This takes place in the same AU as "Longing"

His fingers twitched at the sight. That damn stray tendril of blue hair, despite all odds, would not stay in the braid as it was intended to. He wanted so badly to fix it, but this was not the place, nor the time. Not when she was holding court. So he settled for squeezing his hands into a tight fist to keep from whisking her off the throne and dragging her behind one of the tapestries to show that sky blue lock of hair just where it needed to be.

The line of noble brown nosers was quickly dwindling and Gajeel could tell his princess was feeling the strain. It wasn't proper for her to yawn, but she'd already snuck a few times while hiding behind a simple hand gesture. He'd merely looked at her and she would smile back and gently shake her head at his silent plea to call it a day. And each time she did, that braid would come undone just a little more.

It was agony; pure, undiluted agony. There was nothing he wanted more than to run his fingers through her hair, pulling loose the braid that cascaded down her neck and over her shoulder and splay it out beneath her as he rose up above her. Now he was torturing himself. He had to - needed to - get his feelings in check regardless if she felt the same. It was a life neither of them could profit from.

Mentally chastising himself, he shook the thoughts away and quickly noticed she was receiving her last visitor. A nobleman and his wife from the outskirts of the kingdom who had come to wish good blessings upon Gajeel's princess. He straightened and eyed the loose braid as it bounced against her pale shoulder; she was always so expressive when she spoke.

As the man finished with his parting words, ending on a bow, he turned and exited the room, family in tow. Levy's shoulders slumped and Gajeel was quickly by her side, offering a hand in assistance as she stood from the uncomfortable seat perched on the dais. Her smile made his heart skip a beat.

She fiddled with the diadem perched on her brow and that damned braid was nearly shook free as she righted the jeweled adorned accessory. Smoothing her skirts, she moved towards the exit that would lead her back to her own quarters. Gajeel followed closely behind her and once they left the throne room, it was only the two of them in the long hallway.

His hand moved of its own volition, and before he had realized what he was doing, he was holding that long and loose cyan braid in his hands, his fingers gently descending towards the ribbon at the bottom. Levy paused, turning slowly towards him, and in doing so the ribbon came unbound and remained in the guard's fingers. The scent of jasmine and lavender assaulted his senses as her hair fell loosely across her shoulder and back, finally released from the confines of the braid.

"Gajeel?"

He was bewildered at the realization he allowed himself to cross such a line. The sound of steps coming from down the hallway pulled his attention away from the princess, still looking at him in curiosity.

Levy made to turn herself around to inspect what had her guard so alert but was quickly, yet gently, dragged around a corner.

She smiled, "Gajeel, is there a reason we are hiding from the guard making his rounds?"

He coughed and released her arm only to have her settle it on her hip. He quickly retreated after mentally kicking himself for crossing that line, once again. It was that braid's fault, this was all that damn braid's fault.

"My apologies, Princess."

Levy smiled and he thought he might die just from the sight of it, but when she stepped closer and placed a hand against his armored chest, raising on her tiptoes and placing a soft kiss against his cheek, he decided death by her would be a very pleasant way to go.

Levy gently tapped his chest as she returned to her normal, shorter height before tossing her hair over her shoulder and walking away with a feline grace. Gajeel still held the ribbon, clutched tightly in his hand, it smelled of her. Slipping it into his pocket he composed himself and strolled after her.

Damn braid.

Oh hey, I'm still alive and writing! Hope you liked!