#jerikweek

Day 3 - I'm not drunk enough for this shit

The prompts for Jerik Week 2019 (Sept. 23rd to Sept 29th) are finally out.

You can read the rules here and make sure to follow them when you’re submitting. Also don’t forget to tag #jerikweek2019, #jerikweek and #jerik in the first five tags or mention @fuckyeahjerik. Remember, these prompts are only guidelines and you don’t have to stick to them. We will be reblogging anything related to the pair so don’t hesitate to follow your own ideas if you wish.

 But here’s the fun. Since us organisers couldn’t pin it down to seven prompts for seven days, we have pooled together all of them into a single list. The prompts aren’t restrictive to days, and therefore you are free to pick any of them for any day! This is a pretty mellow event where we want everyone to have fun creating content for this ship. The fan work can be anything, feel free to use your creativity in any way you like. You can also mix and pick together as many prompts as you like for a day.

         The Prompts:

·        Future Together

·        pinned to the past

·        Home

·        Hate

·        Universe in our grasp.

·        Heavens and Oceans

·        Lost childhood

·        Repentance

·        possession

·        Serenity

·        Fading into nothingness

·        Freedom

·        Free prompt

·        “I'm not drunk enough for this shit.”

·        “Who said it was a good idea to have a child again?”

·        “I trusted you.”

·        “Today, let’s just exist together.”

·        “I want to stop running, you know.”

·        “You need to stop chattering.”

 We will accept late entries.

Send in asks for any questions and queries. 

Day 4: "Future together"

They were lying in bed, shoulders touching and eyes locked on the ceiling where little plastic stars were the only thing shining in the dark around them.

It's a silly thing meant for children, but somehow Jellal insists they buy it.

"Now that we have a real roof under our heads I think I'm going to miss watching them a little. Let's buy this so we can still watch them!" He said at the time.

And with the big smile and shiny eyes his lover offered him, Erik had no other choice but to give his approval.

Now that they are contemplating them, Erik kind of understands what Jellal meant.

It doesn't really look like the sky they used to sleep under, of course. There are a few items that are missing a leg or two, making weird shapes instead of stars. Erik is also sure the Moon isn't supposed to look oval, but he gets why Jellal wants them hanging there.

It means they've finally found a place to settle, a place where they can exist and evolve without worrying about anything.

"I heard Ultear saying that Gray and Natsu adopted a baby," Jellal says, breaking the silence around them.

This brings Erik's attention back to the man he loves. Jellal isn't looking at him, eyes still fixed on the ceiling, but he has a soft look on his face, so Erik doesn't respond yet, waiting for him to continue.

"A little girl named Ally. From what she said, the child is only eight months old. They rescued her from a fire."

Jellal frowns at this, taking a moment before he finds his words again.

"Her parents died, and she didn't have anyone else. According to Ultear, Gray was the one who convinced Natsu to keep her with them." Jellal states.

"Really? I would have thought Natsu would be the one more excited about it." Erik tells him.

"Yeah..me too. But I guess it makes sense. Gray has always been a softie at heart."

Erik snorts at this. He's never really talked to the man but from what Natsu tells him each time they see each other at those silly dragon slayer meeting - that Wendy insisted they hold at least twice a month- he couldn't agree more with Jellal.

" I guess this is the only thing I'm going to hear about next week then. Maybe I can come up with an excuse and say I'm sick?" Erik suggests.

And this brings out a laugh from Jellal.

"Yeah, I don't think that will work. You've already used that too many times. Last time they literally came here. I don't want to have to replace more furniture because of one of Natsu and Gajeel's useless fights. You'll go, or I'll make you go."

The dragon slayer only groans but doesn't argue with him. This brings back the silence again, and Erik closes his eyes this time. It's peaceful, and the environment is calm enough for him to fall asleep. But he doesn't have much time to contemplate the idea as Jellal's voice rings again.

"Do you want kids? I mean one day, not now? Doesn't have to be with me either but yeah..uh kids?"

It's said in a weird and unconfident way, and Erik would have made fun of him if it weren't for the fact that he is caught off guard.

He is definitely awake now, and his eyes are wide open as he slowly turns his face toward Jellal, who is also looking at him now.

They stare at each other's eyes for a moment. Neither of them making any noise. Jellal's face is open and curious. He is clearly expecting an answer but is waiting patiently for Erik to come back to his senses.

"I-I never thought about it before ?" Comes Erik's answer. "How about you?" He chooses to deflect the attention back to Jellal.

"Well... I never thought about having one seriously until...recently ?" He says, almost whispering.

And if it weren't for his special hearing Erik is sure that he would have missed it.

His heart is suddenly beating fast, scared to understand the meaning being these words.

"What do you mean...?" He still asks.

Jellal looks uncomfortable for a moment before he turns on his side, body fully facing Erik now. Erik imitates him, and a few seconds later, their hands are locked together.

"Before we had this home... I never thought about having a child. I mean what kind of world would they have grown up in, right? Always on the run, never settling in one place, too much danger. But now... now it feels more right? I don't know how to explain it properly." Jellal sighs.

And Erik squeezes his hand because he knows precisely what Jellal is trying to say.

"I don't mean I want one now. But I definitely would like to take care of a little human being one day." He finishes, a smile taking over his lips.

Erik keeps his eyes on him. Honestly, the thought has simply never crossed his mind. Probably because he was always focused on something else so that it didn't occur to him that it was something he should consider at some point.

Now that Jellal has brought the subject up, he can't help but imagine what it would be like to have a child of his own, running around the house, laughing and crying. He's sure that Sorano, Meredy, and Ultear would be head over heels for the little being and he has no doubt that the other guys would make greats uncles.

But he realizes something else too. If he ever has a child one day, there's one person he can't help but see by his side. Only one person who would make the experience worth it.

"I wouldn't mind having a child one day. As long as you're in the picture too." Erik confesses.

He feels more than sees Jellal coming to catch his lips against his. There's a hand tangled in his hair and a body coming closer to his. And Erik can't fight the smile tugging on his lips as they kiss. It's a little awkward and weird, but he knows he's said the right thing because he can hear Jellal's thoughts mirror his. He can't dream of a better person to raise a child with either.

*

Jerik Week 2019

@fuckyeahjerik

Prompt: “I want to stop running, you know.” + “You need to stop chattering” + “Today, let's just exist together”

Summary: “We aren't any different, are we?” Erik asked with a bitter amusement in his voice. “I can't stop hearing. You can't stop babbling. Both of us don't know what quietness feels like.”

***

“Do they ever stop?” Jellal asked, gulping. His throat has dried up after the hours of walking.

Erik doesn't spare him a glance. He sat against the bark of the tree, his skin glistening with sweat.

“The voices, I mean,” Jellal explained.

“No.”

Jellal watched him; the closed eye, the body looking like a exhausted frame. He could see the stress burning the man.

“We aren't any different, are we?” Erik asked with a bitter amusement in his voice. “I can't stop hearing. You can't stop babbling. Both of us don't know what quietness feels like.”

Jellal sighed. He bit his lip and stared at the sky. He was tired of finding an escape. There is no way out of your own mind, after all. You are caged by your thoughts; enslaved by them.

“I want to stop running, you know,” Erik said finally. He was now staring too at the dusk spilling across. He looked beautiful under the gold and orange light, Jellal thought.

“You mean—”

“No,” Erik shook his head. “Not this running; from one place to another for our lives. I can live with that, it's the only thing we have been doing all this time. Maybe—” he shrugged, “Maybe it's the only thing we know. I don't know what having a home would be like, anyway. I meant this running from the voices. One would think that I should have made my peace with them by now after all these years. You think that you're ready; that no thought can get through you now,” he lowered his head and whispered, “can break you. But... it does.”

Jellal didn't know what to say. He didn't know that any person can understand what he has felt all this while. But there Erik was, voicing his thoughts. Erik wanted escape from other's thoughts while Jellal wanted from his own. It's a good thing that he had strong mental walls which at the very least, prevented Erik from hearing all the deeper darker thoughts.

He was almost tempted to ask what Erik had heard. They had been fighting earlier against a cult who had kidnapped the people and taken over their village. After all the thrashing, they expected the leader to finally give in. Except the man had only smirked and then killed himself.

There, Jellal saw Erik recoiling in disgust. His face looked like he was about to throw up. He had heard the man's thoughts; seen the glimpse of his mind and the horrendous things he had done.

What's worse was that the man died without a shred of guilt and regret. To be proud of the horrible crimes you've done, it was disgusting.

“It's better if you don't know,” The Dragon Slayer said, breaking Jellal's reverie.

“I told you to not peek in,” Jellal said, although he knew that there was no use.

“You need to stop chattering,” Erik replied.

Jellal exhaled in exasperation. He turned to look at Erik and saw his gaze still fixed at the sky. The stars had already started to come out.

“Hey,” he said. “Come here.” Jellal extended his hand out to Erik. The man slowly looked at him, blinking at the hand. Finally, he accepted it and shifted to sit beside him.

Jellal threaded his fingers in Erik's hair, smoothing his locks and gently massaging his temple. Erik still puzzled at the tenderness, his body stiff; slowly, he gave in and tried to relax under the touch. Jellal felt that he could almost see the weight of the world on the man's shoulder.

His hands trailed down to cup Erik's face, thumb running over the scar. He admired the bronze skin, the maroon hair falling over the eye. He slowly smiled and said, “You know, you're beautiful.”

“That's sappy,” Erik said. Jellal could see the slight blush spreading over the dark skin as he caught the man off guard with the compliment.

“I don't think that is a problem,” he whispered over Erik's lips and then kissed them. It started slowly, a soft brush, and then turned into something hungry and intense as Erik kissed back. Jellal knew that the man needed it; to channel out the thoughts and voices and the burden into something that can burn them out—maybe not fully, but to an extent at least.

Slowly, Erik pulled back, his body on top of Jellal. Through the heavy breaths, he whispered, “It won't ever get better, right?”

Jellal looked at the dishevelled hair, the dark wine eye staring at him, the slightly parted lips. He could see that there was pain stinging Erik.

Jellal stroked his cheek; slowly touching his forehead to his and said, “Maybe. Maybe not. We don't know what will happen tomorrow. You don't have to be okay right now. Today let's just exist together. Because you're not alone in this.”

Erik slightly smiled, a crack of relief rippling on his face. And that was enough for both of them.

***

Day 5? - Future Together // Freedom

Day 6? - Free Prompt // Dads

Hi there ! I'm sorry for answering this late, I was just waiting for the right time to post it since I wanted it to be a part of the Jerik week!

*

Jerik: Serendipity part 6: "Who said it was a good idea to have a child again?"

*

“Come and catch me Daddy!” comes a little voice, quickly followed by a laugh.

And this time instead of going after his daughter, Erik lets himself fall onto the ground, his back meeting the grass, completely worn out.

Erik has faced countless enemies, and far more dangerous situations than to entertain his little ray of sunshine, but never he would have imagined that he would feel this tired after only one hour out with her.

He closes his eyes as he tried to breathe evenly again.

“Look at you. The great and powerful Erik aka Cobra of Oracion Seis, completely out because of a little girl.”

Jellal’s voice fills his ears, and Erik doesn’t have to look at him to know that he’s wearing a smirk on his lips.

“Shut up. Who said it was a good idea to have a child again? I think I want a refund. I’ve been tricked.”

He doesn’t mean a word of it, of course, and he knows Jellal understood this as well, when the other mage sits next to him and brushes a hand through his hair, rearranging a few strands.

“I’m sorry but I think you’ll have to deal with this until the day you die, my dear,” Jellal jokes. “But you can rest, for now, Sawyer is distracting her.”

As if on cue, he hears the light laugher of his eight years old daughter ringing around them. Erik decides to open his eyes and sit so he can take a look at the scene in front of him.

Alena is running, trying her best to escape her uncle’s hands. He knows Sawyer is probably indulging her, but his daughter has a happy look on her face and it’s all that matters.

“That explains why she didn’t come to get me right away,” Erik finally says.

He feels Jellal coming closer to him until their shoulders are brushing and their hands are tangled together.

“I love her so much,” Erik whispers.

“I know. I love her too.”

“We are so lucky to have her,” he adds.

“We are.”

“And we deserve this happiness,” he finishes.

There’s a kiss pressing on his cheek and Jellal squeezes his hand a little tighter. It’s not the first time that these words are exchanged, and it won’t be the last time either, because these mean so much to them.

It reminds them that they didn’t waste their second chance. It reminds them that despite their past, they are blessed with a little human being for whom they can make everything better and will do anything for. It reminds them that they have something good to live for.

It reminds them that they too are allowed to experience this kind of joy.

“We deserve this happiness,” Jellal agrees.

*

Alena means "lights", "bright", "shining one"

Thank you to @watcher-ofthe-sky for helping with this ! You're a sweetheart as usual.