Chapter 2
A/N- heyy again well this is chapter two and I hope you enjoy it. Once again I own nothing.
Levi awoke the next morning bright and early feeling guilt for all of the things that happened yesterday. First she shouted at Jet and Droy and later on that day she had a go at Gazille.
"I should apologies to each of them before I leave for my mission" Levi thought sincerely.
The night before, she had already packed everything she would need for her mission; all she had to do today was find her two best friends and an iron dragon slayer.
"I have a feeling that this is going to be a long day" Levi said whilst slinging her bag over her shoulder, sighing. She knew that her beloved best friends would be against her going on a mission on her own but she had to show them (and Gazille) that she was capable of looking after herself.
She took on last look at her home before searching for her friends. Levi had a feeling that they would be in the guild.
Wondering into the guild Levi spotted Jet and Droy at a bench talking amongst themselves.
Levi approached them quietly trying to think of what to say to them about her going on a mission alone. But first she was going to set things right. Levi placed her bag on the floor and cleared her throat to make herself present.
Jet and Droy noticed Levi standing near them and wondered why she was standing instead of sitting with them and also why she had a bag with her.
"Hey guys, I want to apologies for what I said yesterday and I hope you can forgive me" Levi said with an apologetic bow.
"Levi there's no need for that. We forgive you" Jet said smiling. "Yeah, Jet's right, thanks for the apology" Droy said rubbing the back of his neck.
"By the way, Levi what's with the bag?" Jet asked pointing at the bag on the floor.
"Well, um, the thing is....I'm going on a mission, today.....alone" Levi said looking them in the eye.
"WHAT?" both teens said in unison. "You can't go on your own Levi, we're a team, and remember the last time you went alo-." Levi raised her hand up abruptly to silence Droy.
"I know guys but I feel like this is something I have to do for myself, to prove that I don't need anyone to protect me." Levi announced with determination in her voice.
Jet and Droy stared at their petite friend, wondering what brought this all on. They knew that Levi was capable of looking after herself, but of course being best friends that they are to her, they were protective of her, being the only girl in their group and also growing up together. Also, feeling guilty for what happened in the past.
Dory was the first one to break the intense silence. "When will you be back?" he asked quietly and unsure of himself.
Levi gave her friends a soft smile. "Hopefully I'll be back in a couple of days."
"There's no way we can change your mind is there Levi?" Jet asked smirking.
"They know me too well"
"Nope" Levi said smiling. "But I promise I'll come back safely."
Both young men stood and hugged their team mate. "If you don't come back in one piece and alive I won't forgive you" Jet said. "Same here" Droy added.
"Don't worry you can count on me. I never break a promise" and with that Levi said her good-byes to her team mates and wondered out of the guild looking for Gazille.
Watching Levi leave them behind, both teens couldn't help but worry for their young friend. "Do you think she's going to be ok Droy?"
"Of course she will be" Droy replied honestly. "After all, she a part of "Team Shadow Gear" and Fairy Tale. We have to have faith in our nakuma."
"Yeah....I guess your right" Jet raised his mug of ale "To Levi." "To Levi" Droy repeated.
.................................................................................................................................
Levi had looked everywhere for the Dragon Slayer, but couldn't find him.
Admitting Defeat to herself Levi began to slowly walk out the gates of Magnolia Town, when she felt a cold shiver run up her spine, like someone was watching her.
She quickly brushed off the feeling and began her journey away from home.
.................................................................................................................................
It was night fall, and Levi decided to make camp for the night. She made a fire and took out her sleeping bag. Levi had been walking for most of the day but she still couldn't shake off the feeling that someone was watching her, maybe even following her. Her green eyes stared at the fire and she had finally had enough.
"I guess it's time to face the music" Levi thought.
Rising from her seat Levi, stood still and scanned the darkness around her, listening and looking for anything suspicious.
Inhaling a deep breath, Levi called out to the open area around her. "Come out and show yourself, I know someone's there." Her voice didn't fail her and she couldn't help but feel a little proud of herself.
"It took you long enough" Gazille snorted stepping out of the shadows with his bag over his shoulder.
Levi stared at Gazille with wide eyes and mouth open. "What the hell is he doing here?"
Gazille stood a couple of meters away from Levi. "This is going to be interesting" he thought smugly.
Levi walked towards the dragon slayer with fire burning in her eyes. "What the hell are you doing here huh?" Levi roughly said whilst poking Gazille in the chest. "Weren't you listening to me last night? That I was doing a mission alone to show everyone that I'm not some defenceless little girl that needs someone to hold her hand wherever she goes. So why in god's name are you here?"
Gazille blinked at the young mage in front of him. "She has sure grown a pair, to be able to poke me in the chest."
"To answer your question why I'm here is because I want to be" Gazille replied simply walking away from Levi and toward the fire, making himself comfy.
Slowly turning around Levi faced Gazille. "Excuse me?"
"Weren't you listening bookworm? I said I'm here because I want to be. End of story." Gazille replied not taking his eyes off the flickering flame of the fire.
Sighing, Levi walked back to her sleeping bag, too tired to argue. It had been a long day for Levi and it was starting to catch up with her.
There was silence amongst the two mages, the only sound there was, was that of the fire crackling, and a small breeze shuffling the leaves around them.
With nothing better to do, Levi went into her bag and brought out some food and a book.
"Would you like some?" Levi offered the mage across from her.
Looking up from the bright fire, Gazille looked at Levi and what her small hand was holding out to him. She was offering him an apple.
With a nod of his head, Gazille caught the red apple the Levi had passed to him and took a bite out of it. It was the juiciest apple he had ever eaten. He looked at Levi who was busy reading her book.
Breaking the silence Gazille asked "Where did you get these apples? I've never had one this juicy before."
Startled, Levi looked up from her book and gave him a small smile. "I didn't buy them, I grew them." Levi watch Gazille eat his apple until it was finished.
"Was it to your liking?" Levi asked, wanting to keep the conversation going.
"It was fine" Gazille replied. "So why grow them, instead of buying them? That's just extra work."
"I grow them because I like to garden and grow my on fruit and veg. It's my hobby, as well as reading." Levi replied smiling. "Do you have any hobby's Gazille?"
"Yeah...eating and fighting" replied Gazille smirking.
Giggling, Levi put her book back in her bag and wriggled into her sleeping bag looking up at the starry sky.
"Hey, Gazille..." Levi said still looking at the sky.
"What?"
"Does you other hobby include singing?" Levi asked with a smirk playing on her lips. She turned her head to see Gazille.
Gazille was thankful for the flickering light of the fire dying down on his face, for Levi would have seen his face all red.
"S-Shut up and get to sleep" and with that said Gazille put out the fire and lay on the forest floor.
All that could be heard in the forest at that moment was a young fairy mage, trying to muffle her laugh in her sleeping bag until she fell asleep.
Unknown to Levi was the smirk on the iron dragon slayer face before, he to, was consumed by sleep.
.................................................................................................................................
Levi awoke suddenly in the night from a memory, or rather a nightmare. She sat-up in a cold sweat, and her body shaking. "Lucky I wasn't screaming this time." Levi said sighing out in relief. Whipping the sweat from her brow, she put her face in her hands. "There only going to get worse, I don't know what I would have told Gazille if he'd awoken." Thinking this, she couldn't help but look over at the Dragon Slayer.
There was a sudden cold breeze in the air that made Levi shiver. Getting up from her warm sleeping bag, Levi quietly went into her bag and pulled out a soft blue blanket. She quietly walked over to Gazille and placed the blanket over him. "If you're going to be travelling with me, the least you could do is stay healthy and not catch a cold" Levi whispered to him in the dark with a small smile placed on her lips.
Levi returned to her sleeping bag, ignoring the pain and hoping to catch a few hours sleep before sun rise.
On the other side of the camp fire, Gazille was already awake because he could smell fear in the air. Wondering what kind of nightmare the bookworm had, had. Gazille muttered his thanks for the blanket, wrapping it around himself before falling asleep once again.
.................................................................................................................................
It was early morning when Gazille had woken. Inhaling a deep breath and exhaling he felt more refreshed. He looked over to where the little bookworm was sleeping.
At the back of his head he couldn't get rid of the little nagging voice in the back of his head, wanting to know what had caused the younger mage to feel so afraid.
A thought had come to Gazille's mind. "Maybe she was remembering the time I had pinned her to the tree...." Gazille's thoughts had wondered to that night he had attacked her. The young mages tiny figure trembling in front of him and the strong smell of fear emitting off of her. He shook his head try and clear the image of her pinned on the tree and also the feeling of guilt.
Still staring at the sleeping girl in front of him, he couldn't help but take in her features. The first thing that caught his eye was her blue hair reflecting off the sunlight, her small pink lips and her lovely hot body that he didn't have the privilege of seeing at this moment.
Levi began to stir in her sleep and that was Gazille's queue to stop staring at the girl and do something productive, like hunting for breakfast.
Gazille was raised in a forest so it was simple for him to know what he could and could not eat. He had never prepared a meal for two before, and he also didn't know what the little bookworm liked apart from apples.
He closed his eyes to listen for any animals moving around near. Gazille heard water running so he guessed that they were near a river. Taking one last look at the bookworm, Gazille headed to the river to get breakfast.
While Gazille had left the camp to fetch breakfast, the young mage girl was beginning to wake up from her horrible sleep.
Levi stretched and rubbed her eyes to try and get rid of the tiredness. She looked around her surroundings noticing that Gazille was nowhere to be seen. Sighing, Levi got up from her sleeping bag, took out a towel and soap and wonder towards the river where she decided she would bathe. Walking further up river from where Gazille was.
Gazille had caught three fish, hoping that it would be enough for breakfast. Gazille had returned to an empty camp and he wondered where the little bookworm had gone off to. "At least she didn't leave without me he muttered aloud, eyeing her sleeping bag and back pack. Huffing Gazille went away to look for Levi.
Levi came up to the water's edge and tested the water. It was late spring turning into summer so the water wasn't that cold or warm. "I guess it will do" Levi checked her surrounding just to make sure no one would be peeking. She began to strip from head to toe and wrapped her towel around herself before walking in the river.
Levi washed herself in the shallow water and then swam into deeper water reminiscing about her nightmare.
She was running from someone. It was her first mission alone, and it went horribly wrong. And she was marked for it. It was a gruesome, terrible mark on her right shoulder. Blood trickled down her shoulder and her hand placed on the mark to stop the bleeding. The pain was so intense that she collapsed in front of her guild. She had been running for an entire day with only a couple of breaks to catch her breath. Before losing her consciousness she could see someone looming over her and saying "you better wish that we never meet again, for the next time you won't be so luck, you'll be begging me for death. The man placed his hand on her wound and stared to chant. That is when she lost consciousness from the searing pain that all of a sudden came, and her nightmares began.
It was only a year ago and the scar still haunted her. Whenever she remembered that day she felt the fear and the pain. Her scar burned, like there was a curse placed upon it. That when Levi though about it, it would bring her pain to remind her she had done wrong that day and that she would never forget it.
Levi began to swim back to the land exhausted and her shoulder burning. Wrapping a towel around her, Levi laughed to herself humourlessly cursing the bastard who put a damn curse on her. Levi became short for breath because of the curse; it was one of the effects it had on her. Stumbling toward a tree to support her, Levi slid down the tree, with her back against it. "Damn.......Bastard" she huffed. She sat under the tree until her breathing became normal once again.
Gazille had headed up stream following the bookworms scent. He manoeuvred through the trees and bushes until he came to a standstill. His red eyes widened when they fell upon the petite girl sitting against the tree panting for air. Staring at her, he noticed that she had sweat running down her face and her face flushed. "Fever" he thought. Gazille knelt beside her and brushed the stray hairs away that were sticking to her face.
"Oi...bookworm, you ok?"
"Peachy" Levi replied sarcastically. Scowling at her, Gazille lifted Levi off the ground and began to walk back to camp with the fevered mage in his arms.
Levi began to stir in his arms and tiredly looked up at Gazille.
"T..Turn back...Gazille" Levi pleaded.
"And why the hell would I do that?" Gazille grunted.
"M-My clothes...are back there...."
Realization hit Gazille hard. He was carrying a young girl, with nothing but a damp towel on. A blush found its way to Gazille's cheeks.
"I-I'll go back for them when I take you back to camp." Gazille replied embarrassed.
"Thank you...Gazille" replied the mage.
............................................................................................................................
Arriving back at camp, Gazille placed Levi in her sleeping bag and covered her up. Gazille wondered what had brought her fever on all of a sudden. She was perfectly fine the night before, other than her nightmare. Saving his questions for later, Gazille went into his bag and brought out a pot. He went over to the bookworm and placed his hand on her forehead.
"So much for me being given your little health warning" Gazille teased.
"Shut..up.." Levi panted.
"I'm going to get your clothes and fresh water" He left before Levi could even utter a "thank you".
Levi's shoulder burned and the pain was terrible. She tried her damndest to try and not scream out, for Gazille would only be asking a shit load of questions later on. So for now she was bearing with the pain and prayed that the pain would subside soon, and fast, for she didn't know how much longer she could keep silent and conscious. She did not want to fall asleep, for it would only make the pain worse and make her remember "him". But fate had to be cruel; Levi soon found she was drifting off into hell.
.................................................................................................................................
It had been a long day for both of them. Levi's fever had eventually broken at nightfall, and Gazille had been worried sick about Levi. Not that he would ever let on of course. It was when her screams began that the panic set in for Gazille. He had never heard such a painful scream in all his life. And Gazille had, had his fair amount of making people scream. But it was never like this. This scream was of torture. And there was nothing Gazille could do about it.
Gazille had put a damp cloth on Levi's forehead to cool her down. He had lost count of how many times he had done it that day, but he didn't care. She hadn't awoken since the last time he saw her and she hadn't had any food or drink. The screaming had finally stopped, but the tears hadn't. If it was anyone other than Gazille, it would have been a heart breaking scene. But it was the cold iron dragon slayer. And nothing could melt his heart. Well, not yet anyway.
He was watching over her. He wanted to know what or who was causing her so much pain. Gazille didn't like seeing the bookworm in pain. It made him feel, sad, hurt, vengeful and protective. He wanted the bastard or thing to pay for what they were doing. And by God, he would make them pay tenfold.
Levi began to open her stinging wet, eyes. She sat up and rubbed her eyes. What she wasn't expecting was a cold stare looking at her. Trying to speak Levi realised how much her throat hurt and how dry it was. Gazille past Levi a cup of water and with a nod of thanks, Levi greedily swallowed the lot. Once finished she coughed and looked at Gazille.
"With that look on his face it must mean it's been a stressful day."
She tried to blow things over. Looking at Gazille with a smile on her face, Levi quietly said "I'm sorry for all the trouble I've caused you and thank you for looking after me. Just had a bad dream that all."
"Don't give me that bullshit." Gazille growled. "Dreams don't cause you to fuckin' scream in pain." He said raising his voice.
If Levi didn't know any better she would've said that Gazille was worried for her. "Don't be silly girl."
Levi looked away from Gazille, closed her eyes and sighed. "How bad was I Gazille?"
"You were pretty bad. You kept screaming about your shoulder and you kept crying, plus you had a fuckin' high fever." Gazille replied, staring at her intensely.
"He wants answers."
Levi looked at Gazille with a hollow smile. "Was that all? I thought it would've been worse." She answered humourlessly.
Gazille stared at her red eyes wide. "Has she had it worse off than this?"
"Gazille.....I want to let you know that if you keep on travelling with me then things are only going to get worse. My fever will rise and take longer to brake and the screaming and pain will only get worse." Levi realised her slip up and so did Gazille.
"What pain?" Gazille asked raising an eyebrow, and maybe a slight hint of worry in there somewhere.
"I-It's nothing to worry about" Levi said smiling but it didn't reach her eyes.
"Don't lie to me. I'll ask you one more time. What. Pain?" Gazille asked in a serious tone, his patients wearing thin.
Levi had been hoping that Gazille hadn't noticed her say anything about the pain but now he was staring at her so intensely, she gave in.
Levi sighed. "If I'm going to tell you Gazille, you're going to have to promise not to tell anyone. The only other person who knows about this is Master." Levi asked quietly twiddling her fingers.
With a nod, Gazille leaned in to listen.
She looked at Gazille straight in the eye. "When I tell you this I may start to get a fever and the pain will come." Gazille looked at Levi in confusion. She gave him a small smile. "You'll understand soon enough." She began her story.
"It happened last year, I went on a mission alone, but it went horrible wrong. Unfortunately I can't remember much of it, only bits and pieces. I think I ran for a day straight with only a few breaks to catch my breath. I think I was running away for the person i was supposed to defeat. It was a man." Levi began to pant and looked at Gazille to show him what she meant.
"This only h-happens when I remember, dream or talk about it." Levi huffed.
"So it was because of this that she got the fever" Gazille thought.
"I...I only remember the worst event that happened" She quickly brought a hand to her right shoulder, trying to get the pain away. "The man was chasing me and he wounded me badly." Levi hissed in pain. Her breathing was becoming laboured and uneven.
"I had just got outside the guild.....when I collapsed from exhaustion and lack of blood." At this point Levi's body was drenched in sweat and her body was shaking voraciously.
Gazille could only watch what was happening to her. "She's trying not to scream." He could see the pain across her face and her knuckles turning white from grasping the fabric of her sleeping bag. "Bookworm, you don't have to continue, I know what you meant before..." Gazille said trying to get Levi's attention.
"No...There's...the last...part...." She groaned in pain and her eyes began to feel damp. "When I collapsed...that bastard came around me and.......AAH....put a curse on me." Levi screamed, which made Gazille jump. "What kind of person would do that to you of all people?" He thought. "Bookworm" Gazille said in a stern voice. "Stop. Let your body rest."
Levi looked at Gazille with a tear running down her eye. "There's...one last....thing" Levi panted.
"No. Tell me later. You've been through a lot" Gazille said more serious this time.
"The last thing...he said to me......was that....the next time we met.....I'd be begging for death." And with the last part said Levi screamed, collapsing back into her sleeping bag.
Gazille stared at the collapsed girl in front of him. He felt guilty. It was him that asked what caused her pain and he made her go through it once again. He sat Levi up trying to get her more comfortable, and he noticed it, the scar on her right shoulder.
Anger and rage built up inside him. He pulled the mage closer to him in an embrace. "I promise you Levi that I won't let you that bastard hurt again" Gazille said and kissed her forehead.
It was going to be a long night.
A/N-hiya everyone! I think iv bit off more that i could chow with this chapter. I really loved writing this chapter and i hope you all enjoyed reading this plz review xD
