Italic = narrating
"Speak"
- Thought
"CAPS LOCK" = SCREAMING
Disclaimer: not owning Fairy Tail nor the original fairy tales
Jellal and the armor clad princess
Natsu's hate for Gajeel had stayed alive for years, even after Natsu had learnt that the limbs of a salamander grow out again. And the hate was very much alive in this fight.
Natsu blocked Gajeel's sword again. They had been ongoing for what felt like an eternity, and yet Natsu could go on for just as long again. And so could Gajeel, it seemed. Swing, block, kick, hit, duck, punch, step back and hit. Both of them earned equal amount of hits but neither gained advantage. And their energy seemed to be just as full as earlier.
Blocking Gajeel's sword once again, Natsu sidestepped so he wouldn't have to take all the force straight on and elbowed his enemy in the face. Gajeel had to take a step back but in the next moment, when Natsu was about to punch him, he had already stepped aside and was swinging his sword towards Natsu. Instead of blocking this time, Natsu ducked and felt the wind from the swing as it graced just above his head.
- I have to break the pattern and take him by surprise, Natsu thought.
And instead of rising up like Gajeel had expected him to, Natsu stayed low and swung the sword toward Gajeel's legs. To avoid the sword, the taller man had to jump and when he did so Natsu quickly stood up and kicked him while he was still in the air.
Gajeel having no chance of regaining his balance if he would get hit in the air tried to block the kick with his sword, but the force in the kick still sent him flying back. Landing on the ground, Natsu was quickly over him and pointed his sword to Gajeel's chest. But before the refree could announce Natsu as the winner, Gajeel somehow managed to kick Natsu's sword away and rolled back with a somersault. Then he was suddenly standing in a squat. But as he rose he wasn't keeping his guard up enough and so Natsu managed to kick down on the hand in which Gajeel was holding the sword. The sudden hit surprised Gajeel and made him drop the sword.
"Winner – Natsu Dragbuster!"
But the refree's voice was barely audible over the roar of the winner. The roar of a dragon, was what people would say later on.
"You were lucky this time", Gajeel muttered.
"Don't be a sore loser, Gajeel", the referee said to him.
"Shut it, Lightning Boy."
Laxus just laughed at the insult from one of the people he had played with as a child.
Gajeel turned his back to the winner and limped out of the arena. He needed to go to the infirmary and he wasn't looking forward to it. He knew what to expect.
Or at least, he had thought he knew.
When arriving there, he was the only one in the room. Waiting for someone to come, he sat down.
"Honestly, you're hopeless Gajeel", a soft sigh was heard as she approached him.
He didn't look up and said nothing.
She dipped a cloth in lukewarm water and started to clean wounds, scrapes and wipe the blood away. She didn't say anything and eventually Gajeel broke the silence.
"I knew you'd be angry but no yelling? I'm slightly disappointed. I took the time to prepare a defense."
"I'm not angry."
"You're not saying anything. You're definitely angry. I know you Shrimp."
Her arm dropped and she put the cloth down next to the bowl with lukewarm, light red water.
"What do you want me to say, Gajeel?" she glared into his eyes. " You already know what I want to say, but it wouldn't make any difference now."
"Levy. I only wanted to see if I was stronger than Titania. The prize was nothing for me."
Levy looked away. "Whatever. I need some bandage, wait here."
Levy turned her back to him and was about to leave, but he stopped her. Levy´s breath hitched in her throat as she felt his arms wrap around her from behind.
"You're the only one for me Shrimp. I had to participate as an unmarried man over eighteen, but even if I had made it to the finals, I would have lost on purpose. You need to be by my side so I don't lose you."
"You're such an idiot. You truly are an idiot. You weren't supposed to get hurt, you promised me", Levy mumbled, a blush burning her cheeks. "And I'm serious; I need to get those bandages."
Gajeel let her go and Levy turned around. "Now sit down. Look what you did! It started to bleed again!"
Levy picked the cloth up and wiped the cut in his forehead.
"Make sure to stay by my side from now on then, if you're worried I'll disappear", Levy mumbled in his ear before she left.
Gajeel grinned and before disappearing out of sight to retrieve bandages, she looked over her shoulder and smiled at him.
When returning Levy effectively bound the wounds in need and Gajeel sat still with his eyes closed, enjoying the feeling of her fingers grazing his skin. When she was finished, she stood still close to him but not touching. Gajeel opened his eyes and looked at her face. Grabbing her hand, he gently kissed her delicate fingers.
Levy blushed and was about to pull her hand back, but Gajeel simply held it harder and pulled her closer. She blushed an even deeper shade of red and closed her eyes when he kissed her.
"Stop being angry already", he mumbled against her lips.
"Gajeel…"
But he kissed her, drowning any protest she might had been about to utter.
Anonymous: Don't worry about missing a review, I don't mind as long as you come back to continue reading ^-^ I think we're all patiently waiting for Jerza *sigh*
Anonymous 13: You're not shocked he did it? I think you might be the first... even I was a bit shocked of myself having Gajeel doing it... but it was necessary for finding a purpose of the nickname. Levy has now appeared - all Gale shippers are very happy now I hope - and about your other questions, you're just going to have to wait and see ;)
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Leave a review and let me know how you like it ^-^
