CHAPTER ONE-Gajeel
Normal day, normal breakfast. The metal was a bit shitty. Master Jose had let it rust a little, but food was food. 10 minutes to finish breakfast and get upstairs. Plenty of time before she woke up. He had to find a way to keep her occupied while he got work, Jose was out. The possibility of the Element 4 taking care of her was startling. And horrifying. And downright wrong. There was no need for him to start an unnecessary battle in the guild hall. She really was picky about what she spent her days doing, and would probably beg to go on a job with him. However, Gajeel had no desire for her to get hurt. She was different than the others, special somehow. Too innocent to be corrupted by demons and thieves.
But she had to do something.
With a sigh, Gajeel looked at his watch, and stood. Then checked his watch again. His pondering had taken 15 minutes.
She was awake.
Gajeel jumped up and raced to her room in the attic of the guild. Panic washed over him when he saw her empty cot. She wasn't anywhere to be seen. Frantically, he flicked on the light. It illuminated the center of the room, but left all the corners dark. The empty dog bed told him all he had to know.
She was gone, again. And this time, it was his fault. Which meant Jose would be increasingly mad at him, and less supportive of her stay in the guild. Which meant she would be on her own. Gajeel groaned and turned on his heel.
"Naughty, naughty Gajeel." A sigh of relief escaped his lungs and he turned back. She was small and frail in her nightgown, but the dogs beside her certainly made up for her innocent appearance. Three huge, drooling dogs, up to Gajeel's chest, with sharp teeth and blood red eyes. They were entirely black, each with a slightly different build. One was shaped like a rottweiler, the next like a pitbull, and the third like a great dane. He knew better than to anger those dogs, or her. The blood red eyes turned to fire all too quick for his liking, and he didn't trust a dog that could jump four metres in the blink of an eye.
He had never seen those dogs attack, and he never wanted to. The chain attached to her wrist rattled as she laughed.
"Jules, you scared me." Gajeel said calmly. "I thought you'd run off." Jules' eyes darkened. The hounds raised their hackles. Gajeel thought fast. "I was just worried about you. I am not trying to control you, don't worry." His tone became fatherly, condoling almost. "I just worry for your safety." Jules brightened again.
"Can we go and get work?" She asked brightly. Gajeel knew that she could handle an S-Class, being an S-Class mage herself, but he didn't like thinking about those hounds. After all, they could easily rip off a man's head. In seconds. Gajeel didn't know if Jules would laugh or cry at that. Reluctantly, he nodded.
"Of course we can get work." He said carefully. "Let me get you some breakfast first." With a small nod in her direction, he turned on his heel. Jules was already conversing with the dogs. They didn't reply, but she chattered away like a child with a doll. Gajeel sprinted down to the bar, picked up the first breakfast item on the menu, and ran back upstairs.
Jules was sitting on her bed, talking to the dogs. Gajeel walked in with the plateful of food, which happened to be waffles, and set it down on her bedside table.
"Gajeel?" Jules said quietly, "They're back." she looked so small and so scared that Gajeel couldn't help but sit beside her.
"They can't hurt you Jules, I promise." Tears were already streaming down her face. Gajeel silently pondered her predicament. She had never mentioned who "they" were. She had never mentioned why they haunted her. Or why they would hurt her.
"Get away! Get away! Get away from me!" Her screams were more and more shrill as the moments passed. She began to thrash and writhe and bat against invisible attackers. She hadn't had an episode so bad in weeks. Instinctively, Gajeel wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in close.
"They can't hurt you anymore Jules. They aren't there." He cooed. Slowly, Jules' screams and thrashes stopped. She seemed to focus again. Gajeel let go of her. As if nothing had happened, Jules continued conversing with her dogs. They stared back at her, confused but loving. Whatever magic the girl possessed, Gajeel was sure it had to do with the dogs. Jules was completely calm. Slowly, one of the hellhounds-the rottweiler-extended its snout and grabbed one of the waffles. Gajeel made no move to stop it.
"Naughty, naughty Princess." Jules said lovingly. "Share with your brothers." Gajeel almost choked on nothing. Princess? The beast's name was Princess? With a sigh, he stood again.
"Gajeel!" Jules squeaked. "Naughty, naughty. Coming into my room with no warning. I'm not even wearing proper clothes." And she laughed like it was the funniest thing ever. Gajeel let out a small chuckle. "Gajeel! I need clothes!" And she started cackling again, but Gajeel went to her wardrobe and picked her an outfit anyway. Jules only ever wore different nightgowns, but Gajeel refused to let her go without changing her clothes. With a sigh, he realized that Tuesday was a day for hair-washing.
"You've got to wash your hair first, Jules." Gajeel said. "Come on. To the washroom with you." Obediently, Jules stood and walked to the washroom. She dropped her nightgown and waited for Gajeel to turn on the water.
The sight of Jules' body was no longer one that made Gajeel feel awkward. She was young, and seemed younger because of her incoherence. She was so absent and never awkward about it that Gajeel had become used to her. She was like a younger sister. The only person who could break down the walls around his heart. The only person he cared for. Gajeel turned on the tap and the tub slowly began to fill. Jules climbed in and curled her legs up to her chest. Slowly, Gajeel filled a small container with water and poured it over her head, wetting her long, black hair. Her pale skin was almost the same shade as the white tub, and he could count her ribs. He felt a fatherly desire to have her eat, to sleep properly, to live. He couldn't ever force her to do anything, though. He couldn't do that to her.
Gajeel poured shampoo on both of his hands and ran it through her hair. It fell to her waist, and conditioning it was damn near twenty minutes of work. Slowly, he rinsed out all of the product. Jules, out of routine, held out both of her hands. Gajeel poured shower gel into them and she rubbed it over herself. Once again, he poured water over her small body and washed it all off.
"All clean!" Jules chirped. She stood, Gajeel dried her and put on her nighty. Then he french braided her long hair to keep it out of the way. Jules grabbed the chain that held all her dogs, and they walked to the request board.
Just another day. At least, that's what Gajeel thought.