Hey!

Next day updates, don't you love them? Now, today I am being extra special and giving you lovely people a triple update, yep, you heard me right. Three separate chapters in one mega chapter! 'Why?' you ask? Because I should be in school but came home to an empty house early because something happened and now I'm confused... So, to keep my mind off of it, I'm writing. Best thing to do, right? Kill two birds with one stone.

Anyways, enough of the depressing life I lead, sections will be as follows Lucy, Natsu then Rogue, divided by the separation lines, each with their own lyric

Now I was silly yesterday and wrote 'Chapter Fourteen', this one is 'Chapter Fourteen'!, the last chaoter was 'Chapter Thirteen' :P

Anywho, enough of explanations, I hope you wonderful people are a lot better than I and like the triple update!

Enjoy! :3

Chapter fourteen-

And it goes so fast

I sit at one of the tables furthest away from the bar in the guild. I still find it more comfortable at home reading, but I had decided that today I would read the book I had bought over a week ago in Fairy Tail. Clutching the pale blue covered book in my hands, a glass of water sitting slightly to the left of me on the table, and trying to drown out the rowdy sound of my fellow mages, I bury my nose into the old smelling pages of the novel.

The paper isn't crisp white like many of my other books, but slightly yellowed. Some of the pages have been dog tailed too, leaving me too come to the conclusion that the book had been previously owned. The store I bought it from sells pre-owned books as well as new, and since this was the only copy in the store, I didn't have the choice of a less worn for wear copy. However, I am not that fussy, perfectly happy with the copy I own.

I turn the page, my eyes flicking over the slightly faded wording. Since I have owned the book, I hadn't had much time to read it, only being on the sixty second page of two hundred. It's a short read, as Levy had told me. Since I had purchased this little time filler, I had been on another small job to find and retrieve a missing pet, among other things I would usually do with my day.

Although, as I stare at the words on the page, trying to focus on the plot I find my mind wandering. I had given Rogue my name yesterday. I'm not quite sure why, all I know is I had lost it. When he had given my the bouquet the centre flower had caught my attention; a daisy that's petals looked as if they were ablaze. Like Natsu when he is on fire. I hadn't know what to say, or do, so I simply threw the plants away and shouted. Letting all my copped up confusion and anger out on Rogue. It wasn't fair, but I did it anyway.

Frowning, I find my gaze has left the book, and was now on the pink haired man who caused my outburst yesterday. He is with Gray by the bar, arguing over something or other. Gray's shirt is off exposing his muscular chest, Juvia drooling over him from her table. Everything seems as normal as it had over four and a half months ago. Except, Natsu's hands aren't ablaze or body language as serious as it once was. Instead, it seems more slack, as if he can't be bothered to fight with Gray.

It's funny, I only now notice he hasn't fought with Gray in a while...

As I find myself staring at the pink haired Dragon Slayer, I feel the familiar bitter-sweet warm memory filled torture flood to my chest. I miss you. Your touch and smile and eyes and- As I list the many things I had lost when I lost Natsu as a friend, what I crave to have back, I notice that he is staring back at me.

Gray is still shouting at him, but he doesn't seem to care, simply not looking at him but towards me instead. I vaguely hear Gray's curses towards the Dragon Slayer, but I am too captivated by his eyes and this rare, almost unbelievable eye contact with Natsu.

"Oi, Flame Brain! To scared to fight? Hey, oi, Natsu?!"

Gulping, I blink as I continue to stare. I can feel a heat creeping up my neck and my heart beating a mile a minute. From here, I can see that Natsu's cheeks are dusted with a pink blush, almost the same colour of his hair. He looks so handsome in this instant, I don't want him to look away. My books cover finally makes contact with the table, my hands had been slowly lowering, finally resting now on the wood. I bite my lip quickly, before I find myself forming words. They are little over a whisper, and with this noise, I can't hear myself utter them, so there was no chance Natsu would. But I feel as if I have to speak them, they're true, are they not?

"I miss you so much..."

My lips close and I see pain flit across his coal eyes before he down casts his eyes and looks away. Shame spread across his features. The eye contact now broken. I watch as Natsu finally turns and retaliates to Gray, his lips moving and fists clenched.

But I don't catch what is being said; by Natsu, or Gary, anyone. All the cumulative noise doesn't mix to become a sweet humming buzz as it usually does. It's not even just a random mash of sounds. I just can't hear anything.

Everything around me is blurring, all sounds now replaced with white noise as the pain in my heart increases ten fold. A single thought filling my mind as I watch the Dragon Slayers movements.

He just doesn't care anymore.

At the realization, I feel a warm feeling down my cheek. It's a tear, making its way down my face. I feel mmy heart stop as I close my eyes, squeezing another tear from my closed eyelids. It's been a while since I've cried, look at me now. In a second, I have felt my heart break. I can't take it anymore.

Wiping it away with my sleeve I get to my feet quickly, picking up my book as I go. Hurriedly I push through the crowds to the great, wooden doors, bumping into Erza's shoulder as I do. I look back at her a moment, taking in the way she is looking at me. Her brow is furrowed, and voice a little concerned.

"Lucy, are you all right?"

"Yeah, Erza. Sorry, I'm just In a bit of a hurry."

I turn away from her then, leaving her a little shocked. Once the guild doors have shut behind me, I start at a sprint back to my apartment. Silently, I will my tears to stay locked away until I reach home, cursing myself with every stride.

.

You see her when you close your eyes

Her lips formed the words I feel every moment in my day.

"I miss you so much..."

For a moment longer, I stare at the beautiful blond sitting across the guild from me. Her features causing my face to flush and my heart to start at an uncontrollably fast beat, slamming against my rib cage and ringing in my ears. She looks so heavenly. Celestial. Her appearance matching her magic to a tee.

It has been so long since I have captured a glance this long, I almost forgot how amazing her appearance is. Her shoulder length blond hair left down, cascading over her shoulders and flicking at the ends. Skin so perfect and blemish free, almost glowing slightly. Lips, looking so delicate and inviting. Her eyes gleam like stars, their warm, chocolaty brown, the most magnificent pair I have ever seen. I blush more at the thought of her bust, legs. The smooth skin I had spied the times me and Happy barged into Lucy's house to catch her changing. Standing only in her underwear, hair slightly dishevelled. The memory of that moment scaring, yet exhilarating me at the same time.

Why can't I tell you? Maybe if I, right now, went to her grabbed her face and... And just... Kiss her.

The temptation of brushing her lips, cupping her rear and pulling her into me to thrust against her makes my heart beat harder. Wrapping my arms around her, feeling her. Along that large chest of hers, feeling the bare skin on her legs. I can feel my palms begin to sweat. Gulping, I quickly tear my gaze away from the woman I have been staring at. I am embarrassed, ashamed I am having these feelings about one of my Nakama, frightened that she may not feel them back.

Only now hearing Gray's angry words towards me and him shoving my arm.

"Fuck sakes Flame Brain, don't ignore me!"

"Oh shut up, Bastard."

I hiss back, shrugging my arm violently. The anger of not being able to tell Lucy how I feel taking over. He is taken aback by the tone of my voice, but retaliates quickly, waving off my tone as if it was nothing. His shirt somewhere along our argument had gotten lost, and I roll my eyes at his age old habit.

"Alright, no need to get your knickers in a twist, Squinty Eyes."

He reasons, lifting his hands up in a mock surrender before he leans against the bar to pick up his drink. I look back to where Lucy had been sitting moments before, only to find her table now vacant.

"Lucy?" I mutter under my breath, unable to spot her anywhere within the guild. Suddenly, I hear the guild doors close, and my heart constricts. She left. Growling under my breath, I look at Gray and push the glass from his hands.

"Fuck you, bastard!"

"What was that for?!"

He questions angrily, readying his fists. Suddenly, Erza appears behind us, her voice startling both me and Gray.

"Are you two fighting again?"

"N-no!"

Gray stutters, me answering similarly with an.

"Aye!"

"Good."

She states, before walking away, Gray glaring as me as he slips off of his seat and stalks away. Sighing heavily, I smack my head against the bar top. I'm so tired and fed up, and I just let Lucy slip from my sight. Closing my eyes, I see Lucy's face and the kind of smiles she used to give me. God, how I miss that smile. Why can't I just tell you, Lucy? I would love to feel your love, but couldn't stand the rejection. You're my everything, and you should know that. I grown louder in my frustration. Suddenly, the familiar voice of my white haired childhood friend startles me from my thinking.

"If I was you," She commented as I raise my head from the bar to stare into Lisanna's blue eyes. "I would tell Lucy that I loved her before she becomes tired of waiting for a certain Dragon Slayer."

.

Holding her in your arms

I had wanted to see her, but she was no where. Not near her guild, on one of her walks. In the book store for late night browsing, that's when I had come here. This is last place I can think of she'd be.

"Lucy?"

Turning to look at me, I catch the first glimpse of her tear stained face. The rims of her deep, chocolate eyes red and puffy. Her form shaking slightly and eyes like glass, lips slightly agape and golden hair slightly dishevelled.

In the soft, evening light which streams in through the open window, she seems to glow slightly. The sections of her porcelain skin engulfed in the shadow I am creating, contrasting the bright patches, extenuating her figure.

"Rogue..."

Her voice is weaker than I have ever heard it before.

Twisting her whole body she stumbles towards where I am kneeling on the frame of her open window. Jumping down I step forward to met her. I expect she will push me away and fight, demanding how I know where she lives. She may have been getting more docile to my presence, even giving me her name, but I had never seen her so infuriated before. So vulnerable, and I expect her to lash out and tell me to leave, breaking this already fragile friendship between two totally opposite people for two opposing guilds, to pieces.

In fact, if it wasn't for this instinct, this need to be around and see her, I wouldn't be here. I still don't know what this tugging feeling of affection towards her is, I suddenly realise. All I know is, the situations may potentially get me into would be dangerous. What I am doing is precarious, I suddenly realise, but I have to listen to it. That is why I plan to, regardless of if she fights back and tries to push me away, I will grab her and hold her. Hold her form till she stops shaking and crying, because what I am feeling now, is different to how I have been for the past few weeks.

However, instead of Lucy pushing me away and screaming at me like I had expected, she falls into my open arms without resistance. Quietly, she breaks down in them. Her silent sobs racking her body as she buries her head deep into my chest.

I am taken aback for a moment, before I wrap my arms around her and begin to coo into her hair softly, trying to calm her down.

I am not sure what has made her cry, but the thought of her crying is causing my chest to ache. Another thing foreign to me. Unlike the other new feelings that have plagued me and rendered me confused, I am not prepared to fall into this one as willingly. The others were strange, yet oddly invigorating and sexual. But this one is different. The butterflies which erupted in my stomach to the light headed feeling I have now that Lucy is in my arms. The feeling of fire burning on my skin when I touch her skin, the sweet ringing her voice is too my ears.

She is a poison I have no objections too drinking.

Clutching her tighter, I whisper soothing words to her once more, and do so until she has cried herself out. Heavy, ragged breathing is all that she can muster after a while. Somewhere within the long time it had taken to settle her, we had sunk to the floor and where now on our knees, the sky outside the window now as dark as the shadows I can manipulate. I find myself rocking back and forth slightly with the rhythm of her steady heartbeat.

"Are you okay now, Lucy?"

She doesn't respond at first, she merely nods her head and pulls away from my chest slightly. Her now tattered hair covering her face so I cannot see her shinning eyes. What damage those damned tears had done to her beautiful complexion.

"...I'm sorry... He- he doesn't c-care..." She sniffs, raising a hand to under the tatters of hair to wipe her eyes. Suddenly, her voice turns harsh, she doesn't sound like the woman who barely a second ago was apologizing to me. "Why are you here, Rogue? Why are you getting involved with me? You're from Sabertooth and I am from Fairy Tail. We are supposed to be mortal enemies, so what do you gain from fucking with my head? Information about my guild?"

The words hurt me, sting as if I had just been stabbed in the chest. She had asked this before, and before, other than assuring her they were not my motives, I couldn't answer that question. I can't really now. But I know for sure I am not here to steal her guilds dirty little secrets, I am here to make my own.

Lifting her chin with my finger tip, I stare into her hazed over, beautifully brown eyes. I smile slightly at the thought of waking up to these eyes every morning, what a lucky man I would be to do so, before speaking.

"I am not here for your guilds secrets. I am here because I can't stay away from you, Lucy. I don't know why, but I can't. That's why I am here, Lucy. Because you are you, not because of the mark on your hand."