Chapter 2
**I don't own Fairy Tail or the characters. They all belong to Mashima.
Alright. Sorry it's taken so long to get this second chapter up, but here it is! Hopefully it was worth the wait. As I said before, Natsu and Erza's relationship will be progressing more slowly in this fic. As hard as it is to write it, I feel like this is closer to how the relationship would actually progress if the story diverged from Canon here.**
"Remember, everyone must be back by midnight." Erza dished out the reminder with her usual strict tone, causing Natsu to sigh inwardly. Spending the night inside with everyone around him scared him. Sure, there hadn't been anymore flare ups, but that didn't mean anything. He'd never forgive himself if something happened and injured his guild mates when he could've avoided it!
Wendy headed off with Carla, saying something about exploring the capital. Natsu wanted to take some time to explore too, and of course Lucy insisted on tagging along. Not that he really minded her company. The dragon slayer enjoyed having others around him after all. But it did kind of annoy him that people were starting to assume that they were an item.
His irritation had nothing to do with her looks either. Lucy was good looking enough as mages went, but she just wasn't really his type. Sure, having her on the team made things interesting. Especially since she ended up doing less of the fighting and more of the being rescued. But he just wasn't into her that way. And he hoped she wasn't into him that way either, though sometimes he wasn't too sure.
Then there was Gray. The way the ice stripper looked at Erza sometimes also annoyed him. Juvia was head over heels in love with the ice mage, yet he barely spared her a glance. But he still looked at Erza with lust in his eyes on occasion. There were some times that Natsu wanted to stop acting the dense dragon slayer role and pound some sense into the dark haired ice mage.
But one look at Erza told him Gray didn't stand a chance with her, so he refrained from doing anything. He knew the scarlet-haired knight still felt something for Jellal, but he could also see that she struggled with her feelings when it came to him. Or maybe it was just blind optimism, pointing him to hope where there truly was none. Well, if the latter were true, he would choose to believe it anyway as long as he could. He couldn't stand the thought of Erza being with that blue-haired half arrogant half emo jerk.
Natsu wasn't really paying attention to where they were going. Lucy was kind of leading the way to various shops, and he was just kind of trailing along. He was also vaguely aware that she was making conversation the entire way, but as he often did he just let the subconscious side of his mind handle the tedious task of responding to the endless chatter. He just hoped he wasn't saying anything too dumb – not that it could hurt his reputation any if he was.
But then something caught his attention. People were running down the street talking about a fight going on. But that wasn't all. He could smell something similar to dragons, and it was coming from wherever everyone was running to.
He followed the crowd and his nose till he caught sight of a blonde teen and an emo-looking dark haired teen, one with his foot on the head of a downed opponent.
"Man, that was boring. These people are literally beneath us," the blonde said arrogantly.
"Frosch thinks so too!" An exceed in a frog costume commented.
It was at that point that the blonde caught sight of Natsu. "Natsu Dragneel…"
"And who exactly are you?" He asked.
The blonde replied by expressing his shock that Natsu hadn't heard of the twin dragon slayers from Sabertooth. Natsu couldn't help being amused by the arrogant prick's demeanor. He sort of half listened as the reddish brown exceed started explaining how the two were some half-cocked "third generation" dragon slayers who didn't think the powers they got from their training were enough and implanted a lacrima in themselves to make them more powerful.
But when they claimed to have defeated dragons, Natsu was a little taken aback. His magic power wasn't at the level where he could easily read an opponent's magic yet, but from what he could tell these two jokers weren't any more powerful than he was. Then, when they started to mock him for being unable to do anything about Acnologia on Tenroujima, his blood started to boil.
'I can give you the strength to kill them, and nobody will ever know.' The voice from his subconscious echoed in him as he stared at the two jackasses who thought they were powerful enough to kill real dragons.
I don't need your help, He replied in his mind, glad that the conversation was taking place internally so nobody could see it. And I certainly don't need to kill them.
'You may not need my help yet, but the day will come when you do. I'm stronger than you, Salamander…
Fuck off. It felt really weird telling himself to fuck off. But it seemed effective enough. Perhaps because the amusement of arguing with himself drove his anger levels down enough to regain control. Either way, his eyes and ears were back on the situation at hand. Apparently the twin dragons of Sabertooth believed his disinterest to be inability to comprehend their blabbering, because they started shooting their mouths off again. At that point Lucy started dragging him off, muttering some things about the games and this not being worth it. To which he readily agreed. Because Erza was waiting to punish anyone who got back late.
[Canon events: Wendy's magic is drained. Elfman replaces her for the preliminaries. Fairy Tail Team A comes in 8th after a difficult trek through the sky labyrinth. The teams all go to their respective sleeping quarters. We resume our story from Erza's point of view]
Erza groaned as she turned over again, still unable to go back to sleep. What was wrong with her right now? The night couldn't be more than a couple hours old, but she was wide awake, tossing and turning and unable to even keep her eyes closed for more than a few minutes.
It didn't make any sense! She'd just gotten through a long and tiring day. Her body should be ready for sleep. She should be more than ready to rest up before the games began the next day. After all, who knew what kind of competition the next day might bring her. She needed to be on at her fullest for whatever came her way!
She looked around the room, wondering if she could somehow be affected by a change in the atmosphere. Everything seemed normal. Lucy was sleeping in one corner with Happy snuggled up to her. Gray was sleeping somewhere else, with Juvia, who apparently managed to sneak into the room, laying close to his bed. Elfman was sprawled over his bed like a rag doll. And Natsu was…
And there it was. The cause of her unease. The normal, predictable world that she came to accept was upended again. Juvia's presence could be accepted – expected, even. But Natsu never had trouble sleeping, and more than anyone else he would be the first to pass out in a group.
With a sigh, the scarlet haired knight rose from her bed. Not bothering to requip from her pajamas - after all, it's not like they were indecent or anything – she headed out of the inn and began to wander in search of the dragon slayer. She was surprised at how much activity she saw in the city that night. But then, these people didn't have to compete in the games. They just had to watch. And based on the time that they had to be there for the opening ceremonies, the people had plenty of time to enjoy the night life and still be awake for the festivities the next day.
Normally this would be the first place she'd look for Natsu. Out here, among the people. Somewhere that he could make an enormous fool of himself and have people laughing and joking all around him. But tonight she felt certain that she wouldn't see him among the crowds. Yes. Natsu left to seek isolation. Of this she was certain.
So her wanderings took her away from the crowds toward the outskirts of town. As she got further away from the night life, the houses began to thin. Large estates with enormous acreage began to appear. Eventually, the houses pretty much disappeared altogether, scattered several hundred feet apart. It was in this area that she found him, in the middle of a field with no trees or buildings nearby. He sat in the moonlight, looking away from her across the darkened plains to the south.
She approached slowly and cautiously, not wanting to disturb him just yet. A small part of her considered beating him and dragging him back to the inn to rejoin the group, but a larger part of her recognized that this wasn't the kid that she once had to beat sense into. In truth, she wasn't fully certain that she was even his equal in power anymore, let alone his superior. But the years of discipline reaped their benefits, and he and Gray both shuddered in fear at her wrath.
"What are you doing out here Erza?" His voice came quietly and unreadable. Erza sighed and walked the rest of the way to the dragon slayer, sitting down beside him.
"How did you know I was here?" She asked, not answering his question.
"Dragon slayer, duh." He rolled his eyes at her. "Now how about you answer my question."
"I couldn't sleep, so I came out for a walk," Erza replied truthfully. Sure, she was omitting the part where she came out specifically to look for him, but that wasn't lying, really. It was just carefully selecting how much of the truth to tell.
"Now how about you tell me what you're doing out here?" She said, not waiting for him to add anything.
"I just don't like sleeping indoors," Natsu said with an indifferent shrug.
Erza glared at him. "How about giving me a real reason?"
"Who said that's not the real reason?" Natsu asked, looking out toward the stars in the south. "I'm going to be sleeping outside for the foreseeable future."
Erza was going to reprimand him when it occurred to her where Natsu was going with this. She stood up and moved around in front of him, forcing him to meet her gaze. "Nothing's going to happen, Natsu." She assured him, trying to crack his unreadable expression.
A pregnant silence followed. After a few minutes, Natsu laid down on the grassy field, his eyes half closing. "Meh, I was about to go to sleep anyway," he said quietly.
Erza laid down next to him, suddenly feeling drowsy as the heat radiating from his body enveloped her. She turned on her side, laying her head gently on his chest.
"Umm… Erza?" Natsu's voice was questioning, a little hesitant. Erza supposed he had every right to be. After all, many might consider this a compromising position. And she still had Jellal – well, whenever he decided to pull his head out of his ass. But none of that mattered right now. For some reason with this warmth she felt secure. Unlike the thousands of nights since the tower when she would have to beat her nightmares off with her sword, this drowsiness led her into a comfortable, dreamless sleep. A sleep that was upon her before she even realized it started.
It wasn't until she suddenly felt a little cool that Erza awoke. As her eyes fluttered open, she saw Natsu standing a short distance away. The first rays of sunlight were just streaming over the red horizon. Erza pushed herself slowly into a sitting position, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
"We'd better get back before they realize we're gone," Natsu said without turning.
How does he do that? Erza wondered. She knew he was a dragon slayer, but his senses seemed even more ridiculous than the others.
She got up, requipping to her Heart Kruz armor, and together the duo headed back to the inn where the whole guild was now staying. When they got there, none of the others from the team had come down yet. They found a table near the bar, where the bartender was preparing breakfast.
It wasn't long before Mirajane came from her assigned room, sitting at the table with them. Lisanna, who was in Mira's room, soon followed, and before long the main room filled with people. And the serious, thoughtful Natsu disappeared, replaced instantly by the goofy, slightly dense, outgoing dragon slayer Erza had known for years.
Whoever knew there could be more to him than meets the eye… She thought as she watched him insult Gray after gobbling down about 10 portions of breakfast. But then she looked at the time. There was no more time for this! They had to be focused to prepare for the game.
"Natsu, Gray! Stop fighting this instant! We have to prepare for the games," she commanded, assuming her strictest posture.
"Fighting? Who's fighting?" Gray said with a big smile as he put an arm around Natsu.
"Yeah, we were just having a friendly conversation. Just like friends do!" Natsu said with his toothy grin.
"Good," Erza said, smirking at the two. "Then let's take that friendly conversation to the arena. We've got some games to win!"
"Aye sir!" Said Natsu, echoed by Happy.
"You're not even on the team Happy," Lucy yelled from her place.
"Aye sir!" The exceed said again.
"Don't 'Aye' me cat!" Lucy glared at Happy.
"Natsu, Lucy's being scary again," Happy complained to his best buddy.
"Lucy, stop picking on Happy and come with us," Erza said sternly.
"I'm not picking on him!" Objected Lucy as she followed them out to the stadium. It wasn't long before the group was gathered, Elfman wearing the official team outfit that was made for him at the last minute, since Wendy's had proved to be a little small and, as Elfman put it, "unmanly."
Erza was surprised to see Fairy Tail Team B in the stadium, but it just made her desire to win that much stronger. Apparently Makarov didn't have enough faith in the team he'd picked, so he sent a backup team to have a double chance of winning. And of course Mirajane just had to be on that team. Erza could feel the childhood rivalry she had with the take over mage welling back up in her. There was no way her team was going to lose to that demon bitch and her team.
But perhaps more surprising was the appearance of 'Mystogan,' especially since Erza knew for a fact that the mage couldn't be there. That only left one possibility.
Jellal. What are you thinking, master? If someone were to discover Jellal's true identity, it could be terrible for the guild. Was it really this important to help Jellal in his quest to find Zeref and put an end to him?
I guess I should be happy… She thought, with a light hint of irony, about how excited she would've been only a few weeks ago to have this opportunity to be close to Jellal. But for some reason the excitement failed to come. She honestly felt a little awkward, like someone who just discovered her ex was going to be on her first date.
Get over it Erza. She just smiled and waved, knowing that she would be expected to interact well with the blue-haired mage. After all, many of her team members had seen her almost cry when the council arrested him. And she did still have feelings for him, didn't she?
Then the announcements were over, and after a brief interaction between the teams in which both voiced their intentions of not going easy on the other team, they all went their separate ways, back to their booths. As they began to announce the first game, Erza's confusion began to be swallowed up in excitement for the games to begin.
~~~~~~Jellal, the previous night~~~~~~
After making arrangements to become 'Mystogan' for the games, Jellal headed out from the main part of the city. This would give him a chance to get close to the source of that magic and hopefully get close to Erza as well. Despite his denial at the beach, he had to admit the feelings remained. Especially after witnessing the moment where she fell asleep so close to the pink-haired dragon slayer.
As he reached the outskirts of town he saw it. Erza stood in front of the dragon slayer, confronting him about something. He couldn't hear what they were saying or see Natsu's reaction. He saw the dragon slayer lay down slowly on the ground, after which Erza lay down next to him and rested her head on his chest. At that moment it took all his self control not to move in at this point.
"Weren't you the one who said we couldn't fall in love with those who stayed in the light?" Ultear's voice came from behind him, breaking him out of his reverie and causing him to jump.
"Gah – don't sneak up on me like that!" Jellal retorted, turning to face her. "And yes, I did say that."
"Is someone ready to admit he was wrong about that one?" The smirk on her face ticked him off.
"No. It's just more inspiration to finish this whole business with Zeref. Maybe if we take down E.N.D. we can draw Zeref out too." He paused for a minute before giving her a meaningful look. "Is it possible that E.N.D. is the cause of this magic we've been sensing?"
"Anything is possible," Ultear said with a shrug. "But it's unlikely. I think if Zeref's most powerful demon were running amok in Crocus somebody would take notice. And if rumors are accurate E.N.D. isn't one for subtlety."
Jellal looked out at the scarlet haired knight, sleeping peacefully on a restless dragon slayer's chest. "Well I have a new lead on E.N.D. After we finish up here at the games, we'll have to follow it and see where it takes us."
"Well, well. Look who's 'all fired up' now." Ultear said with a smirk.
Jellal glared at her. "I think it's time for you to get to bed. Your 'daughter' must be wondering where you are."
"Meredy's already asleep," Ultear said, the smirk never leaving her face. "And it's more fun to tease you anyway."
Jellal let out a small sigh as he turned back to the time mage. "Well you should sleep too. We have to be alert tomorrow if that magic appears again."
"Yeah, yeah." Ultear just grinned at him. "Got to hurry and find that Zeref now so Jellal can pursue someone who walks in the light, eh?"
Jellal didn't bother denying it. The recent events with Natsu changed everything in his relationship with Erza. Before he felt like the only man in her life. The relationship had been secure, a rock to which he could always return.
But perhaps on the beach he pushed his luck too far. Jellal believed very strongly in fate. Sometimes fate dealt you a single moment that could define the whole rest of your life. What if the beach was that moment? What if his failure to accept the kiss Erza offered ultimately cost him the chance for a relationship? That would be, perhaps, the cruelest trick fate could play.
But the old man agreed to let him come on as part of the 'Fairy Tail B' team, so soon he would have more chances to get close to the scarlet knight. Perhaps there would even be a chance to rectify his choice on the beach. As he swore to Ultear and Meredy, he wouldn't initiate anything with Erza. But he wouldn't resist this time if she were to offer him something.
He couldn't help a small smile as he looked at her face, so peaceful and gentle as though she didn't have a care in the world. So different from every other moment of every day. If only that peaceful smile adorned a face that was resting against him and not the pink-haired dragon slayer. Then the world would be right again.
~~~~~~Natsu~~~~~~
Natsu raised his head a little, feeling his heart rate calm down as the scent of the two Crime Sorciere mages faded into the distance. His sensitive ears picked up enough of the conversation to get the gist of it. Jellal saw the potential for something to develop between Natsu and Erza, and apparently he didn't like it.
But Natsu didn't really care much what the tattooed freak liked. He didn't like the fact that Erza was practically stuck in her childhood. Unable to move past the 'old Jellal' she had known then. She didn't even realize that it was holding her back. In fact, if Natsu was honest with himself, the only reason that his strength might now rival Erza's was because she was still latched onto her childhood, trying to hold onto a childhood crush rather than face the fact that she had been unable to save him back then.
And despite his act on the beach, it was pretty clear Jellal wasn't about to let her get over her childhood. But to Natsu that meant another challenge, and he was a man who never backed down from a challenge.
The next day flew by as the team prepared to head out to Domus Flau, the great arena where they would do battle. Natsu's excitement soared as he walked out onto the field with his team, ready to take on every guild in Fiore. He was sure nothing could dampen this moment. But once again he was proved wrong.
Fairy Tail Team B appeared, and with them, 'Mystogan.' Except that Natsu, and the rest of Fairy Tail, knew that the blue-haired mage was in Edolas. There was no way that he could be here on Earthland, which could only mean one thing.
"Jellal," he said, and the blue-haired mage put a finger to his lips with a conspiratory wink. What was Makarov thinking? First of all, if Jellal screwed up in a fight and used his magic instead of Mystogan's, the council would immediately know who he was. And second, why have a Team B in the first place? Team A was more than enough to get the job done! Between him, Erza, and Gray they pretty much had it covered. Wendy would be great too when she recovered! And Elfman and Lucy could probably hold their own against many of the mages there.
Of course, the booing that started when their team was announced didn't help either. Natsu wasn't used to being jeered by a crowd. The guild he belonged to only a few months ago - well, 7 years technically, but who was counting? – was well known and loved by everyone. But they couldn't get down about it! He raised his fist in the air, knowing that by the end of the games the crowd would change their tune. There was no challenge too difficult for Fairy Tail to overcome!
He noticed with satisfaction that Erza didn't immediately gravitate toward Jellal when she had an opportunity. And when the two did finally meet, he stayed a discreet distance away so he could hear their conversation without being observed. It mostly focused around what he was doing putting himself in danger that way. But, also much to his satisfaction, he could hear the faint undertones in Erza's questions that demanded to know what the master was thinking putting Fairy Tail in danger. To Natsu, this was a positive step. Only a few weeks ago her feelings for Jellal would've blinded her to the danger to the guild.
But things really got interesting when Millianna confronted her about Jellal, and there was talk of Kagura. Apparently Kagura was Simon's little sister. While Erza did her best to play Jellal's past down, there was no denying the fact that the man had been murdered by the blue-haired mage.
And again, Natsu could see here how Erza's feelings got so convoluted whenever it came to Jellal. Normally her strong sense of justice would've brought her to report him to the council as soon as she discovered he was free. If he was anyone else, that was exactly how she would've reacted. But because it was him, she was willing to cast all justice aside and give him a free pass. Because she remembered what he used to be.
That night Natsu headed outside of town again, laying down to go to sleep. He was less surprised this time when a certain red headed knight came out and, believing him to be asleep, laid her head gently on his chest.
You may not know it yet, Erza, but we belong to each other. He thought as her gentle, even breathing reached his ears. Then he also drifted off into slumber.
So there's chapter 2. Thank you everyone for reading and for all the great reviews! Till next time