A/N: So...I was inspired by a prompt/Instagram reel (lol): You are at your last ball before entering an arranged marriage. Suddenly, someone asks you to dance…and after that dance, you fall in love — Here's the link if you want to check it out: Instagram . com reel/CZTlZzahV9h/?utm_medium=copy_link

But yes, this baby was written on the Notes app in my phone and has been sitting in there for months. Totally forgot about it until I accidentally scrolled, so I was like, "Hmm, guess I should post it for more GraLu content, I guess." Viola. Please enjoy and let me know what y'all think.

Disclaimer: Don't own Fairy Tail or any of its characters. If I did, GraLu would've been endgame.

• Red String of Fate •

Loving You is a Losing Game

The glittering silver mask only covered the top half of Lucy's face, but it still felt like it was suffocating her. Even more so than the damn corset she was wearing underneath her night sky gown.

"Just a few more hours, Lucy," Levy, her best friend consoled.

The blonde sighed. "A few hours too many."

The headache on her scalp was starting to get a bit annoying and painful. Her gloved hands fidgeted, aching to run her fingers through her tautly pulled back hair and let her locks loose. The jeweled pins in her hair did not help the matter whatsoever.

"You'll finally get to meet him," Levy tried tentatively. "Larcade can't be that bad. His picture was appealing as you said."

Bitterness coiled around Lucy's heart like a vice, and she couldn't help the poisoned words drip out of her mouth. "Be that as it may, at least your arranged marriage is to a man you love."

Levy, being her best friend since they could both walk, easily rolled off her prickly words by offering her a glass of champagne. "This is your last ball as a single woman — a masquerade one hosted by the Emperor at that! Have some fun. Remember, you're not formally engaged to Larcade through society., so you can't say no if another man asks you to dance before him." The bluenette winked.

Lucy graciously accepted the champagne. "You're right. I'm sorry, Levy," she apologized. "That was uncalled for from me. I just really hope it works out."

Levy looped her arm through hers. "It's okay, Lucy. I'd feel the same." She smiled a Cheshire Cat smile. "Now, let's get buzzed, raid the buffet table, and shit-talk these sycophant nobles. Mira, Erza, Minerva, and Yukino are already having fun without us."

Lucy laughed as they began their trek down the red velvet staircase. Her eyes landed on Erza already chowing down the strawberry cheesecake while Minerva swiftly swiped a whole bottle of champagne from an oblivious waiter's silver tray. Mira smiled, gleaming underneath the chandelier lights, as she wordlessly offered her empty class to which Minerva gladly filled. Yukino fidgeted with her mask, seeming to rub the bridge of her nose in exasperation at her friends' antics but begrudgingly joined in on the fun anyway with some proper encouragement.

Lucy smiled at them when they caught her and Levy's eyes. Even if her arranged marriage didn't work out, at least she had an amazing circle of friends that would support her.

Her and Levy glided to their group of friends and easily settled in. Lucy didn't realize she finished her glass until Minerva offered her a refill and then another. She took a sip of the cold beverage, enjoying the light buzz it brought her to survive this social gathering of false niceties.

The chattering of her friends' lovely voices filled her ears. Lucy would occasionally slip in a witty comment here and there, as well as some funny snarky remarks when they glossed over the high-class persons they did not fancy. However, she tuned in when her friends touched an interesting topic.

"Do you think the Emperor is actually here?" Levy asked curiously. "He never seems to show up to his own parties."

Minerva swirled her glass. "Who knows. Does anyone even know what he looks like?"

"Erza does," Mira stated pointedly. "They're childhood friends, and she served with him in the war."

"Yes, he attends," was all Erza offered.

Yukino hummed. "Maybe we've all met him, but just didn't know it was him."

"Seems he has a small circle," Minerva remarked, impressed that such a big figure remained a mystery.

Mira pouted. "Boo, can't you give anything else, Erza?"

The scarlet-haired woman swallowed a bite of her third strawberry cheesecake. "He'll make himself known when he wants to. The Emperor is not a man that likes the limelight."

Minerva scoffed. "Really? Despite all his war decorations and successful campaigns against Alvarez?"

"Wow," Yukino admired. "What a humble man."

The conversation shifted to a different topic, and due to her fair amount of champagne consumption, Lucy's eyes began to scan the crowd out of slight curiosity and restlessness. unfortunately, her eyes met a tantalizing set across the ballroom. Her soon-husband-to-be — Larcade.

The picture her father had shown of him didn't do the man justice. The Dragneel family was known for their looks but his bright blonde hair, much like Sting Eucliffe's — Yukino's bethrothed — was an eye catcher, as well as his long lashes and serene visage. She had nothing against the man, but in her soul, she felt it would not work. While he was Natsu's younger cousin, her pink-haired friend didn't have much to say about him. He was as much of a mystery to him as much as he was to her.

Rather than ripping her gaze from Larcade, her eyes just passed over him, continuing to glance around the room, so she didn't give him the courage to walk over and ask her to dance. God forbid.

Unfortunately, just her luck, the musicians began playing a song. And that meant it was time to dance. No excuses.

"Damn," Minerva cursed.

"I didn't even see them coming," Mira said with slight trepidation.

Erza scowled. "I'm not drunk enough for this."

The group's mood dampened despite the buzz from the champagne. Dancing meant plenty of gentlemen would come up to them and ask for a dance, especially if they were not engaged, and they couldn't say no. Yukino and Levy, of course, no longer minded because they had beautiful bold diamonds on their left ring finger, relaying the message that they were taken. Hence, they wore no gloves.

Lucy swore inwardly, knowing Larcade would use this chance to come up to her. From her peripheral, she could see his bright hair moving toward her. However, someone beat him to it.

"Lady Heartfilia, may I have this dance?" The deep voice sent an indescribable tingle down her spine.

Lucy slowly turned, her chocolate orbs meeting midnight ones through a simple yet effective black mask covering the top half of the stranger's face. She swallowed thickly, somehow sensing those eyes knew every curve, every sense, and every depth of her.

"Yes, you may," she found herself saying, placing her hand in his. And in that moment, Lucy knew this man somehow held her heart whether she wanted him to or not.

The dark stranger smirked, gripping her delicate hand and pulling her towards him. Shock riddled her face when he stood to full height. Lucy barely reached his chin.

She stared in confusion at the man before her as they readied themselves before the musicians officially started the first song. Lucy had been to all the balls there were possible and could not - for the life of her - recall this handsome stranger anywhere. This man held himself with such regality and cold poise…

Lucy's thoughts were disrupted when he placed a hand on her waist, and she automatically placed a hand on his shoulder.

The blonde opened her mouth to ask the identity of this man, but the string of several violins had her quiet as they started to dance.

Before she knew it, they were gracefully gliding across the ballroom. No slight missteps, no hesitation or sudden falters. It almost seemed they had danced together before, knowing each other's steps, strides, and rhythm.

Lucy couldn't help but lose herself in her dance partner's dark eyes. Her gaze didn't stray as she let her body guide her smooth movements. Despite how effortlessly they danced, her heart raced within her.

"You're a great dancer," Lucy praised, hoping to start a conversation to better know this alluring stranger.

He gave a crooked smile. "I just chose a good partner."

Lucy didn't know if she was already flushed from the several champagne glasses she had, but she definitely knew red had tinted her cheeks at that moment. "You flatter me."

"Rightfully so."

They spun and twirled, and every time they drifted apart, they came back closer than before. It was intimate, it was electric, it was…amazing.

"And who exactly am I having the pleasure to dance with?" She finally asked, needing to know.

"You can just call me Gray," he answered simply.

"You can call me Lucy," she decided after a moment, remembering how Lady Heartfilia sounded too formal coming from his lips.

"Well, Lucy, the pleasure is all mine."

Damn, why did her name sound….so sinful coming from him?

They glided by Larcade. She could feel his eyes burning at her back, but she couldn't find it in herself to really care. By chance, she met Erza's gaze. The scarlet-haired woman smiled knowingly, as if she knew something she didn't.

To Lucy's dismay, the music began to die down, and her and Gray came to an eventual stop. The sudden applause startled her. Her chocolate eyes slightly widened as she realized their dancing had been so good, the other dance couples had stopped so everyone could watch them.

Gray removed the mask from his face, and there were small gasps from certain members of the crowd. Lucy's breath hitched as she realized how stupidly god-like this man was. She could only stand in awe as he lifted her hand and kissed the back of her knuckles. Despite the glove covering her hand, her skin burned delightfully anyway.

"May we meet again, Lucy."

Gray's hand slipped from hers, and Lucy had to tighten hers into a fist to keep herself from reaching out. This man really captivated her, and she couldn't help but admit she might have fallen in love.

He bowed, and she curtsied.

"May we meet again, Gray."

He cast her a shadow of a smile, eyes sliding from hers to someone next to her before he disappeared into the crowd. Lucy turned to see Erza had walked up next to her with a wide smile.

"Erza," Lucy greeted.

"Lucy, do you know exactly who that was?"

The blonde rose her brows in slight concern. "He introduced himself as Gray. Why?"

Erza's eyes pierced through her. "That man you danced with was the Emperor."

Lucy's heart stopped.

"And he made himself known to you," the scarlet-haired woman continued. "He took of his mask to show you his face."

"I wasn't the only one who saw his face," Lucy protested.

"Yes," Erza agreed but then she smiled. "However, it was for you. He wants to see you again. He wants you to know him."

"Erza," Lucy lowly hissed. "I'm already set to be married off to Larcade. Don't whisper such outrageous things." Despite her words, Lucy wanted to believe her scarlet-haired friend.

Erza gave her a look. "Lucy, he's the Emperor. The man can do whatever he wants. He gets whatever he wants. And if he has to fight for it, he most certainly will."

Before the blonde could say or do anything anything, the second song began, and she was whisked away by Larcade. The dance floor became busy, and throughout the song, she tried spotting Gray through the crowd. But like the shadow he was, she could not find him.

With heaviness in her heart, Lucy finally looked at Larcade. Why couldn't she have just fallen in love with the man before her instead of the Emperor?

Fin.

A/N: Yee, yee, yee. Stay tuned for more oneshots! Any suggestions or whatnot, just PM me please, or you can leave it in the comments (no guarantee I will see it though). Thanks :)