AN: Thanks to everyone who favorited and followed!
SistershoOk - He he. You will…
valerioux - Well, even though Natsu was mentioned in the last chapter, I didn't exactly state that the friend she helped was him… ;-)
FireShifter - Welcome back! And yeah, I wanted Herschel to just be an overall despised character - that's why I went with an OC name.
Hope you guys enjoy this chapter - a new ship in this AU is about to sail…
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Rogue scowled at the drink in his hand. Of all the places to be on a Saturday night, this would not have been his first choice. Or second. Heck, it wasn't even the last. Looking up from his glass, Rogue sighed, glaring at the source of his troubles.
Who beamed back at him unrepentantly.
"You can at least look guilty, you ass!"
"Why the hell should I feel guilty?! This was part of the instructions that we were given, and I was merely following them! Not my fault if you didn't listen while I was detailing the plan!"
"We were simply supposed to start our trip to the clearing from this point! The instructions said nothing about coming inside! And you didn't tell me that Fairy Tail was a bar you imbecile! I assumed it was a theater of some sort. Who names a bar such a dainty, whimsical name?…"
"Oh, so it's okay if we visit a theater during war-time but not okay if we step into a bar for a quick drink?!"
"You know I have practically zero alcohol tolerance. Besides, Fro and I had such a beautiful evening planned…"
"Ah ha! And the truth comes out! You're just sour because I'm keeping you from your precious exceed friend! Besides, you know that you had nothing of the sort planned! Fro and Lector are back at our quarters, sleeping off the strain of the journey - all you would've done is curled up in a corner with a book, checking on your beloved cat every few minutes."
"Grrr… I give up. You're an imbecile. And a moron. And a heartless ass."
Sting threw his head back in a raucous laugh, attracting the attention of a few of the bar's quieter occupants. Rogue huffed, crossing his arms imperiously across his chest as he scowled at his dragon brother-in-arms.
"I just can't believe we're doing all this simply to act as courier boys." Rogue's voice dropped to a whisper. "Do you still have it safe, by and by?"
Sting nodded slowly, discreetly touching the slip of parchment tucked inside the hidden pocket within his vest.
Rogue sighed again, this time more in fatigue than anger, as he leaned back on the bar stool. "I still feel uncomfortable about this whole affair, Sting. We are basically going behind the backs of our Northern superiors to help Natsu get in touch with this… 'friend' of his. We have no idea who they really are! Except that Happy and Natsu refer to them as 'the strange one'. Honestly, that nickname isn't very comforting. I'm not sure this 'friend' of theirs is even trustworthy…"
"If Natsu trusts them, then I trust them." Sting said, his voice resolute and slightly harsh as he turned to his brother with a stern, imposing look upon his visage.
Rogue raised a brow, a hint of a smile on his own features. "Of course, Sting. I didn't mean to doubt your idol. It's just that you and Natsu have that trait in common - you are both very trusting. It is a wonderful quality, but naturally, those who care for you who are… err… less gullible, tend to be wary of those you easily accept. Such as Gajeel and I."
Sting rolled his eyes. "You're just fishing for a comparison between your hero and you!"
"Am not!"
"Are too!"
"Am not!"
Ahem
A head of brown hair suddenly obscured the vision of the two dragon men, effectively halting their argument, as a curvy young woman leaned over between them, stretching seductively over the bar top. She addressed the barkeep with a saucy grin and a wink.
"One more fer tha road, ma fine fella!"
"Nay! You've had enough for tonight - it's a miracle you haven't gotten liver failure yet, girl!"
The buxom beauty scowled at the man, her look made far less impressive by the swaying motion she couldn't seem to stop executing.
"An I neva will! I got tha insides of ma ol man!"
"Aye! And your old man will have my hide if I give you one more drink tonight! Sorry, Cana!"
"CANA?!"
The dragon men chorused her name, taking in her figure with identical looks of shock on their faces. Cana raised a brow at the pair, effectively distracted from further harassing the bartender.
"Yea. Tha be ma name. Wha's it ta yer two?"
Sting jumped up from his stool, his face shining with eagerness. "Doncha recognize us?! It's me, Sting! And Mr. doom and gloom over here is Rogue! We're…"
"...Tha light and shadow dragons from ova near the coast! Yea, I know ya two! Especially you, lil youngin - ya used ta follow 'ol Natsu around like he was yer fuckin god…"
"Still does." Muttered Rogue under his breath, earning a glare from his dragon twin and an amused look from the saucy cinnamon-haired maiden.
"And yer the lil crapper who used to slobber all over 'ol Gajeel, am I right?!"
Sting crowed in laughter, pointing a gleeful finger at his now sulking brother. Cana took in the antics of the two with a gentler, fonder smile as she dragged a stool up from the side to sit between the pair.
"Watcha doin so far down south? Thought ya two went up ta help in tha war…"
"Weapons shipment. We're part of the security detail. We're leaving again tomorrow morning."
"Ah."
A comfortable silence followed as Cana observed the dragon brothers in increasing amusement as the pair seemed to secretly communicate about something. Rogue vigorously negated a point that Sting was pleading with him. Finally, Sting seemed to win the argument as Rogue turned away from his twin with a frown and a huff, returning to scowling at his untouched drink with an even heavier air of gloom surrounding him.
Sting turned to Cana, his voice dropping to a whisper.
"We need your help, Cana. We've got a… special task from Natsu and Happy that we have to perform. And although Happy has given us instructions on how to reach a certain place… we do not know how to contact 'the strange one' who is expected to be there…"
Cana raised a brow, a frown marring her pretty face. She seemed to debate internally before sitting up straighter with a sigh.
"It's gotta be God's will tha ya finish yer task successfully. Cause tha explanation would've been nonsense ta anyone else. Or a dangerous secret ya jus exposed…"
Sting ignored Rogue's triumphant whisper of I told you that you're too trusting as he fixed Cana with a sincere, intense gaze.
"I had to take the risk, Cana. And I know how close Natsu is to you. Or at least was, before the war began. If anyone could be a mutual friend of 'the strange one' that Natsu and Happy seem to be so close to, it had to be you. I have to succeed in this mission, Cana. To help him. Y-you have no idea how much Natsu is going through back in the war… and how much this 'strange one' seems to mean to him…"
Cana sighed, a haunted look in her eyes. "Ya have no idea how much tha 'strange one' has been through 'erself. Or how much Natsu means to 'er… although she'd neva admit it tha stubborn lil…"
"Her?" Rogue interrupted, forgetting to be gloomy and sulking in his curiosity.
Cana glanced around the bar, quietly ascertaining that no one had been paying them any heed.
"Follow me. I'll explain along tha way."
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They moved as silently as shadows, swift and sure under the cover of the dark moonless night. The wild animals inhabiting the enchanted woods wisely gave them a wide berth, easily sensing the hidden strength and aura of danger surrounding the pair. The quiet dragon men moved with the ease and stealth of warriors, making their way to the glade that was the spot of their rendezvous with the mysterious 'strange one' and her companion. The lighter-haired of the pair slowed as they reached their destination, scenting the air as he exchanged a confirming glance with his raven-haired kin. They could make out the scents of two females in the glade yonder, just as Cana had promised. The dragon men approached the edge of the clearing slowly, caution coloring their actions out of habit. Rogue drifted to the front, the better of the two at navigating the shadows of the darkened woods. He paused once he reached the border between the forest and the glade, scanning the clearing for its occupants. His keen dragon sight soon narrowed in on two feminine figures, one huddled on the ground with her head resting on her knees, while the other kneeled next to her, rubbing comforting circles into her back and speaking in a voice so soft and gentle that even Rogue's keen hearing could not make out the words. Confirming that there was no danger, the shadow dragon emerged from the comfort of his element, entering the open space lit only with the glow of fireflies. He slowly approached the pair of maidens at the center, his hands raised in a placating gesture of surrender. The young maiden huddled on the ground whipped her head up at the sound of his approach - her chocolate brown eyes arresting him with their fiery depths.
"Are you the shadow dragon Cana spoke of?"
Rogue nodded, momentarily speechless. The young woman who had addressed him was beautiful - but that was not what had startled him. She had obviously been crying, the tear tracks still clearly visible on her porcelain cheeks, but the fire and intensity of her gaze belied the weakness such an act would have suggested. As she rose to stand, her gaze still boring into his, Rogue could understand why she so fascinated a passionate and fierce flame-wielding dragon like Natsu. She was passion and fire itself.
"Well? Are you?"
"A-ah, yes. I am Rogue, and this is Sting. He bears a message from your friend, Natsu."
The golden-haired girl raised a brow. "Err… I see." She exchanged a wary glance with the young woman standing next to her, a maiden who looked equally as exquisite in her own way. The other young woman turned to Rogue, her short, silver-hued locks ruffled by the gentle night breeze wafting through the clearing.
"Sir, I am a mage, and yet I am unable to detect your friend's presence. Is he using a complex concealing charm, or is he a type of being skilled in hiding?"
"Hiding? Detecting his presence? Why would you need to do that, he's standing right… OH FOR THE LOVE OF...!"
Rogue had finally glanced behind him to clear the misconception the young ladies seemed to be under - only to see an empty spot where his idiot brother was supposed to be standing.
"STING, YOU MISERABLE COWARD! GET OUT HERE BEFORE I COME IN THERE AND DRAG YOU OUT!"
A thump and a curse from the woods assured him that he had been heard. With a long suffering sigh, Rogue turned back to the young ladies who were regarding him curiously.
"Err… I beg your pardon. He'll be out of the forest momentarily. I'm quite surprised he didn't follow me out here as planned - he's actually far more sociable than I. And he has been especially keen on meeting you, Milady." Rogue nodded politely at Lucy. "He is quite devoted to Natsu - reveres him as his idol, in fact - and he was eager to meet the friend Natsu thinks so highly of."
"Natsu is still alive then? The news you bear is not…" Lucy trailed off, her pale complexion slowly regaining color.
"Oh no!" Rogue smiled, relaxing a little as he sensed his brother's fit and tall form approaching the group. "He is fine. Well, as 'fine' as one can be in the midst of war. However, the news we actually bear may still not be pleasant, for we were sent here with a letter and a warning - Natsu is being closely monitored by his superiors, and he won't be able to correspond as he used to. The message we bear may be the last he can write to you."
Lucy became deathly pale once more, her gaze searching Rogue's. Slowly, she nodded, as if in acceptance of a death sentence.
Rogue felt a deep sorrow settle in his bones as he held her gaze - the attachment and affection she bore for the fire dragon was palpable in that one look. To be the bearers of such grim news to one so loyal and caring, was indeed a sordid affair.
He shifted uncomfortably in his spot, clearing his throat to offer what he knew were just empty platitudes to the distressed maiden, when a voice from behind interrupted him.
"What is your name, Milady?"
Rogue felt like face-palming. He had been conversing with these two women for at least ten minutes now, and not once had he bothered to ask them their names. It was no wonder they called him the anti-social twin. With a proud smirk, Rogue inclined his head to observe his socially suave brother in action. The moment his eyes fell on Sting, however, his thoughts halted in their track.
Sting's eyes were not on the golden-haired maiden as Rogue had assumed. Instead, his brother's gaze was locked with that of the soft-spoken silver-haired mage. And his expression was filled with an intensity and seriousness that Rogue only saw in his brother during the height of their battles. Yet, there was still warmth and affection in his gaze, with an underlying feeling of adoration. Sting's entire form seemed to radiate joy. Not the usual playful exuberance that the light dragon was famous for, but a deeper, subtler ecstasy that enveloped not just him, but those standing beside him as well.
The young maiden whose gaze Sting still steadily held, gazed back at him in awe and wonder, her snowy white skin stained a rosy pink with a shy blush. Her eyes were glowing with admiration that matched the light dragon's as she parted her luscious lips to stammer out a reply.
"Y-Yukino, sir dragon."
The pair continued to gaze at each other, seemingly oblivious to the other occupants of the clearing.
Rogue blinked. This was… unexpected. He glanced at the other maiden, curious to see her reaction to the strange scene unfolding before them. The golden-haired young woman was regarding the pair with a puzzled frown, her eyes darting between the dragon and her friend a few times before finally settling on the dragon man.
"Sir Sting. The letter?"
Sting started, whipping his head about searching for the source of the words. He finally noticed the golden-haired maiden standing beside Yukino, her brow raised and a shrewd smirk slowly appearing on her face.
"O-oh yes! And you are…?"
The young maiden grinned at this, throwing a sly glance at her own companion. Yukino blushed once again under her friend's teasing gaze, as the brown-eyed woman turned back to Sting, her expression instantly sobering as she reached out a slender hand for her prize.
"Lucy… Also known as 'the strange one'."
Sting nodded, retrieving the small scroll tucked away safely in his vest. He handed it to the maiden, who clutched it like a lifeline, her trembling hands pressing the simple parchment close to her heart. Without a word she whirled on her heel, repairing to the other end of the glade to peruse her epistle in privacy.
The remaining three discreetly averted their eyes from her, not wishing to intrude on a moment so intimate and delicate. Instead, Rogue turned to his brother.
"Why did you not follow me into the glade?"
Stings answering blush said volumes, as the light dragon scowled and promptly turned his back on his brother, facing the silver-haired damsel instead.
"Err… I heard you say earlier that you are a mage. May I ask what type of magic you practice?"
"O-oh! Certainly. I am a celestial spirit mage…"
"Really?! Incredible! They are so rare these days! And your magic is light magic, like mine! I'm a dragon of light, you see…"
"That sounds amazing! Would you show me a spell?"
"Sure! Here's one of my favorite dragon roars…"
"Yukino."
Lucy placed a heavy hand on Yukino's shoulder, as if leaning on her for strength. Yukino's expression instantly changed from one of delight and shyness to one of deep concern, as she placed her own hand upon Lucy's.
"Let's go home."
Lucy wordlessly turned around, not sparing a second glance at the two curious dragons. Yukino shot Sting a helpless look as she turned to follow her friend.
"W-wait!" Sting called a little desperately. "What reply can we give Natsu?"
"Nothing."
Lucy's voice rang loud and clear in the quiet glade, the bitter tone unmistakeable.
Sting gulped, glancing at Rogue who was frowning as he stared at Lucy's back. "B-but he said he would like one... Would you like more time to think about the contents of that letter, whatever they are?"
"Nay. But thank you."
Before the twin dragons could say a word more, Lucy and Yukino swept out of the clearing, the former with her head held high and her air aloof, the latter throwing a wistful and apologetic look back at her new acquaintances - a soft blush coating her cheeks as she waved Sting a special goodbye.
The dragon men stared at the spot where the young maidens had disappeared into the enchanted woods for a solid minute before turning to each other.
"Well, at least one good thing came out of this strange meeting..." Rogue finally ventured, as they turned around to make their way back through the forest.
His grin turned sly and teasing, a scheming glint in his eyes as he regarded his light-wielding brother.
"You just found your bonded, Sting."