A/N: I own nothing, but I do hope you enjoy it :)

Chapter 21: Starry Sky

The shadows were growing longer. Sweet summer days had turned into gentle autumn and there was no one who could be happier than Team Natsu. Lucy pondered that, walking home from the guild. Natsu had his apples, Grey felt the winter coming, Erza had a secret love for the colourful leaves and Lucy herself? She had Laxus.

The chilly wind passed her by and shivers ran down her spine, for she was dressed in a light blue dress. September days were usually warm and the day had been so, but now that it was getting darker, the temperature too was dropping. She hugged Plue closer to her and sighed. To be completely honest, she felt lonely.

The familiar road to her home was emptier than usual. Laxus had offered to send her home, but she had declined, thinking it would be a bother for him and knowing that her best friend Natsu still had the habit of crashing in her home, she decided to avoid the danger. Laxus was possessive. She liked it, but sometimes, he crossed the boundaries of her patience. She cradled Plue closer.

„Lucy?" she stopped in her tracks, hearing a familiar voice behind her. She turned around and there he was. Having disappeared as suddenly as he had, Rogue had plagued her mind every night since his disappearance.

„Rogue!" She could barely get his name out of her mouth. „What are you doing here?" Of all the questions haunting her mind, it was that one which stole the honour of being asked. Not „where have you been?", not „why did you go?"

„Can I talk to you?" His voice wavered. Lucy shrugged.

„Of course. My place?" Although she offered it, she was hoping he would decline. He didn't.

„Thank you," he murmured, catching up to her. They were standing close, but not close enough to be confused as a couple. He was keeping his distance, knowing well he could probably not rival Laxus. But he couldn't completely stay away from her either.

They walked side by side in silence until they reached her apartment. Lucy hesitated, fearing that Natsu might have already arrived, but Rogue's confident stride convinced her that there was nothing in there. She was right in her assumptions: her flat was empty.

„Would you like something to drink? Tea? Coffee?" She asked, putting Plue down and letting him return to the spirit realm.

„Tea would be nice," Rogue replied, watching the spirit disappear. Lucy gave a nod, acknowledging she had heard him and set to do. The young man took a seat at the table, eyes watching her move ever so quietly. Soon enough, she placed two cups filled with tea on table, one for Rogue and one for herself, and took a seat on the opposite of him.

„So, what happened?" She asked, her curiosity showing. Rogue took a sip and didn't answer. Many ideas shot through her mind, including the what if he had just wanted to see her, be alone with her. It worried her that she got excited because of that. Her face begun to redden slightly and she did her best to calm herself down. She had Laxus, didn't she? Finally, he spoke.

„I owe an apology to you, Lucy Heartfilia." He had never used her full name in front of her before. „When I left, it must have raised many questions. I imagined you'd be worried, but I had to leave in a hurry." Lucy opened her mouth to say she was indeed worried, but he cut her off: „No, don't say anything. Even if you did worry, I don't want to hear you say it. I am still in love with you." That shut her up. Rogue gave her a sad smile.

„Why did you come here?" She choked out. It saddened her to see him in such state. Rogue was a dear friend to her and it was obvious, his love was not the only thing bothering him. The man shifted in his seat and pulled a leaflet from his pocket. He placed it on the table and slided it towards her. Lucy picked it up without hesitation.

„A circus?" she questioned, scanning over it with her eyes. „No, wait, a quest?" She let it drop and looked at him sternly. „You know I can't.."

„I'm not asking you to," he interrupted, knowing well that she would finish the sentence with „betray Laxus". She picked the paper up again and read, this time actually delving into the well-written words.

„If they need a celestial wizard, why didn't you ask Yukino?" she questioned. It was a dangerous job. The Midnight Circus was looking for a lunatic – there was no way anyone would take this quest. It was on the borders of Fiore, where the circus was currently residing. The sky, once guarded by a great magician, had turned crimson red, hiding what the place was famous for: its starry sky.

„Yukino is wounded," Rogue admitted, lowering his gaze. „She is in Sabertooth's newly installed hospital right now." Lucy gasped.

„Is she okay?" she rambled. „Maybe we could send Wendy, we could help her.."

„It's okay," he said. „We don't want to be a burden."

„Burden?" Lucy exclaimed. „Yukino is a friend of Fairy Tail! We would be happy to help her. Come on, we need to tell Wendy immediately!" She stood up and rushed to the door. She heard Rogue stand up and thought he would follow, but instead, she felt him grab her hand.

„First things first," he said, voice harsher than intended. „Please let me finish."

„But Yukino!" the celestial wizard protested. However, seeing his crestfallen face, her voice died out and she returned to her seat at the table. Rogue sat back down.

„It is not the only case like that," he continued. „Yukino has been researching into it for a long time. According to her findings, there have been certain moments in time, when the sky turned crimson at different places. It was always followed by a catastrophe, when it occurred."

„Go on," she took her cup of tea in her hands again and sipped.

„She went to check it herself and that's how she got hurt." Rogue refused to look at her. „The shadows there are longer now, she said. These were her last words, before fainting."

„But aren't you the shadow dragon slayer?" Lucy asked.

„I can't do it alone."