Deepest Desire [NaLu AU]

Chapter IV

My brother was walking slowly, radiating an immense amount of scorching heat. He was unfazed by the cries of fear escaping Lucy and the others around him. Those who weren't crying, were his crewmates, but it didn't necessarily mean they weren't terrified of him. I spied the fearful looks plastered on each and every face of his crew. I was still stunned at the fact that my brother, whom I believed was long deceased, was still alive and of all things he could have become, he chose to be a pirate. The fiercest pirate who ever lived. My brother. The Salamander. I now saw the reasoning behind the nickname, but why a lizard? Did he resemble a lizard in any way? I will have to ask him. I'm just overjoyed to discover that he's alive, even if he had taken the opposite side.

I continued watching the battle. Perspiration dripped down the side of face from the heat, which only grew stronger. My brother had stopped directly in front of Lucy, who was trying to conquer the fear running through her in waves. I couldn't comprehend the amount of terror coursing through her, and I felt a stab of agonizing pity for the poor girl. He brought up his sword, and Lucy started in her retreat. She stumbled backwards as Natsu calmly put one foot in front of the other in a steady rhythm. I saw her back against the mast, and her eyes grew to be as wide as saucers. Natsu didn't blink, he just kept on going. Face hard, in an intense and unwavering gaze that looked like it could kill. Lucy was drenched in sweat. Grime and ashes were smeared on her face and uniform, which had turned from its royal color, to ash stained blue. Her face was pale, too much so to be healthy, and with the added debris, it turned a sickly gray. She didn't look to be holding up against whatever he was doing. He leaned down to say something that I didn't catch, before a wall of fire sprang up around them in a protective curtain.

As the curtain dropped, it revealed my brother, his sword back in its sheath, causing the red warmth to dim into a steady glow before disappearing entirely. I looked once more to see someone in his arms: Lucy.

She was unconscious, lying limp, and draped over his arms, which held her securely. His gaze remained consistent as he addressed the entirety of the two ships at war. "You will stop your fighting, and let us be on our way," he called.

"Why would we answer to a pitiful rat like you?" I heard Loke sneer.

Natsu looked directly at him, but it wasn't with the same loving eyes I was familiar with. These were crimson, and full of hate. Eyes that anyone would shrink before in petrified horror. What could've possibly happened to him when he was alone, without his family? Loke stared into the depths of the crimson, before his eyes widened, and he stumbled. "Because if you don't listen, you won't be able to save your precious Captain, now would you? I have her here, and I could easily harm her, and you wouldn't want that, now would you?"

Loke was still in a stunned and fearful state, but he looked mildly conflicted. He didn't want any harm to come to his Captain, his friend, the person he fell in love with. He looked again into the crimson depths. He looked crestfallen, confused, and angry. He finally muttered an answer, lined with bitterness: "Fine," he said.

At that simple statement, the crew of Fairy Tail started in their preparations.

"Weight anchor and hoist the mizzen!" I heard Natsu call. I felt a stone of dread drop inside of me. Is he going to forget about me? Does he not love me? Has the life of a pirate changed him so much that he doesn't care for his sister? I thought in horror. A tear slipped down my face. I didn't want him to leave me alone. More tears continuously fell until I sank to my knees, sobbing. The crew looked at me in confusion. They didn't understand the reason I was crying. They thought that losing our Captain was the cause for my dismay, though not my full on sobbing. That's when I heard shouts to me. Things like, 'Look out!' and 'Run, Wendy! He's right behind you!' I looked up in confusion. The Fairy Tail was almost gone, why were they shouting?

A shadow fell across me. As I glanced around, my spirits lifted. Wiping away the tears that had accumulated to a flood, I stood up to face the shadow that had fallen. I turned to see him. His eyes were back to the way I had always remembered them, soft, onyx gems, dancing with light and curiosity. He loomed over me, but I wasn't afraid. I heard shouts of protest erupting from the remaining crew members, but no one dared to step nearer. I looked deep into the depths of my brother's eyes. I read the message imbedded inside: Shall we go, then?

I smiled at him and wrapped my arms tightly around him. He, in turn, embraced me as well. We stood for a moment, not caring about the jaw dropped and wildly confused crew behind us. I felt Natsu loosen his grip in the slightest. He took hold of a free rope and gripped me securely in one arm. I felt the wind swish, and closed my eyes as a feeling of weightlessness washed over me. I felt exhilarated. This was a new chapter in my life, one that included my brother, and all of his friends.

I felt a solid floor beneath me once more as we landed. I instantly felt crowded. Those who weren't working surrounded me in questioning stares. Even though they couldn't quite see me, for my brother had encased me in his arms, like a protective shield, I felt their stares burning into me. I felt mildly uncomfortable.

Before anything else could happen, my brother scooped me up and carried me away from their intense, questioning stares. He seemed to bring me into a room in the back of the ship that seemed to be quiet and quaint. It was quite messy, though I couldn't expect much else from my brother. He set me down in what felt like a bed, a hammock, I guessed. I felt him climb in with me, and we lay side by side. We didn't speak, only sat in each other's comfort.

"You must be tired, Wendy," I finally heard him say. Now that he mentioned it, a wave of exhaustion swept over me. I was suddenly aware of the waves, rocking against the boat, the rhythm of the hammock as it swayed, and the reassuring comfort of my brother's breaths and heartbeat.

"I'm glad that I found you again," I said in a small voice, my eyelids growing heavy.

My brother heaved a relaxed sigh as he uttered two words: "Me too."

We sat in silence,listening to the rhythm of the world surrounding us, in a peaceful contentment as we drifted into sleep's welcoming arms. Two people. A brother and a sister.In peace and sanctuary, just how it should be.