Keeping Secrets

In the Meantime

It's that time of week again!

Also, we got more fanart! Minuitdanslalune on tumblr drew two scenes, both from chapter seven! Zeref in his favorite tracksuit, and Natsu's rude awakening with the bucket of cold water!  Both pictures are at the bottom of the chapter (yes, I know I suck at formatting here!) Thanks again so much Minuitdanslalune! Be sure and follow her- https://www.tumblr.com/minuitdanslalune

Now onto the chapter!

KEEPING SECRETS CHP. 13- In the Meantime

Natsu received several unexpected guests that day.

He had initially regained consciousness around 2 AM that morning. By the time Invel had left, it was about 4:30. Which wasn't a big deal. Well, it wasn't until the door to Natsu's hospital room was flung open around 9:30, and Natsu was woken by a voice that sounded like nails on a chalkboard to his sensitive ears. Its owner screamed, "BOSS!" At the top of his lungs, before literally pouncing on the bed, jolting Natsu the rest of the way awake as his already strained body was assaulted by the weight of another person.

"Get off, you moron!" Natsu yelled, wincing as he pushed Jackal off the bed. He grit his teeth from the pain.

After unceremoniously being dumped on the floor, Jackal looked up at Natsu, eyes wide. He finally stuttered out, "S-s-sorry... I...I... I was just happy to hear you had woken up, so I wanted to see for myself..."

Natsu's own eyes widened, and his eyebrows raised as he listened to Jackal's sniveling but simultaneously genuine words. He also didn't miss how glossy Jackal's eyes looked. His face broke out in a wide grin, and he began to laugh. "Wait, were you actually WORRIED about me?" He asked in a very amused tone.

Jackal's ears drooped a bit, and he turned away. "Well...a little...yeah...SO WHAT?!" Jackal's tone grew from sheepish to irritated as he said this, turning back around to face Natsu. "Y'all picked at me SOOOOOOO much back at the bar over the whole bonding thing, and then I try and do it and this is the thanks I get?!"

Natsu laughed again before he said, "I'm just surprised! Seems you've changed more than I thought over this past week."

Jackal grinned as he stood up. "Well seeing as my other option was being burnt to death in a fireplace, yeah, can you blame me? But ya know what? It feels good! When I got to watch your battles and cheer you on...seeing you go at it with those guys- I don't know, it made me proud to be working for you! I never felt that way about Mard Geer... but then again, I didn't particularly care about the guy either. Plus, if you lost, and had to leave like that Larcade guy said... I don't know what I would do! You said you didn't want me goin back with you to Fairy Tail, and I don't know if Lor- His Majesty would have a job for me. Knowing my luck if he did, he'd stick me with Larcade... and I want nothin to do with that guy, 'specially after the shit he pulled during your fight with him!"

Natsu was astounded at Jackal's words. He remembered the day of his matches, thinking he could grow to care about Jackal, but he hadn't considered that Jackal had already begun to care about him. His harsh words regarding Fairy Tail the day Zeref had brought Jackal back out of his book even made Natsu feel a little guilty now. "I'm glad you got my back, Jackal." Natsu said, smiling.

That seemed to make the etherious happy, since he beamed back at Natsu. "You bet! I said I had a lot to make up for, didn't I? Well I'm just getting started! But..." His smile disappeared as he brought a hand to his chin, before it reappeared a moment later. "Oh yeah, that's right! Lord Invel asked me to bring these for ya!" Jackal disappeared out the door, turning and grabbing something, and came back seconds later with a pile of books. "I don't know what they are, but he said they were important."