"I'm fine Rogue, really!"

Rogue read the scribble that Sting had written, and crossed his arms. "You are not fine. At least not completely yet. Our healer should be back today, but until then, you are still injured."

It's been four days since Sting returned from his mission, and his bruises have somewhat faded. Sabertooth's only healing mage had been away on a job, so Sting had to rely on his own body to heal itself for the time being.

Sting just sat reclined on his bed in the medical ward pouting. Rogue chuckled at Sting, "Oh come on, it'll only be for another few hours. Have some patience Sting."

Sting relaxed and thought for a moment, then wrote on his pad of paper. "Fine I'll be patient, but can you at least keep me company so I'm not bored out of my mind?"

Rogue was about to reply when he heard a voice coming from the hallway.

He turned back to Sting. "I might not have to, actually" he replied.

Sabertooths' one and only healing mage, named Eir, stepped through the doorway.

"Hi Rogue, Sting. I just got back and heard a bit from Yukino about what happened and that Sting needed my help."

Rogue pointed silently at Sting while the bedridden mage waved at their healer. Eir walked to Sting and looked him over. He read the doctors report and started healing some of Sting's minor wounds saying, "You really got roughed up this time. I might not be able to heal everything completely, but I can fix most of your injuries. These smaller cuts and bruises will be gone, and I can get your voice up and running again soon. I'm not sure how much I can do about your ankle and knee though."

Sting nodded and scribbled on his pad of paper, "Thanks Eir, I really appreciate the help :)"

Eir read his note and smiled, "It's no problem, and it's my job after all."

Rogue watched the two of them and thought to himself. 'Eir isn't as powerful as Wendy or Chelia, so Sting's ankle and knee probably won't fully heal for a while. I hope he can manage not to further injure them by being reckless. '

He was taken out of his trance by Eir's report, "Alright, I've healed Sting as much as I can now. All of his bruises and gashes are gone, and his voice is pretty much healed. As I suspected, I wasn't able to heal his knee or ankle completely, so he will need about another two weeks to return to normal. Sting should stay bedridden, but if necessary, he can walk with crutches."

Sting groaned, "Two weeks?!" He coughed a bit and cleared his newly healed throat. "What am I supposed to do for two whole weeks?"

Eir piped up and replied, "I would suggest starting to slowly use your knee and ankle again. Nothing major, but just enough to keep the mobility in them and prevent them from becoming stiff." Sting nodded and wiggled his left toes, resulting in discomfort to his ankle. He groaned with a smile. "I'll work on it. Thanks again, Eir."

"No problem. Before I go, let me take a look at those markings on your back I've heard about. I might be able to identify them."

Sting nodded again and leaned forwards, turning a bit to the side so Eir could look at his back. Eir's eyes widened as soon as he saw the black marks across Sting's skin. "These do look familiar… I've seen similar markings in the medical field for magic transfusions before, but nothing this intricate or wide-spread. I can go join the others in the library to see if I can find anything. Let me know if you need anything else, Sting." Eir left with a wave and Rogue sat down next to Sting who reclined back onto his bed.

"How are you feeling now that Eir healed most of you?"

"I'm feeling a lot better, and happy that I can finally speak again. Being bedridden for the next two weeks is gonna be rough, but I'll have you by my side to help me, wont I Rogue?" Sting asked slyly with a wink.

Rogue's face deadpanned. "Now that you have your voice back, I might not want to be in the same room with you being immobile and bored."

"Aw come on, you know you love me" Sting replied teasingly.

Rogue wrapped his arms around Sting, "Yes, I do love you Sting, but I don't care for your over dramatic whining." He kissed Stings cheek and stood up, saying "I'll go get Frosch and Lector. They'll want to see you and surely will help with your boredom." "Ok, thanks."

After Rogue left the room, Sting's face fell somber. His right hand crossed his body to feel the markings that had been slowly but steadily progressing along his back. He even though for a moment that they had moved like they were alive.

'Something is still not right about this… I'm feeling weaker even though Eir healed me. Whats going to happen to me if the markings completely consume me? Will I die… or will the pain kill me first?'

Before his thoughts could run any further, Rogue returned with their exceeds.

"Sting!"

"Sting-kun!"

Frosch and Lector ran inside and hopped on the bed on either side of Sting. Lector started the conversation, "Are you feeling better Sting? I knew you couldn't stay down for long, you're too tough!" Sting smiled at his friend and assured him, "Yea, I'm feeling better. Nothing can stop me for long buddy! I hate to say it though, but my leg is still not fully healed yet, so I have to be careful."

Lector looked down for a moment, and then smiled at Sting. "Of course! You'll be completely healed in no time Sting-kun!" Sting grinned at Lector and they shared a high-five.

Froschs' tummy rumbled so he turned to Rogue and said, "Rogue, I'm hungry." Rogue replied, "Ok Frosch, why don't you and Lector go get some food. You can visit Sting again later."

"Ok Rogue!" Frosch said happily. The two exceeds said goodbye to Sting and jumped off his bed and out the door.

Rogue turned to Sting with a concerned face as they walked off. "Sting, what's wrong? I saw you with a worried look on your face when we came in."

Sting looked down to his hands and briefly composed himself, thinking, 'Rogue would find out eventually even if I don't tell him the truth right now.'

"The markings have been growing, Rogue. I've been feeling weaker too, even after Eir healed me. What if… what if they spread completely? The pain is getting worse, as the markings' spreading has increased the area of pain." He paused for a second and looked back down. "I'm actually scared and worried that I might die Rogue…"

Sting felt a weight next to him on his bed, and Rogues forehead gently touched his. Rogue took his hands in his and calmly reassured him, "There is no way in hell that this is going to take you from me Sting. I have full confidence in our guild that they'll find a way to heal you, and until then I will not leave your side."

Sting sat with a wide-eyed expression for a second before his face softened and he smiled. "I can always count on you to be there for me Rogue."

The two kept their faces close together for a moment more until Rogue closed the gap between them, locking their lips softly together. Sting wrapped his arms around his partner's neck as Rogue brought Stings body to his, their kiss deepening. Rogue's hands roamed over Stings torso, from his back to his sides and further downwards to his hips. Their kiss was broken as Sting gasped, Rogue moving to lie on top of Sting between his legs. Their passion escaladed as they touched, chest against chest among other places on their quickly warming bodies. Rogue kissed Sting down his neck, eliciting quiet moans from the blond. He sucked gently on his collar-bone before lifting up Sting's shirt from the bottom, his palms finding Stings nipples. Sting gasped and blushed, his eyes closing in pleasure.

"R-rogue"

Rogue grinned and used his left hand to pin Sting's hands above his head and kissed him, cupping Sting's growing crotch with his right.

"A-ah! Rogue!" Sting moaned in between kisses.

Sadly their fun was cut short when Sting bucked against Rogues hand, jerking his leg.

"Ah! Damn it, ow!"

Rogue instantly stopped and let Sting go, frantically apologizing, "Oops I'm sorry! Are you ok?"

Sting breathed and relaxed again. "Yea, I'm alright, I just jerked my leg too hard."

Rogue moved off of Sting and lay down next to him. "That's all for today then" Rogue said as he brought Sting to his chest. Still blushing, Sting pouted, "and I was just getting excited too…" He chuckled and spoke softly, "It's been a while since we could do this Rogue. It's always a pleasant surprise when I forget how different we act when we're alone together."

Rogue raised an eyebrow, "What do you mean?"

"I mean that I'm the one who always acts like a flirt in public, winking at you and such, but in reality, you're the real tiger in the sheets." Sting said with a sly smile.

Rogue blushed and turned his head to the side. He muttered, "Yea, yea…."


Little did Rogue or Sting know, Yukino and Minerva stood outside their door with flushed faces. "I-I think we should leave them alone for now Yukino…" "Y-yes, that w-would be w-wise…"

They walked quietly away from the couples' room, intent on forgetting the sounds they had heard that afternoon.