Warnings: most likely inaccurate depictions of nightmares

Remember, friends, this is picking up right after Mavis disappeared in Zeref's arms. (I had to do it, I'm not sorry. Toxic dependency needs to DIE.)
Also thank FRICK that I don't have to write anymore romance! Uhghhhhhhhhhhhhh I don't get romanceeeeeeee

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Silence.

"Why did First Master call you 'nee?!'" Natsu burst out, prompting both Zeref and Aki to fall over incredulously.

"Really?" Zeref scolded, scowling. "Give me a minute, Natsu!"

Natsu smirked at him. "I wasn't talking to you, Zeref, so you have a minute."

Aki grinned, eyes glinting. "Hey, Natsu-nii-chan, come 'ere!"

Natsu went over, then gained the same glint. He beckoned to Happy, who, after whispering conspiratorially, nodded excitedly. "I didn't know you were married, Zeref," Natsu remarked innocuously.

Zeref spun around, face burning, to see all three smirking at him: Natsu roguishly, Happy mischievously, and Aki patronizingly. "Really? Now?"

Aki raised an eyebrow. "I'll be having nightmares for days and anxiety attacks every time you leave my sight for the fear that you won't come back for at the very least a week," she retorted peevishly. "I'll do whatever I want." As Zeref groaned unwillingly, she added, "It's the bloody least you can do to repent."

Zeref blinked, then nodded, resigned to his fate. "We aren't married-"

"Yet," Aki cooed.

A tick mark appeared on Zeref's forehead, but he didn't respond.

"So," Natsu said, addressing Aki, "why did First Master call you 'nee?'"

Aki smiled brightly. Holding up two fingers, she declared triumphantly, "Because she's like my little sister!"

Happy snorted, mock whispering, "Is she proud of having someone younger than herself?"

Aki raised a daring eyebrow, and Happy darted behind Natsu. "Time to eat!" Natsu announced obliviously, grinning at the cat. "Oh, the wall," he commented, turning to see the massive hole in his house. "Ah, well." He shrugged, stepping over the crumbling remnants and heading to the kitchen. Happy followed him, leaving Aki and Zeref alone.

"Aki-ki," Zeref started a little awkwardly, "I didn't- I'm sorry for leaving you alone."

Aki sniffed, arms crossed. "Good," she said tersely. "You should be."

Zeref waited, but, Aki showing no signs of budging, suggested cautiously, "Do you… want to add my defeat to the tally?"

Aki twitched, then looked over her shoulder at him, smirking through her puffy eyes. "Already did, Zeref-nii." She revealed a worn notebook dangling from two fingers. "You're really lagging behind at 1,384 to 3,060. You haven't won in a while. By the way," she added, swaying, "I'm really dizzy from the fight."

That was the only warning Zeref got before she tipped over, but it was enough. Holding her, he teased, "Forgot that you don't heal anymore?"

She scowled. "So did you," she pointed out, squinting at his face in the fresh moonlight.

Zeref frowned, putting a hand to his head. "What are you-" Zeref stopped, seeing the blood on his fingers. "Oh, dragons."

Then he fell over, too, both hitting the ground with a painful thud.

Zeref groaned as Aki rolled to her back, taking calculated breaths and staring up at the inky sky. "You're going to have more nightmares, too, aren't you?" she said eventually. It wasn't, whatever the phrasing, a question; they both knew the answer to it.

"I was thinking of going to Porlyusica's."

Aki moaned, exasperated. "You moron," she rebuked. "Mei just said not to leave – to open up, let your guard down." When Zeref didn't respond, fidgeting audibly with his clothes, Aki snorted. "It's only me and Natsu-nii-chan."

"And Happy," Zeref muttered grumpily.

"And Happy," Aki amended saccharinely, "the flying cat friend of Natsu-nii-chan's. What a scary thought."

"He can talk!" Zeref spluttered defensively.

Aki raised her eyebrows. "That still fits within 'open up,' so."

Silence for a minute, then, "… Fine."

Natsu stuck his head out the wall, smirking widely. "Aki-ki," he sang innocently, "Zeref-bo, dinner's-" He choked, Zeref having leapt up to strangle him, disregarding his own injuries.

[bo is a babying honorific, only meant for very young boys.]

Aki, laughing hysterically, forced out, "D-dinner's ready, Zeref-chama!"

Zeref snarled, glowering at her.

Happy, floating out, snickered, "Zeref-ta-"

He was cut off as Zeref was surrounded by an evil aura, red eyes burning holes into the cat, and Happy shot backwards into the house, terrified.

Aki heaved, "N-Natsu, hel-help me up."

Natsu grinned smugly at Zeref, who had no choice but to let him go.

"Flap this dragon insanity," he grumbled, heading to the kitchen.

As Natsu helped lean her up, Aki winced. He prodded anxiously, "Are you okay? You did so much cool magic…"

Aki shook her head. "It's alright," she assured him. "I'm not tired because of the magic – well, I am tired because of the magic, but that's not why I'm having trouble breathing. Zeref-nii tossed me around a lot."

Natsu sniggered.

"What?" Aki challenged, grinning, too.

"Nothing, nothing," Natsu said absently, holding her bridal style and reentering the house.

—

Natsu woke up that night to a whimpering.

Sitting up, he made a torch out of his hand, looking around to find the source; it was Zeref.

He was whining faintly, face plainly distraught even in its loose sleeping state. "No… we were… -gether… promised…"

"Zeref," he murmured, reaching over Aki and shaking his shoulder gently. "Zeref, wake up."

His hand was knocked away as Zeref jerked awake with a sharp gasp. Wild eyes found Natsu, followed by a petrified whine.

"Zeref?"

Zeref shivered, tears pouring down his cheeks as he covered his face with his hands. "Don't- please don't go…" The plea was so faint that none should have heard it, clearly strangled by his brother, to whom pain was shameful.

Natsu heard it, anyways.

"I ain't going anywhere," he said gruffly.

He shook his head. "She promised…"

"Mavis?"

Zeref choked on a sob.

"She'll be back in a few months-"

"You'll die, too…"

Natsu chuckled, extending a hand. Zeref cringed away at first, but, focusing and refocusing on Natsu's hand, paused. Hesitantly, desperately, he reached forward and took it. A shiver of something like solace ran up his spine, and he tried to speak, mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water, but, after a minute, gave up. Letting go, he curled in on himself.

"ZEREF!"

Natsu jumped about a foot in the air as Aki's shriek resounded through the room.

"Wha's going on?" Happy asked blearily.

Aki had shot up, head turning so fast that each movement, Natsu was sure, would leave its own crick in her neck the next morning. She went stock-still as she found Zeref, then lunged at him, grabbing his shirt, not seeming to notice that her nails had left red marks around his collarbone. "No leaving…" she breathed, as if to herself, "can't leave… can't…"

Zeref twitched; Natsu touched Aki's shoulder, asking, "Aki-ki?"

She didn't respond, still whispering to herself. Natsu watched on, unsure, as Zeref managed to uncurl enough for her to press her head against him, sobbing. He wrapped an arm around her, still trembling himself, and they curled into a plainly habitual, comforting ball.

"Natsu," Happy yawned, floating over, "Natsu, what's going on?"

Natsu glanced at him. "Dunno," he muttered, looking back down. "They look like they've had nightmares."

His hand brushed Aki's back, and she whimpered, shaking her head, scooching closer against Zeref, away from him. "Run… please…"

Zeref's head rose slightly, and Natsu saw his fire dancing brilliantly, waving back at him from his brother's glazed eyes. "N-Natsu…?"

Aki whimpered.

Natsu leaned forward. "Zeref, what's up?"

Zeref's lip trembled. After a minute, he bowed his head shamefully. "Don't- don't die… Don't leave Me- me- us- don't- … sorry…" He whimpered, grabbing his head – Aki's grip retightened, as though expecting him to vanish with every movement he made – crying near silently, his eyes squeezed shut against his own thoughts.

Natsu frowned, but fell back down on the large bed, reaching an arm over their heads. Both tensed, then seemed to melt into him, their pain and fear and despair tangible, infecting the air around them; Natsu almost felt to check the room for enemies, but dismissed the idea instantly. They were shivering, as badly as they had done on Galuna, each panting in short, constricted gasps.

Rolling over, he pulled them both to himself.

A rush of memories swept over him as their scents mixed: They had used to sleep like this all the time, Aki sandwiched in the middle and, though reversed now, Natsu glomped to her, Zeref covering them both.

"Don't go without me…"

He shook himself, looking up as Zeref, too, mewled, "Don't die…"

He stared at them, their faces hidden in each other, the only place they had had to hide from the world for so long. He gave them a squeeze. "I ain't leaving…" He frowned. "And I ain't dying again."

Aki didn't answer, only quieted slightly, not opening her eyes; Zeref was silent, too, though he bowed his head slightly over Aki, against Natsu's arm.

—

Neither Aki nor Zeref mentioned what had happened the following morning, so Natsu didn't either. He didn't mind, and it had seemed like they had had some pretty terrible dreams; who liked being reminded of their bad dreams?

So they had gone on their mission, and returned with the reward. They had eaten, then gone to bed.

Natsu was woken again by whining and small jerks on the sheets. Zeref's face was twitching as he pushed at the blanket tangled around him, covered in sweat.

"Zeref," he mumbled sleepily, shaking him. "Zeref, wake up."

Zeref's eyes fluttered open, slowly focusing on Natsu. He whimpered as he did, his eyes almost instantly glazing over. He shoved himself away.

"Zeref," Natsu said again, reaching a hand out.

"Don't!"

Natsu stopped, non-plussed.

Zeref was trembling, shaking his head, scooting still further backwards… and off the bed with a thump.

"Zeref!" Natsu jumped up and hurried around the bed, but Zeref was already up and moving, pushing himself against a wall, flattening himself against it.

As Natsu came closer, Zeref whimpered piteously, curling in on himself and sliding sideways to the floor. Faint sibilations could be heard as Natsu stopped a couple feet away. "Please… run…"

"Zeref," Natsu whispered cautiously, "Zeref, its me."

Zeref didn't respond – if anything he curled still tighter. But Natsu saw a momentary flash, his fire again reflected in eyes far too glossed over to perceive anything. He seemed an injured animal, and Natsu's instincts took over. Holding his hands up, he sat slowly down, careful not to move any closer. "Zeref, what's wrong?"

Zeref twitched at his name, but didn't speak; Natsu took that as at least a bit of an improvement.

"ZEREF!" Again, Aki's shout came from the bed, followed by a frenzied scrabbling.

"Wha' now?" mumbled Happy's voice.

Natsu stood up, finding her on all fours, appearing almost rabid. "Aki-ki?"

She twitched, head swinging to meet his gaze. "N-Na-tsu?"

He nodded, grinning. "Yeah, it- OOF!" He grunted as Aki ploughed into him, knocking him backwards onto the floor.

"W-where- Z-Z-Zeref- where?!"

"He's right there." Natsu pointed. She glanced up in that direction, releasing a strangled, shuddering gasp. Natsu's forehead creased. "Aki-ki, what's wrong?"

At her name, she curled against him, shivering.

"Natsu?"

He looked up at Zeref, who was looking at him through two small gaps in his fingers.

"'m right here, Nii."

Zeref merely blinked, then curled a little tighter.

Natsu glanced between the two, eyebrows furrowed. Aki in his lap, he couldn't help Zeref. Shift Aki, and she seemed liable to start panicking. But he couldn't just leave Zeref on his own.

As if on cue, Zeref whined, "Don't…"

"Augh, jeez," he grumbled, pushing himself up into a sitting position.

Sure enough, she panicked, her grip tightening, crying, begging, "Please, please, Natsu-nii-chan… don't go… I can't s-stand- alone- Z-Zeref-nii… gone- alone-"

"It's alright," he hummed, scooting delicately over to the wall, stopping beside Zeref; Zeref jerked, reflective eyes sweeping up to meet his own. "Not dying. Not dead," he answered preemptively.

"N-not… that- that's r-r-right… not- not cursed, not…" Zeref gasped, hugging himself as Natsu settled beside him.

Aki mewled, hot tears spreading in a wet spot over his shoulder as Natsu leaned over, pulling Zeref against his side and giving him a squeeze. "Happy," he called, yawning widely, "get a blanket? Looks like we're sleeping here tonight."

"Oka–ay," Happy yawned, floating over with a blanket.

"Thanks, buddy."

"Mn," he grunted, curling up on Natsu's other side.

An hour later, Zeref twitched.

"-right here, Nii."

He mewled in joy, looking at Natsu's sleeping face. He had gotten to hear that again. Just a couple years ago, and now he was hearing his little brother call him Nii again.

"I love you, Natsu," he whispered, shakily hugging him back. Natsu mumbled inarticulately, sliding further down the wall. Zeref beamed, happy tears joining his fearful ones. "I love you…little brother…"

Hey guys! Thanks to a couple commentors, I am working on continuing this story! It will be a while, but it is coming! If you want to motivate me, drop a comment. It doesn't have to have any greater meaning, literally anything would help. :)