He could feel the vibration of footsteps through the ceiling. Coming closer, taking their sweet time.
The gait of a man who knew he was king.
IIIIIIIIIIIII
Rogue doesn't wake with a start. He learned many years ago not to. It would only cause problems, especially if someone other than Frosch was there to witness it. Thankfully, the small exceed as still sleeping soundly, pressed against his side like always.
Frosch had never learned how to sleep on her own and Rogue was fine with being her security blanket. If anything, Rogue found her constant presence through the nights comforting.
The dark haired mage carefully moved Frosch and got up. Scrubbing at his eyes he wearily made his way to the bathroom. The florescent lights above his medicine cabinet made him flinch and groan, wondering why the hell he'd even flipped the switch. He could see perfectly in the dark. Rogue washed his face with cold water to wake himself up fully despite the fact that it was four in the morning and checked his reflection.
His eyes stared back at him in the mirror. They were red normally, true, but they were slightly bloodshot now. Great. Now he was going to have to come up with a plausible reason as to why he hadn't gotten a good nights sleep. And its going to have to be good because Sting is going to ask too, especially since they were going out later on a job. Rogue could already hear Sting complaints about how the shadow dragon slayer better not slow the other down. Ugh.
Rogue shook his head and wandered back out into his bedroom and then down stairs. Entering the kitchen, Rogue checked the fridge for something to make for breakfast and took note of the fact that his kitchen was pretty empty.
Rogue has how own place outside the guild. Not that he has something against living with his brethren at the boys dorm but he appreciates his own space too much. That aside, he's lived here since Jiemma was the master and there was no way in hell he would've lived in that psycho's space. Now that that monster of a guild master is gone the only thing keeping Rogue from moving in would be pure laziness. There is no way the mage is going to move everything he owned to another location just for the sake of being close to the guild hall, especially since the dorm is more expensive than his current housing.
The shadow mage moved to sit down on his living room couch, shoving multiple pillows to the floor while at it. Frosch has an odd fascination with owning a thousand fluffy pillows and Rogue, the true enabler that he is, continues to buy the exceed what ever Frosch wants. Rogue collapses into his cushions and closes his eyes.
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Rogue stirs when he hears the tell tale squeak of his companions' steps coming down the stairs.
Frosch enters the room, frog plush in one hand and pillow in the other. Fro uses her tail to rub her eyes and smiles sleepily at her dark friend.
"Breakfast time?"
Rogue gets up and pets her head, causing her to purr, "Sure. But we have to go out. I haven't gone food shopping yet and we don't have anything for breakfast."
"Okay."
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
"Where is that shadowy bastard! He was supposed to be here ten minutes ago!"
Sting was anxious to get out and go on a job. Since he'd become guild master the whits dragon slayer has had a tough time. Sting was a man of action, not a man of sitting at a desk doing paperwork! He craved adventure and nothing was going to stop him, not even his mysterious partners' lateness.
"Don't worry, Sting-sama," Yukino patted Sting on the shoulder in an attempt to calm him down. After all, he looked like he was only seconds away from tracking Rogue down and smacking him one for being late, "I'm sure Rogue-sama has a good reason. Besides, It's only been a couple minutes."
"Yeah I know," Sting huffed, "But he knows how little I go out nowadays. He knows how revved up I've been to go out on this job and get some action. I know he knows so whats the deal? He's never late for anything but all of sudden he takes his sweet time now that he knows I only have a few days of free time? Bull! He's late on purpose! I bet he's doing this, this passive aggressive crap, because of some imaginary slight!"
Yukino giggled and continued to pat her masters back. Rogue would do something like this just to get Sting riled up. She supposed it was a little bit of game in the sabertooth guild nowadays. Since Sting gained the title of master (and the responsibilities of master) he's been getting a lot of help (free labor) from Rogue. Honestly, the shadow mage probably does more than Sting. So Rogue has taken it upon himself to share his misery by playing mind games with the blonde. Say things or do things to put Sting on edge and hold him there until he explodes for seeming no reason, and then act completely innocent until Sting thinks he imagined it.
Yukino probably shouldn't encourage it, but what can she say? It's quality entertainment.
"What are you talking about? I'm right here."
Both Yukino and Sting jump five feet, squeaking in shock as Rogue literally phased out a shadow right behind them.
"What the fuck?! Were you trying to kill us just now? How many fucking times do I have to tell you to walk into a room like a normal goddamn human?" Sting was taking deep breaths, hands clenched in both terror and anger. Rogue simply smirked at him.
"R-Rogue-sama-," Yukino couldn't even get out words thanks to her banging heart.
"Ah," Rogue smiled at her apologetically, "I'm sorry, Yukino. That was rude. I won't do it again."
"No, no. Thats okay. I was just surprised. I didn't know you were here. Did you just arrive?"
Rogue shook his head, "Actually I was here a while ago. I was upstairs in the office, making sure everything was in order before Sting goes out. I don't want anything to cut his bout of freedom down, don't you agree, Sting?"
Sting, who had been muttering about not getting an apology suddenly stops and suspiciously stares at his friend.
"…okay, that was way too suspicious. Are you just saying that to get my guard lowered? Were you setting some kind of trap?"
"I would never do that."
"Fro thinks so, too!"
Frosch announced her arrival by literally dropping down from the ceiling with Lector, who had been mysteriously missing these past few minutes.
"Hey! Lector! Where were you?" Sting asked.
"I was up in the office with Rogue and Fro. We were just looking things over before we left."
With the confirmation from Lector Sting rubbed the back of his head, obviously embarrassed that he'd accused Rogue of being shady. Rogue smirked.
"Wipe that smug grin off your face, asshole! Just because you were innocent this time doesn't mean you're always guilt free! I know you're plotting!" Sting bit out, glaring over his shoulder.
"You sound paranoid, Sting. Are you feeling okay?"
"Sh-Shut up! Let's just go! Lector! Frosch!"
"Alright! Time to get out of here and get some real action!"
"Fro thinks to, too!"
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Typically, when Sting and Rogue go out Minerva takes the mantle of substitute master. However, Minerva got caught up with some last minute request so now the job was left to Yukino, who reluctantly accepted.
The celestial mage sighed and logged another request in the book, as well as who did it and anything that may have been note worthy. Rogue was normally the one to do this and Yukino now understood why it drives him crazy. It's boring. And not just boring but tedious. Copies have to made and mailed to the magic council, reports for damages have to be filed, fees have to be paid, apology letters have to me written. All in all its a pretty crap job, especially when you take into account that Yukino isn't going to get paid for this.
Yukino was just about to take a walk to stretch out her tired limbs when someone knocked on the door.
"Come in," She called, straightening up her clothes. Currently, Yukino was seated in the visitors section of the guild hall, which was where normal citizens could come in and file a request or take care of another matter with the guild.
The door opened and a petite woman walked in, long black hair fluttering about. She walked with a slight limp and was adorned with a long green cape.
"Uh, um," She started, fidgeting with her clothes and refusing to look Yukino in the eyes, "I-is, um, is there a person here?"
"Uh, well, yes. There are people here. If you're looking for someone special you're going to have to be a little more specific," Yukino sweat dropped.
The woman's intense giggle shocked Yukino into giving a little jump. The woman reached up to fix her hair.
"Uh, yeah. You're r-right. Hah! Of course! Specifics! That, uh, thats what makes this world run, ya know? Everything needs to be specific or else we're all j-just the same kind of things, ya know? But of course ya do! You're the one that a-asked for specifics, after all. I'm just bein' silly. Haha!" She rambled so fast Yukino had no time to even try to answer, "I, I a, i'm looking for a boy. Not a boy-boy but a person who is a boy but grown up, uh, w-what do you call 'em? Men! Right! I'm looking for a man!
"Dark hair and red eyes, I think. I mean, colors are all up to interpretation, you know? I could thinks it's red, you could think it's-it's-uh, not red. Ya know? Uh, but yeah. A man. uh, I knew his name but I-I can't just think of it right now, ya know? I think it started a R? I don't know maybe I'm just crazy but i couldv'e sworn it started with a-"
"Do you mean Rogue?" Yukino interjected. This woman was starting to make her confused.
"Yeah! That's the one! Rogue. Kind of a silly name but who am I to speak. I don't know maybe it's normal, what with his p-partner being Sting and all. Sting, it's even stranger than Rogue, to be honest. Or at least, in my o-opinion. But no one cares about that ha! Uh, what was I here for? Oh, I want to talk to Rogue."
Yukino blinked, "Um, I'm sorry but Rogue isn't here right now, he's out on a job. I could take a message for him, if you want. Then he could get back to you."
The woman let out a strange shriek and Yukino couldn't decide if it was happy or horrified.
"Uh, okay, message. Um, ha, let's see. Uh, try this 'hi, it's me-' nonononono he wouldn't know who me is. Ya know, because everyone is a me. Just like everyone is made of the same stuff without specifics everyone is a m-me. uh-"
"How about you leave me you're name and address and Rogue can visit your place, okay?" Yukino had a feeling that should she let this continue the mage would be here all day.
"Okay! Sounds good. Um, I'm stayin' at the Winning Rose in 3A. Just have his swing over okay? Thank ya kindly."
With that the woman started walking away, still limping and now playing with her hair. She left so swiftly Yukino barely had enough time to write down her address.
"W-wait!" Yukino called, "You didn't leave me a name!"
The woman stopped short, suddenly lacking all energy she had before. Her hands fell to her sides and she looked over her shoulder to stare at Yukino, who felt the aura in the air shift to something much less pleasant.
"C-12."
And then C-12 marched right out the door, slamming it behind her.