These Blood-Soaked Pages (Fairy Tail) [Book 1 of Reaper's Scythe]

IV - Theft

Birds flutter off their natural perches as the sound of footsteps resonates through the trees. Zeref is trying to carry Natsu through the woods, but the latter is too heavy.

After no small amount of effort, Zeref manages to drag Natsu into a cave with a few packs and a burnt-out campfire. It's where Zeref stayed the night he lost the Book of E.N.D.

Despite the moss hanging off the cave walls, the small niche where Zeref set up camp was perfectly dry. He sets Natsu down on a bedroll, forgoing any comfort for himself. Then he wets a towel with water from a canteen and uses it to clean the blood off of Natsu's face. I still can't believe I'm this close to Natsu when he's not fighting me!

Some time passes, clear from the new angle of the sun streaming into the cave. Natsu begins to stir. "Where am I?" He asks as his eyes flutter open.

Zeref leans over him. "Good, you're awake. That man hit you with devil-slaying magic activated. I was really worried about you."

Natsu scurries back up against the cave wall. "Zeref!?"

The dark wizard raises his hands in a gesture of neutrality. "I mean you no harm, Natsu. It's just... I overreacted when I saw you hurt."

"Why do you want to protect me?" Shouldn't Natsu be scared? After all, he was just abducted by the dark wizard Zeref. That should at least concern him, and yet... Zeref doesn't feel quite as threatening as he did before. The feeling is almost nostalgic.

Zeref looks away, scratching his head and sitting back as he fumbles for an excuse. "Um... because you helped me out before."

"Okay..." The tone Natsu uses shows he is not convinced, but he decides not to press the matter- for some reason he feels comfortable around the dark wizard, similar to how he feels around Happy, Wendy, and Gray. (Erza scares him and Lucy... well, he doesn't quite know what he feels about her.) "Well, since you've been nice enough to me this time, I won't tell anyone from Fairy Tail where you are when I get back to the guild." Natsu tries to stand up, but he starts to feel dizzy and nauseous.

The dark wizard helps him sit back down on the bedroll. "Easy. I think you got a concussion. Just lie down for now, OK?"

Natsu nods. "How did just one punch from Gray hurt so much?" He asks drowsily, but falls asleep before Zeref can reply.

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Zeref heads out for Magnolia a few hours after sunset. He doesn't have to wait too long, since it took a long time to drag Natsu to the cave and a while for him to wake up.

I can only use my immobilization spell on a few people at a time, so stealing the Book of E.N.D. at night is the best idea not only for going unseen, but in case I'm found. I doubt many people will be there by the time I arrive.

A single lamp is lit in the Fairy Tail guildhall when Zeref arrives. Of course, the windows are all locked, but since someone is still there the doors are a viable option. Zeref is just extra careful to make sure the hinges don't squeak.

Zeref squeezes through the small opening in the doors and tiptoes over to a door in the back of the guild hall, where the light is coming from. He figures the Book of E.N.D. will be in there.

The dark wizard peers through the keyhole to see a very disturbing sight. Fairy Tail's Master Makarov has the Book on his desk, but currently he is looking at photos from Sorcerer Weekly magazines. He has a nosebleed and keeps making smooching noises. Outside, Zeref silently gags in disgust.

Zeref casts an immobilization spell on Makarov before the perverted old man can notice his presence. Strangely enough, the Book of E.N.D. isn't protected by any magic so Zeref just walks up and takes it. For good measure he grabs a marker from the desk and uses it to draw mustaches and beards on the model's pictures in the magazine Makarov is reading. Snickering, he closes the door.

The dark wizard sprints back to the cave where Natsu is. He doesn't release the immobilization spell until he's out of range to increase his chances of escape. It does drain quite a bit of magic power, though.

With the Book of E.N.D. clutched in his left hand, Zeref brushes aside the moss hanging over the cave entrance. He finds Natsu wide awake. The campfire is burning brightly and the dragonslayer is rummaging through Zeref's packs.

"What are you doing?"

Natsu looks up with a scowl. "I was hungry!"

Sighing, Zeref sits down. "I've got some canned soup, if you want to put it near the fire to warm it up. You shouldn't be using magic when you have a concussion, though. Please let me keep the fire going, OK?"

From the pack Natsu takes out two cans of vegetable soup. He frowns at them. "Do you have any with meat?"

Zeref shakes his head. "No, I don't eat meat. But these have pasta in them so it'll be plenty filling." Natsu starts to drool, he'd rather have meat but good food is still good food.

The dark wizard pokes the fire with a stick. When Natsu asks there are any marshmallows, Zeref gives him a strange look.

After they eat, Natsu falls asleep. The dragonslayer snores loudly, which would annoy most people, but it's been such a long time since Zeref was close to Natsu for this long that he think it's kind of cute.

"Good night, Natsu."