Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Night Watch ❯ Chapter 1

Title: Night Watch

Author: JinLucifer

Rating: PG-13

Pairings: 1x2x1

Categories: m/m, au, supernatural, violence, romance

Notes: Heero POV

 

 

__________________________

 

 

 

Shit. This place is seriously giving me the creeps. I knew I shouldn't have taken a short cut through this area. I've heard the rumours. Though no normal people live here any longer, it's supposedly crawling with society's rejects and various criminals.

 

I've lost track of time though, and stayed at work until dark. The bus stopped running by that time, so my only options were to either call a taxi or walk. Since I didn't want to waste my money, I opted for the latter. Which brings me to where I am.

 

Sheol takes up a rather large portion of the city, so it's really not all that surprising that it's situated right between my home and my work place. If I went right through it, rather than going around, it would cut my time down by at least half an hour. I decided to risk it. Something I'm regretting now.

 

It's not easy to throw me off balance or to scare me. When I was a child and my parents were still alive, I've been made to take a variety of self-defense and martial arts classes, my father being of the firm opinion that boys should be strong. The lessons stuck. I still work out. I even got a gun license, along with a gun that I carry on me at all times. The murder rate in the area increased substantially over the past few years, so one can never be too careful.

 

I am scared now - surrounded by run-down, crumbling buildings on all sides, with no visible end and no sign of human life anywhere. The rustling of my jeans the only sound permeating the silence around me. It almost feels like a ghost city. Almost. Except, I can feel it thrumming with life, with energy. I can also feel the eyes on me, watching me from the shadows. Yet the only living things I can actually see are the occasional strays - cats, dogs, rats. The hair on the back of my neck is standing on end and my skin is covered in goose flesh. I feel like I'll explode from the tension if I don't get out of here soon, but I'm probably only about half-way through. Too late to turn back.

 

Suddenly I see a sharp movement out of the corner of my eye - a young woman launching at me with a knife out of one of the dark alleys. I don't even have the time to take my gun out. Fuck, I knew I should have held it at the ready! I'm slammed against a wall with inhuman strength, the knife at my throat. I feel a small trickle of blood running down my neck. The woman smiles maliciously, showing off perfectly white teeth.

 

As well as a pair of unusually long and sharp canines.

 

Before I can give that any serious consideration, two guys appear behind her. Seemingly out of thin air. They too have cruel smirks on their faces. The woman doesn't waste any time, and licking her lips starts leaning into me when something knocks her two companions to the side. She looks over, but keeps the knife steady. I contemplate taking this chance to try and push her away, but the pressure and stinging pain at my throat make me hesitate. I hate feeling afraid.

 

That's when I finally notice the newcomer. Standing with his back to me and dressed all in black - black jeans, black leather jacket, black boots, and black finger-less gloves. The long chestnut coloured braid throws me off for a moment, but no, it's definitely a guy.

 

As he starts turning around, my attention relocates to the bloodied daggers in his hands, and then the two crumpled figures behind him. The woman seems to suddenly recognize him, and letting out a string of curses, lets go of me and dodges around a corner. I look back at the bodies of her companions, and let out a gasp as I see them turning into rats and disappearing behind a corner as well.

 

I'm still staring at the place where they vanished when the long-haired young man kneels in front of me. Apparently I've slid down the wall.

 

“Hey, you ok?” he asks, waving a hand in front of my eyes.

 

I turn to look at him, but rather than answer his question I try to ask one of my own.

 

“They… Did they just…” I swallow and my eyes once more dart toward the place where I last saw the rats.

 

I never do get to finish.

 

Strong fingers pinch a nerve at the back of my neck, and moments later my world goes completely black.

 

 

*****************************

 

 

Saturday morning, I wake up at home, in my own bed. I'm even wearing pajama pants. The events of last night are still clear in my mind, but did they even happen? Lying here now, back in familiar and comfortable surroundings, I'm inclined to believe that I just dreamt the whole thing up.

 

It's the weekend, and I still feel rather drained, so I figure that I may as well stay in bed a while longer. I drift off, and when I wake up next it's already noon. Stretching and allowing myself a few more lazy moments of soaking up the sun shining through my window, I finally get up and head for the bathroom.

 

Facing the mirror, I look at my neck. Indeed, there isn't even a scratch. A dream. It must have been. Nevertheless, an uneasy feeling remains in my gut for the rest of the day.

 

 

*****************************

 

 

Saturday evening finds me in a bar with a few college friends, some of whom I haven't seem since graduation a few months ago - drinking, catching up, chatting about inconsequential things. The alcohol and easy banter relax me. The uneasy feeling is almost gone.

 

God, why am I still thinking about it?

 

I laugh at myself, and catch their attention. One of them asks me to share the joke, and I do. They laugh with me, saying that anything is possible in dreams, but that no normal person would be crazy enough to go through Sheol in real life, even me. Jokingly, they say that they actually wouldn't be too surprised to find out it did serve as a home to various monsters.

 

Another group of college grads out for a night of fun approaches us.

 

That night, I go home with a beautiful curvy blonde.

 

When in the morning I wake up to the sight and sensation of her sucking on my cock, the dream is all but forgotten.

 

 

*****************************

 

 

Next Thursday, when I round the last corner leading to my apartment building as I'm returning from work, a rather unusual sight greets my eyes. Right in front of the entrance, two large dogs - one pitch black and the other bright gold - are attacking a black cat. Amazingly, the cat seems to be holding up rather well, even against attackers so much larger than itself.

 

Quite a crowd has gathered around - some residents trying to get inside but afraid of getting too close to the animals, others just curious passerby's. Needing to get inside myself, I ponder whether I should wait or try and break the fight up. Soon, however, the decision is taken out of my hands.

 

All of a sudden, the golden dog pauses in its onslaught and turns to look straight at me. When it with no warning takes off at a breakneck speed in my direction, I react instinctively. The gun is in my hand and trained on the dog in mere seconds. I'm about to pull the trigger, but the dog stops suddenly. I hesitate. It merely stares at me for a few more seconds, its eyes strangely intelligent, but then turns around and runs off, the black dog following.

 

What the hell?

 

Well that was strange.

 

Finally I continue on my way, still unsure what to make of the dogs, when I notice that the cat is still here.

 

It has a large and nasty looking gash on its left side and a few smaller ones on its legs. Some people, apparently feeling sorry for it, try to approach. But as I get nearer, I see that the cat hisses and bares its fangs at anyone who comes too close.

 

I snort. A stray, obviously. Untrusting of human contact.

 

But it's clear that it needs to be treated, and I would probably just end up feeling guilty if I simply left it here.

 

Yes, I'll admit that I have a soft spot for animals.

 

So I approach it next, ready to try my own luck and prepared to be scratched and bitten at, but having no intention of backing down. Strangely, the cat doesn't get hostile when I kneel down beside it. It simply looks up at me with wise and vibrant blue eyes, a strange shade that is almost purple. Its gaze unnerves me, but I shrug the feeling off. I cautiously pick it up, and when it still doesn't try anything violent on me, carry it up to my apartment.

 

The cat acts so cooperative while I clean, apply ointment to, and bandage its wounds that I am left feeling seriously spooked by the time I'm done. But I won't complain. This is way better than all the scratching and biting I was expecting to get.

 

I don't have any cat food, so I opt for simply sharing my own dinner. I'm relieved when it eats all the meat and vegetables I put on its plate without complaint.

 

When I'm done with my food and washing the dishes, I then gently pick up and carry the weird cat back into my living room, laying it down on the couch. It sprawls out and closes its eyes, purring a little, but seems generally disinclined to move any more.

 

Satisfied, I go get ready for bed myself.

 

 

*****************************

 

 

That night, I dream of the guy who saved me in Sheol.

 

This time he's lying beside me on my bed and running his fingers over my face and through my hair, a very sad expression on his face. It feels like hours pass before the dream fades away and I'm once more plunged into dreamless sleep.

 

 

*****************************

 

 

I wake up to the sound of someone knocking on my door.

 

Glancing at the clock, I curse as I realize that it's almost noon.

 

How did that happen? I'm an early riser, and I've actually gone to sleep earlier than usual yesterday.

 

I open the door, and am greeted by the sight of two tall men dressed in smart suits, looking very neat and professional - one of them with long platinum blond hair and the other with short and neatly styled reddish brown hair. The blond smiles at me, but it's a smile that sends shivers down my spine.

 

“Good morning, Mr. Yuy,” he greets me. His tone is cultured, almost aristocratic, and very cold. “My name is Zechs Merquise, and this is Treize Khushrenada,” he says, nodding over at his companion.

 

I've never seen them before and wonder who they are and how they know my name. I nod in reply.

 

“I hope we didn't come at a bad time,” he continues, “but we were wondering whether Mr. Maxwell is here at the moment?”

 

Maxwell? The name doesn't ring any bells. Did they get the wrong apartment? But they knew my name.

 

“I don't know any Mr. Maxwells,” I tell them.

 

The red-head chuckles slightly and narrows his eyes at me, “It would be best for all parties involved, Mr. Yuy, if you cooperated with us.” His tone chills me to the bone, but I refuse to be threatened in my own home. These people look dangerous. I wish I had taken my gun with me before opening the door, but it's too late for that now.

 

I'm about to reply, but see that their eyes suddenly focus on something behind me. I turn around and look at the black cat seated in the middle of my living room.

 

For a moment, the face of the stranger from my dreams flashes in my mind. Their eyes are exactly the same - that weird purplish blue.

 

The cat darts for the balcony, and a large black dog comes after it from behind me. The same black dog I saw yesterday. I whirl back around, and see that the red-haired man is gone, the blond the only one remaining.

 

“Unfortunately, it would seem that I must leave now. But rest assured, Mr.Yuy, we will meet again.”

 

He steps forward, and leaning over a bit whispers his parting words in my ear, “And remember, Mr.Yuy, no matter where you run or hide, we will find you.”

 

Then he is gone, and I am left staring blankly at the beige wall facing my front door.

 

 

*****************************

 

 

The rest of the day goes by in a blur.

 

I'm not sure what I did after the cat and two dogs - men? - disappeared. I only know that when night came I found myself in a bar.

 

I don't know how many drinks I've had either. I've stopped counting after the fifth.

 

At some point, I pass out.

 

 

*****************************

 

 

The next morning, or rather noon, I find myself in my bed once more.

 

Déjà vu.

 

I grin sardonically.

 

I roll over, and freeze.

 

The braided man from my dreams is standing in the doorway to my bedroom, leaning against the frame and studying me.

 

Our eyes meet, and he walks over and sits down beside me. Just like in my second dream - was it really a dream though? - his hand reaches for my face, my hair.

 

I don't stop him.

 

The silence lingers.

 

It feels like hours pass before one of us speaks, but it's probably been less than a minute.

 

“I'm sorry,” he says softly.

 

Sorry for what? I wonder. My confusion must have shown on my face, for he continues without my prompting.

 

“For dragging you into this.”

 

“This?” My voice sounds hoarse. I clear my throat.

 

He nods. His eyes are as sad as I remember them being in my dream, non-dream, whatever it was.

 

“I know this will be hard to believe, but that doesn't make it any less true.” A brief smile appears on his lips. “You've seen it with your own eyes, after all. Shape shifters exist. I am one. So are the two men you saw yesterday.”

 

“It can't be real,” I tell him, my voice surprisingly calm. “I must have dreamt it all up. Or maybe I've gone insane. Either would make more sense than believing.”

 

His smile is more amused this time, but he shakes his head at me. “Unfortunately, you're both quite awake and sane,” he says. “Just because you don't know that something exists, doesn't mean that it doesn't.”

 

“Even if it's true,” I interrupt him, “what does it have to do with me?”

 

“That's why I said I was sorry,” he sighs. “That night, when I saved you in Sheol, Zechs saw me carrying you home. Kerberos now believe that you're allied with the Night Watch, and that you can help them find our hideout.”

 

“Kerberos? Night Watch?” My head is spinning, and I'm completely lost. Do I really believe in this?

 

Removing his fingers from my hair, he rearranges himself to lean against the headboard.

 

“There are two types of shifters - dark and light.” He says after a few moments of silent contemplation. “Dark shifters, such as the ones who attacked you back in Sheol, like the taste of human blood. They kill humans to satisfy their cravings.” I shiver at that. “Light shifters, on the other hand, mean no harm to humans. Some of us, like me, purposely hunt dark shifters down and kill them in order to protect you. Night Watch is an organization made up entirely of such hunters.

 

Dark shifters have no such organizations, but some work in groups. Kerberos, for example, which is made up of Merquise and Khushrenada, is one of the most powerful dark shifter teams around. And they're obviously not very happy about what we're doing. Not that they care about other dark shifters getting killed, but we pose a threat to them as well. They believe that if they find out where the Night Watch base is, they can form an attack plan and get rid of us once and for all.

 

Since they are now convinced that you are on our side and know where the base is, you are in great danger. If you want to live, you'll have to come with me.”

 

I don't say anything. My brain is on overload, and I am torn between laughing, crying, and screaming. The only thing stopping me from doing either the fact that I just can't seem to make up my mind as to which.

 

“By the way,” he suddenly grins at me and holds out his hand. “I'm Duo Maxwell. Sorry for the late introduction.” He shrugs a little sheepishly.

 

“Heero Yuy,” I reply and shake his hand a bit automatically, still in a daze.

 

“Pleasure, but I'm afraid we must get going. The sooner the better. Actually, I'm rather surprised that they still haven't shown up.”

 

Jumping off the bed, he grabs my hands and pulls me up as well. I'm still wearing the clothes from last night, so there's no need to change. He pushes me into the bathroom saying that I should at least wash my face before we leave, then drags me toward the door, shoving my shoes at me.

 

Minutes later, we're walking through the streets. I'm somewhat surprised that we're not headed for Sheol. Isn't that where these shifters live? Then again, I'm still utterly confused about this whole shifter business. The possibilities of this being a dream or of my being insane have yet to be dismissed as well.

 

I feel even more confused when he drags me through the back door of a nightclub. Chameleon? He leads me down the stairs, but we don't stop at the club level. We keep on descending. Finally we reach another door, this one made of reinforced steel and guarded by an electronic lock.

 

It makes me blink in surprise. I'm not sure what I've been expecting, but this is not it.

 

Duo punches in a long password and the door slides open. It closes again as soon as both of us are standing inside. Inside being a short, well-lit hallway - its ceiling, floor, and walls all made of metal. At the end of the hallway there's another steel door, this time with a fingerprint scanner beside it. It too opens as soon as Duo scans his thumb.

 

I'm once more left blinking as I'm faced with the room we've been granted access to. Large and luxurious, covered with plush carpets and comfortable furniture, and equipped with the best of current entertainment technology. Everything in varying shades of blue, beige, white, and silver.

 

A few men and women of varying ages are scattered around. Some reading books, others watching TV, and a number listening to music. I realize that they must all be shifters, members of this Night Watch organization, but they all look so very normal I find it difficult to believe.

 

Soon I find myself standing in the focus of all of their gazes.

 

Silence hangs in the air, and with my daze slowly but surely wearing off, I'm starting to feel nervous. Finally they all smile and get up to greet us. They seem nice enough, so I relax a little.

 

“Ah, so you're the human Duo told us about,” one of the younger females smiles at me. “I'm Hilde. Pleased to meet you!”

 

I return a small smile of my own and nod at her. “Heero.”

 

The others introduce themselves as well. Trowa, Quatre, WuFei and Dorothy, along with Duo and Hilde, all look to be around my age. Noin, Sally, Une, Cathy, Odin, Rashid and Abdul seem a little older. The only really old guy around is Howard.

 

“I trust Duo has told you about us already? The Night Watch?” at my nod, Cathy continues. “Well, this is basically it,” she spreads her arms wide. “Not all that impressive, I know, but the small number does make us more organized, and means that we all have more space to ourselves. No room sharing and stuff,” she grins.

 

“And it means that we all know each other exceptionally well. Plus, we do get occasional help from outside sources,” Quatre adds in.

 

“Well,” Duo interrupts the discussion, “I'm sure we'll have more than enough time to chat later, so how about I show Heero around and let him get settled in?”

 

Everyone agrees, so Duo leads me over to a long hallway at the end of what I came to think of as the living room. The hallway is lined with doors on both sides, and Duo explains that each leads to a room belonging to one of the members of the organization.

 

“It's not just our base of operations,” he tells me, “It's our home.”

 

He motions me inside one of the empty rooms. It's almost as impressive as the living room. Rich carpeting and expensive furniture. It even has a separate bathroom.

 

“No personal electronics, I'm afraid,” Duo says from behind me, “but with the speed at which technology is developing, it's really kind of pointless to keep computers and such for non-existent members. Now that you're here though, just ask for it and you'll get it.”

 

I turn around and eye him suspiciously. “Where did you get the cash for all of this stuff anyway? Do shape shifters have normal jobs?”

 

He laughs a little nervously and scratches the back of his neck. “Actually, we get most of our funds by hacking various bank accounts. Mostly from the especially rich guys, and always small amounts from many different people, so it's not like any of them suffer any great losses. But, yeah.”

 

“Can you show me?” I ask. Being a programmer, and having experimented a few times with hacking myself, I'm really curious as to how one would manage such a feat.

 

Duo laughs - a rich, pleasant sound that makes my heart rate speed up a little. I wonder at my reaction, but it passes and I decide to ignore it.

 

“Yeah, sure,” he agrees amiably, still grinning.

 

 

*****************************

 

 

I've neither showered nor changed my clothes since yesterday, and now that I finally have a chance to relax, if only a little, the dirty feeling starts getting to me. So I decide to take the chance to wash up. I indulge myself, and stay under the warm and soothing spray for a whole half an hour. My mind remains wonderfully blank during that time. I don't want to think about things. Not having any spare clothes myself, Duo lets me borrow some of his, us being of more or less the same size.

 

By the time I get out, dinner is ready. Microwaved potatoes, smoked salmon, pickles, and a few salads. Simple food, but absolutely delicious. Then again, I haven't eaten anything in almost two days.

 

“So, what are you going to do now?” Hilde asks between mouthfuls, her eyes darting between Duo and me.

 

Duo shrugs. “Nothing much we can do at the moment. Just wait and see how things progress. Although…” he turns to look at me. “I suppose we can go get some extra ammunition for that gun of yours, just in case.”

 

So after dinner, Duo and I go back to my place. We get what we need without incidence and in no time at all are on our way back to the Chameleon. But of course things couldn't be that easy. In one of the dark alleys near the club, we are attacked by a group of five dark shifters, all wielding a variety of blades.

 

The gun is already in my hand and I'm aiming at the first of our attackers. I shoot, but the shifter dodges and the bullet hits him in the arm rather than the chest. He growls, an inhuman sound, but does not back down. A knife is thrown at me, but I manage to step aside in time. The blade only grazes my upper arm. It was only meant to distract me though. The shifter is now only meters away, another blade raised above his head.

 

This time, at practically point-blank range, I don't miss.

 

I quickly turn around to see how Duo is doing. If I've only been attacked by one shifter, the other four must have gone after him. Two are already down, I see, and he blocks an attack from the third as I watch. The fourth, however, is right behind his back.

 

Things start moving in slow motion then. The fourth steps forward, his knife raised, and I see that Duo won't have the time to dodge. I throw myself at him, and the knife instead connects with my side. I feel a sharp, burning pain spreading all over my body. Somebody screams. It sounds a lot like my own voice.

 

Things speed up once more and I'm left lying on the ground, gasping for breath and clutching at my side. I see that help has arrived. Hilde, WuFei and Odin easily finish off the last two shifters and turn to me and Duo, who I now realize is holding me up and cursing a blue streak.

 

As I'm hefted into the air, I close my eyes. I feel myself being carried at a run, then lowered down a flight of stairs. I keep my eyes closed even as I am lowered onto a bed and my shirt is cut away. A needle is injected into my arm, and I'm shifted onto my uninjured right side.

 

The pain diminishes, and I allow myself to relax a little as I feel a wet cloth being applied to the large gash. Time passes as someone continues cleaning me up, and the gentle motions of the soft material along with the pain reliever they've apparently given me, unwind me enough to drift a little.

 

The warm and moist pressure that I feel on the wound after the cloth is removed, however, causes me to jerk in surprise and open my eyes and stare disbelievingly at Duo.

 

“What are you doing?” I ask him quickly.

 

He looks embarrassed, but determined. “The saliva of shifters has healing properties, Heero. Like that of animals, except much stronger. It's why all of my wounds were gone by the next morning when I got injured a couple of days ago as a cat.

 

As well as why the wound on your neck was gone by the morning after your little mishap in Sheol,” he adds almost reluctantly.

 

I continue staring at him with wide eyes.

 

He sighs. “Look, man, just relax and go with the flow, ok? I promise it'll make you heal much faster.”

 

I tense even more as he leans back down, but don't stop him. It's not that I don't believe him. It would certainly explain my neck, but… Having a guy lick my side, even if for medical purposes, just feels kind of weird.

 

Not necessarily in a bad way though, I admit to myself. The careful motions of his tongue soothe the pain away, and I can feel the damaged flesh tingling as it heals with the help of his saliva. Finally I just let myself enjoy the sensation and drift off completely.

 

 

*****************************

 

 

I wake up to the feeling of fingers brushing over my left side. Looking down, I see that my wound is completely healed. I wonder how much time has passed since the attack?

 

The attack.

 

The pain.

 

It's been way too long. If this was indeed a dream, I should have woken up by now. And the pain should not have felt so very real. Which means that this either is real or I'm insane after all. But then, insane people never believe themselves to be insane, do they?

 

The enormity of the situation finally crashes down on top of me.

 

“Duo?” I call out quietly. The fingers still brushing over my skin are his, and I can feel his warmth on my back.

 

“Hm?” His voice is just as quiet as my own.

 

“Is there any chance that I'll be able to go back to my normal life?” I ask, my breathing hitching.

 

The silence stretches, but finally he does answer me, his tone hesitant. “Yes, if Kerberos are killed. They work alone, and wouldn't have told anyone else about you. Therefore, they're the only ones after you.”

 

I swallow. This is good news. It's not impossible. It's bound to happen sooner or later, isn't it? But Duo said that they're two of the most powerful dark shifters around. It may take years. My so-called normal life will be gone by then.

 

I don't bother trying to stop the tears and choked sobs. I know I won't be able to. My life is gone. My friends, my job, my home. Everything. I haven't cried since my parents died, which was years ago - so really, I'm long overdue.

 

Duo wraps his arms around me from behind. I don't protest. Instead, I turn around in his embrace and bury my face in his neck, riding out the tidal wave of raw emotion.

 

He holds me tightly, alternating between kissing my temple, my cheek, my neck, my shoulder, and whispering soothing words in my ear. I feel comfortable in his arms. Safe. Despite the fact that he's a big part of the reason as to why my life has taken this plunge.

 

Eventually I calm down and the tears stop, but I make no move to pull away from him as he continues nuzzling my hair.

 

“Tell me about yourself,” I ask him eventually. “About what you are? Where shifters come from?”

 

He obliges, speaking softly into my hair. “There really isn't much to it. We are immortal humans who are able to turn into animals. Though by immortal I mean that we don't age, not that we can't die. We are also stronger and more agile than normal people. As for where we come from, or rather how we become the way we are, no one really knows. We all used to be human, you know, but have somehow drifted away from normal life. We were bored with the daily routine. We didn't belong. Then, we became what we are.”

 

I raise my head a little to study his face. “Immortal? Doesn't life get boring after you live so long?”

 

He smiles and shrugs a little. “Life is what you make of it. Some get bored, yes, but I don't. I have friends to share it with, and I rather enjoy watching the world change. It's fascinating.” The last he whispers in an awed tone.

 

I take a moment to study his face, but soon I am reaching up and covering his slightly upturned lips with my own.

 

The kiss is soft and innocent, open-mouthed but without tongue. Not a passionate battle of lips, but a gentle and wondering exploration. An understanding. A comfort shared. A show of tenderness and caring.

 

We break apart, but don't go any further, simply lying in each other's arms.

 

Eventually, he gets up and tells me that he has to leave for the night's hunt. I tell him to be careful. When they're all gone, exhaustion from the outburst of emotion overtakes me. I fall asleep once more.

 

 

*****************************

 

 

I wake up back in my own apartment.

 

I almost burst out laughing.

 

Before I can get all introspective though, fingers brush over my hair, and I sigh with relief.

 

It's real. I'm not dreaming. Duo and the shifters are not just figments of my imagination.

 

I wonder why that makes me so happy. Shouldn't I have been relieved to find out that this indeed was some bizarre dream? Shouldn't I be disappointed at his presence?

 

I turn around and face him.

 

“Duo? What's going on?” I ask.

 

His fingers are running through my hair, over my face, tracing my bare shoulder - his eyes following their path. As if he's trying to memorize me. A heavy feeling settles in my stomach.

 

“They're dead,” he finally says.

 

I don't need to ask who they are.

 

Kerberos.

 

I can have my normal life back.

 

“Will we see each other again?” I whisper.

 

He shakes his head.

 

“No.”

 

My hands fist in the sheets, and suddenly I see my whole life passing in front of my eyes. The rat race that is more of an existence than actual life, really. That's it. That's what I've been doing all this time. I've been merely existing, stuck in the dull and degenerative routine of daily life, conforming to society's norms but never really feeling at home.

 

I reach out, and taking his hand bring it to my lips, kissing his knuckles tenderly.

 

“Then take me back with you,” I say.

 

His eyes widen and he squeezes my hand. “Are you sure? If you come with me, there will be no going back next time.”

 

I smile, and all of a sudden my whole body is filled with a tingling sensation that makes me gasp. When it passes, I'm feeling more alive than I ever have before.

 

“Well,” he laughs nervously, “I suppose it's too late to change your mind now.”

 

I reach out and bring his lips down to my own, inhaling his scent.

 

“I'm not going to change my mind,” I murmur against him.

 

“This is exactly what I want.”