what we choose to become

chapter 27

The shadow has returned, and Sting needs to face his past.

TW for PTSD, panic attack/dissociating, mentions of child abuse

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"I've missed you." Rogue spread his hands out, eyes fixed on Sting – eyes that were much darker than they should be. Black, patterned marks coiled up the shadow dragon slayer's arms, seeming to writhe and curl on his skin. A sadistic grin crossed Rogue's face and Sting shuddered, mind flashing back to that night.

"Rogue, please," he whispered, holding his hands in front of him in a placating gesture. Behind him, Laxus and Wendy stared at Rogue, eyes wide. "Get out of here," Sting hissed.

"Go ahead, I won't stop you." The voice was deep and gravelly and nothing like Rogue's, but it spilled from his mouth regardless. Laxus looked like he was about to argue, but Freed stirred in his arms and he thought better of it, backing away while keeping himself between Wendy and whatever was about to happen. "I'm only interested in this body for now. And you." He grinned at Sting.

"Rogue, I know you're in th-" Sting's plea was cut off by a tendril of shadow that snaked across the ground and wrapped itself around his neck faster than anyone could see. It pulled at him until he was standing on the tips of his toes, then dragged him towards Rogue.

"What a shame," the thing-that-wasn't-Rogue said, looking down at his body with a disappointed expression. "Rogue isn't here right now." Thick, dark tendrils were streaming out of him in every direction now, and the rest of the guild was backing away from them.

"Get...out..." Sting gasped at them, fingers prying at the shadowy noose around his neck. Lahar, stunned into silence up until now, took a step towards Sting. The coil tightened, and he gasped, feeling his face begin to turn red.

"Tsk, tsk," Rogue murmured, pointing a finger at Lahar. "You should have listened to him." He raised his hand and let loose a barrage of what looked like shadowy knives. They flew from his hand directly at Lahar's face, but before they could reach him, they struck an invisible barrier and dissipated. "Clever," Rogue snarled.

"I'm sorry," Lahar called to Sting, whose vision was becoming blurred. He turned to the Rune Knights. "Get everyone out of here," he ordered. They all stood for a moment, staring dumbfounded at the shadows swirling up Lahar's runic barrier. "NOW!" His shout was enough to snap them from their reverie.

Suddenly, there was another loud bang, and Doranbolt reappeared right on top of Lahar, followed by Natsu and the unconscious bodies of Evergreen and Bickslow.

"What the-" Natsu stumbled to his feet and looked around, taking in the bizarre scene. The guild was frozen as if in a terrified tableau, a group of council goons in the hall, Rogue surrounded by shadows that were choking Sting... "Rogue, what's goi-"

"G...g....ray," Sting choked out. "Get...him out of h-here..."

"Gray!" Natsu darted over to where Levy was attempting to lift the ice mage, who was pale and shaking. "What the hell is going on?" Natsu slid his arms underneath Gray and lifted him easily, heart skipping as his partner's head sagged limply against hits chest. He followed Levy away from Rogue and Sting, and the three mages ducked behind a table.

"Oh, you think those are your friends?" The shadow murmured condescendingly, stepping towards Sting and loosening the tendrils just enough for the blond-haired boy to choke in a stuttered breath. Rogue drew his hand down Sting's cheek, smiling wickedly. "They don't care about you. Nobody cares about you."