Really, it should be peculiar, yet, in staring the image, it truly suits his very personality. He's twirling right infront of me with one of the largest grins he could make, the joviality reaching right into his eyes- and oh so naturally, the stars are once more trapped so bright within his midnight. Honestly, I cannot find it in myself to protest anything, not with his gay expression lighting the room, not with his aura being so bright that the rest of our room is blurred in contrast. Even if my own pride is simmering underneath the surface at the sight- because unto me, it is just so odd, not acceptable- yet, it isn't my decision; and it does nothing to shift my feelings for the idiot before me.

The sun through the curtains is showcasing an ethereal vision, the navy, twirling dress is shining under the light - and he does look beautiful to me; just as he wanted to. The skirt is flowing around, the subtle glitter intertwined with the fabric is captivated by the motion; the lose fabric is easy for fighting with and not blocking movement, the torso is tightly fixed, showcasing lean muscle; a high-neck with no sleeves- yet both areas were lined with gold thread. It truly did suit him, and I find myself smiling at his happiness- at his beauty in the clothing is irrefutable. Yet, what the observers will do, say, what the other competitors might let spill from their lips- I can feel my lids narrow at the thought, it would no doubt cause a problem. However, what is continuously punching against my mind is what our guild might think at the display. Were I not stupidly taken with the man, I would have been one of those condemning him for it, laughing at the perceived weakness he was displaying with his demonstration, loud and mocking in all the ways plausible. I know without any contradiction in mind that many people within the guild will hate the idea, the sight, possibly attempt to push him into compliance. Many of those my age and above- if not all, within Natsu's age group -though not far away from my own;- I'm uncertain, but I do know there will still be a dislike at the concept at the very least, honestly, it could be even worse.

There are few who I know won't care, who will simply smile and accept it, perhaps even praise. Gramps, Lisanna, Wendy -though I don't know her well, Mirajane- no doubt, and maybe Erza, thats about it. Everyone else, I'm near certain will squirm in discomfort, or be outright disgusted and make it very well known. It makes a jolt alikened to that of a stab wound in my stomach with the acceptance that I would have been in the latter group not long ago. Natsu is an idiot for doing such a thing, but even so, he's my idiot, and I will make no objection to what he wants; even if, at the back of my mind, I'm still kicking at the loud part of me that wants to mock him for it.

"Enough spinning around, we're going to be late if you keep acting stupid." My knuckles are white as I stand and my fingernails hurt from the pressure I've been putting them through as I gripped my pants in consideration of the situation. He does stop, and the grin is still in place- no offense taken apparently. He chuckles loosely, but then looks to the small bedside table, and grabs something; lip- gloss, a light pink shade. I don't know anything significant about make-up, truly, other then it exists and on occasion it inhenses a woman's features- and for most it is a deliucive mask; for that particular reason, I find myself scowling slightly at the sight of the tube. I force my throat to tighten, though the words I want to speak are clawing up my esophogus. I do not want him to wear it.

As he puts it down, I see it has added a sheen, a sparkled-shimmer, onto the pinket's lips with a touch of cherry petal colouring just hinting underneath the shine. Then; he puckers up and makes a kiss to the air a loud 'mwah' sound coming out -was that compulsory or something?- before he begins rubbing his lips together, seemingly testing the feel. The clawing in my mouth stops just as my mouth was beginning to be torn open by the claws of negativity. His irises stare up at me once more- midnight and stars, but now not to far below his lips shimmer like the dew on a sakura leaf; and he looks almost innocent- but he's staring up at me with… something a small curl at his sparkling lips, and a nervous sway in his body movement- his eyes shaking; before it all stops and he breathes deep, seemingly in self-assertment.

"Better get going!" Then, again, for the second time in as many days I find myself being dragged around by Natsu, I want shout at him for it and pull my arm back with just as much force as he's puling it with. But he would look backwards at me with a pout- or glare- therein see my face, and I would prefer that the heat I can feel on my cheeks isn't actually noticed by the fire menace.


We arrive on time- well not really, but the first few minutes of the day don't really count because all the competitors are just standing in their stands and waiting for the challenge to be announced. Erza cannot lecture me for that- I let my sigh roll out in freedom, I do not want her to lay into me today- I just got this dress I refuse to let it be ruined by her; by an opponent fighting me sure, that makes sense, but not her. The sigh mixed with grunt behind me is so loud and obvious I could have identified it from the blocks away. I can hear Laxus's heavy bootfalls on the stone as he walks away- and I wonder once again if the soles are actually made of metal, because how could they be so loud?- enhanced hearing or not, they're too prominent, and always have been, though maybe thats just because I've always been kind of focused on his presence.

The door to the stand is locked already, so slamming into the wood is the best option to get in- the sting in my shoulder is worth it for the very small feeling of accomplishment doing it on the first try brings, and the sweep of wind over my face is nice too. Though my lungs to contract slightly at the act of brute force, and my hands find my knees very fast, a strong breath needed. "Natsu! Seriously- could you have cut that closer?!" Grey isn't shouting so much as griping very loud above me, and the snarl in his voice is unmistakable as irritation. I snap myself back up as fast as I can, staying hunched over isn't necessary, I'm ready to shout at him, lay him down a level- because I am on time. But I turn to Wendy first, her grin makes my annoyance go away; so bright and shes jumping slightly in place, her eyes are glimmering, and I can feel my grin stretch wide in response.

"Natsu! You look amazing! So beautiful!" The giddness in my chest is high and I want to jump with her, because I had bought the dress to prove to her- it was plausible to showcase yourself. I let my giggle loose, damn loud to my own ears and so well fit- the excitement from this morning coming as a ball of lightning to my senses. And perhaps in stubborn retaliation against Laxus's irate stop of my spin this morning, I let the sweeping of the skirt feel good once more and give a twirl so she can see the fabric. Then she collids onto my chest, small and the vibration of giggling at my abdomen, the light hitched breaths she lets loose are somewhat ticklish- I feel jovial myself really, just as Wendy is so I pull her closer and hug tight, warmed by the fact that she's happy with my wardrobe choice is placating because part of the reason why I'd bought a dress was to comfort her; another was simply the fact that I've longed to wear one for awhile- they look so good, flowy or tight, long or short.

Though- I had picked this dress for more then those two reasons.

A sharp suction sound beside us both, comparative to a hiss in intensity- but the bite in the air is more apparent in the uncomfortable dip in tempature, and it draws me to look at Grey immediately. I can say, definitively, I have never seen an ice-mage shiver, let alone a man whom frequently found himself stripping without care of where he stood. Yet, he is, he's twitching, and it is pure instinct that allows me to pull Wendy behind me- because the expression on his face isn't 'resting' its twisted its turned from all the wrong angles and morphed into some type of vicious man I cannot -and refuse to- recoginze. Perhaps it might be intimidating to a civilian, but to me its more of a threat, and though I know I can beat the man down if necessary; Grey looks almost feral, and therefore, dangerous, I don't want to fight the man for the sake of actual self-defense. His eyes are popped wide, his eyebrows are drawn down too sharp, he's snarling so much I can see his teeth pressing hard against each other and hear the hisses of air as he inhales and exhales. The temperature around us is dropping fast, and though I knew he could do so for awhile, I had never experienced it first hand.

Erza is staring at him to, and she is also breathing heavy, but I can't tell why, her stance is less defensive then mine and her expression isn't pinched, shes just staring down at Fullbuster with incredibly tensed muscles. Lucy is a slight different, her gaze is slowly looking inbetween me and Grey, but every time her sight rests on me she swallows hard after examining me from toes-to-hair, her nose shriveling upwards and corners of her mouth tilting down, looking more and more uncomfortable -disgusted- at each time her eyes turn to me, I can see her adam's apple bob with heavy swallows several times as we all stand breathing too disjointed. Wendy is standing behind me, it is fact that Grey will do nothing to her, but it quells my nerves slightly to know I'm in the way of any sudden action. A precaution I'm unused to.

Finally, something sounds, but its the quietly growled voice -rasped in restraint- of the ice-make wizard. That is when all the previously loud- indicated, breathing stops being so dominant in the air. "What the hell are you wearing Natsu." His tone does not sound angry, it could be contrived as rational almost. But I know him, and the small growl just behind his words is obvious enough to tell me what's going on in his head. "Do you. Want. To. Distroy the reputation of the guild even more by looking. Like. That?" Weird pauses of intensity slew into his sentence, and even I feel myself itch at the strange delivery. I can only let myself stare at him, because Laxus had warned me quite distinctively that things probably wouldn't go as I would like- "People are stuck in their shit Natsu- even I-" He'd cut himself off very fast, I think he even bit down on his tongue with the way he winced, as if I was going to punch him for the integrated opinion he held; I knew what he was going to say, but he's still standing by me so he's not letting it bind him down, and it makes me warm to think about. Grey however, I'm uncomfortable with his reaction- I knew Laxus was right when he spoke it, but still, I suppose my mind hadn't really grasped the idea.

I want to punch the ice mage, but a small feeling on the inside of my gut is telling me to hold back, one I've never had before. "I'm not trying to do anything but-" I know I'm letting my words slip through harshly, challenging, but that is automatic and I'm being somewhat restraintful as it is. He interrupts me though.

"But- You decided to look like a complete-" His teeth grit, I can hear the sliding crunch. "-fag!" He finally yells out his last word, and its almost at a volume so full I'm betting the spectators in the stands nearby can hear it clearly. Still he's shaking, and I want to lay one heavy onto his nose, just to hear it crack and watch him fall for the snarl he lets lose, and the way his eyes are so frigid, attacking me with a frozen spear with only a gaze. That has my fist losen, I have seen the man angry many times- it has become a sport to get him triggered, however, this is a run from that- to far and evermore dangerous. I can only see from my peripheral Lucy twitch- just the blurr of her figure, while Erza is behind and though I can see her vivid scarlet hair- I can't see any shift in her stance. I do feel a tightening at the back of my dress, Wendy's hand clasping at the fabric- she's strong, but if I don't know what to do in this situation then she definitely wouldn't know either- I'm a life raft at the moment and she's scared of drowning.

"I dressed in what I wanted to! I don't care what you think!" There's no want to add a clip at the end, to send out a childish name- because he doesn't deserve my charity of mild humor.

"What!? Like you're going to go suck the dick of the first guy you see!?" I hear a whimper behind me, even as I feel and hear the beginning of a full on yell coming up my throat.

"You bastard I'm not going to-" Its rippling the burn on my hand as the fire begins to spread upwards- I want to step on his toes until they crunch and see him yell out from the sting of a burn.

"ENOUGH!" Naturally its our commonplace referee interferes before the taught chain brakes and some vicious magic is unleashed, enough to possibly get us a reprimand for our behaviour- losing points we don't have. We both look to her, and truly its in relief that I let my shoulders drop, me and Grey don't fight over serious disagreements, issues, just petty things that neither of us really care about; so to actually be fighting with him without that silent agreement of 'nothing meant,' is more then intimidating. We're both getting stone irises bared into us as she somehow towers above with crossed arms and with a expression slightly more then frustrated.

Brown jewels flick to Grey first. "Grey, watch what you say." A growl lays hidden just underneath her words, but my rival just scowls and turns to the look at the field. Then she looms over me, and I feel my whole mind protest at the intensity she automatically emits. "And Natsu-" her lips thin as she briefly runs her eyes up and down my body. "-Go get changed." I flinch back at that, because something hurts underneath my skin for the way she says it- as if I were acting ridiculous, as if I had done something wrong and she is being lenient- I've heard Gramps with that very same tone before; and it doesn't send a rush of flaring anger through me, yet- it makes me want to scream at her. I can feel that sting, that pressure under my eyes, and I force my lids shut, my fists doing so as well. There's nails to my palm, and I focus on that- because there's ache in me that has me wanting to cough and heave with the pressure encompassing it.

I'm snarling at her- and thats when the anger comes fast- because its familiar, I know it, and its easy to register against everything else suddenly washing over me. She's not really looking at me, her eyes are towards the arena, but I know how I appear, making it almost consoling that she's not paying attention; and just assuming I'll do what she ask- ordered. "No." I'm shaking, my voice is following, it cracks more then once with the short, simple, word. I want to hit her, I want to hit Grey, and my shoulders feel as if they're shuttering too much to take anymore weight, my tears are too fast flowing to let me see, there's too much on my face to distinguish between the stick of snot and the simple liquid of tears, even drool is slipping down. My eyes are stinging and they feel swollen, my wet face is bothering me. My chest is constricting, but I don't attempt to glance at her reaction to my denial, as I too pull myself to stare out towards the stadium. I'm heaving and all sights are blurring as my head feels light- I know I feel Wendy is clutching herself to my side, a hug I cannot return as I can't bring myself to do anything but force my own breaths.

I register Erza volunteering, while Cana adjoins from Team B; that makes me glance towards Team B. There I manage to bring my arm up enough to rub at the small shoulder pressing into my ribs. Not looking to the red-head, or those next to me- finding comfort in the simple distinction of Team B. Ignorance had me believing that I would simply be regarded with a slight question in the eye for my clothing choice; not full blown disgust or blatant dismissal, inalongside the bitter tang of Lucy's silent discomfort. Its so similar to the feeling of Laxus's attack- betrayal, loneliness, anger, and at the back of my mind, resentment.

To roam my eyes over the make-up of our second team; well I know, know, Mira wouldn't care, she might've even praised my decision, I know Cana would be indifferent- not a care given anyway, maybe a small taunt but that would be it, Laxus knows, and Gajeel shares my and Wendy's opinion. I wish to be up there, I had never considered the thought of hating to be with any of my family, but right now my frien- my teammates have only my resentment. I want to be in Mirajane's calming, sweetened, presence. I want to laugh at one of the drunkard's blunt sex jokes. And though unbelievable as it is, I want to stand next to Gajeel and be bitter, maybe even mean, about their reactions- because he and I would both gripe together, I know we would. Mostly, I desire to be within reach of Laxus and his intense aura; the one that seems to be so strong that it just incinerates any threat in range- and that's just it; I feel threatened. I feel vulnerable, as if I could be killed within one man's clumsy attack. I just want to be with my family, with my boyfriend.