Gerard x Erza fanfiction

Fanfiction series: Odds and Ends
Title: Broken Promise
Pairing: Gerard/Erza
Rating: T
Word count: 1623
Summary: Erza visits Gerard in a prison and makes a promise she won't keep.
Notes: The first half has been probably done before, let's see how I do. Angsty, but then again, I can't write lighthearted fics all the time. And I really apologize for the lateness of this. Circumstances beyond my control delayed the posting. I'm also sorry for not replying to any of your reviews, I'll try to catch up to that.

The sound of her steps echoed in the stone corridor that led to the cells in the best guarded prison in the world. Looking at her face, no one would be able to guess at the turmoil inside her. It had been several weeks since he had been arrested and she had planned to visit sooner but the whole thing with an alternate world had thrown a wrench into her plans. She could only hope he didn't think she had abandoned him.

His cell was the very last one in the row, with reinforced walls that were inscribed with enchantments. A bit of an overkill, especially for a man who hadn't resisted his arrest. The guard stopped and pulled out a whole set of keys, starting a lengthy process of opening all of the locks at the door. When he was done, he stepped aside, letting her enter. Erza looked at him.

"Leave us alone," and when the guard looked about to protest, she added, "He's under several spells that block his magic and he's in shackles. He's no danger to me."

The guard relented.

"You have an hour, then I'll come for you."

"Thank you."

Erza turned back to the door and taking a deep breath entered Gerard's cell. He was sitting on his cot, his shackled hands resting upon his knees. He looked up when she entered and she noticed that his hair had gotten longer.

"Hello, Gerard," she greeted him in a tight voice.

"Erza," he returned calmly. There was something off about his voice and about his posture. "You shouldn't have come."

"You are my friend, Gerard."

"Even after all that I have done?" he asked bitterly and Erza suddenly understood.

"They told you about your past."

"Yes."

Erza closed her eyes. She hoped it wouldn't come to that but she should have known it was just her wishful thinking. There was no way Gerard could escape his past. But he should take blame only for what he had been really responsible for.

"Gerard, it wasn't you back then."

"It doesn't matter. If only-"

"Don't!" she cut him off. "I know all about 'if onlys' and 'what ifs'. You cannot dwell upon that which cannot be changed. That's no way to live."

He was looking at her now, as if seeing her for the first time.

"I wish I had your strength, Erza," he spoke finally. "But all I can think about, being shut in here, is how I will never have a chance to try and make right what I have done wrong."

"What do you mean?"

"Think, Erza," he gestured with his bound hands. "If I'm not executed I'll be locked up for life. It's no more than I deserve but still..."

"You already gave up?" she couldn't believe what she was hearing. In a couple of steps, she was in front of him, pulling him up. "Have you forgotten what I told you? Have you lost your hope so soon?"

"It's not about me. It's about the Council. They won't allow me to go free."

"We won't let them. I have already talked to the Master and Natsu, Gray and Lucy will do so as well. The others from Blue Pegasus and Lamia Scale can testify, too. We will get you free, just give us some time, Gerard. Please."

His shackles clinked against her armor as Gerard put his hands on her shoulders and pulled her close. Erza went willingly, her arms raising and encircling his back. It was an awkward embrace because he couldn't put his arms around her but it didn't matter. He rested his head on top of hers, breathing in the scent of her hair.

"I'll keep hoping Erza, I promise," he whispered into her hair. "But I want you to promise me something as well."

"I will."

He chuckled at that.

"Don't go making promises before you know what they are. Because you won't like it."

She pulled away from him a bit to see his face. He looked serious.

"What is it?" she asked.

"If the things don't work out... if the Council decides to have me executed... I want you to promise me you won't watch..."

"Gerard!"

He shushed her.

"Promise me. I wouldn't be able to go peacefully, knowing you were watching. Please, Erza. Promise me you won't be there."

She hid her face in his chest.

"I promise," she mumbled, knowing full well she had no intention of keeping that promise. Gerard let out a breath of relief.

"Thank you."

They remained standing there, locked in their awkward embrace for the rest of the allotted time.

---

She broke that promise as she had known she would. They had tried hard to get Gerard acquitted but the Council had made up their mind and ordered his death. Erza stood in the small crowd that had gathered and her eyes never left the stand. She watched as Gerard was led up, watched as the destructive magic was cast, watched as his body slowly disintegrated into nothingness. She didn't care for the tears that flew down her face and she didn't bother to wipe them away. Only after the crowd had dispersed, did she move, slowly walking towards the place where he had last stood.

There would be no miraculous return from death this time, she reflected bitterly. No hope of a happy ending.

"Erza!"

She turned around slowly. It was Lucy and the young Stellar Spirit mage seemed relieved to see her. No wonder. When they had heard the news of the verdict, Erza went off to be alone. She had no will to pretend to be strong and she had not contacted the guild since then, well over two weeks.

"All of us have been looking for you. Why did you just leave like that?"

"I needed to be alone," Erza replied in a tone that clearly said not to inquire any more.

"Of course, but you should have come back sooner. Do you know how hard it was to plan-" Lucy suddenly seemed to realize where they stood. "Never mind. Just come with me, there's something I have to show you."

Erza let herself be led away. It was kind of Lucy to try and take her mind off things, she wouldn't waste that effort. Gerard would want her to live.

Lucy led her to a hotel and Erza was surprised to see Natsu and Gray there as well. Had they been to the execution? She couldn't remember seeing them there but she had been somewhat preoccupied at the time. It was possible she had missed them.

"Did you tell her?" Gray asked. Lucy shook her head.

"Not yet. She wouldn't believe me."

"Believe what?" Erza asked, suddenly mistrustful.

"You have to see for yourself."

Lucy kept pulling her to the second floor where they stopped as Lucy knocked.

"It's me, Lucy. And I have a surprise along," she giggled.

The door slowly opened and behind them... Erza gasped.

"Gerard?"

It was him, without a doubt. Erza wasn't aware of her body's movement until she was well inside the room, holding him in a tight embrace which he readily returned.

"But how?" she thought to ask as the shock started to wear off.

"I can explain," Lucy who had been considerately hovering at the door volunteered. "After you were gone, we got together to try and devise a rescue mission. I got all frustrated over it and Loke who popped in to check on me heard all about it and mentioned it among the other Spirits and suddenly, Gemini were in my room, offering to help."

"Gemini?" Erza recalled hearing about that particular Spirit's abilities. "They are the impersonators, right?"

"Yes, and once we had them, it became really easy. Gemini infiltrated the guards who were supposed to escort Gerard and then changed places with him. Casting destructive magic on a Stellar Spirit causes them to fade back to the Spirit world and the process is very similar to the actual effect of the destructive spell used for the executions," Lucy took a deep breath and beamed a smile at them. "So now the Council thinks Gerard's dead so they'll be off our backs and Gerard can start living his life without fear."

"I don't know how to thank you, Lucy," Erza spoke tightly. Lucy waved it off.

"What are friends for, right? I'll give you some privacy, I bet you have a lot to talk about. Besides," she frowned slightly. "I need to check on Natsu and Gray, make sure they're not destroying anything. Later."

She shut the door behind her and the two childhood friends remained alone. They had yet to let go of each other but neither one minded the close contact. It was Gerard who broke the silence.

"You didn't keep your promise."

"I'm sorry but I had to do it."

"I didn't wish to cause you even more pain, Erza."

"I know you didn't. You're here now, aren't you? That makes it worth it."

"No more pain, Erza," he said sincerely. "I'll devote my entire life to making you happy."

"Don't go around making promises you won't be able to keep," she reprimanded but he shook his head stubbornly.

"I'm here for you. Even if we ended up hating each other again, I just can't leave you alone. I..." he quoted her words from before his arrest. "You never finished that sentence," he put two of his fingers under her chin, tilting her face up. "But sometimes the words aren't really necessary, Erza."

"No, they aren't," she agreed breathlessly as he closed the distance between them and his lips covered hers. After all, the most important things were always said without words.