Born Without A Heart

Chapter 16

            Gajeel straightened his tie in the bathroom mirror. The countertop was overflowing with hairspray and makeup and fancy shaped perfume bottles.

"You've been more grim than normal," Juvia called out as she emerged from the closet in a blue floral dress, pulling on a pair of white flats as she moved. "Was it a rough night at work?"

"I thought sundresses were for summer. You know it's winter, right?" He responded, evading her question.

Juvia frowned. "Sundresses are always in season," she quipped back. "What happened?"

"Nothing," he grunted, finishing with his tie and leaving the room. He went out to the living area of Juvia's small studio apartment and began pulling the blanket and pillow he had used last night off of the sofa and stashed them back in a chest at the foot of her bed. He picked up a small stuffed panda and started toying with it, tossing it back and forth between his palms like a basketball.

Juvia moved to the doorway, leaning into the frame as she surveyed him.

"Are you going to make me pry it out of you? You know how good I am at pestering you," she smiled. "Tell me what happened?"

Gajeel sighed. Juvia would be devastated thinking it was her fault, that her text for help would have caused such a problem. He leaned against the arm of the sofa and fiddles with the toy.

"You first," he said finally. "You never explained what happened last night that got you so shook up. Nightmares again?"

Juvia looked away, her smile fading as she wrapped her arms around herself. She always did that when she was stressed, ever since he'd met her. That was all so long ago now. They weren't kids anymore. He wished he hadn't been so... harsh to her when they were younger. She was the only one who ever put up with him. She was the only one who ever stayed, even when he was at his worst. Juvia was his best friend.

"Yes," she said quietly. "That and... and I thought I was being followed."

Gajeel stood up, immediately on alert. "Did you see someone?"

"No," she said quickly, shaking her head, her blue hair swinging across her facec. "No, I never saw anyone, I could just feel it. It made my skin crawl." She gave a little shiver. "Then I got home and tried to sleep it off, but the nightmares started again. It was so real, I'm sorry to bother you again-"

"You can stop that shit right now Juvia. You did the right thing, calling me. You know I'm here if you need me."

Juvia sighed and moved past him to a small chair by the only window in the room. She curled her feet under her. "Your turn," she said simply.

Gajeel sighed this time.

"It was Levy," he said. Throwing himself down onto the sofa he tossed the toy down next to him and ran a hand over his face.

"Levy? What did she do? I thought things were going well? I mean, you haven't said much, but I can read between the lines. I haven't seen you as happy as you've been lately in... well, ever."

"She didn't do anything. It was..." Gajeel paused grasping for the right words, "a misunderstanding." He paused again. "We were together last night and... she saw your text."

"My text?" Juvia asked, confused. Gajeel waited and watched as the realization hit her. Juvia's eyes went wide. Her hands flee up to her mouth in disbelief. "Oh my god. No! She must have thought-"

"Yeah," Gajeel grunted. "She left before I could explain."

"Gajeel, you have to go tell her that it was a misunderstanding. Why didn't you go after her?"

"I did, I couldn't catch up to her before she got into a cab."

"You should have tried to catch up!"

"I couldn't, I needed to check on you!" Gajeel shot back, much harsher than he meant to. Juvia looked away. He could see the hurt in her eyes. He let out a deep breath. "What I meant was, you're more important."

Juvia shook her head. "Gajeel," she said seriously, "I've known you for a long time. You've always been there when I needed you. But this is different. I've always hoped you'd be able to find someone you could open up that iron heart to, and I'm not going to let you use me as an excuse to build up those walls of yours. You're my best friend," she shrugged "and I know nothing is going to change that. You need to know that too."

Juvia uncrossed her legs and stood up, grabbing Gajeel's jacket off the kitchen chair. "I'm pretty sure you're falling in love with this girl and, as your best friend, I'm telling you that you need to put her first right now." She tossed him the jacket and he caught it. "Go talk to her. If she's anything like how you described her, she'll listen."

"Maybe it's better off this way. She's better off without me."

"Maybe you need to accept the fact that you had to make some tough choices when you were young, and you did what you had to to survive. Maybe you need to look in the mirror and realize the person looking back at you isn't that same kid anymore."

Gajeel gave her a wan smile and stood, slipping on the jacket and heading for the door. Before he left he stopped and turned back to Juvia.

"Thanks kid," the words were simple, but he knew Juvia would understand the true weight of them.

She gave him a bright smile now. "Go get the girl."

Gajeel laughed as he shut the creaking door behind him.