A Phantom 《FAIRYTAIL X READER》

10: Stay Hidden

"Why isn't she back yet?"

Jellal doesn't doubt her. Not one bit. He would never doubt her. But why is she taking so long? The day had already started, with people piling into the stadium. Their cheers shook the earth, and the guilds filed into their respective stands. Confetti rained down from the sky, littering the battle grounds with it. Their excitement could rub off of anyone, but not Gajeel.

Gajeel only glared at him, his arms crossed over his chest. Despite his worry eating him from the inside, he clicked his tongue. He leaned against the wall and averted his gaze to the empty hallway.

"Give her time. You're not the only person she's focused on,"

Jellal frowned from underneath his mask, his hand grabbing at the wall as he peeked into the hallway.

"She said that she would report back to me if—"

"That's not what I mean. She's still doing her job,"

Jellal leaned back against the wall, releasing his breath in a heavy sigh. His eyes fluttered shut, stabilising his soul. He drowned out the distant cheering with his thoughts, focusing. His throat ran dry, and a whooshing sound became prominent. Yet, no F/n.

"I'm worried. What if she's hurt?" He rambled.

"She won't get hurt," Gajeel responded, fiddling with his gloves.

"How do you know? She's not an immortal,"

"I just do,"

Jellal moved his hand to grab at his mask, pulling on it. His chest tightened and his fingers twitched. No matter how hard he tried to bury the thoughts, they always found a way to come back up. Then, something else came to his mind. It wasn't a message from F/n, or an observation. Rather, it was a memory.

"Gajeel?" He called out.

Gajeel grumbled underneath his breath, letting go of his glove. He did not move his gaze to meet him. "What?" He grumbled.

"Why were you angry when F/n and I formed a bond?"

Gajeel looked at him, glaring. His calm demeanour crumbled when he scowled at the man. He stared at him as though his question was abhorrent.

But Jellal thinks it's a reasonable question.

"Do you not trust me?" His face fell into a frown. "Or do you not trust her?"

Gajeel's eyes narrowed, his black mane framing his face. His piercings and red eyes made him all the more intimidating. That, and the fact that he was a dragon slayer. He had seen first hand what would happen if you make a dragon slayer mad. Let alone hurt the people they care about.

"I trust her with my life," Gajeel answered regardless.

Jellal raised a brow.  "Yet, you couldn't stand the thought of her being away,"

Gajeel dropped his glare, but his body was still tense. He resisted the urge to size up the man, and chose to instead keep his distance. That kind of self restraint was something Jellal didn't expect coming from him.

"You don't know her as well as I though, 'pretty boy',"

Jellal frowned at the nickname, but didn't push.

"You're dragging her into a mess I want to keep her away from," Gajeel growled, redirecting his gaze to him. That anger returned with sharp coldness. Unlike Natsu, he did not emit flames or heat. Rather, a chill. Darkness loomed over him in small amounts, moving like viscous liquid around him.

"I understand if you have a thing against Zeref. But your mistake was dragging her into it,"

Jellal peered at the man. "Does she have history with Zeref?"