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Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail

Chapter 21: Home

"What makes you think I want to stay with you?"

"Ya should be grateful, you little brat. I don't have ta share anything with you; not my cave, my knowledge or nothing."

The boy glared at the dragon as fiercely as he could. "Yeah, but those other things you promised."

"And you promised to be obedient. Where's that obedience now?"

Gajeel took a step back, the blood crawling up his face. "It just...it's not part of the deal."

"HA!" Metalicana's tail coiled around his ankles to hold him still. He seemed to be almost enjoying it. "Think I'm stupid enough to send my kid out there?"

"I'm strong enough! I can take care of myself!"

"Fine." The cool metallic scales left his skin with a flourish as the iron dragon settled himself to the ground in bemused retreat. "Get out. Trainin' at sunrise."

Gajeel raced out of the cave as fast as he could. He didn't need the dragon's pity. All Metalicana ever did was train him day in and day out. Heaven knew why Gajeel hadn't been kicked out after the exhaustion from their sessions caused him to collapse. It was possible that the beast simply hadn't noticed his apprentice passed out on the cave floor, but that wasn't likely. The dragon was incredibly perceptive, something Gajeel had yet to master.

The boy ran back to the town on the outskirts of the forest, keeping a discrete distance so he could see them but not the other way around. They bustled about under the setting sun, oblivious to his watch. He wiped some perspiration away, but otherwise more from the tree tops.

During his training, Gajeel had not once returned to the streets. The moment the deal had been struck, he vowed never again; he would not deal with the stupid humans that had chased him out heartlessly. They had never taken pity on him, all of them in their warm homes and food coated tables. Selfish and greedy, that's what they were. His pride refused him from accepting any pity therein. He was going to be a mage, a slayer of dragons, and they would all regret making him starve in the dark of night , as if he didn't exist.

The trees would be his home for the moment. They were not comfortable, but they were better than the streets and a thousand times better than any cave. This, of course, was not true, as Metalicana's cave was warm and safe and not at all cold or uncomfortable.

The boy threw a glance out into the forest, as if he could see past all the trees where the dragon's cave sat. He considered returning but banished the thought. It would make him look weak, like he couldn't handle himself in the real world. Technically, of course he couldn't.

A small part of him was berating himself, pressuring him to stop being such a wuss and just take up the offer. However, there was a larger part that forbid him from excepting help and pity from the creature teaching him to live.

Accepting would be good but weak, it reasoned; safe but stupid.

He pressed his heels of his palms to his closer eyes as if it could block out the thoughts of regret and pride turning through his mind at an alarming rate. In his attempts to rid himself of all doubt at his choice, he failed to notice the pale glow of the sky erase the leftover gold of the sunset. The distinct chill that filled the air soon after could not be ignored, and by the time he opened his eyes he had only the fair moon to illuminate the forest. The shadows flitted on the ground, spare leaves creating twisted birds against the dirt, and for a very brief moment, Gajeel felt fear.

This was not fear of pain, of death, or even the fear that had served as an introduction for Metalicana. This was a fear for what lay in the forest, something he had gone years without. It seemed, he realized, that the last few months spent in the safety of the Iron Dragon's home had altered him, changed his mindset and made him susceptible to this fear once more. He knew now what true strength looked like, and now the safety Metalicana provided had ruined whatever preconceptions he'd had on the matter.

The boy did his best to steel himself, but he could not completely fight the chill, the noise and the fear at once. Something had to give.

"Pathetic." His hands went straight to his mouth as he choked back a shout and turned slowly to face the unamused muzzle of his father. He would have asked the dragon how he'd located Gajeel, but it was a dragon and that was explanation enough. "What d'ya think yer doin' here? Forest ain't safe at night."

"Safe enough."

"Then quit your snivellin'." The dragon gave him a measured stare. "What're you tryin' to prove?"

"Nothing."

"Don't look like nothing to me." The boy was determined not to break before him or to allow the iron dragon to win in this fight of resolves.

"Thought you told me to get out."

"No kid of mine's gonna sit out here unless they done somethin' more stupid than stupid." There it was again; the dragon claiming Gajeel as his own. It'd happened a few times over the course of their training despite often being coupled with a jab at the boy's lack of skill. It made him feel...strange.

"I'm not yours."

"You are," Metalicana said simply, "And my kids doesn't sleep here. You made the deal and now you're mine. Show a little more respect, brat."

He breathed in deeply, his young mind processes what was being proposed. "So...I can still come back?" he asked hesitantly. The tough exterior would have to be put on hold for now, just for a moment so he knew he hadn't squandered his opportunity to actually secure a safe place for himself.

"I'm here to take you back." the dragon moved forward, his teeth snagging the thing cotton of Gajeel's shirt. "Honestly, humans are hopeless. Why do I bother?"

"Wha- put me down!"

"Not till we get home," the dragon got out between his teeth, and Gajeel tried his best not to feel too pleased with the word. Home. Something he'd never really had before...