No Choice {GaLe}

Chapter Fifteen

"Levy......."

The voice felt so close, yet so far away.

"Levy........." I heard again, much louder. I groaned, shifting my position. I felt something soft on my hand, so I lazily reached out, feeling it's silk-like texture. What was I touching? Whatever it was, it was super soft.

"Gihe, looks like ya like my hair, Shorty," A cocky voice laughed, making my eyes crack open. I blushed when I saw my hand was around his neck, feeling his hair.

"S-Sorry!" I squeaked, pulling it away and looking down. He laughed, ruffling my own hair. I looked around the dark room, searching for a certain blue-haired girl.

"Where's Wendy?" I asked, looking back at him.

"She was worryin' too much so her cousin picked her up," Gajeel explained, shrugging. I sighed rubbing my eyes. How many times will I mess everything up?

"Poor Wendy...... I really didn't want to scare her," I whispered, bringing the white sheets closer to my chest. I had tried so hard to keep everything from her, but I failed. And now, she was scared and it was all my fault.

"Poor Wendy? Shrimp, ya had glass on yer chest."

I froze, already knowing why. I lightly skimmed the bandage on my chest with my fingertips, sighing.

"I-I'm not going to t-tell you why so d-don't even ask....." I whispered, looking up at him. His face features tightened, making me shiver slightly.

"Why won't ya tell me, Short Stuff?"

I huffed, glaring at him.

"I'm not that short!! You're just too tall!!" I wined, balling my small hands into fists. He chuckled, shaking his head.

"Fine. Why won't ya tell me, Lev?"

I felt my face heat up when he called me the nickname, even though, I didn't know why.

"It's...... well, I-I.....there's something.......um......"

I was cut off by his lips, going over mine. My eyelids dropped as I kissed him back, grabbing his black mane. He placed his hand on my cheek, pushing my face closer to his. Did he taste like..... iron?

"I don't like to see ya so scared, Shrimp. I figured that'd be the only way to shut you up," He smirked, pulling away. I giggled, my hands, still deep in his thick hair.

"How do you get your hair to be so soft?" I purred, playing with one of the thick strands. He blushed, widening his eyes.

"I don't know...... luck? I never really do anything to it," He mumbled, looking away from me. I giggled, twirling the black piece. I gasped, thinking of a great idea.

"Can I braid your hair?!" I asked, excitedly. He raised an eyebrow, a light pink, slightly brushing his cheeks.

"Fine, Shorty,"

I pouted, crossing my arms over my chest, hearing my nickname return. He laughed his signature 'gihe' and ruffled my hair.

"Sit right here," I patted the empty space in front me, smiling. He looked away, mumbling something before plopping himself right in front of me. I smiled, just thinking of all the possibilities of what I could with his hair.

I frowned, running my fingers through it and realizing it was fully brushed out, no tangles. Even my hair was barely ever like this. Huh, I guess it wasn't just luck. I laughed, starting to part this black hair into three, thick strands.

His hair was incredibly thick. Mine was thick but nearly as much as his. I started humming, pulling one strand across the other, starting to braid it. I didn't really know what I was humming, just a familiar tune that was stuck in my head.

"Shrimp?"

"Mhm?"

"Where're yer folks?"

I felt my chest tighten, a single tear, falling. I wiped it away with my shoulder, glad he couldn't see me since he was turned around. I kept braiding his hair as if nothing was going on.

"Well, my.....um.....father passed away a little over a year ago, and my mom......"

I bit my lip, not wanting to say the wrong thing. One slip up, and it's all over for me.

"She's alive, but we both had our...... ways of coping with his passing,"

Ways was putting it lightly.

"My mom died a couple years ago, and ya saw the old man,"

"I'm sorry to hear about your mom....." I whispered, using one hand to keep the braid in place, and wrapping the other around his waist.

"Sorry 'bout your dad," He murmured, pressing one of his rough hands on my arm.

I missed him. I missed him more then words could express. He was -- in my eyes -- the greatest father in the entire world. Now, many children might say that, but I mean it. He always used to play with me, always talk to me, he was just...... always there.

"Oi, Squirt! Why are ya cryin'?"

My eyes widened, as I gently brushed my finger against my cheek, feeling my tears. I stopped hugging him and used both my hands to wipe my tears.

"Oh, it's nothing......" I sniffed, breathing in before smiling. Gajeel turned his body around, so he was facing me.

"Stop that."

"W-What?"

"Stop actin' like nothin's wrong. Yer not fine. You know it, and I know it."

His words took me by surprise, making me chew on my lip. I sighed, resting my hands on my lap and staring down at them.

"I try to be." I breathed, tucking a piece of my blue hair behind my ear.

"I really...... really try to be fine."

I coughed, keeping my tears.

"I try so hard, all the time. I'm always able to hold everything in....... until I'm alone, that is. B-But...... sometimes, it's too hard to pretend to be fine."

A light sob escaped my lips, which made me clear my throat.

"I'm sorry for dumping this all on you, I know-"

He cut me off by bringing me into a tight hug. I buried my face in his chest, biting my cheek.

"I want to help ya, Levy. If you'll let me."

I wrapped my short arms around his torso, barely able to hug him due to my small arms. He pulled away, leaning in and touching my forehead.

"I know yer tryin' not to cry. Stop."

I shakily sighed, stopping my teeth from biting my lip or cheek. I nearly drew blood. Before I knew what was happening, I felt myself break down, starting to sob. He pulled me closer to him, resting his chin on my head.

"Cry it out,"

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Hola, my lovely readers!! I decided to make this chapter Gale fluff since the last couple chapters have been pretty angsty. I was (for the most part) able to write this chapter in one sitting, which I haven't done in a while XD