Natsu was asleep in Zeref's arms as they flew through the air they had been going for several hours and the little five year old was overdue for a nap.
Zeref thought it was adorable and knew he needed to cherish these moments for he knew Natsu wouldn't be little forever.
~Three hours later~
Natsu woke up from his nap and found he loved the sensation of flying. He looked at his useless wings, wishing that he could learn to fly earlier, but at his age it was impossible.
They were too heavy, but flying was amazing. Until he heard a loud, familiar noise. Something pierced the side of his neck, just barely missing Zeref. However, the noise stunned Zeref causing him to drop Natsu.
The young demon screamed as he started to fall, and quite fast, he tried to open his wings, but they wouldn't budge. Natsu's continue screaming brought Zeref out of his daze and making him realize that his arms were empty.
Zeref looked everywhere and saw where Natsu was falling and quickly bolted to catch soon as he caught him, Natsu latched onto Zeref with a death grip and was uncontrollably shaking. Zeref noticed the wound on Natsu's neck, but luckily healed quickly thanks to his demonic nature, but still left a scar.
"That was a gunshot..."
Natsu let out a small gasp, and his hand instinctively went to the scar on his hip while the older demon landed in a forest clearing.
"Natsu are you okay, buddy?" Zeref said incredibly worried as he looked Natsu over.
"Y-yeah… I'm okay."
"Good, but you must learn to unlock your human form, or we could be killed."
The child nodded. "H-how do I do that...?"
"Close your eyes, then imagine yourself..."
Natsu did as he was told.
"Think of all the differences between you and a human, and what you would look like, then..."
"I've already done this a million times..." The smaller demon interrupted. "When I was left in the forest for a year... I wished that I could be human so I wouldn't hafta be lonely." He sighed, and looked down.
But Zeref payed no attention to that as he switched to human form, carried Natsu, and jumped out of the way.
A few seconds later another gunshot went off.
"I will avenge their deaths...!"
It was a woman's voice, and she sounded so young. Bloodlust was uncharacteristic of her, and it was easy to tell. The magic gun was shaking, and her tears fell like a waterfall down her face.
Zeref put Natsu down and gave him careful instructions to stay put and out of sight, and then he turned and walked towards the girl.
"Are you alright?"
"No... I had a plan... He should've have been there... We were going to win...!"
He didn't even try to understand her words, especially now that she dropped her gun and sobbed into his shoulder. "I-..."
Whatever she was trying to say was drowned out by her tears.
"I... I didn't hurt you, did I?"
Natsu slowly traced his new neck scar.
"No... Everything's fine." Zeref smiled, and then he really took in her features.
The girl's blonde hair went down to her shoeless ankles, and her eyes were more green than any forest.
She was beautiful.
"I'm sorry... I'm cursed... My friends were all killed by the demon that roams these woods."
"Revenge won't bring them back..."
"I know, I just realised..." She managed a small laugh. "I'm Mavis."
"Zeref." He held out his hand. "And if it helps, I killed the beast that ended so many lives."
Mavis gasped.
"T-then… It must've been bats I shot out of the sky…! Thankfully no one got hurt…"
Zeref nodded, and was thankful that it was dark.
"Yeah, I saw everything. Now I think it's time that you got home…"
"I know we just met, but will you walk with me?"
"Of course."
Zeref first crouched down and called out to the trees. "Alright, you can come out now."
Natsu peaked out from behind the rock he was behind looked around and then ran and hugged Zeref.
"Did I do good?" Natsu asked excitedly, and his tail wagged behind him.
"Yes, you did very good!"
Mavis looked rather surprised when she saw the little demon come out, but then she saw how he hugged Zeref, she figured he must be friendly.
"Oh, who is this?" Mavis asked cheerfully.
Natsu then realized she was there, and quickly hid behind Zeref.
"This is my little brother, Natsu." Zeref answered as he stood up.
Natsu grabbed tightly onto one of Zeref's legs.
"Hi, there Natsu!"
Mavis waved to the obvious figure 'hiding' behind Zeref's legs.
"Come on Natsu, don't be shy! She's nice, come on!"
Zeref motioned for him to come out from behind his legs. Natsu did as he was told, but looked down shyly, not wanting to show his glowing eyes.
Mavis crouched down figuring he would feel more comfortable not having to look up.
Natsu managed a weak "hi..."
She simply smiled at Natsu and responded with another "Hi!"
The small child then looked directly at her, and the more he looked at her the more her friendly smile reminded him of Layla. So, without even thinking about it, he went up and hugged her, catching her by surprise, but she accepted the hug anyway.
"That's odd… he's usually a bit more shy than this..." Zeref noted.
"I guess he must like me, but anyway, would you like to stay with me tonight? I mean you're walking me home anyway and it's getting late."
"If it's not a bother, we would love to."
"Good! Then let's get going!"
Zeref went to pick up Natsu but he oddly ran away from his hands.
Mavis then felt a tug on her jacket. She looked down to find Natsu pulling at her jacket.
"Will you carry me please?" Natsu asked nervously as he held up his arms.
"Of course!" Mavis responded as she picked up the surprisingly light demon.
Zeref couldn't help but be amazed at this. Natsu had never warmed up to someone so quickly, not even him, and he'd known the child since he was born.
"Come on, it's this way!" Mavis said as she motioned him with her free hand.
Zeref got of his daze and followed her no sooner falling back into a daze. Something was different about this girl something he'd never felt before. Natsu did warm up to her unusually fast and he noticed she seem to be quite good with him as the walked to her house playing with him and almost parenting him at certain moments. He almost seem to feel love for this girl. Maybe... just…maybe…
