Chapter 3 : Living again

Live...

The utmost unimaginable, but alluring word resonated inside his head. Not just breathing, living.. it was his most sacred dream, but at the same time equally terrifying. He has been only breathing for so long, just taking punishments, giving those to himself, that he has forgotten to live.

Such an utterly terrifying word.

But then Jellal looked at his either sides, the most spectacular, hopefull expression he had ever seen on his equally burdened comrades' faces stirred an unknown emotion at the deepest part of his very being.

And a face. With the most beautiful scarlet hair in the world.

Breathing the same word into his face.

Live..And that snapped all of his hesitation, self harming thouhts out of his mind.

He's going to live. Again. Oh, he definitely going to.

Jellal thanked with utter gratefulness to the young princess along with his comrades and taking the chance, when they were busy to celebrate, he hastily retreated from the royal palace and blended into the crowdy streets of the royal city, with only one destination in his mind.

I'm coming..Erza.. *

Erza started with a jolt when she heard a faintest sound of something on her balcony door. She has just moVed into this new apartment and after a long hectic day, she was slowly submerging into her subconsiosness, which was unknowingly taking her to the final judgement of the crime sorciorer guild. And an unforgettable person..

But then the sound emerged again.

Outside, it was raining cats and dogs. She wondered who it might be, that he ignored this weather to pull this prank on her.

She secured the hilt of her beloved sword into her dainty hands and opened the door at once.

Erza's eyes widened to see the very same man of her thoughts standing outside at her balcony, practically dripping a pool at her doorstep.

She gaped for a few moments to only come to her senses to usher the soaked man inside her room.

Though she can't figure out why he didn't use the door. Actually, why does Jellal even know her new address ?

Her lips quirked up in amusement. Jellal and his uncanny ability to just emerge out of nowhere.

She quickly shook her head and pushed the said man into her bathroom.

Erza didn't know how much long after Jellal got out of the bathroom. Well, she was somewhat busy to imagine him..inside her bathroom..naked...And then to fuse her face up to be the brightest tomtomato in the world, which can even give a run to her hair for money.

Erza had some spare shirts of the boys in her closet when they were helping her move in. Jellal now had one of those shirts and sweat pants on him. He sat on a chair beside her bed to only dry his hair.

Jellal hasn't said anything yet. But she can give him time. God knows, he needs that.

"Well, uh, you can take your time. I don't mind. I'll just reheat some of the dinner. I bet you're hungry. So I'll just.."

She was abruptly cut off when a large warm hand wrapped around her wrist. She looked down to only see him looking down as well. Jellal suddenly tugged at her with enough force that she tumbled on his lap, her face only inches apart from his own.

She blushed profusely and started stuttering. But Jellal just hugged her tightly. She could heel his warm stuttering breath on her collarbone, where he has tucked his face beneath her chin.

Erza hugged him back tightly. This was the first time in a very long while that he has initiated something like this. Though her heart was doing an overrun inside her chest, which she was almost certain that he could hear clearly, she refused to let him go. An unimaginable vulnerability was on his face, which she just can't ignore.

They both didn't know how much time has passed when he untangled himself from her to only see the softest look on her face.

Jellal took a shaky breath.

"Erza.. I ..I just.."

"Shh...", she cooed into his unruly blue locks. " It's okay. You don't need to explain yourself."

"But I do. I ..I ..her majesty, she forgave us all. I just.. don't know how could she. I have done so much horrible things in my life, that I can't even imagine now. I have killed one of my most dearest friends. I ..I have hurt you..", his eyes filled with unshed tears, his voice close eto a whimper.

"But still.. she forgave me. YOU forgave me.. how could you?" his voice broke painfully.

"No Jellal, you have done enough. You've taken enough punishments for your mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes. You're bo exception. I know that you call them sins, but you were not responsible for them. You are not a sinner Jellal, you never were and you never will be. To me, you are always that brave little boy, that amazing powerful mage who have me my beloved name.. You can never be anyone else to me."

She kissed his forehead. A single tear drop rolled down his flushed cheek.

"Then.. she told me to live.."

Erza looked at him. He looked up on her face, his palm grazing her cheek.

"She told me to live Erza. Just like you told me before.. Can I really live again Erza..?"

She pressed his face into her chest again."Of course you can. Of course.."

Jellal took another suddering breath.

"Then let me live with you. Let..let me live again. Let me cherish you. Let me be that man who will be the centre of your world... please, Erza.. let me live within you..again.."

Silent tears streaked down her face and she whispered the single most precious word to him.

Yes...