No Return (Jerza)

Ch 2: The offer

Jellal POV

I lead my guild of three to the masters office where we stand as three cloaked figures in there doorway.

"Ahh. Crime Sorciere. Come in." Makorov welcomes us.

"Thank you master." we accept his invitation and sit in the chairs in front of their desk. "what brings you to Fairy Tail?" he asks curiously.

"We need the help of some of your wizards. A quest as hard as this needs more wizards, and very powerful ones as well." I say. He narrows his eyes and Makoa speaks up.

"Who would you be taking?" He asks.

"Natsu, Gray, Juvia, Lucy, Cana, Mirajane, Lissana, Elfman, Gildarts, Gajeel, Wendy, and... Erza." I answer the co-mage.

"Oh is that all?" he answers sarcastically. "for this mission, yes." I state.

"Fine." Makorav agrees to my surprise. "But in return you will split the earnings with Fairy Tail." he suggested. Feeling that this is fair, I agree to the price. "thank you." I stand with Merdy and Ultear following. The three of us bow and head out the door.

---

"Wow. I can't believe he said yes!" Merdy laughs as we order from Mira. "I know." I agree and steal a glance at the scarlet haired Mage, scolding Natsu and Gray. Of course Merdy noticed.

"She seems so nice! why do you reject her?" she asked for the first time. I feel slightly embarrassed.

"Erza is a beautiful young woman. she deserves someone who hasn't and never will hurt her. besides. I would never be around for her." I sigh. Merdy looks at me sadly.

"I'm sorry Jellal."

"But if you really thought that, then why are we going through with this plan?" Ultear raised an eyebrow. to that, I have no answer.

Erza POV

After punishing the boys, I go and sit next to Cana on the right who is only two seats down from Crime Sorciere on the left. I want to be near him, yet I still hold back. Sighing I order a beer and drink, much, much slower that Cana and her barrels of booze.

"Resorting to drinking like I do? Niw I know something is wrong with you. spill girl." she orders. I begin to open my mouth when the master begin to make an announcement.

"Wizards of Fairy Tail! We have an announcement!" Makoa summons. the guild becomes quiet as we gather.

"Crime Sorciere will be taking a select group to take into a very complex mission. The members will be; Natsu, Gray, Juvia, Lucy, Cana, Mirajane, Lissana, Elfman, Gildarts, Gajeel, Wendy, and Erza." He waves us to meet up with our group and the rest go back to their previous activities. I stand next to Meredy who smiles at me. I smile back, feeling reassured that she is no longer my enemy. As the others debrief and begin to walk away I stay behind with Meredy and bring up the rear of the group.

"So, you've known Jellal your whole life?" she asked me kindly. I nod my head and think back wistfully. "He gave me my last name." I say, remembering the first time I met him. she looks up at me and nods. "you have feelings for him?" she asks and my face tints pink. "well, yes. he is very important to me." I look ahead and notice as we walk, Jellals head is ever so slightly turned in our direction. it would take very keen senses to notice, and I'm not even sure I'm right. I squint my eyes just to be sure, and soon enough realize my suspicions were correct. I whisper my suspicions to Meredy and come up with a plan.

"It's not nice to eavesdrop on people, Jellal." I whisper and his head suddenly jerks around and his face is covered in a red blush. he turns forward at the head of the pack. Meredy giggles with me and we continue on our way.

Jellal POV

Soon, my pace begins to slow with tire, as the others are experiencing the same thing. out formation becomes a mob who follows Ultear as I begin to fall back. I fall in step with Erza and meredy , until the younger girl picks up her pace. Meredy gives me a wink as she speeds up and discretely nods towards the Requip mage.

"Jellal." Erza says, a bit awkwardly.

"Erza." I say back. "I was wondering if I Could talk to you later, it's important." She takes a glance my way, "of course.' is her response.

---

We finally reach the wharf and board the ship Crime Sorciere has bought. now is my chance, while everyone else is settling in, I grasp Erzas wrist and pull her into the captions chamber.

"Look." I start, and she raises her head to stare me in the eye. I feel the amount of pressure and uncertainty lift off my shoulders as I stare into her deep dark brown eyes. "I've really missed you." she immediately blushes and looks down smiling. I realize how it sounded and blush too. "what I mean is... um. I want you to join Crime Sorciere." the blush disappears and her head snaps up to look at me. "why? I don't 'walk in the dark' remember? what would I need to clear my name for?"
"I guess you wouldnt. But I would still love for you to be around. We don't just clear our names. we solve past disagreements and fix mistakes." I tell her. "what mistakes have you made?" she asks and I rub the wrist I'm still holding. "I-"

"Hey!" Natsu bangs open the door and steps in with Happy and Lucy close by him. I release her wrist within a split second and act casual. "what?" she asks.

"I didn't know we needed to ride a boat!" he groans and starts to look pale. I roll my eyes and push him out, telling Happy to make him stand over the railing.

"I'm sorry, Jellal. I will think about it." she manages with a hoarse voice. I smile and let her out. after closing the door, I stand there. I never told her my greatest mistake. I think to myself.

Letting her go...