Chapter Text
It was a classic morning for the Fairy Tail guild. It had started with Natsu and Gray fighting over goodness knows what, while Juvia was watching them creepily from behind a pillar. Naturally, Juvia had destroyed Erza’s morning strawberry cake while rooting for her beloved Gray, which had made Titania join the battle. Elfman had then thrown himself into the melee to prove himself as a real man, probably largely as Evergreen was watching him, and Gajeel had joined in as well, eager to be part of the action. Levy gave a disapproving stare in a quick break from her book. Naturally, Jet and Troy were glaring at the iron dragon slayer as he obliviously punched Natsu in the face.
Lucy was hiding behind a table with Wendy, a depressed, resigned look on her face. This particular table was near the guild hall’s door, so she was the first to sense the familiar magical presences making their way to the door.
The guild door burst open and Minerva yelled at the collective wizards. “Listen up punks - Yukino something to say!”
As soon as she saw Lucy, Yukino burst into tears and wrapped her arms tightly around her fellow celestial wizard. Lector and Frocsh were with her, one on each shoulder. All three looked equally depressed and defeated.
“Y-Yukino?” asked Lucy, worried. She also noticed that the guild had gone quiet. The once brawling members of the guild were now intensely watching the exchange between the three girls, eager to see if they could be of assistance. Lucy was extremely worried. Was Sabertooth okay? Why was Yukino crying?! And why was Minerva so angry? Not that that was a rare occurrence, but this seemed extreme even for her.
Yukino wiped her eyes on her sleeve as Lucy gave her a handkerchief, which she took gratefully.
“I’m so sorry to burst in here like this, and make a scene, but I just can’t take it anymore!” she said, still wiping her eyes.
“I-It’s okay,” said Lucy, still flustered. “What’s wrong? Tell me what we can do to help!” she finished, with a determined look in her eyes.
“Th-Thank you so much. I-I actually came here with a job request for your guild which I wish you to complete.”
“Hey, don’t talk like that! We’re friends! Any favour you have I’ll do it for free,” said Lucy sincerely.
“You are so kind, but trust me, you are going to need the two million jewel reward in order to maintain the mental fortitude required to complete this most daunting of tasks.”
“TWO MILLION JEWEL?!” exclaimed Lucy, shock covering her face. She’d had no idea Yukino was that loaded. And she was now stuck in a dilemma of either trying to remain the chivalrous friend who needed no payment or the fact that, as always, her rent was late.
Yukino let out a small chuckle. “Yes, I know it’s a lot, but, the money’s not all mine, it’s collected from the whole of the Sabertooth Guild. Although, I suppose my section the second largest, at five hundred thousand jewel,” said Yukino, a little despairingly.
“It’s the money I’ve been saving up all my life, but trust me, this is a more than worthwhile way to use it.”
“I’ve donated all my money to this worthy cause as well,” said an exhausted looking Lector.
“Frosch did so too,” said Frosch, in a more depressed tone than usual.
With a look of shook evident on her face a certain blue exceed flew over to Lucy. “Wow, Lucy, looks like not all celestial wizards are as incompetent with money as you~” he sang with a little giggle.
“Can it you stupid cat!” said Lucy, with a glare that had Happy flying away in fear.
“Mine is the largest at 1 million jewel. I’ve been waiting for so long for this to happen. Plus if Sting makes one more move against me I swear to-” Minerva didn’t even finish her sentence she just opened a bunch of swirling, dangerous portals and screamed.
“So, what’s this task of yours?” asked Gray, his interest piqued by the reward, and Minevera’s actions, walking over to Yukino, shirtless, as expected. Yukino’s face immediately turned red. She also felt terrified by the dark aura radiating off Juvia which was now directed at her.
“U-Um,” Yukino bowed her head and held out a flyer which simply read ‘Sting x Rogue, 2,000,000 Jewel reward’ with a little picture of two interlocked male signs. “Please get Sting and Rogue together!”
“Together? Like, glue them together?” asked Natsu.
“I tried that plan already,” replied Yukino, despair evident on her face.
“Is one of them lost or something?” asked Gray, confused.
“No, it’s not like that either it’s-”
“I know exactly what you’re asking of us Yukino!” exclaimed Mirajane with glee. “You want us to make them a couple! Yes, yes, yes! I’ve thought they were a perfect pair from the moment I set eyes on them! We accept!!”
“A couple?” asked Natsu, confused.
“Oh, so they’re in love~” sang Happy. Yukino nodded in response.
“If they already like each other then why do you need our help?” asked Gray, sceptically.
“Because they just won’t realise it!” said Yukino, bursting into tears yet again, and falling to her knees.
“It’s been like this for a long time, but it’s escalated and gotten a whole lot worse lately,” lamented Lector.
“Sting and Rogue have been even dumber than me lately,” said Frosch.
“It’s nice that you want to get the two of them together. But why are you so determined to do so? Why such a massive reward? Don’t you think Sting and Rogue are capable and mature enough to work this out themselves? And what makes you think we’d be any help to you? If your guild, who know Sting and Rogue much better than we do can’t complete the task?” queried Erza.
“All very valid questions. I think it would be better to explain the events of the last couple months in order to answer them all accurately. It all started around late July…”
Xxx
“Man, I sure do love July, it’s such a lovely month,” said Sting, happily sunbathing on a rock.
“It is almost over,” said Rogue, an arm draped over his eyes to shield him from the sun.
“Doesn’t bother me,” Sting replied, grinning at the noirette, “August is a pretty awesome month too.”
“Don’t you guys think that cloud over there looks a little like Carla?” said Lector, dreamily.
“Frosch thinks so too,” said Frosch.
Yukino let out a small giggle. “Looks like someone has a little crush.”
“I do not!” retorted Lector, trying to raise his paws at her in a menacing manner.
“What about you Frosch? Is there a special someone you like?”
“Yeah! Fro likes Rogue!” Sting and Lector burst into laughter, which was quickly stopped by a menacing glare from the shadow dragon slayer, who was now hugging the exceed.
Yukino gave Frosch a smile. “What about you Sting? Is there someone you like?” she asked the blonde dragon slayer, who immediately turned slightly red.
“Um, yeah, of course,” Sting turned pale after admitting that. He’d been caught off guard. Damn this sunbathing spot for being so relaxing, he shouldn’t have owned up to that! Not with Rogue right next to him!
“And you Rogue?” the shadow dragon slayer dazedly nodded in response, mainly as he’d been thrown off track by Sting’s confession. Of course, Sting has someone he cares about, everyone does. Rogue just hadn’t realised this was the case. Sting didn’t seem to take a particular interest in anyone.
Yukino smiled to herself, maybe this was finally the time she could get her two dense friends to realise the feelings they clearly had for each other.
“So what’s the person you have a crush on like Sting?”
“Forget it! I’m not talking about something that sappy.”
“Aw, come on Sting!”
“W-Well, they’re pretty quiet most of the time,” said Sting, smiling, “they’re really smart, and they care deeply about they’re friends, they’re so kind. I know they always have my back, and I don't know, I just like them a whole lot…” Sting trailed off, too red to continue his already embarrassing spiel. Rogue immediately concluded that his partner had a thing for Yukino. In his mind, that was the only logical explanation. Besides, who else did Rogue know who was ‘pretty quiet’ most of the time?
“Rogue? What about you?” Rogue answered with a cold silence. “Sting already said Rogue,” said Yukino with a smile, “So you’ve got to now as well.”
After another couple seconds of silence Rogue said, “Well, um, they’re really brave, and always looking out for me. They used to be kind of an asshole, but recently they’ve reformed. They’re kind, and smart, and hardworking… and… um…”Both Dragon slayers were now too red to continue talking. Sting deduced from Rogue’s statement that he had to have a thing for Minerva. It fit the box perfectly. Brave, kind, smart, hardworking - recently reformed? That had to be who his partner had a thing for!
The twin dragon slayers had now come up with the same mission. Although it would hurt them, they had to get their friend together with their chosen witch! That way the one they love will be happy, even if it’s not with them.
Xxx
Sting and Yukino stared at each other, both in complete and utter embarrassment as they looked over at each other over candles and an expensive looking meal, as romantic music was played by a strong quartet in one corner. Both wearing fancy ass clothing, Sting in a tux - though it still showed his midriff - and Yukino in a gorgeous white dress, covered in white flowers, that emphasised her bust.
“I wonder where on earth the others are,” chuckled Sting nervously, brushing a hand through his hair and down his neck.
“Yes, Rogue said this was meant to be a team meal, right?” said Yukino.
Once it became very clear it was only the two of them, the pair very quickly ate the main course in stony, awkward silence. They then skipped dessert and both scrambled to get out of the restaurant as quickly as possible.
Xxx
“Sting you blue eyed bastard! Let us out of here this instant!” yelled Minvera, pounding on the door of the closet while a very red faced Rogue was squished against her in the small closet.
“What was that? M’lady? I can’t quite hear you?” said Sting in between bursts of raucous laughter.
Minerva then burst through the door with her portal magic and started chasing a terrified looking Sting around the guild hall.
As Sting was running away he thought of the flaws in his plan: mainly Minerva and also Rogue’s magic meant they could escape easily. He’d have to try harder next time.
Xxx
“Alright, from what you’ve told us thus far, Rogue forced you into a romantic candle light dinner with Sting, and Sting forced you into a cupboard with Rogue,” said Erza, nodding at Yukino and Minerva respectively at the correct times. “That honestly doesn’t seem that bad.”
“Those were just two examples!” yelled Minerva and Yukino together. Yukino was still crying and Minerva blasted a hole into the wall with a portal.
“I apologise for the damage to the wall, we will of course pay for damages,” said Minerva, and then she sighed. “Perhaps it would be better for you guys to see the problem in action.”
“In that case Team Natsu will take up the request!” said Lucy, eager to help her friends.
“Alright!” yelled Natsu, fired up.
“Yeah!” yelled Wendy, fired up in her own way.
“I have a feeling this will prove to be quite interesting,” said Erza.
Gray located Juvia hiding behind her pillar and dragged her towards the others.
“W-Wait I’m a part of Team Natsu?” enquired Juvia.
“For one thing, yes, it’s been this way for a while considering how you always follow me. Secondly, if we are dealing with crazy romantic stuff, who better to bring than you?”
“My beloved Prince thinks I’m a love expert!” said Juvia to herself.
“That is not the message you should have taken from that,” muttered Gray, sweat dropping.