Thank you so incredibly much for your reviews! I don't remember reading a more heartwarming one that that of the Guest named Toni. Thank you.
And to you, Nina_Chan202; I can always count on you to fuel some extra details into my chapters!
Hope you enjoy!
Jellal awoke when midday had almost passed. It was strange to sleep in. He always woke up with the sun or even before. He was a restless sleeper.
His heart began to hammer in his chest. Had he… dreamed all of that? Leaving his eyes closed, he went through the memory. It made his stomach flutter. It could not have been a dream. He could still feel every ridge of her lips on his. He felt the storm of emotions inside him, the fuzzy feeling that she always left him with going into hyperdrive.
He had kissed Erza Scarlet.
Or rather she had kissed him. Several times. She had kissed him.
His stomach gave another twist. The corner of his mouth was twitching into a smile and he noticed, trying to settle down again. In- and exhaling quietly, he turned on his side. She was right there. His smile returned of its own accord.
Erza was still asleep. She was clutching what was left of the blanket with both arms and her hair was a mess behind her. Her side rose and fell somewhat fitfully and Jellal noted her forehead to be shiny with sweat drops. Apart from the hot glowing of her skin, she seemed to be alright, though. He caught himself staring at her parted lips, even then unable to look away.
They had kissed.
He got up. He had to get away from her or he would never get up at all. He had always thought he would be relieved – and he was –; that a heavy burden would be lifted off his shoulders. He had never been able to imagine how it would feel like, not in his wildest dreams and she had naturally exceeded all of his forbidden expectations. Left him with wanting more, rather than being satisfied.
He used the chance of her being asleep to fetch them breakfast. She did not wake up when he returned. Jellal had also taken another attempt at the library, borrowing all renovation book there were. He read them all back to back, making notes and marking passages.
Erza slept for most hours of the day. And the next. Her fever made her sweat whatever she drank through the sheets and so he went out to buy new ones, alongside a new blanket. He washed the used sheets in the sink, adding a washing machine to his to do list.
He stared at the previously last point on the list. What did one do on a date? Just… eat somewhere? How was he supposed to ask her anyway? He cringed at every question his mind constructed, one worse than the other. He briefly thought he would prefer her to ask – she could get anything across with a straight face. That, and when she was embarrassed, she was even cuter than before. He was just downright awkward.
She had been the one to kiss him, so perhaps if he waited… no, he would have to be brave, too. He was the one who had to prove himself and he wanted to. He just did not know how.
"Erza," he entered the bedroom on quiet feet, listening. It was the third day she stayed in bed, but she had started to walk around from time to time. She went to the bathroom or snuck up on him and stalked him fail in the kitchen. Sometimes, she would wait for him to return from town – he thought he had seen her at the kitchen window once and upon unlocking the front door, hasty steps had fled into the bedroom.
The sheets shuffled noisily, telling him that she was awake. He made his way to her side of the bed, illuminated only by spots of morning light. He knelt beside the bed, and she turned. Her eyes were open, warmly smiling at him. She stretched her fingers towards him and he took her hand in his.
"I know you wanted to bathe, but the drain is still broken."
"Showering is fine, too,"
"That's the same pipe,"
"Oh." He had to smile when she pouted. He had already organised someone to fix the pipe. They would remove the bathtub and bring a new one he had ordered, though he would do as much as possible to avoid further costs. He had read about sealing off and tiling, though he would have to buy tiles, first. And he was out of money. He felt bad for leaving her to go on a job but he had no other choice.
Right now, though, he was staring at that pout. That adorable, guiltily annoyed pout. He really wanted to kiss her again. He was stupidly drunk on that feeling she gave him, the thought alone making his stomach bounce and drop at the same time. He really wanted to do it again.
His eyes widened when Erza freed her hand, reaching out to him. As if reading his thoughts, she took hold of his shirt, pulling on him and he let her. Then he responded before she could, leaning down instead of waiting, kissing her on the lips. Her torrid, rough and yet soft lips.
She gave a small moan, sending his heart soaring. He kissed her over and over again, his mouth moving, sucking at her parted lips time and again. His hand brushed along her jaw, tilting up her chin. It travelled to the back of her neck, pushing her closer. His chest heaved and his skin tingled because it was all just so good, he never wanted to stop. He felt like a meteor, crashing into the atmosphere, burning and falling, rushing down, deeper and deeper.
She pulled away, gasping for breath. Jellal's world shattered around him with the old fears. Guilt clung to his bones like fangs, pulling him into the shadows.
"I'm sorry," he stuttered, backing away. Erza tightened her fist around the fabric of his shirt, dragging him back down, kissing him again. He felt the fire spark up again, slowly melting his remorse. She was such a powerful magician, even without using actual magic.
"Don't be." She panted, smiling lovingly. "You're wonderful."
He told her about going out on a job. He did not mention the part about the money but he knew she would guess. He could not help but utter his doubts, though, rethinking again.
"I've spent days with nothing but sleeping; I'll be alright for one more." Erza said. She was as calm as ever, still smiling at him. Still keeping him close.
"I could ask Meredy to come," he said, but she shook her head. He did the same when she started offering her own money. Of course, she knew his motives. She always knew what was going on with him; at least it seemed that way to him. He did not possess such abilities – or perhaps he just did not give himself enough credit. He dared not interpret anything.
"It's in my apartment; you know," she patted the wrinkles she had created on his shirt, "if you don't want to go,"
And he really did not want to go. He wanted to stay and wrap his arms around her and hold her forever. And maybe kiss again. Definitely kiss her again.
He was almost glad for a second for having turned her down so cruelly that night on the beach. Or at Fairy Hills. Or his house. Had he known how addicted he would become to her… he would have never left her side.
But he had to. And now. He wanted to provide for her. He wanted to be a responsible... partner...? Roommate? Host?
Host. Host was fine for now.
Jellal needed that job. Not only because he could not pay more than one meal by now, but because if he did not get out and away, he would probably suffocate her with kisses. He had to go and get rid of this feeling that ate him up alive. He had to blow something up. Punch someone – okay, perhaps not someone. A tree. That should do.
"Jellal," Erza piped up, snapping him out of his thoughts. And right back into her spell. Damnit, he thought, staring at her lips as she spoke. If she noticed, she did not show. "Would you get my pills, too?" He snapped out immediately. "I think it would be better to get my body used to them and check with the side effects." Her voice was so soft and inviting, he almost sprinted out of the house after agreeing.
They were not in her rooms in Fairy Hills. Reluctantly, Jellal headed to Lucy's apartment after completing his job. Part of him was hoping for her not to be there. He knocked, freezing when she answered not shortly after.
"Jellal,"
"I'm very sorry to disturb you, but I'm looking for the, er, medications. From Erza's room." Whom else's, he thought, inwardly facepalming himself. He fought hard not to show his embarrassment on the outside.
"Oh, yeah, I think I still have them." Lucy said, hopping back up the stairs, bringing everything with her.
"Thanks. Just for, ehm… You know, they're just to, uhm, because she wanted to try to..." it had sounded so much better when Erza had said it. Why was he explaining anyway? Lucy had not asked; he could have just walked away. Why did he always have to make everything awkward? It was not even women; he just screwed up whenever around people.
"Uh, yeah, right, so..." she was as uncomfortable as him, maybe more, without a doubt coming to her own conclusions. That were not even correct. Maybe. "Anyway, I'm glad she's feeling better – give her our well wishes from the guild,"
"How do you-"
"Cobra said so," she said, making him wince.
"Erik's in town?" Jellal lost his cool completely, panicking. Those bloody ears of his…
"Yeah, he's at the guild often lately,"
"Great…" he pressed between gritted teeth.
That other night at the Guild Hall of Fairy Tail…
"Finally!" He slammed his drink down on the counter.
"What's that?" Kinana turned from drying off the last mugs of the day. The sun had set long ago but she did not mind working into the night when he kept her company.
"Nothing…" Erik muttered, shaking his head, "that cowardly moron…"