Chapter Text
"Wendy, please listen to me!" Erza whispered urgently, trying to keep the girl from panicking further. "I promise I'm not here to hurt you. I just need you to understand."
Wendy's wide eyes darted around, looking for an escape, but Erza held her firmly yet gently.
"Now I'm going to take my hand off your mouth, and when I do, don't scream, okay?"
Wendy nodded slowly, her eyes still wide with fear. Erza carefully removed her hand from the girl's mouth, keeping her gaze steady and reassuring.
"Good." Erza said softly. "Now, addressing the elephant in the room, I'm not a soldier. I'm a woman. You can't tell anyone about this. It could ruin everything."
Wendy's expression shifted from fear to confusion.
"But...Why are you pretending to be a soldier? Why are you hiding?"
Erza took a deep breath, realizing that she needed to be honest with this child.
"Because women aren't allowed in the army, and if I go as myself, no one will listen to me. I need to convince the leaders to seek peace, and this is the only way I can do it. I know it's crazy but I was desperate. Now, not a word of this anyone."
Just then, Jellal's voice called out from a distance.
"Wendy! Where are you?"
Erza quickly placed a finger over her lips, signaling Wendy to stay quiet.
"You have to trust me. If he finds out, not only could my plan fail but I could be executed for impersonating a soldier."
Wendy nodded, and Erza released her grip slightly, allowing the girl to breathe easier. They both crouched behind the tree, waiting for Jellal to approach. During this time, Erza quickly re-pinned up all her hair and put her shirt back on.
Jellal soon appeared, looking concerned.
"Wendy! There you are. I was worried."
Wendy stepped out from behind the tree, her expression innocent.
"I was just... um... looking for some berries."
Jellal raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced.
"Berries? In that direction?" He glanced over at Erza, who was still hidden behind the tree. "What are you doing back there?"
Erza's heart raced. She had to think fast.
"I was just... checking the area for any threats. You know, as a good lieutenant should." She said once again using her fake man voice.
Jellal narrowed his eyes, still suspicious.
"A good lieutenant would not hide behind a tree."
Erza stepped out, trying to maintain her composure.
"I was just being cautious. We can't afford to let our guard down, especially with children around."
Jellal studied her for a moment, and Erza could feel the tension in the air.
"Fine. But if you're going to be part of this group, you need to act like it. No more hiding."
"Understood." Erza replied, relieved that he seemed to buy her excuse, at least for now.
As they returned to camp, Erza felt a mix of gratitude and anxiety. She had managed to keep her secret for the moment, but she knew it wouldn't last forever. She needed to find a way to prove herself and gain Jellal's trust, not just for her sake, but for the sake of the mission.
Discarding the armor did make training easier for her but she still had to push herself to keep up with Jellal who was stronger and more experienced than her. Not to mention, she also had to constantly work to maintain her disguise as a male soldier, which added an extra layer of stress.
Jellal was patient with her but also doubtful. She seemed so unprepared, so inexperienced, and so clumsy. Although he could see that 'he' had potential, he wasn't sure how long it would take for 'him' to reach it. From Jellal's perspective it would take months, maybe even years.
"I tell you Romeo, I've seen many men who struggle in learning combat." He said to his brother one evening. "But this one...Seems like they need to come up with a new word for this one."
"Jellal, that's not nice."
"Maybe not, but it's the truth." Jellal replied with a sigh, glancing over at 'Ezra' who was practicing 'his' stances with a wooden tree branch. 'He' was trying 'his' best, but 'his' movements were awkward and uncoordinated.
"I mean if he's the lieutenant, I'd hate to see what the captain is like."
"Don't you think you're being a little too hard on her- I mean him!" Wendy said.
Jellal raised an eyebrow at Wendy's slip of the tongue but chose to let it slide for now.
"Everyone has to start somewhere." Wendy continued. "Maybe he just needs more time to adjust. You were once a beginner too, remember?"
Jellal sighed, running a hand through his hair.
"I know, I know. It's just... I can't shake the feeling that something's off about him. It's like he's trying too hard to impress me, and that makes me uneasy."
Wendy glanced over at Erza, who was still struggling with her stances.
"Maybe he's just nervous. You are rather intimidating."
Jellal chuckled softly, a hint of a smile breaking through his serious demeanor.
"Intimidating? I'm just trying to keep everyone safe. But I guess I can see how my reputation might make me seem that way. Still, in times such as these we can't afford to take any chances."
As Jellal walked away, Romeo turned to Wendy, his gaze piercing.
"You know something, don't you?" He said, crossing his arms over his chest.
Wendy's heart raced, but she kept her expression neutral.
"What do you mean?" She asked, feigning innocence.
"Don't play coy with me, Wendy. You've been acting strange ever since that 'Ezra' showed up. You're defending him like he's your best friend, and I can see it in your eyes. You know more than you're letting on."
Wendy swallowed hard, her mind racing. She couldn't let Romeo uncover Erza's secret.
"I just think he deserves a chance, that's all." Dhe replied, trying to sound casual.
"Chance? Or are you hiding something?" Romeo pressed, stepping closer. "If you know something about him, you need to tell me. It could be important."
Wendy shook her head, her resolve firm.
"I can't. I promised I wouldn't say anything."
"Then how about this." Romeo said, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Let's make it interesting. If I can tackle you then you have to tell me everything you know. If you win, I'll drop it. Deal?"
"Romeo, you've been trying to tackle me since we were in diapers and I'll always pin you." Wendy replied with a playful smirk.
"Is that a challenge?" Romeo grinned, his competitive spirit ignited.
"Always." Wendy said, positioning herself in a defensive stance. "On three."
"One... two... three!"
With a burst of energy, Romeo lunged forward, but Wendy was quick on her feet. She sidestepped him effortlessly, using his momentum against him and sending him tumbling to the ground.
"Ha! Pinned ya!" She declared, a grin forming on her lips.
Romeo frowned at her.
"Hey let me up!"
She got off of him and when her back was turned, he charged at her again. But Wendy had already deduced he'd try something like that, so she ducked and tackled him from the side, pinning him down.
"Pinned ya again!" She laughed, her heart racing with exhilaration.
Romeo groaned, trying to wriggle free.
"Okay, okay! You win! Geez! How are you always able to beat me at this? I'm a boy, I'm bigger than you."
"Actually for the last 12 to 13 years, we've been about the exact same size. But by all means, try again in the next ten years."
Romeo huffed, finally relenting as he lay on the ground, defeated.
"Fine, I'll drop it for now. But just know, I'm not giving up on this. I'll find out what you're hiding, Wendy."
Wendy chuckled, helping him up.
"Good luck with that! You know I'm a master at keeping secrets."
As they brushed themselves off, Erza watched from a distance, a small smile creeping onto her face. The bond between Wendy and Romeo was heartwarming, and it reminded her of herself, Mirajane, and Laxus when they were young.
Oh how she missed them. And her mother. And Makarov. How she longed for the innocence and camaraderie of her own childhood, a time when the world felt less complicated. But the weight of her current mission pressed heavily on her shoulders. As she turned her focus back to her training, Erza pushed aside her emotions. She had a goal to achieve, and she couldn't afford to get distracted.
With renewed determination, she picked up the branch and practiced her stances again, trying to refine her movements. Each swing felt awkward, but she was determined to improve. She couldn't let anyone see her falter; she had to embody the strength and resilience of a soldier.
Meanwhile, Jellal observed from a distance, still unsure about Ezra. He wanted to give 'him' a chance, but he also needed to ensure the safety of the group.
"Maybe I am being too hard on him." He thought, watching Ezra struggle. "He is trying his best, after all."
He watched him intently until sundown, then declared that training was over for the day. Later that night, as he drifted off to sleep, he found himself pondering what to do about 'Ezra.'