Pairing(s): Natsu x Zeref
Warnings: Shonen-ai, boy x boy, angst
Chapter rating: T
Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail or any of its characters (though I wish I did |D)
It was his own little secret. No one else knew about the trips he went on alone, often without taking a mission beforehand. Not even his teammates knew what he was up to. They had long ago given up on asking him as well, knowing they would get no other answer than the usual: "Huh? What do you mean?"
Truth be told, it was not that he had no faith in his friends. He had, completely and utterly. However, this secret was one best not to share. It could potentially compromise the lives of his friends and he did not want to risk it.
Hence why he always went alone. His life was in no immediate danger, or so he had come to learn on several occasions already. That was another reason as to why he kept on going. For all he knew, he might be the only one capable of handling it.
Was it necessary? Probably not. Was it a good thing? Most likely not the case. But he enjoyed the small trips and so did the person whom he was now looking for also seem to. And that was the part that mattered.
Making his way through the dense growth on the rocky slope, ignoring how thorns scratched against his skin, Natsu headed deeper into the island. It had been quite a while since he hast last visited, he noted, seeing as how the plants were growing far more aggressively than before, taking up more space.
As he slid down the last part of the slope he raised his head towards the sky. With a deep breath he could easily pinpoint where to go: Just a bit further ahead, along the river. That person would usually stay near fresh water.
And right he was. He had followed the river for only a few minutes when he found a familiar figure sprawled out on the ground, safely tucked away in the shadow out of the sun's reach. He appeared to be sleeping soundly. As tempting as it was to run over and wake him up, the consequences would be too dire. Instead he called out from a distance.
"Oi, are you asleep? It's in the middle of the afternoon already."
The figure began moving and slowly, but surely, opening his eyes. His expression at first seemed nervous, but once he laid his eyes on Natsu the frown he wore eased up a little, replaced by relief.
"Oh, it's you Natsu." Sitting up, the boy brushed his clothes free of dust and withered leaves, a constant reminder of his dangerous aura. "For a moment I thought-"
"Wrong!" Natsu grinned cheerfully, approaching the other. "Don't worry. No one's suspecting a thing. Can't see why they should either." He patted the other's black hair. "Ah, but it's been a while. Long time no see, Zeref."
The Black Wizard shot him something akin to a smile, albeit weak. It was about the best one could get from him. The guy was so docile, Natsu recalled, that it was still a mystery to him why anyone would think otherwise. He had yet to figure that out.
Zeref never talked about himself or his past and whenever Natsu sought to inquire, the question had skillfully been dodged. All Natsu knew about him he had personally learned by chance.
Like how he would shy away from other living things, afraid that he might kill them. Or how he flinched when Natsu touched his face. Even his fondness of the vivid nature of the island was something Natsu had witnessed first-hand.
Even their first encounter had been by pure chance. Back then Natsu had not yet learned of his identity, but how pissed he had been when his scarf, a precious gift from Igneel, was dyed black by Zeref's lethal magic.
Their second encounter had been a coincidence as well. Zeref, however, sometimes claimed that it was fate: That his and Natsu's lives were deeply intertwined, but not once had he elaborated on the subject. Perhaps he was right…
"Uwah! This place is giving me the creeps."
The blonde girl jumped out of the way of a thorny branch nearly hitting her across the face as the man in front of her let go of it. She cast a dark glare at his neck.
"Was it always this unwelcome here? I recall it being brighter and less gloomy. Some of these things practically look dead."
"Perhaps if you stopped complaining we could get off this island sooner." The man ahead of her threw a short glance her way. "I don't particularly like it either. Creepy is the right word for it."
"Aye," the flying cat with them agreed. "Hey Natsu. Where are you taking us? Will there be fish, 'cause I'm hungry!"
"Geez, you guys." Up ahead Natsu had come to a halt, waiting for his friends to catch up. He was getting rather irritated. "It was the master's orders, remember? I bet this'll be good."
"When did you start paying attention to what the master tells you to do and not do?" The black-haired ice wizard earned himself a loud snort from Natsu. "We've been all over this island already. There's nothing here except for dead trees, monsters and more dead trees. Let's head back."
"You can just go on ahead," Natsu replied, turning his back on his friends. "I'll look around for a bit longer. I'll meet you back at the camp, 'kay?"
"Natsu, wai-!"
The blonde girl was completely ignored as Natsu scurried off to investigate. He could hardly believe how reluctant they all were. Even back at the guild everyone had had their doubts about letting anyone back on Tenrou.
But not Natsu, of course. The whole idea had sounded far too interesting and dangerous for him to ignore. This was also why he refused to back down at this point. There had to be something more to the place than just dead trees and monsters.
Yet not in a million years had Natsu imagined what that "more" could be.
Having wandered aimlessly for quite some time, he came upon a small stream. With a sigh, he had sat down at the edge of it, finding it a suitable place to rest for just a bit. He was not sure when, but eventually he had drifted into a state of deep slumber. He woke up at sound of branches snapping.
As his eyes sprung open, Natsu glanced around to determine where the sound had come from. A light movement in the nearby brush had been the trigger. He leapt straight at whoever it might be. The identity of the person was more than surprising.
"Oi, you're-?!"
A smaller boy had been trapped under him, hands trembling and eyes shut tight in fear, hidden away under black bangs. His tearstained cheeks, however, were quite visible.
"P-please. Get away from me." His pleading voice was a mere stutter, his fear raising the pitch. "I have no intention of hurting you. Please."
As much as he wanted to let go of the small figure and back down, it was impossible. Natsu could feel how his body refused to cooperate with his mind. He was frozen completely. The voice, the appearance… it was far too familiar. Only one question crossed his thoughts.
"You… What are you doing here?"
The boy raised his head at Natsu's voice, his large black eyes staring at him in dismay, free from the black hair. Tears came running down his face the moment he recognized who Natsu was and his entire body started shaking.
"It was you. Here on this island… it was you, Natsu…"
Natsu felt a shiver run down his spine as his name passed the other's lips. Why was this happening again? The situation was so familiar…
"Your name… You're Zeref?"
His words were phrased more like a question than anything else, but even at the accusation the smaller boy did not avert his gaze, just as Natsu did not let go of him. His answer was simple.
"Yes."
"You're supposed to be dead."
"I know."
"You shouldn't be here."
"Correct."
"Why are you here?"
"Why indeed…"
Natsu tightened his grasp on the Black Wizard's arms, though the boy hardly showed any reaction at all. Rather, he seemed to calm down a little.
"Oi, you…" Natsu began, but he managed to say nothing else before Zeref had broken free of his grasp taken hold of Natsu's right arm. Shocked by the sudden turnabout of events, he could do nothing but watch as his hand wrapped around Zeref's thin neck.
"Once again it seems you are not ready," Zeref whispered, a sad tone in his voice. "You still cannot do it."
"Can't do what?"
"Kill me."
The blood ran cold in Natsu's veins at the harsh statement. Kill? Why should he kill the boy before him? Yes, he was dangerous. Natsu had already witnessed his rampant powers. But to kill him like this, with his bare hands?
"You're right. I can't." Natsu's hand finally relaxed and let go of Zeref, although they both stayed on the ground. "Killing people just like that… I couldn't."
"I see," was the flat reply he was given. Natsu could only wonder if the boy, the Black Wizard Zeref, was able to see through his lack of resolve.
No, it was not a lack, but merely a different kind of resolve. A resolve that would not allow Natsu to kill or let anyone be killed… even if that someone was the Black Wizard.
"You're crying again," Natsu pointed out, curious about the nature of those tears. Somehow the boy already seemed less frightening. "Ah, did I hurt you before?"
"It would take more than that to damage this body I'm afraid." Zeref made no move as he spoke, continuing to look at Natsu. Since he seemingly had no intention of acting, Natsu might as well. With one finger, he wiped away a tear from the corner of the Black Wizard's eye.
"Huh, What-?"
"It's 'cause you kept crying, but you stopped. Finally." Natsu could not help but to grin at the other's confusion. "It's much better when you don't cry if you ask me."
"What are-? Did you forget who I am?"
"Nope, you're Zeref." Natsu sat up, allowing the other to do the same. "Ah, although you're nothing like the Black Wizard everyone hate. This one is much better!"
"I don't think I quite understand-"
"Well, basically if you wanted to kill me, you could've done so from the start."
"But I-"
"You're always alone, aren't you? 'Cause you don't want to hurt people." Natsu poked the smaller boy on his forehead. "That ain't evil if you ask me."
"Natsu, stop." Zeref managed to cut in, his face showing clear signs of unease. "You have gotten it backwards. Back then-"
"-you were evil? Yeah right." Another simple grin. "No one lives for 500 years just like that. Keep sayin' it, but you're not really the same Black Wizard, are you?"
"That's-"
"Exactly."
A pat on the head. That had been the real beginning: The beginning of quite the unusual relationship between them. Natsu would hardly call them "friends", but he still found himself caring for the mysterious boy, Zeref.
The boy might be gloomy, unpredictable and dangerous, but there was something… and it was exactly that "something" which had Natsu enticed.