Levy woke with a small start. A large, warm body was pressed against her back and a thickly muscled arm was draped across her hip. It took several seconds before Levy realized it was Gajeel, not Bora, cuddling her in her sleep. Levy smiled as she cuddled deeper into his tender embrace.

Levy loved how he smelled. Dragon's blood and worn leather. For several long minutes, Levy listened to the even flow of his breathing. A deep rumble emanated from his chest and Levy realized she had been running her fingers along the piercings in his arm.

Levy curled her small hand around his thick wrist. What happened to his hands? "Gajeel?" Levy wasn't certain he was awake until he pulled her closer to his body and kissed her shoulder. "Yes Levy?" His sleep roughened voice made Levy's insides heat. "Why don't you ever take your gloves off?"

Gajeel chuckled. "Why do you ask so many questions?" He caressed her hip absently. Levy huffed softly under her breath before she rolled onto her back to look him in the eye. "Gajeel, I've told you every dark secret about my past. You know me better than anyone else on the planet. Why can't I be privileged with keeping your secrets?"

After a long pause, Levy sighed and made to get out of bed. The arm around her waist tightened as Gajeel refused to let her leave. "Levy..." Levy turned with a deep sadness in her eyes. "Am I really that untrustworthy, Gajeel?" Her eyes begged him to prove her wrong. With a small sigh, Gajeel released her waist and rolled away from her. Levy made it into the shower before the tears started.

Gajeel buried his face in his pillow as he listened to Levy pad barefoot to the bathroom. Am I that much of a coward? Tch! How pathetic. Gajeel ground his teeth together as he heard Levy's soft sobs emanating from beyond the locked door. He cursed his insecurities as her sobs tore at his heart. Am I really that afraid of her rejection?

Gajeel heard the water shut off. It's now or never. He jumped from the bed, ripping his fingerless gloves from his hands as he did. He stood half-way between the bathroom door and the bed in naught but a pair of gray sweat pants. He nervously waited for Levy to exit the bathroom.

Levy didn't look at him as she walked to the dresser, drying her hair. His body shook with each uncertain breath he took. His throat felt tight and it was hard to breathe. Gajeel watched as Levy walked into the bathroom, clothes in hand, once more ignoring him. Gajeel moved to stand in front of the door before she finished dressing.

Without a word, Levy tried to push past him. He didn't budge. "Gajeel, I'm angry at you. Please just get out of the way." Gajeel remained where he stood. "Gajeel, please, just move. I don't want to fight." Gajeel took a deep breath, exhaling slowly before he spoke.

"Levy, look at me." She continued to stare at his chest. "Levy, I'm serious. Look at me." Her face tightened angrily. "Why?" Her eyes, full of hurt and anger, flew to his. "So you can tell me that I wouldn't understand and that I need to drop it?!" Gajeel reached to rest his palm against her cheek. Before he could make contact, she shoved his arm away angrily.

"Don't. Just...don't." Levy broke eye contact. She looked tired. Gajeel put his gloveless hand in her line of sight. Several tense moments passed before either of them dared to breathe. It was Gajeel who broke the silence. "Levy-" His words were cut off when Levy took his left hand in hers. He knew her skin was soft, but the scars on his hands had deadened his sensitivity. He closed his eyes as she gently laid her lips against his skin.

He spoke without opening his eyes. "I was ninteen. We were at a concert. Some drunk girl spilled her drink all over me. It was a Tequila Sunrise. Pretty flammable. My pants and gloves were soaked." Gajeel sighed and hung his head, eyes still closed as Levy gently rubbed his hand, tracing the ugly pattern the scars made. "I got in a fight. The guy must have smelled the alcohol on me, I don't know." Gajeel shuddered. "He pulled a lighter from somewhere while I was getting up. I didn't see the lighter until it was too late." A tear slipped from the corner of his eye. "Next thing I knew, I was on fire."

He was afraid to look at her. Opening his eyes, Gajeel chanced a quick glance at Levy before looking to his feet again. "If Natsu..." Gajeel had to clear his throat before he could continue. "...hadn't been there...I woke up in the hospital a few days later." Gajeel fell to his knees in front of Levy. "My dad...my dad died on the way to the hospital." Gajeel looked up at Levy, openly crying. "It's my fault he..."

Levy dropped to her knees and placed her hands on either side of his face. "Don't. Just...Don't." She pressed her body close to his and held him tightly as he wept. Gajeel crushed her body against his, afraid she wasn't real. Afraid this had all been a dream. He was afraid of her reaction, afraid of her questions. After a moment, he became aware of her hands pressing on his shoulders. Slowly, he released her. She stood and took his hand. She pulled him with her as she walked backward. He stood and followed her to the bed.

They laid quietly for a long time before either of them spoke. "Don't hide them at home. Don't hide." Levy took his hand, bringing it between their faces. "Open your eyes. Look at it." He did as she asked. He saw the damage the fire had caused. The ridges and valleys that deformed his hands. He saw the guilt at his father's death. He saw the anger of his own helplessness. He saw the pain, the dull ache that still remained deep within his soul. He saw it each time he took his gloves off.

He felt Levy watching him. He met her eyes, flinching at the sadness he found in their depths. "This...this is part of you. If there's one thing I've learned, it's that we can't escape our pasts. No mater how fast we run or how well we hide." Gajeel scoffed. "You sound like Wendy." Levy's eyes softened as she wiggled closer to him. "She's smart. She's strong too." Gajeel nodded as he wrapped his arms around Levy, pulling her tightly to his chest. They laid that way until the front door opened, indicating that Wendy had returned from school.