Again this thing about Immortality. Firmly he bites on his bottom lip, not really liking where this is heading to. Even though Gajeel isn't able to give him the full amount of information he's been hoping for, at least he has one clue as to why this creature is after Rogue. Right in the moment, where he is going upright towards Gajeel to force him to spill out more than this vague clues, everything starts suddenly to turn right infront of him, a big throbbing pain inside his head. His entire sight turns blurry and before he knows everything starts to turn black.

[ His heart beats so fast as if it tries to break free out of his ribcage. Panting as he is he simply ignores the sharp pain resting in his side, eyes wide in shock and fear. Actually he fled his original home because of the uprising terror and therefore he had left everyone he hold dear behind. Only he never thought this vile entity would stretch out his power and reach hear up into the north. Trying to catch his breath while closing slightly his eyes, a tiny voice in his head urges him to finally inform Rogue about the great danger he is due to his heritage. But stubborn as he is he doesn't won't to drag the beautiful young man with the ruby-red eyes into this mess at all.

Instantly he is frozen as he can hear multiple gunshot resounding from the brickwalls not far away from his current position and his breathing is pitched by now while he does everything to stay silent. Remaining in fetal position curled against the door, he waits for a sign that it is safe enough for him to step out of his chosen hide-out. Shakily breathing he goes along the alley-way until he reaches a plaza with the corpses of at least twelve men shot into the head. If he had been caught, this had been his end for sure.

The upcoming tears won't stop at all. He falls to his knees next to a young man he knew from the small town he grew up at. Both of them only lived across the street and therefore spent a lot of time together. He had told no one except his childhod friend where he was planing to go once the first rumors of deportation started to sound through their community. Is this his punishment for being such a coward and leave his family behind? Right now he doesn't know at all. Unable to move at all he'd be easily caught by now as heavy footsteps are approaching in a quick pace this place. Before he knows arms are wrapped around him as darkness is falling around them in order to shield him from unwanted views. ]

„Sting" is he hearing now from afar, a hand resting at his lower arm while his own hand rests at his forehead and slowly he starts to understand the immediate connection towards the fragment he saw before returning back into this house. So whatever he saw just this moment was truly a part of his past life just as Rufus hinted out to him. Maybe this is why he ended up accompanied by the blond with the dark-green eyes at an empty farmhouse. Somehow he still can feel the trembling of his entire body and blurry as everything still is to him he isn't able to notice how Natsu guides him over to the couch to sit down. Closing his eyes right now he can feel Lector close by and shortly after his entire mind is drifting off again.

[ „Once the rain settles, we continue our journey towards the border" is he hearing right now while his head rests on Rogues chest, enjoying the subtle feeling of the ravenette to brush through his hair. It had taken a lot of actual courage to even tell Rogue why he can't stay here any longer. Rufus simply nods, then he can hear the other blond heading over to the door probably to be on guard. A short sigh escapes his lips while his eyes are closed and he snuggles closer towards the ravenette.

„Rogue, just promise me something"
„What exactly, Sting?"
„Should I be killed before we reach our destination, take my heart and prolong your life"

is he saying right now seriously, sitting upright infront of the young man with these wonderful ruby orbs and right there he can see how they widen in utter shock and horror.

„NO" is Rogue now shouting, tears glistening in the corners of his eyes and a stubborn expression rests now within these trusted rubies. „I won't let anyone harm you at all. I protect you, Sting, no matter what" is the ravenette now saying, pressing him hard against Rogues chest and for a short moment he's barely able to breath. But at the same time there is this warmth flowing through his veins while hearing and seeing this reaction coming from Rogue ]

************

Finally. He was finally able to find a trail leading him to the current hiding point of the Man of Shadows. Before he went in order to rescue his own flesh and bone he simply asked Metalicana to keep Sting and Natsu within the house once they are done with their training. Family always comes first. Right now he can't take the responsibility if something would happen to those boys at all. Right now all that matters for him is Rogues safety. So he would never forgive himself if his son suffers harm out of the hand of this vile being.

************

When he starts to regain consciousness again, everything is still blurry right before his eyes. But he's able to pick up a trusted scent lingering in his nose as he slowly tries to sit up.

„You should still rest, Sting-kun"
„Where am I?"
„Gajeel brought you up here after you blacked out on the couch. Said something about your balance being off"

is he hearing a voice explaining to him while he closes his eyes again and decides to lay down again. His entire head only hurts while he has his eyes open. So keeping them closed will help him for sure. As far as he can tell, he has to be on a bed. Breathing in he can tell instantly this is Rogues room. But why would Gajeel bring him up here? Hopefully the ravenette won't be all to mad for him resting for a while in the room of the Shadow Walker.

„Lector, is that you?" is he asking right now, curling into a ball while he has the blanket almost to his cheek and he focuses right now onto his other senses. „Frosch is also here" is he hearing now his guardian spirit say and a short nod follows. He never even thought it might be one day possible to simply chat with his feline companion just as he does the entire time with Natsu. For a moment there is silence within the room and all he can hear right now is the breathing of himself as well of Lector and Frosch. Besides, it still startles him as to why Gajeel had brought him up into Rogues and not in one of the guest rooms.

„What about Natsu?"
„He wasn't pleased at all that you should be on your own. Actually, Natsu-san threw quite the tantrum as to why he can't be the one to take proper care of you"

is Lector telling him right now and he has to shortly shake his head. The older one for sure changed. Especially since that incident at Halloween. As he feels himself now better enough to sit upright on the bed, he suddenly has the impression of knowing as to where exact Rogue might be. Grabbing Lector and Frosch, pressing them gently against his chest he finds himself minutes later swallowed by a vortex of shadows. Maybe this is for sure a hint of the ravenette where he can find him.

************

Within the mist he can sense the Shadows to rise and fall in an instant. Right as he hurries to that place he is actually more than surprised to see Sting and even Frosch here. „Fro might know where Rogue is" is the guardian spirit of his son telling him right now while the young blond is getting back on his feet and a short frown appears on his face as he notices next to white dragon scales also some black ones. „Where the heck are we?" is the blond simply asking rubbing his neck and right there he starts to understand. „Let's go, time is scarce" is all he says right now and accompanied by Lector and Frosch they run along a brittle path leading them to a ash-colored sphere floating high above their heads. So this is the place where Rogue is right now. They really need to hurry or all hope is lost