Chapter 2 - An Awkward Dragon

Sting POV

I walked into the Fairytail guild hall, my heart pounding in my chest. What if they hate me? I think to myself I did after all insult and injure them at the Grand Magic Games. I decide to just put on my best smile and at least try to keep some element of civility should anyone act with hostility towards me, I was, after all, here on the orders of the Magic Council.

I stop my fretting as I step forwards to stand beside my fellow Guild master Makarov. "It's great to see you all again" I say forcing a smile upon my face.

I hold up my hand behind my head as Makarov speaks up. "Hello everyone, we have a guest staying in Magnolia" he gestures to me and I try my best to keep up my smile and air of confidence. "I'm sure you all remember him from the games, however he is Sabertooth's new Guild master, so I don't want any offensive actions because of the past". I simply continue my grinning.

"Now, down to business, the reason Master Sting is staying with us is that the Magic Council, after seeing the devastation caused by the dragons after the Eclipse Gate incident, has decided to ensure that all guilds which it sees as a possible threat to 'law' and 'order' are to be supervised for one week by the Master of another guild. This is to ensure each guild, especially those of us with Dragon Slayers" Makarov says eyeing both Natsu, Gajeel and Wendy, my fellow Dragon Slayers, "is making the necessary precautions in order to prevent any further destruction by magic whilst Crocus and the rest of Magnolia recovers".

I then decide to speak up. I take a step towards the assembled Fairytail mages before me, saying "I must be quite honest, although I myself am a Dragon Slayer, and so one of the targets for the Magic Council, I'm here to observe your mages in Fairytail to see that everything is running smoothly". This earned me a small muttering from those assembled. "Don't worry, just don't destroy anything too important and I will pass you" I gave them a small wink to reassure them of my intentions.

Makarov then chose to speak up again, "Sting will be accompanying each of you" he gestured at the group standing further forward "on missions and just around town in general, just be good and he won't fail us" he made a quick inhalation of breath before bellowing "Now that's all, so let's go and celebrate the return of Fairytail as the Number One guild in Fiore!". This last speech earned a cheer as everyone one immediately went to drinking and reveling.

As soon as everyone had dispersed I let out a small, silent sigh, I'm gonna have to make sure that I don't have to fail them.

Or else he'll never like me forgive me properly.

It was after the party that I left the guild hall. For most of my time there I just stuck close to the entrance and talked with anyone who approached me. The only real conversation I had was with Mirajane Strauss and Erza Scarlet, who both approached me after seeing that I wasn't getting that involved with the rest of their guildmates. When they both approached me together, the two most fearsome women in Fairytail, I was overcome with a great sense of dread. Despite all my worrying all they did was politely enquire if anything was wrong, subtly looking for my opinion of the party and the guild. Erza then began asking me questions about my new life as a guild master and I quickly became more openly friendly, replying to her questions with a little excitement. I still can't believe I'm a guild master.

When they left and after I had inwardly calmed down I began to mingle a bit more with my fellow wizards. I chatted with Gray, debating his magic and Rufus', and I also had a brief run-in with Gajeel and Wendy, talking to them about our shared history, however they both had to see to other matters, Wendy to the exceeds and Gajeel to that girl with the letter magic, Levy I believe her name is. Despite my relatively pleasant conversations with the two Dragon Slayers, I couldn't find Natsu anywhere. And I really wanted to talk to him too.

However, despite my best attempts I couldn't locate Natsu anywhere, which was odd considering how loud and annoying he could be. Oh well I think leaving the guild hall that night, I do have to spend at least one mission with him so I will get to see him sometime.

/

Natsu POV

After the party had begun I walked over to the stairs and went up. I could bare to get near to Sting. It was bad enough having to control myself after that big grin spread across his adorable face when he re-introduced himself to the guild, I doubt I could even be able to hold a conversation with him. I subtly watched his actions from my perch above, secretly enjoying the opportunity to study the man who had been plaguing my thoughts and fantasies since the Grand Magic Games. I saw how unsure he looked, despite his usually confident appearance, I also saw Erza and Mira approaching him. I knew they wouldn't do anything to him since the Master told us about the situation, however I don't think he realized this. His face was even hot when he looked like he might collapse out of fear. I couldn't help but smile a bit.

After a short burst of conversation and the evident relief on Sting's face, Erza and Mirajane left him. He scanned around the guild hall evidently looking for someone to talk to. Then I saw as he went over to Gray and began starting up another conversation. From my position higher up and even with my advanced hearing due to my innate Dragon Slayer instincts I could only catch the briefest snippets of dialog between my friend and my new blonde obsession. From what I heard I could tell they were talking about Maker Magic. Must be talking about that wierdo with the funny feathered hat I think to myself with a little jealousy rising in the pit of my stomach as Gray was able to chat to Sting without any of the fear and distracting thoughts like I had.

Once Sting was finished talking with Gray I saw him move over to where Wendy and Gajeel were sitting. Wendy had gone over to talk to Pantherlily with the other two exceeds in tow, and Gajeel was just slurping noisily from a near-empty beer flagon. Sting approached the pair with a slight air of caution, which was quickly dismissed as Wendy offered him a friendly greeting and kicked Gajeel's leg to get him to engage with the pleasantries. Much to my amusement Gajeel complied and grunted a quick 'hello'. Another pang of jealousy surged through me as again I realized that both of the other Dragon Slayers could also talked to and be near Sting without any inappropriate images flashing through their minds. Damn it!

Again, once the conversation ended Sting began another sweep of the room. This time, however, it was different. Whilst the first couple of times Sting just seemed to be looking for anyone to talk to, this time he seems to be looking for someone in particular. At that thought I felt a quick fluttering feeling erupt from my stomach and quickly well up in my chest before I pushed it back down. He isn't going to like me like that I think to myself to help lessen the overwhelming feeling and he isn't looking for me.

I was quickly pulled out of my thoughts about the blonde by a little blue exceed floating up to me and patting me on the head.

"Natsuuuu..." Happy said "Why aren't you down at the party?" the exceed inquired.

"Maybe I don't wanna party" I respond half-heartedly.

"But Natsu" Happy began "It's a party, and you love parties"

"I said I don't wanna, Happy" I grunt.

"Are you sure you're okay Natsu? You seemed a bit down earlier today and NOW you say you DON'T want to party". I sigh.

"I just don't think I want to be down there right now" I say to my best friend in the world "I don't think I could handle it".

Happy cocked his head a little and then looked deep into my eyes. He opens his mouth to speak but then shakes his head, he knows me

too well, he knows that I'm not gonna tell him what's bugging me, so he just floats back down to the ground floor and tries to

re-engage with the party. I wince a little at the worried expression he pulls as he looks back up at me one final time.

Damn it, I'm really sorry Happy but I can't face Sting yet without knowing the best way to deal with what I feel.

Later on, after my encounter with Happy, I saw Sting leave the guildhall. He passed on his thanks for a great evening to the Master (who I'm pretty sure was too drunk to tell who he was speaking to) and then left. Saying his 'goodbyes' and 'goodnights' to Mira and Erza who greeted him at the entrance on his way to leave.

Seeing the blonde White Dragon Slayer all night had been quite a pleasant experience for me, well, expect for the occasional pangs of regret and jealousy at not being able to talk to him. Well, it's for the best I think to myself He isn't going to be interested in me so why should I even try. Although, I had never heard about a 'girlfriend' or even someone who he was interested in, I really didn't think that Sting was into guys. And I don't believe all of those stories about him seeing Rogue.

I let out a large sigh.

"What ya sighin' about there, buddy" I hear a voice behind me.

I jump to face the source of the voice, but then relax as I see that it is only Gray. "Nothin'" was all I said to him.

"Well, something must be wrong Natsu, you haven't come down from here since the beginning, and don't say that you have because I've been watching you and you haven't budged one centimeter from that spot".

I look him in the eye, briefly showing anger in my own eyes, before turning away, the anger fading once again into self-pity and regret. I can't even let myself speak for fear of my voice breaking or giving away my secret so I just stay quiet.

"Seriously, what's wrong, flame-brain" I hear Gray ask me, genuine concern in his voice. Despite the fact that Gray and I were rivals he still cared for me, even if it was just a little bit.

I finally build up enough courage to speak, trusting that my voice would not fail me. "I've got a bit of a problem".

Gray looks me up and down for a second then replies, "You're not injured or anything, are you?".

"Nah, it's not that..." I say, wavering a bit. I couldn't tell Gray about my thoughts, especially not the night-time ones.

"Well you've obviously got something weighing you down, Natsu, so if you just tell me then, maybe, I can help you. You cinder-head". I look solemnly at Gray. No matter how much I want to tell him, I just can't. "I can't tell you" is all I state.

"Why not?"

"It's too personal..."

"Fine, fine. If you're not gonna tell me at least could you sort something out, we can't have you all depressed when the guilds under inspection". At that Gray stood and went to the now significantly quieter ground floor. Half of Fairytail must have passed out.

Suddenly something occurred to me. If we were under inspection and the Master had said that the selected wizards, of which I was one, were to goon missions with Sting observing, then at some point I would HAVE to be at least close to sting for a while. That thought filled me with both a touch of joy at getting to be close to Sting, and absolute DREAD as I would be close to Sting without the ability to control myself.

Damn it... Things are just getting better and better

/

Happy POV

Seeing Natsu so unhappy was unbearable. But I know him, and he isn't gonna tell anyone, best just leave him to deal with it. For now.

I floated over to Gray, softly landing on the table in front of him. "Gray" I say, almost in a whisper, "Do you know what's wrong with Natsu, it's just he seems a bit down".

Gray looked at me and then up at Natsu. "Yeah, I've been watching him since the beginning of this party and he hasn't moved an inch. Something is bugging the idiot and I bet he won't tell anyone what it is".

"Yeah, he just practically ignored me before". Gray seemed a little startled by this, he thought Natsu told me everything I guess.

"I'll go see him later" Gray says before getting up to go over to Lucy, who had been gesturing for him to come over.

I wonder what's bothering Natsu so badly he wouldn't tell me I thought grimly.

/

General POV

It was late into the night when Natsu, carrying a sleeping Happy in his arms, stepped out of the guild hall. Everything had definitely quieted down as half of Fairytail was out cold from near-death by inebriation, and the remaining half, predominantly consisting of Lucy, Erza, Gray and few others, were tending to their comatose partners.

Natsu walked through the streets of Magnolia quickly, the night chill enhanced by his unnaturally high body temperature. Through his mind ran everything he had seen tonight, plus a few images of Sting in VERY interesting situations. He didn't pay much attention until he bumped into on the very quiet street. Someone with blonde hair.

End of Chapter 2