Hello!
Will be a while until you read this, but welcome EclipseMoonshadow! Thank you so much for all of your reviews!
Isanien, thank you so much for taking the time to review! I loved reading what you think! And we will come to the nausea etc. of Erza, no worries.
Mitzy, thank you so much for such kind words! I'm very happy to read them over and over again. And I've already somehow come up with some Gray and Natsu reactions as per your request, which I'll probably keep on weaving into the story... hope you'll like them.
Mikasa-Chan, thanks so much for reviewing! I can only assume what double chapters are (either two in one aka a super long one or two uploaded right after one another), and though that would be possible, I'll be running out of chapters that way in like a handful of days, and stressing myself and I'd like to stick to quality over quantity :)
As for the blood after his return, I would leave that up to your imagination, but if you'd like, I can include what happened later.
Guest, thank you so much for the complement! I have been yelled at a great number of times for mean cliffhangers and enjoy each time wholeheartedly xD
Frangellica, thank you so much! I'm so happy to hear that you found the last chapter exciting! Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with me! And your comment about Jason made me remember an idea I once had, coming up in another chapter...
Somnolent Sushi Roll, you goddess of a reviewer! I always try to include emotions here but FanFiction doesn't like them ':D And two comments (here would be the happily drooling and the heart eye emoji)! Thaaank you a million times; you're the best!
Erza had nearly thrown up at those words. Arrest. Again. And for how long? Just now after the pardon, after staring over, after everything he had done to redeem himself.
After they had finally admitted their feelings for one another.
Erza had clung to him so fiercely, not even the Council Army had been able to tear them apart. Jellal had protested, though only to her, telling her to let go, to get away and not to give them a reason to find any charges against her. Everything to protect her.
She had done everything in her power to prevent that. Attached as if grown together, she had stuck to her beloved, never letting anyone separate them, deliberately declaring to be accompanying his temporary prison sentence until the trial would be held. His reasoning against it had slowly faded as time had gone by on their way to Era, finally subsiding completely once the heavy door had fallen shut, locking them in.
She had refused to wait anywhere that was not with him, accepting the single seal stone shackle around her wrist while he had received two. She had also not dared to trade her armour for anything that was warmer and less protective, feeling fear and insecurity gnaw at her bones more than the icy wind had. Their breaths had formed clouds, rising up into the murky sky for hours of walking.
Now in their roughly three square metre cell, she shivered from the biting cold. It was getting dark outside, the only thing now gracing them with light being the dim yellowish lacrimas down the hall and what little specks the clouds revealed of the crescent moon. At least they had fresh air, Erza thought to herself, gazing up at the tiny barred space high above on the wall.
She resumed her pacing.
For hours already, her boots had been swishing back and forth. Restless, Erza raked through her brain for solutions, reasons, even schemes. Something, anything to get them back out and to stay together, to go home. She had cried herself to sleep for long enough after his first arrest: she was not about to have history repeat itself.
"Can you believe this?" Erza growled, stomping around. "This... how he just threw us into jail as if it was his job! As if he has the authority – and just like that! No hearing, no judges, no Council member – just letting us rot here overnight to scare us," she vented, gesturing wildly. Not that it was not working, she knew, feeling her guts twist with every following thought, but she would never admit that.
"He knows you, doesn't he? What is his problem? Why is he after you so much?" She spun to give a questioning glance. There was no reaction to her question – there had been none since arriving.
With her stance wide and her hands on her hips, Erza glared down at his miserable form.
Completely mute, Jellal had retreated into a small bundle, hunched against the wall in the corner, arms around his knees, head fallen between them. It frightened her to see him that way. Fallen into himself, not an ounce of fight left. She knew he was exhausted but she also knew that that was not the reason for his lack of resistance.
"What do you think you're doing?" Erza fumed, staring him down. He did not lift his head. "Jellal, you're not giving up, are you?" She asked rather reproachfully. "You can't just let them do this! You're a free man, you should have said something! Wherever you know him from, it doesn't matter – you were pardoned, you-"
"Erza," Jellal's voice scratched up his throat. He did not look up. Silence fell and Erza felt her heart's racing to hobble, eyes itching. Inhaling sharply, she waited nonetheless until he spoke up again, weakly but audible. "You shouldn't have come, please ask them to leave,"
"What?!" She exclaimed. Her armour clinked when her fists balled and she felt them wanting to grab his neck since there was no collar left to pull on. The urge to slap sense into him was almost as strong as that night on the beach but she restrained herself.
"What they're charging me for is right," Jellal quietly said, "you know that." He finally looked up and she saw the broken man she had worked so hard for to vanish. "Please, Erza, I'm begging you. Don't give your life up for me," he pleaded. Her knees shook at how hard his words hit.
"Jellal,"
"You have the guild and your friends and a home; I was never meant to be free…" his head sank back down. Erza swallowed at the lump in her throat. She gave an exasperated huff, also in order not to sniffle, blinking at her brimming tears.
Then she dropped onto her knees, between his legs which she shoved apart to reach him, cupping his face to meet his gaze.
"You are my life," their eyes clashed, "Jellal," she desperately said. His chin momentarily quivered in her palms before he clenched his jaw. His lids twitched just like hers, tears standing behind his eyes. He frowned with an angst-ridden resolve that shook her to the core.
"And you are mine," his voice was but a whisper.
"Then don't resign," she put her forehead to his, eyes fluttering closed when the first tear tumbled down his cheek. "Let's fight for what we have. Don't give yourself up," she said and he sighed. She knew why. She leaned in a little further. "Then… don't give up on me…"
She had forgotten his name but not that cruel madness in his eyes, gleaming at Jellal with devilishly delighted hatred.
Not knowing when the trial would be – whether still that evening or the coming day – the couple had hugged, holding on tightly to the most important thing in their lives throughout the entire night. Morning had come and hours had turned into minutes when heavy steps had echoed down the stairs towards their cell.
Finally in the rather small court room, Erza's previously swollen eyes stayed sharp. They flashed about, scanning the empty seats and tables. Where there would be witnesses, judges or a defence, there was no one. Not even a recorder, scribbling away. Guards were posted at every door, a few behind the two while they faced the elevated front desk.
Behind it, the purple frog and his by far less self-confident right hand were taking their time with making themselves comfortable. They wore long, royal-looking robes and the green one carried a stack of papers while his sadistic superior merely had a small wooden hammer with him.
Erza wondered whether that grudging frog creature was simply waiting for the Council or if he was in fact using his in comparison low position beyond its limits to still his hunger for power.
"Remove this woman," he waved his arm, his wide sleeve flapping as he swung it to point at the door. One guard from each door stalked over to her. The way the entire thing was obviously set up, rehearsed and above all completely overrated made her blood simmer with anger. Of course, Jellal was still a dangerous man, even with magic-sealing fetters, but he was still right inside the Magic Council's building in the middle of Era. On top of that, he had surrendered himself peacefully the previous day, giving no one with common sense the idea that the other two guards absolutely needed to remain behind him.
Erza set her jaw. The second one of them had approached her close enough, she shot him a glare. The man froze shortly. Whether he knew her reputation or not, it did the job. His colleague was waiting uneasily a step behind. She narrowed her eyes, lowering her head the slightest bit to give her wordless threat that hint of a menacing shadow.
Standing her ground, Erza soon found herself to be left alone. She took Jellal's hand who had not dared to turn even his face to watch. He was as if frozen, but she could see determination on his face. She dreaded a bunch of well-constructed habitual lies to hide right behind it. Anything to get out, she knew, and for a moment, she caught herself contemplating what would be so bad about it.
Nadal huffed unbelievingly, the smugness wiped off his face for an instant. The guards were retreating, fear being stronger than his authority.
"Stand aside," he commanded, now directly addressing her. Erza lifted her chin.
"I will not." She firmly declared. Her gaze met his, flaring right back without hesitation. Nadal gnashed his teeth, muttering to his colleague.
She felt Jellal's glance on her from the corner of his eye. Her already nervously pumping heart skipped a clumsy beat between its racing. He was keeping quiet. He was not trying to talk her out anymore. He was not trying to do this alone, trying to save her the trouble and putting his neck on the line by himself. He wanted her there and he wanted to weather this out together.
She squeezed his hand. It was only then that he allowed himself to fully tear his eyes away from who seemed to be an old acquaintance, meeting hers gratefully. She gave him a soft yet encouraging smile in return. Neither paid much attention to the raging frog creature in the front, slapping papers with accusations about.
It all came rushing back to them when he spoke them out loud. His eyes grew vicious with every charge. They changed into hungry and Erza could plainly see that the hunger was driven on by the way Jellal averted his own eyes in shame.
"…criminal assault, premeditated murder, heavy damage to property, libelling officials-"
"May I have a word?"
"No, you may not!" Nadal barked, only then realising it not to have been either of the couple. He spun towards the now open door to his left. "And how dare you inter-" he blinked in surprise, though, on second glance, perhaps rather shock.
"Oh, well, then we will never get to hear it," the interloper's sarcasm sliced the next words right off Nadal's tongue.
"Master…" Erza breathed, eyes wide with relieved surprise.
"This man is a member of my family, of my guild, and I will not permit you to file a suit for something that is nothing but a heap of lies," Makarov continued despite the protests from the desks.
"He has injured-"
"Can you prove that any injuries of the convict – who, I would like to emphasise, practised man hunt and exploitation – are not of previous engagements in other fights?" The old man's scratchy voice echoed from the panelled walls as he was wheeled in. "Were there any words or actions of opposing authorities aside from material damage to the police station?" His voice was booming with power while remaining perfectly in control.
"He is no better! He attacks other guilds which is forbidden by the law!" Nadal's chair squeaked as he rose in indignation.
"I clearly remember former Chairman Org himself to have ordered a stricter handling of the removal of Dark Guilds," Makarov retorted without hesitation. "Besides, this is neither the matter at hand, nor can a Wizard of an Independent Guild be accused of such charges, as they do not apply to his profession." Mest stopped the wheelchair in the middle of the room, facing the desk and standing right between the accused and a nearly with fury exploding anthropomorphic frog. Erza exchanged a glance with her guildmate, who shortly looked over his shoulder to give a nod.
"Then how can he be a member of Fairy Tail?! And where is his guild mark?" Nadal hollered. He was visibly losing his cool, his thin arms shaking where he had slammed them onto the table.
"The fault is all mine there, since I was absent when he was approved, thus depriving him of the mark,"
"But-"
"Is the guild's Master not proof enough?" Makarov raised his voice and both the guards as well as the green frog that was shrinking further and further into the wall winced. With his voice collected again, he pierced his sunken eyes into Nadal's gaze. "However, should you have any more counts, do not hesitate to present them in front of the Council's presence," he said with an icy tone. "I will not keep you," he challenged.
Nadal closed his broad mouth, his swallowing visible.
Erza only then noticed herself to have held her breath. She felt a shiver travel down her spine when the Master lifted his hand, shortly waving for them to follow. Mest was already wheeling him out again where he stopped before reaching the door.
"Fairy Tail will be paying for any damage caused," he dryly informed, "good day." He turned his head away, and the guards at the still open door bowed respectfully. Most of them were stunned speechless though, Erza saw while throwing a glance behind her. No one tried to stop them from leaving.
When she pulled on Jellal's hand that she had been holding, she halted. He was frozen stiff, shaking ever so slightly. Letting her eyes soften, she gave another tug, earning his attention. Nodding, perhaps to himself, Jellal breathed again, just like her, following as she towed him along.
The guards took off their shackles without another word being spoken.
Their boots clacked on the polished marble as the four of them made their way down the corridors. The sun was garishly blinding in comparison to the inside, hardly a cloud to be seen. The air was crisp and the streets alive and bustling.
"I'll pick up the tickets," Mest announced after they had reached the ground down the winding path into town. "I will meet you at the station," he said and Erza gave him a smile that he returned before teleporting away. The rest stood there for another moment to pass. She could see her beloved's gears turn and mind twist while he stared at the ground.
"I… don't know what to say…" Jellal sighed, head lowered, "thank you, Sir," he commenced to bow but the tiny man had gripped the wheels of his chair, already going on.
"That's 'Master' to you, now. We'd better get you stamped soon, brat," Makarov puffed. Jellal blinked in momentary bewilderment. He exchanged a glance with Erza, who smiled with amusement.
"Congratulations," she nudged his arm, "you're a brat now," she said and it made the corners of his lips edge upwards into a smile, too. They hurried to catch up the few steps. She was about to reach for the chair's bar in the back, reconsidering. With a gesture, she offered and Jellal seemed more than thankful for the opportunity, aiding Makarov on their way to the train.
"You gained a family," Erza could not help but add, softer now, luring out another shy smile. She was aware that it would hit hard and that he would need time to let the words sink in but with reality fading in more and more, she herself was getting giddy with excitement. "But, Master, how did you know where we were?"
"Oh, that was sheer luck. Though Mira said you weren't getting anywhere so I thought I'd help out," Makarov said, receiving confused frowns he could not see. "You know I'm still counting on you for grandchildren, Erza," he winked up at them. The couple blushed profusely at that, Jellal nearly stumbling into the wheel chair. It jolted with his flinch. The Master laughed out loud at their reactions, keeping on laughing when the two avoided to look at one another, carrying a boyish grin for the duration of the trip back home.
"Master," Jellal submissively bowed his head for permission to speak, even though they had already sat opposite one another for an hour on the train. Makarov lifted his head from having watched Erza and Mest leave the compartment to fetch them all lunch. "I… would like to ask whether it would be possible for Meredy, my guildmate, to join Fairy Tail, too," he requested. His voice was still slightly shaken from the night and the trial but his eyes were alight.
Makarov gave a low hum.
"Meredy?" He asked, nodding to himself. "Why, she has already been accepted." He said, surprising Jellal. "She was waiting for you until she would officially join; to get the mark, as well,"
"Thank you,"
"For what?" The old man lifted a brow and Jellal blinked, not quite knowing how to answer. Would it always be this way now? Him, stupid with reverence and gratefulness, unable to shake the feeling of forever being in the Master's debt? Was this going to be his life in Fairy Tail – not only introverted but an underdog of his own timidness?
"Listen, young man," Makarov's scratchy voice called him back into the present.
"Yes, Master Makarov," Jellal felt his spine straighten of its own accord. Makarov sighed through his nose, then met green eyes with something Jellal was unable to decipher as a father's care and worry just yet.
"I know you've had quite some hardships in life and despite that, I am sure I could offer you a wise word or two but I only want to tell you this for now…" he briefly closed his eyes. "I am an old man. And the greatest pleasure to me is that my children are alright and happy." He explained and Jellal nodded. "And I also know now that that won't happen anymore to a certain someone without you," he gave him a long gaze, then turned to the window.
Jellal followed suit, spotting Erza to be merrily pointing at multiple things while Mest was hardly able to pay one before the next wish followed. Smiling, he watched his beloved shove money at the shopkeeper, then the following, her guildmate hustling after her to collect the bags she left on the counters for him to carry.
"Being my child, I know that she will be happy about your happiness – whatever that may be," Jellal tore away from the view, meeting Makarov's patient glance. "I want you to find that for yourself."
"I will see you tomorrow at the guild," Makarov said as he waved his hand in good night wishes.
"Yes, Master," the couple said in unison and Erza ran her hand down her beloved's spine in a soothing manner when noticing him to be bowing again. But that was a construction site for another day.
Unlocking the door, she could still feel her insides flutter and jump and twitch excitedly. What an overwhelming day, she thought to herself, though nearly all of her focus was on its outcome. On him. Being hers. Staying with her. Free, not convicted and most importantly by his own creed.
She could squish him to the flatness of a pancake.
"Do you think…" Jellal inhaled under his breath while pretending to be too busy with the buttons of his shirt to look her in the eyes.
"Do I think…?" Erza could not stop smiling from one ear to the other. She skipped over to him and he stumbled backwards against the bed. She grinned. Her heart leapt happily when he returned it shily.
"That he was being serious?"
"Of course," she requipped into comfortable sleepwear tilting her head.
"Also about… you know," Jellal nervously missed a button. She frowned. "When he said the thing," he wiped his hand on his trousers, probably thinking she did not notice.
"You will have to be a little more specific," she neared him to glance up at him from below, finding his eyes. He gulped.
"The… grand… children thing…" Jellal muttered so quietly she had to listen for a moment longer for her mind to comprehend. Then she laughed. At first, he seemed upset but soon softened, relief visibly washing over him.
"I don't know," Erza ran her hands up his bandaged torso, brushing his shirt over his shoulders and down his arms. On second thought, she exchanged her current outfit for that alluring nightgown he seemed to take liking in. With a gentle but purposeful nudge, she shoved him over to fall onto his back, gracefully claiming her spot on top of him.
With a smirk on her face, Erza passed his blushing cheeks, whispering into his ear.
"But we can always practise…"