Angel Rose

Chapter 12

"Jeez, my back hurts so much." I complained to myself as I walked out of the office.

"Yo, Angel. Where were you? You didn't come home yesterday." I heard Gajeel ask as he stormed into the guild hall. I watched as he did a once over of my unruly appearance, his eyes narrowing at Laxus' coat folded over my arms and his nostrils flaring. "I'll kill that bolt-face." He muttered darkly, making a beeline for Laxus' table. Shit. I ran ahead of him, using tables and chairs to propel myself faster.

"Here's your coat. Sorry I kept it so long.' I dropped the coat on the table and turned just in time to stop Gajeel's fist. "Don't start a fight on assumptions. Come on, we'll talk in private." I pulled Gajeel after me, away from the prying eyes of the guild.

"You slept on the floor?"

"Well, yeah. I wanted to make sure the egg stayed warm. I wasn't trying to go home again after I heard you and Levy yesterday. I just forgot to give Laxus his coat back so when you saw me I was going to return it."

"Go take a shower. You smell like him. I'll watch the egg for a bit."

"What's wrong with how I smell? Don't tell me you're going all 'over-protective brother' on me."

"You smell like him. I don't want the whole house to smell like him, too."

"Fine, grouchy. Be careful with that egg or I'll tell Mira about what I heard yesterday."

"You wouldn't dare."

"Oh, I so would."

"Just go shower, damn it!"

"Happy now?" I asked as I plopped down in a chair beside Gajeel.

"Your clothes still smell like him, but at least his scent isn't all over your skin anymore."

"Why are you so uptight about me smelling like Laxus? It's not like it's that big of a deal."

"It's a big deal for us." Gajeel rested his head on the egg, bringing my attention back to it.

"Have you been keeping the egg warm while I was in the shower?" I asked, peeling it away from him.

"'Course I was. What do you take me for?"

"Do you really want me to answer?"

"Shut up!"

"Hey, Gajeel! Fight me!" Natsu shouted, jumping at Gajeel's sitting form. I pushed myself away from the table, taking the egg with me as I walked towards the Thunder Legion.

"Mind if I hang with you guys? I don't really wanna get involved in that right now."

"Of course, Angel. it's best to stay out of the way when they begin to behave like ruffians." Freed answered.

"Don't get all high and might, Freed. I know how you act when you're drunk." I smacked him upside the head as I settled in my seat. "Where's Ever?"

"She snuck off with Elfman." Bickslow offered up, sticking his tongue out.

"Don't cover up your jealousy with lechery, Bix. If you had the balls to ask the woman you like out, you could be getting some, too." I stuck my own tongue out at him with a smirk.

"Oh, I'll show you balls, shorty."

"No, you won't." Laxus spoke with a short bolt of lightning to Bickslow.

"The hell was that for, boss?" Bix whined.

"Pretty sure I told you before you're never pulling your pants down around me." I laughed, clutching my stomach to keep from falling over.

"You all need to get laid. It'll help you loosen up."

"You offering?"

"You're not my type, Bix. But seriously, if you guys don't get your shit together and ask them out, I'm gonna do it for you."

"We don't need another Mira in the guild." Laxus commented.

"I know. Mira only suggests good couples. I'm talking about actually setting up dates for them." I shot back.

"Just them?"

"I never saw who you ended up with. Sorry." I hugged the egg to myself, slouching down. Though I wouldn't mind keeping you for myself. My back twinged and I nearly folded in on myself. I took a deep breath through my nose and hissed it out between my teeth. "Ow."

"Are you alright?" Freed worried.

"Fine. It's just a cramp. Nothing to worry about."

"Aren't baths good for that/ Want some company?" Bickslow teased.

"Shut up. I'm gonna head home and get this under control before it gets worse. See you guys tomorrow."

"Fuck!" I'd only been home long enough to make a nest for the egg before my camps became crippling, sending me to my knees. I curled in on myself, placing my forehead on the floor. They haven't been this bad in years. What the hell is going on? "Jesus... what the hell did I do to deserve this?" I asked myself.

"Angel, you are my daughter. There are many good things about being a dragon slayer, but there will be times you will hate it."

"How will I hate it, Ama? I'm strong and fast."

"When you are an adult, you will endure what we Dragons call mating season. Your proximity to male Dragon Slayers will determine how often, but no more than four times a year. Shall I continue to explain?"

"Yes, Ama."

"Mating season starts for females first. For one week, you will feel pain and the need to mate. The next week, male Dragon Slayers will be able to scent that you are ready for a mate and will instinctively try to prove themselves worthy. There is good news to this: should you find them unworthy, or they have already found their mate, they will not approach you."

"Then I'll just stay away from male Dragon Slayers when I get older."

"If you say so, love. Just be careful when your first season comes, Angel."

Why am I remembering this now? This couldn't happen before? Mavis, this hurts so much! Think! There has to be something I can do to make it stop without fucking some. Sorry about the roof, Gajeel. I need help. I bent my back until I faced the roof of the house, taking deep breaths to ignore the pain. "Lightning Dragon... Roar!" I shot my roar straight through the ceiling and into the sky. "Now, scatter." It worked. My roar spread lightning throughout the sky, sure to catch at least one Dragon Slayer's attention.

"Angel!" I heard Gajeel's shout followed by the bang of the front door. "What the hell did you destroy the roof for?!"

"Gajeel." I called, trying to pull myself up. "I need your help. I can't... Unh. I can't move."

"Angel, what the hell are you doing on the floor?" Gajeel stupidly asked as he helped me sit up.

"What part of 'I can't move' did you miss? I know I'm going to regret asking this, but would you please take me to Lucy's and bring the egg with us?"

"Why Lucy's?"

"Because there are no guys at Lucy's house ever second of the day. Gajeel, please."

"Angel," Gajeel lifted me into his arms with care, but I still hissed in pain, "You're burning up. Tell me what's going on or I'm taking you to that old hag."

"She can't do anything to help me. Gajeel, it's mating season. Take me to Lucy. Now."

"Ah, hell."