Rogue drifted back into consciousness to someone…singing? He reached a hand up to his head and winced – this chest wound wasn't letting up. He wondered if Jiemma's magic somehow surpassed his usual healing.
"Hey," a gentle hand touched his elbow and helped him to sit – Sting. "How're you feeling?"
"Kinda getting tired of being asked that question," Rogue grumbled, wiping his eyes. He looked around – back in Natsu's bed at the Honeybone Inn. "Were you singing?" Sting flushed and dodged the question.
"Porlyusica said you shouldn't have been out of bed," He said quickly, reaching forward and brushing Rogue's hair from his eyes. "She threatened to tie you to it, but compromised when I said I'd watch you." Rogue snorted a laugh, leaning into Sting's soft touch. He hummed as Sting ran his fingers behind Rogue's ear and down his neck, resting on his shoulder.
"That feels nice," Rogue whispered. Sting laughed and leaned forward, pressing his lips to Rogue's. A soft sigh escaped Rogue's lips and he reached up a hand, twisting it into Sting's surprisingly soft hair. This kissing thing was never going to get old, he thought.
Sting whimpered quietly at the touch and trailed soft kisses down Rogue's chin and throat, and when Sting's tongue hit the soft place in the hollow of his throat, Rogue let out an embarrassingly loud moan. He placed a hand on Sting's chin and lifted his head so that they were eye to eye. A pink flush ran across Sting's cheeks, and his eyes were crinkled in a lazy smile that made Rogue's stomach flip.
"We're not alone here," Rogue murmured, pressing a much more chaste kiss to Sting's lips before shifting awkwardly in the bed, trying to hide his growing arousal. "This isn't a good-"
"Mmmm," Sting disagreed, squeezing Rogue's hand and leaning back down to attack his neck again.
"Where – aah – is everyone?" Rogue asked, glancing around at the empty room. The afternoon sun was being washed away by evening light that drifted through the open windows. People on the streets were carousing and singing cheers to Fairy Tail, and Rogue was fairy certain he could hear Gajeel out there with them. "Stingggg – ngh – are you even – aah! – listening to me?"
Sting hummed a little, sending a vibration along Rogue's collarbone that travelled straight to his groin. He moaned again, gripping a hand tighter into Sting's hair, and let Sting push him back into the pillows. Sting swung his legs up on the bed until he was straddling the dark-haired boy, then leaned over him until their noses were touching.
"Do you want this?" He asked breathily, running a hand down the side of Rogue's face. Even underneath the bandages, he could see how fucking gorgeous Rogue was, and how much he wanted to devour the shadow slayer.
"S-sting," Rogue whimpered in answer, grinding his hips upwards and eliciting a gasp of surprise from Sting.
"Fuck, Rogue," Sting breathed, thrusting back and crashing his lips down into Rogue's. "Ahh!" He cried out in a mix of pleasure and pain as Rogue's grip on his hair tightened. He let Rogue pull his head up and expose his neck, and practically whined with excitement as Rogue's tongue found his throat. Gods that felt good, especially when Rogue's sharp canines brushed the delicate skin there. Sting growled, reaching down for Rogue's shirt.
"Yo, you guys gonna – oh."
Sting and Rogue froze at Gray's voice and immediately scrambled back into their original positions – Rogue on the bed and Sting in his chair. Rogue bunched the blanket up around him, and Sting tried to still his breathing, knowing he couldn't hide the pink blush that now reached to his cheeks.
"Ah…sorry…" Gray stood in the doorway, eyes on the floor and one hand awkwardly scratching the back of his neck.
"No, it's – it's fine," Rogue said, desperately trying to keep his voice steady. "What's…what's going on?"
"The, uh, king requested everyone to come to the central square," Gray said, keeping his gaze averted. His own cheeks were pink with embarrassment. "We're heading there now, if you wanna, y'know, come. Unless you're busy. You're probably busy." He turned on his heel and prepared to shut the door when Sting responded.
"We'll be right there."
The square was packed. Every wizard from every guild in the tournament seemed to be here, but to his relief, Rogue didn't see Minerva. Rufus and Jura stood with Dobengal and Earle, all looking unimpressed, but Rogue and Sting kept their distance, remaining bunched in with Fairy Tail.
"Feeling better?" Makarov stood in front of the pair and Rogue nodded at him, shyly.
xxx
"Sorry for-"
Makarov waved away his apology with one hand, smiling.
"No apology necessary, young one," Makarov replied, surveying the group with pride. "Today is a day for celebration! Although I can understand how it must be difficult for the two of you." Neither dragon slayer responded, both preoccupied with what had transpired earlier. Sting clutched Rogue's hand in his and slowly ran his fingers up and down the dark-haired man's palm, eliciting soft gasps from him when he hit a sensitive spot. Makarov smiled knowingly, then turned to the centre of the square.
"Thank you all for coming," boomed a loud voice. It was coming from a short, white-haired man wearing a fur-lined red robe – King Toma! "I hate to spoil the mood after the splendid display of wizardry we saw today, but I'm afraid Fiore's heart may soon be in the claws of a dragon horde."
Gasps and whispers broke out throughout the crowd, and Sting turned to Rogue, puzzled.
"Aren't all the dragons gone?" He whispered, brow furrowed.
"I thought Acnologia was the only one," Makarov muttered to himself. King Toma raised a hand for silence.
"As we speak, a large-scale counterattack is underway at the castle." Almost everyone glanced behind him to the enormous building that towered over Crocus.
"That must be where Natsu is," Sting whispered, and Rogue nodded. He noticed Gray standing in front of them, his fists clenched tightly.
"The Eclipse Cannon," Toma announced, his words booming, "Will be used to wipe out the attacking dragons." The crowd burst into a cacophony of questions.
"How is that even possible?" Rogue said, puzzled. "Is there really a weapon that can repel that many dragons? They're nearly impossible to defeat." Sting squeezed his hand, remembering Weisslogia and knowing that Rogue was thinking of Skiadrum.
"I can sense your concern," Toma continued, hands raised. "Given the number of dragons, we expect some to survive the attack. So I implore you guild wizards, please lend Fiore your assistance in dealing with this crisis. You are the best hope we have for slaying any dragons the Eclipse cannot. I beg of you, don't let this kingdom fall into ruin." By the end of his speech, the king was crying, head bowed, tears dripping down his nose.
An eerie silence fell over the crowd, and Sting looked around. Everyone's faces were pensive, and some people whispered nervously to each other.
Suddenly, a cheer broke out across the crowd, wizards throwing their arms up as they shouted.
"Of course we'll help!"
"You can count on us!"
"It's our duty to protect the kingdom!"
Rogue grinned at Sting and raised their entwined hands, joining in with the cheering.
"Dragons versus Dragon Slayers!" Sting shouted over the din, and Rogue smiled. "You ready to show those flying lizards what's what?"