Bookworm And The Dragon {GaLe}

Chapter Four: True Monster

Gajeel growled, casing the wolves to growl back, but even still, they took a step back from him. Glancing back at Levy, he found her bleeding from the forearm and knocked out. He glared back at the wolves, and they flinched, as if realizing that if they stayed much longer, the Dragon Slayer would tear them apart limb by limb.

Gajeel took one step forward and that was enough for the wolves to turn tail and run, high-pitched whines escaping their jaws as they disappeared back into the woods.

Quickly, he turned back to Levy, grinding his teeth as he picked her up gently in his arms. He looked at her face and found that she was breathing, but still worse for wear. He sprinted towards the Castle he had woke up in, angry.

Angry at the wolves for causing her injury, angry at this stupid spell that would allow wolves to attack her, and angry at himself for putting them under the spell to begin with. None of this would've happened if he wasn't such a coward. All he had to do was actually talk to her and tell her how he felt, but no, he ran away instead, avoiding her if he could and keeping his distance. He convinced himself that she was just too good for someone like him, so when the chance came to him that he could be with her and find some of that happiness like Juvia had, he wanted to take that chance.

He glanced down at Levy's face and guilt washed over him. His grip tightened around her as he ran. She had been hurt again because of him.

She didn't deserve this.

He really was a Monster.

When he made it past the gates and through the garden, Gajeel didn't hesitate to kick the doors open, only stopping when he made it over to the study with a fireplace that caused the smell of burnt pine floating in the air. Laying Levy down on the rug across from the warm flame, he quickly ripped some of his black clock to tie around the gash on her arm to keep it from bleeding anymore than it had already. Really it needed cleaned first, but he had no idea where to get what he needed.

He stood, glancing over at her before deciding he needed to find the kitchen to boil some water at least. He hadn't seen it when he was exploring the Castle earlier, but he had really only seen some of the second floor. Meaning the kitchen was probably on the first floor somewhere.

He smelled his way to the kitchen, the scent of bread, soup, and other foods filling his nose as he got close. "Well at least we won't starve to death." He concluded after walking into the kitchen. There was way more than just bread and soup there. Enough to feed a fairly large family for at least a year or two.

He went over to the sink and found a pot, filled it with water and took it to the stove. It did take him a minute to figure out how it worked, and a few curses later he had hot water. Picking up a rag on his way out, he made his way back to the study, careful not to drop the pot as he went.

As he took off the cloth that covered Levy's arm, he suddenly felt like he was being watched. He sharply looked behind him, only to see nothing out of the ordinary. "I'm freakin' loosin' my marbles..."

He cleaned Levy's arm with feather like care, which may have been why it didn't wake her up. The wound had stopped bleeding at this point and he was now only worried about her pale complexion, hoping she wouldn't get sick with a fever. Finished, he re-wrapped a new cloth around the wound.

Harsh whispering from the next room caught Gajeel off guard, and he almost dropped the hot wet rag he was holding as he listened to there conversation, not much was missed with his ears.

"We can't just barge in there..! He's gonna eat us!"

"Nah! The Master isn't that bad! See, he's helping out that girl!"

Gajeel knew those voices a little too well, and as soon as their heads peeked out from around the corner to spy on him, his jaw fell in shock and he really did drop the rag this time.

"S-Salamander!?" And was that supposed to be his cat with him!?

Natsu, or should we say the candlestick came out completely from the doorway, coming into the room with a very human like pout on it's carved face. "I'ma candle, notta salamander. Jeez Master, I thought as a Dragon you had better eyesight than that."

The other small figure came out into the open behind the flaring candle. A small clock with cat-like features that suspiciously sounded like Happy as it hissed at the other. "Natsu! Don't provoke him!"

The candlestick laughed. "It's fine! See, he's not even moving from where he's sitting."

That was because Gajeel was shocked enough not to move. If he wasn't completely freaking out mentally, he probably would've burst out laughing by now. However, Gajeel was too confused to say anything by the time another object came into the room. She was a feather duster it seemed. She squeaked, and he instantly knew who it was. "NATSU! There's a girl! Is she okay!?"

The candle shrugged, wax threatening to fall off of his flamed candle hand as he waved it. "I'm sure she's fine Luce, the Master treated her."

She still didn't seem convinced, at least, that was what Gajeel thought. It was hard to read the object's expressions. Wow, he sounds like a madman! He's literally going nuts.

Lucy dusted over to Gajeel. "Master, we should move her into a more confortable room."

Gajeel blinked down at her. "Uh...Do ya have one in mind..?" The floor definitely wouldn't be as comfortable as a bed when she woke up, he was sure. Now that he was somewhat back to his senses, not believing he was having a conversation with a feather duster, he wondered why they were referring to him as Master.

"Oh yes! Please, bring her and follow me!" Hesitantly, he went back to Levy and gently picked her up, careful of her wound as he followed her up the stairs to the second floor, the candle and cat-clock following behind them.

When they reached the room, Natsu lit the candles around the room for light and Gajeel laid Levy back down ontop the bed. She didn't stir, so he turned to the objects hesitantly. "Thanks... I guess."

Natsu nodded. "Of course! Let's hope she's the one!"

Before Gajeel could question what the candle had meant, Happy laughed nervously and dragged Natsu out of the room. "Oh look at the time! Gotta do those duties that we most definitely have!"

Faintly he could hear Natsu laughing down the hall. "You said Doodies!"

Lucy made a sound that shouldn't similar to a disgusted groan. "Idiet." She turned to Gajeel, much cheerier. "There's a chair for you next to the bed. If you need anything else please just call for a servant."

Gajeel nodded slowly. "Right...Will do." The duster was gone just as quickly as she had come. He looked over to the chair and slumped down into it with a groan. He reached up and rubbed the bridge of his nose.

What kind of messed up place had they gotten sucked into..?

"Gajeel..."

His eyes snapped open at the soft voice and he looked at Levy to find her still fast asleep. A blush slowly rose to his face as he realized she had actually said his name in her sleep. Or maybe he was just delusional?

He glanced to the doorway.

Dilutional was definitely an option.

He looked back to Levy after a moment. He watched her and leaned forward to reach his hand out, spying a strand of hair that fell into her face, loose from her headband. He stopped before getting any closer to her face. Bringing his hand back, he leaned back in his chair, looking down at his Dragon-like hand, brows forwarded. He had no right to touch her. Not so freely.

He was a Monster who only seemed to cause her injury and pain, if it wasn't to help her heal, he didn't need to touch her with such claws.

He sighed, leaning back in his chair and closing his eyes.

He really needed a nap.