CHAPTER 21: CONFRONTATION

Gajeel was napping with a smile on his face under the tree on the hill outside Magnolia, Levy in his arms. His training was getting more and more exhausting for the petite mage, but she knew he was very serious about her winning the S-Class exam. She felt his feelings when he promised her he would help her win this, so Levy accepted anything from his teacher, especially when it came to getting stronger. And she was getting stronger, thanks to him. Levy smiled happily as she squeezed him in her tiny arms, like trying to make him get even closer.

"What?" He said, sleepy.

"Nothing. I'm... happy." Levy sighed, making herself comfortable on his abs.

"Me too, shrimp. Me too..." Gajeel started stroking her blue hair absentmindedly. "What time is it? Shouldn't you go to the guild? They'll start worrying..."

"Lucy knows I'm with you, I told her we were training."

"Still... It's getting late. You need food to get stronger, not just training." He shifted Levy on his right shoulder and kissed her hair. "Come on, I'll walk with you." Gajeel raised himself and helped Levy to get on her feet, not letting go of her hand. They walked hand in hand down the small hill and entered the cool forest. At one point, Gajeel stopped suddenly, glaring in a dark spot.

"Gajeel, what's wrong?" Levy looked curious at him.

"I know you're there, so stop hiding." He addressed the dark area coldly. Levy looked confused from Gajeel to where he was looking, when a shadow moved and came into a clearing in front of them.

"Hey." Jet looked grave, holding his hands in his pockets.

"Jet... What are you..." Levy quickly pulled her hand from Gajeel's.

"You don't have to do that, Levy, I know you two are together. I've known for a while now." Jet's voice was filled with sadness, and Levy could hear it. She moved her foot to go to him, but Jet stopped her, raising his hand and nodding his head. "Are you... happy?" Levy was taken aback with this question, looking intently at Gajeel.

"I am." She said truthfully, smiling warmly.

"Do you mind if... I have a chat with him? Alone..." Jet approached them and looked pleading at the bluenette. Levy's insides squirmed unpleasantly as she took in Gajeel's tense vibes.

"Uhm... No. I'll leave you to it, then." The petite mage gave Gajeel's hand a squeeze, whispering a be gentle, he means well and took her leave, brushing her hand over Jet's as she passed him. When her steps were no longer in their hearing range, Gajeel folded his arms on his chest and broke the silence.

"So? What do you wanna talk to me about?" Jet kept his posture, looking intently at the Dragon Slayer.

"I wanted to make something very clear and I didn't wanna upset Levy." He took a few steps to Gajeel to look him better in the eyes. He waited for Jet to finish his speech. "As long as she's happy with you, I'm fine with it. But if you EVER do anything to hurt her, I swear on my honor as a mage that I will do everything in my power to keep you away from her." Gajeel snorted.

"Hoo... Somebody found their balls." He smiled widely, revealing his fangs. "What honor, man? You are so weak you need her to save your sorry ass every fucking time." This little remark made Jet mad.

"I know how powerful she is, goddamn it! She was powerful enough to forgive you!" Gajeel's smile faded quickly. "There's only one reality. You did something horrible to her. And you will hurt her again."

"Don't you dare compare me to that monster!" Gajeel yelled at the Speed mage. "I will NEVER become that again!"

"That powerful darkness is still inside you. And it will be a part of you forever. Are you sure you will be strong enough to control it? Are you SURE?" Gajeel stared at Jet, his calm infuriating the Dragon. "Cuz you're playing with her life."

"What do you want from me?" Gajeel growled.

"You... don't deserve her." Jet said with disgust.

"You think I don't know that? I knew it from the first moment I stepped into the guild and she came... to greet me... like a fucking angel!" Gajeel yelled in exasperation, pinching the base of his nose to calm himself.

"Do you love her?" He blinked surprised, not expecting such a question. Gajeel opened his mouth to speak, but no sound came, so he closed it, looking away. "Cuz I do. I love her. And I'm not afraid or ashamed to say it. So if you ever do ANYTHING to hurt her..."

"I won't." Jet stopped mid-sentence, hearing the sadness in Gajeel's voice. "Never again." Gajeel looked intently in Jet's eyes. "She's the light that keeps the darkness away. Her scent, her voice, her very presence calms the monster inside."

"So you DO love her." Jet's saddened voice made the Dragon Slayer look up at him.

"I... do." Gajeel seemed surprised by this. He always had to question himself about his feelings, but now there was no doubt in his voice. It was a statement.

"Then you can imagine how I feel whenever I see her look at you like... you're the only person in her life."

"I bet you know her better than that." Jet smiled. "She loves the guild."

"Not as much as she loves you. Not anymore." Gajeel's heart skipped a beat hearing this, gasping softly. Jet looked intently for a moment, turned around and motioned to leave.

"That's it? And here I was hoping for a power clash." Gajeel snickered, making Jet stop.

"My warning was dead serious, Gajeel. If anything should happen to her and you're to blame… I will kill you." He said with his back turned to the Dragon Slayer.

"I'd sooner die than to become that person again. I'll take your example and swear to you on my honor, as a Dragon Slayer, that I will protect her, even with the cost of my life." It was Jet's turn to snicker.

"Sorry to break it to you, but your honor is less than dirt to me. And, if you really love Levy, you wouldn't die for her, you'd live for her." With this last sentence, Jet made Gajeel imagine what he would do to Levy if he ever protected her with the cost of his life. He would destroy her. The silence was broken by Jet's fading footsteps on the forest floor.

TBC

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