Characters: Lucy Heartfilia, Gajeel Redfox, Team Natsu + Juvia

Ships: Gajevy, implied Nalu

Genre: Friendship, Romance

Rating: K

Warnings: Spoilers for the manga, chapter 488 and onwards!

Summary: Where Gajeel is panicking and seeks Lucy's help.

Request: 'If your still accepting drabble requests, do you mind doing brotp Gajeel and Lucy? Can be nalu plus gajevy related. Just love brotps....'

Notes: I do think the fandom sometimes need to appreciate friendships more - and not when using them as an excuse to bash other people's ships. Ship and let ship yo.

"Is that Tenroujima?" Lucy exclaimed. Rather redundantly too, seeing as it really was the one-of-a-kind island looming in front of them.

The entirety of team Natsu (along with Juvia) gawked at the sight, just as a big black blur emerged from it's general direction hurtling towards them.

They had been hardly any time to brace themselves before the blur sped past the group.

Taking Lucy with it.

"LUCY!" Gray yelled, moving to chase after them when he was held back by a warm hand on his shoulder.

"Relax, that was just metal-head," said Natsu as Gray turned to look at him quizzically, deadpanning in the direction his guildmates had gone in.

Gray nodded. Though neither mage took their suspicious eyes off of where the two were now standing at a distance.

Meanwhile, Gajeel was gingerly putting Lucy back onto her feet.

"Gajeel!" she yelled, forcing the dragon slayer to cover his ears, "We're supposed to be headed to the guild!"

"I know," he said pulling her along, allowing them to walk parallel to the rest of the group, close enough to not lose sight of them but far enough to keep their conversation private.

"I said stupid things to the Shrimp," he grumbled, having a tough time actually opening up.

But she did know the Shrimp best.

Lucy was instantly interested. "Like what?"

And Gajeel narrated the whole incident to her, sparing as many embarrassing details as possible.

Not realising that Lucy had long since stopped walking alongside him.

When he did, Gajeel turned to her. "What's -

"She thinks you're dead…" her voice shook.

Gajeel's eyes widened at the truth of her words.

"No, no, no, no, this is all kinds of wrong," Lucy murmured under her breath, as she began tearing up.

But it was loud and clear to Gajeel, whose heart had now plummeted to his stomach - suddenly remembering in all too graphic detail her tears, her voice, her screaming his name and her determination to save him even at the cost of her own life.

"That's like if I thought Na…" Lucy shook her head furiously, getting rid of her own morbid thoughts and began wiping her tears with equal gusto. "We need to get you to her as soon as possible! She'd also be heading to the guild, so let's get a move on!"

Gajeel was already two steps ahead, having picked up pace. Bunny girl was right, the Shrimp would be really upset right now and it was all his fault.

"And Gajeel?" Lucy's voice interrupted his thoughts, strained by her panting to keep up with him. "You didn't say anything that would upset her."

Gajeel turned wide wide eyes to look at her, only to see her offering him a small, honest smile despite her watery eyes.

He paused in his running.

Lucy did too, wondering what was wrong.

Gajeel set his sight on his feet, knowing that this had been long overdue. But better late than never, especially if he aimed to be someone worthy of the Shrimp.

"I-I'm sorry," he said.

"It wasn't your fault, let's get to the guild -"

"No," he said, squeezing his eyes against another set of haunting memories, self-loathing raising it's ugly head once more. 'How had I enjoyed that?'

His voice corrected her gruffly, "For Phantom, and for everything I did."

Gajeel didn't have the confidence to look at her anymore, and so was surprised to feel a gentle hand resting on his arm.

"You were forgiven a long time ago, Gajeel."

"I shouldn't have been," he ground out, clenching his teeth.

"Alright," Lucy said after a few moments, "then earn it. You'll be forgiven under one condition."

This forced Gajeel to look at her, his unsure eyes meeting her warm auburn ones.

"Keep my best friend happy, okay?"

Gajeel's eyes widened once more, as he was bombarded with memories of the little bookworm - her smile, her laughter, her curling into him, her reading out stories to him, her strength, her resilience, her kindness, her beauty.

Her.

His heart swelling with the love he had for Levy, Gajeel met Lucy's eyes once more, this time shining with his resolution.

"I promise."

And it was one he strove to keep for the rest of his life.

"Thanks Lucy," he said honestly as they began picking up pace once more.

Lucy only giggled, not missing his use of her name. "Awww, Levy's right, you really are a big softie underneath all that metal."

"The heck? I'm an irondragon slayer! I don't do soft."

"Suuuure, you don't."

:D

As always, special thanks to Juliastes (heehee, you did ask for it), aoutre (for all your reviews :D), missbehavin, FireDragonPhia and Anniethorbo along with everyone else who favourited and followed! :D