Gajeel's pov

I came back to hear the news, Levy was missing, she had snuck past the guards and left hours ago, I immediately ran out the door, fear flooding through me. I vaguely heard Sting behind me shouting orders at the servants and his men. I scolded myself for leaving her alone. As I got to the main square I wondered where she could have gone. She said she would go to the library tomorrow, maybe she couldn't wait, I dashed off towards the Bashan library.

She wasn't there, fresh panic bubbling inside me, it was getting really dark, even the market square was becoming sparse. As I turned into an unfamiliar alley, I stopped immediately catching the scent of spring and ink. I ran down, following the scent.

I saw her from afar, she looked injured, she was on the floor and a man was crouching over her, I ran faster, suddenly the man looked up, I stared right into his dark eyes and blinked, he was instantly next to me, I only caught a glimpse of his pink hair before I was sent sprawling to the side, I grunted and clutched my side, the pain from his flaming kick coursing through me, the fire seering my flesh, the wound bleeding but not too deep.

I quickly glanced at Levy, she was still on the floor, I had to get her out of here, I had no idea how badly she was hurt. I couldn't get to her, my opponent being very fast. I dodged the next kick, grabbed his leg and threw him against the opposite wall. I ran towards Levy. Just as I got closer, I felt heat radiating towards me, turning, I barely missed the fire ball at my heels. I tried to think of how to defeat the Gorgon, so I could get Levy help.

I noticed he had a bandaged wound on his stomach, I dodged his flaming fist, punching him directly on the wound, he doubled over, I hit him on the back sending him to the floor and quickly slammed my iron club through the wall, knocking the bricks over his legs. He cried out in pain but stayed down. Knowing he won't be able to walk for a while I ran towards Levy, hoping she was okay.

Levy's pov

I watched as Gajeel and Natsu fought from a distance both too engrossed to hear me. My voice and limbs still weak as a side effect of the potion Natsu had used on me. I watched as bricks fell on Natsu and Gajeel dashed towards me. He crouched down his face etched in worry. I placed my hand on his cheek, happy to see him. I tried to speak up but my voice was too low, he helped me up as he turned, Natsu was in front of him, he quickly defended me and braced for Natsu's blow. I screamed for them to stop. My voice sounding shrill. They stopped halfway, staring at me. I was suddenly too weak, I slumped, Gajeel catching me in his arms.

Gajeel's pov

I felt a wave of fear wash through me, seeing her on the floor, clutching her ankle, I looked her over, no sign of blood, I breathed a sigh of relief, she looked at me and smiled, placing a hand on my cheek. Warmth filled my chest, her delicate hand against my cheek, A sudden overwhelming desire to protect her washed over me. It was something I had never felt for anyone before. I tried lifting her, feeling the intense pain from my previous wound shoot through my side, I decided against it, helping her stand instead. I suddenly saw the pink haired Gorgon in front of me, I shielded her, bracing for impact when I heard her scream.

"Stop!" I turned to see her slump and I noticed we both reached out to catch her, confused I stared at the Gorgon before hearing Levy's low voice.

"Gajeel, I am not in danger, Natsu here was trying to help me"

My eyes widened in surprise, looking at the pink hair man, that was now beaming, scratching the back of his neck.

"I have been trying to stop the fight but you idiots couldn't hear me"

I frowned grumbling how it wasn't my fault. I was attacked first anyways.

"I am sorry about that, I thought you were trying to hurt Levy" said Natsu.

I growled at him, confusion setting in

"How on earth do you know each other anyways?" I asked

I watched Levy turn pale, turning away and Natsu blush, he looked at me sheepishly.

"How do you know Levy?"

I frowned, more suspicious than ever

"I am her husband" I said, oddly proud of the fact.

Natsu gaped in surprise, he broke out into a grin and punched me in the ribs, I groaned in pain.

"Wow, I didn't know Levy got married, Lucy didn'—" he suddenly stopped, glancing at Levy, he became gloomy and looked down.

"Natsu, is a...friend of my older sister Lucy." Levy finally said

I arched a brow at that explanation. Gorgons particularly hated Nephilim.

They still held a grudge over the killing of their king and ancestors by the firsts. So it was surprising to hear of any Gorgon, friends with our kind. I looked down again at Levy's foot, red and swollen, I needed to get her medical care.

"Don't worry about that, I will take care of it, I was going to before you interrupted" Natsu said crouching down, bandages in hand.

She looked at my side, worry etched on her face, I looked down at the gash, I had almost forgotten about it, still focused on her.

I smiled at her, "don't worry, it's not deep."

She winced as Natsu worked on her ankle. I frowned looking at her foot again

"How did you get that in the first place? I asked her

She looked down, biting her bottom lip as if contemplating what to say, adorable I thought and shook my head.

"I was coming down the alley and I didn't know who Natsu was, I turned quickly and twisted my foot"

I looked at her, a whiff of something getting to my nose, I frowned, sniffing the air and then her, Nightshade? I looked at Natsu my eyes narrowing, this careless idiot used nightshade to knock her out. It was a very potent poison and a whiff would kill humans, it would definitely take down a nephilim.

"I didn't know any other way to stop her from screaming" Natsu said reading my mind, I had half a mind to punch him again but I restrained myself. I looked from him to her, knowing they were hiding something from me.

"Why were you so afraid of her screaming."

"I—"

I saw a flash of light from the corner of my eyes, Natsu pushing me out of the way from a flaming ball towards my head. I saw a group of Gorgons charging at us, I turned to see Levy standing up to fight. Natsu jumped in my view trying to get them to back down. That seemed to only infuriate them more.

One of them yelled 'Traitor!" and lunged at Levy, I grabbed his arm, twisting it and kicked him aside, I accessed the situation, there were eight of them, I could take most of them easily on a normal day but I was injured and so was Natsu, the only way to win was to fight together. I glanced at Natsu, he seemed to come to the same realization.

We fought together, easily taking down six, two slipped passed us charging at Levy, she used a water spell to bind one, flinging him through the wall, and combined a water and lightning script spell stunning the other, he slumped and fell. I smiled at her. She was good. I looked at the unconscious Gorgon on the floor and noticed the mark. They were part of the rebellion.

One of them spoke suddenly, glaring past me, directly at Natsu.

"You are a disgrace! To turn your backs on your people! Traitor! The Dragneel name is wasted
O—" Natsu knocked him out.

"What?" I growled, I knew his name was familiar, I had heard it today, Natsu Dragneel, son of Igneel, the leader of the rebellion. I switched to full iron mode, ready for a fight. Levy came between us. I heard Sting and his men from a distance, calling out to us. I thought quickly, Natsu here could give us a lot of information about the rebellion. I would just have to capture him. I felt Levy's hand lightly touch my arm, I looked into her large hazel eyes as she said.

"Please Gajeel, let him go"

I looked at her confused, this was my chance, I could take him, I would easily finish my mission in Bashan with a prisoner like Natsu. Why was I hesitating? I couldn't move as I watched Natsu grin, wave and dash into the night. I heard Sting come up to me.

"Gajeel, got here as soon as I could, wow eight gorgons, that's impressive. Guys round them up for questioning, lock them up after." I heard him say

"Why are you staring into space? Anyone escape, you want us to pursue?"

I looked at Levy "No, no one Sting, let's just get out of here"