Leather and Lace
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Disclaimer: i don't own fairy tail
Lucy was shocked by the company Levy kept to say the least. It's true that the two girls hadn't known each other for very long but in the few months they had known each other, Levy had quickly become the closest friend Lucy had ever had. At school, she had found that Levy was more studious than even she was yet easy going and approachable. Levy had been the one to approach her, having seen Lucy engrossed in a book that Levy was currently obsessed with. The rest was history after that.
So how could her sweet, kind Levy possibly hang out at such a wild, unsavory place?!
Hovering near the door in pastel pinks and whites looking for all the world like the princess that she was, Lucy wasn't so sure this was the fun and adventure she had been looking for. She blinked coffee toned doe eyes as she stared around the smokey little club bursting at the seems with all manner of hooligans and trouble makers. Nearly everyone present was swathed in leathers and clothes so tight she had no idea how they could move their limbs. Hair slicked back to shining perfection, puffed and teased to incredible sizes and volume. Couple danced to racy music, moving their bodies together in a way so that Lucy had to look away in embarrassment.
"T-these are your friends?" Lucy managed to squeak out, her mouth was suddenly dry from nerves.
Levy simply grinned as she maneuvered the blond by the hand through the crowd, searching for what she assumed to be her friends. The blond trained her eyes on Levy's perfect ocean blue curls as they bobbed with her gait. She felt so out of her element here and couldn't believe this is where Levy so desperately wanted to bring her. Did Levy really think these people would accept her amongst them? How had her friend even much these types?
By the time Levy had come to a halt, Lucy could feel a cold sweat breaking out over her forehead as her thoughts began to spin, wild theories bouncing around at light speed.
"Earth to Lucy!" Levy giggled playfully as she tugged affectionately on her hand. "These are my friends! You're gonna love them and I know they'll love you too!"
Before Lucy could so much as breathe a word of protest Levy was gently pushing her up to the group of kids that looked like they could eat her alive. As soon a boy with wild pink hair caught sight of Levy there was a chorus of rowdy greetings. The noise was so warm and welcoming despite its volume that Lucy couldn't help but to relax a bit. It was obvious they adored Levy, plain in their unguarded smiles.
Even so they still looked rough around the edges, tough as nails.
The pink haired boy with a devilishly boyish grin snatched the small girl from Lucy's side and lifted her in th air, twirling around and around. Lucy couldn't help the smile that was pulling at her lips or the laugh that was already bubbling from her throat.
"Natsu!" The small girl squealed with a bright grin on her face, "Put me down, put me down!"
"What's up, Squirt?" The boy with the boyish face laughed as he placed Levy safely back on her feet.
Lucy could hardly tear her eyes from his sunshine smile, trapped in its radiance. She wasn't sure why, but she felt like the air had left her lungs and set her heart stuttering an offbeat rhythm. He was much like the others with the loose fitting leather jacket over a white shirt that stretched like a second skin over a well muscled torso. The white scarf draped around his neck was a little strange though, especially since it was so warm in the closed space.
Something about him was so open and honest, he was nothing like any of the boys she had been introduced to by her father, the boys that were deemed 'appropriate' suitors. Her train of thought was interrupted though as a pair of glittering eyes found hers. It was electric as their gazes connected and His smiled widened if that was even possible.
"Ah! You're Levy's friend I'm guessin'?" He said brightly as he shoved his hands in the pockets of his jacket.
"Yep! This is Lucy, the one I've told you about!" Levy seemed to swell with pride when introducing her friend. It made Lucy smile despite her nerves.
"N-Nice to meet you all." The blond found herself murmuring shyly.
All eyes were on her suddenly and Lucy wanted to turn tail and run from the establishment and never look back. What if they didn't like her? Maybe she was too square for kids this edgy. But then an arm was slung around her shoulder and she was pulled tight against a warm, hard body. A gasp left her and suddenly she was on fire.
"Nice to meetcha, Luigi! You'll fit right in." The boy smiled down at her as the rest of the group burst into a peel of warm laughter.
Removing the busty blond from his casual embrace, the pink haired boy sauntered the few steps to the table and plopped down causing a rattling of mugs and silverware.
"The names Natsu Dragneel! And this is most of the gang but there are a few people out and about tonight." He grinned from ear to ear, eyes crinkling slightly at the corners.
"I'm Erza, I hope we will be seeing more of you." The red-headed bombshell at the table said with a confident smirk on her lips. Lucy thought she was drop dead gorgeous with her shining red hair and her cherry lips, swathed in black and metals.
Next, a relaxed looking boy with dark hair and dark eyes nodded, a cigarette perched between two finger, "I'm Gray," he said in a silky voice. "Welcome to the group."
Almost immediately after Gray spoke, a girl with such striking feminine charm pressed in closer to Gray. Wrapped around one of his arms she had a fierce and possessive look on her face as she sized Lucy up. "Juvia senses a new love rival! Juvia will not lose!"
Lucy wasn't really sure how to take that comment as she had just met Gray but no one seemed to concerned about it.
"And that's Gajeel back there, big lug nut that he is-" Natsu started to say but finished with an indignant yelp of pain as an empty mug smacked him rather hard in the back of the head. Natsu swiveled around brandishing his fists, "You tryin' to start a fight you piece of rusted scrap metal?!"
A dark figure stood up from behind Gray, his blood red eyes nearly glowing in the dim light. Lucy stiffened as she took him in, huge and feral. She wasn't sure how she has managed to miss his hulking form. All of that unruly jet black hair that fell over leather wrapped shoulders and metal studs that glinted on his face in the light. Lucy wanted to flinch but somehow managed to hold back the urge.
"Keep talkin' smack Salamander and you'll be eating dirt!" Gajeel growled in annoyance shaking a fist right back at Natsu.
"I'd like to see you try! I'll take you right now and show you-"
Ezra slammed a fist on the table, her eyes dark as murder. "Both of you. Shut. Up. This is not the sort of impression we want Lucy to have."
Honestly, at that moment Lucy would rather be trapped in a room with to two boys rather than the red-head at that moment.
Eager to ease the tension between the small group, the blond stepped forward, the motion only giving away a fraction of the timidity she was feeling. "Don't worry about it, Erza. Especially not on my behalf. Besides, boys will be boys right?"
The red head sat back in her seat and a thoughtful look came over her dark eyes, finger tapping her lip. "I suppose you are right, Lucy. They are such good friends after all, boys tend to squabble over such things."
The blond laughed and shrugged, simply glad that the storm had calmed. Gajeel took the opportunity to stalk off to the bar, clearly done with the loud mouthed annoyance that was Natsu. As intimidating as he was, Lucy couldn't help but feel a little amused at the skinship they seemed to share despite appearances.
"Having fun, Luigi?" Natsu asked, nudging her in the side with an elbow.
"Lucy! My name is Lucy!" She waved her arms in protest briefly before crossing her arms over her ample chest in a huff. Natsu laughed and she wasn't quite sure why her heart fluttered.
"Alright, alright! Lucy it is, then. Are you liking it here at Fairy Tail?"
"Fairy Tail?" she echoed. Her pout was suddenly gone as she looked up at him curiously.
"Yup. It's the name of this joint. I swear it's the best spot this side of the tracks." There was such a palpable sense pride in his tone that she couldn't help but to be fascinated. The bar didn't seem spectacular to her. It looked worn and rough, lived in like it had been there for a very long time. Other than that it was hard to really make out any specific details due to the dim light and the smoke, but she was sure there must have been some merit to the place if Natsu was so passionate about it.
"I've never been anywhere like this before." At least she could say that much with some certainty. She'd never been anywhere that was even remotely like Fairy Tail. Honestly, she had rarely gone to any place that her father hadn't taken her to, or at least 'approved' of. She was used to venues that were pristine and glittering with wealth; places that overflowed with the types of people that either looked at her with hungry eyes or down their noses with contempt.
The boy grinned down at her, his canines were strangely prominent as he nudged her with his elbow again in a. "You should come by again! You'll fit right in!"
Lucy had no idea why he kept saying that. She was like a lamb in a pit of lions. The polar opposite of him. Despite that feeling, she shrugged and found herself grinning back up at him.
"AH!" He suddenly snapped to attention as the song shifted to a tune less sultry and more upbeat. "These sounds are real good! Let's tear up the carpet, Luce!"
"W-wait, Natsu!" the girl managed to sputter. Her words fell on deaf ears; a warm hand was around her wrist, pulling her onto the crowded dance floor.
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Across the room, Levy was dancing with her two childhood friends, Jet and Droy. She wasn't able to see them as much as she would like since the boys were often busy working day and night to afford their living expenses. It was nice to see their faces whenever she could. But after a few songs she felt content to take a seat at their usual table and watch from the sidelines. Hazel eyes quickly honed in on Lucy laughing and dancing with Natsu. It was a little risky bringing her friend here, but Levy knew Lucy had a heart as big as the sky. And if anyone could make the blond feel at ease it was Natsu.
The bluenette was so lost in thought that she barely noticed when the bench she was sitting on shifted slightly. But she did notice the mischievous "gihihi" that was the signature laugh of the one person that managed to set her on edge. Levy stiffened, her small body unconsciously reacting to unpleasant memories.
"What's so funny, Gajeel?" Levy asked tensely, not looking at him.
"Just wonderin' what the square is doin' here." His deep timber was attractive, but mostly the sound grated on her nerves.
Bristling at the statement, Levy whipped her head around and leveled him with a firm gaze, "I really don't think you have much of a right to place labels on anyone, Gajeel."
The man leaned back and held up both hands in a sign of surrender. "I wasn't tryin' to start a fight or nothin'.
"Weren't you though? She's my friend, don't talk about her like that."
Gajeel's eyes were bearing into her own and Levy felt her bravado from a few seconds before melt away. She never knew was was going on in his head and made a point not to be alone with him if she could help it.
"Look," he said with a hint of caution in his voice, "I'm just sayin' that you can't trust the types on the other side of the tracks. They're not like us."
Annoyance piqued again, Levy shook her wild curls vigorously, "Why do you even care? I can take care of myself."
She stared him right back then, unwavering as she waited for him to give some kind of smart reply. Rather than retorting, Gajeel simply stared back at her with blood red eyes she couldn't read. Something about the gaze made her feel vulnerable, naked.
Finally, he broke the gaze by closing his eyes in a strangely resigned gesture. The man ran thick fingered hands through long tousled hair before he stood to his full height to leave the table. Levy was surprised to see him retreat without saying a single word. She just couldn't wrap her head around his odd behavior. While sometimes she caught him looming near her he rarely went out of his way to speak to her. Yet suddenly he's concerned about who she's hanging out with?
Fortunately she couldn't dwell to much on her brief conversation with Gajeel because Lucy had slid into the seat next to her, coffee eyes glittering with excitement.
"Someone looks like they're enjoying themselves," Levy laughed when Lucy giggled and leaned against her heavily.
"Goodness! I don't think I've ever had so much fun, Levy. Ever!" The blond looked blissful and Levy was so glad she had managed to convince her to come to Fairy Tail. Lucy laid her cheek on Levy's shoulder and sighed happily. "Thanks for sharing this with me, Levy."
All of the irritation she felt from her earlier conversation with Gajeel had all but melted away. No matter what that big lug nut thinks bringing Lucy to Fairy tail could bring nothing but good.
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a/n: I'm sure a few of you are aware that this is actually a fic I had already posted, but I decided to rename it and edit it quite a bit. The original was super bland and the two chapters were wayyyyyy too short. So I combined to two and cleaned them up! Hopefully you guys like it!
