on clouds of cotton candy

notes: oh dear lord i am SO sorry. i can't apologize enough for my tardiness, and in the end this is all i came up with. i'm really sorry. i've been deliriously uninspired and i just don't know why! ugh. anywayy, for this one i just wanted plue as puppy and stingue brotp in the context of the twin paradox slayers crack theory (because i fucking LOVE it and i really do think it's possible in canon, i mean just look at all the shit Mashima's already managed to think up) sooo yeah. more focused on the nalu side of things, sorry gajevy fans, but i do have gajevy in store so don't worry. i will finish this!

disclaimer: let it be known for the rest of this fic that i don't own anything you recognize. the copyright at the bottom's just for the plot and writing.

puppy

"Rogue! Rogue, look! I got a puppy!"

The dark-haired boy frowned in confusion as he stared at the white creature dangling from his best friend's hands. "Sting, are you sure he's a puppy? He kinda looks like a…snowman…"

Sting rapidly shook his head and set the animal on the ground with a wide, toothy grin. "Nuh-uh! He's a doggy! Mommy said so. She said his name is Plue! We can play with him!"

"Puuuuun!" the animal exclaimed happily.

Rogue eyed it with suspicion. "If…you say so…"

"C'mon, let's play!" Sting grabbed the other boy's hand and yanked him along, calling for Plue to follow.

They played tag and wrestling and fetch, though Plue refused to chase after anything. They ran around the neighborhood, waving stick swords and slipping in mud, eventually making their way to the riverside.

"Aw man, we're all muddy!" Sting complained as he shook dirt off of his clothes. "Mommy's gonna be mad!"

Plue had turned a lovely shade of brown that was reminiscent of poop.

Rogue grimaced as he picked at his shirt. "And we're supposed to look all nice for the Fairy Tail party tonight."

Sting looked at the river and brightened with an idea. "Oh I know! Let's just wash up in the river! Then if we run, we'll be dry by the time we get home!"

Rogue thought about it and smiled. "You're right. Let's do that."

Before they could jump into the water, however, a loud bark caught their attention. There, across the street, was the biggest dog either boy had ever seen. It was a few inches taller than them and undoubtedly many times stronger. It bared its teeth and growled, tensing its muscles as it seemed to be preparing itself to charge straight at the boys.

Sting and Rogue froze in fear, unsure what to do.

"M-maybe we sh-should run," Sting suggested in a loud whisper, scared to make too much noise.

"Y-yeha, but I d-don't think I can m-move," Rogue whispered back out of the side of his mouth, afraid to move a muscle.

All of a sudden, Plue courageously jumped up onto his back feet and, trembling, stood in front of the two boys protectively with his front paws spread open. He hardly looked imposing, but both boys stared at him in shock.

The growling grew to snarling and the dog raced into action. Both boys shrieked and crouched, their hands covering their heads, eyes closed as they awaited their imminent death by dog.

Except it never came.

Instead, a loud yelp sounded, followed by painful whimpers, and both boys slowly opened their eyes to find the dog spasming on the ground, Plue's nose embedded deeply into the large dog's flank.

Sting and Rogue exchanged wide-eyed looks before shouting triumphantly.

"Wow, Plue, you're awesome!" Sting cheered.

"Thanks for saving us, Plue," Rogue said with awe.

"Man, I gotta go tell my parents! I bet they don't know how awesome Plue is!" Sting jumped forward and wrenched Plue out of the dog's side, ignoring the earsplitting wail, and said, "C'mon Rogue, let's go!"

With one last sympathetic glance towards the bleeding dog, Rogue nodded and took off after his best friend and their savior puppy.

"Mommy, Daddy, guess what!" Sting shouted excitedly as he burst into his backyard and ran straight to his parents, ignoring all of the family friends surrounding him. Plue bounded after him while Rogue went to search for his own parents.

His mother took one look at him and gasped in horror. "What the—Sting, what happened? You're covered in mud! And Plue's filthy too!" She crouched down in front of him and began dusting him off, muttering under her breath about fathers and sons.

"Aw c'mon Luce, it's ain't a big deal."

Lucy turned and glared at her pink-haired husband. "Just because you still destroy your clothes on a weekly basis doesn't mean it's not a big deal, Natsu."

Natsu smiled sheepishly, scratching his head before grinning at his son. "Hey bud! Got somethin' to tell us?"

Sting nodded hastily. "Uh-huh! So me and Rogue—"

"It's 'Rogue and I,' sweetie," Lucy corrected absently as she sifted her fingers through his dirty hair.

Her son gave her a strange look. "But Mommy, you weren't there. Anyway," he continued, ignoring his mother's exasperated sigh and his father's snicker, "we were playin' by the river and then this huuuuuuge doggy started barkin' at us from across the street! I wasn't scared or anything, 'course not, maybe Rogue was a little, I dunno"—at this, Natsu pumped his fist victoriously while Lucy rolled her eyes—"but before we could do anything, Plue stood up and protected us! He stabbed his pointy nose into the other dog and it just ran away! I never heard of a doggy that could stand on two legs! Plue's awesome! Isn't he awesome?" Sting beamed brightly at his parents, who only laughed and agreed with him.

"Sure is! Best damn dog to ever live," Natsu boasted proudly before yelping in pain when Lucy smacked his head. "Luuuuce!"

"Watch your language, mister, or I'll wash your mouth with soap again."

Sting laughed as his father gulped at the warning. It was always fun watching his mommy torture his daddy for being bad.

He felt a nudge on his back. Turning, he found Plue sitting and staring up at him. With a big smile, Sting hugged the dog tight and said, "Thanks for being the best puppy ever!"

© Copyright 2015 by The Siege