The Side Where No Stars Shine

Apologies, Shrimp

Levy's POV

"Oi, Shrimp..." I hear a voice from behind me.

It was obviously Gajeel, but I wasn't in the mood to speak with him.

Frankly, I was still upset about him fighting with Jet and Droy.

It wasn't just him.

I was mad at Jet and Droy too.

Why'd they have to fight?

Why'd they have to blame each other for what was clearly an unfortunate event of coincidence?

"Shrimp, I know you can hear me."

I turn my head even more towards the opposite direction of him.

"Look, I know yer mad, but can ya hear me out?" He asks.

I sigh.

"Fine. Tell me what caused you to snap at Jet and Droy..."

"I know I shouldn't of fought with 'em, but I'm tired of seeing ya being treated like a kid. Ya may be short, but yer just as capable as everyone else here. Aren't ya sick of it too?"

I hadn't ever really thought of it...

Had Jet and Droy babied me?

Surely not.

I'd never noticed anything of the sort in our friendship.

Was I just oblivious?

No, no... Gajeel is just wrong.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"How can ya not?! They're always fighting over which one is gonna protect ya."

"They just care about me... they... I'm not being babied, Gajeel!"

"Ya really are blind, aren't ya? Open yer eyes."

I watch as he sits beside me.

"I'm sorry for fighting, but ya need to understand why I did what I did."

There's a silence between us for just a moment.

"... I forgive you, but I still think Jet and Droy treat me just as normally as everyone else."

He sighs.

"When ya stop bein' so oblivious and start lookin' into reality, you'll know I was right... Whatever, thanks for the forgiveness, Shrimp."

He gets up, leaving me be.

I look around the guild, everyone here due to Master's orders.

We knew that our enemy could attack today, tomorrow... whenever they pleased.

We were going to be severely outnumbered now that the two guilds have combined.

I look over to Jet and Droy.

They don't baby me... right?

Just because they like going everywhere with me...

Saving me from everything that comes my way...

They just care, that's all.

They know I can take care of myself...

They do.

I sigh.

With a million things running through my head I don't know what's right and what's wrong.

I'll sort everything out when all this Black Rose and Blood Thorn business is done with.