Hey guys ! Chapter 11 just for you :) Are you ready for ERZA MODE ? :D
Thank you thedarklordgivenofuck for beta-reading :)
Previously on Let me See you :
She felt an irrepressible urge to go there… She had the feeling she would find her answers to this Angel and Cobra mystery.
The 'Town of Heaven'… The true paradise for dealers and crime gangs.
Erza sighed. She hadn't put a foot in this city in six years.
'Home sweet home…'
Fallen leaves crunched under Erza's feet, breaking the silence of the night. The cold air transformed instantly her breathing into mist, and the empty streets gave her the impression she was unwelcome in the old town.
But Erza couldn't turn back, she had to continue. The dead of night was a perfect time to encounter people who would give her information, even if it was scary. She wondered where she should start first. The pub, if it was still open ? It could be a good idea. But first she wanted to pay a visit to an old friend.
Her feet carried her unconsciously on the path she knew by heart when she was younger. Thinking of a strategy, she didn't realize she had stopped in front of an old creepy building closed by a huge rusty grid. After a few seconds, she looked up and gasped. Her eyes were filled with emotion, as memories of the past came back to haunt her.
The orphanage. She wanted to cry. Her whole youth she tried to escape from this place, but each time she had nowhere to go, and she was caught by the police or inhabitants who brought her back. She stopped trying when she was ten, and became bitter and angry, starting to smoke weed and deal, like a lot of people in this town.
Kagura and Simon, who were older and wiser, tried to calm her, to make her believe she would leave this place when she would get older, that she could have the life she wanted later if she worked hard and believed in it. But at that rebellious time, she didn't have belief. She was a young teenager, she didn't have hope, and she convinced herself she belonged to this world, abandoned by civilization.
She was a child of poverty. She never knew her family, they abandoned her. All she knew was this poor orphanage, which was more like a garbage dump for unwanted kids than an actual orphanage. Nobody adopted these kids, and if it closed, they would have to sleep in the streets. So they had to earn money themselves to help their hopeless home. And the only way to earn easy money in the Town of Heaven was to do illegal jobs.
Erza, almost crying, ran away from the sleazy building. She ran fast until she recognized the path that led to her old friend's house. The only friend she had back then, when she was angry at everyone, including Kagura and her brother.
She finally stopped when she found the little house. It wasn't in very good shape. She knocked on the door. It wasn't really late, he wouldn't be sleeping. The door creaked open very slightly, and the face of an old wrinkled man with a long beard appeared in the little interstice, looking suspiciously at his hooded visitor.
"Hello Grandpa Rob." Erza smiled under her hoodie.
"… Erza ?! Is that you ?"
She pulled a strand of her scarlet hair from her bun and tugged it so that he could see it. It was like her brand.
"My god, it's you indeed. Come on in, quick."
He opened the door wider and tugged her wrist frantically. Once she was inside, he locked the door and put down a big shotgun on the floor.
"Err… Grandpa ? Why do you have a shotgun ?" Erza asked worriedly.
"Let's sit before I tell you." He sighed. "This place has gone to hell lately."
The scarlet haired girl followed her friend into the small kitchen, and they sat down. He poured two glasses of wine and offered one to the young woman.
"Thank you. So… What happened ? You look really tired and… Anxious." He didn't look like the joyful man of her memories.
"When did you leave ?" He started, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Five years ago ? No six maybe. Anyway, I retired three years ago, and I sold the pub to Joey. I have enough money to live properly 'til I die. I'm not rich, but I manage, and I wanted some peace. No more weird deals around me, ya know ?"
Erza nodded. As the manager of the town's pub, he used to witness transactions between gangs, without himself participating. His pub was a central meeting place of dealers and thugs. Rob used to be the ears of the town, and, like every inhabitant, he never told a thing to strangers.
That's why the police always had a rough time catching their targets here. The Town of Heaven was also the Town of Secrets. If undercover cops were seen nearby, and they were always spotted quickly, the message spread, criminals known from the police ran into Fiore's dense and huge forest not far from here, and the inhabitants locked themselves at home, or locked their words and expressions from the cops.
"And I thought they would leave me alone. But I know too many things. Some gangs tried to make me give information about other ones. But my policy will always remain. I'll never sell out anyone. Whether it's to police or damn thugs doesn't matter."
He said that proudly, then emptied his glass in one gulp.
"So that's why I have to protect myself. I shot one dumbass once who almost stabbed me. I didn't kill him, don't worry; I don't wanna end up in the Island. His group tried to get me after that, but I have friends too, thankfully. And I was lucky too; there were some cops in town that day, so the dipshits decided to let it go."
By the Island, Rob meant Caracoll Island Fiorend Prison, the jail for killers and dangerous thugs. The most high-security prison found in Fiore.
"But… I don't understand… Gangs were 'getting along' before… " Erza exclaimed, startled.
"Not anymore. There are too many. New gangs with newbies who dunno shit about dealing. Those one are often caught by the police, but the new gangs keep popping up again and again… Drugs dealers but also weapons, pimps, other shit like that. Poor Kagura must be really tired, huh ? "
Rob winked. Erza almost jumped in surprise, but kept her composure, waiting for him to continue.
"Don't worry kid." Rob laughed. "I know she's one of them for a while now. I don't care. Not my business, I'm a secret keeper, y'know that. Damn, it was almost my official job around here. But I must tell you…"
His smile fell and his eyes became really serious.
"I'm not the only one to know. We all know in the town what our kids become. You have guts to come back. Even if you're not a cop. At least… Not yet, right ?"
He winked again.
"Your friends can't come back here, the elders would recognize them. But they must be aware of that. Besides, I was tellin' ya it's not safe like before…"
"Saying it was safe before is a bit overrated." Erza guffawed, cutting him off.
"Yeah, well now it's worse. Honest people like me who can't live anywhere else stay home, don't talk to anyone. Trust is gone, even in the pub. If you go there, you'd be busted right away. 'Cause you're a stranger. Even if you fit in with your clothes. And if you show yourself as Erza Scarlet, it's even worse, 'cause you left to live with Kagura and Simon."
"I won't reveal my identity. But I must ask… Busted for what ? I'm not from the police, I don't have a mic, or chips, I only have my knife and my phone."
"If you're clean, they won't touch you, but they won't say anything to you either… And I guess that's why ya came back right ? You're not here to pick flowers to sell back in the City."
Erza remained silent in front of the giggling old man. He always was so discerning. He spent a good part of his life observing people, she wasn't surprised he saw what she wanted right away.
"You still puff ?" Rob resumed.
"No I quit. I don't even smoke cigarettes."
"Good… You changed. In a good way. You're not angry anymore. You're more mature and… I dunno… composed ? "
"Yes, I've been told." She giggled. "Jellal didn't recognize me when we met again at the university."
"Jellal ?! I forgot about him. He left Town of Heaven early. Tchh, that name… It should be called Town of Hell."
"Let me ask… Why is the mafia growing like this ? That's what's happening right ? There wouldn't be so many new gangs otherwise."
Rob squirmed in his armchair, as he felt embarrassed. He obviously knew something, but his mind told him not to tell.
"… Let's say that mafia is way more organized than before. A few years ago, Eisenwald was almost caught, and then all of a sudden, they got good, cops couldn't get them. I dunno how. But what's sure is that they got help from someone."
"Someone ?" Erza raised a brow.
"Don't make me tell you more please, I don't feel comfortable. Talking is like signing my own death sentence, y'know that." He pleaded.
"Ok, sorry. Do you know a guy named Cobra and a girl named Angel ?"
"…Yeah, think I do. I never talked to them."
"Do you know what their gang is ?"
"… Why d'ya think they're part of a gang ?" Rob said coldly and narrowed his eyes.
"…Guts."
"Yeah ya got guts kiddo… " He sighed and rubbed his temples, as he was considering what he could tell her.
"You wanna catch them. Kagura's enrolling you or something ?"
"No. They're threatening my friends. I'm protecting my family."
Those last words softened the old man. It reminded him the little eight year old scarlet girl, crying and yelling in the streets over Jellal's and Miliana's bruised bodies, trying hard to protect them against the assholes who wanted to throw their anger on small kids. That was the time Rob met her, the fiery and miserable Erza, who wanted so bad to run away from the town.
"…Oracion Seis. That's their gang."
"Oracion Seis ?! I thought they were disbanded after their leader went to prison… When was it, two years ago ? It was on the news."
"Yeah, two years ago. And apparently they're back on business. With newbies. They're good, but reckless. I'm not sure they really know what they do. The new leader included."
"Do you know where-"
"No." He cut her harshly. "I can't tell ya where you can find them, 'cause I don't really know, and I don't wanna tell anyway. Sorry. If you're busted, I can get killed. So don't fuck up Erza. I'm trusting you there."
"I'm not going to fuck up."
"I'm not kidding when I say people here are all smart and way more suspicious than you could imagine."
"Then I'll have to be smarter."
She stood up and hugged the tensed old man.
"It's good to see you, Grandpa."
He relaxed and hugged her back.
"Good to see you too, Titania."
The young woman smiled when she heard that old nickname he gave her. She sure was impressive with a knife during her teenage angry years, and nobody would have dared to bug her or challenge her. She never severely injured anyone, but she was still feared. Because she could've hurt someone if she wanted.
But that was a long time ago. When she had the chance to move on, she completely abandoned her old life, and her old self. She wasn't even sure she could handle her weapon properly now.
They loosened their embrace as Erza's phone buzzed. She unlocked the screen. Four texts from Jellal and a text from Natsu. Curious, she opened the last one.
"Tomorrow, club night, fine by you ?"
She put it back in her safe pocket. She would answer later.
"Ok… I'll go now. Thanks for your answers Grandpa."
"You're welcome. I'd like to try and convince you to go back to the City, but I guess it's useless. Be safe Titania."
"I will."
She smiled, and headed to the front door, followed by the old man. After a last hug, she got out of the house, and Rob closed and locked the door. He frowned and rubbed his chin, then picked up his phone. After three ringtones, a voice was heard.
"Yeah Rob, what's up."
"Hey. I've got a favor to ask. A friend of mine is about to get herself in trouble… Could ya go give her a hand ?"
"Sure. Wha' does she look like ?"
Rob grinned.
Natsu checked his phone for the umptieth time.
"Hey what's wrong ?" Sleepy Lucy asked on his chest. "You keep moving; I can't focus on the movie."
"It's weird… Erza didn't answer my text, and it's been twenty minutes. She always answers immediately, except in class. And I'm sure she doesn't have class now !"
Lucy giggled.
"Maybe she's sleeping."
"It's barely 10. And she would have texted to tell us."
"Ok, maybe she's with Jellal."
"I assure you, even when she's busy with him, she manages to answer her texts right away." Natsu cackled.
"How do you know that? Did you peek on them ?"
"Did not ! I just know is all, 'cause once she even picked up, and I could hear them… Believe me it was AWFUL !"
The blond girl laughed so hard she ejected Plue from her lap.
"Oh my god, my abs hurt… "
"Lu-chaaan, why are you laughing ?" A yawning Levy came out of the bedroom. "Oh hey Natsu, didn't hear you come in."
"Did you work well Levy-chan ?" Lucy smirked, already knowing the answer.
"… Not really. Don't laugh, traitor."
Levy stopped and observed her friends. They were absolutely cute in that position, Lucy cuddling in Natsu's arms, and the pink haired rubbing his blind friend's hair. Where was Gajeel when she needed a hug ?
"Hey, stop staring Shorty, I feel violated."
"Violated ?" She raised a brow. "I was just thinking you looked cute like that."
"You want to cuddle with us, Levy-chan ?"
"HEY, I'm not a teddy bear !"
"I said us, not you alone." Lucy giggled.
"Still, I don't wanna be cuddled by everybody, and I definitely don't want Metal Head to kill me for touching his girlfriend. Where is he by the way ?"
"Out, with family apparently." The bluenette answered while pouring milk in a glass.
"That's great for him ! Not everyone can see their family for Christmas." Lucy stated sadly.
"What about you, Shorty ? You didn't see your family yet did you ?"
"Tomorrow I'll have a Christmas lunch with them. Yesterday and today they couldn't, they were visiting my grandparents in Freesia."
"Oh, and you didn't want to see them ?"
"It's not like that Natsu. For once in my life, I was invited to a party and I had more than one friend, and even a boyfriend. My parents AND grandparents were so happy for me they almost obliged me to stay here."
"Wow… you've got an odd family too !" He laughed.
"It sounds odd, but it actually isn't. You only live once, as they say." The bluenette smiled.
Natsu rubbed his head, feeling a bit embarrassed. He forgot sometimes that before Lucy and Levy were added to their group, they were both shy bookworms with only a few friends, especially Levy.
Her relationship with Gajeel forced her to break her walls and socialize with people. Not that she complained, on the contrary, but she was still sometimes dumbfounded about the change in her life.
"What about Gray ?" Lucy asked. "He didn't talk about meeting his family, did he ?"
"Err… Gray has a complicated relationship with them…"
"Everybody has problems I guess." Lucy answered.
All three of them sighed, and Levy sat down on an armchair.
"Juvia doesn't. Her only problem in her life was the Ice-Princess." Natsu chuckled.
"She takes life with such an optimism…" Levy said. "I admire her."
"By the way, Natsu." Lucy changed the subject. "You work at Mira's in two days right ?"
"The 27th ? Yup, why ?"
"Good. I want to introduce you to somebody."
"Huh ? Who ? And I'll be working, it's not convenient ! Can't you choose another day, at weekend ?"
"Nope, I can't, it doesn't depend on me."
"Oh… ok."
After a moment, Natsu checked his phone again.
"I'm starting to worry now, I'm calling Jellal."
"Huh ? No Natsu, don't you think you overreact ? You might get Jellal to worry over nothing !" Lucy exclaimed.
"Jellal always knows where she is, if she doesn't answer, he must know why. HEY GIMME MY PHONE !"
"No I won't… "
The blonde hummed and hid the phone behind her back. Natsu encaged her on the couch and tried to reach his phone, while Lucy squirmed and laughed.
"Gimme my phone Blondie… OR I TICKLE YOU MUAHAHAHA !"
"AAAAH Levy-chan SAVE ME !"
"… Are you both serious ?!" The bluenette huffed and rolled her eyes, then stood up to get to her room.
"You wanted it right Luigi?" Natsu whispered and smirked. "You begged for me to tickle you…"
"N-not at all ! HAHAHA, STOP IT STUPID !"
"No I won't…" He hummed to mimic her.
He leaned in closer. Lucy was half laughing and squirming but she could feel his chest on her breast and his breath on her face. Heat filled her cheeks and her heart started to bump loudly. Then she jumped in surprise. The phone buzzed in her hands.
"Oh Natsu stop ! HAHA stop your phone ! It's buzzing !"
Natsu freed his friend and sat back, while Lucy handed him the phone. The pink haired took it and frowned.
"It's Jellal… Hello ?"
"Hey Natsu… Do you know where Erza is ?"
"Of course not ! I left her a text thirty minutes ago, she didn't answer. I wanted to call you to know."
"She doesn't answer phone calls either… I'm going to check her dorm, maybe she's asleep."
He said that with his usual casual tone, but Natsu knew he was worried. Erza always warned her friends if she couldn't answer for a long time. She even often texted just to tell them she was going to sleep, even if they didn't talk during the day.
"Ok, don't worry man, you're probably right, she must be asleep. Call me back to tell me."
"Yes, sure. Bye."
Lucy was silent next to him. He trusted her sixth sense to tell her he was worried as well as Jellal.
"Everything's fine." He told more to himself than to her. "I think the movie's over by the way."
"Let's watch something else !" Lucy said with an exaggerated cheerful tone.
"Ok, you choose."
Erza walked in the empty streets, thinking about the news she just got. She would have to talk about all this with Kagura. But first, she had to find out how to meet the Oracion Seis, without actually meeting them right now. This would be a tough one, if what Rob said was true. She couldn't let herself recognized, and looking like a stranger wouldn't help either. How could she do that…
As she walked further, she could tell she started to approach the center of the town. There were indeed more people, mostly girls wearing very provocative clothes, talking and kissing guys, or just waiting next to the road, hoping to meet a prospective client.
Closer to the center, she saw more young men and teenagers waiting, leaning against walls, all of them eyeing her and other people walking in the streets. Dealers. Of course. That's when an idea popped into Erza's head. She spotted the one that looked the most vulnerable, and headed to him. She hoped he was a newbie. He looked certainly like one.
He saw her walking towards him and narrowed his eyes, then looked to his left and right.
"You want somethin' ?" He started.
"Yeah, what d'ya got ?"
He grinned and slipped a bag full of green weed out of his pocket. He was definitely a newbie. She could have been an undercover cop and arrest him right now. Good.
"How much for two like that ?"
"50 bucks."
"Ya kiddin' me, I can find that for 20."
"Why don't ya go find it then."
"Tchh that's how you treat a client ? Anyway, I wan'it now."
"Can't give it for less than 50."
"… Don't test me kid, I'm not the kind of woman ya wanna deal with."
Erza's voice was so cold she didn't recognize it. She touched the bump on her sweatshirt where her knife was and almost tore the tissue, to show the teenager whose eyes widened.
"I can go down to 40 for ya."
40 already ? Amateur.
"25."
"35."
"30."
He frowned as he started to feel annoyed, but he saw this strange and harsh girl playing with the hem of her sweatshirt where the knife was. She was taller than him, and would certainly win in a fight.
"Deal. You're not from here are ya ?"
"Nah, came here to find other shit. Good shit."
"You don't have that where ya from ?"
"Of course I have, but everybody knows Town of Heaven's shit is the best." Erza grinned.
"You'll only find weed in there. 'f ya want something else, ya'll have to go to the pub."
"And of course they're gonna greet me like an old friend." She said sarcastically.
"It's your first time dealing here ?"
"Yeah. My home's not really close to here."
He looked at her suspisciously while he took her money.
"So you don't know nobody here huh…"
"I know you now."
"Nah you don't. I don' even know your name."
"Call me Armor Girl." She smirked, thinking of the last nickname she was given by Gajeel.
"You're weird." The teenager chuckled. "I'm Jim. It's really weird to see a girl deal like that. Usually they prefer to fuck. It's easy money."
"Gotta do what I gotta do to live. And am not that kind of girl. Don' even try to put a hand of me."
"Wow cool dude."
He took a step back at her threatening tone. Erza felt he was more trustful, she hoped she had convinced him she was one of them.
"C'mon, I've got a friend who can help ya, he's at the pub right now."
Erza fought to keep her composure and suppress the joyful cry she wanted to let out. Besides, she had to be on her guard. This newbie bought her little bluff, but his friends might not.
BZZZZ BZZZZZZZZ
"Jellal ?"
"She's not in her dorm !"
Natsu stood up from the couch as he heard the panicked voice.
"Relax man… You're gonna have a stroke ! Did you ask her neighbours if they saw her ?"
"They're not here, all gone for Christmas. DAMN IT, I'm sure she did it again…"
"Did what ?"
"Her Angel's matter as she said. She tried to find out about her and she almost got an altercation with the Cobra guy, FUCK, why doesn't she listen ! She might be in trouble, alone, at night !"
Natsu felt himself panicking now. Jellal NEVER cursed.
"Ok don't worry, we'll find her… Errr… Let's try to call all the others ok ?"
"Yeah right…"
"That's the only thing we can do ! Come on, cheer up, it's gonna be fine."
"I hope you're right. See you."
"Bye." He hung up and sighed.
"Natsu ?"
The pink haired turned around to see Lucy and Levy looking really worried.
"Is it… that wrong ?" Lucy resumed. "I mean… I don't know where you are all day… and I don't make a big deal out of it, so… I just don't get why you're all reacting like that…"
"Erza is like our big sis, I told you… since high school, we take care of each other with her and Gray, 'cause we're the guys with a troubling past… She's overprotective and never jokes with safety… For example, when I disappear after parties because I'm too drunk, she's the type to call me at least fifty times until I answer back. You both don't know her so well yet, but you realized once she adopted you in our group, you couldn't spend a day without hearing from her right ?"
"Now that you say it…" Levy rubbed her chin. "We almost always know what she does. I just thought it was an odd habit or something."
"It's a habit, that's the point. If she doesn't answer, that means she's distracted enough to forget about us, or like Jellal suggested… she's in real trouble."
Erza and her 'new friend' were now right in the center of the town, where a few shabby shops were found, as well as the pub in question. There were others in the city, but this one was the most appreciated. Shabby like all the other houses, noisy and joyful. Anyone from the outside could tell people were having a good time in there, and even in front of it, there were bunch of drinking people, enjoying life and forgetting their problems.
Erza's heart pounded as they opened the door. Inside it was like another world. Men and women were drinking, laughing and talking. Some others were playing pool, some were making out, a lot were smoking. The atmosphere was heavy and intoxicating, filled with cigarette smoke and alcohol flavors.
The scarlet haired girl felt eyes on her as she followed her young fellow through the crowded room, but most of the people there weren't paying attention. She wasn't the most weird looking person, nor the only hooded one. Still her heart beat fastened. The bar didn't change at all, it was like she went back through time. The only difference was that this time, she wasn't a part of it, and she could get thrown out at any moment… or worse.
The dealer headed to a poker table, where three men and a woman were playing. After fist-bumping one of the men, who looked to be around forty, he whispered in his ear. The mature and big man drifted his eyes instantly on Erza, the stranger, the newcomer. She didn't know him, maybe he arrived after she left six years ago. That was for the best.
Then he nodded, and Jim incited her to come closer by waving his hand. Erza stopped right in front them, and nodded to salute the man. She prefered to let him talk first.
"So… Armor Girl right ? That sure is a weird name… for a weird girl." He smirked and eyed her from head to toes.
"At least it strikes, not like Jim."
She smiled to the teenager who looked pissed. His massive friend laughed, then pulled a chair from under the table.
"You're funny. I'm Hodor. Why don't cha sit and play with us, so we get to know a bit about you ?"
His tone, although friendly sounding, had an ominous pitch underneath. Erza sweated under her thick sweatshirt.
"I'd like that." She grinned. "Gotta order a drink first."
"Tchh sit down, let the women do their job. Oi Sandra get over here !" Hodor yelled to a pale looking waitress.
"Get the lady here a drink. What'd ya want, honey ?" He smirked at Erza.
She raised a brow then leaned closer to him, forgetting about her previous nervousness.
"Call me that again, and you won't be able to giv' her a good time anymore."
His smirk fell, and they glared at each other for a couple of seconds. He could see her fiery yet cold eyes. This stranger girl was odd and suspicious, but she knew what she was doing and was not scared one bit. She couldn't be a cop, they were all whimps.
"My, we've got guts here, don't we… I like that." He smirked again, and turned to face his friends. "Let's play then, Armor Girl. Let's see what ya've got inside…"
"Hold on, man, we're missing someone." A stone guy cut.
"Nah, look he's here, he was just taking a piss. Hurry Midnight, we have a new player…" Hodor replied.
Erza looked up, and met dark red eyes, on a dull looking face. The man couldn't be more than thirty years old, and seemed to try to pierce through her soul with his uncanny eyes. He opened his mouth to speak.
"Let's play then."
THE END
I'm kidding
A/N : Phew it took me a long time to write that ! Hodor = Best character and best dialogs in Game of Thrones xD