★ The Dragon And The Fairy [G/T] ★

III - Flower Crowns?

Annabelle lay peacefully asleep, the soft morning light filtering through her window. It had been a few days since she last saw Jaxx, and the memory of their time together filled her with warmth. As she was lost in her dreams, the tranquility was shattered by three resounding knocks at her door. Startled, her eyes flew open, and she glanced at the door, where she caught sight of a familiar red eye searching for her. Her heart raced, and she could have sworn she saw his pupil dilate in surprise.

"Annabelle! I'm going on a walk. Come with me!" Jaxx called, his voice echoing with excitement.

Instantly awake, she felt a rush of energy. WAIT. Had he seen her with her messy bed hair? She clutched her cheeks, flushed with embarrassment. He pulled away from the door, settling outside with an air of patience. In a flurry, she threw on the only dress she had—a bright yellow one—her bare feet padding across the floor as she hurried outside.

Jaxx stood in his giant form, his palm outstretched. With a grin, she crawled onto his hand, feeling safe and exhilarated.

"Where are we going?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.

"We're just going to walk around because I'm bored," he replied, glancing down at her before gently placing her on his shoulder. She adjusted herself, sitting as neatly as possible.

They walked in silence for a solid five minutes before Jaxx broke the stillness. "Hey, why aren't you wearing shoes?"

"Shoes? As in footwear, right?"

"Yeah."

"I've never owned any, and they don't really look comfy. But I would wear the fluffy ones with ears," she said with a smile.

"Like bunny slippers?"

"Yes! They're so flipping pancakes cute!" Annabelle exclaimed, placing her hands on her cheeks as she envisioned the adorable footwear. Jaxx chuckled above her, his laughter deep and resonant.

"Flipping pancakes?" he teased, and she tilted her head in confusion.

"What?"

"Nothing, don't worry," he replied, regaining his composure. Then he looked down at her with curiosity. "Hey, swear for me."

"What is a swear?"

"Like curse words, like f—"

"NO! DON'T SAY IT!" She covered her pointed ears with her hands, and Jaxx looked down, puzzled.

"What?"

"Fairy law says it's bad to hear curse words. The worst one we have is 'flapping,' and just saying that feels evil," she said, calming herself.

He raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What else does fairy law state?"

"Well, I'm not supposed to swear, obviously. I can't hate any form of animal. I can't get into a relationship with someone until the king gives permission, and I must try my hardest to share my skills. Those are just a few off the top of my head."

He listened carefully, then asked an unexpected question. "How old are you now, then?"

"Sixteen, of course!" she replied cheerfully, and she noticed his eyes widen in surprise.

"Yeah... I'm seventeen," he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. Then he asked, "Have you ever fallen in love?"

"No, not yet," she said, a hint of wistfulness in her tone.

"I see," he replied, lapsing into silence as they continued their walk. Annabelle felt fatigue wash over her from the lack of sleep, and she curled up against his neck, relishing the warmth. As she drifted off, she felt a gentle digit rub her head, lulling her into a deeper slumber.

When she awoke, the world around her had transformed. They were lying in the middle of a field, surrounded by vibrant flowers. Jaxx was curled up like a cat, and she was nestled in his hand, safe and protected. Inspiration struck her like a bolt of lightning. I can make so many flower crowns! She needed to make him one.

As quietly as possible, she slipped off his hand while he continued to slumber.

Jaxx lay sprawled in the field, surrounded by colorful flowers. The softness of the petals beneath him was comforting, and he reveled in the tranquility of the moment. Annabelle was nestled in his hand, and he found solace in her presence. When she had cuddled against his neck earlier, he was taken aback; he hadn't expected her to get so close. But the feeling of her warmth against him had been unexpectedly pleasant.

After a while, he had flown to this random field with her and decided to rest. But now, as he shifted, he realized something was amiss. Where was she? Panic surged through him as he began to search for her, eyes still closed.

"DID I? NO, I COULDN'T HAVE!" He pressed his hand against his stomach in a frantic attempt to feel her, but there was no response. Suddenly, he sat up and heard a panicked scream.

"JAXX! HELP ME!"

He jumped up, adrenaline coursing through him. "Annabelle!" He spotted her cowering a few feet away, and without hesitation, he lunged toward her, breathing fire defensively, ready to confront whatever danger threatened her.

Once he had scooped her up, he inspected her closely, searching for any signs of harm. "What happened?"

"I was picking flowers, and then a centipede came out of nowhere and tried to attack me!" she exclaimed, her voice tinged with fear.

"It's just a bug. How are you more scared of a bug than me?" He raised an eyebrow, incredulous.

"Because you're not hideous like one!" she retorted, her eyes wide.

"I'm not?" he asked, feigning offense.

"Of course not! Silly, you're beautiful," she replied with a grin, and to his surprise, she flew up to his head, fiddling with his hair for a moment.

"Done!" she declared, hovering in front of him.

"Do you like it?" she asked, and he looked down to see flower crowns adorning his wrists. His heart swelled with gratitude.

He touched the petals, speechless, and finally nodded. She squealed with delight, and then, without warning, she flew right into his face, hugging his nose tightly. The unexpected affection startled him so much that he accidentally shrank down to her size.

"Jaxx?" she questioned, concerned.

"It's fine," he muttered, shaking off the surprise as he swept her off her feet, holding her gently. "Let me take you back home; it's getting late."

"Okay!" she beamed, wrapping her arms around his neck and snuggling into his warmth. He took off, soaring through the sky before landing softly at her house. She had already fallen asleep again.

Carefully, he walked into her room and placed her on her bed, tucking her under the blanket. A wave of affection washed over him as he gazed at her peaceful form. Why did he feel this way about her? He approached her, brushing a few pink locks from her forehead, and without thinking, he pressed a gentle kiss to her skin—a soft peck, nothing more.

As he left her house, his cheeks burned with heat. What was wrong with him?