Jerza

New Money AU

Rating: T (Sexual Tension)

Jellal finally felt ready. It had only taken him nine months to perfect his strawberry shortcake series; this new flavor was going to be the star. It was his literal brainchild, a much-loved labor of love. He was hoping it would make Erza's mouth water. She'd easily become all he thought about and he'd worked hard to ensure she wouldn't be able to find anything wrong with it; his career wouldn't survive. He couldn't help but think about the first time he'd seen her:

Jellal had been smitten by the new food critic. She'd been taking the internet by storm with her blunt statements and her direct stare. Add insanely beautiful and super serious about her sweets and you have a woman any pastry chef would drool over. It was no wonder why he'd fallen hard for her. Her pallet seemed honed to perfection. Her eyes could scare off any less confident opponent and challenged you to make her like whatever she was trying. She was ready for battle and Jellal had to know how she fought; he was determined to win her affection. What kind of face would she make for him, he couldn't stop from wondering.

He saw it once. The face she made when she lost the fight and was surprised by how breathless it made him. His heart constricted at her face going soft and a look of bliss glassing over her beautiful brown eye, making a matching matte bronze pair with her artificial right eye. It was the first time Jellal felt jealous. He wanted to be the cause of that expression or better yet the only one to see it. It was gone in the blink of an eye while Erza started her review but he'd already seen it and knew he could do one better.

"She likes strawberries" he mused while flicking through her videos, "…cute." That's how the idea was born.

"How are you not nervous?" a young girl with blue hair whispered. She teetered over the edge of the counter to watch him frost the last cupcake.

"Because I know she'll like it." It was a lie but he couldn't afford to lose his confidence. "Wendy –"Jellal was silenced by the bell attached to the front door opening. Time slowed as his eyes locked on serious brown and the icing bag in his hands burst. He tore his gaze away flustered.

"Jellal?" Spoken from in front of him, strong and sure, maybe a little excited. "I'm – "

"Erza," he finished, flashing a quick smile in her direction before it wobbled off while he decided it was better to focus on the pastries. "I know who you are, please have a seat wherever you'd like. I'm just finishing up." He couldn't seem to get a hold of his nerves. Erza was actually here.

"Alright," a brief hesitation, "Thank you for letting me be the first to try and write about your new desert series. It's an honor, truly. I know how many critics fight for the opportunity to be the first to try international sensation Jellal Fernandez pastries." Jellal felt like he should be thanking her, so he stayed quiet and tried to keep his hands from shaking. The silence between them grew comfortable, Jellal finally noticing Wendy had scampered out. His gaze roamed and found Erza had picked the table under his strawberry themed stained-glass window, writing down notes for her article. The light made her hair a halo of fire against the soft pink and green hues. He really did love her hair.

"Okay," the blue haired pastry-chef blew out while laying out the deserts he made on a berry themed tray. Finally ready for Erza to enjoy. "Here you are.." was tripped over as he slid the tray in front of her and took the seat opposite without thought. He had to see her expressions up close.

"What's this one?" Passed between red tinted lips. Her tone sounded bored, but Jellal thought he could feel an undercurrent of excitement. It vibrated off of her in waves. It was a drugging feeling, he wanted to get closer to her.

"It's a vanilla cupcake with rhubarb and strawberry compote filling, buttercream icing with strawberry pieces and covered in a light rhubarb and rose syrup." Jellal managed to push out around clearing his throat, unaware that the intent expression on his face was making her nervous; it gave her butterflies. Jellal wanted to capture the moment her left eye sparkled, her artificial bronze eye hidden behind a waterfall of scarlet; her first bite had her lips quivering as they tilted up into a soft smile and the sound she made had him licking his lips. Erza quickly polished off the cupcake and pointed her fork at the cake slice next. "A Fernandez family recipe. A classic strawberry shortcake." The point disappeared between her lips and Jellal couldn't help the groan that came from his throat, he was jealous of the fork that her lips closed around. He found himself smiling at the soft blush that tinted her cheeks and the shy gaze she sent his way before refocusing on the cake in front of her.

"Oh," Erza paused before looking up at him surprised, "It has a slight…hot after taste. Not spicy though, the strawberries are sweet and the hint of lemon tones down the sweetness perfectly."

"The "hot" you're experiencing is from the dash of black pepper from the strawberry pepper jam I made to coat the tops of the shortcake. Black pepper neutralizes the tartness naturally found in strawberries and helps the sweetness shine."

"What a neat trick," Erza whispered while eating another forkful of the cake, "I don't want it to end." Quickly followed by a darker pink tint dusting up her cheeks. Jellal chuckled and leaned forward, content to watch her eat the cake he made.

"I'll give you a piece to take with you when you leave."

"I'd like that," A wide genuine smile that had Jellal feeling like he was suddenly thrown over an open flame. He stored that smile away for later, wanted to hold on to it forever. "What's next?"

Erza felt reluctant to move on, she didn't want this to end. She couldn't believe her luck when Jellal had reached out with the opportunity to be the first person to try his new desert series. She jumped at the occasion, having dreamed of this moment for what felt like a lifetime. How could she possibly tell him that she thought he was hot….and that she admired his innovative flavor pairings. His combinations where always unique and adventurous while being delicious; There wasn't one she tasted that she didn't like but had been too nervous to post reviews of his deserts until she had more of a name for herself. Erza wanted to face him with the confidence that they were equal and however her critique went that they met on equal footing.

"A lemon-strawberry cheesecake crepe. Strawberry crepe batter filled with lemon ricotta filling, candied lemon slices, fresh strawberry slices and a homemade strawberry mint jam." Jellal's calm demeaner made Erza want to know what it would be like to see him lose control. What kind of face would he make? She wished she could see it as she cut the point of the folded crepe. She made sure to get a bit of everything and couldn't stop the excited swipe of her tongue along her bottom lip; the scarlet haired critic felt a shiver race down her spine at the rapt look that action elicited from the man across from her. Notes of stinging sour lemons smoothed over with sugar and settling into a gentle tingle from the tartness and the mint….Erza couldn't stop the purr. It was cool, refreshing, sweet. It reminded her of drinking her mothers homemade strawberry lemonade. A feeling that made her both happy and sad. She wanted to savor it forever.

"It reminds me of my mothers homemade strawberry lemonade," Erza found herself blurting out. She couldn't help herself. She wasn't sure how else she could show her admiration except sharing that personal tidbit; it was the highest form of compliment she could think to give.

"You're cute." A matter of fact statement that had her swinging her gaze back up to connect with warm blue. His eyes seemed to have melted at her statement, going from cool interest to bright pools at her statement. His smile made her feel unsure, a feeling she wasn't used too. "Thank you for the compliment, Erza." A hesitation that had her hold her breath and when his left hand came up to graze her cheek lightly before settling into her hair she felt like she'd been shocked; like she'd bitten into a tart strawberry. The closer he got the harder she found it to breath and by the time his tongue swept a bit of lemon ricotta from her bottom lip Erza felt lightheaded. Then he kissed her. His tongue begged for entrance at the seam of her lips and she had to let him in. He tasted strongly of lemon and mint. He bit her lower lip while pulling back, causing Erza to drop her fork. "The Lemon could have been stronger."

"I liked it," protested weakly. Her mind was still on the feel of his teeth on her lip. His tongue in her mouth. The subtle lemon and mint flavor she would always associated with him. She hoped he realized she wasn't talking only about his deserts. His smile was rewarding on it's on, he didn't seem the type to smile unless he meant it and she'd rarely seen him smile in any of his interviews. "I always like what you make."

"Always?" his soft blush had her feeling more confident. She still thought strawberries were nice…but lemon and mint was fast becoming her new favorite.