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Chapter 12: Setting You Free

Today was the day. They were going home.

Well, this was almost that, Lucy corrected.

They were woken up early by a nervous Michel who barely told them a word for fear of being led on like the other times (his poor little heart wouldn't resist another deceit, he decided). They were then led to an even more nervous Jellal. This last one was spacing around, fidgeting his hands. His silence was heavy, and even Happy was stressed out just by seeing him.

"That guy makes me dizzy," The little grandcat commented, his head spinning around.

"Don't you dare throwing up on my shoes." Lucy warned him angrily.

"YOU ARE A MEANIE!" Happy cried.

"SHUT UP! TOO MUCH NOISES!" Jellal screamed, still not looking at them.

Happy and Lucy stared at each others and whispered. "Oh no. The monster awakened."

"What do you think that is, Lucy?" Happy asked, not so discretly.

"I don't know. He seems to hear voices, has a strong obsession about Erza, and look at that melancholic air! Could be some schizophrenia." Lucy answered in the same tone.

"Why not erotomania with all of that? His obsession for that monster is quite delirious and plus, he went as far as to kidnap us (well, maybe more you) just because he thought he was saving her."

"No way. If he was, he would believe that Erza loves him. Which would be better, I think, and maybe even true... Wait... How do you even know what is erotomania?" She looked at him with wide eyes.

He smirked. "Mira."

"Oh."

"I STILL HEAR VOICES!" He turned towards them, glaring.

"Aye sir!" Happy cried.

You know, pissing off a powerful man isn't very intelligent, especially when you've been kidnapped by him. But Lucy, not wanting to look afraid of him, didn't really think of the possible consequences. She snorted.

"Pathetic. How are you going to convince Erza to come with you in that state?"

He glared at her.

"I'll bring strawberry cake."

Oh. He knew her weaknesses. Clever. She couldn't help but be impressed.

The blue-haired man turned towards Michel and gave orders.

"Michel, give them the sweets."

Surprised, Lucy and Happy took absent-mindedly the little red and white candy that Michel were handing them. They closed their eyes in delight. It was light and with an exquisite flavour of strawberry. They moaned in pleasure. Then their eyes widened. Not a sound was coming from their mouths. They tried to talk. Nothing. Damn.

Jellal sighed in relief.

The jerk!

He snorted. "Don't look at me like that. It will stop in a few minutes. Just the time to come to the place of the exchange. I can't bear hearing your voices on the way."

Lucy scowled.

Happy seemed more accommodating. As long as he could do some grimaces, it was good for him.

Then, they went into a black van (what a cliché! Lucy thought), and our heroine had the time to realize that the employees of the factory seemed to be in some strange trance. Odd. Michel and some other dude blindfolded them and their wrists were tied. They didn't even try to fight back. What would be the use? They would be free soon! So, they let themselves be led.

After leaving the car, they walked a few minutes. There was not a noise, except for the sound of the wind. How poetic. Well, it would probably be more if she wasn't blindfolded, she thought bitterly.

Then, suddenly, they stopped. Lucy heard someone approach her. A guy, from his loud way od walking. He was close. She felt uncomfortable. She could feel his breath tickle her face. It was warm and smelt of chocolate.

"Mmm... I think I prefer them tied."

Natsu?

NATSU?!

The miserable one...

Quickly, Lucy threw herself violently at him, making him fall under her weight. The tissue covering her eyes fell off, letting her see her pink-haired "boss" looking at her with wide eyes

"Hey! That hurts! What was that for?" Natsu whined.

"That was for acting like a S&M pervert!"Lucy exclaimed, getting up.

"And for coming to save us that late" She added on second thought.

"Natsu! You're here" Happy cried after Michel, out of pity, took the tissue off him.

"Happy! So nice to see you, grandpa!" Natsu grinned.

That lovely reunion was interrupted by Jellal, who sounded furious... and a little bit worried.

"Where is she?"

"Who? The monster?" Natsu scratched his head, as if he was trying to remember where he could have put a red-haired fury.

Jellal was trying hard too, this time not to lose his temper, as the situation didn't exactly bring him satisfaction. But then, the pink-haired man smirked.

"She's coming!" He sure sounded sadistic when he said that.

Happy gulped. Lucy gulped. Jellal did too, but it wasn't for the same reason. For he had waited a long time for this moment.

And indeed, she appeared, tied and led by several Oompa Loompas. Some dark aura surrounded her as she glared determinedly in front of her. Her outfit was composed of a simple white shirt and a black skirt (quite usual, but still classy on her). Her hair was flowing with the wind (for they were outside, in some abandoned field, Lucy noticed). She looked terrific.

Lucy turned towards Jellal. His mouth was agape and, from the look in his eyes, he seemed really turned on. Well, weren't they meant for each others? She smirked at the thought.

But then, he talked.

"Erza..."

Said-girl froze. Her mouth opened slightly, then began to tremble.

"Jellal..."

They looked at each others intensely, each of them communicating their emotions silently with their eyes. Surprise (from both), fondness (from Jellal's part), betrayal (Erza's), regret, confusion, sadness and most of all... longing.

"Hey!"

Natsu. The damn cockblocker. Lucy glared at him. She really wanted to watch their interactions more!

"We're here for a reason!" He continued, still on the floor and pouting.

Jellal looked away, troubled. "Right..."

Then, he stared at Natsu, determined. "Let's proceed to the exchange."

The latter smirked. "Mine first."

"No, mine!" Jellal protested.

"No, m..."

"SHUT UP BOTH OF YOU!" Erza and Lucy yelled at the same time.

The two young men stared at them incredulously. Then, Jellal attempted to approach the red-haired woman. He had to convince her.

"Come with me, Erza. Together, we will build a new empire of strawberries and peace..."

"Why me?" Erza was struggling with her emotions. Bad luck, Jellal was too.

"I... You... I mean... Strawberry cake... I need... you?"

Why was he socially awkward all of a sudden? Even when they pissed him off, he was still eloquent! (despite the "I hear voices" thing). And why was it kind of familiar?

But maybe... It was the power of love! Lucy smiled wildly like a fan girl. She didn't realize that Natsu had got up and was staring at her like she was some strange bird.

"But... You said that.. my freckles... were disturbing you... " Erza continued, lowering her head.

"NO! I... Your freckles..."

".. You deserve better." Erza interrupted, her head down, fact that did not really hid the tears in her eyes.. "A pretty and simple girl, like Lucy... She would bring you happiness."

Oh, denial... That's so cute... Wait... Did she said her name? Lucy realized.

"But I don't want a simple girl, Erza..." Jellal protested.

"Hey! Do NOT insert me in your love story! And are you saying that I'm simple-minded?!"

Lucy's remark seemed to be ignored as Jellal was still slightly struggling with his emotions, his hands twisting themselves as if he was preventing himself from making a move on the red-haired woman in front of him. Lucy really wanted to slap him. And then push him towards Erza. Put the two of them in some narrow place and let the magic take control of them. Of course, she would be the godmother of the result, whatever it was. She just hoped it wasn't strawberry cakes.

Lost in her thoughts, Lucy hadn't realised the discussion was still going on. But when she did, she couldn't help but watch it like some kind of serial.

"I want to set you free from your hatred, Erza! Together, we can run the market, I know it. Every thing that I've done, everything that I've said, it was all for this to come, for... you."

Said girl was still holding back tears, as every anime girl would do in front of that kind of situation. She was preparing a speech about friendship and loyalty that would have made the poor guy lower his head in shame and a tenseful silence would have prevailed. The scene would probably have gone this way, if it wasn"t for Lucy's irritated intervention.

"Oh shut up with all the drama! Just tell him you like her already! You know nothing, Jellal."

He turned towards her, bewildered. Then blinked.

"Who the hell are you?"

An awkward silence began. Then, Lucy declared, trying not to lose it.

"You're kidding, right?

"No."

"YOU ARE THE ONE THAT SENT THIS GUY TO KIDNAP ME, YOU JERK!" Lucy yelled, pointing to Michel who, since the beginning, was trying to hide behind a some well-placed rock.

Natsu stared, then turned towards Happy.

"I have no idea what's going on." He stated. "You?"

"Neither."

They stared at the scene in front of them.

"Let's leave them to their drama." Happy began.

"Yeah."

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Lucy snapped at them.

They froze. Then turned towards each other, whispering.

"Damn. She must have some weirdo's senses to notice our leaving discretly."

"Yeah. She's not human."Happy answered with a smirk.

"You're right!"

"I can hear you, you know." Lucy stated, irritated.

"WEIRD!" Natsu and Happy cried.

"HEY! I'M NOT THE WEIRD ONE! YOU ARE!"

Thus began an intense debate about who was the weirdest of all, neither of them willing to back down. During that time, Erza and Jellal stood, flabbergasted.

"They have completely forgotten that we were here." Jellal began.

"Indeed." Then, Erza smiled softly.

"So, I guess all of this was useless."

"Kind of."

They stared at each others, then laughed. When they stopped, a new light was in their eyes.

"Let's leave them to their antics." Jellal smiled at her and hold out his hand.

"Yeah." She accepted.

After one awkward silence, Jellal continued, hesitantly.

"You know, I've always liked your freckles."

"Oh, shut up." But Erza was still smiling.

Some seconds passed, with Lucy and Natsu still arguing in the background and Happy keeping scores (it seemed that Lucy was winning).

"So... You said you had strawberry cake?" Erza began shyly.

Jellal smiled.

And both of them left, hand in hand. It was like they were leaving in the sunset. Sweet.

(Michel followed, of course. He didn't have anything else to do, after all).

After a few other minutes (more like half an hour), Natsu and Lucy finally found out that they were alone, Happy prefering to leave after realizing it was fishing time.

"WHERE THE HECK ARE THEY?"

...

I hope you enjoyed it :)

Next chapter will be called "One of Them".