OkayYYy, so, boy do I got some explaining to do...
Gods and mortals
She flung herself back as the creature broke through the door, splinters flying like bullets, been a while since she'd had to dodge those. Jellal swore loudly as a piece of wood jabbed into his leg, blood oozed through his clothes, the blue fabric growing darker. He ignored it.
His whole body flinched at the sound of a gun, memories he'd rather were left forgotten. Lucy had a gun?
Her shot was quick and messy but there was still a chance it would hit its target, she recalled her days of training with Natsu, 'don't think, just shoot, silans can predict the accurate' he'd said, because silans played games with the sain.
It missed. The doorframe cracking and splintering more from the bullet. If she'd just moved it an inch…
The silan lunged, pinning her to the ground. Rotten flesh filled her senses and its skin tor like tights, wider and wider. Lucy couldn't tell if the silan was roaring or screaming. How long had it been since the creature had eaten?
Fear trickled though her, hunger was a dangerous motive.
She hardly dodged the relentless snapping of its fangs. That if you could call the strange teeth like things fangs, constantly shifting form, from icicles to broken glass to fork prinks, she prayed if she were to get bitten at least make it something sharp.
Jellul shouted, jumping on the creature from behind, one hand stilling the neck, the other slashing open its throat, 'sorry, Lucy!', he shouted as black much fell over her, clotted blood, the creature was dead whether it ate them or not. How long had it suffered? Not long enough.
It screamed, high pitched and she foolishly covered her ears, allowing one of its hooves to smack into her ribs, thank the gods Lucy was wearing armour.
They needed to end this quickly, even If Lucy didn't mind seeing the creature suffer it was still a threat until the pulse was gone. She fired again, slightly winded from the attack on her ribs.
Headshot.
The creature slumped to the ground violently, head the last to hit the ground and Lucy let out a trembled sigh of relief.
'Are you alright', Jellul asked, walking over to her with a crinkled shirt to use as a makeshift towel.
She wasn't sure, it had been a while since she'd fought a silan. Terrifying creatures, morphing like slime. This one was in its original form, only able to alter its mouth into something deadly. Although, she found the creature more terrifying like that.
The ribs of this silan prodded out dangerously, how long had it gone without food? The blond cast her sympathy aside, monsters like that deserved to suffer far worse than starvation.
'All good, the rain is heavy, would it be ridiculous of me to try and get some of the blood of by scrubbing my face outside?', she didn't really care for the blood. Lucy just wanted to be alone.
Jellul snorted, 'I doubt it will work very well, but be my guest'
The sound of rain was back, and Lucy felt herself become at as calm as she could in public. The blood washed off to an extent as she scrubbed her face raw, her shirt still stained but the chest plate hidden underneath prevented her from feeling it. Didn't changed the stench of silans' blood. Didn't need it too. She missed the hunters. Well, one hunter in particular. Natsu was on a challenge similar to hers they were all in the same boat.
Deep breath the blond told herself. A mangled corpse was horrific no matter the creature. Lucy entered the house again, dripping from head to toe, causing Jellul to fret about trivial things such as a cold or other mild sickness, had he always nagged her like this?
He gave her one of his shirts, it was embarrassingly too big for her. Even with her muscular frame. She didn't like feeling so small. The top was itchy compared to the softer fabrics of the royal castle. Maybe she should complain less about the lack of funding to hunters. She was talking for granted what she now had. The thought didn't sit well.
She hadn't come so far to forget her roots.
Lucy grabbed Jellul's bag, this town was empty, they could have any house and without a door the one they were in wasn't much good.
They took their time, looking at each house, 'this one', Jellul suggested, no longer with the positive buzz after being told an 'obvious' flaw in his choice by Lucy on several occasions.
She hummed for a moment, looking over the small cottage like house, it was well built and looked well maintained. But she was picky, ' I'm not feeling the roses, too 'happy married couple''
She turned to face him then spotted something, 'that one! How did we not see it before? Curse the rain!', she ran over to the house when Jellul grunted, walking a little slower, she turned around, 'are you o- Jellul your leg- shit I-'
He waved off her concern, 'it looks worse than it feels' the wood was dusty from the door and would probably lead to infection if it was not sterilised, not to mention it was like having a rougher, jagged, dagger stuck into your leg.
'Bullshit', she called him out, now wasn't a time in the streets of Terra where weakness would be exploited. Then again, she wasn't the best at breaking off old customs.
Jellul cursed under his breath when he tried to take another step, 'would your precious hunters like to hear those foul words come from your mouth?' he growled, his anger always got the better of him when he was hurt.
Seemed like Lucy's short fuse had only increased since he last saw her.
'I warned you about losing your tongue', she threatened, eyes narrowing, still a sparkle of playfulness glowed within her. Lucy was always up for a battle of wits.
Jellul smirked at her ego, she hadn't always been confident only starting to believe in herself a year or so before they split, 'don't think I'm defenceless just because of a little leg wound'
Lucy forced a smile off her face, eyes darkening as she stepped closer to him, foot stomping on the ground making a soft squelch from the puddles, 'don't think you can beat me without one' she whispered back dangerously.
He laughed, taking up her offer on leaning on her shoulder 'maybe, I'm not quite a hunter you see'
She almost snorted at his implication. Hunters were thought to be the most talented in the country. Thought to be being key. After all there would always be people like Jellul, unrecognised Jellul.
He looked at her, unsure if she was giving him as much credit as he were worth. The boy was about to ask when a knew question entered his mind, 'and where do you stand?'
A grunt came from Lucy, angry and forceful, the angry little girl from Terra slowly coming back, 'third,' she growled, as if being third in over fifty was a loss, 'my partners second, his name is Natsu. You'd hate him' she smiled, imagining the pair of them meeting, Natsu wold probably be his arrogant self, maybe even try to fight him. Jellul wouldn't take his big ego.
The idea of defiantly not likening one of the hunters Lucy told him of, for some reason, gave him an odd sense of pride, puffing his chest out and giving off a smirk, 'good, I'm not ready to like a hunter' Lucy would never really be a hunter to him, no matter how much she said she was. Lucy was no monster. He'd met too many to not know the difference.
Lucy's head bobbed in a nod, 'to add to that he's royal'
'Bastard'
Lucy laughed, it was just as loud as he remembered, obnoxious to silence around them. 'I've missed you, they are all to entitled for jokes like these' she said, wiping her eye even though she was tearless.
Biting back a laugh Jellul used his arm not leaning on Lucy to push open the unlocked door. The house was dusty but a lot larger than the one he'd been staying in. it even had a metal bathtub in the corner of the room. He let Lucy set him down on the closest stool, trying not to yelp when his leg twitched. Amber eyes started down into his, 'I'll put a bucket outside for some water' she said, sweeping her eyes around for a bucket.
Jellul raised his eyebrows at the state of her, 'just ring out your hair Lucy, you're soaked'
She made a clicking sound with her tongue, eyes narrowing in a way that reminded him of a snake, 'You say that like you're not'
A draining feeling of exhaustion flooded Jellul and he simply waved her away, too tired to think of something witty. 'Just get the damn bucket'
She found a bucket in the bath tub. It was small and slightly rusty but it would have to do. Once again Lucy found herself missing the luxury that her room with the hunters was. She hated how soft she had become.
Bolting the door locked Lucy sighed, Jellul had his eyes closed and was still sitting on the stool. The reassuring patter of rain came from outside and Lucy sighed. It was cold, 'I'm lighting a fire,' she told Jellul, not bothering to look at him as she walked over to the chimney.
Cracking one eye open Jellul looked over her. 'you'd be a fool if you didn't'. She was shivering, the cold only now seemed to be catching up with her.
Lucy was kneeling in front of the fireplace, not needing to stop her task just to talk to him 'you know, I forgot you where this annoying' she almost sneered. Her patience was lacking, and she was cold. Jellul had a death wish.
If he'd noticed Lucy irritation was genuine he ignored it. Choosing instead to mock her, 'three years is all it takes, I'm hurt'. There was an ache in his back but Jellul didn't move in fear of the pain that would come from his throbbing leg.
the fire lit and Lucy began to blow puffs of air, trying to edge the flame on. Natsu was better at fires. The flames danced in front of her. Swirls of reds and yellows heat washing over her nose like a blanket. After a heavy pause she spoke up 'you talk posh now Jellal'.
'So do you'
Standing up abruptly Lucy looked at him, 'I've been hangin' with royals what 'ave you been doin'' Gray would laugh at her language and even Levy would probably cringe. She was for lack of a better word, pissed. Jellul waltzed into her life and had started attacking her. He'd been acting oh so high and mighty. He'd changed just as much as her. When would he accept it?
'Careful Lucy, your street is showing' he warned, and Lucy almost punched him, the mockery in his tone was clear. She could speak how she damn well pleased. Anyone who had a problem with it could get a punch to the jaw. Or at least that what she wanted Jellul to think.
She'd teach him not to look down on hunters. They were not just pistols and spears but educated well-read beings, 'a friend of mine told me when with people you were practically raised with your brain can subconsciously can go back to how you once acted' it wasn't uncommon knowledge but it was a start to re-educating him.
Raised eyebrows met her furrowed ones, 'funny, I read the same thing, who?' ok maybe he was a little impressed.
Lucy stood up straighter, defensive 'Princess Levy, she got a thirst for knowledge like nobody…except maybe you'. It was true princess Levy was always reading. Having the access that Jellul would dream of. But Lucy supposed that would make him envy her more.
A breath of air puffed from Jelluls mouth, irritated more than anything else, 'well that the only thing I can applaud her for' he said stubbornly, eyes looking down at the wood impaling him, he sucked in a breath, it was always worse when you looked.
Seemingly deflated Lucy merely looked at him, eyes almost sad, as if he were the one to lose themselves in the chaos of the world and not have open eyes, 'what happened to giving them a chance' it was quiet, tired. Lucy didn't want to argue. But she needed him to understand, she had to defend her friends.
The real reason for Jellul's bitterness shone through at last, his voice going deeper the way it did when he was uneasy 'you fired that gun like you were born for it,'
A wall went up and Lucy face became emotionless, in a way that only those who had seen too much did, 'would you rather we were a silans dinner?'
The ice that was Jellul's eyes melted, conserving tightening his face, 'Lucy you used to only use a knife'
Her eyes narrowed and flames lit behind them, there was not getting though to her now, whatever had changed in her would not be found out easily, 'and you used have short hair'
Trying to cool down the rage that burned though him at her comment Jellul replied, 'people who don't live in terra find facial scars less appealing' the thing about Lucy's rage was it spread, like a wildfire a peaceful forest could become a place of destruction.
This only seemed to anger Lucy more, not him, but his reasons. The people he must have come across to cause his change, she knew the feeling to well and it burned to know he did too, 'people who don't live in terra shouldn't direct your choices in appearance'
Without missing a beat Jellul pointed to her pistol, not fighting the venom in his voice when he said 'people who don't live in terra are your precious hunters'
The comment stung as it had intended, but Lucy pushed that away, he would not drag her achievements because they were not what they once were. 'I brought my life up from a dead end town of druggies and poor, use how I've grown against me again and I'll make sure nothing else can come out of your stupid mouth'
He snorted though he wasn't amused, eyes darkening enough for Lucy to have to force herself not to look away, this was more than a little harmless banter, this was rage mixed with sadness and confusion and betrayal, 'just try it and I'll make your hands shake so hard you won't be able to hit a target with that pretty gun of yours' l
Silence hung between them like a bad smell, Lucy trying not tremor and Jellul biting his lip ignoring the searing pain in his leg, refusing to be the one to give in.
Swallowing the lump in her throat Lucy hissed 'what have you done that makes you think you can talk to me like dirt on your shoe, Christ, I've known you since we couldn't even afford shoes' tears were welling up and she blinked them away, furious with herself for cracking in front of Jellul especially when arguing.
If he felt sorry for her, he didn't show it. Instead choosing to hit where it hurt now that he knew where to strike, 'yes' he drawled, 'and now you have thick boots custom maid for you to walk around in, saying you're doing it for the greater good, I see no good in the filth that have tricked you into thinking they are gods' he was trying not to wheeze, lifting his head up higher despite it jolting his leg, he bit his cheek, when they had moved on from this he would surely regret his words.
'I see no gods mixing with mortals Jellal, maybe you should stop seeing demons.' He was arrogant and wrong and selfish. Only seeing the darkness, a habit she admittedly had kept a hold onto herself. But at least her girl had loosened. His had only tightened and she wasn't sure if he would ever drop it.
'They are worse than demons, Lucy" he warned, an intensity around him strong enough for Lucy to push back a shudder. Jellul had a way of doing that.
He met her eyes again and that's when the pain Jellul was in went noticed by Lucy. Count on him to push aside his pain for an argument, once again she wasn't much better herself. They really were a pair.
His leg twitched, and she sighed 'where do you keep your bandages'
'Left pocket of the satchel'
Nodding Lucy fiddled with the bag until she felt a small medical pack, too small. They would need more if whatever they were suspecting was happing.
Making do with what she had Lucy, cleaned around Jellul's wound, ignoring his hissing and squeaks of protest. This was the man who had threats spewing from his moth a few minutes ago? Laughable.
Lucy grabbed the vodka that he had as disinfectant, wincing as she knew the pain Jellul was about to endure, tipping some onto a cloth then slapping it onto his leg, Lucy leaned her face away as Jellul hissed, 'carful!' his voice a few octaves higher, moving to remover her hand.
Slapping his hand away Lucy rolled her eyes, 'oh lord stop being such a baby' she'd expected the catlike hissing but the squealing and pushing, really?
Gritting his teeth Jellul made it clear he did not feel quite as relaxed as Lucy about this whole situation, 'oh I'm sorry,' he drawled, 'been a while since I've been impaled with massive fucking splinters sorry Lucy not all of us live life like suicidal maniacs'
'Without suicidal maniacs like me there would be more monsters than people'
'sometimes it's hard to tell the difference'
Lucy slapped the cloth onto his leg, Jellul jerked and hissed, hands grabbing onto his leg. She pushed harder; her hands shook against his leg, and her eyes narrowed, a fire burning though her, how dare he? 'what have you been doing Jellal. What have you been doing that so morally right you can look down on me'
At the silence that met Lucy's rage she pushed down harder, and Jellul sucked in a sharp breath, mumbling something along the lines of sadistic bitch, 'researching, exploring, helping. You know everything you said you would do.'
The rain could not be hear over their screaming silence. Eyes cold and soulless
She didn't want thus conversation. He had no idea the hell she'd been though to get here.
'The lines between good and bad are narrower than you think, Jellal, funny how you've forgotten that so quickly'
'Don't' was all he said
And so, she didn't
AhhhhhhHHhh. It's a long story. I was going to quit writing entirely. then i wrote an oc story. changed the names and personaltys' to fit the ft universe. quit again. might be coming back. idk. it's all in the air. ahhhHHhhh
also please PLEASE review. its like the biggest motivation. ask questions. anything.
