Hello there!

I'm back for another chapter!

Fuck if I know what the hell I'm doing with mylife. I had a revelation this week. I have the greenest flag of a man, and it turns out I'm the miss-issues-trauma-and-anxiety red flag. I hate it.

Stress has been fucking up my system. So much so that I apparently lost weight. *shrug*

Dommie, bestie, respectfully, *no*

Giggly, ask and ye shall receive

I hope you like it :)

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Fairy Tail. I do, however, own the rights to this story and OC characters that might appear in the future.

Chapter X: Hungovers and Drama

X—X

Rogue walked down to the guild hall, looking around. Everything was cheerful, with laughter and shouts. Frosch looked around, hoping to spot a familiar head of orange to keep her company for the day. They couldn't find her, so Rogue walked to the bar to get a drink.

"Hey, Yukino, can I get-? Oh."

Minerva looked up to Rogue from behind the bar and showed him a small smile. "Good morning, Rogue."

"Good morning, Minerva." he nodded. "Where's Yukino?"

"And Ivy?" Frosch added.

Minerva pointed to the far side of the bar. Yukino rested her head against the wall, eyes closed, and Ivy had her head buried in her arms. "Right there."

"What happened?" Rogue sat at the bar.

"Partied a bit too hard last night," she explained. "Lucy and Levy left this morning. They were in a similar state, although Levy could open her eyes."

"Were you there?"

"I was... but you know I'm the type to sit back and watch everything unfold," she smirked. "Found your mate yet?"

"How do you know about that?" he cleared his throat, trying not to choke on his beer.

"Again... Levy from Fairy Tail was here last night. And we partied." Minerva leaned on the counter. "I'll take that as a no."

"No... not yet." he shook his head. "And I'd appreciate it if you kept that bit of information to yourself."

"What is it like?"

"A distant calling," he admitted. "Whoever they are, they're far away."

"Are you going to be in that... state forever?" she frowned.

"No. It fades with time." Rogue looked away.

"What?" Minerva pushed.

"I had hopes that it was someone. But when the calling happened, and nothing changed, I..." he didn't finish, but she could tell he was disappointed.

"Who?"

His eyes trailed to the white-haired woman leaning against the wall. "Someone special."

"She thinks you don't feel sexual attraction. She said so last night."

"W-why would she say that?"

"Because you don't make moves, Rogue. Both you and Sting. Seriously, what is wrong with you dragon slayers? Keeping your girls pining." Minerva shook her head.

"She's not my mate."

"Do you have to find them?"

"Yeah. We do." Rogue looked away. "Did she... say anything?"

"No... but most things go unsaid, Rogue." Minerva pushed a shot of whiskey in his direction. "Call it liquid courage."

"She's hungover."

"You don't have to drink it now."

"...thanks, Minerva." He showed her a rare smile.

Ivy suddenly raised her head, groaning at the fast motion. She pressed the heel of her palm to her forehead, prying one eye open. Minerva and Rogue both frowned, watching as the dazed girl looked around, glaring. Rogue turned around and realized what was happening. Sting was entering through the backdoor, sweaty and tired. He raised his eyes and they locked with Ivy's. Suddenly, the blond turned as red as Rogue's eyes and took off.

Minerva turned to look at Ivy, who looked down at her arms and frowned, pursing her lips. "Ver, can I get the hangover cure to go?"

"Sure, Ivy. Where are you going?" Minerva grabbed a plastic bottle with a green liquid.

"Probably to my room, get some sleep." she grabbed the bottle and stumbled out of her seat. Rogue tried to move to steady her, but the redhead shook her head. "See you around, Ver. Rogue."

The two watched as Ivy walked up the stairs and took a turn to her room, disappearing from sight. Rogue heard Minerva sigh and turned to her. "What just happened?"

"By the looks on Ivy's face?" she grabbed the blender with the same green liquid, filling the empty glass in front of Yukino. "Sting just fucked up. Big time."

.

Two days had passed, and Sting was rarely seen at the bar. He was always in his office, dealing with paperwork, or training to the brink of exhaustion in the backyard. Even Lector had a hard time squeezing five minutes in with his partner. Rogue was worried about him because even though he was getting his work ready on time, the dragon slayer had all but isolated himself.

Ivy wasn't doing much better. Coming down for breakfast in the morning, taking the morning shift at the library, organizing organized books, and cleaning clean shelves. And in the afternoons, she would wave them goodbye, and disappear. According to Frosch, she kept her promises and her duties to help Yukino clean up after the bar closed, share a drink with Lector, and do her part around the guild.

But Yukino had talked to him, concerned about her friend, and revealed to him that, while Ivy was okay, while she was smiling and laughing and kind all around, she desperately avoided any topics of conversation that even brushed on Sting. Minerva had been right – the blond had fucked up big time. Even though Yukino was rooting for them, she knew it would take some groveling from Sting's end to earn Ivy's forgiveness.

It was late when Ivy finally finished cleaning up, having dismissed an exhausted-looking Yukino hours ago. She sighed and let her hair down from its ponytail, ready for a hot, hot shower and some decent sleep. She folded the humid rag over the faucet and walked from behind the counter, grabbing her boots off the floor.

She felt a skip in her heart and sighed. From the corner of her eye, she saw him step out of his office, and look up to her. But this time, Ivy wasn't going to be the one looking. She steeled her shoulders, tightened her hold on the boots, and walked past him without a glance, or a greeting. She heard her name, but she didn't turn away, keeping her pace steady and calm, the complete opposite of her heart.

His hand wrapped around her forearm and pulled her back. The electricity that ran through her made her freeze and turn to face him, periwinkle locking with navy. Something happened when their eyes locked. A flicker of uncertainty, a sprinkle of fear, a gust of relief, and a bucket of expectance. Her skin tingled, and she noticed he wasn't wearing his gloves. She looked at his hand and gulped, turning away.

"Why are you so mad?" he asked in a whisper.

"Oh, so now we're talking?" she scoffed.

"Ivy-!" he tried, but she cut him off, glaring at him.

"No! I don't know what happened, or why you decided to ignore me and pretend I didn't exist for two whole days, but it's fine. Do whatever you want, Master. I need to get some sleep because I'm going on a job tomorrow."

"Alone?" his eyebrow creased.

"No. With Dobengal." she watched the flicker of anger in his eyes and felt strangely pleased with it. "Goodnight, Master."

"Sylvia, come on." he tried, tugging her closer.

"Let go of my arm." her tone was chilly, and Sting had to take a moment to remember this was Ivy in front of him.

"Sylvia." he tried again.

"Let go before I blast you across the hall, master." her jaw was clenched, and Sting smelled the anger oozing off her skin.

"I can explain, Ivy, please." he gulped, his voice cracking at the end.

"I don't want an explanation." she spat and wrenched her arm free. "Goodnight."

Her glare was the only emotion he saw in her before she turned around, walked to her room, and slammed the door shut.

–X–

Ivy giggled as Dobengal finished his joke, pushing the guild's doors open. A week and a half had passed since they left, and Ivy was in need of a good shower and a talk with a certain dragon slayer. The job had done wonders to her, especially when Dobengal had let her work out her anger on the bandits they had to face.

The redhead looked up just in time to see Yukino run toward her and pull her into a tight hug. Ivy frowned but hugged back the white-haired mage just as tightly. She wondered what had happened while she was gone. She pulled away and smiled brightly, and Ivy frowned.

"What happened?" She asked.

"I just missed you… that's all." Yukino said, but her voice cracked.

Ivy's frown deepened and she looked around. Orga was sitting on a couch, looking at nothing. Rufus read a book, or tried so, as his eyes were always jumping to the top of the page. Minerva was behind the counter, cleaning a pristine glass. Lector and Frosch sat at the bar, the little green Exceed close to tears. Sorano was nowhere to be found, and Rogue was walking towards them.

"What happened here?"

"It's Sting, Ivy…" Yukino lowered her eyes.

"Where is he?" She asked, gently pushing Yukino away.

"He… he joined a couple of masters to take care of that dark guild he told you about. The one that has been stirring up trouble." Rogue explained.

"He said he was going to do that, yes. Still doesn't explain…" She motioned around. "this."

"He left about two days after you and Dobengal. It's been a week, and Makarov called last night."

"Where's Sting, Rogue?" Ivy whispered, not realizing how everyone noted her presence and watched the exchange.

"Makarov told me the dark guild trapped them in some kind of dimension. After a lot of fighting, he and a couple more managed to escape with Sting's help."

"Where's Sting, Rogue?" her voice was stronger but shook.

"The dimension sort of collapsed after most of them got out. Sting had to explode part of the building they were in. Since then, they've been fighting non-stop from the outside, trying to breach through it, to break the spell."

"Where's Sting, Rogue?!"

"Inside!" Yukino flinched. "But… no one knows if the few ones that stayed inside are still alive."

Ivy's heart fell to her feet. "…what?"

"They're trying. But from what Makarov said, his condition, and what he had to do to break everyone out…" Rogue swallowed hard. "Makarov said he saw the building collapse on Sting. So, there's a high chance that he might have not…"

"No." her voice was small but heavy.

"I'm sorry, Ivy-!"

"NO!" She screamed, and everyone was pushed back a couple of feet. "Where are they?"

"Ivy-!"

"Answer the question, Cheney!" She growled.

"… I'll take you there."

"Let's go."

A/N: Giggly, you requested drama, I will always provide. Dommie, baby, love of my life... you know what I'm going to ask.

Let me know your thoughts on this new story!

Lots of love from this weirdo,

LoneeWolf :)