Note: Taking some liberties with canon because that's how fanfic works~
Natsu was curious.
Actually, he was extremely curious about this unknown sibling of Gray. More, it didn't look like the brothers were in good terms.
What might've happened?
He wanted to know.
So, he followed, when the Master took them to his office. Trying to be inconspicuous. And, wonder of wonders, he actually did it.
When the door closed, Natsu tiptoed to it and leaned against the thick wood. He knew that he was being a bit over the top since everybody knew that the Master had set muffling spells to be able to have some rest. Not that it was often warranted but, still…
Hopefully he would catch something interesting anyway…
Inside, the air was thick with tension.
Gray and Shiro stood glaring at each other, while Makarov sat behind his desk and let out a heavy sigh.
"The thick-headedness of youth…" He grumbled under a breath.
Seeing as the standstill would be maintained – unless he did something – Makarov decided to get things going.
"So, the two of you haven't seen each other in how long…?"
There were simultaneous sounds of intakes of breath before Gray's voice broke the small, tense, silence.
"On the day Deliora attacked." Gray raised his arm to point at Shiro. "You left not long before the attack. Mum and Dad wanted to go after you. Because you were grounded."
"I told you already! It wasn't my fault that Ryu and Momo did that-!" Shiro cut in sharply.
"I told them I was going after you." Gray continued, through gritted teeth.
"Tough luck, I wasn't where you expected me to. But," Shiro grinned maliciously, a strange twinkle in his eye, "you know that because of that Mum and Dad were killed. You were the reason as to why they died!"
"No, you fucking asshole. It wasn't…"
"Yes, it was. And then, when I got home – to what used to be our home – there were only debris and blood. And Mum and Dad…" Shiro raised his hand, placing it in front of his eyes as if to shield him from an image that had just materialized before his eyes. Then he paused and glared at Gray again. "I thought you were there too." He added accusingly.
"How could I know?" Gray bellowed. "You weren't at your hanging out place. And then there was the panic, everybody running and I somehow had the chance of being found by my Master. She helped me – and we looked everywhere for you. Where the hell were you through it all, huh?"
"The forest." Shiro murmured.
"What?" Gray asked, leaning slightly forward.
"I said I was in the forest!" Shiro yelled.
"But you shouldn't go there! Dad said that-" Gray started.
"I know very well that I shouldn't go there but what do you want? It was there that the fun was."
"You asshole-!" Gray growled.
"No, you're the asshole. Thinking you were so good," he said the last word in a sarcastic tone, "just because Maki liked you…"
"She did not!" Gray said in outrage. "She just didn't like to be pranked all the time."
"I didn't do anything to her!"
"Oh, yes you did."
"No, I didn't."
"Yes, you did."
"Boys…" Makarov interjected suddenly. "Let's calm down, shall we?" He had his right brow twitching slightly. Then he turned to Shiro. "And what happened, after?"
"Ah, yes, well, some people took me in and we travelled. We did travel a lot."
"And how did you find out about your brother?"
Shiro looked at Gray. Mouth turning slightly downwards.
"It was by chance. People I'd never met came and thanked me, spoke of this guild, here." He made a vague gesture with his hand. "And one day we were on the same town. I saw him in the distance. But couldn't catch him." Shiro finished with a shrug.
"When was that?" Gray asked, suspicious.
"Dunno. A while ago." Shiro crossed his arms. "And then I had that friend of yours doing all that racket at the market."
"I guess that that flame breath did something well, for a change."
A sudden noise came from outside, turning the heads of the room's occupant towards the door.
Gray threw the door open only to be standing above a dragonslayer that lay sprawled out on the floor.
"Natsu…" He said, eyebrow arching.
"Haha…" Natsu sat up and grinned sheepishly. "Ooops, I was caught."
