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"In Shirotsume. The details were somewhat vague, so we're taking the whole team."
"I don't think I will be back before you, though…" Jellal had his arms crossed, leaning against the counter, "I might take more than a day." He did not look at her. She watched him for a moment, then her features softened. She crossed what little space the kitchen offered, aiming for the door. He looked up.
"Then I guess I'll see you around," she turned back, smiling at him. He stared at her. Then he returned the smile, nodding once.
"I'll let you know."
"…okay, Erza?"
"Huh?" Erza blinked herself out of her memory. She met Wendy's eyes, who was watching her from the opposite seat of their compartment, head tilted to the side in question. "I'm sorry, what did you say?"
"I asked if you were okay," Wendy repeated. "You seem distracted." She noted. Had she noticed Erza's smile into the distance when remembering Jellal? Erza dared a side glance at Charle, who was luckily not listening. "I know what you did today…"
"What I did…?" Erza watched as the young Dragon Slayer clasped her hands together between her knees, looking down.
"I really appreciate the chance you gave me in battle today; I know it was a test. I hope I passed it." Wendy went on, a shy, somewhat sad smile on her face. Erza was speechless for a moment. A… test?
She let the day repeat itself in her head. Team Natsu (plus Juvia) had gone to Shirotsume, to the west of Magnolia, past Mount Hakobe. Their enemy had not been too difficult, though rather overwhelming in numbers. Nevertheless, no alliance of Dark Wizards, no matter how big, was a match for Fairy Tail's strongest Team.
Erza had not set anything up for Wendy; she had not had the time. It seemed that whenever her way parted with Jellal for an unknown amount of time, it messed with her head. Never before had she had such trouble with staying focused. She was too spoiled with their time alone; with him so close and so utterly hers and hers alone for several nights. She would either have to stop seeing him entirely or make sure he never left her side again.
And she was too aware of which option she preferred.
"I'm sorry, I let you down," she said, surprising her counterpart.
"You didn't-"
"I never set up any test; I have full trust in your abilities, Wendy." She gave a smile, though it was visibly ruled by the disappointment in herself. Wendy looked up at her, eyes wide. "I really am unfocused – I'm sorry you had to bear the consequences." She looked at the young mage with sincerity, apology and a hint of pride shining in her eyes. "For what it's worth though, it proves perfectly that I can always count on you when I cannot rely on myself."
"Erza…" Wendy breathed, unbelievingly. Lucy smiled warmly at them from the side. She scooted away from the Queen of the Fairies when Wendy stood, changing seats to hug Erza tightly. "Thank you."
"That should be my line." Erza said, caringly putting her arm around the young Dragon Slayer's shoulders in return.
"Damn, I'm gonna puke…" Natsu whined from his seat, bent over, holding his stomach, effortlessly ruining the moment.
Jellal sighed when he reached the train. He had been travelling from Clover to Onibus after the first part of his mission, accidentally missing the train's departure after taking a walk at the first station. He would have left what little luggage he had brought and reclaimed it later, when he overheard the staff at the station to be discussing a replacement engine for the current train. It had stopped on the tracks due to a technical problem, waiting over night for the new engine to be delivered and installed.
He could have waited for the next train the following morning. Or simply gone on with the mission in a town near the Fiore's capital to the west. He himself did not mind his attire being dirty and speckled with dried blood. But she would. And even though Erza was not with him, he felt obliged to treat his newly earned freedom with respect and would do his job properly, without scaring everyone he met on the way.
And so he walked. Along the tracks, through the evening and into the night. He arrived when the moon was already at its highest point. Spotting the luggage wagon was not too hard. He pondered whether only to take his bag and continue or to change, stay and wait for the repairs.
No… he would change and hurry up with his mission. He wanted to get back. Back… home.
"Urgh, why me…!" Lucy groaned. She rubbed the tissue on her shirt, only to rip said tissue into shreds in the process. Dragging herself along, she plucked on her shirt, pulling a face.
With the engine breaking down, her good mood had been squashed like a bug. She wanted to get home and sleep in her own bed and get her earned rent to safety. They had been fighting Dark Mages all day and she agreed with the others that the walk to Magnolia would most likely take as long as waiting for the train to get there eventually. Still, she felt restless and annoyed.
It did not help that they all had to share a compartment to sleep. At some point, Gray had fallen over in his sleep, against her, and Juvia – never missing a single breath of her beloved – had stared Lucy down with the glowing red eyes of a murder-maniac. After changing places – the unlikely and unconfirmed couple taking in her bench – Lucy had been graced by Natsu's inhumane snoring and fighting spirit. Sleeping or not, he was still wild.
Lucy could not understand how first, Wendy was sleeping peacefully with two snoring men in the same compartment, and second how Natsu had the talent of making her life a living hell in his sleep, knocking her closed lemonade over so hard in his sleep, it had doused her anyway. Now her shirt was soaked and sticky, making her long for her own bathtub even more than before.
One thing was making sense now though: why Erza had volunteered to move to the luggage wagon instead of fighting over the comfort of a bench. The train was full and the people were all irritated and stressed. No one offered a spot. Lucy was beginning to want to change places with her armoured guildmate – gladly.
With another sigh, she slid the door to the luggage wagon open. She moved silently, looking about. Erza's mountain of suitcases was hard to miss. Next to it, the Queen of the Fairies was laying on the floor, in between more piles and stacks of luggage. She was curled up on her side, one arm beneath her head and though looking incredibly uncomfortable, soundly asleep.
Lucy found her own bag in a pile to the side, going around to see how she could pull it out without causing everything to collapse. Moonlight seeped in through the window. She looked out when something caught her eye. A movement. She narrowed her eyes.
A figure was nearing, coming towards the train. It went around to where the door was, clearly aimed to the carriage she was in. Lucy pressed her back against the pile she was hidden behind. She crouched down. Her hand wandered to the satchel around her hip, ready to detach a Celestial Key.
The compartment door opened. She felt for the sharp edges of Taurus' Key. Suddenly, she remembered Erza. Not that the young woman was unable to defend herself, but she was sleeping. She could still be surprised and ambushed.
Steps creaked silently on the wooden floor. It smelled of nightly air, a mixture of earth and blood stinging Lucy's nose as the figure neared. She could hear the shuffling of fabric, clothes falling to the floor, the person sighing under their breath. Then the rummaging sound of luggage and more fabric. Was it a thief? Stealing someone's belongings? Her money! Lucy boiled with sudden rage.
Readying her key, she let it slide off the keychain and into her fist. It clinked against the other keys. She listened, but the person had stopped their movement, also listening. Her heart pounded into her throat. Boots swished across the wood, almost noiselessly. The mysterious invader was directly behind her pile of suitcases now.
Her eyes widened when she heard a groan. Then another. Erza! Lucy's heart raced. She had to do something! She leaned on her palm on the floor, peeking around her hiding place, opening her mouth to yell the magic words. She froze within the split of a second, her breath getting stuck in her throat.
Erza had woken up. She was propped up on one arm, gazing up into the in shadows veiled face of the intruder. Her eyes caught the moonlight from outside, sparkling with surprise and…
"Jellal…" she whispered, her voice hoarse from sleep. Lucy's eyes shot open. She remained where she was, blood rushing loudly in her ears. The now not-so-strange man was crouching next to Erza, one knee on the ground. He reached out his hand and she laid hers in his, gently letting him pull her up.
The usually almighty Titania seemingly collapsed of her own accord, allowing him to catch her in his arms. He sat against the wall, legs propped up. Erza stayed in between, leaning her side into him, head and hands resting on his chest. He put his arm around her, the other hand enclosing hers, thumb brushing up and down in a tender manner.
Lucy thought her eyes were going to pop out. And had she not remained exactly still – and had Erza not had her eyes closed – she was sure that someone would have done it for her. Or mauled any and every other part of her body.
Jellal leaned down, whispering something into Erza's ear that Lucy could not understand. She watched the content smile on the warrior's lips falter for a moment. Then she sighed vocally, blissfully, snuggling closer.
"That's okay…" Erza muttered at last. Jellal smiled, closing his eyes as well, letting his chin rest atop of her head.
Lucy's stomach gave a twist. She was not supposed to see this. Or know of it. But it was… rather lovely. The look in Erza's eyes upon recognising him had said more than a thousand words. Lucy had to smile despite her fear of being annihilated should she get caught. Watching them, seeing them be this close so naturally, she could not help but feel a fond warmth spread inside of her. And she felt happy for Erza – for both of them.
She did not dare to leave the carriage. She leaned back into a more hidden position though, once she was sure they were both asleep. She still could not believe it. She wondered how long it had taken them to be this comfortable and open with their affection. She wondered how it had happened.
She contemplated for a long time, still. She added up why Erza had been so distracted during their mission and in the guild lately. She could not help but think how it suited them – a shy but sincere act upon their feelings. Admitting them after everything. And how much they deserved this.
She would keep it a secret, she thought to herself. Not only for her own life's sake but to give them the chance be what they truly wanted – together.