Dragon Family Values

Disclaimer – I do not own Fairy Tail

Summary: Natsu finally meets Larcade, much to Sting's annoyance.

Author's Note #1 – I'm using the 100 Theme Fanfiction Challenge for this collection. I thought it'd be something different.

Author's Note #2 – This one I am rating T.

Author's Note #3 – These drabbles are pretty much one-shots and are not related to each other in any way unless otherwise indicated.

Jealousy (Rated T)

Natsu stared blankly at the person standing in front of him. "What?"

"I'm your nephew, Larcade Dragneel," he sighed in agitation as he tried to cross his arms, but the magic seal stone cuffs prevented him from doing so. Being a prisoner of war sucked.

"My nephew," Natsu repeated slowly. He looked to Sting, hoping the other dragon-slayer could either confirm or deny what he was saying.

"I think he's telling the truth," said Sting, "even if he does smell exactly like you."

The fire mage turned his attention back to Larcade curiously, inspecting every inch of him. If what he was hearing were true, then that meant Zeref had to be his father. But how was that even possible?

"I hate you," Larcade said suddenly, his face contorting in rage.

That statement surprised Natsu. "Huh? Why? We don't even know each other. How can you hate me?"

Larcade began to shake, his anger bursting to the surface. "He loves you!" he snapped. "He doesn't love me, and I'm his son! I'm his son! So how can he love you and not me?!"

Natsu frowned. "What makes you think he doesn't love you?"

"A father is supposed to love you, not keep his distance. He's never shown me any sort of affection. I never hear him talk about me, especially not the way he talks about you. What kind of a father does that?"

"Considering your father is Zeref, one who loves you."

Natsu's reply startled both Larcade and Sting.

"I don't understand," said Larcade, confusion slipping into his eyes.

The fire mage averted his gaze. "Zeref is a complicated person. The more he loves something or someone, the more he feels he needs to keep his distance. I think Zeref does love you, but he doesn't want to show it because he's afraid of hurting you or worse. Did that never occur to you?"

Larcade dropped his gaze to the ground. Had he misinterpreted his father's actions this whole time? He did know of his father's curse, but had he been blinded by his voracity for his father's affections that the thought never crossed his mind?

If that were true, then he'd lived a life without love for naught. And in killing Natsu, which had been his personal mission, how would that have garnered his father's positive attention?

"I…" started Larcade. "I…"

"It's okay," said Natsu as he ruffled Larcade's hair. "Let's get these cuffs of you, huh?"

Larcade was stunned by his uncle's trust. "I wanted to kill you," he stated, trying to make Natsu understand that they were on different sides. "I hurt your comrades."

Natsu removed the cuffs despite Sting's protests. The fire mage grinned. "You wanted to kill me? Does that mean you don't anymore?"

Larcade continued staring at Natsu, unable to form a coherent sentence. The fire mage dropped the cuffs on the ground and pressed his forehead to Larcade's. "You're family to me, even if you did a bad thing. What matters now is how you move forward."

Larcade felt his heart twinge at the word family. That's what he wanted. That's what he'd always wanted. So he couldn't help the sudden urge he felt to embrace his uncle, so he did just that.

Natsu smiled when he felt Larcade hug him desperately. He returned the embrace, which only made Larcade tighten his grip.

So this is affection, familial love. I could get used to this, Larcade thought as he sighed. He opened his eyes—not realizing he'd closed them—and spotted Sting staring at them, mouth agape and finger pointing. And angry look was also apparent on the white dragon-slayer's face.

Was Sting…jealous? Of him?! Well, that was interesting. And he did want to get back at Sting for defeating him. So Larcade did the only action he thought would be worthy of the moment.

Sting wanted to strange Larcade. He was grinning at him like a maniac and sticking his tongue out at him. That bastard! He knew he shouldn't have introduced Larcade to Natsu.

"Larcade, stop making Sting jealous," announced Natsu as he broke the embrace. "Don't deny it, either. I can smell it."

"I'm not jealous!" argued Sting, his face reddening in embarrassment.

Natsu looked at him skeptically. "Larcade is a part of the family now, just as you are, Sting."

That comment swiped the smug look off Larcade's face. "Sting is family?"

"Yeah. He's part of my dragon family. Sting's like my younger brother."

"Oh," said Larcade. Suddenly, a mischievous thought entered his mind. "Does that make Sting my uncle, too?"

Sting sputtered and began yelling incoherently at Larcade.

Natsu scratched the back of his head and laughed. "If you want to, I guess."

Larcade grinned before hugging Natsu from the side. "Okay. But I still think I like Uncle Natsu better than Uncle Sting."

"Take that back, eyelash face!" snapped Sting.

"Who are you calling eyelash face, prissy pants?" retaliated Larcade. Both mages were now nose to nose yelling insults at each other.

Natsu watched the exchange in amusement and exasperation. "Now I know how Erza feels," he mumbled. When they started coming to blows, Natsu decided to intervene by bashing them both in the head. The two turned and looked at Natsu in astonishment. "No fighting!"

"We're not fighting," stammered Sting as he placed his arm around Larcade's shoulders. "Right, Larcade?"

"Right," he agreed, not liking the angry look in Natsu's eyes. He then placed his arm around Sting's shoulders.

"Good," said Natsu as he turned around. He then gripped his hair in angst. Is that what Gray and I do when we make Erza angry?! We act so stupid! Wait! If they act like me and Gray, then the minute I turned around…

Natsu spun around and found the other two mages sprawled on the ground pulling at each other's hair. Yep. Those two were like him and Gray. What had he done?

When they started using magic in their brawl, he began to freak. "WHERE'S ERZA WHEN I NEED HER?!"

Author's Note – I really feel like Larcade and Sting would do this! Please review!

*Next Theme – Vacation*