How Gajeel and Levy Went From Enemies To Lovers, Explained

Gajeel and Levy might appear to be an unusual couple due to their past and stark contrasts in looks. Levy is characterized as a bookworm, having a petite build yet a bold personality. In comparison, Gajeel is short-tempered, sometimes harsh, and presents a rugged exterior.

Their first meeting could be considered traumatic at most, with Levy initially frightened by Gajeel. However, Levy was able to look past Gajeel’s rough exterior, realizing the kind-hearted person he really is. Although the two are opposites in every way, they complement each other, supporting each other in battle and emotionally. However, they took a long time to reach this point. So, how did Gajeel and Levy turn from enemies to lovers with a bundle of joy on the way in Fairy Tail?

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Gajeel and Levy’s Horrific First Meeting

What Started as an Act of Sadism Turned Into a Blossoming Relationship

Gajeel Redfox and Levy McGarden’s first meeting was not one that was kind, as it quickly showed the disparity between their power and personalities. During the Phantom Lord arc, Gajeel is introduced as a major antagonist for Natsu, as he is an Iron Dragon Slayer. The purpose of the arc was to retrieve Lucy Heartfilia under her father’s commands, which incited a welcomed war between the two guilds, Phantom Lord and Fairy Tail, although only Phantom Lord wished this.

To incite Makarov, Gajeel initially defaced the Fairy Tail guild with multiple ginormous iron pillars, as the two guilds have “always been on bad terms.” While this tactic has gotten many of the members riled up and ready for battle with the guild, Makarov has chosen not to initiate a war, as the Magic Council prohibits this warfare between guilds.

Although Gajeel destroyed the Fairy Tail guild, he also knew it wasn’t enough to make the guild act on it, so he “left them another present.” In the Southern Entrance Park of Magnolia, Gajeel targeted and attacked Team Shadow Gear, swiftly defeating them and leaving them unconscious, tied them in a crucifix style on a tree with the Phantom Lord mark on Levy’s torso for all the guild members to see.

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At this stage in the narrative, Gajeel Redfox exhibits a cold and sadistic demeanor, highlighting his lack of empathy through the crucifix treatment. He takes pleasure in causing pain to others, including his own guildmates in Phantom Lord. During the Phantom Lord arc, Levy and the other members of Team Shadow Gear stayed out of the battle to focus on recovering; thus, Gajeel tying Levy to the tree was the last time they saw each other until Gajeel was introduced to Team Natsu as being a member of the guild in Chapter 103.

Naturally, many of the Fairy Tail guild members were on guard around Gajeel, as he was the one who destroyed their previous guild. Initially, Levy was nervous and scared to be around Gajeel, as he still had an intimidating air around him and did not socialize much. Levy previously called Gajeel “scary” because of his intimidating nature, highly likely due to the treatment she received from him during the Phantom Lord arc.

However, this changed after Team Shadow Gear attempted to exact their revenge on Gajeel as he was leaving for a mission; Levy realized Gajeel was not attacking the other members at all because he wanted to be recognized as a member of the guild, thus putting himself at risk and atoning for his previous actions. After Laxus attempts to attack Levy during the Battle of Fairy Tail arc, Levy realizes Gajeel’s softer side, thus sparking a relationship between them, where she no longer feels frightened by him.

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How Their Bond Slowly Grew

Though They Bicker at Times, Gajeel Has the Utmost Respect and Care for Levy

Although Levy was no longer frightened by Gajeel, as he had now fully been accepted by the guild, their bond grew during the Tenrou Island arc in which Levy was chosen as a candidate to become an S-Class mage. As Levy was about to choose her partner for the trial, Gajeel offered to lend her a hand to help her become an S-Class mage. This was the beginning of their relationship, as Levy was slightly self-conscious of her abilities, Gajeel was her supporter and believed in her, offering to become the strengths to her weaknesses, which made her blush.

Throughout the series, Gajeel and Levy would naturally gravitate towards one another. Wherein Levy’s magic power, Solid Script, a form of Letter Magic, would generate such as Iron, with its effects. In various battles, Levy is seen supporting Gajeel and supplementing his power with Iron to replenish his strength in battle; when she does this, the letter “O” is shaped as a heart, alluding to her true feelings about him.

Gajeel and Levy’s romance was a slow build from their first encounter, although Gajeel was a bit of a hard head about battling, essentially falling for Natsu’s schemes while attempting to be mature; overall, Levy was aware that Gajeel had a softer side to him, as noted when he first began to match changes to suit the guild.

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During the Tartaros arc, Levy’s feelings for Gajeel came to a head. During the battle with Torafuzar, Gajeel, Natsu, Lucy, and Juvia’s air supply was cut off by a tsunami of toxic black water, in which the poison would kill those within the waters within five minutes. Although Levy was a fair distance away from Gajeel, she instinctively knew he was in danger and, at the last minute, gave him mouth-to-mouth, kissing him in the process. Although Gajeel was none the wiser at the time, believing she had used her Solid Script magic to conjure air in the toxic waters.

After numerous times saving one another and attempting to sacrifice themselves for the other, Gajeel confesses his feelings for Levy in Chapter 488, believing he is about to die with Bradman. However, Zera saved him and teleported him to Tenrou Island. Once Levy learned Gajeel was still alive thanks to Zera’s transmission, and once Gajeel reunited with her, she returned his feelings in Chapter 502.

• Gajeel first protected Levy from Laxus’s attack during the Battle of Fairy Tail arc.
• Gajeel saved Levy from Yomazu and Kawazu during the Tenrou Island arc.
• Levy saved Gajeel from drawing during his battle with Torafuzar during the Tartaros arc.
• Levy, while pregnant and under the control of the White Wizard, shielded Gajeel from Natsu’s attacks during the Fairy Tail: 100 Years Quest.

A year following the Alvarez Empire arc and the fight against Acnologia, during Lucy’s awards ceremony, Gajeel and Levy shared a moment. Levy leaned in and whispered to Gajeel that they were expecting a baby, which caused him to blush and appear flustered. This was later confirmed in Fairy Tail: 100 Years Quest, revealing that Levy is indeed pregnant with Gajeel’s child and living with Pantherlily.

Gajeel and Levy met in a way that would leave the average person traumatized from the encounter; although Levy was initially frightened by Gajeel, thanks to his intimidating demeanor, she knew he was trying his best to fit into the guild and be accepted as one of their own. After learning the truth about Gajeel, Levy decided to give him a chance and believe he is a changed man; it was Levy’s faith in him that helped Gajeel grow as a person and be accepted by the otter guild members as Gajeel often put his life on the line to save Levy. Overall, the two complement and make up for each other’s weaknesses, supporting one another in a faithful relationship.

Fairy Tail: 100 Years Quest is available to stream on Crunchyroll.