Erza and Jellal-Chapter 2

Erza was glad that she was experienced with ignoring her emotions as she felt Jella's hands wrap securely around her moving her effortlessly across the dance floor. She fought to remove the blush from her cheeks as she met Wendy's eyes and saw them light up with approval. She smiled back at the blue hair girl then her eyes moved to Natsu and Lucy. He had a scowl on his face as she forced him to dance with her, his eyes longingly moving towards to the food. Here and there she saw them move to Lucy's lips before moving back to the food. He leaned forward slightly said something in her ear and her whole face lit up in a blush. She wondered if they had kissed during the few hours in the hotel too.

She didn't need to ask about Gray and Juvia as she seemed to glow and he had a slight blush on his cheeks. She noticed as well that Gray stayed close to Natsu and Lucy. She smiled as she watched the four of them but especially the boys. They have come so far and are so strong. She was happy that they had become closer and instead of the frenemies that they used to be they were close friends now.

Erza was able to piece together everything that had happened in those final battles based off of the information told to her by Gray, Natsu and Lucy. She even understood why Gray and Natsu were fighting, which was why she was happy for this request. It gives them chances to figure out their feelings as well as it gives her time alone with Jellal.

"Erza" she heard but she was distracted by his lips touching the shell of her ear and she couldn't suppress the shiver that went through her. She almost stumbled due to the emotions coursing through her and once again her mind returned to him kissing her, pressing her against him. She could feel the strength of his body as she was pressed up against him and it kept distracting her and would overwhelm her if she allowed it.

Jellal smiled as he felt her shiver then stumble as the emotions overcame her but that was the opposite effect of what he wanted. He wanted her to smile, dance and be merry but something was causing him concern. He could sense something but he wasn't sure what it was that was making him uneasy.

The song ended and he brought her over to the chairs and sat her down. She smiled at him and once again his eyes roamed over her body. She was wearing a purple dress with her auburn hair up on in a delicate bun with curls flowing down around her face. Her brown eyes were bright with excitement and her smile shown brightly as her cheeks darken slightly with the blush. The purple dress was the best color for her as it brought out her eyes and didn't clash with her red hair. Although, he missed her scarlet red hair, he was glad she kept it a red shade. She smiled gently as she looked over him in his suit. His blue shirt would have matched his hair but it suited him beautifully with his dyed black hair causing his brown eyes to stand out. The red marks on his face had been hidden by makeup and truth be told, he looked like Gray's older brother.

"Be on guard, Erza." He whispered as he moved over to the refreshment table in order to pick up a drink for himself and Erza. He smiled slightly as he saw Natsu starting to walk towards it with excitement but stop halfway looking disappointed, since Jellal was closer. Erza had expressed the importance of them remaining separated and not talking to each other unless they set up designated times so the shooter wouldn't be suspicious. Natsu's eyes narrowed slightly before he shot Jellal a smile and returned to seat next to Lucy. A quick glance at the dance floor was all he needed to see Juvia and Gray still dancing together.

Jellal reached the refreshment table and grabbed his drinks but when he turned around he dropped them when he saw the expression on Natsu's face. His mouth was posed in a snarl, his eyes narrowed and his nose raised as if he was smelling something.

"ERZA!" Natsu roared as he started running towards the weapon's mage.

"ERZA!" Jellal echoed as he dropped the drinks and also started running towards her.

Erza smiled to herself as she heard both of Natsu and Jellal yell her name but she had already sensed something was off. She wasn't sure what she sensed but she had already started reaching into the void to reach for her sword. With her instincts screaming at her, she swung her sword and heard the ding of the bullet connecting with the sword then moving away from her.

Unfortunately, she wasn't paying attention to where Jellal went and she blinked in surprise when he jerked. He had been closer to her than she expected and when she deflected the bullet, she hit it with enough force that it was able to penetrate not only suit but his flesh as well. The bullet hit him around the rib area on the left side and her heart lurched as his eyes widened in surprise but he remained standing with a grimace of pain etched on his handsome face.

"NATSU!" Erza barked and moved towards Jellal.

"On it!" He yelled as he jumped to where the shooter most likely was hiding.

"Wed.." she started yelling but turned around to see Wendy already rushing towards Jellal.

Reaching him, she helped him sit down with gentle pressure on his broad heavily muscled shoulders.

"I'm so sorry!" Erza whispered but took a breath trying to hold herself together.

"Erza, what happened?" Gray asked as him, Juvia and Lucy raced over to them.

"I deflected the bullet but unfortunately it hit Jellal."

Wendy knelt close to him and placed her hands gently on his side. After a few minutes she sat back with a slight smile.

"He should be okay."

"I'm.." she started but paused when his hand came up to gently touch her face.

"It wasn't your fault. I shouldn't have underestimated you. I'm going to be okay, thanks to Wendy." He said with a smile.

"Hey!" they all turned as Natsu approached with a small man held under his arm. He had a small gun in his hands and looked terrified.

"Too easy." Jellal whispered to Erza who nodded but with a stern face turned towards the man after Natsu placed him down on the floor in front of her. He bent down and removed the gun from his hands. Gray looking uneasy grabbed the gun from Natsu and Erza felt herself relax slightly. Natsu wasn't stupid but he was a very curious man and messing around with guns could be dangerous. It was safer in Gray's hands although not much safer.

"Who are you?" She asked with power in her voice as she stood and glared down at the man. He was short, just a little bit taller than Wendy, thin and bald. His sad gray-green eyes were filled with tears as he looked up at Erza.

"Erza Scarlet." He whispered as he bowed to her in respect. She blinked at him and knelt down so she didn't tower above him since she couldn't sense any danger from him and the gun had been removed.

"Erza! What are you doing?" Natsu asked incredulously but she smiled to herself for the man didn't have a single mark on him meaning that despite how angry Natsu was, he didn't lay a hand on him.

"Tell me, why did you shoot at me?"

"I'm sorry, my lady but I was ordered too."

"Ordered too by…?"

"I do not know my lady. A few days ago I returned home and my wife and children were missing. There was a note there saying that I..I had to kill…someone in order to have them returned." Tears rolled down his cheeks as he glanced up at Erza.

"How horrible!" She gasped in horror at this poor man's situation.

Gray growled as he shook with anger. "How dare he use love ones to make someone do something like that!"

"Gray." Erza whispered as she glanced at him, his face contorted in rage.

"Gray, my love" Juvia whispered as she reached out a hand and rubbed his arm.

"We are going to beat him to a pulp" Natsu promised as made a fist, the promise of retribution in his eyes.

"Thank you!" The man whispered as he glanced around at the wizards feeling hope for the first time since this whole thing started. He couldn't help but to start sobbing in relief.

"Is there anything you can tell us?" she asked gently when he finally started calming down.

The man shook his head. "I saw you change in the alley so I followed you. I didn't want to actually hurt someone and based off your hair and your ability, I figured out you were Erza Scarlet."

"Erza, if he knows you are in town then he might start targeting you." Jellal said quietly as he glanced at the crying man at their feet.

"Does he know?" Jellal asked.

The man shook his head "I don't know. I didn't tell him. All I know is he wrote me a letter, explaining he took my family and he ordered me to kill someone to take the heat off of him."

Erza fell quiet, as she had to think rapidly. Is this a coincidence or did he know they were in town? They would have to be more careful because now their lives were in danger. Instead of a weekend of hunting down a killer, that same hunter may be hunting them. Unfortunately, for the hunter, they were very capable wizards with two dragon slayers on their side.

"Right now you can help us, go home and contact us if there are any more letters. Don't touch them; let us get to them first. We will worry about what to do with you later." She ordered gently but firmly. The man smiled at them and nodded at them. After transferring their correspondence, they let the man know. With a quick glance at Natsu and Wendy and a nod from them, she knew he would never be able to get close to them again.

When finished, the man stood shakily, smiled, shook all of their hands and ran out of the door. Only when the door close, did she noticed that the ballroom had gone quiet and all of the attendees were watching them. "I think we need to regroup. Maybe it's time we leave the ball." Juvia looked disappointed as she glanced at Gray and Natsu's eyes longingly went to the refreshment table. With a slight laugh in her voice, she smiled at them "Alright, Jellal and I will return to our hotel room. Come find us when you are ready but be careful."

"Yes ma'am!" they all responded as they started to move away.

"Jellal."

"I am ready." He answered with a slight catch to his breath.

Returning back to the hotel room ended up being uneventful. Back in the quiet of the room, she turned and hugged him gently. It was unlike her but she felt horrible for hitting him with the bullet.

"I'm sorry."

"Erza. It was not your fault. I should have used magic but I was too worried about hitting you then I was too fascinated by you to pay attention."

Erza blushed and raised her eyes meeting his. "You were fascinated by me?"

"You're truly amazing, Erza." He whispered as he reached down and kissed her. It was gentle kiss that slowly deepened; however, he didn't let it go too far. He just wanted touch her and let her know not to be upset. When he stood back, he saw her smile and that was all he needed.

Erza blushed as he stood back but she frowned as her eyes went to the blinds. Moving carefully, she closed them just in case, her heart in her stomach. She just hoped that the others would make it to her safely. Jellal sat on the bed and Erza joined them. Lying on the bed, he gently wrapped his arms around her as they waited for the others to arrive.