You glance up sharply at the sound of thunder, peering through the scattered branches above to make out the dark sky. The first raindrop falls lightly onto the top of your head, but you brush it away. Your shoulders stings from the movement- the sign of the wound you had sustained from the battle.

     It wasn't a terrible injury- just a scratch tracing from the back of your neck to your left side. Sure, it bled a lot, but it wasn't like you were dying from it. Unfortunately, that wasn't how your companion saw it.

      "If I hadn't gone for the crown instead of helping you finish the last few monsters, you wouldn't have been hurt!" Sting was saying, raking a hand through his blonde hair with his nerves. The look on his face was pure guilt, and you find yourself feeling bad for him.

      "I'm not dead, am I?" You say, spreading your arms. "You got the crown, and we finished the mission. It's done- we'll be back at the guild in no time."

      Sting stares at you for a moment with handsome dark blue eyes that reflect his guilt more strongly than his words. He lets the topic drop, but you are perfectly aware he would bring it up again at your next wince.

     The rain is falling more heavily now, and the two of you decide to take shelter beneath the dense branches of a nearby tree. You ease yourself down into a sitting position that wouldn't kill your back, avoiding Sting's eyes as they track your every movement. Your plan to hide your pain fails drastically as an agonizing stab shoots up your back. You wince.

      Sting sits down beside you quickly, "Are you alright? Is it deep?"

       "I'm fine," you brush him off, turning away, but his hand slides beneath your chin to turn you back around to face him.

       "I can't believe I let you get hurt, Y/N. You should hate me right now for even putting you through this!"

      You crack a smile at the sincerity in his voice. "I'm not mad, Sting. Accidents happen."

      "If you had died because of my mistake, I don't know what I'd do! You asked me to come on this mission for someone to watch your back, but I couldn't even do that." He sighs, staring hard at the ground and letting go of your face. "You've got to be mad at me for putting your life at risk. I would be mad at myself."

      You throw your hands in the air with exasperation. Clearly he doesn't understand what you're saying. "Sting! I'm not mad at you at all! You've got nothing to be sorry for, you only did what you thought was right. You finished this mission, got us both out alive, and I've only got a tiny scratch on my back! I'm not even remotely mad at you and am probably incapable of ever hating you because I freaking love you! And I-" 

       You break off, the pink rising in his face giving away the meaning of the words you had just spoken. You flush, stammering in an attempt to back track. You were far from ready for him to know you had feelings for him, and this was no way to let him know.

       "I-I didn't mean-" you begin, waving your hands frantically in front of you. You find yourself faltering, and the conversation fell into a long silence. The awkwardness felt as if it was eating you alive, and you fidget uncomfortably on the ground. Your back throbs, but for once, your mind is too occupied to register the pain.

      You sink back against the trunk of the tree, burying your face into your hands miserably. "I'm sorry..."

      "Sorry for what?" Sting asks quietly, and you peek through your hands to look at him. You squeak in surprise as you realize he had leaned forward and was inches away from your face. He smiles slightly, "Don't ever be sorry for your feelings, Y/N. And don't be afraid to voice them."

     You allow him to gently remove your hands from your face, watching him carefully as he brushes hair out of your eyes. You can feel your heartbeat speeding up inside you as he leans in a little further. "Because if you never voice them, you might never realize that person has feelings for you as well."

       "Y-you mean-" you begin, your breath catching as he pulls you closer to him. Then he was kissing you gently, a hand on your waist and the other at your cheek. The shock disappears as he deepens the kiss, and you close your eyes to lean into him. It lasts only a moment until he slowly breaks it, but you don't lean away.

      He smiles, wrapping his hands around you to hold you closer. You almost don't believe it as he leans down to whisper in your ear "I love you, Y/N."

        You tilt your head back to look up at him, and his dark eyes reflect the swell of love you feel in your heart. You grin, pushing your face back into his chest. "I love you too."

     Here's the second!!! Dedicated to masakauchiha because she gave me this amazing one shot idea! So a shout out to her. Hope you guys enjoyed!!

         ---- Gajevyx99 out