Jay Bird (aBoE)

Chapter 16: Caught in Two Worlds

Natsu sighed as he slumped against an old oak tree, ignoring how it's bark jutted out and pushed into his skin uncomfortably. He closed his eyes in content and relished amongst the cool night air, weariness from the busy events of the last few days catching up to him.

"You know," Natsu opened one eye to glance up at his brother who had spoke "for humans your friends are pretty strong."

Natsu huffed a laugh closing his eyes once more and leaning further into the oak "yeah they are."

The moss of the tree was slightly damp, adding a pleasant coolness against his skin and soothing the heat that often slithered beneath his flesh, it was nearly enough to lull him into sleep.

"All though they really seem to have it out for your brother."

Natsu felt his body tense at those words- thoughts of sleep being pushed to the back of his mind.

"Don't remind me."

"Seriously what has he been up to this last year?" Jehoel ran a hand through his hair as he came to rest on a fallen log.

"I'm willing to bet he's done nothing but hide," Natsu readjusted himself, bringing his chin to rest on his knees "Zeref isn't the type to start unnecessary conflict."

Jehoel scuffed.

"What?"

"Your view of your brother is so diluted by love, you really believe he can do no wrong."

...

"I'm not stupid Jehoel, I know what Zeref's done...how many lives have been lost because of him...and well I can't speak for the people he hurt all I know is that no matter what I will always love him."

"Even after what he did to you?"

Natsu opened his eyes fully this time to look at his brother.

"What do you mean?"

...

"I don't understand you Natsuya, how can you simply be okay with your brother turning you into a demon? He was motivated only by his own selfish desires and twisted you into a weapon. How can you be okay with that?"

"I'm not a weapon, I never was one."

He sighed again pushing his body away from the tree.

"I know that you can never understand but Zeref didn't make me into a monster...he just gave me a second chance at life, he never expected anything from other then being a normal child."

"You could never be a normal child and he knew that...so do you for that matter. If one of my sibling had turned me into something I'm not I would have never forgiven them."

"Well you and I aren't exactly alike...I feel like there's a lot of choices you would have made differently if you were in my shoes."

Jehoel hummed, saying nothing more he turned his back to his brother.

"I think we can both agree on that."

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"You," Erza pointed to Johoel "you're helping!"

Johoel just raised an eyebrow "why should I? This has nothing to do with me."

"If you insist on being here then make yourself useful," the scarlet mage pushed a bundle of wood into the shocked angels arms "no point in standing around looking stupid."

Natsu snickered at his brother who was staring at the new guild master dumbfounded.

"Why are you still standing there? Get to work!"