Gajeel and Levy have what is probably one of the most iconic relationships in Fairy Tail, and in my opinion, one of the best.
Currently, the two of them are close friends. With deeper feelings hinted at by each side, Levy worries about Gajeel whenever he finds himself in dangerous situations, and is always rooting for him. While Gajeel fights fiercely to protect Levy, and only wants her safety. However, things weren't always like this between the two of them.
Their relationship started off in fairly horrible way, with Gajeel still a member of Phantom Lord, he defeated Levy and the rest of her team, Shadow Gear, and pinned them to the large tree in the center of Magnolia. After the battle between Fairy Tail and Phantom Lord, Gajeel redeemed himself by joining Fairy Tail, but not everyone agreed with his membership, team Shadow Gear in particular. Levy was still scared and angry at Gajeel, and it seemed like it would stay that way for a while.
That was, until this moment here. In which Gajeel protected Levy from a strike of Laxus' (another villain who would be later redeemed) and this here was a turning point in their relationship. Before this incident, Gajeel had allowed both Jet and Droy, the other members of Levy's team, to mercilessly beat on him to 'settle' their differences. Despite his injuries, when Laxus attacked, it wasn't Jet nor Droy, the two men in her life that always proclaimed their love for her who saved Levy but instead Gajeel, a man who had beaten and branded her. After this, Levy seems softer towards Gajeel. She was still afraid, but she was no longer angry at him for what he'd done. Their relationship didn't get another development until Levy was chosen for the S-Class trials.
When Levy was chosen for the S-class trials, she was surprised and slightly saddened. She truly believed there was no way someone with magic as 'weak' as hers could ever win the trial. She knew she wasn't strong, but rather intelligent. So when Gajeel, whose magic is nothing if not strong, came along and offered (okay demanded) to be her partner in the S-class trials, it's easy to see why she accepted. However, what I wasn't expecting, was the beautiful romance that would develop during this arc between the two of them.
When the island was attacked, Gajeel actually moved to save Levy. Which is a huge development in itself, however what really surprised me was the fact that he was willing to sacrifice himself for her. Despite him protecting her from Laxus earlier, he was surely not willing to actually fight Laxus to ensure Levy's safety. But here, he not only tells Levy to run and get help, but he holds off two attackers from coming near her. And what really got me to think about them in a romantic sense, was that Levy actually listened to him. Normally, she refuses to run from anything, and will do her best to help even if it puts her in danger. But she was willing to give her pride away in order to get someone who could actually help and save Gajeel.
When the island was attacked, Gajeel actually moved to save Levy. Which is a huge development in itself, however what really surprised me was the fact that he was willing to sacrifice himself for her. Despite him protecting her from Laxus earlier, he was surely not willing to actually fight Laxus to ensure Levy's safety. But here, he not only tells Levy to run and get help, but he holds off two attackers from coming near her. And what really got me to think about them in a romantic sense, was that Levy actually listened to him. Normally, she refuses to run from anything, and will do her best to help even if it puts her in danger. But she was willing to give her pride away in order to get someone who could actually help and save Gajeel.