"Anonymous asked: I'm playing the villain and you're the hero but the director considered having me play your lover halfway through rehearsals because aPpAreNtlY I not convincing anyone that I hate you. theater au"

It's been a long minute since I did theater in school. I've forgotten technical terms and just about everything. I got a gold ITS seal on my diploma though. Maybe that counts for something?

**Please see Chapter One for an updated note on requests and rules. Thank you!

Running Lines

"Stop!" the director yelled with familiar exasperation. "Let's just... let's break for lunch. Erza, can I see you in the pit for a second?"

Erza's face burned. She glanced up at Jellal still crouched on one of the temporary blocking props. He grinned and shook his head. As hard as she tried not to notice, her eyes still caught on the dimple in his left cheek. Jellal chuckled softly before hopping down and vacating the stage with the rest of the cast. Kagura rolled her eyes, mouthed the word Hopeless, and followed him out of the auditorium. With her script nervously rolled in one hand, Erza carefully slid down into the orchestra pit.

She'd never wanted to do theater to begin with. Sure the idea of costumes and beautiful sets and delivering heart stopping lines in front of a riveted audience was exciting... but Erza was painfully aware of her debilitating stage fright. Kagura had insisted she needed to get a hold of herself and move out of her comfort zone but Erza was on the brink of a breakdown.

The director was a tiny man. He wasn't as overbearing as many college-level thespians were portrayed in fiction but he had an intimidating thousand yard stare.

"Erza," he began with a sigh.

"I'm really sorry Mister Dreyar!" Her words tumbled from her lips with very little filter. "I'm trying, I promise. It's just that I –"

Makarov Dreyar held up a hand and Erza brought her babble to a halt. "I know you're trying. I know you have your lines down and if you weren't such a fidgeter you wouldn't need to still carry your script." Erza's eyes stung and she stared at her shoes. "It's just that I don't believe you."

"I don't understand," she whispered.

"You're the villain in this story but you have no conviction. No one believes for a second that you hate the hero and want him dead."

"But... well..." she spluttered, trying to cobble together a reasonable defense. Makarov held up his hand again.

"I know it's a little late in the game but I'm considering switching you with Miss Mikazuchi." Erza's eyes widened and her mouth felt full of cotton. Makarov sighed and flipped through the pages of his own script. "You're, quite frankly, a terrible villain, and Kagura's portrayal of a woman in love with a man..." He shook his head. "Well, that's not really on point either."

"That's because she's gay," Erza blurted.

"I had no idea," Makarov deadpanned. "I don't know why or how the two of you decided theater would be a good fit but here we are. You're all I've got and it's too late to bring in fresh blood."

"So –"

"Kagura is my new villain, and you're the hero's love interest. Think you can handle the new lines and blocking?" Erza watched him pull a thermos from his bag.

"Uh –"

"Good. Now off you go. Get some lunch so you don't faint when Jellal touches you."

"Right," she whispered, suddenly feeling dizzy. Erza dashed off and only glanced back once when he began muttering to himself about community college theater and how much better it was than community theater. She thought it sounded more like a pep talk than an admission.

Kagura was waiting for her in the hallway with a paper bag and two drinks.

"Well that took long enough. I'm starving. Let's eat outside."

"We have to switch scripts," Erza said, taking one of the cups and following her friend toward the doors.

"I figured as much. I'd much rather have your part anyway. The lover doesn't suit me." Kagura settled under one of the trees in the courtyard and pulled two sandwiches from the bag. She shoved one toward Erza. "You should eat. If you pass out on stage when he kisses you, I won't drag you to the hospital."

Erza stared at her sandwich. She felt ill.

"What's the matter with you?"

"I can't do this," Erza whispered.

"Do you not like ham? It's all they had left."

"Not the sandwich! I can't... I mean, I can't... Uh –"

"Good grief, Erza! You've been making heart eyes at Jellal for the last three weeks and now that you don't have to pretend you want to kill him, you're freaking out? Honestly, this is the best thing that could've happened! You get what you want and I don't have to kiss a guy. Everybody wins."

"But what if he–"

"What if what? You do realize he's into you, too, right?" Erza blinked in confusion and Kagura rolled her eyes dramatically. "Just talk to him for fuck's sake."

"I guess I have to now."

"First, though, you need to eat that sandwich. I'm serious about not bothering with you if you pass out on stage."

"You're such a good friend."

"You're damn right I am." Kagura finally smiled and Erza's shoulders felt lighter. She could do this.

All of her anxiety returned in full force when Jellal was waiting for them just inside the theater building. Kagura smirked and rushed into the auditorium leaving Erza alone with him.

"I'm told you're my new leading lady," he said with a grin. Once again, Erza's eyes settled on the very corner of his mouth where her favorite part of his smile peeked.

"Uh, yes. I'll have to learn everything new..." she trailed off and found herself wishing she had a something to twist in her hands.

"Don't worry about it," he said easily. "I'm sure you can do it. I can help you if you want. Most of our scenes are together."

"Right," Erza breathed. Jellal stepped closer to her, brushed the hair from her shoulder, and leaned in to speak privately in her ear.

"To be honest, I'm happier this way. Now I don't have to worry about flirting with my nemesis." Erza's cheeks were stuck in a permanent blush. Jellal's arm slid the rest of the way around her shoulders and she couldn't stop herself from tucking into his side.

She didn't have to wait for the script to tell him to kiss her. He did that all on his own.