Lector Ships It! (A Sting x Yukino and Rogue x Minerva Fanfiction)

Chapter IX: Home Is Where Your Friends Are

[Yukino]

(It is nighttime, Lucy and Yukino completed their job, the two heading back into town)

"Yukino, it's gotten late. Do you want to stay with me tonight and go back to Sabertooth tomorrow?" They had arrived at the building of Lucy's apartment.

"Are-are you sure? I'll find an inn if it's inconvenient..."

"Don't worry at all! Besides, there will probably someone waiting in my room already so... I'll just kick Natsu out and voila! Everyone always comes to my house for everything, I'm used to it."

"Thank you Lucy, that's very kind of you."

"Of course! Come on in!"
Yukino smiled, feeling welcomed as she stepped in.

She heard Lucy yell, and was surprised to see Erza and Wendy sitting on the couch, casually eating.

"What are you guys doing here?! This is my house ya know!" Lucy wasn't furious, but defiantly not fond of this either.

"I'm sorry Lucy-san," Wendy said looking indeed sorry. "We knew you would be late so we made some ramen...but then Erza decided to stay and wait for you to return. And hello, Yukino-san!"

"Nice to see the two of you both! You've really grown, Wendy-San!"

"Not here though...my chest is so flat I could probably write on it." Wendy said depressingly.

"Oh, don't worry. You will grow everywhere one day." Erza comforted her.

Yukino hugged both Erza and Wendy. They hadn't changed at all, which made her feel secure.

"Come to think about it, where are Natsu, Happy, and Gray?" Lucy asked. Then she slapped her forehead. "I can't believe I'm worried, when they're not here!! What the heck?!"

"Lucy, they were fighting again this afternoon, and destroyed part of the guildhall, again, so I decided to put them in their place and force them to go on a job, just the three of them, so they can bond." Erza looked very satisfied, and Yukino had a feeling that Natsu and Gray had been seriously beat up by Erza.

"Ah, of course you took care of them. Since it's so late, do you guys all just want to stay over and have a sleepover? I have extra stuff you guys could borrow." Lucy looked tired, but willing to comply.

"Really Lucy-san? Thanks so much!"
Wendy looked so happy, as well as Erza.

"First things first! Lemme tell you about guess which ship?!" Lucy gestured toward Yukino.

"Omigosh! You and Sting? Reallly! So cute!" Erza congratulated.

"Kawaii~" Wendy sighed, almost fainting from happiness.

"Aw, thanks guys. Also, Erza-san, I'm sure things with Jellal have been good, and Wendy-san, I think Romeo-san has taken a liking to
you too."

"Cute! RoWen and Jerza for life!" Yukino said.

It was the two fairies' turn to blush now.

"I ship it! At this rate, you'll be the matchmaker like Mira in Sabertooth, Yukino!" Lucy said in a sing song voice.

"Lucy-san...Why? He's just my friend." Wendy pouted.

"That's what they all say... Wendy. And Erza, you match Jellal perfectly! He has a tattoo the color of your hair, and your guildmark is the color of his hair."

Wow, that's true! I never realized they were meant for each other that way! Yukino thought.

"Ah stop it! I brought strawberry cake! So let's eat the night away!" Erza declared.

"Right! Thinking about Jellal?" Lucy and a Yukino teased.

"S-shut up!"

As everyone dug in, Yukino felt so homely about Lucy's place. It was simple but cozy, especially watching Erza, Lucy and Wendy being so close. Yukino had Minerva of course, but it was still different. This was home for Lucy. As long as she was with her Fairy Tail family, she would always be home.

"Come on Yukino! Join on in! Let's have an eating contest!"

"Alright! But prepare to be beaten!"

"Not with the strawberry cake, Erza-san will always win that one..."

"Damn right!"

They all laughed. There was a fire lit ablaze in Erza's eyes as soon as she saw the cake.

Eventually, they all declared Erza winner, defeated by the mighty Titania.

Home truly is where your friends are...
Was Yukino's final thought before she drifted into a peaceful sleep.