Rewind
Note: I would suggest that you listen to Bleach's "Going Home" or Code Geass' "With You" for the first part of the story since it helps with the guitar part.
The hot water cascaded down his shoulders and he reached out to turn off the shower. Groping around, Jellal managed to find a fluffy towel and started to rub down his body.
Erza Knightwalker was different from Erza Scarlet in so many ways and yet they were so alike. Scarlet was kind and caring. Knightwalker was cruel and sadistic. She lived for her duty, yet Scarlet lived for her comrades and for justice. Both were strong and brave but lived with armoured hearts. Jellal smiled. It was very ironic that both mages had also shown him their fragile sides.
The blue haired man rubbed at his hair with his towel.
These were the times when he missed the rowdy guild.
He missed the way he would sit on the second floor, sipping sake while overlooking the guild. Natsu would be busy arguing with a naked Gray as Juvia looked on. Erza would then pile in to stop the fight but end up destroying the guild as Gajeel would also contribute towards the destruction. Mirajane would coolly serve alcohol to Cana and Macao as they engaged in yet another drinking contest and Laxus would listen to his music, oblivious to the chaos downstairs while Master Makarov would smile and drain his beer.
How he missed Fairy Tail. Maybe one day, he could reopen the anima and take a short visit to Earthland.
Stomping out of his bathroom, he slipped on a pair of black pants but decided against wearing a shirt for the moment. Sweat covered his upper torso as the heat from the bathroom wafted over to him. The moonlight glinted off an object from the corner of the room, catching his eye.
Jellal's eyes softened. It was his guitar that was placed at the corner of the room. Being an Earthland instrument, he had had to handcraft it out of wood personally. Chuckling, he picked up the guitar and carried it to the balcony.
Balancing it on his lap delicately, he hopped onto the banister and stroked the guitar fondly. He had been fascinated by the wooden instrument ever since Mirajane had performed with one at the bar. Jellal laughed aloud as he remembered Gajeel's legendary performance.
"Shooby do bop indeed."
His fingers ghosted over the strings lovingly, plucking and picking at them. The sweet sound filled his ears and Jellal soon found himself engrossed in the task.
The soothing atmosphere reminded him of the crisp autumns he used to spend at Porlyusica's. Red and orange leaves would swirl around him in perfect spirals as the wind threaded through them, leading them in a dance. And he would munch on the apples provided by the elderly healer, enjoying the smooth breeze and the fresh air.
A shuffling behind the curtain snapped him out of his dreams and he poked his head back into the room only to see Erza.
"Captain Knightwalker?"
Erza started. She had not expected the king to be in his room, having knocked on his door for some time. Swallowing, she mentally slapped herself for checking out his body. It was really tempting with his muscular, chiseled torso covered in sweat just in front of her. In the pale moonlight, even his blue hair complimented his tattooed face perfectly.
Although she was distracted, Erza did not miss the look Jellal shot her.
Jellal was not someone who was insecure about his body. In fact, he was quite proud about his physique. However, even he felt quite self-conscious under Erza's piercing gaze. To have his affection check him out was something new to him.
Sighing, Erza slammed a stack of papers on Jellal's desk.
"What is this, captain?"
Said female saluted stiffly. "This is the report for last week's mission, Your Highness."
Jellal reached for it. Grabbing the papers, he flipped through it, eyes lingering just a fraction of a second longer on the parts where information was missing. Smirking, he dropped the stack of papers back onto the desk.
So she had left out the bits on the interrogation and the rescue mission after all. He knew that as king, he should be annoyed at Erza's actions. However, he couldn't bring himself to be even the slightest bit irritated as he gazed proudly at one of his finest captains.
Glancing curiously at the guitar, Erza asked grudgingly, having given into her curiousity.
"If I may ask, what is that contraption?"
Jellal laughed nervously. "Well, it's an instrument from Earthland...I mean Mystogan brought it back as a present." He flushed as he realized that he had nearly let slip his identity.
Erza nodded slowly and bowed before leaving the room. "My apologies Your Highness, I have to prepare for an event for tonight."
Jellal grinned, "Captain's night, I see. Well, have fun."
The redhead growled under her breath. The king was still as annoying as ever. Damn him.
After much whining on Laxus' part, Mystogan had grudgingly agreed to wear a white shirt, rolled up at the sleeves, but had insisted on wearing his black pants and boots. He looked casual enough in his opinion. He arched his back, stretching out his tired muscles and sauntered off to Erza's room.
Passing by the blonde's room, he hammered on the door and continued onwards. Laxus scrambled after him as they made their way down the corridor. Stopping at the door, Mystogan cleared his throat and knocked twice.
After a moment, the door opened softly. The female smiled at him and slipped out. She was wearing a short skirt and a shirt, and a nervous smile made its way onto Mystogan's face as he took in the sight before him. Gesturing for the redhead to walk ahead of him, he glanced at Laxus, eyes pleading.
Laxus shot a grin back at him. Placing both hands behind his head, the electric mage whistled merrily and lagged behind the couple, deliberately pretending that the scenery was too beautiful for him to pass up. And for the rest of the way, Mystogan walked in a comfortable silence with Erza.
Erza seated herself between Laxus and Mystogan as Hughes and Sugarboy ordered just about the entire sake stock of the bar. As the night dragged on, conversations about missions, Edolas, Devlin and gossip were thrown around the table before it finally settled on Mystogan.
Smacking his lips, Hughes rounded on the masked man. Slamming down his cup with more force than he intended, Hughes drawled lazily. "So Mystogan, like wanna tell us a bit about yourself? I mean like, I only know your name and rank."
A ripple of curiousity descended on the group and Mystogan shifted slightly.
"I uh…was a mage of Fairy Tail on Earthland for a few years before I came back to Edolas. I was uh…just researching the anima," he offered lamely.
Sugarboy's eyes widened. "And you're now in the Edolas army? Talk about being ironic, right?"
Mystogan stared at his cup. He had to be careful what to say now. "Well, the past is the past. I live for the present and the future."
Erza raised her glass. "Well said."
"Well whatever, with all that little bit of introduction over with," Hughes leaned forwards and asked bluntly, "Are you handsome?"
Mystogan stared at him dumbly. "Am I…handsome?" How on earth was he supposed to answer that?
"Yeah! Like how is it a masked guy like you can make all the ladies at the palace swoon?"
The man blinked. "I do?"
Laxus laughed rowdily and slapped him on the back. "You're way too clueless."
"So like if you're really hot, I might consider dumping Sugarboy for you." Hughes smirked playfully at his partner's indignant protests.
"Well, I look nothing like Faust," Mystogan joked, "or Byro at least," he added hastily. He was getting really careless nowadays.
The rest of the group recoiled at the mere suggestion of Mystogan looking like Faust or Byro.
Laxus threw back his head and roared with laughter before commenting. "Nah, my boy's a handsome lad," he winked roguishly, "possibly even more so than the king."
Erza scoffed at the comparison but Sugarboy cocked an elegant eyebrow.
"Ah, of course. Laxus is the only one who knows everything about our mysterious captain." A sudden thought hit him and he gasped. "So, it is true that you two are gay?" He clasped his hands together happily. "How wonderful! And I always thought you had the hots for Jellal!"
"Say what?"
Mystogan rubbed his forehead. Laxus always had a knack for creating misunderstandings.
After the laughter had died down, Hughes started his interrogation again. "So, like you got a girlfriend yet?"
Mystogan's eyes softened visibly as he replied. "No."
Hughes gaped at him and pointed a finger at him dramatically. "With your looks and talent, you could have any girl you want! Or any guy you want! How is it you don't have one?"
Sugarboy leaned back in his chair contently and tapped the side of his head. "I know that look in your eyes dear boy." He smiled at Mystogan. "There's a special someone in your life, isn't there? You have eyes for only one."
Mystogan did not answer but his eyes darkened so that they were unreadable. With his mask still in place, no one could read his expression. But the huge grin on the blonde's face said it all.
Scoffing, Sugarboy rubbed his head. "You're too passive Mystogan. You'll never get your girl like this! You have to create opportunities yourself!" Nudging him playfully, Sugarboy fished for information. "So, who is this girl that's got you whipped?"
Mystogan raised his hands in defense. "Come on guys, tonight's not just about me."
Laxus nodded and turned his attention towards the sole female of the party.
"Erza."
Seeing that he had caught her attention, he continued. "Since you broke up with…" he trailed off as Erza directed her glare at him with full force. Coughing, he asked, "I mean, I hear your family's been drawing up a list of possible candidates for your marriage. How's it going?"
Erza smacked her head against the table. "My family thinks that at twenty years of age, I should get married as soon as possible. They're currently looking through the list to eliminate the weaker candidates."
"The usual list of tests I presume," Laxus groaned, "please tell me I'm not on that list."
Erza chuckled and shook her head. "Apparently it wasn't a wise decision to include you after all that has happened between us."
Mystogan glanced at Laxus. He was definitely hiding something. Noticing the broad grin spreading across the blonde's face, Mystogan downed his glass of sake. Laxus grinned.
"Well, the king's also being pressured about his marriage. Any chance you two can get together?"
Both Mystogan and Erza spat out their mouthful of alcohol as the other males broke into a chorus of laughter. Laxus feigned innocence and offered helpfully, "You've got the looks, brains and noble blood in you. You would be perfect along with Jellal."
"Never. Besides, he would never get past the first test, which is a combat duel test."
Erza exhaled deeply but Mystogan turned to her, confusion laced in his voice. "What is it that he has done? Why do you hate him so much?"
"Someone who runs away from his duties and responsibilities and abandons his people cannot call himself king."
Laxus looked irritated as he defended Jellal. "And yet you judge him even though you don't know his side of the story." Growling, he challenged her. "Do you even know his reasons for what he did?"
Erza looked away. "His behaviour was inexcusable."
Mystogan's eyes narrowed. Was this really how she saw him? Could it be that he had wronged her? Had he wronged his people?
The blonde shot a worried glance at his friend as doubt settled over Mystogan's face. He would have to talk to Mystogan after this.
Well, I did a 'Black Star' last chapter. Apparently there isn't as much character development as I hoped for, so next chapter will be plot driven rather than about character development. Bleh. But hey, tell me what you think about the story so far, maybe about the plot driven chapters or the character development chapter, how you want the story to develop etc (like any characters?).
Yes, I love Laxus. Imagine if he were your real life best friend. Kyaaaa. I don't really like Hughes or Sugarboy, so we won't see much of them any more in later chapters. And yes, I deliberately made Hughes keep using the word 'like' haha.
