GaLe/Gajevy - The strong mind and the strong body

Part 19 - Awakening

As days go by, the two got more used to each others presence. They went shopping, cleaned the house, trained, cooked together, laughed together, and watched the sunset every so often.

"I'm home Gajeel!" Levy said as she clumpsily manuvered herself through the door. Did it seem narrower? She didn't think she brought THAT much from her dorm room. Only some extra clothes, bathroom stuff and a couple of books. Okay, maybe a lot of books.

She put the bags by the couch looking around in what at the short time had become as much of a home to her, as her own home did.

"Gajeel?"

She looked into the kitchen, the door to the bathroom was open. She walked into the bedroom, that had for now become Juliana and hers. There, beside a slightly less ill looking Juliana with a now dim shine from the eye under her hair, sat Gajeel heavily breathing and sweating.

"Pantherlily!" Levy yelled as she turn Gajeel around trying to get eye contact and feeling his forehead. He's cold sweating. Using the wall as a support they managed to slide his body up to a stand and wrap his arms around her. She dragged him to the couch and as soon as he was laying down she ran for water, a damp cloth and some iron nails. Anything to give him back the energy to at least look her in the eye.

She forced him to drink, cleaned his face, and pat his head still hearing exhausted breaths although less forced than before.

"You scare me, you know?" A whisper almost not heard through small lips. "I'm here to help. Not just for Juliana, for you." She bit her lips.
A shaky breath escaped the lip she tried so hard to bite away. "Why will you not let me help where you need it the most?" Tears started to fall, twinkling on their way to his hand.

Mumblings started after the tears had dried. Gajeel moved about. "Mm can't get Shrimp ... mmin danger," he grabbed Levys hand beside him. She looked up; he's asleep. He pulled her down to him and wrapped an arm around her. "My Shrimp" he said determined and continued sleeping with a now captured Levy in his arms.

Levy blushed. "Hehe... hahaha Gajeel! Let go!" Levy laughed small tears forming in her eyes again. The warm feeling spreading from her heart throughout her body. As she couldn't seem to make him let go, she turned in his arms and found a small spot on the couch for her, and fell asleep in his arms.

Gajeel woke to a bad headache and a laughter. Realizing he had been moved to the couch, he tried to stand. After eating some leftover nails from the table next to him, he managed to get up and drag himself to the kitchen. There is no one.

In the bedroom he found Levy sitting on the bed with a plate of fresh fruit in her lap and Juliana sitting up across her.

"'Morning sleepy head," Juliana smiled at him. Not a second after the plate is out of Levy's lap and she's flying across the room. To him. "Gajeel you're awake!" She happily hugged him almost nocking him over in the proces. Her smile turned into a frown seconds after: "You idiot!" she hammered fists against his chest.

"Ahaha Levy be nice!" a laughing Juliana noted and took a strawberry from Levy's plate. "I'm going to eat all your strawberries" she teased. Levy turned around arms reaching to her plate; "Oh no you don't! I had to shop around for two hours to find those!" She laughed and crawled back in the bed.

"Gehe" Gajeel smiled and went to take a bath.

"So you're feeling better?" Levy asked strawberry seeds stuck in her teeth.
"Yeah, Gajeel transferred a good amount of energy back to me. And all the sleeping helped too." Juliana relaxed.
"That's what happened yesterday?"
"Yep."
"Then what about me? Shouldn't you get some from me to?" Levy asked nervous about the though of experiencing the same as what almost knocked Gajeel out.
"You already have. Didn't you notice?" Juliana lifted an eyebrow
"What? When?!"
"Every time you slept beside me. I might have been asleep, but I still had the feeling of what happened around me. When you went to bed, you let out small waves of energy for me to absorb through the night. I'm sorry, I thought you knew?"
"No no, it's totally okay." Levy smiled, relived she had actually done her part as well. "So are you up for some fresh air yet?"
Juliana laughed; "No, I don't think that is a good idea. I don't think I can walk yet, and just talking to you takes alot of energy." Her face turned away. "But..."
"Yeah? Come on, you can tell me," Levy encouraged.
"Can... can you help me get a bath?" Juliana looked embarrassed.
"Oh. Sure! I could use one too" Levy smiled. It had been several days since Juliana had been out of bed after all. "Gajeel! Are you done yet, we need the bath!" Levy yelled, laughing with Juliana.
A choking noise was heard from the kitchen.

Gajeel had to carry Juliana into the bathroom, and after a long bath with a lot of girl-chatter and a change to some of Levy's clothes, he was ordered to carry her back in bed.

Night came, and Gajeel was now the one sitting outside, pondering. With the moon waxing above him, and the wind blowing his big hair back, he took a deep breath and exhaled. Small steps in the grass behind him let him know he was no longer alone.

"Can I join you?" Levy asked and received a nod.
"Are you okay with being here?" Gajeel asked, still looking at the moon.
"Why are you asking that?"
"Are you?"
"Gajeel," Levy bit her lip: "I like it here, yes."
"It's not just you feeling obligated to be here?"
"No it's..." she put her hand on his in the grass; "Gajeel, is something wrong? You can talk to me, you know?" A bad feeling spread in her. He sounded off.
"No! No, it's-a it's nothing." He dismissed, but let her hand stay on his.