★ The Dragon And The Fairy [G/T] ★

XI - His Sister

"So you made all of this yourself?" Jaxx reclined comfortably on Annabelle's lap, a piece of freshly baked banana bread stuffed in his mouth. She had prepared an array of spreads earlier, carefully arranged beside him, and had slathered some onto his portion of the bread.

"Yeah, it was easy," she replied, a warm smile lighting up her face. Jaxx shifted, resting his head on her lap, his eyes gleaming with admiration.

"My girlfriend is the sweetest girl in the world," he declared, leaning up to plant a soft kiss on her cheek. As he playfully tickled her, Annabelle giggled, her laughter echoing in the cozy room. She brushed her fingers through his hair, lost in the moment, when suddenly a deep rumble shook the house, reverberating through the walls. A loud, commanding voice followed, unmistakably feminine.

"GET OUT OF THAT DAMNED TREE, JACKSON!"

Jaxx's expression darkened as he lifted his head, annoyance flickering across his face. "How on earth did she find me?" he muttered, wrapping the blanket around Annabelle protectively. He stepped outside to confront the source of the commotion, facing a towering woman.

"YOU PROMISED WE WOULD HANG OUT TODAY!" she shouted, crouching down to peer at Jaxx through the doorway. Annabelle could see the woman's dragon-like features—a pair of impressive horns and a swaying tail—marking her as part dragon. As she shrank to about 5'8", she launched a playful punch at Jaxx, who tried to keep his cool amidst her onslaught.

"I TOLD YOU NOT TO FOLLOW ME, YOU ANNOYING WOMAN!" Jaxx yelled, frustration evident in his tone.

"WHY ARE YOU ALWAYS HIDING WHEN I COME TO VISIT YOU, MEANIE?" she shot back, her voice rising in indignation. Jaxx attempted to retreat back toward Annabelle, but Mia's quick reflexes pinned him down again.

"WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL YOUR SISTER YOU HAD A GIRLFRIEND?" she screamed, exasperated.

"MIA, GET OFF OF ME!" Jaxx bellowed, managing to throw her off with a determined push. Mia, enraged, attempted to breathe fire at him, but Jaxx instinctively leaped in front of Annabelle, shielding her from the blaze.

"Are you okay, gorgeous?" he asked, concern flooding his voice as he cupped her cheek gently.

"I'm fine, just don't get too worked up fighting your sister," Annabelle replied, crossing her arms and shooting him a stern look. His expression shifted to one of sorrow, realizing how much his family dynamic affected her.

"Fine, anything for you," he murmured, placing Annabelle on his back with a gentle flourish. As she nestled comfortably against him, his wings enveloped her protectively. He turned to Mia, who was still fuming.

"Sorry for hurting you, big sister," he said, giving her a soft pat on the head.

"Is that her?" Mia asked, eyeing Annabelle with a puzzled expression. Jaxx nodded, carefully setting Annabelle down behind him. She stepped forward, bracing herself for Mia's scrutiny.

"She's a fairy! JAXX, WE AREN'T SUPPOSED TO LIKE FAIRIES! YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO EAT ONE WHEN YOU COME ACROSS THEM!" Mia exclaimed, her anger mounting.

"I'm not eating my girlfriend!" Jaxx retorted fiercely, scooping Annabelle up and licking her cheek playfully. "Doesn't mean she's not delicious, though."

He lavished her neck with affectionate nuzzles, which made Annabelle squirm with laughter. "She spoils me rotten," Jaxx continued, his tone casual. "She cooks, does my hair, and makes me feel special. Best of all, she lets me treat her like a princess, which she deserves, of course."

As he pressed a kiss against her stomach through her dress, Annabelle felt a mix of embarrassment and delight. "J-JAXX, STOP!" she squeaked, attempting to squirm free from his grasp, but he held her tightly.

"How could I resist her, Mia? Be for real!" He grinned, hugging Annabelle close. Although she had always known Jaxx to be gentle, this playful, possessive side of him was unexpectedly thrilling.

"But it's a fairy! YOU'VE BEEN AVOIDING YOUR PRINCELY DUTIES AT HOME TO HANG OUT WITH A PIECE OF FOOD! YOU KNOW HOW ANNOYING THAT IS FOR ME!" Mia shot back, frustration bubbling over.

"SHUT UP!" Jaxx roared, frustration flaring in his eyes. He swung Annabelle back onto his back. "SHE'S MINE. ONLY MINE. NO OTHER MAN WILL HAVE HER WHILE I'M ALIVE, YOU GOT THAT? I DON'T CARE WHAT ANYONE THINKS. SHE'S MINE, AND I'M NOT LETTING HER GO JUST BECAUSE OF WHAT PEOPLE THINK! SO YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND DROP DEAD FOR ALL I CARE, MIA!" he yelled, the protective fervor in his voice making Annabelle's heart swell.

"I'm going on a walk. If I come back and you've eaten her, I will rip through your skin and take her out of you by force," he warned, casting Mia an icy glare before nodding at Annabelle, a silent promise for her safety. She dashed back inside her house, excitement bubbling within her. She hoped Mia would appreciate what she had planned.

Stupid idiot. Why did Mia always have to ruin things? This was one moment he wasn't going to let her spoil—he and Annabelle were going to be together, no matter what. With determination, he strolled through the forest, venting his frustration by burning random trees and smashing boulders. It wasn't long before he noticed that animals began to purposefully steer clear of him, darting away from his stomping footsteps. Wait—had he been destroying their homes?

He glanced back at a tree he had set alight, seeing the animals that once inhabited it fleeing in panic. Shoot.

Rushing toward the smoldering tree, he quickly extinguished the flames. Annabelle would be furious if she saw what he had done. He could already picture her scolding him, standing on his shoulder or in his hand, her rosy cheeks flushed with disapproval. "Jaxx, that wasn't very nice! Now those poor creatures have nowhere to live!" she would say, and he could envision her trying to rescue the displaced animals, only for them to turn on her. He would inevitably burst through the door and chase them off.

As soon as he thought of her, all his anger seemed to evaporate, replaced by a soothing calm. She was his anchor, grounding him in the storm of his emotions. Compelled by the desire to see her, he turned on his heel and sprinted back toward her house.

As he approached, he could hear the unmistakable crunch of something being chewed. Tell me she didn't. Jaxx burst through Annabelle's door, his heart racing. There stood his sister, a guilty expression on her face, with a red substance smeared across her mouth. Annabelle was nowhere in sight.

"YOU FOUL WOMAN! HOW DARE YOU!" he roared, ready to confront Mia, but then he caught a glimpse of movement in the corner of his eye. Was that...?

"JAXX, NO ROUGH HOUSING! I DON'T WANT YOU GETTING HURT!" Annabelle fluttered over, a jar of jam clutched in her hands. Overwhelmed with relief and affection, Jaxx rushed to her, pulling her into a tight embrace.

"Jaxx? Are you—"

"I love you so much," he blurted, tears brimming in his eyes as he buried his face in her pink hair.

"I love you too, Jaxx," she beamed, standing on her tiptoes to hug him back. As Mia spat out the remnants of the bread into the bin and stalked off, Annabelle remained unbothered, cupping his cheek with tender affection.

"Here, taste this jam," she offered, dipping a corner of banana bread into the jar and holding it up to him. Jaxx looked down at the treat, unable to resist. He took the biggest bite he could manage.

"Delicious. Absolutely delicious, my Anna," he declared, savoring the sweetness, feeling grateful for the moment they shared.