Blindness

Part 1: Confession

Jellal's POV

Meredy rushed towards Jellal.

"I thought I wanted some alone time?" he asked, looking at the panting girl.

"I know… it's an emergency… It's Erza."

Jellal's heart pounded slightly harder at the thought of the scarlet Titania. "What about her?"

Meredy couldn't bring herself to say the words. She handed over the note.

Erza injured seriously. Traumatic brain injury. Temporary or permanent blindness. Possible paralysis. Come quickly.

~ Gray

Jellal's face drained of color. Grabbing Meredy's hand, he used Meteor to whiz both of them towards the city.

"Jellal- can't- breathe-" Meredy gasped. He slowed down, tired out from his training and the sudden burst of power.

"Meredy, can you link me to Erza?"

She nodded.

A wave of emotions hit Jellal, filling him with hopelessness, despair, and darkness. Even though he could physically see what was in front of him, he felt like he saw nothing. He felt completely useless, like a lost person wandering in pitch black aimlessly.

As Meredy broke the link, sadness and pain for Erza washed over Jellal.

"Go ahead and get to her. I'll catch up later," Meredy told him, seeing his longing to be with her.

Not needing anymore encouragement, he sped off.

"Erza. Where is she?" Jellal asked, rushing into through the guild doors.

Gray stepped out of the shadows, dark eye rings circling his eyes. "She's there. She's out of coma. We've been taking shifts to take care of her and make sure she doesn't try to do anything."

Jellal nodded and climbed up the steps into the infirmary. He opened the door and saw Laxus sitting next to a sleeping Erza. Laxus stood up and left the room, leaving the two alone.

Erza looked pale and weak. Bandages covered most of her body, and half of her hair had been chopped off for the surgery. Even as she slept, she seemed restless and uneasy, like she was in the midst of a nightmare.

I thought dreams were supposed to be the perfect reality… Jellal mused, remembering their time at the Tower of Heaven.

3rd -person omniscient POV

Erza stirred next to him, opening her eyes slowly but seeing nothing. She blinked a few times and groaned.

"Erza?" Jellal asked tentatively.

Erza didn't need eyes to see who her visitor was. She'd recognize that voice anywhere.

"Jellal? You came?"

"Of course I would."

Erza's lips turned up slightly, almost a smile – but not there yet. "I'm glad you came."

"How are you?"

She sighed and shrugged. "Terrible," she answered.

"I'm sorry."

"Me too. I should've fought harder… and maybe I wouldn't be stuck like this," she sighed again.

"You? Fight harder? Erza Scarlet, you've already fought your hardest."

Erza smiled – a real one, no matter how small – at the familiar name.

"It was the color of your hair."

Her hair was red. And his was blue. The most beautiful blue she had ever seen. But now… she would never see it again.

She choked back a sob at the thought of not being able to see him again.

"What's wrong?" Jellal asked, afraid that he had said something wrong.

"Nothing…"

"You're not fooling anybody. Especially me."

"…I just… I can't… I won't be able to see you again…"

Jellal remained silent enough for Erza to wonder if he had already left, or whatever she just thought she heard was just a dream.

"You know… they say that when you lose a sense, your other senses become more sensitive."

Erza was quiet. She didn't know what to say.

"Do you want to test that out?"

"How?"

Jellal leaned over and pressed his lips gently against hers.

Erza's POV

Erza was shocked, an unfamiliar wave of emotions rushing over her. Her sense of touch was heightened, and she could feel the warm, soft lips pressing against hers. She could feel the closeness between the both of them. She could feel the love radiating from him. Suddenly, she felt a rush of cool air over her face, and the missing touch of his kiss.

"I-I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that," Jellal stammered. He sounded nearer than he was before, like he was sitting on the bed next to her. She couldn't really tell if he was actually sitting on the bed, because she couldn't feel much in the sudden overflow of emotions.

"It's-It's fine. I- uh- I liked it," Erza heard herself mumble. She willed herself to stop blushing.

She felt his warm hands cup her freezing and numb hands.

"I wanted to tell you this after my mission. But uh- I- I love you."

Erza could just picture him blushing. Curse this blindness!

"Me too."

"So… you two finally got the guts to say it. You don't know how long we've been waiting," a new voice popped up at what Erza thought was the door.

If it was possible, Erza's blush intensified. "Gray!"

Jellal ignored Gray and continued, "Would you… uh… be my girlfriend?"

Erza nodded.

A squeal came from the direction of the door.

"Mira…" Erza groaned.