*Nor*

My earlier hunch was right; once we were done clothes shopping and walked to the inn, Laxus got us one room to share for the night. Financially, I knew it made sense. That really didn't make it any easier. Especially when we walked into the room and I saw there was only one bed.

Laxus had walked in ahead of me, and stopped short. I walked right into him, bouncing off of his back like a child's ball. "Hmm. Definitely not ideal." He sounded slightly irritated.

Because he was so damn big, I couldn't see a thing in the room around the width of his shoulders. Holding on to his cloak for support, I peered around him, trying to see what had caused him to stop in the first place.

"Oh," I said, my face falling. One bed. I sighed. "Once I take a bath, I'll go sleep outside."

"Not happening." Laxus said, with an edge to his voice that made my brow furrow.

"I'm used to sleeping outsi-" I'd barely started the sentence when Laxus cut me off.

"No." The finality in his voice brooked no debate whatsoever. "I'll sleep on the floor."

I scoffed. "No offense, Sparklefists, but I think you're more of a pretty princess than I am when it comes to beds. I can guarantee I'm far more used to sleeping on floors than you are."

"Tt." Laxus scoffed right back at me, but stopped arguing. "You get first bath."

"Nah, you go ahead. I'll end up taking much longer, I'm sure."

I heard a rumble coming from his chest, and it felt more like a growl than anything else. "Kitten, I'm trying to be a gentleman."

"And I'm being practical. Chivalry can wait. Go bathe." I threw myself down on the bed, curling up.

I must have fallen asleep, because the next thing I knew Nimbus was nosing me awake.

"C'mon, Kitten, time to wake up. Tub's all yours."

*Laxus*

When I opened the bathroom door, I saw the Kitten had curled up on the end of the bed and was fast asleep. I had a feeling this was the first bed she'd slept in for a while, if not since before her enslavement. I hated to wake her; she looked so peaceful. She was curled on her right side, her hands on the bed by her face. Without her armor she looked ten times smaller than she had last night.

I decided to let her sleep a little longer, so I went downstairs and got something to eat. Once I was finished, I checked the time and saw it was still early enough that shops were open. I asked at the bar, and was told there was a general store a couple doors down. I headed there, asking the shop owner for help picking out feminine toiletries that weren't too heavily scented. She took pity on me, once I explained that my wife was sleeping, and our supplies had just run out.

"What about this one?" The shopkeeper asked, having me smell a bar of soap. I recoiled, the smell being somewhere between 'dirt that's been fucked by a hobo' and 'whore island'. "Sensitive nose?"

"Something like that. I just…really like how my wife smells naturally, I don't want to cover it up."

"That is so sweet! Well, the only non-scented items we have are for babies – will that work?"

Perfect. "Yes, that will be fine. I'm sure she won't mind."

I paid, and walked back to the hotel, picking up a bowl of stew for Kitten on my way up to our room. She was still out cold when I got back. I tried calling her names a few times, but she was really asleep. I knew me touching her would go over…very badly, so I walked back outside and called for the hellbeast. He came trotting up to me, looking for all the world like we were two friends, meeting up in town.

"Kitten needs to wake up. Can you wake her up for me, please?"

The hellbeast huffed his assent, then we walked into the hotel together. We got a few curious stares as we walked in, but as I looked at the bartender, I told him "He's with me." The hellbeast huffed at the bartender, and we walked upstairs. I opened the door, and the hellbeast slipped past me, and walked up to Kitten. He started nosing her face, front paws up on the bed. Damn, with him up like that, he was almost as tall as Kitten. He licked her a couple times, then nosed her again, and I saw her stir, smiling.

"C'mon, Kitten, time to wake up. Tub's all yours." I sat at the head of the bed, while she stretched and stood up. "Dinner's on the table," I nodded at the bowl of stew.

"Thank you, Laxus," she said, and I could feel my cheeks heat up. That was the first time she'd said my name. My dragon was rolling around on his back, like he'd just gotten belly scritches.

*Nor*

"Thank you, Laxus," I said while still rubbing sleep from my eyes.

"Yo - You're welcome," Laxus said, his voice rumbling, but it wasn't a growl sound – it was more like a purr. His cheeks were pink. Was he embarrassed? Huh.

I stretched my arms above me while I walked over to the table where the stew was waiting. A thought occurred to me.

"Hey, what's Nimbus doing in here, anyway? I didn't think that was…a thing that was done."

"I wanted to wake you up to let you know dinner was ready, but I didn't want to touch you without your permission, so I asked him for help." He said it so simply, like that would have occurred to anyone. (Spoiler – it wouldn't.)

Now it was my turn for my cheeks to burn. I was really surprised by his thoughtfulness.

The stew was still warm, and I ate it all. I thought about licking the bowl, but decided against it. I stood up from the table, turning to go into the bathroom, but Laxus stopped me.

"While you were napping, I got this for us to use," He handed me a small bag, and when I looked inside, there was a bar of soap, and small bottles of shampoo and conditioner. My brows furrowed.

"Was there none here?" I asked, confused.

"I used it, and it smelled awful."

I just looked at him, not quite understanding.

"It's a dragon-slayer thing – I have a really sensitive nose."

"…How sensitive?" I asked, pensively. That could be both really, really helpful…but also terrifying.

"I can tell that talking about this makes you uncomfortable. I can tell approximately how many people are in this building right now, by smell alone. I can tell when someone is lying. I can smell fear; anger; sadness. I can generally tell how someone is feeling physically. Most of the time."

"Can you tell people apart, by how they smell?"

"Yes, but it's easier the better I know them. Like my friends I told you about last night – Freed, Bix and Ever? I'd be able to tell it was them anywhere, as long as I was close enough to get their scent."

"But, how does that work with me, we don't know each other at all – but you were able to find me easily; you said you could smell me."

I saw Laxus put his hand behind his head, and the look on his face made me think he was hesitant to talk about this. I eyed him and started getting anxious.

"Can you come sit?" He asked, looking up at me, standing next to the bathroom door. He patted the bed next to him. My brows furrowed even more, and he noticed. "I can tell you're anxious. You might feel better if you sit next to me."

"Why would that make me feel better?" I spat at him. "Being close to anyone is the last thing I want, Sparklefists!"

"Look, I understand not wanting to be close to people – I'm not really a people person either-"

My hands had curled into fists and I was having a hard time controlling my anger. "You're not a people person? You understand?" Wisps of red mist were leaking out from my fingers, and I couldn't help it. I saw Nimbus back himself behind the other side of the bed. "How could you possibly understand, Laxus? Was your father, your only living relative, killed in front of your eyes when you were forcibly taken from your home when you were 9? Were you then sold to the highest bidder, who turned out to be a pedophile, and taken to his estate? Were you raped, tortured, emotionally and physically abused every day for the next 15 years? I know it was 15 years because I kept track, Laxus. I was given these tattoos when I was 10 years old, and they almost killed me. I have been pregnant 7 times, all before I was 15, and each time I was beaten until I miscarried. Then he put something in me, and I can't get pregnant anymore. Don't ever tell me you understand why I don't want to be close to people ever again, Laxus. People are dangerous. Any kindness I have ever been shown always had a price. Always."

I took a deep breath, and pulled the wisps of red that had seeped over the entire hotel room floor back in to my body. I looked at Laxus, and he had visibly paled. I walked around to the other side of the bed to comfort Nimbus, who was shaking. I curled up with him on the floor, and called to Laxus above me. "So tell me why you were able to find me with smell. And why you wanted me to sit next to you to do it. Is it Dragon Slayer stuff?"

"Yes." I heard him sigh. "I'm certain the only reason you were able to mark me in the first place is because," he sighed again "You're my mate."

"Can you have more than one?"

"At a time? No, that isn't possible, that I know of."

"No, could there be another one out there that you're compatible with, besides me?"

"I've never met another."

I let out a long, resigned sigh. "So, I'm the only way your dragon dreams get to come true, is that what you're saying?"

I heard Laxus bark out a laugh. "Not exactly."

"What's that mean? You tell me I'm unique, you've never met a suitable 'mate' before, and I assume…you've done some research in that area, intimately speaking."

"Kitten, that's the second time you've called me a slut."

I rolled my eyes. "Am I wrong? I'm sorry if I've offended your delicate sensibilities. Who gives a shit who you have sex with as long as it's consensual?" I could hear him grumble on the bed above me, and I felt like he was irritated – maybe through the mark?

"No, you're not wrong." He growled at me.

"Well, congratulations, you've had consensual sex and I haven't. Are you ashamed of the partners you've had?" I really couldn't understand why he was getting so irritated.

"No!"

"Then why on Earthland do you care about my opinion?"

"It's…complicated."

"Is it a Dragon Slayer thing?"

"Yeah."

"All this Dragon Slayer mate stuff sounds like a load of bullshit if you ask me. Like, is there an upside to any of this for you? Truly?"

"Well, if a mated pair is compatible, yes."

"How?" I heard shifting above me, and in a few seconds, Laxus' head popped over the side of the bed. He was prone on the bed, on his belly, and folded his arms under his head.

"If a mated pair is compatible, you can draw strength from one another; being around your mate makes you feel better, physically and emotionally; apparently…intimacy is enhanced. Ideally, your mate would be your best friend, so everything would be better."

"That sounds too good to be true. Have you ever seen it work?"

"Not…exactly." I raised an eyebrow but said nothing. I waited for him to explain further. "There is a couple, in my guild. Another dragon slayer, and his best friend."

"And you think his best friend is his mate?"

"I'm positive."

"Why?"

"I can't explain it. He's the most…aggravating kid I've ever met, and she puts up with it."

"That isn't exactly a ringing endorsement, Laxus,"

"You'd have to see them in person. They…work."

"But he hasn't marked her?"

"He hadn't, last I was there. They weren't even dating, I don't think."

"So, does the mate-e have a choice?"

"Well, yes,"

"I hear a 'but' coming."

"It really all depends on how close you are to the other person. At this point, I think Natsu and Lucy, the couple I was speaking about, I think they'd end up together regardless. But, at this point, if Lucy didn't accept him as a mate, and Natsu had tried, and she'd rejected him, that might end badly for him."

"Why?"

"Because then he'd have this person that his dragon is telling him is his mate, but she doesn't want him."

"What do you mean, 'his dragon'?"

Laxus sighed, deeply. "So, all Dragon Slayers have an internal 'dragon', that's like an extension of your conscience. But it's more about Dragon Slayer instincts, and less right or wrong."

"So you have one."

"Yes."

"What's he say about me? Is your dragon a male?"

"He is. He says you're my mate."

"Is that it?"

"You're awfully curious," Laxus had a slight smirk on his face when he said it.

"More information is always better than less when faced with something new."

"Why don't you go take a bath, and I'll tell you through the door."

*Laxus*

Gods. Everything Kitten had told me…Maker. Fuck, it was so much worse than I could have ever imagined. Taken when she was NINE. Seven fucking miscarriages before she was FIFTEEN. And the tattoos. Gods. There are no words. My dragon was SCREAMING. And there was nothing we could do.

She got up from the floor where she'd been cuddling with the hellbeast – who apparently HATED her magic. That truly surprised me. I never thought I'd see a creature that big afraid of anything. But he had backed up behind the other side of the bed as soon as he saw the red tendrils on the tips of her fingers. I couldn't blame him – watching that red mist spreading out all over the floor reminded me of one of those old horror films you'd watch on a lacrima screen. It hadn't hurt, when it covered my feet – it felt…familiar, but I guess that made sense because of the mark.

Speaking of the mark – Kitten had gone into the bathroom with the toiletries I'd bought, and the tattoo on my arm was currently giving itself a bath. I hadn't checked it when she was sleeping, but I bet the red cat was snoozing then, too. I'd have to remind myself to pay closer attention to it in the future. I heard the water running, and the sound of clothes hitting the floor, and what I thought sounded like a sigh of relief when she got in the tub.

"So what else were you gonna tell me?" Kitten called through the door. I grinned to myself. For all her (well earned) bluster, I could feel her curiosity through the mark. She wanted to know.

"Hmm." I pursed my lips, thinking what was safe to tell her, and what could potentially freak her out. "He wants me to protect you. I don't disagree with him." I heard splashing, and felt her mulling that over through the mark. "He's…angry at your mistreatment."

"Why?"

I sighed. This…could be tricky. "You're the potential mate of a Dragon Slayer; there's something in you that called to him, making us recognize you as a worthy mate. Dragons are very…protective of their family. And it's foolish to antagonize a dragon."

"Huh." She sounded thoughtful.

"He is curious about this tattoo. He wants to know your name."

"Kitten's fine for now," she said, sounding cautious, making me clench my jaw. My dragon desperately wanted her to trust me; but I knew that was going to take time. Probably a lot of time. My dragon wanted me to mark her, even though he knew that would be a mistake - to do it too early. Patience has never been one of my greatest strengths – I knew I had my work cut out for me. I just hoped I was worthy of her.