One Night in the Forest: Gajeel & Levy

Gajeel and Levy sat opposite each other at the camp fire. The silence surrounding them was stifling and Levy could feel her chest tightening from the awkward atmosphere. Gajeel was lying on the ground, arms behind his head as he rested on the log he was previously sitting on. He was staring into the night sky, to him it was as if Levy wasn't even there. He lay glowering at the stars like they had stolen something from him.
"Man this is boring." He complained to himself, "Everyone's gone and I'm stuck here with this girl. Why did I even come on this job?" He closed his eyes and began to remember how he was roped into this mission. He smirked as he remembered, "Oh yeah, the reward is 10 million jewel." He lightly laughed to himself, as Levy sat on the opposite side of the fire. She looked at him, peering just over the log where she could see his hair and faintly hear his voice as he talked to himself.
What is he talking about over there? He's so weird. 
She eased back onto the log she was perched on and clasped her fingers together nervously. She then began fiddling her thumbs about in order to ease her tension, it didn't help much.
Come on Levy, you can do this. Just say something to him. She looked at him again, and saw he was still talking to himself. Or maybe not. This is so awkward. Why didn't I go with Lu? She thought to herself as she began thinking of Lucy. I wonder where she and Wendy went off to. Maybe I can still catch up to them.
She motioned to stand up from the log and follow the two girls, but something stopped her just as she was about to leave.
"So…I uh wanted to say thank you."
Levy turned around and saw that Gajeel who was speaking to her. Even though her back was turned to him, a wide eyed look graced her face and she looked down at the ground.
"Thank me for what?"
Gajeel sighed as he continued to look at the sky above. "You know, for takin care of me after I got banged up."
Levy slowly moved backwards and sat back down on the log, her back still turned to the black haired wizard. She began thinking about when he came back to the Guild with Lucy and Wendy after they were ambushed. For a reason she couldn't explain she immediately ran to Gajeel after seeing him in that state.
She looked at the palms of her hands. A frightened look took over her face as she remembered the sight of his blood on them, it still haunted her. She never wanted to see him that way again, but she couldn't fathom why. She then recalled staying by his bedside as he recovered from his wounds. She could still remember the smell of the room they stayed in, it smelt of pine. She found the memory peculiar. Gajeel continued speaking, unaware that Levy was lost in her own mind.
"No one's ever worried about me before except Juvia, but she can be a real pain sometimes."
Levy snapped back into reality just before he finished his sentence. "Oh, you don't have to thank me." She said, smiling weakly
"Yeah I do…I don't like to owe people." He said curtly.
Levy smiled wider, she couldn't believe that Gajeel had thanked her. Her head began to swell and she blushed. Realizing what was going on, she shook the thoughts out of her head and cleared her throat.
"So you and Juvia have been friends for a long time huh?" she asked him as she began to look into the stars above.
"I wouldn't say a long time, but yeah. She was the only person I could stand to talk to in Phantom Lord." He began reminiscing about his old guild, more importantly the battle they had with Fairy Tail that caused he and Juvia to join. He also thought of the time he crucified Levy and her friends to the tree in Magnolia and looked down with a sullen look on his face. He still felt guilty about what he did, but he was oddly happy that Levy never held it against him.
"What about before Phantom Lord?" Levy asked, trying to get more info out of Gajeel, "You're a dragon slayer like Natsu right? Does that mean you were raised by a dragon as well?"
Things grew uncomfortably silent again as Gajeel thought about his "father". "Metalicana." He said sternly
"I'm sorry?" Levy asked, not fully hearing him the 1st time.
"The dragon who raised me, his name was Metalicana." He looked down at the ground irritated. "He was a selfish bastard, but for some reason he chose to raise me."
"Did he disappear like Igneel and Wendy's dragon?"
"…Yeah."
Levy looked down at the ground with a sorrowful look on her face. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be, not your problem." Gajeel said.
They sat in silence once again. Levy however stood up and walked to the log Gajeel was lying against and sat on it. She then looked at him and smiled, unnerving him a little bit.
"What are you smiling for?" he asked irritably. "You're creepin me out."
"If you want…I can help you find him."
"What? Find who?" He replied confused.
"Metalicana." Levy said still smiling. "I'll help you look for him."
Gajeel blushed slightly as his eyes widened a bit, he then quickly turned his head and a scowl appeared on his face. "I don't care…do what you want."
Levy took his harsh tone with a smile, "Okay I will."
"Whatever."
Levy looked up at the sky and smiled. She had seen another side of Gajeel and it made her…happy. Sure he was still brash, obnoxious, and rude; but she felt like she understood him a bit more, and that's all she really wanted. The two now sat in silence but it wasn't an awkward one, more like they were enjoying each other's company.
"AHHHHH!" The scream echoed through the forest, breaking the pair's calm silence.
Gajeel quickly rose from the ground, "The hell was that?"
"It sounded like Wendy." Levy replied, a hint of fear in her voice. "She and Lucy went in that direction." She said pointing towards the trees in front of her.
"Dammit, what now?" Gajeel groaned as he grabbed Levy by the arm and placed her on his back. Startled by Gajeel's sudden action, Levy quickly draped her arms around his neck.
"W…What are you doing?" She asked nervously as she blushed.
"We gotta find them and you move to slow so it'll be easier if I carry you while I run." He said curtly.
Levy looked annoyed upon hearing his explanation. She appreciated the sentiment, but was insulted that he said it the way he did.
Gajeel began running to where the screams were coming from, Levy holding him tightly as he made his way through the trees.
A small but heartfelt smile gracing her blushing face.