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Next time – next time for sure! Erza gave herself a tough look, trying to encourage herself. She wanted to promise it to him, but she knew he would not want her to. She then wanted to promise to herself, not quite daring, either…
She was not sure what it had been that had hindered them – apart from her, of course. For once, she had been the one to back down. It was a mystery to her why he had not immediately accused her of giving him payback for that time on the beach. Not that he was the type to rebuke someone, but he had not hinted it at all – he was not one to tease, after all.
The entire time through, she had been consumed by the love he gave but when the moment of truth had arrived, she had been scared. She was glad somehow that he had never had any experiences, either, however it was not enough to give her enough courage. How did people just do such things? How did they find out what to do? Would she even know whether she was doing everything right? And what happened if something went wrong?
Erza sighed to herself. The memory alone gave her a shiver and a queasy feeling in her stomach. She unlatched her bra with which she had slept. Folding her arms over her chest, she regarded herself in the mirror.
And it made her wonder why she had stopped. He was surely disappointed, he had to be, and so was she of herself, though not at the sight in front of her.
Both sides of her neck were covered in lovebites. More trailed down her throat and there were even two on the top of her breast. A proud smile plastered itself across her face. Now she only had to be prudent about what to wear… Why ever were all of her armours so revealing? This might have been the first time she had ever been bothered by it.
Part of her did not want to hide them, though she knew that would be foolish. Still, she could see herself amongst unbelieving, admiring stares, her eyes closed, a smug expression on her face and her arms crossed across her chest. Or better yet, below her chest. To show off even more. Coolly, she would say 'oh those?' as if it was an everyday occurrence for her, continuing with something along the lines of 'why, they're from my boyfriend' and everyone would gasp and be perplexed, though not at her having a boyfriend, of course, but that she was so lucky and romantic with him.
Erza snapped out of her scenario. She gave herself a stern frown in the mirror. She was lucky to have Jellal. That was completely out of the question. She also doubted that her guildmates would actually react the way she had imagined them to do. They would tease her and give her suggestive looks. On second thought, was that not about the same? Could that not… be a realistic aim?
Erza listened when she heard the bed creak next door. Alcohol really seemed to be the only thing that kept him in bed.
It had been interesting to go to town with Jellal. He was still such a dork around people, always reserved and shy. And awkward. Especially when being asked a question or worst of all: given a compliment. Even when coming from her.
She did not know whether he was aware or whether it was unconscious but he moved about the public like a shadow. Eyes always flashing about, scanning every person, building or magic energy. He practically zoomed from one hiding place – or shop – to the next, unobtrusive or even unseen. It scared the heck out of shop assistants and costumers when he suddenly appeared between the clothing rails.
Towards the evening, it had been more relaxed, though both of them had been on edge while walking to the restaurant, afraid of being spotted. Afterwards had been her proof that he was really trained to the bones to be sneaky, as neither of them had been sparkling with wit after the wine.
Fortunately, his house was not anywhere near the guild or her guildmates' places. The area was not empty, though, perhaps a little less lively than any other residential street in Magnolia. There were regular shops like everywhere and she always hoped that no one would want to visit her beloved bakery too often as it was close by. What a wonderful coincidence.
She was glad that they had not been caught yet. At least not really. They had not been called out on their relationship – which was a relief; she would not even know how to answer that question to herself. Plus, she wanted to make something out of it before others would. And she knew they would and make everything different and perhaps dishonest. It would become a 'following expectations', rather than feelings.
The door opened. Erza turned, having to smile when Jellal dragged himself inside, his eyes clouded with sleep and his head almost visibly buzzing. He looked up at her, blushing deeply and so did she, realising that she was still wearing nothing but knickers. At least she was covering her chest somewhat.
To her surprise, he did not leave, all flustered. Or at all. Jellal wandered across the tiles that were still on the floor. She watched him from the corner of her eye when he stopped behind her. Erza winced shortly when his finger touched her back. He traced a horizontal line across her skin and she realised it was the red ridge her bra had impressed overnight. She shivered once.
"I see why women don't sleep in them – how do you bear it?" He asked with a hoarse voice that reluctantly scraped up his throat. She frowned with an amused smile. Was hungover still drunk to him or was he half asleep? In any case, she liked him not being too shy.
Opening her mouth to answer, Erza's breath got stuck for a moment when Jellal dropped his head, forehead resting on her shoulder.
"What do you want for breakfast?" He asked instead of requesting an answer. It had been meant rhetorically anyway, she presumed. He smelled of sleep and his hair, however spiky-looking, fell softly onto her collarbone.
"I'm sorry, I have to go on a mission,"
"Today?"
"Now, actually," she said with regret in her tone, "I still have to get my luggage from Fairy Hills to bring it to the train station." She heard and felt him sigh, a bittersweet smile on her face. He muttered something to himself which she understood as him staying in bed all day. For a moment, she contemplated to stay, just to spend an entire day with cuddling into him.
"I don't think it will take long," she soothed instead. She leaned her head to the side against his, almost having used a hand. "Let me take you back to bed," she said softly. Jellal only gave a vague hum, answering her gesture with a nudge of his own head.
She waited for him to move and he did, after a moment. She picked up her bra, her lips tugging into a playful smile when she saw him stare, blush slowly creeping up his face, then turn to face the wall. She took his hands, pulling him back into the bedroom.
They arrived around noon at the station of Kunugi. It was a nice-looking town and Lucy immediately spotted a shop or two that she would have liked to browse through. Erza had requipped into her usual Heart Kreuz armour, concealing every last one of her treasures. The ride had been quiet and pleasant – not for Natsu and Wendy, of course.
"Erza," Natsu piped up as they made their way to the nearest settlement, having recovered from his motion-sickness, "what's up with Jellal?" He bluntly asked. Lucy winced, Erza noticed out of the corner of her eye. She had expected him to be the only one to ask, so she was prepared not to give any hints, in- and outwardly.
"What should be up with him?" She asked back, calmly. She could feel all of her teammates' eyes drill into her sides.
"His smell's all over you," Natsu said, wrinkling his nose, studying her expression. She kept her eyes closed as her steps crunched on the gravel path. She had not had the time to shower that morning – she had been late enough due to scrubbing her mouth off the faint scent of wine. And she had brought Jellal back to bed, who had not been too cooperative in letting her go.
"I happened to encounter him in Magnolia," almost every day and night for the past weeks, she added in her head, keeping a straight face.
"He's in Magnolia? I wanna fight!" Natsu grinned broadly, punching his fist into the palm of his other hand. "Why hasn't he stopped by the guild then?" He went on with the same suspicion as before.
"I didn't ask him,"
"But you've had his smell all over for days now; how come-"
"Wait," Erza held up her arm in front of his face, shushing him. He stumbled back a step, frowning. "Didn't you see that?" She asked, eyes narrowed at the woods to their right. Gray tsked.
"That's about the worst excuse for not answering the question-"
"I'm not-" Erza growled, interrupted by Natsu shoving her arm down, following her gaze.
"No, you're right. I smell them,"
"And I can hear them, too," Wendy said, insecurely at first, then widening her stance, ready for an attack. Lucy's keys clinked when her hand shot down to them.
Within a millisecond, Erza summoned a sword in her hand when a group of masked wizards jumped out of the bushes. Natsu roared alongside Wendy. The air filled with sharply spiked arrows of ice. One of the men struck with a halberd, leaking dark shadowy magic. He threw himself onto Erza, his weapon clashing hers and she defended herself.
They were surrounded by at least two dozen wizards now and she was itching to change armours, restraining herself.
"I just thought it's kinda weird," Natsu's back hit hers as they found themselves surrounded by a large group of enemies, shooting magic from all directions, "I saw him the other day – with you – and you," he punched a wall of flames through the foes' lines, "never mentioned it."
"I don't see how that's any of your business," Erza coldly replied, sending swords flying to clear out a path. She could not see the others, but she heard Wendy roar and Lucy open Taurus' gate.
"So then there is-"
"I said it's none of your business!" Erza hollered at him and he shrunk, sweating down his temple, hands up in defence.
"Just wondering…" he squeaked. She rushed into a cluster of wizards, finishing each with a single blow. Turning around, she saw the commotion to be lifting. There were at least thirty people, if not more, laying on the ground, KO. The team relaxed again, regarding their unexpected assaulters. They had not even been close to being a match for Fairy Tail.
"What was that all about?" Lucy asked, nudging the side of who looked like the leader with her foot. He twitched and she shrieked, receiving a teasing grin from Gray. Erza eyed the men, scanning them for a guild mark.
"Some dimwits thinking they can lay a finger on us," Gray rolled his eyes, "maybe a stupid bet,"
"Why us?" Wendy asked, keeping away from them, her back to the suitcase wagon. Erza returned to her side, a found paper in hand.
"I recognise their emblem – they are called Nexus if I'm not mistaken. They served under Tartaros and are a Dark Guild, though I didn't think they were still active…" she picked up the rope attached to her luggage.
"But Tartaros is gone," Lucy argued, "who would give them the order to attack us?"
"Probably thought we'd be easy prey," Natsu grinned, crossing his arms behind his head.
"I would assume they came because of this," Erza held up the poster she had come upon when eyeing the fallen foes. Everyone leaned their heads in to see, forming a half circle around the sheet.
"A wanted poster?" Wendy exclaimed with shock.
"Wanted?" Natsu's eyes grew big.
"And the reward is one million Jewels!" Lucy gasped. "Who would want us… oh wait, it says 'alive'," she squinted at the small writing, not finding an ordering party. "'Fairy Tail's Natsu Dragneel, Lucy Heartfilia, Erza Scarlet and Gray Fullbuster'," she read.
"What about me?" Happy asked, intensely staring at the writing. Natsu shrugged, not wanting to read himself.
"I'm not on it, either," Wendy said in a small voice. She had her hands folded in front of her chest, her gaze still flashing to the unconscious group of men on the ground.
"Then you're in luck." Erza said, letting go of her luggage to put a hand on her guildmate's head. "Perhaps it's all a joke or trick. We should let Master see it when we get back," she picked the rope back up, walking on. Over the wizards. Lucy cringed, but they all followed, discussing all the way into the village and more alert than before.
Nothing had happened after the strange incident on the road. Erza regarded the poster on the train ride home the following day. The sun was setting, bathing the landscape that flew by in fiery hues. The topic of Jellal had not come up since the day before and she was glad it had not. She was even happier to finally be returning home after everyone had voted to stay the night then then gone on a shopping spree in Kunugi.
Erza really enjoyed the time she spent with her friends but it was impossible to get Jellal out of her head. She hoped for him to be there and not out on a mission. She was embarrassed to admit that she already felt lonely after one night of sleeping alone. At least alone in one bed.
"Maybe it would be better to stay together, you know, in case the wanted poster is real," Wendy said at their usual parting point on a lacrima-lit street crossing, receiving nods.
"Sleepover at Lucy's!" Natsu laughed.
"Hell no!" She retorted immediately, shooting him glares.
"Why not, it'll be fun! Just like that other time we all had to stay together,"
"You mean when you broke into my house with out my consent…" she grumbled as response.
"I'll ask Juvia if she wants to join," Gray decided, walking off.
"Who said you could just do that?!" Lucy fumed and both Wendy and Erza had to laugh. Erza shook her head, a smile on her face.
"I think it's a good idea," she agreed, though she turned into a different direction, "and tomorrow we will consult with Master."
"Aren't you coming, Erza?" Wendy asked, tilting her head. Lucy mumbled something about people always inviting others to a place that did not belong to them.
"Don't worry, I'll be fine," Erza dodged the question, "you should bring that card game you showed me yesterday in the Inn; I'm sure you'll have a lot of fun," she said with a warm, almost motherly smile, lifting her team mate's spirit immediately. Wendy nodded once, skipping over to follow Lucy, Natsu and Happy. "Take care." Erza wished, disappearing around a dark corner.
When she entered his house, it was filled with warmth and delicious smells. She had left her luggage at Fairy Hills, now exhausted from the trip and stealing herself through the streets again without being noticed.
Requipping into her casual blouse and skirt – before entering, she did not want to seem desperate for a hug, though she was – Erza got rid of her boots, too. She snuck towards the noises that came from down the hall. The kitchen door was standing open and she saw his back where he stood in front of the stove.
The pan was sizzling and another pot boiled. She assumed him not to have heard her coming. His movements were somewhat edgy and clumsy, not yet comfortable with cooking but the smell that ascended from his creations was more than good. By far better than most things she had created in her life. Soup was about the only thing she could do without fail – and rice.
"You're back," Jellal surprised her when she was only steps away. She had stood behind him, unsure whether she would ruin everything should he startle. She hugged him then, pressing her face into his back. The words 'I'm home' danced on the tip of her tongue but she did not quite dare. It was still his home.
"Sorry it took so long…" she sighed, welcoming the familiar feeling of him. And the fact that it was familiar by now.
"Don't worry," he said, letting a spoon go to put his hand above hers.
"But I did find the perfect shop for everything the house still needs, like towels and cutlery," she tried to make up for having been gone for so long. The shop was in Kunugi and she knew that she proposed it due to its location being outside of Magnolia. She also knew that he knew. Neither mentioned it. They were both keen on keeping them a secret, though it felt wrong to openly address it. They were not ashamed, just… insecure.
"That's great," Jellal turned, leaning down to put his forehead against hers. She inhaled his scent, blushing when she felt him do the same. He smiled at her, putting his arms around her lower back. "I have something planned, too."