Summary: Real world au where Natsu and Zeref are two very normal brothers that live to support each other and will always have each other's back.
The smell of burned bacon and some herbs that he couldn't identify greeted his nose as he quietly opened the door to the tiny yet comfortable space his brother kept insisting was called an apartment.
Actually, it was more what his brother could afford at the moment considering Natsu was still trying to cope at school whilst juggling a part time job as a pizza delivery boy whilst his big brother was made his way up the Alvarez Company. Natsu had difficulty comprehending what the heck the Company was even known for and he didn't really want to ask again until he was sure he wouldn't be lectured about it even though he was curious to an extent. His interest was in the Fairy Tail Industries where he could dabble in what he loved best and that was getting his hands dirty and not just sitting at a desk and reading books until his eyes fell off. However, he had to admit lately he had been enjoying his classes a little bit more.
Thinking of the task at hand the boy pushed his luck and open their front door further, he cringed as it gave a little creak but he didn't hear anything from the kitchen and let out the breath he had instinctively sucked in. Sliding into the apartment and stealthily closing behind him before tiptoeing toward him he groaned when his eyes met with the silhouette of the dark haired man.
"Brother!" he grinned with a nervous chuckle and cursing the shortcut to their rooms from their dining area.
"And what exactly where you up to last night which kept you away from home till…" he questioned with a smile before checking the watch on his wrist. Natsu rolled his eyes at the scene, a grown man, 31 years old in a black suit with an apron and a ladle in one hand acting like an old stern mother.
"8.30 am, yes I know but I can explain Zer!," he cut in before his older sibling could start his monotone dialogue on responsibility.
"I know you're still a teen and all geared up for adventure Natsu," Zeref crossed his arm and frowned at him in what could be called an expression of disappointment.
"Broooo," Natsu gestured towards his brother before he could continue and took the moment of shock as a chance to tell his tale.
"There's this new girl at the guild, and we had a party," the pink haired teenager threw his hands behind his head and grinned, "I'm really sorry my phone's battery died and that ass gray wouldn't lend me his charger, you know, because Igneel phoned and we talked all afternoon before the party,"
"Couldn't you ask the cute new girl to lend you hers?" his brother scoffed but his tone was teasing. Natsu actually had the gall to blush and it spoke volumes about what the other night meant to him. Igneel was his foster dad, Natsu had lived his childhood with the man before he'd even known he had a brother. Zeref had reunited with him a couple of years ago and it had been a blast for the both of them. His younger brother had kept him going after he had lost all hope when his fiancé had an accident and in turn Zeref offered a place for the boy when he needed to transfer to the college of his dreams, Fairy Tail Academy, a leeway to get into the Company for all young enthusiasts from people dabbling in the arts to engineers and medical practitioners.
"You know I'm not good with numbers," he grumbled in response, "Besides she's new, it's rude to ask her stuff,"
"And yet…?" Zeref prodded when he saw how fidgety the younger man had become at the mention of the word 'ask'.
"We kinda hit it off, and we talked about stuff, her dad's…just gone, and her mother was this famous writer and she wants to follow in her footsteps and she's all sad and doubtful now, maybe because it was the anniversary of her mum's death so I spilled my beans to her too," he explained frantically. The pink haired college student had always been very active and his actions spoke truer than any words he could utter. He didn't really know how to express himself when it came to talking anyway but he was a kind and determined boy and the pride of his big brother.
"I'm pretty sure that's not the metaphor's intended use but I believe you Natsu," he chortled and spun around to frown at the kitchen, "Does it seem foggy to you or…?
"Well one thing led to another, we drunk some of Cana's booze, bad idea by the way, and kinda fell asleep one on top of the other, more importantly, my nose detects the bacon burning bro," Natsu informed him trotting over to his room as the flustered Zeref swore under his breath and nearly tripped on the furniture as he sprinted toward the stove.
The seventeen year old fumbled with his mobile letting it spring back to activity once plugged in, the latest lacrima model phone he had sacrificed sleepless nights to pay for, he went to grab a towel and a change of clothes noting a gasp from behind him informing him that breakfast was saved and they'd be eating in 10 minutes as he made way to the bathroom.
It was perfect timing for a quick shower and as he didn't have any lectures that day he could take it easy. A thought crossed his mind as his fingers dove into his back pocket and he grinned as he felt the paper pulling it out of his pants, the girl, Lucy had scribbled her number on a piece of paper from the small notepad the carried around and tore it off for him to take. Maybe, he'd ask his Zeref how he should go about and contact her to meet up later. Lucy was too fun to be with and he wanted to reciprocate since he had actually blurted his story to her before she told him hers. She'd even given her advice to cheer up his brother, since he'd been visiting Mavis at the hospital so much lately. Mavis, was the love of his life, but she'd been in a coma for a year following their accident. Natsu knew his brother hated having been miraculously saved from that event however he believed it was so he could talk to her to return safely to his side. He'd always remind his older brother but sometimes the message didn't seem to get to him.
It took less than the prescribed time to scrub of the booze and sleepiness from the night before and the sight of a complete English breakfast greeted his him. Yesterday it had been Greek style and Natsu wondered if where his brother got all the energy to experiment even in cooking.
"Some sausages shrunk and the bacon was salvageable but it's extra crunchy, probably," Zeref clapped his hand and shrugged sheepish at his carelessness. Extra crunchy was definitely code for 'taste's like charcoal'.
"So…" Natsu licked his lips taking his seat in front of his brothers, "are you visiting Mavis today?"
The boy nodded towards the bouquet of flowers on the table by their T.V. set in the living room.
"W-well yes," he coughed having been caught off guard. His younger brother never wanted to come with him to these things. Many times they had fought over it, how Zeref barely slept at the hospital when he stayed over some night and how bad for his health it was. Natsu never wanted him to give up, he just wanted his stubborn sibling to take better care of himself.
"Cool, mind if I come with?"
Zeref blinked his fork stopping just before he took a bite out of a rather charred piece of meat couple with some veggies. He had not expected his brother to ask him such a thing so smoothly as he wolfed down what he had made for them.
"S-sure, I mean, you're welcome to," Zeref stutterd feeling ecstatic, his heart swelled up with the warmth of the gesture, and he rubbed at his temple trying not to let his joy and excitement get the better or him, "When you see that girl of yours, thank her alright?"
"How'd you know she suggested it?" Natsu whined leaning to grab the bottle of mineral water for a sip.
"You hate the hospital, maybe?" he raised his brows with a knowing smile and earned a scoff.
"You got me there, but she made me realize I like you more," the gentle tone he used with his big brother meant a lot to the man and the closed eye smile that came with it was so genuine the black head's heart seemed to squeeze in his chest, "she has a way with words, and well I helped her with her problem too, can't talk about that I promised but I was thinking of meeting her later today after we talk to Mavis so I was hoping for some support with that,"
"I've got a way with the ladies, you've come to the right place," Zeref nodded smugly leaning back in his seat.
"She's just a friend," the growling youngster emphasized wriggling his whole body.
"Yes, sure she is, a friend you could ask to work out with," Zeref suggested, "She's in that club of yours, the one that takes all the small jobs around campus for the student's right? So she must enjoy working up a sweat,"
"Her name is Lucy, for your general knowledge, and that is actually brilliant I'll do just that! Thanks Zer," the reply came enthusiastic with a clap and a pair of index fingers pointing towards the other.
"Alright then finish your breakfast little brother, we've got some girls to catch and mesmerise," it was a cute joke for someone so passive and he said it with such conviction that got a chuckle out of Natsu. It was why the question that followed, which had no sign of the energy he had used to express himself just a few seconds ago caught him off guard.
"You're happy, right? Natsu?"
"Yeah, Zer, every day is a blast for me," the answer seemed to brighten the mood. A light seemed to shine in the dark eyes of the older Dragneel and he nodded.
Looking into his little brothers eyes he smiled, a soft and gentle smile that carried to his eyes, "I'm quite content myself, and I'm sure it will just get better from now on, even Mavis can feel it, I know, so she'll come back without the need to worry,"
"Ok, then, let's go bring some girls happy times! Last one to get his things ready's a big giggly butthead!" Natsu jumped out of his seat and made for his room. A few seconds later he heard his brother's chair screech as it was roughly pushed aside and a weight on his back almost made him tumble.
"Not while I'm around you don't, cherry blossom!" Zeref growled as he pinned his brother initiating yet another wrestling match he was destined to lose.
