He was a panther, sleek and stalking. His prey was none the wiser – or so he thought – as he made his slow approach. The scattered wooden toys on the floor were his tall grass, blocks piled into precarious stacks serving to obscure him from view.

The pink haired boy stifled a giggle that would have been sure to give his position away. He paused by the tallest turret of the block castle and observed his target. Not much of his face was visible from behind the covers of the heavy book, only black bangs that drooped towards his eyes and the faintest hint of dark eyebrows drawn low in concentration.

His hair was mostly tame, unlike the predator's own, and where he was pink in colour, his prey was midnight black. The one prominent tuft of hair that stood proudly at his crown never failed to make him smile. How irreverent it seemed in contrast to the boy's reserved nature.

He tried to read the title of the book, fascinated by the rather tattered looking cover and well-thumbed pages. It was clear that this story was a particular favourite and he wondered why. Irritated frustration puffed through his nostrils; his eyes scrunched up as he desperately tried to decipher the letters.

It was no use, the boy found it too difficult to concentrate as the letters seemed to jumble before his eyes and his limited patience ran out.

Natsu Dragneel was not known for his ability to entertain himself, preferring to constantly harass his older sibling with endless demands that he play with him. He couldn't help it; the boy loved his brother more than anyone else in this world, and the imaginary worlds that his sibling could create were better than any to be found within the pages of what he assumed to be 'boring' books.

At only five, he could be forgiven for choosing to follow his brother around, however, at times he clung to him like his own personal shadow. The mini tyrant did not fear being alone; his bravery was a marvel even at this tender age, he simply did not wish to be without a friend.

Why play alone when I could play with someone else?

~.~

Zeref Dragneel was accustomed to the presence of his little disciple, often comforted by knowing he was somewhere nearby but there were times that he wished for nothing more than a few moments of peace. The elder brother adored the quiet, the hush of a happy house and luxuriated in those rare instances by devouring his beloved books.

Their father had an avid collection, perhaps enough to be considered a library and he encouraged Zeref's passion by recommending certain texts to him and seeking his thoughts once stories were read from start to finish. On occasion, he would even indulge his son by reading to him from the comfort of his study's squishy chair. An arm fastened securely around the boy's waist, savouring the closeness of his father and the feeling of security it elicited. Those moments were special – to be treasured forever.

At this precise moment, the ebony haired boy was aware of Natsu's presence, he was not as well concealed as the boy had thought. He was unsure how many times his gaze had tried to take in the paragraph he was reading – the words refusing to stick no matter how hard he tried. The head of pink hair that snuck closer was too distracting.

He waited for his brother's next move whilst continuing the façade of obliviousness, turning the page despite not being close to finishing the text. The hours of building castles out of blocks, and armies of hand-carved figures engaging in battle had not been enough to tire the rugrat out.

For the first time in a long time, he wished that Natsu would leave him alone. Not for too long, he couldn't bear that thought, but one or two hours – that wasn't a lot to ask for – was it?

~.~

The pink headed panther had reached the foot of his brother's bed, he was inches away from being able to tickle at his bare toes. His heart hammered as his fingers reached out slowly and tentatively, he bit his lip to prevent his joyous laughter from ringing out and just as he was about to make contact… Zeref spoke.

"What are you up to Natsu?"

Falling forward at the sudden voice, he popped right back up as if nothing had happened. His bright smile stretched wide as he rested his chin on the knees of his brother, either ignoring or oblivious to the stern look on his face.

"Play with me!" he demanded, bouncing with the frenetic energy that only he could muster.

Like a faithful puppy ready to chase after a ball thrown by its master, he waited to hear what game they would start with. The options were endless, the sun still high in the sky and the floors of their respective bedrooms littered with toys.

"Can't you play by yourself for now? I want to read a bit more before the sun goes to bed," Zeref sighed, turning his attention back to the book in his hands. He failed to see the shine dim in Natsu's twinkling onyx eyes, nor did he notice the mouth that tugged downwards into an unhappy pout.

Disappointment morphed into mischievous intent. The pang in his heart at being rebuffed by his brother did not last long enough for him to truly take notice of it. If Zeref was determined to read, he was going to make it impossible to do so.

His sandaled foot kicked at the specks of dust on the floor, eyes observing everything in sight as he planned out what he could do to force Zeref to set aside his precious book. Too young to comprehend the jealousy that laced his thoughts, too naïve to realise that he was hurt by the action or inaction of his brother and too determined in bending Zeref to his will.

"Fine," he hissed sullenly.

Turning away from the bed, he took a running leap and set every possible brick and block in his path scattering across the floor. The noise was deafening as heavy blocks crashed onto the wooden floorboards and skittered in every direction.

His feet kicked at the smaller piles that remained intact, giddily trampling about much like a beast terrorising a small harmless village. Natsu was monster incarnate; his laughter menacingly ominous, hands that pumped into the air at his triumph and feet that continued to stomp until every piece was disrupted.

Keep reading Zeref, the longer you do, the more I will wreck.

~.~

He ogled the destruction that Natsu was wantonly wrecking. The intricate castle that they had only just constructed that very morning was now back to individual pieces that swarmed his floor like ants in a colony.

The book was momentarily forgotten, held slack in his hands as he bore witness to the devious ploys of his younger brother. Natsu abhorred being denied attention and this was the price he would pay for daring to suggest that he entertain himself for a few measly hours.

A part of him wished to yell for their mother, she would set this straight and ensure Zeref was allowed some time to read quietly, but he didn't want to be a tattletale either. Instead, he gritted his teeth and forced the book back to his eye level. The words were far from being absorbed but he refused to let Natsu win at this pathetic attempt to lure him into his web of mischief.

He heard the puff of annoyance from a few feet away, the pink haired terror likely annoyed that he was still being ignored and a smile was close to dancing on his lips just as another almighty crash sounded within the small room.

Zeref stood instinctively, the book dangling by the fingers of his right hand as he eyed the latest destruction to be wrought. His precious collection of figurines plummeted to the floor in haste as Natsu's arm swept them from their shelf. These were his special figures, the ones not to be played with – to be looked at and admired.

Hand-carved by their father and gifted to him piece by piece, he now owned a set of magnificent dragons; they differed in size and Zeref likened them to a family and even had names for each one that he had not told anyone else, not even Natsu. Unlike the figures for playing with, these figures were painted, with intricate detail on each shining claw and scale. Lovingly tended to by their mother and he adored them greatly.

This was more than he could bear, his anger swollen by the downright selfish and inconsiderate actions of a brat that had been spoiled for too long. He leapt forward and grabbed the demon by his shoulders, winding his arm around his neck with the arm still clutching at the book.

Natsu laughed demonically, not comprehending how much fury was pumping through his brother's blood at this very moment. They fell to the floor in a tangle of limbs, Zeref might have the height and weight advantage given his extra three years on Natsu, but the little scamp was as slippery as an eel.

In a flash he had escaped the headlock, throwing an elbow into Zeref's stomach to further throw him off balance as his next target loomed into reach. Two small hands ripped the flapping book from the lax grip of his elder brother and before the raven haired boy could even draw enough breath to shout, Natsu was running.

He watched in horror as the pink head disappeared from sight and the distant slam of a door followed by continued laughter. Zeref gave chase, his family of dragons left sad and alone on the floor as nothing, but revenge pounded against his temples.

You will regret this, Natsu! Mark my word.

~.~

Successfully retrieving the book from his brother had been the end of his plan, with that part complete he didn't know what else to do. All he did know was that if Zeref caught him, he was in for a world of pain. Not until the well-worn book was in his possession did he think about how this course of action would make his brother feel.

Comprehension was slow to dawn on the boy, a combination of his lacking years and his own blindness to the feelings of others preventing him from seeing this as a potential outcome. He had to keep running, it was imperative that he evade capture for as long as possible. Natsu reasoned that the longer the chase, the more chance of the anger simmering until they could laugh about this madness.

He made the mistake of looking over his shoulder as he raced across the lush grass field that surrounded their family home. Zeref was gaining on him steadily, his usually pale skin now the colour of mottled crimson and a vein ticking from the side of his taut neck. Anger twisted his facial features into something unrecognisable.

"I'm sorry, Zewef!" he yelled, refusing to stop but hoping to put a halt to the chase without bloodshed. Emphasising his favoured nickname of his brother from a time when he could not pronounce his name correctly.

"Get back here you little shit!"

Zeref sounded completely unlike his normal self. Pure rage laced his words, the curse flying freely and Natsu's lip began to tremble. It was a bad word; he knew that much from the times that their mother had scolded their father for uttering it in front of them.

A small devious voice at the back of his mind whispered to him, reasoned that it would be best to throw the book as far as he could into the thicket of trees he was fast approaching. Let Zeref go chasing after his beloved book whilst he escaped his clutches and could lick his metaphorical wounds in peace.

Something stopped him from following through, he broke through the treeline and panicked. His grip tightened on the book as he clutched it tightly to his chest, zigzagging through the scrub and bushes in his path.

I shouldn't be in here; we shouldn't be in here!

Their parents had lectured them until they were both blue in the face about the importance of staying out of the forest. It was full of dangers, not a playground for children and here he was leading his older brother on a wild goose chase through the twisted paths until they were in the very heart of the woods.

He could feel the eyes of a hundred creatures on him, the weight of their gaze chilling his blood whilst he continued onward. The fading of the light was now prominent, the densely packed trees hiding the bright afternoon sun from sight and casting monstrous shadows that caught Natsu's attention time and again.

Gnarled tree trunks looked wicked as he passed them by, vines hanging like venomous snakes that could snap a neck if careless and the cacophonous noise of unseen things moving about in the undergrowth, was terrifying.

"Argh!"

Natsu froze at the pained yelp of his brother. His chest heaved with every breath he was able to suck in through his mouth, burning pain tracing along his ribs at the frantic exertion of the chase. Now he was propelling himself backwards in search of his fallen pursuer.

~.~

Zeref sat amongst the scattered dead leaves, one hand wrapped around his foot as he heard the crashing din of Natsu approaching. His anger had dissipated, concern over his younger brother's welfare the driving force that had kept him moving forward. That was until he stood on something sharp.

Was he still furious with the pink demon for stealing his book and destroying his room? Absolutely, but was he prepared to abandon him to the lurking dangers within the forest – certainly not.

He could predict Natsu's next moves easily and he made a hasty attempt to clear the area around him of anything that could hurt him too. The smaller boy crashed down to his knees, the book tumbling from his hand and arms lunging around Zeref's neck.

Heaving sobs filled the air and soon he felt the wetness of tears soak into his clothes. His fingers curled into the damp pink hair, his desire to protect and soothe overriding everything else as he gently shushed the wailing Natsu.

"Are you hurt?" he asked quietly, gripping his shoulders to look over his face for cuts and scrapes from low branches.

Natsu shook his head, a hand lifting to wipe away the snot that bubbled from his nose and taking great gulps of air in his attempt to cease his crying. Zeref helped to wipe away the tears, tender with how he stroked the heated cheeks of his brother.

His panicked eyes widened as Natsu gripped his tunic by the collar, "you yelped, are you hurt?"

The raven haired boy sighed and gestured towards his foot. Too caught up in the moment, Zeref had failed to slide sandals upon his feet before he tore after the book thief. Nimble footwork had got him this far, but a particularly nasty thorn had put an end to that.

The soles of his feet were black and filthy, with his right foot steadily dripping blood that raced down towards the heel and to the ground. The cut was not deep, but it still needed to be cleaned and dressed.

Fresh tears erupted from the young boy, clearly distraught that he had caused his much-adored brother to come to harm. Zeref lifted his wobbling chin, and forced him to look him in eye as he spoke calmly, "it'll be okay, the cut isn't too deep. Might need you to help me get back home though, think you can manage?"

The grief-stricken boy nodded solemnly, sniffling as his tiny hands clenched and unclenched into tight fists.

Zeref looked around hoping to spy a sturdy enough stick that he might use as a crutch. He was sure of his ability to bear weight on the foot but he was concerned about infection and did not wish for any more dirt to enter the wound.

He spied a likely candidate and gestured to it with his chin, "fetch me that stick please."

~.~

His heart was broken, the remnants lay shattered within his chest as he watched Zeref brace his weight upon the long staff-like branch he had retrieved. The grimace of pain was evident on his once again pale face and although he tried to mask it from sight, Natsu saw it all the same.

He had to be brave for his big brother, Zeref was counting on him and he would not disappoint again. Natsu picked up the fallen book and dusted away the dirt before tucking it securely under his arm and wrapping his free arm around Zeref's waist.

The ebony haired boy smiled tenderly down at him, his own arm sliding around his shoulders as they set off slowly. The plan was to simply turn around and hope that they would retrace their steps enough until they could spy the edge of the forest and the way back home.

It was slow going with the injury to Zeref's foot causing more issues than they had anticipated. Their progress was also hampered by the realisation that they were seemingly not heading in the right way. The trees all looked too alike and the bushes packed tightly enough to hide what was not directly in front of their faces.

"I think it's this way," Natsu said, pointing towards the left of their position. He had seen a glimpse of light and hope rekindled that this foolish adventure would be over soon. Zeref stiffened, his fingers clawing into the younger boy's shoulder with a death-like grip.

"No," he whispered, "let's go in there."

Zeref barely sounded himself, his voice whisper quiet. Natsu had to turn his body to see where his brother was looking and his stomach lurched in a warning.

A cave entrance stood near their right. The stone walls and roof were saturated in vivid green moss, a tree stood just before the mouth serving to obscure it from sight and vines fell from its branches to almost touching the earth floor. Every alarm bell was ringing inside his young brain, he did not want to venture even an inch closer to that cave and he knew that exploring within would only bring the potential for harm.

"Zeref," he called out, trying to halt the progress of his brother who was steering them both towards their doom, "I – I don't wanna go in there. Let's g-go home."

His brother was not to be swayed, he remained silent despite the verbals to dissuade him from this course of action. Natsu peeked up at him and the sight of his eyes was enough to set him trembling anew. Both boys held eyes of purest black, each with their own unique twinkle but as Natsu looked upon Zeref's face, all he could see was a murky veil changing them from black to a swirling grey.

Knowing that he would not be able to stop him from entering, he did the only other thing he could think to do, he swallowed nervously and set out by his side. He would protect Zeref from anything that might cause him harm, he would ensure that the sparkling returned to his eyes. If he wished to see inside this cave then he would help and then they would leave – together and unharmed.

He vowed it to himself and sent the silent words heavenward.

Zeref will remain untouched.

~.~

The tug made his stomach somersault.

An unknown force had taken a hold of him the second his gaze lingered on the cave, much like a rope being slung around his waist, he was pulled forward. His mind was blank except for the desire to step inside, to see what could possibly be hidden within the depths of this mysterious place.

Their father had explained little about magic, only enough that Zeref knew it to be similar in nature to oxygen. It ebbed and flowed throughout their world, a constant presence but it was denser in places and he guessed that right here was one such location.

Sensations akin to how the air felt before the onslaught of a thunderstorm raced along his arms, tickling the skin and lifting the hairs in its wake. It wasn't unpleasant, more disconcerting than anything else and it made him pause.

Natsu was a blur by his side, his peripheral vision blurred like he was looking through smudged glass. Another tug forced him to increase his slow pace, a jerk right behind his navel and he licked at his parched lips in anticipation.

Excitement burned him and he wondered if his little brother felt it too. He was oblivious to the denials that Natsu had spoken, his rejection of setting forth into this place, too focused on his goal to pay heed to the warning of his sibling.

The air was pushed from his lungs as they breached the entrance. It felt as if they walked through a waterfall, the heavy sensation of something pressing atop their heads and on the other side they both took a great gulp of air.

Something slumbers.

The thought was not his own and the first hint of his own mind returned to him. He stared into the abyss, soot-black and threatening. Zeref felt the violent tremble of his brother for the first time and he gripped him tightly into his body.

"I'm here, Natsu. Let's get going now that I've seen inside," he coaxed but it was Natsu's turn to be rooted to the spot.

A shaking arm lifted to point a finger at the wall on the near left. Not much could be seen within the void of this place, the floor was littered with mushrooms and the bones of small animals and the walls were slick with moisture. The wall in question was covered in twisting ivy, the leaves as big as Natsu's head in places but they seemed to be hiding something. The rock beneath bore colours that were not from natural sources, reds, oranges, pinks and white.

The brothers crept closer and Zeref hoisted his makeshift crutch to remove some of the clinging plants. Little by little a painting or mural was uncovered, it was faded in places and the end piece appeared to be entirely broken with the pieces piled on the ground.

"This must be ancient," he mused aloud.

Natsu whimpered and Zeref turned to him instinctively, ready to protect him from an attack but finding nothing but the small boy. He looked even smaller than usual, his shoulders slumped inward and his normal aura of exuberance replaced by terror.

"I don't like this place. I wanna go home," he wailed.

The older brother scanned the scene quickly in the hopes of memorising it to visualise later on in the safety of their home. It was hard to decipher what was being depicted given the condition, but if he had to guess, he would say it was a battle – a bloody one at that.

Red was the prevailing colour, differing intensities of the colour which he pondered over and then the puzzle started to click together. Fire. The long shafts of crimson were fire, but wasn't that sword hilts at each base? Blazing swords that swarmed around a figure – that couldn't be right. Was such a thing even possible?

Zeref had hardly realised that he had stepped close enough to touch the wall, a light touch of his finger against the figure embraced by the deadly inferno of swords – friend or foe, he wondered? It was as if someone had tried to rub away the image of the figure from the painting, sweeping hand movements with dirt-covered palms to hide it away from sight.

A jolt traced along the finger that connected with the wall, a flash of a memory not belonging to him raced over his mind's eye and in the blink of an eye, it was gone again. Zeref sensed heat on his flesh, such fierce heat that would melt skin clean away from the bone. It was oppressive, the smell of sulfur filled his nostrils and he coughed violently.

He could hear the distant shrieks of his brother as he collapsed to his knees from the vision. Wind gusted against his face, the ominous flapping of wings so large that they could not possibly be based in reality. A roar that was terrifying as it was loud pounded in his ears only to be drowned out by laughter that sent the fear of death to course up his spine.

It was over as quickly as it had appeared. The fear from the vision was erased by something far worse, he could sense it stirring. An eye of blood-red and lined with crackling black-like veins swivelled towards their position.

It's coming!

Natsu felt it too.

The thrum of an ancient power awakening and the terror of what it meant for them. His young mind and body were close to breaking point, only his stubborn constitution holding him up – his very own crutch.

Zeref was moving, his walking aid long forgotten on the dirt-covered floor. There was no time to think of what would seep into his wounded foot, it was simply more important for them to flee as fast as humanly possible.

An arm hooked around the pink haired boy's middle, his brother lifted him off his feet and sprinted for the exit. Once outside he let him go and interlaced their fingers instead.

"Don't let go, whatever happens, hold my hand and I will keep you safe," Zeref shouted.

Natsu could only nod in agreement, his voice had long since fled him. He remembered his vow and tightened his own fingers around Zeref's as they set off once more.

The trees trembled as they crashed ever forward, twisting this way and that as they manoeuvred the maze they found themselves in. Birds took to the skies in panicked flocks, looking like swarms of insects as they sought to flee what chased behind.

The beast followed but not as quickly as the boys. It lumbered as if still fully awaking, the power it exerted sent pressure waves that jolted these young bodies forward, only just managing to catch their footing.

Zeref's wounded foot throbbed with each pounding step he landed but the thought of what could befall them if he were to stop or even slow was more than enough to keep the adrenaline pumping into his limbs. Their sweat-soaked fingers slid against each other but they refused to be parted and the ebony haired boy was glad that his younger brother could keep up his ferocious pace.

In his mind he swore blind that he would forgive his dear brother for stealing his book – a book that Natsu continued to cling to despite their perilous situation – that sight alone was enough to make his heart weep. Nothing was more important than his family.

The brush to the right of them crashed and they diverted left to shake whatever chased them. Natsu would swear that a blast of fire caught the very edge of his gaze, but as his eyes turned to look it was gone and he turned at the insistent tugging on his wrist.

"Ahead! Look Natsu, it's the treeline."

His throat burned from his want to cry, he fought down the tears and focused on the shafts of light that spilled upon the forest floor. The brothers followed those patches of sunlight like a trail of breadcrumbs that led to safety, they could sense the beast slowing but it did not stop the pound of fear within their hearts.

Not until they breached the trees did they dare to dream they were safe. The lush grass of the fields surrounding their home had never looked so beautiful, the smoke that rose from the chimney never looked so inviting, and their mother's screaming voice had never sounded so soothing.

They collapsed into the long grass a few feet from the border of their home, the muscles in their legs giving way at long last. Zeref was first to push to sitting, his head scanning the length of the forest edge for signs of danger.

All seemed calm, peaceful even. The birds that scrambled in the air once again sang their melodic bird song within the branches of the trees, the trees swaying gently from the soft breeze and not a hint of power lingering over them.

Their mother found them gasping and wheezing for breath. The ire that lined her normally pretty face gave way to concern at their bedraggled appearance, and one look at Zeref's foot was enough to have her falling to her knees.

"What happened, Zeref? Natsu?"

Not even waiting for an answer the blonde woman fled back into the house and reappeared with a large basin of warm water and a stack of ripped up rags. She worked methodically to clean his feet, her grip tightening as she approached the jagged cut that had split open even further from their running.

Whilst she worked, Natsu told the sorry tale from when he trashed Zeref's bedroom and stole his book, to them fleeing into the forest, but when it came to the part with the cave – he faltered. He met the eyes of his older brother, an unspoken conversation took place in seconds, a pact to never speak of what they had witnessed inside that cave. It would do nothing more than worrying their parents, it had been a foolish endeavour and one they would never repeat.

Instead, Natsu admitted that they had gotten scared within the darkness of the forest and raced home with no thought for the cut on Zeref's foot.

"You foolish boys, wait 'til your father hears about this," she scolded. Her loud tuts drowned out the whimpered cries of the black haired boy as the cut was flushed out with warm water.

Their mother continued to scold them over the state of their respective rooms, despite knowing that Zeref had little to do with either mess. With the foot bandaged in a soft cotton wrap, her stern expression eventually softened. She beckoned Natsu towards her with an outstretched arm, wrapping one around each of her sons and pulling them close to her chest.

The adventure was over, they were home.

~.~

That evening, Zeref and Natsu had spent most of their time tidying their bedrooms until their mother deemed them clean enough to join the dinner table. Neither boy could find the courage to look their father in the eye, his presence at the head of the table loomed large and not a word was said for what felt like the longest time.

"I hear you ventured into the forest today, despite your mother and I telling you not to," the rough voice cut through the silence like a knife through butter.

Zeref gulped his mouthful of stew, almost choking in the process as he lifted his gaze to his father.

"Come across anything interesting?" he asked with a twinkle in his eye and a slight smirk twisting his lips upward in one corner.

Natsu's spoon clattered to the table in horror.

The Dragneel boys both got the distinct impression that their father knew exactly what had transpired in the forest, but they knew better than to press him on it. Zeref lowered his head once more and shook it slowly, his fingers seeking out Natsu's beneath the table for moral support.

"Hmm."

Their father shrugged, but not before fixing each of them with a piercing stare. Natsu felt as if his mind was being poked at with a sharp stick, he winced at the pain until it dissipated and sensed the squeezing of Zeref's fingers against his own.

They excused themselves from the table, hugging their parents in turn as they made their way to bed. As they stood before the doors that would part them for the night, Natsu turned to Zeref with a pink blush that matched his hair colour flooding his cheeks.

"Can I – I sleep in your bed tonight?"

Zeref was relieved that Natsu had been the one to say it aloud, knowing that as the elder he should demonstrate more strength and courage than his younger counterpart but not wishing to be parted either.

"I'd like that," he replied softly.

In their sleeping shirts, they lay on the lumpy mattress and stared at the ceiling. Their minds felt restless as if sleep would never find them, however, in truth, sleep found them quite easily. The weight of the day's events was too much to keep them awake any longer.

Natsu lay within Zeref's protective embrace, his small fingers clutched in the collar of his shirt whilst Zeref wrapped his arms around Natsu's torso. Their breathing evened out, each inhale and exhale matched in perfect synchronicity.

This was their true home – with each other.