Skiadrum bolted awake. It was three in the morning, he guessed, but something was oddly off. Weisslogia was still beside him snoozing, but it felt like something was just, gone. He sniffed the air. Rogue's scent was just... gone. Vanished. Just like that. He furrowed his eyebrows and stood up. Sting's scent could be easily identified, with a heavy amount of alcohol in it, but his son's scent was no where to be nervously looked around. No one anywhere near him, except...Grandine.

And yet, it wasn't Grandine.

"Oi, You pathetic shadow lizard, look down".

Skiadrum shuddered. It was that woman.

"How many times have I told you to find another forest? I like dragons no more than I do humans!"

Skiadrum flinched at the pink haired woman's words. It wasn't so much as that she was scary (it would take him two seconds flat to eat her), but her unbearably loud voice. She reminded him of his mother.

"Well, you could ask where your son is, just a thought", the crazy lady mused, poking Skiadrum.

Skiadrum groaned."Ms. Porlusciya, might I ask where Rouge is?"

"Why not ask Sting, who now sits outside my house after I had a deep talk, speaking with him about his drinking problem. He hit your son with a beer bottle, and Rouge did lose a lot of blood..."

"Rouge is hurt?!" Skiadrum roared.

Now Skiadrum knew why he couldn't smell Rouge.

This crazy lady that was next to him was covered with blood, but she nonchalantly played it off as if it were nothing. Her aged eyes looked at Skiadrum's feet. "Lucy and Frosch found him. He keeps whispering Nictrilli or whatever. He's latched on to Frosch and won't let go".

"Lucy?" He felt guilty to feel happy.

Once upon time, long, long ago, there was ebony haired red pupiled little boy who loved the summer nights of his village. He was a lonely little boy who had no family or friends and was used by the villagers as a disregarded slave. One day, the little boy strayed from the village during the night, despite all protests from the people who used him as cheap labor. The little boy ran into a shadow and a warm firefly who took him to a far away mountain and raised him to be good and wise and calm and considerate and the little boy never was used again and lived happily ever after.

The story was what raced over and over again in Rouge's mind as he was laid out on his stomach while on some sort of nest like bed thing. His vision was blurry, but he was able to make out a blonde by the door and a blonde by his side. Frosch was currently hugging his head. He didn't remember how he ended up here, and judging the situation, he didn't want to.

Rouge was supposed to be the calm and silent observer. He had always been quiet and a follower, from what Skiadrum had told him, even as child. There had been those rare times though, either when Rouge was truly happy or extremely sad and frightened, that Rouge's usual stoic self disapated and the Rouge who was either happy as can be or more vulnerable than a slapped infant abused by their parents. Rouge was trying hard to stay calm, but it just hurt him so much to even breath. Slowly his calm husk of a self seemed as empty as the sky and the poor little shadow had shrunk a million sizes until he was just a speck in an endless ocean of pain.

"Fro should have been there for Rouge! Fro is so stupid for letting Rouge-sama try to help Sting stop drinking!" the little she cat wailed.

"Frosch, it'll be okay".

Lucy.

Lucy would had pretty golden hair and dark eyes. Lucy who seemed to know you were in trouble with just one look. Lucy who spoke her mind and wasn't afraid to hurt you if you were in the way of the destination she was trying to reach. This was Lucy who Yukino spoke of as the greatest mage in existence merely because of her consideration of others, spirit and human. The Lucy who threw Rouge in circles with the flick of her hair or brush of her skin.

Lucy.

A long time ago when he had been a little boy, Rouge had asked Skiadrum what it was like when you found your mate. Skiadrum had said it confused you for the most part, but you knew in your heart that being by them was what you lived for. It was clear now.

Rouge lived for Lucy.

He should have laughed at that thought. He should've. I mean, who lives for someone they barely know in the first place? He'd barely had a single conversation with the lady, and now he lived for her.

His stalker abilities were beginning to creep him out...

However, the question he had to ask himself was what attracted him about her in the first place? Was it her will to fight, even when all hope is lost? How she had immediately forgiven Minerva after the Tartaros ordeal was over? Was it her ever undeniable beauty? It could've been anything, it seemed.

Be it her beauty or beautiful personality, she was a his drug, and he was already becoming completely and utterly addicted.

The stars can't find a way to compare with her, and she shines brighter across Earthland than the sun across the world. Her hair was pure silk that any woman would pay millions of jewels to get, no doubt. Not to mention her eyes, where you could read her emotions easier than the Weekly Sorcerer. She was the literal image of a perfect angel on Earthland.

But then, one question came to mind:

Does she have a boyfriend?

Rouge cursed lowly under his breathe, which Frosch, thankfully, did not hear. It looked as if the Exceed was beginning to fall asleep. Frosch had probably spent the day worrying, Rogue can imagine. Frosch had a tendency to do so, especially being partners with an S-Class mage.

Well, as long as the feline was happy. Something which Rogue was not. For Rogue believed, in all honesty, that he was a complete idiot. This fact (Opinion. We all love our dear Rogue to death, and know that he is a smart guy.) led the Dragon Slayer to curse under his breathe again

Did Lucy have a boyfriend?

He should've figured it out sooner. Of course she'd have a boyfriend. It was obvious. With the very not-so-virgin-like clothing, her beauty, and how she would often (attempt) to use sex appeal to seduce a man to lower the prices. (How was he even aware of said sex appeal? Had he been actually listening to Yukino's rants about how wonderful the blonde was? He doesn't remember paying attention, but he will say that he'd probably agree to what she said.)

That settled it. She had a boyfriend for who knows how long and the Shadow Dragon Slayer had been too late. Be it that Eve guy, (A.N. Yeah. I just said that. I would say Hibiki, but he's with Jenny, and Ren has Sherry. It was process of elimination.) who seemed like Lucy's type, honest, polite, and Fairy Tail friendly, Gray Fullbuster, or the Drunk Falcon,even. (A.N. Again, YEAH, I just said that. All Dragon Slayers were out of question, and there are little other possible males.) Just because Rogue knew that Lucy didn't judge.

He just had to face the facts. The woman that he lived for, lived for another.

Soon enough, dragon territorial instincts would kick in, and jealousy may or may not control his every move.

But you have a while to wait for that, so go get a bag of popcorn or chips or something.

IT WAS FARRY'S FAULT. I'm soooooo sorry my readers the next will be longer. During the holidays we have to lose our antisocial ways and this happens. Don't worry! Lots of Goodnes in thy next Chapter!

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