First or Last Kiss?

~7~

Lucy just kept running and running, not thinking, jut looking at her feet as she ran through the empty halls of the Arena. Her mind was a blurry mess, images of both Gray and Sting were running through every inch of her brains. She swallowed a lump of guilt as she turned another corner. The halls hopefully taking her further away from the raven-haired mage.
No. She couldn't face him, not after what happened. Just not right now. Probably not for a while, either.
She suddenly bumped into something and she stumbled backwards, almost losing her balance but she felt two familiar hands steady her. She looked down at the hands keeping her in place.
They were two familiar hands indeed. She couldn't shake off the feeling of them on her skin. The burning sensation that had pleasurable chills running down her back. The little scars across their otherwise smooth surface.

"Lucy?" Sting breathed as he held the Celestial mage steady. She was panting and a trickle of sweat ran down from her temple to her neck, where it disappeared under the neckline of her shirt, probably sliding over the soft skin of her –. He swallowed.
Shit, Sting. Get your shit together!
"S-Sting?" Lucy asked in disbelief. Her breathing was still uneven and a panicked look clouded her brown eyes. She moved her trembling hand to touch Sting's cheek and it remained there when she spoke softly.
"Sting." Lucy bit her lip and removed her hand. Sting frowned at her.
"Lucy, what's wrong?" he asked cautiously. The other mage just shook her head.
"I-it's nothing, really.." She smiled politely up at Sting but he shook his head, not taking no for an answer.
"You could just tell me, you know?" He said with a grin, but Lucy remained silent, she looked away from him and shook her head.
"Why not? Did anything happen?" Sting stood still, raking his mind for possible explanations of her behaviour.
"I told you... It's nothing!" Lucy suddenly yelled, clenched fists by her side.
"Nothing you need to know of!" Lucy added angrily. Sting took a step back and a look of hurt crossed his features.
"I do, actually! I do need to know!" Lucy eyed Sting angrily and her eyes softened.
"I.." Lucy tried but her voice caught.
"Can't you just tell me what's wrong!" He pleaded softly as his hands flew to her face, roughly cupping her cheeks.
"Who said anything is wrong?" Lucy tried sarcastically, placing a rather fake smile on her face. Sting felt a growl rise in his throat.
"I swear to whatever god is up there, Lucy! Who did what?!" Lucy's eyes cast down. There was a long pause before she broke the silence.
"Sting... you're hurting me." She whispered as she placed her delicate hands over Sting's. He reluctantly let go of her.

Lucy took a deep breath. The situation certainly didn't lead to the outcome she'd hoped for. And she had to tell Sting eventually. Right?
"I'm sorry... I'm making such a big deal out of this, while it probably isn't that much of a problem and it didn't mean anything, too. So I guess it's alright, but –" Lucy's rambling was cut off as Sting's lips crashed down on hers.
She gasped into his mouth and he took the opportunity to bite her lip playfully. He pulled away slightly.
"Just... tell me." Sting whispered against Lucy's skin. She sighed. Here goes to nothing.
"Gray.." Sting looked up to meet her eyes.
"Gray?" He questioned surprised. Lucy nodded once and continued.
"He.. uh.. we were going to check on Natsu and Gajeel. But on our way there he suddenly stopped and he asked me if I ever wondered what things would be like if they didn't change." She swallowed and looked down.
"At first I didn't really understand and I thought he didn't want me in the guild at all, and that he was just wondering out loud... about how the guild would've been if I weren't part of it." Lucy heard Sting's soft growl and she put an assuring hand on his chest.
"He didn't mean it like that though.. He was just asking and I interpreted it wrongly. Then all of a sudden he stood so close to me ... and he.. Sting I swear it was nothing! I was surprised, to say the least. I really didn't see it coming and there was no way to avoid it." She looked up at Sting and her eyes began to burn at the devastating look he gave away.