Previously
He wasn't sure why his face felt hot whenever the scene replays in his mind.
Lucy was also mad at him and it wasn't helping that his mind thinks she looks so cute while puffing out her reddened cheeks and crossing her arms over her chest.
He groaned at the word.
Cute.. Really, what was happening to him?
But he decided that all of his mixed feelings are all because of the blonde, so she should be the one giving him answers.
With that thought in mind he made the blonde face him and cupped her cheeks in his hands while gazing deep into her eyes; ignoring the squeals and weird looks of his friends.
"Lucy…What are you doing to me?"
Chapter 8 (Piercing Heart)
"W-Wha-What are you talking about? You idiot!", Lucy shouted indignantly. Her face was as red as a tomato and her eyes wide as saucers.
"Natsu! Do not harass a lady's personal space like that!", a certain red-head teen said sternly while glaring at the man who gulped under her intense glare.
"But-But I was just asking Luce what she's doing to me.", the pink-haired whined making Levy coo at him.
"What does she do to you, Natsu?", the bluenette inquired with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
This made the pink haired teen think. What does she do to him exactly?
The sound of his raging heart resonated in his ear.
The urge to touch her and never let her go coursed wildly through his veins. His will to protect her and make her think of no one else but him, became more important than the dire need of having two lunches a day.
But what makes him most curious was the way his heart started beating million miles per second every time he sees her. As if it would explode or ironically clench in his chest at the same time.
How her scent makes his eyes water with desire or how her softest touch would make him feel alive.
He was about to open his mouth when the bell suddenly rang.
He didn't know why, but he suddenly had the urge not to tell anyone his feelings. Not to Levy. Not to any of his friends. And not to Lucy because no matter how confusing his emotions were he was glad he was feeling it towards her.
Lucy was walking alongside Natsu. She didn't know why, but the curiosity of how much effect she had on Natsu was eating at her nerves. In the back of her mind, she was hoping that she had, at least, the slightest effect on him.
She smiled at her thought, but stopped herself. Why was she even having these kind of thoughts to the boy who was only helping her?
She unconsciously gripped their intertwined hands, the pink-haired teen squeezing back in assurance. Holding each other's hands had just become a thing for them.
She didn't know who had started holding this hand-holding thing, but she was anyway, glad to feel the warmth of his hand engulfing hers. It somehow makes her feel alive.
A light tug on her hand snapped her out of her thoughts. Her breath hitched, her heart thumping loudly in her chest as she got lost in those deep onyx eyes looking intently at her. She fought back the growing blush on her cheeks, quickly looking away as she removed her hands out of his; but quickly regretted her action as her hands tingled at the loss of warmth.
"I... need to go to the restroom.", she said, speed walking away before he could reply.
She tried her best to calm her beating heart and lightly slapped her cheeks in hopes of warding off her blush; not that it was helping her.
Her head snapped up when she saw a certain bluenette surrounded by a group of girls; one was gripping her hair tightly.
"L-Levy!" she said in panic but her feet were glued to the floor; scenes flashing through her head making her vision a little blurry but she still kept her gaze on them.
The group of girls stared at her with wide eyes. As much they hated Lucy for being the girlfriend of their target, they knew Natsu Dragneel wouldn't care who they were or where they came from; he would pummel them to the ground and make sure they would never have the guts to show their faces to anyone the moment they lay their hands on his girlfriend.
And somehow, that fact was deeply embedded on their minds.
"Let's go!", one of the girls said and they quickly fled the scene.
Lucy clutched her head to relieve it from the pain somehow and help Levy. She stumbled towards the bluenette who was now sitting on the tiled floor. Her eyes were casted down, her blue locks framing her face. The yellow bandana that was always holding her hair back was lying astray on the floor and Lucy caught sight of the uneven lengths of her disheveled hair.
Brushing all thoughts aside for now, she went near the girl. Her hands carefully touched the bluenette's face making the girl flinch. Scooting closer to her, she held her hands giving her the silent assurance of safety.
The girl looked up, fear and anger swirling in her hazel eyes, though she knew that it wasn't directed at those girls but at herself.
"I.. I just hate being so weak.", the bluenette mumbled feebly making the blonde move to hug her.
Somehow, being caged in the arms of the blonde made her feel so nostalgic and safe.
Natsu was tapping his feet impatiently. Class had started minutes ago and Lucy still wasn't back. The door opened but it wasn't the blonde who entered, but rather a gruff and pissed off metal-head who seemed to be more out of it today.
The pink-haired gritted his teeth and stood up, deciding that he had enough, grabbing his belongings in the process.
The teacher who was currently scolding Gajeel stopped and glared at him, telling him to sit down but he didn't care.
"They are in the infirmary.", grunted Gajeel. The pink-haired teen snap towards with an accusing glare. He grabbed the taller man's collar making the teacher panic.
"What did you do?"
"I didn't do anything idiot! Your girl helped Levy when she found her being bullied in the restroom."
Natsu's grip loosened as the information sunk in. He let out a sigh, a muttered a soft apology.
He soon left the area leaving Gajeel who only huffed and their teacher who was frustrated with nobody listening to him.
Lucy was tending to Levy's wounds.
The girl only had a scrape on her knee, but the blonde insisted to go to the infirmary to take care of it. It was silent between the two but both of them were too immersed in their own thoughts to notice.
The effect of the visions of not too long ago were just ebbing away but she was still feeling a little dizzy from it all and was trying to hide it.
But Levy, on the other hand, noticed the blonde's distress.
"Are you okay Lu-chan?", the bluenette asked but immediately froze… Lu-chan?
"Ah, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to address you like that. It just slipped out and-"
"Nah, it's okay. I actually, kind of, well... like it", Lucy admitted with a shy smile which the bluenette returned with her own. Silence once again fell over them as the thoughts formed in their heads once again.
"Levy-chan I- "
"Lucy!", Natsu bolted through the infirmary door. His eyes immediately landed on Levy sitting on one of the beds while Lucy was holding her hand. Both girls looked up to him as he breathed out a sigh of relief.
"Lucy, you should have told me you were coming here.", he said sternly as the blonde shot him an apologetic look.
"And Levy.. How long has this been happening?"
The said girl flinched and gave him a nervous smile.
"W-What are you talking about?"
"Don't give me that bullshit, you know what I am talking about.", Natsu's eyes turned hard but Levy just smiled at him; genuinely this time.
"I can't remember the last time you looked at me with those concerned eyes Natsu... ", she said making him flinch; well, he did become quite a jerk for a reason he couldn't remember.
"I'm glad that Lu-chan is making you go back to your usual self...", this time, Lucy blushed.
Did she really have that effect on him? She felt her heart ache a little.
'But I'll leave him after this mission, right?'
"Levy... don't change the subject", he whined a little while fighting off the blush on his cheeks; Levy giggled. That was the Natsu she knew.
"Yeah, yeah, but I was just clumsy as usual and I tripped, Lu-chan just helped me when she saw me."
"Levy-"
"Well, look at the time! It's almost time for Literature and I certainly don't want to miss that!"
She dashed out before Natsu could respond. He sighed.
Lucy, on the other hand, was thinking hard. She didn't notice the stern gaze of the pink-haired teen on her. She swore her heart leapt out of her chest when she heard a low growl.
"N-Natsu?"
"Now, now, I think a Little Angel should be punished for making people worry like that."
"Eh?!"
Gajeel didn't want to be in class but their principal, Master Makarov, warned him about cutting classes, and he didn't want to disappoint the old man; not after he gave him a second chance.
He sighed as he dropped his head onto his desk; not because he was sleepy, but becausr he didn't want to look at the shrimp's empty chair.
Thoughts swirled in his head…thoughts about that day...
A year ago there were two clubs-well, most people call them guilds-at Fairy Academy. One was the official Fairy Tail Club and the other one was the unofficial club, Phantom Lord Club.
Even though the latter was unofficial, Phantom Lord had more members than the Fairies. They were rivals; well, at least Phantom Lord thought so, but they never had the chance to prove who the better guild was.
The Fairies never cared about it but Phantom Lord was always looking for opportunities to prove that they were better. But their one-sided rivalry came into light the moment the Fairies learnt what Phantom Lord did to their members.
.
.
.
"Come on little fly, I know you have more money than this.", she let out a whimper while shaking her head. The other Phantom members who were watching the girl laughed.
.
.
.
Gajeel stood up. He couldn't stay in that room anymore; he would just apologize to the old man later.
Grabbing his bag, he ignored the teacher who tried to stop him.
Large hands were about to reach the doorknob when it suddenly opened, revealing the blue-haired who was currently invading his thoughts.
.
.
.
"I-I'm sorry, b-but this is all I really have.", his red eyes met her brown ones; he knew that she was scared, and his wide smile showed that he liked it.
"Levy?", he looked at the source of the voice and saw two familiar faces. He began to laugh maniacally.
.
.
.
Sturdy, rough hands trembled. Why were his nightmares and fears coming back?
He thought he was over it by now! He could talk to her already and he could even exchange a few jokes with her. So why..why was this happening now?
He gripped onto his bag's straps tighter as he tried to hide the fear consuming him. His piercing eyes landed on her soft brown orbs; it was comforting, yet he couldn't bring himself to look at her anymore... he felt like he doesn't deserve that kind gaze; not after what he had done to her.
He saw her tiny hands; they were reaching for him... and that was his cue to run away.
.
.
.
"Hey, hey, more fairies lookin' to join our game, eh?", he commented but was ignored by the two whose eyes were wide in realization.
"Levy? What's happening?"
"Jet.. Droy.. Please just go, I-I'm fine."
"You're fine?! Surrounded by these... ", the orange-haired teen looked at Gajeel's tattoo with wide eyes.
"Phantom Lord... Levy! You were being bullied by Phantom Lord?! Since when-", Jet was cut off when Gajeel moved fast and punched him in the gut.
"Now, now, I think we've had enough drama for today, flies"
"Jet! No, leave them alone! Please!"
"No can do little fly. We wanna have some fun, you know.", he heard grunts and curses and even without looking; he knew that the other Phantoms are already having 'fun' with the two flies. He grabbed her face and forced her to look at him.
"Now let's have our own fun, little fairy."
.
.
.
Gajeel felt his body trembling. He was scared. Scared of these 'memories' haunting him. Scared of who he was back then.
Why were these memories surfacing again? Why does he need to be reminded of how awful he was back then? Was he really that unforgivable?
Maybe he was.
.
.
.
The dripping blood fueled more to his bloodlust..
His desire to hurt her and hear her screams. He remembered the way his own father did it to him... his maniacal grins and his taunting voice; it made Gajeel crazy.
But amidst the crazed laughter, he envisioned his dad instead of the bluenette on the floor.
He kicked her in the stomach and slapped her face. His movements were calculated and it looks like it was rehearsed over and over again. He grinned manically as he looked at the scared features of the bluenette. He didn't see her as the bluenette of the Fairies anymore; all he could see was his father whom he loathed so much.
While continuing his torture, a glint caught his attention. Snapping his head towards it, red eyes landed on a knife..
His smile widened even more…He knew what he was going to do next.
.
.
.
Gajeel ran. He ran and never looked back. His greatest nightmare was haunting him again.
He ran a hand through his hair... the same hair his father cut while torturing him.
It has grown now and things changed, but the trauma it gave to him was still the same. He never cut his hair after that. He just let it grow back as long as it was now, as a reminder that he can never escape from his past.
He felt a tug on his arm and his eyes landed on the same blue hair that he cut that day.
Her bright blue hair which was disheveled and untamed was pulled back by a yellow bandana. It was unevenly cut and he knew why.
It hurts him to see those blue locks that he cut.
Why didn't she cut her hair after that? Why did she keep it that way? Did she really hate him that much that she wanted him to be always reminded of what he had done to her?
He was making a big deal about her hair. Sure, the bruise and pain he had inflicted on her was worse than just cutting her hair but every time he looks at her hair, he felt bile coming up his throat as he felt like he was just like his Father... his sadistic step-father to be specific.
He felt like he turned into the same man he loathed, that day.
.
.
.
"Let's give you a haircut shall we?", he yanked on her hair and smiled.
"Remember, blame your slutty mother for all of this, bastard", Levy's eyes widened when Gajeel said this. She stared at his blank eyes and at that moment, she understood everything.
Soon, the knife had cut through her bright blue locks and her hair falling to floor, was accompanied by Gajeel's screams with his eyes shot wide open.
"When we had arrived Gajeel was screaming; like he was afraid of Levy or something. We reported this and came to know that Gajeel and the other Phantoms were actually bullying Levy.
Phantom Lord got disbanded after. Of course we beat the crap out of Gajeel when he recovered. But later, we learnt that Gajeel actually saw his younger self in Levy's helpless form and imagined her to be his Father since he kinda, wanted to do that to his Father...", Natsu sighed with his head lowered.
Looking up, he froze on seeing a lone tear trailing down the wide-eyed girl's cheek. A soft smile played across his lips as he reached up and wiped it away as he looked into her eyes.
The blonde had begged him to tell her what happened to Gajeel and Levy before because she saw Gajeel looking at them earlier. She didn't miss the shaking of his leg and the worried look he sent Levy earlier.
This, of course, was in exchange of Lucy doing him a little favor.
Now, he was deeply starting to regret it though when he saw the look of dismal on her face.
"His trauma still wasn't an excuse to hurt a Fairy Tail member but Gramps wasn't that heartless not to send him to a Psychologist to treat him. We heard he got over his trauma before, when his foster father Metallicana adopted him. But Metallicana left him and disappeared; leaving him all alone to deal with his darkness, and that's when it all came back.
He eventually recovered and as Phantom's punishment, they were forced to work and assist all Fairy Tail members with the club. Eventually, they learnt that we all treated each other as family and eventually apologized to us and left. Only Gajeel and Juvia stayed though."
"What happened to Juvia before?"
"That, I don't know. It was the ice princess who knew what happened. But all I know is that Juvia was part of Phantom Lord too."
"Okay, thanks Natsu.", Lucy said with a smile; at least she got to know what she wanted.
"No problem, Luce. Just don't forget our deal, Little Angel.", he said with a smirk while Lucy's ears and cheeks turned into shade of red.
"S-Shut up!"
Levy felt a pang in her heart. Gajeel. He had always been so distant. She thought that maybe, after they had talked and cracked a few smiles, they would become closer... but she was wrong; the guilt-stricken face she saw today was more than enough to prove that she assumed wrongly.
"It's my fault for being so weak.", she whispered to herself.
She never blamed him for what happened before, but she knew that he was beating himself up for what happened.
The bluenette likes books, scratch that, she loves them. She had seen a bunch of characters in the pages of the stories she have read. There were good ones and bad ones. But she learnt to never look at the character's deeds in a story; she actually looks at them from a different perspective.
Like how a dragon would play as a villain just to make sure to protect the princess; she always believed that, people and characters alike, no matter how evil the things they do, they always have a purpose. And she knew Gajeel was just like those antagonists.
Gajeel was her bully. She cannot change that fact. Even so, never once did he hurt her; except for that day.
She didn't need a psychologist or anybody else in that matter, to tell her about Gajeel's behavior on that day. She knew perfectly well that the person who cut her hair and bullied her wasn't the same man who protected her at the same time.
She almost laughed at the irony of what she was thinking; but it was true.
Gajeel always claimed that she was his, so nobody else was allowed to touch her. Even the other Phantom members.
He always stared at her with his piercing eyes and maniacal grin but he never did anything as bad as what her previous bullies did to her.
Most of the time, he only got aggressive with her only when there are other Phantom members watching them; but he never really did hurt her.
That was why Levy made her resolve. To never cut her hair.
Levy wasn't stupid. She could put together that it was Gajeel's Father who cut his untamed black hair and that Gajeel never cut his hair again as a reminder of his dark past.
But her reason was different.
She never cut her hair because, someday she wants to be able to say to Gajeel, that he's never going to be alone again. That she is willing to help carry his dark past.
And that she would be able to make his load lighter that way…
Author's Note: Aaaaannd the Gajeel-mission still ain't finish (I honestly thought I'd be able to finish it with 2 chaps only) One more chap though, then we'll move on to the next mission. Sooo,who do you think the next one is?
QUESTION NO. 3
If you will have a Fairy Tail Insignia (using the FT stamp) where would you place it? (you can tell me ur reason if u have a particular one :D)
-mine's on my right backhand (like Lucy's) and fiery red (like Natsu's). I didn't exactly chose that place for the NaLu; since my choice is like a mix of theirs, it's just that my favorite color is red and I wanna put my insignia where I can show it off to people. (And what better place than my right hand; that I use for writing, typing, drawing, playing guitar, scrolling the pages of fanfiction and more)
P.S. I just realized that I love my right hand very much.
7 days and 94 more to go!
Here's my reply to ALL of my lovely guest reviewers: (This is quite long, but u see, most of my reviewers are Guests so yeah..)
SassYIncheoNGurL: Thank you very much XD You're one of the people who keeps on supporting this story, so for that thank you.
Also, Belated Happy Birthday! I hope you liked this new chap dedicated for you ;)
P.S. Thanks for answering!
Romeokise-kun: Haha.. I thought about that too but I got so engrossed in NaLu that I didn't realize that it filled most chap instead of GaLe hehe, but eh, who doesn't love more NaLu right? ur gf loves NaLu? Haha say hi to her for me. It's so cute that a couple loves NaLu.
Dang, I read your review last march 31 and I can't really finish the chap overnight so, belated Happy Birthday to you! I wish that your wish will come true haha XD I'm loving the NaLu moments in Anime and Manga though.
Jili-chan: Hello! Hehe thank you. Also, thanks for always supporting this story 3 Hope you liked the new chap and thanks for answering!
8Nevermore3: Haha thank you! And here's the new chap you demanded XD I hope you liked it! Thanks for answering and dang, I wasn't able to greet you a happy birthday last month *pouts*
Nicole: Eyow XD So not only 180 but 360 degrees? Haha thank you. This is still a Gajeel-mission though :3 Thanks for answering!
Matteo XD: Haha thank you, your words are always making me smile so wide XD Thanks, I'm glad that you like Natsu's character here (I'm really putting an effort on his character development) and I love the original Natsu too :3 And as a guy who loves NaLu and this story totally inspires me too XD Thanks for the support and I hope that you liked this new chap thanks for answering!
Maysie: Hehe thanks XD I love sword art online! Yeah, I'm making Natsu too cute huh. And of course, more NaLu moments XD I hope you liked the new chap :3 Thanks for answering! And I thought your birthday was on January 28? Was it your christening birthday or something? Because some people celebrates that too :)
Krissa Cheon 18: Don't worry, I'm sure your boyfriend is sweet on his own way and yeah, Natsu is so sweet too. Well, here's the update, I hope you liked it! Thanks for answering XD
Sting-sama: Well, your reviews never fail to make me smile too. It makes all the time and effort I put into a chapter soooo worth it! Haha yeah, I'm still not giving Gajeel any progress huh, well just wait 'coz his shrimp is on the way! I ship GaLe too, hope you liked the new chap and thanks for answering!
Zyrah: Heyyow XD and yeah, starfire told me to add gruvia scenes and I guess it was worth it XD Yeah, only NaLu can pull off the sweetest backhugs ever ;) Thanks for answering! And lol I remember doing that with my own celestial keys.
Star-chan: Hello! Hello! Thank you very much XD and here's a new chap for you, I hope you liked it Thanks for answering, July 7 huh XD
Milen: I have the same wish as you haha XD to float on NaLu cloud nine! Haha he's so sweet isn't he? And don't worry, I'm sure you'll find ur man too, and he might not be your 'ideal man' but if he's someone who loves you and cares for you in his own little way, well, what more can you ask for? ;) Hope you liked this new chap and Thanks for answering!
PluMaplEGG33: Yo! Thank you very much, and of course, there will always, be developments well, hope you liked the new chapter and thanks for answering!
Zyra Kyung: Well, the story of GaLe is revealed this chap and the conclusion will be on the next one and yeah, this chap is kinda NaLu-filled instead of a focused story on Gajeel (sorry, I can't help myself XD) wow, that so sweet. And I adore you too. You're such a sweet reviewer (always). Hope you liked the new chap and thanks for answering!
AsdubalewerII: Hmm.. NaLu Angst. I think I have GaLe Angst here (are those scenes Angst?) but I think I'll definite try to add some NaLu Angst. Starfire gave me an idea about it so I think I will write one for the next chap or, at least, on the Levy-mission. Hope you liked the new chap! And thanks for answering :3
leapyearbaby29: Well they were official ya know and hehe, I think Gray already gave you an idea on the soulmate part :D Haha well here's more for you and thanks for answering!
JohnTeggi28: I've been thinking about the possibility of "letting them kiss" for days and I arrived at the conclusion that no, at least not yet. Like I explained before, scenes that will happen to Lucy now, will trigger her memories of her past. And as a normal person, I think it will break Lucy if she suddenly knew that Natsu is the person she loved... and I'm rambling. It will get long if I explained the whole reason and u might get bored haha. But if u still wanna know just tell me on ur next review :) hope u liked the new chapter XD and thanks for answering!
armika: Hey, you're a new reader XD I'm glad that you liked this story so far. And yeah, more fluffs and it's still a gajeel-mission on the next chap hope you liked the new chap!
kellykahmia0667: Hello new reader XD and yeah, Thank you :) oh, I can add those scenes, but not now and maybe not your requested one 'exactly'. I'm also not a fan of saving-the-damsel-clichés haha (okay, maybe I like it a little). But I'll try to add it someday. Maybe on the levy-mission. Just not now 'cause it won't fit my storyline for the gajeel-mission. I'll keep ur request in mind though xD thanks for reading and reviewing I hope u liked the new chap :)
casper3333: Hello! Hello! A new reader right? Hehe I'm glad that you miss this story but I don't have a regular update sched. I just update randomly whenever inspiration strikes me. Well, here's the new update and I hope that u liked it!
Aya: Hello Aya! Thanks for the review I hope that you liked this new chapter ;)
queeenieeeeee: Hello! Well, here's the update. Thanks for taking ur time to review, hope you'll like it!
boss: Hi there! Thank you! That makes me so happy xD Well, here's the new update, I hope you liked it XD I hope you'll have a good day too :)
LOL: Hello! Haha thank you! I'm glad that u liked the plot :) well, here's the new chap, hope u liked it XD
Guest: Hehe thanks. I hope u liked this new chap ;)
Milianameow: Hi there! Hehe thank you! And of course, as long as there's people who support this, I think I'll continue writing ;) Haha I love you too. I love all my reviewers! And yeah, I think the chapters are already long. it's always around 4k words. Well, I hope u enjoyed this new chapter.
KOu FutABA: Wow, is ur name from Ao Haru Ride? So yeah, here's the new chap, hope u liked it!
SECRET XD: Well, here's the new one, hope u enjoyed reading this XD and thank you. I think I'm gonna continue writing this as long as there are people who supports this :)
IamMrsStyles: Hello Mrs. Styles ;) I'm glad that you find this story good XD Thank you very much for the compliments I hope u enjoyed this new chapter xD
FairytailIsLife: I totally agree with ur name XD Fairy Tail is Life! And I honestly don't know how to react XD ur review just made me smile and I was like "shit! is my story really affecting people this way?" and no need to grovel, stand up my friend for here's a new chapter XD
P.S. Don't worry, I don't mind 'em, you see, I'm person who curses a lot too; so a high five to you! :D
juviafeels: I'm glad you love it both though I can already tell that u like gruvia more. Sorry to disappoint though, not much gruvia yet since I'm still exploring their characters (and NaLu is my main) hope u still liked this though.
Gruvia 3: Haha I guess that's a compliment :) well here's more NaLu for youuu XD
Edited-07-22-16