Winner

"Strip poker," Shou slapped the pack of cards down onto the table, eyes gleaming deviously. "We're betting with money as well of course."

Simon folded his arms across his broad chest and glanced over at Jellal, whose face was steadily turning red. "It's not a problem is it, Jellal?"

Jellal scoffed. "No, I'm game with poker."

Wally grinned and handed out the cards to Shou, Simon, Jellal, Erza and himself. They then placed their chips in the centre of the table before the five of them busied themselves with discarding cards and drawing more cards. Jellal glanced at his cards and nudged a few more chips forward. The others either met his bet or upped theirs and he hid a smirk as he pretended to glare at his cards.

Shou grinned. Slowly, he flipped his cards over. "Read and weep! Four of a kind! Tell me I haven't won!"

Erza groaned as Simon leaned back in his chair, eyebrows furrowed in annoyance. Wally sighed and Shou leaned forwards to take his winnings.

"You haven't won," Jellal jerked his head towards his hand. He fanned his cards out on the table. "My straight flush of ten, nine, eight, seven and six beats your four of a kind of four aces and a ten."

Shou let out a cry and flopped back in his seat. "Damn it Jellal, you've never played poker before!"

Jellal gestured for the others to strip. "Doesn't mean I can't win on my first try, right?"

Shou growled as the cards were dealt once more. "Again!"

They went for another nineteen rounds. Shou was left in nothing but his boxers whereas Wally still had a shirt and trousers on. Simon was topless but had managed to keep everything on from his waist downwards and Jellal had only removed his tie. Erza was clad only in her bra and panties and she was nervous to say the least.

"Last round," Simon called out and the others murmured their agreement.

Jellal's face darkened visibly as he glanced at his cards. He looked up and surveyed the other players. Shou was broke already and Wally's hand was terrible. He could sense Wally's discomfort easily. Simon was looking pleased with himself and Jellal resisted the urge to roll his eyes. That guy was definitely looking forward to sneaking a peak at Erza's naked body.

Shou sighed melodramatically and folded. Wally hesitated and followed suit. Simon quirked an eyebrow but he did not say anything. Instead, he raised his bet. Jellal did the same and Erza called it. Simon raised his bet once more as did Jellal. Erza called it again and this cycle continued for a few more times before Jellal shoved all of his chips into the middle.

"I'm all in," Jellal declared and glared at Simon, challenging him to do the same. The man stiffened slightly and glanced nervously at his cards. Jellal leaned back casually, a comfortable and confident air around him, and his fingers stroked the back of his cards. He could feel Erza's gaze boring into the side of his face as her eyes flickered between the two male, who were promptly ignoring her. This was just between Simon and him.

"You know what?" Jellal reached for his wallet and counted out a few notes. "I'll throw in something extra."

Simon closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. "I fold."

Jellal smirked. Simon was so easy to bluff. He glanced at Erza. She was the one who had everything to lose after all.

Her eyes hardened in determination and she reached for her purse as well. "I call it."

Slowly, she lay down her cards with shaking hands. "Straight Flush. King, Queen, Jack, ten and nine."

Four pairs of eyes stared at him intently and Jellal leaned back. He glanced at his cards, a sad smirk on his face.

Ace.

King.

Queen.

Jack.

Ten.

Royal Flush.

The blue haired man ran a hand through his unruly locks and placed his cards on the table facedown. "You got me."

Jellal smiled as Erza let out a triumphant cry and he took off his shirt.

Although he hadn't won any money tonight, he was feeling quite good because she was happy and that was all that mattered.

And of course, no one was going to see his girl naked. Not when he was still the Champion of the World Series of Poker.

Yes, he was the real winner tonight.

This is 7/8 of today's update! For a longer explanation, go read the author's note in chapter 17 of Retribution.

What can I say? I don't know anything about poker. If there are some mistakes, sorry about that. It's hard to find simple poker rules online.

I would have to say I had to write this after watching this episode of Friends. The only way Erza wouldn't have to reveal her naked glory was if Simon (assuming he has a better hand) folded and Jellal lost, so Jellal had to bluff Simon into folding and lose.