The four of them walked to the underground dungeon. Cobra was in shackles but Zeref hadn't tried to restrain Natsu.
The dungeon had four cells all in a single row. Lucy could hear someone moving as they entered.
"Who's in here?" asked Cobra. "His thoughts are insane."
There was the sound of metal chains dragging across the floor. They sounded heavy.
"The dungeon is getting crowded," mumbled Zeref.
They walked past the first and second cells. They were empty.
Zeref opened the door to the third cell and motioned for Cobra to enter. "I'm not sure what to do with you yet but at a minimum, you need some time to cool off."
Cobra entered and Zeref shut the door behind him.
Lucy was staring at the fourth cell at the end of the corridor. In that room was a man who had nearly driven dragons to extinction, ended a war, and leveled cities. What would he look like?
From the shadows, a pale face emerged. The resemblance to Zeref was uncanny but there were some notable differences. Aaron's hair was longer for one thing—the black locks were matted and his bangs covered half his face. His eyes were his second most distinguishing feature. Perhaps it was because she knew what he was, but they seemed animalistic. After peering a moment longer, she also began to think that they seemed bit sad.
Aaron stared at them a long time—no one spoke.
Finally, he lifted his hands and gripped his cell's bars. "Is that one a female?" he asked motioning towards Lucy.
Zeref stiffened. "Yes, her name is Lucy."
"I stopped noticing the difference between male and female humans some time ago, but I can tell the difference now." He pressed his face to the bars and stared at here intensely. "I like the shape of her body."
Zeref stepped in front of her, blocking Aaron's view. Natsu hit one of the steel bars, making it ring loudly.
Aaron blinked and looked at him. "Ah, you are the Dragon King," said Aaron wistfully.
"Yes," said Zeref. "He is also our brother. Igneel adopted him."
Aaron looked at Natsu and then back to Zeref. "I have no family."
"That's not true. Igneel and I still love you and we will always be your family." Zeref turned and walked into the second cell, picking up a pair of shackles and holding them out to Natsu. "You'll have to wear these otherwise you won't truly be incarcerated. These will prevent you from using magic." The chains were long so they wouldn't restrict Natsu's movement within the cell, but they were attached to the wall, serving as an additional layer of security.
Natsu hesitated. "God, I hate this."
Lucy touched his arm. "Please," she whispered.
Natsu sighed and went into the cell. He held out his hands as Zeref put the cuffs on his wrists.
Cobra laughed. "It's seems your emotions are getting the better of you Lord Zeref. You forgot to block your thoughts from me."
Zeref glared at him with open hostility. "Shut up."
Cobra was either still too drunk to notice the anger in Zeref's voice or he didn't care because he continued. "I don't think Natsu is going to be happy to find out what you've been think-ing," he sang.
"What's he talking about?" growled Natsu.
Cobra lied down on the small bed in his cell. "The Dark Lord is imagining how nice it would be to keep you locked up indefinitely—then he may have a chance with your woman."
"I knew it!" Natsu grabbed his chains and tried to yank them from the wall but they held.
Zeref scowled. "Don't listen to him. He's just trying to cause problems."
"Oh but it's true," said Cobra. "You saw the black forest, didn't you Natsu? Poor Zeref has been absolutely distraught these last couple days. His emotions became unbearable and he had to run from the castle to cry his little heart out." He sat up and peered out at Zeref. "I must say, this is a new side of you My Lord. I didn't know you could be this sensitive? I've always thought you were… well, a psychotic killer." He finished the last statement with a cruel smile.
Lucy was trying to see Zeref's face but he wouldn't make eye contact with her.
"But…" continued Cobra. "Our favorite villain in black isn't the only person with secrets. Tell me Lord Zeref, do you know why Natsu agreed to be locked up?"
Lucy's heart sank. She stole a quick look at Natsu and saw him grow pale as well.
"Don't—" said Lucy.
"Because he nearly raped Lucy!" Cobra said triumphantly.
Everyone in the room froze for a moment and then all hell broke loose.
Natsu screamed at Cobra. "Shut the hell up. You lie!"
Zeref's eyes flashed red and he staggered. "I need to get out of here." He took a step and then knelt to the ground.
Natsu was pulling his chains and yelling but Lucy focused on Zeref. If he didn't gain control, he was going to set off his deathwave again. She knelt down beside him. "It's okay," she said. "Nothing happened. Natsu was able to regain control. He's trying to do the right thing." She reached out and held his hand.
Zeref was panting but Lucy's words seemed to be working. He took a few deep breaths and eventually the red left his eyes. When he had finally calmed down he stood up. He tightened his grip on Lucy's hand and pulled her out of the dungeon. Natsu was yelling behind them but Zeref didn't stop.
When they were in the open air, he turned to her. His eyes were wide and wild but at least they were black. "What happened?" he demanded.
"Well, I don't think you really want to know. But like I said, he didn't rape me."
Zeref pulled her into an embrace. "Please don't stay with Natsu—choose me. I'll do anything."
She let him hold her as her emotions swirled around her. If she was honest with herself, she was beginning to feel doubt—doubt that she belonged with Natsu. Cracks were forming in their relationship before it had barely begun.
He pulled back and lifted her chin. "You feel something for me, don't you? I know you must—I've felt it before."
She looked up at him, unable to speak. It would be cruel to encourage him any further. She had to sort out her feelings before she acted on them.
He leaned down to kiss her but Lucy turned her head. "I should go back. Natsu needs me now."
"Don't let that be the only reason you stay with him." He held her wrist, stopping her from leaving. "I'm not going back in there—at least not tonight. If I see that man, I just might kill him."
Lucy wondered if he was talking about Cobra or Natsu. "It's fine if you don't go back, but I'd like to say goodnight to Nats."
"I don't like the idea of you being down there without me. Please be careful."
"I will."
He let go of her hand and walked back towards the tower.
She watched him go, a shadowy figure in setting sun.
Back in the dungeon, Natsu was anxiously waiting. "What did he do?" he asked as soon as she entered.
"Nothing, let's just drop it, okay?"
"I can't. What if this is part of his plan? You heard what Cobra said— Zeref was thinking about keeping me in here. He's in love with you."
"It was just a thought. All sorts of things pop into people's heads. That doesn't mean they're going to act on them."
"Still, I don't want you anywhere near that guy."
"That isn't going to work. I need to train with him or else I'll never be strong enough to summon the First and undo the spell that made you a Dragon King."
Chains rattled. "You were the one that summoned Brotan?" It was Aaron, he was peering out from his cell.
She looked away. She wasn't trying to be rude— it was just that Aaron creeped her out. She didn't want to discuss anything with him, much less the part she had played in turning him back into a human.
"Stay here," said Natsu.
"What?"
"Just for tonight. There's an bed in that empty cell over there. You can leave the door open and spend the night there."
"And what purpose would that serve?" Lucy eyed the cell nervously. She didn't like the idea of staying near Aaron or Cobra, even if they were confined to cells.
"At least this way I'll know that Zeref isn't trying anything."
Lucy was beginning to get exasperated. "He's not going to come into my room in the middle of the night and ravish me."
Natsu's lips pressed into a tight line.
"Oh God, that's what you think, isn't it?"
He didn't say anything.
"Fine. I'll stay here tonight but just one night. You're going to have to trust me sooner or later." She walked over to the cell and began lifting blankets. They were old and had holes in them but they didn't seem too dirty. It looked like the dungeon hadn't gotten too much use until recently.