This one-shot with multiple pairings was inspired by "Dancin' (KRONO Remix) ft Luvli" by Aaron Smith. This song is also included in the fic so I recommend listening to it as you read.

PAIRINGS: Natsu x Gray, Laxus x Freed, Gajeel x Levy, and a little bit of Elfman x Evergreen.

-

Laxus POV

The guild was absolutely packed the night of the dance. I had helped set up the decorations, and even though I had seen it all before, when I walked in I couldn't help but gape because it looked amazing. Everything was colorful and bright and beautiful. And everyone within looked great! It was obvious that everyone had shown up dressed in their best clothes. I really appreciated that they cared so much about tonight.

Fairy Tail was having a dance in celebration of our first master Mavis Vermillion's birthday. Though she was dead and gone, we still found time to celebrate for her, and this year Erza wanted to have a dance. Master Makarov, my grandfather, reluctantly agreed.

Dancing wasn't really my thing, though I knew how to. My Thunder Legion was really excited for tonight, it was all they had been talking about for the past week. Well... Everyone except for Freed.

He was the captain of the Thunder Legion, and my best friend. But he didn't seem enthusiastic about this dance at all. He would listen to Evergreen and Bickslow talk about it with a smile on his face, but he confessed to me later that he was dreading it. He wouldn't have come if it weren't for the fact that the other two would be heartbroken if he didn't. He was only going for them, and for me.

As I walked into the large hall that was usually used for eating, singing, and pretty much anything else you could think of, the first person I was looking for was Freed. I was worried about him, he seemed really uncomfortable the last time I talked to him.

Fortunately, he had shown up as he said he would.

He was standing near the back of the room with Evergreen and Bickslow. Even from a distance, I could see he was wringing his hands like he did whenever he got anxious. I hurried over.

"Hey, guys!" I called out, waving a greeting as I reached them.

"Oh! Hey!" Bickslow exclaimed, overjoyed to see me, as always.

"There you are! I was wondering when you'd decide to show up." Ever planted one hand on her hip and smirked at me playfully.

Freed just shyly waved his hand at me, acknowledging my presence.

"Oh man, y'all look great tonight." I nodded my approval as I glanced over their various outfits.

Bickslow was wearing black dress pants with suspenders and shoes, with a white button-up shirt. Ever was clad in a long silk dress, wine-red in color, with a slit in the left side that ran nearly all the way up her leg. It was also cropped extremely low at the top, showing off her very curvy figure. And Freed was wearing a green tuxedo so dark it was almost black, unbuttoned to reveal his white silk undershirt and black tie. His long, jade-colored hair was tied back into a low braid that hung over his shoulder. They all looked fantastic. I myself had gone with the same approach Bix had: a white shirt, black pants, suspenders. But I had bothered to wear a tie, unlike him.

"Thanks, Laxus, so do you! Everyone in this hall looks amazing!" Bix spread his arms to indicate the crowded hall. Some people were dancing, others were lurking by the snack bar, others were hiding in corners socializing with friends. I loved the chill vibe.

"Hmm, I hate dressing up." Freed muttered, casting a wary glance around him, as if to make sure nobody was looking at him. "I feel so out of place."

"Cheer up, Freed." Ever patted his shoulder in an attempt to reassure him. He just looked even more uncomfortable than before. "Just get out there and find someone to dance with. You'll be fine. Besides, Erza told me you're a great dancer. You're the only one who can keep up with her, and not a single male in this entire guild can boast that. You know how she is."

I grinned when I thought about the time I tried to dance with Erza. She moved so fast and in such complex patterns that I just couldn't keep up, and ended up winded and extremely dizzy within ten seconds. So the fact that Freed could match her pace and actually dance with her was seriously impressive.

"You can dance with Erza? Damn, Freed!" I laughed. "And here I was thinking you were so uneasy about coming because you couldn't dance." I turned so my back was to the wall, looking out over the guild.

The usual chaos had ensued, and Natsu and Gray had started fighting like they always did.

"Hey, flame-brain, watch where you're goin'!" Gray's low, gruff voice snapped, from where he was trying to dance with Juvia before Natsu had stepped on his foot.

"Oh yeah? Well, maybe you shouldn't stick your feet in my way, you frozen bastard!" Natsu shouted back.

Gray snorted and advanced on the fire dragon slayer, eyes flashing with anger. "Do you wanna fight or not?"

"Hell yeah I do." Natsu looked the ice mage up and down, sizing him up.

Bickslow rolled his eyes from where he was standing beside me and called out, "Hey, you idiots! If you're gonna fight, take that shit outside! I don't wanna witness anything and tonight's supposed to be pleasant!"

"Oh yeah?" Gray and Natsu shouted in perfect unison, whirling to face Bix.

"I'm sorely tempted to accept that offer." Gray remarked, glancing at Natsu.

"Yeah. Wanna take this outside?" Natsu snapped a glare at the taller man.

"Yeah." Gray hissed.

The two stalked out the door like true predators, shoulders squared and muscles tensed in anticipation of the intense fistfight that was sure to happen outside. I grinned, amused by the sudden turn of events. It was so normal that everyone immediately went back to whatever it was they had been doing once the door closed and the two angry wizards were gone, acting like nothing had happened.

"That's a new record!" Levy remarked, as she dragged Gajeel over by his arm to come talk to us. I assumed she had forced him to be more social, like she always did. "A whole twenty minutes of peace before they wanted to fight each other!"

"You've been keeping track? How?" Ever frowned slightly, eyes sparkling with interest.

"Eh, it's simple. As soon as they both are in the same room as one another, I time them. It's a game Freed and I have been playing for awhile, to see how long they can stand each other before shit gets bad." Levy wore a relaxed smile as she planted one fist on her hip. It was unusual to see her so happy, she was such a tsundere that she often got mad over the silliest things.

"Oh, so you're in on this too? Gi hee!" Gajeel let out his signature chuckle as he poked Freed in the ribs.

The jade-haired rune mage subtly shifted so he was out of Gajeel's reach and said, "Yes, yes I am. I find you dragon slayers very amusing."

"Even me?" I was slightly baffled. I didn't consider myself to be a very amusing person.

"Yes, Laxus, even you." Freed tilted his head to look at me, hazel eyes glowing faintly in the warm orange light that spread over the entire hall.

"The couple's dances are gonna start soon." Levy said, changing the subject. She looped her arm through Gajeel's and smiled up at him. "You should dance with me... Baka."

"Oh? And why would I do such an unthinkable thing?" Gajeel turned his red-eyed stare to her, smiling warmly.

The two of them would make a really cute couple. Levy was always hanging off of Gajeel's arm, and he was always acting stupidly overprotective of her. But neither of them would admit that they were hopelessly attracted to the other. They just got all mad whenever someone asked if they were dating and deny it before returning to subtly flirting with each other.

"Because I wanna dance with someone, and I'm not gonna dance with Freed because he's way out of my league." Levy smiled up at the metal dragon slayer. She was so cute that I wondered how Gajeel would ever manage to say no to her.

"Oh, alright. But only if you pay for our drinks later." He pretended to be exasperated as he took her hand and led her away.

"They should be a thing." Evergreen said, noncommittallly.

"Yeah, I know. Wish they'd stop beating around the bush and just... Get together already." Bix turned just so he could give me a very intense look. I knew it was for a reason, but I couldn't figure out why until I realized his gaze was flicking back and forth between me and Freed.

Is he... Implying that Freed and I should be a thing?

-

Gray POV

Natsu screamed with rage as he swung his flame-coated fist at me, obviously trying to blow my face off. I dodged the clumsy attack easily and countered with an attack of my own. Ice magic flickered in my hands, glowing bluish-white and engulfing my elbows, turning them into sharp, jagged blades of death, which I attacked Natsu with, swinging my arms wildly, trying to score a hit on him. He danced backward, eyes locked on my arms, following the complicated patterns I was slicing into the air. I had already lost my shirt, it had been discarded somewhere on the ground when I practically ripped it off so I could fight this idiot comfortably.

"You really think you can beat me, bastard?!" Natsu screamed, as he suddenly slipped under my arms and his palm slammed into my chest so hard I thought I heard my bones crack.

I grunted in pain as the force of the blow sent me staggering back, nearly falling. But I recovered quickly and managed to strike him across the face, hard. He howled with pain before launching himself at me, kicking, punching and biting, doing whatever he could to batter down my defenses. I responded in kind, ferociously striking him with hands and ice alike, trying to beat out all his energy so he couldn't fight anymore. Wearing him down was the only way I could win. But the same went for him when it came to me. So in the end, this was just a game to see who could last the longest. It didn't matter how hard we hit each other, or how many of those hits we could dodge. All that mattered was time and stamina.

I gritted my teeth, refusing to let him win. I unleashed a rapid series of ice attacks on him, striking him with a hastily made ice hammer, then again with a solid wall that suddenly appeared right in front of him. The cold definitely did a number on him, but he used his inner fire to keep going. He melted the ice wall with ease and tackled me, hands a blur of motion as his elbow swung forward and nailed me in the jaw, stunning me.

It looked like he had gotten me this time, because I tripped and fell backwards, slamming into the ground full-force with a winded cry of pain.

It only took me a split second to realize Natsu was on top of me, straddling my waist. He grabbed my wrists and pinned them to either side of my head, fighting to keep me still as I began struggling wildly, shouting profanities at him as I writhed and thrashed, trying to shake him off me. But he held me tight, gripping my wrists so hard it hurt.

"Gray! Stop it! I've won!" he exclaimed, struggling to keep me pinned. "Just give up already!"

"Never!" I screamed back.

But I knew it as well as he did. He had beat me. I kept fighting furiously, hissing with pain, until finally my strength ran out and I found myself unable to keep struggling. Panting heavily, I gave up and went limp under him, staring up into his glowing orange eyes, glaring at him.

Natsu huffed an angry breath and slowly loosened his grip on my wrists as cautiously as possible, making sure I wasn't just tricking him into thinking I was tired. But this was no trick. I couldn't keep going. He won.

"Tch. You stubborn pain in the ass." Natsu snarled, planting his hands on his hips and staring down at me.

Our eyes were locked together, and for a moment I felt my pulse quicken. What was that strange feeling rising up in my chest? I made a half-stifled sound of protest and put my hands on his chest, trying to push him off me.

"Get off, idiot. You won. So let me go."

"Hmmm..." the pinkette cocked his head to one side, regarding me with a strange glimmer in his eyes I had never seen before.

I tried to squirm out from under him for a moment longer before giving up entirely. We started each other down for a solid thirty seconds. I couldn't handle the silence, and his gaze was so intense I thought the air around and between us might catch fire. What was his problem? Couldn't he just get off already?

"Why are you looking at me like that?" I finally asked, when the silence became too much for me to bear.

"Huh." Natsu leaned a little closer, intently studying my face. "I've never noticed the color of your eyes before. It's super cool." his voice was a lot softer than before, nothing like his previous angry tone. I tensed up. He'd never spoken to me like that before.

What the hell's going on? Why does my heart keep racing and skipping beats like this?

I swallowed hard. "Uhh... Thanks... I guess..." I mumbled, suddenly shy. "Now get off me."

Natsu's head suddenly shot up and he turned his gaze to the large guild building looming over us. "Listen, do you hear that? There's music playing. And I recognise the song, it's one of my favorites." he said.

Now that he mentioned it, I realized that the guild's walls weren't exactly soundproof and I could clearly hear the song they were playing.

Dancin'. Must be time for the couple's dance or something. I thought to myself.

Natsu suddenly shifted his weight to one side so he could stand up. He grabbed my hand and hauled me to my feet so I was standing beside him. I was only a couple inches taller than him, but it was still a noticeable height difference. How he managed to keep me pinned was still beyond me, I had no idea.

"Gray, this might seem a little awkward and random, but... Do you wanna dance with me?" Natsu asked.

-

Freed POV

Get up on the floor, dancin' all night long. Get up on the floor, dancin' til the break of dawn...

The familiar song lyrics reverberated around in the crowded hall. A few voices joined in, singing along. I knew the song very well, I quite liked it. Mirajane and Lucy had done an excellent job picking out the music for the dance.

"Alright everyone! Time for the couple's dance! Find yourself a partner!" Cana's voice shouted, above the soft din of the crowd.

I immediately went rigid. The couple's dance was the part of tonight I had been dreading. It wasn't that I couldn't dance, I really could. And apparently, I could dance remarkably well. That wasn't the problem. The problem was Laxus. I didn't want to watch him go off with some random girl and dance the night away with her.

The very thought of seeing him with someone else made my chest tighten with panic.

But... I didn't know how to ask him to dance with me instead.

Bickslow and Evergreen shifted and started off to find dance partners. I noticed how Ever immediately gravitated over to Elfman, whom was watching her expectantly, as if he'd known all along that he'd be her first choice as a dance partner. Bickslow just kinda wandered off, looking for anyone interesting enough to catch his eye. I knew how he was. Once he had asked me to dance with him and I agreed. We couldn't stop laughing the entire time because it was so awkward.

And now, I just wanted to dance with Laxus.

But I don't know how to ask him.

Laxus glanced at me like he really wanted to say something, but as soon as I met his gaze, he looked away. I noticed the color that sprang to his cheeks. He seemed embarrassed, like a kid that had just been caught doing something they weren't supposed to.

"U-Um, Laxus?" I called out, my mouth going dry as I realized it wouldn't be long before he went off with a girl confident enough to ask him to dance.

He took a deep breath before looking at me. "Yes, Freed?"

"D-Do you... Do you w-want to... T-To..." I suddenly couldn't maintain eye contact and looked down at the ground, fidgeting nervously. I couldn't get the words out, dammit!

"Are you okay?" he tilted his head at me, a concerned look crossing his face.

I tried to breathe, but I was freaking out. I tuned everything else out except the song that was playing.

Dancin' is what to do, dancin's when I think of you. Dancin's what clears my soul, dancin's what makes me whole...

Suddenly I found the words I needed to say. "Laxus, do you want to dance with me?"

Oh Jesus Christ, what have I done? The moment the words were out, I regretted it. All the color drained from my face and I felt like I was gonna pass out.

Laxus's jaw dropped open, but only for a second. He closed his mouth with a snap, and startled me by reaching out and taking my hand. "I'd love to dance with you." he told me.

-

Natsu POV

Gray and I were dancing together beneath the full moon and the twinkling stars set into the infinite black sky above us.

I couldn't believe he had agreed when I asked him to.

Our hands were interlocked, I had one arm around his waist and he had an arm around my shoulders. We moved together, smooth and fluid, like clockwork. I had no idea Gray could dance, especially with someone else. But he was surprisingly good at it, able to match my pace and stay with me at all times.

I couldn't help but smile and blush as he released my shoulder briefly so he could spin me around. This moment felt so surreal, so perfect, like a wonderful dream that I didn't want to ever wake up from. We came back together, and I snaked my arm around his waist again, trying to subtly pull him closer. I'd never admit it, but I was desperately in love with this retarded ice mage that I pretended to hate.

Tonight was just the perfect setting, and I felt so comfortable that I asked him to dance before I realized what I was doing. So here we were.

I was noticing all the little things about him that I never had time to enjoy before, like his sharply defined facial features, the way the light caught in his beautiful blue eyes, his paper-pale skin rippling with muscles that was surprisingly soft beneath my palm.

"I had no idea you could dance." Gray remarked, voice soft and dumbstruck. He couldn't believe this was happening either. He was dancing with his lifelong rival beneath the moon.

I noticed the slight blush in his cheeks as we continued to move in a square pattern, feet shuffling across the ground as we kept time with the faint music we heard from within the guild. I never would've been this confident in there. That was why I only asked to dance while we were alone. I didn't want anyone else to see what was going on between him and me.

I found myself moving even closer to him, my own blush deepening, as I focused on the song lyrics I could just barely make out from inside.

Every time when I look in your eyes, I smile with pride, happy that you're mine.

"Gray..." I whispered, staring up into his lovely eyes.

"Yeah?" he tensed, like he really wanted to run away. I held him just a little tighter.

"I love you." I slid my hand up to tangle in his black hair so I could tip his head forward and press my lips to his.

-

Laxus POV

What Evergreen said about Freed's dancing didn't do him justice. He was absolutely incredible. The way he moved and swayed and gracefully glided across the floor in time with the music was absolutely mesmerizing. He seemed to know exactly the right ways to move his arms, his legs, his hips to make him appear hypnotic, so elegant and beautiful in the moment that it made my breath catch in my throat and my heart skip a couple beats.

"God, Freed..." I muttered, subconsciously tightening my grip around his waist.

"What is it?" his eyes were wide as he started back at me. He still seemed so nervous, like a little ball of anxiety, but that didn't interfere with his incredible moves at all.

"You're... Amazing." was all I could say.

The smile that spread across his face was so radiant and beautiful it seemed to light up the entire room. "Thank you, Laxus. So are you."

Only then did I realize how close we were, how intimately I was holding him. It felt so right that I didn't notice at all before. I blushed, but couldn't help nudging him just a little closer, entranced by how shockingly attractive he was. How had I never noticed how good-looking he was before?

Bickslow was right, maybe he and I should get together. I should ask him out. I found myself thinking, as I spun Freed around and tried my hardest to keep time with the music.

"Freed?" I called out.

"Yes, Laxus?" he gently guided me in a series of complex dance steps that seemed to come to him naturally, as if he was born to dance.

"Do... Do you wanna go out to dinner with me sometime?" I asked, suddenly nervous though I wasn't sure why. He had asked me to dance with him first, it was obvious he was super into me.

Freed blushed and looked away, as if afraid to look at me. I barely heard the softly whispered words that came from his lips, shy and sweet. "Y-Yes, I would love to."

I smiled and pulled him close so I could embrace him, wrapping my arms around his thin, slender frame, holding him tightly. "Freed." I couldn't stop saying his name for some reason, it just sounded so good on my tongue. Like a blessing. The song continued to play, the music surrounding us and all the other dancing couples. The lyrics were perfect.

Joy in life, your love is true, I know. You are the best thing that has happened to me! Get up on the floor, dancin' all night long...

All the world seemed to fall away until it was just me and this wonderful little rune mage in my arms. He buried his face in my chest so I couldn't see how he was blushing and smiling like an excited schoolboy. Man, I loved him so much, I realized. He truly was amazing.

-

Levy POV

I smiled as I watched Laxus and Freed dance the night away together. Freed was an incredible dancer, but he still made sure to move slowly enough that Laxus could keep up with him. Overall, they made a really cute couple and even cuter dance partners.

"Don't they look great together?" I leaned on my boyfriend Gajeel's muscled brown arm.

"They do. But now I get to rub Laxus's gayness in his stupid face." Gajeel smirked, before adding his signature chuckle. "Gi hee!"

"Oh, but if you do, he'll just rub your shocking inability to sing in your face." I shot back, rolling my eyes. I was admittedly just messing with him, Gajeel could sing absolutely incredibly.

"What? I can sing just fine! What do you mean?" he snapped, pulling away from me with his arms crossed. "Shoobee do bah, bitch!"

I laughed and stood on my toes to kiss his flushed cheek. "You're funny."

"You're mean." he snorted, a small smile gracing his face as my lips grazed his cheek. "...but I love you anyway. Gi hee!" he added.

"I love you too, Gajeel." I learned my head against his shoulder and sighed, watching as the various couples moved and swayed in time to the music.

The song was almost over. I briefly wondered if Gray and Natsu were okay outside. I glanced at the nearest window and saw them... Kissing? I shrugged and turned back to the dance, grinning. Who knew we had so many gay members in our midst? It was sweet and funny and something I would definitely have to tease Natsu about later. But for now, I had my Gajeel, so I was perfectly content to stay right where I was and enjoy the warmth of his skin.

Dancin' is what to do, dancin's when I think of you. Dancin's what clears my soul, dancin's what makes me whole...

The end.