Ex-V: Hey there! It's so nice to see you again, I hope you like the new chapter~
.forever: Thank you so much! I really appreciate that, I hope you do end up liking where this is headed, I've had a lot of fun writing this chapter, and the next few chapters :D
Pi pi m: Here's that update for you, Hope I didn't make you wait too long!
Foxydame: Thank you so much, I'm so glad to hear that! As you requested, here's the next chapter, and I've had a GREAT time writing it. I have the next few chapters written out already too, they just need a little editing, and I'll post them ASAP :)
Me: Your reviews are dope as always, and make my day as always. I'll cross my fingers and hope you enjoy this chapter-
Thank you so much, I really appreciate you taking the time to read my stories and even giving me such nice feedback!
The Special Forces second-in-command saw the Requip mage, trembling, holding Angel's palm with both hands, in front of her mouth; as Angel still hushed her, muffling her voice, almost cracking up.
Meredy tilted her head at the pair, smiling faintly. Angel set one finger silently to her lips, giggling, and whispered "Shhhh..."
Meredy chuckled, rubbing her cheek, slightly reticent. "You're so lucky he doesn't have his powers right now, or he'd have heard this a mile away..." She whispered back.
Erza frowned severely, still blushing faintly, indignant; she found her courage, finding her nerve; finding herself again. She yanked Angel's hand off her mouth, and Meredy met her eyes once again, raising one eyebrow.
"How is he-?" the Knight mouthed to Meredy, entirely unconvinced that Jellal couldn't hear them, with or without his powers.
"He's fine-" She mouthed back, shrugging, before Jellal turned around behind the desk in his office, holding an ancient looking textbook in one hand; facing Meredy and the open door...
Only Erza's incredible, battle-tested reflexes saved her from being spotted; her eyebrows rocketed up, panicked, and the breath left her chest. She wasn't ready yet, not at all!
Lightning quick, the requip mage pulled herself and Angel out of the doorway, out of his line of sight; This time, Angel squeaked, shocked, but Erza covered her mouth as well, muffling her with a trained hand.
With her pulse spiking, and wide eyes, Erza stood with Angel, together, backs against the wall next to The commander's office door; covering each others mouths with their palms. Dizzily, Erza waited with bated breath, hardly daring to breathe, hoping desperately that he hadn't seen her...
Angel, on the other hand, excited, looked like she thought this was the funniest thing, Erza noted, sourly. She caught Meredy's mildly amused glance.
"Meredy -" Jellal mused, at last, pouring over the ancient textbook in his office; flipping through it at a lightning speed only he was capable of. He hadn't looked up, at the Doorway. "We have a briefing tonight, don't we... You know the one."
Erza breathed a tense, terse sigh of relief; relaxing against the wall. He hadn't seen her. Angel stifled her own giggle, as they released one another, unwinding their hands from each others mouths.
The Specforce second-in-command shook her head, watching them and suppressing a giggle.
"What time tonight, Jellal-?" Meredy called back over one shoulder; tilting her head, at the man who was her hero, her idol... Her master, and practically her older brother.
"I don't know, Seven? " Jellal answered, without looking up from his book; sounding somewhat distracted, somewhat bored, flipping a pen gracefully between two fingers of one hand. "It doesn't really matter. Take care of it, for me."
"Yes sir." Meredy bowed, obediently, nodding her head; keeping a straight face. When it came to obeying Jellal's commands, all of Crime Sorciere would rather die than disobey, but she valued his orders most of all, and took them very seriously.
"In fact... Clear the rest of my schedule, too." Jellal paused, for just a moment, and glanced up from his book to look at Meredy; a slight grin flickered through his features, and his eyes flashed, as if he was considering something truly important. He folded his hands.
"Through Tomorrow?" The young lieutenant wondered, aloud, checking the clipboard in her arms; mildly concerned, brows furrowing. "Are you sure?"
"I'll be entertaining a guest, to be certain." Jellal leaned back in his chair, coolly, rubbing the bridge of nose and tilting his head, thoughtfully. "So it can't be helped."
Erza jumped a little, clamping both hands over her mouth, flushed; standing outside his office, with her back to the wall, eavesdropping.
Meredy giggled, unable to suppress the instinct in time; she peeked, almost instinctively, over at Erza and Angel, still hiding behind the door. Jellal's eyes flickered over to his lieutenant, and he twirled his pen again. Meredy bowed once more, hurriedly, lowering her head.
"E... Expecting Erza, Master?" Meredy managed, a bit flustered but smiling cleverly, in as even a voice as she could muster.
The requip mage stared, bewildered, at Jellal's Lieutenant, blushing madly; Meredy ignored her, summarily, focusing on all her attention on her master.
"So are you." He answered, smoothly, tapping his fingers on the desk In front of him. Meredy winced, and giggled again, faintly red.
"She... She was always going to come, when she found out!" Meredy stood up straight, a little desperate, but almost laughing. "Wasn't she?"
"You're not wrong." He conceded, nodding once, inclining his head. A faint, resigned grin curved his lips. "Send her in, then, when she gets here."
In the hallway, Erza could hear his suave, dulcet voice. It was making her head spin, and she gulped, swallowing a heavy breath; clutching both hands to her breast.
"Yes sir." Meredy giggled again, quickly bowing, just a bit. She snickered, peering over at Erza and Angel. "You won't be waiting long..."
"I'm sure." He chuckled, lowly; leaning his head on one elbow. Somehow, his voice was both light and dark, halfway-amused, halfway-terrified. "You can go."
Meredy stood straight up, delighted, saluting him, and then whirled away; closing his office door, already rubbing her hands, mischievously, together.
Erza was practically swooning, flushed red, staring feverishly out at her and meeting her eyes, dead silent. Angel was straining desperately to contain a giggling fit.
As stealthily as possible, Meredy swept up by Erza and Angel, dragging them into the hall and onto the grand staircase.
"Is this far enough-?!" Erza whispered, anxiously nibbling her fingernails and staring past Angel, down the hall, at Jellal's office.
"Its fine-" Meredy cackled, thrilled; ignoring her. "Oh, Erza... Are you really going to do it?"
"She's here, isn't she-?" Angel purred, smug, nudging the requip mage. "She's ready for him... More than ready, I bet you're wearing a lacy thong, aren't you-"
"S-Shut up-! Shut up!" Erza squeaked, flustered, furiously red; desperately trying to keep her voice down, And to control the giggling fits passing between the two girls she was standing with. The Knight, blushing faintly, dragged Angel and Meredy further down the grand staircase, in consternation. "I've... I've got to say something, to him...Who knows when I'll get a chance like this, again…!"
Angel, wordlessly, just slid over to the redhead; checking Erza's underwear while she fidgeted, distracted.
"Look, I knew it-!" Angel burst into a violent fit of giggles, covering her mouth with one hand, unable to believe it. "A lacy thong, you're really serious-!"
Erza squealed, covering her face with both hands; taking another step backwards down the stairs. "No! Nooo! That's... T-That's just..!"
Meredy nodded, sneakily; still giggling, uncontrollably, a bit. She wriggled her eyebrows, suggestively. "You planning to seduce him...? I guess that's as reasonable a strategy as any...It'll probably work, too, since it's you…"
"I am not! I'm not-!" Erza cried, desperately, to deny it, waving her hands frantically back and forth; taking another step backwards down the stairs. "I-It's... They were...just…!"
The redhead trailed off, strangled. Meredy and Angel leaned in, fascinated, patiently; waiting for her to finish.
Erza just looked, helplessly, from one woman to the other, for a moment. Eventually, she sighed, hanging her head, dejected and utterly ashamed. "They were... Just a contingency plan -"
Angel and Meredy burst into cackling, delighted laughter, again, as Erza cursed and screeched at them, under her breath, to be quiet.
(twenty minutes later)
Under the Grand Stairway, at the very bottom of the Cliffside fortress, Angel, Meredy, and Erza stood in a small circle, whispering to one another.
"Okay... You got it?" Meredy double checked, at last, crossing her arms. "You got it?"
"I got it... Completely." Erza exhaled, and set one hand over her heart, confidently, feeling it fluttering in her chest. "I can do this..."
"You can, You can do it-" Angel assured her, ribbing the requip mage. "Look, everyone knows you guys are meant to be..."
"I know, right?!" Erza muttered, vindicated, to herself, mildly distracted; she began to climb the grand staircase again, with Angel and Meredy trailing close behind her.
The redhead froze, again, at the door to his office, however.
She didn't move, for a moment, grinding her teeth absentmindedly; Erza stared at the door, with wide eyes.
"You can do it…" Meredy whispered, from somewhere behind her, quietly cheering her friend on, under her breath. "You can do it!"
Erza just nodded, and her eyes drifted shut. She took a deep breath, swallowing heavily, and shook her head, vigorously; scarlet hair whipped about, back and forth.
She bit her lip, steeling her nerves, and opened her eyes again, pushing Jellal's office door open, and strutting confidently in.
Jellal looked up, standing behind his desk and poring over some papers. He met her eyes, smoothly, and she struggled to keep a straight face; already battling a light blush, on her cheeks, as her heart fluttered, skipping a few key beats…
She knew her best chance was to pretend that she was all affronted, all up in arms, that he got himself trapped by a curse...
"Jellal!" She announced, uncompromising, crossing her arms severely. She did her best to pose, cocking her hips defensively, posturing a bit.
"Erza." He answered, dryly. Grinning lightly, he gestured at one of the chairs beside his desk. "It's a pleasure, as always. Have a seat."
"Expecting me?" she sniffed, turning her nose up and stepping further into his office.
"Of course." The corners of his mouth quirked up, again, subtly, and he watched her with vivid, amused eyes, calculating; he rounded his desk, dropping the papers off and approaching a hardwood cabinet. "Can I get you something? A drink?"
"Whiskey." She huffed, sitting down in one of the empty chairs. "Professional as always, Jellal. Like I'm a business partner…"
He tilted his head, coolly, looking away from her, and smiling faintly. "I do try."
The Ultramarine guildmaster withdrew a set of glasses from the cabinet, pouring a bit of whiskey into each and handing one to her.
Erza nodded, wordlessly, still internally preparing herself, running through her options; trying to remember the lines she really wanted to say… "I'm not your business partner, Jellal."
He sat down across from her, somewhat apprehensive, but still collected and cool. His silent charisma was overwhelming, and she worked hard to ensure that she looked unfazed as ever.
"Aren't you?" He wondered aloud, swirling the whiskey around in his glass, lithely, before sipping a tiny bit of it. "What are you, then?"
Erza exhaled, a bit nervous, and tossed back the entire glass. She grimaced, wiping her mouth with one forearm, and growled a bit at him, slightly flushed. "Not your business partner."
Jellal laughed, leaning back a bit in his chair. "Fair enough."
He waved two fingers casually at the bottle of whiskey, without giving it much thought; trying to lift it telekinetically and pour Erza another shot.
The bottle didn't move. It didn't even stir.
A brief moment of silence. Erza blinked, watching him, and then glancing at the unmoving bottle.
She snorted, and Jellal laughed, taking another sip and finishing his own glass.
"Are you mad at me?"
Erza bristled a bit at the question. "To be honest, I should be. You do this kind of thing all the time, prioritizing the mission, prioritizing other people, bystanders, really, over your own life… Careless!"
"You do the same thing." He reasoned, pointing out the obviousness of the truth. "And would have done what I did, given the circumstances I was confronted with."
She largely ignored him, summarily, faintly red. "What if the curse was deadly, what If it killed you?"
"I knew it wouldn't." He looked away, deflecting the question.
"What if it would've?" She pressed him, frowning. "What if it would have…? What would you have done?"
He didn't answer, for a moment, and they both seemed to contemplate this, in silence.
"What would I do, If you died…?" She managed, with the light blush darkening on her face. Her voice was soft, and she was almost whispering. His eyes narrowed at her, pained.
"You would… Move on, of course." He cleared his throat, before touching the bridge of his nose, mildly hesitant. "Grieve for a while, and move on."
Erza laughed, lowly. "You know better than that."
Brief silence, as she glanced down at the floor between them, eyes downcast; still blushing faintly. In the painful silence, Jellal felt a pang of guilt and jagged regret pierce his heart.
He shut his eyes, only for an instant, and collected himself, grinning. He opened his eyes again, and she peered up into his face. "So… you are mad, then?"
She muttered something under her breath, glaring poignantly away, off to the side. "Well… I was planning to pretend that I'm mad."
Jellal got to his feet again, and crossed the room; refilling his glass, and pouring some more for Erza. "I see." The redhead was pretty sure she could see a knowing glint in his eyes. "What changed your mind?"
Erza shifted slightly in place, somewhat remiss. "It… wouldn't be honest. I'm not mad."
The Ultramarine nodded, coolly, encouraging her to go on. He handed her the fresh glass of whiskey.
"I mean, I was scared. At first, I was scared…" She sipped it, lightly, tentative, as though summoning her willpower. "But I pretty quickly realized that you aren't in danger, and…"
Jellal glanced at her, knowingly, grinning faintly. She met his eyes, flushed.
"This is actually a really good opportunity." She admitted, finishing in a small voice.
"So it is." He acknowledged, dryly, leaning against the wall beside her. He swirled the whiskey in his glass, one handed, taking a small sip. "Would you believe me, Erza, if I told you that this is what frightened me most about losing my powers?"
"Having to talk to me about our relationship?" She chuckled, triumphantly, and peeked back up into his face, smug. "No, I don't believe you."
His eyes narrowed at her, again, as if in apprehension; his grin grew, further curving his lips, realizing that she was better positioned for this conversation that he thought.
"I don't believe you, because it isn't true." Erza almost sang, sweetly, haughty. "Deep inside, you actually really want to give in, and be with me."
She accused, and his eyes drifted shut again, for a moment. He couldn't answer, and she went on.
"Your mind wants you to keep punishing yourself, but your heart wants me." She asserted, confidently. Jellal's eyes blinked back open, and he finished his glass in a single gulp.
"In fact… Most of your body wants me." Erza almost giggled, covering her mouth with one hand, blushing madly and glancing awkwardly away. Jellal twitched, eyeing her; grinning faintly, speechless.
Erza tried to stifle another giggle, trying to get a grip on herself again. The whiskey was bringing out her hidden perversions, and she knew she'd have to be careful, but she couldn't help herself.
She forced herself back into line, meeting his eyes.
Ex-V: Did you like it? I hope so!
I'll get the next chapter up ASAP, If you like it! I'm having a lot of fun writing this one :D
Please, let me know what you think, and I'll be in your debt forever!
See you soon~