Author's notes: Any characters from Fairy Tail belong to Hiro Mashima. Ethel and Alina are works of my own imagination and I hold creative license for them.
For both of them, those two days flew by. Rogue went on missions with Sting as usual, but in between battles and catching thieves, he found his mind wandering to what could happen when they met. His inability to control his wandering mind almost caused him to lose an appendage.
"Jesus fucking Christ Rogue what the fuck? You almost lost your arm because you were fucking daydreaming. Again."
Rogue knew Sting's concern was well placed but he couldn't help but bristle at his expletive loaded concern. Recently he had a hard time thinking straight and the blonde twit was too dense to even begin to comprehend the inner turmoil he felt. Even though he couldn't admit it, he pictured the blank face of Alina's father under his fists as he pummelled a Vulcan or a criminal. And in those moments, the Shadow would seductively slide in, guiding him, showing Rogue where to hit for the most pain, how to take them to the brink of death and pull them back again, letting them wish they died. It was the presence and friendly guidance of the Shadow that Rogue feared the most. On one hand, he had found his mate and his heart soared when he thought of her, but on the other hand the Shadow was become harder to resist, tainting his thoughts with bloodlust, revenge and cold-hearted murder. Shouldn't he be in eternal bliss now? Shouldn't his tormented soul be at peace now?
Alina floated through the two days. Her heart and mind romped like God, leaving her perishable and mortal form on Earth, living her mundane life. Up in the air, she dreamt and dreamt. She created perfect scenarios and lived and relived them again. While her hands washed dishes, her mind strolled hand in hand with the dark haired enigma. Late at night, when her thoughts kept her awake, she flashed back to the smile he graced her with when she fell. It was a smile that she could tell rarely adorned that classically handsome face. When his dark red lips turned up, they created two little indents in his cheeks and the look suited him very well she decided. His breath taking ruby eyes became slits and crinkled in the corner. It was a smile that promised the world. It was a smile that made her knees weak and her insides mushy. It was a smile she had every intention to see again.
I'll have that smile rear its beautiful head at me again. That's a promise.
Sooner than any of them had hoped, the fateful day had arrived. Rogue found himself pacing the guild hall in anticipation, apprehension and frustration. Six pm couldn't come quick enough it seemed. When the giant clocked chimed four, he deemed it acceptable to go prepare for his… my what? Is this a date? Shaking his to rid himself of the excessive thoughts, he made his way home. I suppose it makes sense to shower first. Stepping into his spacious bathroom, he quickly tugged his black shirt over his head. He turned to observe his scar ridden body.
Years of harsh training with Sting had given him a perfectly chiselled torso that would make even Adonis weep bitter tears. The smooth expanse of muscle was marred slightly by the various scars he had garnered over the past years. He absent-mindedly stroked each one, recalling the story behind each. He glanced at his face in the mirror, something he's avoided doing recently since he knew there was a jagged line of healing skin there that made his beauty a sort of liminal space, and he didn't want to think what side of that Alina fell on. There was now one long smooth scar that trailed from his left temple and ended on the right side of his nose, marring his otherwise flawless face. Breaking the spell, he finally hopped into his shower, allowing the water to clean his body, while he secretly wished it would purify his soul. How could a beast, a monster like me even think such a pure soul could be mine? If the Shadow isn't a testament to that then my physical body is.
Realising he was beginning to fall into a sempiternal spiral of self-hate and depression, he turned the dial down to freezing to snap him out of it. It worked well enough because before he knew it he had clad his lithe form in a dark grey shirt and black pants and was on his way to the giant cherry blossom tree in Magnus Park.
Fortunately, the only thing Alina had on her mind was how her father would take the news of her going out again so soon after the last time. She had steadily been working on buttering him up, even giving him a few extra cups of booze to fog his mind enough to let her go. Garbed in a pure white dress that stopped just short of her knees, she made her way downstairs with trepidation. She had a plain canvas bag that she used for shopping slung over her shoulder to house the new gem in her life: the book Rogue brought her. The thought still made her weak at the knees and caused her to smile like a drunken fool. Feeling her cheeks burn up, she put the thought out of her mind as she nervously called out.
"Dad?
No reply.
She tried again, calling louder.
"Whaddya want?" he groggily replied. Maybe I gave him one too many drinks…
She finally stepped into the living room and began to ask him.
"Well, basically… the weather is beautiful and... I was wondering if I was allowed to go... read in the park…" she trailed off and began silently waiting for a response, staring at the floor.
She waited for a minute before finally glancing up.
He had fallen asleep?!
Glancing at the time, she realised she was going to be late. If she waited around for him to wake up, she'd practically miss him.
She scrunched her eyes shut as she ran from the living room and tore down the streets, desperate to make it at a reasonably acceptable time. He'll still be knocked out by the time i get back, I'm sure of it. There's no point missing Rogue if nothing will happen. She repeated it to herself again and again, a mantra to stop her soul quivering in fear.
She's late. Is she not gonna show at all? Maybe she's not allowed. Fuck, I should have thought of that possibility. Perhaps she thinks I'm some stalker creep and she's going to avoid me. She's fifteen minutes late… face it Rogue, she was never going to show up. Like you said before, you're an unsightly beast and she's a radiant angel.
Just as he began to turn to leave, he heard that rare melody once again.
"Rogue don't leave! Rogue wait! I'm here!"
He slowly turned. His breath hitched and his eyes widened at the godly sight before him. Alina was running down the path paved between two rows of weeping willows. The sun had begun to set, casting a rosy glow on the park. She was tearing through the path, luscious locks that were tainted brown by the sun bouncing on her back. With a blush he noticed that wasn't the only thing bouncing. Her dress, a simple white shift, was an apt choice he noted. Pure and simply beautiful… just like you. She came to a hasty stop just in front of him. She had doubled over as she fought to catch her breath. Her chest heaved with pants and her cheeks were flushed red from the exertion of running. Her hair fell in tousled waves around her body.
She looked beautiful.
"Hey" she managed to pant out between long breaths.
Rogue couldn't help but grin at her ragged state.
"Hey you" he said while reaching to tousle the top of her head.
"I'm so sorry I made you wait. I didn't see the time and when I did, it was too late. I ran all the way here. I looked like a right twit" she added with a rueful laugh, straightening up to look around her. "I hope I didn't keep you waiting long."
I would happily wait forever and a day for you he thought.
Unable to not smile at her, he brushed it away.
"It's fine. I was a tiny bit late myself so I wasn't waiting quite as long as you'd think" he lied. "And I highly doubt you could look like a twit, even if you tried."
Alina blushed deeply at what she thought was a veiled compliment and sat down, leaning against the bark. She pulled her book out of her bag as Rogue sat beside her. Their thighs touched and once again she blushed. I'll end up with a nose bleed at this rate she thought. Clearing her throat she turned to finally look him straight in the face.
She gasped loud and clear. She couldn't not gasp, hard as she tried.
Her book fell from her hands, forgotten, as she scrutinised Rogue's face. Her face scrunched and her lips disappeared as the fresh scare glared violently at her. Without realising it, she reached up to gently touch the raw flesh that tore through his nose bridge.
"How did that happen?" she asked quietly, peeking up at him with honey eyes brimmed with concern and worry.
This is it. Now I find out which side of the threshold she falls on.
Troubled, Rogue cleared his throat to explain.
