I need you.

By: LemonSherbert

Chapter 1: G'night sweetheart

I do not own Fairytail or any of the characters in this story, they are owned by Hiro Mashima, anyway, enjoy and don't forget to review.

Sweat trickled down her brow as she panted and wiped it away with the back of her palm, her hazel eyes shimmered gold as she looked up at the sun that was beating down on her. She hadn't seen a drop of rain in over three weeks, not even a drizzle, her short, blue hair was pulled up in a messy bun via a dirty, red bandanna. Her light brown shorts were coated in dried blood and mud, her bare legs fared no different, grazed and barely able to keep her moving. She wore black biker boots that came half way up her lower leg and a large crimson wife beater that was tucked into her shorts, she had on a thick army jacket that hung down to her mid-thigh and she had a beaten up backpack that only had one strap still on it. There were a few weapons on her, a large bowie knife was tucked into the strap of her biker boot, a large machete was pushed into a belt hole on her shorts and in her left hand was a cross bow that she'd picked up a few miles back. The road was barren, nothing but rusting, bloody and mangled, dead cars, some of those things were groaning from their metal boxes but she paid them no mind as she weaved in and out of the sea of vehicles.

"Need to find somewhere to rest soon..." she said to herself, she'd long since stopped thinking to herself, there was no point, no one was around to hear her, the last people... living people that she'd seen was maybe two months ago and she didn't stick around to be friends with them. The small bluenette had learnt long ago that sticking with people meant creating bonds and that meant being hurt when they died which they would, they always would. They'd get cocky, they'd think that their numbers would keep them safe but it didn't it never did, it just meant a bigger and easier target, more people to pick off. It had been five months since it all happened, since she lost everything, since the world was changed for everyone, it happened so fast it was almost a blur.

She was sat at home, it was her day off of work, she was a nurse, it was all over the news, people attacking people, biting them... eating them. Then her phone began ringing and she needed to get into work, there were so many people coming in with bites, lacerations, some missing pieces of their bodies. Arms, legs, eyes, parts of their jaws, it was a gruesome show, like something she'd seen from one of those zombie movies but this... it was real, it was all happening right in front of her. She tried, she tried so hard to save them but they... they turned, biting nurses and other patients, infecting them with whatever parasite was running through their veins. It weighed heavy on her heart that she ran, she didn't try to help, she was scared and confused, so she ran, she couldn't save them, there was no point wasting her time. There were times at night that she sobbed, cried herself to sleep, when the nightmares kept her awake, she was alone, afraid and fighting. She couldn't stay in one place for too long, she learnt that the hard way when the first group she ran with stayed in an open field for more than a week. They came from all around them, the gangling corpses quickly overrunning the camp sight, she didn't stay, she grabbed her things and ran, there was nothing she could do for those people. The screams echoed in her head, the ghastly noise of flesh tearing, bones cracking, it was like a never ending sound track from a horror movie. Human interaction was now only done if it was a must, killing well, that came easy; the things following her weren't people... maybe once but not anymore.

Her body felt like it was burning up and she sighed, placing her crossbow against the tire of a car, she pulled the worn down bag across her chest and unzipped it. There wasn't much in it, a few granola bars, a couple cans of tinned food and three bottle of water, one already half drained. She pulled the half empty bottle out and zipped her bag back up; she plucked up her crossbow and balanced the bow between her hip and arm as she unscrewed the top of the bottle. The little, lone traveller sipped at the water, it wasn't cold, it was more warm than anything but she wasn't going to be fussy when essentials such as water and food were scarce so she took what she needed. She would have looted the cars but it would have made noise trying to get into them and she wasn't just going to announce her position to anything or anyone lurking in the woodlands either side of her, even though she was already being watched...

"What's she doing?" Came his gruff voice as the blonde woman below him, hidden in the shrub, stared through a pair of binoculars, he could see the little girl just fine but she could see closer. His tanned skin glistened with sweat from the sun, the ripped sleeves of his black T-shirt showing his beautifully crafted muscles and the metal studs in his arms glittered in the sun. It was so fucking hot; he had to tie his long, thick, black hair back in a loose pony tail with strands falling down the sides of his face. His red eyes were following the blue haired girl walking between the cars, his studded brow coming together in a scowl, she looked too small to be alone... too weak, yet she also looked like she could handle herself just fine.

"She's... just walking, literally, I think she's just another traveller, should I get Natsu to go out and see her?" The blonde asked, referring to his unruly cousin a few miles down the road, who had a way with people where as he, did not. He wasn't sociable, he hated getting caught up in people, he didn't like them, when everything broke out it was like heaven, just him and his cousin though that made him want to put a bullet in his brain most days. Of course, Natsu being the sociable prick he was, started picking up stragglers as they travelled, they soon had a group of over forty though over half of them came from a different group that banded with them.

"No... I don't see the point, she looks fine, she'll just take up more space and food..." he grumbled as his eyes followed her, she could have been no more than eighteen, a child compared to most of them, she was tiny, slim... she looked underfed and tired.

"Come on, what did Makarov say, we have to help those in need, she's just a kid... on her own, what if that was Wendy?" She asked, referring to the young girl they had taken in over a month ago and practically claimed him as her big brother, she barely ever left his side and he found himself oddly fond of the little one. He sighed as he shook his head, she had a point, he would have hated seeing Wendy out on her own, fending for herself in a world that had become to cruel too quickly.

"Fine, I'll go talk to her, you stay here... watch from the tree, if there are any walkers or people we don't know then you know what to do!" He grunted and she jumped up, grinning at him, she was his cousin's not so obvious booty call and he hardly blamed him. She had an hour glass figure; she was tall, slim and had long, blonde hair down to her back though it was tied in a side pony tail. Her chocolate brown eyes were fanned by thick lashes and she was full of spirit, she kind of reminded him of a cheerleader. She started to climb the nearest tree as he stepped out from the shadows of the trees, like a wolf stalking its prey.

She sighed as she looked around, there was nothing much to be able to scavenge anyway, some people had left their cars and grabbed whatever was in the trunk while others had eventually died in the safety of their vehicles. It was a sad sight to say the least but well... it sounded harsh but better them than her, she didn't dwell on the people that died, it was stupid and meaningless. Lots of people had died, if she had to mourn for everyone she'd passed then it would take her a life time to finally finish but she didn't have that feeling anymore. Happiness, sadness and safety were a luxury long since forgotten, it was kill or be killed and she knew which one she picked though sometimes she wondered if it was worth it, what was she even living for?

"Hey, kid...!" A deep voice grunted and she span around, dropping the bottle in her hand as her heart hammered quickly in her chest. The sound of someone speaking frightened her; it meant there was people around, people she didn't want to interact with. She couldn't see him properly with the sun glaring in her eyes but she had her crossbow held up to his face, she'd soon gotten the hang of not shaking when she was aiming with other weapons even if the bow was heavy.

"Stay back... come any closer and I'll shoot you in the eye!" She snapped in warning and the large shadow put his hands up in defence but she didn't feel at ease. He was tall, unbelievably so but then again she was four-foot-ten so everyone seemed tall to her. His shadow was bulky so he was clearly made up of muscle and she could see a mess of long hair and the glinting of piercings on his face and arms.

"Bit of a ballsy comment from a child, don't you think?" He questioned, his voice laced with amusement and she glared at him, child, who the hell did he think he was? She was short but that was just insulting.

"I'm not a kid you asshole, I'm twenty-three, now you have ten seconds to tell me what you want or I'm going to aim this thing at your crotch!" She growled, stepping forwards a little and the sun moved behind him, giving her a proper look at him and she was almost taken aback by him. He was handsome, really handsome, over six feet tall and built like a god, his long black hair made his red eyes look darker and his piercings made him look savage and tough. His eyes were wide and confused as he looked her over and she narrowed her golden eyes at him.

"No... You can't be more than eighteen!" He scoffed and she really, really wanted to pull the trigger and watch one of her arrows get imbedded between his arrogant lips.

"I am, I was a nurse before all of this started so I know where are the most painful places to shoot you and watch you cry so tell me, what do you want!?" She snapped, putting her finger on the trigger a little tighter for good measure, showing that she meant business.

"Okay... okay, calm down, I just want to talk... if you put down that bow and I won't hurt you..." he said and it was almost a challenge. She couldn't tell if he was bluffing or not but she wasn't going to lower her weapon at any point, this guy was huge and could easily take her down.

"Not a chance, how do I know you don't have more men waiting for me to do just that, I'm not stupid so just say what you want and stop acting like a tough guy!" She retorted and he shook his head as he sighed.

"I guess since you ain't a kid I don't have to go easy on you, you've got three seconds to get that fucking thing out of my face or you'll regret it!" He growled suddenly going from slightly friendly to downright frightening in seconds and she stared at him, he was so confident it almost made her laugh. "Three... you better lower that!" The large man pressed and she shook her head.

"Not a hope in hell big guy, what makes you so sure you'll make it to three?" She asked, practically ready to pull the trigger but not sure if she should.

"Because you haven't killed anyone before... two..." he grumbled and her eyes grew wide, how did he know that? She hadn't killed anyone before but she was a pretty good actor and he seemed to see right through that. "One, times up!" He snapped and she yelped as he dove forwards and she pulled the trigger, the wire shot forwards and the arrow flew out of its place. She had to give it to him, the guy was fast, he managed to dodge the arrow and grab the bow before she could blink, the little bluenette gasped as he span her round. His hands quickly snatching the machete at her hip and held it to her throat. "Now, let go of the bow or I'll slit that pretty little throat of yours!" He hissed in her ears and she trembled as her fingers let go of the crossbow. The large man grabbed it then dropped it and she whimpered at the sound it made, like something had cracked. He didn't move from his spot as she panted, her adrenaline making her hypersensitive to everything even the movement beside them.

"Gajeel... let her go, she's just a child!" The female voice snapped and she glared at the cars, why did everyone seem to think she was a kid? She looked out the corner of her eye, seeing a busty, blonde woman in tight jeans and a pink blouse; she looked rather clean for someone in the apocalypse.

"She ain't a kid, she's a fucking nurse, the little bitch was threatening to shoot me, what else was I meant to do!?" He growled and the woman began scolding him and she used the distraction to her advantage lifting up her leg, slowly balancing on one as she began sliding the bowie knife from her boot. His hold on her had grown looser, she had to get out now while she still had the chance, she quickly lifted his hand and bit his palm, sinking her teeth in as hard as possible and he snarled dropping the knife. She used this and pushed herself out of his grip, twirling and slicing with the knife; it didn't catch him but slit open the stomach area of his shirt, showing his toned abs. He stared down at the torn fabric for a second, before he looked back at her and her heart thumbed painfully against her ribs as he glared. "This is my favourite shirt you little bitch!" He growled and she didn't want to stay to find out what he'd do to her.

The little woman took off running, knife in hand, clutching it until her knuckles went white and she dodged cars, her feet crunching over broken glass and diving over debris. Her lungs started to burn as she slid over the hood of a broken down, silver Vauxhall Corsa, there was a school bus ahead of her and she ran for it knowing she could lock the doors. She was so close she could almost feel the yellow paint until her bag snagged on the broken trunk of a messed up car, pulling her back, the strap almost ripped and she curse. With a heated sigh she began tugging on it, only tearing it more and she heard a growl and something slammed into her, making the air in her lungs rush out of her in a painful gasp. He was so heavy he was almost crushing her under his weight as he pinned her to the floor, his face inches from hers and she could feel broken glass digging into her legs and back.

"G-get off of me!" She yelled, struggling against him but he was much too strong for her to fight against as she writhed and groaned, trying to get free, his black hair was brushing her cheeks as her hazel eyes glared into his.

"You're gonna' pay for ruining my shirt, shorty!" He snapped and leaned up, she gasped as he pulled out a gun from the hip of his jeans, was he really going to shoot her over a goddamn shirt? "Oh don't worry, I ain't gonna kill you..." he grinned when he saw her fear and she looked up in confusion as he brought it down on her, quick and hard, smacking her in the head with the handle. It was so hard it felt like he'd split her head in two and everything went fuzzy and dark as she blinked, she could feel something wet dripping down the side of her face and she looked up. He was grinning as he stood up and she gasped for air as everything became harder to focus on. "G'night princess..." he smirked and everything went dark as she felt something pull up her arms...

"Did you really have to hit her; you could have talked this over...?" Her light voice asked behind him as he picked up the little woman, she was as light as a feather in his grasp and he hauled her over his shoulder. "You could at least hold her better as well..." she huffed and he rolled his red eyes.

"Trust me, she ain't one for talking, Lucy, she's clearly been alone for a while, she doesn't trust people, it's just easier to knock her out and bring her... plus, the bitch ruined my shirt, she's glad I didn't shoot her!" He grumbled and this time Lucy rolled her eyes.

"Fine mister cave man; let's just get back home before it gets dark... I hate the dark!" She sighed and he grunted, he didn't care if he was holding her like a caveman or that he'd slightly cut her head, it was her own fault for pissing him off. They walked back over to the threshold of the forest and began walking home, she was kind of cute, now that he knew she wasn't too young for him. He was twenty five and ex-army, he'd just come home when everything happened so to him, this was nothing compared to what he'd seen overseas. Gajeel quickly shook away those gruesome images and tried to focus on more important things, mainly the fact that the back of her legs were incredibly smooth and toned and he... as creepy as it sounded, began drawing patterns with his fingers over his skin. He couldn't wait for her too wake up, maybe he could piss her off a little more cause she was damn sexy when she was angry and she had the feisty spirit that he admired in a woman. Though she might punch him when she woke up as well… they just had to wait and see.