Hi guys! I wrote this fic on Wednesday night, so by the time it's published on , it will be disproven by canon, so um… just pretend it an AU? IDK, whatever makes you happy. That said, this does contain SPOILERS of chapter 369, so if you're not caught up, you might want to skip today.

Series: Fairy Tail

Pairing: Jellal Fernandes/Erza Scarlet

Title: Scarlet

Prompt: Gazing into Each Other's Eyes

Rating: E for Everyone

Word Count: 746

AN: The anon that requested this prompt is going to hate me. I'm sorry. Last weeks chapter could not have come at a better (or worse) time. Who would I be not to take this opportunity? Enjoy the sads. Contains spoilers of chapter 369.

Erza sat in the dirt below the Tartarus's "Cube," the earthy block now hovering hundreds of feet above her. Only moments ago, it had begun to shake, and the floor opened up under her, plunging the young lady down towards the ground below. The red head had not fought the fall, all she could do was hold her arms over her bare chest, and brace her legs for the impact. The shock of landing sent pain searing up to her knees, and she collapsed onto the earth, before curling up into a fetal position.

Why had they allowed her to fall? Were they done with her? Did they no longer need information she never had in the first place? Why had the fortress begun shaking?

Jellal!

A cold feeling filled Erza's chest—a dark, endless fear. Had Jellal been…

"NO!" Erza shouted at her own thoughts and curled her naked body tighter. Tears rolled down her cheeks and she gritted her teeth. She had been through so much physical pain in the last few hours; she couldn't imagine such emotional pain on top of it. She wouldn't be able to survive.
"It can't be." She told herself, trying anything to calm her quickened heartbeat, "Jellal could never be…"

The sound of footsteps echoing across the land caught Erza'a attention, and the young lady rolled up onto her knees and quickly scanned her area. She was completely exhausted, and had no magic reserves left, there was no way she could equip her armor—much less fight.

She inhaled sharply. "I have to run." She told herself, and hoped the adrenaline pulsing through her veins would be enough to save her. With a slight struggle, the red haired mage made it to her feet, and took off into the dessert.

Erza cringed, the pain in her knees was returning. She could still hear the steps of her pursuer, taking great strides and keeping up with her pace. She cursed inwardly, and kept running, hoping whomever—or whatever—it was would run out of energy before she did.

And then, she heard a much louder footstep than the last, as the person behind her leapt off the ground. She saw a shadow grow around her, and raced faster, but heard a body hit the ground inches behind her, before a hand grasped her wrist and wrenched her to a stop.

With all the strength she could muster, Erza let out a cry and threw a punch at her captor, only to see a head of blue hair dodge her fist.

Tintania's heart stopped, her eyes widened, and her stance weakened.

"Jellal?" His name left her lips, and she barely saw him grin from under his bangs. Tears formed in her eyes and she wept his name, "Jellal!" She cried, throwing her arms around his neck. "I thought they had killed you."

She heard him reply to her cries with a weak chuckle, and ran his and down her back before flinching away from her skin.

"Erza, are you… nude?" He asked with a puzzled tone, and shuffled his coat off his back, before draping it over his shoulders.

Erza let out a frail laugh of her own. "What do you mean 'am I?'" She asked, and ran her hand up his cheek, "Can't you see yourse—" The requip mage's words trailed off and her eyes widened, as she lifted up Jellal's bangs. She searched for his gold eyes to peer into, but found them closed tight. His cheeks stained were scarlet, by nothing more than his own blood.

"Jellal…" Erza's voice shook, dried blood chipped off from his skin as her fingers explored his wounded face. "Jellal, your eyes…" Her knees quaked, and Jellal wrapped his arms around her as she collapsed against him, weeping into his shoulder.

"I'm sorry, Erza Scarlet." He whispered into her hair, "I named you after your gorgeous red locks, but I made a decision that has rendered me incapable of seeing the color again."

Erza had ran out of words, her despair had reached its peak, and she could do nothing but clench the fabric on Jellal's back, and sob uncontrollably upon the man.

"You have quite obviously been through so much, Erza, and it's seemed I've only added to your agony." He held the woman tight against him. "I apologize."

Erza let out a loud wail of misery as she began to fear this was only the beginning of their upcoming trials.

End