I felt my blood boil. I could hear my heart beat in my ears. The anguish I know Lucy was feeling became my anguish. Her pain became my own. I could almost see the link between us. I let out a roar that would put Metalicana to shame. Rune guy and Soul Creep backed away from me. I looked down at my hands. They were covered in gray, metallic scales.

"Yo, tin can, chill it with the magic!" Laxus snapped at me. He was holding back Lucy who was desperately trying to get out of his grip. She managed to free herself from his grasp and charged at me. Her face was blank and her eyes were unreadable.

She was a foot away when she jumped and slammed her right foot into my chest, knocking me on my ass. "Gajeel!" She yelled my name. My heart pumped faster at the sound of my name flowing from her lips. What's this feeling? She held her foot on top of me, adding pressure to my already heavy chest. Her eyes flickered something warm for but a fleeting moment. Kindness, maybe?

I can read everyone in the guild, why can't I read her? Why does she make me feel so weird? I took a deep breath. "What, Star Heart?" I growled.

She took a step back, shocked by my sudden change. I looked back at my hands. They were normal again. What just happened? I got up and started to head home, not bothering to say anything as she called out for me to stop. I almost did. That's what scared me. I'm losing control. My magic shouldn't take over like that. This was one of those times wished I had Metalicana around. He never finished teaching me all I needed to know.

My home was in the forest, near a cave I train in. When it came into view, I sighed. I unlocked the door and walked inside, shedding my soaked shirt in the process. She needs to get out of my head. What's going on with me?

I left my house and went outside and slammed my fist into the nearest tree, snapping it in two. . Vaguely, I apologized to it as it crashed to the ground. It had done nothing to deserve it. It was just existing and I killed it. Metalicana, what's going on with me? This girl, this wizard, I can't read her. I can't figure her out. Titania was the hardest to read, but I had figured out what made her tick. This one, though. I just can't figure her out. Titania fought until the bitter end. Lucy would give up her life. Does she just float through the days, not really caring about her life? Or does she just put on a mask that smiles just to show everyone that nothing's wrong, that she isn't broken on the inside?

I kicked another innocent tree. I watched it as it crashed to the ground, making the world around me shake and quiver.

She just smiles and keeps everyone at a distance. Never wanting to be close to anyone. She seemed so pure and unscathed. So strong, like someone who showed no weakness. Yet, she was crying in my arms just a while ago. I don't understand her. She's more complicated than Laxus. Laxus was easy to figure out as soon as I saw him. He had a dark past with his father. What if her father had done something to her as well?

I felt my blood boil at the thought. She must have a darker past than Laxus. I could ask the old man. No, that'd be wrong. How would I even explain that to him? Hey, look. I'm trying to figure out what makes your granddaughter tick. Can you tell me about her past? No, that'll get me hurt.

And then when she touched me. Even though it was a kick to my chest, her touch calmed my magic down tremendously. That was just her touch.

I growled. "Why can't I figure you out?"

"Figure who out?" I whipped around to see her leaning against the side of my house.

I narrowed my eyes at her. "When did you get here? Why are you here?" I didn't sense her coming.

She sighed. "I wanted to thank you and make sure you were okay."

"I'm fine." I answered her.

"We're friends, right?" She asked, walking over to me. "Then why won't you tell me what's wrong."

"We all have our own baggage. Don't try digging mine up." I growled.

"Gajeel…" She breathed. I turned away from her.

"What are you still doing here? I didn't invite you so just leave." I growled.

"Please let Wendy-chan look at you. She's a healer. If there's something wrong she'll be able to fix it." She begged.

Begging? This girl changes too much. Why does she even care? We're still strangers. We had only met this morning. "Why do you care?"

"You're part of Fairy Tail, right? So you're my family. I watch out for my family. Please go see Wendy-chan or Porlyusica-sama. Porlyusica-sama isn't that far away, please go see her." Faintly I registered the smell of salt coming from her.

Damn. I made her cry. "Fine. But you have to realize that not all men are like him." I blinked at my words. Where did that come from? I turned to look at her. She had a small smile on her face. "I know, but I always choose the ones who hide their evils just to use them against me after they get close enough…"

My ears twitched as I heard the soft pitter patter of footfalls in the forest. "Lucy-nee!"

A small bluenette came running into the forest charging towards Lucy. She launched herself at Lucy, who caught her, and gave her a tight hug. "Are you okay? Did he hurt you? Oh! Your wrists!" The small girl put her hands over Lucy's wrists. Before Lucy could protest, a soft blue glow emitted from the young girl's hands, healing the burns on Lucy's wrists.

I stared at the girl. "You're Wendy, then?" I asked cautiously, not sure if she'd be like Lucy.

She turned to me. "Y-your clothes, sir."

I looked down at myself and realized I was shirtless this whole time. I felt my cheeks get hot. Lucy saw me shirtless! I quickly bolted inside finding a new shirt. Why do I care that Lucy saw me like that? She looked like she didn't even care.

As soon as I came back outside, I was bombarded by Wendy. "Thank-you, Gajeel-san!"

I was taken aback. "No problem?" I said slowly.

Lucy giggled. "Go ahead, Wendy. Take a look at him."

Wendy put her and in front of me, already emitting that same blue glow. I felt my magic replenish, not noticing I had used so much.

"You're the Iron Dragon Slayer. Yet, you never finished training. You don't know the last thing a Dragon Slayer is taught." Blinking at me, she furrowed her brow. "You don't know."

I jerked away from her. How was she able to figure all that out? "Know what?"

"About your significant other. Your mate to be specific."

So Hi guys and girls!

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Love,

-SFL