Aha!
I was going to update yesterday but the SITE WOULDN'T LET ME ALAS-
Thank you to everyone who reviewed :) this is only a little chapter, but I needed a breather before everything really gets up and running :D Bear with me~! RAWWR-
NOTEWORTHY
He teleports to his safehouse, tucked deep inside one of Fiore's most notorious forests. His stuff is strewn all around the little shack; clothes – mostly black, of course – mounted atop every bit of rickety furniture available. He makes a mental note to fix the draft that comes in under the crappy rotting door. Then he breathes in.
And he freaks out.
Not like a big usual Jellal freak out, though. Just a little one. Where he shoves his hands into his face and writhes his torso around, making stupid noises and biting his lip and then eventually settling by a wall to slowly and steadily bash his head against it. When it starts to hurt, he lets himself slide down until he's kneeling, forehead still flush against the splintery surface.
"What do I do?" he asks the emptiness. "What do I do?"
He stays there a while, steeling himself, making sure his heart and/or stomach won't do anything stupid when he looks at the note again. He breathes deeply, shuts his eyes, concentrates on just... slowing down. When he thinks he has it all under control, Jellal reaches slowly into his pocket, takes the crumpled white paper, peels it open carefully, and strains his eyes downward to look at it.
Outwardly, his appearance doesn't change.
INWARDLY, almost every single organ that can react, DOES.
He lets out a gargle and throws the paper away, heart still pumping furiously, skin tingling.
WHAT IS THIS?
IS IT A DATE?
WHAT DOES SHE WANT?
IS IT A DATE?
DATE?
DATE?
DATE?
"It's NOT a date," he tells himself firmly, adamant. After all, a date... now would be sort of... wrong. It had been a year since her return from magical limbo, and might as well have been that long since he'd seen her properly. During the tournament they fought side by side, but most of the time their meetings were akin to two ships passing in the night. There was just never enough time – or so he's been telling himself.
Truth is, ever since realising the extent of what he'd done in the Tower – to himself, to Simon, Shou, and the others under his care – he's developed a resolution to never not be completely in control. And there is nothing that makes him lose himself like Erza Scarlet. It's a fact. He'd fervently denied it when it happened, but the truth is that for weeks after he kissed her on the beach, Ultear, Meredy and dark guild rogues alike were subject to his lovelorn sighs, goofy smiles and dreamy hums at all hours of the day and night. He recognised the difference in his behaviour, the effect she had, and as a result resolved to stay away from her. To stay away. He's never made an effort to contact Erza for any reason besides business, and though he couldn't be sure of the exact reasons behind it, neither has she.
Which of course, begs the question: What does she want now?
See you in paradise was oddly subjective. Paradise could be anything, everything and nothing to anyone. It was a completely non-specific term!
Except, he sighs, banging his head again, it isn't. At all.
Not to them.
She wants him to come to the island. And it isn't a request, or an invitation, either. It's a demand. And because he's him, and she's her, there's no way he can disagree. He owes her everything.
For a moment he indulges romantic delusions. Then he decides it's far more likely she's collapsed under the weight of his entire existence and is going to get rid of him once and for all. Like she should.
Jellal groans and falls backwards, away from the wall, squirming a little with nervous energy.
Thursday. Midday. South beach.
Thursday is tomorrow.
He should probably pack.
NOTEWORTHY
Okay, so, you might say I fucking loved the latest chapter, because, well, LAXUS and Mystogan and shhhhhh, Erza- I'm NOT HERE- Jellal you stupid fuck I adore you. And is anyone else insanely delighted over the Gray x Juvia x Leon thing? Because I crack!shipped Juvia x Leon for ages. OT3?
I am OT3ing everything right now. I have been OT3ing Jellal x Erza x Laxus for like... years. Laxus is the hottest guy in Fairy Tail. I want to HUG HIM FOR EVERRRRRRR GEEZ. Laxus Jellal friendship is SO CUTE. He has a penchant for understanding them?
'Hey, remember, Mystogan was a liiiiiiittle bit less talktative?'
'Right. Got it.'
YOU ARE BOTH IDIOTS.
Anyway- rants aside, the next chapter will come soon enough, and then the plot of this pretty much plotless story will commence! :D