What is love? ( Fairy Tail FanFic )

Her Fragile Pride

Coco and Jellal left the room; one to help with the preparations and the other to bathe.

The blonde and the captain were alone in silence until the latter spoke, "You were found face down in a forest, covered with dirt...I'm sure you want to take a bath, right?"

It was awkward. Erza wasn't one for casual conversations, let alone asking someone if they wanted a bath. She looked away for a while not sure how to act. Lucy snickered at this. 'She's actually cute...reminds me more and more of my Erza...'

Erza heard the snickering and blushed severely. She got up and said "If you're coming, then move it" as she looked away.

Lucy smiled a bit before saying "I'm coming!"

However, as she got up, she felt dizzy and wobbly. "Uh...Erz-..." before she could finish, she began to fall. Just as she was about to hit her head on the bedside table, two strong arms caught her. "Be more careful" was all Erza said as she helped her up.

"Thanks..." Lucy responded quietly as she held onto Erza's arms.

The redhead noticed that Lucy could barely move. She remembered what the doctor had said about her having gone through a lot of stress these past few days.

"...Eh? Erza? I can walk you know..."

"Shut up", was all Erza said as she began to carry her bridal style to the bathroom.

Lucy suddenly remembered how her Erza had carried her like this only a little while ago. Tears began to form in her eyes as she held onto Knightwalker tightly. Her carrier looked at her but didn't say anything as she continued on to her destination.

Once at the changing room, Erza gently told Lucy that they had arrived. She was surprised. She was one with a commanding voice. Why was she being so gentle with this girl? She shook her head, concluding that she had a soft spot for vulnerable beings- which was rare enough.

She slowly put Lucy down on her feet.

"Can you undress yourself? " She asked.

"I think so..." was the blonde's response; however she was still fairly wobbly.

Knightwalker sighed and decided to undress her. But Lucy rejected the offer saying that she was fine and she'd join her in a bit. Erza told her to be careful as she herself undressed and went to bathe.

When Lucy finished taking her clothes off, Erza was just about done washing her body and was about to get in the bath. She turned her head when the door opened and said "We're lucky it's empty, it can be a real mess when there are a bunch of people here."

The blonde was quiet. 'Erza...Is it really you?' For a moment, she had forgotten that she was in Edolas. With her hair down, Knightwalker was a carbon copy of Scarlet. She shook her head and spoke.

"I'd assumed you had a bath in your room..."

"I do. But it doesn't fit two people. We'd have to take turns and we clearly don't have time to dally."

Lucy nodded with understanding as she began to go wash her body. Erza had just finished, and slowly got up to go to the bathtub. However she stopped halfway when she felt something touch her back.

It wasn't a threat so she didn't turn around. She felt a finger trace her back. It felt nice but a bit uncomfortable. Before she could turn around and reprimand Lucy for touching her, the blonde spoke.

"Your back is covered in so many scars..."

"I'm a warrior. It's a given." She continued as she let herself relax a bit. "What about Scarlet?"