(rendition of fairy tail ova 5)

It doesn't really come to them as an infinite relief or mortal shock when Natsu destroys Eclipse and stuffs the 7 dragons back into the dimension. Perhaps she could describe it as something small and niggling deep inside of her - a voice that told her they'd win. They've always been that way; They somehow manage to constantly push through heights they thought they'd never reach, blast past walls they thought they'd never break. The invincible Fairy Tail (amongst many others).

They're choosing to celebrate this particular victory at the local water park this time. Somewhere in the vicinity, Natsu shouts and his shout is followed by a litany of shouting which is followed by a loud crash. Erza sighs and knows that the repair costs this time wouldn't come cheap. She hopes the Master wouldn't mind, considering they just saved the world from mass destruction.

Erza wades into the shallow pool, enjoying how the water meets up to her shins. When she turns, she finds Jellal next to her. He's still wearing Mystogan's mask. They stand in silence for a few moments.

"Don't you feel uncomfortable wearing that mask to a water park?" Erza asks, trying to diffuse the stilted atmosphere that suddenly comes upon both of them.

"Well, I'm still a wanted criminal, so," Jellal says, and they fall into their usual rhythm of awkwardness. Erza draws aimless circles into the pool floor with her toes.

There is suddenly a loud shout, which Erza knows can mean nothing good. When she looks up, she sees a strange figure barreling towards them. From a distance, she can barely make it out as a tangle of limbs. It looks disgusting, but she can only look on in a sort of horrid fascination as it flies towards her. Thankfully, Jellal takes it in his stride to yell out a warning and push Erza out of range of the object as it flies past them, instead crashing into an artificial waterfall. Only on closer inspection does Erza realise that it was Ichiya who was about to crash into her, all hands and legs and nothing to cover up anything. Ichiya's limp body floats for a few seconds before sinking solemnly into the water.

"Oh my god," Erza says, not just because she had just seen Ichiya in all his glory, but also because Jellal's hands are on her chest, from when he had pushed her to the side. She feels a light flush creep up her neck. Jellal looks like he's been shot. From what she can see with his mask on, his face colours an impressive red and his eyebrows rise to unprecedented heights. He retracts his hands like he's been burned.

"I'm sorry," he splutters, taking a few steps back from Erza. "I didn't mean it! I was trying to push you out of the way but - "

"It's okay," Erza says, and she watches as he fumbles with his hands. His eyes settle on a spot somewhere to the left of her, like he's trying to avoid her eyes.

Something sharp hits her at the side. A dull pain flickers at her waist, and suddenly the ground is pulled from her feet and her hair is flying and she finds herself carried down a bright yellow waterslide. She sits with her body pressed against Jellal's. A righteous cry carries over the atmosphere and Erza knows it's Natsu's doing.

"I'm going to kill Natsu," she shouts and pushes the hair out of her eyes. She's hyperaware of the way Jellal's body presses against her, and the way his arms come up to hold her, ensuring she doesn't fall. They curl towards each other like a pair of parenthesis. With the wind rushing against her skin and cool air of the water park, she realises, surprised, that he's warm. And all of a sudden, she can't find it in her to jump from the slide to where Natsu hangs from a giant structure, his face green with motion sickness. Erza's head finds purchase at the crook of his neck. Jellal responds by holding her tighter.

"Might as well enjoy the ride, right?" He says, and Erza lets out ringing laughter, carefree and sincere, the most she's ever been recently.

"Right," Erza says.

notes:

i TRIED. i swear i usually can write better than this but? not feeling it apparently