Task 7: learn to forgive and be happy (Part 3)

She is sitting here, she really is here, on his couch, smiling cheerfully while retelling events of this horrible day. Bags under her eyes, her beautiful delicate skin is pale, bruised and marked by multiple scratches, she is exhausted and her wounded shoulder clearly gives her pain, but she looks happy and her smile is the same. Seeing it made his heart race. Seeing her here, alive, in comparatively good shape, made him feel like he is going to explode, the power of relief and joy too big for his chest. He doesn't know what to do, how to express what he feels and, maybe, he shouldn't express it at all? Maybe, when her first natural reaction of being home and safe will fade, she would be angry that she had to endure it alone and... disappointed in him?

But for now all seems so unbelievably good.

She is here, he can see and hear her again, he even can touch if he'll allow himself to come close. But just now he can't or he'll explode. So he keeps his distance, few steps from the couch, silent, when others are gathered together, engaged in animated talk, just looking, not daring to do something more. As usual she accepts his withdrawn behavior without questions or offenses and the rest of the company is too busy to notice his wordless confused self.

Levy's attention is divided equally between them all (minus Jet who slipped away while they were a happy heap on the floor), but her eyes are frequently meeting his, expression tender with an offer of timid apology in them. And he is glad that she is completely engrossed by her friends. Lily, in his small form, at her lap, Lucy on the right, holding and lightly caressing her injured arm, Natsu on the left (and overexcited moron already scorched all area under his ass and even didn't notice it!), all of them are talking, asking, wondering, wow-ing without breaks. And he isn't even jealous or annoyed, as he certainly would have been at any other time, no, he is fine with it, because each look intensified difficulties Gajeel had with controlling his hands, they etched to grab her, engulf and not release till he stops to breath. This scared him. And emboldened. And made him felt like iron's jelly (whatever the hell it can be). And scared again.

"You are incredible, Levy!" Lucy's voice is full of admiration.

"I just tried to do my best, Lu," Levy answered. "I thought about you, how easily you would handle such situation, you take dangerous jobs all the time, it supported me and gave me strength. You helped me." Her words were directed to Celestial Mage, but eyes flicked to Gajeel's again, grateful, shining, message clear in them, and he felt even more jelly like. Oh, fuck.

"I think this too, you was great! You beat him!" Natsu intruded. "And saved the others, and found the way home!" 'Yeah, he's right, you are amazing, Shorty.'

"Really, guys, all of you did much more impressive things!" 'No. Not me.'

"You are so strong!" 'Not even close.'

"I always admired you!" 'I never had someone to admire till I meet you.'

"It's being with you, one of you that gave me strength and will to fight him". 'I am so grateful to have you in my life!'

"You are my family!" 'I know I have no right but I wish you were mine.'

"I am so happy to be home, with you again!" 'And me. So much!'

Although he didn't pronounce it aloud, he still felt embarrassed and had an urge to hide. Fortunately, Natsu spared him. He produced an enormous yawn and Gajeel suddenly remembered how damn late it probably was and Levy was not resting, panicked, got up abruptly and interrupted renewed conversation in typically charming Gajeel's way.

"Enough of these shitty talks. Time to rest. Salamander, get the fuck out, girls can stay."

"What?" Natsu jumped from the couch. "Why should I… You want a fight, metal ass?"

"No fighting, please! Gajeel meant that we'll gladly accommodate all of you in our house for this night." Lily meddled. "Right, Gajeel?"

Said man crossly turned to his Exceed.

"The fuc..."

"Gajeel!" Lily emphasized, pointedly raising his voice.

"Grrr, right, Salamander can stay too." Iron Slayer growled through his teeth. "But only cause it so fucking late. Ok, girls will take my bed. We'll sleep here." He gestured to the floor.

"But why should we sleep here, if we all can take the bed?" Natsu eagerly exclaimed, forcing Lucy to slap her face dramatically, Levy to turn slightly red and Gajeel and Lily to drop their jaws.

"Yeah, all together, it will be fun! Lily can sleep with us too!"

"No, we won't!" Black haired man pierced a pink haired one with a murderous gaze. "Don't even think about it!"

"But why? I saw the thing, it's huge, plenty of space, much more than in Lucy's. We'll all easily fit! You want it too, Luce, right? We sleep in your bed together all the time, why not to sleep with Gajeel and Levy?"

"Ehhh..."

"I said, we won't, moron!" Gajeel barked, rescuing Lucy from equally fiddly and fruitless explanation. Then, sensing that clueless pyromaniac was far from satisfied which may result in him trying to sneak to the bed at night, which definitely won't end well, Iron Dragon Slayer attempted other approach: "Levy is injured and tired, she needs rest. It means good sleep. And Bunny Girl can comfort her, so she will be there too. And I, you and Lily will sleep HERE! You understand? If you'll bother Shorty or won't let her rest I'll rip your head!"

"Why would I bother her? Just sleeping..."

"Natsu!" Lucy smacked him. "Gajeel's arrangements are good, don't argue. Stay here. And, just for the record, I prefer to sleep in my bed alone!"

"No, you don't, Luce! You cuddle me at night. And smile. And moan too! As if it feels good. And..."

"Shut up! Shut up! I don't do that!"

"You do!"

"I DON'T!"

"YOU DO!"

"NATSU!"

"Lu-chan..."

"I SAID I DON'T!"

"Salamander!"

"You do, Luce. Almost each night!"

"Shut up!"

"SILENCE!"

Iron bar grown swiftly in the middle of the room where red-faced blonde mage was arguing with her widely smiling teammate. Both startled and fell silent.

"Good! First thing - you two will continue to discuss this shit as far from my home as possible, got it? Second – we all are going to sleep. Now! Bunny girl and Shorty come with me. Lily, watch this jerk. If he'll try to follow, kill him!"

"Hey!"

"I said silence, Salamander. You know meaning of this word, do you?"

"I swear, metal can..."

"Guys, please, don't fight." This time Levy stepped between them. "I really tired and sleepy, I will appreciate some rest. Gajeel," she timidly took Iron Slayer's hand, "show us the way".

He instinctively tightened the grip and silently lead her to his bedroom, Lucy closely behind. When they had arrived several seconds later, Celestial Mage got inside, but Levy stayed, still holding his hand.

"Gajeel," Script Mage turned to him and gingerly picked his other hand. "I heard what you said about that night. And I want you to stop blaming yourself. It... Please, let me say, don't interrupt."

He shut his mouth again and averted his head, but one small hand released his and laid on his check, softly urging his face to turn back.

"I want you to stop blaming yourself." She repeated. "Not because I long ago forgave you. Yes, long ago, actually couple of weeks after you joined the Guild." She confirmed, seeing disbelief in his eyes. "I won't say that it was the easiest time for me and that I forgot or conquer my fear so promptly too, no, it took me some time. But then so many good, wonderful, incredible events happened which were connected with you... that now… even if I would have power to go back, I wouldn't change that night. I agree to relive it again, if it was the cost to know you".

"Whaaat?"

'What the… How can she say that?'

"Gajeel," he is defenseless under these big caring eyes "Don't you understand, it was that night that eventually lead you to Fairy Tail, made you part of our family, allowed to meet Lily and let us be close as we now are? If that night didn't happen, all the rest wouldn't too. If Jose gave this order to someone else or you would disobeyed or picked other people to deliver the "message", you still could join Fairy Tail and maybe even did one day, but it would be different, Jet and Droy would have no reason to confront you, Laxus wouldn't attack and probably everything else wouldn't have happened at all. Tenrou, our friendship… last night. These things are too precious to me." Her palm is still on his check, caressing it feather lightly with fingertips. And to this point he is utterly speechless. How it is possible that she managed not only forgive him but found good in such horrible events?

"It was that night that gave you possibility to change, me - one of the dearest and most important persons in my life. That's why I want you to stop blaming yourself. And I have one more reason."

She raised on tip-tops, soft lips tenderly touched his. He closed his eyes and nearly fell, when she added in gentle whisper:

"I love you, Gajeel."

Another moment of tender caress and her lips and hands withdrawn, the door creaked, he was left in the hall alone, but it feels like her warmth remained, surrounded him then seeped inside. Ghosts of his past, mistakes, insecurities retreated, unable to overcome this warmth. It feels good, probably the best sensation he experienced in life. Again from her. Another remainder of unforgivable mistake he made that night. But this time the thought didn't brought familiar bitter taste, her warmth painted everything in other, brighter light. He felt...glad. Glad that he lost to Salamander, accepted Makarov's offer, got over contempt and hatred he initially felt for this Guild. If all this didn't happened, if he still was in Phantom…not knowing how it to be... NO! This was really scary thought.

When he at last opened his eyes the door to his bedroom was shut, the house silent, only his heart hammered in his chest. He mechanically returned to the sitting room, laid on the floor near soundly sleeping Salamander, staring at the ceiling still in stunned state. Few minutes later or maybe more, he wasn't able to determine, he silently got up and went back to his room, opened the door, came inside and approached the bed where Levy was already sleeping. Lucy was awake, but she said nothing just smiled when he climbed into the bed and gently scooped Script Mage into his arms, enwrapped her like a blanket and closed his eyes again blissfully. The last thing that Lucy heard on her way out of the room was a muffled rumble of Iron Dragon Slayer's voice, when he mumbled "I love you too" into her friend's messy blue hair.