think he actually transferred to another school after that."
She stared at him then slowly smiled gentle at him. "Thank you for not breaking your promise."
"Yea, you too." He murmured then cleared his throat. "We should probably get you home, we have school tomorrow and you probably want to unpack a little."
"Okay." She said and pushed herself up and off the bed and headed towards the door.
"Lucy?" Gajeel said from behind her.