"See anything?"

"Nothing here... Men~"

"Clear."

"Negative."

"Nothing."

Sting heaved a deep sigh as he leaned back in his chair, lifting the soft drink from the table in front him and took a long sip. He had been monitoring his clutch of shops in from a small table outside a small but rather popular eatery for a good almost four hours. He had been here since noon, watching and observing the people that walked in and out through the handful of selected stores that remained in the area for 30 years that the victims had last been in before they vanished without a trace.

He placed a finger to his ear, activating a small device hidden and nestled into the soft shell. "I've got nothing."

"Very well." Lyon's voice cut through the wires. "Keep posting."

"Copy that." Sting replied. "Have you heard anything back from Minerva and the others?"

"No. But I'll keep you posted once they do."

"Thank you."

He removed the finger from the earpiece and proceeded to take another sip of his drink, allowing his eyes to roam over the large crowds, trying to find something- Anything- that would stick out. Nothing did. He leaned back forward, resting his elbows on the table as he started to pull his cellphone out from his pocket, fingers dancing around the screen as he checked the time, his eyes shooting up every second as he did so. The minute the screen, his lock screen, came to life revealing the time a wave of sadness and nausea washed over him.

It was a picture of him and Rogue during Christmas time, he had his arm wrapped around Rogue's neck, pulling him close, both were wearing matching 'boyfriend' sweaters while holding coffee cups and smiling with bright pink faces. He bit his lip and he turned off his phone.

He missed him.

Really really missed him.

He heaved another deep sigh and leaned back into his chair once again, throwing his head back. He really wanted to call his Rogue just so he could hear his sweet voice but he knew if he did that then he'd probably be chastised by his dark haired beauty and most definitely mocked by the others but it just couldn't be helped. This would actually be the first job that would have the two of them split up, spent away from each other for more then 16 hours! He thought he could do it, but he can't- He just can't.

He really wanted Rogue- And by his side.

He closed his eyes, a soft smile playing across his face as his mind began to drift.

He could see himself now, back at home in his shared bedroom, the soft sun filtering through the curtains bathing the room in a soft Spring-like glow as he rested on top of his soft bed, nestled deep into warm snow-like blankets. He turned to his side and found himself smiling wider upon the most beautiful sight he had ever seen.

Rogue was sleeping on his side, barely an inch away from him, wearing a rather large and baggy long sleeved shirt, curled up rather cutely like a small child in the soft linen. He couldn't resist himself, he had to and he did as he reached a hand out and gently caressed that beautiful face.

He was truly an angel.

He smiled as those lovely ruby eyes, clouded with a thick haze of sleep fluttered open blinking several times as an adorable yawn escaped those tempting plush lips. Rogue smiled warmly as Sting chuckled and continued to stroke that beautiful face, watching as his raven haired angel leaned into Sting's warm hand, nuzzling it.

"Morning Sting..."

"Mornin' babe."

"Got something."

Sting jumped a few feet into the air upon hearing Hibiki's voice cut through his eardrums. He quickly sat up straight in his chair, eyes looking every which way only to realize where he was and sighed in disappointment.

Damn.

"What did you get Lates?" Lyon's voice whispered.

"Three teenagers," he replied, "All female-"

"You radio us just to tell us that?!" Lyon hissed. "Please tell me you're not going to 'delight' us with story of how lovely and beautiful they are-"

"No I-"

"Tell me Hibiki," Came Ichiya's voice causing Sting's body to shiver violently. He was just so damn creepy, "Their parfume- Is it lovely?"

"Wha-"

"Mr. Ichiya that's rather inappropriate-" Yukino whispered. "They are not animals in a zoo-"

"Yukino, please understand," Rufus's voice sighed. "It seems that Blue Pegasus are nothing more then mere animals themselves... Caring only for the simple pleasures that is 'mating'-"

"No! I'm-"

"You're what Lates, what?" Lyon demanded.

"There's a gentleman following them," Hibiki explained, voice barely above a whisper that Sting had to push in his ear piece just to hear him clearly. "I recognize him as the same gentleman who works at a candy store on the first floor, I even watched him selling them candy and soda when we first got here. One of the girls doesn't look so good. I... I think she's been drugged-"

That immediately changed everyone's attitude.

"What is your location?"

"Outside a shoe store and a couple of clothing lines, third floor." Came the reply. "They are heading to the bathroom at the back of the mall and from the looks of it, little to no security... A perfect place that would be ideal for a 'disappearing' trick. I could use some back up."

"On my way." Sting replied, tapping a finger into the earpiece. "I'm on the same floor, just on the other side of the mall from you."

"Hurry." Hibiki urged quietly. "I'm not liking what I'm seeing. The poor girl looks like she's gonna pass out any minute and another one just started showing similar symptoms."

"Copy that."

Sting got up from his seat, abandoning his half drunk soft drink on the table and immediately began sprinting toward Hibiki's location, left hand hovering over the waistline of his jeans as he moved. He weaved and maneuvered around the vast and rather numerous crowds of people that flooded onto his pathway in order to get to his destination, cursing the Twin Dragons for having to make today a very busy day for the mall and a little difficult for him. He slowed to a trot as he spotted a familiar mop of messy dirty blonde hair in his line of sight and anxious dark eyes locked onto his own as Hibiki silently waved him over. Sting quickly moved to his side, pressing his back into the wall opposite of Hibiki.

"Heard anything from Lyon?" Sting breathed.

"Yeah." Hibiki breathed back. "They're on their way."

"What's the plan?"

"Detain them by anyway means possible. But we must be wary- Our gentleman is a rather 'burly' fellow..."

Sting nodded, pulling out his firearm from its holster while cautiously and slowly lead the way in while Hibiki trailed close behind him, his own firearm out and ready. They crept down the long hallway, backs still close to the wall, barely brushing it as they moving further and further down the rather desolate corridor until they were right in front of a set of bathrooms. One girls the other boys. They quickly pressed themselves on either side of the door leading into the girls' restroom, crouching down slightly both sets of eyes narrowed as a conservation floated through the thick door.

"Who... Who are... Are you?" Came a slurred voice, female. It sounded like she was desperately trying to remain conscious. "You- Nngh- You can't be- hah- Be here..."

"I'm here to help you," replied another voice, male, "I just want to help you and your friends."

Sting's eyes narrowed. He didn't like the tone the man was using, it sound dark and promised something more then the promised 'help' but in her addled state, the girl, didn't seem to pick on the true intentions of the man's 'offer' as she sounded really scared and desperate for the man's 'help'.

"I- I think there's... There's something... Something wrong with... With us," she sounded like she was crying, "Lily... A-And Kar-Kara... They... They became sick!"

"I can see that."

"We- We went to the bathroom... It... It was Lily's idea... But we- We-," she was gasping for air, "Then... Kara... Kara fell sick! The- The next thing I knew... Nngh... They passed out! They- They won't wake! I... I..."

She suddenly let out a gasp and there was a loud clatter that had Hibiki and Sting jump and nearly drop their weapons in surprise. She must've fallen.

"I... I don't feel good..." Her breathing became harsh. "I... I think- I think I'm gonna be... Be sick."

"It's okay," the man's breathing seemed to become harsh, but for a obvious different reason, "Everything will be okay..."

The girl released another harsh breath before everything fell silent that was interrupted by the man pulling something out of his pocket; A cellphone.

"Yo. This is Rod- I got them."

Sting and Hibiki shared a look, a look as if Sting was telling the dirty blonde his plan with his mind before Hibiki nodded in agreement and the two of them got into position, Hibiki kept his gun held out as Sting lifted his foot and brought it down on the closed door, kicking it open with a loud bang. The man, Rod, jumped several feet into the air, dropping his phone in surprise allowing it to fall to the floor with a clatter, joining the three young women on the floor who lied there before him, unconscious.

"SABERTOOTH!"

"BLUE PEGASUS!"

"SHIT!"

The man, Rod, recovered from his shock fairly quickly as he reached into his dark, heavy looking trench coat and whipped out a gun of his own, aiming it at Sting's face only for Hibiki to get there first. He took aim and shot him, first, in the arm forcing Rod to drop it his weapon and clutch at his bleeding wound with a cry as he dropped to his knees in pain just as he shot off his own gun, the bullet missing Sting's head by a mere inch. Hibiki quickly moved over and kicked the gun away from Rod's reach before restraining the man just as Yukino and Lyon appeared.

"Sting! Are you okay? We heard gunshots!" Yukino clasped her hands over her mouth at the scene before her. "What happened? Are they okay?!"

"The girls are unharmed," Lyon assured, as he pulled back one girl's eyelid, examining her eye, "But Hibiki was right. They were drugged."

"Oh no!"

Sting quickly put away his weapon and activated his walkie, "We got the guy. Send for medical. We have three unconscious girls and the suspect's been shot."

"Got it." Rufus replied. "Ambulances are on their way."

"Copy."

"All right! Talk!" Lyon demanded. "What did you do to these girls?"

The man, Rod, sneered. "I ain't saying shit!"

"Perhaps a trip to Lamia Scale will get us answers." Lyon growled. "Sting! Call the others and let them know we got something and we're on our way back."

"Right."


After the ambulance had shown up, patched up the man Hibiki shot before reviving the girls and got their story, Sting and his gang had managed to make their way back to the candy shop closing it down till further notice, allowing Rufus and Hibiki to strip it down while the others, with their suspect in tow headed back to Lamia Scale. Sting felt a little uneasy during the entirety of the time as he watched the suspect through the one-way window, being 'tortured' by Minerva and Jura while his hands wrapped around himself, today's events flashing in front him. The girls, Lily and Kara, being the major ones.

She almost looked like- Like Rogue while the other looked like Wendy.

She had long dark hair that reached down to her waistline, her face looked soft and gentle- Like his- She was fair skinned and instead of red eyes she had bright brown. The other, Kara, looked like a teenage version of Wendy but with green eyes and brunette hair that was cut into a bobcut. It basically took every inch of his willpower not to 'overreact' and call Rogue.

Rogue was fine.

Wendy was fine.

They were both home, safe.

"Hey."

"Hmm?" Sting turned to the source and found himself face to face with a nervous Yukino. "Ah... Yukino. What's up?"

"N-Nothing," she responded, moving to stand next to the blonde, "What about you?"

"I'm fine."

Yukino tilted her head and regarded Sting rather curiously. "Are you sure? You don't look like it..."

Sting sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I can't stop thinking about them..."

"Who?"

"Rogue and Wendy."

"Ah." Yukino nodded in understanding. "You're worried."

"Worried? Nah-" Sting grinned, waving his hand dismissively. "It's more of... More of..."

He paused, watching Minerva bash the man's head into the table.

What was it that he was trying to describe?

"It's okay Sting." Yukino smiled warmly, placing a gentle hand onto his shoulder. "There's nothing wrong with being a little worried about your loved ones."

Sting let out a deep sigh. Busted. "It's... It's- Hah... When I saw those girls- Lily and Kara- She- They- They almost looked so much like Rogue and Wendy... I didn't... I thought..."

He sighed again.

"You must think I'm 'overacting' huh?" He laughed nervously.

"Oh~ Not at all," Yukino smiled, "I'm sure Rogue's just as worried about you as you are about him- Them."

"Hmm." Sting nodded.

Silence fell over them as they watched the Jura calm a rather irritated Minerva while the suspect cowered and cried in terror at her face. Sting's eyes slowly grew wide as a sudden thought occurred to the blonde.

"Is Lyon still in the Lab?"

Yukino blinked, completely thrown off by Sting's question. "Y-Yeah... Why?"

"I think I have a theory."

'And a perfect excuse to call Rogue.'


Seems Sting can't stop thinking about and can't doing anything with his Rogue-Bae. X3