★ The Dragon And The Fairy [G/T] ★

XVI - How Much He Spoils Me

Annabelle was in agony. Her wings were growing, and as a fairy, the process was excruciating, as if daggers were slicing through her skin. She hadn't expected her wings to start growing right after she'd complained about their small size the day before. Her father had once told her that her mother, despite being just as small as she was, had the largest wings he'd ever seen, but Annabelle had never thought she'd inherit that trait. Another sharp pain shot through her, and she felt her wings unfurl even more, stretching painfully from her back. She screamed.

"Jaxx!" Annabelle cried out desperately, though she knew he wasn't there. He was the one person she wanted by her side in that moment. Struggling to move, she crawled out of bed and was about to make her way down the stairs when her wings suddenly activated. They were larger than she anticipated, and she lost control, her body being tossed around by their powerful flapping. She slammed into walls, knocking over furniture, desperately trying to regain control, but it was no use. She screamed again as she began to plummet toward the floor, bracing herself for the impact.

Before she could hit the ground, a bang echoed through the room, and she was suddenly caught in strong arms. Looking up, she saw Jaxx, his face full of horror as he took in the sight of her bloodied, trembling form. Her wings continued to grow and flap uncontrollably, their force nearly knocking them both off balance. Without hesitation, Jaxx grabbed a rope, quickly securing it around her and pressing her tightly against his chest to keep her wings still. His movements were swift and steady, and soon Annabelle was wrapped safely in his embrace, her face buried in his chest as he crouched low on all fours, leaping effortlessly back to her bed.

"How much pain are you in, Anna?" he asked, his voice low and concerned.

"Too much," she whimpered, clutching him tighter as another pulse of pain wracked her body. She shrieked when yet another surge forced her wings to push further through her skin, the pain unbearable. Tears streamed down her face, and she dug her fingers into Jaxx's skin as she cried out in desperation.

He hesitated for a moment, clearly thinking of something, before looking down at her. "I—I can do something that might help, but it's going to hurt. Maybe more than the pulses. Are you sure?"

Annabelle nodded weakly. "Okay, Jaxx."

Carefully, he untied the rope and repositioned her in his lap. He gently took hold of her wings, heating his hands just enough to be comforting. Placing one hand at the base of her wings, he began to tug lightly, speeding up the painful growth process. The heat radiating from his hands wasn't scalding, but rather soothing, easing some of the sharpness in her back.

"I'm going to need to make it a bit hotter, okay?" Jaxx said softly. The warmth intensified, and surprisingly, Annabelle found it even more comforting.

"Almost done, Anna," he whispered as he gave a final, firmer tug. A loud pop echoed through the room, and suddenly, all the pain was gone. Annabelle collapsed in his lap, exhausted but relieved, as he caught her with gentle hands.

"Did it hurt too much?" he asked, concern lacing his voice.

"No... it felt good," she admitted, wrapping her arms around him in gratitude. He began to stroke her now much larger wings, admiring how they had blossomed. She lay limp on his lap, utterly exhausted, as he continued to tenderly caress her wings.

"They're beautiful," Jaxx murmured, clearly fascinated by their size. He pulled her closer, laying back with her on his chest. Gently, he began playing with her hair, weaving it into a loose braid as she rested.

"What kind of decoration do you want in your hair?" he asked.

"You choose," Annabelle replied, too tired to think.

"Alright. Can you walk?" he asked, his voice soft with concern.

She shook her head. "No..."

Without a word, Jaxx scooped her up into a princess carry, just like he had the first time they met. She remembered how much she had trusted him even then, and now, their bond had only grown stronger. He carried her effortlessly to the pink couch in the living room, setting her down gently before disappearing into the kitchen. Moments later, he returned with a small box of charms that looked tiny in his large hands. Carefully, he placed each one into her freshly braided hair, his focus as delicate as ever.

Once he finished, he began massaging her back, his hands gentle and soothing. He pressed a kiss to the back of her neck, his lips lingering in the comfort of the moment before standing up.

"I'll grab you some ice cream," he said before disappearing briefly and returning with a bag. From it, he produced a tub of chocolate chip ice cream—Annabelle's favorite—and her favorite spoon.

"Open up, go 'aaaah' for me," he teased, offering her a spoonful. Annabelle opened her mouth, allowing him to feed her before he took a spoonful for himself.

"Don't you like the chunks?" she asked, noticing that he avoided them.

Jaxx simply shrugged. "It's my favorite part, but you need it more than I do."

Overwhelmed by his kindness, Annabelle's eyes filled with tears. "I don't deserve this, Jaxx... you spoil me too much," she sobbed.

Jaxx silenced her with a gentle kiss, lifting her off the couch and spinning her around in the air. "Of course I spoil you," he said with a grin. "You're my girlfriend."

As they spun, he tickled her, causing her to laugh uncontrollably and hug him tighter. When he finally stopped, she looked up at him, her eyes still teary but full of love.

"What are girlfriends supposed to do, especially when they're smaller than your palm?" she asked with a playful smile.

Jaxx thought for a moment before answering, "Let me spoil you, let me love you, allow me to cook for you, and... never," he hesitated, his cheeks flushing as he lowered his gaze.

"Never what?" she asked, curiosity piqued.

"Never become scared of me, or hate me," he said quietly. "Even if things don't work out, I couldn't handle it."

Annabelle led him outside, and together they stood under the starlit sky. She hugged him tightly, and he crouched down to meet her gaze. His deep eyes locked onto hers, and for a moment, she thought he was going to kiss her.

"Anna," he whispered, his hand running along her back. But instead of pulling her in for a kiss, he leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Your ice cream is melting."

Annabelle squealed in surprise and ran back into the house, Jaxx's laughter echoing behind her. He really was the best boyfriend ever.