A/N: In which Jellal pays Erza a surprise visit on a special day that wasn't meant to be their's...and yet it was.
It has been an unexpected shock when Jellal showed up at her door the morning of Valentine's Day with a pastry box and a bouquet of red roses, a nervous expression on his face. Erza struggled to keep her jaw from dropping, wondering if she had truly gotten out of bed that morning or if this was all a dream.
"Je…lall?" Even she could hear the bewildered wonderment in her voice. No doubt her expression mirrored the turmoil she as feeling in the inside. A mix of confusion, delight, adoration, and frustration ran through her. On one hand, this was incredibly sweet and unexpected and she would be lying if she said that she didn't like it. However, he was out in public where the world could see them. What if he got caught?
He seemed to be thinking the latter, as well. "Hello, Erza, may I…may I come in?"
She snapped out of her trance-like state, muttering a flustered apology and stepping back for the fugitive to step through the doorway and into her apartment. He did exactly that, turning slightly so he could face her as she closed the door.
"I know you weren't expecting me," he offered a small, shy smile. "But I was in the area and thought I could check up on you before we departed."
"And the cake and roses?" She asked, with a knowing smile. A blush blossomed across his cheeks as he immediately averted her gaze. Despite all that had happened between them, all the unspoken agreements and messages, he still felt unsure about himself around her. He could offer her nothing but his eternal love and protection, when in reality she deserved the world.
"They're a…house-warming gift?" He tried to cover up the true meaning behind his actions, however obvious they were. It was Valentine's Day, for Mavis' sake! The burn on his cheeks got hotter.
He was rewarded with a wider smile and a soft giggle, and he, too, allowed himself to smile. At least she wasn't laughing at his true intentions.
"Thank you," she murmured happily, heart swelling as she took the presents from him. Setting the cake down on the table with a longing gaze, she placed the flowers in a vase she kept on the side table before turning back to Jellal. The man was watching her with unguarded affection in his eyes, arms crossed against his chest as he leaned against the wall. They took a moment to simply drink in the sight of each other, eyes searching for something. A sign that their respective other was truly doing well, that they were happy.
Deciding to simply let things be, Erza stepped closer to the ultramarine, wrapping her arms around his waist and pressing her cheek against his heart. He jolted in surprise in response to her sudden action, but tenderly returned the embrace.
"I'm glad to see you, Jellal," she sighed, gazing up at him from under her lashes. He fought an internal battle, wondering what would be most appropriate, and in the end his heart won. Tilting his head downwards, Jellal pressed a soft, lingering kiss against her forehead, only jut barely lifting his lips from her soft skin once he heard her gasp.
"And I am glad to see you, Scarlet," he paused, tightening his hold on the woman he loved, however secretly or not, before offering her a smile. "Happy Valentine's Day."