"I hope everyone is ready tomorrow. We will have many things to do"
"Yes ma'am…", Gray and Natsu said dejectedly.
"Okay, now we must rest, it's late and tomorrow will be a busy day", Erza said authoritatively, as always.
"But it's still early, Erza," Natsu whimpered.
The redhead glared at him, making him shiver. "Don't discuss my orders, Natsu!", he shook his head vigorously, while sweating cold.
"Excellent. Now everyone to the rooms", she said and the others obeyed. Gray, Natsu and Happy went to the room further ahead and Wendy and Carla entered the door in front of where the group was, it was the girls' room.
Lucy was entering when she was stopped by the redhead, she looked at her in surprise. "Will you come with me, Lucy?" Though it was a permission-biased question, she knew she wouldn't have a choice when it came to the all-powerful Titania.
The redhead was walking followed by the blonde. They left the hotel where they were staying and walked in total silence for some time, until they reached a nearby park. It was late at night, only a few people walked the streets returning from their chores.
Both mages sat on a bench in the middle of the park, in a reserved spot. They were going to talk and Erza didn't want anyone eavesdropping on her girl talk.
Lucy was uncomfortable with it all. She had never seen Erza like that, she looked confused and distrustful. All day she was weird, more than usual.
"Is everything alright, Erza?", the celestial mage asked with a tone of concern.
"Ryker and I are together", the redhead was direct.
"WHAAATT!?" Lucy yelled, stunned. "And you say it like that, all of a sudden!?".
"It just happened. We kissed and we've been dating ever since," she confirmed.
"Ho… how long have you been dating?" Lucy asked.
"Three weeks or so," the redhead replied.
"And you didn't say anything? Does anyone else know?".
"Wendy knows. Mira and her brothers, and now you."
Lucy didn't know what to make of all that information, she didn't react. "Well, congratulations Erza. You guys seem to like each other a lot", Lucy said and hugged her friend. "I'm happy for you two. He really deserves to be happy with someone and I'm glad it's you", she said smiling at her friend who reciprocated the gesture. "Now, why are you telling me just now?", the blonde questioned her curiously.
Erza was suddenly shy and blushed, behaving embarrassed. "Well, yesterday we…" Lucy understood what she was saying and blushed. "We were on his couch and then we started kissing...".
"I get it, Erza!", the blonde tried to stop the redhead from continuing, but she continued anyway.
"And the whole thing started to get hotter and...".
"Spare me the details!" cried Lucy embarrassed.
"He put me on his lap, kissed me, I kissed him back...", with each word Lucy got redder and redder, "then we lay down on the couch and it got even hotter and more sensual..." Lucy began to gulp and break into a cold sweat, her imagination going to dirty places in her mind. "Then I focused on top, I thought we were going to, but..." she stopped her description and the blonde realized there was something there.
"He…he pushed me away. I thought he wanted it and then he gave it up. I don't understand," Erza said looking confused by the whole situation and her relationship with Ryker.
Lucy looked at her in astonishment. If Erza didn't know, what would she know about it? "I don't know what to say," Lucy said.
"I called you here for this, Lucy", Erza took the celestial mage by surprise. "You read all these novels, you must understand what's going on. I…I'm kind of new to this kind of thing," Erza said, totally embarrassed.
"ME!?", the blonde was scared to have to be Erza's helper, to understand her relationship.
"Yes, you. You are smart and cultured and I need answers. And I'm not leaving here without them", Erza looked straight into her eyes, which terrified the blonde.
For the sake of her life she had to come up with some answers for Titania. "Maybe he's still ready to take the relationship to another level."
"He said that, but he was so excited. He always wanted to, but the other times I stopped, no matter how hot the situation was, but this time it was different," she recalled.
"Other times... !?". Lucy blushed again imagining the scene. "But sometimes a man may look like it, but deep down he has some fears, insecurities, that stop him. Maybe he has some fear and stopped before he could regret something in the future, or hurt you in some way. He doesn't strike me as the kind of guy willing to do anything to sleep with a girl," she thanked the silly romance novels she'd borrowed from Levy for that answer.
Erza pondered what Lucy said for a moment. "I think you're right, Lucy. He doesn't seem to be so sure about the two of us either," she said a little crestfallen.
"Too?" Lucy thought, was Erza having second thoughts about their relationship, or was it just Ryker? "Erza?" she called to her. "You're not sure about dating either, are you?"
The redhead looked at her and sighed. "I like him, Lucy. Really".
"But...", the blonde gave her the cue to continue.
"When we first kissed, it was so romantic. Like in the books, the kiss was so good, but… it wasn't what I expected."
"Like this? Erza, you can't doubt a relationship just for a kiss", the redhead glared at her and the blonde stiffened on the bench, but after a while her gaze softened, to the relief of the celestial mage.
"It's not just that. When we get together it's good, it's great to be with him. We went to a picnic, which I always wanted and it was wonderful", she said with delight in her eyes. "But it's not enough, something's missing", Erza had a sad look about the whole situation. "I feel like I'm playing with his feelings, that I'm hurting him in some way."
Lucy felt sorry for her and hugged her affectionately, wrapping her arms around her friend. Sometimes even the strongest warriors need some support.
"Erza if you're in doubt about being with him, talk to Ryker. Clear things up, ask yourself how you really feel about him. If he continues like this he will only get hurt and hurt him", said the blonde to the redhead as she comforted her in her arms.
"I thought that in time everything would settle down, but nothing has changed," Erza sighed. "When we get back I'll talk to him", she said determinedly and Lucy smiled warmly at her friend.
"I think you two need this conversation. From what you said he must feel the same"
"Thank you, Lucy," Erza smiled at her friend. "Let's go back, tomorrow will be a long day", The redhead changed completely getting all excited about the plans she was formulating. Lucy sighed and ran after her friend.
Two days later the Natsu team returned from their mission and Erza determined to talk to Ryker. Mira, however, informed him that he went solo and would only come back at the end of the day, he would only be at the guild the next morning. The redhead decided to wait, there would be no rush anyway.
The next day Ryker was chatting with Mira and her brothers at the bar, as he always did. Lucy approached them and sat down next to Ryker, asking for something to drink.
"I heard you went on a mission. How was it?", she said turning to Ryker, who gave her a stern look and smirked some time later.
"All right. I just had to slaughter a bunch of bad guys, no big deal," he said in the calmest way in the world.
"Trucidate?" Lucy stung a few times.
"Don't you think that's too strong a word?" commented Lisanna.
"I think it's his manly way of saying he's taken out all the bad guys and accomplished the mission," Elfman said.
Ryker smiled slightly at everyone's comments, Mirajane watched them and smiled calmly.
"I didn't kill them if it worries you. Maybe some of them don't walk anymore, but it's just a side effect," Ryker said calmly, as if it were nothing. The others widened their eyes in surprise at her out-of-the-ordinary comment.
"What!?", he asked noticing their eyes. "If they didn't want to get hurt they shouldn't have gone the wrong way. Simple," there was a logic to his thinking, they must admit.
"What about yours, Lucy? Everything went well", Lisanna asked.
The celestial mage smiled happily. "Yes, oddly enough it was a very fun job and we got the whole reward. I won't worry about the rent for a while."
"You wouldn't have to worry about the rent if you stopped buying so many useless things," Ryker commented, eyeing her with disapproval.
The blonde glared at him, as he dared to criticize his essential expenses. "Shut up, idiot! They are not useless expenses, I just buy essential items for the life of a beautiful girl like me. And I am in need of new clothes and this money will be very well spent".
"It would need more cloth to call it, what you wear, clothes," he snapped sarcastically.
"What do you mean by that!?" she screamed with shark teeth.
"I bet you pay a fortune on these things. How dare you spend so much on so little cloth?", he didn't mind the wrath of the celestial mage who started to punch him in rage, but was easily blocked in each attack.
The other magicians laughed at the scene featuring the double play of friends and the scandal that the blonde was making. Wearily, Lucy sat sullenly drinking what Mira had brought her.
"Don't sulk, I bet Natsu doesn't like it", he commented and Lucy blushed at the insinuation.
"Shut up! I'm not talking to you", she turned to the front with a pout and her arms crossed, sulking. Ryker found it cute and ruffled her hair, irritating her a little more.
"What about you, Lisy?" he said, turning to Strauss. "Aren't you going to get a job? Or are you hoping to be invited by someone?" he said mischievously.
"Shut up! I'm not talking to you, either!" she squeaked and got ruffled hair from Ryker.
Mira, who was amused by the situation, braced her forearms on the bar counter in front of Ryker, eyeing him mischievously. "You're so bad sometimes", he smiled and looked at her the same way.
He approached her at the counter, also leaning on his forearms. "Sometimes!? Maybe I'm always bad", he stared at her and their faces changed, from mischievous to contemplative and passionate, towards each other. They didn't even notice the people around them, lost in their own world.
Lucy was enchanted looking at them, the way they looked at each other and how their hands were touching, in such gentle touches, their fingers playing with each other so softly, she was surprised they weren't there yet... That's when if he remembered his conversation with Erza.
Seeing Mira and Ryker interact that way, it was clear. Erza and he would need to have a serious conversation, as soon as possible, for everyone's sake.
The two stayed the way they were for a long time, until a voice called out to Ryker, making him snap out of his trance and look back and see the redhead standing behind him.
"Erza!?".
"Can we talk?", she looked serious and determined, Ryker noticed her behavior and deduced it was a serious conversation she wanted to have with him.
He nodded and got up. The redhead led them out of the guild and Mira, watching them leave together, got a sad look in her eyes and went back to her duties.
The two walked through the city in silence, which was strange for them when they were together. Wondering where this was all going, he just followed the flow of events. Both continued walking until they reached a parapet patio, which gave a beautiful view of the city.
Erza leaned on the rail and Ryker stood behind her waiting for her to initiate the conversation, whatever it was.
The redhead sighed before turning to face him. "We need to talk, Ryker."
He looked at her suspiciously and worried. "It's all right?".
"Yes and no..."
"That makes it hard to understand anything, redhead," he said lightly.
Erza looked at him seriously. "Shut up and let me explain," she said roughly.
"Is there a plot against me today? Everyone's telling me to shut up," he muttered, contradicted.
"I had a conversation with Lucy on our last mission. She helped me see and understand certain things. Things that we need to clarify, about us, about what we feel".
"Erza..."
"Listen, Ryker! I really…" she started to speak but was interrupted.
"Erza!?"
"J... Jellal!?", she said amazed, Ryker turned to where she was looking and saw a man with blue hair and a tattoo over his right eye, he was wearing a blue cape.
Ryker turned his attention back to Erza and noticed that she immediately turned flushed and nervous, behaving strangely and restlessly. It was barely noticeable, but he learned to read people quickly in his training, so it was easy for him to notice these slight variations. He looked back at the blue-haired guy nonchalantly and saw him approaching them.
"Wh... what are you doing around here?", the redhead asked.
"I…I came by your guild," he said awkwardly, scratching the back of his head. It was clear to Ryker that there was something between the two. "Is this your friend?" Jellal pointed to the wizard beside Erza.
"Yeah, he's actually new to the guild. He joined a few months ago. His name is Ryker," she introduced him.
Jellal turned to him and held out a hand in greeting. "Jellal Fernandez, it's a pleasure to meet you".
Taking Jellal's hand, Ryker greeted him cordially. "Ryker, it's my pleasure."
"So…what exactly brings you here, Jellal? If I can ask," Ryker said with some suspicion.
"Ah yes! As for that... Erza can I speak to you in private?", he said looking at her seriously, which made her agree with the request.
They walked away so far that Ryker couldn't hear what they were talking about and spent a few minutes arguing. Ryker watched the two of them and their dynamics, he analyzed every aspect of them and their relationship. He didn't want to meddle in the matter they were eventually talking about, if it was something serious and guild-related she would tell him, so he had no reason to read their lips. After minutes of conversation they parted with a warm hug, and he went to the guild and she returned to where Ryker was.
"All right?", he asked seeing the serious and worried expression that she returned from the conversation.
"Yes, I think so," she said, but he didn't believe her. For Erza the Titania, having that expression was something not right.
"Come on Erza, tell me! I know that's not all that bothers you. And what that guy said shook you up, somehow."
"That can be for later. We have to talk remember?"
Ryker looked at her seriously and deeply. "Erza Scarlet! Whatever he told you must be more important at the moment than talking about ourselves. So open your mouth and speak!" he ordered and the tone he used surprised her, leaving her speechless.
She sighed and pondered her speech. "Very well…" he nodded for her to continue. "He is part of a guild that investigates criminals and problems in the magical world, simply put. He said he's been tracking some unusual black wizard moves and rumors involving Fairy Tail. Maybe some attack on us or something."
Ryker's face closed and took on an expression of concern and apprehension. "Erza, we have to go back and talk to the master and his friend," he said deadly serious. Seeing their attitude, she agreed and they ran back to the guild, leaving what they had to say for another time.
Erza and Ryker ran into the guild past the bar and asked Mirajane if the master was there. She informed him that he was in her office talking to Jellal.
The two were at Makarov's door. "I'd better ask permission to come in..." Erza had said, but Ryker didn't mind and opened it without ceremony, much to her amazement.
Makarov and Jellal looked at them in surprise at their sudden entrance. Ryker didn't mind his attitude, while Erza was amis embarrassed, both by her companion's sudden action and by the presence of the blue-haired mage.
"Excuse the intrusion master, but Erza told me what this guy said and I think it has to do with what I've been listening to," Ryker said.
Master and Jellal looked at each other and turned their attention to him. "What would be son?" Makarov asked gently.
"Erza said he was investigating the suspicious actions of some black magicians and that it might be related to the guild, right?" Jellal nodded. "Well, when I was hunting Jose, in those cities I heard rumors of someone recruiting black magicians. Well, it was crooks talking about crooks, rumors just nothing very concrete, so I didn't worry. However when I did a mission with Lucy, and she can confirm it, those idiot thugs threatened our guild. They said that Fairy Tail had its days numbered, for some reason I connected to what I heard in those cities. I didn't say anything because Lucy said it shouldn't be anything. Well, actually, they were top-notch wizards, maybe they were just lip-service to us. But now I think it could be more. I'm sorry I haven't spoken before".
Both Jellal and Makarov looked at each other and turned their attention to the other mage. "It's okay son", the master comforted him. "You've done well not to brag about no evidence and spread worries aimlessly," Ryker nodded his thanks.
"What were these cities?" asked Jellal.
"The ones around Lepoglava," Ryker replied, and Jellal was thoughtful for a moment.
"I understand. I'll tell you what I know," he said seriously. "Since the destruction of Tartaros and the war against Alvarez, the black guilds were disoriented, fighting amongst themselves and aimlessly. From a year, a year or so that has changed. Their stocks have gone down, we've barely heard anything about them. I've been investigating, trying to find out what was going on, and I've noticed that many wizards just disappeared. As Ryker said, I also heard rumors of someone recruiting them, investigated but found nothing. I think it all has to do with Fairy Tail, because in my wanderings I heard something related to this matter and my contacts in the middle also told me that there is some aim pointed here."
Makarov, Ryker and Erza were more concerned about Jellal's report. Would Fairy Tail face another great battle ahead? The master got out of his chair and walked around his office thoughtfully, deciding what actions to take.
"How sure are you about this, Jellal?" asked the master.
"It's hard to say, master. Nothing I found or what I was told is concrete. It can be all nothing. But I decided to come talk to you as a precaution. At least be warned and be careful."
"Yes, thanks for the warning Jellal."
They continued to discuss the matter for a while longer, deciding what actions to take going forward. Jellal stated that he will continue his investigations and find out everything he has to find out until he actually knows what was going on. He promised to keep the guild informed and updated on everything.
Makarov invited him to stay one more day, as the next day a guild party was planned and he would like Jellal to attend. He played a very important role in the previous year's events and it would be fair for him to celebrate with the guild at some random party. Reluctantly he agreed, even more so with an explicit request from Erza.
"So…" Ryker started walking beside the redhead. "What are you and this Jellal exactly?" He had a strange expression on his face. Erza was nervous about the question, especially coming from her current affaire. She took his hand and pulled him into the usually empty library, only Lucy and Levy frequented it, but not today.
"Well, he is...", the redhead was nervous, feeling uncomfortable, blushing and acting shy when it came to Jellal.
"You are nervous. Should I worry?" he said in an amusing and teasing way, which didn't help Erza at all. She punched his arm in response.
"Shut up!" she yelled to the amusement of the other mage. Erza sighed and decided to say everything. "He was with me at Tower Paradise. Remember what I told you about there?" he nods. "Well that kid was him," Ryker was surprised.
"Are you telling me that the person who made you suffer and used you to revive Zeref is that face?" The tone he used was not very friendly.
Noticing the threatening tone he used to talk about Jellal, the redhead was quick to explain. "Yes, but it was being controlled at the time, it wasn't his fault. Furthermore, he regrets everything he has done and has been working to redeem himself. He helped us a lot".
Ryker watched her talk about him, how her eyes sparkled at the mention of him, how she got nostalgic remembering the past, and how she had that beautiful contemplative face. He smiled when he saw her like that and didn't even know why.
"Why don't you spend the day with him?" he said and Erza looked at him in astonishment. "It seems you trust him and if you say he has changed then he has. Well, who could I judge anyway?"
"Ryker, but…" he silenced her by putting a finger to her lips.
"You've known each other for a long time and it seems like you don't see each other for a long time. Go catch up," he smirked at her.
Erza stared at him for a while and then gave him a soft kiss on the lips. "You're an amazing guy," Ryker blushed and turned away in embarrassment.
"Don't say things like that, dammit!", he said, embarrassed.
The redhead smiled and gave him another kiss on the mouth. "See you later," she waved as she walked out of the library.
"Of course…", he said to himself and after a while she left him alone he left. Looking around the guild already knew its fate. He walked over to the bar and sat down, not a minute later Mira got close to him, and he grinned at her. They spent the rest of the day talking, forgetting anything that bothered him.