-Natsu POV-

Luce plopped down next to me, disappointed and cradling a milkshake. She sighed, obviously upset about something. "What's up Luce?" I asked her.

"The girls and I want to take Rio shopping but we can't- not until she wakes up anyway," she said.

I paused. "I can hear voices in the infirmary but they're too far away for me to make out what they're saying," I told her. "She should be up soon."

She perked right up. "Really?" she asked.

"Yeah, do you think she's well enough to fight me yet?" I asked. Lucy hit me over the head.

I couldn't understand why. "What was that for?" I asked, indignant.

"You're not allowed to fight Rio!" Luce shouted. "Why are you so obsessed with fighting anyway?" she asked.

"Because he's a moron," Grey supplied, walking up behind her in nothing but his underwear.

"Shut up, ice stripper," I accused.

"Flame freak."

"You wanna fight snow princess?!" I demanded.

"Hell yeah hot-headed idiot!"

"Are you two starting a fight?" Mira and Erza chorused from their respective positions near the bar, a sudden evil aura oozing off of them.

"A-Aye!" I shouted, swinging an arm around Grey's shoulders.

"He means no!" Grey added quickly, an arm over my shoulder in return. "Because we're best friends!"

The aura dissipated. "That's good," Mira said, "because you two especially are not allowed to fight in the guild hall until Rio's gotten used to things. Here's your cake Erza." She nodded in appreciation and returned to our table.

My mood deflated. I sighed. "But I haven't had a fight for a full two days," I complained, "I'm going crazy."

"Then take a job and help me pay my rent," Luce suggested.

"But then I won't get to meet Rio." I pointed out, "What if she gets better while I'm away and I miss my opportunity to fight her?"

"You're not allowed to fight!" Luce shouted, and right in my ear too. I winced. She obviously didn't realize how much that hurt with dragon slayer hearing. My reply was cut off when I noticed Rio and Laxus exiting the infirmary. Just because I couldn't fight Rio…


-Rio POV-

"Laxus!" A voice shouted, making me jump, "Fight me!" I realized it was a pink haired boy with a white scarf. I vaguely recognized him from before. He'd helped me up that one time… What was his name again?

"Not now Natsu," Laxus said, apparently irritated. "I'm busy."

Natsu ignored him and charged. Laxus hit him over the head, knocking him out. Wow. I thought. Natsu's face, meet floor. Floor, this is Natsu's face- or have you two met before? I then realized that I was cowering behind Laxus and my eyes probably looked like they were trying to jump out of my skull. I quickly straightened, hoping no one had noticed. Laxus did but I didn't mind. He put a hand on my shoulder.

"Come on," he said, "We're getting food remember?" I nodded, not sure how well my voice would hold up with so many people in the room. Laxus guided me to the bar with a hand at my back. It made me feel safer while talking to the white haired woman. I remembered her name was Mira.

"H-hello Mira," I said, knowing that I had to get used to talking to people.

"Hi Rio," she said cheerfully, "What would you like?"

"Food?" I asked. I honestly wasn't sure what kind I wanted.

She just laughed and smiled. "As much as you like," she promised. She looked up at Laxus. "But you're still paying for yourself," she added.

"Hey," he complained, "that's preferential treatment. I want free food too!"

Mira just rolled her eyes. "It's not like you can't afford it. You are S-Class after all."

I looked up at Laxus. "What's S-Class?" I asked.

"It means you're one of the more powerful wizards here," he explained as we walked over to a table where we could wait for Mira's cooking more comfortably. "I'm S-Class. Gildarts is S-Class, but I don't see him anywhere. Erza, the red-head over there in the armor, she's S-Class. Mira's S-Class too."

"Mira's S-Class?" I asked, impressed.

"Yep," she chirped, coming up behind me with two large trays of steamy goodness. "Thought I took a break from it for a little while. Here's your food!"

"Yay," I said aloud. Then quickly looked down. Did she think I was being sarcastic? Maybe she thought I was blaming her for not bringing it fast enough.

"I'm glad you're happy," Mira said, smiling brightly. I couldn't help but be a little bit relieved.

"Rio!" Natsu had apparently come around, "Fight me!" he shouted. I probably started shaking in fear but I honestly wasn't sure.

Laxus and Mira were oozing some seriously black auras. I saw some lightning running over my cousin's shoulders like static. As scared as I was of Natsu at the moment, I was more scared of what might happen to him if the S-Class mages decided it was necessary to kick the crap out of him. I found the fastest solution available.

"W-we can-n have an eating contest," I offered quietly, "b-but I don't w-want-t-to f-fight you. O-okay?"

He brightened, having instinctively started cowering from the now fading evil aura that Laxus and Mira had been giving off. "Deal!" he shouted, making me flinch at his enthusiasm, "But I won't lose!"

He sat across from me. "W-what are the stakes?" I asked, faking my stutter. I'm pretty sure Laxus noticed but he didn't say anything.

"Steaks? Are we eating early?" Natsu asked, obviously confused. Who confused stakes with steaks? I decided anyone who didn't understand was probably an idiot, not that I said anything about it of course. I didn't have that kind of guts- not just yet anyway.

"I-if you win," I started, "you g-get my free food for a week," I said. He started drooling at the thought. "And if I win," I almost forgot to stutter and overcompensated, "y-you've got-t-to introd-duce me to y-your friends." I didn't want to actually meet his friends, I wasn't even sure who they were, but I figured it would be good for me. I wanted to stop being afraid.

"Deal!" Natsu shouted. I was starting to get the impression that he shouted a lot. It wasn't very good for my nerves, but I tried to ignore it. He wasn't scary, just loud. I could look at it like training.

"Wait!" Someone shouted, making me jump again. "Who wants to place bets?" I identified the voice as coming from a girl with beautiful long brown hair, practically no cloths, and a barrel full of what smelled like booze. Very strong booze. I instantly liked her. Anyone who understood the value of betting got my approval.

There was a rush to place bets. Laxus glanced down at me and I smirked. I wasn't losing, not when it came to food. Not in a milion years. He grinned and got up. He spoke a few words to the Raijinshuu and placed his bet. Ever and Bixlow followed him.

"Hey Freed?" I asked. He came over. "Will you place a bet for me? I'll split the winning even with you. I just don't like being broke." I explained. Freed gave me a half disbelieving look but nodded. "Don't worry, I won't lose." I promised. "Will you tell Mira for me? I don't want her to lose her bet," I added. He nodded and smiled properly as he walked off. I noticed that he touched Mira's elbow as he whispered in her ear. Were they a couple? I do remember him telling me that she was nice. I made a mental note to ask Laxus later.

I waited a few minutes for the betting frenzy to die down. "A-are the b-bets set?" I asked the woman with the alcohol. She nodded. I inhaled through my nose and let it out though my mouth. It was time to get serious.


-Laxus POV-

I was glad I bet on Rio. I suspected that she was faking her stutter earlier but I wasn't sure until she gave me that smirk. It said she knew what she was doing. I grinned. Might as well make some money. There were excellent odds going against her. I glanced back. She was fake trembling. I realized that she was skewing the odds against her intentionally so we could win more money. I tried not to grin too much as I told the Raijinshuu to bet on her. Ever and Bix moved immediately, but Freed refused. I assumed it was because he didn't want to act on insider knowledge. I shook my head at his honesty but grinned some more when he spoke to Rio and then whispered something to Mira. Had Rio already figured out that he had a thing for her? I'd ask her later.

"A-are the b-bets set?" Rio asked. Canna nodded. Rio took a deep breath and dropped her facade. The shaking and stuttering stopped. She exuded calm and confidence. I was already proud, irrelevant of whether she would actually win or not. Rio had come a long way in just a few days to be able to look like that with all these people in the room and looking at her.


-Lucy POV-

"On your marks?" I asked, "Get set! GO!" I quickly leapt back, knowing that food scraps would begin flying instantaneously. Natsu and Rio started chowing down. I was shocked to see that Rio was keeping pace with my bottomless-pit-of-a-stomach partner. He'd cleaned out my cupboards at my apartment enough times that I knew he could keep going for a while, so I didn't bother paying too much attention to them for a bit. Everyone else was shouting and yelling and stomping their feet. For a second I was worried about Rio in all this noise but she seemed fine. I guessed that so long as she wasn't startled she was fine- either that or she was too distracted by her need to shovel food in her face. I understood that she was a dragon slayer, but she was also a girl. Could she really keep this up for long?

They kept at it for another twenty minutes without lagging. Some people's enthusiasm had faded and there was less shouting and more awed staring. I heard Laxus chuckle behind me. "What's so funny?" I asked him.

"Natsu's starting to fall behind," he said. I stared in awe. Damnit! I had bet on Natsu's stomach! My rent money!

"That's not possible!" I shouted, but Laxus was right. Natsu was two plates behind Rio and slowing as we spoke. I watched in horror as he bogged down. "My rent," I whined. Laxus just laughed louder. "You knew this would happen," I accused darkly. "You knew!" Natsu collapsed to the floor, stomach distended and part of a steak sticking out of his mouth. "Natsu! No, get back up this instant!" I ordered but he couldn't seem to move. Damn him. He was so going to get it later.


-Rio POV-

Natsu collapsed and the room exploded into cheers. It startled me so badly that I fell off my bench backwards and hit my head a little. Laxus helped me to my feet and I beamed at him. "Good job Rio," he said. I grinned up at him.

Freed handed me my money and I beamed at him too. "Thanks Freed!" I said. He smiled slightly and nodded. I decided not to hug him, he didn't seem to be the kind of person to like hugs anyway so I didn't think he'd be offended.

Evergreen on the other hand hug attacked me as soon as she saw me. "I'm so proud of you!" She half shrieked over the crowed, "I made a lot of money off you! I think half the guild just went broke!"

"I'm sorry!" I half-shouted back. "I just wanted to win!"

"You're fine, kid," Bixlow promised, putting a hand on my shoulder. "Nobody will hold it against you. You did great." "Did great! Did great!" I decided I loved those flying doll things, whatever they were.

Natsu was still passed out on the ground. I worried someone might step on him. Seeing him drool around the steak in his mouth I thought, Quick! Someone get me a stick! I need to check if he's alive! I didn't say that thought. It would probably be rude.


-Lucy POV-

Rio was kneeling with her knees hugged to her chest by Natsu. I knelt across from her. I poked Natsu's face, concerned.

"Don't do that! The smell will get on your finger," Rio protested. Then, realizing that she'd spoken out loud, clapped a hand over her mouth and looked away quickly.

I laughed and smiled, trying to reassure her. "It's fine," I told her, "His smell has probably already rubbed off on my anyway."

"Only a little," she assured me earnestly.

Curious, I asked, "What do I smell like?"

Rio tilted her head to one side, thinking. "Night wind and sunshine," she said. "Also strawberries and vanilla."

I laughed. "I can kind of understand the second two but isn't the first part kind of self-contradictory?" I asked. "How can I smell like night and sunlight at the same time?"

Rio frowned, "It roughly translates into a subtle, patient strength and kindness."

I was surprised. "Thank you," I said, not sure how to respond.

"It's just the truth," she said. "Natsu smells like woodsmoke, but like when it's blowing right into your face and you need to gag on it," Rio supplied, wrinkling her nose. She brightened suddenly. "Hey, I wasn't stuttering!" she said proudly. "You must not be that scary." She smiled.

I laughed. "I'm going to take that as a good thing," I said. "My name's Lucy by the way."

"Rio," she replied, "but you probably already knew that."

"Just a little, but the reminder is always helpful," I joked. Rio laughed a little, but she sounded unsure. I noticed Laxus hovering behind her and nodded at him slightly to let him know I had this. Rio and I moved to take seats at the table which was now covered with dirty dishes. "Congratulations on joining Fairy Tail," I told her, "How do you like it so far?"

"It's big and it's loud but I'm getting used to it and the food is good," she said thoughtfully. "Everyone is being really nice to me and Mira's not making me pay for anything which makes me feel kind of bad but I'll pay her back eventually."

"You shouldn't worry about it," I told her. "Mira's doing it because she wants to, there's no need. I was planning on taking you shopping later with some of the girls." I admitted.

Rio looked shocked. "Really?" she asked. "B-but why? I didn't do anything for you."

I laughed at her response even though I felt a little sad inside because she couldn't understand. "Do you plan on wearing those clothes forever?" I asked. "Besides, I think Ever's planning on spoiling you." Rio still looked confused. "Do you not want to?" I asked. "You don't have to come if you don't want to."

Rio swallowed and nodded slowly. "I'll come," she said determined, but I could tell she was still nervous about it. "Let me ask Laxus, okay?"

I nodded happily. "Sure!"


-Laxus POV-

"Hey Laxus?" Rio asked nervously, "Can I go shopping with Lucy and some others?" She started talking too fast, making my head spin, "Lucy invited me and I really do want to but I don't have to go if you don't want me to so I could just not and I'm kind of scared anyway but it was really nice of her to offer and I think I should go but-"

I cut her off. "You can go if you want, but only if you promise to stick with them. I don't want you to get lost or something." Rio's face brightened. She lunged me into a hug. "Thankyou thankyou thankyou!" she said. I smiled.

"So you're coming?" Ever asked. "Great! I'm so glad."

"Ever you're coming too?" Rio asked. She seemed happy about it, and that made me happy for her.

"You bet I am!" Ever replied. "And we're not coming back with anything less than nine bags worth of clothes!"

Rio looked slightly intimidated but determined nonetheless. "Right!" she said, nodding firmly.

I was glad that Ever was going. She would take care of Rio in my place. Because I really didn't want to go shopping for girl things. I'd be out of my depth anyway. Part of me was reluctant to let Rio out of my sight, but I knew she would have to be able to go off on her own eventually. She couldn't spend the rest of her life acting like my shadow, it wouldn't be good for either of us.

"I'll see you later Rio," I told her. "Be careful and stick close to Ever and the others, okay?"

"I will!" she promised cheerfully as Ever, Lucy and a gaggle of other girls pulled her away. I worried in spite of myself.


-Evergreen POV-

I was so glad that Laxus was letting Rio come with us. We could have real girl talk and it wouldn't be awkward buying her underthings and such, because she needed those too. And a stuffed animal- whichever one she wanted. Possibly more than one. I met up with Lucy and Levy at the door.

"Who else is coming?" I asked, not wanting too much of a crowd for Rio's sake.

Lucy answered, "Me, you, Levy and Canna- and Rio obviously!" Rio smiled.

Canna sauntered up, barrel of booze traded for a bottle. I guessed there were extras in her bag. "Sorry I'm late," she said, "I had to grab some booze."

"Well come on!" I said. "We're going shopping!"