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There was a buzzing like tiny chisels against wood. Erza frowned, reaching out to the drawer of the nightstand. The buzzing stopped. Rummaging through until her fingers found their target, she took out her portable communication lacrima.
1 missed call
She swiped over the screen to see who it had been when it started buzzing again, vibrating in her hand. Gray's name appeared above the accept and decline icons. She tapped the right one.
Gray's voice came before she had even opened her mouth to say something, the small lacrima hardly all the way up to her ear. She furrowed her brow at his mumbling through the speaker.
"Yes," Erza nodded. "Why?" She asked, but he went on regardless. "It's in my apartment," she disclosed. There was even more mumbling but she interrupted. "No, you can't go there – men aren't allowed in Fairy Hills, remember?" She shook her head. "No exceptions," she retorted, awkwardly looking to the side while preaching for a rule to be obeyed that she had deliberately broken thrice.
"Yes they- no," she frowned her lips, "no don't do that.
"I have one with me," she said, adjusting the lacrima at her ear. Closing her eyes briefly, an unintended sigh escaped her lips, turning into a poorly suppressed groan of painful pleasure. Blushing, Erza clenched her jaw, trying to overplay her unusual noises by clearing her throat.
"No, I'm… at the spa right now," she stared into her lap, "I'll be back in an hour or so; you can pick it up then," she decided. "Yes," she nodded again, giving another hum of agreement to hide the next moan that build up in her throat. "Don't just go in in the mean time!" She scolded in advance, then harked. Like the missing greeting, she did not need to say any farewells as the hurried voice on the other end cut off shortly.
Putting it down, she gave a huff.
"The spa, huh?" Jellal's eyes teasingly twinkled up at her. With pretended annoyance, she avoided his gaze, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
"Well, what was I supposed to say?" She shot him a look, still slightly embarrassed by herself. "And I do feel very spa-esque," she said, making him laugh. "You don't mind another hour, do you?"
"I haven't complained for the last one," he smiled, softer now. He could see the next groan coming, begging to be released when he dove his thumb back beneath the ball of her foot, his fingers enclosing it to add pressure. It was heaven – it was plain to see on her face.
It hurt and it gave her shivers of relish at the same time. He was a master of untwisting every of those knotted-up muscles of hers, already having worked his way up and down her legs twice – apart from the injured thigh, of course.
Jellal tried to focus on his own hands but he longed to watch her face, see how his thorough kneading was unfolding and where it was needed the most. She would have her eyes closed so he could watch all he wanted, working as if reading sheet music, his fingers blindly operating and striking where she unconsciously conducted.
He let go when her blouse and skirt glowed, being traded through a cloud of magic into a jet-black bikini. Jellal swallowed. He felt her eyes on him, insecurely meeting them.
"I have more than legs," she smirked but he did not join. He tried to swallow again, his mouth dried out all of a sudden. Now how was he supposed to watch her without seeming like a complete pervert? She waited for a reply and Jellal lit a fire in his brain, desperate to stick to the truth and not allow even the thoughts of a lie to form.
"I'd rather… if you changed back…" he managed. He cursed inwardly when his mind offered a full deck of excuses that conveniently avoided the truth.
"Why?" Erza tilted her head. She had lost her playfulness and he knew he must have looked pathetic all of a sudden.
"I… don't want to stare," Jellal pressed between teeth that were as if glued together. It appeared that his body unwillingly revolting against honesty. He looked up when she moved, wanting to stop her. She was supposed to rest with that wound of hers.
"Jellal," Erza leaned forward, hand outstretched towards his. He scooted towards her, allowing his hand to be taken into hers, knowing she would have done so even if he had remained frozen on the spot. There was no going around her will and he felt his heart skip a beat, finding that he wanted her to get her way.
She was the only one to save him from himself.
"You should know that I don't mind," she said, "quite the opposite," she caught his submissive eyes, and he took the bait. "I like your eyes on me; why do you think I do my hair every morning?" She smiled and he longed to return it. Instead, his hypocrite of a face turned red.
"I didn't mean your hair this time…" he confessed and her smile widened.
"Well, the rest is a god-given gift, but you're welcome to look all you want," she closed in on him. Jellal sighed, squinting his eyes shut.
"Why is this so easy for you?" He asked. His shoulders sank when her lips brushed his cheek. She noticed.
"I don't know – why is it so hard for you?" She retorted. He pouted, making her smile. She let her expression soften. Then she let go of him – not before granting another peck on his cheek – turning around to lay down on her front. "Is it because you doubt me or yourself to approve of your actions?" She asked, crossing her arms beneath her head.
Jellal watched her comfortably closed eyes for a moment, then he got the notion – not only because her leg nudged his knee expectantly. He shuffled closer, starting at her shoulders and neck, triggering an armada of relaxed sighs. This was by far more bearable than having to see her front. How was this such a difference from when they made love? Perhaps because he then, too, tried not to stare.
"I never do, so it's either one against one or two against one that don't approve," he said, though quietly. Erza stuffed the pillow beneath her head further down, away from her ears.
"Make it a one against one for now then. You know I don't only not mind; I want you to," she repeated it as straightforward as possible to avoid any of his cowardly misinterpretations. "Also- urgh, there," she groaned, arching her back into his touch. He complied, waiting for her to continue but she seemed to be somewhere else entirely.
While making his way to the small of her back, Jellal pondered. Perhaps, he thought, it was such a problem because he would mind. He felt uncomfortable and self-conscious with someone's eyes on him – whether it was a stranger or his closest friend. It was difficult to comprehend that she did not.
That permission gave the possibility to stare at her though. Which in turn lured out his guilt. Because if he truly, honestly admitted it to himself, she was all he wanted to look at. To stare at. To burn into his mind and have glowing back at him when closing his eyes. He had wanted to see nothing and no one but her for all those years – over seven years and of fear and remorse.
He dug his knuckles along her spine, enticing more and more of her throaty moans and vocal sighs. He took his time, going back up, paying extra attention to her shoulders again, allowing his hands to take the desiderated tour instead of his eyes.
It was nothing short of marvellous. She was gorgeous in every way.
"I forgot what I wanted to say," Erza croaked after what had already been minutes and minutes to pass. He chuckled and she smiled widely at that. "I can't believe you've never done this before – you're a- hnng," she pressed a breath, liquifying beneath his skilful hands, "saint…" she moaned.
"I haven't,"
"I'd marry you just for your massagability,"
"That's not a word," he teased, though his face blazed with a deep blush. She was serious about this, was she not? Again, he wondered whether these constant 'hints' she practically slapped at him with full power meant for him to act soon.
Lucy crossed her hands behind her back. She saw the fidgety wiggle of Natsu's leg as they waited in front of Erza's door. Erza's and Jellal's door. Or perhaps just Jellal's? After all, Erza still had her apartment at Fairy Hills and payed monthly rent for it – so much rent.
The door opened after another moment, just when Gray had opened his mouth to complain. They had knocked twice already but then again, they were rather impatient.
Erza greeted them and they hurriedly returned it. She was dressed in a black skirt and casual sweater, leaning against the door. Lucy felt her eyes extend, wanting to catch a glimpse of the inside of the house. From where she stood, there seemed to be nothing, not even wallpaper. Only a single, mysteriously ajar door.
She winced when Erza met her eyes, having noticed. She was holding the key to her apartment in her hand, blinking from one to the other. Had she asked something? Why had no one paid attention?
"Okay," Wendy was saying, nodding in agreement. Lucy sighed in relief. At least one of them had listened and she now saw why. Just like hers, Gray's and Natsu's gazes were transfixed on the interior of the house, staring bluntly past their guildmate.
"Would you like to see the house?" Erza asked, tilting her head. The entire group jumped, awkwardly mumbling excuses, Gray focusing on a sprout of moss on the pavement while Lucy found herself to be scratching her calf with her foot. Natsu nodded, eager yet cautious. His eyes went huge when Erza actually opened the door wider, extending her arm to bid them in.
They shuffled into the hall. Natsu marched towards the opposite door but Lucy caught the fabric on his back, giving a stern look. He grumbled something in unjustified protest, then took off his shoes as well. They left them near the entrance door, and Lucy noted how Erza was walking around barefooted. It was a surprise how healthily with blood supplied her feet looked while flat against the cold concrete.
She was standing by the mysterious door now, opening it. The team leaned forward, peering into what turned out to be a bedroom. With one bed.
Of course one bed, Lucy thought. How strange would it be to live together and sleep in separate beds? Then again… did they live together? Had she actually moved in while still keeping her expensive apartment or was she just her usual, obtrusive self and gave a walkabout of someone else's house? That triggered a thought – where was Jellal?
"Up here is the attic," Erza explained, pointing up a ladder in the ceiling against the bedroom wall, "it's where Meredy stays from time to time," she went on while her comrades clustered on the ladder, squishing their heads through the hatch. Wendy was not as zealous as the rest of them but she seemed just as surprised as she glanced into the dimly lit room.
"That's bigger than my bed…" Gray mumbled upon eyeing the 'guest' bed.
"It's bigger than Lucy's, too," Natsu remarked.
"Compare your own bed, will ya?" She shot back. They swayed and Lucy squeaked, thinking she would tumble off the ladder. Natsu grabbed her waist, holding on until Wendy and Gray had descended, then let her go before him.
There was no time to take a breath of relief because the bedroom had to be inspected again. The bed was properly made, several duvets neatly stuffed in at the sides of the mattress and one of the nightstands carried a vase of the loveliest flower bouquet she had ever seen. Apart from that and an old-looking dresser, there was not much else.
She flinched when Natsu opened the drawer of the nightstand, taking out Erza's lacrima and a book.
"Natsu!" Lucy hissed, dragging him away, looking around frantically but Erza was already gone. She slapped the items out of his hand and shoved him out the room, shutting the door in denial.
"… bathroom," Erza was saying, standing in the doorway at the short end of the corridor. Natsu was there withing a second, and Lucy not a centimetre behind. They gaped at the enormous bathtub and she could not help an admiring comment.
"We had it installed a few weeks ago," Erza calmly informed. There was a hint of pride in her voice while she crossed her arms in front of her chest. "The cellar door is outside but there's not much in there yet," she went on.
When Erza took a step out of the bathroom, Lucy felt her eyes grow at the limp.
"Oh, Erza, are you hurt?" Wendy asked, having seen it, too. The Queen of the Fairies shook her head.
"It's just a scratch," she soothed, smiling. Then she lifted her skirt at the side upon meeting kindly pleading eyes. Wendy raised her hands, crouching down a little to be at the height of the bandage. Both she and Gray grimaced at the gaping, crusted-over hole Erza revealed as 'just a scratch'. Lucy pulled a face as well, rather taking the time to take another good look around the bathroom than watching the mending of her enduring guildmate's shredded skin.
Luckily, with her around, Natsu did not dare to ransack the cupboards but Lucy noticed with shock that he was already down the hall. Cringing, she tiptoed after him.
"You do cook!" He exclaimed and Lucy wanted to direct her facepalm at him instead. Reaching the doorframe, she nearly shouted the same thing, her brain already having done so.
Jellal uneasily glanced at Natsu from the side, never ceasing to finely slice a pointed cabbage. The kitchen was narrow, counters on every side leaving only little space to cross over to the table by the window – the window with the flowers in front where they had stalked them, Lucy remembered.
A pot on the stove was boiling with water and the overall smell almost made her stomach grumble.
"I do, yes," Jellal said, obviously feeling pressured to say something.
Lucy sensed a weight in her back, realising Gray to be prying past her. He peeked at the same counter she had eyed before, clearly reminded of their snooping from outside as well. And the sight they had been presented with.
"It smells so good," Wendy entered the small kitchen, greeting Jellal with a friendly smile which he returned. Natsu sauntered over to the window, opening a few drawers as unsuspiciously as he – being Natsu – could.
"Thank you," Jellal said, sliding the cabbage into the water with his knife.
"What are you making?" She asked, her usual sweet self. The exact opposite of her Exceed who threw both Jellal and Natsu disapproving looks. For the moment, however, she was too busy with scolding Happy, who had joined his partner in nosing around.
"Dinner," Jellal said.
"That's early," Wendy replied without a single hint of reproach.
"I know," he said, "but I won't be here tonight so I thought I'd prepare something in advance," he illuminated. Lucy could not help but notice how much more relaxed he was once talking to the young Dragon Slayer.
"How thoughtful," Wendy smiled and Lucy found herself to be nodding along. Even Charle pushed her lips together, seeming reluctant to glare at him anymore, an inward debate wrinkling her forehead into a frown. Whatever the reason was for her dislike for him, there was a strong reconsideration.
"Why did you need the poster?" Erza pulled Lucy back into the present. She winced when noticing how she was the only one apart from Titania to still stand in the doorway. Gray was unsuspiciously peeping at the meal that had now caught Natsu's attention as well.
"Ehm," she stuttered, "we wanted to inspect it again. Levy said she had very faint coffee stains on her last job request and managed to analyse them – if we find anything of that sort, we could find out who hunts us," she explained. Erza nodded, closing her eyes in thought.
"That's an excellent idea," she praised. "And if there turn out to be food or beverage remnants, we should collect samples from around Magnolia to see whether our suspect is in the area," she added.
"Great," Lucy gave a thumbs-up, "then let's get the poster and have Levy analyse it," she proposed, "we can go around town in pairs of two to cover more ground,"
"I'll get Juvia," Gray said, almost too immediately, already down the hall and thrusting his feet into his boots. Erza smiled at that, knowingly and affectionately at the same time.
"Would you get the poster with us – I don't want to mess up your room," Wendy turned to Erza. The redhead contemplated for a moment, then nodded her agreement. Natsu and Happy had gained the same ambition as Gray – though for different reasons, Lucy suspected – already heading for the door.
"You'll probably leave before I return, won't you?" Erza stood next to Jellal, watching as he stirred. He hummed positive.
"Meredy will be here shortly,"
"Then I'll see you tomorrow?" Erza hopefully asked. Her face fell a little when he unhappily wavered his head from side to side.
"Make it the day after tomorrow," he said with regret. "I'm sorry,"
"Don't be," she rose to the tips of her toes to peck his cheek, "just be careful," she instructed with a loving smile. Natsu and Happy had stopped in their tracks, staring back over their shoulders while Charle regained her strictly furrowing brow.
"You too," Jellal retorted softly, leaning down to capture Erza's lips in a gentle kiss. She was smiling and Lucy felt her own lips to have unconsciously tugged up into an adoring smile. Erza stole a second kiss, receiving a fond nudge of his arm around her hip, then turned to leave with the others.
They walked back in an awestruck silence, not even Happy having the guts to say anything remotely mocking.