Erza loved a good fight. As much as she tried to refrain from entering Fairy Tail's classic brawls, she always managed to get a few good hits in before someone got her to stop. There was nothing better than that rush of adrenaline, the satisfaction of a competent opponent, the way the entire world seemed to shrink beneath you as you stood victorious.
The only thing that made it better was fighting for a good cause.
Erik had come across some human traffickers, transporting children some weeks prior to her joining the group, and now they had found the main hub of the operation. If they could take them down and leave enough evidence for the magic council, it could cripple trafficking in this part of the continent.
The main structure was heavily fortified, but that wasn't a problem. Erza tore through the outer defenses alongside Sorano. She hadn't had much experience with angel magic, but the way Sorano could wield it alongside her celestial magic was impressive. Sorano had the stamina to summon and send away angels in quick order and so she did. The rotation happened at break-neck speed. Erza wondered if those poor things weren't experiencing whiplash.
Ahead, Richard and Macbeth provided cover for Jellal, Erik, Meredy, and Sawyer to slip inside. Erza knocked out another henchman and waited for the signal that would tell them that the hostages had been secured.
It was a long ten minutes before Jellal's magic burst over the roof. Golden sparks flared. All clear. Erza heaved a sigh of relief. She turned to what was left of their opposition, most of whom were watching the sky in clear confusion.
She and Sorano used that confusion to their advantage and took whoever was left down with hardly a fight. They finished securing their opponents and joined the others inside.
Jellal and Erik came down from the roof just as they had gathered all the children into one room.
"Doranbolt's contingent is about thirty minutes out, we need to go. Now."
Some of the children protested. Erza's heart sank. How could they leave them here alone for that long? Before she could suggest that she could stay behind and draw off suspicion, Sorano had already whipped out three silver keys.
"Open, Gates of Canis Minor! Come Nicola!"
In a puff of magic three little adorable creatures who all resembled Lucy's Plue appeared. Sorano lowered herself to speak with them.
"Can you stay with these kids until the Rune Knights arrive? If there's any trouble let me know right away."
The three Nicola nodded their trembling heads. Sorano smiled and patted each of their heads and then pushed them towards the children.
"They are called Nicola. They're the dogs of the Spirit World. They are very friendly and will keep you safe until more help arrives. Be good my darlings!"
That issue solved, Crime Sorciere left.
Erza watched Sorano with concern. They were going uphill, away from the trafficker's base and Erza felt her own muscles tightening with exertion, but she wasn't draining her magic as Sorano was. The further away they got, the harder it would be for Sorano to keep those gates open. Erza knew from Lucy that Nicola didn't require much magic to be summoned. Still, maintaining three at once after a prolonged fight… Sorano must be running on fumes.
She was about to ask for a break, for Sorano's sake, when she saw the strain break on Sorano's face. She breathed a sigh of relief and continued without a hitch.
Erza spied the pink maguilty band around Sorano's wrist. She looked to Meredy who trailed directly after Jellal. There was no band on Meredy that she could see. It wasn't until Jellal turned to help Macbeth up a steep embankment that she saw the corresponding band on his wrist.
Erza smirked to herself.
"We're clear." Sorano said almost an hour later. "The Nicola have gone back through their gates. The Knights are there."
"Good." Jellal pushed the sweat from his brow. "Let's rest awhile. Meredy?"
With a swipe of her hand, the pink bands dissipated. Erza wanted to comment, but she wanted to sit more.
She slumped down next to Richard who labored for breath. She peered around their group. Sorano sat between Macbeth and Sawyer, her head on Macbeth's shoulder and her feet in Sawyer's lap. Even with Jellal's magical donation, she looked ready to pass-out. Erza's eyes went over to Jellal. As always, Meredy and Erik were on either side of him. It seemed to Erza that the three were never that far apart from the other. They were bound by something she couldn't sense.
She smiled and closed her eyes for a moment. It was good to see the people she loved surrounded by people who cared.
"Your girlfriend's gettin' sappy again." She heard Erik mutter.
"Be quiet and listen for Rune Knight movements." Jellal told him tersely.
Erik and Meredy snickered and their group fell quiet. Erza lightly dozed against Richard's side. Last night hardly any of them had slept. It was hard to let yourself sleep when you were supposed to free children the next morning.
She woke when Sawyer returned. Erza didn't recall him leaving, but there he stood with Jellal, out of breath and leaning against a tree for support.
"I checked camp. A couple of scouts got a little too close for comfort. I don't think it'd be smart to go back yet."
"I don't think we can stay here either, boss." Erik added. "I'm hearin' a lot of talk of searchin' the hillsides here."
"In that case we should partner off and go deeper into the mountains and make a plan to come back in a few day's time," Jellal said decisively.
Erza didn't like that idea. There was a lot that could go wrong. They were all tired. If someone got injured everyone else wouldn't know for days. Anyone of them could get lost easily trying to rendezvous. If it was terrain they were familiar with, if they weren't all dead on their feet it would be feasible. She herself didn't know this region of Fiore all that well, she had been here maybe three times.
A lightbulb went off.
"No, wait." Erza stood, damning the stiffness in her legs. "Erik, do you hear any movement west of here?"
Erik closed his eyes and focused. When he opened them, he shook his head.
"I know a place we can go. Follow me."
They did follow. The trek was easier this time as they were going downhill and the forest here had thinned a little. They arrived at the lawn of their destination by sunset.
"What is this place?" Sawyer's voice was tinged with awe.
Erza smiled, she didn't blame him. Even after years of disuse and lack of attention it was still beautiful.
"The Heartfilia Estate," Erza answered, scanning the grounds carefully for the entrance Lucy mentioned.
"As in your friend Lucy?" Meredy asked in surprise as they neared the extravagant main building on the grounds. They passed some overgrown hedges, still daunting in their wildness. "This is hers?"
"Was. It was her childhood home before she came to Fairy Tail." Erza replied, growing worried that she wasn't finding what Lucy had said was here.
Macbeth snorted behind her, "Tch. And she left this to join Fairy Tail?"
"It wasn't a happy home." Erza murmured more to herself. "Now where is it?"
"I'm sensing some powerful magic, are you sure it's saf-"
Jellal slammed face-first into the barrier. Erza barely managed to hold back a laugh at his stunned expression. His guildmates weren't as considerate. While they giggled he rubbed at his forehead irately.
He looks like Happy when Natsu accidently cooks his fish. Erza thought briefly, finding the look of annoyance on his face endearing. She walked up beside him and pressed her guild mark against the surface.
The barrier rippled and above their heads appeared the words: A FATHER LOST.
"Igneel," Erza spoke assuredly.
An opening appeared in front of her. She looked over her shoulder at the others with a smile and beckoned them through. After the rest of them passed through, she followed. The barrier closed seamlessly behind her.
"We can't be seen through the other side, can we?" Jellal guessed.
"Or heard." Erza stared proudly at her friend's handiwork, "Lucy wanted a place that only Fairy Tail members could reach now that we've been scattered to the winds. She tells everyone that she sees about it."
"Cool, any beds in this place? I'm beat." Macbeth turned about face and headed straight into the mansion without waiting for a response.
The rest turned to Erza as if seeking permission. Erza waved them on. Meredy and Sawyer took off running, like children eager to play with a new toy. Richard and Sorano were only slightly more restrained. They began chattering about the luxurious surroundings, predicting at what lay inside for them to find. This left Erik, Jellal, and Erza standing at the barrier's edge.
Erza caught the look Erik and Jellal shared before Erik put his hands behind his head and followed the others at a leisurely pace.
Then there were two.
"Ready?" She prompted.
"Just a moment," Jellal replied, his eyes on his retreating guildmembers. "I'm still… taking it all in."
She stood with him in contemplative silence. The sun had nearly set and it looked as if someone had painted the sky in strokes of orange, purple, and dark blue. Erza thought it was the perfect ending to a triumphant day. Without thinking, her hand reached for his. Jellal took it. They didn't look at each other, they didn't need to. The world was small beneath their feet.
"Hey guys!" Meredy shouted from the front door, "Sawyer and I found the kitchen! There's even food in the pantry!"
Erza had completely forgotten about eating. At the mention of food the emptiness of her stomach made itself painfully known. She felt Jellal squeeze her fingers before they began to move in tandem towards the mansion. It wasn't until they reached the threshold that his hand slipped away from hers.
Dinner was rice porridge. Which would have been what they had eaten at the campsite, but the fact that they were eating it at a real table with nice plates and silverware made it feel like a feast. Everyone's mood improved. Sawyer, between gulps explained everything he had discovered so far. The kitchen obviously, bedrooms, ridiculously proportioned bathrooms, and even a two-story library.
Erza did not fail to notice how Jellal's eyes lit-up at the mention of a library. She noted that for later exploration.
The exhaustion set in once everyone's bellies were full. Around the table people were starting to zone out or doze off altogether. She stood-up.
"Sawyer, why don't you show everyone where those bedrooms you found are. I'll clean up."
"You sure?" Sawyer looked up at her drowsily.
"I think I know my way there. Go, before we have to start carrying people."
He nodded and as he gathered his sleepy herd, she gathered their dirtied bowls. When she looked up again, only Jellal lingered in the kitchen with her.
"Not tired?" She inquired, pouring a bucket of well water over their dishes.
"I thought I'd help you first. It is my guild after all."
"You can dry then." Erza tossed him a rag.
He came to stand next to her. Their fingers would graze every time she handed him a bowl to dry, even though it could easily be avoided. Erza felt her cheeks warm and she did nothing to stop it.
The work was finished quickly. Leaving them alone and empty handed. Erza half-turned towards him. Her hip rested against the sink basin and she crossed her arms. She looked up at him with a rueful smile.
"Want to go find your library?"
He quirked one eyebrow, "Not tired?"
"Not yet." She held out her hand. "Coming with me or not?"
Again, to her happy surprise, Jellal took her hand. She weaved their fingers together for good measure. She tugged him forward and they were off. They tore out of the kitchen and into one of the many hallways. Moonlight spilled from the tall windows onto the floors. The hardwood creaked beneath their heavy footfalls. The walls echoed her breathless laughter.
After careening around several corners and almost tumbling down a flight of stairs they reached the library. Without ceremony they tore open the double entry doors. Dusty and not well-loved, it was still a wonder. Erza took no offense when Jellal dropped her hand in favor of reaching out for the tomes in front of them.
Looking around in the dim moonlight, Erza pictured herself again with her teammates. Lucy and Wendy on the floor, trying to piece together the puzzle of their current adventure. Natsu and Gray having a brawl that ended up destroying Lucy and Wendy's good work. It had been a day of bright sunshine, shouting, and discovery.
As happy as she was to be with Jellal and the new friends she was making in his guild, her heart longed for other people. She wondered where her teammates were now. I hope they're happy and safe. Erza blinked hard. Even if I'm not there to see it.
"How did you know where this was?"
Erza cleared her throat before she turned back to him, "I've been here before. With my team."
Something in her voice must have tipped him off, because he immediately stopped admiring the shelves and looked at her.
"Erza?"
She hated the concern in his voice. There was nothing to be concerned about.
"I'm fine."
His mouth turned into a sympathetic frown. "Erza."
She swallowed and crossed her arms, "Don't say my name like that, I'm fine."
"Are you?"
"Of course," She stated, emphatically determined to be fine. She then began to list off all the reasons why she should be perfectly fine. "I'm not injured. You're not injured. We have a roof over our heads for the night. We saved dozens of children from slavery. What else could I need?"
For a blessed moment Erza thought that would be the end of his inquiry. Technically it was. He asked no further questions, but she didn't expect him to put his arms around her either.
"I know that it's been hard on you. To be away from them." He said as he set his chin against the top of her head. "And you can let yourself feel it. I won't think any less of you. You'll still be the strong, resilient Erza I've always known. Give yourself a moment to grieve."
The tears were already in her eyes by the time he embraced her. Now they were streaming down her face. Her breath hitched as she tried vainly to rein them back in. She opened her mouth to tell him she didn't need to grieve, but all that came out was a choked wail. After that she had no choice but to let herself fall to pieces.
She hated herself for this weakness. She hated herself for feeling lonely when she was surrounded by the members of Jellal's guild; all of whom she liked and respected. She hated herself for the moments where she woke-up wishing she were in her own bed at Fairy Hills. She hated herself for not being in the right state-of-mind to talk Master Makarov out of the disbandment. She hated herself for missing Magnolia and the guildhall and Lucy's apartment.
Erza hated herself so much for ruining a perfectly victorious day with crying that it only made her cry more.
To his credit, Jellal stood there and let her fingers dig into the front of his shirt. Let himself get drenched in her tears and snot. He didn't try to move or soothe her. He was just the bulwark that kept her crying face hidden from the world. Eventually, her body ran out of tears, the chemicals in her brain evened-out again and she regained the ability to speak properly.
Erza turned her cheek to press against his chest, "Can, can we go to bed now?"
"Yeah, let's go."
They shifted. Only one arm was around the other now. Erza hid her face just above his collarbone. She closed her eyes let him lead her out of the library.
Eventually they reached a bedroom. There was no telling if it was anywhere near where the other guild members were, but that hardly mattered. The bed had sheets, dusty, and stained with age, but sheets nonetheless. They lingered in the doorway. Erza wiped her face on her sleeve before she could look at him directly.
"Would you stay?"
Jellal brushed away the strands of hair that stuck to her cheeks, "Of course."
She fell asleep with his hand in hers.