That was done for the HC-Bingo on LJ. I didn't proof readed it, so, point out any mistakes you find (:

This was intended to be a OneShot, but I think I'll make some other chapters, nothing big though.

Hope you enjoy it, please review and let me know what you think!

Disclaimer: FT belongs to Mashima Hiro-sensei.

Beneath the Southern Cross

It was not usual for Levy and Lucy to be out on a job together just the two of them. However, this was a special occasion. Both girls were pissed off with their affections. Levy had a big fight with Gajeel because of his lack of tolerance, and Lucy was angry with Natsu because he was just too clueless to be a real person.

"We promised each other we wouldn't discuss those two stupid Dragon Slayers, didn't we?" Levy had to remember herself.

"Yes, that's right. I really want to have some fun with you, Levy, I don't want to keep reminding myself of him."

Levy nodded. Lucy was absolutely right to make that rule. It's been ages since they last had some time to talk peacefully to each other, it really was a golden opportunity.

They chose an easy job so they wouldn't have to fight or anything. It was going to be easy, however, two days would be spend on the train just to get into the town where the employer lived.

The intention of the two girls was to travel and have fun together, but it didn't go as planned. They slept a lot, ate a lot, kept quiet a lot. And then, before they noticed, they arrived at the designated town – Gardenia.

As soon as they set feet on the small town, their moods cheered up a bit. The streets were charming and the buildings were antique and beautiful. The whole town seemed to have just been brought from an old movie.

"Ow, it's beautiful." Levy said, amazed.

"It really is. I feel like siting in that bench and writing a whole novel."

"You should do that Lu-chan! A novel set here would be just amazing!"

Lucy nodded and smiled.

They followed a map added to the job poster to find the house where their employer lived. Outside, the little house was just as beautiful as the whole town. It was a cute cottage in white walls and green windows' frames. They knocked and waited.

"Oh, good! The Fairy Tail's girls! Good, good!"

They looked at each other, confused, and then back to the man at the door.

"Are you the employer?" Levy asked.

"Yes, please, come on in! Your Sabertooth's partners are already here."

"Excuse me, what?" Lucy almost shouted.

"Yes, I requested two fairies and two sabers."

"Why? Our guilds are not friendly with each other."

"Nonsense!" the man exclaimed. "Come on in, hurry, hurry."

Lucy definitely didn't like that situation already. She didn't even know who were the two mages that came for Sabertooth, but she knew she didn't want to work with them. She didn't like that guild, especially after everything they saw its members doing at the Great Magic Games.

She entered the cottage, though, following Levy. The man took them to the living room, where, to her horror, the Sabertooth's Twin Dragons were sitting.

"I'm sorry, but we definitely can't work with those two." She announced to the employer.

"What? But you accepted the job! I thought mages were all friendly with each other."

Lucy could definitely hit that man's face. Why, for the zodiac stars, would mages all like each other? Weren't they human beings?

Sting, however, smirked at her.

"Come on, Lucy-san, I'm sure it's going to be tons of fun."

She ignored the Light Dragon Slayer.

"We're leaving now."

"I'm afraid we can't do the first part of the job on our own." Rogue said in his deep and calm voice.

"Not our problem. Let's go Levy."

But the bluenette held her by the wrist.

"Remember, Lu-chan? Having fun and forgetting. We can't go back now." She lowered her voice. "Plus, the money is just too good."

"Levy, it's Rogue and Sting, they are Gajeel's and Natsu's rivals."

"Yes. They are their rivals, not ours. And, right now, we don't give a damn about those two, remember?"

Lucy sighed in defeat.

"Okay."

"Great!" the employer shouted. "Here is the deal. I have this map that is supposed to lead to a great treasure, but it is in a language no one knows. At least not anyone I know."

"Piece of cake." Levy said, already excited by the idea of figuring out a new language. "Just hand me the map."

"Great!" the man shouted again. "Here, have fun!" and he disappeared into the upper floor.

Levy sat at the table on the centre of the room and got her especial glasses out of her bag.

"That man is just a lunatic." Sting said.

"Fro agrees with Sting-kun." The exceed with the frog costume said.

Lucy crossed her arms on her chest.

"Why are you here?" she inquired, staring sharply at the two Dragon Slayers.

"Sabertooth got the part of the job that asked to recover a treasure. We never knew the map wasn't clear." Rogue answered.

"You're too tense, Lucy-san, loose up a little." Sting mocked her.

"I don't want anything to do with the two of you." She said in response to his mockery.

"And why is that? Natsu-san wouldn't like his girl around us?"

Lucy's chocolate eyes shot flames at him.

"First of all, I'm not his girl. Secondly, I don't like your guild, and you two especially."

Sting rose from his sit and got closer to her, trapping her against a wall.

"Sting." Rogue warned, but didn't move.

"We are just normal, Lucy-san."

Lucy stared fiercely at him. Her eyes didn't show any kind of fear.

"I'm not afraid of you. I just don't like nor do I trust you."

Sting smirked.

"Oh, the girl is tough. I like it."

"Lu-chan come here for a second."

Lucy disentangled herself away from Sting and sat beside Levy.

"What is it?"

"Doesn't this language seem familiar to you? Look, it's a common morphology and it also seems to be a direct syntax."

"It looks like the ancient language." Lucy said while analysing the letters.

"Exactly. I also thought that. But, you see this word?" she pointed out. "I never saw that before."

"Maybe is the key word, so it's anagrammed or something."

"Good!"

She wrote some things with her special pen and soon the sentence was solved.

"Beneath the cross I hid, but only in the bright sky I shall be seen."

"The cross?" Lucy asked. "The southern cross constellation?"

"Must be. Since there's a sky reference. But the entrance only shows itself at day light."

"Good. Our job is done. Now, it's up to those two."

"Nah, that can't be." Sting said. "What if there's more of this thing at the entrance? We won't be able to read it."

"He is right, Lu-chan."

"Fro knows! Sting-kun is often right!" the cute exceed exclaimed.

"Your ability is really impressive, Levy-san." Rogue said, for once feeling really amazed with something.

Levy would feel flattered and thank him had it been another person in another day, but right now, Rogue's compliment only reminded her of Gajeel in the day she got him and Natsu out of the guild for Laxus's stupid competition.

"The sun is setting already, let's go." She said, suddenly feeling very indisposed.

"I didn't sign up for this." Lucy complained. "But, yes, let's go."

The four mages didn't even bother to tell the employer they were leaving to get his treasure. Lucy and Levy wanted to end that as soon as possible, and Rogue seemed to feel the same. Sting, however, was another matter entirely.

"So, Lucy-san." He walked beside her, as she looked for the Southern Cross up in the sky. "How come Natsu-san hasn't claimed you as his mate, yet?"

Lucy felt like punching the Light Dragon Slayer.

"Sting, don't push it." Rogue said, sensing Lucy's anger.

"I'm just asking." He raised his hands, in a peace gesture.

"Mind your own business." Lucy mumbled.

Sting smirked.

"Seems like I touched a soft spot."

"Sting." Rogue warned again, sighing in exasperation.

Lucy got away from him, looking carefully for the constellation on the early night sky.

"Look, the Southern Cross." She said to Levy, pointing at the stars.

"Good, but now we have to wait for the sun again."

"Yes. But we have to find out where exactly is 'beneath the cross'."

"That lake is reflecting it, isn't it?"

Lucy took her eyes to the lake and loved how it looked, reflecting the night sky. The stars were shining on the water surface, providing the most beautiful scenario she had ever seen. For a minute, she forgot her one-sided love. For a minute, she forgot she was on a job with Sting and Rogue. For just one tiny minute, all that matter was the beauty of the stars.

"And now we wait." She sighed, sitting on the grass, and not taking her eyes away from the water.

"Now we wait." Levy echoed in her own voice.

Rogue took Sting by the arm and went to sit on the other side.

"We don't want to piss them off, Sting."

Sting just laughed.

"Come on, let me have some fun. It's clearly Natsu-san's fault."

"It's not our concern, Sting. Let the girls be."

"Don't lie to me, Rogue. I know you found Levy-san very interesting."

"They are Fairy Tail's mage, Sting. We shouldn't mess with them."

Sting just smirked and lied down, closing his eyes.

The rising sun found them sound asleep on the grass, but was quick to wake them with its bright light.

Lucy opened her eyes and was shocked to see the beautiful lake was simply gone. All the water had vanished, leaving a crater in front of them.

"Levy, wake up." She shook her friend softly. "The lake is gone."

The Script Mage was amazed with the sight in front of her. How could all the water disappear like that?

"Look! The emblems are there too!"

The four mages and the exceed got down, into the crater, to see the emblems closely.

Levy gave the emblems a quick look, already well familiarized with the grammar of the weird language.

"Lucy, would you please recite the words to call Cruxis, please?" she asked.

"Okay." Lucy was a bit confused, but wasn't about to discuss the matter with her best friend. "Gate of the Southern Cross, I open thee! Cruxis!"

As soon as she finished, the emblems started to glow and the ground trembled beneath their feet, opening a huge crater and making them fall into a never ending darkness.

"Ouch." Levy shouted, landing hard on the stoned floor.

"Ahhhh… Fro thinks there's something wrong with Rogue-kun. He is too light."

Down there, incredibly enough, it wasn't as dark as it had been while descending, still, Levy couldn't help but be frozen by her fear.

"Is everyone okay?" she forced herself to ask.

"Fro thinks is just us." The exceed answered.

"Lucy?" she called. "Luuucy!"

However, no answer came, and that only collaborated with Levy's paralyzing fear. She just knew she was due to start crying at any minute now.

"Levy-san, there is something wrong with Rogue-kun." Fro whined.

Finally remembering the Sabertooth's Dragon, Levy turned her face to the exceed and her partner. The image, indeed, shocked her to no end.

"Oh my fairies."

Rogue was sound asleep while being carried by Frosch. But that wasn't everything. He was now… about three years old.

"How did that happen?"

"Fro does not know, Levy-san. Fro caught Rogue-kun while we were falling and, suddenly, he was very much lighter than he used to be."

The exceed finally descended to the ground, placing Rogue gently beside her.

"What now?" she asked, looking expectantly to the Script Mage.

"And how am I supposed to know, Fro? I have no idea what caused it and I sure as hell don't know to undo it. I read on the runes that the key to the treasure was the key to the stars, so I told Lucy to recite the words to call upon the Southern Cross constellation. However, this was all. The inscription didn't tell anything else, I have no idea why Rogue is now a child."

"Why are you speaking so loud?" Rogue asked while rubbing his eyes. "I want to sleep."

Levy was even more shocked. Not only had his body de-aged, but his conscience went away with it.

"Rogue…" she softened her tone. "Do you remember where we are?"

"Who are you, lady with the blue hair?"

"That's just fine." She mumbled, angrily.

Levy was on edge. She went on that mission to forget her fight with Gajeel, to forget their break up, but now… It was dark and she was alone with a winged cat and a de-aged Dragon Slayer.

"Hey." Rogue got closer to her, putting his small hands on her cheeks. "Don't cry. It's okay."

Her eyes widened in shock. She didn't even notice she was crying, and Rogue… Had he been that sweet when he was a child, or was it an effect of whatever spell got him?

She quickly wiped away her tears.

"I'm sorry. It won't happen again."

"Where are we?" he asked. "Where is father?"

Father? Did he mean… his dragon?

"I don't know, Rogue. We are trapped in here and you'll have to help me find the way out, okay?"

He nodded enthusiastically.

"Okay! What do I have to do?"

"Do you smell anything different?"

"Different?" he looked at her, confused.

"Yes, something that is not a rock, or humidity… Something like… I don't know, metal? Or wooden?"

He inhaled deeply, searching for what she asked him to look for.

"No… I smell nothing but humidity."

"Okay, let's get walking."

"Levy!" Lucy shouted into the darkness. "Levyyy!"

"Please, stop screaming." Sting asked. "I have sensitive ears, you know."

Lucy shot a death glare to him.

"You know, this is all your fault. We were just supposed to read a map, not go after the damn treasure. Now I'm struck here and Levy is alone in the dark!"

"She is not alone, Rogue is probably with her."

"You don't know that, you bastard! For all I know she is alone in a dark tunnel. And she can't stand the darkness! She is alone and afraid and I need to find her!"

"Okay, okay, no need to scream with me."

"That's just great." She started to whine. "I go away trying to avoid a stupid Dragon Slayer just get stuck with another one."

"Come on, Lucy-san. I sure I'm nothing like Salamander."

"Oh, no, you are worse."

She started to walk away from him and he rushed towards her.

"Hey, don't go wondering in the dark."

"I pretty much don't have anywhere else to go, in case you haven't noticed."

Suddenly, the way ahead of her lightened up.

"I'm the Light Dragon. You're the one that hadn't noticed."

"You're annoying."

He laughed and followed her through the way.

If asked, Levy wouldn't know for how long she had been walking. Down there, night and day were only one, never showing any differentiation. She was taking Rogue by the hand with her, forcing him to keep up.

"I'm tired." He whined.

"You're too heavy for me, Rogue, I'm sorry, you'll have to endure it. Don't you want to be a strong Dragon Slayer?"

"Of course I do! But we've been walking forever! Let's stop for a while!"

"Fro agrees with Rogue-kun."

Levy glared at the exceed.

"You've been on my shoulder all this time."

"What's the point of this statement, Levy-san?"

Sighing, Levy stopped walking and sat.

"I'm tired too, but we should find our way out."

"Aunt Levy, can I sleep on your lap."

The bluenette sighed. What she should do with him? She really had to figure a way to turn him back to what he really was.

"Sure, sure, why not."

He smiled and happily set his head on her legs. Levy couldn't help but smile as she ran a hand on his hair. If he had been such a gentle child… What had happened? What could had turned him into such a cold man?

Tired of thinking so hard, she closed her eyes and fell asleep immediately.

As the three of them slept, everything around them started to glow in white. Words formed on the air, undoing what they had once done.

When Rogue opened his eyes again, he was shocked to find himself lying down on Levy's lap. He could feel her soft breathing and the warmth of her uncovered skin. She seemed like an angel while sleeping, the face free of torments, her hair slightly messy. He could definitely see why Gajeel had fallen for her. She was a definite light into internal darkness, he was sure she was the reason why Gajeel was such a better person now. She healed him, completely.

Sighing, he got up and sat at the other wall. He surely wouldn't like to make her uncomfortable with his closeness. He sniffed the air around him and finally found what they were looking for. How come he hadn't been able to find it before? It made no sense really. Actually… why was his memory so messed up?

"Fro." He called, waking his cat friend. "What happened after we fall?"

"Ah, Rogue-kun! You're back to normal!"

"Back to normal? What do you mean by that?"

"You were transformed into a kid."

"Kid?"

"Fro is happy you're back to normal! That kid version you were turned to was no fun! Fro likes grown-up you much better!"

"You're back to normal." Levy said blushing, probably being waked by Fro's high voice.

He nodded.

"Do you remember anything?"

"No, I didn't. When I woke up I was here, so I woke Fro up to explain to me what happened."

He figured she didn't need to know he was quite comfortable on her lap.

Levy sighed in relief.

"I think I found what we were looking for."

"Oh, great! So, let's get going!"

Lucy was tired of walking, tired of not sleeping well, afraid of what Sting could do while she slept. She was already forcing her luck, she wouldn't be able to handle all that stress must longer, and that was truly troublesome. She so wished she could be home! At home she would be able to take a hot shower, eat something warm, like soup, suiting her stomach, and then she would make a cup of tea and sit on her desk, struggling to get done one more chapter of her novel. Such a nice picture.

Too bad it was just that, a picture. She knew quite well as soon as she was done showering, she would find Natsu on her couch and would have to yell at him for several minutes before he would actually go away. But he would definitely burn or break something before he was truly gone. So, after all that, when he was finally gone and she thought she could keep up with her nice idea of a pleasant afternoon, Loke would pop out of nowhere, and beg her to go on a date with him. One more fight, one more eternity before she had the house to herself. It would be already night, and she would be so tired, she would just go to bed, sleep all the stress off.

That was her routine for the past few years. Sighing, Lucy started to rethink her whole life. Maybe it was time for her to make a big chance. Of what sorts? Well, she just would still have to figure that out.

"Hey, watch out!"

She heard Sting warn, but she wasn't paying any attention. Her foot got struck on a big rock and her it made her fall hardly into the stoned ground. She struggled with the pain of her twisted ankle. Now, she really wished she had turned around and walked away the minute she discovered those two would be working with them.

"Are you alright?" Sting asked, for once dropping the mocking tone.

"No, I'm not!" she yelled in frustration.

He sat next to her, eyeing her carefully.

"I know you don't want to talk about it, but really, how come Natsu-san hasn't claimed you?" the sarcasm hadn't vanished, after all. Was that what he thought of a nice topic when someone was in pain?

Lucy felt tears running down her cheeks. If they were for the pain on her ankle, or the pain in her heart, she wouldn't be able to know.

"Quit it, please. And what is all this talk about claiming mates?"

"It's what dragons do. We claim our mates so everyone will know the person we love is taken. It's for protection, well and a bit of ego too, of course."

Lucy chuckled bitterly.

"No, definitely not me. Natsu doesn't see me that way. He has seen me in all possible outfits, even in a towel, and haven't even looked at me twice. He is just so dense it's infuriating, really."

"He didn't seem that stupid to me."

"Oh, but he is." She sobbed. "I'm not as soft-hearted as Lisanna, you know. I can't take it any longer. It hurts too much already."

Sting didn't know who Lisanna was, but he got her point. Her tears were troubling, though. She got closer to her and gently wiped them away. Then, he smirked.

"If you want, I can make you forget all about him."

Lucy's eyes went wide in surprise. Not only was he being sweet with her, he was offering her what she actually needed.

"I… I can't."

His smirk got wider.

"Because you're thinking he would be mad, right? Because of who I am. Don't make this decision for him, make it for yourself, … Lucy."

Incredibly, she liked how her name sounded on his voice without the honorific.

"You're the one doing this to make him mad, don't even try to deny it."

He shrugged.

"Does it really matter? Come on, hot the way you are it's quite the mystery why you are still pining up for a guy like Natsu-san."

Lucy felt her cheeks blush. No other man but Loke had ever made her a compliment, and, for the zodiac stars, was that depressing!

"Okay." She whispered.

"Come again?" he asked just to be sure.

"I said, okay."

His smirk died as he looked seriously into her chocolate eyes. He ran a hand through her face, putting some hair strands behind her ears. She was indeed beautiful, he wouldn't deny it. Not only that, she was strong-willed, independent and, more important of all, loving and caring. Sting had never known someone with such a big heart, and he really learned to cherish feelings after he almost lost Lecter. A world with feelings wasn't bad at all. Maybe… Maybe she could show him the way. Maybe, she could help him fix his destroyed heart.

He kissed her hungrily, pressing her against the stoned wall. She immediately put her arms around his neck and he pulled her up not to force her injured ankle. Her legs immediately went around his torso.

They broke the kiss for air, panting and staring at one another with clouded eyes.

Sting was no inexperienced guy, no he had his share of not only kissing, but also of sex, but he had to admit no other girl had left him so worked up. All he could think of was how much he wanted to rip her clothes out and explore every inch of her gorgeous body.

"That… was a very good kiss." She whispered in a tone that almost made him shiver.

He grinned.

"That's what you've been missing all the time, while waiting." He mocked.

She laughed.

"I'm seeming like a very stupid girl." She went on with the playful tone.

"Indeed." He said, kissing her neck and making her tremble. "Such bad behaviour surely demands some punishment."

His hands went down her shirt and grabbed her boobs, making her gasp with sweet shock.

"You see." He whispered right into her ear. "Only the good girls get the nice treatment, the bad ones deserve to suffer a bit."

His tone was husky and sexy and Lucy was starting to get really aroused by it, not to count his ministrations on her sensitive areas.

"So, tell me, Lucy, have you been a good girl lately?"

"No." she almost moaned as he nipped on her ear's lobe.

He chuckled.

"That's right, you haven't."

He took her hands away from her boobs and descended it to her skirt. He smirked when he felt how damp she already was. He lightly ran his index finger on her cloth secured intimacy.

"You know, I could do a lot of things that would have made you scream my name in one second, but since you're being punished, that ain't gonna happen."

She moaned in frustration when he removed his fingers and forcefully ripped her panties away. He entered her slowly, torturing her all the way up.

"Ah… Sting!" she complained, but it was to no avail.

"Well, I got you to scream my name anyway." He chuckled. "But since you are mine to torture, you better moan quite loudly, Lucy, or your punishment will only get worse."

Well, that wasn't exactly a hard order to obey. She moaned in reckless abandon as he went in and out of her, building up both of their orgasms. And when it came, it came crashing down.

He laid down on the uncomfortable floor, placing her on top of him so she wouldn't hurt herself.

"That was intense." She whispered to his well-shaped chest.

"It was." He admitted, placing a kiss on the top of her head as he tightened his grip around her. Lucy was touched by the caring gesture.

"I never thought you were capable of such sweetness."

"Yeah, well… I learned the hard way."

"Because of your exceed." She remembered.

"Yes, because of Lecter. It felt… awful. And then I suddenly realized what you fairies were talking about."

Lucy smiled.

"I'm glad. We've been quite good at the rehab for Dragon Slayers. It was the same with Gajeel. He hurt Levy and her teammates really bad, but he apologized and protected her every time he had the chance. He was so much better she has even fallen in love with him."

Sting didn't know that, but was definitely good to know. Maybe… He could change that much too.

"Well, I guess I owe you an apology too."

"What for?" she raised an eyebrow.

"For the way Minerva treated you. It was… quite rough."

Lucy didn't even like remembering it.

"Don't worry. It wasn't actually your fault. It was hers, and I'm glad you and Rogue kicked her out of the guild." She ran a finger down the scar on his eyebrow. "You are in a good path, both of you."

He smiled. Not a smirk, a real smile.

Suddenly, they felt the ground shaking and found a trail of light, probably coming from the outside.

"Levy must have found the treasure."

He got up and helped her up.

"Ouch." She complained. "I'm not sure I can walk."

He got his back to her.

"Come on, hop up."

She smiled, blushing slightly. He was a good guy, after all. He would surely be able to redeem himself, just like Gajeel had.

"Thank you, Sting."

He made the way back to the upper world with Lucy on his back, quite enjoying the feeling of her.

"Lucy… once you're out of here, would you allow me to take you on a date?"

Lucy was speechless for a moment.

"You are free to deny it." He laughed.

"No! I mean, yes!" she stumbled on the words. "I would like that, Sting. I really would. It's just… I wouldn't figure you as this kind of guy."

"Well, I'm not, actually. But, as you said, I'm willing to change. I… am done with the old Sabertooth way."

She smiled and managed to give him a hug.

"You should. I accept it. I'm willing to help you out."

Sting kept climbing until the sun light blinded him.

Levy, Rogue and Frosch were the first to get out of the once again dry lake, holding the chest containing the employer's treasure. Gajeel was quite quick to go to them, angrily taking Levy by the arm and away from Rogue.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, trying to free herself.

He wasn't the only one, though. Natsu and Erza were there too.

"Get away from him." Gajeel warned in a dangerous tone.

"You get away from me." she looked at him with narrowed eyes. "Rogue-san helped me down there while you only know how to complain, about my books, my friends, my habits, everything! Right now, I would definitely choose him over you!"

Gajeel was taken aback by her breakdown.

"What the hell are you talking about? Was that why you went away with bunny girl without telling me?"

"It took you that much to figure it out?"

Rogue almost felt like laughing at the entire situation, but held up. It was not like him to openly laugh.

Natsu was watching Gajeel and Levy's fight when Sting appeared at the open hole, with Lucy on his back. He ran to them.

"Let her go, we'll take her from here." He stared at the Light Dragon Slayer with hard eyes.

"No, thank you. I'm taking Lucy to an infirmary and then I'll take her back to Magnolia."

"What? Who said you could do that?" he was ready to punch the guy, but Erza stopped him.

"Lucy, what do you have to say about this?"

She opened a small smile, feeling nervous.

"It is as he said, Erza."

"What? You can't really meant it, Lucy! He is Sting, from Sabertooth, have you forgot?"

She sighed.

"No, Natsu, I haven't. But you know, what? It doesn't matter. Just like it didn't matter that Gajeel was from Phantom Lord."

Natsu only watched as Sting took Lucy away from him.

Lucy laughed.

"Was that satisfying enough for you, Sting?"

He echoed her laugh.

"I won't lie. It was."

"You still owe me that date, though." She teased.

"And that's why I'm taking you back to Magnolia."

Lucy smiled, not really bothering to look back. That could work. Sting and her. It really could. That encounter was definitely a gift. A gift from the Southern Cross.