His dragon

Nobody knew he can do that. As night falls, streets became empty and dark and stars appear all over the sky, he releases him, he transforms. Silently, without slightest noise, so quickly that human's eye couldn't trace. He becomes giant shadow, gigantic form, spreading his wings and rising to the sky. Up, up, as high as possible, toward stars. The black massive body with slight touches of silver is almost invisible in the dark canvas of night. When moon shines too brightly he uses shadow. And flies, and feels happy.

He wasn't happy on earth. Well, from time to time he was, but these moments are few and end too fast. Or, to be precise, he ended them. He doesn't feel that he deserves to be happy, can't let himself be. So he chose night's sky. There is no guilt, no memories, no remorse. It is perfect. Almost. Only one small thing spoils complete bliss – when he went up to high, it's too dark and he feels so far away from her.

But maybe it is better this way. That was a growing attachment to her, which dug a first hole in his heart and as time went by, it became dipper and dipper, more annoying. It every day drew him to her, demanded to be closer and at the same time constantly pushed away. And he escaped to his dark paradise, released his dragon and flied. In this endless flawless place wasn't possible do something wrong. All his failures, stains and mistakes stayed beneath, on earth. As if that was another life, disconnected from this peaceful wide space. The whole night to enjoy till first rays of dawn. Elusive hope till the start of new day.

Deep down he knew – he won't be able to maintain this for long. During the day on earth sulky reserved guy, mythical creature at night and a very big, scary one, which for all and mostly his own sake should remains unseen. Maybe one morning he'll fail to transform back and won't be able to restore human form. Will it be a good thing? Couple of years back he would roar excitedly: "Fuck, yeah!" Now all became so complicated.

Evening is calm. Fast approaching night breathes with fresh wind, doors to the guild stood open – outside was pleasant and warm. He will stay inside a little more, let himself stealthily look and breath her, then leave for his usual walk toward east end of the town, where large hills block further land from sight. In that place his secret journey of every night begins. Perfect spot: distant, protected, no one going to see. Here he may indulge himself, ensure a temporary break from his tireless internal demons.

Seems, she composedly read a book, but her scent seasoned with worry today and he is wondering, what made her feel so unsettled. It's pretty late, she still in the guild, through usually about this time she is half way to home. He sensed she had closed her book, slowly got up, musing about something.

3 tables separate them. He doesn't look, needn't to, he just know she is moving deliberately toward doors. They didn't talk today, they rare do, but distance unable to lessen this connection.

Her steps got slower, then she stopped at all. Right behind his back, really close, maybe in 1 or even less meter. He didn't move, playing cool, pretending not to notice, but every nerve is alert and inside he is a mess of anxiety, worry and appealing bodily sensations.

He heard she tried to compose her uneven breath, failed and moved few inches closer. Her height is small, he can feel her breathing on the top of his head, barely able to sit as goosebumps have invaded upper part of his body.

"There is repercussion of such transformation fulfilled on constant base," Her voice came at last, quiet, sad, tremblingly worried. "One day… one day the essence will be displaced, varied and cut off the way back. And you… you won't be able return. You can't , Gajeel."

Her height is small, and when he abruptly stood up, shell shocked that she knew somehow, she closed the distance and buried her face between his shoulder blades, hands grabbing his shirt on both sides of his torso. He froze, terrified and dumbstruck, sensing the wetness of her first silent tears.

Wet nose pressed to his bask, tiny arms are moving slowly around his stomach. It is his first, awkward, unsure, cautious hug, but her hands are holding tightly, not wanting to let him go.

And then in this unreal universe, where she hugged him, a thing most wonderful and unthinkable happened. She placed a kiss and whispered at his back:

"You are very important to me. I don't want to lose you, Gajeel."

It must be parallel universe, hallucination or he imagined it in his confused mind where hellish chaos presently reined. She really said it, right, or opposite aspirations finally drove him insane? She said it… Distrust still high, but happiness flooded so hard he felt overwhelmed.

He was important to her. He was important. But can he let himself be near her? Will the demons allow him to be? Can he erase the past? Can he…

It was a perfect moment to stop insanity of this, tear apart, destroy his self-denied hopes, useless dreams he long ago forbid himself to cherish. Just don't answer and take a step beyond the threshold. He has a will! Still enough to rip himself from her. Who needs feelings and bonds? They are trash, weakness, worthless, pathetic, fucking stupid!

But his hand raised and covered her palm, letting the contact be felt in every cell of his body. They never touched before, not counting necessary battle's help and that first awful intercourse, and she immediately squeezed his hand, showing him that his longing was reciprocated.

And the skin contact burned him, cleaned him, shuted up demon's voices. With last angry hissing they were gone, leaving him slowly melt in blissful sensation of their pressed together bodies.

He didn't fly in his dark star sky tonight. Instead there was another paradise, consisted of soft hands, tender smile and blue hair. And he allowed himself to come, enjoy being here and desire to stay in it. And, unexpectedly, he felt that his dragon curled contentedly in him, trapped again, but feeling free and happy.

Author's note: well, this was the idea, which inspired me to start my short stories series. It should be the first, but I couldn't manage to finish it with a proper ending in time. Now I am more or less satisfied. Hope, you enjoy.

Till next time. :)