…
Sweat trickled down Jellal's forehead and it stung his eyes as he blocked an incoming attack from the side. His soaked white shirt clung irritably on his skin. "Not bad, lad. You're not as weak as you look….uhh what was your name again? Jel..Gelatin…" The older man's booming laugh echoed the now empty training hall. The blue haired monarch gritted his teeth and bit his inner cheek. This "sparring match," if one could even call it that, has been rather painful and not to mention very hazardous for the young king. Erza's father's ability to suppress his hits is lacking and he already took two blows to the ribs. Those are going to leave a bruise.
He jumped backwards, barely evading another deadly strike. "Not a bad morning exercise, eh boy." Jellal wiped his brow. "Indeed, sir." At least he is actually trying to communicate with me. He countered an attack. In his own way that is.
During the past few weeks, the foster father of the woman he cared for had been purposely ignoring him, nay, refusing to even look his direction. A friendly duel, he had hoped, would break the ice between them, so what was the harm of accepting his challenge. His aching muscles would say otherwise.
The king's eyes widened and raised his sword up. He had perfectly deflected the elder man's strike.
The twang of their dull blades against each other resonated across the room. Jellal swiftly rushed towards the taller man and parried an incoming thrust. A riposte followed soon after, and as a result, the bearded man's sword was knocked out of its clutches. Instinctively, Sir Knightwalker punched his young opponent squared on the nose and punted Jellal against the wooden wall. The king grunted in pain. "Ah…are you all right? I am truly sorry. It was a reflex, if you will. I was not expecting that from you." Jellal raised his hand, signaling that he was okay.
"Haha…you are full of surprises, my boy." He looked up to the outstretched hand of Sir Knightwalker. "I am a little impressed, Jellal. Just a little though." Brown eyes twinkled. Did he hear right? A small smile lingered on Jellal's face as he took the offered hand. However, halfway to his ascend, he fell back once again, hitting his head on the ligneous surface. A bellowing laugh struck his eardrums. "I am sorry, my boy. I couldn't resist. Here, here. I will help you again." The king was about to politely decline when the wall he was leaning on disappeared. Once more, his head crashed onto a very, very hard wooden floor. If this keeps up, I'm going to have a concussion by the end of the…the…
"Your Majesty." Someone had slid open the door and that person happened to be his lady Captain. Magnetized by his current predicament, he realized that he is in a slight advantageous position. "Jellal…" Erza whispered. Noticing his foolish grin, she wondered what was going through his head right now. Is he badly hurt? With the help of Ultear [who tagged along with the Captain because she was bored], the women hoisted Jellal back to his feet.
"Well, well. Two beautiful women came to his Majesty's rescu…" His words drifted. Sir Knightwalker took a step away from his daughter when she approached him. He scratched his ears. "Oh no. I know that look. I'm about to be lectured aren't I?"
"Father. What are you doing?" Erza started to lead her father away from the entrance of the training room.
Ultear watched father and daughter interact with one another. She found their squabbling endearing. "So that's Erza father? With the way she's scolding him, you'd forget who the parent is between the two." Jellal dabbed a finger on his bleeding noise and hissed. She lent him a handkerchief. "Thanks, Ultear." He cleaned the remnants of blood from his nose. "You don't usually accompany Erza around the castle. Since when did you two buddy up together?" She harmlessly slapped him on the arm, earning a low whimper from him. "Oh sorry. Well. Meldy was busy today. Supposedly, she has a date. She won't tell me who the kid is though. Suspicious if you ask me." He chuckled, even if the action caused some aching tremors in his body. "So Erza is your stand-in woma—"
A large arm wrapped around his neck like a snake, interrupting Jellal. "Why don't I patch him up for you then, if that's the problem." The trapped king made no move to escape the older man's suffocating grip. "Dad!" Knightwalker shook her head. "Let him go." She stared at Jellal. Why isn't he saying anything? Obviously, my father is merely goading him.
"I've never seen you coddle anyone before, daughter." Her mouth twitched. "Don't worry. I'll have him fixed in no time."
Ultear looked to and fro between her friend and the Captain's father. I suppose I could do my good deed for this week. She snaked her tiny arms around the older man's free arm and smiled "Good sir. Why don't I give you a tour of this wonderful piece of architecture? Do you know this marvelous building has four floors? Exquisite, isn't it." Sir Knightwalker raised his brow.
"A tour? I cannot say no to a beautiful lady." Jellal breathed a sigh of relief when the uncomfortable pressure was lifted from his windpipe. His dear friend had just granted him a small reprieve. "Great, so Erza perhaps you should tend to Jellal and I'll give your father a tour of the place, if you don't mind that is." As if he needed his daughter's permission. Good thing her old man sometimes had a one-track mind [when it came with women.]
"By all means." Knightwalker watched as Ultear began walking her dear old dad out of the area.
"Okay, so let's head here first then, sir."
"Please, call me Ricard." Ultear responded with a customary giggle, which made Erza's stomach sick for some reason.
When the couple was finally alone, she glared at him. "I'm not coddling you." Her tone was firm but it sounded as though she was convincing herself. He flashed a boyish grin to her direction.
"I know." She avoided any eye contact with him. Remembering what had transpired in here before [referencing chapter 10, I believe], she felt a bit antsy. "What were you thinking, sparring with my father?" A pained moan escaped her king's lips.
"Erza, I'm not feeling well. Hold me." He was acting like a little boy who had skidded his knee on the concrete. He leaned most of his upper body against her back. His body was saturated with cold sweat so her body heat was welcoming. "I am not going to carry you, idiot." The pair walked, or rather Erza had to drag his limped body to the small clinic down the hallway.
Her hand twisted the doorknob. Jellal crossed his fingers and thought of only one thing. I hope there's no one in there. I hope there's no one in there. I hope there's no one in there. I hope there's no one in there. He needed to be alone with her.
When the clinical room was revealed to have no dwellers inside, he cheered. YES! She helped him up on an examination bench. Its cushioned seat sunk lower against the added weight placed upon it.
Knightwalker moved his head left and right, examining his face carefully. "Good, no black eye. You have a council meeting tomorrow." That news sort of depressed him. "Where else does it hurt?" He beamed. If she's not coddling him now, he'd love to see what she would be like if she were to coddle him. "I'm feeling better now. Don't worry about–" She poked his chest.
"Erza, what are you…" Then, she poked his stomach. "Erza…" He made a miserable strangled sound when her finger made contact with his right side. "Did that hurt?" Finding his reaction amusing, she made a move to repeat her action again, but he stopped her with his hand. "No, that's just the sound I produce when I'm being tickled." She pursed her lips and nodded her head. " I see. Well, you know what they say, laughter is the best medicine." He grabbed hold of her other threatening hand and weakly laughed. "In this case, its not." She managed to rip her gloved hands from his iron grip and lifted the material of his shirt.
"Are you sure it tickles when I touch it?" She lightly pressed the sore flesh with a finger. "Yes." He squeaked. "Hold on. There's probably some salve in the back. Let me get it." After a few minutes, she came back with a small glass jar. She shed her preferred gloves off and gently settled it beside the king.
His heart stopped when both of her hands extended towards the top of his shirt. She popped one button out. Her hand slowly journeyed down his dried shirt until all buttons have been unfastened. She tried to make sure the cloth of his shirt didn't brushed against his bruise. Erza shook her head. His injury has now turned into a shade of dark purple. She dipped two fingers in the jar and soothingly circled the ointment around his injured side. All the while, Jellal sat there frozen, unable to retract his eyes away from her movements. Her forearm was on his lap but she was focused on fully rubbing the salve on the bruised area that she didn't even hear him gulp. Clearly, she was oblivious to her actions and how it was affecting him…
"There we are." She hopped beside him on the bench. "Is your boo boo feeling better now?" Jellal's dimpled smile appeared on his face. "Yes. I have an amazing nurse." Without any words, he shifted his position and impelled the Captain to lean her back down on the cushion. Her umber eyes latched onto his instantly. Their bodies were hard pressed against each other.
He nuzzled her nose. "I want to kiss you."
"Then, why don't you?" The kiss was soft at first, but as they found that certain rhythm, their kisses became fervent and untamed. He shrugged off that cursed scarf that hid her sweet neck from him and trailed kisses down her neckline. Callus hands roamed around the contours of his bareback. Jellal's muscles trembled from her touch as he deepened the kiss between. "We should stop. Someone can—" He silenced her with his lips.
…
"Heh. I'm sure by now, his majesty has had his wounds treated by Erza." Ricard headed towards the walkway leading downstairs. "Miss Ultear, you said they probably headed to the small clinic below. Where is it?" The sable haired woman smiled and gladly showed him the way. I certainly hope they're not doing anything in there. I should check first just in case. They reached their door to the clinic but she hesitated. I'm sure nothing is happening…She creaked the door open and peeked inside. The woman's behavior was confusing the elder Knightwalker.
"Is something wrong?" She abruptly shut the door. "Nope. They're not in there. Erza might've brought…him…uhh…maybe they went out to lunch." She clapped her hands and placed her hands on his back, ushering him to move away from the door.
"You know, Miss Ultear. I have 8 children and including Erza, I know when they are lying to me." He crossed his arms and switched on his "strict father mode" on. "Move aside, please." Like a small child, she did just that. Ultear slapped herself on the forehead. Heavens me. Why didn't they lock the door?
Jellal was thrown off to the side and almost lost his balance. The redheaded Captain shot up at the sight of her father. Why did it feel like she was in trouble?
"Father, I—"
"Erza, why don't we go and have a bite to eat. Since I am here to stay…." The old man made sure he looked at Jellal when he said that. "You should eat more often with your old papa. I am old withered and I could clock out any minute now." She sighed. "Father, don't say that." He wrapped his large arms around her shoulders and guided his daughter out the door, like a parent escorting his child to go for time-out. Ricard didn't even bother acknowledging the King who was thrown off the side like a pariah.
The couple briefly glanced at one another before Erza was steered out the room.
The door closed.
Jellal crumpled down on the bench. Ultear sat beside him. "Well that went well. I was expecting him to yell at you two." He closed his eyes. Silence, he gathered, was much more deadlier than any outbursts he could receive from the old man. "Lock the door next time."
"Thanks for the advice."
Suddenly, the door flung open and Jellal automatically braced himself. "Miss Ultear, I didn't thank you for the tour. So my thanks." Sir Knightwalker bowed in a very gentleman fashion. "You are most welcome."
He locked on his hawk like eyes at Jellal. "And you…" Ricard peered at the stunned monarch.
"I will be watching you from now on." The door closed for the last time.
…
Sigh, I was gone for a while again but I hope this chapter can make up for it? Hopefully? Maybe? meh not really…Hilarious the comments were in the last chapter. Lolz, yup I am enjoying the crap out of Erza's daddy. I'm going to have fun tormenting Mystogan…in a fun way of course. XD
So anyways, thanks for reviewing and favorite-ing. Have a pleasant day everyone! :D
