Disclaimer: I do not own Fairytail.

Summary: Zeref, a merchants son has been kidnapped by the most ruthless band of pirates out there! What is he going to do?

Warning: Natsu x Zeref. Don't like don't read.

Pirates were invading Magnolia. Zeref, a merchants son, had no idea what to do. he wasn't sure what the pirates wanted. And all he knew was that they had surrounded him. there was another building on fire, and everyone was too busy worrying about that to pay Zeref any mind. That was when they had cornered Zeref. Zeref frowned and backed up against the wall. They were surrounding him and Zeref had no idea what to do anymore. What did they want from him? Zeref backed up as far as he could until his back hit the wall. "W-what do you want from me?" Zeref asked.

"Well you're the only one that saw us." A pink-haired boy said. "Everyone else is too busy looking at the distraction that we created, but you, you've seen our faces. You know what we look like. Therefore, we can't just let you go." He explained. Zeref pressed himself even more firmly against the wall.

"You mean, you're going to kill me?" Zeref asked in fear. The boy shook his head.

"No, we are pirates not murderers." Zeref frowned.

"Then what are you going to do to me?" he said, his voice trembling slightly. The pink-haired boy didn't answer.

"Grab him." is what he said instead. Two others stepped forward. Zeref tried to back further into the wall, but he couldn't shrink down any smaller. It didn't matter anyway because they grabbed him and hauled him to his feet. Zeref opened his mouth to scream, or cry, or something. "Don't you even think about it." The pink-haired guy hissed. Well, it was too late for him not to think about it, but he supposed that he could still not do it. The boy was glowering at him, and Zeref thought that they might actually kill him. so, he shut his mouth and screwed his eyes shut, determined not to open them ever again. he felt more hands grab him and start to lead him away. He didn't know where he was going, and he didn't want to know. He didn't want to know at all.

He was scared about what they were going to do to him. about what was going to happen. About what his life was going to be like. "Come on, let's go a little faster." He heard one of them say. Someone pushed him forward. Zeref's eyes flew open, he stumbled and cried out. The ground came fast and Zeref barely had enough time to throw his hands out before he hit the ground.

"Hey, don't push him!" someone cried. "How would you like it if I pushed you?" someone stumbled beside him and he heard a fight break out behind him. Zeref tried to ignore it as he closed his eyes and gritted his teeth against the smarting pain in his palm. He bit his lip and felt tears in the corners of his eyes, but he didn't let them fall. No, he was stronger than that at least. "Come on now, get up, we're almost to the ship." The pink-haired boy said and set him back on his feet.

The boy grabbed his hands and inspected them shortly. "You'll be fine." he said. "Now let's get moving." Zeref hunched his shoulders and kept moving forward, the others behind him, probably to make sure he didn't make a run for it. Zeref wouldn't. he knew he was slow, and that it would only cause him pain in the long run.

As they neared the docks Zeref made out a huge ship docked there. It was large with huge sails and red symbols on them. They were in the shape of what was known as the Fairytail mark. Zeref froze. The Fairytail pirates were the most infamous. They stole treasure, intercepted and looted ships with dozens of soldiers on them. They had many members and were known for being ruthless and cruel by all of the kingdom. Some of the most famous on the Fairytail crew were Devil Slayer, Titania, and their captain, Salamander. "Come on." The pink-haired boy said, becoming impatient.

So, Zeref stumbled on to the ship, thoroughly spooked by the entire affair. "Alright now," the pink-haired boy said, "I should probably introduce you to some of the crew. Mainly, us three. Now then, this is Erza, but you probably know her as Titania. Gray, but his title is Devil Slayer. And I'm Natsu, also known as Salamander, the captain of the Fairytail ship." Natsu explained to him. Zeref gulped. Not only had he been captured by the most infamous band of pirates out there, but he had been captured by their leader.

Natsu started nudging him along and Zeref obediently complied. He wasn't sure what they would do to him if he tried to run or didn't follow direction, but Zeref was sure that he didn't want to find out. So, Zeref allowed Natsu to guide him to wherever they were going. As it turned out, they didn't have very far to walk. Natsu took him below deck to a small cell. "We have to work out exactly how this is going to work for all of us, so until then you'll stay in here…" Natsu trailed off as he thought about what he should say next. "But hey, it could be worse, right? I mean, you could be dead." Zeref didn't respond and only went compliantly into the small chamber. He could feel Natsu's eyes on him for a minute longer, and then the boy left.

Natsu walked down the hall to his office where some of his most trusted subordinates were waiting. They had decided on the walk there that they would have a meeting to see what to do about their new addition. It was a foolish and stupid mistake to let Zeref see them. If Natsu didn't know any better, he'd say that they were getting sloppy.

When Natsu opened the door Gray, Erza, and Lucy, who hadn't gone with them, were all there where and when he'd asked them to be for once. "So, what're we going to do?" Gray asked once they were all ready to begin discussing. No one said anything right away, which led to a slightly awkward silence.

"I don't know." Natsu said quietly. That's when they all knew he was lost. Natsu never said anything quietly unless he truly didn't know what to do. they were all silent for a while.

"Hey, we're pirates, right?" Gray said finally. Natsu's eyes narrowed.

"If you're suggesting we kill him then…" Natsu trailed off.

"No, not at all. Since we're pirates we should look at this situation as a chance to get money. We could hold him for ransom. Or, we could sell him off as a slave. He's young and pretty enough, and healthy too. That's getting rarer and rarer these days, so you have to look for that in the slave department. We could get a pretty penny for him."

"I don't think we should." Erza said quietly. She was always against this whenever it was brought up considering that she was a slave once herself. She hated it with a burning passion and didn't want anyone else to have to suffer the way she had.

"Gray, you're so thoughtless sometimes." Lucy grumbled.

"It's just a suggestion." Gray defended himself. While the others were talking Natsu was, for once, thinking. What Gray said made some sense. About the getting money out of it, not the whole slave thing. Natsu thought that idea was rather stupid. Everyone knew that slaves were becoming less desired little by little. They wouldn't get much money that way. Perhaps Gray was on to something with the whole ransom thing though.

However, that would include them having to lie. After all, the whole reason they took Zeref was because he saw their faces. Natsu was hardly going to give him back after he'd been on the ship a couple of weeks. Meaning, that they would have to send the ransom note, get the money, and then leave.

Maybe, they could even sell him as a slave after they got the ransom money. That way they would get double the pay they would had they gone for only one idea. "You may actually be on to something." Natsu said after a while. They had been low on food recently. The supply they'd gotten from town would last them a few days maybe. There were a lot of people on the ship, and food was becoming scarcer as winter rolled by.

"I usually am." Gray said cockily. Natsu rolled his eyes.

"Anyway, let's send the ransom note. After we get the money from that we can go from there." Natsu said. They all agreed, and the meeting was over. Most meetings were usually short anyway.

"Oh, and your on-prison duty." Gray said. Natsu sighed.

"Fine." he grumbled. It was only after Gray left that Natsu realized HE was the captain and got to say who was on prison duty. Oh well, it was too late now. Besides Natsu didn't mind. Better him than Gray. Gray would just be mean and unnecessarily rude. He was like that when in a good mood. When he was in a bad mood… let's just say Natsu couldn't stand him when Gray was in a bad mood.

Natsu sighed and went to go talk to Mirajane about getting some food for the prisoner. Though, Natsu doubted he was hungry. "Good evening Natsu." Mira said cheerfully.

"Good evening to you too Mira. Say, me and the others were a bit too careless with our mission today and someone saw our faces." Natsu said. Mira's cheerfulness died slightly.

"Well that's not good news." She said a small frown coating her pretty features. Natsu nodded.

"Yeah, anyway, we sort of had to kidnap him and now he's on board and-."

"If you need food just ask for it." Mira said handing him a tray. Natsu blinked at her.

"How did you know?" he asked incredulously. She giggled.

"Well, you don't exactly have to be a genius to figure out why you're here. You got a prisoner you're here talking to me about it. I run the kitchen here. So, the logical conclusion is that you need food for the new prisoner because Gray roped you into prison duty… again." Mira said. Natsu sighed. was it really that obvious? Natsu was often roped into prison duty. Usually there weren't actually any prisoners down there, but it still had to be cleaned and such.

"Right, I should've guessed. Anyway, thank you." He told her. that cheerful smile of hers popped back on to her face.

"Anytime." She said. Natsu nodded and said goodbye.

So, Natsu walked back down to the prison to hand Zeref his food. There were very obvious sobs echoing throughout the lower deck. That was to be expected though. Natsu himself might've reacted with tears. Natsu walked down the hall and opened the cell door. Zeref's head shot up and the sobs and quiet pleas for help stopped very abruptly. "Food?" Natsu asked him. Zeref had his face angled away so Natsu couldn't see his expression.

"I'm not hungry." He said quietly.

"I figured as much." Natsu said setting the tray down on the floor. Then he walked slightly closer to Zeref. "Hey, you'll be okay." Natsu told him. Zeref shook his head.

"No, I won't." He whispered. Natsu sighed. what was he supposed to say? Start arguing with him that yes, he would be alright?

"Why do you say that?" Natsu asked instead.

"Because I'm going to die." Zeref grumbled. Natsu pretended to look around as if trying to spot something.

"Nope, no axe-wielding maniacs here. So, I'm pretty sure your safe for now." Zeref sniffed.

"Well then… I'm going to get tortured to death instead of killed right away. Everyone knows you have your own trained torturer to torture your enemies until they beg for mercy."

"Okay, number one. Not everyone knows that because I didn't know that. Number two, you're not exactly my enemy. It was the wrong place wrong time sort of deal. And number three unless you count Erza beating all of us up all the time, we don't have a trained torturer. And unless you somehow, miraculously knock over her cake I'm pretty sure she has no reason to beat you up." Zeref frowned.

"But… what reason would she need? You're all evil."

"Probably shouldn't antagonize the guy who could torture you to death."

"But you said-!"

"I could change my mind." That shut Zeref up and he shrank back against the wall. Natsu sighed. he felt like he was sighing a lot today. Natsu came even closer and gently touched Zeref's shoulder. "Look, we don't have any plans to harm you in any way. Physically, mentally, or emotionally. So, why don't you stop being scared and talk to me like a normal person. Because you talking to me like I'm some thing of pure evil is really getting on my nerves." Natsu said. Zeref peered up at him with that look of barely subdued fear. His body trembled nervously. "Okay?" Natsu asked him. Zeref slowly nodded. Natsu almost had the urge to laugh. He was getting mixed signals. Zeref said he would stop being scared and think of him like a normal person, yet he still looked terrified. "I don't think you're going to." Natsu said. Zeref jumped.

"W-what makes you say that?"

"I've decided to listen to your body language rather than your words." Natsu told him. Natsu reached toward him and Zeref flinched and shrank back to avoid his hand. "If you don't cut that out…" Natsu growled. Zeref blinked at him.

"Then what?" he asked in a whisper. Natsu dreaded that question because he actually had no idea what he was going to do if Zeref kept refusing not to fear him. threats wouldn't work as that would be hypocrisy.

"Then I'll perform my worst torture on you." Zeref seemed to tremble more. "You asked for it." Natsu warned.

"Wait, no!" Zeref cried. Screaming first with terror and then with exultation.

"Hm… are you ticklish here?" Natsu tried.

"NO!" Zeref screamed. But his squirming and screams sort of overruled again. the screams hurt Natsu's ears, but he was determined not to give in no matter if Zeref was trying to kick him. he trapped Zeref's legs in his own. He was lying face up across Natsu's lap with Natsu's right hand restraining his arms and his free hand continuing the barrage.

"I'm not going to stop until you beg for mercy." Natsu told him. "After all, that's what we do to our enemies." Natsu said, smirking slightly. Yeah, Natsu could be a bit sadistic at times when he wanted to be.

After a while Zeref gave in because he just couldn't take any more. His voice was hoarse, and he felt exhausted. "Please, please stop!" he cried. "I-I'm b-begging you!" so, at last, Natsu slowed down until his hand rested on Zeref's stomach.

"So, have you learned your lesson?" Zeref panted and nodded as he went limp with exhaustion. "Good." Natsu said slowly releasing him. Natsu looked at his watch. It was pretty late. "You should get some sleep." Natsu said standing up. He turned to look at Zeref, but the boy already had his eyes closed. Natsu supposed he could understand that. He'd had a pretty… eventful day, after all. Natsu stared at Zeref for a while longer. He was… examining him, if you will. Gray was right. Even with the how the slave economy was low they could still get a pretty penny for this boy. Natsu gently brushed some hair out of his face. Yep, a pretty penny indeed. "Night." Natsu said and closed the cell door. Zeref did not respond.

The next morning Zeref awoke to silence. It was so quiet it was undoubtedly unsettling. Images of the night before flashed through his head making him even more uncertain. He'd heard so many stories of how pirates were vicious and were even looking to kill other innocents. But… Zeref's own experiences thus far sort of thwarted those other stories.

And as Zeref thought more and more about them he started to realize just how ludicrous they all sounded. Zeref hadn't done much research on pirates but he did know they were the thieves of the seas. And if you looked the word thief up for the meaning it would tell you they steal things and rely on stealth, not violence. It would make no sense for someone to kill another person for their valuables when they could simply steal them without needing to fight. Zeref did admit however, that pirates were gruffer then thieves and they did attack ships, so they could rob them. That made sense since it was pretty hard to steal by stealth when you had a huge ship in plain sight.

Still if Zeref really thought about it then he could see just how unlikely it was that they had their own trained torturer. After all, you didn't need a torturer to rob ships at sea, and if Zeref knew anything it was that people, no matter who they were, did not like useless things.

So, that left the question about what they were going to do with him. Zeref was not stupid. He realized that the initial friendliness was most probably just a ruse. Despite if they were going to murder him or not, they were still criminals who lied and cheated and stole. There was no room for decency in someone like that.

Zeref concluded they were either going to ransom him or sell him as a slave, or maybe both. They both brought in money and that was what pirates were all about. Although, Zeref still, begrudgingly, liked Natsu to an extent. He thought that the pirate was… different than what he had expected. The pirate was nice enough and only became unpleasant when Zeref was accusing him. and that was to be expected since Zeref often became annoyed when people started accusing him of things, regardless if they were true or not.

Natsu came back a few hours later and Zeref couldn't help that his heart rate basically doubled in beats per minute when he saw Natsu's face. He couldn't help the nervousness either, but he tried not to make his slight fear obvious. "Morning." Natsu said. "Hungry?" Zeref shook his head. Despite it being hours upon hours since he last ate the thought of food mad his stomach flip flop uncomfortably. Natsu shrugged. "Suit yourself." He said and started eating the food. Zeref sighed and leaned back against the wall. It was utterly boring in there. Zeref had nothing to do and even if he did Zeref wasn't sure if he would do it since everything felt pretty hopeless at the moment. "So, what are you feeling right now?" Natsu asked, probably to start a conversation.

"Nervous." Zeref answered him playing with his fingers nervously. Natsu raised an eyebrow.

"Why?" he asked as if he couldn't possibly imagine why Zeref might be feeling that way. Zeref sighed and glanced at Natsu. He guessed that this pink-haired boy was slightly oblivious.

"Why wouldn't I feel nervous? I'm on a large boat locked in a cell with a bunch of pirates running around and getting to decide what happens to me!" Zeref cried. Natsu blinked at him and seemed to think about it.

"I forgot that humans get a little panicky when they're not in control of their own fate."

"Humans? You speak as if you're not one of us." Zeref said suspiciously. Natsu shrugged and didn't answer him. "Why aren't you answering me?" Zeref asked.

"You didn't ask a question." Natsu reasoned. Zeref frowned and didn't say anything else. He was thinking back on what he said and realized that Natsu was right. He'd said a statement not asked a question.

"I guess I didn't." Zeref mumbled. He watched as Natsu walked toward him and fought the urge to flinch. It wasn't an unreasonable reaction, but it would probably annoy Natsu. Natsu leaned down so he was right in front of Zeref. Zeref couldn't help but shrink back from him, his heart beating harder from Natsu's closeness. Hadn't the pirate ever heard of personal space? "W-what are you doing?" Zeref stuttered growing even more nervous when Natsu didn't move away.

"You're still trembling." Natsu said. Zeref hadn't even realized. "Is it cold down here?" he asked. if Zeref actually thought about it then yes it was cold down there. But not especially.

"I-I don't know." Zeref stuttered.

"Well then, obviously it isn't that cold if you don't know." Natsu told him. "Now then, didn't I already tell you that no one here is going to hurt you?" Natsu asked him. Zeref nodded.

"You did." He said.

"Then why are you still scared."

"Well, I don't know you. And you're still a pirate. You've stolen from my home, taken me from it, and burned some of it to the ground. And you say that you don't intend to hurt me? Well, maybe you didn't intend to hurt me exclusively, but you have. And I'm scared of what you'll do next." Zeref told him.

"What do you want me to do next?" Natsu asked. Zeref blinked. What did he want Natsu to do next? He didn't know. No, that wasn't quite right. He knew what he wanted, but he also knew it was never going to happen and so he probably shouldn't be foolish enough to mention it. He did anyway before he could stop himself.

"I want you to take me back home." Zeref said. Natsu's expression turned sad.

"I can't." Natsu whispered softly. "I'm sorry."

"No, you're not. But that's okay. I understand." Zeref told him. Natsu continued frowning.

"Okay…" he said reluctantly. Natsu was still close to his face. So close Zeref could hear Natsu breathing. He gulped and tried to lean further back.

"Um… could you, back up?" Zeref asked. Natsu shrugged and leaned back.

"I take it you're one of those humans who likes personal space?" Zeref didn't think he was one of those humans. He simply thought that everyone liked to have personal space. Except the pink-haired pirate anyway who obviously had no trouble if someone invaded his personal space. He seemed to like it in fact. Zeref gulped and looked away his face flushing pink. Why was he even thinking about the pirate? He should be thinking of a way to escape! "Say." Natsu's voice dragged him out of his thoughts. "How would you like me to show you around the ship?" Natsu asked. Zeref blinked at him for several seconds before realizing what Natsu had said. That was a perfect opportunity for Zeref to figure out an escape plan and get to know the ships layout. Zeref nodded.

"I would like that." He told Natsu. Natsu grinned at him obviously liking that he had made Zeref slightly happier than he was a few moments before.

"Well then stop dawdling and come on." Natsu said, taking his hand and pulling him upright. "Other people have wanted to meet you too." He wondered if they were as inadvertently scary as Natsu was. Zeref didn't have time to think about it because Natsu had already started the tour, stating the obvious that this was the prison. "But of course, you already know that." Natsu said chuckling nervously. Zeref nodded.

"I do." he told him. Natsu shrugged and started leading him to some other part of the ship. It soon became clear that the ship was as big as it looked and had many rooms. "And here is my favorite room." Natsu was saying, opening the door. "The kitchen!" he cried looking happier than Zeref had ever seen him.

"Good morning Natsu." A cheerful voice said. Natsu turned to look at a girl across the room. She was pretty and sweet looking. Zeref already felt more relaxed around her than he ever had before.

"Morning!" Natsu said equally as cheerful. "This is…" Natsu trailed off. He didn't know Zeref's name and he thought it rather rude to say the prisoner.

"Zeref." Zeref introduced himself. He'd forgotten that the pirates didn't even know his name. it was only after he'd said it that he realized it was probably unwise of him to tell the pirates his name. the woman simply smiled.

"It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Mirajane but everyone calls me Mira." Zeref nodded.

"It is a pretty name." he told her. that was common curtesy. Zeref was raised as a richer member of society. Richer than almost all others in his town. Except the nobles of course. They were richer than anybody. Zeref, still, was an upstanding member of his society so he had been taught proper manners.

He also thought that this cheerful girl was too sweet to be a pirate. He thought that Natsu must've also kidnapped her. it was odd since they seemed like friends. But then again, maybe he threatened her if she seemed like she felt anything but friendliness towards him. he knew that was ludicrous, as it didn't sound like Natsu at all, but one could never know when pirates were involved.

Just then, all of them heard a crash in the next room. Mira's smile slowly slid off her face. "GEORGE! THAT BETTER NOT BE YOU IN THERE STEALING EXTRA FOOD AGAIN!" Mirajane shrieked, storming into the other room.

"M-Mira I-." words were cut off by a scream. It was a male's voice for sure, yet it sounded oddly feminine. Natsu was already steering him out of the room.

"Let's go." Natsu told him. Zeref was starting to have second thoughts about how sweet Mira was though.

So, Natsu kept showing him around the place. He met Gray, who Zeref thought was rather moody and unpleasant. Lucy, who seemed like she was of a much higher class than a mere pirate. If he'd met her anywhere else, he would've thought she was a noble. Then he met Erza who had walked in when Gray and Natsu had started arguing. She was the most terrifying. Going so far as to even have her captain on his knees, apologizing. Apologizing to who he didn't think anyone but Erza knew.

"See, we're not all bad." Natsu said as they walked back down to the lower deck. Zeref supposed not. He guessed he didn't hate them anymore but that didn't mean he wanted to be here. He wanted to go home to his family. He had to get married to a merchant's daughter and take over the family business even though he wanted to do something else. "Maybe it's a good thing we caught you."

Zeref snorted. "I guess we don't have the same definition of good." Natsu shrugged.

"Listen, I'm captain because I started this whole thing. I'm the one that made Fairytail into a pirates crew because… well, because pirates are almost as awesome as dragons. Anyway, being apart of Fairytail isn't about just being poor and having a knack for stealing stuff and wanting to cause trouble. Although, we do seem to have a knack for that, that's not the point. The point is that we've all come from very different backgrounds but we all came together because we didn't have the best of times. Our pasts are sometimes way more horrible than even I could imagine. We all have hard times in our lives, and some of us don't have the power to stop them. But we do have the power to step away and start somewhere else. Now, I know that even you, no matter how hard you pretend, I know that you aren't perfectly happy where you are either."

"What are you talking about?" Zeref asked. "I mean, I don't get everything I want, but I do get food and a roof and water and all the things I need to survive."

"I'm not talking about surviving I'm talking about being happy." Natsu told him.

"I'm alive. How could I not be happy?"

"Being alive and surviving are not the same thing." Zeref gave him a blank look.

"Surviving is literally the definition of being alive."

"There's a difference between living and not dying." Natsu told him. Zeref wasn't sure there was but he nodded like he understood anyway. "So, anyway, are you feeling better?" Natsu asked. Zeref slowly nodded. He did. He didn't feel like everything was quite as hopeless as before. Natsu patted him on the back and Zeref reentered his "bedroom". He felt his heart speed up when Natsu touched him, but he pushed that light feeling in the center of his stomach, down. It had no place within him. once he found a way back to his family Zeref would marry some other rich girl. Another merchant's child. Then they would combine their business and become even more profitable than before. Then they would bear a child who would either be a son, who married another merchant's child and took over the store, or a daughter who would marry another merchants child and bear his children. These stupid feelings had no place in those plans. It was impossible.

Zeref had had his life planned out for him since the moment he was born. There was nothing else out there for him. if he was not married and did not have a business in town as successful as his father's than he was nothing. All he had to do was figure out an escape plan, escape and then everything would go back to normal.

However, if that was what was right for Zeref the why did his heart clench at the mere thought of marrying someone else. Zeref never told anyone this but as a boy he'd had dreams to study abroad and visit everywhere. Perhaps even become a painter. What he didn't tell anyone else though, was that he still had those dreams. Zeref was so lost in his own thoughts that he didn't even notice Natsu crouching down so he was eyelevel with him.

Zeref blinked and then blushed furiously. Why did Natsu insist on being in his personal space? Natsu had been close before but never this close. Zeref hated to admit it, but even yesterday when he first saw the man his heart had started racing. And it wasn't entirely from fear or even excitement. "W-what are you doing?" Zeref stuttered.

"I'm examining you." Natsu said like it was the most ordinary and obvious thing to ever be said.

"W-what do you mean by that?" Natsu rolled his eyes and cupped Zeref's chin. He felt his face gently turned to the side so Natsu could see it better. The touches left Zeref sweating and extremely nervous. And it wasn't because he thought Natsu was going to attack him either.

"So, you're a merchant's son?" Natsu asked.

"Y-yeah." Zeref stuttered. What was the point in all of this? And why was Natsu examining him? "A-are you examining me to see what you think people would pay for me?" Zeref asked. He kind of dreaded the answer. Natsu froze for a split second before resuming what he had been doing.

"Maybe." He said. "Although, I'm not sure how many people would want you anyway. I mean, you're good-looking enough, and are healthy too. But you also look like you haven't worked a day in your life."

"Thanks." Zeref grumbled but really, he was still thinking about what Natsu had said. Natsu thought he was good-looking. Zeref wasn't exactly sure why that should matter so much to him now. It had never mattered before. Zeref hated what his reactions to Natsu implied. He hated every single one of them. Zeref bit his lip when Natsu ran a thumb over his cheek, determined not to let out the contented sigh escape from him or lean in to his touch.

Zeref had never been touched in such a way. Like he would break if gripped too hard. That's why Zeref's pulse quickened when Natsu tightened his grip. Zeref gasped in surprise and quickly tried to make himself smaller, only to realize that upon Natsu's approach Zeref had shrunk back as far as he could and now there was nowhere for him to go.

Natsu noticed Zeref's confused and slightly fearful eyes on him. Natsu wished he could stop himself. Wished he could take the action back the second he did it. But he couldn't. Zeref blushed when Natsu leaned closer than ever before. Zeref could feel his heartbeat and wondered vaguely if Natsu could feel his. He hoped not because then Natsu would know that it was beating like he had just ran a marathon. Zeref noticed himself breathing heavier too. It was like his chest was constricting from anticipation and he was flushed from the heat radiating off of the pink-haired boy like an inferno.

Then Natsu inched slightly closer and their lips met. Natsu kissed him hard with the kind of burning passion that could never be replicated. Zeref wished he could say that he pushed Natsu away and fought with all his might to free himself, but that would be the biggest lie he'd ever told. Especially since Zeref applied the pressure back equal force, passion, and ferocity only a few seconds after Natsu initiated the kiss.

Zeref's heart beat so loud he felt it was about to burst. His trembling fingers clutched the back of Natsu's shirt and he tilted his head up. This lasted for a long time and when Zeref opened his eyes again they had somehow ended up on the floor. His entire body was trembling from all the nervousness and emotions swirling around inside him. this never should've happened. He should be back home trying to find a wife. But, Zeref could say with he utmost confidence that he would rather be anywhere but there. No, he'd rather be nowhere but here. And the best part about that was that he was here.

Natsu had rolled over and was now lying next to him. Natsu wasn't trembling like he was, but he was panting and sweating slightly. Zeref turned over on his side so he could face Natsu. "Natsu…" he whispered. "Can we talk?" Natsu groaned and flipped over.

"I'm guessing you're one of those humans who likes to talk after a crazy make out session?" Zeref was silent. He always found Natsu's phrases to be rather odd.

"I guess I am." He said after a pause. Natsu sighed and Zeref saw Natsu sit up and then he dragged Zeref into his lap.

"Fine, talk." Natsu said. Though he didn't really sound like he wanted to talk. Zeref leaned against Natsu's chest and asked,

"So, what was that?" Natsu raised an eyebrow.

"… Don't tell me they don't have kissing where you come from." Natsu said wearily. Zeref scowled at that.

"No, we have kissing." He said. "I just mean… why did that happen? Because what I feel for you can't be love. I just met you." Zeref said. He'd been raised to believe that you only kissed the person you loved. The person you were going to spend the rest of your life with. Anything else was… well, Zeref didn't know what it was.

"No, I don't think that's it. I think it was more of passion. I mean, what else did you expect? We're two hot teenage guys alone in a room together." Natsu said and shrugged. "That's kind of a recipe for disaster." Natsu paused for a while. "Then again, I don't think it was that much of a disaster. I mean, you're not supposed to like disaster." He added. Zeref didn't respond.

"Natsu… I don't think we should do this. I mean…" Zeref trailed off. He was about to talk about how he was going to go home and marry a rich merchant's daughter and have children and take over his father's shop. But then Zeref realized that those explanations would be fruitless. Natsu thought that Zeref would never be returning home so those explanations didn't matter. So, instead he said. "I mean you kidnapped me."

"Yeah, and?" Natsu asked.

"And you're holding me against my will." Zeref explained. That gave Natsu a little more pause.

"Well… it doesn't seem like you're unhappy here." Natsu tried. Zeref frowned.

"How do you know that? You could be deluding yourself into thinking I'm happy just because you want me to be so." Natsu's expression saddened at that.

"Maybe…" he said quietly. He wasn't so sure about that. He supposed he'd never seen Zeref smile, but you didn't have to smile to be happy, right? "But I do know, that whatever's out there, it's not nearly as good as you want to believe." Natsu said. Zeref didn't know what to say to that. He was angry yes, but only because it was true. And Natsu knew it was true too. "I think… I think you could stay with us." Natsu said. "I think you could be happy here."

"How do you know?" Zeref hated it. Hated how Natsu was being right about everything. Zeref scowled at the floor. He was painfully aware of their position too. Natsu had his arms wrapped around Zeref's body and his chin resting on Zeref's shoulder.

"I don't, so why don't I just tell you what we have to offer. There's adventure every day, we get to travel everywhere and see everything. You have friends that are more like family then any of us have ever had. And no one forces you to marry or have children or be something other than yourself. This life here is the epitome of freedom." Natsu said. "And I can tell you would love it." He whispered. Zeref would love it. Natsu had said it himself that he would get to see the world. And Zeref had wanted that ever since he was a child. Now, it was only his stupid pride getting in the way. "So, what do you say?" Natsu asked.

"I…" Zeref trailed off as he felt Natsu's arms squeeze tighter around him. "You, you aren't going to sell me then?" Zeref asked cautiously. Natsu pursed his lips together and shook his head.

"No, we're not." Natsu said. Zeref was silent staring at the ground.

"And what about sleeping in this cell. I don't like it in here." He added.

"I'd be more concerned if you did." Natsu said. "And if you came with us we'd give you a bedroom of your own… or you could sleep with me." Natsu added with a suggestive wink. "So, I could squeeze you and kiss you and comfort you when you cry."

"I do not cry." Zeref grumbled. Natsu only smirked.

"But if you did, I would be there. And it wouldn't be just me either. We'd all be there for you." Natsu told him. Zeref relaxed further in Natsu's hold. "Besides you like to be held." How did Natsu seem to know everything?

"Yes." He admitted quietly. Natsu smirked and squeezed him tighter.

"Yes, you like to be held or yes you want to stay with us?" Natsu asked. Zeref sighed.

"Um…"

"If you don't answer then I'm taking it as a yes to both." Zeref let a small smile come across his face. He didn't answer, and then Natsu kissed him.

A/N This is going to be the last update for awhile, sorry! I'm working on an original story as well and... well, I haven't been working on it. So, I need to focus on that! Updates will be a LOT slower and I probably won't be updating again until next week unless I'm really bored and have nothing else to do. Don't worry though, I plan on starting a new story too. It will be several chapters and it's pretty light and fluffy. Thanks for reading, reviews and constructive criticism are a great motivation!