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Red Badge Of Courage (Erza)

(A/N) Inspiration song is My Most Precious Treasure from Angel Beats, performed by LiSA. And it's the nightcore version.

The dragon had won.

I didn't even dent it. I could have unlimited power and as much armour as there are stars in the sky, but I couldn't even hold a candle to the mighty beasts that escorted me to my grave. 

I knew that before I ran off to buy time for the remaining people of the city to escape that I would not be with them. I had to trust that Levy and the others would be safe and sound. That they would find a way.

But as I floated in a never ending darkness, I wondered about Lucy, Natsu, Gray, and everyone else I had let down. Master Mavis, Master Makarov, Mirajane, The Thunder Legion, Meredy, Millianna, Kagura,......even Jellal.

After what felt like ages, a light finally reached me. The sound of rustling grass and the smell of fresh air had filled my lungs. Opening my eyes and sitting up, I was surrounded by golden fields that seemed to quiet my once racing heart.

Even standing up felt peaceful as my feet seemed to just lightly tread on the ground as I walked. On my way to nowhere, sometimes people seemed to pop up. Sometimes they were alone, other times in small groups of two to six at a time.

Then three heads caught my eye. One was a vibrant pink with ear muffs that also acted as a head band. Another was raven black and glossy with a white head band. 

But the tallest of the three made my heart leap in my throat. A dark azure color that was tossed in a almost childish manner. As soon as they started to stand, I jogged up to greet them. They didn't notice me until the pinkette turned her head and spotted me. The young teen waved her hand and lifted her chin excitedly and with the giddy demeanor of a child.

"Erza-chan! Erza-chan!"

The other two turned to reveal their group. Ultear smiled and waved also as I closed the distance between me and them. But Jellal just grinned his knowing grin. I couldn't help but do the same back, but as I stopped in front of them, I had to remind myself 'Even if we're dead, he is still engaged to Ultear.'

"It's nice to see you again, Scarlet." Ultear said, wrapping me in a tight hug. I embraced back, because how could I dislike her? She was level headed and smart. A good match for my childhood friend. After pulling away, Meredy opened her arms and said "Don't I get one, too?"

I couldn't resist her cuteness and proceeded to also give her a hug as well. When we broke the hug, I finally faced Jellal. He looked down at me and gave a nervous cough. Ultear must have took that as a sign to leave us alone and decided to leave.

"I'm gonna go find my mother. You two catch up okay?" And with that left to do as she said. Meredy also gave us some space by saying "I'm gonna go find Juvia, I still have to thank her for secretly shopping with me during the games!"

As she scampered off, the air grew very awkward between me and him. It was a stand off to see who would go first. And I was the last to break the stiff silence as Jellal went first.

"Um......Erza?"

"Yes Jellal?"

He then suddenly looked down at his feet as if they would strangle him. A minute went by before he glanced to the side and continued.

"I lied......about Ultear being my fiance."

I had to make a double take. He lied about the time mage being his bride to be? Why would he tell me that? I just about considered punching him. But I couldn't bring myself to hurt him. So I clenched my jaw and went to question his motives.

"Why would you lie to me?"

He brought up his gaze to meet mine that I'm pretty sure was ripping daggers in his. But he was Jellal Fernandez, one of the only people who knew me on a personal level. And one, if not only, person who knew how paper thin I really was.

"I was......too afraid."

"Afraid of what? Me?"

The hurt look in his eyes made me want to scream at myself, but I held my stern face and stance. I deserved an answer, and pity and my own wants came second.

"I was too afraid of hurting you." His voice shook, but his eyes grew more confident and he rose a little higher.

"I didn't want to make you happy only to leave you behind. I had caused you enough trouble that I should be dead for it."

He then placed his hands on my shoulders, steadying himself as he pressed forward.

"I didn't need you to feel the weight of my sins as well. You don't need to bare the pain I bare. You don-"

I then slapped him as he was mid-speech. The look he had was of shock and emotional pain. Some people near-by looked as Jellal rebounded and as I began to scold him. Loudly.

"Now listen here, Jellal. You may think you don't deserve happiness, but you've done enough to help us. You saved me multiple times, you helped us when we were in desperation."

I then shot my arms onto his shoulders and gave them a shake.

"And you gave a name to a nameless orphan girl who couldn't even speak for herself. And you gave her a friend and love beyond definition."

I couldn't help but smile, feeling a wet sensation in my eyes. His own irises growing large in realization.

"And you gave me a badge of courage to keep on fighting, even if you were gone."

The silence was hollow and cold. Had I gone too far? Had I made a mistake? But before I could say 'Strawberry's and Shortcakes', I felt him pull me in fast and capture my lips in a heart beat.

A fluttering in my stomach that was present before now exploded into a flurry and fuzzy feeling that started in my toes and worked it's way up. We broke apart so soon, I felt almost dizzy as I tried to process what was going on.

And as we both stood staring at the other, our smiles grew wide and our blushes did too. But it didn't matter as we went back in for another, making it longer than the last.

Sure we had our trials and tribulations, but we somehow always found our way back to each other. And now we had the rest of all time to stop being brave and start being us.