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Erza felt her every muscle. She pulled her cart of suitcases behind her, down the streets of Magnolia. She had been on an S-Class Quest that had taken two days and nights. Travelling back and forth had consumed half a day, too, so now she saw her shadow stretching out before her on the pavement, the sun crawling down the horizon, bathing the town in heavenly scarlet hues.
A group of bandits had attempted an ambush on her while walking to the client, but they had hardly been a bother. She planned on telling the Master the next day, but he would not be too worried. The job had been worth it, though, earning her a solid income. Almost three times her current rent – perfect for new projects around the house. That, and she was positive that she would wreck something again sooner or later – a typical attribute that Fairy Tail had planted without a doubt. Their specialty.
She sighed. She was exhausted. It did not show, however, as she was even more restless to get back. To get home. The thought was still strange, but it gave a fuzzy feeling in her stomach and she loved it more with every passing day. Her mind wandered, knowing there was still so much to do.
She had to dismantle her furniture and somehow bring it all to the house. The same went for the armoury. All of it had to be stowed away – she also had to discover the cellar! – as well as the material for the floors and walls that still needed to be bought. She had no clue how to fix the hole in the wall, but it was almost forgotten again. Instead, she wondered whether her current apartment flooring such as the carpet in her bedroom or the tiles of the bathroom would go well in the house. And if she could reuse them at all after removing them. Was she allowed to take them, anyway?
Only two streets away now, Erza threw hopeful glances at the display window of her favourite cake shop, shoulders dropping upon noting it to be closed. She really was late. She hoped that Jellal was already back. He had gone on a mission after being contacted by Meredy but they were a splendid team; they did not take too long, usually. She could not wait to discuss her ideas with him – she wanted to get going and make everything nice and homey. First of all, though, she wanted a bed.
Leaving the cart in the small alley between theirs and the neighbour's house – where she spotted the bulkhead doors he had spoken of – Erza fished for the key to the front door. The words 'I'm home' hung on the tip of her tongue but there were no signs of anyone being there. She frowned, peeking down the hall through the open, empty kitchen door while unequipping her boots. She requipped out of her armour and into her more comfortable set of clothing, sneaking into the bedroom.
"Jellal!" Erza's eyes shot open and she hurried to the bed. The room was half-dark, crimson beams of light filtering through, making everything seem worse than it was. Jellal was laying on his back, his eyes closed, brows furrowed. He was bleeding down his shoulder and side, another pool of the dark red liquid soaking the old bandage she had caused him around his abdomen. His breathing came in fits but he seemed to be unconscious.
Erza zoomed around the bed, leaning over him, calling his name repeatedly. She inspected the wounds, getting her hands bloody, turning to the door to get supplies when a figure appeared.
"You're back; I'm glad," Meredy smiled as if nothing was wrong. She held fresh bandages and towels; her hands clean but her arms covered in dried blood. Her expression looked more as if she was offering cake, rather than saving a life.
"Meredy," Erza was panting with panic.
"Don't worry, it's not as bad as it looks," the independent mage soothed, handing Erza the bandages. She took them, stupefied, unable to comprehend the combination of him being injured along with that serene attitude of her friend. "He's fine; I just knocked him out so he wouldn't do anything stupid."
"Good thinking." Erza nodded, slowly calming down. She knew him too well to be upset about such a ruthless method and it reassured her to know that Meredy did, too.
"I was hoping you'd come – he needs some lovin'," Meredy winked and Erza blushed, cursing inwardly for averting her gaze. Meredy giggled. "Not that way, though I don't think he'd mind…" she smirked, enjoying the flustered reaction she triggered. Her eyes lost their spark as she turned her attention back to the task at hand, kneeling next to the bed, starting to clean off the blood. "He really could need it, though," she said, almost sadly.
Erza frowned lightly. She crawled onto the foot of the bed, shuffling up on her knees until she sat on the opposite side of his torso. Meredy was pressing a damp towel onto the wound now, having washed most of what had been spilled off.
"What happened?" Erza asked.
"We were on a mission, hunting a Dark Guild when we were forced to stop to hide from the Council,"
"The Council?" Erza repeated, confused. "But you are pardoned; you don't have to hide from them," she argued.
"Official Guilds aren't allowed to eliminate Dark Guilds," Meredy lifted the towel off the wound – a nasty gash down the shoulder, as if someone had wanted to slice his arm right off. She padded it with compresses, then lifted him slightly. Erza got the hint, reaching over to start bandaging everything into place. "We hid somewhere that was too convenient," Meredy's eyes overshadowed, "it was a trap, because suddenly we were the ones being hunted.
"We defeated half of the guild easily but they had hostages. It caught us off guard and there was only so much we could do without it ending in a catastrophe."
"Are you hurt?" It only now occurred to Erza. Meredy shook her head, moving down to his abdomen. She took off the old, now speckled bandage and they repeated their procedure.
"No, he shielded me from most attacks. That's why he looks like this," she said, the sudden sorrow returning to her voice, "He was furious with himself…"
"Why?" Erza frowned. She placed the fresh gauze over numerous slash wounds that were already covered with compresses, lifting his side to wrap it around.
"He holds himself responsible for leading us into that trap and endangering me," Meredy explained. For the first time, Erza noticed how exhausted the pink-haired mage was, her features sunken, a sigh escaping her lips. The latter hinted that it was not only physical strain that burdened her. "He started muttering something about 'sins' again, calling himself names.
"It was one thing when he did that and Ultear and I rubbed it in, making it a joke to lift the tension, but now… he's so serious; more than before and always tense." She watched his face, pain still written all over it. "I think he blames himself for Ul's fate, even though we both know that that's not true. He thinks he isn't enough, but no one asked him to replace her," her voice began to shake, wobbling upwards, "I certainly didn't! No one can…" she sighed, deeply this time.
Erza watched her with sympathy. She tied the last bandage, then focused on her counterpart. Meredy stared at her own hands, fiddling with the hem of her shirt as a replacement action.
"I just want him to be who he is but he won't let himself…" her voice retreated to a whisper. Erza's eyes softened, but before she could answer, Meredy continued. "That's why he needs you," she smiled now, having caught herself. Erza stared in awe, feeling her face slowly heat up. "You bring that out of him like no one else. He's so relaxed and open and honest with himself when around you,"
"I don't know about relaxed…" Erza sheepishly intermitted. A dire mistake.
"Oh, you mean because you make him nervous…?" Meredy trailed her voice with teasing innocence, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively. Erza's cheeks reddened and she looked away, making Meredy laugh. There was no objection, however, and Erza was glad that it was not being addressed. "Anyway," Meredy rose to her feet, arching her back to stretch, "I'll be off and check whether we missed anyone; I know he's in good hands here," she winked, sauntering out of the room.
"Wait," Erza got up as well, following her into the hall, "you shouldn't go alone."
"Don't worry, I'm pretty sure we did a decent job," Meredy waved it off. "Besides," she turned her head to give a playful look over her shoulder, "you're needed here."
"That's no reason to send you alone." Erza said sternly, reaching into her pocket. She pulled out her portable communication lacrima, searching by tapping her finger. "And if you want me to silence his conscience, you going back alone is not the best of support," she scolded, hitting a nerve. Meredy stopped in front of the entrance door. She leant against the wall, propping up one foot against it. "I'll inform Juvia,"
"Oh!" Meredy exclaimed excitedly, smiling, "she has one, too?" She asked, digging a hand into her own pocket.
"No, but Gray does," Erza retorted, shortly making the call. "He says they're at the guild," she informed after hanging up. She was not too keen on giving away her new address to people just yet. She wanted everything to be finished before her friends would inevitably come and barge in.
"Alright," Meredy said, still smiling, "I'll just…" she lifted her still smeared hands, giving an apologetic grin. Erza nodded, hearing the water run in the bathroom a moment later.
She crept back into the bedroom. Jellal's breathing had calmed, not rattling anymore. She crawled up until she knelt next to his head. His brows were still twitching with discomfort from time to time but the glistening sweat on his neck had dried and none of the injuries appeared to have reopened.
Sighing through her nose, Erza bent down. She touched her forehead to his. It was warm, though not feverishly.
"Jellal," she said softly, nudging his nose with her own. He did not show any particular reaction. Retreating slightly, Erza ran her straddled fingers through his hair, pushing it away from his face. She repeated the motion over and over, gently scraping his scalp. She hovered there for a moment, whispering his name, then lowered herself again, placing a tender kiss on his lips.
He stirred. Erza waited, watching with relief when Jellal groaned, opening his eyes slot-wide.
"Erza," he croaked. His features visibly relaxed alongside his body. A smile stretched across her lips and she combed through his hair once more to keep the strands out of his face.
"How are you feeling?" She asked, but he lifted his hand, cupping her cheek. She leant into it, closing her eyes for a moment.
"I don't know how I got here, but I'm glad to see you," he answered instead, smiling warmly. "I'm sorry it took so long," he apologised. She shook her head, one hand over his on her jaw, giving a negating hum to reassure him.
"Awwwww," Meredy squealed from where she had watched in the doorframe. Erza winced. She had completely forgotten about her, so lost in seeing him after their days apart. Or in general. He was almost always consuming her full attention and she was not complaining. "See, I told you!" Meredy kept hopping up and down, trying to be quiet, though failing as she squeaked to herself.
"Meredy!" Jellal said with surprise, a bright blush tinting his face. He tried to sit up, unable to conceal a groan of pain. Erza helped him, shoving her knees and arms beneath his back for support. "Told her what?" He asked uneasily.
"Oh, nothing," his comrade shrugged, "just something among women." She winked and Erza grinned somewhat awkwardly when he looked at her for help. "Don't overdo it just yet, you two!" Meredy mocked as she turned to leave, earning blushes. The front door banged shut and silence fell. They stared at the empty spot for a moment longer.
"You could have told me she was here…" he sank back down with a pressed breath.
"Would you not have said what you said then?" She asked, a little reproachfully. He noticed, finding her hand on her lap, giving an apologetic squeeze.
"I… would have waited." He confessed honestly and she was happy enough with it. She was just grateful to finally be home and together. It was now her chance to pay him back for having taken care of her and she would do nothing but her utmost best.