Sorry Day 6 is super late (Day 7 is almost halfway over, and I still havenât finished that prompt either so it will probably be up late as well). Itâs summer so Iâm working a ton to save up for the coming year, my final year of undergrad.
This prompt may have been the most spontaneous, but it quickly became my favorite! Itâs also the longest, I think. But itâs just a bunch of heartwarming, feel-good fluff. I mean, shouldnât âHomecomingâ prompt that sort of thing?
Be sure to check out my Jellal-centric Heavens Bringer on AO3, and stay tune for when I post all these prompts in one place as well.
Summary: Guided by Erza, Jellal enters the Fairy Tail guild hall for the first time as one of its members.
Softly, Erza smiled to herself as she glanced toward the blue-haired man beside her, amused by the way he nervously fiddled with the ornate clover symbol pinned to his jacket. It was a reminder that all of this was real, that it was really happening, that Jellal truly had returned to the Ten Wizard Saints. That he was really joining Fairy Tail. That their confessions exchanged at his awardment party were real. She had never really seen Jellal look so uncomfortable, and it was rather adorable.
âFor someone whoâs been a member of the Ten Wizard Saints, been on the Magic Council, led an independent guild, then been elected to the Ten Wizard Saints again, you seem surprisingly nervous about joining Fairy Tail,â she giggled.
âAnd you appear to be enjoying it,â he answered with a small smirk, once more removing the pin before quickly re-attaching it.
He had a point though, Erza hadnât felt so bubbly and playful in years. The last few years hadnât given her much time to laugh and smile, though. Especially from Tartaros and the disbandment of Fairy Tail, then theyâd gone on to fight the Avatar cult before the Alvarez Empire invaded. But she knew exactly why she was so happy.
âOf course I am,â she answered, turning to face him. âIâm enjoying all of this. Iâve been on cloud nine since the night of your ceremony. Youâre finally coming home to me⊠and to Fairy Tail.â
Surprise flashed over Jellalâs face as he listened to her words, before he closed his eyes for a moment and smiled in a way that could only be described as pure bliss. âYouâre right,â he grabbed her hand and laced their fingers, gently tugging her toward him so he could plant a quick kiss on her. âThis is my home.â
Flustered nearly the same shade as her hair, Erza pulled Jellal into the guild hall finally. Everything was as it normally was; members scattered about, many of her friends clumped together at tables. People shouted their greetings and congratulations toward Jellal, as the members of Fairy Tail were nearly ecstatic in the prospect that they would have a member of the Ten Wizard Saints among their guild once more. They passed the table where Elfman, Lisanna, Laxus, Freed, Bickslow, and Evergreen were gathered around chatting, and Cana was seated on the table with her arms and legs wrapped around a barrel of beer as usual. Each and everyone of them greeted the couple, as most of Fairy Tail had known about Erzaâs feelings for the young man for years. Elfman cheerily proclaimed that Fairy Tail and the Ten Wizard Saints now had a âreal manâ as part of their ranks, before being whacked on the arm by Evergreen sitting next to him.
Lisanna giggled at her brother and his girlfriendâs antics before gesturing to the usual table at the back of the guild. âMira already gave Meredy and Erik their guild marks. Theyâre with the others back there, Jellal.â
Erza watched as he visibly brightened at the mention of the two other former members of Crime Sorciere who had joined Fairy Tail alongside him. She found it incredibly sweet; not only his relationship with Meredy, in which the two had become not only partners over the years but truly like a brother and sister toward one another, but also how close Jellal had become with the dragon slayer, a former member of the Oracion Seis. She couldnât imagine that Jellal had ever expected to trust the other man so wholeheartedly even after Erik and his guildmates had joined Crime Sorciere, but Erza herself had witnessed the two in the middle of a fight before and it was incredibly inspiring to see such an unlikely friendship.
Before they even made their way to that table though, Erza led him to the bar. Mira, bless her demon-blooded, shipper soul, nearly glowed like a star at the sight of them together. She already had the mark-maker out for him in anticipation.
âHi, Jellal!â She chirped. âI know youâve already heard it a million times, but I want to formally welcome you to Fairy Tail! I also think itâs worth mentioning that as a member of the Magic Councilâs Ten Wizard Saints, youâll automatically be counted among our S-class rank.â
He nodded. âThank you, Mirajane. Itâs good to see you again, as well.â
âNow, where do you want your guild mark?â
After Jellal had decided upon his collarbone and removed his cloak in order for them to place it, a mischievous grin appeared on Miraâs face that nearly frightened the newly-together couple.
âYou know, I think you should place it on him, Erza!â Chirped the She-Demon, handing the marker to her friend, who immediately grew flustered once more.
âM-me?!â She stuttered, and nearly dropped it in her embarrassment.
Both women were surprised by a sudden loud chuckle, and found the source of it to be the young, blue-haired man beside them. Jellalâs entire body shook with laughter, a deep, hearty chuckle that nearly caused Erzaâs heart to jump into her throat. She had never heard such laughter from him. It warmed her entire body to the same temperature as her cheeks.
âLucy did warn me about the meddling that goes on with our love lives in this guild, but I still wasnât prepared for that,â he admitted. âBut I guess you already have the marker in your hands, Erza?â
She looked down and almost dropped it again. âJellal, I donât-â
âIâm teasing you now, Iâm sorry,â he smiled at her again. âBut I would appreciate you doing it. Because youâre the reason any of this⊠any of what Iâve done from the moment I woke up under the Oracion Seis, was possible.â
She blushed again, but quickly obliged Jellalâs request. Unsurprisingly true to the words he had just spoken, his guild mark came out a deep scarlet.
Mira, nearly beside herself, could do nothing but squeak out another congratulations before rushing into the kitchen almost in tears. A moment later, Laxus walked by the two, mumbling that theyâd broken the She-Demon and following after her.
âYo, Erza! Jellal! Are you two done over there yet? Come join the celebration!â A familiar voice called to them.
Both turned to find Natsu on his face, summoning them from the table in the back. They had shoved as many people at the table as they could, and still some were being forced to stand. Lucy was seated beside her partner, Happy contently rested in her lap, while on her other side was Levy cradling Pantherlily and never without Gajeel standing too far behind. Gray, with his shirt unbuttoned, was leaning back in the chair on Natsuâs other side, and to no oneâs surprise was Juvia glued to him; though no one mentioned it, no one missed the arm that the ice wizard had wrapped around her hip. Also gathered around were Wendy and Carla, and Lisanna had joined the group while Jellal was getting his mark.
The new ones at the table were obvious; Meredy was chatting with Juvia, with her new guild mark - the same shade of black as Grayâs for another member of the Milkovich family - sat on her hip where it was shown off because of her cropped top. Next to her was the Poison Dragon Slayer formerly known as Cobra, Erik, who held a flustered Kinana so close she was nearly sitting on his lap. He had one sleeve rolled up to reveal, like nearly every other dragon slayer, heâd opted to get his guildâs mark right where his arm connected to his shoulder.
âJellal! You came!â Meredy exclaimed happily when she noticed the pair arrive at the table.
â'Bout time you showed up,â Erik greeted him with a smug grin. âGotta make an entrance like usual, eh?â
He snorted with more laughter. âShut up, Erik.â
âLook at that fancy little emblem there,â Erik whistled. âTell me Iâm wrong, I dare you.â
âYou were at the ceremony too! You saw it there!â Meredy laughed.
âItâs good to see the three of you fit in so quickly,â Lucy said kindly, giggling softly at the banter between the three.
âI mean, we all had very personal ties to this guild,â Meredy answered. âErik wonât admit it, but Kinana isnât the only reason heâs here; just the biggest one.â
His pixie-like girlfriend giggling now at his expense, the dragon slayer groaned. âMeredy!â
She only grinned more. âAnd we all know why Jellal suggested in the first place.â
At this, all eyes in the table turned toward Erza. But her eyes were only on Jellal, as they had been nearly the entire time the two had been standing with the group. His dark green eyes were giving away how happy he was, no matter how much indignation he tried to fake. Everything about them joining Fairy Tail felt natural, as if it was the only place they had ever belonged. Thatâs the sort of place it was; the members were a family, and it didnât matter when you joined, or when you left. Fairy Tail was always a home.