Heat.

Burning.

Aching.

Evaporated tears.

These were only a few of the things Lucy Heartfilia was conscious of before she burned away, vanished under a spell of fire so hot that nothing human could ever withstand its might.

Natsu, exhausted, fell to his hands and knees and closed his eyes so he wouldn't have to see what he'd done. The bright flames were still imprinted behind his eyes. The ground beneath his palms was fire-warmed. The air was difficult to breathe, all of the oxygen momentarily used up. He gasped and huffed while the cave slowly refilled, smelling faintly burned hair and charred flesh. It was a far cry from Lucy's usually sweet smell. Lucy.

Gods.

Lucy.

He knew when Zeref materialized, felt the agitated pulse of his magic. "Are you going to kill me?" Gods, he hoped so, that way he wouldn't have to remember the way the power felt arcing through his body, the way he enjoyed it, the way… Hot tears pressed against the back of his eyes. Some snuck out and evaporated on his cheeks.

Zeref knelt before him and dared to touch his shoulders. The skin was so hot it burned the dark mage, but Zeref didn't back off. "No, Natsu."

No? "I—I took her away from you. Kill me." Please. Who would have thought he would have to beg Zeref to take his life?

"Look at me, brother." It was easier to say now that Natsu was just like him, now that he had accepted he was a monster and did what even Zeref had been too weak to do.

Brother. Natsu considered rebelling—they weren't brothers and Zeref shouldn't be touching him, but his mouth was too dry and really, it just felt right. Brother. Opening his damp eyes, he peered blearily at the dark mage, careful to avoid the spot Lucy had been. Zeref's night-black eyes were steady, on his mouth a half-crooked smile. Natsu worked to destroy that calmness and call the demon king's ire. "She's gone."

"Yes, the old Lucy Heartfilia is gone," Zeref affirmed.

"I—I did it so you can't ruin her any more."

Zeref looked not angry, but hurt. "You liked the girl she became."

Yes. Not that he'd ever admit to Zeref, though. You don't have to, he knows everything.

"Come, brother. Let us both mourn her passing." Like in the olden days, he dragged Natsu into a tight embrace. Natsu struggled weakly but Zeref only tightened his grip. The dragon slayer gave up a moment later, too tired, and pressed his cheek into Zeref's shoulder, closing his eyes again. A single sob wracked through his body.

"I didn't think you could do it," Zeref continued softly, "—I certainly couldn't."

To Natsu, Zeref smelled so familiar. Like home. The skin through his clothing was cool against Natsu's scalding hot cheek. "You used me."

"Yes, as the killing tool you were meant to be," Zeref said quietly. "Now I get everything I wanted. My brother back at my side, my promise to Layla remains untarnished, and Lucy…"

Natsu pinched his lids together. "I loved her."

Zeref squeezed his fists in his brother's shirt. "Yes," he replied simply.

Natsu breathed heavily through his nose. "Please kill me."

"No."

"Please—I can't live like this—remembering—"

"No. You and I will be together—"

"I don't want—"

"You're mine, Natsu. You will do what I want," Zeref said not unkindly.

Natsu tried to break out of the dark mage's arms. Zeref only held him tighter. "Don't you want to be here to see her arise once more?"

Natsu stilled. "No. She won't. I killed her—she didn't finish—" Please.

Zeref smiled slowly, pressing his cheek into the top of Natsu's head. "I've taken so much from you. I'm happy I can give this one thing back."

Natsu went limp in Zeref's arms. "What?" He didn't know if he was horrified or relieved.

Both.

"Yes." Zeref released him and stood. There came the sound of flipping pages; Natsu didn't think the book could have remained intact through his firestorm, but obviously he had been wrong. He didn't want to tip his head back and look at what Zeref was doing, but when the sharp tang of ancient blood filled the air he felt compelled to watch.

Zeref, holding his hand carefully, catching the running blood in the bowl of his palm, went to the figure crumpled on the floor just steps away. As soon as Natsu saw her he couldn't look away, not even to blink. He watched Zeref kneel at Lucy's side. Her body was shockingly nude from the intense fire but her skin was amazingly unburned. While she wasn't less than ash on the ground, she was certainly dead. Her eyes were blank, her lips loose, her skin an off white that was just unnatural.

Natsu's heart throbbed. Lucy's eyes should always be bright with glee, even if it was the malicious kind that came as of late with hate and lust. "What are you doing?" he demanded when Zeref rubbed his bloody finger against her lips.

"Creating a demon," Zeref replied.

His chest compressed anxiously. "Don't."

Zeref looked at his brother from over his shoulder. Natsu had a fevered look in his eye, as if he were truly terrified but also anticipative. "You don't want her to live?"

Don't you? He shook his head too violently. "Not like this." It sounded like a lie even to his ears.

Zeref saw through him and ignored his words. Slipping his finger into Lucy's mouth, he let his blood drop on her tongue. Magic passed through him and into her. It filled the air, dangerous and consuming.

Natsu blinked and breathed harder; it hurt, breathing through all that power. "Stop it," he choked. "You said yourself she was never supposed to be like this."

"Yes, I did, when she was a human girl; there's nothing left of that Lucy Heartfilia, brother, you killed her and made way for this new creature."

You killed her. His fingers dug into the smooth stone under his hands. "No."

It was a word uttered in denial.

Zeref let it go; he knew what it was like to want to pretend he wasn't a monster, but he was as he was and nothing would change that.

Natsu tried to stand; his legs wobbled so badly with the knowledge of what he'd done, they almost gave out on him. Despite the indignity, he decided to crawl instead. "Get away from her!" The stones dug into his knees and palms painfully.

The demon king glanced at him, a small smile on his lips. Having both Natsu and Lucy try to deny him was amusing. None of his other demons ever attempted, and while he wouldn't let them succeed, it was a nice change of pace. "No."

Natsu ground his teeth together in annoyance, but stopped and sat back because Lucy's slacked lips weren't quite so pale any more.

In fact...

Yes. They were moving ever so slightly as if she tried to swallow. Natsu waited with baited breath for her throat to work, praying that it would, hoping that it wouldn't. Her fingers twitched, soft flesh digging into the earth as her spirit tried to find purchase in the physical world.

Seeing her like that, on the brink of nonexistence, made Natsu realize he was only brave enough to let her go once. He crawled into position at her side, opposite to Zeref, unmindful of their nearness, and watched the girl he loved drink down the lifeblood of their most hated enemy. Now she closed her lips around Zeref's finger and swallowed greedily. Her pallid skin slowly regained some of its usual glow. Her mouth turned darker than cherries. Her chest started to rise, albeit shallowly. Natsu's breath snagged and he knew he was right in asking Zeref to take his life earlier; he never could have gone on without her.

"She needed to die to be reborn," Zeref said in a hushed voice. Natsu glanced over at him, his eyes were heavy-lidded and his lips were slightly parted, an intense expression on his face as Lucy rolled her tongue around his finger. A hot poker of jealousy snaked through the dragon slayer's body. "I can do it."

Zeref met his eyes.

"I can bring Lucy back. She can have my blood," Natsu clarified.

"You want our demon all for yourself," Zeref mused adeptly. "No."

No. Natsu didn't even get the chance to get mad. Lucy, coming more awake, bit Zeref hard enough to draw more blood from his body. The man gasped, then moaned. Natsu felt his body harden and lost his train of thought. He held his breath listening for Zeref's gasp again. He was rewarded a millisecond later when Lucy, as greedy as ever, nibbled on the dark mage's finger. Zeref tipped his head back, breathless, and grabbed Lucy by the hair. On contact, the blonde's eyes finally opened. They immediately found Natsu's. They were darker than ink and less human then they had ever been. Scalding heat seared through his skin.

Natsu was so entrapped by her eyes he didn't notice her reaching for him until her fingers, so cold, grabbed his wrist. He startled, taking in a shallow breath. The noise seemed to bring Zeref out of his pleasure-induced trance. Carefully, he took his finger out of Lucy's mouth. The blonde tried to grab his wrist and keep him there, but he tugged firmly out of her grasp.

"No—" Lucy started. "Please—"

"Hush." Zeref quieted her by finding the place between her legs.

Lucy arched and breathed unevenly, eyes meeting Natsu's. "N—Natsu—" His name was said quietly.

"Lucy." Natsu could hardly look at her and yet he couldn't bear to turn away.

Zeref's fingers slipped inside of her. She trailed off for a moment, lost to ecstasy, then regathered her thoughts enough to say, "You tried to kill me."

Her voice was husky and dark, belonging to her and not. Natsu swallowed, all too aware of Zeref's fingers moving between her legs, working a moan from her body. He wished it were him down there. "I did kill you, Lucy."

She squeezed his hand and said, "I guess we're even then." Zeref did something she was particularly happy with, distracting her. The demon king's name came out of her mouth lowly. Reverently. Her free hand moved up her body to cup her breast. Natsu watched, stapled in place while she rolled her nipple between her thumb and forefinger. An unintentional growl came from the dragon slayers' throat. Lucy glanced at him and smiled knowingly. "Are you jealous?"

There was no point in denying it. "Yes."

She panted again and arched her back. Natsu looked down her body. Zeref had leaned into her and had started flicking his tongue over her clit. Fire flitted across his skin, hot and sudden and telling.

Lucy's eyes were drawn to where he pressed hard against his pants. "You don't have to be. Join us."

You don't have to be. "I—Lucy—I don't know if I can."

"You can," she assured.

Natsu glanced at Zeref. The dark mage didn't seem perturbed at the idea. Maybe… "Lucy—"

"Take your pants off, Natsu—" Zeref did something else that made Natsu's name come out of Lucy's mouth in a frantic, sing-song voice.

Fuck. Natsu grabbed the front of his pants and undid his belt, feeling guilty all the while. Can I? The button popped open so easy. "You want us both?"

"I want everything," Lucy gasped.

Natsu got harder than ever. The zipper came down next.

Lucy, impatient, grabbed his pants and yanked them down with force, purring lewdly when he bounced out. She grabbed him immediately and leaned forward, wrapping her mouth around his body. His resistance evaporated. It was only seconds until her tongue dredged a hot breath from his lungs. Natsu allowed himself to touch her, grabbing her breast and pinching her pert nipple. She moaned. The dragon slayer didn't know if it was for him or for Zeref. Wasn't that part of the fun? His hand found her hair. It was knotty, not fine, sunshine-kissed silk but roughed gold. His fingers snagged in a matt. Clenching, he pulled her closer, using that as a leverage to thrust into her mouth. She moaned, sobbed, choked. Each sound travelled through him like an electric shock.

Movement drew Natsu's eyes towards Zeref. The dark mage was abandoning his clothes. The fabrics fell to the cave floor, revealing a pale, smooth and toned chest. Natsu kept looking, well past the point where he told himself to stop. Zeref worked on his pants, his hands shaking as he undid them. When he finally got himself free, he was rigid and throbbing. His hand moved over his own body slowly, teasingly. Even while he massaged himself he grabbed one of Lucy's legs, hooking beneath her knee and using it to lift her bottom off the ground. When she was level with his erection he slid into her, burying himself to the base.

Though Lucy's moans were muffled around his cock, Natsu still felt jealous. His body throbbed and he pumped faster, squeezing her breast and using her mouth. Zeref grasped her hips tightly and thrusted roughly inside of her, his movements both fast and coordinated. It wasn't long until Lucy was screaming as best she could. Her cheeks were pinked and her eyes were bright, her hair wild.

Looking at her being so used, Natsu thought he was going to come—but didn't want to just yet. He pulled out of her mouth and pushed her hands aside when she tried to keep him there, then leaned down and kissed her, tasting himself as well as Zeref's blood on her lips; it was an intoxicating flavour, one that clouded his mind, making him feel monstrous and glad to be that way.

Desire shooting through him, Natsu broke the kiss and put himself back at her lips again. Lucy opened, taking him in deep once more. The dragon slayer gasped. Heart pounding, his hand roamed down over her body, his fingers taking him to between her legs. Her clit was so swollen and sensitive that as soon as he touched her she bowed, caught between the two men she wanted most.

Zeref moved faster still. Natsu stopped bucking his hips so he could focus and match Zeref's speed. Lucy took over, sucking excitedly.

Seeing Natsu enjoy Lucy so, Zeref's body hardened almost unbearably. He seized one of Lucy's breasts. Through his hold he felt her body shake and knew. He buried himself in deep and felt her body contract on his. Her voice lifted into a muffled scream, she writhed. Watching her with his brother deep in her mouth almost made him come. He held off, just barely, and only because he pulled out of her.

Lucy took her mouth away from Natsu and panted, trying mostly in vain to catch her breath. "Gods."

Zeref made himself stand and came to Lucy's front. "Get up."

Lucy blinked at him, looking almost satiated. Neither of her partners were, though. When she didn't move fast enough, Zeref grabbed her arm and wrenched her to her feet. She gasped at the abruptness of the movement but wasn't afraid. Her face tipped up like she expected Zeref to kiss her. He didn't. Still feeling rough, he forced her around so her back was against his chest. One arm wrapped up between her breasts, his hand closing on her throat, the other going for her leg. Lifting it, he spread her wide. "Taste her."

Natsu was already leaning into her, though, brushing his tongue over her body. Lucy shivered.

"Wait—" She was too sensitive. Natsu lapped faster. "Natsu—"

Zeref tightened his grip on her neck hard enough to cut into her windpipe. Natsu glanced up Lucy's body. Even restrained she didn't look panicked. She looked positively thrilled. Natsu didn't think the dark mage would kill her, though he wasn't foolish enough to believe it would never be that way. His tongue danced, alternating between fast flicks and slow licks. Lucy started to shake. Zeref eased his grip so she could moan rather than choke. The sound encouraged Natsu to use his fingers, too, filling her up with three. He barely had to try to make her come. Her body convulsed, her moan sounding more like a mournful cry as the orgasm took her.

Natsu slowed, then stopped. "Fuck." He was so hard he didn't even know what to do with himself. Feeling like an animal, he stood and came to Lucy, pressing in so his body was flush with hers, crushing Zeref's arm between them. Coming in for the blonde's mouth, he kissed her hard enough that he was sure he hurt her lips. He didn't care. His erection brushed over her slit. She was so wet and warm; it was easy to slip inside. Lucy's arm wrapped around his shoulder, then she was lifting her other leg, depending upon Zeref to hold her steady. Natsu grabbed her free leg, then the other, taking her weight. Zeref didn't back off like he thought he would; he stepped closer and probed at her second entrance.

Lucy's heart quivered when she realized what Zeref was doing. She didn't stop him, though she was apprehensive. Getting in wasn't easy or without pain, but he went slow until he was deep inside, then he started moving his hips, gaining speed with every thrust. The pain dulled. Natsu matched his rhythm and the pain totally faded; it only felt amazing, being filled up by both of her men. Leaning her head back she found Zeref's mouth and kissed him. Maybe she would have stayed there, but Natsu bit the topmost swell of her breast, reminding her to pay him attention as well. She kissed him next, all the while thinking, this is where I belong.

One onyx and eleven golden keys lay against the damp stone. Lucy touched them with cool fingers, feeling the dimpled and gilded metal, wanting, even for an instant, to hang on to something that was no longer hers. Her contracts were severed, truly abolished when she died. Her rebirth didn't matter—the rules of the magic were absolute.

She fingered Loke's key in particular and wondered after the lion. Soon, maybe even while her body still ached, she'd call him and make him truly hers.

"The best part of being a demon," Zeref whispered against her ear, "Is that you can take whatever you want." As if he read her mind. They were so tightly twisted together now that perhaps he did.

Lucy turned her head enough that she could glance at him from between her lashes. Leaning back against the stone wall, arm wrapped around her waist, mouth inches from her shoulder, he looked pleased with himself, contented and satisfied, as if there was a hole in his heart that had been, if not mended, at least patched. She tipped her head slightly to the left to afford him better access to her neck. "You don't think we take too much?"

Thinking on his answer, Zeref brushed her hair aside, then laid a light kiss against her throat. Lucy shivered and squeezed her fingers into Natsu's ribs. Between her legs, resting his head against her chest, the dragon slayer leaned his head back, wanting to hear Zeref's reply. Lucy stole a kiss, unable to help herself. He still tasted like Natsu, but a little more like smoke and ash and less like sunlight. He tasted better. She wrapped a hand around his throat and deepened the kiss, sliding her tongue over his and taking what she had wanted for so many years.

"I don't think we take enough," Zeref said finally. His hands played through her hair as she kissed his brother. "You make a beautiful demon, Lucy." One of his best creations. Second only to END.

Lucy finally leaned away from Natsu to ask, "Do you miss the things you lost? Do you miss being human?"

Zeref considered his answer. "Yes and no. For a long time, I wanted to atone for my sins; I thought the only way to do that was to die."

Lucy tried to imagine a world without Zeref; it wasn't a world she wanted to live in.

"Natsu was to be my killer," Zeref continued. He looked to his brother laying against the woman he loved, finally happy. Natsu met his eyes and blinked lazily.

"Now I realize," Zeref said, brushing Natsu's hair back as well, "That I shouldn't feel guilty for what I am and what I want. If I have the power to take it…" He kissed Lucy, leaving his thought unfinished. This solution wasn't perfect, but he had given Natsu what he wanted, satisfied his own greedy tendencies by taking back his brother, and saved a dying girl that he had somehow fallen in love with, all in one swing. He refused to think on how being a true demon had changed Lucy; she was more beautiful for it, darker and less bound by guilt. Her guiltlessness was helping him bury his own. The three of them were better together. "I shouldn't be guilty for taking happiness." The more he said it, the truer it felt.

Natsu couldn't deny the contentedness he felt. He reached up and cupped Lucy's cheek, wondering if this feeling in his chest was happiness.

Lucy found his gaze. "Are you frightened of being END?"

Natsu pulled her closer so her lips hovered above his, then breathed her in, sweet and dark and rich. "I'm not afraid of it, not anymore." He didn't think about the old Natsu Dragneel or the guild he left behind, not when Lucy was beside him. "I've never felt stronger in my life," he told her truthfully.

Zeref's face broke into a wicked smile, an idea coming to him. "Maybe we should go visit an old friend and see how strong you've both become."

Lucy looked at him curiously. "An old friend?"

"It's been a long while since I've met with Acnolognia."

Natsu's eyes brightened, his laziness evaporating. "You want to destroy the black dragon?" It felt possible, especially with Lucy and Zeref at his side.

Lucy quickly caught onto his bloodlust. "Yes."

Natsu stood and pulled her to her feet. Zeref rose behind her. Lucy reached down and grasped her keys, unable to leave them behind. Perhaps she'd try to work out new contracts, if they'd accept her. Or maybe she'd just force them, as she did with Loke.

She pulled shadows against her body and used them to cover her nakedness. When Zeref slipped into the dark, she and Natsu followed.

The world was theirs to take.

A/N: Thanks for reading everyone! I'm much more satisfied with this version, though I'm still wordy as fuck and I think some parts were still confusing. Eh, whatever, right?

It's been a riot. Check out some of my other work, and my IRL book, if you're interested. It's called The Abolition of Caden Hail by Kaitlin Corvus. You can find it on Amazon :)

Cool. Peace!