Keeping Secrets

One Of Us

Guess who's back! And for the most cracked out chapter yet!

Seriously though there's a lot of silliness in this chapter, just wanted to have the characters have some fun... because this is the last silly chapter for a while. Not that there won't be moments of silliness but overall, its about to get more serious and darker (vague description intentional XD).

Also, in this chapter I implemented (or at least attempted to) some ideas given to me by some frequent readers- CoolCarnage, CairnCircles, and HaruHaru_19. Thanks guys! Hope you (and everyone else) like what I included :D

Anyways hope y'all enjoy the chapter!

KEEPING SECRETS CHAPTER 17: ONE OF US

Natsu, Zeref, and Invel's fishing day came to a close when Zeref refused to store anymore frozen fish in his requip space. This was despite Natsu's fierce protests, since it would leave Invel the winner of their little competition, albeit by a smaller margin than the ice mage cared to admit.

Zeref teleported them back to the palace, giving Natsu the incentive of the palace chefs cooking a nice meal for them from the day's catches for his brother to finally admit defeat. After a shower and change of clothes, Natsu joined Zeref and his regular dinner entourage, as he had begun to call them- Invel, August, Yajeel, and Jackal (who insisted since Zeref's chief guard gets to eat with them, he should too!)- in Zeref's private dining room, with the scent of grilled catfish and walleye filling the air.

"So, who won, Mr. 'I can out fish anyone in the Twelve?' Jackal mockingly asked Invel.

The Winter General didn't even look up from his food. "I did, obviously. My title remains undisputed... though Natsu was much more skilled than anyone I've fished with outside my own family."

Natsu looked up from his plate. "I bet I would have won, if you had let me have that fish both of us had hooked." He grumbled.

"Now, now, Your Highness, I already complimented your skills. Please don't be a sore loser." Natsu's scowl deepened as he saw a small smirk on Invel's face.

"It sounds like everyone had a good time," Yajeel said, smiling. "I was never much of a fishman myself, being from the desert... but I'm grateful for your skills, Natsu, Invel. These fresh fish are delicious."

"There's something special about grilling the fish yourself over a campfire... but I gotta admit, these are really good too!" Natsu exclaimed. "Those guys in the kitchen sure know what they're doing."

"Indeed... I personally prefer the kitchen prepared food to doing it myself, though I admit this has to do with my own personal circumstances before I met His Majesty... I spent a lot of time alone attempting to catch fish and cook them myself as a small boy." August said, the second part of his statement clearly laden with sadness.

"I can understand " Natsu said, looking over at August. "Why don't you come with us next time, August? Maybe together we can make some better memories for you!" He beamed at the old man, who smiled as well.

"I'd like that very much. Thank you, Natsu."

"Well I wanna go too, so I can see His Majesty wear a tracksuit and Lord Invel wear fishing clothes." Jackal said, laughing.

"You don't need to go with us to see that! Here," Natsu slid his new communication lacrima over to Jackal. The etherious picked it up and began snickering upon looking at it.

Zeref frowned. "What did you mean by that, Natsu?" He said in a very unamused tone. He furrowed his brow when he felt his own lacrima vibrate, and upon taking it out of his robes, his eyes widened when he saw a picture of himself, Natsu, and Invel at the waterfall from earlier in the day. "How did you get this picture on there?!" His frown deepened when Natsu just laughed at his distress. "This isn't funny!"