Hope I can keep this up!
CheesyDelphox, ... hope you're okay.
pilikali, again, you don't know how much it motivates me to know that I am now that writer whose story gets read and taken apart with translators like I did when I was younger. I'm really honoured. And thanks so much for your review! I'm happy to know what you liked in particular!
Mitzy123, thank you so much! So much emotion; I'm so glad to know what you liked! Hehe, yeah, those fantasies of his... xD I don't know what else to say besides thank you, so I'll say it again: Thaanks!
Somnolent Sushi Roll, so loong, thaank you! 'Single Frogs' xD yah, well, can't all get a supportive partner like that ;D I think I'm as amused by your reviews as you are by my chapters, if I do say to myself. 'Spying on her beloved' xD And the slip imagination of yours is not a bad idea, not bad at all... haha, there's no balcony, sorry for the confusion. Just huge windows ;) We actually don't know anything about Nadal and or him being punished, it's a good thing you mention it. Also thanks for making the effort of answering my question! Urban Dictionary's got nothin' on you!
foxydame, thank you so much for your review! I had to switch to FanFiction to read the entirety of it (add deliciously slobbering and swooning smiley). And thank you for the support! I keep on writing when I can but I feel as if the quality starts to suffer here and there... (Is it that nostalgic for her to style his hair? How many chapters have passed, damnit, I'm obsessed xD and you probably know the story better than me ':D) Man how I'd have loved you being in that office, giving the frogs a speech, going all 'she saved your butt so often you idiot!' xD And awwww you're so adorable; I'm really so very honoured how you read the chapters several times! Thank you so much for letting me know, I'm very happy to be told! Ah, I'm reading your review over and over again, too! Thank you!
Isanien, you're too kind to leave me all of these reviews when you're not caught up; I'm happy to know you're enjoying the chapters! Thank you so much for such constant motivation!
Already mentioned this but even if our nationalities don't exist in the Fairy Tail Universe, imma keep usin' awesome recipes and there ain't no way I is takin' back the French Toasts cause I love me French toasts (well, that took a wild trip from accent to accent...)
Jellal's frown of concentration twisted into a hopeless one. His hands shook for a second before he finally gave up, everything crumbling, collapsing completely. He let out a long sigh, nearly a groan. Slackening in frustration, his chin came to fall onto the counter and he stared miserably at his failed creation.
He did not want to admit it, but work days simply tired him out. He knew the routine and he was an early riser, not to mention workaholic, but it was still rather new and sudden to be working so many hours in a row out of nowhere. It drained him of his patience when it came to baking. The spontaneous oatmeal had already been a tragedy and now his ruin of a Swiss roll mocked him in its not-at-all-rolled state.
The pigeon watched from where it guarded its share of crumbs, for once not using its bowl of drinking water as a bath.
He did not hear her enter but the movement caught his eye when she rounded the doorframe of the kitchen.
"Jellal," Erza tilted her head at how he merely hung from the counter. He gave a sigh in return. "Sweetheart, what's wrong?" She came to kneel beside him, running a hand through his hair to momentarily free his forehead of it.
"It didn't work," he tried to sigh under his breath this time, almost succeeding. Erza smiled gently in return, her hand wandering to encircle his side, pulling him a little closer while she regarded his caved in handiwork. She ran a finger through the fruity, creamy texture, popping it into her mouth. His eyes rolled with her motion, watching from below how the corners of her mouth rose up into a dreamy smile. It greatly lifted the previous weight off his heart.
"That's a real pity," Erza said, causing another frown, "now it could never be offered to any guests, what a shame," she stuck another finger into the sugary mixture, impaling a chunk of dough with it, shoving it all into her mouth. It was his turn to smile. Raising himself up a little, he placed a long kiss of appreciation on the top of her head. Not that it stopped her from grabbing another tiny helping that she licked off her finger with a blissful smile.
"I'll try again tomorrow, okay?" He asked, not yet feeling up to starting from the top. And she did not ask him to, anyway, but seeing that she was enjoying the treat a lot, he wanted to get it right. Only not with his current level of frustration.
"You don't have to rush yourself," Erza got up with him, her voice retreating to a mumble, "or let this get in the way of the flan you wanted to make tomorrow…" she glanced elsewhere. His brow rose alongside a one-sided smirk.
"Did I now?"
"Mhm, I thought I'd heard that somewhere…" Erza trailed, tapping her index fingers together. She almost moved away in the fear of teasing tickling when his arms crept their way around her waist.
"I know you said you don't much care about what others think of your appearance, but don't you think we're overstating the case with the desserts?" He restrained himself on the tickling, diving in for her stomach instead, gathering whatever of the firm skin he could grab as to pretend any excess pounds – or grams – to be noticeable. She gave a dry laugh at such a futile attempt.
"At least I don't sit on my behind all day," she gave back something just as unprovoking, then gasped upon spotting a bag she had left by the door. He had wondered why she had come home so late, blinking in surprise when she rummaged through for merely a second before pulling out two pairs of dark blue trousers.
"Look, Jellal, I got us matching jeans!" Erza exclaimed excitedly.
"Jeans?" His frown was lured out again and he eyed her findings with growing interest. He had always admired her in trousers as much as in skirts – she would look stunning in them.
"Try one," she threw the longer one at him. His smirk returned.
"One? You mean I'm supposed to be able to wear both?" He teased. For some reason, it was hard to stop as she practically invited him over and over again. It fired up his slightly cracked ego and he saw the mischievous spark in her eyes, making his heart skip a beat.
"Of course not, you'd never fit mine." She let the hand that had come to rest on her hip drop, inspecting her own treasure again with an approving nod. "Your bum's too flat," she said, almost absently. His lips pursed.
"Hey," her hidden smile widened into a grin as she retreated in a playful panic from his advances. "My bum's fine," Jellal protested in a rather pouty voice and she giggled. Taking the last step in his stead, Erza leaned her body against his, hands travelling to his back pockets she seemed to take liking in, grabbing a little tighter than he had expected.
"I know," she lowered her lids when glancing up at him, veiling those most mesmerising eyes with long, dark lashes. A shiver went up his spine, enticing another giggle. His cheeks darkened in colour, only making her smirk spread wider. "Come on," she murmured, tugging on him. Then she ran her hands out his pockets and over the small of his back, trailing down his arms until placing his own hands on her hips in a short preview. Turning with a swing of her hips as she led the way out of the kitchen. "Show me what those hands of yours can do…" she winked. He smirked back.
"I can show you right now," he lowered his voice seductively, catching up quickly. But oh, he was not done yet. Putting the tips of his thumbs and index fingers together, Jellal formed loops. Then he placed the outstretched tips of his other fingers on his chin, turning his wrists upwards to make a set of idiotically childish glasses around his eyes. Erza blinked at him, so slowly, it seemed as if, for a moment, she just did not want to open them again and see. He blinked back friendlily, a broad enthusiastic smile on his lips.
Her mouth opened, taking another second to speak.
"What. The actual. Hell, Jellal," she stared so plainly and unbelievingly at the same time. He broke out into laughter then, not even stopping when she started to punch him, her face a glowing scarlet red. She winced when accidentally shoving so forcefully, he simply toppled over, holding his stomach instead of catching himself, unable to stop laughing uncontrollably.
Erza crossed her arms, pouting, soon too impatient to wait for him and honestly, a tad worried, too, when his breath was only gasps and coughs. Shaking her head, she gave him a crossed look but he was too busy with wiping tears from his eyes. He found her on his chest then, sitting down with the glint of regained superiority in her eyes.
"You do realise that this will cost you a lot, Mister," she leaned down until his steadying breath vented against her cheeks. He had not yet collected his voice when it was gone with the wind, eyes bulging at the too short and too tightly fitting skirt to accurately represent a police officer's uniform. He had always wanted to see what a tighter skirt would look like on her. He gulped when her lips tingled the skin of his ear shell, scarlet tresses tickling his neck. "Now, I want your hands above your head and your legs apart…"
Erza's chest's heaving gradually subsided. Turning her head to the side on the pillow of their bedroom, she could not resist another gaze at her achievement. She had made him wear the jeans right after and he looked damn good in them. So good, in fact, she already caught herself rising up, throwing one leg over his to sink below his new waistband.
He opened one eye, his own breathing not yet as calm as hers.
"We're not done yet, are we?" He raised a brow and she returned the gesture a tad more pointedly.
"You know, for a second, that almost sounded like a complaint just then," she crossed her arms, giving him a look where playfulness pushed through regardless of how strict it had been intended. He grinned, finally looking at her with both, still slightly clouded eyes. She would always get her way but she knew he was not too opposed to her ideas anyway. And she had just the one.
Slipping into roles was her favourite and that would probably not change – even if both fell out of character when things got too heated. Perhaps because they at some point did, it was her favourite. He was still him and she still her, his eternal light, his will to live and neither could pretend for long not to be immeasurably in love with the actual person in front of them.
Erza liked how she could always have an effect on him, whether it was in an inappropriate police uniform or just by casually standing around the kitchen. He adored her in every way, even as far as joining her silly games and adapting whatever she had in mind next. Even so, they never crossed the line of using those toy handcuffs that had come with the outfit. She never let the word 'arrest' fall from her lips. There was not a heartbeat she allowed a dominating situation to turn into what might trigger painful memories of commanding over slaves.
There was one thing she had wanted to try out for a long time, however, even if it did not involve any roles to slip into.
Sinking down properly, Erza smirked with mischief. His eyes sparked up curiously, watching how her skin glowed as she leisurely leaned down, one hand roaming his torso to his neck.
"Mh, another thing…" she trailed her voice, running her nail up his nape the second her infamous Seduction Armour came into place. His eyes nearly popped at the sight. "I can make you cry out in pleasure," she whispered, her own eyes suddenly widening when she found herself sitting a storey higher. "Well if that wasn't easy," she started laughing.
"Don't say such things…" Jellal grumbled, turning his head away, blushing profusely. Her smirk fell back into place, lips pressing together to hold back another giggle.
"Why not?" She lowered her lids alongside her rear. "Because they get you excited?" Leaning down, she ground her pelvis against him, causing him to press a breath in order not to groan too obviously. Unsuccessfully. His eyes rolled back into his skull, jaw set tightly in hopeless self-control.
"You have too much power, woman," he rasped, still visibly embarrassed but more than keen on the friction she momentarily denied him.
"You know what I also have?" Erza leaned down to murmur in his ear, remembering the combination of her nail up his nape and pressure on his jeans, finding the tactic to be working wonders when his body gave him away again. "Stamina," his eyes opened at the husky statement, "lots and lots of stamina," she giggled when he gulped audibly. She could practically see the stars dance before his eyes, but with trembling hands, Jellal trailed his fingertips along her calves to her exposed thighs, returning the favour of thrilling shivers down her spine.
That armoury was her trump card and boy did it work. He was almost as if paralysed. Almost.
She ran her hand down his stomach to the buttons of his jeans when feeling herself give into his caress. She wanted to stay in control just a little longer. So she kissed below his ear, suckling on the skin before warmly breathing down his neck to announce her lowered voice to him. It was his turn again for his eyes to nearly fall out.
"Want to test that second origin…?"
Erza hummed to herself, watching the breath escape her scarf and form clouds in the crisp air. Despite never having found the climb up to the Council this straining, her legs still screaming in protest, she never hesitated to put one foot in front of the other. It already felt less odd to be going there without armour, without escorts and in chains for some symbolic trial or another. Not even going there without the intention of seeing her beloved gave any uncertainties – she was light-hearted as her knuckles peeled out of her glove to knock on the heavy gates.
They opened promptly, some guard – all of them having retreated inside in the cold – having seen her from an indoor lookout. She was expected already. Her boots echoed as they stepped onto the white marble and she waited until being received for what she had come for. She announced herself anyway and the messenger guard went away to find someone in charge.
Still, she wondered how Jellal must have been faring. She almost laughed then, remembering how he had been unable to go after her the last night to brush his teeth.
"I can't feel my legs," he had squeaked, blushing at her giggles and awkwardly taking her offer of having whatever he needed brought. Not that she had been off all that better, hobbling as if having sat on a horse for days on end, but her recovery was always a little quicker than his. It had become kind of a sport; an unspoken bet between them of who could get the other to swear first, knowing how seldom it was on both sides. And despite everything, she had lost that time.
On top of that, she was running out of costumes. She had used up everything from especially alluring lingerie all the way up to tightly fitting space suits. They were still making puns about their 'perfect landing'.
Erza lifted her head when a figure appeared on the high balcony of the winding stairs. She nodded shortly upon being informed about having to wait a while, seeing as her client was still in meeting. As soon as the anthropomorphic amphibian vanished, her pace picked up again as she silently snuck up the stairs and into the next corridor.
For a moment, she considered searching for the way into the dungeons she vaguely remembered, lurking for one specific frog creature with a blood lust for justice glistening on her blade. She turned right, deciding against it. She did not want to cause any more trouble, at the same time completely oblivious to be illegally strolling through the Council building. They could have made it clearer, she told herself, not having encountered a single guard yet, feeling to be in the right.
Knowing his office to look out over the entrance court yard, Erza focused on finding a door she recognised along the wall. Smiling when finding it – at least hoping to – she knocked. An absentminded hum bid her in and she carefully poked her head inside, peeking over to his desk.
Jellal did not so much as look up, frowning fiercely at the sheet his quill was tapping impatiently. Her smile fell when seeing his level of stress, though the light pink tint on his cheeks did not go unnoticed either. She closed the door behind her, making him blink, already having forgotten about someone to have knocked.
He stared at her before realising her to really be there.
"Erza," Jellal said with surprise. A genuinely happy smile pulled up the corners of his mouth and she mirrored it. Hands behind her back, she burnt the image of him at his desk into her mind, then approached. He had already gotten up, reaching out to take her coat and scarf. She noticed him to still be wearing his, not having thought of wearing a turtleneck like her.
"You look overworked," she put her hands on his chest and he replied with his own on her sides, leaning down for a sweet greeting kiss.
"I just can't focus properly…" he admitted, leading her towards the seating area but she halted, gently shoving him back into his office chair again.
"Did something happen?" She asked, resting her hands on his shoulders, making them drop.
"'Did something happen?' Your Seduction Armour happened all morning in my head!" He lowered his voice in an urgent whisper. She bit her lip, unable not to giggle regardless. "Don't laugh. Men can't hide as well as women…" he grumbled to himself, setting her off again.
"Mh, and how about we make that a reality?" She bent over, tilting his head back to touch the tip of her nose to his. He made a face, though still blushing.
"How does everything I say put you in the mood?" He asked and she giggled, noticing how he had not even denied her suggestion yet. It was that much of a powerful armour. "What am I feeding you that passes me by?" He narrowed his eyes and she grinned.
"You're awfully cute when you're mad," she pecked the tip of his nose, running her hands down his shoulders once more to make them relax. Then she went to his desk, taking off a stack of what seemed to be of the least interest at the moment, cautiously putting it down on the floor. With a small jump, she landed to seat herself on the edge of his desk.
He raised a brow at her, though not complaining about the distraction from work as she would have assumed.
"Tell me how I can help," Erza smiled, propping her hands onto her crossed legs.
"Don't tell me that's what you've snuck in here for?" Jellal leaned back, watching the innocent blinking of her long lashes.
"Who says I snuck?"
"I don't need anyone spelling it out to know," he retorted and she gave a pout.
"I'm here for a request but since everyone's busy…" she trailed. He picked up his quill, starting to look unhappy again. "I can at least tidy up if it'll ease your mind," she stroked his bangs away from his forehead, meeting gratefully shining eyes and a weak smile.
"It's just that…" he pondered and she knew it was due to her not being allowed to be informed about the cases. She waited.
"Are there no comparable sentences on the matter?" She tried then but he shook his head.
"More like I cannot compare…" Jellal sighed again, "I just can't sympathise with the accused – why would someone switch guilds?" He asked. Then glanced away at her teasing smirk.
"You're asking me?" Erza gave a nudge.
"I already thought about that but 'love and friendship' is not something they want to hear in court…" he groaned. She put a finger to her lips, thinking.
"Why not? Not every action is rational – if there are people involved, feelings are bound to be responsible for decisions, too. I sought out Fairy Tail because of Grandpa Rob's affiliation." She explained. "You need examples, right?" She asked and he nodded.
"Examples, reasons…" he shrugged and so she went on.
"Well, in its basic form, a guild serves as occupation for a Mage, so when its reputation suffers or there is too much competition, less and less jobs will come in as a result of missing trust. Fairy Tail was barely surviving during the seven years of our absence, mostly because difficult quests could not be fulfilled and therefore caused a loss in payment,"
"So economic reasons," Jellal concluded, already scribbling away. She smiled, her gaze travelling to the shelves on the gallery when there was a tickling scratch on her hand. Glancing down, her smile widened at the tiny yet so perfect heart he adorned her dorsum with.
"Then there would be emotional reasons. You and Meredy switched, but you probably don't want your names on that list,"
"Better not,"
"Well, Solano went to Sabertooth for her sister. Wendy left Lamia Scale, which must have hurt as much as leaving Fairy Tail in the first place,"
"A dissolved guild," Jellal noted, adding another heart to the previous one right after. Erza felt so warm, even with a topic that should have been aggrieving. Or had been. Just like she could mention Grandpa Rob, he was able to plainly say how Fairy Tail had disbanded without stirring up any unwanted negative emotions. They were each other's soothing balm on a burning wound.
"That reminds me of Phantom Lord. Juvia left to be with Gray and she refused to let Gajeel fall into the wrong hands again, taking him along."
"He didn't want to join?" Jellal tilted his head. It occurred to her how little he actually knew of the fates within the guild. It would do him good to get to know them better, she thought, finding it healing to have so many people around her she was not afraid to share her own hardships with anymore. Because they were the same, only in a different way.
"He did not trust any of us and neither did we with him at first," Erza retold. She crossed her legs the other way. "It was her friendship for her comrade as well as love for her crush," she finalised.
"Friendship, love, family – I can't believe I'm writing this on a serious document," he grinned up at her and she smiled back, never ceasing when more ink swirled over the back of her hand.
"Other times, spite and vengeance are reasons for changing guilds," she bloomed in her task, enjoying it as much as he was. More than usual even, she knew, feeling his loving gaze. "Master Hades of Grimore Heart,"
"Meredy's guild,"
"He was one of the founders of Fairy Tail before such darkness took him over."
"Really?"
"Warrod is another," she wiggled her brows proudly at stunning him with her tiny history lesson. He was soaking it all up like a sponge, ears perked with interest. She would tell him everything properly one day, she tried to remember. "And lastly, next to our First Master Mavis of course, there was Yuri Dreyar, our Master's late father."
"I've always wondered: what about Laxus' father? He is Master Makarov's grandson, is he not?" Jellal was leaning into the backrest now, fully absorbed in her stories. She nodded, having captured his free hand to stroke her thumb over it.
"You have a keen sense," she grinned approvingly, "he's another example for your case. He left Fairy Tail to form Raven Tail," she reminded, seeing how his eyes sparked with recognition at the name. She did not have to expound on who they were.
"I never noticed the name to be opposing on purpose," Jellal said.
"Oh, and I just remembered Erigor," Erza cut in. "Erigor the Reaper. When Eisenwald was dissolved, he became an ally of the Oración Seis if I'm not mistaken," she said, receiving a nod and a heart after he had written it down.
"You can't travel with the former Oración Seis without hearing a gossip or two about him," he agreed. "Erza," he tugged on her hand and she smiled when granting the kiss he was asking for. "You've gotten me further than I managed in," he glanced at the clock above the door, "over three hours," he smiled thankfully, giving a squeeze. And then another heart, enclosing all of the previous ones.
"Well, I was the one to disable you from that in the first place," she gave him a cheeky look, not letting him forget about her offer. She glanced to where her dorsum was lined with the most beautiful black drawings. "How do you make them so symmetrical?" She got distracted by the view. "Whenever I do it," she took his quill out of his hand and he understood, handing her an empty sheet. "It looks like…" she stuck out her tongue, "this." Erza held her pitiful attempt in front of her chest. He stared at the scrawly thing that was supposed to be a heart with an of amusement quivering lip.
"It's… not that bad," he tried, unable to hide his grin.
"Oh, come on, don't hold back with me," Erza leaned in slightly, just when the door opened. That last thing had not been audible, had it? Judging from Jellal's suddenly glowing red face, it had been, the fact that his eyes had been glued to the height of her chest while she concealed him from view with her body not making it seem any less inappropriate. She almost requipped from her skirt into trousers but restrained herself, knowing it was already not looking too good for them.
Turning very slowly, she threw a hesitant glance over her shoulder to meet expectantly raised brows. Jellal all but gulped, wanting to hide behind her again.
"I assumed to find you here when there was no one awaiting me in the entrance hall," Jura said in a calm voice, though she could taste the hint of a scold. Hopefully only about her having stolen herself away. She felt Jellal shoot her a look upon hearing her to have ignored an order instead of just misinterpreting one or making up her own at a lack of instructions.
Finally reacting like she should have from the start, Erza hopped down her beloved's desk. He averted his eyes with his cheeks flaming up once more when she did not improve their image by habitually brushing down her skirt.
"I apologise for the inconvenience," she quickly said, bowing her head shortly. But Jura was already smiling again, mostly due to the steaming of his utterly embarrassed subordinate, she assumed, perceiving amusement in the sparkling of his friendly eyes.
"It would be best to ask permission or at least an escort first," he lectured mildly and she apologised again. "Now then, if I may relieve you of your company?" He addressed Jellal who was only nodding fleetly without ever so much as peering to the side. "Please, if you would follow me, Mrs Scarlet," he rose his brows, nearly making his employee choke.
Jura was stopped at the door, shortly diverting his attention to the researcher who was waving with important papers.
"You told them we're married?!" Jellal hissed, his ears glowing now, too, his eyes piercing.
"I just…" Erza wagged her knees, glancing elsewhere, "liked the sound of it, I guess… or maybe he just understood incorrectly," she then stupidly tried, knowing to have blown the chance when having confessed beforehand. He facepalmed himself, looking up as if praying to someone while she cursed at her own faint blush.
Both jumped when Jura said her name and she followed him out for the details of her mission without another word.