Inversion

by SparklyLarry

Chapter One

A Dim Collage

The hangover from last night is splitting his head into pieces like a hammer smashes crystal balls. Yesterday party was... remarkable. That's the right word to describe the madness that took place in the particular guild on July 9th. Had anyone told him yesterday morning that a human can drink 13 bottles of rum and vodka in a row, the Dragon Slayer would have laughed in his face. Well, he probably would not have been that rude, but nevertheless the statement would have appeared absolutely ridiculous. The male had been sticking to this conviction up to the evening of the same day. Doubts started to nag at him after the fellow Dragon Slayers forced the third bottle down his throat. If everything was more or less clear up to the fifth portion, then the sixth one turned the world upside down. Flying cats were crawling dogs and crushing fists were tickling feathers. The Dragon Slayer learnt that hard liquors could talk and even sing after the eighth bottle. The next one was emptied too quickly to have any special effect on him.

Another moan escapes the mage as he tries to raise his head. Bad move. Instead, the male collapses back into the pillow. The terrible reek of alcohol stings the sensitive nose. Realization that he is the very source of the foul smell disgusts and troubles the man much more the the stink itself. To think that he, of all people, would be three sheets to the wind! True, the mage is not alone in his misery, but still the idea appalls. He can imagine Sting in a situation like this, his face purple and twisted in pain. But he? The sensible one? What's happening to the world they know? Did they not save it from destruction? Grimacing and muffling up in a soft clean blanket, the Dragon Slayer racks his brains in order to recollect the previous day.

July 9, X791. 6 p.m.

"Hey, guys! Watcha doing here?"

Sabertooth mages turned to face the grinning Dragon Slayer who had defeated them singlehandedly just a few days ago. Like them, he was still covered in bandages, but no bruise or wound could dim his cheerfulness. Rogue gave him a curt nod while Sting broke into a toothy smile of his own.

"Yo, Natsu! Err... I kinda wanted to talk to your old man..." upon saying it the blonde received a nudge in the ribs. Glaring at his nonchalant partner, the White Dragon Slayer reluctantly corrected himself. "I mean your master. Ya know... To get a piece of advice or something on... mastering the guild!"

"You're the new master of Sabertooth?!" Natsu shouted incredulously. "Not fare!"

"What Natsu wants to say," the scarlet-haired Fairy hovered over Salamander like a mountain, " is 'Congratulations, Eucliffe! We hope that you will be a great master to your guild'. Isn't that right, Natsu?" she asked strictly, her brows furrowed.

"Yes, ma'am!"

"Good," the atmosphere loosened up after Titania left the three. The Twin Dragon Slayers shared an uneasy look, the same thought crossing their minds. Had it been Erza fighting them four days ago, they would have still been unconscious with their bones crushed.

"Jeez... She reminds me of our Milady," Sting whispered in awe, watching her retreating back.

"Hey, losers!" a heavy arm landed on Rogue's shoulder, causing him to tense. The Shadow Dragon Slayer was not sure he was ready for that encounter. Suppressing a sigh, the dark male greeted the man he used to idolize.

"Good evening, Gajeel," keeping his face neutral he said briefly. It took him some self-control to ignore the nasty snigger.

"Not that cocky, I see. Great," the Metal Dragon Slayer remarked with a smug smirk. A blank stare was all he got for an answer. "Gee-hee. Easy here, I'm kidding. So," red eyes focused on the blonde. "Sabertooth Master, huh?"

"Yeah," considering Sting's big ego, the intonation he used could be called somewhat diffident. At least, it lacked the usual haughtiness, that was an improvement.

"Don't follow in the bastard's footsteps, 'coz then it will be me kicking your butts," the warning in his suddenly serious voice was crystal clear. "Believe me, Salamander's attacks will seem like child's antics in comparison to the hell that awaits you."

"Hey!" the said salmon-haired male yelled indignantly. "Wanna know what the real hell feels like?! I'm all fired out now, metal freak!"

"Bring it on!" a mad grin marred his lips. However, before the real combat could take place, the White Dragon Slayer got between the two.

"Yeah, yeah, that's all great, but tell me where to find your old man... p-please," Sting had some difficulty pronouncing this word and had almost skipped it altogether. "Then be my guest and beat the crap out of each other to your hearts' content!" he finished on a lighter note, smiling goofily. "By the way, I bet on you, buddy!" the blonde cheered, clapping Natsu on the shoulder. The similarities between the two were striking even if they denied it, because Dragneel responded with the same toothy grin and sneered. "Care to lay your bets, Rogue?"

"No," the Shadow Dragon Slayer refused in a brief manner, shutting his eyes to three - Gajeel's reproachful, Natsu's exultant and Sting's annoyed - glares directed at him.

"Anyway, what do you want with Gramps?" the Metal Dragon Slayer inquired, too bored with trying to outstare the impassive Tiger. "He's kinda busy drinking his ass off. Gee-hee. That reminds me, pals. The four of us have some unfinished business."

Rogue became rigid, not liking the Fairy's solemn tone. A premonition that it had something to do with fighting kept swirling in the mind. Not that he didn't want a rematch. In fact, the dark male could not wait to fight Gajeel again and win. But the Shadow Dragon Slayer was not reckless like his blonde partner. He needed training, a lot of training. Rogue would not fight Redfox unless he's one hundred per cent sure in his victory. At the moment the dark male was anything but ready.

The Shadow Dragon Slayer didn't notice how he had spaced out pondering over the ways to avoid the fight. In the interim, the other three were discussing something animatedly. Little did Rogue know that his apprehensions were needless, for Fate had a few direr things in store for him. Just as the male was finally coming up with a plan, his cloak was unceremoniously grabbed from behind, resulting in him being pulled like a sack towards the Fairy Tail guild.

"What's going on, Sting?!" the Shadow Dragon Slayer struggled to break free, but the three just casted ominous smirks at him and kept on dragging the frowning male. "Sting, let me go. Now," a threatening growl, that usually put the blonde on guard, escaped Rogue's throat; though, his partner paid no attention to him.

"Calm down, Ryos," if anything, Gajeel's wild grin was only giving the Shadow Dragon Slayer more reasons to panic.

"Yeap! We had a bad start, guys. It's time to make amends!" Natsu chimed in with his fist raised high. The same mad smile was twisting his lips. At last, Sting spared a mischievous look at his guildmate and burst out boisterously.

"The-Dragon-Slayers-Bros' Palling-up Party!"

Rogue was right to be appalled at the words. Though, he would not realize it until the following morning...

...Back to July 10th. Accurate time is yet to be defined.

Up to that moment Rogue can recollect the recent events quite confidently. The first bottle, that was forced down his throat by Gajeel after the point-blank refusal to touch any liquor, made things a bit foggy. Another moan. This time hangover is not its only cause. His cheeks turn red at some memories of last night... Like when the Shadow Dragon Slayer read out an improvised poem about frogs in love and falling stars. Was it the third or the forth bottle to blame? Definitely the forth. He had to be pretty much drunk to act like an idiot. Sighing, Rogue hides his face in shame under the blanket. Looks like embarrassment will be the only thing the dark male is going to endure this week. How many people have seen him in this state? His teeth clench at the idea of Fairies mocking him. The next thought terrifies him even more. There was his annoying best friend who would rather starve himself to death than miss an opportunity to tease the partner. Rogue will probably hear no end of the most embarrassing night in his life... Along with half of Fiore. A realistic image of Sting retelling the events of 'Palling-up Party' with all the colourful details to every passer-by pops in the dark male's head. What a disaster. The so-called 'Dragon Slayers Bros' will pay.

A new wave of nausea hits Rogue and he gulps down the bile. Never before has he felt so pathetic and disgusting. This hangover is not much better than a motion sickness... Okay, he'll admit, maybe just a little. Still, it sucks. As the Shadow Dragon Slayer floats in the jelly that is his mind, he remembers the tenth bottle. That one was the biggest. Sting suggested jubilizing it in a drinking contest. The blonde and the salmon-haired mage were the first to empty their portions. As to Gajeel and Rogue, they took it more seriously... The dark male shakes his head in disbelief, his eyes turning into saucers. His memory must be playing tricks on him. He couldn't have possibly crawled into a barrel full of beer and drink it from inside! ...could he? No way. Whatever his other misadventures in the period between tenth and twelfth bottles were, Rogue's consciousness was veiled by a thick cloud of drunkenness.

But the Shadow Dragon Slayer recollects something else... their last, thirteenth, bottle. A dusty dark green veil that Natsu filched from Fairy Tail Master's personal store, for by that time the four of them had run out of alcohol. The liquor had a funny smell. Now that Rogue contemplates it, the drink's hue was even less appetizing. But back then the Dragon Slayers were at the stage when trifles like smell and color didn't matter. Obviously, they shared the trophy. Then there is a gap in the male's memory. Either he lost consciousness or reached the final condition of the party - absolute oblivion. Hell, Rogue has no idea how has even come here! Which reminds... Here is where...? The linens' vanilla odour is not familiar.

Taking in a deep breath, the dark male risks to open his bloodshot eyes. Surprisingly, it is easier than he expected. Carefully, the mage slowly takes in the surrounding from his horizontal position. The breeze idly plays with light curtains above him, meaning he is lying on some bed under an open window. Check. That's not the hotel where Sting and he had a room; Rogue remembered their beds being in the corners. Neither was it a guild hall. The pillows and blankets are too clean and comfy for public use. His sensitive nose easily recognizes the sea salt in the air, hence he is still in Magnolia. The remaining question is where exactly. Aware of the risks, Rogue still manages to raise a head a bit, just enough to scan the place. Judging by the light colors that dominate in the apartment, pleasant fruit scents that flow in the air (well, excluding his own stench) and general neatness, the Tiger draws up a conclusion that he's currently in a female's room. A girl's room. Something doesn't sound right... He tries again to formulate the idea. The Shadow Dragon Slayer wakes up to find himself in bed in the girl's apartment after being drunk to the point of acting out of character. The male pales as a few possible outcomes of the previous night savage his mind. What the hell has he done after the thirteenth bottle!?

All of a sudden the door squeaks open, the noise makes Rogue cringe. A blonde head peeks out of a bathroom. It takes the Dragon Slayer a few seconds to recognize the Celestial Wizard from Fairy Tail who doesn't fail to notice that he is awake. In an instant she stomps over to the bed with her arms crossed. There is a displeased line between the chocolate eyes that alerts the dark male. What is even more concerning, the girl in front of him isn't wearing any clothes. A white towel around her can be hardly called a garment. The gears in his head start to tick over again. Rogue doesn't like, not for a bit, where the logic leads him. Anxiety is efficiently ejecting all other feelings from him, so the mage even forgets to blush when the... well endowed blonde bents down and looks intently at him. Blinking back, the Dragon Slayer dumbly awaits the verdict. If a crease on her face is any indication, than Heartfilia is pissed off... She will kill him. Fairy Tail will kill him. Unpleasant and surprisingly vivid images of his near future run through the head...

"How dare you to defile our dear Lucy?" the guild master, that has turned into a giant monster, roars at the wretched pile on the floor that is Rogue... or rather what's left of him. "Sabertooth has taken advantage of our hospitality and hurt the member of our family! It is a war!"

"Unforgivable!" red-haired Titania with hundreds of swords floating around her points an armored finger at the beaten Shadow Dragon Slayer. "Lucy, dear, how should I punish him? Do you want me to hit him really hard?"

"No-no, Lucy! Let me burn him to a crisp!" laughing like a pyromaniac, Salamander suggests eagerly, his fists on fire.

"What about some juicy shish-kebab?" the ice mage flashes a deathly grin at the abuser, his daggers ready to cut.

"No," the Celestial Wizards shakes her head, blonde locks concealing the expression. Then she takes slow purposeful steps and stops right above prostrated Rogue, her eyes shimmering with malice. "This scum dishonoured me. It is only fair that he should feel my humiliation!" a dramatic pause follows. The male can feel his heart beating madly in the temples. "Tie him to a train!"

It will the death of him...

"Hello there! Don't you zone out when I'm talking to you! Tsk!"

Rogue snaps out of his nightmare to discover himself still alive. So... Maybe she isn't that mad at him. The blonde is blabbing about something and waving her hands exasperatedly, but the dark male is too dizzy to pay attention to her exclamations. Well, the blonde is definitely pissed off, but it doesn't look like she is going to torture him. What a relief! Though, the Shadow Dragon Slayer can't help thinking that the Celestial Wizard is too forgiving and kind-hearted for her own good. I mean, I've encountered her just several times. During the first meeting Sting and I insulted her guild and friends... Next time my future self kind of blew a hole in her future self... And now I am having a hangover in her bed after who knows what! What an interesting relationship we've got. Gradually coming back to his senses, Rogue finally becomes aware of him being shirtless. Heartfilia is still pacing about, clad in a towel. The belated flush at long last reaches his cheeks. The severity of the situation dawns upon him like an avalanche. Damn it! Why is she so calm? It does not seem right. Hold on a second... Heartfilia is absolutely comfortable around me, even though she is wearing nothing but a towel. As if it were normal... What the hell have I told her yesterday?! Did I promise something? Did I blurt out some nonsense? Damn, I was so screwed. I won't be surprised if it turns out that I have proposed to her. The hell I can't remember a thing?! I am not drinking with Sting and Natsu ever again. What other follies have I done? For all I know, the drunk me could have changed a guild! That is unlikely, of course. Rogue could not have been that befuddled. Just to make sure he isn't completely lost, the Tiger casts a quick glance at his bare left shoulder and calms down. ...

...Bare. Without a guildmark.

His eyes widen in shock as he stares at his bare skin without the familiar black emblem. No way... The Dragon Slayer immediately fixes his burning gaze on the puzzled at his sudden burst of activity blonde. Grabbing her shoulders, as if catching at a straw, the Tiger (or maybe the former Tiger) grills the Fairy, his voice so hoarse from the liquor he doesn't recognize it.

"Where is my guildmark?! What has happened?! What am I doing here? Why...-" his hopes to get straight answers break on a fist to the face as Heartfilia sends him flying into the wall. And his head has just ceased to ache...

"Mavis..." the Celestial Mage pinches the bridge of her nose in exasperation. "Why do you guys never listen to me? I've warned you like how many times now? ... five... ten times? But no! You just have to get drunk and make fools of yourselves! Urg! What crazy stuff were you drinking anyway!?" shaking her head and sighing deeply, the blonde just points at his other shoulder. Blinking, Rogue stares at the right arm.

"Is it some kind of a sick joke? Yes, it must be Sting's doing. Very funny, indeed," he replies in a dry voice, sarcasm dripping from every word. The Dragon Slayer stands up with as much dignity as a man in his state can and brushes the imaginary dust off himself. Great, Sting. Your twisted sense of humor just kills me. Rogue gives the blonde an appraising look. Before his face gets another chance to become beet-red, he quickly averts his eyes. Well, Lucy has a right to play a prank on me. Let's call it her little revenge on me. I should admit, though, that her actor's skills are quite astonishing. For a moment there, I fell for it. Very convincing. I wonder, who is the mastermind behind the scheme. Somehow, I doubt that Sting could have thought it out so flawlessly. It is either Heartfilia or Gajeel. Calming down, the Tiger allows a small smile to spread across his face. After all, it is Fairy Tail, the craziest guild in Fiore. He should have expected something like this. No need to overreact, just a friendly joke. Maybe, Sting has nothing to do with it and he is being tricked the same way right now by other Fairies. The idea draws a chuckle from the usually silent mage. Still smiling, he rubs the skin to wipe the fake Fairy Tail's mark off his right shoulder. "It was very convincing, Lucy. I am impressed," Rogue sincerely praises her efforts. Leaving aside the fact that he practically had a panic attack, the dark male is glad that there are no hard feelings between the blonde Celestial Mage and him. Still... The towel is too much... A treacherous pink tint crawls up his cheeks once again.

"Huh?" the Shadow Dragon Slayer ignores a funny look Lucy is giving him as he tries to clean his skin from the red guildmark. "Um... You know it won't go, right? If you want it on the left shoulder that badly, just ask the master."

So, she won't shed the pretense? Very well. I wonder what she is going to do if I play along. Shrugging, Rogue opens his mouth to reply.

"Sure. I planned to...-" something glitters behind the Celestial Wizard, stopping him in the middle of a sentence. Stepping aside to get a better look at the object, Rogue sees a tall mirror. A smile slides from his face as dread takes its place.

Black eyes of the salmon-haired mage stare back at him from the mirror, reflecting the Shadow Dragon Slayer's confusion and disbelief. Realization sinks in like a sharp needle as Rogue touches his head with a shacking hand. The mirror image of Salamander repeats the move. Frozen to the spot, he keeps on gaping at his reflection. The Celestial Wizard waves her hand in front of his blank face, trying in vain to gain his attention.

"Natsu, you're okay? You are being weirder than usual. Honestly! You should think before drinking funny stuff."

A/N: So, I've just watched the episode 199 again. The scene where Sting was looking for Natsu to have a drink caught my attention, and the idea just popped into my head. Then I wondered, how it would look like if Rogue behaved like Natsu and vice verse... And here is the result)) I don't think the story will be very big. Probably five-six chapters, given the capricious inspiration doesn't leave me. Anyway, tell me what you think! I am currently obsessed (that's the only word to describe the state I've been in for the last four months x3) with RoLu, so the story focuses on this pairing. But you can probably guess that the two will interact in a... particular way xP

Anyway, enjoy!

P.S. I humbly beg a pardon for all the mistakes my illiterate self does.