Ch 2: Forgiveness is key
It was barely 10:00 am and Gajeel could only think about getting a beer in his hand, he strolled down the cobblestone walkway his steel toed boots clicking against the stone. The guild was almost in view when the wind began to pick up slightly, the smell of earth and rain stinging his nose. His pace quickened a bit as he noticed the dark clouds rolling in over the horizon he'd like to get to the guild without getting caught in the rain, not wanting to rust.
Gajeel finally made it to the doors of Fairy Tail the place he had come to call his home. The large doors swung open as he pushed against the glossed mahogany.
The guild was relatively quiet today which was strange, it was usually rowdy by this point in the day. He quickly moved his eyes across the hall looking for a particular head of blue wavy hair, when he saw that she was nowhere to be found he let out a sigh in relief. The girl had been on his mind lately in more ways than one. The nightmares stealing away his sense of whole reason he came to the guild today was to get drunk off his ass and hopefully forget about her for once.
"Oh! Good morning Gajeel!" The barmaid waved at him her voice shrill against his eardrums.
"I need a beer." He demanded, as he took his seat at the bar.
"Of course!" Mira jumped to Gajeel's request fetching a large mug from behind the bar and filling it with the golden beverage. She slid the mug to him, he caught it, his large hands grasping the handle as he lifted it to his chapped lips. The bitter taste hit him instantly the cold alcohol hitting the back of his throat sliding down smoothly. He chugged it, he had to feel better, he had to forget.
Already half of his beer was gone he felt it ins his empty stomach hoping the euphoric and hazy feeling would fill his chest and brain quickly. Sadly he knew his attempt at getting drunk was pathetic he could drink two barrels and not feel a thing. His iron stomach could handle anything.
"So! Levy came in early this morning looking for you, she wanted you to take a job with her." The barmaid said as she stood wiping a mug clean with a rag.
Gajeel let out a grunt "I aint interested the, shrimp can handle herself." Mira chuckled making Gajeel chug the other half of his beer.
"Don't be so silly I know you two like going on jobs together!" Mira smiled at the thought Gajeel knew she was in one of her "Matchmaking moods" and he felt like getting as far away as possible.
"Shut up ya damn demon like I said the shrimp doesn't need me to go on jobs with her, that's what her puppies are for." Gajeel left the empty mug at the bar as he stood quickly turning around to leave. He stomped outside and felt a drop of water land on the bridge of his nose. He had been struggling, he felt so fucked up for how he felt.
He'd never admit it but he did want to make sure she was safe on jobs, he wanted her to make it home in one piece, he promised to make her big and he'd follow through on that promise. Lately however it was getting harder to be around the girl, not only was it the guilt that was eating him alive but it was also the feelings that he had towards the script mage.
His mind wandered to a few weeks ago when he, his cat and the script mage took a job searching for a treasure that had been misplaced by their clients late father. He had buried it in the forest near the town of Basco. That night as they set up camp Levy had disappeared from view, Gajeel knew she was a grown woman and could take care of herself and just happened to be curious as to where she went.
As Lily prepared their dinner Gajeel walked into the brush searching for her until he could smell her scent. The smell of parchment, ink and lavender overtook him, it had been mixed with the smell of nature.
Then he heard it her voice was soft as she hummed a tune her voice lifting into the air like a singing bird. The sound of rushing water slightly overpowering her angelic voice. Gajeel tiptoed to the sound coming up behind a tree where he saw Levy's bright orange dress crumpled on the floor next to her red purse and sandals.
He knew what she was doing and felt sick for standing there but he just had to look. He slowly lifted his eyes to gaze upon the sparkling blue water where she stood in her black lacy panties and bra. Water droplets ran down her pale skin and her hands ran through her tangled hair. Her eyes were shut as she relished in the feeling of the cool water in the setting sun.
God she was beautiful, she looked like a goddess. She ran her hands over her body washing away the sweat and dirt from the days travel. If he could just hold her to his body, just once he could die happy. A heat began to grow in his lower belly and instantly Gajeel backed away in shame, what the fuck was he doing? He had to get out of here and fast.
He felt his pants tighten as he took one last glance at her. He then moved away quickly, he had to get away from her. He had never felt such and intense need for her before, he never wanted her this badly. I should have never followed her, he thought as he rubbed his eyes. Gajeel had always noticed her cute body however it was always hidden under her orange sundress. Now he had finally seen her body in all its glory. His eyes landed on Levy's perky breasts and continued to move down her body, he noticed the beautiful curve that traveled down her spine to her plump backside.
Go away, you can't look at her, you can't touch her! Gajeels inner self screamed at him, reminding him of the monster that he truly was. It was then that he retreated, going unnoticed, or so he thought.
Levy fully opened her eyes and saw him quickly turn away. She blushed when she had noticed him watching her, and she let him. Her heart was racing as she washed herself Silently hoping he'd join her like in one of her romance novels. Sadly her heart sunk when she heard his retreating footsteps. She turned to look at the spot where he once stood, his name on the tip of her tongue. She could have called out to him, but she was afraid, not of him like Gajeel thought, but afraid of being rejected.
Since that job Gajeel had yet to confront Levy, it had been a few weeks since he last had a real conversation with her. He walked slowly the rain falling at this point. He was angry with himself for how much he wanted her, he knew that he didn't deserve her. He felt so disgusted with himself. How could the hands that once hurt her want to also make her feel complete and utter bliss with every single touch that he would place on her skin.
"Gajeel?" He turned around quickly to see her standing there, the woman he had only been daydreaming about seconds before.