The Mates Charm. (Sequel of Dragon Mating Season...Reversed!)

Chapter Seventeen.

Sting groans, squinting slightly as early morning sunlight began to consume the room. Now his peripheral vision was beginning to expand; Sting could make out Rogue's figure positioned by the large window within their dormitory.

"What time is it?" Sting questions groggily, moving his hand in front of his face in an attempt to defend himself from the bombardment of light, quite ironic considering his magic type, more specific dragon slayer type. Sting usually appreciated the presence of light; however this early in the morning it only seemed to aggravate him. He didn't know why, but his inner-dragon was craving for darkness. And he could only presume that Rogue was that reason.

"Time for you to get up. It's way after ten o'clock in the morning Sting; I'd say you've had a long enough nap" Rogue comments,slowly wandering towards the bed before snatching the covers out of Sting's grasps.

"Rogue, come on. Five more minutes?"

Rogue paused for a moment, as if he had been paralyzed; staring at Sting as if he was an alien. 'Why did...My dragon instincts kick in so strongly just then?'

Sting gives him a questioningly look, before shaking his head.

"You know, I am  from this planet."

Rogue seems to snap out of it, as quickly as he snapped into it, hesitantly glancing towards the clock upon the wall beside them.

"Come on get ready, and then we'll have some breakfast."

"You waited this long to have breakfast? What time did you wake up?" Sting questions, raising an eyebrow at his fellow dragon slayer. Sting himself struggled immensely to wait a considerably long time for breakfast. There had even been instances to Rogue awakening to Sting evidently, with little remorse raiding the kitchen cupboards and fridge; after waiting just over an hour he physically couldn't wait any longer despite his previous self-restraint. Rogue, at the time, simply shook his head before walking away. Leaving an considerably embarrassed Sting behind.

"I woke up around eight o'clock, but decided to have a look at some reports before you woke up. You have some documents to sign to clarify some other guild alliances and a guild master meeting next weekend."

Sting stares at him with wide eyes, before putting his hands on Rogue's shoulders.

"Rogue...What's wrong?"

"Huh?"

"You never do that sort of thing unless necessary. You always say, it's my responsibility not yours. What's changed this morning?"

"Do you really want to know?" Rogue asks carefully, noticing the worry in Sting's eyes. He had never saw Sting so... Open before. He always seemed guarded to an extent. He didn't like showing his affection for Rogue so clearly, he always struggled doing so. He may be warm, and his smile seems to brighten up his life; but he was definitely guarded. Rogue knew that from the very beginning.

"Of course I do."

"My inner-dragon" Rogue replies honestly, gaining a surprised glance from Sting.

"Now that I think about it...I think mine had changed too..." Sting trails off uncertainly.

"I'm glad I'm not the only one" Rogue sighs in relief, before narrowing his eyes at Sting.

"Now for the last time get dressed. Or I'll do it for you." (A/n: And just before I get asked, no lemons are present within in this story! >.<  I personally, have my innocence I'd love to maintain.)

"Alright, alright I'm going!" Sting yelps, quickly running into the bathroom. Smiling at the sound of Rogue chuckling from the other side of the room,

-<>-

"Do you think... This weird feeling is due to the weird courting stuff?" Sting questions casually, stretching his arms above his head before reaching for the cereal box in front of them.

"Just a warning, don't eat all of the cereal again. The idea is to have some sort of breakfast while we're here, and you keep eating it all in one day. What's the point if we have to go the shop three, four times a week, of having cereal? And, yes I do. It's our inner-dragons that have changed so I don't see any other explanation.

"So serious, lighten up Rogue!"

'I have a feeling the reason I'm so grumpy this morning is due to my inner-dragon being disappointed by the courting...'

"Tell my inner-dragon that" Rogue shrugged, raising an eyebrow at Sting that paused halfway pouring his cereal. Only a few stray crumbles escaping into the bowl.

"Oh, that's what it wants!" Sting exclaims. Rogue gives Sting an exasperated look.

"What are we going to do with you?"

Sting grins, before continuing to pour the cereal within his bowl. 

'I've got it now. This whole courting thing; at first I really didn't. But all my inner-dragon and Rogue's inner-dragon really wants is for me to look after my mate while in away proving my worth. It can be done through simple actions though, like specially pouring your mate coffee when they first wake up in the morning. Well, if your mate likes coffee, which Rogue does. It just has to be thoughtful!'

Sting grins, accomplishment coursing through his veins. He always enjoyed when he figured something out, on his own. He wasn't the brightest candle in the chandelier; but he had his moments where he deemed himself as intellectual. I depended heavily on the scenario. And suddenly, it hit Sting like a truck. All of Rogue's strange actions this morning; his weird pause when he asked to lie in a little longer, how long he waited to have breakfast with him and checking through all those reports from meetings.

And that, is where it cam crashing down.

-[]-