Chapter 17

"What do you mean, you don't know?" Gajeel growled into the phone as he paced in the bedroom. Levy glanced up from the book she was reading to look at him. She worried her lip as she watched him pace. He was tense and angry, and rightfully so. There was a rat in Fairy Tail, someone who was helping Phantom Lord regain their footing, someone who wanted Gajeel out of the picture. And Gajeel had only found out about this today, even though his father had known or at least suspected it for days. "What the hell do you expect me to do, old man? If I stay here much longer they're gonna find me." He stopped for a second as his father responded, and then he growled. "It's not me I'm worried about! Damn it, old man, I'm trying to keep my girl safe!" And now she worried her lip for another reason.

It would be better for Gajeel if he didn't have to worry about her safety. But what could she possibly do about that? Leave him? Or would he send her away for her safety? Or worse, would he just toss her aside? No, she couldn't bare that thought for even a second. Just the thought of no longer being by his side... it hurt something deep within her. She wondered why until a whisper in the back of her mind made her freeze. You love him... She flushed at this and her heart skipped a beat. Could it be? She really had fallen for him already? She peeked over to the man plaguing her mind. He was still on the phone, oblivious of her inner struggles, ranting away at his father. She bit her lip as she tried to think of her life before she met him.

Even though it had only been almost five months, it felt like a life time ago when she was alone in her own apartment, working herself to exhaustion, reading books to put her loneliness somewhat at bay, crying herself to sleep when that didn't work... a peaceful yet lonely life. And then Gajeel burst into the scene and flipped her world upside down. She didn't expect a relationship to come of it, didn't expect she'd actually want the relationship, and certainly didn't expect to fall in love with the man that changed her world forever. And yet here she was, despite the danger, despite the uncertainty, and all she could think about when she looked at Gajeel was how much he meant to her and how much it would hurt her if she ever had to leave his side. If he ever made her leave his side... She didn't think she could live without him...

She didn't realize she was crying. It wasn't until Gajeel glanced her way and froze mid-sentence, that she realized her cheeks were wet. Gajeel hung up with his father quickly after that and went to her side, kneeling in front of her on the ground. She thought in the back of her head how unfair it was that he was so tall that, even on his knees, he was eye level with her as she sat on the bed. The forefront of her mind, however, was realizing that she was crying, and trying to stop the tears, and failing... Gajeel didn't say a word, he just stared her in the eye, his face full of concern. He reached up and ever so gently wiped her tears away with his thumbs, then took her face gently in his hands as she closed her eyes and felt more tears fall. He wiped those away, too, and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips. She opened her eyes at the kiss, locking eyes with him. Something was in his eyes, some emotion she couldn't place, but he looked so gentle in that moment despite his piercings and bulging muscles and the gun tucked into the holster at his side. She felt so safe right there, and she wished that feeling could have lasted forever.

But his ringing phone ruined the moment. Gajeel frowned and flipped open the phone only to snap it shut again and toss it away. He turned his attention back to Levy as she wiped at her eyes with a small sniffle. She looked so small and delicate to him in that moment, and he felt bad for putting her in danger and making her scared. Although... he had a hunch that she wasn't crying because she was scared of Phantom Lord. This seemed... deeper. The way she looked at him through her tears, as if she needed him, as if she would be lost without him... he wondered what would make her look at him like that.

"Lev..." he surprised even himself with how gentle he sounded. He cupped her face in his hands and made her look him in the eye again. "Tell me what's wrong. Please, Levy."

"D-don't throw me away..." she sniffled before she could even think about her words first, a very un-Levy-like thing of her. Her words were soft and weak and full of emotion. "I-I don't want to leave your side, n-not ever..."

"Lev... why would you think I would throw you away?" Gajeel frowned as he wiped away her fresh tears. She tried to look away from him but he held her face firmly yet gently in his hands, keeping her eyes on him. He watched the sadness fill her eyes before she spoke.

"I-I'm weak... and a burden. Y-you wouldn't have to w-worry so much about Phantom Lord if you didn't have to protect me."

"Oi, don't be ridiculous." Gajeel scowled. "Levy, you have not ever been weak or a burden and you never will be." He told her firmly. "I am not protecting you because you saved my life, cause I already repaid that. I'm not protecting you just because you're my girl or because you're part of the family now." He paused and took a deep breath before locking eyes with her, his eyes full of fire and determination. "Levy McGarden, I am protecting you and will always protect you because I am in love with you! Don't you dare think otherwise, and never think I'm going to throw you aside, because that is the last thing I will ever do." Levy's eyes were wide in surprise as she stared at him. He was blushing faintly, only enough that she only saw it because of how close he was. His eyes were determined but also vulnerable, which was understandable. He just told her he loved her. Gajeel... he loved her... he loved her!

Gajeel was starting to think he made a mistake by admitting his feelings so early, especially when he saw her eyes well up with tears. But then she threw herself into his arms with a soft sob, throwing her arms around his neck and kissing him with everything she had. He held her close and kissed her back, slightly confused as to why she was crying but also kissing him. And then she pulled away and said with a quiet sob, "I love you, too." The instant he heard those words he pulled her back for another kiss, wrapping his arms around her and holding her even closer. He didn't think four words could make him feel so relieved, overjoyed, and calm all at once. Yet here he was. Mavis, he wished this moment could last forever.

And then the moment was ruined yet again by a ringing phone. Gajeel let out an annoyed snarl and grabbed the offending phone off the floor, keeping Levy firmly in his other arm and pressed against his chest as she tried to dry her tears again. He snapped the phone open and ignored his father's annoyed proclamation of him being rude for hanging up on him. "Old man, we're coming back to Magnolia tomorrow. I'm going to end these Phantom Lord bastards once and for all." Gajeel said firmly. "Oh, and the shrimp and I are gonna move into the mansion. Later." He hung up before his father could protest, then turned off the phone. He noticed Levy was keeping her face buried in his chest again. "Oi, don't go hiding from me now."

"Did you mean it?" she mumbled from his chest. "Y-you really love me?"

"I don't lie." Gajeel scoffed, hooking a finger under her chin and making her look at him again. "I mean it, Lev. I love you. This isn't how I wanted to tell you, but it's the truth." Then he raised an eyebrow at her. "Did you mean it, too?"

"Y-yes." She answered instantly, a fierce blush coming to her cheeks. "I... I only realized recently... but I do love you, Gajeel."

"Good." Gajeel tilted her chin and kissed her again, softly this time. "Levy, don't ever think you're a burden to me. Understand?" When she nodded he gave her a small smile. "Alright. C'mon, we need to pack."

Yay they confessed! Sorry it took a little bit for this chapter, but what do you guys think? Emotional confession, Levy's fears, Gajeel's embarrassment... idk I felt like this was a good way for everything to come out.

Anyways, please review and tell me what you think!

Like always, thanks for reading!

-Everythingnerd12