Summary: He'd always seen the silver lining in the clouds, but he could deceive himself no longer.

Disclaimer: Hiro Mashima owns Fairy Tail

Day 5: Metallicana

greyscale

The sky had never seemed so blue.

The clouds were white and fluffy and peaceful, a type of peace that left a bitter taste in his mouth. It had only been a few days since he lost him, but 'a few days' had never felt so long.

Gajeel watched the wide blue sky glide over the landscape, his feelings a tornado tormenting him but his thoughts remaining clear on a single subject. He knew that no matter how hard he peered at the vast sky, he would not be able to find the streak of silver that represented the first ever form of love he had ever felt, despite how unorthodox its presentation was.

His father was truly gone now, and no amount of wishing could bring him back.

He smelt her soothing scent before he heard her climbing the side ladder, and knew that she was standing right behind him, her heart beating calmly and reassuringly.

"Gajeel…" she started, walking up and sitting next to him on the roof, her skinny arms just brushing his own muscular ones.

"…I always imagined him in the sky, you know," Gajeel mused, his crimson eyes boring into the white that decorated the blue. "I knew I'd find 'im one day, the pile of old metal flyin' through the sky."

Levy regarded him with sympathy shining in her eyes, knowing that despite his tough appearance he was mourning mess inside. She knew he was on the verge of tears, but couldn't categorise his feelings enough to make them fall.

"I knew he ain't dead, so I'd comfort myself by imagining the big junk filling up the sky and spittin' iron at me, tellin' me to train harder, tellin' me to quit bein' a weak brat. But now…"

His studded brows creased at the salty substance forming in his eyes, and he found his throat all choked up and unable to produce a sound. Levy could feel her own tears begin to swirl in her big eyes, the pain on his face so raw that she could feel it stabbing through her own heart. She kept silent as he tried to gather himself, his frown only pulling deeper as he struggled.

"But now… But now he's really… g… gone, you know? He ain't around anymore and I- and I can't even try ta imagine him cause I know he ain't comin' back."

He could no longer hold back the tears as they rolled down his cheeks, each teardrop expressing the pain that drove stakes into his chest. Grief was a horrible thing, he realised. He had never felt so much grief and agony in his life, and he could almost feel the sharp metal digging into his human heart.

"A-and there was so… so much I wanted to tell that… o-old chunk of metal…"

"Gajeel…" Levy whispered, her arms automatically circling around his midsection as he sobbed, a large hand covering his metal studded face. "I know that you're devastated but… but I'm sure he is proud of you."

The tears only seemed to increase at her words, despite his fervent attempts to stop himself from crying. But despite how uncharacteristic his current behaviour was, she knew that he was absolutely genuine in his feelings.

"He was inside you all along, remember?" she smiled, grabbing his wrist to pull his hand away, before reaching out and brushing his tears from his cheeks. "He saw you grow, saw your mistakes, and saw you making amends. He would be so proud of the man you've become, Gajeel."

"…Ya think?"

"Of course! You've changed so much, Gajeel. You're now a man that cares for the people around him and is willing to sacrifice himself for them, and we all see that, your father included."

His eyes shot open and garnet irises looked deep into the rich hazel, the warmth and empathy radiating in them enough to put a small grin on his face.

Gajeel chuckled lightly, the sound a broken one due to his thick throat, but he ignored it. "You're right, Lev. He'd beat me up for all the shit things and he'd beat me up even more for the good things, sayin' it's too human and too weak for his dumb taste. And then he'll say I did good on some things but the old metal probably means everythin'."

Levy offered a light laughter, feeling a little more reassured as he wrapped an arm around her small frame, holding her tightly against him. "You're really strong, Gajeel. In more ways than one." Her pink lips curled upwards slightly. "You've done good."

The two shared a warm glance, their feelings easily communicated through the small smiles on their faces.

"My old man would've liked you, Levy." He grinned, the canine peaking through his lips a reminder of his father.

The bluenette blushed at his words, searching his ruby eyes. "Would he?"

"'Course he would. Yer amazin'," he told her, leaning down to touch his nose to hers. "And I like you, so he'd like you. Probably say somethin' stupid bout hatchlings or somethin'."

"Gajeel!" she cried, appalled, pushing against his chest but his firm hold on her preventing her from successfully shoving him away.

Gajeel broke out into a loud laughter at this, his unique laughter reverberating through his chest. Despite his crude language, Levy couldn't help but grin at his happiness, glad that she had somehow managed to elevate his mood.

"Oh, he definitely would've liked ya, Shorty."

"Ugh, Lev was so much better." He only responded with more chortling, his laughter increasing in volume. "Stop laughing, Gajeel!"

"Sorry Shrimp," he chortled, finding amusement in her light irritation. He tightened his grip around her and pulled her even closer against his body, relishing in the warmth she provided for his cold soul as she pressed her cheek against his chest.

"I wish there was more time," Levy hummed. "I wanted to properly meet him."

"Me too, Levy, me too..."

The two refocused their line of sight at the clear, blue, sky, the vastness feeling less empty than it had before. The corners of Gajeel's lips twisted upwards slowly, as his envisioned the familiar silver hue flashing across the blue.

"I ain't worried though, 'cause I know he'll always be inside of me."