Summary: it was the end of a war for many but the start of a very long journey for the brothers and the ones closest to their hurts.
Note: Post war dragneel sibs
Natsu sat quietly by the man's side trying his best to lean on his left. Undoubtedly the barrels they had secluded themselves on in the corner of the guild, or what remained of it, were not the most comfortable seat. Red stained bandages covered every visible surface on the both of them. Porlyusica and Wendy with the help most of the girls and anybody else with some medical knowledge were doing their best to tend to the injured considering they were also part of that category.
The resilience of the members seemed to fascinate the dark haired man by his side who did not seem perturbed by the bounds that constricted not only his body but also his magical ability and rendered him pretty harmless. Natsu knew they weren't needed, his eyes were dull and devoid of the macabre intensity they once held when they fought just a few hours ago. The black mage seemed oddly tired swirling the liquid in the cup he had been given by Lucy, one of the few who would actually look at the man.
The pink haired mage was exhausted himself, more mentally than physically, considering the revelations of his past and couldn't think of a way to talk to this man. He would not kill him, that was out of the question and he had his reasons for keeping the creator of demons alive.
"What's the girl's name?" Zeref rasped taking a sip of his drink as best as he could with his hands being stuck together.
Natsu frowned eyeing his older brother and trying to grasp what possibly could be gained with a name.
"I won't try anything, I've lost everything now, there's no more hope without your awakening," he said in a desperate yet amused tone. A chuckle escaped him as his sibling's protective expression intensified, "It's just that she came up to us so calmly, unsure, but not as scared or angry as all the rest, probably because she was more worried about you,"
"I am awake," the calm and collected reply surprised Zeref as he recalled the heated words directed at him as he was being beaten.
'Your curse is just an excuse, it isn't the gods who abandoned you, think Zeref! Aren't you the one that keeps running away from everyone that cares! BROTHER!'
Zeref took a deep breath and blinked in confusion. He wasn't sure but it seemed as if Natsu was talking about them as well, not just all the people he had left behind in his life. It would make sense that he remembered the black wizard as he once were, a devoted, curious and talented older brother as normal as any other human. However that was impossible, when E.N.D. might have possessed those memories but this current Natsu was the man that belonged to fairy tail and not by his side.
"Her name's Lucy and I guess she was being nice to you because she understands,"Natsu replied pulling him out of his thoughts. Zeref scrunched his eyebrows not quite getting what the other was trying to tell him but as he directed his eyes to the blonde child and met her own it did seem she harbored more sympathy as she did not turn her stare into a glare like the rest of the guild, or the conscious fairies at the moment, did.
"Lucy means light, she reminds me of the night," he let his lips form a smile and suddenly he was at the receiving end of one. Natsu grinning at him completed the tender moment when the dumbfounded blackhead turned to him in his shock.
"Nah, fairy tail folk are more like an ardent sun, we're a lively bunch," he laughed at him slapping his back.
"That's not what I meant," the poor immortal managed to stumble the words as clearly as he could as with every hit he bounced forward and his speech broke with an 'oomph'.
The fire mage knew that the denial probably had to do with the hint of recognition in his eyes and expression that he had seen but he didn't want them to tackle that subject yet.
"We have a lot to deal with, and we have to rebuild the town and guild…again," the exasperated sigh left the young fairy gave as he slumped forward dramatically only to regret his poor choice of theatrics as the torturing sting from his poor broken ribs reminded him of his current condition and turned it into a yelp.
Zeref's hands automatically moved to push back the younger man from to chest lest he lost his balance and fell. The fiery troublemaker let out a content breath of relief as he found a comfortable position once again only to notice the weight moving on his head. It took him a while to notice that he was being petted like a child. The content smile the other held brought back a time long past to the both of them and a chuckle escaped him. It was a little too strange considering he was bound and had to raise both his arms to reach the salmon coloured spiky mess of hair that Natsu could barely hold back the laughter.
"Oh, sorry," Zeref cleared his throat in embarrassment and let his hands fall to his lap once more.
"It was fine, just I'm not a brat anymore, you know," the man chortled leaning back before they both fell in an awkward silence once more. Natsu's eyes traveled to the celestial mage and he pained expression, as Wendy was redressing her wounds once more, turned to a weak smile of encouragement. Happy was by her side and he waved a piece of fish he had been playing with. Nodding to the exceed Natsu reaffirmed how had made a decision and he was going to pull through, nonetheless knowing that he had his teams support did make the target he had in mind seem more attainable.
"We have a lot of apologies to give you know it will be super hard," Natsu reminded the other.
"I know, I'm ready," was what was whispered in reply. It was good that to the dragon mage's trained ears it sounded like a determined kind of answer.
Natsu turned and narrowed his eyes at the robed man, "Starting with our First,"
Zeref scrunched his face as if he had taken a punch to the gut, "Maybe not so ready, but she deserves it the most, I can do it for her, I have to,"
"Good," he snorted acknowledging his sibling's reply. It was genuine if not very brave at least.
As friendly as he tried to be, the dragon slayer knew there would be a hard road ahead of them. His awakened memories made it difficult to hate his brother yet there were so many that had suffered for his selfish needs. Natsu could not let this go, he would not kill Zeref, and instead he would dedicate his time to help him atone as best as he could before he would let him go. Until they had achieved this, he promised not to talk about the resurfacing past life in his mind. Perhaps the black mage had noticed but it didn't matter. They would be Natsu's own precious curse for as long as the immortals were bound to Earthland.
