I have found a cure to my writer's block and attention's shift: writing xD A one-shot (or four) get my head back on track :D
CheesyDelphox, so fast as always. Thank you so much for your review! So nostalgic, thank you so much for the praises, I'm more than happy to know that I do both the original characters as well as character development justice!
foxydame, thaaank you for such sweetness; so kind of you! And oh such a looong review, thank you so so much! I'm glad to be doing the characters justice, thank you for telling me! It's challenging sometimes, which is why I haven't done any chapters out of Natsu's perspective, for example, but I try my best to keep everyone in character! It's half the charm 😉 contentment is a good word, thank you for reminding me of its existence. And yes, I always have to think of that dancing episode when I hear the word 'spirit' in any context; I always laugh a lot when she says it, like during the battle with Ajeel where she 'received the message: the fighting spirit!', my cousin and I rolled over laughing. Oh, yes, a new love rival xD I love how Juvia always goes completely nuts over that.
Thank you again for such a detailed review, about mentioning the characters, the story, certain moments and also the plan they had for fighting; helps me a lot to know both fluff and plot wise what you think! Thank you!
Mitzy123, thank you so much for reviewing! And with so much enthusiasm, love it! As said above, I'm really happy to know what you liked so in detail, as well as the action/general plot where I always struggle a but with. Thank you so much for mentioning everything! And for fangirling, of course (smug face).
Somnolent Sushi Roll, whaaat a long review, thaaanks! Again, so many praises for everyone being in character, I'm so glad! Thank you so much for mentioning so many things along the chapter, how you feel about it, if humour and feels etc reach you, I appreciate it a lot! Commendable, also a good word… I shall add it to my vocabulary, thanks :D So many things you said, I can't stop reading your opinion over and over, I'm really grateful to know! And how you then just 'let's get to the Jerza', structuring your review, I still have to grin xD So cute. You never miss any details, I love it, thank you a ton for so much effort you put into reviewing!
Now that plot is out of the way... :p
Erza stretched her arms above her head when finally stepping into their temporary home after arriving in a shockingly freezing climate. Jellal hung her coat after having helped her out, putting down his travel bag to unlace his boots.
"It's strange to return here instead of Magnolia but I'm glad nevertheless," Erza smiled at him over her shoulder, her own boots long unequipped. He returned the smile, hiding his frown at himself. Why had he even thought it necessary to take her coat? She had not complained and he knew she just liked to be spoiled in any way. He also knew in which ways she preferred to be spoiled and the mere presence of them in the roomy mansion got his mind side-tracked.
He shook it off, following up the stairs.
"It's just as we left it," Erza said upon entering their bedroom.
"Why wouldn't it be?" He asked.
"I had the idea that maybe the Council would send someone for cleaning over once we were gone but apparently, they're unaware," she speculated. Well, there was an uncomfortable thought. Jellal shuddered at the notion of them being observed, glad to be proven wrong. As far as they could tell. "Jellal?" Erza pulled him back into the present.
She was standing over by the window now, drawing the curtains all the way aside to let the last rays of a weak winter's sun bathe the room in mellow light. He was about to inform about having heard when she continued.
"Do men get nosebleeds?" She tilted her head at him. He frowned fiercely.
"Nosebleeds?" He blinked in confusion. His mind was so blank for a second, it took him a moment to catch up with her. What? Why would something like that be limited to men only? And with her fair share of brawls all around the guild, she was bound to have seen them before.
"When they see something that really turns them on, I mean," she clarified. His lips twitched into a one-sided smile of amusement. It surely was never boring with those bizarre ideas of hers.
"There's something other happening but I've never heard of anyone's nose to have bled on cue," he replied. Her forehead wrinkled in thought and she glanced to the side.
"Must be an ideograph then…" she muttered to herself. His ears perked, brows rising in gleeful curiosity.
"An ideograph?" He gave her a sly look. Erza sucked in her lips, suddenly aware of him having heard and putting two and two together. Her eyes flashed around, looking for something, anything to distract with, mind visibly running wild with panic.
"Eh, nothing!" She quickly said. He inwardly grinned at the sweat he noticed to be forming on her temple.
"Erza," Jellal drawled meaningfully, his voice rising upwards in a teasingly questioning tone, "do you by any chance read-"
"Oh, look! A hot air balloon!" She exclaimed. Raking the window open, she pointed out with played excitedness. He shook his head at how obviously she found excuses to elude him. With a cool smile, he inhaled to repeat what was painting her entire face a deep red. Before a single word could roll off his tongue, however, he jumped, startling at the very loud sound of what he deemed to be the actually existing hot air balloon. Its flames burst again, blowing up into the fabric as if right next to them, though being several hundred metres in the air.
"It's just the balloon," Erza soothed.
"I know, I know," he calmed himself, cursing at how his own cheeks' colour had changed with her having noticed his wince. "It just sounded really close there for a second," he defended himself. Her feet appeared in front of his and he lifted his head to see her having stepped so close to him that those feet disappeared not a second later as she her chest over them.
"You know what's also really close…?" Erza let her lids drop halfway, and he saw the look in her eyes. The look. He had to laugh nonetheless.
"How is that even remotely a transition to- uuh, is that a new bra?" His eyes sparked up when she was already retreating, inviting him to follow as she showed off with black lace on dark purple fabric.
"Why don't you find out…?" Erza trailed her voice suggestively, veiling her torso behind the blackness of her jumper again. His legs moved of their own accord, always just a step away from her. "Come on," she reached out to run her finger up his chest to gently nudge up his chin. It drew him in even more, his body responding to her every move. "I'm dying for a shower," she finalised.
Jellal snapped out of his near trance.
"Shower?" He repeated, puzzled.
"What else would be really close?" Erza innocently tilted her head, already in front of the bathroom door. Giving her most clueless expression, she was most adorable in her role, so adorable, in fact, he almost fell for it. Almost.
"You're messing with me," Jellal plainly stated.
"Messing with you?" She batted her lashes chastely but he detected the grin that she could not completely hide, the corners of her mouth quivering ever so slightly to stay down. His own lips pursed.
"I saw that."
"Oh, come on! It's only half the fun if you notice right away," she now had to laugh, finally dissolving her act when yelping instead, fleeing into the shower from his tickles.
"No."
"Jellal-"
"Absolutely not," he did not even turn. Right on his heels, Erza pursued him into the bedroom.
"Why not?" She asked. He shook his head and she put her hands on her hips. "Did I do something wrong?"
"I told you, I just really don't want it,"
"Why?" She gave him a pouty yet stern look when he finally turned around, securing the knot of his bathrobe. Nothing on his face betrayed him to be giving in any time soon. "Why does it make such a difference?"
"Because I foresee the most awkward injuries," he argued. "And it's not that much of a difference, why do it anyway?" He retorted, shortly leaving her at a loss of words.
"Because…" she tried, knowing for herself but not quite how to put it into words. Had he not stopped her, there would have been no discussion now, she fumed to herself. She should have left out the sponge! But how could she have known? Usually, there was nothing she did he could resist, not for long. She sighed under her breath. The shower was turned off but there was always a next time if she got this right. "Just to… spice things up," Erza tried, gesturing helplessly with her hands. Why did she have to explain in the first place, she had almost had him!
"Does it have to be 'spiced up' to be good?" Jellal enquired. Now it only sounded stupid, inevitably making her feel that way, too. Her lip pushed out into a pout. It did not help when he announced to have forgotten his bag downstairs leaving the room.
With a long groan, Erza flopped down on the bed. All weekend, she had been patient, having to wait, and then he rejected her approaches. That was perhaps the worst part – the defeat. She would have liked to blame it on her clothes but it was impossible, seeing as those had been discarded before the shower. And those had lured him in in the first place, of course.
Being as powerful as they were as Mages, she had never even considered to get injured on such a daily basis, though she now vividly remembered the burns from trying to cook while being taught. But with the greatest evil of the entire Earthland beaten, this was not something to fear; they would not slip and fall.
With a creasing brow, Erza admitted to herself that she could picture that. One or the other earning themselves a nasty bruise but maybe – and that had to be his primary fear – even worse. Cracking a bone, or hitting the head hard enough for a concussion, something bad enough that would have to be treated; that would have to be explained. Wendy had already not bought her stumbled-against-the-cupboard-several-times-with-her-neck-and-chest reasoning when it came to the lovebites; this would be impossible to cover up. And a normal doctor was out of the question – too long a healing time and too risky for both of their reputations. Jellal did have a point.
It was not enough for her to give the idea up, however.
Letting it rest for now, Erza groped around the bed. She then remembered his clothes to still be in the bathroom, resorting to requipping into her own. On second thought, she went with another thing her mind had just come up with. Sending her pyjamas away, she summoned the mansion's bathrobe she had accidentally stored into her dimension back, alongside a set of lacy underwear. She wanted to try the frilly one sometime but for now, lacy was a safe bet – he could never resist her when clad in lace.
On third thought, Erza unequipped the bra, then proceeded to untie the belt of the bathrobe. She laid back down when hearing his steps coming up the stairs again. Quickly, she draped her hair to
be sprawled out around her in all of its still damp but shining splendour. Then she tugged at the fabric covering her torso, opening it in the middle to show off her only other piece of clothing and tease with the sight of her stomach – he loved her stomach, somewhat obsessed with it – and the sides and tops of her breasts.
He was almost down the corridor, so she closed her eyes, trying desperately to still her racing pulse and calm her breathing. It flowed rhythmically through her parted lips and she left one hand over her ribs while the other fell to the side of her head.
The last rays of sun illuminated the room in streaks of tangerine, the shadows growing and stretching along the walls.
He halted in the doorway. Erza's heart pounded with mischievous excitement but she managed to remain unsuspiciously serene. Her brows did not twitch, her chest rose and fell steadily. She knew very well that he had only been away for a minute or two but with her seemingly constant fatigue lately, it was believable. She had not slept on the train, either, unable to do so with everyone there and he had noticed then how tired she had already been.
Nearing his beloved on silent feet, Jellal crept across the carpet. The mattress next to her legs lowered with a faint creak as he climbed onto it. She could practically feel his eyes burn into her, a giddy warmth of victory spreading withing her. Shower or not, she would get what she wanted.
The bedsheets rustled, his weight wandering upwards. She had to count now in order for her breath to stay relaxed and convincing. Mastering it, Erza wondered for the first time how she should react when he finally would. Keep on pretending? Moan in her sleep? Catch him red-handed? That was the best option, she decided, even if she wondered how far he would go if she let him. But she needed to dump her triumphant grin on him, so copping it was.
His face was nearing hers, his breath coming to vent on her still flushed cheeks, partly blocking out the fading light. She wanted to whoop at how speechless he was.
Then he gasped loudly.
"She's asleep!" Jellal he said as if having made the discovery of the century. Cracking up, Erza snorted with laughter. She swatted his boyish grin away from her, grabbing a pillow to slap him with.
"How did you know!" She was sitting by now, hitting him several times before he snatched her weapon of choice away. She continued with her fists when his laughter rung for even longer than hers.
"You're so cute and honestly," Jellal caught his breath, "I can't do things to you when you're so cute," he laughed when she sucked in the pout he had triggered with his words.
"No!" She punched his arm where he cushioned it with the pillow in custody. "I'm not cute! Do things to me!" She protested at her utterly failed plan, his own tease driving more blush into her cheeks. "I'm- I'm fierce!" She panted, her own laughter subsiding when he could not hold his in. He fell over from it, having to hold his stomach. With a scowl – only fuelling him more – she kicked him off the bed. It gave a heavy thud but no end to his amusement.
Crossing her arms, Erza turned her back to where she could hear him pull himself up by the bedpost. His breath wheezed and she did not watch him wipe away a tear from his eye, sulking as proudly as theatrical sulking allowed.
"Hey," a finger poked her back. She huffed, lifting her chin higher. Another creak, then his hand gently combed through her hair. "Erza," he tried but she ignored him. It worked for about half a second until she could not stand it anymore. He gasped again, this time not overdramatically pretended but with honest surprise at her assault.
And her lips, suddenly on his, practically eating him up.
His panting picked back up almost instantly, his chest heaving painfully when she lured out a low groan where his lungs would have needed oxygen. For being caught off-guard, he responded well, tracing his tongue along her lower lip in a polite demand but she was already seizing the opportunity to run her own along his to gain entrance herself.
She had to let him go for breath herself. Jellal grasped for air, rocking her up high where she straddled his stomach. His eyes would only open after another heartbeat, slightly dazed. His finger came up to trail over his already slightly swollen lower lip.
His mouth opened a moment before he could bring his voice to resonate.
"What happened to 'spicing things up'?" He asked, and the spark of playfulness returned to his eyes. His lips slowly curved into a smile where his index finger felt along the ridges.
"Well," Erza puffed, "you left me hanging there, so deal with the consequences," she put her hands flat onto his chest where his own bathrobe was coming undone.
"Nothing happened," he shrugged at her threatened consequences, raising a brow. She felt a growl bubble up. With her knuckles turning white around the collar of his single article of clothing, she raked him up to her face.
"Then it's about time," she hissed, smashing her lips onto his anew. It drew out a muffled sound but even with all passion she fired at him, he was less of a stunned mess this time. Hands suddenly grabbed her rear and Erza moaned throatily when they squeezed into her soft flesh.
"You want spice…?" Jellal murmured. She had not yet processed his words when he flipped them over, making her land on her back with a yelp. Finding herself with her wrists captured above her head, Erza's heart drummed wildly against her ribcage. She knew well about the effect she had on him but that smirk he bore sent fuzzy shivers along more than just her spine.
One of his hands wandered southward, though not as low as where his knee pressed against. It took hold of the belt of her bathrobe, sidling it out of its loops. Drowning out the initial gasp, she adapted a smirk of her own, watching while she bit her lower lip in anticipation. And because she knew it drove him mad.
She blinked in confusion when he kept hold of the item instead of tossing it aside and going on with the rest of her sparse attire. It hovered above her eyes, and after a moment, she understood, granting the wordless permission he sought by laying still. Her insides fluttered in agitation.
Gently, Jellal lifted her head, the belt coming to cover her eyes, a knot tying it in the back where she rested on a second later. It reminded her of when he had left her nightgown over her face instead of removing it completely. Her stomach bounced and plunged and her heart raced at the smoothness of his voice.
"So, Sweetness," Jellal enticed another quiver all the way down her back, making her tingly all over. A mewl escaped her lips, tinting her cheeks a deep scarlet. She could practically hear the wiggling of his brows, finding his hand to be glide down her arms while the other hotly appeared on her ribs, stroking over the subtle skin, travelling up and below the bathrobe that still cloaked what little he was not yet seeing. "How would you like your eggs?" He whispered next to her ear.
"You stole that from that Sorcerer Weekly article," she huskily, yet feistily croaked. Jellal still smirked.
"Did it work?"
"Gods, yes."