Chapter 1. One hell of a journey.

"Gajeel! Wait for me!"

"Levy, hurry up, we are gonna miss the train."

The pair of mages walked by the streets of Magnolia. It was fairly early, and the Train station had just started operations with the first trains leaving. Such a train was the aim of the two mages.

"We are going pretty far, aren't we?" She asked. Gajeel nodded. It was about twelve hours in train from Magnolia. Plus they would need to walk into the mountains a couple of days, so not only did they need to catch the first and only train to the Demon Spine mountains, as they were called, but they would need to camp in the forest at night. It would be a week at least before they returned to the Guild.

"Un. The place in the northern frontier of the continent. Its nowhere near. You brought everything, right?" He asked.

"Yes!" She chirped. The dissolution of Fairy Tail had a great shock on both Levy and Gajeel. A lot had changed. But two months into it, working at wherever put food on the table was nothing strange for the Iron mage, but Levy still didn't get used to it. Partly because she didn't want to get used to it; she still believed in the bottom of her heart that Fairy Tail still existed. Their guild marks were live proof of that. At least the dorms were still in effect, so she didn't have to worry about having a roof over her head. "So Gajeel," She added "What's this mission about?"

"Go to the indicated place. Retrieve the artifact. Return safely." He said matter-of-factly.

"I see." She started. She always liked to have as much information about anything she did. Missions, quests, or just reading, for her, information was a must. "Could you lend me the mission poster?"

"No." He replied coldly.

"Huh? Why not?" She asked. They were arriving at the station, and as they turned their respective tickets and got into their cabin, Gajeel answered without turning to her.

"Lost it." Lost it, he says. She couldn't believe his words. Losing a mission poster was a rookie mistake, and Gajeel was no rookie. It was your proof that you received the quest, and your guarantee that you'll get paid. Granted, just showing the Guild crest to the employer was more than enough most times. But there were times in which, hopefully not this time, employers would refuse to pay, or change the conditions placed on the poster. Which would mean a terrible loose of time for whatever mage answered in the best case scenario. "It will be fine, Shrimp" He cut the silence. "The employer is a someone I know. That's how we got the mission in the first place." He completed bluntly.

'That makes a bit more of sense.' She thought. In a sense, guild less mages were no different than mercenaries, and could not get missions from the magic consul, unless contacted directly. And even though she had received invitations from other guilds, she refused them wholeheartedly. So it was either this, or search for a normal job.

They sat in the seats on their cabin. Since it was such a long trip, the private cabin was a must. Sure, it was more expensive than just a normal seat, but it also meant that they had a "private" room, door and all; and two sets of seats in which one could curl up to sleep if one so wished. This last two facts made the script mage blush a bit. Not that she didn't like the scenario, but it just felt too good. Then, the silence that flooded the room was broken by the sheer shriek of the metal wheels of the train, announcing the departure. This was getting nowhere, and if she wanted to make the fullest of this opportunity, she had to act first.

"B-By the way, Gajeel." She started.

"Huh?" He grunted.

"Where's Lily?" She asked. She was genuinely curious as why the Dragon Slayer did not have his companion with him.

"He is on a job of his own. And besides, our job asked for us two and only us."

"Huh? I didn't know that." She said. She really didn't thought about it that much. The opportunity to be with Gajeel for a week was too good to let pass by. And it wasn't as if her two sidekicks could come with her with Gajeel and Lily present, after what happened last time. As she pushed that thought aside, she asked. "And why is that?"

"Dammit Shrimp, I don't have all the answers." He retorted, clearly annoyed.

"Sorry..." She said, lowering her head. She didn't mean to annoy him, but the more she asked the stranger it seemed. Why only them? Why so far? And what was this artifact that they needed to recover? She thought about stopping, but her curiosity got the better of her. "And the payment?" She finally asked.

"..." After looking at her for a moment, Gajeel closed his eyes. It first she thought he did that because she kept annoying him, but it wasn't. It seemed different. After staying like that for a while, he finally spoke.

"...If we pull this off, you could be set for life."

"Wha-?!" She blabbed. Set for life?! Just who was this guy?! She turned to the window as her head flooded with new questions, and far-fetched theories about who this client could be, and what was this strange artifact would be able to do. Not that she cared about the money, but the way he said it made her imagination go wild. Was he some kind of king looking for a magical, inconceivable treasure? Could it be some kind of powerful magic that could destroy the kingdom? Or maybe some lost library with documents of lost magic! Ah, now she reaaaly wanted to look at the poster. Stupid Gajeel. Why did he had to loose it?

She stopped her mental rambling to look at Gajeel. He had both arms and legs crossed, as well as his eyes. Was he meditating perhaps? Or did she really annoyed him that much? Her previous euphoria dissipated into a feeling of guilt. She didn't mean to be rude. She trusted his word, she just wanted to know more.

"I trust you, you know?" She whispered.

"Eh? Where did that come from?" He asked. Curse his stupid dragon hearing. Whispers could be heard easily by him, and the silence she provoked by her internal debate didn't help at all. Not only did she interrogated him, but now she's spouting a bunch of embarrassing things.

"T-T-That's not it!" She quickly retorted "Its just that since its such a weird quest and well I didn't knew anything I wanted to ask you all of those things! But I didn't mean to offend you! I mean, I trust on what you say even if we don't have the poster as long as you say its fine then I'll-"

"Shrimp, calm down." He spoke. He placed a firm hand on top of her head, and pated slightly. "There's no need to freak out. If you disliked going to missions with me you should have said before hand." He added.

Her cheeks turned to a bright red. "That's not it!" She repeated "I like going on missions with you!" She shouted. By the time her head processed what she just said it was too late. Her cheeks were bright red, as embarrassment and shame came to her. Bringing her hands to her mouth, just before she said anything she realized Gajeel had a sly grin on his face. As his fang showed, a small "Gihi" could be heard by Levy. His figure finally took a more relaxed posture on the cabin's seat, but that did not change what Gajeel was doing with her.

He was messing with her.

Nothing new there thou. He never wasted the opportunity for a snarky reply, or a stupid joke whenever he saw fit.

"...Stupid Gajeel..." She finally said. A small laugh escaped Gajeel's mouth as Levy banged on ins chest. But oh no, sir, she was not going down without a fight. "By the way Gajeel," She said in a sweet, innocent voice "How come you are not a soppy mess right now?" This being a Train, he shouldn't be in any condition to sit straight up, let alone mess with her.

"Ah, that would be the old hag's fault." He said, the grin never leaving his face. "She gave us this a while ago. Said it should help." He took a small glass container from his pocket. Small blue spheres rolled around and clanked at Gajeel's movement. 'Shame...' she thought. She had remembered Lucy telling her that Natsu usually took a nap on her shoulder, or use her legs as a pillow whenever they used the train. It seemed that this wouldn't happen today.

"Why the long face shrimp? Don't tell me you had something in mind?" He smirked. Her cheeks turned red again, as he shook off the hand on her head. This guy...

At least he seemed in a better mood.

A couple of hours had passed since then. In that time, Gajeel proceeded to tease Levy for a while before growing tired and deciding to take a nap. Even with the bigger space in the cabin, he could barely lie in the seat. Using his one bag as pillow, it didn't take long until Levy could hear his calm breathing. At the same time, Levy took out one of the many novels she brought with her, anticipating the amount of free time they'll have on their hands. It was a pretty basic book, one she cherished in her heart. It was the story of monsters in between monsters. Or what the monsters called "monsters" in their world. Strangely enough, the monsters "monsters" were nothing else than humans. And it showed how thanks to their good will and compassion, they were able to fit into the society of monsters. Accepted by them. Respected by them.

And so, she travelled into her fantasy word in what it seemed forever. And just as she was cutting close to the half of the book, a growl snapped her out of her fairy tale.

"…" Her tired eyes became sad, as her expression betrayed her worry to what was now happening. In front of her, his companion, the mighty Dragon Slayer was moving erratically in his sleep. His expression ever changing, he clawed his hands in his crossed arms, while grunting and grumbling incoherencies. Levy had heard from Lily before. There was not a single night Gajeel didn't have this kind of behavior. Nightmares and night terrors were usual in between mages with a history like his, but as much as she would like to deny, he usually triggered those nightmares to others, not suffered them himself.

With a soft 'thud' Levy closed the book she was currently reading, taking mental note of the page she was so she could continue in a later date. With special care, she put said book in her bag, making sure not to make any more noise. She rested her elbows on her legs, as she rested her chin on her hands, wondering just what kind of demon could make someone like Gajeel shiver like this. What on earth could hunt the man she saw so many times overcome kings, monsters and demons? For her, he was unbeatable. He was an unmovable pillar that stood at the top, alongside people like Natsu, Gray and Erza. Falling gently to her knees, she brought her hand near his, taking it ever so slightly. He was so strong. He felt so strong. Yet even she sometimes forgot he was no superhero. He was Human. Like her. With human problems. She brought her torso to his sleeping frame, awkwardly yet wrapping her arms around him.

"Everything will be ok.." she said. She hugged him as tightly as her small frame would allow it to her. She couldn't think of anything else. She didn't know what else to do. She was powerless to help this man. As that thought arrived at her head, a small tear escaped from her eyes. "Ill be here with you, ok?" She whispered. More tears escaped her eyes. She couldn't stop the sobbing. It hurt so much, this feeling of defeat. "I'll be here for you... " She tried her all, but to see him like this, to suffer in the only place he could rest. It broke her heart. She freed one of her arms as she wiped the tears from her eyes, and she brought that same hand to his cheek. She closed here eyes as she steeled her heart. "You think..." She spoke to no one in particular. "You think a kiss would do any good?" She finally said. Her hear was fuzzy, and she wasn't thinking straight. But she didn't care at this point. She had to do something. And she thought that maybe this selfish request would do the trick, just like in her books. So she took a deep breath, and brought her lips near his. And just as she closed her eyes, she felt the shivering stop. She opened her eyes, and was greeted with two red iris staring right back at her. Still not quite completely, both mages blinked several times, at it took a full 5 seconds for Levy to realize the situation.

"…"

"…"

"….."

"….."

"...Yo..."
"...Eh..?"

'Eh?' She still couldn't believe it. No. She didn't want to believe it. She tried to recap what was happening. She was hugging him. The big bad Iron Dragon Slayer was being hugged by her. That enough made her cheeks bright red. Not only that, but afterwards she tried to 'kiss' him. Kiss him 'on the lips'! And to make matters worse, he was staring at her. Which in return could mean only one thing...

'He is awake'

'Awake'

AWAKE?!

"Gua..." As she fell backwards, she could feel the blood leaving her head, as her strength disappeared, so did her consciousness.

Allo! Wolfen here. Here again with a new story. I've been having some inspiration from the last chapters, but I the sleep depravation its taking a toll on me. I hope you guys like this new chapter and the new chapter for "Dragon Instincts" should be up and running by the end of the week, perhaps a bit later. Have a good day!