Sorry for such the long wait on chapter 10! I'm participating in MidLu week and trying to do everything at once. Thanks for understanding and hope you enjoy!
Unexpected Hero
Chapter 10
Levy hummed quietly to herself as she sat down at her desk and started to pull out her homework that Mira had assigned in Cobra's place, and wondered if today would be the day he came back or if she wouldn't see him until Monday. It wasn't that she didn't like Mira as a teacher, and she was an excellent one, it was the main reason she could substitute for any teacher within the school. However, the class was just too easy going with her instead of Professor Cobra. Still, Mira had said that it was something that he had to do before returning.
She had been curious at first as to what it could be, but pushed it in the back of her mind. Instead, she had focused on her time with Gajeel, Juvia and Wendy. A smile graced her lips as she stared down at her paper, recalling the past three days spent with the siblings. She had learned so much about them, not their stories per say, but enough to know that she would trust them with anything. Gajeel was something, charming, strong, caring, and a bit rough around the edges. Juvia was easily flustered, mothering, had great advice, and always had her head on straight. Wendy was cute, a tad clumsy, smart, and slightly timid, but never hesitated to give her all.
All three of them were growing on her, and she was proud to call all of them her friends. Not to mention, they made her feel right at home among them. She was still curious as to how they came to be living together, but wasn't about to pry into something that they weren't ready to share. Just like they didn't ask her outright everything that she had dealt with her stepfather.
A sudden silence over the class brought her out of her thoughts, and she glanced toward the door to see Cobra entering. She frowned, usually when he came to class he was the second to enter, right after her most the time. Why was he so late today, especially on the day that he was just returning. He remained quiet as he headed to his desk, his head remaining down, and everyone remained silent as he organized his desk. She blinked when she noticed how he straightened his shoulder, and slid a hand over her mouth when he turned around.
At first glance, he seemed fine, like nothing was amiss, and then she noticed what was wrong. A still healing wound was over his right eye, forcing it closed and would no doubt be leaving a scar, allowing him to never open the eye again. Something inside of her twisted, and she just knew that he got that scar because of her stepfather. Because of her telling him everything and allowing him to help her. He got hurt because of her!
She kept her gaze down the entire class period, never looking up as Cobra talked about their lessons and homework assignments. Her thoughts were only focused on the possible ways that he had gotten the wound over his eye. She was startled out of her thoughts when the bell rang, and quickly started to pack her belongings. She felt as if she was going to be sick, but started to slow down as people started to file out.
Swallowing past the lump in her throat, she shouldered her bag, and then walked up to Cobra's desk.
"Professor. That wound. My stepfather gave you that wound, didn't he?" She asked, watching as he blinked his one eye before giving a sigh and nodding.
"Yes, but before anything more goes through your head...Levy! Wait!" She didn't stop, she merely ran out of the classroom.
Gajeel sighed as he stepped out of his first class, his thoughts about homework for that night and wondering if Levy would help him with some of the history work. Then smirked as the thought of the bluenette brought up the past three days that he had spent getting to know her.
It turned out that there was more to her than just the timid side, something that he was thankful for after what she had endured. She had a quick wit to her, and wasn't afraid to speak her mind or hold her words when telling someone off. Mainly him, but still he had found a good laugh. Her comebacks were hilarious, and the pout that she had made each time he had laughed at her made her all the more cute.
Giving a small laugh, he turned the corner, but gave a small grunt when someone collided into him. Looking down, he blinked as he saw a mop of blue hair, and automatically wrapped an arm around Levy's back when she gave a small sob and clutched at the fabric of his shirt.
"Shrimp? What's going on?" He asked, only to look up when someone cleared their throat. His body tensed as he looked at Levy's homeroom teacher, quickly taking in the still healing cut over his left eye.
"What..." He started, but stopped when Cobra glared at him.
"Both of you, in my office." The professor muttered, spinning on his heels and stalking toward the room. Gajeel remained frozen for a moment, and then ushered Levy into moving ahead of him. Knowing that they were drawing gazes from other students, but he didn't give a shit about that at the moment. He wanted to know what the hell happened to Cobra, and why Levy seemed so upset. The only thing he had figured out was that there had to be some sort of connection to the two.
Once they were in the office, he watched as Cobra shut the door and quickly sat at his desk. The man gave a long, drawn out sigh before opening his one eye and gave them an apologetic stare.
"I didn't mean to upset either of you like this." He muttered, and Gajeel frowned before looking at Levy when she gave a whimper and shook her head.
"I should be the one apologizing. I shouldn't have let you get involved. I shouldn't have told anyone!" She got out through sobs, making him tense as he realized that she was about to go through a relapse and start to regret everything. He settled a hand on her shoulder, not missing how Cobra looked a bit lost as to how to handle the situation, but Gajeel knew exactly what she needed to hear at the moment.
"What happened?" He asked, watching as the man's one good eye widened and Levy tensed. Although, she made no sound as to show that she didn't want to hear the story. He gave a small nod to Cobra, to show that Levy needed to hear the story if they both wanted her to get past this.
Cobra could only stare at the two before him for a moment, the timid young woman who wasn't meeting anyone's gaze at the moment, and the young man who seemed to know exactly what he was doing. Giving a sigh, he ran a hand through his hair before giving a nod in return to the one that Gajeel had given him.
"Your stepfather put up a bit of...resistance, when we went to apprehend him..."
-Flash back 3 days-
Cobra glanced around the house, straining his ears for any detection of movement from within. He already knew that the man was most likely in a drunk induced sleep, but he still couldn't be too careful since Levy had said there had been more than one man on the night that she ran away.
A faint shuffle from behind alerted him that Macbeth, better known as Midnight, had finally joined them. Glancing over his shoulder at the people behind him, he gave a nod and then knocked on the door. Although, he wasn't expecting anyone to answer.
"You think he'll answer?" Sawyer asked, causing him to shake his head.
"It would be so much easier if they did." Sorano muttered, causing a smirk to appear on his lips before a sigh brought his attention to the group.
"As to how anyone can abuse a child, there is no love in that." Richard muttered, and he shrugged as their leader remained silent. He could tell that Jellal was completely focused on this request by Makarov. In truth, so was he, but like Richard, he couldn't believe that someone could just harm a child like this man had. Especially someone as sweet, kind, and caring as Miss McGarden.
"Doesn't seem like he's going to make this easy." Jellal muttered, stepping forward and started to fool with the lock. Cobra hummed under his breath, watching as their leader easily picked the lock, still finding it amazing at how quickly the mechanism clicked.
"Be on guard." Jellal muttered, Cobra gave a nod with the others and slowly entered the house behind their leader. His eyes quickly adjusting to the dim lighting, and grimaced as the smell of alcohol assaulted his nose. Only to raise an eyebrow as he took in the messy state of the house before him. Did Levy really live through this!?
The furniture was turned over, beer bottles littered the floor, and the coffee table was in two pieces. A low whistle from Midnight made him look at the man, and frowned as his eyes roamed the room.
"This place is a mess and then some. Something tells me it happened after Levy left though." Midnight muttered, and Cobra relaxed some as Jellal began to slowly move about. His head turning one way and then another, and he knew that the man was trying to locate Levy's stepfather.
"How can you tell?" He asked, straining his own senses on the stillness of the house in an attempt to locate the man as well.
"It's obvious this was done in a rage, not to mention it happened recently. I'd say early this morning at most." Midnight stated, his gaze settling on the turned over chair as Jellal slowly approached it. Cobra merely hummed, his eyes narrowing in on the doorway to the kitchen, where he could just faintly see the silhouette of a person.
"Kitchen." He faintly whispered, however it was enough for the others and they all easily started for the second doorway. He stepped beside Jellal, and gritted his teeth as he saw the man that Levy had described as her stepfather. He fit the image perfectly. Slightly overweight, thinning hair, glassy eyes due to massive consumption of alcohol, and a large bulk.
"Who da hell are ya? What ya doin' in my home?" The man slurred, and Cobra sighed as he looked to his leader. The man was in a pitiful state to say the least, but he wanted nothing more than to beat the living shit out of him for messing with one of his students like he had.
"We are members of Crime Sorcerie. We're here to take you in for a court hearing, and arrest for child abuse. Child neglect. And attempted rape. If you resist then we will use forceful measures." Jellal stated, and Cobra huffed as he watched the man stagger to his feet. Sneering at them with a boarder line, crazed expression.
"So, that lil' bitch ratted on me. Well, where the hell she at? I'll teach her a lesson." He growled, and Cobra pinned him with a glare.
"You will not harm another hair on her head. If you so much as say you will, or even say her name, including name calling, then I will deal with you myself." He growled, watching as the man blinked and stared at him for a moment. Blinking every now and then before giving a grin that had disgust rolling in his stomach.
"Ye've slept with her! Tell me, is she any good?" The man laughed out, and Cobra was moving before anyone could stop him. His fist slammed into the man's jaw, and he felt satisfied when he both felt and heard something crack.
"Don't ever say something like that about her again. She is nothing like you make her to be." He snarled, grabbing the man by the front of his shirt and began to drag him toward the others. Only to still when the man let out a strange laugh, even with his broken jaw that sent a shiver through him.
"She should be thanking me! I watched ove' her ass for years. Thought it time for some payment. I ain't goin' in for what I deserve ta have." The man laughed, the others shouted out a warning, but it was too late. Levy's stepfather brought up a bottle that they had missed, and slammed it against his face. He could only hiss as the bottle broke against his temple, and keep his right eye closed as the broken glass scraped down his face, no doubt leaving a deep wound.
He felt Sawyer grabbing him from behind, and released the man as he attempted another swing. He could only watch with little satisfaction as Richard jumped at him, knocking the bottle away and then wrestling him to the ground.
"Midnight, call an ambulance. Now! Cobra, don't you dare move from that spot. The rest, help me and Richard get this guy out of here." Jellal barked out, helping to restrain the man from getting away. Cobra gave a sigh as the stinging from the wound, and alcohol that had gotten in it, began to grow. He knew that it was going to be bad, and he knew that Levy would know how and where he got it. However, he was just glad that her stepfather hadn't gotten away and would be getting what he deserved soon.