Disclaimer: I am not the owner of Fairy Tail

"So, Levy…why the heck didn't you bring Zeref back to the Fairy Tail guild hall here after you found him?" Lucy was interrogating her friend as they walked, but Levy was still lost in thought. Zeref was up to something, that much she had realized. Despite him trying to be discrete, she had noticed him interrogating Mavis the entire time Mystogan was briefing them on this job. Still, now he seemed to be back to his former self. He had calmed down considerably, and with Edo-Natsu and Edo-Levy around, he seemed more comfortable in an odd way.

Still, she probably should have at least tried to bring their group back together sooner. Looking at her friend, Levy's gaze softened slightly. "I'm sorry, Lu-Chan. It's just…it wasn't the right time." She glanced towards Zeref, seeing the man still silently observing them all. He was keeping his distance, something that seemed to be making Edo-Natsu pout at him. Zeref would not relent for something so simple, though. "You didn't talk to him at all. I think…I think Zeref might not actually be such a bad person."

"How can you even think that?" Lucy glared at her, however, Zeref's gaze had flickered towards Levy at her words. Had he heard her? She thought she was quiet enough to just talk to Lucy and Natsu, but maybe she was wrong. Natsu was leading them towards where Mystogan said Sting would be, but even he paused at her comment. "He's the black wizard, Levy—"

"And did you ever think about why history calls him that?" Lucy stopped talking, while Natsu frowned. Feeling the gaze of their group on her, Levy felt even smaller than usual, but kept going. "Yes, Zeref has done terrible things. He also isn't by any means a moral person…he has no issues starting wars if he wants something, and he'll even abandon the people he's using to meet his end goals. However, the things he wants…I don't think they are bad things to wish for. At least, not all of them are."

"Wait, you got him to tell you what the stupid war with us is about?"

Blinking, Levy nodded and bit her lip. Maybe she shouldn't have spoken up in the first place. However, Zeref cut in, before anyone could speak further. "It is best to simply leave such things alone. I spoke to Levy because she interested me at the time, and for no other reason." The others glared at him, dropping the subject and continuing in awkward silence. Levy felt like his words actually hurt for some reason, which was weird. They weren't friends, so why did it bother her that Zeref saw her as just another pawn like his generals?

Glancing back towards him, she could see the boredom in his gaze, mixed with a faint agony she couldn't remember ever seeing in those eyes. He had been rubbing his forehead more often recently, a typical gesture people had when they were getting a headache or a migraine. Unfortunately, they had nothing to really help with that, so Levy tried to just write it off as a bad mood with that. Still, she had questions for him. Why was he so interested in Mavis? What made him think there was magic in this world in the first place? Perhaps not quite so important to their task, but still curious, Levy also wondered what he meant when he said he finally realized what August was to him. Did he know the August from Earthland or something?

The man wasn't talking, and he was slowly falling further and further behind their group. He didn't seem to have any interest in investigating Sting. Yet, he had been so adamant about looking into Alvarez here. Was that because he agreed with Natsu on who Sting was in this world? Watching him, she decided to finally be the reasonable person to ask for his opinion, unlike the rest of her team that had been walking in an irritated silence for quite a few minutes while she thought about recent events. "So…Zeref…what exactly was going on with you back in the castle?"

He narrowed his eyes at her, immediately suspicious. "That matters little to you."

When had he become so guarded? For a while, Levy had thought he was dropping that distrust around her, yet it seemed to have suddenly returned again. "Like that's true. You were the one crying because you didn't know what you wanted…and I can't say I've ever seen you look so uncertain of yourself before then." She gave him a half-smile, not daring to move closer to him based on how he had been acting recently. "Seriously, if you were that on the fence about leaving or staying, something I said would have broken through to you in some way."

Zeref did not reply for a while. He kept walking, while Levy wondered how to get him to speak up again. This was just like the week at Natsu's, or well, Edo-Natsu's, when he refused to acknowledge her arguments. However, after studying the group that was quite a ways ahead of them, including the pair of Edolas residents, he nodded and stopped walking, turning towards Levy. "You know the way to our destination, correct?" Levy nodded, uncertain of the purpose behind his sudden question. "Then, if you wish to question me further…I suggest finding a place to do so. Perhaps you may be reasonable upon hearing my answers, but I suspect the others would not remain quite so calm about this conversation."

Blinking, Levy realized the odd shift in him. He didn't want to talk to others at all. Why was he trusting her, then? He smiled at the puzzled expression on her face, chuckling slightly. "You are an unusual individual, Levy. I've spent most of my existence trying to hide myself from the world…my plans, my motivations, my emotions…all of it, they belonged to me and no one else. Yet, one look, and you managed to decipher what was troubling me so greatly, at least in part."

Nodding, Levy glanced around, uncertain of exactly where to go. They were in a residential area of town, looking for Sting's house, so there wasn't exactly a cafe or anything to stop inside of to rest. However, she could see what looked like a spot of green further down the street. Was it a park, maybe? Deciding to move there, she gave one last glance towards their group before leading Zeref away. "Um…thank you, by the way." Zeref raised an eyebrow at her, studying her carefully. "For trusting me. Technically speaking, we are still enemies on opposite sides of a war."

"True." Zeref frowned, seeing where she was heading towards. When Levy walked into the park, moving along the sidewalk, she noticed Zeref stop entirely. He was gazing around at the trees inside, though the park itself seemed to be abandoned of people. After a moment, he let out a sigh, moving into the park slowly. "Yet, I find your former comments to be oddly truthful as well. What purpose is there in remaining isolated, when it is possible to find…companions of some form?"

Had he really not been willing to make friends before? Levy wanted to laugh, but there was nothing joking about the expression Zeref wore. He was entirely serious, contemplating the idea of making friends despite the fact that they really shouldn't have anything to do with each other. "Well…just know that I'll at least be a little understanding if you refuse to answer. I mean, there are things about Fairy Tail I probably won't tell you about if you ask me—"

"Such as the location of Fairy Heart."

Levy nodded, smiling at him. "Yeah, stuff like that." He watched her, and after a moment, Levy found a bench to sit on, resting below the shade of a large oak tree. She leaned back on the wooden seat, and after another moment of hesitation, Zeref seemed to sit next to her. "So…back in the castle. What exactly happened? Or is that something you really didn't want to talk about?"

"That is actually why I wished to stop." Zeref paused for a moment, frowning. "I…I can't seem to come to a conclusion on my own. Usually, it would be so simple…and if not, I'd have Invel or August—" He broke off, shutting his mouth suddenly. Taking a deep breath, he steadied himself and seemed to continue on. "I'd have one of my advisors assist me in the decision. Yet, none of them are here…and this isn't something that Edo-Levy would bother caring about, nor is it a burden Natsu's Edolas counterpart needs to have. At the moment, he is content thinking I will likely remain…and with that, he is biased against this choice. Lucy and Natsu…they would not listen with reason. As a result, you are the last person I have to speak with about this matter…and likely the best suited to the task, all things considered."

It wasn't quite as touching as being sought out as a friend, but it was something. Levy nodded towards him, watching him lean back and frown at the leaves of the tree above them. "In this world…August is the son of Mavis and my other self." Levy froze, her eyes widening. Mavis had a kid? That just didn't seem right. "Based on everything I've witnessed thus far, familial bonds are preserved across these alternate worlds. Which is to say…I have a son that I never even knew was related to me."

The look in his eyes, Levy could hardly describe it. There was pain, yet there was also hints of pride and joy. He knew August, she realized. He knew the August of Earthland well, based on the way he was acting. Didn't that name sound familiar to her as well? She frowned, trying to remember. Then, it hit her. "August…he's one of the Spriggan Twelve. He's in your army, one of the most powerful of your generals."

Nodding, Zeref closed his eyes. "I made him that way. I did little beyond push him into war and military…true, he does assist in political matters, but that was not necessarily what I taught him to do. I knew August since he was a child…and I shaped him to be little beyond a weapon for my use. I used my own family…as a weapon." He seemed to pause, and Levy wondered what it was he even wanted her to do about this. Why did that make him question what to do? Then, she remembered his goal. He wanted to rewrite history with Fairy Heart. He wanted to fix his relationship with August, she realized.

Staring at him, she wondered what to say. How could she tell him to just leave things as they were and enjoy what time he had with August now? "I did the same with Natsu, I suppose." He sighed, staring at his hands. "Is that all I can manage to do to those I care for? Whenever I try to do good, I create nothing but tools for destruction. Natsu was always my greatest creation…I had hoped he'd be able to destroy me one day…but that plan failed, and he is still the same weapon I made him to be. August…August gave me hope for another plan, that perhaps I could overcome Mavis' tactical plans and succeed in this war…yet once again, all I accomplished was another weapon. Demons…demons were meant to stop me, but they did nothing but wreak havoc on the world. Every time, every action…I destroy everything. Levy, why does it matter which world I linger in, if destruction is all that follows? Even here—" He broke off, something turning sad in his expression as he gazed above them. Levy followed his gaze, wondering what made him pause, and then her eyes widened. Above them, the leaves on the oak tree were turning black, decaying away into dust as the tree itself withered and died away. "Death is all that follows, no matter where I go."

She had never seen him so open. What was with this sudden shift? Thinking back to the castle, she realized that maybe seeing the August here had shaken him more than she thought. That, and the proof before her that he was correct and magic was in this world too. "Because there is more to look at than just what is lost." Levy stared at the tree, smiling sadly. That was why he had been afraid to come here, wasn't it? Still, she held her hand out, catching one of the deadened leaves. "Believe it or not, the rotten remains of plant life can actually help fertilize the soil for future growth. As one tree dies, the soil gains the nutrients it once held, and that fuels even more life than was ever there before. Maybe it isn't all that pleasant to see the death side of the cycle at all times, but if you just think about what grows here afterwords, it can help you see that it isn't always that terrible."

Her heart was pounding, hoping that it at least helped him with this piece of his suffering. Zeref stared at her, frowning as Levy forced her smile to linger. Never once had she tried to consider the benefits of death and decay. Oddly, it was a morbid challenge that she enjoyed managing to pull off in some form. "Knowing that this follows after me…you'd still wish for me to return to your own world where I will continue to destroy even more? I am not asking for thoughts on what would be best for me, or for those you foolishly think value my presence. Would you truly…if things were different between Alvarez and Fairy Tail, and the war nonexistent…would you truly overlook such things and still seek me out as a friend?"

It was a hypothetical question that seemed to hold more purpose than what it had on the surface. Coming from Zeref, she thought he was simply curious at first. His eyes were steady, and there was a faint curiosity in his eyes as he studied her own reaction. Yet, there was still that lingering sadness that didn't fade. There was something about how he angled himself, somewhat leaning towards her while pushing himself further away, that told her that maybe he really was wanting a friend, but afraid to make one. With the way everything around him died, she couldn't exactly blame him. Part of her almost wished Mavis had explained more about that curse now, so she could at least understand and maybe help with containing it in some form.

Blinking, Levy shook her head. What was she even thinking? Zeref was fighting a war against Fairy Tail. Why did she want to help him at all? Staring into his dark eyes, mixed with misery and curiosity, she felt oddly certain that it was what she wanted, in spite of what was going on. Lucy was going to kill her, but Levy wanted to help ease some of Zeref's suffering in some form. She couldn't just ignore the war, but in this world, it couldn't reach them. In this world, it was exactly the hypothetical scenario Zeref was proposing to her, a place where the war didn't exist and Fairy Tail and Alvarez meant nothing to either of them.

She was silent for a long time, which made Zeref smile sadly. "I suppose it is difficult to imagine such things…perhaps it—"

"That's not it!" Levy cut him off, biting her lip and pulling her feet onto the bench, pressing her chin into her knees. "It's just…I was actually thinking about the war itself. I guess I somewhat got distracted by the question…sorry." She smiled at him, tilting her head. "As for the answer, I'd be glad to be considered one of your friends, Zeref. Even with the war…part of me still wants to find a way to help both of us get what we want…" She sighed, staring at the ground. "Things are never really that easy though, are they?"

Something seemed to be a little lighter in Zeref's eyes after her comment, though Levy didn't see it because of her focus on the ground. "Then while we're here…while such a scenario is not quite so hypothetical—"

"I was thinking the same thing." She smiled faintly, looking towards him. Zeref looked hesitant, uncertain of what he wanted still. However, she could still see that longing in his eyes, the longing to get rid of just a little bit of his loneliness somehow. "I really don't think we can stay here forever, Zeref…but I'd like us to be as close to friends as we can manage while we have this truce between us. Lucy and Natsu can yell at me all they want for this…but really, there isn't anything wrong with wanting to have your family, Zeref. I just…I just think there might be a better way to go about finding it."

Part of Levy was hoping something would happen at that moment. She didn't know what she was expecting, whether it was a simple smile, a nod, or something more. However, Zeref seemed to stop himself short, one of his arms lifted partially before he dropped it to his side. "I…my apologies. I had nearly grown used to being careless with my proximity to others after my time here." He moved slightly further away from her, and Levy felt like something deflated in her. "Still…if I can find a way to expel my magic before it can build quite so much…perhaps I can at least manage it in this world." He gazed up at the tree, frowning. Turning towards her, he lifted his eyebrows as if questioning her. "Do you object to me experimenting for a moment? I'd like to test if I can expel the magical energy within me."

Why would he even ask her if she minded? She was about to ask, before she realized what that meant. He was going to be killing more plants in the park to test his theory. Looking around at the peaceful place, abandoned by the town, she slowly began to nod. She didn't want it to die, but at the same time, was there really another way to make Zeref calm down after all of this? The black wizard didn't smile, he only nodded and moved to the other side of the sidewalk. Unable to stop herself, Levy watched with curiosity, wondering just how his death magic actually worked in the first place. For a moment, it just looked like he was standing still. Then, in an instant, whips of black smoke-like energy seemed to expel from his body, staying low to the ground and fanning out around him, Zeref's brow creased and he grimaced, but it didn't take long before the dark shadows faded away.

He opened his eyes, looking around with a frown. "Odd. It normally is more violent than that when I utilize that form of magic." After a moment of pausing, he shrugged and returned to the bench. "Regardless, it appears as if this method does at least minimize the building pressure of the curse."

Building pressure? Suddenly, Levy realized what had been happening that made him realize magic was here. "Your headache," Zeref chuckled, as if amused that she had seen that as well. "Of course! Curses create magic unwillingly within you, so they must work by expanding the natural rate of your body's intake of ethernano. By forcing you to exceed your body's limits on ethernano that you can contain, your body will naturally expel it in the form of magic. How to make it a specific form, though?" She frowned, trying to consider how it worked. However, as she thought about it, Zeref surprised her by leaning over and wrapping his arms around her, pressing her to his side. She stiffened, feeling warmth rush into her cheeks as he sighed, almost pleasantly unlike the previous versions which were done out of exasperation or irritation.

"I wanted to do this earlier…to thank you." Levy remained very still, her mind racing. What had she done earlier again? She could hardly think about anything beyond the fact that somehow, she was hugging the infamous black wizard. This was Fairy Tail's greatest enemy, yet she couldn't help but feel warm as he pressed his head into her shoulder, pulling her closer to him as they rested together on the bench. She was practically sitting on his lap, but Zeref didn't seem to comment or be anywhere near willing to release her. "Even now, you are still seeming to be trying to think of everyone other than yourself, Levy. That is why I wanted to know…for once, I wanted to know if it was you who truly wanted me to return, or if it truly was another act done for those around you."

She closed her eyes, uncertain of what to really say. It hadn't been for herself, wanting him to return. Right? Zeref was going to destroy her guild and her family. Yet, right now, it was hard to imagine him doing anything like that. Despite the fact that he had just killed an entire swatch of grass without even breaking a sweat, she just couldn't imagine this Zeref wanting to kill all of Fairy Tail. "I…I like talking to you." She finally managed to admit some of it, keeping herself still. Zeref had relaxed his hold, probably to allow her to move, but she did not. "No one at Fairy Tail treats me like an equal like you seem to do. I mean, sure you're definitely more experienced than me by default…but you listen to my opinions and then you actually counter them with reasonable debates. I actually have to challenge myself with you…and you don't seem to find that intimidating or ask me to stop."

"Why would I?" Zeref leaned back, frowning at her. "Intelligence is rarely valued as much as it should be these days. Guilds put a focus on strength and power, but they do not realize that such things can only be furthered so far without understanding the concepts behind how the magic works. Perhaps Fairy Tail views you as weak because you do not strengthen your physical talents…but there are other ways in which you are strong, Levy. As an enemy in a strategic battle such as our war…I'd be more fearful of you than I would be of Natsu. Strategy can overcome differences in strength, and that mental fortitude to fight for what you desire…those things are what could make you more powerful than him in battle."

It wasn't exactly the kind of comfort most people would give, but Levy smiled nonetheless. She should have expected Zeref to be rather confused by the concept, so she simply leaned back in, closing her eyes as he once again wrapped his arms around her and let her rest against his chest. "It is odd…how much I've missed things like this." His voice was quiet, the two of them growing comfortable in the silence between them. "The curse has made me avoid physical contact with everyone…such things are quite impossible in Earthland, yet it does not stop me from missing what I remember them to be. I had forgotten…how warm it was." He actually sounded…content. Levy almost wanted to look up to see his expression, but she did not want to ruin the moment. So, she remained in place, letting Zeref keep her next to him for as long as he desired. She didn't bother correcting him and telling him that friends didn't normally hug like this for so long, nor did she even bother lying about discomfort to get away. For that moment, she let herself forget about the war and imagine what things would be like in that hypothetical world Zeref had described. Maybe in a world like that, she could find a way to get rid of his curse completely. Maybe then, he'd be happy and Levy could let herself think a bit more about what the warmth growing in her chest truly meant, the warmth she only felt when Zeref began opening up to her and showing her the kind of person he truly was.

I rather liked this chapter, imagining this scene with Levy and Zeref. I hope you guys did as well, and that you're all staying healthy! Feel free to review and tell me what you think!