Okay! I'm back! Chapter eight is up and nine is in progress! Whoo~ Hope that everyone enjoys! This is going to be a short one but more is explained on it in the next chapter!

Undergrounders

Chapter 8

Levy stared at the paper in her hands, her bare feet pressing against her mattress as she hugged her knees to her chest. Her bottom lip held tightly between her teeth as her unfocused eyes scanned the words on the paper. Countless questions were swirling within her mind, but she just wasn't sure if she could ask Gajeel about them yet. Especially if even a hint of truth was in the letter from Jose!

Focusing on the crumpled paper, her eyes skimmed the lines that she had memorized. From Jose taunting Gajeel about his past, to Jose saying that he wouldn't always be able to protect her forever. That the moment she learned the truth about his past, she'd be running from him just like she had Phantom Lord. While Jose didn't outright say what Gajeel's secret was, the next part clued her in on it.

It was blaming Gajeel for the death of her father! The same words that Jose had whispered to her the night she found her father's lifeless body on ground colder than his own. 'I told you. The only way to leave Phantom Lord, is in a body bag.' It seemed that Jose could very well be out for Gajeel, just as much as for her. She wasn't sure why, but she couldn't get over the fact that Gajeel had come from Phantom Lord! How had she missed him from back then?

Giving a sigh, she dropped the letter and laid down, pressing her the palm of her hands into her eyes as she tried to get her whirling mind to stop. She knew that there was only one way, and that was to talk to Gajeel. However, on the entire car ride home, he had remained quiet. Explaining nothing about the note, not trying to defend himself or anything. It was clear that he was waiting for her questions, but she just couldn't voice them.

She was frightened. She didn't want her image of Gajeel to crumble, because she was afraid to learn that he had done the same things Phantom Lord has. Hell, for all she knew he could have very well been the one who pulled the trigger on her father.

She felt tears beginning to prick the corner of her eyes and gave a sigh. She wanted to fast her past, she truly did, but she had to ask herself what the cost was going to be. If she found out that Gajeel, the man she was willing to trust everything to, was the one who killed her father...She wouldn't be able to take it. She would have to go back out onto the streets!

She didn't want to leave Fairy Tail, because they had all become family to her. Everyone was so nice and opened, even Gajeel to a point. It was a happiness that she hadn't felt in a long time, and didn't want to give it up.

Glaring up at the ceiling, she felt a scowl forming on her face as an image of Jose laughing appeared in her mind. That bastard! He was the reason her life was hell in the first place! He was the one who had her doubting everyone and everything! He was the one that she was jumping at every shadow! He wasn't going to be the one to take this happiness from her!

Rolling off the bed, she grabbed the note and stalked from the room. She was going to get these answers. She was going to piece everything together and then figure out what to do next. She was done with Jose laughing at her and having control over her life. She might never be a fighter, she might never get move above self-defense lessons, but damnit, she was taking her life back and living how she wanted.

Stepping into the living room, she met Gajeel's ruby gaze and waited as he clicked off the television before straightening to sit upright on the sofa. She moved to the armchair and plopped down into it, some of her nerves gone but not enough to have her fleeing from the room.

When she saw that Gajeel was waiting for her to begin, she inhaled and organized her thoughts. She needed to make sure that the right questions were asked. That no accusations toward Gajeel was made. She didn't think that the man sitting across from her would do anything to harm her, and would go to any lengths to protect her. Jose made it look like Gajeel had been lying to her, but she just hadn't been asking the right questions.

"You used to be in Phantom Lord." It wasn't a question, but a statement that had him nodding. Levy released a small sound in the back of her throat, waiting for the panic that usually hit whenever she was in a Phantom Lord member's presence. Only to find her gaze moving to his shoulder, where a pitch black Fairy Tail tattoo was shown proudly. "How is it that I never noticed you?"

"Was a rookie fighter back then. They mostly kept me out on the streets." He answered, and she gave a nod. That made a bit more sense, only those who bore the Phantom mark and had a decent reputation were allowed within the main group and hangout. She had never even heard of 'Kurogane" until he had joined Fairy Tail, so apparently Phantom Lord hadn't thought much about him. Although, looking back, Jose had been pissed when he had seen the first match between Gajeel and one of the Phantom members. His usual threat that kept group members from walking out had been in tatters for a while. Until...

"Jose links you with my father's death. Why?" Levy shifted in the chair as noticeable pain entered his eyes before he rubbed his hands over his face. A deep sigh emitted from him, and Levy was slightly worried until he looked back up. The pain had spread from his eyes, and was now etched into his facial features, his lips pressed tightly as he refused to meet her gaze. He looked like he was in complete turmoil with himself, but she wasn't about to let him back out of it.

"Gajeel. I want to know why Jose says it's your fault for my father's death! What connection did you have with my father?" Her words were nothing short of demands, and she was nearly on the edge of her seat. Her teeth grinding together as he remained quiet for a moment, before finally looking up at her. Remorse, apology, and pain swirling within his gaze.

"Because, the bullet that took your father's life...It was originally meant for me."

Gajeel became slightly worried as Levy's face paled before she blinked her eyes rapidly. Apparently, whatever she had been bracing herself to hear, wasn't what he had said. However, it was the truth. As much as he hated to have to tell her, but her father was dead because of him.

"Wha-"

"Will you listen from the beginning?" He asked, watching as she blinked a few more times before easing further back into the chair. Her expression was still one of shock, but at her nod he released a sigh and stared down at his carpeted floors.

"I was nothing but a no good, punk of a kid. Hated everyone and everything. Only thing I was good at was getting into trouble and throwing punches, so image my thrill stumbling into the Underground groups. I finally felt like I had found a place that I could call home. At least, until a few members of Phantom Lord convinced me to join their group." He couldn't help but to growl at this, back then he had been so stupid! Shaking his head, he leaned back against the couch and stared up at the ceiling.

"Jose wouldn't even give me a mark since I was nothing but a brat. Said for me to make a name of myself and then come talk to him. So, I did just that! I started picking fights with whoever crossed my path, sometimes winning and sometimes losing terribly." He shivered as his fingers idly brushed over some of the scars that were on his arms. Before sitting up and finally looking at her. Her eyes slowly trailing from his arms back to his eyes, hers were still emotionless, a wall to keep her emotions at bay until she heard the full story.

"One fight I nearly didn't make it out of. Some grunt of a bastard from Phantom had decided to pick a fight with me, but I didn't care. I thought that if I could beat him, then maybe, just maybe I could finally get into the group. Didn't expect the damn bastard to pull a knife and attempt to gut me. Left me to die as well. Probably would have if it hadn't been for your pops." He grumbled, watching as her eyes widened slightly. That was the only reaction that he got, and then looked away as he continued.

"Oliver McGarden made sure that I didn't die. Keeping me far away from Phantom's base, but also not at his place either, since members came and went as they pleased there. It was somewhere in a no-man's zone, where no one could try to finish offing me. At first I just snapped and snarled at him, before realization struck me that this was the only person who had treated me like an equal. Half the time he just laughed at my snide remarks, or brushed off my insults while changing my bandages." Gajeel closed his eyes as he felt emotions begin to stir within him. McGarden had been the closest thing he had to a father since his own had passed away, and it hurt more than anything to know the he had been the reason behind his death. However, it was because of that, he knew better than to cry. He wasn't allowed to shed these tears, but Levy...She had ever damn right to cry and hate him with all her heart. Pushing his thoughts and emotions aside, he finished the story.

"He convinced me to try for another group, actually pointed me toward Fairy Tail. Saying that I might be more fitted with them, and he was spot on. The moment I entered the group and explained my life to Gramps...Fairy Tail showed me everything that I could become. Both as a human being and a fighter, and I loved it. So much so, I decided that I had to pull McGarden and his daughter out of their hell hole. He had spoke highly about you, going on and on about how smart his daughter was, even if he never did show a picture of you. So, I issued a challenge to Phantom Lord, both as a means of 'what do you think of me now' and to get you two out. The fight was nothing, I didn't break a sweat or anything! However, I wasn't expecting Jose to be that crazed with anger. I knew of his saying, how no one was suppose to leave unless it was in a body bag. When he cornered me and pulled out that gun..I..I froze. Oliver though, he had seen it all coming. He pushed me aside. Took the bullet meant for me...I..I ran...I ran like a fucking coward!" He gritted his teeth together before letting his breath hiss out from between them. His hands gripping tightly at his hair and pressing against his forehead.

"When I heard that you had escaped afterwards...I kept an eye out. I had no idea what you looked like. No idea how I was going to find you. No idea if you'd even want help from a poor excuse of a human, but I had to try. You were that man's everything, and I wasn't about to just run from that. Not after everything he had done for me...I didn't...I didn't think I would actually find you like I did though. When I first saw you, I just thought that you were somebody who was in a rough spot and needed help. But...When I heard those goons call your name...Hell, I don't even know what's come over me. Yes, I want to protect you and shelter you from any potential harm to pay back your father. But, at the same time, I want to let you go free and teach you how to bring a man to his knees in self-defense! That's beside the point however, and I'll understand if you hate me. I'll understand if you also want to relocate elsewhere. I'm positive that someone else within the guild will be willing to let you bunk with them. I just..."

"Stop." It was nothing more than a choked whispered, just a single word, but it had Gajeel freezing. It felt even like his blood froze within his veins as he looked up to view her. Swallowing as he saw that her head was lowered, her body quivering, and her hands clenched tightly into fists.

"You're a stupid idiot. You know that." She whispered, causing him to blink and frown slightly. That...Wasn't something that he was expecting to hear!

"I am mad at you, pissed actually. But not because my father took a bullet for you! But because you're disgracing his name with your self-pity and loathing!" He tensed as she shot to her feet, shrinking in on the couch as she stalked forward. Okay, this he really wasn't expecting!