knock knock

"Jellal?" Erza murmured, entering his apartment cautiously and immediately noting the messiness that unusually inhabited his living quarters. "Hello?" She asked in a bit more of a panic after receiving not an answer. Closing the door behind her, she adjusted her shirt. Lace bunched up at the sides of her blouse and skin tight jeans hugging every curve on her body. Her five inch stringy heels wrapping elegantly around her tanned and thinned feet as they clacked lightly against his wooden floors. Her ruby hair fell gently around the bones of her shoulders exposed by the string straps holding up her top. Slowly walking down the hall leading to his room, there was such overwhelming silence that it sent a chill under her skin. "Babe?" She hushed, opening his door, preparing for the worst before looking at his figure sitting on the edge of his bed. "Jellal, you scared me!" She sighed loudly, her frown curving upwards into her usual grin at seeing his face after hours apart. Hours filled with anxiety over the upcoming "talk." She wasn't going to lie to anybody when she told herself that she wanted him for hours now— she wanted him there and then. But this was serious, wasn't it? Yet the painfully invigorating desire absolutely soaking her underwear and likely his bed sheets faltered at seeing his stern and unwavering expression. It was dark, lights dimmed as he remained silent. He wore not a thing but a pair of dress pants and shoes, prepared for a conglomerate dinner among any other criminal organizations in the same sections as Phoenix. She peered up and down his body, ripping her eyes from his toned abdomen curled against itself in his position. "So- so what's wrong, huh?" She attempted to soothe the tension behind his muscles, rubbing his arms with her hands up and down in a hug. Though she quickly stopped as she felt her breathing weigh down in her increasingly aroused state upon making contact with his warm skin. She shook her head. Focus.

"Erza do you love me?" He asked, turning his body to her and scowling at her stunning appearance. It was already so painful and he hadn't spoken more than a sentence. He didn't want it to end but the resent he now held for her gave this desire a run for its money.

"What?" She asked in confusion. He didn't repeat himself and simply stared, awaiting her response. "Yes, I mean of course, Jellal. Why're you asking me this, you're worrying me." Emotion flooded him, nearly forcing a tear to his eye.

"You would never betray me, would you?" She froze, eyes fixed on his as he trailed his hand up her thigh. Not good. She flinched back into reality when he dug his nails into the skin of her inner thigh.

"What?" She asked quietly, without responding, he pushed his lips against hers once more, savoring every bit of her and her being he was able to reach. As they parted, his brain told him more— but he disobeyed and pushed away, leaving her a frustrated mess.

"Sorry." He said, dropping his hand from her cheek and standing to grab the DVD sitting atop his night stand. He took his time, clearly not anticipating the moment. "I had to show you this, I just... don't know what to make of all my thoughts right now- it hasn't properly hit me yet so..." he trailed off, pushing the tape into it's socket and and pressing play. Two figures danced among the top of Phoenix's roof. At this, Erza's blood ran cold, her heart plummeting to her stomach as dread filled her veins. He spun a dial on the TV box and raised the volume.

~

"What do you want from me!?" Ultear yelled, stepping back from the way she exited the buildings stairwell. Erza followed soon after, hair a mess as she stumped her way through the door and caught up to the woman.

"Don't act innocent! I know you killed him! I know you did, don't try to use shitty excuses, I saw you!!" She cried, alcohol burning her cheeks bright red. Ultear sobbed, stepping slowly back and farther towards the ledge. Frantically searching her pockets for some form of defense, she came up with nothing, not a weapon nor a hair tie or anything. Empty.

"Please! Please I don't know what you're talking about!! M-my friends are downstairs I'm sure they can help you. Please, put down the knife and we can work something out!" Erza stepped toward her, drawing her closer to the edge of the roof. Until finally, her heels reached the length of where she could go. Erza a few feet in front of her, Ultear looked back down at the floor so many meters below and swallowed. Erza's hands landed on Ultear's back faced to her and pushed her off the ledge of Phoenix, eyes insane as she watched Ultear plummet to her death. Screams erupted from below as she made her escape, leaving without a thing but a smile.

~

The rest of the tape kept nothing worth their attention, so he paused it and pulled it out, dropping it back against its spot next to his bed. She was perfectly silent, hands clenching the fabric of his bed as she held back tears. He walked over to his closet and pulled out a perfectly pressed dress shirt and suit jacket. Slipping them on, he stood in front of his mirror and played with his hair until it was folded back into a well done mess.

"Jellal." She began, prepared to say something but finding nothing leave her throat as the words caught in her mouth. "Jellal I-..." she tried again. Still nothing. After all, there wasn't much left to say. No excuses, no apologies, no explanations, nothing. He peeked at her from the side of his eye. Opening a thin drawer, he picked from a wide selection of watches resting beautifully inside; untouched and perfectly clean. Locking it around his wrist and fixing it in the mirror, he tidied himself up and began on his way out. "I expect you in the BNW in five. A second later and I'm leaving you." He threatened her without a word. Again he tried to leave but paused to say something else. He opened his mouth to speak but stopped himself again, walking out and leaving his apartment and Erza with the keys. God damn it, he looked good.

~~~

Erza closed the car door beside her upon entering another of Jellal's expensive vehicles, pulling her feet after her. He sat beside her, dark suit shaping him perfectly, or even better than the statue of David. He leaned back in his seat, arm extended nearly all the way out to grip the steering wheel, the other holding his head bent slightly towards the window as it leaned against the same elbow on the car door. It was dark, the only form of light being the miraculously full moon highlighting him on the opposite side of Erza, effectively hiding his face from her. Silence enveloped them for a few minutes. As soon as the blue, red and white accent lights slightly illuminated the now turned on car, he then truly looked like a perfectly sculpted greek god. "Jellal... Jellal I'm so- I'm so sorry." She sobbed, tears pulsing down her skin. "Jellal please." She begged; he knew what she was going to say. The reality and terrible gravity of the situation hit her like a truck all at once as she looked at him. "Jellal please don't leave me, I- I just... I'll take responsibility in any way, I promise. I understand that you're furious but please I'll do anything, you can't leave me right now... I need you so badly." she cried almost silently.

"Don't do that... you'll ruin your makeup. And..." he grabbed the gear stick and placed it in drive. "I'm not angry at the moment I think I'm just shocked. And disappointed in you. The fury I've been feeling has died down as of now, temporarily I assume. Of course, I guess this makes it half my fault but I just... don't want to think about that. I'll tell boss we'll work alone, just..." he sighed. "I don't know, Erza. You've done enough." He said, hand gripping the wheel tighter now. They drove in silence, the crackling radio playing some old versions of "New Person, Same Old Mistakes", "Hit Different", "505" and other slow songs. "Don't forget you're my date to this party. Act up and we're leaving." He threatened, eyes glaring at the road ahead. She nodded, not a hint of hesitation in her actions. "Also do not stray from me unless I state otherwise." She nodded again, lowering her head and staring at her heels. "We'll discuss this later." He said, parking the car in the driveway of a rented out restaurant for the party by the water and exiting without a thought. He slammed the door behind him, the cars colored lights dimming until off. Erza sat still, wiping the misery from her face and preparing to meet everyone in her group. Jellal slammed his hand against her door, causing her to flinch in shock and quickly exit the car. As soon as she stood behind him, nearly at his side with her head down, he placed his hand on the back of her neck, yanking her in place beside him and sliding it down to her back as they began walking.

"You're not acting as upset as I expected." He glared at her indiscriminately, gripping her side.

"I told you we'll discuss this later." He said, giving a temporary smile to any acquaintances they passed by as a small greeting. She nodded profusely, having had forgotten all about his words a mere few minutes ago.

Minutes passed; minutes turning hours and soon enough it was 12 am. The party had just begun. Most attendees (those driving exempt) drunk and finally catching up. Members of Phoenix letting loose after months of no excitement. Jellal, remaining perfectly sober with not a sip of alcohol on his current record, stood by a quiet Erza. They sat together on a booth seat used for rest and what not. His arm slung lazily around her waist and legs crossed, he held her close, enjoying these last moments of intimacy and tension between them. Erza glared at the near countless eyes landing on not only her but especially her... boyfriend? Although, she didn't say a word about her irritation and obvious jealousy, deciding it was no longer her position to prove how much he belonged to her shamelessly in front of dozens of coworkers. Because if she was being honest, she didn't know if he did anymore. He stood, she copied in order to follow him. "No. Stay here, I'll get some water." He ordered and she nodded, sitting perfectly in all of her beautiful glory. Why was he being so kind? Why why why was he doing this? Why no matter what she still wanted him to hold her in front of everyone? Why was it that she couldn't do a single thing to show her affection while he resided in his godlike appearance?

"Excuse me ma'am, could I get your number?" A man's voice spoke beside her. She turned and was faced with an average heighted man in a navy suit. She nearly laughed at how pathetic he looked compared to the one she loved. Good lord, no one was ever going to match him and now it was ending. She stood from her spot on the two person booth, matching the man's height with her heels. So he was also shorter. After all, Jellal stood still another few inches taller than her with her tallest heels. What a catch. Looking back in search for him, she found him with a deadly look in his eye as he stomped calmly over to them. Turning back to the flirt, she waved him off in a rush.

"I'm sorry but I uh... think I'm in a relationship...?"

"You think?"

"Uhm... well.." he was closer now, fist clenching calmly at his side. "I really think you should go, sir, I'm sorry."

"Why who's this, Erza?" Jellal asked, squeezing her shoulder tightly and placing the cup of water in her hand. "The man you were fucking behind my back?" He whispered, anger; jealousy evident on his face.

"No, Jellal! What the hell!?" She said, offended he would say such a thing. He scowled, forcefully turning her head towards himself for her.

"Open." He ordered, satisfied with her immediate compliance. She knew better than to ignore him. She knew what the outcome would be. Her jaw dropped open and her tongue stuck out as if it were routine. He side eyed the man close by, gaze haughty and menacing as he demonstrated for the entire restaurant how well he had disciplined his dog. Shooting ropes of saliva down her throat and on her tongue, he lifted her bottom jaw and closed her mouth. "Swallow." He demanded, smirking when the man walked off in horror and Erza devoured his spit.

"How amusing, they really do give us the best shows." Gray chuckled beside Natsu from afar. Jellal pulled her outside the building by her wrist, not stopping or allowing her to catch herself in her stumbles.

"Jellal why would you say that? I would never do that, did I do something to make you think I would?" She asked, completely forgetting how she let him spit in her mouth in front of dozens. But this didn't last long as her cheeks burned red with embarrassment.

"Oh but your willing to kill my sister? Because clearly that's so much better than cheating." Erza hushed, eyes now upset and lips forming a decent frown. "Huh!? What the fuck was that!!?? I leave for ten fucking seconds and immediately you're flirting with some weirdo!?" He yelled, red with jealousy and lividity for some reason.

"I wasn't flirting with him, Jellal, I promise!" She nearly cried, holding back tears. He knew that. He did-- but the only person left to blame was Erza now that the man had left. He should stop, he thought. This was unfair, this was embarrassing. He breathed in and out slowly, images of the man flashing through his head on loop. "Stop overreacting, you're scaring-" She immediately shut up when he stepped forward against her side and grabbed her jaw in his hand, brushing her hair back with his remaining hand and placing his lips against her ear as she gently struggled to leave the mortifying situation.

"Erza, I promise you I can and will bend you over the fucking railing this instant if you don't swear to me that you will never get so close to another guy again." Her feet stumbled, heels clacking against the wood beneath when her cheeks flared red. Why couldn't he stop himself? It was as if his body had a mind of it's own.

"Jellal there are people." She whispered, touching his arm to have him loosen his grip on her jaw. He tightened instead, walking them closer to the railing and breathing heavily against her cheek as she swallowed. She was right. Although the party was a ways away, they could still see what was happening. It wasn't as if things like this weren't normal but people like things to gossip about. Relationships, arguments and fights, etc. Especially when it concerned the second strongest member in the entire of Phoenix and its inferiors.

"Do you think I give two fucks about the people, Erza? Do you think I'm fucking around with you?" He jerked her head as a threat. Tears formed heavier in her eyes, partially from excitement and the rest of terror. "I will make sure every single criminal in this restaurant, including mister hot stuff knows how much you love to scream my name." She whimpered, squirming to stop herself from breaking down on the floor at his words. An exaggeration but still accurate. Her hand clumsily grabbed the railing close by for support as he pressed harder against her.

"I understand." She whispered, humiliated at the few eyes landing on them in the dark. "I promise." He slowly let go of her, satisfied at her shaky sigh.

"That's my girl." He praised her, waiting for her to gather herself to return. "You look good, Erza." She wiped her lips and followed after him, wrapping her hand over his bicep as he offered to her.

"Jellal I can't do this." She whispered at his side in the midst of his conversation with another coworker.

"What?" He asked quickly, putting his conversation on hold to tend to her.

"What's happening to me?" She asked, stomach swirling with love, fear, sickness, arousal and anxiety. She complained, almost bending over at how uneasy she felt. She was breaking out into a cold sweat, cheeks flushed.

"What's wrong, Erza?" He sounded stern. This battle of emotions in her stomach came to an end when arousal won her body over. Face vibrant with hues of red, breathing deep and short spanned, skin hot and eyes filled with lust, she tugged at his sleeves. She stared up at him with an expression he was sure to yearn for. He scowled at the sight, pulling her arm up and forcing her to fix her posture. "I apologize, we'll be on our way, Erza doesn't feel well." His coworker nodded and they said their goodbyes, heading for the car. Erza sat down and stopped herself from grinding helplessly against the seat below. She looked pathetic, he thought looking at her in such a flustered mess. "What's wrong with you, can't you deal with a little turn on?" He shook his head, sighing deeply. She shook her head.

"Jellal I don't know why it's this bad... please..." She begged, staring at him with some of the most needy eyes he'd seen on her.

"What got you off this hard?" He questioned quietly, rubbing her inner thigh with his hand and watching as she flinched. She stole a glance at him and looked away, not willing to give an answer when she knew he already knew. He laughed genuinely, head falling back against his chair. "Me? Seriously?" She nodded slightly and dropped her head back against the top of the chair. "I'm flattered, Erza."

"But this is so extreme..." she sighed, thinking for a moment before her eyes widened in shock. She sat up straight and turned to him. "Jellal, I think..." she began, recalling how she left her cup of water inside for a short while. "I think I was roofied... the water was shot with some form of an aphrodisiac." His heart sank, trying to think of who it could be as burning rage nearly overcame him. "That must have been why it tasted strange. It's too late." She mumbled, placing a hand on top of her abdomen. Who knew aphrodisiacs could be so strong? Jellal sighed and pushed his seat back, patting his spreaded lap as a signal. She raised an eyebrow, clearly taking a second too long as he yanked her by the thighs to straddle himself. She gasped, pressed tightly against his pants as he death gripped her hips.

"Who was it?" He asked, voice deep with anger and eyes shadowed as he faced downwards. Erza screwed her eyes shut, shaking as she painfully restrained any movement.

"Jellal, I don't know, please..." her hand landed on the expanse of his chest as he removed his coat, throwing it in the backseat and turning his attention to her. He sat and stared at her for a few moments, trying his hardest to push away the wrath he felt from this ordeal. He'd be damned if he didn't find out who it was and brutally end them the moment he did. Clearly they didn't know who he was and they didn't know who Erza was to him.

"Erza, you let this go and it will happen again, do you understand me?" She shook her head, clenching her teeth at the sight of him in front and below her. "Do you understand me, Erza, you can not let this shit go just because you're hard, it doesn't mean shit."

"Jellal, I don't know, I left it alone for moment when we were outside, I can't know who it was, get it!?" She nearly yelled, beginning to grind her hips against his. He suppressed a groan rising in his throat and hiked his hand up her shirt. "This isn't real, oh my god." She whispered after feeling her groin further soak with her arousal.

"Now Erza." He spoke, pulling her ear to his mouth and clawing the cloth around her ass. "You'd better savor this and you better savor it well because it's the last thing I'm doing for you." He said, feeling her tense and smiling at the sadness evident on her face. It was so damn satisfying. Reaching in his passenger compartment and grabbing a wrapper enclosed around a condom, he sighed and leaned back down. Erza was fast, though, stealing it from his hands and throwing it down on the floor.

"Skip it... just hurry." She mumbled, kissing down his neck and unbuttoning his dress shirt. He knew he shouldn't. He knew it was going to be a bad idea, he did. But with simply one look at her, he nearly could not keep his hands to himself. This would be the last time. This was the end of their affair and all of the drama that followed.