Fears.
[TenYearsBefore]
The night is dark: the sky is pitch-black because of the new moon, and not even a star gives a sign to shine. Sting holds tight Lector, a bit for the fear, a bit for the cold: he doesn't like that atmosphere, he doesn't like to see nothing and be a such easy target. He doesn't like the dark. He fits better in his arranged bed, made out of leafs and twigs, he closes his eyes and tries to calm down, deep-breathing. In the end, there's nothing to worry about. He casts a glance to a figure not so distant from himself, that he knows, it's not sleeping. He smiles, he feels protected. Where there's the dark there's Rogue, e he knows that he will always be by his side, he will always be his shadow. He knows that there's Rogue to protect him, and that's enough. He curls up better and lays down in a comfortable position. "Thank you," he whispers. There's no need to add something else. He hears a soft sneer, sign that he heard him. He closes his eyes and falls asleep.
Rogue is scared like never before in his life. He's scared of don't succeed, of don't be able to stand his own shadow, that is slowly taking him down to the abyss of the insanity. The voice of silence it's deafening like a thunder, his head is on the verge of exploding. His wisdom is leaving and it makes room for the madness. Rogue falls in the oblivion of the darkness.
"Rogue!"
A voice, and that's enough. Because that's not a common voice, he recognize it. It's the only voice that has ever shine a light on his uncertainties, in his whole life.
"Sting..."
The White Dragon Slayer puts his arms around his shoulders, getting him close in an hug.
"Relax, it's all over... I'm here now."
And Rogue has regain consciousness. Because if Sting's there with him, he can be sure that nothing will go wrong anymore.
When it's like he's sinking in the shadow of a dark future, it's enough the right light to resolve everything.