Disclaimer: I am not the owner of Fairy Tail

From there, there was no further mention of Levy's conflicting over returning to her guild or staying here. Zeref wished to keep her mind off of it for now, so he guided her through town, settling on a general tour of Vistarion without any larger plan in mind. "This statue was built to commemorate the first ruler of Alvarez. Initially, they had established a monarchy, hence the plaque labeling him as a king. However, a dispute between newly conquered territory in the north and the mainland broke out. As a king, he was peaceful and not skilled in militaristic actions…so he perished before the attempt to break free from our rule ended."

"Why build a statue of him?"

Zeref shrugged. "Because he did determine a layout to assist Alvarez in sustaining itself. Farmland is difficult to come by, as much of Alvarez is actually desert and mountains. Few things grow, but he grew a strong list of connections and trading allies for the nation to gather the needed supplies."

She nodded, and Zeref began moving along. There weren't a huge amount of monuments in the city, but since he'd started with one, he thought he'd show her the others. "You know, I haven't heard much on that issue from Invel either. I figured he'd bring something like that up with me, if it needed to be monitored often."

"Oh. Well, I found my own solution to the problem." Levy was watching him, and he smiled faintly. "It…well, I suppose it isn't quite…fair, but it also isn't a form of magic I wish to spread knowledge on. Essentially, I created an enchantment based on living magic to stimulate the growth of the plants. It…isn't harmful, and it does not truly create life but…if the enchanted object is close to living creatures, it attempts to inspire growth and development in them. For plants, that means it sustains their minimal requirements for survival. For people…well, the enchantment isn't quite strong to have much of an effect beyond dulling some minor hunger pangs on occasion."

"You know, you could help a lot of people with a spell like that." Zeref nodded, frowning faintly. "I keep mentioning this, but the things you know…spreading it could do some good, I think."

"Perhaps, however…if someone were to determine living magic based off of that enchantment, more harm could be done as well."

She sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Not many people would do that."

"Dark guilds would. I've encountered plenty that worship myself, and my creations. They have no qualms about the destruction I've caused."

"Fine, fine, keep the knowledge of it to yourself." She shook her head. "But you could, I don't know, trade away the enchantment itself? Not how to make it, but something that already has it in place…"

"Someone would determine how to establish it from there…but I suppose I do understand what you are attempting to do." He glanced at her, tilting his head. "For now, I think I am content with strengthening Alvarez, this time as a more…peaceful nation. Its militaristic purposes have been fulfilled at this point, as I have no further intentions of starting new wars."

"Yeah, I figured as much. From the way you talk about them, I'm surprised you started one at all."

He shrugged. "It wasn't my first choice…however, Fairy Tail was not likely to be willing to negotiate a trade of some form, allowing me the use of Fairy Heart. Force was the only option available, and…well, it took me some time to realize that obtaining it was not as necessary as I first believed."

She patted his arm, and Zeref smiled, glancing around the street. "So, where to next? You've shown me your monuments, but there's gotta be more in this town than just that."

"Well, there was the museum earlier…but it has more information on the various civil wars and internal conflicts Alvarez has handled in the past." He paused, glancing around. "We have a theater, but I cannot say I am aware of what performance is being given, if there is one at all. There's a variety of restaurants, likely competing to gain Brandish's mark of approval, given her…peculiar tastes. And, of course, there is the shopping and business district, which Brandish will likely give you a sufficiently detailed tour of when you go on your trip with her."

"I thought you mentioned parks and stuff before."

He nodded. "Well…perhaps that was an exaggeration. They are areas of the city that do not contain developed businesses, and are instead made with paved paths. I did have a few things planted there…but as I mentioned before, we are in a desert climate so few things survive. Essentially, there are some monuments in barren areas of the city, that are lined with sidewalks and cacti for others to see. Brandish has been working on improving them, actually, claiming she is transforming them into rock gardens of some kind…but as you can tell, her focus on such tasks is…limited."

"And you haven't tried to find someone else?"

"August is rather fond of her." He glanced over at Levy. "He found her when she was young, on the streets after the death of her guardian. At the time…I believe August had been curious about investigating romantic love, and was coming to the conclusion that he likely had not, and would not, find it given his age." He frowned, shaking his head. "He…oddly, he wasn't upset by the idea. Yet, finding a child…I think he wished to experience something of a family life, so he took her in. He trained her in secret, and when she was a few years older, he brought her to me and requested that I give her a position so she could sustain her own living. Considering how few requests he made of me, it seemed like a small enough thing to grant her such a position. Her talent with magic has made up for her lack of work ethic, and while not typical, she does have her reputation that lets her start trends and keep people visiting various regions of Alvarez."

"That was sweet of him." Zeref nodded, and Levy walked closer to him, reaching over to take his hand. "I guess I see why she calls him grandpa, too. She must think a lot of him."

"She looks up to him in many ways, though she seems content to simply admire him, and not attempt to emulate him."

Levy let out a short laugh. "Yeah, I can't see her going out of her way to suddenly be a hard-working person."

"And yet you hardly know her." Levy bit her lip, and Zeref shook his head. "Your assessment is accurate, but it simply surprises me that you come to such conclusions so quickly."

"Well, she basically ignored your requests for her to work, instead insisting on going shopping with me. And you didn't even try to push the issue, which made me think you haven't been able to get her to focus on work in a while, either."

"Fair enough." His own habits seemed to inform her of those of the others around him. Maybe they hadn't spent much time together to understand each other more, but she had seen enough of him to understand a little, it seemed. "With Dimaria around, sometimes she improves. Really…it depends on Dimaria's mood then, if Brandish starts working or gets more relaxed. The two of them are about the same age, which gives them a closer bond, I think. Ajeel, too, of course but…he typically prefers the company of Wall, over them. Dimaria likes teasing the others, and playing pranks of her own, and Wall has a short temper, so they clash at times."

"I still feel like I've hardly seen any of them, and I've been here for a while."

"Well, that is typical." Zeref paused, waiting for a vehicle to pass so they could cross the street. A few of the citizens were glancing towards them, bowing when they recognized him. When they rose, they'd give Levy their focus, before whispering to their companions about his trip to town with someone else. "The Twelve rarely remain in Vistarion for long, with the exception of August. He tends to remain, to assist in my duties or occasionally handle them fully if I am away. From here, he has access to communication lacrimas and can contact the others, if he needs them to perform different tasks than what they currently are working on."

"So, they only all meet for important things, or emergencies?"

"Not even then." He chuckled, shaking his head. "Even when I began launching the war on Fairy Tail…if I remember correctly, only seven of them appeared for the debriefing on the plan." She glanced at him, her eyes wide. "Even that was an unusually large turnout, for them. Given my perpetual absences fro the nation, I don't hold theirs against them. It would be…hypocritical of me, to do so, I think."

"I guess." She folded her arms across her chest, before pausing. She inhaled, glancing around with a frown. "What is that smell?"

He smiled, stopping for a moment. "It could be a few things. Quite a few restaurants are here, scattered in between some of the smaller shops."

"It isn't like, dinner I'm smelling or anything." She inhaled again, frowning. "Something sweet, with a hint of spice…"

"Ah, likely the bakeries, perhaps?" He watched her, seeing her gaze flicker across the streets. He joined in her search, wondering what could perhaps match that conversation. Then, he saw a stand set up on the side of the road, and he blinked in surprise. "They don't usually set up without a festival in town, or some celebration."

"Who?"

He pointed to the stand. "Cinnamon doesn't grow well in our climate, even with the spell I told you about, and we typically don't trade for many crops. So, anyone wishing to sell products such as roasted nuts, or baked apples…they typically need to find their own suppliers beyond the country, to store up on the spice."

"That's what it is. I can't remember the last time I've been near them." She inhaled again, shaking her head. "Magnolia doesn't get them often either, though I imagine it is just because they don't sell that well. We have plenty of access to cinnamon if we want it, but it usually only gets used in baked goods. Roasted nuts—I used to love going to carnivals and stuff just to get some."

He tilted his head at her, before smiling and turning to walk towards the stand. She blinked at him, before following after. "Zeref, I didn't mean I had to get some…"

"But you spoke as if you wanted them, and it isn't as if they are here often either." She stared at him, biting her lip. Zeref smiled, and shook his head. "Is there something else you'd prefer to do?" He paused, watching her.

"Well, I didn't have anything particular in mind, like I said before…"

"Then we can have a snack while we keep walking. It is likely time to start looking for a place to eat, anyway." He could feel the unfamiliar emptiness in his stomach, which he was gradually growing used to. Hunger hadn't really bothered him while he had the curse at least.

She smiled, and Zeref approached the stand. The vendor blinked in surprise, bowing his head immediately. "Your majesty! I…I didn't realize you'd be in town today."

He chuckled, shaking his head. "No need to panic. Though, I am curious…why open today?"

"Because…well, there are rumors going around, sir." He raised his eyebrows, and the man fidgeted. "With the war already completed, people are speaking about celebrating the return to times of peace. No official plans have been made, but I assumed that meant someone would start renting out the nearby warehouses to set up a celebration. And, since there's already so many new folks in town, it just seemed to make sense to set up a little early and join in the good mood."

"They…they do realize that we simply decided to cease the war, correct? That there was no victory to celebrate?"

He nodded. "Of course. But, well, war still doesn't sit well with most around here." He paused, before his eyes widened and he waved his hands at Zeref. "Not that we opposed your path, of course! Just, not good memories, you know?"

Zeref smiled, nodding at him. "I understand perfectly. I cannot say I have fond memories of war either." The man let out a breath, and he glanced over at Levy. "Well, I do hope you manage to obtain the business you were looking for, regardless of if the festival occurs or not." He reached into his pocket, pulling out some change. "And, given the rare occasion, I think I will have some myself."

The vendor was startled, but nodded, quickly grabbing a bag and handing it out towards him. The man smiled, while Zeref held it out towards Levy. She nodded, glancing towards the vendor and smiling herself. "Thank you."

He blinked at her, glancing towards Zeref for a moment, then back towards her. "I can't say I've seen you around here. You a tourist?"

"Uh, I guess something like that. I'm not really from Alvarez at all."

"Well, I hope you enjoy your stay." He smiled at her, glancing over at Zeref. "Seems like you've got our emperor treating you well today, so you've definitely got some luck on your side there."

Her smile widened, and she glanced at Zeref. "Yeah, I guess you could say that." She held the bag tightly, glancing over at Zeref. "If they do actually hold some kind of festival, do you think we might be able to go? It'd be interesting to see how different celebrations are here, compared to back home."

Her eyes flickered towards the vendor. Zeref smiled, reaching out and grabbing her free hand as he nodded towards the vendor, walking away. The man waved at them, yet his smile seemed to widen after Zeref reached out for Levy. "I see no harm in such a thing. Since I have caught up on my work, and you have no obligation to spend all of your time studying…it might be nice, to get out more often." Really, get out at all. He never had truly done much outside of the castle in Alvarez. True, he traveled to calm rebellions and keep areas in line, but never just to relax and enjoy his empire.

Levy opened her roasted almonds, and began eating them quietly. She had a smile on her face, and while she had pulled her hand away to eat, she walked close to his side. Their shoulders would bump on occasion, and each time, Zeref was prepared to apologize. Yet, she just had a slight grin, making him question if she was bumping into him intentionally. So, he'd remained silent instead.

Rather than taking her to a restaurant, Zeref opted for heading back to the castle for food. Too many people had heard he was in town, and the crowds were starting to grow thicker. Some stopped him in the streets, greeting him and seeking out his attention. They were friendly, but it was still…too much, given his usual habits. Levy seemed amused, watching the exchanges, but didn't comment when he shifted directions to head towards his home.

"I'm…sorry for ending things suddenly. As much as it would be enjoyable to remain out with you, I think that it would not be quite as private as it has been, given the crowds."

She nodded, smiling as they walked inside. "They really do respect you here, don't they? Like you, even." He shrugged. Public opinion of him as a leader had always been high, though he wasn't quite certain what he'd done to inspire such thoughts within the citizens. "I'm glad. Seeing that, it really makes me happy, to know you aren't treated like a villain everywhere you go. I mean, I don't think I'd be comfortable with that kind of attention either, but it is still nice, to have people show you kindness as well."

"I suppose." He walked towards the dining hall, and Levy followed. "Did…did you enjoy your day at least? I know it likely wasn't the most interesting of things to do, but…I had not realized you wished to go out. If you give me more notice, perhaps I can make more plans in the future—"

"I'd like that." She smiled, sitting down next to him at the table, leaning over and resting her cheek against his shoulder. Zeref's eyes widened faintly, while hers closed. "And yes, I did have fun. I want to go out with you more, if you can find the time to do so. Go on more dates, see more of Alvarez, get more of an idea of what it is like here."

"So…so you can gather information and make a decision?"

She paused, her eyes opening again. It was the first time it had been brought up, since their date began. "Actually, mostly so I can just spend more time with you." She bit her lip, shaking her head. "I feel like we've both been too busy to do much beyond have meals together, and if we're really going to be having a relationship, I feel like we should do more than just that. I mean, I want to get to know you, and about the things you've done, good and bad. I know that there's a lot to hear about, but I just—I just want to be someone you feel like you can trust and be open with like that."

Closing his eyes, Zeref lifted his arm, wrapping it around her shoulders. He squeezed her arm for a moment, before releasing her with a sigh. "I assure you…you've already gained such trust from me. It just typically takes some form of prompting for me to speak on such things…my past does not often hold fond memories, after all." She nodded, sitting back up with a small smile. "And…I think I'd like the same, from you. Being out with you today…I think I've come to realize that I don't know as much about you as I originally thought. Likes, dislikes, hobbies…I'd like to be able to know what places you'd enjoy seeing, and what activities you'd enjoy doing, as we explore together. I feel as if I've spent too much time assuming your main interests were books and magic, but of course there should be more."

She laughed, shaking her head. "Yeah, I can see where you'd get that impression." Slowly, she began to gather food, still smiling. "But I like going out, too, and meeting new people. Shopping like Brandish suggested typically isn't my first choice of activity, but that can be fun with the right people and there's always trying new things to see if I like them or not." She shrugged, glancing over at Zeref. "I think for now, we should just try and find something to do together, and we'll decide later if it was something we enjoyed or not."

"Did you have a particular time in mind for doing such things?"

She paused, tilting her head. "Why not make this a regular thing? Invel probably won't be happy about it, but like you said, I'm not actually under any obligation to spend all of my time studying in this place." His heart stuttered, and he found his eyes drawn towards her. "I mean, there's probably more to do on weekends, so why not go out every Friday, or Saturday? Unless you have work to do then?"

Even if he did, he'd push it off until later. Either that, or he'd ask August to handle it, since the man typically could run the country, even if he respected Zeref's authority as emperor and did not. "Either day, works fine for me." He paused, thinking for a moment. Fridays were likely to have more crowds in the afternoons, as it was the first day of the week people managed to get off to go out and have fun. "I think…Saturday, would work well. Though, the museums do close on the weekends, so if you wish to see them, I am open to Friday."

She shook her head. "No, I don't think I'm that interested. I'm learning enough about your history and government from Invel, so I don't exactly need another place to go out and study it right now." He smiled faintly. "Then I guess you now have some advance notice to make plans." He nodded, seeing her grin as well. "This time, I expect to actually do something more than a tour of town. As interesting as it is to see, I know there's gotta be something else to do around here."

With that, they both continued their meal, moving on to other subjects. Zeref found himself considering what to show Levy next, his mind thinking about how the day had gone. People would be seeing them together more often like this, but if she did not mind, he couldn't bring himself to care either. She was smiling and relaxed…and she wanted to spend more time with him. While some may have wanted more, Zeref found himself content with the simple things such as this; his life had become relaxed, he had a home to live in, and he had someone by his side who he held very dear to his heart.

So, I don't normally write a lot of fluff, but I feel like these two need some relationship development so I have a few chapters focusing on them during what is somewhat of a calmer moment, before things really start escalating. I hope you enjoyed my attempt at something a little more light-hearted here! Feel free to review and tell me what you think!