As usual, it had all been Lucy's idea. Levy swore it on her favorite book. And oath to die for.

It was all Lucy's fault that she was in a gas station wearing a corset and buying nausea medicine for somebody she had never met. It was the twenty first century, and corsets were long out of fashion. Though, the dress cute, in a vintage, kind of way. And Levy was a big fan of vintage.

But the tail and wings were overkill. Levy hadn't worn fairy wings since she was seven.

It was Lucy's fault that people were staring and whispering at the twosome in intense costume, which Lucy insisted was called garb, while the blond bought ibuprofen. Lucy had grumbled and groaned when her boyfriend had asked her, but it hadn't stopped her from pulling over at the first gas station they passed. Admittedly, it was the last one too.

"Levy, do you have any cash?" Even Lucy's bag was old fashioned, fourteenth century style, same as the rest of her outfit. She looked like a princess, with her blond curls, classy makeup, and good posture.

"Of course I do," Levy said, flicking one of her own curls over her shoulder. Levy was no princess, but she made a passable fairy. "But this place takes cards too."

"Fair enough," Lucy agreed. Levy went back to browsing the shelf of nail polish.

Lucy rummaged through her purse, slapping a credit card down on the counter next to the register. Her outfit, a low cut, pink, renaissance style, ball gown, was a stark contrast to the modern and all around cheap air of the gas station. She ducked around a pine-tree shaped air freshener.

Lucy had always had a certain air of royalty, yet she was easygoing and hard as nails at the same time. Her hair was up in curls and pins and ribbons, and she laughed when Levy complained that she couldn't breath. She bubbled happily about her boyfriend, and how happy she was that Levy was coming, and shot a look that could kill when the boy behind the counter looked somewhere that he shouldn't have.

Lucy made a fabulous royal, and a better friend.

But Levy hadn't had to come. Lucy hadn't shoved her into the car, buckled her up, and driven away laughing. That had only happened once.

Of course she had to come, Levy was thinking moments after. Though it hadn't been quite so physical, Lucy may as well have tied her hands and slung her over her shoulder. Lucy was Levy's best friend, and had always loved these things, these renaissance fairs, swords, costumes, and all. She had met her boyfriend of three years here.

Three, whole, years. Or at least, if you asked Levy. Lucy swore they had gotten together just last month. And Levy hadn't even seen a picture. Lucy had been using him for blackmail, bribery, anything to get Levy to come with her once.

"When will they be here?" Levy called out. Lucy glanced at her timepiece necklace, a gift from the ever-mysterious Natsu.

"Any second now." Lucy snapped it shut, dropping it and letting it dangle from neck. "He said he'd be here around ten minutes ago, so he'll be here soon." Levy snorted at that. Lucy, who was bouncing in anticipation with a little grin glued to her face, was always late as well.

She was so excited. Of course Levy had had to come.

But she hadn't had to go all out with the costume.

Not costume, she could hear Lucy lecturing yet again in her mind. It was garb, as she'd been told multiple times. This, the costume that is, she had no excuse for other than the fact that she had loved dress up as a kid and quite obviously hadn't grown out of the habit. That, and the look on Lucy's face when she had seen what Levy had planned on wearing, and when she had seen her in full makeup. It was an amazing costume, something she was fully aware of. Though she might not like it, Lucy's bubbling smile was worth any amount of lewd stares.

Almost. Which was why the neckline didn't plunge quite as much as was historically accurate.

Lucy tossed her hair impatiently, staring at the door like a lovesick puppy. Levy bumped into her playfully and Lucy broke out into a grin and nervous giggle.

"I hope you like them," she confessed in a half whispered tone so that the cashier wouldn't be able to eavesdrop.

"Of course I will," Levy assured her. She quirked an eyebrow. "And if I don't I'll pretend that I do anyways."

"That's why I love you." Though her posture worsened slightly Levy saw Lucy relax.

Lucy had said they'd met them here, at the seven eleven/gas station combo a half a mile away from the final destination. Natsu, Lucy's boyfriend, was bringing a friend to save gas money, and they'd be walking to the fair together. All to meet up with yet more friends that sweet, spunky, sociable Lucy had made over her four and a half years of coming here monthly.

They were a tight knit group, from what she gathered, fiercely protective of their numbers. The stories Lucy would whisper in Levy's ear during class or at night during sleepovers had her rolling. Levy had been around Lucy for the longest, but Natsu and company had met Lucy in her darkest days. The ones filled with daddy issues and depression and crying where no one could see. They had taken her under their collective wing while Levy dealt with issues of her own.

They had, of course, heard an astronomical amount about Levy, being Lucy's best friend since first grade. They had wanted to read the same book and ended up sharing.

Levy, while having heard about the renaissance crew, as she had dubbed them, often enough for her to keep Lucy's stories straight, was a little more in the dark. There were so many of them, after all.

She'd be fine, though, Levy assured herself. She was sociable by nature and hadn't met a person that she couldn't stand since junior high. Even so, she was feeling a bit queasy.

The bell at the entrance of the store rung, and the thud of footsteps and clink of metal and chainmail alerted Levy to their presence. It couldn't be anyone else.

"Lucy!"

And that must be Natsu, the boy running up to Lucy, though admittedly hindered by his armor. It clinked and chimed as he bounded over, a noise that reminded Levy of silver wear being rattled. A knight dressed in forks. Levy snorted into her fist but said nothing, letting herself observe as he pecked Lucy sweetly on the cheek and she giggled like they were in high school again.

Not bad looking, admittedly, though first thing she noted was the hair. Levy wasn't one to judge on color. Hers was blue, after all, and completely natural. But Natsu's locks were a nearly blinding pink, sticking up at odd angles to match the quirky personality she could already see. Lucy had never mentioned it, though she obviously noticed his hair now, she ruffling it up affectionately.

Then came the grin, which was even brighter still, and Lucy seemed to bask in its light and shine a few shades brighter as Natsu picked her up and twirled her around with pure delight. Once, twice, before crushing her into an all-encompassing bear hug. She squeezed him back, happily, easily. It was that kind of relation where they were best friends too, not just the players in a tacky teenage love story.

Levy smiled, shoulders relaxing. If they were all like this, she could manage. Natsu already made her grin, and he hadn't even spoken to her yet.

"Hey." A low voice barked behind Levy. She startled, stiffening. "Don't be getting all mushy on me."

Levy turned around to scold him, coming face to face with a chest plate. More armor.

Obviously Natsu's friend. Lucy had warned her about him, a little "rough around the edges." The blond had topped off the sentiment with a little laugh, a shove, and an assurance that she'd get used to it. Looking up at him now, scowl firmly in place, Levy wasn't so sure.

He was tall. It was obvious, especially next to her, at her measly height. She had to step backwards and lean up to see his face from where she stood. And what a face it was, filled with the shine of more piercings than fingers and toes put together. He scowled, or he glowered, she was never sure which was which. Red eyes. Polished armor, of course, and… was that a sword?

"You're McGarden, right?" He looked her up and down, measuring her for every single one of her five foot zero inches. The way he looked at her screamed skepticism.

"And you are…" She trailed off pointedly. His manners were certainly lacking, if nothing else.

"Gajeel Redfox,"

Levy cocked her hips, frowning. "It's rude to stare."

It didn't seem to stop him. His eyes stopped on her tail, long and snaking down to below her knees, barbed at the end. A slow smirk crawled across his face. "What are you supposed to be?"

She bristled, though she wasn't sure why. Maybe it was the way he said it. "A fairy." She crossed her gloved arms firmly, cocking her head to draw attention to her pointed ears.

"If you say so," Gajeel grunted, though his mouth tugged upwards at the edges. Levy frowned.

"I-"

"C'mon, Levy!" It was a good thing that Lucy cut her off when she did, because Levy had been about to make more of a spectacle of herself than the costumes could account for. "We're going!"

"Coming!" Levy jerked her chin at Gajeel. "After you."

A wicked grin spread across his face. It fit him, in a fantasy anti-hero sort of way. Levy had always liked anti-heroes, but her opinion of them was steadily worsening. "Oh, no," he drawled. "Ladies first."

"No." She scowled, brows furrowing. She'd get wrinkles like that, Lucy had warned her, but she didn't really care. "I insist."

It was all too obvious who was half-assing the costumes and who was going all out. She could tell tourists from regulars with a mere glance, and a moment was all it took to distinguish between the kids who were dragged here and the ones who came both willingly and often. The enthusiastic amateur was harder to pick out from the crowd, but not impossible. They tended to wander, stumble, and stare. Levy included.

Despite that, she had gotten many a compliment on her costume from the passerby. A small girl, bright pigtails and all grins had waved. Though no matter how many smiles Levy saw and returned, when she turned back, Gajeel was glaring at her, scowl firmly glued to his face.

"What is it?" she asked. Gajeel rolled his eyes..

"Nothing."

"I said it before, I'll say it again." Levy reprimanded. "It's rude to stare." Gajeel frowned at her sharp tone. "If you want to say something, say it."

"Fairies don't have tails," he scoffed, reprimanding her like she was nine and not nineteen, going on twenty. He had been going to these fairs for a long time, she could tell. His armor was detailed, used but well cared for, and the look he was giving her was screaming insults about her amateur status. Or her hair. He was difficult to read like that.

Lucy had whispered, with a secret smile and grin, that Gajeel had started coming here as a kid. Lily, the man who ran the smith's booth, had been his neighbor at the time and had dragged him to his first fair, kicking and screaming the whole way. Or so she claimed.

Natsu was a regular as well, and much more opened about it. He had bragged to Levy that he had been coming here since 'forever' with his dad, Igneel Dragneel. They waved to Igneel as they entered, a hearty man with noticeable muscles and smile lines. He was in garb as a king, his confident grin complementing the look. He fit in here, everything from his name to the fiery hair, just beginning to dull, and eyes bright as lit coals.

He had given Levy a quick once over, told her he was glad that she trusted Lucy with them, and disappeared off into the crowd. Levy liked him. Before he had vanished he had ruffled Lucy's hair and gave her a hug similar to Natsu's, more than Lucy's father had done for months.

They paid the man at the gate, sandy-hair, bowl cut, peasant's garb, and bought something to snack on. Fruit, cakes, meat on a stick. The fair was full of wonderful treats. Even waiting on lines was interesting with the variety of people who showed. Natsu had no patience, however, taking a different approach. Nagging Lucy into sharing was much more rewarding than waiting anyways.

"Give me some of yours, Luce!" Natsu wined, bumping his shoulder against hers. Lucy huffed, holding her food out of reach.

"Buy your own!"

"They're insufferable." Gajeel made a face at the twosome's back at the display of sweetness. Levy shoved him for his grumbling.

"Oh, shut up," Levy cooed. "They're adorable."

"I can't watch," Gajeel groaned, as Natsu silenced Lucy's argument with a kiss.

Levy and Gajeel had fallen to bickering. They were just starting on Levy' choice of costume when Lucy was assaulted by a tall girl with chocolaty brown curls, a low cut lady's gown, and ridiculously high heels. She immediately pushed Lucy up against Natsu, setting the former blushing and stumbling, and stepped back to coo at her handy work. It was immediately apparent that she had been heavily involved in the efforts to make the Lucy and Natsu see the all too obvious.

"Took you two long enough," she crowed. She latched onto Gajeel's arm teasingly, grinning up at him and splitting up Levy and Gajeel's argument on garb fashion. Her eyes fell on Lucy and her smile became coy all at once.

"And who is this?" she asked.

"Blondie's tag along," he grumbled, pushing the stranger off of him half heartedly. The lady shoved back with double the cheer, hard enough to caused Gajeel to stumble. Levy resisted the urge to clap as Cana gave a little bow and a purely evil grin.

"You must be Levy." Girl in question nodded, her own smile making its way across her face. The tall, confident woman's smile gained a few more teeth. "I'm Cana Alberona."

Levy offered her hand to shake. "Nice to meet you, Cana." Cana ignored the hand stuck out in her direction, ruffling Levy's hair instead as if she'd known her for months and not minutes, grin firmly on her face.

"Lucy, you didn't say how cute she was!" Levy stiffened at the word cute, and Gajeel snickered. "Are you a fairy? That's so great!" Cana tugged on Levy's tail, smile wide and bright, and Levy couldn't find it in her to be surprised. Cana, similarly to Lucy, seemed to have no sense of personal space. "I should do this next time! We can be matching!" Her arm was around Levy's shoulder. She tugged Levy closer, surprisingly steady on her heels. Levy nodded, slightly dazed by Cana's overbearing air.

Cana was thrilled, by the way she practically danced over to the arguing couple. "You shoulda' brought her sooner," she reprimanded Lucy.

Lucy looked up from where she was back to arguing with Natsu, who promptly stole half of her food the moment she looked away. "It took me long enough to convince her to come," she defended. "But she wanted to meet Natsu."

This was the apparently sweetest thing Cana had ever heard, she and she said so to Levy. And that she couldn't wait to introduce her to the rest of the gang. And with that she continued to talk in a low baritone of a voice. She did conversation the same way she walked. Flashy, confident, and nothing held back. She was incredible.

"She's got an incredible ability to talk a person's ear off," Gajeel grumbled. Cana smacked him.

"Spoil sport." Her red lips stretched out in a grin. "The tournament is about to begin. You entered in this one?"

Natsu piped up cheerfully, through mouthfuls of Lucy's fruit, that yes, he was entered for this jousting. Iceface, whomever that was, was going down, and Lucy better be rooting for him. The blond happily agreed, eyes glimmering with mirth and pure, unhindered joy that could only live on Lucy's face. Gajeel almost seemed to soften. She could have imagined it.

"You're goin' down, Salamander!"

"Why Salamander?" Levy questioned.

"It's the name of his horse." She nodded. That made sense.

So Gajeel was entering the joust as well. That she'd like to see. They'd be riding, she realized with a little thrill. Levy had always loved horses with their long legs and muscles and elegance and strength. She'd love to see a horse carry Gajeel, weighted down as he was in all his armor. It'd have to be marvelously big and sleek. She could see it in her mind's eye.

Levy didn't have to wait long. It took mere minutes for Natsu to take Lucy's gloved hand in his own calloused one, sharp killer-smile firmly in place, and begin pulling her in the direction of the stables. Levy watched them walk, a sort of dance as they twisted around each other with their animated conversation.

Gajeel followed them, muttering, grumbling, though if Levy squinted just there, she could see the ghost of a smile and satisfaction that his two friends had finally, finally gotten together.

Cana made to follow them, but she seemed to catch sight of somebody. A man with blonde hair and a towering stature. Cana grew a wicked smirk, saying she'd meet up with them later before flouncing off, just as showy and flashy as she had been when she'd pranced in. Gajeel shook his head. "Couples."

"Are they dating too?" Levy craned her neck to get a better look at the stranger, on her tiptoes, but all she could see was blond and something purple. Gajeel laughed, a rather strange laugh, but a laugh all the same.

"Give them a month or two. C'mon, Squirt. Your friend is going ahead."

"Squirt?" she asked, with something between horror and surprise.

Gajeel never answered because he was pushing her, or maybe nudging her would be a better word, surprisingly carefully towards the direction she should have been walking in. So she had no time to question him seriously. She was too preoccupied with dragging her heels out of pure stubbornness, because it didn't matter if she had to go in that direction anyways, because Levy was a stubborn idiot, as Lucy reminded her often.

She never noticed when he slipped up number into her pocket, and would definitely never, ever call it, just leave it on her desk and ignore it until it got thrown away. It was an accident when she memorized it, and an accident when she had dialed it into her phone and waited until he picked up.

And then when he did pick up she didn't press the off button because Levy just needed to finish up that argument, the one about garb and fairies and tails and her height. She was stubborn like that.

Or so she told herself.

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