“Heh. Reverted t’ th’ age o’ seven? Tha’s a load o’—” 

“…”

” … “ 

 

” ‘Fraid there’s nowt I can do about ‘im. I can’ even figure out ‘ow t’ get ‘im t’ buzz off. Thanks f’r th’ dime, though. Heh!” 

15. kiss in the rain

The rain was relentless that day. It fell in thick sheets upon the glistening streets of London, and the reaper that stood in it, alone, was mirrored in its surface. He felt his solitude as it continued its rhythm on the ground around him. Born alone, and to die alone. Even after Alan was gone, would the world march on without him? Would humans rise from their beds in the morning and attend their work without falter? He knew it was so. And he knew that he would be expected to do the same. And yet…

He couldn’t. How could he give up on Alan’s life? /Their/ friendship?

His feet scraped the gravel as he trudged on, heart heavy. What was left once the one person you leaned against was gone? What happened when your legs suddenly withered away from your body, nothing left but dust, bones, and faint memories? Would he forget his face? The familiar sensation of his gentle hand clasping his own and the soft chuckling at his antics… could they possibly be undone by the greedy claws of death?

” … Ah… Alan!” And there he was, just ahead. Standing in the rain before Eric. Coming closer now. Without hesitation, Eric ran ahead to him, striding over the slick sidewalk to close the space between them. “Alan!!” He threw himself at the other reaper and wrapped his arms around his waist. No thoughts. No regrets.

Just a kiss.

Drawing Alan into a tight embrace and into the safety of his arms, he leaned down to meet his gaze, glasses sliding down the pronounced ridge of his nose. “Alan…” He murmured against his lips, fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt. “Stay with me Stay here, like this.” And without waiting for an answer, he pressed their lips together in a tender, passionate kiss.