A month later and Zye still isn’t used to Shae’s habit of bringing people home. It’s more frequent than he’d think. Although usually, they’re out far before Zye gets up. It’s just today that he happens to be awake and lounging on the couch when he hears the bedroom door open. Not to mention Shae doesn’t usually bring anyone home when they’d have to leave this late at night.
The first set of footfalls coming down the hall aren’t Shae’s, that’s for sure. Still, he doesn’t bother sitting up. He continues flicking through the channels. The man that has to pass by him doesn’t dare meet Zye’s eyes or say a word. He hurries to the door and slips out without a hitch. It has Zye rolling his eyes. He readjusts his position on the couch then tugs at the shorts hiking up over his knee.
“Good morning!”
“Really, dude?”
Shae laughs as he comes around the side, plopping down next to Zye. It has Zye sitting up more and scooting over to the armrest. “It’s not like you don’t know what sex is. And we kept it quiet, right?”
“Yeah, yeah.”
Ribbing him, Shae leans in close. “Come on, you’re all tense. You need to relieve stress too or it’ll be the end of you.”
“Hah, hah, very funny. I’m fine, thanks though. I’d rather not go with anyone random these days.”
“Seriously? There’s plenty of people batting their eyes at you.”
Zye shoots him a look, “We work in a brothel and I’m a Chroma. As far as most people are concerned, I’m for sale too.”
“Wait, so you are? Boss will be pissed if you’re trying to get back into that again.”
He elbows Shae for earlier. “You know I’m not.”
Shae laughs and leans back. There’s a brief silence before Zye realizes it’s coming. He should know it is and still can’t prepare himself.
“Serious though, you should think about getting some. Jace is pretty nice to look at. Kinda your type too, am I right?”
Zye flicks to another channel, turns the volume up, and grumbles. “Shut up.”
“Come on. You know you wanna. The other night you two ended up sitting so close together to play that game I thought you’d actually turn into a tomato for dinner tonight.”
“We were drinking, you ass face. Now drop it.”
“Whatever, but that giddy teenager crush bullshit doesn’t get the job done. Just go for it.”
Zye glances over at him. “You’re an idiot. You don’t get to be friends with your sex buddy. Are you with yours?”
“At least one of them,” replies Shae after thinking for a moment.
“Liar.”
“Yeah maybe. But you have to admit he’s—”
“I’m not doing this.”
Except he can’t get very far at all. Shae is on him the next second, pinning him to the couch in a sloppy hug. “Is it because you’re meeting him later? Don’t wanna admit you like him?”
The sing-song way he says it has Zye rolling his eyes. He tries to push Shae away, give him the hint without outright shoving him. “I’m not and I swear to God if you don’t shut up, I’ll make it so you can’t work anymore.”
Maybe it’s because he knows Shae is right. He does want to try— wishes he had the nerve to do it. His friends are great and they’re fun. Jace, though? He’s like walking out into the warm morning air after a bone-chilling night. It wraps around him and suddenly breathing is easy.
“Fiiiine. Be that way.”
Shae finally pulls away and sits up. He watches as Zye scoots to the edge, ready to get up and leave the conversation behind. “You know I’m joking right? I don’t mean to go bang his brains out. But maybe just go relax for a night. It doesn’t have to be anyone in particular.”
“You know I can’t do that anymore. I have feelings and I like having a connection. And even if you weren’t, he’s off the table. I’m not ruining a friendship just because I’m getting antsy.”
“The term is horny.” Kicking his feet up onto the table, Shae grins. “You know, I’m always available.”
“I just— I’m going to kill you one day.”
“You know you love me.”
There’s a beep on his phone and it has Zye rising to his feet. He scoops it up off the table. A quick check says their order is ready. Zye clips it to his belt loop and steps over Shae’s legs. “Are you staying to eat?”
“Yeah, traded shifts with someone. Heard from Cal too, said she’d be by later.”
“Then I’ll try to hurry.”
Shae gives him a wave, “Just be safe, dummy.”
He’s around the corner, into his shoes, and out the door. He fishes his keyring from his pocket and makes for the bike. The soft glow of the sun disappearing beyond the horizon is all that’s left before the moon pokes its head up. The gray clouds threatening a chance of rain blot out most of it and the way color drains into dark blue then black.
While he waits for the bike to hum to life, he glances over to a car parked outside the house next door. There’s a faint glow inside and slight jostling. He cuts his eyes away at the sight of a foot pressing against the window— he hopes it’s a foot. Tugging the helmet on, he scuffs at them.
“Wonderful. Can’t they take that inside…”
Except as he glances back he sees it and it wasn’t there before.
On the hood of the car seems to be a dark mass. A longer look gives him the feeling it might be a dog from how it’s curled up and watching the people inside. Yet it’s on the hood. And it’s all black from its muzzle down to the tip of its tail that whisks back and forth. He swallows hard when it lifts its head.
The darkness parts and the eyes that should be there aren’t. It’s just two glowing cerulean dots. They meet Zye’s gaze and hold it; unblinking, unmoving. The chill it sends down his spine has his shoulders rolling it out when it hits them. He glances down as the hum of the engine kicks up further. Except when he flicks his gaze back up to the creature, it’s gone.
And he’s ready to do the same. No sense sticking around trying to figure it out when the creepy feeling is settling in.
Zye swings his leg over and kicks the stand back in. A second later and he’s pulling out of the cul-de-sac. It’s hard to focus on the road with Shae’s words lingering in his mind. It adds to the weight on his shoulders; loneliness, lack of companionship, and jealousy towards others that have it. Even though it’s his own choice, he wishes those feelings would go away.
After Daichi, there’s simply no way he wants to dare hooking up with some stranger. Let alone taking the chance at ruining a friendship that’s just started. Not when he’s only known the man for almost three months. And he’s Callua’s friend at that. Definitely not worth it.
He’ll never forget his mother telling him that those that don’t understand him just aren’t the right people. To keep weeding his garden and moving forward. Better flowers will sprout in time. But to keep trying.
Except that’s exhausting. Even more so than parking in front of the restaurant and turning the motorcycle off. It’s a practiced dance to trade out the helmet for a pair of sunglasses. As much as he hates them, it makes it easier to get inside without any fuss.
No one spares him a second glance when he gets the food, pays and hurries out before anyone can get near him. Thankfully, it’s not as packed as it should be now that the dinner rush is ebbing down.
Just as he’s putting the food into the compartment, he feels it. Something is wrong. He’s not one to ignore his gut or pretend it isn’t there either. All he knows is it’s a pressure that he can’t just walk away from. Clicking the compartment shut, he grabs his helmet and turns.
Nothing amiss. People enter and leave with no one acting like they sense what he does. They’re blissfully ignorant of the feeling that has his skin crawling. To be safe, he steps closer to the alley next to the business. It’s a small little space that should have a light over the side exit for staff.
Yet there’s none. It’s pitch black save for what the moon dares to begin shimmering down on it. Even then, it’s not much.
Zye steps up to the mouth of the alley and peers through the darkness. He sees nothing until he snatches the sunglasses off, almost wanting to reprimand himself for forgetting they were on. Zye hangs them off the collar of his gray t-shirt and takes a step in. There he sees it— rather them.
A person lies on the ground, curled up with long hair sprawling out around them.
He doesn’t hesitate for a second. Zye sprints forward, thankful that his long legs get him there quick. Except as he nears the person, they seemingly vanish. The visage fades away into the dark and leaves him standing there only a step or two away from where they’d been.
Alone.
Zye can’t even swallow past the lump in his throat. The air feels colder than it should be considering it’s the middle of June. There’s a fear to look up and for a moment, he doesn’t think he can even manage it. It feels as though his body is frozen in place. No wiggling of his fingers or glancing about. The breath simply stays lodged in the hollow of his throat.
Warmth touches his arm and it seems to unlock him from whatever spell this is. Zye spins around with a small shout, flailing his arm out at whoever dares to get this close. Except, his arm is caught— the wrist being held gently in a strong grasp.
“Y-you scared the shit out of me, Jace. What are you doing here?”
He’s out of breath and trying to get it back without looking like a crazy person. Part of him wants to ask if Jace saw the person. He wants to know if Jace can feel that cold sensation that’s still in the air. But he doesn’t— that scares people and most don’t care to hear it.
Jace lets go of Zye’s wrist and gestures out of the alley. “I just happened to see you. Is everything okay?”
Zye nods and begins to follow Jace out of the narrow space. “Yeah, I…uh…yeah it’s fine.”
“What are you doing out this late?”
“Picking up dinner. I figured Cal would have told you she was coming by tonight.”
“Must have forgotten.”
“We ordered plenty if you want to join us.”
Jace gives him a smile, “I’d love to.”
“Do you need a ride?”
He glances over his shoulder as they leave the alley. He’s thinking, waiting for the message to slip into his mind. When it’s there, he knows just what to look for. There on the roof is a streak of green that spots the creature. Jace gives a nod, “Actually, I could use a ride. I’m sure Callua won’t be too late.”
As they get back to Zye’s bike, the alley is erupting with light. Not that any mortal can see it.
If they could?
It’s a shower of sparkling particles that slowly begin to evaporate before they can even hit the ground. All while a woman is taking shots at the spider-like creature clinging to the wall. All of its azure eyes lock onto her and she sighs.
“I’ll definitely be a little late now.”
________________________
A couple of weeks later finds Zye coming home in the late evening after a small shift. It was a mix-up in the schedule, therefore he gets to go early. What he doesn’t expect is to open the door and immediately hear voices booming in the living room. Shae’s laughter is one of the loudest.
Zye kicks his tennis shoes off and shuts the door. Slipping further inside, he’s not surprised to see Callua sitting on the arm of the couch with Shae next to her. Rounding out the crew is Jace over in the armchair. The second he’s in sight, Callua hops off the couch.
“Finally! You took your sweet time.”
“How did you even know I was…never mind.” Of course, Shae would have told her. He tosses his keyring and phone onto the table. “And what do I owe the pleasure?”
She follows his moves. When Zye plops down onto the couch, she follows. Nestled between him and Shae, she smiles wide. “Well, sadly I won’t be around as much so I came to give you my temporary farewell.”
“That’s all?”
Callua shoots him a glare and pinches his arm. “Really?”
“I’m kidding. Is everything okay?”
“Just work, no worries. You can blame Mr. Lucky over there,” she replies with the wave of her hand.
Jace sighs as all eyes shift to him. “Sorry.”
“Anyway. Ta-dah I made him come along at least so now I can leave.” She stands up after a quick pat to her legs. Callua is quick and already to the entryway by the time Zye is rising to follow her. “Aw, how sweet of you to escort a lady out.”
“Keep walking already.” He ignores his shoes while she slips into her sandals. Once they’re outside with the door shut behind him, he levels his eyes with hers. “Is everything really okay?”
She gives a small hum. “Yeah, it’s fine.”
Zye shakes his head as if to throw the cobwebs out of his brain. She’s not understanding what he means or is trying to say. “I mean…I’m here for you. If there’s something going on, call me. Come by. Let me help you, okay? You don’t have to be the one that’s always put together.”
For a moment, she’s stuck in place. She hadn’t expected him to come out and say it. Not that she’s upset— quite the opposite. Callua is just surprised and very happy. She steps forward and pokes at his stomach. A touch that doesn’t have him flinching much anymore.
“Thank you, Zye. But it’s alright.”
“I…I’m not trying to pry. I’ve never asked much about what you do since you don’t want to talk about it—”
“It’s just security work, Zye. It’s boring and stupid.”
“And that doesn’t mean there isn’t something happening. I know it’s not always easy for you when you have to work with them.”
“I’m a big girl, I can handle it.” She steps back and crosses her arms beneath her bosom. “Besides, I’d rather know how you’re doing. Are you settling in okay? Feeling alright?”
“I’m fine.”
Callua smiles up at him. It’s a small, soft little gesture that has him wishing they didn’t have company. He’d give nothing more than to sit down and just talk about Lyra with her. Talk about all the things that are welling up to the point where he feels like he’ll explode at any given second.
“Well, don’t worry about Daichi. He’s off your trail and he’s got me trying to find you. He’s being transferred out to another location and I told him you moved on top of it. So, you should be fine.”
“Thanks.”
“Don’t mention it. Now come here, I think I deserve a treat to send me off?”
“You’re such a brat.”
“Coming from the lead brat himself.”
Zye reaches out and tugs her forward, giving her a tight but brief hug. “Be careful out there.”
Callua is already walking away, backward and slow until she’s at the sidewalk. “And you be careful with those two. If you’re not pulling your hair out in two days I’ll treat you next time!”
There’s a curt wave before she turns. He watches her leave before slipping back inside. Except when he enters the living room all he sees is Jace in the chair. “Where’d the loser go?”
“To bed, said he was tired and has a shift soon.”
“Ah, got’cha. Well is there anything you want to do?”
Jace fumbles to retrieve something from the lower pocket on his shorts. Zye ambles over and sits down, waiting for him to set it on the table then lean back. He takes a small moment to tug the pale orange shirt from bunching up around his waistband. Doing so has the smallest bit of skin showing that has Zye mentally slapping himself for looking.
“I got a personal phone and was wondering if I could get your number. That way I don’t show up when you don’t want me here.”
“Pff, I’d never say no to you.” The smirk at the end of it has Zye feeling stupid he even said it. The only way to recover is to scoop up the device and flick the screen out. The light blue glow shimmers to life as he begins to type his information into the contacts section. “Seriously though, you’re never going to be intruding. We don’t really do much.”
“Well…I don’t want to get between you and Shae when you have time off together.”
Zye stops mid-typing. His head slowly raises with an incredulous look on his face. “You— No. No, no, no. I’m not with Shae. Never have been, never will be. He’s strictly friend-zoned for life.”
“Oh. I apologize, I just assumed since you seem so close. That wasn’t right to do.”
“It’s, uh, it’s fine.” He finishes typing in his number. “Just definitely no. I don’t think we could ever make that work anyway.”
Jace takes the device back and turns it off, slipping it back into his pocket. “Really? Why’s that?”
“Shae is…See, we want two very different things out of a relationship. Mainly being Shae doesn’t want one at all.”
“He seems to be a very good friend, though. You’re lucky.”
Zye raises a brow at him. “I guess I am. I wish he’d take a break from the company he keeps. Actually, since he’s sleeping come with me.”
Jace doesn’t question it. He simply stands and follows after Zye. The keyring gets snatched up before Zye is putting his shoes on. He waits a moment for Jace to do the same before they slip out and lock up. All so he can point to the houses at the curve of the cul-de-sac. There’s a rather large space between the two of them, unlike the other houses.
“That’s where we’re going. Shae’s a light sleeper so it’s just easier for us to dip out. Just watch the branches.”
“Are we…allowed to?”
Zye laughs as he guides him down the sidewalk. “Like anyone would stop us? People use it all the time. Well, kids do anyway. Work smarter not harder, right?”
They get closer and Jace sees it better. There’s a large hunk of the cement wall missing. Enough for most adults to fit through if they crouch down and shimmy. Except they have to get past bushes that are lush and nearly obscure the hole in its entirety. He waits for Zye to pull some of the bush back, holding it for him.
Jace squeezes through first. It’s not as tight a fit as he expects and he gets past it with relative ease. Zye is following right after with a huff at the way the branches graze his skin— a tank top wasn’t the best idea. On the other side, they’re greeted with an empty park.
Off in the distance is a large fountain that spews water from the very top with curved intricacies stretching up the length of the column. A bench marks each side of it with the scarcest amount of blocks to cover the area beneath them and the fountain. The remainder of the park is a long stretch of grass with a few trees dotting across it.
Not that they need the shade with it being sunset. The heat from the day is still there, however, as they make their way over to one of the benches. Water trickling and splashing into the base of the fountain is soothing. Taking the bench that’s closer to where they came from, Zye plops down.
“So, tell me this isn’t the best spot to watch the sunset. Well I mean…look it’s the city, I’m working with barely anything here.”
Jace sits next to him. “No, it’s lovely.”
It’s not a lie either. He’s always loved the way the colors blend through the sky this time of day. It dredges up memories of his family. Something he tries to tune out and focus on the scene instead. Anything from the pinks and purples blending into the oranges that burn through the sky to the purple and blue that begins to show the later it gets.
A glance to his right shows Zye is doing the same. He watches Zye’s expression, seemingly empty and plain but holding so much behind it. Especially with how his eyes seem to shimmer in the lighting. He doesn’t even realize he’s staring that hard until Zye turns to him.
“What? Got something on my face?”
“No, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to stare.”
Zye laughs, head dipping down a bit as he grips onto the edge of the bench. “It’s fine. You really are weird sometimes, ya know?”
Jace flashes a small smile, “I’ve been told that.”
“Cal?”
“More than once, too.”
With that they both laugh. A motion that has them leaning a little closer than intending to. Zye is far more aware of the distance than he cares to be. Suddenly, he’s realizing the bench isn’t that large and that there’s a hand on the wood next to his. Daring to meet Jace’s eyes does him no favors. They’re on him again— as if they can pierce through and discover all of the thoughts he buries fifteen feet deep in the back of his mind.
“Do all Chroma have eyes like that?”
“Um…yeah. Two colors, always. I think the coolest ones I’ve seen were brown and white.”
Jace does hear him. He just also has another thought crossing through his mind— a message of worry for him. One he decides to ignore when he realizes Zye is looking at him. He can simply leave in a moment once he sends Zye on his way back home.
“I’d still say yours are the prettiest I’ve seen.”
Zye chuckles, “Quit that, I’ll get a big head about it.”
“Then instead, tell me what’s so special about this place?”
The easy feeling screeches to a halt for Zye. Suddenly, his chest is tight and it feels as though his stomach is dropping. It’s no longer light and fluffy and he’s remembering the turmoil. He’s trying to push down the inner voice that’s screaming inside of his mind. It claws at the walls and begs him to say something— do something and let someone hear him.
But it can’t be this person. Anyone but him, he doesn’t want to scare Jace off.
Instead, he shrugs and leans forward a little. Hands grip on to his knees in a desperate attempt to ground himself. “I, uh, well nothing really. It’s just a place all the kids from around here come to. Or the old people to relax and socialize. I used to come here with my Mom on her days off.”
“Do you only come out here at night? It does seem more peaceful.”
“Nah, whenever I can. Everyone that comes here is kind, keeps me coming back since no one starts fights.” It takes everything Zye has to keep his voice even. To not let it crack and give him away.
“Sounds like a little place of happiness tucked away for people to find.”
Jace bumps his shoulder against Zye’s as he stands up. He stretches and looks up to the sky, watching as stars begin to shine through the darkness. It truly is a gorgeous sight, one he doesn’t get to see too often.
“Thank you for bringing me here. It really is… are you okay?” He turns back to Zye with concern etched onto his countenance. “Why are you crying?”
Zye’s breath catches in his throat. He hadn’t even realized— didn’t even feel them slip out. All he knows is that as the conversation slows, it gets harder to ignore what’s welling up. He immediately turns his face down so Jace can’t see. Hands frantically begin wiping them away but more keep coming.
Slowly, Jace sits back down. He sets his hand on Zye’s shoulder, “What’s wrong?”
“I—I just— this is s-stupid, I’m sorry.”
“It’s not stupid if it’s hurting you.”
It’s small, but it’s there.
Hesitation.
Having someone crying next to him has a memory burning at the corner of his mind. It’s not his nature to ignore someone that needs comforting. It helps that he’s scooting closer and wrapping an arm around Zye’s shoulders. One effortless tug and he has the other man leaning over and against him.
Zye immediately puts up a hand, pushing gently against Jace’s chest. “I-I’m fine, really.” A sniffle and wiping his free palm against his eyes ruins his words. “J-just give me a second.”
Except, Jace isn’t like Shae who would listen and pull away. He isn’t like Xerxes who wants to console but will do so gently and from afar if he needs. And he isn’t like Callua who will coax Zye into it and allow him to let it out in his own time.
Jace is unrelenting. Unlike the others, he doesn’t mind watching the crash no matter how messy it is. He won’t flinch.
He knows what can help and he’ll be damned if he sits by to let one soul feel miserable and sad on their own. Tightening his grip, he brings his other hand to Zye’s shoulder to hold him still. “You shouldn’t keep it in. Just let it out.”
It doesn’t stop the panic from exploding inside of Zye. He can’t fathom sitting here and losing his shit in front of someone he’s just become friends with. He’s not even sure why he’s not trying to get away— maybe he secretly wants this? All he does know is that everything he’s been burying down deep is coming up.
A hand rubs circles on his back. The soft whisper just reaches him over the sound of his own heartbeat pounding in his ears.
“It’ll be alright. Just breathe.”
Something so simple is the key to the dam that’s breaking down. Zye can’t stop it. He clutches onto Jace’s shirt as the sobs crash through him like a tidal wave. It doesn’t stop there either. It’s dragging him out to sea with how his body aches from the feeling. His shoulders shake and his throat catches— hot, scratching pain lights it up as he tries to hold back the noise if anything.
All the while, Jace continues to rub his back. He doesn’t move first. He waits for Zye to do so. Jace simply stares out over the grass as he waits. Always on the watch for something to sneak up out of the shadows, he makes sure to be the shield if need be as well as the comforting blanket.
It comes sooner than he expects. The sobs begin to calm and Zye’s body no longer quivers from the sheer force of them. The fingers curled into his shirt let go and shrink away from him rather quickly.
It’s still there for Zye— he’s just calmed down enough to try and compose himself. It’s a desperate attempt to recover some form of dignity he believes he’s lost. Being weak in front of others isn’t easy for him, not when most take advantage of it.
He’s proved wrong by how easily Jace relinquishes his hold as if he hadn’t been doing so in the first place. Jace stands up at that to give Zye a bit of space. Something he appreciates as he starts wiping his face with his shirt. Even when he’s done, he doesn’t look up at Jace while pushing back the ache in his throat.
“Sorry…about that.”
“Don’t be. It’s better to let it out if you can. I…should be the one apologizing. I overstepped. We’re…sorry.”
Zye shakes his head and finally lifts it to meet Jace’s gaze. “It’s fine. I think it helped.” His eyes do hurt from all the crying and his head is starting to pound, but otherwise, his shoulders feel a little lighter. “I guess I haven’t gotten through…this… yet. I feel like I let her down. I wasn’t even there when…yeah.”
“Don’t say that. I’m sure she’d tell you you’re wrong about that.”
A small chuckle slips out, “Well maybe not as nicely as you did.”
“Besides, if it were that easy to get through, she wouldn’t have meant that much to you. Take your time. Grieving is…hard.”
“Thanks, Jace.”
“No need.”
Zye laughs, “Then should I pay you as my therapist?”
“I’ll take payment in the form of banana bread.”
“I think I can manage that.”
The smile Jace receives justifies his idea of overstepping. A friend is a friend regardless of the time spent together. Regardless, he gives a huff at the response. “Don’t, friends should help each other when they need it. Right?”
They might be nothing special— these words. But to Zye they mean the world. Sometimes it feels like Jace is some outlandish species that can’t possibly be from this planet. He’s far too kind and understanding that it floors Zye. Yet never enough to make him stumble with his words. In fact, they get easier to say.
“Then I owe you one. Next time you need a shoulder, I’m here.”
Jace glances toward one of the closer trees. He can see the inky black that’s gathering there. A spot where shadows are thicker than they should be. So he does what he has to.
“I’ll keep it in mind. Want to head back?”
“Sure. I can make us some dinner if you want.”
“Sounds good to me.”
Zye rises from the bench. Doing so is easy. It’s the first step away from it where he wobbles as if his equilibrium is off. It has the world daring to tilt. Yet the hand on his back reassures him that it isn’t and it won’t.
Eager to get his mind off of the hand that doesn’t leave him, Zye glances over at Jace. “Cal seemed a little different today. I don’t need to know what’s going on or whatever…but it’s like she has this big secret or problem and won’t budge. I’m just worried she’s taking on too much.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll keep an eye on her. Promise.”
The hole in the wall gets a little closer. Only then does Jace pull his hand away. All so he can go to step through first and tug the bushes away for Zye. The kindness doesn’t go unnoticed. If anything it has Zye flashing him a smile. “Thanks again…really. I appreciate it.”
It’s not even the words that has Jace stunned and holding the foliage well after Zye has made it through. Past the puffy eyes and face stained with tear-tracks is a smile that he’s not sure he can shake off. So warm and full of honesty— it’s blinding.
“Come on slow poke!”
Jace lets the branches thunk back against the wall. Turning, he hurries to catch up with Zye. There’s no way he’s making it back to report in tonight. It won’t hurt to put it off a little longer…spend a little more time here.
