A/N: Ok so this is only the 2nd story I ve ever really wrote, and the last one was like 10 years ago lol. That being said, please forgive any grammar or spelling errors. Just so everyone knows I ship Lucy with pretty much anyone. At the end of the day it's Nalu all the way, but I feel like anyone could fall in love with that girl. I had an idea for a story, and it wouldn t quit clawing at the back of my brain until I got it out. This is the result. Also I m going to be going off my memory for back story and stuff, and (admittedly) my memory sucks most of the time, so again apologies if I get anything wrong. This is going to be a Mature fic. One with Mature Themes, Mature Situations, and hopefully some Mature Humor :) This is gonna be a Rolu fic, so don t beat me with the Nalu stick please and thanks.
Disclaimer: I own nothing, Fairy Tail and it s characters belong to Hiro Mashima. Time Set: Post-Tartaros Pre-Alvarez.
A Caress in the Darkness
Chapter 1: The Stars and the Shadows
It had been a cool day, and an even cooler night. Which was why Lucy had her window closed, to enjoy the warmth as she slept. It had been a rousing success. There she lay in a deep slumber, only a light sheet and her nighty to guard her against the elements of the night. Her long golden locks fanned out around her while her chest slowly rose and fell.
Unbeknownst to the Stellar Spirit Mage a similar sight was to behold not far from her very own swanky abode.
Not much earlier...
"Room for one."
The innkeeper looked over the half-dead looking young man in strange clothes.
Rouge knew what he looked like or he could at least guess. He was covered head to toe in grime and dirt, half his shirt was missing (thankfully his kimono was still intact), and he could tell from the look the older gentleman was giving him one could not tell whether the blood he was covered in was even his own or not.
With a small smile Rogue said, "And a bath, if you do not mind. I am a mage of Sabertooth and have just completed my mission, so I must apologize for my appearance. Do you have room service?"
The innkeeper eyed the mans very large sword dubiously.
Finally, he simply closed his eyes and shook his head. "Would you like the bath in the room or one simply brought up? We are getting ready to close up the kitchen for the night but we can bring you up some food if you order it immediately."
Inwardly, Rogue sighed in relief.
Ryos, or Rogue the Shadow Dragon Slayer as he was now known, had completed a mission that very day just on the outskirts of Crocus. He could have stayed in the forest to recharge, but even the shadow dragon slayer needed the comforts of a warm bed with some home cooking every now and then. Comforts he was seldom allowed to enjoy. However, when one has to trek all across Fiore to find, then subdue a dark mage for a rather pushy client, well. Even Dragon Slayers can feel fatigue.
"A room with a bath, please. And I shall have triple portions of your three easiest to make dishes with the house ale." he finished with a small smile.
Behind the counter the old man s eyes grew wide. After a brief pause the gentleman chuckled closing his eyes again, then cracking one and asking, "Dragon Slayer?"
Now it was Rogue's turn for his eyes to widen slightly in surprise, before calmly saying, "Indeed, ser. Do many come through here?" he finished with an arched eyebrow.
"Let s just say you re not the first." Again he chuckled appearing to think of something, perhaps in the past. "Alright then young man here is your room key, it's right up those stairs and the last door on the left. My wife, Alista and our grandson will be up shortly with your food, give em about 45 minutes, give or take."
Rogue accepted the room key, then gave the innkeeper the required amount of jewel. After quietly thanking the man, he made his way to his room.
Upon entering, he surveyed his quarters for the evening. Not extravagant, almost like a room in someone's home. He took note of the fireplace as he made his way to the adjourning bathroom. That is quite the bathtub. Indeed, it was a claw hooked bathtub that looked to easily fit 3 people. Under it, was a treat Rogue nearly never got to enjoy, a temp control panel in place of coals to keep the water as hot or cold as one would prefer. I have found a treasure indeed. One wouldn't know it, but Rogue is a sucker for a good bath. Traditionally he preferred the seclusion of open-aired hot springs. The kind he came upon in his travels, or missions. Far from the bustling cities, where it's only the stars, and the night.
Since he was seeking the comforts of the city however, he was quite pleased thinking on his eminent bath.
That being said, he disrobed while filling the tub. There were robes, towels, washcloths, salts for bathing, even what looked to be a laundry basket. He placed his soiled garments in the bin, the ones he wouldn t need to burn at any rate. After gently placing his katana close enough to the tub to reach (one could never be too careful), he slowly lowered his body into the steaming water. After he removed the tie holding his hair up, he sank down to his neck feeling the tension in his muscles slightly begin to ebb. Letting his knees stay just above the water, Rogue just layed there for a good 5 minutes only soaking. He then began the battle of the blood and grime.
As he scrubbed he couldn't help but notice the silence. Usually welcome, but this evening he yearned for companionship. It couldn't be helped. The day before he left to meet with the client a children's carnival had arrived in town. Yukino had gushed about how she had went years prior, and had been waiting for the day they came back to town. She told stories of magic and candy, giants and pirates, games and dancing. A different event for every day and night. By the time she finished Frosch had been shaking with excitement.
"Really, really?" he had said in a voice that clearly conveyed his glee.
"Really, Really!" Yukino preened, with hearts in her eyes and drool on her chin.
"Rogue! Rogue! Fro wants to go! Can we, can we?" the exceed asked with the largest eyes anyone has ever made at anyone else ever.
Rogue felt like he had been pierced by an arrow, and proceeded to get Frosch in a smother hold. "Oh kami, so cute."
"Fro can t breath Rogue!" Rogue loosened his hold on the cat in the frog sleeper. Then Frosch directed those big eyes at rogue again.
"I am sorry Frosch, but I have already accepted a mission from Sting." At that the exceed looked on the verge tears. He was trying to hold them back, but Rogue could easily tell. "Frosch, would you like to go with Yukino and I m guessing Sting instead?" Little Frosch's eyes became quite wide at that, instantly gleaming with newfound hope.
Rogue turned his head to Yukino who had still been in carnival frenzy mode. "Would you mind terribly, Yukino?"
Snapping back to reality Yukino simply said, "Huh?"
Rogue chuckled and spoke, "Would you mind if Frosch accompanied you when you go to the carnival over the next few days? Sting practically begged me to take a mission yesterday evening, said I was the only other person besides himself that could handle it, considering our most competent mages are all already on jobs currently.-" Before he finished Yukino smiled and clapped her hands together. "Yes!"
"Do you not wish to hear the rest?" he asked, question clearly in his voice.
"All I know is carnival." Again she smiled, "I'm more than happy to share the carnival love!" then in a bit more of a normal voice she said, "So I m assuming you'll be going on this job, and wanting me to look after little Fro while showing him the joys of the carnival, correct?"
Rogue laughed. Yukino was seriously a closest carnival otaku... Snapping himself out of his musings he replied with a smile, "Just so. You have my thanks Yukino. Frosch can make his way back to our place in the evening time."
"Nonsense! As if I would pass up an opportunity to cuddle with Fro! She looked to the small happy exceed, "Fro, would you like to have a slumber party with me for the next few days or so? We ll have so much fun, we will stay up all night talking about the great time we had at the carnival!"
Again, fro was shaking with excitement.
Rogue did not understand Yukino's obsession, but Frosch indeed looked happy.
"Stay safe until I return Frosch. I will not be gone too long. Until then enjoy your time with Yukino and again, I assume Sting aswell, at the carnival. When I come home I will bring you a souvenir."
"The exceed danced in the air, Fro loves Rogue the most!"
A smile of fondness crossed Rogue's features when he thought about his friends. Yukino would cherish the time with Frosch to be sure. His smile then turned to a wicked snicker. The Sting cock-block is a bonus as well. If he was looking forward to any alone time with his favorite girl, he was in for a surprise. Rogue loved Sting as a brother, and was happy that he had displayed an interest for the platinum blonde. That being said he wished he could see the look on Stings face when he found out about Frosch. Perhaps Orga took a picture.
Rogue raised up out of the bathtub just in time to hear a knock at his door. Assuming it was the food he called out, "I am just getting out of the bath, you may come in and leave the food if you wish."
As he continued to dry himself off, he heard an elderly female voice on the other side of the door, "We will leave the food here on the coffee table for you, son. My husband also tells me that you'd probably be needin' some laundry done, perhaps?
Looking at the hamper in the corner in the room he returned, "If you would be so kind, yes, and thank you."
"No worries young man!" Rogue could hear the smile in her voice." Just leave the dishes and the laundry outside of the room whenever you re done! We ll have your clothes back to you by morning!"
Rogue then slipped on one of the robes off of the shelf and waited to hear the click of the door, signalling his company's departure.
After having finished his food and ale then building a small fire, he proceeded to collect the laundry and the dishes.
Normally Rogue would meditate after eating if he had the solitude, tonight however it seems his fatigue had won out. He collapsed on the bed after removing his robe. With the warmth of the fire and the food in his belly Rogue rolled to his back, and before long his breathing evened out while his chest slowly rose and fell.
Back with Lucy...
Lucy was still deep in a happy slumber when a click could be heard from the window in her room.
Slowly the window opened, not much, just a hair really. Wide enough for only light or shadow to enter.
Lucy, unsuspecting, giggled in her sleep. From the foot of the bed a darkness began to emerge. Slowly it traveled, up the bedpost, over the covers then began to lick Lucy s skin. At first it only surrounded her seeming to drink in her presence. Then with ever so much care a smokey tendril of darkness caressed her face, and circled her lips. Soon other wisps of shadow began to gently move along her skin to taste her as well.
Lucy had been exhausted when she crumbled in her bed. Jason was a slave driver. He seemed easy going enough, but behind the scenes the man was a machine. Lucy had finally finished her Sorcerer Weekly article, it was a typical 'What are they up to now?' bit. The reason for her exhaustion was that she had had to travel all around to talk to various mages. Not that she didn't enjoy herself, she had gotten to see many old friends, while enjoying local tourist spots. But as soon as her train got back to Crocus She headed straight to her apartment to write up her article. The deadline was due, and Jason who was normally all "Cool-this" or "Cool-that" turned into one of Zeref's demons if an article wasn't in on time. He even breathed fire and shit. While it fondly reminded it of her long-lost partner, it was scary as hell.
She had been up all the previous night on the train writing drafts and proofing them. So when she finally got to glory in her soft bed she simply turned the heat up a bit to keep the chill at bay, and closed her eyes.
The dream had started out normal enough.
She had just finished accepting her award for Best Author and #1 girl guys wanna date when her world began to shift. Instead of standing at a podium surrounded by fans and press with cameras, she found herself on a soft bed in almost complete darkness. The only light that of the stars themselves.
Lucy stared at the vastness of the stars.
Then, instinctively, she knew she was not alone. When she focused her eyes she could see a man hover above her, dark as night and a body made for sin. She couldn't make out his features, but she knew this man. This man who gazed at her with hunger in his red eyes.
Aaaaaaaaand that s it for now ;) I hope you guys enjoyed chapter 1! Again sorry if I did anything wrong, I m a bit shy for a beta yet so yeah. I m not sure how long this thing will be, and incase anyone is wondering, yes, there will be lemonade in the future. Adults have sex, it s a fact. So I won t cower from it, but it s not going to be the end all and be all of the story. I may not even write it well lol we shall see. Feel free to review if you like, please no flames or trolls, it s just childish really and makes you look like an idiot. So yeah pass on those. Not sure when the next update will be, I had the whole day off for the Holiday so I was all Let s do this! I have a family and a job and real life comes first. But hopefully soon! Thanks all!