Literal, Beauty and the Beast (GaLe)

The Beast Within

Gajeel rubs his eyes once more, trying to stop the blood from rushing to his cheeks, as Levy smiles, knowing what he's trying to do.

Before he removes his hand from his face, he is met by a light yawn, which comes from the little figure he holds in his hand.

He smiles, and then brings the hand over his eyes, down to his hip, which he props his arm up on, as he brings Levy close to his face with a smirk.

"Sleepy?" His cool, gruff voice asks.

She wiggles her nose and rubs her eyes, shaking her head.

"Ah... Now now... That can't be true~" Gajeel laughs to himself slightly as he walks forward.

As he is walking, he notices he isn't moving. He stops walking, and then starts running again, but he still stays in the same spot. He looks down to try and configure what exactly was preventing his movement.

He continues his ineffective studying and walk, when suddenly he hears a little, jingly giggle.

He continues walking, but he shifts his sight to Levy who continues to giggle. His brow furrows in embarrassment.

"What?" He demands sharply.

She only continues to giggle as she points up.

He pauses... Stops walking... Completely.

He then takes his hand which isn't holding Levy, and brings it up to his head, when he suddenly feels his horns.

"Ah???" He looks up, and as he does, the horns detach from the tree branch which was holding him in that one spot.

She continues to giggle. "Looks like you were a little, caught up, in your walking tehehe~" She giggles more as she stands there, as Gajeel stands there frozen, his hand still lightly touching one horn.

Levy, soon acknowledging the silence, stops giggling, and looks up at her dragon in confusion.

"What's wrong--" Before she can finish her sentence, Gajeel looks down at her with fire in his eyes.

He brings her quickly to his face.

"WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME THAT I CHANGED TOO???" He booms.

Levy jumps, and then covers her ears, frighted. "I-I thought you knew!!!" She peeps out, as she shakes.

Gajeel growls, and then squints at her. "Well... I didn't."

He stomps over to a bush, and sets her on a leaf as he then turns his back to her. His eyes travel to a small pond very near to them, and he cracks his knuckles as he marches over to it, to blow off some steam. Change was always scary... Especially for someone who thought they were already terrifying and tough enough.

Levy sits on the leaf, blinking and fighting tears as she watches her big dragon walk away. The changes didn't bother her... But they seemed to bother him, and this bothered her.

Thoughts travel through Gajeel's mind. Yeah... Sure... He liked being tough and looking it, but he sure as hell didn't want to be a monster, especially not in the eyes of his little fairy...

He picks up a rock, and chucks it at the water, causing a wave to splash up and hit him.

His face goes red, and he looks around, trying to find something to hit, when the only thing he can find is more rocks.

"AHHHH!!!" He turns his fist into iron, and starts beating at the rocks which his fist, trying to clear his thoughts.

Levy watches, and sighs as she decides to let him blow off some steam, before going over to him.

An hour passes, before Gajeel is done pounding the rocks.

He stands up, breathing heavily, and then turns to Levy with tired eyes, which turn to sadness as he sees her full figure on the leaf.

He turns from her, ashamed of his anger as his fist turns back to normal and he looks out over the water.

He sighs, and sits down, hunched over as he continues looking at the waters. This is when Levy knows it's her time to come in.

(Hello! Sorry it took a while to update. School has been busy, but I'm hoping to be able to write more! :))