Hello! Thank you everyone for your reviews! Author-San will continue to do the best possible! (I sound like Juvia with my third person view...) Speaking of Juvia, I have a question... I always watch Fairy Tail with subs so I always hear her say Guray-Sama. I've used her calling him 'darling' before but when I wrote another chapter recently, I automatically wanted to type 'Sama' after his name... what do you think? Would it seem natural or unnatural to read that in an English fic? (Because things that have translations like 'nakama' aren't something I like to read there...) Otherwise I'll just stick with Gray and an occasional 'darling' :D
Again, thank you for thanking me; always so kiiind!
And several of you have commented on her book genre and when or whether he'll find out... might take a while but stay tuned for that - it's definitely coming (smug face).
Enough of me (but never enough of you, thank you again for the reviews guys! speculations and a long-sushi one and nina-chan who caught up! Thaaanks!),
enjoy!
Erza looked up when Jellal entered the kitchen again with a sigh. She had heard him discuss for minutes, having borrowed her lacrima when Meredy had not stopped calling. She had not been able to understand a lot but from the tone of his voice and the wrinkles on his forehead now, she could tell he was not too happy.
"Is something the matter?" She asked, having to shove the last bite of waffle into her cheek. It had been marvellous from start to finish, the warm rice pudding spread over it, cream and cinnamon and even chocolate topping it off.
Jellal shook his head, sinking down in the opposite chair with another huff.
"It's fine," he said, then noticed her concern and offered a smile. She held his gaze for a moment longer, then continued chewing, shoving the empty plate away from her.
"How do you do it?" She asked, deciding to change the topic. She prayed that she would not have to lose her dessert like the day before, hopeful when her stomach gave a digestive grumble of content instead of irritation. He tilted his head, then understood when she patted her slightly bloated abdominals. His meals were glorious – especially in comparison to the initial plain rice.
"What do you think I do while you're out?" He asked. Restless as he was, he picked up her plate and cutlery, placing them in the sink.
"I was going to say 'work', but I'm starting to reconsider," Erza said, stretching her arms out when he returned instead of washing up. He slid one arm beneath her knees, the other around her back. Automatically, she folded her hands behind his neck, smiling while he carried her back to bed. Not that she could not walk, but he seemed glad to be overtaking any task for her he could and who was she to deny him?
Feeling more important than royalty, Erza enjoyed herself greatly. She let herself be lowered against the headboard into freshly fluffed pillows and covered in her favourite duvet. She did feel the urge to move by herself and take a walk, but she had not slept well with a slightly stuffy nose and aching belly – starting to think she had caught a virus instead of developed an allergy – feeling tired already.
Jellal returned to the kitchen where she could hear the water running as he tidied and washed up. She was about to lay down when she spotted her lacrima, the screen lighting up with messages. Her eyes scanned of their own accord, reading Meredy's name above every one of the messages. She wiped over the surface to unlock it, taking it to have a better look.
It'll be only an hour or so
We can stay close to the house
I found a bar that's very close
Jellal?
I'm booking the bar if you don't say no
Erik said it's a good idea
Jellal
Answer or I'll book
Erza frowned and smiled at the same time. She swiped across the screen, calling Meredy back in his stead. Staying close to the house sounded too much like him putting her needs before his when she was not in desperate need of assistance.
"Jellal?" Meredy's voice came through the speaker, almost the second Erza had tapped the calling icon.
"Hey, Meredy," she greeted, receiving a long groan of what she interpreted as relief.
"Erza, thank goodness," she said, making the Requip Mage wonder just how badly Jellal had described her state to be.
"What's wrong?" Erza asked.
"Erik is back in town so we finally wanted to meet up but Jellal says he can't," Meredy started to explain. It was audible in her voice how it stressed her, even if all she uttered was understanding for his concern. Erza assured her to be alright, harking from time to time whether Jellal was still busy. How convenient of her to have requested something to eat that used up several bowls at once.
"And I asked if we could meet in Magnolia, you know, in case-"
"I needed him here," Erza finished, hearing agreement. She pushed her lips out in thought. "Why don't you do it here in the house then?" She suggested. Meredy seemed very enthusiastic, but remarked how little space there was. Erza took another moment to form an idea, going through the house in her mind, picturing any more chairs to be cramped in the kitchen, disposing of the notion.
"What about the attic?" She pondered out loud. "There's definitely enough space for you and we can bring a table and chairs from my apartment," she proposed.
"We don't want to disturb you," Meredy said but Erza shook her head, only then remembering to give a negative hum as she could not be seen.
"It's fine – besides, Jellal won't have an excuse anymore," the corner of her mouth twitched up into a smirk. Meredy delightedly approved, informing about the date and time. She asked how Erza was in detail and Erza was just about to break everything down – the mission, her illness and their speculations – when she heard Jellal coming down the hall.
"I'll tell him, don't worry," she quickly said before hanging up, unable to help an innocent smile as he entered. He narrowed his eyes suspiciously at that.
Erza slid the lacrima between the sheets, smoothing it out above her legs. Then, deciding on a different approach, she tossed it aside, getting up, much to his protests.
"Let's go for a walk,"
"Maybe I didn't want them in my house,"
"Why not? They're your guildmates," Erza argued and he fell silent at that remark. He had complained and rejected the idea the entire way to Fairy Hills, yet he obediently pulled her cart with her furniture back through the streets.
"It'll only get late and we'll wake you," he went on. She noticed how he would never walk even a step faster than her, always keen to keep his eyes on her. And while it was sweet, he was stressing himself too much, she thought.
"You know nothing wakes me," she retorted steadfastly. When there was no immediate reply, Erza smiled at him over her shoulder. "And it makes me happy when you spend time with your comrades," she added. Jellal frowned, avoiding her gaze.
"It's just a meeting," he muttered.
"Exactly," she fumbled for her key as they arrived at the front door, "nothing to worry about."
It really had gotten late with them taking a long time. Since Sorano had left the guild, they were down to six members. Richard had not come, having told them that he trusted his friends with whatever choices they would agree on, though, knowing them, nothing too decisive would be the outcome, anyway. In the end, it was a good thing, Jellal thought, that he had not come. The hatch to the attic was way too small for him to fit through.
They had already sat there for hours.
The day before, when Erza had urged him to help her pick up her furniture, they had finally gone out to find wallpapers and flooring for the hall. They had gone with painting the walls a cream white, adding light brown wainscoting at the lower half. The floor was – as per her advice regarding dirty shoes – a cool stone, dark grey and looking almost like an old temple, making the hall seem bigger.
It had taken half the day and Jellal had started again in the morning, where she had joined him despite his protests. It had visibly tired her out after having been sick and lying around for days, her sleep sounder than before, though her temperature still radiated at him at night, her breathing sometimes rasped.
"She's asleep," Erik interrupted Jellal's thoughts. He was giving him a look like he often did, the hint of a taunting smirk on his lips. Jellal sighed under his breath, waiting for them to go on while averting his eyes. He felt Meredy's reassuring hand on his leg a moment later, throwing her a short side glance.
Even if he would never admit it, it had been the best idea to hold the meeting at their house – he was constantly on edge as to whether Erza was fine.
"Well, with them taken off the streets, I had to find a job for legal guilds," Erik continued. "See?" He said in Jellal's direction, having heard his thoughts.
"Explain, please," Macbeth said, not for the first time that night, knowing that no one but the two were in the picture now.
"Jellal also took out regular criminals," the Poison Dragon Slayer said.
"But I've been working on ordinary requests before," Jellal pointed out. He did do many jobs that did not involve eradicating or spying on Dark Guilds, but that was due to living in Magnolia and needing the money and closeness for his new life with Erza. He restrained from forming that thought, focusing hard on the topic at hand.
The topic that inevitably screamed disbandment.
"How about we wait for, let's say, one month," Meredy began, sensing his unease without having to be able to read his mind, "and when we meet again and no one found especially concerning dark magic occurrence, we'll make a decision," she said, receiving nods from all sides.
She did have a point. Their activity, paired with the strength of Fiore's guilds as well as the most powerful Dark Mages taken down had resulted in quite a safe country. There was hardly any need for their independent guild.
And with that, Erik stretched, heaving himself out of his chair. He threw Jellal a grin as his mind automatically wandered downstairs since the discussion was over. Jellal ignored it, gesturing for them to climb down before him. He threw a glance at Meredy's lacrima as she typed away, informing Richard. It was past two in the morning.
With heavy lids, Jellal descended after his guild. They all clustered there for a moment and his eyes, too, fell on Erza. She was fast asleep, dressed in her new favourite sleepwear: his shirt. Clutching the blanket with arms and legs, she silently but deeply breathed into the fabric, curled up around it.
Jellal took another blanket, draping it over her to cover her, seeing as her legs were exposed completely and he had still not found out whether they had a heater. She gave a small moan, winding closer around the duvet at her chest and between her knees.
"Oh, Jellal," Meredy turned in the doorway to the bedroom. She had shooed the others out, then returned on silent feet.
"You're staying?" He asked and she nodded, thanking him. Leaning down, Jellal stroked Erza's back animatedly, but Meredy cut in before he could speak up.
"I brought clothes," she said and he stopped his actions. Erza stirred, however, grabbing his sleeve before he could withdraw. She turned slightly to look up at him, eyes small and crusted with sleep as she blinked them open.
"Jellal,"
"It's nothing, go back to sleep," he whispered, adding apologies.
"Come to bed," she pleaded instead. Her hand wandered up his arm to his collar, which she pulled on, cupping his jaw when he almost reached her face with his.
"I will in just a minute," he promised, putting his hand atop hers. Erza smiled sleepily, even wider when he placed a soft kiss on her temple as she sank back into the pillow. With a deep sigh, she snuggled back in, seemingly unable to wait for him with the tiredness of the day drawing her back in. Her skin was unnaturally warm.
"That's love," Sawyer imitated Richard's catchphrase, trying to say it in his voice. Macbeth and Erik snickered while Meredy clasped a hand over her mouth as not to join them. She threw them a look, though it sparkled with more amusement than her furrowed brow could implement a scold.
Jellal closed his eyes for a moment, considering his options. Glad about the darkness of the house to be hiding his blushing face. He turned with a deadly glare.
"Bye guys, night Jellal," Meredy grinned, hasting back up the ladder with her bag. Ignoring the wiggling brows, quiet whistles and much saying nudges, Jellal went to shove the rest of his guild out of the bedroom, seeing them off at the door with a brusque farewell. He deflated against the door when they had left, not allowing his mind to wander until finishing with getting ready for bed.
Longingly, Jellal fell into bed. He scooted across the mattress to find his love, encircling her back and hugging her close to him, drifting off only moments later with her steady breathing down his chest.
It was only a few hours later and not yet morning when Jellal awoke again. He thought to have heard a crash and harked, but everything was silent. Erza had hardly moved, though she had somehow gotten rid of the blanket from in between them, which was crumpling at their feet somewhere. He drew the closest one back over her, his movements making her grip his shirt even tighter.
There was another thump, coming from above, and Jellal waited only for a few seconds this time.
Meredy, he sent via telepathy as not to wake his beloved, guessing his guildmate to have awoken. Perhaps she had forgotten about the table and chairs and run into them?
The ladder creaked then and she descended from the attic. He opened his mouth to croak out a question but she was already next to the bed. He turned as far as he could onto his back to face her, huffing when she suddenly collapsed onto it, partly him. He held his breath. Meredy laid there without a hint of even being alive or having sleep walked. He awaited at least the feeling of a breath where her throat had fallen onto his arm.
It came jerkily, followed by a swallow. Jellal's eyes softened as he craned his neck to glance down onto her now occasionally spasming back.
"Nightmare?" He asked in a hushed voice, only receiving a sniffle where his shirt slightly dampened at his shoulder. He pulled the arm from beneath her away, repeating his action of finding a blanket, draping it over her. Then he put his arm around her back, pulling her a little closer.
It took minutes for her snivels to die down. He waited, listening and gently tugging or stroking down her shoulder blades, letting her know to be there should she need him. Eventually, Meredy had cried herself to sleep like she often had and Jellal found himself awake for another hour to come, finally drifting off when even the tribulations of being unable to truly help either of the two most important people in his life could not keep his exhaustion at bay.