Gajeel How long has it been since I

Gajeel How long has it been since I've cried in front of another. I'm not really sure. I didn't even cry when Metalicana left, maybe when I was born? To be honest I didn't even realize I

was crying until Loki reached up and wiped off the tear that was streaming down my face.

"Haha, look at me. Crying. Pitiful. Useless."

The pained look etched across Loki's face seemed to pierce through my heart. He removed his blue sunglasses from his face and tucked them into his inner pocket.

"Gajeel."

"Are you going to treat me like a female now? Weak and vulnerable?" I laughed miserably.

In one swift motion, Loki wrapped his long warm arms around me. My face dug into the crook of his neck, and he rested his chin atop my head.

"You're not weak."

Inhaling his scent, it was a mix of wild grass and beast fur. Fresh, wild, animalistic, and yet it was comforting. Just like the past, the smell when I rode atop Metalicana when we went

for strolls in the forest.

"You are not weak Gajeel."

I closed my eyes and tried to calm my nerves. I hadn't noticed but I was shaking.

"Arcana always said this. "Trust yourself only. Abide by your rules and yours only." It was driven into my brain everyday. He just kept on repeating it."

I stopped for a moment and tried to observe Loki. He was still, but his muscles were taught and he was listening intently.

Flashback to a time before the Phantom Arc:
Phantom Guild - 3:00 PM

"Pwaaahhh, good job on that mission guys!" A silver haired man yelled from across the room. He was drinking from his large pitcher of beer, and his face was stained with drunkenness.

"300,000 Belis! Good pay man. Good pay." The red-headed man grinned at the stack of cash in front of him. His grubby fingers pawing through each bill.

I peered at the overweight men from across the room. They were new to the guild.

'Psh, newbies at the guild.'

One of the men eyed at me and lazily stood from his seat.

"Hey you."

I rolled my eyes over to his general direction. He was glaring at me. People turned their heads in curiosity.