Chapter Nine

"Jellal?" I echo softly. I hate him. I remember how Erza looked after her battle with him, the way he played with her emotions like a doll. She cared about him and he used it against her, to hurt her.

Jellal smiles at her. "Hey, long time no see." He's so calm and placid! How dare he!

Erza stares at him, stunned.

"Why are you here, Jellal?" She whispers softly. I can barely hear her, and I'm only a few feet away from her.

Jellal pulls her into a hug. "I'm a free man now. I wanted to see you, and maybe join Fairytail?"

He's a free man? What idiot judge did he con into writing him a pardon? I have to watch as Erza hugs him back. I can tell that Loke is picking up on my mood, and he rests a hand on my shoulder.

"Relax. She doesn't love him. She's madly in love with you. Anyone can see it. And… my time here is up for now. I have to go. Tell Erza she hasn't passed my test yet." His test? Does that mean that this whole fight was just his way of testing her? Ugh. Loke is always so perplexing. Loke dissolves into thin air, and I am left to watch Erza and Jellal bond like they have never ever had any problems whatsoever. It makes me want to grind my teeth. I don't trust him.

Maybe Erza notices my anger, because she walks over and scoops me up. She whispers into my ear, her breath hot and wet against my skin.

"We should get you home. You seem tired." I nod, tired of the thoughts in my head. I wish Erza would just… kiss me, or tell me she isn't interested in Jellal. But instead she walks off cradling me in her arms and heads home to my apartment.

When we arrive at my home, Erza sets me down. I look around at my apartment, feeling somewhat uncomfortable.

"Lucy… I wanted to ask if I could stay the night?" I turn to look at Erza, who is blushing faintly.

"You want to stay here?"

"Yeah. I want to spend some time with you, because I really love you. You're angry with me, I can tell. I don't know why, but I want to make you happy. We could watch some movies and cuddle, or something." My heart melts. She's trying to be sweet, and succeeding. I know that isn't her favorite thing, but she is trying to fix things. I smile at her.

"That actually sounds great. Do you mind watching a romance?" Erza shrugs.

"I don't mind. They don't make too much sense to me, since I'm demisexual, though." I blink at her.

"Doesn't that mean you don't have sexual or romantic attraction?"

"Well...I have to really know them. It's complicated. I have to really know them to feel any sexual or romantic attraction. Not like normal people. I need to know them and trust them. That's what it is to be demi-sexual. Why I just can't take a random date. They don't feel like anything to me. They're numbing. But with you...It's different. It's special," She looks away and scratches the back of her neck. "I think its part of why I struggle with going back and forth about being a knight, or a friend, or a lover. Emotions are confusing." I somewhat understand what she means. instead of saying anything, I reach forward and take her hand. She smiles at me, and kisses my cheek. Instantly my cheeks flame up. Erza is so sweet! Erza pulls me over to the couch and holds me close. When my eyes finally close after a movie or two, I feel warm and safe for the first time in awhile.

A/N: Hey, everyone! I know its been, like six months since my last update, but I finally had some inspiration from my lovely significant other, She fell for fiction. And I will now shamelessly promo them. They have lovely Erlu. I also wanted to say that I personally HATE Jellal. He will be a terrible person in this story, and if that is a problem you can read something else. I will not tolerate hate. You can disagree, but you will not change my mind. Also.

VERY IMPORTANT WARNING: somewhere in the next few chapters there will be mentions of stuff that may or may not be scarring or triggering for people who have suffered from sexual abuse or from depression and self harm. I will leave a warning at the beginning of any chapters that include such things, but consider yourself warned.