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He had never truly been loved before, at least, not in a way he could understand. Metalicana must have cared for him in his rough, distant manner, but affection was never something he expressed. As for his real parents, their faces were like shadows, their voices mere echoes; if he concentrated hard enough, he could almost hear his mother, but it sounded like nothing more than a whisper carried by the wind.
He would never forget the moment he first felt genuinely loved.
He had just asked Levy out a week earlier. It was new, a secret between them. Not even Lily knew about it. It was quiet and a secret just between the two of them. He had left that night a giddy mess, like some lovesick bastard.
But…then he got sick, really sick.
That night, he jolted awake, a surge of nausea crashing over him like a tidal wave. His fever burned fiercely, casting an oppressive heat across his body, while a relentless cough racked his chest and goosebumps prickled his skin, deepening the chill that pierced him to the core. No matter how many blankets he wrapped around himself, the cold seemed to seep in, mocking his attempts to find warmth.
Two days bled into a hazy fog as he remained cocooned in his solitude, the outside world fading into a distant memory. He barely registered the ticking clock or how the sun traveled across the sky. He was adrift, unaware that someone was undoubtedly missing him, a person who had been his whole world just a few days ago.
A sudden, insistent knock on the door shattered the stillness, pulling him from his stupor. At first, he considered ignoring it, hoping it would just disappear. Silence enveloped him momentarily, but it was abruptly broken by another, more forceful knock.
“You gotta be fuckin' kidding,” he muttered to himself, the words barely escaping his dry throat. With a groan, he peeled the blankets away, each movement a struggle as his head throbbed like a drum.
He felt a wave of dizziness wash over him, but he managed to crawl out of bed, his limbs heavy with fatigue. Irritation flared within him; whoever was on the other side of that door was in for a confrontation they wouldn’t soon forget.
“Gajeel? Are you home?”
His heart skipped a beat as the angelic sound of her voice floated through the door, stopping him in his tracks. He froze, the reality of her presence crashing over him. With a swift motion, he pressed his hand over his mouth, panic rising within him.
Shit! Levy!
In the chaos of his illness, he had forgotten entirely about her. How sad was that? The guilt washed over him like a cold wave. She must have been worried sick. He had effectively fallen off the face of the earth.
“Just a minute, Levy!” He croaked, his voice gravelly as he coughed violently afterward. His throat felt like sandpaper, grating with each attempt to speak.
“I’ve been worried about you,” she called through the door, her voice tinged with concern. “I haven’t seen you in a couple of days.”
He kicked a pile of clutter under the couch, trying to hide the evidence of his neglect, and hastily swept a collection of takeout containers into the trash. The stale odor of sweat, sickness, and musty air clung to him like a heavy shroud. There was no way he could let her see him like this.
“Gajeel, is everything alright in there?”
“Yeah! Yes! Just a sec!” He stammered, cracking the door open just enough for her to catch a fleeting glimpse of his haggard face, framed by disheveled hair.
“Hey, Lev…” he rasped, swallowing hard against the relentless tickle clawing at his throat.
“What’s going on?” She pressed, her brow knitting in concern, her keen eyes boring through the narrow crack like a spotlight searching for truth.
“Nothing. Just… recovering. Had a rough training session, that’s all,” he replied, attempting to downplay his condition, but the exhaustion was palpable, deeply etched in the dark circles under his eyes.
“Oh… you sure?” she pressed, her gaze sharpening as it pierced through his facade. It was a look that dared him to deny her, a challenge bundled in her unwavering resolve.
“Yeah, sorry,” he muttered, his voice lacking the conviction he wished it had.
“You're being super weird… You don’t have a secret lover in there, do ya?” She teased, a playful giggle escaping her lips as she pushed the door open wider, forcing him to brace against it, his muscles tensing in reluctant protest.
“WHAT! NO! I... I WOULDN’T!” He stammered, eyes wide with disbelief, his heart racing at the absurdity of the thought.
“I’m just kidding, silly! You’re so jumpy! Are you sure you’re okay?” She laughed, radiating warmth even as she continued to probe. She was already stitching together the fragments of the truth, her worry manifesting as a playful softness that countered the bewilderment flickering behind her gaze, unraveling his facade thread by thread.
He sighed heavily, leaning his forehead against the cool doorframe, feeling the crushing weight of his predicament settle on his chest. “I’m sick. Like… really sick, alright? I don’t want you catching it.”
“Seriously? That’s it?” She huffed, disbelief coloring her tone, a hint of amusement mixing with her concern. “If you’re sick, I can take care of you!”
“No! I mean… no, okay? Just go home. I’ll be fine.” He pleaded silently, praying she would take the hint. He didn't exactly look…well, hot. Not right now at least.
“Gajeel, don’t be like that. It’s fine. I'm not afraid of your germs.”
“Levy, I can’t let you see me like this. I haven’t showered in two days, I smell, and I look like total shit.”
“Get over it. I’ve seen worse,” she countered firmly, her determination radiating through the thin wood of the door like a beacon of resolve.
“Levy, seriously—”
“I didn’t walk all the way across town just to stand on your porch.” Her smile morphed into a determined grin, and with a gentle nudge from her foot, she pushed the door open wider. “Now let me in.”
His resistance crumbled like dry leaves in the wind. With a swift motion, she slipped past him, the door clicking shut behind her with finality. Her eyes roamed the room, taking in the disheveled chaos strewn about, the remnants of takeout boxes and half-forgotten clothes cluttering the floor.
“You weren't lying…you do look sick,” she remarked bluntly.
“Gee, thanks,” he muttered, only to be cut off as another fit of coughs wracked his body, bending him over as he grasped the wall for support, the vibrations coursing through his frame.
“Alright, big guy,” she murmured, her hands cold and soothing against his lower back and chest as she gently guided him forward. “Let’s get you to your room.”
She maneuvered him down the narrow hallway, deftly weaving around the idle takeout boxes and the chaotic scatter of clothes that littered the floor like an obstacle course. By the time they reached the bedroom, he practically collapsed onto the mattress, inhaling the slightly stale scent of the sheets, curling in on himself as if his own arms were the only warmth he had left in this dreary state.
“I’ll run you a bath, okay?” She said softly, her voice a gentle balm, offering him a reassuring smile before disappearing into the bathroom, leaving him to contemplate dying of embarrassment.
He lingered on the bed, shivers wracking his frame, nose dripping, stomach twisting into knots. Levy sat perched on the edge of the tub, sleeves pushed up as she carefully, patiently filled it, testing the water with her hand until it was just right. Lukewarm to fight his fever.
A flush of shame flickered through him. He wasn’t sure whether he wanted to hide or sink into the floor.
“Alright,” she murmured, steady but soft, “Time to get in. I’ll leave you alone for a bit. I’m gonna go tidy up the place.”
“Levy, please don’t,” he muttered, the plea slipping out before he could swallow it back. He hated how small it sounded.
She sat down next to him, rubbing her hand along his chest, “Shut up, I got it. Go take your bath.” She leaned down and kissed his sweaty brow.
"Dammit Lev, yer gonna get sick." He tried to sit upright, and she wrapped her arms around him.
"Eh, oh well." She pulled him in close, and he slowly fell forward and melted into her, his head against her chest, listening to her breathing and humming as she ran her nails along his back softly.
"Oh...god that...mmmmm nice." He could get used to this; being held wasn't so bad. It did feel nice to be coddled and craddled in her arms, even though she was only half his size.
"Alright, you big baby, go get in the bath." She peppered kisses on the side of his face before freeing herself out from under his upper body. He plopped back down while she slipped out of the room, closing the door behind her, granting him privacy. He let out a shaky breath before mustering up the strength to stand.
He stripped the clothes he had been wearing for the last two days and eased into the bath, water lapping weakly at his fever-flushed skin. The heat stole some of the ache from his muscles, but it couldn’t touch the churn in his chest. He didn't know how he felt about all this.
He’d imagined Levy looking at him and seeing strength, someone solid, dependable, a man who stood between her and anything that could hurt her. A protector. Someone unshakable.
“She probably thinks I'm useless.” He sank lower in the water until only his nose peeked over the top, his knees high out of the water before him. Outside the door, he could hear her moving around, quiet footsteps, things being shuffled, soft humming.
Once he got out of the tub, he wrapped the towel around himself, one around his waist and another over his shoulders to protect him from the cold. When he slowly opened the door, he stood stunned, shuffling forward slowly and painfully.
His room was clean, and on the bed were his softest pair of sweatpants. He pulled them on his body, still shivering as he crawled into bed. She had even changed the bedsheets to clean ones, and they were still warm. He grinned just slightly.
He shut his eyes tightly, feeling beads of cold sweat trickle down his forehead. The effort to sniff back the steady flow of snot stung agonizingly, each breath a reminder of his raw, sore nose from relentless blowing.
The soft sound of footsteps approached, gentle but firm, drawing his attention. He opened his eyes slowly, the dim light filtering through the curtains casting a warm glow on her face as she settled down next to him on the edge of his bed. She gazed down at him, a tender smile breaking across her features as she tucked a stray curl behind her ear, her fingers brushing against his brow before trailing down to his cheek.
“Still got a fever,” she said, her voice soothing. “I’ll run into town for some medicine and maybe pick up something light for you to eat while you get some more rest.”
He let out a soft groan, her cool hands a heavenly contrast against his feverish skin, igniting a warmth in his chest that had nothing to do with illness. A smile crept onto his face. “Thanks for taking care of me. You really didn’t have to go do all that.”
“Oh, stop it,” she teased playfully. “It’s what girlfriends do.”
Hearing her claim that title sent a flutter of uncertainty through him. “It’s just… so weird to hear you call yourself that.”
She giggled, the sound brightening the dim space like a lamp being turned up. “I was worried you were hiding from me,” she said, half-teasing but with something honest underneath it. “Thought maybe this whole dating thing actually freaked you out.”
He winced, guilt pooling low in his gut. “It didn't freak me out. I was actually really excited. The universe was just playing some sick joke on me. Of course, I'd start dying right after something good happens to me. I'm sorry I went missin.”
“Don’t be sorry,” she said instantly. “Just call me next time. You can ask for help, you know.”
He dragged a hand over his face, the fever making everything ache. “Well… yeah. I’m just not used to it yet.”
“Then it’s time to get used to it.” She squeezed his hand, “I don’t help you because I have to.” Her voice softened. “I do it because I love you.”
In a moment of vulnerability, he whispered, “You should just stay here forever.” The sudden weight of his realization hit him like a freight train; he never wanted her to leave his side again.
“Careful, keep saying things like that and I just might,” she said, her eyes sparkling with mischief. She loved him, and for that he would be eternally grateful.