AN: A random Gajeel/Levy AU oneshot, written for Mellie. Hope neither come across as AU, since it is a bit of a rushed plot due to being only a one-shot. Their interactions are based more on the Tenrou arc and from there on.

Revised: 18/05/14

"Stupid papa..."

It all started with a casual meeting in the castle gardens.

"Stupid mama."

Storming down the garden paths, the young woman mumbled beneath her breath, dark eyes narrowed and directed on the floor and hands balled into fists at her side. Dressed in an ornate summery dress, it seemed to contrast a great deal with her current mood. Kicking a nearby pebble which was sent skittering across the floor, the girl known as Levy McGarden huffed angrily.

Coming to a stop, she hunched her shoulders, head lifting to glare at the sky as she proceeded to yell as loudly as she could. "Ah, I hate this!" Squeezing her eyes shut, she allowed her head to fall back down as all the anger drained out of her and into the floor below, leaving her full of exhaustion and exasperation. Why did her parents have to try and dictate every waking second of her life? Why couldn't they let her choose for herself what she wanted?

Sighing once again in frustration, she kicked another stone, sending it into one of the garden ponds and gaining some satisfaction from the splash it made. Thank goodness nobody was around to see her acting so childishly.

"Oi, some of us are trying to sleep here."

Okay, scratch that last part.

Flinching at the sudden masculine voice, the blunette turned around, skirts billowing out as her eyes landed on a figure lying on one of the nearby benches. Cheeks flushing red at the notion of him having seen her actions, she glanced down shyly, clenching an unclenching her fists. "S-Sorry…" Casting him one last glance, she walked away, intent on finally returning to the castle.

However as time passed by and she paced through the pathways, one thing become painstakingly obvious.

She was lost.

Just as Levy was ready to give all hope up, she found herself coming across the stranger laid out on the bench once more. Smiling in relief, she made her way towards him. "Excuse me-"

"What?"

She came to a sudden halt at his snappy tone, smile dimming. When she spoke again, it was more hesitant. "Um... I'm sorry to disturb you but-"

"Then don't."

Lips parting in shock at his attitude, she gaped at him. She didn't think she could ever recall being so rudely spoken to - an advantage that came when being a noble lady. Cheeks puffing out, she glowered at him. "You don't have to be rude, I'm only trying to ask a question."

Eyes cracking open to show the colour of scarlet, his head turned as he studied her. She stood still, fidgeting under his silent scrutiny before the dark haired man snorted and closed his eyes once again. "You look like a puffer fish."

"Wha-" She gaped at the stranger. "How rude! Is that any way to speak to a lady?"

"Yeah, yeah, what are you? A noble? That dress ain't something a peasant would wear."

Caught off guard by the sudden question and change in topic, Levy blinked for a moment before nodding once. "A-Ah… My parents bought me it for this ball."

A smirk. "Lemme guess." Sitting up abruptly, a dark gaze was turned on her, the petite woman shrinking under his intense gaze. "Wealthy family, better off than most of the deprived families in towns. Snobby, lived with everything given to you on a silver platter. And now that you hear the prince is up for grabs at this ball, you scrambled over here to get his hand in marriage and live the perfect fucking princess life."

She could only stare at him in stunned silence.

"Tch, all you noble girls are the same." He grumbled, hand running through his unkempt mane of hair. Standing up, he shoved both hands in pockets and turned to walk away.

"H-Hey, wait just a minute!" Running quickly to block his way, Levy placed both hands on hips and narrowed her gaze as she stared up at him. She didn't appreciate a stranger belittling her, especially about things that were untrue. "Who are you to make unfair assumptions about me? You don't even know me!"

A cocked eyebrow. "You saying none of that's true shrimp?"

Bristling at the nickname, she frowned. "N-no… It is true my family is wealthy and that compared to other girls, I probably have been handed what I wanted all too easy…"

A snort.

"But!" She went on, directing one finger towards his chest. "I am not snobby and I am certainly not here to win some pompous prince's hand in marriage! If it was up to me, I'd be sat at home right now with a book-"

"You read?"

She faltered mid-lecture before glancing aside with a tint of red on her cheeks. "Y-Yes…" A pause before she met his gaze, lips turning down. "What? Are you going to go say something like 'women shouldn't bother reading'? That's what my father and mother always tell me when they see me with a book."

Folding his arms, the older man studied her as if in a new light. "Nah, I think it's impressive. Makes a change from the bimbos passing through this castle who wouldn't know a vowel if it bit them in the ass."

Try as she might, she couldn't quite stop the hint of a smile at his retort. He in turn quirked a lip.

Feeling that the air was now less hostile, she allowed herself to hold out a hand. "I'm Levy. Levy McGarden."

"Gajeel." Accepting her offer, his large hand engulfed hers with ease.

"You won't tell me your family name?"

"You'll have to work for it shorty."

Another pout and she pulled her hand away, folding both arms over her chest. So much for getting along. "Who are you anyway, if you don't mind me asking? Another noble?"

"Something like that."

"You're here for the Royal ball too, then?"

A grumble, as he looked over her head and in the direction of the castle. "Got pulled into it. Being pushed into courting some girl for a wife-to-be by the old folks."

"Similar positions then." She mused aloud.

"Hn."

The two remained silent for a moment.

"Well, if it makes you feel any better, I think any girl would be lucky to have you Mr. Gajeel. Wit, charm and all." She stated. Although her tone of voice was genuine, the look in her eyes was far from it.

"You think I'm charming, huh?"

At the toothy grin he sent her way, she quickly evaded her gaze by becoming interested in a rose bush to her right, desperately hoping she wasn't blushing. What was with her?

"Well, the most charming jerk I've ever met." She mumbled.

A chuckle. "You ain't bad yourself, shrimp."

She smiled at his response, and forcing herself to meet his eyes once again, she opened her mouth to speak...

...only to be cut off by another instead.

"Gajeel-kun!"

"Oh crap." He muttered.

"It's starting soon, come on!" A blue haired woman ran into view down the path, violet gown held off the ground as she hurried to link her arm with his. Without any hesitation, she began tugging him insistently. "Come on, Gajeel-kun! Juvia was sent to bring you back by your parents!"

"Alright, alright, I'm coming already." He growled, pulling his arm free before casting a quick glance towards Levy. "See ya inside."

"Ah, okay."

"Oh? Who is this?" Dark blue eyes turned on Levy, suddenly curious.

"Nobody, now get a move on."

"Eh? But-"

"Going. Now." Grabbing the woman by her wrist, Gajeel began to pull her along despite her complaints, offering a small wave to the petite girl. "Bye, shorty!"

She huffed at the nickname, shoulders tensing up. Her height was a sore spot, dammit! "Jerk!"

His laughter could be heard as he vanished off out of sight. Sighing, Levy's shoulders slumped and taking a deep breath, she decided to follow their footsteps and return as well.

However, as she took a step forward, she suddenly remembered her predicament.

"I'm still lost..."

.

.

.

"Levy, where have you been!?"

"Outside in the gardens." Rejoining her parents inside, Levy decided that was the last time she went wandering this place alone. It had taken her ten minutes to find the exit out of there!

Her mother glared, standing beside her husband with her head held high. "The prince is picking a woman to court now, you know…"

She blinked in surprise. "He finally showed up?" She'd admit, she'd half been expecting him to skip out on this - the prince didn't exactly have the best reputation in the kingdom.

"Levy, stop talking back." Her father snapped. "No man wants a woman who talks out of line."

Levy ducked her head down, simmering silently among the crowd of ball-goers. As if she'd wish to be betrothed to a guy who saw a woman as beneath him. The opinions of this time were far too ancient for her tastes, it was the reason she loved reading fiction so much - in those, it wasn't at all unordinary for a woman to pillage the seas or rule a kingdom alone. As she brooded silently, the King stood before the large crowd, standing atop a set of stairs that lead to his throne. As he made a large show of introducing his now-of-age son into the room, everyone waited with bated breath.

"…and with those final words, I present to you my son: Crown Prince of Fiore, Gajeel Redfox!" Eager applause broke out at his words.

Hm, Gajeel Redfox-

Wait, what?

Head snapping up, brown eyes widened as Levy took in the sight of her garden friend from not too long beforehand. Now adorned in royal clothing with a gold crown atop his head, he held a bemused expression painted on his face as his red eyes scanned the crowd.

"So son, have you picked a lucky lady?"

How could he pick someone? He'd been absent for the entire ball!

"Uh huh, give me a sec." Gajeel replied dismissedly, missing the exasperated look on his father's face at the response. After a minute of allowing his gaze to wander, he finally growled. "Levy, where the hell are you?"

She froze.

Feeling her parents eyes bearing down on her suddenly, the young woman found herself frozen to the spot.

"Levy McGarden." Gajeel went on, ruby eyes narrowing. "I know you're out there somewhere, shorty."

"She's here, she's here!" Her mother suddenly cried, practically shoving other people out the way in her haste to force her daughter forward. Face pale, Levy tried to pull away but her mothers grip was iron tight on her arms.

Gajeel glanced over, eyes fixating on her and a grin morphing onto his face. Levy swallowed, suddenly feeling like prey as she was pushed into the middle of the dance floor, all eyes on her.

Step by step, Gajeel began to approach Levy, and it took everything in her not to turn and flee right then and there. Eventually, the distance between them closed and smirking down at her, Prince Gajeel offered a hand. "My lady, care for a dance?"

"I, uh-" Eyes flitting nervously side to side, somewhere in the crowd Levy spotted the blue haired woman from before fanning herself in a flushed state. Well, nobody was obviously going to help her here. "A-Alright."

The King who had been watching in shock – he'd never actually expected his son to pick a girl – turned to the band. "What are you waiting for? Play." He snapped in a hard whisper, eyes returning to the couple.

The band stumbled into quickly playing, a slow piece of music slowly filling the room. Giving a small cursty, Levy took his hand and placed the other on his shoulder – a hard feat due to her challenged height, thank god for heels. There'd barely gone five seconds before she began interrogating him.

"Why didn't you tell me you were the prince?"

"Didn't feel like it."

"Gajeel!"

"Eh, found it nice to talk with a girl who treated me normally."

"I treated you like an ass." Oh God, she'd treated the crown prince like an ass! She'd called him a jerk!

Noticing her horrified expression no doubt, he glared. "Don't you go kissing my feet now or anything, or I'll throw you away from me right this instance. To hell with being respected."

She met the fierce gaze, gaze hardening at his words. "As if!" The day she kissed this man's feet was the day she gave up books.

A smirk. "Atta girl."

Huffing, the bluenette glanced away, noting her parents happily embracing one another somewhere. "Why did you call me out here? Are you seriously intending to marry me?"

"Maybe."

"Maybe?"

"I only had to pick out a girl to court. That was the promise I made to my father to get him off my back. Marriage isn't something I wish to have on my plate for a good while yet."

"Then... You're going to court me?"

Red eyes met brown as he grinned. "Perhaps." As more dancers began to join the floor and sway to the music, he leaned forward, face becoming very close in proximity to her own. "What you say, shrimp? Fancy going on some dates?"

She honestly couldn't tell if he was being serious or mocking her.

A raised eyebrow. "I can't see you being the type to give roses and take me on romantic walks on the beach."

"You want that stuff?"

"No." A pause. "Well, yes." She smiled up at him. "As long as the sappy stuff comes with adventure along with it too."

He grinned. "Gi hi hi."

As he twirled her around, the two of them fell into comfortable silence - both of their parents meanwhile were grinning happily from the sides. And though neither of the two married immediately – they'd known each other for all of an hour after all! – they did eventually tie the knot after many years of bickering, teasing and sexual tension that annoyed everyone in a nearby vicinity.

All from a simple meeting in the gardens...

"You're still a jerk."

"You're still a shrimp."