Gajeel Doesn't Read?

It was a normal afternoon at the Guild, with the usual fights, drinks, and chatter that followed the name of Fairy Tail wherever the members went. Levy and Lucy sat at the bar discussing the latest book they were reading.

"Oh! Did you like the part where the prince discovers the secrets of his past?" Lucy questioned Levy.

"No," Levy began. "It was so cliché. I mean really, I knew from the beginning he wasn't really a prince. I mean- Oh! H-hi Gajeel." Levy looked up as she saw the shadow of the iron dragon slayer standing over them, glowering down at them with his arms crossed.

"You're in my spot." Gajeel stated crossly.

"Oh…" Levy looked and saw that they were indeed sitting in the corner that the gruff man usually sat. "Well, we can move. Right Lu-chan?" Levy turned to her friend.

"Uh… Sure." The blonde smiled, scooting over one seat. Levy followed, leaving an empty seat for the dragon slayer. He stared at it for a moment before sitting down beside the girl.

The two continued their babbling, and Gajeel sighed. He wasn't going to get much peace and quiet anyway.

"What kinda crazy shit are you two talking about anyway?" They stopped their chattering to look at him. The bluenette just smiled though.

"It's this book we're both reading. You should try it Gajeel! I think you'd like it." She tried handing him the book to look at, but he ignored it.

"No thanks," he said taking a drink from the mug Mira brought him while the girls were chatting. "I don't read."

"What? Why not?" Not that Levy was really surprised that Gajeel didn't like to read, but still…

"I just don't." He shrugged. But Levy wasn't about to give up just yet.

"C'mon! I think you'd really like it! It's about dragons and everything!"

"Dragons?" That peaked Gajeel's interest. He at least turned back to face her.

"Yeah!" She said excitedly. "There are lots of dragons in this book! So will you at least give it a try? Please?"

Now Gajeel was in trouble. Damn it! Gajeel you dumbass! Now what're you gonna do? I can't just take the book and pretend to read it, 'cuz then she'll keep asking me questions about it. But now that I opened my damn mouth, she's gonna keep pestering me to read it! Gajeel just sighed. "No thanks, Shrimp."

"Aw, c'mon Gajeel!" Levy gave him a pleading look. Then Lucy joined in.

"Yeah Gajeel! It can't hurt to try it!"

Gajeel just grunted and turned away. But they were relentless.

"Gajeel!" Levy whined. "Why not?"

"Because he can't read." Natsu's voice came from behind. All three turned around.

"Natsu!" Lucy exclaimed. "You've been listening this whole time?"

Natsu shrugged. "Long enough to figure out that Gajeel can't read." At first, Lucy thought that Natsu was just trying to pick a fight, but then he sat down beside her, and he looked kinda serious. "Isn't that right, Gajeel?" Lucy and Levy both turned to look at the dark haired man. He looked irritated.

"Shut up Salamander!" he growled. "Mind your own fucking business." He turned his attention back to his drink.

"It's okay, Gajeel." Natsu said with his signature grin. "Igneel never taught me how to read either." Natsu rubbed the back of his head with and embarrassed chuckle. Lucy whipped her head back around to face her fiery partner.

"Wait, you're serious? Neither of you know how to read?" Lucy was shocked. How could she not know this about him!

"No way!" Natsu shouted. "I just said that Igneel never taught me to read. When I joined Fairy Tail, Erza taught me. But when I heard you guys talking, I got thinking. If Igneel never taught me to read, then Metalicana never would've taught Gajeel to read. So who did?" Natsu and Lucy both turned to face Gajeel. He was silent, his stone face hard to read, but Levy had been watching him while Natsu spoke, and she thought she saw something in his eyes. Sorrow.

"Is that true Gajeel?" Levy asked softly. "Do you really not know how to read?"

Gajeel looked at the three of them and huffed angrily. Curse the Salamander for being smarter than he looks…"Fine! You win! I'll admit it! Metalicana never taught me how to read, and I never stayed long enough anywhere else to find someone to teach me ok? Happy now?" Gajeel slammed his mug down angrily.

"Gajeel, that's…" Lucy began as she looked towards Levy.

"So sad!" They both exclaimed, their eyes starting to sparkle with tears.

"Gajeel that's so sad that you never had anyone close enough to you to teach you how to read!" Levy said as she looked sadly at the man sitting next to her.

Gajeel just glared at her. "I don't need your pity woman. I got by just fine didn't I?" He asked in a gruff voice.

"Wait…" Lucy started. "How do you do jobs and stuff?"

"Yeah," Levy continued. "If you can't even read the job description…"

"I just grab whatever pays good." Gajeel interrupted. "The more zeroes, the more jewels. I'm not so stupid that I can't even figure that out." He turned away from their stares to keep drinking from his iron mug. He'd never admit it, but he was embarrassed that he couldn't read. It bothered him that he was so stupid. But like he'd said, he wasn't so stupid that he couldn't get by.

"You're not stupid." Levy interrupted his thoughts.

"Huh?" He turned to look at her. He'd heard her… He just couldn't believe that he really heard her right.

"I said, you're not stupid, Gajeel." Levy stared right into his eyes, with all the seriousness in the world. "It's not your fault that no one ever taught you how to read. That doesn't make you stupid okay?" Gajeel just stared at the blue haired girl, not able to say anything. He was sure that if anyone found out that he couldn't read, they'd think he was stupid. But Natsu didn't. Bunny girl was just smiling at what Levy said, and well… Levy certainly didn't think he was stupid, and she was the smartest person he knew. Levy smiled at him. "I'll teach you ok?" Gajeel was stunned. So he just looked at her, like a deer in the headlights, and nodded. "Great!" Levy grinned even wider. "We'll start tomorrow!" And with that, she picked up her books, and left. "See you tomorrow Lu-chan! Bye Natsu!" They waved and then got up and left themselves. Gajeel just stared at their backs as they walked away.

"What was that all about?" Pantherlily asked as he hopped up beside Gajeel. Gajeel looked down at his partner and sighed, but Pantherlily noticed the slight smirk on the dragon slayer's face.

"What have I gotten myself into?" Gajeel wondered as he downed the rest of his drink. He stood up, slamming his mug down on the counter. "Let's go home Lily."

"Okay, but you're going to tell me all about it as soon as we get there." Lily said as he sprouted his wings.

"Sure, sure," mumbled Gajeel as he sauntered out of the guild, Lily flying behind him.

XXXXxxxx

As Lucy walked back to her apartment, Natsu walked beside her in silence with Happy circling overhead. "Natsu?"

"Yeah Lucy?" Natsu turned his head to look at her.

"That was a really nice thing you did for Gajeel back there."

"What do you mean?" He looked ahead as they walked.

"I mean, you didn't make fun of Gajeel or anything. You were really smart and figured out what he was hiding and you were really nice and helped him." Lucy looked at her partner and smiled. "I didn't know you had it in you."

Natsu chuckled and turned his head up to the sky. "I guess… I just understood how he felt. And I knew that nobody else really would. I was embarrassed when everyone found out that Igneel never taught me to read. Igneel was a great dad, and I didn't want anyone to think badly of him, and I really didn't want anyone to think that I was stupid. But because I was in Fairy Tail, I was among friends, and Erza taught me to read. But Gajeel… didn't have anybody after Metalicana left. And Gajeel's pride would never allow him to admit not knowing how to read, or to ask for help. But he's a part of Fairy Tail now, so he doesn't need to be alone. Does that make sense?" Natsu turned back to look at Lucy.

Lucy smiled at him. "Wow, Natsu! I never knew you could say anything so deep!" Natsu just threw his head back and laughed. Lucy grabbed his hand and started to pull him away from their current path.

"Whoa, Lucy! Where are we going? You're apartment is that way!"

Lucy laughed at her gullible, goofy partner. "We're going out to eat, my treat!"

"Yeah! Food!" Natsu cheered so loud, Lucy was sure all of Magnolia could hear.

AN: Well I hope everybody likes this! Sorry for the random NatsuxLucy moment at the end, I know it was supposed to be GajeelxLevy but I just couldn't help it. So many fanfic writers make Natsu SO stupid and it makes me mad! He's not stupid; he's just a goofball So anyway please review and lemme know what you think! I might be talked into writing more chapters if I get good responses so be kind! Love ya fanfic readers!