(Narrator)
It was a rainy day in Magnolia, the usually busy streets were nearly empty as people hid from the sky's seemingly unrelenting anguish. It was a gloomy day. One of those days where you just want to stay in and drink hot chocolate. Unfortunately, that was not the case for one particular stellar mage.
(Lucy's POV)
Achoo!
"Stupid Natsu! If he hadn't eaten all of the food in my house I wouldn't have had to come to get groceries!" I sulked as I quickly rushed back towards Strawberry Street. Ever since this rain started I've been feeling awful. I'm sure I've got a cold and it's all thanks to that idiot!
I was in such a hurry that I almost didn't notice the little pink ball of fur lying on the sidewalk in front of me. "Oi! What are you doing out here all alone?!" I bent down to pick up the small creature only to realize it was an exceed in a pink frog costume.
"You're from Sabertooth. But where is your slayer?" I looked around for a few minutes before giving up and taking the cat home with me. The poor thing was passed out, soaking wet, freezing. It was probably scared too.
Knowing full well I was "aiding the enemy," I decided this poor thing needed my help. I honestly didn't care who's guild he was from, all I knew was that I was going to help get this little exceed back to Sabertooth.
Achoo!
"Damnit!"
(Narrator)
In the city of Clover, a raven haired dragon slayer is frantically searching the streets for his missing partner. Having just returned from a mission, he discovered his beloved Exceed Frosh had been missing for three days.
(இ﹏இ'｡)
(Rogue's POV)
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN HE'S GONE?!" I screamed at my stupid blonde sworn twin. I was furious when I returned from my job only t find my child like exceed was no where to be found.
"Rogue, calm down and let us explain." Sting stammered. I rarely lost my cool. You could see the fear in his eyes as he realized, he fucked up!
"Yea Rogue buddy, let Sting explain." His exceed Lector said. Even though I was angry at him as well, I was more angry with Sting since I had left Fro in his care.
"YOU HAVE TEN SECONDS!" I shouted.
"After you left Frosh was crying and wouldn't stop. So I sent him and Lector to get ice cream. But when Lector came back he said Frosh ran away to go find you. I looked for him the entire time, I only just came back to see if you were here yet." Sting explained as quickly and clearly as he could. He was shaking while waiting for my response.
g\Gritting my teeth, I struggled to regain my composure before I lost control. Breathing heavily, I sighed before saying..."So, what you're telling me... Is that my sweet, innocent, somewhat dimwhitted partner has been missing for three days?!"
"Erm... Yes?" The two idiots in front of me answered simultaneously.
"I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!" I screamed as I activated my Dragon force. I was going to beat the hell out of them when I noticed my contact lacrima lighting up.
(／‵Д′)／~
(Narrator)
Back in Magnolia, at the end of Strawberry Street, we find Lucy Heartfilia's cozy apartment. Filled with the smells of cocoa and fresh home cooking, Frosh, the lost exceed, is happily sipping on freshly made hot apple cider and watching his new friend.
ि०॰०ॢी
(Lucy's POV)
I wasn't feeling very good and the rain had gotten harder. I had to take Fros costume off, which was a huge fight. He only gave in when I had virgo bring him a light purple bunny costume nearly identical to his frog one.
I washed it and hung it up to dry with my clothes and decided to make us something warm and comforting for dinner. I figured since it was raining so hard that I could just take Fro home tomorrow. What I didn't expect was that he would be excited to spend the night with me.
I couldn't get over how adorable he was. I also wondered if, like Natsu, Rogue had Fro since he was an egg. I wanted to know more about the mysterious shadow dragon slayer so I figured now was the best time to ask.
"Hey Fro?" I asked while setting a bowl of creamed stew in front of him.
"Yes Lucy-nee?" He happily dug into his bowl and spoke with food in his mouth. I loved how he called me 'Lucy-nee'.
"How long have you been with Rogue?"
"Oh Fro has been with Rogue since forever!"
"So he had you even when you were an egg?"
"Fro thinks so too!"
I giggled at the adorable cat in front of me and wondered. How could someone like Rogue Cheeny raise such a pure and wonderful exceed like Fro?
"So he's like your father then huh? Is he kind to you?"
"Oh yes! Rogue-san is very kind to Fro! He's my best friend and partner! Fro knows all of Rogue-sans secrets and dreams and He knows all of Fros!" I beamed at his answer. Maybe I was wrong about him Maybe Rogue was sweet after all.
"That's so sweet! I'm glad he takes such good care of you. So can you tell me what Rogue is like? I don't really know him that well." I questioned further, hoping to gain any knowledge that could help me befriend the cold staotic man.
"Fro thinks so! Uh... Rogue-san is a really good cook! He likes to read and plays piano!
He is a really good fighter a d always keeps Fro safe! He doesn't like scary movies and doesn't have any friends except Sting-san, Yukino-nee and Lector. He likes to be by himself, and doesn't like a lot of people or loud noises. He doesn't like Sabertooth either but he stays because Sting-san and Yukino-nee like it there."
"Why does he like to be by himself?"
"Rogue-san told Fro that he isn't allowed to have friends because he'll just hurt them."
"That's so sad." I said teary eyed. I was genuinely sad for the man I was learning so much about.
"From thinks so too. Rogue-san is sad a lot when he's by himself, and that makes Fro sad."
"What makes him so sad? Something must've happened to him to make him isolate himself like that." I wondered aloud. I noticed Fro looked conflicted,like he wanted to tell me something but couldn't.
He finished eating his food before finally speaking to me and answering my question.
"Fro can't tell you what happened because it's a secret that I promised to keep. But Fro thinks Rogue-san is lonely. He says he doesn't want friends but everyone needs someone. Sting-san has Yukino-nee, but Rogue-san doesn't have anyone."
My heart broke as I understood what the little guy was trying to tell me. Rogue wanted someone to love. I was sure in a guild like Sabertooth, love was hard to come by. Poor Fro looked like he wanted to cry so I heard him close and petted his head.
"It's ok Fro. Rogue will find someone one day that will be perfect for him." I encouraged.
"Lucy-nee, you're perfect for Rogue-san, can't he just love you?"
I blushed a shade of red to rival Erzas hair and shook my head wildly as I explained that love didn't quite work like that. He looked disappointed for a moment before surprising me with his next statement.
"Fro wants to call Rogue-san on his lacrima."
"Call... On his... Fro?"
"Yes Lucy-nee?"
"Does Rogue have a contact lacrama?"
"Fro thinks so!"
I mentally face palmed. I could just call Rogue to come pick the exceed up. I took the small crystal like pendant from around Fros neck and used my magic to activate a call.
(Rogues POV)
I immediately ceased my attack and ran for my lacrama. Only one person, or better yet, exceed, could get ahold of be via CL and that was Fro. Someone must've found him.
I was stunned to see the face staring back at me when I connected the call. A beautiful blonde woman with honey colored eyes and perfect satin skin looked nervously at me. She was jaw dropping. Her hair was loosely pinned back with chopsticks and she wore a silk pink kimono. I found myself at a loss for words in the first time in my life, as I just sat there in awe of her perfection.
After a few awkward moments, she finally spoke. Her angelic voice made me forget the fact that I was ever angry. I could tell by her soft smile and kind demeanor that my little partner was in safe hands.
"Erm. Hi. I-I'm Lucy H-Heartf-felia f-from Fairy Tail. I uh, found your exceed injured and sick on the side of the street in the middle of a storm."
Snapping out of my daydream, I frantically asked about my best friend when his smiling face popped up on screen.
"Fro is fine thanks to Lucy-nee! She's really nice! She took Fro home with her and made fish stew and cider, oh and she fixed Fros injuries and look!" He stepped back and I was shocked by what I saw.
"Do you like Fros new costume? Lucy-nee gave it to me from the spirit world-"
"Celestial world." I heard Lucy correct in the background. Fro giggled and continued to tell me about his day with Lucy.
"Yea that! She had to wash my frog one and she says she has to sew it back together. Oh guess what Rogue-san?"
"What is it?"
"Lucy-nee said Fro can stay the night at her house! And you can come get Fro tomorrow and stay the night again before I have to go home! Can I I Rogue-san? Please?!"
I couldn't say no even if I wanted to. This short trip would be the perfect opportunity for me to get to know the woman who mysteriously sparked my interest.
"That's fine with me Fro. I will be there at 5pm tomorrow. You two have fun. May I speak with Lucy please?"
"Ok Rogue-san! Fro will see you tomorrow! I love you Rogue-san!"
"I love you too Fro. Now be a good exceed and go to bed."
"Ok goodnight Rogue-san, goodnight Lucy-nee!" He shouted as he walked off into what I could only guess was her room. She walked back up to the screen and blushed before looking at me and smiling brightly.
"I guess we'll see you tomorrow then."
She was so beautiful. I couldn't stand it. What was it about her that made my heart beat so fast? Why did her voice make me want to smile and speak openly? She was so confusing, but mesmerizing at the same time.
"Are you sure you want me to stay though? I don't mind renting a room and letting Fro stay with you. I don't want to put you in an uncomfortable situation."
Her expression changed from happy, to shocked, to confused, and finally, back to happy again. "Of course you can stay with me. Thank you for being so considerate, but it's really no problem. To be honest I don't really like sleeping in an empty house so I'd actually enjoy some new company. But if it's uncomfortable for you, I don't mind if you rent a room."
Beautiful, generous, thoughtful, outgoing. Miss Lucy was becoming more interesting by the minute. "Well then I happily accept your invitation. I actually have another job to do and Magnolia is on the way. I had planned on waiting a week before heading out but I might as well start after getting Fro."
"That sounds perfect then! I'll see you tomorrow! Oh I almost forgot... My address is 11 Strawberry Street. I'm on the top floor."
"Ok miss Lucy, I will see you tomorrow. And thank you for taking care of Fro. He means a everything to me, and it means a lot that someone like you would take him in."
"It's really no problem Rogue. You've raised a sweet and adorable exceed, who wouldn't want to help him??"
"I guess you're right. Well I'll let you go now lady Lucy, I must go pack and head to the train station if I am to make it there on time."
"Ok goodnight Rogue."
"Goodnight lady Lucy."
(Lucy's POV)
I disconnected the call and squealed inside like a school girl. Rogue Cheeny was freaking hot! It was the first time I had actually looked at him and... Let's just say I wasn't disappointed. He was also much kinder than I imagined. His voice was soft and deep instead of the harsh rough voice I imagined. His smile, though subtle, was extremely attractive and his concern for his Exceed was the sweetest thing I had ever seen.
A small tug on my kimono snapped me from my thoughts. "Yes Fro?" I asked the happy exceed in front of me.
"Before Rogue-san gets here, can we go shopping?"
Confused about what an exceed could possibly need to go shopping for I asked him. He giggled and looked at me with big eyes.
"Fro needs to get Rogue-san a birthday present!"
I was shocked to hear this from a cat. Rogue mist really be something. Fro may be cute but he's not exactly the brightest crayon in the box. For him to remember something likeso.eones birthday was surprising. Well, maybe not so much since it was Rogue.
But I couldn't help but wonder why it was so important that we get a gift tomorrow.
"Eh? Birthday? Fro,when is Rogues birthday?"
"Tomorrow." He said like it was no big deal. My mind immediately we t into overdrive as I realized I just doomed that poor man to spend 12 miserable hours on a train.
"WHAT?!"
To be continued...