Touching her was like reliving all of the little pleasured moments from his first life that he had denied himself for longer than he could remember. He traced the exposed skin at her stomach with too-stiff fingers, like he'd forgotten what it was to use them, he gasped in her exhaled breath like it was the first air he'd been granted in...

Centuries.

His hands shook more than he would have liked, his stomach twisted with something like nerves mixed with excitement. Reaching up under her shirt, he had a moment of hesitation, in which he thought that maybe he should just walk away before things got even more out of hand. All of that emptied from his head when he found Lucy's unrestrained breasts and she bucked and moaned.

It's not fair that she makes me feel like this, he thought bitterly, though he had a hard time wishing things were different.

His fingers drew circles over her skin, pressing in and prodding, seeing exactly how frantic he could make her before he drove himself insane, each caress a little surer, each touch more insistent and commanding. Lucy breathed heavily, breasts heaving in the late-night dark. He watched her shamelessly, each one of her harried moans making his body jolt with blistering pleasure.

When his hands slowed, Lucy whimpered. "Don't stop." Her voice was throaty and sultry, rich with need.

"I can't." Even if he wanted. He grabbed her too hard. Under his hand she arched, skin roving with black magic that pricked and burned, and sobbed his name in a way it had never been said before. She brought with her reverence, but it wasn't the mindless fealty he'd come to expect from his demons. This was different. She needed him like others didn't. Maybe it was because with each breath he was slowly, unintentionally, killing her and subconsciously she wanted it.

Zeref dropped his face into her neck and breathed her name in a pained, lamenting voice. For all of his regret, there was no stopping. He and Lucy were two pieces of a whole, undeniably drawn together. By your own doing. And that was alright. It didn't matter why, only that it was.

Lucy quivered. Zeref invaded her senses violently, insistently, each touch making her a little crazier, each lick pushing her further, each breath tripping and fogging and breaking her down a little more until there was no thought in her head. The demon king kissed her neck, then sucked, leaving a mouth-shaped bruise in his wake. Then he was dragging his tongue over her body, down past her collarbone, over the topmost swell of her breast.

There he hesitated, crushing her still tank top-clad breasts together, and brushed his thumbs over the tips. Lucy breathed raggedly. Only after hearing that did he drop his mouth to her breasts and take the hardened nub of her nipple onto his tongue. Through the fabric of her shirt he licked and nipped and teased. The cotton made his tongue dry. He pushed it up and her breasts bounced out, startlingly bare; peach-tipped ivory, full and almost perfectly round. She was surprisingly perky for her size. He came back for her again, closing his mouth around her body and listened to her too-loud cry. She struggled against her bonds, trying to touch him.

"Please… please."

"Please?" he found himself asking.

"Please let me down." The words came out all… wrong. Rough. Husky. It didn't even sound like her voice.

Zeref smiled shamelessly against her breast. "You're so beautiful when you're desperate."

"Gods." She felt like she was dying. A violent shock moved through her, starting somewhere near her heart and ending between her legs. Her body rocked, near orgasm. "Please," she begged again, half hoping he would and half hoping he would deny her; she liked his teasing as much as she hated it.

"No," he said shortly. His voice prickled her skin like hot coals.

Lucy caught her breath when he traced his fingers over her legs, skating up, up, up to where they met. She was hot. She was wet enough he could feel it through the material of her shorts. Fuck. He could

Tear

Her

Apart.

He took her breast into his mouth again, sucking hard and biting. Through her chest he could hear her heart beating far too hard, he could see the darkness rolling over her skin. Every time a thread lanced through her, she'd croon in delighted pain.

Zeref dared to brush his thumb over her center. Predictably, Lucy turned her head to the left, caught her lip between her teeth and cried out. What she said was nearly nonsensical, but one thing punched through him clearly enough. His name.

"Yes?" he asked gently, carefully.

Lucy's voice was rough as it left her throat. "Don't stop." Not ever.

He pressed his fingers into her shorts and rubbed the area so lightly she almost couldn't feel it. That only drove her crazier. Her body heated almost unbearably; her skin felt too tight to be comfortable and she knew what would make her feel better.

"Please," she moaned and tried to wriggle her hips so she could grind against his fingers. He pulled back and grasped her thighs tightly, painfully. Lucy's eyes popped open and she looked into Zeref's own onyx orbs, so like her own. Only the whites of his eyes showed through in the blackness of the cloudy night. They looked like dark pits, those eyes, ready to swallow her whole. A thrill moved through her, powerful and poignant.

"Tell me you're mine and no one else's," Zeref demanded, cool hands moving around her thighs to cup the swell of her behind. He used that grip to drag her forwards so she was taut against her bonds.

Feeling his body pressing through his clothing, rigid and hot, she whimpered again. "Zeref…"

"Say it."

Lucy worried her bottom lip between her teeth. "I'm yours," she agreed, though she would have said anything to get him to keep touching her.

Zeref didn't believe her, not for a second, but they had come too far now. He buried his guilt for his promise to Layla, he buried his guilt for the disservice he was about to do his brother. He justified his actions by reasoning that he had already taken so much from Natsu, what was one celestial girl he thought he loved? You're wicked, he thought, reviling, horrific. But when she pleaded with him again he thought he could be all those things, it didn't matter; he already knew what he was.

It was enough of a twisted validation that Zeref could convince himself that it would be okay to kiss her. Her lips were velvet and desperate and moist, her tongue like fire, her breath cold as winter air. He drank her in like a man dying of thirst. He moved his hands up her body and cupped her face between his palms, then he kissed her until they were both shaking, their breaths stuttering, their hearts hammering together like two out of tune drums. His fingers played through her blonde locks, grasping and pulling, holding her close while he crushed his mouth to hers.

He lost his concentration and the shadows holding her evaporated. Lucy, suddenly free, wrapped her arms around his neck and held him firmly to her body. His fingers abandoned her hair and worked at her shorts. When the button got stuck he didn't stop to fuss with it, he tore it apart and yanked the material down. While he worked, Lucy bit his lip hard enough that copper filled his mouth. He liked the taste. Lucy's shorts snagged on her hips. He tugged them hard enough to send her stumbling and still didn't get them off.

Impatient, Zeref grabbed her wrist hard and yanked her towards the bed. At the mattress edge, he grabbed her by the ribs and pushed her back, marvelling at the way her breasts bounced when she flopped back. Then he went back for her shorts, tearing hard enough that there would likely be a bruise around her thighs in the morning. It was just another way to mark her as his.

Beneath her shorts were a pair of small black panties. Taking her now free legs, he pushed them wide by her knees and appreciated the picture she painted. Her skin kept shifting, patches of black, white and gray roving over her body so she was never the same, a beautiful living canvas, a model for everything ever pure-turned- iniquitous. And she was his to have to do with as he wanted. He got harder again. Hard enough that he couldn't ignore it. Reaching down, he cupped himself through his clothing and massaged. Gods. It wasn't enough, but it was something.

Watching him pleasure himself was exciting. Lucy brought herself up on her knees and flicked her tongue over Zeref's still bleeding lip. The blood was both bitter and sweet and burned all the way down. The magic she'd taken from him all those days ago reached up and swallowed his essence greedily. Her body wanted to be full of him.

Mindless, she pulled at Zeref's kimono, frantic to feel his skin beneath her hands. There was a physical relief that moved through her when the knot came loose. She was able to push aside the fabric to the nagajuban underneath. More clothing. She held in her frustration when it wasn't skin that met her hands and pulled at it with little success.

Zeref pushed her hands aside to do the work for her. In seconds he had the undergarment drawn open. Lucy's eyes dropped downwards to where he was exposed and decided that the initial frustration was worth it, because now there was nothing between them. She wrapped her fingers around his body and pumped.

Zeref let her continue for a moment, his eyes rolling back into his head, his lips parting in ecstasy. It had been a long time since he'd felt so good. He wanted her to carry on but made himself grab her wrist and pull her hand away. "Wait." Otherwise, he wouldn't last long.

"I don't want to," Lucy whispered and came back for his mouth.

He kissed her, tongue sliding over hers fervently, then he bit down, using his teeth to pull hard on her lip. "I said wait." She definitely wasn't like his demons; she was willful and defiant. His demand brought her pause, though. Good.

Lucy breathed shallowly. "What is it?"

He climbed on to the bed with her and pushed her back. She went willingly, spreading her legs wide.

Zeref, heart aching in his chest with an excitement he hadn't felt in a long, long time, bent and flicked his tongue over her folds through her undergarments. She rocked, shocked, and squealed in pleasure. He pressed in harder. Lucy's fingers fisted in her mussed up blankets, her back bowed. She cried and it sounded tormented. He took some pity on her and pushed the fabric aside, to her great pleasure. He lapped twice, skin against skin, tasting the bitter sweetness that was unique to her, and inserted two fingers. She was so wet it was easy. She bowed again and whimpered and quivered.

"Gods."

Feeling adventurous, Zeref slipped his hand under her behind and lifted her up, then edged another finger inside her other hole so she was totally filled. Her body pulsed wildly, her skin got cold. Her fingers found her own hair. Looking up the slope of her body, Zeref watched her eyes flutter closed and her mouth open in stunned pleasure. Smiling, he went back to licking her while he gently and slowly moved in and out of her taut body, giving her some time to get used to the new sensation. When her quiet pants turned into loud moans, he went harder, spreading her legs wide, lapping quickly, thrusting inside of her until she arched and screamed and squeezed him tight with her body, a powerful orgasm taking her. Enough magic bled from her into him that, if allowed, it would have laid to rest half of the tenants in Lucy's building. Zeref accepted the surge easily, swallowing it all back like a greedy, starving monster.

When Lucy stopped shaking, he took his fingers out of her body, then climbed up and positioned himself at her opening. She was limp until she felt his hardness, then her eyes refocused. She grabbed his arms, tilted her hips and forced him inside of her. Then she kissed him.

She tasted like copper and salt and sweetness. She tasted like ruin. She tasted like something pretty gone tarnished. Like perfection.

He allowed himself to growl and enjoy her while she lasted.

Arms around Zeref's neck, Lucy breathed him in. He smelled like mint and something secret. His body was sweaty, his skin hot for the first time since she'd known him more intimately. He twisted his head to the side and caught her mouth for one last searing kiss. It tasted salty. When he pulled back, Lucy's lips throbbed. She licked them to taste him one more time.

"I have to go," Zeref told her, breaking away from her hold and standing.

Lucy, beginning to sink back to earth, regarded the man with a small twinge of… horror? Awe? Both? He was hers. The darkest mage ever to live was hers. He was here, in her bedroom. He had touched her and it wasn't to kill.

Or… at least from what she could tell.

Her hands shook and her skin crawled. "Won't you stay?"

"No." He started to adorn himself again, shrugging into his complicated garments.

"Then… take me with you." Go with Zeref… Her hands shook even more.

He lifted his gaze and searched her eyes. Whatever he saw there, it left Lucy feeling like she was lacking something. "No."

"Please—"

His eyes turned cold. "No."

He was so abrupt it was like being slapped.

"And Lucy," he added before he could think better of it. "While we're apart, stay away from Natsu." He couldn't quite stand to tear her fully out of her life, not yet, but that didn't mean that he didn't want her for himself. It was so… frustrating this hold she had on him.

Lucy pushed herself up into a sitting position. "From Natsu?"

He nodded.

"But—"

Zeref's eyes narrowed and his magic writhed around his body like an ever-shifting cloak, hungry for death. "Do it."

Lucy didn't know if Natsu came back for her if she could stay away. Zeref had to know that. If he did, he didn't question her when she said, "Okay. But," she added, deciding maybe to push the boundaries, "I have a concession of my own." She dared to meet his eyes, recalling the circumstances that brought them to this point. "My spirits..."

He raised a brow challengingly.

She screwed up her courage. "Don't touch them."

Zeref smirked, the expression devoid of mirth but full of artic cold. "Here I thought Loke was already cut open before I got there, or was I mistaken?"

Lucy's throat was tight. "He's my spirit, I can do what I want to him." She sounded an awful lot like Karen in that moment. The realization was like cold water in her face. She swallowed sharply and twisted her fingers together.

A considering expression befell Zeref. "Fine," he agreed after a moment. His body started melding with the darkness.

"Wait," Lucy called. "When will I see you again?" She hated how frantic she sounded.

"When I feel like it," he said callously and faded.

Dressed in a loose fitting spaghetti strap nightgown, Lucy stared at Loke's key on the ground, completely stationary until the sky bruised with the coming dawn and her skin was so chilled that she shivered. The edges of the familiar object were scorched black, the gold blemished. The decision to bend down and grab it up didn't come to her immediately, but when it did, the metal was still so hot in her hands.

Call him. Just to see if she could. Just to see if he was okay. Her throat was parched, and not just because she was thirsty. Fear played a large role, as well. "Open, gate of the lion, Leo." She tugged on the celestial magic that had first taken her to the realms of wizardry, the magic that was her mother's namesake, the light magic that had ironically dragged her to this beautiful darkness.

Nothing happened, so she tried harder, really searching for the dregs of celestial magic in her body.

She found it, buried deep, deep inside, a weak, fading light being choked out by strangling tendrils of Zeref's magic. She knew she could smother it right then and there, should she want. It was surprisingly tempting, that way she could really be Zeref's. The only thing that stayed her hand was the need to see Loke, to make sure he was okay. He was hers, after all.

"Open, gate of the lion, Leo!" She tried again, and was again met by dead air. Frustrated, she growled and threw the key across the ground. It clattered and spun then clunked up against her wall. Hot tears pricked her eyes. She shut them tightly and drew in an uneven breath. It's because he's hurt. It had to be.

Think. There has to be a way.

Opening her eyes, she grabbed the ring of keys that sat on her nightstand. The first one she touched was Virgo's.

"Open, gate of the maiden, Virgo," she whispered and prayed that it would work. The power dredged from her body was sickly and weak, tired and faded. The maiden's gate shimmered, a feeble spark in the predawn light. It sputtered and was about to go out, but then something surged and it brightened.

First Virgo's pale leg appeared, then the hem of her black maid's dress. Lucy expected her to come out of the portal gracefully, like she did every time, but Virgo stumbled and almost fell. Only clutching the already trashed dresser kept her on her feet. She stood upright, sort of composing herself, and Lucy looked at the spirit in amazement. Virgo met her gaze, shivering and grasping her elbows while her body danced with black thread, just like Loke's had.

"P—Princess—" The way she said it was segmented, awed. "Big brother said you were different, but… I—I didn't—" Virgo released her elbows and clasped her hands before her.

Looking at the spirit's kaleidoscoping skin, Lucy swallowed a hot coal of shame-laced pleasure. "Is everyone I'm contracted to like this, Virgo?"

The maiden shook her head. "No. I shared big brother's burden when he was first injured so he'd heal faster—I took some of the darkness. He… wouldn't let me the second time. He likes it." She blinked her large eyes. "So do I. Will you punish me now?"

Lucy considered her for a beat too long, wondering what punishment might entail. Tearing Virgo apart like she wanted to do to Loke and Natsu and Zeref and everyone else she wanted to belong to her? Her fingers tingled with want. Focus, otherwise there will be nothing left of anything you've ever cared about. You're trying to get to the celestial realm. She shook herself from her thoughts and said, "I need passage to the spirit world. Will you take me?"

"Why do you want to come to the celestial realm?" the spirit asked curiously. "Are you going to finish changing Loke?"

Zeref would be furious, wouldn't he? Lucy waited to feel deterred. There was only excitement. Why shouldn't she have Loke? Besides, he only warned her away from Natsu…

"So you know, Princess… Though he likes the change, big brother is… angry. With you."

"With me? Why?"

"He wouldn't tell me," she admitted.

Lucy's skin prickled with interest. When had Loke ever been mad at her? Never, not truly, not even when she had hurt him when she first gained Zeref's power. He had forgiven her always. What would it be like to see him so out of sorts? She hungered to find out.

"Take me."

"Yes, Princess." She faded from view for a moment. When she reappeared she carried with her the celestial garments that would allow Lucy to cross over dimensions unharmed. It was a short pleated skirt she handed her master along with a light blue tank top. Lucy accepted the clothing and undressed where she stood, guiltily relishing Virgo's eyes as they clung unashamedly to her body. The ever-present night in her blood writhed excitedly, pushing all kinds of dark thoughts into Lucy's mind, starting with tasting the maiden and ending with killing her. What would it take to extinguish a celestial spirit? They were immortal, but Lucy thought that if she really tried, she could make Zeref's magic do wonderful, terrible things.

"Are you alright, Princess?" Virgo was practically salivating. Her shoulders shook as she looked at her dramatically different master.

"Fine," Lucy choked out, tugging the shirt down around her belly button. "We have to go."

Virgo pouted. "Very well." She took Lucy's hand in hers and drew up a gateway into the spirit realm.

Natsu awoke with a toe digging into his side. He opened his eyes slowly, the sky tilting gently this way and that. His head was cob-webby and his mind pieced together the world in a half-crooked puzzle. None of the pieces fit together exactly right, but he got enough of them into place that he could draw a vague image of what had transpired. He remembered surging blackness, he remembered Loke, he remembered Zeref. He remembered Lucy.

Lucy.

Even her name was difficult to think. Did he really have sex with her? And not only that, did he really run out on her? And if he was going to go there, did she really attack Loke afterwards? What was the spirit doing in her apartment? And what was Zeref doing there in Magnolia's streets chasing Loke down? Why was he, Natsu, still alive? Where was Loke?

He had too many questions and not enough answers.

"Hey, get up."

Natsu blinked into the too-bright blue sky and realized that the city streets were bustling around him. He tried to focus on whoever was prodding him. His vision doubled for a breath and then refocused. The body leaning over him was silhouetted by the sun, but he didn't need to see Gray to recognize his scent.

"What the fuck happened to you?" the ice mage asked, a snicker in his voice. "Did you finally go and get yourself into a fight you couldn't win?"

Something like that, Natsu thought. He made his heavy limbs move so he could touch his jaw. The place was swollen, his lip tacky with blood. "Help me up."

Gray grabbed his hand and hauled him upright too fast. Natsu groaned and swayed and staggered and clutched his head, wondering if he was going to be sick.

Gray looked at his comrade and rival curiously. "Are you hungover?"

Natsu grunted.

"Holy fuck, you are. What happened to you?" The ice mage was trying not to laugh.

Natsu did his best to stop lurching like a teetering pillar and pushed him away. "I have to get back to Lucy's."

"Back to…? You were there last night?"

"Zeref was hunting Loke. I think Lucy's in trouble."

Gray sobered. "What?"

The dragon slayer started moving and the ice mage followed, hot on his heels. "What do you mean, he was hunted down by Zeref?"

"Did I stutter?" Natsu snapped, irate with a pounding headache, a rioting stomach and a throbbing face.

"Why the hell would Zeref be after Lucy?"

Natsu shook his head. "I wish I knew."

Ugh. I just read chapter 488 twice and cried both times. Just

Ugh.

Guess who has Instagram? 'Welcome to the modern world, you fucking hillbilly.' Check my FF profile for the details if you care to :)

Also, I so, so, so badly want to write at Natsu/Lisanna. So badly. It could be heady with angst. So much. So many people hate them together, though! Breaks my heart. I might just do it anyway. (yeah, remember back when I was re-writing Hunter and I was like, 'This is going to be my last hurrah'? Why can't I stay away, Fan Fiction? Why?)