A/N: Please imagine Sting with a tribal tattoo. I mainly rewrote the making out part because I didn't like it but also added a few lines here and there. Also there is only one Stingueweek story left to edit!
Title: Dragon Tattoo
Genre: Romance (rating goes a bit up here)
Warning: suggestive content


It's black, covers Sting's back and Rogue calls it his personal hell; he doesn't know what he did to deserve this.

"So, what do you think?"

Rogue looks at the black ink and he knows what he should say. That it's a cool tattoo, that it suits him. But all he can focus on is the broad back and imagine how much he'd like to run his hands along the firm muscles.

"Is it no good?", Sting asks over his shoulder, hesitantly, when Rogue doesn't reply and it makes his breast swell with affection that his opinion matters to him.

"Ah, no, it's..."

"Amazing, right?", he grins and Rogue can't help smiling now as well.

"Yes."

His eyes glide along the black lines on his shoulder, down his spine where they end just above his hips – he isn't sure but when he takes another glance, the lines seem to form the picture of a dragon.

"Hurt like hell though. But I thought I need to change something."

He should have gone for a different hair colour or style, change his clothes maybe, Rogue thinks. At least it would have been better for his health. It doesn't help that it is summer and Sting has no reason to wear a shirt in this heat and Rogue feels hot in two aspects.

It gets even worse when they are at the pool and there are these drops sliding along the mark and Rogue gets really inappropriate thoughts in that moment.

"I'm going to die", he mutters under his breath, thinking that nobody heard him – unfortunately Orga did and when he follows Rogue's gaze, he has to smirk.

"Well, see something you like?"

Teasing Rogue is one of his favourite things nowadays, seeing the formerly stoic guy lose some cool, how human he is, and Orga was one of the few who doesn't really stop if it involves Sting who most of the time doesn't even realise it.

"You should tell him. I bet Sting will be happy that you appreciate his tattoo", he continues when Rogue doesn't respond, receiving a glare and "go to hell" which only causes him to laugh – it attracts a few people's attention, but it's not interesting enough and so the others go back to their own business.

"Good luck, you need it."

And he really does, but he doesn't have to tell Orga that and so, without another word and before he can be too obvious, Rogue leaves the pool; unfortunately Sting sees him leaving and follows his friend inside.

"Rogue? You look distracted, is everything okay?"

Not, not at all. Rogue doesn't know when it started, the longing, yearning for Sting's attention and craving his touch; Sting was his light and the feelings he had for him neither came crushing down on him nor did it hit him suddenly. It was a slow process, falling in love with his best friend and so far he could control himself. But now he wants him and the desire is too strong and he has no idea what to do about this.

"Yes, don't worry. I just don't take the heat very well."

It's an obvious excuse even though it's the truth in some way and from the way Sting raises his eyebrow and tilts his head to the side, he seems to suspect something like this, doesn't believe him and yet Rogue is glad that he doesn't point it out.

"Then you should take some shelter in the shadows."

"Yeah, probably."

Sting is still regarding his friend who avoids eye contact which causes his brow to furrow so without another word he grabs him by the wrist and pulls Rogue to his office.

"Sting", he yelps when he is pushed inside and the blond closes the door, looking at his friend with a stern expression.

"Okay, you are lying. Why do you agree so easily? Are you trying to avoid me?"

"I..."

Sting looks angry and Rogue had no idea that he could have upset him while he was struggling with his own feelings. It's not like he feared rejection. It was just him being scared to say it out loud, after all he never felt like this towards any one else. And maybe this should be reason enough, their relationship and how it developed over the years despite of the hardship, that he should tell him; there is probably no way that he can bear this any longer any way.

"I want to kiss you", he breathes out, nevertheless fears for the worst, but Sting only blinks, before he exhales, a grin on his lips.

"What? Why didn't you tell me sooner? Come here then."

Impossible. Did Rogue hear what he said or was he making fun of him? There is no way that Sting isn't joking because how can he take something like this, his best friend admitting that he wants to kiss him, with a grin.

"Sting, I'm serious. I want to kiss you", Rogue insists, more firmly this time; he really wants to avoid any awkwardness between them if he had pulled trough with this and he had been joking, taken off-guard by Rogue's advances.

"Yeah, I got it the first time."

Since Rogue isn't doing anything, Sting is the one who steps closer.

"You don't understand, I –"

"No, you don't get it. I said yes, didn't I?"

"What are you –?"

"I love you, Rogue. So. There. I said it. I know that not everyone can say it this easily and this is the reason why I waited for you to be ready. But this is also why I said: Come here. If actions lead to words with you, then I'm fine. Even if it turns out that you actually don't like kissing me."

Rogue just stares at him with wide eyes. Is he dreaming or did Sting really confess to him? It doesn't seem real, especially when Sting doesn't move or do something until Rogue realises that he is simply waiting for him to do the next step, doesn't want to force him.

And so Rogue finally does what he had imagined doing since days, steps closer and kisses him. It feels good, finally being able to do this and Sting seems like he is pretty eager as well – their first kiss isn't really ideal because they have no idea how to do this but they don't let this stop them from trying again and again until Rogue is pressed against a wall with his arms wrapped around him and kissing Sting, the world around them forgotten.

But now it gets harder, knowing that he can touch and kiss Sting while he tries to keep calm at the same time – there is no way that he will give in to this stupid tattoo which is certainly not stressing Sting's attractiveness, not at all.

Okay, he is lying to himself about this, but it makes him lasting only a week look as if it was a surprise and a spur of the moment. It started as a lazy make out session during the morning, a free day with no duty they spend in bed. Legs tangled together Sting partly laying on top of him, they enjoy slow kisses, Sting's hand brushing trough Rogue's black hair, enjoying the other one's hand in his own hair.

"Wait", Sting mumbles against his lips at one point, rolling over and sitting at the bed's edge to pull his shirt over his head and throw it aside, his back facing the other one.

Rogue lick his lips when he sees the damn tattoo again, how his muscles move when he stretches a second, his body aching from sitting at the desk all day and missing training.

"Better", Sting grins to himself before he turns back to Rogue, straddling his legs to sit on his hip, "and such a nice view", he continues to smirk, bending down to kiss him.

Rogue puts his hand on his shoulders, refraining from digging his nails in Sting's skin because leaving scratches on his back just where the tattoo is would result in people asking where these would come from but at the same time he likes the thought, marking Sting, and he wonders if he is really jealous of the tattoo for having done so already.

"Oh, fuck it", Rogue growls and before the other one can react, Sting is on his back and feels Rogue's lips on his neck, teeth grazing his skin, every inch he can reach – Sting allows it, no moan passing his clenched teeth because even though he is the one who is more vocal, he can be embarrassed as well about his own body reaction's.

But there is no way that he won't fight for dominance and so, in a moment of carelessness, Rogue is the one who finds himself on his back Sting hovering above him; he looks like he wants to eat him and Rogue shivers, realising that this is his fault, but at the same time enjoying it that he is the one who can rile him up.

And he can certainly do more than that.

(This time Rogue won't hesitate to mark his back.)


Sting exhales a deep breath and stretches. It's almost afternoon and besides of getting up after enjoying the afterglow to eat something and clean themselves up, they spend the day in bed and probably won't get up that often for the rest of the day.

"Had I known that this turns you one I would have gotten it sooner", Sting grins after a moment spend in silence and he can't help but to laugh when he turns to Rogue who groans, hiding his face in his pillow.

"Shut up."

Rogue is more than embarrassed but at least Sting's laughter is nice and he has plenty of more time to memorise all the black lines until he can trace them in the dark and know by heart, like every other part of his body.