"Does it still hurt?" Nathan asked, crouched in front of Natsu with a small bottle of alcohol in one hand and a roll of bandage in the other.
He dabbed the wound carefully.
Natsu flinched. "—Ah!"
"…A little," he admitted, trying — and failing — to keep his voice steady.
Nathan raised a brow. "That reaction says otherwise."
"It's actually not that bad," Natsu insisted quickly, straightening a little as if posture alone could restore dignity. "Just a scratch. You're the one who insisted on treating it… even though I'm the one in the wrong."
Nathan paused mid-wrap, then looked up at him.
"Yes," he said flatly. "You're absolutely in the wrong."
Natsu winced again — but this time, not from the alcohol.
"But," Nathan continued, tightening the bandage with awkward but practiced care, "that doesn't change the fact that I'm the one who hurt you."
He secured the knot, then added, a little quieter, "So let me do it. And also… to show you I don't have bad intentions."
Even if my methods are a bit… questionable.
Earlier, after Natsu had stubbornly refused to listen — no matter how many angles Nathan tried; logic, sarcasm, emotional appeal, even accidental therapy session — Nathan had finally pulled the trigger.
Literally.
The shot had been precise and controlled.
Enough to hurt.
But not enough to cripple.
Thankfully, Nathan's aim had been good enough to clip the side of Natsu's calf rather than anything vital. Luckily, no bone shattered, or any permanent damage results. Just a very loud, very painful message.
And after that—
Nathan had made it clear.
He could have killed him.
Easily.
But he didn't want to.
Because, believe it or not, he had a functioning moral compass — and a strong allergy to slavery.
He had said it outright.
He wouldn't enslave Natsu.
He even hated the idea.
Seriously, what kind of person looks at a traumatized fox-eared femboy and thinks, "Ah yes, property"?
Back to the present—
Nathan leaned back slightly, inspecting his handiwork.
Bandage: secure.
Bleeding: minimal.
Patient: still stubborn.
"Alright," Nathan said, pushing himself up to his feet. "Done."
He dusted his hands off. "So, how do you feel?"
Natsu blinked, then slowly stood up from the recumbent wooden block Nathan had summoned earlier as a makeshift seat.
He shifted his weight onto the injured leg, testing it.
"I… think I'm okay," he said, sounding mildly surprised.
"You worried too much." Natsu added as he rolled the leg of his pants back down.
Nathan nodded once. "Good."
Then, without warning, he tossed something at him.
"Take it."
Natsu caught it reflexively and look down at the stuff.
Then back up.
Then down again.
"…What is this?" he asked, confusion written across his entire face.
"It's food," Nathan replied curtly.
Then, after a beat—
"Let me warn you, though — it tastes absolutely awful. But it's edible. And I don't have anything better right now."
Natsu stared at him.
Then at the plastic-wrapped bar in his hand.
Then back at Nathan.
"…What is this?" he repeated, somehow even more confused.
"It's called Emergency Provision," Nathan said. "It'll keep us alive."
He grabbed his own pack, tore it open with a quick motion, and held it up like a reluctant cooking show host.
"You eat it like this—"
He took a bite — and immediately regretted every life decision that had led him to this moment.
His face twisted.
His soul left his body.
He forced himself to chew.
And swallow.
"…Holy hell…" Nathan wheezed, clutching his chest slightly. "...I hate this thing."
This is not food. This is punishment.
He glanced up.
Natsu was still… staring at his portion.
Unmoving.
Just… observing.
Nathan sighed.
"I didn't put poison in there, you know," he said, gesturing lazily. "If you're still not convinced, we can swap. Take mine."
He pointed at his half-eaten bar with all the enthusiasm of someone offering cursed artifacts.
Natsu shook his head quickly.
"I'm not worried about that," he said. "I just… I've never seen something like this before."
Yeah, same, Nathan thought.
Natsu brought the bar closer and sniffed it.
Hesitantly, he took a bite.
Nathan watched… and waited. Prepared to witness the same spiritual devastation he had just experienced.
Instead—
Natsu chewed calmly.
Swallowed.
Then continued eating.
Nathan's eyes widened slightly as Natsu finished the entire bar in just a few bites.
"…That's not as bad as you pitched it," Natsu said flatly. "I've eaten a lot worse in a daily basis."
Nathan blinked.
Then blinked again.
"…Just how bad was the food you've been eating, buddy?" he asked slowly.
Because this? Nathan thought, staring down at the ominous substance.
This was a crime against humanity.
And he just called it 'not that bad.'
Nathan.exe has stopped working…
After they finished eating — or, after Natsu finished and Nathan survived — Natsu reached for a small water skin hanging from his waist and took a long drink.
Nathan watched, then asked, "Is there a river nearby?"
Natsu nodded. "Yes. Not that far from here."
Nathan mentally noted that.
Good. Because I feel like I've been marinated in sweat and regret.
"I'll definitely check that later," he muttered under his breath.
Natsu, meanwhile, let out a long yawn.
A very long yawn.
Maybe as the tensions had calmed down and stomach finally has something to digest letting his body relax.
Nathan tilted his head slightly. "You look tired."
Natsu rubbed one eye. "I haven't slept for three days."
Nathan paused.
"…Three?"
Natsu nodded.
"Then get some rest," Nathan said immediately. "I don't want you zoning out when monsters show up."
Natsu blinked at him.
"You're… letting me stay?"
Nathan gave him a look.
"Well, yeah. Two people are better than one. Especially when zombies are trying to kill you from every angle." he shrugged lightly. "And I want company. I'll get lonely by myself."
Also, talking to myself is a slippery slope.
Natsu looked… genuinely surprised.
"…Thank you," he said quietly. "And I'm sorry… for refusing to listen earlier."
Nathan waved it off. "Don't worry about it. What matters now is I've got someone to cover my back."
He eyed Natsu up and down. "You're a good fighter, right?"
Natsu hesitated. "I don't know if I'm 'good…' but I'm quite skilled with a sword."
Then his expression subtly shifted.
Something heavier crept in.
"…If only not for this acursed collar," he added quietly, fingers brushing against his neck. "I could use some magic too."
Nathan frowned. "It prevents you from using magic?"
"Yes," Natsu said. "A slave can't use mana without their owner's permission. The collar blocks the flow."
He swallowed.
"And if I try to harm my owner… or remove the collar forcefully… it sends unbearable pain through my whole body."
"Man… that sucks," Nathan said, grimacing slightly. Then, after a beat, "Is there a way to remove it?"
Natsu hesitated.
"…Only the slave's owner can do it," he replied quietly.
Nathan hummed thoughtfully. "Hmm…"
Then how it is still intact when his owner was already dead?
He tilted his head, eyes narrowing slightly as he studied the collar again.
"…Can I take a closer look?" he asked. "Maybe I can do something."
He paused.
"Don't get your hopes up, though."
Natsu's ears twitched.
"…You're not trying to enslave me, right?" he asked, voice careful — like he was bracing for disappointment.
Nathan let out a long, tired sigh. "Dude… I don't even know how that thing works."
Natsu opened his mouth.
Closed it.
Then, after a moment, gave a small, reluctant nod.
Nathan stepped forward, closing the distance between them. He bent slightly, lowering himself until his eyes were level with Natsu's neck.
Up close, the collar looked even stranger.
Completely jet-black.
Not the normal kind of black either — this one felt… wrong.
It didn't reflect light.
If anything, it swallowed it. Like a piece of darkness carved into shape.
"…Yeah, that's definitely not made out of ordinary metal," Nathan muttered.
The structure itself was simple — two curved halves locked together around the neck. At the front, a small red gem pulsed faintly, like a heartbeat frozen in crystal.
Nathan reached out slowly, carefully.
His fingers brushed against the surface—
—and accidentally grazed Natsu's skin.
"Hya—!" Natsu yelped.
A sharp, high-pitched sound that absolutely did not match the situation.
Nathan froze.
…That was—
His brain stalled.
Why did that sound so—
His heartbeat spiked.
Nope. No. No. No.
Begone, improper thoughts.
He mentally smacked himself back into focus.
He's a 'he', no matter how 'she' he looked.
Stay on task — collar. Evil collar. Very evil. Definitely not thinking about shifting preference right now.
Nathan cleared his throat and straightened slightly, forcing his attention back to the problem.
"Alright…"
Let's try something dumb.
"…Store."
The word slipped out almost casually, and instantly—
The collar disappeared without resistance.
Nathan blinked, then leaned back a step, staring at the now-empty space where it had been.
"Huh…? That was easy."
Silence.
Natsu didn't move, and didn't speak either.
Slowly — almost mechanically — he raised a hand to his neck. His fingers touched skin.
Bare.
Nothing in the way.
No metal weight he'd grown familiar with.
His breath hitched.
Then he touched it again.
And again.
As if expecting it to come back.
It didn't.
His eyes widened, disbelief crashing into realization—
Then something else followed.
Something softer… brighter.
His vision blurred as tears gathered, slipping free before he could stop them.
Not from fear or grief.
Just… overwhelming, unfiltered relief.
"…I—" his voice trembled, barely holding together.
Nathan scratched the back of his head, suddenly feeling a bit out of his depth.
"You're free now… I think?" he said, offering a small, uncertain smile. "There's no hidden seal or anythi— "
He didn't get to finish his question.
Because Natsu suddenly lunged forward.
"—Whoa!"
Arms wrapped around him — tight, almost desperate.
Nathan stiffened in surprise, and then—
He felt it.
Something soft brushed against his lips.
His eyes snapped wide open.
Because—
Natsu had just kissed him.
<•>~<≈>~<★>~<≈>~<•>
Emergency Author's Note!
H-hold down your horses! I can explain!!
You saw the tags, right?! I promise it's not what it looks like!!
Please don't drop the story yet!!!