I apologise for the delay but there's been a emergency. Updates might be slower for a while, but I'll try my best. Writing is the best medicine after all. And your reviews.
Mikasa-Chan, thank you so much for your review! And also for making the effort of commenting on the previous chapter as well. I'm glad you liked the chapter; there's always more fluff coming your way!
Isanien, thank you so much for your review! Again, I love how mature you just always react, finding it for the best that they talked about it even though we all wish for Jerza babies. Makes me smile a lot.
CheesyDelphox, thanks so much for reviewing. I loved that scene, too, her holding onto Wendy was so adorable and then with the purple hair she really fit in nicely with the two. How do you always just guess my ideas beforehand? (Not gonna say which one, keeping the suspense ;)) There'll be a day of Jellal at work; already written and coming up. And you can never ramble for too long in my opinion :D
Somnolent Sushi Roll, thank you so much for reviewing both chapters, even if the new one was out! I really appreciate it a lot! Feeling sinful about them doing it in front of oatmeal but reading actual lemon xD I like the word spousey a lot, I'm adding it to my vocabulary (grin). Your favourite until then was really the one where Lucy caught them on the train? That's a surprise :D And a nice one. No sycophant, healer.
Mitzy123, thank you so much for such a kind review! Makes me very happy to know how you liked everything and how you reacted!
It's like watching children the film you directed for the first time xD
foxydame, thank you so much for reviewing and sharing your feeling during the chapter - I'm so proud to be stirring them in my readers! Thank you so much! Hehe, yeah I liked to imagine the maid headpiece ending up in his dishevelled hair :D I agree on the stalking in the 100 YQ xD
Wendy Marvel, thanks for the reminder but I really wasn't able to update then (not just forgetful like usually). Thanks for reviewing on the chapter! I'm glad you liked it!
Hope you enjoy.
Jellal returned when the hands of the clock were about to meet in the north. So much for short Fridays, he thought to himself, not for the first time that day. But it had been a precarious situation, the case too important to postpone. That, and the Council had pinned him down all day, too worked up with the upcoming trial to pretend not to be upset and dissonant.
They had discussed all day long. At some point, someone had ordered in lunch and later an early dinner snack but that had not kept them from debating further. Jellal had felt strange to be the only human advisor, the colleague of a similar position he had yet to meet still on vacation while the other subordinates – all researchers – had been two anthropomorphic amphibians. Nevertheless, the Council had put their full trust in him, insisting on him staying for the trial and taking notes, presenting his ideas throughout the process in private during breaks.
Playing the mute lawyer in trials was not actually his job but he had fared rather well. So well it had been visible on their usually stoic faces.
With a sigh, Jellal now untied his boots, toeing them off. He neatly shoved them into the corner beneath the coat hanger where he got rid of his other outdoor clothing. He grabbed the knot of his tie, pulling it from side to side to loosen it up while sauntering down the hall. He threw a glance through the ajar kitchen door, continuing along the corridor when not spotting any leftovers immediately. He was too tired to eat anyway.
Most of all, he wanted to get to Erza.
Today had been her first mission since they had come to Era. The first one since arresting their hunter, he realised, remembering the incident to have been weeks ago already. Time really flew by when spending it with her. In a good way.
He could not wait to hear how her day had been but he knew her to most likely be asleep already. And to see whether she was alright; unharmed. He had glanced out the window the whole day, at least once an hour, perhaps more often, as if she would actually be detectable from so high up and just randomly appear if only he focused enough. It had definitely not been a nervous quirk due to fearing the one or other building to explode and or crumble, no, but merely for… caring for her wellbeing. Which was not a lie but he knew very well the traits of a powerful Fairy Tail Wizard – especially of that certain destructive team…
Sneaking into the bedroom, Jellal shoved all troubling thoughts aside. He could hear her breathe in the darkness, peacefully, regularly. He could not help another anxious glance over the bundle of blankets she was wrapped in, assuring himself about her being uninjured. It seemed to be the case, her body curled up comfortably and without any bandages. Could that be – a job where she had not gotten wounded in the slightest?
Feeling his heart slow down in regained sedation, he stole himself into the bathroom, only turning the lights on when then door behind him was closed.
When ready, the mattress welcomed him with a squeak and he sighed blissfully as he sunk into the countless pillows she had abducted from other rooms. Most blankets were in her possession but he found himself an abandoned one, covering himself before shuffling over to the heap that was the love of his life.
With the delicate matters at work, he had hardly had the time to return to their most recent 'argument', if one could call it that. The second it resurfaced, it trickled away by the overwhelming warmth of her words after and in the morning.
Finding her physical warmth now, Jellal cuddled into his sleep-warm beloved, nestling up to her with his arms and legs capturing her closely to his body. She gave a tiny moan, one that spoke of awaking rather than being deep in slumber. She must have tried to wait up.
"Go back to sleep," he whispered, kissing the crown of her head. But she refused, another pressed breath and moan escaping her.
"Jellal…" she hummed, still somewhat in her dream but when he patiently watched her twitching eyebrows, it took a mere half minute until her lids fluttered open. Their gazes met in the darkness and even with hers a little clouded, she smiled. Tilting her head up, she demanded a greeting kiss, promptly being granted one. And another.
"Jellal," Erza murmured against his lips, hands gliding around his sides and up his back to entwine in his hair as she rose up once again to kiss him. It had never been pecks but if the first ones might still have been counted as such, the next ones were not.
Sighing and purring, Erza claimed kiss after kiss. Her lips moved, opened, dragged and smacked lightly until finally she traced his lower one with her tongue, initiating another open-mouthed kiss to just let herself in. Tricking him even in her half sleep – not that she needed to.
A little taken aback by how active she was at such a late hour and after a long day of working as well, Jellal blankly stared when she pulled away, rolling over to straddle his hips, coming to sit upright atop him. She took his hovering hands, placing them on her sides, then began fiddling with the tie of his sleeping trousers.
"Now?" He asked, slightly dumbstruck.
"Is that okay with you?" Erza asked, her voice not yet there but her movements determined. He caught himself, smirking.
"What an unnecessary question," he teased. She beamed at him with a grateful smile, lowering her voice to where he could already feel his body grow hot.
"You might not be skilled at talking dirty but you sure say such smooth things," she leaned down, brushing her lower lip to his before taking it between her teeth. It nearly enticed a groan, but he swallowed it, which was harder than imagined as her hands roamed his torso.
"You like that?" He grinned, hooking his thumbs into the waistband of her panties, suckling her lip in return. Erza smiled into the kiss.
"What an unnecessary question."
Jellal was long awake when the doorbell rang that Saturday morning. He had been drawing random patterns all over Erza's perfectly supple skin, smiling mellowly as she would hum in response. Now he frowned at the unusual sound that had interrupted his most favourite voice. He had never been inside a house – lived inside a house – which had a doorbell. It made him wonder whether it had actually been the one of their mansion or perhaps just a church bell somewhere far off.
And it made him wonder why they did not have one back at home.
"What…?" Erza groaned lightly in her half dozing, blinking one squinted eye open to glance at his puzzled face.
"I think someone's at the door," he confirmed. She flopped back into the pillows, hugging the closest one to her face. With a smile of pretended annoyance, Jellal gave her arm a flick before getting up. She winced, grumbling complains, fading out however when noticing that she should probably not have such a big mouth when wordlessly demanding him to go in her stead.
.,.,.
"Don't do that!"
"Why not?" Natsu asked, pressing the doorbell another time. "It's late enough,"
"They're probably just lazy but awake," Meredy shrugged, continuing to ring when Natsu's hands were caught by the Celestial Mage.
"What if this isn't actually their place?" Lucy asked with unease.
"Mira said it's the one," Gray argued from behind.
"Yeah, by using that spying technology the creep stalked Erza's lacrima with – we haven't even come up with a better explanation to how we know!" She gasped when Natsu was pounding onto the bell again. Catching his wrist, she jumped when the lock suddenly clicked.
"Yell it even louder and we won't need an excuse…" Gray muttered. She glared at him over her shoulder, feeling blush rise to her cheeks.
The door opened and rather confused Jellal blinked at the lot of them. He was wearing a bathrobe, hiding away his sleeping clothes to some extent, his hair a mess and his eyes still small and slightly crusted. Obviously just as Meredy had preached, he had been lying in bed all morning. Most striking were however the tiny – some not too tiny – bruises his attire failed to veil on his neck and throat.
"Yo," Natsu lifted a hand.
"Took you long enough," Meredy grinned teasingly. He took a moment to react, not given the time to finish his own greeting when she assaulted him with a hug. Shoulders falling, Jellal hugged her back before she detached herself with a wide smile. Lucy had to smile to herself, finding it rather sweet how Meredy expressed herself while keeping cool all the way there and throughout the week.
He stepped aside to bid them in.
"We don't mean to disturb," Wendy said, having noticed him to only just having gotten up with his attire as well. Charle dangled from her arms, holding her tongue, rather glancing around the enormous accommodation than him – his marks.
"Don't worry," Jellal soothed. He waited for everyone to have removed their shoes, accepting coats to hang them instead of letting his guest do it themselves. "How did you know where to find us?" He asked, probably coming to realise that he had never shared an address with anyone. Lucy bit her lip, nervously glancing from side to side. Her eyes sparked up when she spotted Natsu to be sneaking towards the first door, his own sparkling with excitement at the new surroundings.
"Mira told us," Lucy quickly supplied, slightly awkwardly. Jellal must have been guessing Erza to have shared, dropping the topic when it made sense to him.
"Wo-ha! What kinda palace is this?" Natsu ran a hand along one of the artistically carved doors. Gray looked equally impressed, though he kept it to himself. Juvia and Wendy nodded politely when Jellal closed the door behind them, ushering them further down the hall. "This place is epic! And there's an upstairs, too!" Natsu jumped around until Lucy slapped his hand off the nearest door handle.
"Be my guest," Jellal made an inviting gesture and the Fire Dragon Slayer excitedly skipped into what turned out to be a parlour.
"A living room,"
"That's a parlour," Lucy corrected, knowing well enough from her parent's estates.
"Why is there a bird in the kitchen?" Wendy piped up from where she glanced into the opposite room. Jellal frowned fiercely, hurrying alongside the others to find a pigeon exploring the counters. The window was not even opened completely, so it had to have come through the slim gap or been there before. Judging from his expression, it was the gap.
"You have to be kidding me…" he marched into the kitchen. Meredy snickered, following him alongside Wendy to help. Juvia watched with big eyes from where she stood behind the doorframe, though Lucy had the feeling she was drilling her stare into the clustering lovebites, rather than the task at hand the newest Council employee was dealing with. She looked as if she was about to drool with jealousy – or maybe just the scenarios in her head.
Wanting to throw a glance at how Gray took her drift of attention, Lucy winced upon seeing two sandaled feet disappear up the stairs. She had long ago stopped to ask as to why he did not change his clothes with the seasons and anyway, there were more important matters at hand. Who knew where Gray had vanished off to and who cared – if Natsu invaded Erza's resting time, these expensive walls were about to crumble!
Spurting up to find him already poking his nose into the first room, Lucy wanted to throw herself onto him and Happy when hearing someone to be inside.
"Don't you just-" she tore on him, stopping when following his gaze. The parlour had already been lovely and yes, she had lived in one of the most pompous mansions in all of Fiore, if not the one, but what they encountered here was nothing short of gorgeous.
Light filtered in through the curtain from the side, the window looking out onto the front yard they could not see from where they crowded in the doorway. Opposite stood an enormous bed, clustered with pillows and blankets galore – definitely Erza's preferred place to sleep – more satin curtains draped on the wall behind, serving nothing but the pleasure of the eye. There was another door to the side – a bathroom as she guessed, seeing as it did not connect to the hall. Focusing on the vanity, the huge cupboard and small seating area – all in balmy shades of creme and fawn – proved hard with the rustling of sheets.
Erza gave a soft groan from the noises, opening her eyes to peek over her bare shoulder.
"Who was it?" She cawed. Meeting their gazes, she stared for another moment. Lucy felt sweat pool at her temples, panicking when stumbling due to Natsu moving inside quite easy-going. So she let go of him, unable not to take the chance of marvelling at her surroundings once more. "Natsu, Lucy," Erza greeted, as surprised as her other half had been only minutes ago. Drawing a long breath, she forced herself to sit up.
Not yet detached from the abundance of covers, Lucy could already see Erza's shoulders not to be the only part of her torso that was unclothed. Being who she was, the mighty Titania hardly cared for a second, letting everything tumble into her lap where she was fortunately at least wearing knickers.
So much for winter, Lucy thought to herself, though she was starting to understand how it was not only due to their intimacy but could merely be derived from sleeping so close to someone else. Her mind wandered off of its own accord, strong arms embracing her protectively as she slept, pulled into a broad chest, sharing warmth and- she stopped herself, shaking her head. For some reason, Natsu's had been the head atop her imaginary guardian of the night so she scrapped the idea without hesitation. Surely, that must have been some sick twist his constant pestering inside her house and bed had caused.
She glanced at him from the side, seeing his nose screw up with something she could not smell.
"What are you doing here?" Erza pulled her back into the present. She stood now, a magical glow announcing her to be changing. Not a heartbeat later, she was fully dressed with black tights and a claret-coloured skirt that ended mid-thigh. Stuffed into the waistband was a loosely-fitting, most comfortably-looking deep blue sweater, dappled with fine white dots as to imitate a starry sky. She had an utterly relaxed air about her, being well-dressed at the same time, a kind smile on her lips.
"We came for the mission," Natsu said distractedly. He was poking his nose inside the bathroom, then zoomed over to the window, right before inspecting the vanity. He was enjoying himself greatly, already feeling as if on an exploration adventure.
Lucy shook her head to herself but Erza did not seem to mind in the slightest, even more used to the curious Dragon Slayer than the blonde herself. Or perhaps just as crazy as the rest of the bunch Makarov had raised since their childhood days.
"Mira texted you the details," Lucy disclosed at the tilting head she received. "At least she said she would."
"Oh," Erza nodded. She bent down to rummage through the drawer of a most elegantly lathed nightstand, pursing her lips when probably discovering the messages she had missed all morning. What a life, Lucy thought to herself. She knew very well that her guildmate had only worked once in over a week, inhabiting a most stunning mansion and obviously not too deprived of her beloved's care, seeing as her naked body had revealed quite a bit more than just white skin. It was a good thing that Wendy had not come upstairs with them, though Lucy guessed her not to have entirely missed the marks on Jellal either.
"Hm," Erza nodded, "this should not take too long," she decided as she skimmed the texts. Politely with Lucy and determinately with Natsu, she shooed them back out into the hall and downstairs.
"You think so?" Lucy asked, finding confidence in Fairy Tail's strongest woman's words.
"I hope so; Jellal needs to be here on Monday," she explained. "But I am confident this will not prove too difficult," she added, receiving an encouraged smile. Returning it, the Queen of the Fairies led the way into the kitchen.
"Erza!" Wendy smiled brightly. She came over for a sudden hug, reminding Lucy a lot of Meredy just then, slightly melting her heart. Erza's features softened notably as she put her arms around where she reached the young Dragon Slayer's back.
"It's good to see you," she said in a mellow voice, returning the smile that beamed at her from below when Wendy lifted her head out of her friend's stomach.
Gray had apparently already returned from his little solo tour through the downstairs, leaning against the wall where he kept an eye on everyone, watching the dynamics just like Lucy and commenting occasionally as they discussed their mission. Most prominently, however, he observed the exchange between the couple when greeting each other after a separation of only a handful of minutes.
Jellal's eyes shone when seeing her, a smile on his lips and a singing in his tone when complimenting his beloved on her enchanting array. She smiled happily when he noticed and his hand came up so naturally to frame the innuendo of a jumper against her slim waist in an appreciative tug. Not a single one of the girls could keep from swooning a little, and even Gray had the faintest of blushes crowning his cheeks.
Natsu was the only one – even after Happy and Charle – not to be delighted by the display but to Lucy's fright, he for some reason tried to tug on her waist, too, gazing at her in what she was starting to understand seemed to be the expectation of a giggle or a dazzled smile or whatever uncommonly-girly and mushy reactions Erza showed when around Jellal.
She wound herself out, distancing him with another firm shove, then continued with the upcoming quest, successfully distracting everyone including herself from the previous awkwardness. Not that they had been watching anyone but the two dallying lovers.
Meredy was a waterfall next to her still obviously closest friend and family member. She blabbed and chattered and finally revealed all of the other articles local magazines had published in reaction on the almighty Titania's relationship. Apart from the frown when seeing the writings in question, Jellal wore a gentle smile while listening. Both seemed equally content with finally exchanging in person, even if only one of them wore their heart on their sleeve.
When regarding Erza, however, it was clear that his reticent joy did not go unnoticed.
Lucy's ears perked from where she tried to close them to the Dragon Slayers' gagging when Tenrou Island finally came into reach and not only view.
"I don't know about this," Jellal said, eyes glued to the colossal tree they rounded.
"Why not? If we won't be done in time, the two of us can always leave," Erza's words were faint over the wind and the waves. A stronger one ricocheted from the cliffs of the island, nudging the boat. Natsu retched and Lucy scooted away from him, somewhat glad for the excuse to overhear the couple's conversation. Not that she wanted to eavesdrop at all, but Erza's as well as Jellal's voice sounded so different when directed at one another. Most strikingly the one of the usually fierce knight leading them.
"No, but is Tenrou Island not holy ground only for Fairy Tail Wizards to set foot on?"
"You're a Wizard of Fairy Tail," she reminded.
"Oh, right," he pulled a face, awkwardly grinning at her giggle. She came a little closer to him where they both leaned on the railing. His shoulders sank when her arm touched his.
"I believe this is our first mission together in the same guild," she noted and he nodded. His gaze met hers warmly before turning back to their target. They had almost reached the backside of the island and Juvia started manipulating the water for them to near the shore.
"We'll go another one by ourselves," he promised, conjuring a smile onto her face.
With the bow of their compact ship nudging the rising sea floor, Juvia then raised it up into the air, lifting it above the first cliffs behind the beach where it came to lean between boulders, almost completely hidden within the thicket of the nearest overhanging undergrowth. They strung palm leaves and other vegetation to the mast after furling in the sails, making their presence on the island nearly impossible to spot. Most of all due to coming in at the furthest side from the mainland.
"There does not seem to be anyone currently here with the lack of ships anchoring," Erza assessed. Hands on her hips, she gazed into the distance where dense jungle blocked most possible entries into the heart of the island. "As we are on the look for hunters, I would assume them to have set up traps for the animals and that they will return to collect their prey at a later point in time." She turned to her team. "Happy, Charle, I would like you to scout the skies at all times to warn us should the hunters come back." She ordered. The two Exceeds nodded seriously, dashing off into a cloudless sky.
It was amazing how the climate on Tenrou Island never changed with the seasons, making it hard to believe how they had been trudging through snow merely half a day in the past. It made everyone visibly want to share Gray's habit.
"We will split up to cover more area. Should you find any traps – magical or not – activate them to disable them. That will distract the hunters for us to prepare an ambush. Release any animals already captured and don't forget to notify the others should you find any human presence – and Wendy if an animal is injured." She went on. "We will meet at the old camp's place tonight." Erza finalised. She pointed into the covert and everyone found themselves a way in, divided into groups of two.
Lucy felt her heart pound a little faster now, excited for the search and what they would find.