I've said it before but I cannot stop myself from repeating it over and over again: THANK YOU! Should I ever forget to mention how kind and polite you are and how much I appreciate your reviews, just know I do!
Thank you and welcome back Toni the Guest; it really has been some time. Those are some really detailed ideas you have, thank you so much!
Riketsia, thank you so much for your review and for also answering the question I put! Imma keep slayin', you can bet on it B)
Somnolent Sushi Roll, I hope you got my message but I'll just repeat myself, saying how much I loooove your long fangirling review! Since you guys are the only people I can discuss this story with, I appreciate your thoughts on it with all my heart, thank you so much!
Lastly, thanks to the guest with the great suggestion for another appearance of the Celestial Armour; I'll see what I can do!
Now then, here's another chapter and I hope you'll enjoy ^^
Reminder: .,.,. means point of view change without time skip
She sat by the fire, hunched, seemingly within herself. The still new letter was crumbling in her tightly gripping hands, tense as not to shake. It was back in its envelope, saving it from any more threats of tears she would shed and blur the precious writing of her lost friend. Her lost mother – but he had not known back then.
He felt helpless, unable to do anything to comfort her. It was not until much later that she would start talking about her, idolising her. Of course, she did.
Ultear was a woman of sin, of unforgivable crimes, even having killed her foster daughter's own family, friends, memories, all out of pure ignorance of their lives.
She was a saint now. She was forgiven. And she was grieved. Missed.
He had always and was still amazed by her ability to talk about her fallen hero. He could not himself, he found, not like her and not without pricks of conscience, wondering whether she clandestinely felt the same way.
All he could do was provide comforting embraces or an open ear. All until one day, when it had happened for the first time.
His name had rung with her voice, quietly, tentatively, and she had pointed to her still damp hair, delicate fingers tugging on his sleeve.
It had been their thing – almost a ritual of mother and daughter. A strengthening of their already unbreakable bond and a moment of peace where they would laugh together, no matter how often it happened, over and over again.
He stared at her now, his eyes softening. He had to exhale in silent laughter at her pouty face, glancing up after having called his name in request.
"Jellal?" She repeated, pulling him out of his memories.
With a smile to himself, Jellal got to work, taking quite some time until finally having found and entangled the comb from somewhere within her thick, pink curls. Meredy set her jaw but kept from complaining. There had never been a single comb that would not get stuck.
She had stayed over after all. He had been positively surprised to hear the ladder creak, then the shower run in the morning.
He and Erza had returned late that night, soaked to the bone and exhausted from wandering through the woods, stumbling in the dark, dragging him along and somehow managing to find the way back to Magnolia. They had fallen asleep almost immediately after drying off, hardly changing into sleepwear and just dropping into the bouncy sheets.
She had held on to him so dearly, his mind and heart had been allowed a good night's rest, only sore but not aching with guilt.
"Jellal?" He was required once again, Erza's voice echoing down the hall. Meredy smiled. He gave her a look in the mirror, astonished by his own playfulness instead of embarrassment.
"Just a minute," he called back.
"Make it a second if you want to keep the kitchen intact," she retorted. Jellal sharply sucked air in through his teeth in a hiss, apologising to his guildmate and swiftly hurrying out of the bathroom.
"Sorry," Erza sheepishly grinned, not having to point at her mishap. The pan was on fire. However that was possible, he thought, reacting quickly by placing the lid on it. She had used water in an attempt to extinguish it, having made it worse, then burnt a towel while trying to smother the flames. He threw the towel into the sink, turning on the drain. There were only slight marks on the wall and counter, a few on the floor from the towel.
"I'm sorry," Erza repeated but she shook his head. He did not know why, but he was more than calm about it, his hectic subsiding, only leaving him busy.
"Don't worry," he smiled reassuringly, proceeding to collect the remains of the towel to throw them away. Turning off the stovetop, whatever it had been in the pan that was now pitch-black crumbs followed the singed shreds. Erza watched him take care of it all, absently tracing her lip with a fingertip.
"Do you want to put some lip balm on them?" He asked, noticing her actions. It was always like that after one of their make-out sessions, roughing up her lips and the surrounding skin, leaving them try for days. Now with the knowledge of Meredy being there, he was glad it had stayed at kissing, but he still sure was glad they had. She was too forgiving with him, he thought, always ensuring him to be loved, no matter how badly he had screwed up.
"I did," Erza pulled discontent face, "I don't know how you stand it; I'm constantly bothered," she muttered, studying his lips.
"Maybe if I don't-"
"No, no, you keep doing what you do," she interrupted, lowering her eyelids, offering a smirk to which he returned a slightly insecure grin. He gained confidence from her, though, leaning back on the counter with one arm, returning her smirk one-sidedly.
"Well, whoever said-" he accidentally slid in the water on the counter, biting his tongue, stumbling backwards against the cupboard. Completely ruining his intended seductiveness.
"Oh, that was very attractive," Erza teased, raising her brows – obviously having a hard time not to break out into laughter, lips pressed together in a thin, wobbling line. Grinning awkwardly now, Jellal straightened, rubbing his elbow. He pushed his own lips out in jesting annoyance, growling at her when he reached out.
"Don't call me out," he wound his arms around her waist, "you're so mean," he felt her struggle in anticipation, tightening his grip, going for the kill by running his fingers up and down her sides.
"No, Jellal- ah!" Erza gasped, shrieking upon being tickled. "Sto-hop!" She laughed, wiggling and squirming, trying to run but he held her trapped. "Let me- haha," she panted, her head tilting to the side of its own accord to give him more area when he mischievously bit her neck. Unintentionally, he caressed too lightly, tickling her again and she winced, accidentally ramming her elbow into his side.
.,.,.
Erza scrambled away, only then breathing an apology, asking whether she had hurt him. He held his stomach, seeming to be hit badly.
"It's okay," Jellal groaned, rubbing the spot, then releasing it, "it's only fair," he said, and she tsked. She loved his carefree side. She was glad to have lured it back out, even more proud of herself to not only have managed that, but to have calmed down so quickly the last night. She had been really upset with him, but her love was too strong, the longing and desperation not to lose him again winning over any reason her mind would pose to her heart.
It was no use. She loved this man too much for her own good.
Just enough for his, too, she noted. He might not have known how she could be of help – or not dared to say – but she was fairly sure that her actions and words did him well and brought him back into the light that he so seldomly allowed access into his thinking.
With a gentle smile on her face, Erza approached him again. She placed her own hand on the bruise she had caused, catching his eyes.
"You didn't finish your sentence," she reminded.
"Well, now I won't," he said poutingly and she nudged his shoulder. Jellal chuckled, his tone softening when her hands travelled up to his neck, interlacing her fingers behind it. His own hands came up to embrace her in response, resting on her waist where it dipped into her hip, just where she liked them the most.
"Coward," she teased, tilting her chin up. Gladly complying, Jellal leaned down to meet her halfway. First a tender brush, then a smile, lovingly pressing against her lips. She could not help the curve of her own mouth into a smile just as fond.
His eyes shone with the same adoration as hers when they parted, vanishing suddenly. The light tint on his cheeks darkened.
Erza turned to follow his gaze, spotting Meredy in the door. The pink-haired mage had apparently just arrived, right on time to witness their kiss, frozen to the spot and staring in awe. It took another moment for her to react.
"I wanna see that again,"
"What? No!" Jellal fumed with embarrassment. Erza had to keep from giggling.
"Why not?" She turned back to meet his bewildered eyes. "Actually, it's good practise,"
"Practise for what?" He frowned, not too happy about her joining his guildmate. They could probably be a team as deadly as Meredy and Ultear.
"For you to get used to people watching," she said, realising that Meredy had in fact never seen them kiss. Jellal gave her a look.
"I have striking red markings on my face – I know bloody well what it's like to be stared at," he huffed, though she knew he did not mean to be rude. He was only still flustered after being caught. He really had to get used to that, she thought. She was trying to be more patient with him, but there had to be some trick or knack to get him socialised more quickly.
That, and he had invited his guildmate himself – this had been bound to happen eventually.
"I still wanna see," Meredy broke their slightly tense silence, eyes shining like two full moons, nearly sparkling at her discovery. Sometimes, Erza thought, she seemed as in love with their relationship as the two of them were with each other. It was genuinely touching how much she rooted for her friend, cheering on his behalf.
"Well I'm not taking orders from you," Jellal dryly said.
"But from me," Erza raised a teasing brow.
"Erza," he uncomfortably tried to warn. She grinned, not pinning him down and he gave a grunt as he stalked out of the kitchen. "The laundry needs to be folded," he mumbled.
"Chicken," Meredy smirked.
"Snoop," he hissed as he passed her. Both women smiled with amusement while he awkwardly went down the hall, disappearing as soon as he could around the corner. Erza sighed somewhat dreamily, her head tilted to the side, eyes distant, still enchanted by his kiss and that look in his eyes. How could she not forgive him? He was bewitching.
"Don't you look happy," Meredy still grinned, her features easing into a gleeful smile. She could read him almost as well as Erza could; she knew he was not seriously unnerved.
"I am happy," Erza smiled, "I always am when he's there,"
"Nahw," Meredy clasped her hands together, "who knew you'd be such a hopeless romantic?"
"I certainly didn't,"
"All day?" Jellal frowned unhappily. He slummed down on the end of the bed, still smelling of fresh laundry – having folded their drenched clothes, then soaked them again to wash. Erza let her eyes soften.
"It's a long way; it might even take longer," she explained, pushing her lower lip out in pity at his falling expression.
"Can't they go without you?" He nagged and she inwardly flounced at that. Unfortunately, it made her want to stay even more. She stopped combing her hair, walking over to him. "Or take another one in the area – there are tons of wealthy snobs who'd want you to do some job or another," he grumbled, triggering a smile. Was he jealous or still just concerned that she would leave on a quest with her team?
"Oh, would you rather I came to your place so you can pay me for my services?" She smirked enticingly, leaning down in front of him, running a finger up his nape. It caused a shiver she giggled at.
"If it's payment you want, you won't get lucky here," he played along, encircling her hips with an arm, tracing the tips of his fingers just like her, getting her pelvis to roll forward. She gradually sank down on his lap, straddling it with her legs.
"I see," she lowered her voice, "you don't think I'm worth that much?" She lowered her lids. It surprised her when he did not start to apologise, but kept his cool, flirtatious attitude, lifting his chin to tickle her lips with the graze of his own.
"No, I just don't have any money at the moment," he grinned and she had to laugh. He could break a spell as masterfully as he conjured it. The magic was not lost, however, having drawn her to a point where she seriously considered staying.
"And how were you going to pay for the dinner you proposed to me yesterday?" She mocked, humming with content when he finally met her lips. She responded lazily, continuously, drawing circles with her finger on the back of his neck, twisting hair around it.
"They know me," he murmured into her mouth, his strong exhale venting warmly against her cheek.
"But you'd have to have talked to them for that…" she leered mildly, sighing against him when his other hand enclosed the small of her back.
"You're not going to let that go," he muttered between kisses, "are you?"
"Mh," Erza arched her back into his touch, "probably not, no," she breathed, having her lip gently bitten for that. She returned the favour, hoping for more. It was a risk to let him seduce her now, as it shoved her urgency to leave with the team slowly out the door. On the other hand, she needed that dose of Jellal before being apart for days.
To her disappointment, he stopped when she moaned softly, only just having snuck her way beneath his shirt.
"You'll miss your train," he reminded and she groaned.
"And you say I'm mean…" she gave a long sigh, deflating so much, she simply slackened against him, sighing again, down his neck.
"You are," he leaned his head against hers from the side. She could hear the same reluctance in his voice, trying to hide it behind reason. And he was right. It did not make her want to go, however, and she brought her legs up onto the bed to cage him in, crossing her feet behind his back. "That's counterproductive,"
"You're counterproductive," she groused into his shoulder.
"Then stay,"
"Jellal," Erza whined, pulling a face, shooting him a look that conveyed perfectly how he had almost won the argument for her. Almost. With another, sharper sigh, she finally forced herself to get up, though not before capturing his lips in a long, apologetic and longing kiss.
Already, she could not wait to get home. Fulfilled with a job well done, tired and ready to cuddle and kiss for hours and days on end.
"You're off?" Meredy asked, decent enough to pretend that not every word could be heard through the open door of the bedroom.
"It might take a while," Erza equipped her boots and daily armour. "Make sure he eats,"
"And has access to clean water; I'll walk him three times a day," Meredy nodded matter-of-factly.
"Hey!" Jellal shot her a look. Erza nodded, too, while checking for her keys and lacrima in her pockets.
"That's not a bad idea, actually. Some fresh air will do him good," she said, adding a comment about having to be careful with his ankle while he complained. She could not help but smile to herself all the way to the guild, her cart of suitcases rumbling after her. Her stomach gave a nervous lurch, just thinking about it, but secretly, she could not wait for the day he would kiss her in front of her friends.