Yayyy thanksgiving every couple of days for me :D here I go...
Mitzy, always so fast, makes me so happy to have such a quick response! Thank you! And maybe... maybe maybe... maybe baby... who knows... he doesn't now xD
Guest, thanks so much! And yes, yes she does.
Mikasa-Chan, thaank you for such a long review! The kitchen thing was when they were caught before her mission. And the trap explanation is done, just not in this chapter ;)
mitchellejones, welcome! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave me a review! ^^
Frangellica, yeh she does. And that's a great idea with Ichiya making everything awkward!
(Holy choir singing) Somnolent Sushi Roll, dearest Somnolent Sushi Roll, I cannot thank you enough for such a long review! And then another one (add heart eye smileys - actually, add Juvia seeing Gray. And her squeals). You make my day. Again, the moment in the kitchen where they were caught before her mission, so you're right ;) Now I have a question: what word did I teach you? :D (I'm just reading through your reviewS (!) again and I just love them so much, I gotta say thank you again!) Thaaanks!
Isanien, thank you so much for your thoughts on the chapter! I'm so happy to hear what you liked! Thank you!
Alright, I dunno if anyone reads all this but I'm always glad to leave it there :D
Hope you'll enjoy some fluff!
"With its new miracle performance, 'FlourishFlair' will renew and nourish your dry and damaged hair," Jellal pretended to be some swooning advertiser, circling his wrist in what he believed to be a wanna-be aristocratic way. "The unique formula of this magical combination of oils will restore its strength and rejuvenate the natural, radiant – how is something natural and radient? – shine and give it an effortless volume!" He continued reading on the back of her shampoo bottle.
"Cleansing from the roots to the tips," he went on, his voice losing its nobility due to the broad smile creeping across his lips. Erza was gasping for breath in between laughing. He cleared his throat to stay in character. "…this wonder of smoothness is the long-lasting solution to all your problems!" He frowned, though the smile never disappeared, even with the soapy water she accidentally splashed all the way into his face while trying to breathe. "Wow, we should've tried this ages ago," he joked. Her weight against him increased.
Still panting, Erza slowly calmed down, only giggling now. Leaning into him, she bent her head back to give him a look, one that spoke of amusement, scold and an unparalleled love he was no longer questioning.
He had felt horrible the entire morning through. And not only due to his throbbing and stinging wounds or even Meredy's uncertain state. Everything had been so overwhelming – the contrast of an excitedly joyful guild with the burden of not having been able to protect his guildmate, the trial solved and the Master understanding at the same time as the arrival of a letter from the Council. They had not opened it yet, as Erza had set priorities.
She was being his light like she always had been. Dragging him through town in the search of distraction, counter-intuitively developing into a shopping spree that neither involved clothes, nor food for once. Well, perhaps a bit of food. And snacks for the way home. And between shops.
But as a result, Jellal now found himself to be the proud owner of an arsenal of cooking and baking utensils the kitchen was piled up with, as well as a stack of their very own recipe books and ingredients for him to create to his heart's content. And her to eat to her heart's content.
Even though he preferred to be the one to gift his beloved with little presents and play the housewife he had gladly grown accustomed to, he had to admit that being spoiled was something one could get used to. Once in a while.
After those splendid ideas of hers, including their purchase, Jellal had felt guilty again. Guilty for having let her down by being the melancholic basked case he was, having done his best since their return home to become more cheerful, wanting to return her good mood he was not aware to have caused himself through his attempts. Not that it had been too hard, her laughter infecting him nearly instantly.
Returning to the present, he smiled down at the broad, happy smile she gave him. He could not be more grateful for her to go out of her way to brighten those twisted emotions of his but in a way, it seemed that he had the same effect on her.
"I'm really relieved that my stomach calmed down,"
"For some reason, it appeared not to like seafood anymore," Jellal replied. He curled his neck to place a kiss on her forehead and she briefly shut her eyes. With a deep sigh, Erza then let them fall close again, leaning her head into his shoulder, stroking down his crusted and scarred arms beneath the soapy water. Per his wish, they had placed a wall of folded towels on the rim and backside of the tub to pad his back to keep from hurting it too much – he loved to sit behind her, holding her being his favourite thing to do, wishing to do it all day, every day.
It had taken her a while to get the words out of him but he had eventually uttered his own wants.
"I'm just glad it's not so bloated anymore," she allowed his hands to travel down, feeling for himself.
"No one thought you gained weight," he assured and she chuckled.
"Changing armours that are bespoke would pose a challenge in that case, but you know I don't care about what others think of my appearance," Erza said. "I simply like myself the way I am, flat stomach and all,"
"Abs and all," he grinned, feeling her abdomen vibrate into his palms.
"Not that they're visible,"
"But I can feel them," he said, accompanying his words with the suiting gesture, trailing her to him perfect figure up and down without a hint of playful tickling. "And I also like you the way you are," he leaned forward to kiss the back of her head. Erza sighed, hugging his arms while making them embrace her more tightly. She seemed to be used to the force he usually enclosed her with; the unintentional choking he caused when deep in thought.
"Its... really hard to grasp how much we differ when it comes to social regards," she broke the short, comfortable silence. He listened, waiting intently for her to go on when her voice was gentle and not judging at all. "I'm still really sorry about how I just agreed on your behalf; I shouldn't have done that," Erza confessed. It made his bowels lurch but at the same time warmed him to the core. He smiled softly.
"Thank you," he said, returning the smile she threw over her shoulder at his words – for the lack of an 'it's okay' that she had already announced not to find appropriate. And perhaps it was not, he admitted to himself. It was okay to be upset and to stick with that opinion and for them to put the issue aside without just brushing it off.
She watched her knees that were poking out of the water when continuing.
"I think when I first came to the guild… well, not exactly..." she traced down to his hand, entwining fingers with him. "It's true, I didn't need anyone to talk to me or pay attention to me or anything related, but I did seek the company of the guild. However rowdy and loud and over the top, I appreciated knowing not to be alone. To be a part of something I did not have to actively participate in but still belonged to.
"Spending so much time with my friends, becoming a family... I just find it very difficult to understand how you simply do not have the need for company – at least not as much." She retold. Jellal pondered on that for a few moments. Tilting his head back, he stared at the ceiling. He drew circles on her stomach with his other hand, reassuring his silence not to be a foreboding one.
"There's a difference between alone and lonely," he finally said. "I'm not the best company I could wish for when alone, but I just..." he sighed and she rocked with it. "I like myself better when I'm with you," he closed his eyes, a small blush tinting his already from the heat of the bath flushed face a tad darker. When opening his eyes, he peeked down, having felt her move.
He was met with a warm smile, eyes sparkling at him.
"There's something you really have to learn though," Erza's smile fell and he looked back at her in question. Exhaling quietly to herself, she lowered her gaze again, collecting her knees closer to her chest and wrapping her arms around them.
Jellal waited patiently, never ceasing with the soothing patterns on her abdomen.
"Why weren't you angry with me anymore?" She asked, stunning him.
"I..."
"You were when I agreed on your behalf,"
"That I couldn't-"
"No, at me," Erza turned back to meet his eyes, "don't just let everything pass because you don't want to be upset with me; I deserved it,"
"You didn't mean to-"
"And I still did. Jellal," she sighed again, softening, continuing a little sadly, "don't be afraid to be honest with me – that includes being angry," she met his gaze and he held it, caught but also sorry, feeling insecure. "Don't find reasons for yourself to be wrong when you're not,"
"I just really..." Jellal inhaled, not knowing how to express himself.
"I won't stay away from you if that's what you worry about," Erza firmly stated. It was safe to say that he had, by now, not a single doubt about that.
"I've just... I feel like I've done enough to you already..." he muttered.
"But don't let me do this to you," Erza caught his downcast eyes again, staring back at his slight shock. She frowned in sympathy and the fading hint of apology. "We're not who we used to be," she leaned back further, releasing her knees to find his jaw, turning it towards her. "Let's rewrite the future together…" she trailed, eyes flashing from his eyes to his lips and back. Jellal swallowed. Giving in, his exhale vented against her chin as he tenderly met her lips.
Moments later, it took her a moment to finally open her eyes, lashes fluttering against his cheekbones. Jellal lost himself in those dark eyes, shimmering in the dim light of the room, her intoxicating scent even ruling over that of the bath.
Hypnotised by his gaze of utter adoration, Erza was left speechless for a few heartbeats. Her hand hovered near his face, fingertips brushing his moist skin in a moment of weakness for the man she loved so dearly. He was the first to break the silence, his hand slipping behind his back to grasp what he had let go of before.
"This really does solve problems," Jellal nodded approvingly at the shampoo etiquette. Her abdomen cramped against his other palm and she burst out into a set of giggles, carefully slapping him for being such a dork. Then kissing him for being only her dork, working his powers to always make her laugh.
"Mh-" Erza pulled away when there was a knock on the front door. Frowning, they exchanged glances. It must have been very loud for them to hear, even though they had developed the habit of leaving the bathroom door open when showering or bathing.
Erza pushed herself up, giving a reassuring smile when he started to protest.
"I can requip," she said. Jellal cringed when she stepped out and used her magic to change into a towel. He threw one after her but she only gave a puzzled look, not noticing his shaking head, going down the hall anyway. His hand met his forehead and he exhaled deeply to himself.
"Titania," Jellal stiffened when hearing the all too familiar voice at the entrance. He frowned fiercely, holding his breath to listen.
"Cobra," she returned with the same brusque tone. He could not see the expressions alter, not knowing them to be exchanging a much friendlier, smug glance when finally meeting as allies in person. And as cheeky as always, neither leaving the opportunity to tease right back untouched.
Jellal harked when her bare feet sucked at the stone flooring as they came back down the hall.
"Count to ten first," she instructed, then appeared from behind the ajar door again. Bewildered, Jellal all but watched her drop the towel back over the chair's backrest and step in to lean against his chest once more. It was all too bizarre to grasp for a moment so he merely managed to blink. She could not be serious, could she?
Fortunately, there was no need for her to gather up bubbles to cover herself – there was hardly a millimetre of water visible anyway.
"Well, if this isn't the weirdest thing I've ever done," Erik strolled into the bathroom, though cautiously, so Jellal noticed. He received a raised brow and the Heavenly Body Mage tried his best not to let the blush in his cheeks rise up to his ears.
"Knowing you, I'm rather sure it isn't," he retorted, ironing his face into a cool plainness.
"This is actually not too far from those sick fantasies of yours, Fernandes," the Poison Dragon Slayer mocked. Jellal felt his heartbeat speed up, his cheeks' tint darkening drastically. "And there's a whole lot of those," he said to Erza who tilted her head curiously, "every day and night – take it from me, dreams are almost worse than thoughts. Like that one time where he imagined-"
"Alright, Erik, what do you want here?" Jellal interrupted. He prayed for his racing pulse not to transfer into his beloved's back.
"Always straight to business," Erik sighed theatrically, giving a smirk. It widened alongside his eyes as they flashed over the couple more closely. "I see you've been busy!" He nearly gasped, chuckling with unbelieving blinking accompanying his teasing stare at their clustering lovebites. "And getting results," he lifted a brow at Erza who returned it with a puzzled frown.
Jellal thought his head would explode any second, impressed by the way his face seemed to reveal nothing, not fuelling any more taunts from his guildmate. To his further surprise, his voice sounded unbothered and collected after having cleared his throat.
"What is it you need, Erik?" He asked again. He raised a single brow at the wiggling ones of the Dragon Slayer. Finally, the latter ceased his jokes and sighed, leaning against the wall.
"There's something we need to discuss – or something I need to tell you,"
"Go ahead," Jellal said. Erik sighed again, through his nose.
"Macbeth, Sawyer and I have been talking," he commenced, closing his eyes briefly. Jellal stopped himself from wincing when Erza used that split of a moment to strike, fetching his hand back to her ribs beneath the soapy foam. He could not help a small smile, giving a mellow stroke down to her stomach.
Erik gave him a look, but continued.
"We were thinking and… we don't want to disband Crime Sorcière anymore," he declared. Erza inhaled against his palm, hiding a soft gasp. Jellal's brow furrowed but he nodded for his guildmate to continue. "We've looked at a handful of guilds and nothing really fits us well, so we said forming a new one would be nothing but more work that we can just save by- gosh, this is too weird for me," he shook his head, turning away, a spreading pink glow across his face. "I'll wait till you're done," he grumbled, then stalked out of the room.
Jellal heard the steps until they disappeared in the kitchen. With a sigh to himself, he relaxed again. His bruised back sank into the with towels cushioned short end of the bathtub. Erza's fingertips on his hand over her ribs gave a testing brush.
"I hope that was not too rude," she said quietly, "that I locked you in like this," she added. She did have a point, however – Erik had not announced himself and they were not obliged to open their door and let anyone in. That, and the water was still warm and it would have been a waste. A waste of quality time with her where he could finally find relaxation.
"No, no," Jellal gave an appeasing caress, his other hand joining, "I'm glad you blocked me, it's… a nice introduction to help me understand that my feelings aren't inferior to others'," he said. She smiled, leaning her head back a little more and he took the offer, resting his own atop her crown.
"Of course they're not. You don't owe anyone justification," she firmly said. "Just don't leave me out of that spectrum," she added and it was his turn to smile, if guiltily.
"But I appreciate your guidance," he hinted once more at her current decision for them to go by their own wants.
"Tell me whenever I shouldn't,"
"No, it's fine," Jellal negated, "it's good that you force me to stick to my own needs. It really shows me that I don't live to bend to anyone's will. Only to yours," he lifted one hand to gently tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, leaning down to kiss above that spot.
"Mh, you don't have to do that," Erza hummed, closing her eyes when he placed another one on her temple.
"And what if I told you I wanted to?" His tone adapted the flirty smile on his lips.
"Hmm… in that case," she pretended to ponder, "you can start on some lava muffins," she grinned and he laughed.
"Again? But there are still leftover ones from yesterday," he informed, tugging her closer with both arms around her torso.
"Are… were…" Erza trailed and he had to laugh again.
"How…?" He shook his head. "When did you even…?"
"Remember when I said I was thirsty?"
"So that's why I wasn't supposed to get it for you,"
"No, I honestly didn't want you having to move," she confessed. "But then I saw them and," she sighed blissfully at the memory, making him chuckle.
"After brushing your teeth," he playfully scolded but she only shrugged her shoulders.
"Sometimes, sacrifices have to be made," Erza said matter-of-factly. She turned her head to grin at him, finding his lips, then again, finally resting her forehead against his. "It's getting colder and you probably don't want him to wait for too long," she said, scooting forward. Capturing her before she was able to leave, Jellal pressed his lips to her nape in a long, appreciative kiss.
"Thank you," he muttered against her supple skin.
The water splashed when they got out, towelling off and changing into a fresh, comfortable set of clothes. In her case, his shirt. This time, Erza had prepared everything, switching into his role to calm his still raw nerves as best as she could. He had to admit that it worked wonders.
"When I said I'd wait till you get out I was actually referring to you getting out," Erik shot the couple a look when they joined him in the kitchen. Not feeling the slightest bit in the wrong for once – savouring the sensation – Jellal returned the stare with ease.
"I'm sorry, but I'm afraid Erza always has priority," he said, his chin lifting the slightest bit. He met her eyes when she put a grateful hand on his arm.
"Don't forget yourself," she added and his expression softened. She caringly rubbed his upper arm, gently shoving him towards the chair opposite of their guest, signalling to be overtaking the hosting. He returned her smile, then sat down. Erik sighed deeply, rolling his eyes to himself.
"Tea?" Erza offered, earning herself one affirmation and another sigh.
"Fine," Erik huffed. "Anyway," he caught his guildmate's seemingly irritatingly patient eyes, his own growing more restless by the minute. "We don't want the guild to disband," he repeated.
"What about Kinana?" Jellal asked. He smiled inwardly at the way the usually feisty and composed Dragon Slayer averted his gaze.
"We talked about it, too," he said, though quieter. He was starting to look as if wanting to disappear again, perhaps not having imagined talking this openly to be as difficult. "Speaking of which," he met his guildmate's eyes again, "when we don't disband, you're leaving, aren't you?"
"I am." Jellal replied without hesitation. It was still giving him stomach aches, but there was no going back now, he knew.
Erza poured them both a cup of tea, then took her own in her hand. She touched his shoulder once before strolling out the doorframe, the bedroom door creaking closed a moment later.
"Gods, that woman does you good," Erik slammed his fist onto his knee. "You're such a fool but it suits you damn well,"
"Digressing," Jellal sipped his tea, hiding a smile of pride behind the steam of his beverage. His guildmate sighed, then went on.
"She asked me, too," he disclosed, rushing but visibly feeling less awkward than with Erza in the room.
"And you declined?"
"Of course," he gave back immediately. "I don't wanna join Fairy Tail – I was hardly fit enough for your guild," he said, shoving around his cup. "And I'm not like you – I won't change myself up for a girl," he declared with a fraction of reproach though Jellal did not take it to heart. He was more than content with his way of living and the woman he had to thank for his changes from habitually lying into more and more easily-coming truths.
"Did you ask her back?" He asked, receiving negation.
"Nah, she's pretty happy in Fairy Tail." Erik glanced out the window. "But since she doesn't work there for requests, I talked her into moving," he explained. A small blush adorned his cheeks but he kept going. "We're going to live near the town of Richard's café – just in case he wants in on the action of Crime Sorcière," he grinned, more to himself. Jellal knew the feeling too well – though his and Erza's moving together had been rather sudden and unplanned but not unwanted. On the contrary.
"Congratulations," he said, glad to be seeing a genuine smile on the Poison Dragon Slayer's lips.
"I guess Meredy's leaving, too?" Erik questioned and Jellal nodded.
"I'm waiting for her to feel better,"
"I was there – I'm sure she'll be fine," Erik said, honestly assuring his guildmate. He, too, cared for her and Jellal feared him to stay in town until she would awake. "Oh, don't worry, we're hitting the road tomorrow for you to get it on," he snickered, then even more at the kick beneath the table.
"Says the man who chose a house outside of civilisation," Jellal poorly countered. Erik rose to his feet and Jellal saw him off at the door. He sighed to himself when the lock clicked, then turned to find his beloved placidly reading on the bed.
Returning the smile he was being greeted with, Jellal crawled up to where she sat.
"I always forget his hearing – he must have been able to hear our every word," she said, closing her book before he could get a glimpse of it. She noticed his attempt, moving it over her lap to the opposite side of where he was.
"And before that – he probably heard us talk long before he was at the house,"
"And movements,"
"Definitely," Jellal agreed.
"Hmm… and," Erza sought his gaze while shoving the book back into her nightstand, testing whether his attention would go alongside it, "he hears thoughts, right?"
"Uhuh," Jellal aced his test, even though he wanted to know more and more what was so secretive about her literature.
"Also when I read in my head?"
"Most likely, why?" He tried and she shrugged.
"Oh," Erza rolled her lips inward while obviously coming up with something, "it just wouldn't be very polite to-"
"Snoop on your reading?"
"Not focus on your conversation," she sharply countered his tease, and the sheepishly tugging corners of her mouth as well as the light tint on her cheeks made him all the more curious. "Dinner?" She distracted, again – obviously – but he nodded. Perhaps he could learn more during one of their evening sessions of storytelling, he thought. He would like one of those, he noticed.
"I was thinking ramen,"
"Teach me," Erza hopped out of bed. Before being able to start however, she noticed some of her desired ingredients to be missing.
"We can make something else, too,"
"No, I've got it stuck in my head now," she said, requipping into her boots at the entrance. "I'll just run over to the night shop,"
"There's such a thing as a night shop?" Jellal frowned, watching her requip into a coat and fluffy earmuffs.
"Next to the bank; just behind the house," she explained, pointing at the wall towards the bedroom where it bordered the next street. "I'll be quick," she ensured when he offered to come along. Jellal gave an unconvinced look but she softened it with her lips on his.
And she was quick.
Upon her return, Erza found him on the bed, the opened letter in his hand. Her heart stopped at his expression.