Prompt: Gajeel finds Levy drinking her sorrows away at a bar

Rating: T, for language

Worthy

Gajeel grumbled as he walked the empty dark streets of Magnolia, searching for a place to get a good drink. His usual bar was closed down for maintenance, something about a busted pipe somewhere. He could fix it for them, but that was work and he didn't want to work right now. He wanted to drink away his troubles. So he was searching for a new bar to hit up while his regular one was being fixed.

He finally found a nice little hole in the wall bar closer to the guild. These small places were usually the best, and they were usually quieter, tailoring more toward older crowds than to young clubbers. As expected, he found mostly older gentlemen in the bar, a few women in their late thirties. It was quiet, for a bar, with simple but pleasant music filling the air while people talked among themselves. The bar had simple decorations, as it was clearly a place for drinking and not much else. Gajeel's kind of place.

He made his way toward the bar only to freeze when he recognized someone. Someone very familiar. Someone who should definitely not be in a place like this… especially with such a sad look on her face. The tiny blue haired woman he'd grown rather close to over the years was sitting on a barstool, staring down into her drink with a depressed look on her face. Instead of her usual cheery sun dress, she was wearing tight jeans and a black tank top. Her hair was unhindered by a hairband for once, which allowed the blue locks to fall over her shoulders and in her face. It just made her look even more depressed… and Gajeel's gut twisted dreadfully at the sight.

He… he had never seen her like this before. She was always so happy and cheery. And temperamental. He loved pissing her off, just to see that fire in her eyes. This girl sitting at the bar… it wasn't his Levy. He moved to approach her, ask her what was wrong, but one of the patrons stopped him, stepping in his path with a protective look in his eye.

"Oi, leave the poor thing alone. She's got a broken heart, and she's not looking for a hookup."

"Huh?" Gajeel tilted his head in confusion. Broken heart? Hookup? "I wasn't…"

"I know your kind. You'll only break her heart even more than it's already been. The girl just wants to drink and vent, and if you want to have a drink here, then that's all you're going to do. Drink." The man declared firmly. Gajeel could only stare down at the older man with a raised brow. The guy was short and frail-looking, but he stood his ground against Gajeel. It was clear he didn't know who Gajeel was, or that he and Levy were friends… though how the man didn't know that was beyond Gajeel as he and Levy had been in the papers a lot lately thanks to those Magic Games a while back.

There were lots of rumors going around those magazines that they were dating, and some people had gotten pictures of him being close to her. Not only that, but after his amazing fight with Rogue, Gajeel Redfox became a household name, it seemed. Gajeel had never been famous or, hell, even liked before. It was definitely a change for him. While he didn't like all the attention, he was pretty happy that people were starting to accept him more. He just hated Levy got caught in the crossfire with all the paparazzi shit.

Gajeel sighed heavily through his nose as he looked down at the man. He had to say, he was impressed with the guy's guts, stopping someone much bigger and stronger than you just to keep the small girl at the bar from getting hurt. A few years ago, Gajeel might have bashed this guy's head in for trying to tell him what to do. But now, he just sighed and relented.

"Fine." Gajeel said easily, making the man smile and nod happily. He let Gajeel pass, and he dragon slayer went to take a seat at a table not far from the bar. The elderly bartender came over and got his order, then returned with a large beer. When he returned behind the counter, he leaned over the bar and gave Levy a sad smile.

"Still having guy troubles, Levy?" he asked. Levy just nodded without looking up from her drink. Well… that got Gajeel's attention. Last he checked, the shrimp wasn't seeing anyone, and there weren't any strange male scents on her. Gajeel had to bite back a growl as jealousy and protectiveness filled him. He found himself clenching his jaw tightly as he tried to understand these emotions. Levy wasn't his… but that didn't mean he didn't want her to be his. And the thought of another man having her attention. He wasn't afraid to admit he was jealous. Very jealous. And then to hear he was giving her trouble? He was making Levy look like this? If he knew who it was, he'd go out and kill the fool for hurting her.

"What's he done this time, dear?" the bartender asked gently. Levy just sighed and took a sip of her beer. It was then that Gajeel noticed what she was drinking. He'd never seen her drink beer before, only fruity girly drinks and wine.

"Nothing. It's just…" Levy took a deep breath before looking up at the bartended. "Monty, he's giving me such mixed signals… I just… I don't understand. He… he'll be so nice and gentle toward me, and he'll make me think that maybe something's there… and then he'll be a complete asshole in the next second and I just…" she buried her face in her hands with a quiet whine.

"Dear, perhaps it's time to move on? You've been pining after him for years, now, haven't you? And this is where it's gotten you." The bartender, Monty, told her, only to watch her shake her head violently.

"I… I can't, Monty. I've tried." She whimpered quietly, looking up at him again. Gajeel could smell tears, and he knew she was about to cry. "I've tried so hard but I just… every time I'm around him he makes me feel so… safe. And special. And cared for. And I just… I can't help but see the man under the monster… and I love that man. I love him, Monty. I've tried so hard to move on, but I can't stop… loving him." She sniffed, wiping at her eyes as she tried to hold off her tears. "And it hurts… it hurts so much b-because I don't even know if he feels anything for me. He'll pull me in and then push me away with the same breath, Monty. He'll make me think he does care… and then he'll turn around and say or do something that makes me think he doesn't. A-and I just don't know which it is."

"Well… ain't this the man that hurt you and your friends, Levy?" Monty's question had Gajeel nearly spitting out his beer in shock. WHAT?! Levy, she… she was talking about HIM?! She liked him? No, she loved him?! HIM?! Gajeel got his breathing under control after nearly choking on his beer, and he listened just in time to hear Monty speak again. "This could be a stretch, dear, but maybe he still feels guilty for hurting you? Perhaps he doesn't think he's good for you."

Gajeel could honestly say this Monty guy was pretty sharp… because that's exactly how Gajeel felt. He… he cared so much for Levy that it hurt… he loved her. He knew that. But every time. Every fucking time he thought about making a move, every fucking time he tried to tell her what she meant to him... that night would flash through his mind and he would freeze up. He… he didn't deserve someone like her. He never would. And she deserved so much better. So he'd sworn he would always protect her and ensure she was happy and healthy.

But here he was… the reason for that sad look on her face and the pain in her heart. The shrimp… she was in love with him. And he was hurting her. He was the reason her heart was broken. He was the reason she was hurt. And here he'd promised himself he would never hurt her again. His chest tightened painfully as guilt wracked through him. He… he knew the shrimp was crushing on him. He didn't know it was love and, honestly, he had hoped she would have moved on by now. Because he didn't deserve her. He would never deserve her. But she… she hadn't moved on. She couldn't. Because this was no mere crush. She loved him. He could hear it in her voice as she despaired to Monty. She was in love with him.

And he was hurting her.

Gajeel didn't even listen to the rest of the conversation she had. Monty had turned to trying to cheer her up, talking about something else to get her mind off of her heartbreak. Gajeel quickly downed his beer and, while Monty went off to tend to the other patrons, Gajeel approached Levy. She didn't even notice him at first, not until he spun her bar stool around so that she was facing him. Her eyes flew wide as she looked up at him, recognized him. And his gut twisted painfully when he saw the tears that were still rolling down her cheeks. Tears she'd shed over him.

"G-Gajeel, w-what are you doing here?" she asked timidly, reaching up and trying to wipe her tears away as she looked him over. He was wearing tan pants and a way too-tight black tank top, which left his muscular arms bare down to his hands, where his usual black iron-studded fingerless gloves were. His hair was down but pushed back by a red headband that covered most of his forehead. There was a pained look in his eye, and his jaw was set firmly, as if he were angry over something. But when he looked into her eyes, his own crimson eyes softened considerably.

"It's me… ain't it?" his voice was tense, but his eyes were sad. Levy blushed, realizing he'd heard her conversation with Monty, and more tears filled her eyes as she could do nothing but nod. The cat was out of the bag now, and she sat there prepared to get her heart broken. She looked away from him as more tears fell, only to flinch lightly when a strong, gloved hand cupped her face and turned her back to him.

He hated seeing the fear and pain in her eyes. He hated seeing her cry. He hated that he was standing there, unsure of what to say to her. He was fighting a war on the inside. Break her heart, and his heart, so she could move on and find someone better… or be the selfish bastard everyone knew he was, and make her his, even though he didn't deserve her? He loved her so much… he wanted her so badly, but he knew he was no good for her. She deserved so much better.

In the end… it came down to one thing. He'd promised himself two things, when he joined the guild. He would never… ever hurt her again… and he would do everything in his power to keep her safe and happy. If he wanted him, if being with him would make her happy… he would never deny her that. She deserved better, so much better… but this just meant he'd have to make himself worthy of her. Because he could never deny her happiness.

He didn't know when he moved. But the next thing he knew, he was kissing her. He swallowed her shocked gasp as he kissed her deeply, his hand moving from her face to her hair while his other hand gripped the bar counter. Once Levy got over her shock, she kissed him back, gripping tightly at the front of his tank top. It was a long kiss, so full of raw emotion on both parts. When they parted, they were both breathing heavily. Levy was blushing deeply, staring up at him with wide eyes that were still full of tears and trepidation. Gajeel could only stare down at her with soft eyes and guilt on his face. He brought his hand down to cup her face again, using his thumb to wipe away a tear.

"I'm sorry. I'm so fucking sorry, Levy." He breathed out quietly, looking into her eyes. "I… I never meant ta hurt you. I never meant ta give ya mixed signals or play with yer heart. I just…" he paused as he wracked his brain for the words. "I don't deserve you. I don't deserve someone as pure and kind and beautiful as you. I don't deserve you, but I'm just such a selfish bastard. I couldn't push you away. I didn't want you to hate me. I didn't want you to leave my side, ever. I… I'm so sorry, Levy. I just wanted the best for you, and I still don't think I'm the best for you, but I can't fucking lose you."

"Gajeel…" Levy's tears had only increased with his speech, and she could barely see him through her tears. She felt his hands on her face, felt him wiping at her tears.

"I'm so fucking sorry, Levy. I never wanted ta hurt ya. I promised myself I would never hurt ya again. But here we are. I told you I'm no good for you." He breathed, pressing his forehead against hers. "I'm the opposite of what you deserve. But I'm selfish. I love you, Levy. I can't let you go. I don't want to let you go, even though it would be better for you. All I can promise, Levy, is that I'll try to be someone worthy of your love. I swear I will. So please… let me have you. Let me love you." He begged her desperately. Levy could only cry as his words registered with her. He... he loved her. He loved her back!

She threw her arms around his neck with a sob, pulling him down to kiss him. He kissed her back, holding her close as his arms moved around her waist. A few of his own tears escaped his eyes as he kissed her senseless. He was being a selfish, heartless bastard by loving her. By making her his. He knew that. But he couldn't give a damn right now. He didn't care if she deserved better than him. He would just have to prove he could be better. He could be the best thing for her. He would prove it to her or die trying.

He would show her he could be a man worthy of her love.

I haven't tried writing something emotional like this in a while. Not sure if I did a good job or not haha.

Anyways, thanks for reading. Please let me know what you think.

-Nerdy12