A/N: Hello everyone and welcome back! I know it's been a while but here I am; alive and kicking.
I want to take a moment to apologize for apparently being dead to the world since summer ended and I have a perfectly reasonable excuse as to why this happened: I got a full time job. Right at the end of August I was quickly hired on as a security guard and have been working as such since. I'm currently working the graveyard shift and whenever I'm forced to take overtime which is a lot because we seem to constantly short staffed and have make up for that. It's something out of my hands and not much can be done about it.
It has been a somewhat taxing and tiring job and it's really cut into my free/writing time, so hence my absence. I have been writing and working on things…just at severely cut amount as opposed to what I'm used to because I have no energy to write most of the time, so I apologize if I'm a little rusty.
Any who, I want to (once again) apologize for my lengthy absence and I promise to try and be better about keeping my updates more common. To those of you who read and follow my writing, I just want to let you all know that words can't describe how grateful I am for your patience and understanding.
WARNING: THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS SEXUAL CONTENT; READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.
As usual before we continue, here is a shout out to those of you who left a review the last time around:
Fish-Fish Jun-Tenshi: Hello and welcome back! If you said 'Oh my' last time, I hope this chapter gets a similar response, lol.
Doesofdream: Hello and welcome to the story. It's weird with Fairy Tail being over; not seeing a new chapter pop each week you know? I already gave my thoughts on FT coming to an end in the previous chapter but I can understand why people did or did not like the ending all the same. But you are right about us having fanfics for this sort of thing. I'm happy to hear that you took the time to read the story so far and I hope you enjoy this final chapter.
Just3because3: Hello and welcome to the story! I'm glad you enjoyed the story so far and I kind of got a laugh out your reaction to Jellal getting shot. Don't worry; Erza will take good care of Jellal *nudge, nudge, wink, wink* If you like possessive Erza and handsy Irene, you're going to like a certain scene in this chapter.
SulliMike23: Hey dude, long time no see! Welcome back. Oh yeah, this chapter will show plenty of 'alone time' for Jellal and Erza; hope you enjoy it.
FreyjaBee: Hello my friend from afar! Welcome back! Sorry it took me so long to finish this up but as we've discussed in PM's, you kind of know my reasons lol. Yep, the job did go horribly wrong and now we get to see the fallout from it. I'm glad you like the action scenes; for me, they can be hard to get right and I always worry about them being too complicated or overly detailed. Either way, glad you liked them all the same and I'm sure you'll be liking Jellal's backstory on this one. Hope you enjoy the conclusion to the story!
Masamune Uchiha: Hello and welcome to the story; glad you're enjoying it!
Lilfoxy55: Hello! I'm glad you're enjoying this little story and I'm sorry for making you wait for the ending. Life got in the way, not much I can do about that. I hope this ending chapter leaves you satisfied!
Canislupuswolf: Continued, lol.
Now with that all said and done…I present to you the conclusion of our story!
XXXX
CHAPTER 3
XXXX
You wear your heart so fearless, it's like it doesn't beat
You push away my demons when they torture me
Don't think that I can fight this pressure pulling me underneath
It's like I've got the whole world tied around my feet
Periscope – Papa Roach ft. Skylar Grey
XXXX
Tower of Heaven: Luxury High Rise Apartments…
Irene Belserion's Penthouse…
For Irene Belserion, the night had been nothing short of wonderful.
The day had been productive for her various businesses and she had finally bought out two of Acnologia's most loyal suppliers to her side...under the threat that she would gut them like fish and then immolate them if they didn't, of course.
Meanwhile, her daughter and Jellal were in the process of eliminating Crawford Seam; the only obstacle in her way to getting onto the City Council. As a matter of fact, they should be finishing up right about now and she awaited their follow up call with great anticipation.
It was all coming together, she thought with a smug smirk. One step at a time, it was all coming together.
And to top it all off, she finally convinced Anna Heartfilia to take a night off and just unwind. Or, in this case, become entwined.
Anna sat in an ornate wooden chair at the center of the bedroom; bare as the day she was born, dripping with sweat and other fluids, and her cheeks tinted a fiery red. Her hair was still tied up in an elegant knot from earlier that evening, but she was now blindfolded, gagged, and had a collar and leash securely and tightly fitted around her neck. Her legs were spread open wide-her ankles lashed to chair's legs-while her torso and arms were bound in a series of intricate knots that wrapped around her middle, her breasts, and over her shoulders. Her smooth skin was covered in a series of read marks from Irene's other toys or from the woman herself; namely bite marks and various hickeys.
Irene herself was devoid of all clothing, as was her usual appearance on such occasions, and sported only a heavy sheen of sweat from rigorous "love making" and other activities.
She had met Anna years ago at a gala fundraiser for the hospital Anna worked at, hosted of course, by Jude Heartfilia; the CEO and owner of Heartfilia Konzern. Jude also happened to be the husband to her late twin sister, Layla. Irene had been immediately drawn to Anna, finding the successful but somewhat mousy woman to be just delectable. They had spent the evening talking about a number of things ranging from politics to how Anna never cared that much for Jude, how she worried about Layla's health, and her concerns for her beloved niece; Lucy. Talking had led to a few drinks, which led to a dance, and then finally to Anna's bedroom…but then again, Irene hadn't exactly been subtle towards the woman throughout the night about her desire.
They'd been seeing each other on and off ever since. More so recently with how busy they'd both been; the two women finding a twisted form of stress relief in one another.
Aside from Jellal, Anna was her favorite toy. As much as she enjoyed making the blue haired man squirm and tick-as much as she enjoyed making Erza seethe when she took him from her- being with Anna always brought a special satisfaction that made breaking her all the more sweet.
To the public, Anna was the cities top surgeon; a woman who was dedicated to saving others, a philanthropist who championed medical research, and was viewed as a truly genuinely kind and caring individual. But behind closed doors…Anna's personal vices greatly contradicted the image she had built for the public. Irene had been surprised at how kinky and submissive Anna truly was but now…now she relished in putting such a respected individual beneath her boot. Or "in her place", as Anna had often told her.
The evening they had shared together provided the perfect example.
It started off with an early dinner at one of the city's top and hardest to get into restaurants; the kind of place where you had to make a reservation months in advance to get into…or bribe the owners with the right amount of money which was no trouble for Irene.
In their own private booth-tucked away from prying eyes-Irene had promised Anna a night of nothing but dark and sensual things. Anna tried to turn down such offerings but in the end, all it had taken were a few gentle caresses along her hand and arm; a wandering hand up the slit of her dress and into her panties; and few well timed kisses to silence any protests and Irene had Anna wrapped around her finger.
But Irene knew Anna could never say no; it was all part of the game they played.
From there, they made their way back to Irene's penthouse apartment. Over a few glasses of wine, the two took a relaxing dip in the outdoor hot tub-sans clothing of course-before Irene had guided Anna to the bedroom. Which, for the both of them, was where the evening truly began.
It was only after a round or two of heated and rough love making that Irene fully exerted her control over Anna, which led them to the current moment.
Irene pulled the leash back tight and the collar constricted around Anna's neck, making her choke and gag. Irene smirked darkly as Anna trembled, not out of fear or pain, but arousal. The blush on her cheeks darkened as if to emphasize this. Irene hummed deeply and traced her hand over Anna's breasts, taking her time in caressing and pinching her hardened nipples before letting her hand fall lower to the junction of Anna's legs. She had barely tweaked the hardened nub or brushed the tips of her fingers over Anna's dripping wet folds and the woman was already moaning and crying out into her gag. Anna tried bucking her hips into Irene's touch but her restraints kept her from doing so, denying her the relief she desperately sought.
For Irene, it was a sight that sent a thrill trough her and she bit her lip in an attempt to keep her own arousal in check.
"You're such a naughty girl," Irene said, placing a kiss at the hollow of Anna's throat, making her tense, "you're such a slut."
Irene placed a kiss on Anna's cheek while her free hand delved a finger into Anna's wet heat. Anna cried out, the sound muffled by her gag and ground her hips into Irene's touch.
"Am I wrong?" Irene mused, "Am I wrong in calling you that?"
Anna nodded her head and Irene gave a sadistic grin. She added a second finger and began to roughly pump the digits in and out of the other woman. Anna's body locked up before she began to thrash about in the chair. Irene pulled tighter on the leash and constricted Anna once more; tightening and tightening until it seemed that Anna would become blue in the face. Irene's fingers were now producing a series of lewd, wet noises from her lover.
"Am I wrong?" Irene asked again, her breathe coming out in light pants.
This time Anna shook her head.
"That's what I thought. But you're not just any slut are you? You're my slut."
Anna nodded.
"You're my pet?"
Anna nodded again, more fervently this time. Her smile wicked, Irene removed the gag from Anna's mouth and the woman gasped for air when Irene loosened her grip on the leash.
"And who do you belong to?" Irene asked, stilling her ministrations as Anna's mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water.
"Come on Anna, you know what you need to say." Irene gently bit the shell of Anna's ear, whispering heatedly into it.
"Say the magic words and bliss shall be yours."
Anna swallowed hard and took a gulp of air, "Y-You."
Her voice was hoarse, desperate, and filled with a twisted mixture of lust and desire.
"Louder." Irene demanded.
"You."
"Louder." Irene pressed.
"You!" Anna cried out, "God damn it! I belong to you!"
Satisfied, Irene gave an aroused growl as she straddled Anna and mashed their lips together; her hand letting go of the leash so that she could grip the back of the woman's head, while her other hand resumed pleasuring Anna. It didn't take long for Anna to reach her climax after that. The two women panted against each other's lips as Irene removed the blindfold and rested her forehead against Anna's.
"Good girl." She smirked, "Keep this up and I may never take that collar off of you."
"Y-You wouldn't dare." Anna panted, her eyes unfocused and staring blankly behind Irene.
"Is that a challenge?" Irene asked, "Think of it. I could have one made for you to seem like a special choker, something you could wear in public. But behind closed doors, the things I'd use it for…"
Irene chuckled darkly and Anna shuddered at the thought; not in fear but at how truly delightful the idea sounded.
"It'd be the ultimate display of submission and no one would be the wiser. You'd still be Anna Heartfilia M.D."
Anna blinked, her senses finally returning to her and she bit her lip as she pictured the idea in her mind's eye. She could almost see it now.
"…M-Maybe." She said, averting her gaze from Irene's when she was forced to look at her.
Irene sighed softly and kissed Anna, a tender brush of their lips. She then undid the knots binding Anna, noting how her joints popped when she stood, and guided the woman to the nearby bed. Irene poured a glass of wine and split it between her and Anna.
The quiet moments between the two of them were when Irene allowed the rare moments of introspection take hold of her. Maybe it was the sexually aroused high she felt or maybe it was the wine, but for whatever reason, her thoughts in these moments always wandered down the same path.
Did she love Anna?
Maybe.
Possibly.
She honestly wasn't sure. She used Anna as a way to indulge in her kinks and fetishes and she knew Anna thought the same of her. But after so much time together, it was hard not to deny that they had entered into a somewhat unconventional relationship. Yes the sex was fun-amazing in many regards-but it had certainly changed into something…more. She wasn't adverse to the idea either; keeping Anna all to herself certainly held a definite appeal.
"What is it?" Anna asked, taking a sip of wine and handing the glass back.
Irene chuckled and accepted, downing the last of the drink. Setting the glass aside, she was surprised when Anna tucked a few strands of loose hair behind her ear.
"It's nothing." She replied.
"Are you sure?" Anna asked, brow furrowed.
Irene smiled and gently caught Anna's wrist before slowly kissing her palm. She then pulled Anna close and delivered a sensual, open mouth kissed that had Anna moaning and melding to her. Irene pushed her errant thoughts aside for later. That was something she could focus on later…all that mattered was the here and now.
"Now…it's your turn." Irene said against Anna's lips as laid on her back, Anna instinctively straddling her. She ran her hand up and down the blonde's spine before giving her rear a squeeze.
The other woman only paused for the slightest of moments to admire Irene's body before she licked her lips and delivered a series of chaste kisses that slowly deepened into something more carnal and erotic. She gave the same treatment to the slender expanse that was Irene's neck; relishing in the sighs and soft moans she produced from the redhead.
Irene sighed in bliss when Anna finally turned her attention to her breasts, giving each of the soft, pliable globes of flesh equal attention with a series of nips, bites, and tweaks. As much as she was enjoying the sensations Irene was never a patient woman when it came to satisfying her needs, and with a frustrated huff, she pushed Anna back enough that she was able to guide the woman between her legs.
Anna was quick to respond and parted Irene's legs, kissing her way along her thighs before finally running her tongue along Irene's weeping slit. Irene let out a deep, guttural moan as her head lolled back against the headboard. She ran her fingers through Anna's hair, holding her in place as the blonde parted and lapped at her folds.
"For such a submissive pet you always know how to please, Anna…" Irene breathed out, earning a hum from Anna that left Irene shivering.
Wanting to repay Irene for her earlier treatment, Anna added her fingers into the mix and soon had Anna grinding and bucking her hips; panting and moaning with reckless abandon. Whether it be tweaking her clit, plunging into her folds, or teasing her second entrance; Anna struck with the precision and skill that had made her the best surgeon in her field. It drove Irene wild and over the edge like nothing else.
Both women could feel the orgasm brewing and it wouldn't be long before Irene fell to pieces, bliss overcoming her.
She was so close.
Almost…
Almost…
Irene's cellphone rang, startling the both of them.
Anna buried her face into the mattress with a groan while Irene glared at the offending device.
"You've got to be fucking kidding me." Anna grumbled into the bedsheets.
"Impeccable timing." Irene hissed as the two women reluctantly parted, both knowing who was calling. Anna sighed heavily and grabbed the wine bottle, taking two heavy gulps from it, while Irene checked the caller ID. She smiled when she saw Jellal's name and number on the screen.
Putting on a smile to mask the fact that she had been metaphorically blue balled, Irene answered the call with the most pleasant tone she could muster.
"Jellal, darling, I trust that-" Irene had barely gotten the words out of her mouth when she suddenly winced, holding the phone away from her ear. Ultear's panicked voice could clearly be heard from the other end.
"Ultear?" Irene answered, "Ultear, calm down; what's wrong?"
Irene had risen from the bed so that she could pace back and forth across her bedroom.
"Wait, wait, wait; slow down. Could you repeat that?"
"What is it?" Anna asked but Irene held her finger out at her, a look of surprise and simmering anger quickly forming on her features.
"What?" Anna hissed before her countenance contorted violently; eyes wide and lips curled back in a snarl.
"YOU WHAT!?"
XXXX
20 Minutes Earlier…
The home of the late Councilman Crawford Seam…
Bullets cracked overhead or riddled the fountain, concrete fragments and dust kicking into the air.
"Fuck!" Erza swore when a bullet struck too close, splashing water onto her and Jellal.
Jellal had curled into himself, groaning in pain and keeping his hands slapped onto the bullet wound in his side. Blood seeped through his fingers and it was getting harder to breathe; the bullets flying overhead weren't helping matters.
The moment he'd gone down, Erza had ditched the now empty P10C and dragged him up against the fountain. She'd taken his FNX from him then, using it to return fire, but having little effect against the guards who were now leaving their cover and preparing to storm the fountain.
"Jellal, we're trapped." Erza hissed, her voice clenched with panic and eyes wide. He didn't blame her fear for surfacing anew.
She'd just escaped potential torture only to face the prospect of being gunned down; if that wasn't the perfect example of irony then Jellal didn't know what was. And it was something he refused to accept.
"Run." Jellal said through gritted teeth, "Run. Get out of here."
"And what, leave you behind?" Erza snapped, blindly firing two shots from Jellal's pistol.
"…Hold them off…not worth it." Jellal hissed, digging into a vest pouch and drawing a fragmentation grenade, "I'll take some of them with me."
"Don't you say that," Erza growled, "don't you fucking dare say that."
"You have a better chance of getting out of here than me!" Jellal countered, "Leave me and run, you're worth more alive than I am! You're too important!"
"And you're too important to me!" Erza cried, "You're worth more to me than anything else God damnit!"
"Erza…" Jellal said, stunned.
Even with the bullets flying around them, the world seemed to fade away as Erza raised his mask and cupped his face while forcing him to pocket the grenade. It was just the two of them.
"I am not leaving the man I love to die like a fucking animal." Erza bit out, tears welling up in her eyes.
Jellal's mouth hung agape in shock at the sudden confession and he slowly blinked as Erza's words settled in. He knew something had been brewing between them for a while, but to hear Erza say it was something else entirely.
Before Jellal could answer, however, the sound of an engine revving could be heard over the gunfire. As it grew closer, it drew not only Jellal and Erza's attention but the attention of Seam's guards as well.
"What the hell is that?" One of the guards asked aloud.
Then with a screeching of tires, Erik's van came crashing through the front gates in reverse before coming to an abrupt stop mere feet from Jellal and Erza; the guards gawking in shock.
"What the hell!?"
"Where the fuck did that come from!?"
"Did those two call in back up or something!?"
The back doors to the van were suddenly kicked open and there stood Ultear, the M60 in hand and looking almost as if she had just popped out of one of the Rambo movies.
"Hey assholes!" Ultear shouted, "Suck on this!"
The hacker promptly cut loose with the machine gun, firing it from the hip and hosing down everything and anyone who got in her sights.
"Holy shit!" Erza cried out as she covered Jellal with her body. Beneath her, despite the pain he was in, Jellal let out an annoyed groan.
"God damnit Ultear…"
Within seconds, it was all over. From the front steps to the front windows, Ultear had sparred no one; the guards lay in crumpled heaps, torn apart by the 7.62mm bullets. Without a care, Ultear tossed the smoking machine gun aside and ran over to Jellal and Erza.
"We have to go," She said, "we have to go; now! The cops will be here any minute!"
She and Erza were quick in helping Jellal stand and all but dragged him into the van. The back doors hadn't even closed and Jellal was already trying to remove his armor.
"Punch it!" Ultear snapped at Erik before turning back to Erza, "Where's he hit?"
"On his side." Erza said as she assisted Jellal, "He's bleeding badly."
"Shit." Ultear hissed, retrieving a first aid kit and handing it to Erza, "We need to stop the bleeding and get him help ASAP."
"We're not going to a hospital I can tell you that much." Erik said as the van sped away from Seam's house and out of the gated community.
"And I don't think any of our doctors are going to be willing to help us with both the heat baring down on us and that we botched one of Irene Belserion's jobs. Man, she's going to be pissed when she hears about this."
"We have to do something." Erza pressed as she ripped open Jellal's shirt and forced his hand away from the bleeding wound.
She used an antiseptic wipe to clear the blood away before applying a QuikClot bandage to the wound. She then used an autoinjector to numb the wound through the bandage.
"Thanks." Jellal grunted as Erza helped him sit up against the side of the van.
Jellal the dug into his pocket and retrieved his phone, pulling up Irene's number, and tossing it to Ultear. She looked from the phone, to Jellal, and then back to the phone.
"I'm not making this call." She said.
"And I'm in too much pain to really care." Jellal hissed.
"She's going to skin us alive!" Ultear snapped back.
"You'll be fine. She hired me for this job and I take full responsibility for how fucked it went. She'll skin me alive…you and Erik will be fine."
"You're not reassuring anyone man!" Erik called out from the front.
"Just make the call…" Jellal took a heavy series of breathes, "Don't panic."
Ultear ran her hand through her hair and grimaced, pressing the call button, and waiting for Irene to answer. When she did…Ultear all but blurted out the events of the last fifteen minutes.
"Smooth." Erza grumbled while Jellal sighed heavily.
"Whenever your mother is involved, people tend to be scarred shitless regardless."
"Most people aren't you."
"I could say the same for you too." Jellal smirked, casting a sideways glance at Erza.
Her faced was marred with concern as she removed his mask completely and set it aside, her one hand intertwining with his while the other gently traced his tattoo.
"I know," Ultear said, drawing their attention back to the call, "I know mam, I just…yes…yes, Seam is dead…the guards were alerted and a shootout ensued…the shooting more than likely alerted the whole neighborhood…I might have also shot up the front of the house…and Jellal himself got shot; he's pretty messed up."
Ultear winced sharply as Irene could be heard raising her voice and she undoubtedly would start screaming soon.
"Mam…mam the point still stands that Seam is dead. We got the job done but Jellal is hurt and needs to get help immediately…right…right, I understand mam."
Ultear ended the call and sighed, running her hand down her face; frowning deeply.
"She's pissed."
"I heard." Jellal quipped, "Sitrep?"
"As much as she'd want to leave you to die, she wants to speak with you; she wants to hear it straight from the horse's mouth as to how you and Erza fucked this up."
"I figured as much."
"With that being said, you're in luck. She happened to be with Anna Heartfilia and will have her patch you up."
"That's pretty convenient." Erik called back, "You know something we don't Jellal?"
"What stays behind closed doors, stays behind closed doors." Jellal replied, "It's not my place to say. Either way, I'm not complaining."
The van was quiet for a minute before the group let out a collective sigh.
"…This is going to suck." Jellal groaned.
XXXX
Later…
Tower of Heaven; Erza Scarlet's apartment…
"…And that should do it." Anna said as she finished stitching up the bullet wounds.
After arriving to Tower of Heaven, Irene had her guards usher the group up to Erza's apartment where she and Anna were waiting. Despite looking like wrath personified, Irene had begrudgingly let Anna tend to Jellal while Erik, Ultear, and Erza had explained how things had gone so wrong so fast…with the occasional interjection from Jellal, who lay shirtless on his side on the sofa as Anna tended to him.
Irene had been less than pleased and had spent the majority of their chat massaging her temples out of frustration. When all was said and done, she dismissed Erik and Ultear-assuring them that they would be paid in full-and then proceeded to call Magnolia's chief of police. Jellal watched as Irene paced on the outside balcony, occasionally casting an irritated glance his way through the glass. The wind had picked up outside, making Irene's hair flutter like the angered tempest she was.
Erza waited nearby in the kitchen, leaning against the center island and nursing her second glass of whiskey. She had changed out of her ruined evening dress and traded it for a satin robe. Jellal found his gaze switching from Irene to eyeing Erza's long and slender legs. He couldn't help himself; it took his mind off of things.
"You're lucky the bullet made a clean entry and exit. Otherwise you'd have significantly more internal damage, especially to your ribs."
She applied an ointment to the stitches before placing two adhesive bandages to the entry and exit wounds.
"Don't put too much stress on your injuries, no serious physical activity, and change the bandages if there's an excess amount of blood. Call me if you think there is anything wrong or you start feeling ill."
"Thank you Doctor Heartfilia." He said, wincing slightly as she helped him sit up.
"I owe you."
"Damn right you do." Anna said as rummaged through her doctor's bag, "Your little mistake interrupted a good evening. Neither Irene nor I like being blue balled you know."
"…Sorry." He said lamely.
Anna sighed and produced a small bottle of painkillers along with some fresh bandages.
"These are extra strength so take them every couple of hours; two are recommended, three if you're desperate." She said as Jellal took two of the pain pills and swallowed them dry.
The door to the balcony opened and Irene sauntered back in, turning her phone over and over in her hand, a neutral expression on her face. Erza had set her glass down and had come to stand nearby, keeping an eye on both her mother and Jellal.
"How is our dear Leben Geist?" Irene asked in mock concern.
"He was lucky. It was a clean hit; the bullet passed through and through. He's all patched up now and should be fine within the coming week or two." Anna said as she stood and shouldered her bag, doing her best to adjust her dress so as to hide the bite and red marks still present on her neck and collarbone.
"Good, good," Irene said, stopping before Jellal and glancing at him sideways.
"Our dear chief of police has informed me that, ordinarily, he wouldn't turn a blind eye to such a 'violent and brazen crime.' That it would be hard to explain to the general public how such a prominent city councilman and his guards were shot to pieces in his own home and how the killer-or killers-are still at large."
She faced him fully now and leaned in, eyes narrowed dangerously.
"I gave you one job; one job. For you, an assassin with such a reputation such as yours, I would've expected this to have been a cake walk. But apparently that was asking too much now wasn't it?"
Jellal closed his eyes, inhaled and exhaled calmly, and then met Irene's gaze.
"There was no way we could've known about the pace maker…nor that it was programmed to alert his guards. It was something out of our control."
"And as you very well know, I do not like not being in control!" Irene hissed, suddenly drawing an old Luger P08 from the waistband of her pants and jamming the muzzle beneath his jaw. Lightning flashed outside and there was a crack of thunder. The steady pitter patter of rain followed shortly after.
Erza and Anna tensed but Jellal didn't even flinch. He simply blinked, looking down at the Luger and then Irene.
"Not only did you and Miss Milkovich singlehandedly slaughter his entire retinue of guards and draw unnecessary attention to this whole debacle, you have also put my plans in jeopardy. Plans that I have spent a very long time ensuring go off without a hitch. Your most grievous offense however, is that you nearly cost my daughter her life. She was nearly butchered and discarded like a lamb at the slaughter. I know I explicitly told you to not let any harm come to Erza, so you have no idea how close I am to shooting you just for that alone."
For several tense heartbeats, neither Anna nor Erza dared to move-let alone breathe-as the Leben Geist and Tante of Crime stared one another down. Irene's finger rested on the trigger of the Luger, the gun just a hairsbreadth away from firing and splattering the wall with the insides of Jellal's head.
Finally, it was Jellal who broke the silence.
"You said that 'ordinarily' the chief wouldn't look away from something as big as this. What do you mean by that?"
Irene blinked before smirking, "Caught that didn't you?"
She pulled the gun away and thumbed the safety, tucking the gun back away.
"Luckily for us all, the chief is a man of many vices and has become a good acquaintance of mine due to him frequenting Domus Rosis over the years. Because of this relationship we share, it was easy to convince the chief to look the other way on this one. He'll ensure that any evidence and video surveillance footage that could connect you, my daughter, and myself to Seam's death is 'misplaced.' From there, he'll either ensure that the case goes nowhere or that they can pin it on gang violence or some shit like that. Either way, as far as we're all concerned; the coast is clear."
"Glad to know." Jellal said as Anna and Erza visibly relaxed.
"What happens now?" Erza asked.
"For now, the two of you take it easy tonight. I'll call you if anything changes or if I need you two for anything else." Irene replied.
"To be fair Jellal you did deliver as promised. Seam is dead, the women he tortured are avenged, you brought my daughter home to me in one piece…and you've ensured that my plans continue on. In lieu of this mess you've created, I think the long term results will vindicate you."
"Always happy to help." Jellal said flatly, rolling his eyes as he did so. Oh yeah, the painkillers were really starting to kick in now.
"Oh don't be like that," Irene said sweetly, "sarcasm is unbecoming of you. Besides, I have a gift for you to express my gratitude for all that you've done."
"Which is?"
Irene smirked-sending a quick but pointed look at Erza-and before Jellal could react, she leaned in and sealed her mouth over his. His eyes widened and he opened his mouth to protest out of reflex. Irene simply used that as an opportunity to deepen the kiss, bringing her tongue into the mix and giving a pleased hum.
While a sultry smile formed on Anna's lips, Erza's drew into a thin line while her eyes narrowed-glaring daggers at her mother-while her arms crossed and body tensed.
She wasn't blind to the fact that Irene was kissing Jellal as a way to get under her skin. Hell, her mother had taken him to bed on more than one occasion as a means to "thank" him for all of the hard work he had done in her service.
But it wasn't like he had any say in the matter…nor did it hurt any less as her blood simmered in a mix of anger and jealousy.
Jellal was hers.
Despite the games they played, Erza had known for a while that Jellal had become more than an acquaintance and partner to her; someone who was no longer just a fun romp in the sheets or a shoulder to cry on.
She was possessive of what was hers…much like her mother was.
After a minute, Irene parted from Jellal and gave her lips a seductive lick; swiping away the string of saliva that had been connecting them. Jellal blinked once, twice, and then three times before averting his gaze from Irene.
"Well, now that all is said and done," Irene took on a chipper tone, "I think we're done here. Come Anna, let's go back and finish where we left off."
"Of course," She smiled, "remember what I said about those stitches; I don't want to hear that you were careless and bled out."
Jellal nodded simply but continued to look away from the two women. As Irene passed Erza, she found herself stopped when her daughter tightly caught her shoulder. Erza glared at her mother while Irene smirked cruelly.
"I don't know what hold you think you have over him but let me make one thing clear…" Erza kept her voice hushed and tone clipped.
"Jellal is mine. And I'd appreciate it if for once in your life…if you backed the fuck off."
Irene gave a low chuckle and leaned in close to Erza, "Oh my dear daughter, you still have so much to learn. You can lay claim to Jellal all you want but the more he works for me, the further he indebts himself to me. He may think he's a free agent same as how you think he's yours. But at the end of the day; he's mine. Mine to use however I see fit, mine to call upon whenever I need to, and mine to get rid of when I no longer have use for him. And you'd do well to remember that Erza."
Erza growled lowly at her mother, lips peeling back in the slightest of snarls, even as Irene kissed her forehead.
"Good night Erza, I'm glad you're safe. Good night Jellal, it's always a pleasure doing business with you." Irene said as she sashayed out of the door, Anna close behind.
"Tante." He grunted.
The door closed and then the two women were gone, leaving Jellal and Erza alone to the sound of the storm outside. The air between them was filled with a pregnant silence that left the both of them awkwardly rubbing their arms. Erza returned to the kitchen and retrieved the whiskey bottle, taking a drink from it before coming back to Jellal. She sat next to him, handing him the bottle to which he gratefully accepted it. He took a long drink before letting out a heavy sigh and leaning forward, running his hand through his hair.
"Well…that happened."
"Just something else to add to an otherwise hellish night." Erza sighed as she leaned back into the couch.
"Sorry about that."
"What? Me getting captured or my mother?"
"Both."
Erza gave a humorless chuckle, "There was nothing you could've done about me. There was no way we could've known things would get out of hand as they did. And as for my mother…she's just a bitch."
It was Jellal's turn to chuckle this time, "Don't let her hear you say that."
"Let her be pissed; I've been sick of her treating us like toys for a while now." Erza pinched her brows, taking the whiskey from Jellal when offered.
She took a generous drink, enjoying the burn that filled her throat and chest.
"Trouble in paradise?" Jellal asked.
"She's just a control freak. She likes the power; she likes dominating; she likes keeping others under her thumb. I'm fine with inheriting The Rose and her position and title when the time comes…but until then, you and I are in the same boat. Except she demands extra care be taken whenever she decides to let me get involved."
Jellal eyed her clinically for a minute before leaning back and nudging her with his elbow.
"What brought this on all the sudden?" He asked, "Was it because your mother frenched me or is there something else you'd like to tell me?"
Erza was silent for a few heartbeats before she sighed heavily and grabbed his shoulder pushing him forward so that he was leaning again.
"Uhm...?"
"Your back." She said, "I want to see it."
Jellal smirked and complied, leaning forward and letting Erza move behind him, her legs wrapping around his waist.
No matter how many times she saw Jellal's back, she was always left in awe by the sharp contrast between the scars that crossed his back and the work of art that decorated it. Though to be fair, calling the tattoo "art" was a bit of a stretch considering how unsettlingly morbid it actually was.
It was of the Grimm Reaper; Death himself grinning back at her. In one hand, the Reaper held a lantern. In the other, his trusted scythe. Written above the Reaper in an intricate gothic script was the name that followed Jellal wherever he went: Leben Geist… "Living Ghost." Below the tattoo, scrawled in a similar script on the small of his back was the classic Latin motto: Nemo me impune lacessit…"No on attacks me with impunity."
Erza traced the tattoo with a weird fascination. It had captivated her ever since she first saw it but as to why it did, she really couldn't say. Was it because the tattoo represented the life Jellal led and role he played? Was it the haunting reminder that Death was always watching? Did it have to do with the fact that the tattoo and the accompanying scripts practically begged people to attack Jellal?
Erza could never come up with a real answer. Maybe all it was the fact that she was twisted and she was drawn to twisted things.
She took her time tracing the skull before slowly letting her fingers moved to the script and scythe; letting Jellal revel in her touch all the while. He let out a relaxed hum that only deepened when Erza pressed her lips to the spot between his shoulder blades.
"…Feels nice." He humbled.
Erza gave a hum in response and leaned into him, her arms and legs wrapping around him. Her eyes however never left the ever vexing words that always followed her thoughts whenever she was with Jellal.
Leben Geist.
Leben Geist.
Leben Geist.
Erza sighed heavily and disentangled herself from Jellal, moving to sit next to him and make him face her.
"What's wrong?" He asked, brow furrowing slightly.
Erza licked her lips and inhaled slowly. It may not have been the right time or the right circumstances, but if she was going to be clear with Jellal on how she felt about him…it was only fair that he do that same for her.
"Why are you called the Leben Geist?"
Jellal blinked and his lips drew into a line. He didn't answer her, only holding her gaze.
"How long before we stop keeping secrets from one another?" She continued, undeterred.
"You know almost everything about me…my likes...my dislikes…my kinks…my fears…and yet I know so little about you. Whenever I ask people about you, they never give me a straight answer or swallow whatever they're about to say and tell me to ask you. And when I do ask…you either don't say anything or change the subject. It's getting old and I'm tired of not knowing."
He frowned, looking ashamed in a way, and averted his eyes from her. She cupped his cheeks and ran her thumbs across them, making him look at her again.
"I meant what I said when I told you that you're too important to me. Everything that's happened tonight has made me realize that. But if I'm going to be honest with you, you have to be honest with me…that's all that I want and all that I ask. Tell me the truth. Let me in…please."
Jellal's eyes were filled with conflict, visibly torn about wanting to tell Erza what she wanted to know and keeping his guard up. He sighed heavily and stood, leaving Erza on the couch as she watched him take another drink from the bottle and silently walk to the window. The rain was pouring down now with the occasional flash of lightning illuminating the city outside and casting long shadows across the apartment.
"Makarov and Laxus asked me that same question one night over a game of poker. I was hammered and foolish enough to give an honest answer." Jellal said, taking another drink.
Erza starred at him for a few heartbeats before her lips turned down in a scowl. She scoffed, standing as she did so, and turned her back to him as she made her way to her bedroom. She felt her eyes burn and pressed the heels of her palms to them to stifle the brimming tears.
"I was seven years old when Enca and Sin went to war."
Erza froze mid step as Jellal's voice filled the living room. She double blinked before slowly turning around to face him. He was still starring out the window but with a distant, faraway look in his eyes. Knowing that it wasn't the pain meds or the alcohol talking, her interest was piqued. She was vaguely aware of the war he was talking about but then again, international affairs never held her interest.
"Being relatively small countries, they don't have much in terms of standing armies." Jellal continued.
"But…what Sin lacks in manpower they make up for it in firepower. After about a year into the fighting, Enca found itself losing more men than it could save or replace. Things were getting desperate for the army…not that I knew anything about that, because like I said; I was seven at the time."
Erza made her way to Jellal's side, a concerned expression on her face. Jellal glanced at her sideways and she put a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"Go on…" She encouraged softly. Jellal took another drink of whiskey; the bottle was half empty at this point.
"I lived in a quiet little town in the central highlands with my mother and father. My father and mother ran a bakery and were good, hard working people. I loved them. And they loved me. Then one day an army convoy came to town to round up all the able bodied men and women; the army was desperate for new troops. But so many from our town had already gone off to fight. When the town elders explained this to the soldiers…they began rounding up children. Boys and girls who were six, seven, eight, thirteen, sixteen…it didn't matter."
Erza felt a cold pit form in her heart and slowly began to shake her head. What Jellal was implying was both as shocking as it was horrifying.
"It's true." Jellal replied, as if sensing her thoughts; his voice taking on the slightest hint of a bitter anger.
"Enca violated international law and began using child soldiers in the fight against Sin. I remember watching as mothers screamed when their children were torn away from them and forced into transport trucks. Fathers cursing and raging only to have guns shoved in their faces or to be knocked back with rifle butts. When they came for me, my parents begged and pleaded for me to be sparred…I had a death grip on my mother while my father tried to pull me back…and then my father punched the soldier that was grabbing me and…"
Jellal paused as lightning flashed once more outside. Only instead of a crack of thunder he heard the sharp bark of a rifle.
"…And my parents were gunned down in front of me. The soldier, enraged that my father had broken his nose, emptied his rifles magazine into both my parents; killing them in cold blood. I can still remember how hot my parents blood felt as it sprayed across my face…how they convulsed and spasmed with each bullet."
Jellal felt something wet running down his cheeks. Wiping his hand back, he found that he was crying…it had been a long time since he'd done that. Erza turned his head so that he was facing her and gently cupped his face with both hands, wiping away the tears with her thumbs. Jellal took a shuddering breath and licked his lips, focusing on Erza's touch.
"I screamed, I kicked, I cried…but it didn't matter. I was tossed into the truck with the others and taken away from my home. It was the last time I ever saw it; the last time I ever saw my parents. From there I was taken with the other children to a camp and tossed in with those that had been taken from other towns and villages. We were immediately forced into training. I learned real quick to do what the soldiers told me to do…those who refused or complained were simply shot and fed to the guard dogs."
Erza swallowed hard and felt the bile rise in her throat. Jellal continued, too lost in his memories to notice Erza's disgust.
"Whether it be stealing from other kids or the adults just to have something to eat; enduring the beatings I got if I was caught; or dodging bullets in live fire drills as people died if they weren't careful, each day was a fight for survival. Ironically that's how I met Erik. He was another kid who tried to steal my boot laces and I knocked out two of his teeth. He knocked out two of mine. We got along swimmingly after that."
Jellal smirked at the memory and shook his head.
"He was my partner in crime from that day forward. Not long after that we were sent to the frontlines. I was given this beat up, old rifle, some ammo, and told to charge the enemy. No strategy or tactics; we were told to overwhelm the enemy through sheer numbers. That the enemy wouldn't shoot children. I guess you can imagine how that went?
My first day in combat I got halfway across a field only to be shot in the shoulder and forced to hide in a blast crater. I watched as men, women, and the other kids like me get cut down by bullets or turned into red mist by artillery. I stayed in that crater all day and barely managed to crawl my way back. To my relief Erik had survived and my superiors hailed my return as a miracle. Why? Because more than half of the kids I had been rounded up with were dead.
From then on it was rinse and repeat. We'd get sent into a fight and it didn't matter if we'd win or lose; I'd receive wounds that should've killed me. And yet I managed to hang on…somehow. My superiors loved how I seemingly kept coming back from the dead, covered in blood and white as a sheet, and even managing to kill a few of the enemy after scaring the hell out of them. Hence the name…"
"Leben Geist." Erza finished for him.
"'Leben Geist. Leben Geist. Haunt them, hunt them, and kill them.' It was something my handlers chanted like a mantra into my head whenever they wanted me to go on a suicide run. I guess they figured it'd get me pumped for a fight but in actuality; it got fucking annoying real quick."
Erza couldn't stop herself from snorting in amusement, earning a smirk from Jellal.
"But it's something that comes back to me whenever I go on a job. My personal ghost that reminds me of who I am and what I'm good at."
Jellal sighed heavily and shook his head. Erza gently ran her fingers through his hair, making him turn into her touch while her other hand found his, interlacing their fingers together.
"How long were you a child soldier? How long were you and Erik forced to endure that?" She asked.
"Until I was thirteen." Jellal said, "For six long years, the war dragged on. For six long years Erik and I were able to cling to life. We survived every fight we were sent into, every beating we received from our handlers, every day and every night. And the world just fucking watched, said 'that's terrible' and turned a blind eye to the fighting. No one cared about Enca and Sin. Why should they? They're two small countries on the other side of the world; out of sight and out of mind.
But eventually, a couple of aid groups began raising a fuss about human rights violations, the brutality of the fighting, the violation of international law, and how world governments weren't doing shit. Wanting so save face, Fiore and a few other nations got together to form a peacekeeping task force and sent in foreign troops to get a handle on things. When Erik and I heard about this, we knew we had a chance to finally break free. Where we were, we were just a few dozen miles away from the nearest peacekeeper base; we figured that the peacekeepers or some aid workers would take pity on two child soldiers and get us out of Enca.
So one day under the cover of night, Erik and I stole as much that we could from the supply depot, loaded up our packs, killed our handlers while they slept, and snuck out of our camp. For about a week we were able to evade the troops that had been sent to recapture us but through sheer blind luck, they never caught on. Once in the clear, we began our walk to freedom. We didn't know we'd pick up another traveler though."
"…Kinana." Erza said, remembering that she and Erik had practically been joined at the hip with one another for as long as she'd known them.
Kinana didn't talk much about her past-much like Jellal and Erik-but from what she did reveal, Erza knew that Kinana had lost her family when she was young and that Erik had protected her ever since.
"Yeah, Kinana." Jellal affirmed, "Erik and I were passing through a village that had been torn a new one by the fighting sometime before we got there. While looking to restock our supplies, we stumbled upon this shy, grime covered girl who was about our age. She was shell shocked, covered in dirt and blood, and looked like she hadn't eaten in a few days. Erik took an instant liking to her-and she to him, surprisingly-and shared some of his food with her then helped clean her up. All we got from Kinana was that she and her family had been in hiding when the fighting started, there was an explosion, and then her parents were gone. She'd been on her own since then.
We let Kinana tag along with us and a few days later, we ran into a peacekeeper patrol from Fiore. They took us to an aid camp and the aid workers were able to get us political asylum in Fiore. We arrived to Fiore a few months later but they tried to separate us. Erik and Kinana weren't having any of that and I had been through too much with Erik…so we did what we did best. We ran away and survived one day at a time."
"You lived on the streets?" Erza asked.
"Yep." Jellal smirked, "Why do you think I'm so street savvy?"
Erza rolled her eyes and flicked his forehead, making him laugh softly.
"But yes Erza, the three of us lived on the streets for about a year, committing petty crime and honing our street smarts. Then things changed for us when we made the mistake of trying to jump one Laxus Dreyar. He kicked our asses but we'd made an impression on him and he introduced us to one Master Makarov Dreyar. He took us under his wing, trained us to use our potential, and got us to where we are now."
Jellal sighed and finished the last of the whiskey, setting the empty bottle down on the table.
"So that's my story." He gave a half-hearted shrug, "I'm sure you can figure out the rest."
Erza studied him for a few heartbeats, frowning slightly.
"Why are you so hesitant to tell people about this? It's horrible what happened to you but…"
"But it's something I don't like to think about." Jellal said, cutting her off, "I lost my family and my childhood…I saw things no one should ever have to see…things that haunt me to this day and remind me that I'm not a normal person. That I'm not some normal assassin. I was trained to kill a man seven ways to Sunday and do so without losing any sleep. I know how to field strip an assault rifle and put it back together-blindfolded-in under thirty seconds. I know what it's like to have a voice in my head remind me that I'm a killing machine and some part of me, deep down, has been conditioned to enjoy what I do."
Jellal pinched his brow and rolled his neck, the muscle in his jaw visibly twitching slightly. He froze however when Erza leaned up and pressed her lips to his. Jellal was quick to return the kiss, his arms slowly wrapping around her waist and pulling her close. The warmth of her body was quick to lull him out of his anxiety.
When they parted, Erza rested her forehead against his, "I may never truly know or be able to understand what you went through Jellal…but if there's one thing I know, it's that you're not a killing machine."
"Erza…"
"A killing machine does not go out of his way to avenge one of his friends who has been raped and beater. A killing machine does babysit young children while their parents go out to carry out a kill order on a date night. A killing machine does not risk his life to save his partner when she's been captured by a serial killing councilman. You may be the Leben Geist, Jellal. But you are more than that name; so much more."
Jellal blinked in shock at how passionate Erza's words had been, stunning him into silence. His mouth opened and close, unable to form a response.
"You need to see yourself as more than just some cold hearted killer. You have a troubled soul, but you're a man with a troubled soul who has shown that he is so much more than the ghosts of his past. I want you to see this man. I want you to see this man whom I've fallen in love with. Let the past go. Focus on the here and now. Focus on the future. Don't let that Leben Geist continue to haunt you."
Lightning flashed once more and thunder cracked, as if summoned by the passion Erza was pouring forth. He'd never seen her this animated before; he'd never seen her this earnest and open. It was surprising…amazing even.
But then again, when hadn't she amazed him? From their first meeting to this very moment, Erza never ceased to surprise. Jellal let out a soft laugh before chuckling softly.
"What?" Erza asked.
"Earlier, when we were hiding behind the fountain, when you told me how you felt…it's funny you said that." Jellal said.
"How so?"
"If you hadn't interrupted me…I was going to say something similar. Cliché, I know, but…you're important to me too…Erza."
Erza's cheeks warmed with color and the smallest of hesitant smiles formed on her lips.
"Really?"
"Really."
"Oh…"
Jellal gave a hearty laugh when Erza's cheeks further warmed with color and she averted her eyes in a bashful manner. She was like a schoolgirl confessing to her crush, Jellal thought amusedly.
"Oh quiet you." Erza hissed with a smirk and silenced him with a kiss. She took her time to move her arms from his shoulders to wrapping around his neck and gently tugging at his hair. Jellal did the same, loving how even after the hellish night they'd had, Erza's hair was still heavenly soft to the tough.
They parted once again with the barest of space between them.
"So…" Erza licked her lips, "Where do we go from here?"
"I don't know." Jellal shrugged, "How do you want this to go?"
Erza gave a gentle hum as she raised her hand to trace the tattoo over Jellal's eye.
"I'm not sure myself to be honest," Erza said before her smile turned coy, "But…I can think of a few things."
Jellal arched a brow, his lip tugging up at the corner, "Oh really? What do you have in mind?"
Erza leaned in so that she could whisper into his ear, "Many things. And they all involve you, me, and winging it as we go along."
Erza felt Jellal smirk against her neck as he placed a kiss on her pulse, "I think I like the sound of that. But I also think I'll need more proof as to how serious you are."
Erza shivered when Jellal then pressed his lips to the corner of her jaw. She made him look at her once more, both of their eyes half lidded and barely restrained with smoldering hunger.
"Then let me show rather than tell you." Erza said and without preamble, mashed their lips together once more.
Jellal groaned into the kiss and pulled Erza flush against him, loving how her fingers curled into his shoulder and hair. His own hands moved to between her shoulder blades and to squeeze her rear, making Erza gasp and allowing Jellal to deepen the kiss. Erza groaned and Jellal felt it reverberate through him all the way into his bones and he couldn't help but smirk against Erza's lips.
They parted reluctantly to catch their breath, both sporting a subdued wild gleam in their eyes. Erza tossed her hair over her shoulder, took Jellal by the hand, and he followed her without question when she led him further into her apartment. Flashes of lightning illuminated the way as Erza guided Jellal to her dimly lit bedroom and neither said a word; they didn't have to. They knew where things were heading and neither wanted to spoil the moment.
Erza led him to the large queen sized bed-with crimson and white bedsheets-and pushed him back onto the downy comforter. Jellal grunted with a smirk and Erza tittered lightly but frowned when Jellal winced and clutched his side where his wound was. He tried to prop himself up on his forearms but Erza stopped him, hand splayed against his chest as she pressed him back down. She shook her head at Jellal's furrowed brow. She kissed him, assuaging his concern, and whispered against his lips:
"Remember what the good doctor said? Let me handle this."
Jellal smirked and let Erza prop him up against her pillows before she returned to the foot of the bed. Then, slowly, she undid the knot of her robe and let the garment slip away from her shoulders; inch by tantalizing inch. The soft lighting of the room made Erza's skin radiate a warm glow, emphasizing the contrast between taught muscle and soft curves. The robe finally fell to the floor and pooled at her feet, revealing the black lace thong that left little to the imagination. Seeing as how she had Jellal's undivided attention-feeling a thrill as she watched his eyes reverently drink her in-Erza slowly spun around and let Jellal see all of her, ending with a slight pose; hand on hip and a cocky smirk on her lips.
"See something you like handsome?" Erza purred as she tossed her hair once more.
Jellal gave an amused chuckle, "Show not tell remember?"
"Smartass." Erza smiled, showing her teeth as she settled on all fours atop the bed. She took her time, seeming cat-like as she crawled up to him, and loving the way his gaze never left her every step of the way.
She straddled him and then settled her weight atop of him, languidly grinding their hips together as she did. Jellal's head lolled back as he gave a deep groan that rumbled deeply in his chest and Erza hummed with a pleased smirk. She kissed and nipped her way up his neck before kissing him deeply. His hands, which had been gripping her hips, now cupped her squeezed and kneaded her ass; pulling her flush against him as he began to lightly buck against her.
Her gasped when she felt a distinct hardness poke against her and her lips pulled up into a devious smirk.
"Enjoying…yourself?" Erza panted lightly as Jellal's mouth found the hollow of her throat.
Jellal simply grunted, and with one hand still cupping her rear, the other moved to her breast. Her hardened nipple was no match for the rough and calloused skin of his fingers and palm.
"Enjoying yourself?" Jellal smirked against her throat.
Erza's response was swallowed by another gasp when Jellal began to tweak and pluck the hardened peak and Erza decided then and there that enough was enough. Pushing his hand aside, Erza sat up and raked her fingers down Jellal's hardened pectorals and abdomen; stopping when they reached the zipper of his pants. Her eyes were drawn to the edge of his bandage and she frowned slightly.
"…Are you alright?" She asked.
Jellal rolled his eyes and smirked, "I'm fine."
"You sure?"
"Are you going to take my drawers off or what?" Jellal quipped.
Now it was Erza's turn to roll her eyes but she was quick to comply nonetheless. She tossed his pants and underwear aside and did the same for her panties; the two of them now completely bare of any barriers between them.
"You're beautiful…" Jellal whispered.
"Damn straight." Erza smirked and settled between his legs, giving a sultry hum when she gripped him. Jellal let out a shaking breath and threaded his fingers through her hair.
"But I can do more than just be a pretty face."
And with that, she took him into her mouth while her hands began to languidly pump and massage that which her mouth couldn't. Jellal's breathing became deep but uneven, occasionally punctuated by a groan or grunt, and Erza smirked against him; loving the hold she had over him. The big, bad, brooding assassin was nothing but putty in her hands in that moment and that thrilled her to no end. She moved her hand down her body to the junction of her legs and her fingers quickly became slick to the touch. Soon enough, Erza's fingers were producing a series of rather wet and lewd sounds as she pleasured herself while doing the same for Jellal. Her own pleased moans reverberated through Jellal, making him shudder as he forced Erza's head away.
"Up…" He rasped, "Climb up."
Erza paused for a moment, confused, but soon caught on to what Jellal was telling her and she did as commanded.
Jellal laid further back as Erza settled over him, his hands gripping and further parting her thighs, while hers own hands gripped the headboard. He took h time, using tongue and teeth to elicit deep moans from Erza as he focused on her slit and clit. It was only when Erza began to squirm that he added his fingers into the mix; one set plunging into her while the other teased her second entrance. Erza gasped sharply, while deep and sensual moan escaped her lips; head lolling back as he her grip became white knuckled on the headboard.
It took some time-some patience-but Jellal couldn't stop himself from smirking when Erza came apart above him. She didn't scream or moan like some of the women he'd been with; for Erza, her climaxes were a quiet affair with her eyes squeezing shut and teeth gnashing together.
Letting go of the breath she'd been holding, Erza fell onto her side; gently panting and satiated. Jellal licked his lips and smiled softly, taking a few strands of her hair between his fingers and kissing them. Erza's hand lightly traced a few of his old battle scars as she took the time to further commit each of them to memory, more so than she had in the past. They lay in silence for a while before Erza decided to move and settled atop of Jellal once more.
"…Ready?" She asked after quick kiss, lightly stroking him and guiding him to her entrance.
He reached up and caressed her cheek in response, telling her all she needed to know.
Erza nodded, lowered her hips and guided him in; her wet heat engulfing him. The two groaned when their hips met and their hands were quick to intertwine. Erza took her time as she began to move, steadily building a rhythm that Jellal did his best to match as the two lovers became lost in one another. The bedroom soon became filled with the sound of flesh slapping against flesh; labored breathing; and the telltale grunts and moans of pleasure.
Then, suddenly, Jellal pulled Erza down and rolled her over onto her back. Erza gasped in surprise, both at the sudden move and the barely registered thought of Jellal's stiches.
"J-Jellal…your…your stiches!"
Jellal didn't answer; he simply sealed his lips over hers.
Any further thought was pushed out of her mind as Jellal continued to thrust deeply into her, her legs wrapping around his waist, and nails drawing blood as they raked across his shoulder blades. The rhythm they'd built before became erratic and rough, with both Erza and Jellal wanting to give the other as much pleasure as possible before they inevitably reached their peaks.
When they finally came, Erza bit down onto Jellal's shoulder while Jellal let out a silent gasp. For several long minutes, the two held one another as they caught their breath and slowly kissed, savoring the afterglow of their lovemaking.
"I needed that." Erza said against his lips.
"I think we both did." Jellal smirked and rolled onto his side.
Erza pulled the covers over the two of them and settled in close to Jellal, whose eyes were slowly beginning to close. Erza wasn't far behind.
"Erza," Jellal mumbled, "thanks."
"For what?" She mumbled back, smiling slightly.
"For being you."
Erza chuckled and kissed him, something that Jellal returned, and it wasn't long after that they drifted off into a dreamless sleep.
XXXX
Morning…
He awoke slowly to the sound of rain gently pattering against the bedroom windows. As he became aware of his surroundings-a very comfortable bed, silk sheets, the scent of lilac-he heard a voice softly humming and along with the sizzling of bacon.
He recognized the voice; it was Erza's.
Then the events of the previous night played out in his mind's eye and he gave a content sigh as he crawled out of bed. A quick glance at the bedside clock-revealing that it was quarter to eleven-earned him a brief lance of pain up his side. He winced, but simply bit his lip as he forced himself to stand. He caught himself in the nearby mirror and saw that the bandage was only slightly bloody, to which he smirked. Anna's stitching, as it appeared, was top notch and strong enough to weather some rather rough lovemaking. It wound have to be changed and cleaned later but that could wait. The scents drifting from the kitchen were reminding him of how hungry he was.
He found his pants and put them on, making his way back to the kitchen where he found Erza at the stove making breakfast. She had thrown on a pair of red lace panties and a black bandeau; her hair tied into a messy knot. She paused before looking over her shoulder and smiling.
"Good morning."
"Morning." He smiled back, coming up behind her and wrapping his arms around her.
"Smells good." He mumbled into her neck, making her giggle slightly.
"Bacon and scrambled eggs," Erza said, "and I have coffee in the pot; help yourself."
Jellal hummed slightly and pressed a kiss to her pulse, "A man could get used to this."
"Don't get too comfortable. I'm not going to do this every time you get shot."
"Damn it, you've foiled my plans." Jellal chuckled. Erza finished her cooking, turned off the stove, and turned around in his arms so she could flick his forehead.
"C'mon, breakfast is ready."
Jellal kissed her and let her go and the two proceeded to eat in relative silence, enjoying the others company. Erza had turned on the TV and the news was going wild over "the sudden and violent death of Councilman Crawford Seam" and the shocking reveal of the torture chamber he'd kept hidden in his basement. The police had no leads but they were promising to follow the evidence wherever it led and hoped to make an arrest within the coming weeks.
If Eileen was being true to her word then the case would be dead in the water in no time.
"Don't worry." Erza said as she took a bite of her eggs, "If my mother says we're in the clear then we're in the clear."
"Considering how she wanted to castrate me last night, forgive me I still find that hard to believe." Jellal said, drinking his coffee.
"If you're expecting her to send you to the firing squad, relax…she only reserves that for people she especially hates."
"And that's supposed to ease my concern?"
"Yes, actually." Erza smirked, "I have no doubt she disdains you at the moment, but hate you? No. You'd have to piss her off something fierce for that to happen."
"I'd hate to imagine what it'd take for that to happen."
"You don't." Erza said, "Trust me."
Erza glanced at the TV and shuddered slightly when images of the torture chamber were being shown on the screen. Jellal grabbed the remote and switched it off, giving Erza a meaningful look.
"You alright?" Jellal set his hand atop Erza's.
"…I will be, yeah." Erza said, moving her hand so his intertwined with hers.
Erza sighed softly and ran her thumb over Jellal's knuckles, "About last night…"
"Something wrong?" He asked, brow furrowing and a guarded look coming to his eyes.
"No…no, everything's fine. Last night was…it was great. Well, I mean save getting shot and all that but…but you know what I mean."
Jellal laughed a hearty laugh at Erza's flushed appearance and stammered response. Erza sighed and gave a laugh herself.
"No, last night was great. It's just, about what I said-about us-I was serious about that…and I really want to know where things go from here."
"You're okay with mixing things up between us?" Jellal asked.
"Sometimes that can be a good thing." Erza smiled softly, hopefully.
Jellal rubbed the back of his neck, "I suppose, but I don't have much experience when it comes to actual relationships."
"Neither do I," Erza said, "but then again, I suppose that's half the fun of it; making it up as we go along."
"You call what we do fun?" Jellal smirked.
"It has its moments." Erza shrugged with a light toss of her hair.
Jellal was quiet for a moment before squeezing her hand, "Alright."
"Alright?" Erza asked, lips curling into a soft-almost hopeful-smile.
"Let's give it a try and see where this goes." Jellal said.
Erza sighed in relief and leaned in to kiss Jellal…only for the ringing of her phone to stop her. Erza checked the caller ID and muttered something unpleasant under her breath.
"It's my mother."
Jellal rolled his eyes and shook his head. Erza answered and after explaining strained pleasantries with her Irene, put her phone on speaker.
"Jellal, darling, are you still alive?" Irene asked pleasantly, her tone sickly sweet.
"Fortunately, yes." Jellal said dryly, "I have to commend Doctor Heartfilia for her stitching, it held out through the night."
"I'll be sure to pass that on to her." Irene replied, "But don't expect this to be a common courtesy from me; I only allowed Anna to fix you because you're a special case."
"So nice to know you hold me in such esteem." Jellal bit out to which Irene chuckled darkly.
"What are you calling now for?" Erza asked, unable to mask her ire.
"Oh don't sound so snarky my dear daughter, I call bearing good news for the two of you. A chance to redeem yourselves after last night's transgressions."
"And that is?" Jellal asked.
"I received a call earlier this morning, a tip if you will, that Julian York and those two whores he always seems to have on his shoulders, are up to no good and have been abusing the leniency I granted him after the previous stunt he pulled. But, worst of all, they had the gall to think that they'd be able to do so behind my back and thought I wouldn't notice."
"Julian is a piece of shit; always has been and always will be." Erza said, her disdain for the man in question clearly evident.
"Are you really that surprised that he was arrogant enough to do so again?"
"No," Irene said simply, "but he would be in a better standing with me if he was open and honest about the whole thing. At least I'd know he'd have the balls to look me in the eye when I put a bullet between his."
Jellal sighed heavily and massaged his brow.
"I have a feeling where this is going, but I have to ask; what do you want us to do about this?"
"Astute as ever Jellal, it's nice to know that getting shot and fucking my daughter senseless-to which I have no doubt you did last night-hasn't dulled your edge."
"Cut the shit." Both Erza and Jellal bit back, making Irene chortle in amusement.
"I want you two to remind Mister York of what happens to people when they think they can go behind my back and try to fuck me over. Remind him as to why he's had such good fortune with me as opposed to Acnologia and Zeref. And why he should continue to maintain that relationship."
"And if he refuses?" Jellal asked.
"Kill him." Irene said simply, without hesitation, "Or his two whores. Or all three of them altogether. Get creative, be brutal, be his worst fucking nightmare. I don't care what you have to do or when you do it; just get it done. Do this for me and maybe, just maybe, you'll be back on your way to repairing your good standing with me. Along with a small fee for your services, of course, Jellal."
Jellal sighed once more while Erza began to massage her temples, "Consider it done."
"Glad to hear. I'll be expecting your call." And with that, Irene ended the call.
"Bitch." Erza muttered.
Jellal shook his head and absentmindedly rubbed his bandage, wondering how his injury would impact the job that'd been forced onto them.
"She does realize you're still injured." Erza stated rather than asked as she inspected his side with a frown.
"I don't think she cares." Jellal sighed as he stood, "Might as well get this over with, I have to swing by my place anyway to get new gear. You still have that drawer with some of my spare clothes in it?"
He was about to move past her but Erza raised her hand against his shoulder, stopping him.
"Yes, I still have that drawer, but…" Erza said, giving him a sideways glance; her smile and voice mischievous.
"Why the rush?"
"Because I'm sure if we don't get this done in timely fashion, your mother will castrate me and do lord knows what to you." Jellal said matter of factly.
Erza shook her head and traced her fingers along his collar bone, making him shudder involuntarily.
"She said, and I quote, 'I don't care what you have to do or when you do it; just get it done'. Which means we have some leeway with this. We can plan things out…and take our time."
There was no misconstruing the meaning of Erza's words and Jellal's lips tugged up at the corner.
"You're playing with fire, you know that right?"
"I like to think of it as being…practical." Erza said, "Are you insinuating that I'm proposing we stall for time, just to piss my mother off?"
"Yes, yes you are." Jellal said and leaned in to whisper, "And it's fucking turning me on right now."
"Same." Erza smirked.
"So…if you're so keen on planning this out, what do propose we do?"
"I'll change your bandage and clean your wound, from there we can stop by your place like you wanted to. After that…we'll figure it out it as we go along."
"Like everything else we do?" Jellal chuckled and kissed her.
"Like everything else we do…" Erza hummed, "but before all of that, I think the two of us could use a shower. A nice, hot, and long shower."
Erza began to back away, her eyes never leaving Jellal's, and stripped out of her panties and bandeau right then and there. He was hard in an instant and his breath caught in his throat. She sashayed to the hallway and gave him a sultry look over the shoulder.
"C'mon. You wash my back and I'll wash yours…if you catch my drift." She winked before disappearing down the hall.
Jellal double blinked out of his aroused shock and smiled, "I wouldn't have it any other way."
He was quick to follow after her-discarding his pants along the way-and by the time he reached her, the bathroom was already filled with steam and Erza expectantly standing beneath the water. They wouldn't leave until much later, when the water had run cold and Jellal being once again appreciative of Anna's stitching.
XXXX
A/N: And there we have it folks! All done!
This took me a lot longer to finish than I would have liked but, sadly, a full time job means full time responsibilities, especially in my line of work. The joys of being an adult, right?
You may have noticed but I didn't use the "L" word in this chapter because I feel it would detract somewhat from the tone of the story and the way I characterized Jellal and Erza. Instead, I tried to infer the mutual feelings between the two of them. Whether I pulled that off I'm not sure, but, here we are and I'm happy with the end result.
I hope you all enjoyed this short story and I hope this ending left you all satisfied. I still feel like this was still a little rusty on my part, but it was fun getting back into writing and hopefully I'll be able to crank out another update soon.
As for what's going to be updated next, I don't know myself; I'm planning on doing some editing/revising in between everything else so it's up in the air at this point. Just pay attention to your e-mail or story alerts at this point.
As per usual, if you guys have any comments or questions, please put it in your review and I'll make sure to respond to you in the next chapter. If you have anything else that you wish to ask me or clarify, you can PM me and I'll do my best to respond ASAP.
Until next time; read, review and most importantly of all, HAPPY READING! I'll see you in the next story!