Hi again my lovely readers!
This story has consumed me entirely and I simply had to get it done and up as quickly as I could manage. This is part two and most likely the concluding part, although I do have thoughts that could turn this into another chapter but I need to have chats about that and I won't bore you with my thoughts here! Safe to say my brain is entirely Zeref focused right now, and he is not a character I've thirsted after before, it's a little thrilling!
As in Part One, the story is HEAVILY inspired by the dynamic of the Dragneel family as written by Kurasame (with their permission) in their fanfiction, The Age of Etherion. I've said it already, but seriously, check it out! I will not spoil things but I was left a puddle of fluffy feelings after reading the adorably cute interactions between young Zeref and even younger Natsu!
Mavis is more my own creation, and I hope you like her! :)
Much love fluff lovers! ^^
~.~
Checking the address one final time, she stood outside the sleepy looking house and gazed up at it almost hesitantly. The neighbourhood was nice and quiet, full to the brim with families of every possible composition, but the one that lay within this particular house was a mystery to her.
Mavis was a curious creature, and seeking out answers to mysteries was something that she adored, even if she had burned her fingers a few too many times by prying into things that she had no business in. It wasn't through some nosy instinct, greedy for a knowledge that she had no right to, no it was nothing like that. She was simply riveted by people and what made them tick, she was fascinated by family dynamics and the ever-shifting nature of relationships of all forms.
Perhaps that was why she was so good at her job, her innate ability to suss out children by merely watching them play freely. Little personalities shining through, the hierarchy of siblings in a household unravelling before her very eyes, and she would be the first to say that it is not always the eldest who comes out on top.
She knew practically nothing about what lay within the walls before her, all she did know was that the job was to look after a fifteen year old boy whilst his older brother attended evening classes at the local University. No mention of parents or other guardians, only these two boys and there was a strange tugging on her heart that made her absently rub at her chest.
It was important that she brace herself, this first meeting was always the worst for her. She tried not to let it bother her, she really did, but it was impossible not to feel the sharp sting of pain that flared to life when people met her for the first time. Mavis could almost hear the words before they were said aloud, the ringing indictment that she could not possibly be the sitter, she was far too young to be qualified for such a position and blah blah blah. She had heard it all before, too many times to count.
As she wiped a hand down her dress, fingers smoothing out any wrinkles from the heavy fabric, she noted that she probably didn't do herself any favours by how she presented herself. Favouring dresses in pastel shades, ballet pumps that would be removed as quickly as possible to allow her toes the movement they craved, and the long flowing hair that she simply refused to cut.
One little girl had once called her a fairy princess as she patiently combed through Mavis's floor-length pale blonde hair with the care that not many five years possessed.
She could choose to dress more formally, perhaps wearing jeans and cozy knitted jumpers, she could cut her hair to a move manageable length and even indulge in make up that may age her features to a more appropriate stage, but why should she? Why should she change herself to better suit the sensibilities of others? Did the fact that she looked younger than her years influence how she cared for children, no, it did not, and in fact, she truly believed it was one of her best assets.
Who better to crack the shell of timid boys and girls than a fairy princess, someone whose smile shone true and bright, eyes that sparkled with warmth and understanding, and a laugh that promised fairy tale adventures and happily ever afters.
Knocking on the door, that first step taken, she rocked on her feet waiting for the answer. Voices could be heard from inside, she thought she could detect the grumble of a teenage voice, the shadow of figures outlined through the frosted glass panes, and the door was opening.
Thank goodness she had a moment to compose herself, the man before her with eyes on the stairs over his shoulder was quite honestly the most handsome person she had ever seen in the flesh. He was tall and slim, his shoulders not too broad but she could already tell that he was athletic from the fit of the white shirt on his chest. The way the material tightened over the planes of his chest and stomach, rippling with each steady inhale and exhale. With sleeves rolled to his elbows, the strength of his bare forearms had her quickly moving her gaze to his face, but that too was a mistake.
His hair was jet black, long enough to mostly cover his ears with strands that fell over his forehead and a cute little tuft at his crown that stood up to attention. He had a sharp jawline, smooth skin that almost glowed in the moonlight, and a straight nose that sharpened at the tip. A generic smile was already plastered across his face, not even taking her in yet and she straightened her back in preparation.
Eyes of obsidian slid to the opened door, a frown forming as the gaze fell down until it rested on her face and she saw the widen of those hypnotically deep eyes. Something within those eyes made her want to squirm but she looked that feeling straight in the face and refused to bow to it.
"Mr Dragneel? I'm Mavis Vermillion, it's a pleasure to meet you!" she chanted, stretching her hand out in expectation.
~.~
She liked them.
Despite the less than satisfactory welcome she had received from the two males, she liked them and couldn't wait to watch them unfold like freshly budding flowers.
True she had practically frogmarched the elder brother out the door, laden down with books and a shocked look stuck on his far too handsome face, but it was for the good of both of them. Mavis needed a little distance from his distracting presence to get the measure of the situation, and he did need to get to his classes, and perhaps a little time to compose himself after the flustered display he had put on.
Their home felt comfortably warm, there was a build-up of residual love that filled every room she had seen so far, and it was like being wrapped in a blanketed hug. Everything was neat and orderly, well, apart from the pile of half-eaten junk food that spread across half of the sofa, but she could forgive them this one transgression, they were teenagers after all.
Now alone with the younger Dragneel, she tiptoed after him as he trailed around the kitchen, prowling like a predator in search of its next victim. He was hungry and that was something she could solve!
"So Natsu, what would you like for dinner?" she asked, stepping up to the fridge and taking a peek inside. She was surprised to see such a vast array of healthy ingredients, the vibrant colours of fruit and vegetables far outweighed the small number of pre-packaged meals, and even those were of the healthier variety.
Mr Dragneel likes them to eat nutritious food, good for him!
A pink head peered over the tall door of the fridge, shifty eyes that fell on her and she could almost see the cogs whirring in his young mind, trying to figure her out, what angle he could play until he got everything he wanted with the bare minimum effort. Boys of his age were all the same, driven by the compulsion to do as little as possible but still expecting a generous return, things don't work that way kid...
It was amusing, and she would let him think that he had the upper hand until it no longer suited her, best for him to lower his guard and think he had won, it made it all the easier to gain the leverage she would need.
"Whatever," he drawled, throwing himself into a kitchen chair, head lolling backwards as he dazedly stared at the ceiling.
Mavis would make him dinner and then it would be time for homework before his brother returned home. She would make sure that her first evening in the Dragneel house was a success, and she was looking forward to the challenges that Natsu would present.
A smile stretched over her lips, hidden from view by the open fridge, had Natsu seen it he may have had the sense to scramble to his room and stay there for the evening, but he didn't and that made everything entirely more fun...
~.~
Zeref longed for his bed in a way that he rarely did. The dull ache that had started not long after arriving home from work was now a piercing stab that rested directly behind his right eye and made him want to scoop the eyeball out if it would only bring him a moment of relief.
He arrived an hour early, as he always did, intent on reading the chapter content that would be the focus of this evening's class before the lecture started. Never mind that he had already read the chapter the previous night, he liked to have it fresh in his mind, his brain all the more willing to soak up the information like a sponge when it was the last thing he had read.
Settled into the most central seat in the lecture hall, book open with his notebook and pen lying idle beside him, he was possibly the only one in the class that took handwritten notes, he read the first section. Zeref must have read that opening section another five times, the words refused to sink him, they skimmed off his mind like someone skimming rocks off the surface of a lake.
Try as he might he could not focus, and this could only sour his mood. This was utterly ridiculous, who in their right mind got this flummoxed by the appearance of a female? Yes, she was a simply enrapturing beauty of a girl, gentle and radiating of nothing but love and purity, long lashes that swept outward from her jewel like eyes and...
Zeref, pull yourself together! This is not helping the situation. What would your parents say if they could see the state you were in?
That thought didn't help matters, his father's beaming gaze filled his mind's eye, egging him on to "go for it!", it had been the same response he had given on the very rare occasions that he had shown even the slightest interest in a girl in his class. The repeated memories of how he had wooed their mother played out in excruciatingly embarrassing detail until he had to desperately try to escape, seeking solace in his room whilst his father stood outside the door and continued yelling the stories through the barrier to his mortified son.
His mother on the other hand would likely want to poke and prod at his feelings, trying to understand why he was feeling so unsettled, treating him like a patient until she could prescribe her treatment. It wasn't hard to hear her voice, the questions over what made this girl so special? In truth, he didn't know, there was just this part of him that felt somewhat connected to her and he didn't know why.
Two sides of one coin, the light and the dark...
The time had slipped by without him taking note of it, that extra hour that could have been used to prep his brain, wasted in the knee-deep mud of his own thoughts that he waded through messily. The hall had fast filled up and as the professor took his position at the podium, the last thought he had before he switched his brain to at least attempt to take in the lesson, was of a memory of his mother;
"Zeref, there is something that you should know about the Dragneel men. When they fall in love, they fall hard and they fall fast. It is important not to resist it, you simply will not win, and the same can be said for the women of their affection. Love is a beautiful thing, to be cherished and protected, don't run from it when the time comes."
With a steadying breath, he erected a barrier in his mind around these wayward and almost unsettling thoughts. Pen in hand his eyes fixed determinedly on the slideshow and he sank into the comforting and logical word of academia, he would deal with the other problem later.
~.~
Mavis let out a tremendous belly laugh, one that came all the way from her toes and filled the room with the intensity of her glee. Natsu was slumped defeatedly on the floor, controller sliding from his grip as he watched his favourite character becoming a bloody mess on the screen by the hands of Mavis's far inferior character.
She stood triumphantly, arms raised in the air in celebration before an exuberant victory dance started in earnest. Natsu fought the smile that was tugging into place, tried to keep it locked away, still annoyed that she was positively trouncing him at his own damn game, but it was impossible. She was far too infectiously joyous, her dancing was hilarious and a snort of laughter shot through his nose before he could stop it.
He had been true to his own promise, behaving admirably in his own opinion all evening and it hadn't been a struggle for once. Mavis was an amazing cook, possibly better than Zeref, although he wasn't sure he was ready to admit that to his brother quite yet, and the portion she had made him still had his stomach full even hours later on.
Even when she had insisted that he finish all his homework before any electronics were switched on, it hadn't seemed like the chore it normally did. She sat with him, not overstepping any boundaries, just reading a magazine and showing interest in his subjects. He had felt comfortable enough to ask for help, normally something he refused to do until the very last second, and then it was a fight with his older brother over not wanting to seem dumb.
Mavis had not teased him about not understanding something, only asking questions about exactly what he was struggling with, her brow scrunched in concentration as she pieced the information together. She was quick enough to admit when she did not always know the answer herself, and that only boosted Natsu's ego, not everyone could be as smart as his brother. It had become a game, the two seeking out possible solutions until they found the right one, and it was a shared success when they did indeed finish all the assignments.
Heaven help him, he had even offered to do the dishes with Mavis humming a soft tune as she dried up the plates and stacked them for Natsu to put away, too short to reach the cabinets without a step stool. Maybe he would ask Zeref if they should buy one for her if she was going to be sticking around for the foreseeable future, not that he was bothered if she didn't, not at all, he didn't care... liar!
The front door opened and thundered shut, a ripple of cold dread filled his belly. Zeref was in a bad mood; they were not often and he was glad of that, the harsh words that could fall from his brother's mouth in his darkest moments could cut glass and hurt feelings in a way that he knew Zeref did not truly mean to do.
He looked to Mavis who was frozen mid dance, concern written all over her face from the slamming of the door and he wanted to warn her. To tell her not to take his brother's words to heart, to not speak unless necessary, but it was too late, the door opened and there he was.
Zeref looked exactly as he had on leaving this evening, nothing was out of place except for the burning inferno in his eyes and the grimly set line of his mouth. There was a stiffness to his movements, limbs locked into place as his gaze fell on Natsu, who gulped and sat up on the floor, his back pressed against the sofa.
"Natsu, bed now!" he said, a dare to defy his wish laced within those three words, he was looking for a fight and for once Natsu wasn't giving it to him. He had had a good evening and he held no desire to destroy that feeling now. He stood, ready to leave the room and head upstairs when a small hand reached out and wrapped around his wrist.
He looked to Mavis, eyes widening as her mouth opened, her own gaze fixedly on Zeref still standing like an angry statue in the doorway, "actually, I promised him one last match. He has been excellent this evening and deserves a reward."
They were both stunned, no one spoke against Zeref when he was in a mood like this, even their father had left him well alone in these very rare moments.
Natsu watched the two of them, his eyes swinging between them like he was watching a tennis match. Mavis had moved so she was directly facing the elder Dragneel, thank goodness for the sofa that separated them, she may not feel the waves of anger that roiled off him like black soul-destroying fire, but Natsu sure could and he suppressed the shudder that tried to pass up his spine.
He hadn't spoken, and Mavis had chosen that as a sign of acceptance, flouncing around to sit on the sofa and reclaiming her fallen controller once more. She started up the next match and Natsu had to scramble for his own before he was stomped into the ground without landing a single blow. He tried to ignore the wall of silence that weighed heavily against his back, but he could swear he had a growl resonating in his brother's chest.
"Are you making decisions on my behalf Ms Vermillion?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous as he walked around the room, coming to stand beside the TV that displayed the ongoing battle. Natsu had to choose which battle to concentrate on, the one on the screen or the one in the room.
A light chuckle, a dismissive hand thrown so casually in the air as she mashed combo after combo in perfect succession, "of course not, wouldn't dream of it," she mocked, her eye flickering to his towering frame, not a hint of fear in her large round eyes.
The fight was over, Natsu curb-stomped once more into a broken pile of limbs and gore.
"Now that's finished, do you wanna getting your ass handed to you as well? You look like you're in the mood for a good fight, and I bet I could beat some of that bad mood right out of you," Mavis sighed almost dreamily, a languid smile stretching her pink lips until she resembled the Cheshire cat.
Natsu was already moving to the door, he turned to hear the response, genuinely unsure if he should stay and divert some of that anger if it became necessary, but what he saw had him catching himself on the door frame in shock.
Zeref was smiling, fucking smiling and there wasn't a hint of malice to be seen. It was no normal smile either, it was the Dragneel smile, the one that their mother could not face without giving in to their every ridiculous demand. Full of straight white teeth, stretching his mouth until a dimple appeared on his left cheek and he heard the gasp, it was whisper quiet, but it was there and he left them to it.
~.~
Mavis didn't know what to make of this development, the light of his smile dazzled her to the point that all her well thought quips tumbled from her head and left her a puddle of mixed emotions.
Everything had happened so very fast; his ominous appearance in the doorway, wrapped in such a dark aura that she could almost see it curling around his throat, the unnecessarily sharp way he spoke to Natsu with the undercurrent of looking for a fight and now this stunning smile.
She knew a temper tantrum when she saw one, defusing them was a part of her day job and Zeref may be an adult but adults too were prone to the occasional strop. The trick was to not appear fazed by the obnoxious display, to look it coolly in the eye and tell it to piss off.
The challenge of the fighting game had been the perfect distraction, an acceptable outlet for the frustration he was feeling. Mavis would not diminish his emotions, she was sure there was a solid reason behind them, but it had to be channelled in an appropriate way to avoid hurt feelings and irrevocable damage.
"So you think you can beat me do you, little fairy?" he smirked at her, the gait of a predator as he scooped up Natsu's controller and sat heavily, enough to jostle her small body and make her tumble a little closer to him.
That little nickname, the confident walk, and the smirk, he was reading her like an open book. She was not used to being on the receiving end of such tactics and she wasn't sure she liked it. Was she so obvious?
Mavis barely knew him, had spent less than thirty minutes in his company, yet she could not deny there was an attraction there. She had learned a little about him through his brother, never outright asking questions about him but pulling information out like a careful weaver, and the one prevailing revelation that stood in her mind; Zeref liked to think that he was always right.
Well, she was here to prove how wrong he was about that, Mavis would wipe the floor with that smirk if only she could stop the tremble of her fingers and the rapid fluttering of her heart.
~.~
How had he gone from dark fury to light hearted laughter?
In all his long years no one had been able to successfully rouse him from a bad mood, despite the many and varied attempts by his loving family. Yet here he was, happily smashing button after button as his character jumped and flipped all around the screen. Mavis yelled at him to "stay still you little shit!" and that only made him laugh even harder.
She was good at this game, too good in fact, and he was not above cheating, running out the clock on the match until he was declared the victor by default. This sparked a fire in the petite blonde, her skin awash with pink flames that fanned her cheeks and swept down her neck. She cursed him out and even went as far as trying to smack him round the head with her controller, but he held her easily at bay all the while he laughed until his stomach ached.
It was completely pointless in denying his attraction to her, he felt like a lowly moth and she the burning flame that he desperately sought out in the darkness of the night. He had seen her face when he shot the full force of the Dragneel smile at her, the small 'o' that had formed on her cute little mouth, the soft glaze that had coated her jewel bright eyes, and the first hint of pink to appear on the apples of her cheeks.
His mother had been right after all, in fairness, when had she not been?
"Again, you cheating bastard!" she roared, a lioness refusing to be bested by the leaping gazelle that was Zeref and he wasn't above another round.
"Fine, fine!" he agreed, settling back into his seat and setting up the next match. As soon as the countdown ended, Zeref was immediately taken off guard by the jutting elbow that landed into his side, followed by tiny tickling fingers that danced over his ribs.
Oh hell no!
The controllers lay forgotten on the floor, their characters frozen in their idle animations as the pair wrangled on the sofa like a couple of hormonal teenagers, which they technically were. Despite the height and weight advantage, Zeref was losing ground, being constantly halted by arms that squirmed and wriggled free of his grasp to jab and poke at him, his stomach, ribs, armpits, and even behind his knees somehow!
In every tickle fight that he had participated in with Natsu growing up, the winner was whoever could pin the other and halt their actions, and surely that would be the same this time?
By some miracle they were still on the sofa, Zeref managed to grab at both of her wrists, holding them deftly in one hand and raising them above her head whilst he caged her below his body, knees pinning her sides as he braced himself above her, not wishing to squash her petite body.
Their faces were inches from one another, panting heavily from the exertion and it was now that he finally understood the position he was in, how this would look if someone were to walk in and find them like this, but he still couldn't move. His eyes could not move past her exquisite face, the mirrored longing that twinkled in her eyes, the wildly beating pulse in her neck, the way her hair fell around her like a glowing halo, and the lips that parted slowly, lips that he wanted to taste so badly that his mind felt like it would shatter if he didn't.
His nose touched along hers, eyes fluttering shut until an intense and ear-splitting honking noise had them leaping apart as if he had been doused in scalding water. Zeref struggled to his feet, clutching at his parched throat and eyes wildly flying around the room as his brain caught up with what had almost transpired.
Who am I?
Mavis darted to the window, peeking through the curtains, "it's my flatmate, I've got to go. I'll see you on Wednesday, Zeref." she panted, grabbing her bag and running from the room at a full sprint. He heard the door opening and the quiet snick of its closing, at that sound, he sunk to his knees and bowed his head.
He was gone, hook, line and sinker, and for a little fairy no less...
~.~
It had been over a week since that incident in the living room, nothing like that had come close to happening again. Despite the words of warning that his mother had spouted all those years ago, he was running from his feelings, and damn if he didn't see the similarities between him and the idiot Sohma he read of in his manga. That thought alone should have been enough to make him act, how many times had he cursed Kyo out in the hush of his bedroom, no one else knowing of his guilty little pleasure?
What had changed was his behaviour; no longer did he wish to arrive at class an hour early, he instead chose to use that time getting to know Mavis. They would squabble over who would cook Natsu's dinner, Zeref throwing his hands up in defeat as the little fairy would tail whip a dishrag at him until he caved and allowed her to as she wished.
He learned that she too was a student at his University, she was studying to become a teacher and she was a sitter in the evenings to help make ends meet. She lived with a girl friend called Zera who she adored, her parents lived across the country, and from the very little she spoke of them he gleaned that was a good thing so he had not pried. Mavis was enthusiastic about everything she ventured into, giving her all and never backing down from a challenge, even one as stubborn as Natsu Dragneel.
More like Zeref Dragneel!
In return, he had told her what had happened to his parents, why he was working and studying, and his reasoning for ensuring Natsu made the most of every opportunity before him. He hadn't enjoyed the pity he had seen in her eyes, the gentle wobble that rocked them as he told the sad story, her mouth opening and he was about to silence her when he heard her quiet words;
"Your parents would be proud of you, Zeref. You are doing a fantastic job for not only Natsu but for you as well. I would have loved to have met them."
Well, he hadn't known what to say to that, simply nodding his head until he could get his emotions back under check. He was glad it was time for him to head out the door, even though he didn't wish to be parted from Mavis, he forced himself to move and wished her and Natsu a good evening.
~.~
The longer she spent in the company of these two brothers, the more she fell in love with them both, almost in completely opposite ways. Natsu was the little brother she had always wished for, he was stubborn as a mule, as wickedly sarcastic as they came but with a heart of pure and utter gold. He wore his heart on his sleeve and that took a lot of guts for a kid so young, she prayed no one would come along and stomp on it.
Zeref, well what could she say about him? He was a closely guarded secret and he was slowly letting her steal inside his towering walls, new discoveries around every corner, and with every new piece of the puzzle, she fell deeper. That first night had been an attractive she had been experienced before, both on a physical level but also on a spiritual one too. The strange thought of two sides to one coin kept floating through her mind and she wondered where that saying had come from.
Now she loved him for his heart and mind also, the sweet and hilarious interactions between him and his younger brother would melt her heart. Zeref liked to think he was the King of the castle and Mavis recognised that he did indeed wear the crown, however that crown had the name Natsu scrawled all over it in big bold capital letters, invisible to Zeref but it was there all the same.
She was slowly starting to feel like a part of their little family and she basked in the light of their attention and warmth. It was intoxicating, and she would have it no other way. The only thing that she longed for was another chance at what she missed out on well over a week ago now, but she wasn't sure how to go about it.
Lucky for the pair of them that Natsu was going to give them both the hearty push they needed!
~.~
He was sick of this tiptoeing bullshit, the hidden glances that reminded him of lovesick puppies, and the heavy air that swirled in any room that they were both in.
Natsu had heard the laughter that night, the heated words that held nothing but mischief, the thumping noises that gave way to a silence that lingered until that car had shown up. He had no idea what had actually happened, but he could take a wild guess, his raging hormones helped him fill in the blanks even if he did not want to think of his brother in that situation.
It was a damn good thing that Natsu liked Mavis, or he wouldn't even be contemplating what he was going to do, even so, she would have to be put through the 'test' if this plan was a success. He pulled the well-thumbed journal from inside his bedside cabinet, his fingers traced the letters that were written inside, his father's handwriting and he smiled.
The journal held in delicate hands, he flicked through the pages until he found what he was looking for, the page was simply titled 'The Test' and it was an extensive list of questions, they got more and more intimate the further down the list and it was to be used on prospective suitors of the Dragneel boys. His father might not be around to grill the potential girlfriends of Zeref, but he was and he would carry out his father's wishes to the letter.
~.~
The alarm clock trilled and a wandering hand groped for it, fingers sinking into the off switch and retreating beneath the warm and cozy duvet. Zeref had been having such a lovely dream, filled with sunshine, laughter, and peachy skin that begged to be kissed.
It was Saturday, he could lie in bed, maybe even roll over and see if he could force his way back into the dream, but that would never do. He stretched himself out, starfishing on his bed and waiting for the pop of his joints until he stood and went through the motions as he did every day.
Something was a miss, the house was far too quiet for so early on a weekend. No snoring was coming from Natsu's room, in fact, he could hear the TV downstairs. Natsu was up and about before him, what fresh hell was this?
He followed the sound of cartoons until his head lifted and he scented the smell of cooking drifting from the kitchen. He scurried forwards, swinging into the kitchen, his socks sliding on the tiled floor as he watched Natsu standing in front of the stovetop.
"Natsu, what the hell are you doing?" he yelled, aghast at the sight of him cooking. The boy would normally rather eat instant ramen in a cup than actually attempt to use the plentiful fresh ingredients in the fridge, so seeing him dicing mushrooms and no blood in sight was almost heart-attack inducing for the poor elder Dragneel.
The mussed pink head turned to him with a scowl, he waved his knife around far too carelessly, "what does it look like I'm doing? You call me an idiot... I'm making us breakfast so shut up and sit down!" he threatened, swirling the contents of the frying pan without even looking at it.
The Natsu cooking show proved highly entertaining and Zeref, who had been sure that the end result would be like eating charcoal, had to eat his own words as he savoured the omelette that was set before him.
Before Zeref could enthuse that Natsu would have to do all the cooking from now on, his little brother interrupted his train of thought, "I'm not making a habit of this, by the way, don't be getting your hopes up Zewef!" he said, poking out his tongue as he called his brother by the name he used to say when he was much much younger.
"You might wanna throw on a nicer shirt," he added as his eyes darted around the room, refusing to settle on Zeref who frowned over those words as he slowly chewed his delicious food.
"And why pray tell, would I do that? What's wrong with this?" he asked, looking down at the faded red t-shirt of a band that was no longer considered cool. He wasn't planning on going anywhere, he was going to relax with Natsu, maybe indulge him in helping with that game he was constantly talking about.
"Hm? No reason..." was the response, and Zeref narrowed his eyes on his little pink imp. Natsu made a hasty exit, scarfing the rest of his food and dashing away for a shower and to get dressed leaving Zeref to tidy up the towering mess he had created in the kitchen.
With everything back where it should be, order restored to his world once more, he headed into the living room and his gaze fell to the bowl on the small coffee table. It was filled with his favourite sweets, the wrappers cherry red and inviting to his blazing black gaze.
Was this a coincidence?
He listened intently, the sound of running water and the horrible warble of Natsu singing off-key met his ears and he dove for the treats like a tiger falling on a deer. Zeref was all for healthy balanced meals, no unnecessary sugar, and additives but this was his one weakness.
He unwrapped the first sweet, his mouth already watering as the smell of chocolate wafted into his twitching nostrils. He bit into it and the explosion of the sharp raspberry centre on his tongue paired deliciously with the sweet chocolate. He groaned at the decadence and eyed the bowl, how many did he dare to consume? There were ten in total, staring up at him like little red bombs of deliciousness and in the blink of an eye, they were gone.
Zeref sat in a sugar-induced stupor, surrounded by the empty wrappers and he was so sad that they were all gone, even if his slightly swollen stomach was not. He barely noticed the reappearance of Natsu, his face smug and that look alone should have been enough of a warning.
"Mavis will be here soon, thought I'd let you know," he announced as if this was about the most casual thing he could say. He sauntered from the room with both arms laced behind his head and it took Zeref longer than it should have to even contemplate what words had just been spoken aloud to him.
"What?!" he roared, jumping from the couch much to the protest of his stomach, the floor now littered with shiny red wrappers. He tore after his brother and made a less than precise grab for his head, wanting to grab him in a headlock and rub his fist into his annoyingly pink hair, but he missed and almost fell headlong into a cabinet.
The ridiculous brothers ran endless circles around the dining room table, Natsu chuckling the whole time in between hasty explanations, "I thought it would be cool to spend some more time with her, I know you like her too so what's the big deal sugar for brains?"
Zeref was livid, this was a fucking set up and he knew it! The breakfast, the sweets, the hints that he should change, oh he was going to pound the snot out of this brat when got his hands on him. Sadly it would have to wait as a knock sounded on the door, the gentle rhythm that could only mean Mavis was standing on the other side of that door.
He froze, took one look down at himself, cursed, and fled for the stairs leaving Natsu to answer the door to a very confused Mavis. The idiot boy could barely breathe through his laughter and Mavis was concerned for his health until he waved her off and gestured her into the living room.
~.~
She was nervous, the sparkle in Natsu's eyes made her second guess the invite to hang out today. It may have come from the younger brother, but she knew that Zeref would not be working today, and maybe if she were lucky he would hang out with them too.
Mavis had torn through her entire wardrobe this morning, standing before her mirror in almost every outfit she owned before she finally settled on her choice. She gave a subtle tug on the snow white dress, the arms covered only her shoulders and dipped in a lower neckline than she would normally dare with the flowing hem ending at her knees. Her hair was down as always, there simply was no other way to style such long locks, but she had dared to put on a thin gloss on her lips and she tasted the raspberry flavour every time she rubbed her lips together.
"Wanna play a game?" Natsu offered, shaking a controller at her to grab her attention. When she accepted it from his grasp, the evil looking smile that twisted his lips almost made her gasp, what was she in for today?
She settled herself on the sofa as Natsu went to grab some drinks from the kitchen, she spied wrappers on the floor and bent over to pick one up, sweet wrappers huh?
~.~
Zeref brushed his teeth once more, his stomach churning from the excess sugar in his system and he cursed his damn brother for the hundredth time since he reached his room. He threw on a short sleeve black shirt over the red t-shirt and buttoned it halfway up. His hand fell to the top of his head, the futile attempt to squash flat his annoying gravity defying tuft, he tried for several minutes before growling and giving up.
He walked calmly from his room, he would not smack the ever-loving shit out of his brother in front of Mavis, which could wait until later when they were alone and there were no witnesses. Zeref could hear the raised voices, already knew what was unfolding in the room before he got there, and he felt a wave of almost deja vu crash through his senses. At least he wasn't in a bad mood this time, he may be annoyed as hell at Natsu, but his bad moods were on a whole other level than what he was feeling now.
Natsu had been right, it was nice spending more time with Mavis. The three of them spent a fun hour passing the controller with the winner staying on until Mavis was declared the champion, she took her victory way too enthusiastically and he could think of one way of wiping the smug smile from her face.
"I'm going to get some more drinks," he said, moving past Mavis and brushing against her thigh which had her eyes flying to his face as he passed. The creep of red started from her chest and noted how much more of it he could see and he liked it, a lot.
He heard the pad of her bare feet before she spoke, "need any help?" she asked quietly and he could clearly hear the change in her voice. The lilting quality that spoke directly to other parts of him that were most definitely not his brain, or even his heart.
"Hm, you could get the ice from the freezer," he offered without turning, he would make her wait just a little longer. His heart hammered in his chest, the adrenaline spiking his blood to act and damn the waiting, but he was patient and he would quell those impulses, for now.
"Bit of an insufferable winner aren't you?" he teased, turning to watch her searching for her bounty, bent at the waist and it was a beautiful sight.
She straightened immediately, the door swinging shut with force despite the fact she had no ice cubes in her hand, "huh? Don't you mean you are a sore loser? Poor little Zeref can't stand to see someone else win, wah wah!" she mocked, miming crying motions and he was in front of her in one stride.
One hand shot to the fridge door, the other took a gentle hold of her chin and tipped her head up to meet his gaze. That soft glazed film coated her emerald eyes and she bit her lip exactly how he wished to do so, "I prefer when both parties get to win, makes it all the more... enjoyable," he mused.
Zeref waited, watching her every reaction for a sign that he could proceed and he got his wish. Mavis's eyes slowly slid shut, lips parting as a soft sigh puffed through her lips. His head dipped, lips meeting for the first time in slow gentle sweeps. His brain had completely disintegrated from those tender strokes, the taste of raspberry on her sweet lips that dared him to move this along, but he wouldn't, he couldn't, not with Natsu so nearby.
He stepped back, it may have taken every ounce of strength in his body, but he managed it and treated her to the full dazzling Dragneel smile.
"See, wasn't that much more enjoyable?" he quipped, truly delighting with how Mavis was flattened against the fridge, clinging to the edges as if to keep her on her feet and the jumping pulse in her neck that he so very badly wanted to trace with his tongue.
He chuckled, his eyes sliding shut and that was when she made her move. Mavis stepped on to the nearest kitchen chair, one small but a strong hand grabbed him by the collar and hauled him to her, from this vantage she was taller than him and he blinked much too quickly. The other hand twisted into the hair at the nape of his neck, forcing his head up and her mouth was almost descending, ready to devour him when a loud throat being cleared had them frozen in place.
"Well, it's about damn time," Natsu drawled, swinging his bag on to his shoulder, "I'll leave you two alone for a bit, but no funny business, and I mean it!" he threatened with a deadly calm voice. His fiery gaze fell on Mavis who gulped at the look being levelled upon her, "we need to have a conversation before this goes further, but it can wait for another day." and with that, he was out the door and they were alone.
"What have I gotten myself into?" she murmured, finally remembering who she still held in her tight grasp and the answering dark chuckle thrilled her very blood.
Zeref laughed, "welcome to the madness Mavis, my little fairy..."