Another chapter dedicated solely to Zeref and Natsu. These two simply deserve some moments of pure love ❤️
In other words, extreme fluffiness lays ahead so you better call your doctor before you read ️
Pointy, onyx coloured eyes blinked awake. The first vision they offered was foggy at best, still tightly hugged by the essence of his marvellous dreams full of adventurous spirit. The pink-haired boy can't remember sleep that offered better dreams than the one he just woke up from.
His brother and he went from one crazy journey to another while laughing together all the time. For some reason, his parents had multiplied and replaced the stars in heaven. Not that Natsu cared too much about it. On contrary, he even liked it because having his parents multiple times around him is simply awesome! They love him and he loves them just as much.
But soon enough his wild imaginations shared with his older brother came to an end and the first thing he could perceive with his sleepy eyes was the peaceful face of a young, raven-haired boy. He was soundly asleep as soft snores left through his slightly opened mouth. His left arm and hand were sprawled out above his head, clutching countless straws of the green grass below their bodies.
Natsu's bare legs and feet were tickled by the soft blades but he didn't want to wake up Zeref so he tried to suppress his hearty laughs by clenching his jaw and toes but he failed miserably. His delighted squeals erupted from his throat and his whole body shook from these motions.
Beneath him, Zeref groaned and grumbled as he didn't want to wake up yet, content with staying where he was since he was about to figure out the secrets of fairies. But his ever-energetic brother had other plans for him. Before his stockpile of energy had been depleted due to the emotional conversation they had, sealing an eternal promise in its wake. Now, after their nap, his tank was refilled plenty enough and ready to turn the whole world upside down. And Zeref would have to tag along. Whether he wanted to or not was not even a question for Natsu. Zeref was well aware of this fact but tried nonetheless to escape from his fate.
Natsu observed his older brother with giddy excitement and waited for him to finally stir awake completely. However, Zeref, knowing what he was in for if he would show any signs of being awake, tried to play things smart and pretended to be still asleep. Regrettable his little brother's patience was always rather short-lived so he "helped" his brother by forcing his eyes open and almost poking them out.
As Zeref's blackish orbs were harshly invaded by the sunbeams of the late afternoon he groaned again. This time out of annoyance. Natsu, entirely obvious or simply ignoring his brother's displeasure about his actions, saw his chance to rile his elder sibling up. An impish expression formed on his boyish face.
Changing his plan of action he moved from Zeref's eyes to his cheeks as an evil spark appeared in his eyes. If Zeref wouldn't have been blinded by the light, he might have had the chance to acknowledge Natsu's ill intentions but it was too late the moment he realised what was about to happen.
Natsu squeezed Zeref's cheeks between his fingers and pulled hard on his brother's face in a similar fashion as their father always does. Zeref's eyes shot wide open, not caring any longer from the painful invasion of light because the wild tugging from Natsu was far more agony for the young black mage.
"Natsu," he growled in warning but the pink-haired boy simply laughed it off like it was nothing. He knew very well how far he could go by now in order to rile his brother up just the right way. The years of teasing Zeref to no end and the careful and more than anything secret observation of how their dad handled the black-haired boy were finally paying off. Just a bit more and Zeref would be exactly where Natsu wanted him.
"Stop that already," Zeref snapped enraged but Natsu simply giggled at the empty threat. It would take a lot more before Zeref would actually get mad. The pink hedgehog knew this very well and so instead of ceasing his actions, he pulled even harder. At that, it was Zeref's turn to lose patience with his younger brother, much to Natsu's delight.
"That's it, Natsu!" Zeref shot upwards lunged forward but Natsu agilely dodged by jumping off his brother. Finding his footing he jumped up and down and pumped both fists in the air.
"Finally, Zeref. Now let's play," he exclaimed happily before he dashed away. Zeref stood up as fast as possible and followed his brother immediately.
"Get back here right now, Natsu!" Zeref demanded so he could give his younger brother a piece of his mind for his antics. His cheeks still throbbed from the pain.
"Nope, don't wanna!" Natsu plain out refused. If he would give in so easily there would be no point in running away anyway. Besides, that would be just so boring! So he continued his escape from his angry brother.
"Oh, you little. Just wait until I get my hands on you. I'm gonna give you hell," Zeref roared from behind him. Since he was taller than Natsu the distance between the Dragneel brothers melted away fast. Any second now and Zeref would have his sweet, sweet revenge on his little brother.
The black-haired boy reached out and was a finger width away but literally in the last moment Natsu made a turn to the right and avoided Zeref's grapple attempt. Stunned by Natsu's nimbleness he lost his balance and fell face-first on the grassy ground, eating dirt. He sputtered and coughed as the nasty taste of nature invaded his mouth.
'Oh, how you will regret this, Natsu. Just you wait. Just. You. Wait,' Zeref swore to himself threateningly. Due to his momentary lack of attention, distracted by his malicious thoughts, he missed how Natsu prepared his next move already.
The younger boy smirked wickedly at his brother's defenceless position he was intended of taking full advantage of. The small carnivore pounced the moment Zeref tried to stand back up again. Hearing the leap of bare feet from the ground Zeref turned his head around and gasped at what he saw.
Natsu sailed through the air like a miniature dragon and was about to sink his teeth and claws into his prey. And the prey was him. Once again Zeref's eyes bulged and almost popped out of their sockets at the view of utter terror offered to him. He tried to escape but it was too late already. Hunter became prey and prey became hunter.
Natsu crashed on top of his brother and the impact forced Zeref back to the ground as he grunted from the strength and weight. Natsu used his lower back as a seat and henceforth limited his movements greatly. He tried to wiggle free from his brotherly cage but failed. Normally, it would be not that difficult since he was not only taller but stronger as well. It still could be a struggle since Natsu had the fabulous and annoying ability to behave like glue, making it pretty hard from time to time to detach the young-haired boy from one's body. Luna, Zeref and Natherious all can sing a song about that.
Having this thought in the back of his mind Zeref knew he was as good as doomed in his current predicament. It would be equal to a wonder if he still could somehow manage to throw Natsu off his back. He began to sweat as he witnessed how his brother's face turned into that of a devil with pointy teeth and horns and all. Natsu moved his fingers in dreading motions which caused Zeref in return to get even paler.
"Natsu, wai-"
"Tickle attack!" the youngest Dragneel screamed with all his might to the heavens. For his brother, it was the announcement of a merciless assault. He tried to fight the attack off but it was hopeless. Matched up against his brother's relentless charge he could do nothing else but admit defeat.
Natsu tickled the hell out of Zeref and the older boy could only laugh with all his heart. Tears formed in his eyes as his neck, armpits and sides were tortured by Natsu's mischievous fingers. Every place of Zeref's body he could reach, he attacked without a shred of pity.
"Natsu. I yield. I yield." Zeref somehow managed to speak between all the laughter but it was not enough to stop his brother's swift movements dancing across his body.
Natsu loves to hear the waves of laughter of his family so he will do everything in order to get them out. He loves them so much because for his ears they are like a piece of music and he wants to listen to the vocal accords all day long. Further, hearing his family laughter is contagious so as Zeref laughed with his whole body Natsu tuned in and they laughed together without a care in the world.
Once again the wide grassland was covered in the sounds of utter happiness and bliss as the Dragneel brothers filled the world with their jubilant voices. At some point, Zeref ceased all attempts to escape into freedom and gave in to Natsu's full-body tickle attack. His limps still flailed widely around but now mostly because of the uncontrollable motions coaxed forward by Natsu.
Their bellies began to hurt from their united bellows of joy and even when their jaws ached and their ears were almost on fire from all the blood pulsating through their acoustic organ responsible for the sense of hearing did they not stop.
Only when Natsu's fingers were almost numb from all the tickling did his assault come to a halt as he slumped forward and used his brother's back as a temporary bed to rest on and catch his breath. Zeref was sitting in the same boat as Natsu. They panted heavily but happily as they simply lay on the ground.
Zeref could hear every inhale and exhale from Natsu since his mouth was right next to his ear and felt each breath tickling his neck where he had been tickled only a few moments ago. He rested his head on top of his folded hands and listened to Natsu's and his own excited heartbeats. He never thought that mere laughing could be so tiring but he was content with the result as he bathed in the gentle embrace of warmth surrounding them.
The comfortable silence lasted for a bit longer before Natsu spoke up. Having recovered to speak again he voiced his current thoughts out while his signature smile had returned to his face.
"See, Zeref-nii? Playing with me is fun, isn't it?" the pink-haired boy wanted to know.
The word "yes" was dancing on top of his tongue not even a second later but Zeref decided to tease his younger brother a little bit.
'A small amount of revenge has never hurt anyone,' he chuckled internally to himself as he decided to drag this out for as long as possible.
"I guess? Can't say this for certain," he answered instead and took wicked delight at the sight of Natsu's jaw dropping when it loosed all tension.
"What?!" Natsu exclaimed horrified at his brother's admit. That was not the answer he wanted to hear nor the one he expected.
"I said I'm not convinced," the black-haired boy calmly repeated, perfectly hiding the blast he had on the inside from his evil game.
"That's not true Zeref! You laughed too so you are lying. Admit it!"
"Hmmmmmm," the asked boy began, twirling the accusation around inside his head multiple times before he came to the conclusion that it would do no harm to his plan if he was to agree to that. It's nothing else but to state a fact after all. "Yes, I laughed too."
The next moment Natsu had sat up and begun punching his brother's back with soft but firm fists, clearly unsatisfied with the response he got.
"Zereeeeef," Natsu whined while his older brother smirked "don't play dumb with me. Just answer already."
Greatly amused by the antics of his younger brother, Zeref decided to give him some breadcrumbs. After all, he's a caring older brother and not that cruel.
"Okay, okay. I'll say it, I'll say it. Just stop punching me already. It hurts." Natsu, having utmost trust in his brother, the amount just as much as he has into his parents, haltered his onslaught and waited for the next words of the boy he was still using as his newly discovered bed.
"Playing with you is fun... I guess?" Zeref answered, making sure to give it his all in pronouncing the last two words. They came out just a bit higher, exactly the way he wanted them to sound. Seconds later the hits returned but now they rained down on the back of his head. They were more uncomfortable if performed this way but he still had to chuckle. A plan well done indeed.
"You are a big meanie, you know that?! Why don't you want to answer me?" There was a hunch of sadness inside Natsu's voice so it was time to finally give in, albeit slowly.
"Alright, Natsu. Since it's so important to you I'll answer you but only if you ask me nicely," the raven boy demanded. Again the fists came to a halt as Natsu stared intensively at his brother. He tried to figure out whether the black-haired boy was only playing tricks at him again or not. Ony when Zeref had turned his head as much as possible and softly smiled at Natsu did he believe him. The angle was a bit awkward but it would manage for the time being.
"Seriously?" Natsu asked.
"Seriously," Zeref confirmed.
"Please." At first, Zeref thought he had imagined it but by the firm look on Natsu's face, he assumed this has been not an imaginary thought his brain had crafted. It came so fast that he had almost missed it and he probably would have if Natsu wouldn't be this close where he can see the lips of his brother moving. Zeref sighed mentally.
"Natsu, nicely. NICELY." he pronounced every letter in hopes it would bring his point across. Sometimes his brother can be really ridiculous but it's not something he wants to miss if he's honest with himself.
"Pretty please," Natsu tried next, giving his older brother what he wanted.
'We are getting closer,' Zeref thought but it was still not enough as compensation in his opinion for what Natsu had forced him through. Apparently, his unsatisfactoriness showed on his half-hidden face because Natsu shot his next try at him.
"Double pretty please?" He could hear the uncertainty in the pink-haired boy's voice so it was time to give him what he wished for and release him from his suffering. Besides, the last attempt was more than fair enough. Actually, screw this. The second one had been more than sufficient but Zeref simply liked to tease his little brother more than he should. Not that he needs to know about that though...
"Alright, Natsu. It's fun to play with you. Happy?" They were only a few words but they still cast a large toothy smile on Natsu's face who confirmed the question at the end with a yes by wildly moving his head up and down.
"So you like playing with me?"
"Yeah, I like playing with you." Honestly, Zeref was a bit surprised by Natsu's sudden demands. Normally, they are not that excessively. He wondered what his little brother was playing at. He got his answer a moment later.
"So you like me as well?"
"No."
This time the response on the very tip of his tongue came out immediately. There were no ulterior thoughts or was there a second's hesitation. The brutal truth flashed out of Zeref's mouth like lightning, forming a destructive arrow that shot straight through Natsu's heart and ripped it out of his chest alongside his entire soul. The world he knew shattered beyond repair.
His face fell and his body went slack after hearing his brother's words, the brother he adored so much. Natsu tried to understand what he had done wrong. He thought that he had done everything right so far. He always gave his all in whatever he was doing but seemingly it was not enough for his older brother to like him back. He felt how Zeref shifted his position beneath him but he couldn't see anymore because his eyes had already watered over. Any moment now and his tears would burst forward. Probably the moment when Zeref leaves him here all alone in this place.
Suddenly he felt hands taking a hold of his face. Gentle thumbs carefully wiped away the tears in his eyes and he could see again. Zeref was still there, laying under him but now he had fully turned around and rested on his back. He had an intense look in his deep, blackish visual orbs as he searched for Natsu's lost soul inside the young boy's eyes.
"I don't like you Natsu because I love you. I love you so freaking much, so freaking much that it hurts." Whatever negative emotions Natsu had vanished instantly. His heart and soul returned to their rightful places as he looked in utter awe at the young black mage. By now Zeref sprouted the signature smile all Dragneel's possessed. A smile that is too toothy and too bright for the world to bear.
Zeref lifted his hands from Natsu's face and opened his arms wide. "Come here." It was all he needed to say. Natsu again crashed against his brother's body, giddily accepting the hug that was offered with open arms on his own. Tears swelled inside his eyes but this time they were not the embodiment of grief and sadness but of the purest joy and happiness the world has seen thus far.
Zeref sealed the embrace by locking Natsu's body to his own. His right hand caressed Natsu's hair and pressed him softly deeper into their brotherly hug while his left one protectively winded around Natsu's lower back. Hot tears streamed down Natsu's cheeks as he let himself fall into his brother.
The older sibling wondered why his younger one had asked this question anyway. He thought the answer was more than obvious but judging Natsu's reaction and his shaking frame maybe not for both sides. He didn't mind voicing out this truth though. Sometimes it can be liberating to hear things like these spoken out aloud.
Natsu continued to sob into Zeref's chest who in return didn't care that his robes became drenched in Natsu's tears and snot. If he could act as Natsu's anchor he will gladly do so and take in all the evil of the world. After all, they had promised to protect each other for eternity just a few hours ago. He didn't think that it had to be done so short after though. But then again, Natsu's thoughts are multi-layered and complex, sometimes even too much to bear for the young boy himself so if he needed this affirmation, Zeref will offer it to him as often as he needs it. Even when the world rejects them, they will never reject each other.
This is the bond they share with each other, a bond that they have built by themselves and which only exists between them. The bond between Zeref and Natsu Dragneel.
The Dragneel flashback stretches longer than I anticipated so I hope you don't get tired of their family life and are up for some more love
Natherious should enter the story in the next chapter again if everything goes according to my plans. Hope you are looking forward to him :)
PS: Chapter 2 and 3 have been expanded now as well when you are interested :) Also, Happy finally got his short moment to shine ^^
