"Anyone who isn't confused really doesn't understand the situation." - Edward R. Murrow

CHAPTER IV: Contradiction

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NATSU'S head, to put it simply, was a mess after Erza kicked him out.

He wanted to pretend that this was all just a horrible nightmare. Pretend that the last three days hadn't happened; that he was going to wake up soon and that he would go on some mission. But that was impossible, and it was stupid for him to even consider that this might be just a bad dream. He'd never run from anything, and after Igneel...

Well, he wasn't going to forget that lesson. There was no way he was going to let anybody else get hurt because of his naivety. There was no way he was going to accept Zeref's words just like that. They were just crazy! It was impossible for them to be brothers. Just thinking about it was completely insane; Zeref was evil. He was the stuff of nightmares. Children across Fiore were warned not to be bad because the Evil Sorcerer Zeref would take them away from their parents. Zeref loved nothing and he had no family. Certainly not a younger brother who was a member of a light guild of his greatest enemy.

So why had he jumped in front of him like that? Why had he shielded him with his own arms and his own body from that mage? He had thrown his arms out like he could shield him and he had taken a dagger that had not been meant for him. Natsu could have died if Zeref hadn't done that; or he could have found a way to avoid it. But he hadn't had time to think, and Zeref had saved his life.

It was hard for him to wrap his mind around it. He'd just done that, like he had to protect him or something, even though Natsu knew that he didn't need anyone's protection, let alone some mad sorcerer's. He didn't understand why he would do it. Why he had saved his life like that. Natsu knew evil and he knew redemption and there was no way Zeref should have been capable of being so selfless if he was as evil and as corrupt as everyone said. And it baffled Natsu, because he knew it wasn't just stories and myths that people uttered because they feared Zeref. Every great story had a grain of truth in it.

So.

That meant that Zeref had to have had a motivation behind saving his life.

Was he lying to him about being his brother? Except Natsu didn't give a damn about blood being thicker than water, and his actions made that obvious. He made his own family. He chose them. He was an orphan and it didn't bother him because a dragon had taken him in and had given him so much. He never placed much hope in family. Perhaps he had lied to him, thinking that he would lower his guard around him, so that he could capture Mavis or do something that would destroy everything he held dear?

But that would require premeditation. It would require watching Natsu for years, learning his weaknesses. If he wanted to infiltrate Fairy Tail, there would be a number of ways to make it easier rather than pretending that he was related to somebody. He should have appealed to their sense of goodness; should have pretended that he was a lost soul and wanted to turn over a new leaf or something.

Anything would have made more sense than this.

However, if he was telling the truth... Natsu didn't know what to think about that. If he hadn't lied, then that meant that they were brothers, that there was someone still alive that was related to him. It was ridiculous enough to almost be true. He certainly seemed to believe it.

But even if it was true, it didn't mean that Zeref was good. It didn't mean that he should trust him. If anything, it meant that he should be even more wary. He'd never had blood relatives; had never really thought about it much. But he knew that it was in his nature to get angry quickly and to forgive just as quickly. If he started getting attached to Zeref, because he started to believe that they were brothers...

He slid to the ground and curled his arm around his legs, staring at the wall without seeing it. There was that strange, bitter scent in the air again. It reminded him of cat urine and rotting flesh, as poignant and repulsive as death. A headache was beginning to form between his eyes, the last thing he needed to deal with on top of everything else.

Regardless of the tangled web of truths and deceptions that had been woven, his honor dictated that he return the favor. An eye for an eye, a life for a life—it was the same concept. Zeref had saved his life, so he would be in his debt until he repaid him.

There was a tapping on his shoulder, and when he looked up, Lucy was standing in front of him, the sunlight bouncing off her hair like a halo. There was concern in her gaze as she crouched down, her hand falling from his shoulder to his knee. "Are you okay?"

"Of course I am. Why...?"

"You're crying, Natsu."

He lifted his finger and, to his surprise, found his cheeks wet. He didn't even know why he was crying. The last time he cried, he had been stricken with grief. This raw feeling wasn't anything close to that gut-wrenching despair; all he felt was wrung-out and confused.

"What's wrong?"

"I don't know," he said, half laughing. He hid his face behind his hands. "I don't understand him. I don't... I don't get it, Lucy. Why would he save my life? Our lives?"

"I don't know either." She sounded just as lost as he felt. "I'm just as confused as you are."

That was a first. She always knew the answers. He pulled his hands off his face and stared at her back, as she stood and turned away from him, walking toward the window. Her fingers wrapped around the window, so tightly that her knuckles turned white.

"I don't have all the answers." There was bitterness in her tone, and Natsu wanted to tell her to tell him what was wrong, why she kept withdrawing from him, but the words caught in his throat and wouldn't come out. "There's a sink over there if you want to clean up. I'm going to get Gray."

"Okay." Her shoulders were stiff as she opened the door.

"Lucy?" he called before she could go. She stopped, but he couldn't remember what he was going to say. "Never mind."

"...Right."

She closed the door behind her with a soft click.

Coward.

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He finished rinsing his face off with the sink water that kept spluttering and was suspiciously yellow and grainy - how long ago was this used? – and wiped his face off just when he heard them, stomping around like an oncoming heard of rhinos.

"Natsu!" Erza called, coming out one door as somebody opened the other.

"I'm still here." He turned the taps off and brushed his wet hands against his pants to dry them.

A flash of blue streaked through the room, and then Happy was cuddling up to his chest. Slowly, he wrapped his arms back around Happy—though he wasn't sure why he was being hugged like this, like he had nearly died.

Then Happy was flying away, and Erza was running at him, a spear drawn as her hair whipped around her like Medusa's vipers—

He leapt onto a chair, his hands slipping underneath him in his haste to get away from that sharp, pointy edge. He slid off the chair as the spear flew right over his head and sank into the wall with a thud. A strand of his hair fell by his hand.

A beat of silence, then—

"Erza! Don't kill him!"

"You just want your bed warmer intact."

"What? No I don't—"

"Don't deny it. We all know about your dirty little secret."

"Do you want me to call Virgo?"

"Put your shirt back on, Gray. Lucy, don't threaten him with Virgo. I doubt Virgo appreciates it."

Natsu's heart rate decreased into a level that could be considered "normal" as he listened to Lucy and Gray bicker. He bit back a smile at the way Lucy's cheeks puffed out and turned red, the way they always got when she was mad. Usually, that look was directed at him so it was nice for Gray to be at that end of it.

Or, at least, up until a year ago, that look had been directed at him. She hadn't really talked to him much ever since Fairy Tail was re-banded.

Erza snapped her fingers in front of his face, startling him to meet her steady stare. "Pay attention to me when I'm talking to you. What happened? Zeref won't explain anything."

He turned his head and stared at his hand. It had curled into a fist, his knuckles turning white as he made his grip tighter. Figures. He didn't want anyone to know—no, he was trying to get under his skin. He was trying to make him trust him for whatever nefarious deed he was planning. They were not related to each other, let alone brothers. The only brother he had was Gray —not that he would admit it—and Erza was like the older, terrifying sister. Lucy and Happy were his family too. And he'd chosen them, like he had chosen Igneel to be his family. One couldn't just show up and say they were family and expect him to just... accept it.

"Natsu!" She barked. He shook his head, avoiding her eyes. He wouldn't tell her though—couldn't; it was silly. It didn't matter, and he wouldn't let it get to his head. Because he knew that small part of him wanted to know who his family were—his real family, flesh and blood... and the chance that Zeref might know, or be a part of it...

"Nothing. It's nothing."

Erza sighed and squatted down in front of him, her arms resting on her knees as she remained perfectly balanced on the balls of her feet. Slowly, ever so slowly, did he move his gaze away from his hands to meet her glare. "Did he try to do anything to you?" He stared at her for a moment, not understanding what she meant. Did he... what would Zeref do to him? Well, other than try to trick him into thinking they were family—

Wait. Surely she wasn't implying...

"No!" He blurted. "No. He didn't try anything."

"Are you sure? It's not something to be ashamed—"

"Of course he didn't try to—to jump me!" His voice hitched. "Why would you even think that?"

She glanced away. "It's something his followers were fond of."

Oh. The Tower of Heaven. That's right. She had been basically a slave for a cause that Zeref created. But that was something they never talked about—it was their unwritten pact; none of them talked about their pasts, or brought it up with anyone. But now it seemed like their pasts were all being dredged up in the worst of ways, lately.

"Natsu," Gray interrupted, unusually serious. "What did Zeref say?"

"I don't remember," he lied. Why are you LYING? "He talked about the past, a bit. He brought up Igneel." He trailed off, but he didn't have to explain more than that because Erza's hard stare softened and she moved back while Gray glared at a spot in the wall. Only Lucy and Happy were still staring at him in concern, but he knew that Lucy wouldn't speak up; Happy, on the other hand...

He rubbed his shoulder and stared at his still curled hand. Now he was lying, using Igneel as an excuse too and making himself remember how he died... What was wrong with him?

You can still tell them everything, you know.

No!

Why not? Do you believe Zeref?

Of course I don't!

Then why are you hiding this from them?

Because... because I don't want to worry them.

Even that sounded weak. He couldn't believe he was arguing with himself over this now.

"You won't be alone with him from now on. Actually, you should try to avoid him as much as possible—" Yes, he could do that— "We'll deal with the direct contact."

He nodded. "Okay."

Erza suddenly hugged him. He stiffened—why was she hugging him?—but then his arms rose and he slowly encircled her around her shoulders.

"It'll all work out in the end. You'll see." Her words were softly spoken, probably because he was the only one who was supposed to hear, and he nodded mutely against her shoulder. Then, horrifyingly, those stupid tears began to burn in his eyes again.

He began to pull back—she wouldn't appreciate him crying all over her—but her arms tightened around him and pulled his head down against her armored shoulder. For a moment, he just sat there, not exactly sure of what was happening—

Then another set of hands were wrapped around his waist, softer this time, but the muscle was sturdy and well defined. He tilted his head and inhaled Lucy's scent—something like the wild moors and nighttime and sweat and dirt; she'd gotten rid of that sickly sweet smell she used to put on when they were younger. Erza smelled of metal polish and strawberries and sweet things and Happy smelled of wet dog and fish. Gray stunk of cold and mountains and ice.

"Gray. Get over here."

"Do I have to?"

"Now."

Natsu almost laughed when he heard Lucy's threatening tone— it had been so long since he'd heard it spoken around him, and he wasn't disappointed; he bet it would one day take on Erza's, though that wouldn't be for a while yet. Gray grumbled but then he grasped his shoulder steadily—maybe a little tighter than necessary, but he wouldn't say anything because he knew Popsicle was just waiting for him to fight back and he wouldn't give him the satisfaction.

"Guys?" Lucy's voice was small suddenly, and he twisted around so that he was staring at the crown of her forehead. She leaned her forehead against his chest, so he wriggled one of his arms out so that he could hug her back too.

"Yeah?" Erza responded.

"Let's stay like this forever, okay? No more going separate ways or disbanding or yearlong training missions." He shifted guiltily at the last one, remembering how he had only left her with a letter. Not one of his finer moments.... Still, he found himself nodding in agreement.

"I'm not going anywhere."

"We're sticking together."

"You're kinda stuck with us now. I missed Fairy Tail too much when we went our different paths."

Happy suddenly popped up from the pile of bodies. "We're like that red string, aren't we? No matter how much we wander and stray from the path, we always end up back together at the end of the day."

Natsu smiled too then. It was a nice analogy, even if he didn't believe in fate or destiny. "Exactly like that."

There was a heartbeat of silence, then Lucy shrieked, "GRAY! WHY IS YOUR NAKED CHEST PRESSED AGAINST MY BACK?"

"What? Not again!"

"Your shirt is over there Gray."

Natsu's smile widened as he watched Gray scramble around like a headless chicken and heard Erza sharpen her sword with a zzzzzzshing sound while Lucy chased after Happy for saying something about her again.

He'd come to realize that eventually, everyone's paths separated for various reasons—but he'd take what he had for as long as he was allowed to keep it. Eventually, they might merge together again, if they were lucky.

He hoped they were the lucky ones.

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The door opened again with a creak and Master Makarov stepped into the room, his steps far heavier than they should be for such a small body. An enormous magical presence issued off him in waves. But Zeref still had felt more powerful.

"Zeref."

He looked at his feet. He didn't deserve to look at Makarov—not when he was the master of Fairy Tail; Mavis' guild. Not when he had killed Mavis, their first master. His stomach was flipping over on itself and he honestly felt a little sick because he was so nervous. What were they going to do with him? He knew they wouldn't kill him —it would be a mercy, but no, this was the lightest guild of the light, to kill was to murder, and he wouldn't ask them to sin for him; he didn't deserve it—which meant that they would have to do something else. Turn him into the council? At least those repressors were working for now, it seemed. His thoughts had a startling clarity to them that he hadn't been able to enjoy for centuries; he felt sane again. Not that he would take it for granted.

The bed dipped, and he cringed away when Makarov's wrinkly, thin skin brushed against his arm out of habit. The more one values life, the more it takes—and if there was one form of life he could never detach himself from, it was Fairy Tail. But his curse couldn't hurt them right now, couldn't kill them. It had been tamed.

"Your name is Zeref, correct?"

Zeref. That was his name. That was what history called him. He hated that name though; what it represented, the fear that came with it. But... it was the name Natsu called him by, when they had been children, before everything had changed. And that was the only redeemable quality it had, why he still went by his birth name. It was the only thing he had had left of Natsu... And, well, it looked like it would be all he had of Natsu.

What? You expected him to greet you with open arms when he found out that you, the darkest mage in history with bipolar personalities, was his brother?

He was almost surprised by how sarcastic his thoughts were. He had forgotten what that felt like, sarcasm. Now that I think of it, I used to use sarcasm abundantly before the curse...

"Zeref?" Makarov's tone had concern in it—but that couldn't be right! No! Nobody was supposed to be concerned for him. He didn't deserve that privilege; everyone hated him. He had slaughtered countless towns and created demons— he was... he was...

Something warm and wet hit clenched hand. Slowly, he stopped staring at the wall and dropped his gaze to his hand—his white skin stood out in stark contrast with his black toga—and... it was glimmering. A tear.

Am I... crying? Still?

"Yes." His voice was rough. He cleared his throat and wiped underneath his eyes. "That is my name."

Makarov didn't respond at first, and Zeref got the feeling that he was scrutinizing him, even though he didn't know what there was for him to see. Was he trying to assess how dangerous he was? How likely he was to kill him? He wouldn't, if he could—he knew that the curse was just waiting, lurking... it was playing with him, waiting for him to grow attached—more attached.

"Then you are the darkest mage who walked Earthland?"

He nodded mutely. Makarov tilted his head back, like he was looking at the sky. Zeref kept his stare fixed on the ground, on his feet—they were scratched and nicked and rubbed raw. Stupid curse always healed major injuries but it never touched the minor ones, the ones that wouldn't kill him but always, always drove him mad.

Well, madder.

What was Makarov waiting for anyway? Why wasn't he just getting on with it? He knew that they would turn him into the council; it was the first time that he had been in a guild's clutches. He didn't really know how they did it—how they managed to tame the curse, or hold it back, or whatever they did to it... but he was grateful. For the first time in a long time, he felt somewhat sane.

Sanity. What a strange word.

"Are you... are you going to turn me in?" He wanted to slap himself. Why would he ask that? And why did he feel so... nervous?

"No." Makarov's tone was sure. His neck snapped as he raised it to look at the old man. His heart thumped wildly underneath his chest. "Not yet, at least. I want to watch you myself for a while, and the council would hardly give you a fair trial."

He blinked. "You don't trust your government?"

"Would you?"

"No. But that doesn't matter. I don't... I don't deserve to live." He looked away and closed his eyes. "I don't want to live like this anymore." Makarov was watching him. He could feel his eyes burning into the back of his neck. He opened them and glared at him. "What?"

"You're not evil."

"Your observational skills are astounding."

Makarov ignored his sarcasm. "There may be a way to free you from your curse..."

Zeref glared at the door. "I've turned every stone and opened every book to find a curse for this, Makarov. There's nothing. I would have found it by now if there was."

"Even in the Celestial World?"

He began to nod automatically—and then he stopped. Actually... he hadn't looked in the Celestial Realm. But he'd tried to stay clear of Celestial Wizards in general—something about their charisma had made him leery of them; the way they had people wrapped around their little finger, doing what they told them to do, even if the mage was a despicable person. (Like he had room to talk.) The power to hold other sentiment creatures, as slaves practically... to not have anyone go against them... That scared him.

"No?"

Makarov smiled. "Lucy is a Celestial Mage. I'm sure she'll be happy to help you." His thoughts halted. Celestial Mage. In Mavis' guild. That... wasn't good. Makarov must have read his expression. "Lucy is not like other Celestial Mages. She's different."

He frowned. "With all due respect, how do you know that? Most Celestial mages start out kind, but something corrupts them."

"Power; it always is the root of all evils." Makarov sighed. "I can't tell you how I know. Believe me, I keep an eye on her all the time... but I don't think she'll harm anyone in Fairy Tail, or even you if you don't provoke her."

He glanced away. "Why are you doing this?" He whispered. He was so confused... because only Mavis had shown him this kindness, and he never expected anyone to show it again. He was Zeref after all.

"You can thank the First, not me. She's the one who told me not to turn you in."

The First? He frowned. What was he— Mavis. Mavis was the first master of her guild, of Fairy Tail. Was he talking about her?

"Mavis?" he breathed, pulling up and looking around, as if she would suddenly just appear in front of him. Nothing though. But now that he was paying attention, he could sense her presence, sort of. It was far fainter than it was at Tenroejima Island, but it was there and it was steady and familiar. Mavis. He clenched his jaw and squeezed his eyes shut when they burned—more tears. He was far too familiar with those when it came to her.

"Even though First trusts you, you will have a guard on you at all times. Just because you have our protection does not mean you have our trust."

"Of course not." He whispered. He opened his eyes. Makarov was walking toward the door. "And please... don't give it to me. I know I seem sane now, or relatively, but... just don't trust me. Ever."

The old man stopped. "You and Natsu... you're related."

It wasn't a question, but Zeref hesitated to confirm it... Natsu had seemed so angry... but Makarov already seemed to know. He probably suspected Natsu was END too. He got the feeling nothing got pass him.

"He's my brother."

"Are you going to hurt him?"

"No." He shook his head. "Never. He's my little brother. He's all I've got left."

Makarov exhaled. "I believe you. Don't disappoint me, Zeref."

He hesitated. The last time he had disappointed someone... well, he'd disappointed himself so many times... but another person to disappoint, it was strange. It had been so long ago. It felt strange to have someone say that to him; someone who had not been his Teacher.

"What have you done, you foolish pupil?!"

He doubted he had expected him to turn into a necromancer when Life Magic was the only thing he wanted to learn—the thing he had breathed for. But it had become so dark and twisted in his hands—the dark arts, that was what the sages in the Temples had called it, and he had tangled himself in with it. And when he'd done that, Life Magic had turned into Death Magic, and humankind forgot the foundational magic. He doubted anyone could harness it now, if it even existed.

"I won't, sir."

Makarov looked over his shoulder. "Call me Eighth or Jii-chan or Master. Sir makes me seem stiff."

He felt a laugh bubble up in the back of his throat, but he didn't know how to laugh. So he smiled instead. A little. "I'm technically three hundred years older than you."

"Good thing I'm not that old yet."

His smile widened. "Not yet, sir."

Makarov rolled his eyes. "You're as bad as the lot of them—First! Stop laughing! Why are you laughing?"

The door closed behind him. Zeref rested his chin on his knees, and looked down at the wood floors again.

"You left a good legacy, Mavis..."

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The thing Natsu didn't understand, was why Jii-chan had to summon them to the guild at five in the morning when Cana was still hangover and Lucy was half asleep and Erza was... drooling over some black cake? He shuddered at that a little.

Gray suddenly sat down across from him, slumping over and closing his eyes. Natsu was too tired to pick a fight with him— instead he just yawned and propped his head up in his hand. Lucy slid in the spot next to him with a cup of a dark liquid steaming in her hands.

"What is he doing?" she mumbled. Erza sat down next to Gray, still eating cake. "It's too early for this..."

Natsu yawned so widely his jaw popped. "I'm so tired, I don't think I can even eat..."

Wendy and Juvia sat down—Juvia on Gray's right and Wendy on his left. Wendy leaned against him as well, curling up and mumbling something about "warmth".

Am I being used as a heater? He wondered, feeling a little offended... but he was too tired to really move. Plus, Lucy was sitting next to him for once, so that made it okay. Her hair was tickling his neck and it smelled like... sunshine. Was that even possible? Light didn't have a smell, did it?

"How is she eating cake so early?" He asked, staring as Erza savagely attacked her cake. Gray shrugged.

"Dunno."

They waited in grumpy silence—at least, that was what it felt like to him—for the rest of Fairy Tail to stumble through the door from their respective homes. Alzack was the last one in, though Bisca and Asuka weren't with him. Lucky them.

"Why are we here?!" Gajeel demanded after everyone had sat. Makarov looked over at Mavis, who shook her head.

"Do you remember Natsu and the other's bring in Zeref?"

Natsu sank into the chair. Oh, he had a bad idea about where this was going...

"Yes?"

"Of course."

"Why?"

"Zeref will be staying here with us until we figure out what to do with him. I'd rather just let the council deal with him, but Mavis wants to know why he saved Natsu and Lucy."

"Oh, blame it on me. Like you wanted any different."

Makarov ignored her teasing and the eruption of protests from the guild. "I will not change my mind. However, we need guards... any volunteers?" Natsu shoved his arm up in the air and waved it around, setting it on fire for good measure. "Any volunteers other than Natsu."

He stared at Makarov, his hand falling as a feeling like acid burned him. Why would he say something like that? He was their best fighter, surely he should help guard Zeref if he got lose.

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"Gramps! Why didn't you let me guard Zeref too? You chose everyone who volunteered but me! You called me out in front of everyone."

Makarov looked tired as Natsu closed the door behind him and exploded immediately. He'd waited until now to make a fuss, but it almost surprised him how old the master seemed in that moment. So, he didn't continue with his rant.

Somehow, it didn't feel right to him.

Instead, he quietly walked up to the chair that he usually sat in and stood in front of it, crossing his arms. Makarov's gaze was as piercing as ever, but Natsu had never cowed away before and he wouldn't start now.

"Tell me, do you really believe you can remain objective about him?"

Natsu opened his mouth to respond, but then he realized that if he said yes, which had been what he had meant to say, he wouldn't be telling the truth. So, he stopped himself. He had promised himself that he would never lie.

If he was able to remain objective about Zeref, would he have been so angry about what he had told him yesterday? Would he have felt as frustrated with Makarov if it was any other prisoner they were holding? Not that Fairy Tail was in the habit of keeping prisoners, but he knew that he wouldn't have cared about anyone else as much as he did in this case. He wouldn't have batted an eye if Makarov told him that he couldn't guard somebody under different circumstances. He'd probably just go off on some different mission.

Actually, he'd probably be annoyed if Makarov picked him to guard somebody. It was boring, and there were at least twenty different things he could list off the top of his head that would be more interesting than guard duty.

So what was different?

Zeref had told him they were brothers. He didn't trust him. He was frustrated and confused and that wasn't something he was used to. He rarely was frustrated and he always knew what he was going to do.

With a sigh, he hung his head and admitted, "No." He sat down in the chair and curled one leg underneath another. He looked up and met Makarov's eyes again. The old man was still watching him. "He told you what he told me, Gramps?"

Makarov smiled at him slightly. "I don't know what Zeref told you. It's not a habit to eavesdrop on my kids unless they're being brats."

He smiled back at him, remembering how many times he had been caught lurking outside the door with Gray or Erza or both of them whenever Makarov didn't want him to overhear what he was saying. Of course, there were times when Makarov didn't catch them—but Natsu had always suspected that he knew that they were there, but never said a word for some reason.

"Right." His smile died and he stared at him again. "I'm not happy about this."

"I'm sure you are not, but I am not changing my stance on this."

He figured that, but it didn't hurt to ask to make sure. He stood and nodded at him in deference, before he left him behind.

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"You know, you're going directly against Master Makarov's orders." Happy said, startling Natsu so badly that he jumped—something that didn't happen often anymore. He spun around and saw where Happy floated in the threshold of the door into their bedroom. "You could get into big trouble."

He sighed and stared at the grain on the wardrobe. He didn't know it had been several different colors before. "Happy... I... Zeref could be manipulating them or something. It's not like Jii-chan just to forget that Zeref is the evilest mage that walked the planet. Something's up."

Happy stared at him. "It's not like you to forget that people are not who they seem." Natsu squeezed his eyes shut tight. "Look, Natsu. If this is about Acnolog—"

"Don't say it!" Just the name made him seethe. He couldn't forget it, ever. He was able to push it away, and pretend it wasn't there, but at night it crept into the corner of his mind. The need for revenge, to kill the murderer of his father—and then he had to destroy Zeref too, the creator. Or, at least, that was how he had felt until this new bombshell had been thrown at him. He gestured uselessly with his hand for a moment. "I... it's not about my dad, or anything. I just... I need to do this. Especially after..." he told me we were brothers. Lied. Lied. He had to keep it clear in his head; because Zeref had been trying to manipulate him, and he had foolishly let his words affect him.

No wonder Jellal got possessed by this guy... he's slicker than a snake.

"You're obsessing."

"I know." And he was, but that was just a part of his personality. Once he got fixated on something, he couldn't let it go. Happy sighed, but then he flew over and snuggled against his shoulder with a light purr. Natsu smiled a little and scratched him behind his ears, right where he liked it. Happy felt worried over; that was something that made him feel guilty. He had caused him so much worry lately, adding to it made him feel like he was a burden to him. "Thanks, buddy."

"I'll tell Lushee if you're not careful though."

"Okay." ...He'd make sure Happy didn't know how much he was watching Zeref then. And he wouldn't get hurt.

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Macao was snoring; that was good and bad. It meant that he wouldn't have to knock him out and have a guilty conscious over it later, but it also meant that he wasn't paying attention to Zeref. He could break out of the room without much trouble.

...By turning the doorknob, apparently; Natsu realized when the only thing he had to do to get into Zeref's room was to open the door. It wasn't even locked, let alone padlocked and bolted like he had half expected it would be.

The darkest mage that ever walked the earth didn't look very evil sleeping. He was eagle spread on his back, his stomach sticking out a little as he snored softly. Natsu snickered for a moment, but his levity didn't last.

He just didn't understand why. Why Zeref would tell him they were brothers; why Zeref had saved them...

Nothing made sense.

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*peers around the corner* Um. Whoops? Junior year is really busy and I'm not even done with the Spring Semester? Next update should be quicker. :)