GaLe is the cutest couple ever! :D Read and Review, please!

Whenever Mirajane asked him why he never made a move on Levy, Gajeel's response was, "She's just too perfect."

And that's what he genuinely thought. She was too perfect to be stuck with a lowlife like him. He wanted her to be happy, to have the best of everything…and the best just wasn't him. So he had resigned himself to sitting at the bar at the guild and watch her teammates fawn over her, watch her laugh, watch her read, and try and squash the longing he felt every time she smiled so sweetly, so innocently.

Mira told him was crazy, that she wanted him, too, despite his past.

Their past.

That was reason number two that he couldn't have her. He'd hurt her, humiliated her, tied her to a freaking tree. But that wasn't just it. What sickened him most about that now was that, afterwards, he'd laughed about it. Had been proud of himself. Had loved the fact he'd broken her. He was a monster. He couldn't hurt her again.

Mira argued then that she'd already forgiven him.

But, forgiven or not, he still wasn't good enough. He could never be good enough. So, after that, he just tuned Mirajane out and sulked in the corner of the bar.

Levy watched him from the corner of her eye even as she conversed with Jet and Droy, frowning when she saw his sullen expression. Of course, he always looked ticked off at something or other, but never sullen. What was wrong with him?

She saw Mira sigh and walk away from him, running a rag over the countertop, ridding it over imaginary dust. When she came close enough, Levy excused herself from her teammates and wandered over to the pretty barmaid. "Hey, Mira," she said as she slid onto a stool.

Mira smiled at her. "Hello, Levy!"

"What's wrong with Gajeel?" the bluenette inquired, glancing worriedly at where Gajeel slumped dejectedly over the counter.

Mirajane suddenly got that glint in her eye, that one that terrified everyone within twenty feet. "Oh, nothing much," she replied. "He's just moping over you."

Levy choked on her drink. "Moping? Over me?" she asked incredulously. "Why?"

Mira shrugged, a small smile twitching at the corners of her mouth. "He just thinks you're too perfect for him."

At this Levy burst out laughing. "Me, perfect?" she giggled. "That's…that's…"

"True."

The gruff, familiar voice made her laughter instantly cease, and she looked up to see Gajeel standing beside her, making her look pathetically small against his bulk. She didn't notice Mira dance off into the back with a joyful smile on her face. She was too busy frowning up at him.

"I'm not perfect," she protested. "Not even close."

Gajeel snorted and crossed his arms, looking at anything but her. "Name one thing wrong with you, Shorty," he challenged.

Levy spun around on the stool to face him. "I'm weak."

Gajeel frowned. "No."

Levy nodded. "Yes, I am. Physically, I'm weak." Before he could protest again, she went on. "I read too much and ignore people when I'm really into a book. I can be a know-it-all, even if I don't mean to be. I have so many books I bet people can get lost in my apartment because they all form a maze in there. I'm irritable when I'm tired, and I can be too emotional sometimes. And…"

Here her eyes met his, and, for a split second, neither of them breathed, moved, spoke…Levy's heartbeat increased as she finally whispered the last fault.

"I'm a bit too short to kiss you right now."

Suddenly Gajeel leaned down to her height and pressed his lips quickly against hers. It was only for a split second, too quick for Levy to even close her eyes. But her lips felt warm where his had been and she beamed. He had already started to walk away, but she still called out, "I'm not too perfect for you, Gajeel. I'm just right."

And, even though she couldn't see it, Gajeel smiled wider than he ever remembered smiling.