Character[s]: Gajeel and Metalicana

Genre: Family, Humor[well attempted]

Pairing[s]: Some GaLe and mentioned NaLu

Rating: T [For Metalicana's mouth xD[

And so, the bird spread his wings.

"Oi, brat, you're standing wrong," growled the annoyed dragon, rolling his amber eyes at the tall young boy. It was his adoptive son, Gajeel Redfox named by the great Iron dragon himself. Gajeel was for the dragon's father and Redfox for his elder brother, both now diseased because they are weak, well, in Metalicana's words.

"No I'm not, stupid dragon!" growled the young boy of six years, "You showed me wrong!"

"Did not, brat. Your thick skull can't take my directions." Replied the dragon smoothly, looking down at him.

"I don't have a thick skull!" argued Gajeel, growing angry. Metalicana let out hoarse laughter.

"C'mere you little brat," cooed the dragon, the boy did as told and then with the use of his silver, armor looking tail, the dragon fixed the boy's arms and legs, "Keep yer arms over your knees when using Iron Dragon's punch, that will maximize the power behind the power and speed so your prey cannot get away."

"Like this?" said Gajeel, the iron dragon watched [secretly proudly] as the young boy not only broke the boulder in front using the dragon slayer move, but shattered it to pieces. It was like since the beginning hat boulder was just a pile of pebbles, and the dragon felt pride rush through his armor clad heart as his own son caused such great damage at a young age.

"Nice," said the dragon, nodding. Gajeel's head whipped towards his foster father, his own amber eyes were wide with surprise. That was the most praise he has ever received from the dragon. It was blunt praise, not subtle stuff—but the real one. Needless to say, the young iron dragon slayer's lip curled up to a small smile, but did not dare let his foster father witness it.

"Yeah, yeah," said Gajeel, looking at the iron dragon, "what's next for today?"

"No more fighting, Gajeel. I need to tell you about Dragon Force." Said the iron dragon coldly, making sure his point got through. In response, Gajeel sat down, annoyance obvious in his young facial structure, "Ugh, fine."

"Can I fly with you, Metalicana?" asked Gajeel curiously as the dragon landed quite artistically before him. The dragon dropped the food on the ground before the small human boy and looked at him, eyes showered in suspicion.

"Why would you ask such a question, Gajeel?" demanded the dragon. After hearing his foster father's tone, Gajeel harrumphed and crossed his arms, tanned face showed the slightest pink and his ears were red.

"I was just wodnerin' ya bastard," replied the ten year old, not meeting his eyes with the dragon.

"You'll be able to fly one day, brat," said Metalicana, rolling his eyes, "Not on my back, though."

"I'm going to sprout wings one day?" asked the child.

"No you, dumbass. You'll know the feeling when it comes, now eat!" roared the dragon. Gajeel did not need telling twice.

It was a cold night when Metalicana could not sleep. His issue, naturally, was the young human, Gajeel's teeth were shattering. Metalicana was not one to cuddle; his only exception was of course, a willing female dragon, and of course—Gajeel. Even so, the boy's teeth were shaking and the iron dragon cursed wishing he built a fire. Fire reminded him of his rival, Igneel, and that annoying dragon's own human, Natsu. Gajeel was older, and in Metalicana's opinion, more badass than that pink haired monstrosity.

Sighing, Metalicana scooted closer, and pulling Gajeel closer—then, the cave became quiet and the iron dragon got some shut eye.

Gajeel Redfox stood with the guild building to his back, from outside Magnolia, and on a hill, his blood red eyes looking over the landscape. Ever since all the shit that went down during the Eclipse shit, Gajeel has been thinking a lot about his foster father, Metalicana.

The iron dragon showed very little affection, and often called him a 'stupid brat'. But, there were times, like at night when the dragon would let Gajeel sleep next to him, when the seemingly cold hearted dragon showed compassion. There was the time with the outright, blunt praise that made Gajeel not smirk, but actually smile.

Then there was the time Gajeel asked if he could fly, and it wasn't until after the tournament that Gajeel actually figured out what the iron dragon meant. With all of Metalicana's selfishness, arrogance and sometimes cruelty—he was right.

Gajeel learned to fly.

In the form of a petite, beautiful, intelligent and stubborn bluenette by the name of Levy McGarden. With her, he felt as if he was soaring through the air, all troubles away and for all he cared, Gajeel was fucking skipping on a fucking rainbow. The thought made his stomach squirm, but hey—whenever he was with Levy, he could fly.

Once thing the small script mage found out, [which Pantherlily already knew] was the fact that Gajeel loved to cuddle. In fact, Gajeel smirked to himself when he 'overheard' his bookworm and Bunny girl talking about it. Salamander, as it turned out, also cuddled with Bunny girl, this news did not surprise Gajeel and he briefly wondered if Wendy cuddled with Carle. It was a first generation thing.

"Gajeel, what are you thinking about?" a sweet voice entered his ears like a melody, and Gajeel's amber eyes looked over to see the woman who was his wings blinked innocently at him.

"Nothin' worth your time, Shrimp," replied Gajeel coolly, like hell he would tell her all his mushy thoughts.

"Silly Gajeel, you're worth every second of my life," retorted the bluenette, smiling sweetly up at him, "Let's walk to Magnolia together, ne?"

Gajeel was too stunned to move and small hand wrapped around his muscular arms and pulled him slightly with her.

July 7th, X777 was the day Gajeel, as a baby dragon was pushed off the nest and into the air. He was lost for a while and hit the ground, but he got back up. Then, his wings came along.

And now he was airborne.

A/N: This will be like the last for a while. Until I get a new desktop and/or laptop, sorry. :/ Sorry it took so long, I'm actually at a library right now—so please forgive me. I hope this triple update was enough to satisfy you for the time being. I promise, I'll come up with a new story for when I come back! (:

A Review for your thoughts?

— CupCake—