No one's P.O.V.
It was now night time and at least Erza had a clear understanding of the situation. Natsu, however, left without a better understand than what he had in the beginning. Why must those Saber jerks stay with Lucy? What could she be thinking? Yes, these were the fire mage's thoughts. He was concerned for his best friend, and without even knowing it, he turned around to head back to her apartment. He wouldn't go in. He knew it would bother her. So he quietly positioned himself on the ground directly below his favorite window, and there he would stay until morning came.
Inside, Lucy was getting Rouge and Sting settled. She gave Rouge her bed and Sting the couch. She would sleep just inside the doorway to her bedroom on the floor where she would be able to get to either one of them if something were to happen.
Rouge's P.O.V.
Lucy is too kind. The lights were out now and the celestial mage began to slowly slip away into her dreams. I snuggled into her warm bed and breathed in her sent. Bringing the covers up just below my nose, I closed my eyes.
Sting's P.O.V.
I don't see why Rouge gets the bed, but Blondie's on the floor so it could be worse. Why is she doing this? Were rivals, right? At least that is what I thought. Rouge and I will leave soon enough, so I guess there isn't a problem. I let out a long yawn. I let my eyelids slip shut and drifted off to sleep.
Sting's dream
It was a rainy day, but I needed to find Lector, so I went out and called his name around town. I searched the entire town, but I couldn't find him anywhere. Discouraged, I began heading back to Blondie's apartment. That is when I saw him. No, not Lector. A man in a black suit and a hood pulled over his head. He smiled wickedly. The hood had been hiding his eyes up until now, but he looked up and I immediately saw the scar running alongside his left eye. Rouge, Blondie! I sprinted back to the apartment to find it engulfed in flames. A vulture circled above. This was his doing! It had to be. Without a second thought, I plunged into the heat of the fire. Running up the crumbling stairs, I saw Rouge, a lifeless lump of flesh on the couch. A barely breathing Lucy was on the floor just by my feet. I bent and began to pick her up, but she just shook her head. Silently, I lay her back down and sat next to her. She lifted a shaky hand to my face. "Don't cry."
With that she went limp in my arms and the fire closed in around us.
End of dream.
I felt two hands on my shoulders. They were shaking me out of my dream. I opened my eyes to see Blondie looking down at me. A dream. That was only a dream. I sighed slightly in relief. Rouge was okay. Blondie was okay. Blondie had a worried look on her face. "Sting, you're crying."
I was crying? I brought a shaky hand to my face to find it wet. I was actually crying. Lucy brought a hand to my forehead. "You don't seem to have a fever. You are drenched in sweat though," She observed. And I was. I looked up at her. "I'm fine Blondie. Everything is okay now."
Lucy's P.O.V.
"Everything is okay now."
Now? "What was your dream about?"
Sting's P.O.V.
I couldn't tell her. She couldn't know about that man. She couldn't know about that dream. I couldn't even say it if I tried to.
"Don't worry. I'm fine. Go back to sleep Blondie."
She hesitated for a second, and then reluctantly did as I asked. Good. Don't worry about me. Slowly, I slipped into a dreamless sleep.
In the morning (No one's P.O.V.)
When everyone had woken up, Sting was back to his usual self. There was no trace of what had happened just a while before. Lucy couldn't help but worry though. Whatever had happened in that dream had affected Sting. He was crying. Sting never cried. Never. It was one of those things that just didn't happen. The three of them were sitting around the table eating, but Rouge could tell that something was bothering Lucy. He wanted to ask, but he didn't think it was his place to. Natsu stopped in for a while during the day, but left as it was about to get dark. Lucy had pushed the previous night's happenings to the back of her mind and went about in the stressful routine that had begun to develop.
However, that night, the same thing happened. Natsu was beneath the window, Sting had that horribly realistic dream, Lucy found him with tears streaming down his face, all the while, Rouge slept peaceful engulfed in Lucy's sent. Lucy was not going to go back to bed this time. She pulled Sting off the couch, brought him to the door, and began putting her shoes on. She then commanded Sting to do the same. "C'mon," She said as she took his hand and led him out the door.
Natsu's P.O.V.
I was resting beneath the window when I heard the door to the apartment creek as it swung open. Getting up, I peeked around the corner to see Luce and Sting walk out the front door. Where are they going? It took all of my will power to remain hidden and not run out and demand to know what was going on.
Sting's P.O.V.
What would I say when she asked about the dream. I can't blow it off as nothing. Not again. She knew something was going on. For a while we walked in silence. Finally, Lucy spoke. "What was your childhood like?"
This was the last thing I expected. But she asked, so I began my story. "I don't remember my real parents. I have a picture of my mom, but that's all. My first memory is of Weisslogia. His massive build curled up in a field. He stayed still as I crawled all over him. I think I was around three then. The sun was going down. I met Lector when I was around six, or rather, that is when he hatched. I lived happily with them for years, and I learned a lot of magic in that time. Then rumors of the Salamander began going around. I really admired him at that time. I needed to become stronger though. I couldn't stay with Weisslogia forever. He had to leave in two years, but he never gave me the reason for this. It was about a year later that I really needed the strength. I never really got along with the other kids my age, and Weisslogia would have to leave soon. I needed to protect Lector, but I didn't think I would be able to with the power I had. To become stronger, I had to defeat someone powerful, I had to defeat Weisslogia. I remember that day well. It was rainy and cold. The sky was gray and even though it was the middle of the day, it was as dark as night. I won't get into too much detail for this next part. I ended up killing Weisslogia. Now that I think about it, he probably let me. I didn't handle it very well. I won, but I couldn't stop crying. I finally stabilized my emotions and went back to my life, just without Weisslogia. Even though I was depressed about losing him, I was proud. I had defeated a dragon. Lector was proud too. He bragged about it a lot. None of the other kids believed it though. Most of them bullied me for trying to seem tough. I did a lot of crying that year. It was then that I vowed to beat Salamander and prove that I was a powerful mage."
I continued with my story, how I met Rouge, how we came to Sabertooth, however I left out him. The man who appeared in my dreams. The man who controls my future. All the while Lucy listened silently. We walked in silence for a bit until we came to a park. We sat down on a bench and I asked, "What about you?" She gave me a confused look. "What's your story?" (A/N: For Lucy's story, it will just be how it was in the anime. It saves me from a lot of typing and I probably can't tell it very well)
It was a lot to take in, but I guess my story must have been too. Once again we fell into silence. Soon, rain began to fall. I was about to take cover, but Lucy threw back her head and smiled wide. Her eyes closed and she breathed out loudly. She then turned her head to look me straight in the eyes. Her smile only grew as she stood and grabbed my hand, pulling me to my feet. I felt heat spread across my cheeks and she let go of my hand to hold her arms out to her sides. She gracefully spun about in the rain and I couldn't prevent the smile that spread across my own face. I stood back and watched her enjoy the cool drops of water on her skin. Suddenly, she stopped and looked to me again. "There's that smile! Tears don't suit you." I was shocked. Was all of this to make me cheer up?
My surprise must have shown on my face, because she giggled slightly. I can only hope that the darkness was enough to hide the deep red that was surely spread across my face. A soft tune began flowing from Lucy's lips as she sang quietly to herself.
No one's P.O.V.
It was taking all of Natsu's will power to stay hidden. It was almost like they were lovers. Almost. Natsu refused to believe that Lucy had any sort of romantic feelings towards Sting. She was simply too nice. Yes, that was it. It was all to cheer up Sting. There was no way it could be anything else. This is what it took to keep Natsu in the shadows, so this is what he repeated over and over in his mind.
Lucy's P.O.V.
Sting was finally happy again. Lucy, this is the best idea you have ever had. I praised myself. I couldn't ask about that dream. It would only bother him more. Although I have to admit, seeing Sting smile so peacefully, it made me blush. I could feel the all too familiar burning on my cheeks as they grew redder. I let us fall into a silence yet again. I liked this kind of silence. I looked to the sky yet again. Knowing Sting's story sent a warmth spread from my chest to the rest of my body. I was grateful for the cool rain on my skin. If only everyday could be this peaceful. I began to quietly sing. I knew Sting wouldn't mind. He probably felt like singing too. Why does this have to end?
I wanted to stay there forever, but it would be morning soon. Reluctantly, I turned back in the direction of, my apartment. Sting fell into step beside me and I could feel his warmth despite the distance between. I turned my gaze to his face. It had never looked more at peace than it did now. He then turned his head toward me. "What?" he asked.
"Nothing."
Nothing at all. The sound of the rain filled the silence between us until we got back to the apartment. I was just about to open the door to my apartment when Sting grabbed my hand. It fit perfectly around mine. The thought made me blush. "Thank you, Lucy," Sting said quietly. My heart hammered in my chest and all I could do is nod.
Sting took his hand away from mine and I turned back to the door and pushed it open.
Author's Note: So what do you think? I felt it was time for a Sticy chapter. The story is still going to end a RoLu, but I will be doing both until towards the end of the story. Some mentions of the exceeds. They will be coming into the story soon. Let me know if you want me to do the rest of Sting's story or Rouge's or how they met of anything like that. A mystery man has made an appearance! Once again, I'm sorry for such a long wait. I hope the 2000+ words made up for it! I will write soon. And please read my New Year's special. I must say, I am very pleased with the outcome of the voting. I will update soon, so no long wait this time :3
Sticy and RoLu tied so rather than do a love triangle thing I am going to do a one shot for both. I think a love triangle takes too much time to fully develop so this is easier.