Rogue Cheney x Reader Fanfic

Chapter 24: Love and Worries

Your POV

I walk silently within the morning crowd, head hanging low in shame. Fresh food and coffee lingers in my nose, as well as dried blood,  my stomach growling for food.

I ignore the temptation and push my way towards the side. I catch sight of an open-field park through the horde of people. I slowly push past the horde and towards the park. After a few minutes, I escape the crowd and enter the park.

A large playground is set off to the left surrounded by a few trees. Plain open fields cover the rest of the park, dogs running across the hills either chasing each other or a ball. A few kids run around playing chase or hide and seek.

I avert my gaze to a nearby river, strolling towards it. I breathe in the fresh scent of the morning lake as I get closer to it. I stop at the bank, sitting down and staring into the water. I sigh, hugging my knees towards my chest.

Why do I keep putting everyone else in danger? Am I the real threat here? What did I do to deserve this? What did my friends do to deserve this? I put everyone else in danger for my own protection. This is all my fault!

Thoughts rambled on in my head, tears threatening to spill.

Come on, stop beating yourself up! Remember what Rogue said: A guild treats its' members like family. But...Family doesn't betray and make each other a target to enemies.

"You tell yourself to stop beating yourself up but you do it anyway."

I lightly chuckle. "It's hard not to beat myself up." I reply.

Zalia sits beside me, looking at me with concern. I continue to stare into the flowing water. "Rogue's really worried about you."

"I know."

"Everyone's worried about you."

"I know. They don't need to worry about me. I'm fine, I can sort this out myself."

"No you can't and you know that." Zalia sighs, standing up and walking towards me placing her paw on my arm. "You need to let people in, let them help you. If you do this alone, you could be captured by him again or worse, die. I understand that you're trying to protect everyone but don't do this alone. Don't put yourself at risk for everyone else."

I avert my gaze to Zalia. "I don't want everyone to risk their lives for me. This is my fight; no one else should fight it but me."

"You say that but you know you can't fight this alone."

"I can and I will." I say harshly. I sigh and stretch my legs out, leaning on my hands and looking up at the morning sky. "I won't put anyone else in danger, not after what I caused."

Zalia hops onto my lap and stares at me. "How's your stomach?"

I smile and look down at her, raising a hand and scratching behind her ear. "It's fine, I hardly feel it. Either I've grown used to the pain or my scales are doing their job."

Zalia cuddles close to me as I continue to scratch her head. Silence welcomes us as we sit there and enjoy the comfort.

Rushing footsteps reach my ears. I perk up at the sound, smelling the familiar scents. Two voices confirm my prediction as I turn around smiling.

"(Y/N)!!!" Michael and Cat shout as they race towards me with grins spreading across their face. Cass walks a fair way behind them with a scowl on her face.

Zalia flies over to them as I stand up. I walk towards them, arms open bracing for impact. Michael and Cat crash into me, me managing the impact with help from Zalia. I embrace them, wrapping my arms tightly around them as they do the same, neither of us wanting to let go.