I'm so sorry for the delay! But I was really busy with life, I hope you understand. And because I'll continue to be busy for a bit,
this fic will go on a Christmas Hiatus!
I'll be busy visiting my family over the holidays, and I will use this time to write as much as I can to secure future regular updates again! On we go now, expect more of this fic next year! ;)
And thankyou so much for 200+ reviews! Let's keep this going, you're amazing! -3-
chapter 10:
the colour of her hair
It is known that, where devils thrive, there will always be someone to combat their evil.
It is the nature of things, the balance that must never be unsettled.
There is good, and there is evil.
But it never is that easy, and the world is certainly not painted in black and white.
A long time ago, on earth, two people who should have never been anything but enemies chose to tread a different path.
Neither was perfectly good or perfectly bad. Neither was human, either.
The first time they met was on a street corner in Pompeii, 79 AD. Many people died that day. Some, however, were saved by a man with an odd tattoo – but the rumours were lost to time. A woman with scarlet hair had been watching him silently before leading many, many dead souls down to an even greater fire.
They met again, many times, too many for it to be by pure coincidence alone.
The angel, Jellal, would smile at the woman in charge of the souls of sinners, telling her that one day she might lead him downwards too – or, if he was very lucky, that she would leave behind her world and join him.
The devil, Erza, would smile back. Stolen glances turned to stolen touches, to stolen kisses and stolen whispers, and soon neither of them knew where they belonged anymore.
Would she take him to hell with her, or would they both be forgiven for their sins?
"Do you think we could be together?" she asked him one day, as they sat on the edge of a riverbank, staring out over the wild, dark waters.
Jellal's smile turned sad.
The steady sound of rushing water and small waves crashing against sharp stone accompanied the silence that followed.
Soon, the land here would be swallowed by hungry waves, leaving nothing but destruction.
"You know how much I wish for that," he spoke quietly, turning to face her. "And still…"I'm an angel, and you're a devil, and yet more often than not I feel like you shine so much brighter."
Erza bit back a soft laugh.
"That's because my hair lights on fire."
Things started to go wrong when suspicion and distrust rose in both heaven and hell. Questions of absence, sniffing dogs, sceptical looks from peers and commanders alike, spies at their heels with every step they took – it became harder to even meet. Yet they would rather play a dangerous game of hide and seek than stay away from each other.
With every meeting, their determination grew stronger, their love deeper.
Oh, if only love would have been enough.
The last time they met was in a small town in the Yunnan province, 1855, as witnesses of the third outbreak of the bubonic plague. They were as scared as the humans, but for different reasons.
This would be the last time they could see each other, and they knew it. They'd been found out.
Both heaven and hell were strict rulekeepers, and there was no mercy to be found for sinners.
Angels and devils were forbidden to be anything but enemies.
They lay together in the dry hay of an old wooden shack, sheltered from the winds and cool of night. Twisting a strand of scarlet hair around his finger, Jellal gently kissed the neck of the woman beneath him before peppering kisses onto her cheek and forehead.
They didn't speak much that day.
Enjoying each other's company, each other's love, in silence was all they had left.
And they did not want to admit it, and certainly not to each other's face, but oh, they were scared. Scared of what was waiting for them – and knowing that whatever it was, they would be separated for a long, long time.
And so they had to enjoy what little was left.
Words would not have saved anything, would not have healed or comforted or changed.
Jellal pulled back, expression as unreadable as hers.
His fingers graced her cheek, and she smiled up at him softly. It was a look she reserved for little, and the fact that he had gotten to see her like this, to love her, was enough for Jellal. It made it all worth it.
"I love you," he told her, "I always will."
"I love you too," she simply replied.
This little shack was their save haven, and yet they had to leave it behind. They could not run forever. And so they got dressed – in silence, as everything had occured that day; to steady themselves, to be strong in the face of separation.
Erza closed the door behind them, and the old wood rattled and creaked as it fell to a close.
Someone was waiting for them.
A woman with cold eyes and hair as black as coal. She smiled sweetly, lifting a clawed hand in greeting as the two lovers approached.
"Someone's been naughty," she finally spoke when they halted in front of her, her expression neutral, bored even. "We will have quite some fun with you before we send you off. Isn't that right, Kyouka?"
"We certainly will, Saylah," a voice replied behind them. They both knew who it belonged to.
As they turned to face Kyoka, high master of torture and judge of sinners, they exchanged a short glance that steeled and reassured them even as their faces remained expressionless.
"In the name of heaven and hell and the old rules that must be honoured, I hereby arrest you for disobedience of the holy law. You will accept the punishment that awaits you," the second woman spoke, voice dripping with mirth.
"Not in the name of Mavis," was all Jellal said.
"Mavis is not in charge anymore," was all the reply he got.
No words were spoken after that.
In silence, Jellal let them tie him in chains, eyes stirn and empty as he watched Erza endure the same procedure with her head held high.
Even now, she was so beautiful. What a wonderful goddess she would have made, a fierce warrior lighting the heavens. And it was his fault, now, that she would burn in hell.
He deserved all the punishment he would receive.
They took her away, dragged her roughly out of his sight, with her hair swaying softly in the wind even as every other part of her was chained. A part of her would always be free.
It was the colour of her hair that burned itself into his heart and mind, the last thing he saw of her before he, too, was taken away to face punishment. It was the colour of her hair that would haunt him for eternity, and would be his most bittersweet memory.
Their punishment was not a merciful one.
Erza was damned into the deepest layer of hell, locked away for judgement day. Waiting in chains, trapped and tortured, she would only set foot on earth again on the day where all life would perish forever. She became the apocalyptic horseman of war.
Jellal had his wings taken from him, ripped off his back in a public display that would serve as a reminder to not ever mingle with the devil folk. He was then sent to earth to live a human life as an outcast; a damned, wretched soul. And yet, while human, he was still immortal, damned to wander the earth forever. The day time would be unfrozen for him, allowing him to age once more, was the day he would see his true love again. The last day on earth, before life would forever cease to exist.
On the day of the apocalypse, they would meet again – as enemies, how it always should have been.
But love had made them tread a different path, and only love knew if they could overcome all obstacles, one very last time.
The tale that Gajeel told was an incomplete version, was slightly altered by time and myth (and his story-telling qualities), but it was the same story nonetheless.
Lucy tried to make sense of what she was learning as best as she could, stringing together information and filling out the parts she didn't know about to construct a somewhat logical map of relationships and history.
"So… am I getting this right," she interrupted, "They were punished and separated forever simply because they loved each other? That's… that's just horrible!"
Gajeel nodded grimly. Natsu had become surprisingly quiet.
"And that's why we don't talk about these things. Nobody does. And those who dare go against the rules…well. Those especially." Gajeel crossed his arms over his chest.
"And you're…" Lucy started, but didn't finish when he glared at her.
He was one of those. An angel and a devil… in love?
It was hard to imagine Gajeel as someone who would fall for an angel, she thought with mild amusement. He was so gruff in both appearance and behaviour, the picture book image of a demon. She wondered what she was like, that angel that had won his heart and made him break rules. Then again, he did seem like someone who did not care too much about rules.
"So, Natsu," Gajeel said sternly, turning to his still silent friend, "Yer gonna come home or what?"
"I don't want to," was all Natsu said. A short and simple answer that left no room for negotiation, not with the look in his eyes.
Gajeel nodded grimly. He'd been expecting this response.
Running a large hand through his mess of hair, he exhaled loudly.
"I can try to cover for you, but I don't think that will work for very long," Gajeel grunted. "And then, if he finds out – Mavis save us both."
"He can come all the way to me if he wants to," Natsu spat, "I ain't leaving. It's too much fun here, with Lucy and Igneel."
He grinned, then, his behaviour back to normal as he spoke the words. But Lucy could tell that his thoughts were occupied, worry clinging to him even if he tried not to show it.
Gajeel got up off the couch, not a single crease in his perfect suit. He slapped the back of Natsu's head, evoking a growl from the younger man.
"Yer know that someone worse than me is gonna come to drag yer ass back when they catch wind of yer not doing that damned exam," he warned, "All hell is gonna be pissed."
"I know," Natsu answered, giving him a curt nod, "Thanks for helping anyways, I guess."
Gajeel laughed a humourless laugh, but turned back towards him, hesitating.
"Don't get yer hopes up or anything, but Lev– I heard that there's something going on up there. It's all rumours, but they're saying there's some power shifts, some kinda war… maybe, after all this time, it really is Mavis." He shook his head, though, as if to clear his mind, and his expression clouded yet again. "Wouldn't count on it, tho. Not like it's gonna help us much either way, eh?"
Natsu cocked his head, and Lucy added yet another question to her seemingly never-ending list. She had a feeling they wouldn't be answered anytime soon.
Now was not the time to ask, anyways.
"You keep talking about this Mavis person," Natsu complained, voicing her thoughts, to her surprise, "The name sounds familiar, but I kinda, uh, forgot."
Great. He certainly would not be able to answer her questions. And Gajeel was leaving.
He, too, seemed like he was about to slam his head against the wall.
"You're hopeless!" he growled, "Forget it! Probably better if ya don't know, anyway. Idiot."
"Oi, don't call me an idiot!" Natsu roared, raising his fist. But before he could get off the couch, Lucy gripped his hand firmly, glaring down at him.
He pouted at her, but showed no signs of getting up any longer.
"Idiot…" Gajeel muttered again. Smoke was beginning to rise around him.
"Yeah, leave, tin can! Go back to the icycle and leave me alone!" he hissed again, earning a smack on the head from Lucy.
"Don't be so rude!" she hissed back, "He's helping us!"
"Yeah, listen to her, muttface."
The smoke had enveloped Gajeel whole, a pillar of darkness in her bright livingroom.
"I'm off," the pillar spoke, and with a snap of his fingers, he vanished. "An idiot… and a bunny."
Those were the last words they heard of him before calm and quiet returned to the room at last. The two people left behind were anything but calm, though.
Reality was settling back in, and it looked dark and sinister.
Closing her eyes, Lucy exhaled deeply, trying to rid herself off the uncomfortable knot in her chest. She realized she was still holding onto Natsu's hand, albeit it was no longer raised in anger but rather hovering uncertainly in the air.
She let go, and Natsu sprung into action.
He hopped off the sofa, fists balled, and when he found nothing to direct his anger at he groaned in frustration and kicked the little table in front of him.
But for once he was lucky. Because Lucy, despite noticing it, did not pay it much attention.
Her attention was drawn to something else.
The fabric of Natsu's shirt was torn from his shoulderblades almost all the way down to his tailbone, tinged a dark red that was starting to look brown at the edges. He must have sustained this wound when he fought against Gajeel – when he'd shielded her from his attack. He'd sustained this wound because of her.
Why had he not said anything?!
"Oh my god, Natsu, you're bleeding!"
"Huh? I am?" Natsu glanced back over his shoulder, blinking at her in confusion before his eyes dropped to try and inspect his back. "Oh, you're right."
He didn't even sound worried.
Lucy, on the other hand, did not only sound worried – she was close to panicking.
It was not only that his shirt was all ripped and bloody, but what she saw beneath that sent her mind reeling. It was not what a back was supposed to look like. A large gash had been ripped right between his shoulderblades, tearing his skin and exposing flesh and too much blood.
How had she noticed only now?!
How had he noticed only now?!
Swallowing past the bitter taste in her mouth, Lucy took a deep breath before taking a step closer and lifting a shaky hand. She could smell the blood, a disgusting metallic scent, and had to bite back a gag.
"Whatcha doin', Lucy?" Natsu asked curiously, "It's just some scratches. That'll be healed in no time."
He did not say another word, however, when Lucy carefully peeled away the torn fabric around the wound. Maybe it was because her hand was shaking, or maybe because he was in more pain than he wanted to admit, but he flinched when her fingertips graced his sensitive skin.
"Sorry," she quickly apologized, but he just huffed. "Sit down, okay? I have some stuff somewhere, I think, oh god I really should… in the bathroom?"
Lucy bit back tears as she ran off on shaking legs, unaware that Natsu was following her every move from his spot in the couch, until she rounded the corner.
She did, luckily, find a first aid kit (unused, apart from band-aids), that she placed on the living room table. (It was wobbling ever since Natsu had kicked it, one of the legs creaking.)
"Okay, let me just desinfect this and patch you up, please Natsu," she begged, voice close to a whimper as she sank onto the couch beside where he was sitting with his back towards her.
There was blood smudged onto the pillow; he'd probably leaned against it before realizing his mistake. The fact barely registered in her brain.
"You're not angry?" he asked, and she wasn't even sure what exactly he was asking her about.
"Hm?" she hummed absentmindedly as she drenched a pad in alcohol and brought it closer to his back. He lifted his right arm to point at the bloody pillow, and she just shook her head despite him not being able to see it.
"Don't be silly," she answered, new tears waiting to spill, "How could I care about some stupid pillow when you're hurt because of me?"
He stiffened when she pressed the pad against the edge of his wound, but when he turned around she wasn't sure if it had been because of the pain.
His dark eyes were trained on her face, as if he was trying to stare into her very soul. "You're not gonna punish me?"
"Punish you…?" Lucy repeated incredulously, "No, of course not!"
He pursed his lips, taking in this information. "I broke your table. I scorched the ceiling."
Lucy's brow twitched. "Don't play with your luck."
"You're really not angry?"
Taking a deep breath, Lucy smiled at the disturbed devil. "No, I'm not angry. Maybe I'll be later, but you're hurt, and I couldn't even be angry at you if I tried."
It was weird to see him so uneasy, as if he was expecting her to flip, and it once again made her wonder just how exactly his little transgressions had been treated where he was from. So when he finally gave a small smile in return, it felt as if a rock dropped off Lucy's heart.
He turned back around without another comment, letting her carefully work the wound on his back.
The wound he had sustained because of her.
What had happened was still a mad blurr, but the moment he had hugged her, shielded her from Gajeel's attack with his body, had branded itself into her mind. He had saved her.
It was only beginning to dawn on Lucy what would have happened had that fist hit her, a fragile human, instead of Natsu. She might have been dead right where she'd stood.
She felt her hands tremble all over again, but concentrated on the ministrations she was currently giving Natsu's back. The sight wasn't too bad now; maybe she'd gotten used to the blood. She'd take good care of him. She owed him big time.
Lucy smiled shyly, slowly leaning her forehead against his left shoulder. "You protected me. Thankyou."
For a second she thought he might have stopped breathing with how still he sat, but then he slowly relaxed. There was determination in his voice when he spoke next.
"Yeah." He nodded. "From now on, I'll protect you."
Finishing on a hopeful note! See you next year! ^-^
R: IndestructibleLove: Haha yay Natsu! Way to protect Lucy! And haha I'm guessing the little Angel is Levy? So cute! I'm guessing Erza was killed or something similar for loving jellal who was not a devil? Hmm? Can't wait for the next one! Thanks!
A: Ayye, you're good. ;)
R: Angel T-chan Nekoi: OOoh new chap on my B-day? HECK YEAH! Good way to finish my day for the moment! :-D GAJEEL! Friggin dammit now I'm wishing for all of them to become human and live on Earth(Erza included if she already isn't one)! And I have to ask: will there be Happy somewhere? Natsu is not Natsu without his buddy!
A: Ohh happy late bday! And welllll. Yes, there will be. But the moment he will be mentioned you better...buckle up.
R: LoneStorm: Here I aaaaam like I saaaaid and each chapter just gets more amazing! Gajeel's entrance is perfect and I think we were all waiting to see what the other devils would think of Natsu's failing exam. Your writing and plot and characters are fantastic as always. Write a book.
A: Yoo buddy! :D Thankyou so much! And I just might. ;)
R: Animallover: I know you might not want to be asked about your updates for other stories on here, but do you think you'll be able to update 'Tails and Talons' and 'On whom the Pale Moon Gleams' somewhat soonish? I'm only asking because I really love those stories and it's been quite a while since they were last updated.
A: Ah, those two are on a somewhat hiatus right now! I'm concentrating on the devil's advocate oly for now, and the little extra wildwood, but that one will be finished soon. After these are done, I want to write more for Pale Moon, then T&T hopefully!