Gajeel's POV
I stared at the screen as it went black. I couldn't breathe. Levy had put herself through so much just to do what she thought was right. That same day she saved Natsu, Sting, Lucy, and I, was the same day Lucy saved me. The two girls now sat silent staring at their hands. My heroes were two fragile girls a year or two younger then myself who chose to do what they knew would save lives. One told a lie and the other took beating after beating.
Laxus clapped me on the shoulder. After sighing he spoke once more, "Each one of us has done something we regretted. Gajeel, Lucy, Levy, and even myself. When I gathered you guys and made this gang, I filled it with heroes. Heroes who seek adventure and joy. People who stand together against everything they encounter. People who love with all their hearts. I made the group because of what I witnessed that day. Levy was the first member. I just never got to welcome her properly."
Mira walked over and handed Laxus his tattoo kit. Levy's eyes filled with fear. She looked at each of us in turn and we all revealed our own matching symbol. A tribalistic fairy with a tail.
"Where do you want yours?" Laxus asked.
Levy thought for a moment before doing something so bold everyone in the group turned red and looked away, except Laxus, who simply focused on creating the tattoo. The tiny blunette had removed her shirt to expose a red lace bra. She then dropped the left strap so it hung loose against her upper arm. She turned her back to Laxus and pointed to her shoulder blade.
After a while I gave up looking at the ground and watched Laxus work. The tattoo was lined in a bold orange and filled in with white so it stood out a few shades paler then her skin. As he finished, I noticed he had begun to add to the original tattoo. A silver dragon wrapped around the mark and three names were written into the center of the tribal fairy in three different colors. Her mother's name danced in a gorgeous purple, her father's in a soothing green, and her brother, Sota's, was in a vibrant blue. The year they died was added underneath in black. That's when Laxus took a blood red and gave the silver dragon my eyes before wiping the tattoo clean of excess ink and placing a bandage over it.
The blonde then turned to me, leaving Mira to explain to the Shrimp the details of tattoo care. "Walk with me, Black Steel."
"Sure." I spoke quietly. In our group we all had nicknames. Salamander was Natsu, Gray was the Stripper, while Lucy became known as the Princess. Bixlow, Laxus, Freed, and Evergreen were the Thunder Legion, Mira was the She-devil and Erza reigned as Titania. We called Juvia the Rain Woman due to the way the rain always fell when she was sad. Wendy was known as Blue Bird due to her love of the sky. Romeo was Flame, and I was Black Steel. And if Laxus called you by the nickname, you were in for a serious talk so you'd better pay attention.
We followed the path back to his car, waiting to speak once the group was out of hearing distance. "You know I rarely speak on a serious topic, but Black Steel, I'm about to give you a job only you can do."
"Laxus, what is going on?" I asked leaning against his car.
"You saw her tattoo. I specifically used your old nickname to create it. The Iron Dragon of Phantom Lord. Levy has known Juvia and myself a lot longer than she's known you, however when she's scared or nervous she finds her way to your side. I know the girl has a hard path ahead of her, especially since the hospital informed gramps and the old men that there was a threat on her life last night that she doesn't know about."
"Damn, do they know who it was?"
"Jose. Look, Black Steel, I need you to stand by her and protect her. When Sota died, I swore I'd look after her, I failed. You've saved her more in two weeks than I have in ten years. I knew she was here the whole time. Watching her but never helping her. Do me this favor and protect her?"
"Like you had to ask? I'm with her till the end. She has a way of sneaking into your heart, man. Two weeks and I've told her more about myself then you even know." I growled suddenly frustrated. "Dude what is it about her that weakens me?"
"Love." The blonde spoke in a dead serious voice before walking away, leaving me in a shocked confusion.
*+*+*+*+*+*Time Skip*+*+*+*+*+*
It was Monday morning and Levy started school again today. I stood at the entrance to the school waiting for Lucy and Levy to make an appearance. As I stared off into the distance a pair of long arms wrapped around my waist from behind and a despicable voice whispered in my ear, "Gajeel, baby why you waiting by the door? Got a little skank on the side distracting you from me?"
"Minerva, get your slutty, disgusting hands off me before I break them," I snarled, stepping away from the sleazy whore. "You broke my sister's wrist, hospitalized my friend, and bad mouthed a beautiful person. You ever touch me or my family again I'll send you to the hospital, you touch her again, I'll send you to the morgue. That goes for your slackies as well."
"Gajeel, are you in love with that parentless whore?" Minerva shrieked.
"My feelings for Levy are none of your business and if you want to make it through the day, you'll learn her fucking name and speak kindly of her!" I hadn't realized I was yelling until heads began to turn towards me.
I turned around to look at the students watching us, my gaze falling on a pair of brown orbs watching me from below wild waves of sky blue silk. I walked towards the small girl and held my hand out to her. A moment later, a small soft touch danced over my skin as she placed her hand in mine. I pulled her from the crowd and draped my arm around her, making a public statement. Levy was off limits, to harm her was to go against me and I wouldn't be kind about it.
I paused just outside the school. Turning to face the crowd of students watching us and spoke loud enough to be heard by all in the area, "As with my friends and family, Levy McGarden is under my protection. If you so much as make her flinch you will not only have to deal with me, but you will deal with all who stand beside me."
"That includes the Thunder Legion," Bixlow laughed from somewhere in the crowd.
"She has been claimed by the Fairy Tail gang. To go against her is to go against us. With Black Steel Gajeel, Laxus and the Thunder Legion, The princess and myself as well as Titania, The She-devil, and the Rain Woman and her Ice Cube." Natsu's voice rang out.
"Guys! I appreciate the back up, but I can handle school matters myself," Levy laughed beside me.
The blunette stepped forward to stand toe to toe with Minerva. She smiled but a darkness seemed to flow from her making even me shiver. "If you ever touch Wendy again, Minerva, I will personally rip your throat out and bathe in your blood. Your entrails will become your noose and your eyes will be my stress balls. I'll wear your teeth for jewelry and make a blanket from your skin. Do we have an understanding, bitch?"
"Y-yes." Minerva stuttered.
"Good. Come on, Wendy, Lucy. We don't want to be late for classes. You too, Gajeel, Bixlow, and Natsu!" The shrimp suddenly smiled a warm, friendly smile and acted as if she hadn't just threatened to brutally mutilate and kill a fellow student.
Good lord, what the hell have I gotten myself into? I've begun to fall for a sweet, kind and utterly terrifying shrimp of a girl! Someone save me from myself, gihi.