Keeping Secrets

Careful What You Wish For

Oh boy, here we are, the big reveal. I hope everyone's enjoyed getting to this point. I definitely enjoyed writing it, even though it was a challenge...

When reading angst filled scenes like these, in my experience, it either comes off as very satisfying or very cringy.

I hope it's the former haha.

Anyway, hope you enjoy the chapter.

Chapter title taken from the song of the same name by Bad Omens.

Not sure if the art is someone's work or a screenshot from the anime :/

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KEEPING SECRETS CHAPTER 34: CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR

Natsu must have noticed her gasp upon seeing his Alvarez tattoo, because his face fell when he saw her expression.

This can't be happening. Natsu would never...

A thought came to her. She had JUST been through this with Gray and Avatar. Gray had been on their side the entire time, playing the enemy from within.

Of course! That has to be it! They must have offered him some deal to let him out of custody, but I bet he's working on taking them down from within! I just need to play along.

She hardened her features, looking at Natsu intently. "It's alright, I understand."

Natsu's eyebrows shot up. "Wait... you do?"

She nodded firmly. "You did what you had to do. I get it."

Natsu looked absolutely relieved at her words. A little too relieved, actually...

"Uhhh..." Jackal butted in, apparently recovered enough from Natsu's thrashing to speak again. "I don't really know what's going on... but I knew everything would work out alright!" A grin stretched across his face.

Natsu's relieved expression twisted back into a furious scowl, which he turned and directed at Jackal, causing the etherious to uncharacteristically wince and shrink back.

Behind Lucy, August observed the exchange with a critical eye. After a moment, he let out a low chuckle and smirked. "Ah. I think I see what's going on here."

Both Lucy and Natsu turned to the wizard king. "What do you mean?" Natsu asked, tone uncertain.

August's smirk deepened. "I believe Miss Heartfilia believes you are a double agent- like your friend Gray was when he infiltrated that dark guild last year." Amusement flickered in his eyes.

Natsu stiffened. Lucy's breath caught. He figured it out already?! She looked at Natsu, seeing the nervousness creep into his features. No, I blew his cover!

"What?! NO! I can't- I don't- believe this!" Zeref's cry of shock came. He staggered forward, hand clutching his chest in apparent devastation. "Natsu... after everything, you'd really betray me?!"

"Wait, what?" Jackal blurted, equally shocked. "No way! You couldn't be-"

Natsu's gaze snapped to Zeref, his face painted with raw distress. "Wait, Zeref, you really think-"

Lucy could hear her pulse pounding in her ears. Zeref's distress was about as convincing as Erza trying to act in a stage play- horribly over dramatic and painfully put on. Her eyes darted to the others around them. August and Invel looked entirely unamused, while Rusty appeared to be barely holding back his laughter.

Lucy realized what Zeref's little performance truly was.

Mockery.

But the worst part was that Natsu's distress was very real.