Disclaimer: I am not the owner of Fairy Tail
When Levy woke up, she felt rather groggy and disoriented. Where was she again? She felt warm, and there was a light pressure on her side as she opened her eyes. Blinking, she frowned as the first thing that entered her line of sight seemed to be bare skin…which made her eyes fly open wide as she remembered what had happened. Last night, Zeref had tried to kill himself. She had been struggling to get to him in time…only to barely be able to stop him when she did get into his room.
Looking up, she noticed his eyes were shut, and he was breathing softly. One arm was loosely draped over her side, and his head had tilted slightly in his sleep, making her wonder if his neck would be hurting when he woke up. However, she smiled at the sight. Unlike last night, he looked peaceful like this. There were no signs of conflict in his eyes, and no real concerns bothering him. Smiling, she shook her head and sighed, realizing she'd likely be here until he woke up. That meant she'd be uncomfortably staring at his bare chest until he woke up…which once again made her question why she'd been so insistent on this anyway.
Logically, it made sense. Zeref could get to that dagger and end his life long before she would wake up and have enough clarity to go to him and stop him. She still didn't know what she had said or done to talk him down from it either, but she had been so panicked that she'd refused to leave. Really, she hadn't even focused on the fact that he had been sleeping in nothing other than a pair of dark sweatpants.
Her cheeks felt warm, and she closed her eyes, trying to banish the thought. Really, since when did her thoughts sound like Mira's teasing anyway? Maybe she had come to accept that she was attracted to Zeref…but that didn't mean he felt the same. Right now, he had so much going on. Given what he had just learned about his curse, and about August, he didn't have time to consider starting any other relationships. Heck, he'd probably be more interested in getting to know Natsu better, considering he was Zeref's brother after all. So, Levy knew it was a rather hopeless desire of her heart, just like it had been with Gajeel before. She didn't know what it was about her feelings, always wanting someone who logically made no sense for her at all. Still, she could see more similarities with Zeref than she had with Gajeel at least. He enjoyed research, just like her, and being presented with a challenge.
She felt his weight shift slightly, just before Zeref let out a slow exhalation of air. His grip tightened slightly now that he was awake, and he seemed to pause for a moment, glancing down at her. "Levy." He spoke just her name, before shaking his head. "I'm sorry…last night, I suppose that was a bit…unexpected."
So, he was just going to jump right in, then. She met his gaze, frowning for a moment. "You're feeling better now, right?"
He nodded, smiling at her. "Of course. Typically, such moods don't return quite that suddenly…though I suppose at the moment…" He trailed off, looking away. "Perhaps I will not make that such a confident statement as of right now."
She didn't want to imagine seeing him like that again. Levy knew he had been worried when he asked for them to not leave his side…but she hadn't quite grasped how worried he was. "Yeah…" She didn't know what to say, swallowing thickly for a moment. "It…we didn't just fight so hard to get you back, only for you to…" She tried for a joke, only for her voice to sound almost hollow.
Zeref's hand gently ran across the back of her head, making her close her eyes. It was so easy when he did things like this to imagine he was being affectionate…but Zeref hardly even had friends. He just wasn't used to being near anyone physically right now…and he probably missed being close to others. "I'm sorry." He repeated the same phrase again, but it wasn't what she wanted.
"You…you don't have to keep apologizing." She pouted, looking back towards him. "It's not like I'm blaming you…" She knew depression wasn't an easy thing to deal with after all, and this was way too serious for her to just leave him feeling guilty for this too. "It's just…I'm still a little shaken up by it, that's all. Really, I think just getting up and doing something for today will help."
He nodded, sitting up by her side and smiling faintly. "Very well then. I suppose you would like something to eat, then? Typically, the kitchen staff has breakfast prepared in the morning…though I usually don't attend, it is there for whichever members of the Twelve end up in the castle for any given time."
"And they just let it all go to waste if none of you are here?" Zeref shrugged, while Levy narrowed here eyes. "That's just wasteful! Don't you know how many people are starving? You should at least try and plan these things ahead to try and avoid throwing it all away, or even just give the leftovers to some food pantry or something in town."
"But it would violate health code for me to attempt to serve it to others, after it has been served here."
She glared at him, shaking her head. "Then don't serve it here if no one is here to eat it."
He chuckled, shaking his head. "I will consider it, if it appeases you. Though…I find it odd, the things you choose to argue over. Why this issue? Certainly, there are other things I've done that you hold greater dilemma with than my choice of how to feed those in my service."
"Because…because it's still a problem that we at least need to try and keep in mind." She knew that there wasn't really a perfect solution to hunger in most nations, but this was at least a simple way to conserve resources for others. "And I do argue over other issues too! Didn't I just argue with you about…" She trailed off, realizing where she was heading again. Really, couldn't she stay off of that topic for more than five minutes?
Inclining his head, Zeref's smile lessened and he nodded. "I suppose you did." Rising to his feet, he shrugged. "Regardless, thank you…for helping me, and for staying. It…it often helps, having someone here with me, and a reminder of something that still remains important to me."
Her gaze turned soft, biting her lower lip. "And can't you be important to yourself too?" He didn't answer, staring at the ground. She realized that it was the mention of August that started getting through to him…but maybe it had just had a delayed affect of snapping him out of it. "I am serious…and I wasn't completely grasping at nothing last night, when I tried to argue about what you could still do to help others. You know a lot of things, Zeref…about magic, about history…and people could really learn from that."
"Yet the only time I've attempted to be an instructor…I ended up cursing and then killing the one I taught." She shook her head, sighing.
"That's one case, and that wasn't your fault, yet again." Still, she knew she wasn't going to convince him of much of anything, was she? "Look…just forget about it. I just…I thought it might help, if you could see that too."
He stared at her, and Levy decided to get up then. She needed to get changed for breakfast, and think about what to do next. Last night, she had contacted Fairy Tail to tell them she'd be gone on a mission for a while. However, she had no idea how long she was planning to stay. Zeref was clearly struggling, but she didn't really see herself being all that helpful to him in the first place. At least last night she'd managed to stop him, but that was only one time. What would happen tonight? Or tomorrow night? She couldn't exactly plan on watching him that often. He probably wouldn't be all that keen on the idea of her getting that paranoid…so she hoped it was just one unusual moment.
The closets in the bedroom Zeref had given her really didn't offer much in terms of selection on what to wear. She didn't quite know who the clothes were for, but they definitely weren't for her. They were filled with pinks and whites, all incredibly girly looking dresses that just weren't her style. For sleeping, she had found the shorts and tank tops…but it took her a while to find a suitable outfit to wear regularly. Eventually, she found a pale lavender sundress, designed for summer with spaghetti straps and a simple design with just a small amount of ruffling added around the waist.
When she walked out into the hall, she saw Zeref was already waiting for her. How did he get dressed into those complicated robes of his faster than her? She frowned, but he only nodded and turned the other way. "This way." Really, she couldn't find anything without help in this place. His castle was massive, yet again another reason why his lifestyle just seemed wasteful.
The dining area was set away from the library she had spent her day in yesterday, and true to his word, the table was already filled with various dishes for breakfast. "Feel free to take whatever you'd like." Zeref smiled at her, and Levy slowly took a seat at the table. "I'd join you…however, I'm afraid that there is some paperwork for me to deal with. Ending the war officially requires some processing and documentation that I'd rather work through sooner as opposed to later."
"Wait…so you won't be eating? But breakfast is—"
"I know, and yet, I still have not eaten breakfast in decades." She frowned at him, watching as he chuckled faintly. "I was immortal…it was rare for me to decide I even wished to partake in a meal."
"And you're not anymore, so you should eat." She didn't want to be sitting here alone. Maybe it was selfish of her, but she at least wanted Zeref to be with her for breakfast.
He seemed to sigh, pausing for a moment. "It…it won't be for long. However…I suppose I can spare a quick moment, if that makes you feel better." She nodded, smiling as he sat down across from her. Really, he didn't seem to choose anything based on preference. He grabbed some pancakes, which were on the serving plate closest to him, and began to eat just them. At least Levy had tried to pick what she wanted, going around to get some fruit, toast, and eggs.
"Do you have a lot of work to go through?" Levy watched as Zeref grimaced slightly, nodding.
"My prolonged absence before the war…it seems to have caught up with me." Just how much time had he spent away from Alvarez? Levy didn't know, but based on the fact that the world thought he was dead or sealed away somehow…she figured it had been a long time. "Usually, I do not disappear for quite that much time. The Twelve can typically take care of most matters in Alvarez, however, officially I need to sign off on and agree to their legislation and suggestions for sentencing on more major criminals."
"And you need to create a treaty agreeing to end the war…"
"For which I also need to contact Fairy Tail to complete." Zeref nodded, smiling faintly at her. "If it were simple paperwork, I'd invite you to come with me so I could have company while I worked through it…however, I was under the impression that you'd rather not reveal to them that you are here."
Nodding, Levy looked away. She could tell them the truth, but it'd get weird. Too many members of the guild would think she was doing something wrong, since they still blamed Zeref for the war and likely hated him. Others like Lucy and Natsu might be more willing to accept it, but they still wouldn't understand exactly why she was here. "Yeah…I don't quite know how they'd react, and I'd rather avoid risking having a team of Fairy Tail wizards trying to invade your castle because they think I'm in trouble or something."
"Would they really go so far?"
Smiling, Levy nodded. "If they really did think one of our members was in danger, definitely." She saw him still frowning, studying her closely. "That's kinda how our guild ended up, after a long time anyway. We are all really close friends, almost like family…so we always fight to protect each other, no matter what."
"It sounds like the sort of guild Mavis would make." Zeref smiled, nodding and rising to his feet. Levy frowned at him, watching as he moved towards the door. "However, I am afraid I truly am running out of time for this discussion to continue. Would…would you mind if we continued this later?" Did he actually sound nervous? Why wouldn't she agree?
Smiling at him, she set down her fork and finished her most recent bite of eggs. "Of course. I'll…I'll probably find my way back to the library and read some more then." He nodded yet again, smiling before leaving her alone. Sighing, Levy continued eating in silence, frowning as the only noise in the room because the sound of her silverware against the plate as she ate.
Following Zeref's lead, she left her plate where it was when she finished and began walking out. Still, she had no idea where to go to get to the library from here. She glanced around the hall, before deciding that she knew she at least had gone straight for a while before arriving here. Yet, each hall from there looked almost identical and she could not figure out which one to turn down first to get to her destination.
After wandering for a while, she was about to give up. However, that was when she ran into someone, blinking in surprise at the blue haired man in the hallway. For a moment, she didn't recognize him, then her eyes widened in recognition. "You're…Invel, right?'
He nodded, pressing his glasses up his nose and smiling at her. "Indeed. And you must be Levy." She nodded, taking his hand as he held it out towards her. "It is a pleasure to meet you in person. Thank you for your assistance before, in regards to his majesty's injuries in that other world."
"Of course! It's not like I could have just left him there…" She trailed off, shaking her head. "Anyway, I think I'm getting a little lost on my own. Did…do you have a moment to show me to the library? Zeref had work to do, so I'm kinda on my own for a little while."
"Of course." Invel turned around, moving down the halls with far more confidence than Levy had been doing. She followed him, hearing their faint footsteps fill the area for a moment. "I heard from Irene that his majesty had invited an odd guest to stay with us. I should have expected it to be you."
Frowning, Levy studied the back of his head. "Really? Why me?"
"Because his majesty rarely shows interest in others, and you are the first person I've seen in quite some time that he has given any level of trust to." Well, Levy couldn't blame Zeref for that. His curse kinda forced him to push others away, but it still didn't make sense why he didn't do the same to her then. "How long will you be with us?"
Chuckling to herself, Levy glanced down at the ground. "I'm…I'm not really sure." Invel glanced at her, and she rubbed her arm for a moment. "See…I didn't really plan on staying here at all at first. But…well, Zeref's going through a few things and I want to be here to help." Sighing, Levy looked back up and met his gaze. "Unfortunately, it seems like I'm not all that good at helping him, though. He's got his work with the empire, and I really know almost nothing about him…"
"Even his shields know little about him, so that is not an unusual perspective to hold." Invel glanced towards her, smiling faintly to himself. "It is not our business to know of his personal affairs, though some matters are quite obvious even if he does not state them explicitly." Frowning for a moment, he paused and stared at her. "Speaking of which…what exactly were you intending on studying on in the library?"
"Studying? Oh, I was just…well, I guess you could say I'm doing that. Really, it's just what I like to do." She saw him still staring at her, waiting for an answer. "I planned on finding more books on obscure magics that normally aren't available in other places. Zeref told me that I was allowed to read any of them…though it still feels a bit weird, reading about banned styles of magic. It doesn't mean I'm not curious about how they would have worked, and how to recognize them though. Dark wizards don't care about those laws, and you never know what kind of enemies you'll face on a job involving them."
"Right…you are a guild wizard, are you not?" She nodded, while Invel frowned. "Then you likely already have an adequate understanding of magical concepts." Adequate? She narrowed her eyes, wanting to insist that she had done far more than adequate in studying magic. However, he was already moving on. "Likely, it would be best to pursue a political avenue of research then. I am assuming you know little about the governmental procedures of Alvarez, correct?" Wait, what? Why would she even need to know that? Still, Invel was nodding to himself, entering the library and moving to the shelves on his own. "Yes, that is exactly where we shall begin. His majesty would never be thoughtful enough to realize the importance of teaching you such things, so I will take it upon myself to educate you on your future responsibilities."
Huh? Levy was starting to feel a bit dazed, watching as he stacked a handful of books on a table and pulled out a chair, gesturing for her to sit. Wordlessly, she did as requested, her mind still trying to wrap her head around what he was trying to imply. "I'm sorry…but why exactly would I be doing anything involved with the government of Alvarez? I mean…isn't that all taken care of by the Spriggan Twelve and Zeref?"
"Currently, yes, however as his majesty's lover, it is only expected that one day you will assist him in such matters." She nodded numbly, before her body froze as she fully processed what he'd just said. What…what did he think she was? Her eyes were wide, watching as he began to pull off a book from the top of his stack. "Now, this volume would be an excellent introduction for you into the governmental workings of Alvarez. Typically, it is read by children in school…however, as a foreigner, you likely need to understand the basic ideas of how our system works. It does not go into detail about any particular aspect of government, but it does explain the basic ideas of law enforcement, establishing new laws, and the hierarchy within Alvarez' government. His majesty, of course, is at the top of such a hierarchy, and given time, you will likely be placed with an equivalent power in our regime. Now, that leads me to the second volume I've selected, which focuses entirely on his majesty's role in leading Alvarez. Here, you can get a better idea of exactly which sorts of tasks will be assigned to you as his empress."
She watched him continue to explain the other books, but she only vaguely heard what he was saying. What even made him think she was involved with Zeref like that? She hadn't said anything, and he certainly hadn't been in Edolas when Zeref had…kissed her. But, that moment really didn't mean anything. She'd been about to die, or so it had appeared, and Zeref had been about to return to his curse. It was just one action in a desperate moment, and she knew it held little meaning, so she didn't bother bringing it back up again.
"Now, if you would please begin reading the first volume. Once you've completed the introductory chapter, I shall be quizzing you on what you've learned, to ensure you are progressing at a reasonable rate."
"Um…I'm sorry to interrupt…but before, did you really call me Zeref's…"
"Lover?" Invel frowned, tilting his head. "Is there a different term you prefer? I understand most people consider the term rather vulgar, but that is simply a connotation selected by social premises. In terminology alone, the root of the word is love, which implies a relationship in which one loves another. As far as accuracy goes, that is typically my preferred term, as the more common 'boyfriend' and or 'girlfriend' is a combination of gender and friend, which leaves no implication of such emotions."
Shaking her head, Levy was certain her cheeks were very red at this point. His logic made sense, but it still…was far from accurate, at least with Zeref's feelings. "I'm not…Zeref and I…he doesn't feel that way about me. I really appreciate you trying to help, but—"
"Oh? Has his majesty not informed you of such emotions?" Invel was smiling, chuckling to himself as he shook his head. "I suppose that is quite like him. HIs majesty is rather timid when it comes to his feelings, used to repressing such things due to the curse, I've always assumed. Though, the change in him is quite obvious when it comes to you. Already, he has allowed you to overrule his own commands to us, his closest advisors." She vaguely remembered his comment about her suggesting a different plan to motivate Nab…but she hardly thought it meant anything. "Beyond that…he is more devoted to his work, unlike usual. Typically, his majesty would push off such documents until absolutely necessary, which often leads to many sleepless nights and days with little to do beyond work for him. However, today he was eager to complete it, likely so he was able to continue to pursue further activities with you."
When had Invel seen Zeref working? Maybe he had passed by wherever Zeref was before she ran into him. Still, he couldn't be right. She wasn't anything to Zeref, not after how she'd yelled at him before. Sure, she'd apologized, but she knew that by treating him like everyone else, she'd probably gotten herself stuck as nothing beyond a friend at most in his mind. "That…that doesn't mean anything. He's…there's other things bothering him, so he probably is looking for a distraction…"
"Perhaps, but his work isn't usually all that distracting. Often times, he hardly has to focus since the work has become almost habitual to him." How long had Invel been working with Zeref to know that? Levy bit her lip, glancing at the books in front of her. "I assure you, even if he has yet to speak to you of it, he has every intention of offering you this position. If his own mannerisms aren't enough to judge by, consider the room he's offered to you. Irene has informed me that you are staying in the room next to his, correct?" She nodded, and Invel smiled at her. "That alone should be enough evidence then."
"What? How the heck does my room mean anything?"
"Because his majesty had it constructed a century ago, when he intended on bringing Mavis here to join him in leading the empire." Levy's eyes widened, staring at him in silence. She had no response for that, but hearing it made a lot of sense. The colors of the clothing in the room, and even their small (though slightly varied) sizes…it was all for Mavis. However, she knew exactly how that story had ended. Mavis had died, and Zeref had lived on…so why was everything still set up in that room like that? Had he refused to enter, afraid of remembering his time with her? Or did he simply want it there to remind him of that, another way to punish himself when he felt too guilty over his actions? "What I've heard are only stories about such a thing…but from what I understand, he intended on making her the empress of Alvarez, before she became Fairy Heart. After she passed, he refused to allow anyone in that room for anything beyond maintenance…not even typical guests are allowed near it. Yet, he has offered that room to you…likely due to his desire to have you in close proximity to him at all times, and he is offering you access to places in Vistarion that are not typically granted to our usual guests."
Like what? She frowned, before glancing around this library. Really, there was a lot of dangerous information in here…along with information about how the government worked in the first place. It seemed like something most people wouldn't be allowed to read, considering it in that light. "You mean…this library?"
"His majesty has enchantments on the entrance, detailed enough to detect exactly who is entering at any moment. When he chooses to, he alters them and allows someone new inside." He smiled at her, shaking his head. "When you informed me you wished to come to this place, I suspected he had allowed you entry. That only confirmed my suspicions that he intends to allow you to remain here indefinitely, and likely offer you the same position he had once intended Mavis to fulfill."
But why? Levy just couldn't understand. She hadn't done anything other than bring Zeref more pain. She yelled at him, just after agreeing to be his friend. She made him suffer, by telling him his curse was his own creation. Maybe she'd been selfishly happy when he asked her to stay…but it wasn't good for him, having her around to remind him of those things. If Invel was to be believed, he wanted her around for other reasons though. Invel seemed convinced that Zeref had some sort of a romantic interest in her…and right now, his logic was slowly fighting against her own telling her that it wasn't possible. The idea made her feel light-headed, with a distracting warmth coursing through her body. She couldn't focus on anything else, and for the second time during the conversation, her memories bounced back to that kiss. Had she been wrong? Did Zeref actually…mean to show her that he loved her then?
Staring at the books in front of her, Levy still didn't have an answer. However, what did she want? A part of her longed for something with Zeref, something more than just friendship. The way Invel described it, the logical conclusion to pursuing that would be ending up in Alvarez more permanently, likely in leadership as he had stated. It would mean leaving Fairy Tail behind…a guild that she had been a part of for almost her entire life. Yet, when she thought about Zeref and the way August casually mentioned his usual absences from the empire…couldn't she somehow manage the same in that role? She could still be with her friends in Fairy Tail, just not as often as before. Was it a trade she was willing to make?
For a moment, neither of them spoke as Levy considered it carefully. This wasn't an opportunity given to most people, and Levy certainly hadn't thought she'd even be considered for it. Heck, Zeref didn't even know Invel was doing this…which meant that she still might just be imagining things now that Invel had put these thoughts in her head. Still, she found herself slowly nodding, reaching for the first book Invel had chosen for her. "Alright then. If…if that is the case, then I think you might be right. I should at least understand a little bit of what I'm getting involved in, if I'm planning to…fulfill that role." She didn't know if her answer was yes or no, but she did know that she wanted to keep Zeref in her life in some form. Levy knew she'd have a lot of thinking and studying to do to really make a decision, but she knew that she wanted to be near him, and that her friends would understand if she couldn't be around quite as often as before if she kept following her heart.
So, Levy's now a bit indecisive and Invel is pushing his own agenda onto her, following what he sees as being best for Alvarez. Again, I'll apologize for the poor foundation for this pairing...but it is a bit late to fix that and still have it make sense with the way this story is now progressing. They will get some more bonding in the future...it just likely didn't come as early as necessary for this to seem like a normal progression for them. I will continue to try and improve on such things in the future! Feel free to review and tell me what you think!