Okay, so, it's been a while.
This story is actually finished, which is nice. So nobody'll be left hanging.
Not that there is a very detailed plot in the first place, I guess.
Anyway! Yeah. Nice to see everyone again! Please, um, enjoy :)
NOTEWORTHY
Jellal-
Thursday. Midday. South beach.
No guilds.
See you in paradise.
-Erza
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
Ultear tries to peek over his shoulder, but Jellal crumples the note. The messenger bird flies away.
"That from your girlfriend, is it?"
"Sure. That. Listen." He blinks, takes a second to lick his lips, wipe the blood off his leather gloves and coat. He stands amidst a slew of bodies - dark guild murderers, all. "I'm going somewhere Thursday. I know we were meant to crack down on the Night Horsemen, but -"
"Do you have a date?" Meredy asks, bouncing over. She tries to look, too, but he stuffs the paper in his pocket, away from prying eyes. "Oooh! How exciting! Don't you think so, Ultear?"
"I certainly do."
"It's not a date," he tells them defensively, backing away. "It's just... a thing."
"With Erza."
"Who even said it was from her?" He turns, summons magic into his right palm and begins to draw Crime Sorciére's symbol on the high arches of the vanquished guild hall. They follow him.
"Well who else would it be?" Ultear muses, mocking. "Everyone you know is right here. Or in prison. And nobody ever sends you messages. Unless you have a secret double life with a lot of friends going on behind our backs? Then maybe..."
Jellal pauses to give her a withering look.
"Ultear!" Meredy scolds. "He's got that fiancée, remember! Maybe it's from her?"
As Ultear's laugh echoes among the arches, Jellal's eyes shrivel closed, stomach jolting with embarrassment. Will they ever let him live that down?
"You were such a jerk to her," Meredy sighs, shaking her head. "Poor Erza. She's so pretty, too..." She gives Ultear a quick look. "I know that if I was a boy..."
"Ha! A boy? As I am now, I'd give it a shot."
Jellal loses his concentration, and the line on his witch's hat wobbles. "Guys -"
"Except I don't think she likes me very much," Ultear continues. "That whole possessing her boyfriend thing..."
"I'm not her -"
"But you've changed!" Meredy cries, in response to Ultear's sad frown. "You could still try! You're pretty and smart and funny and -"
Ultear raises a hand for silence. "Now, now, we already know how great I am. Let's talk more about Jellal's shortcomings. I like doing that."
Finished with his marking, Jellal turns to face them, running a hand through his hair, preening in an effort to look at least mildly dignified. He tugs at the high collar of his coat. "If you're both finished?" He glares and they giggle, which is always the way in their little ragtag group. "Yes? Good. As I was saying – I have been... er... summoned... by someone whowill remain nameless. I will be going to... a place. And won't be back until... Sometime. Can I trust you two to be good while I'm gone?"
"When have I proved to be anything but completely trustworthy?" Ultear croons, winking.
Jellal narrows his eyes, jabs two fingers towards them, and then back at Ultear. "I'll be watching you." He clears his throat, then digs around in his pockets a bit. "Take these." They're clear and round – marbles - with a design on them similar to his tattoo across the surface. "These balls -"
Meredy snorts.
Jellal reddens. "These balls will summon me back if you need anything. You just have to break them. Throwing them on the ground should -"
"Nooooo," Ultear drawls, smirking. "I'd much rather squeeze them."
"What if we use our Jellal balls to -"
Meredy breaks off as Jellal's eye starts twitching, and the unpleasant sound of grinding teeth sounds loud from his jaw. She fights the urge to laugh, but smiles widely instead, fingering the marble between her fingers. Ultear does the same, but with a more suggestive look. Jellal looks away. "You're both impossible," he mutters.
"Better stop," Ultear sighs.
"I hear his fiancée is the jealous type..."
Jellal kicks the closest corpse to him and waves his arms around like a lunatic, shouting, "Okay! I'm an idiot! I get that! I already know that! I lied and told the girl of my – of my... er... -"
"- dreams?"
"I DIDN'T SAY THAT! – anyway – that I was affianced! But I'd love it if we forgot about that, okay? Unless there are any MORE jokes you want to make? Because, if not, I suggest you get it ALL out of your systems NOW, before we spend ANY MORE TIME ON THIS STUPID SUBJECT. GO ON." His eyes are wide. Far from being put in their place, his guildmates' smiles get wider. They stay quiet, just looking at him and kneading the marbles he gave them.
"Be good while you're gone," Meredy says eventually. "We'll miss you."
Jellal stumbles, then, because her expression goes soft, and Ultear's does too. "Right. Yes. Well. Me too." He looks away. "If you need anything... Yeah. Break them. I'll come straight away." He lets them see him smile.
"Stay safe."
And he disappears in a puff of smoke.
NOTEWORTHY
Because Jellal and Ultear are silly friends.