Perth sits at his kitchen table and his leg bounces as he sips his hot coffee. He's stayed away from the woods for a week, but every night the song plays through his dreams. He's slowly going insane and he needs to go back there and confront the boy. He sips at the hot coffee again, the liquid bouncing around the cup from his twitching leg. He needs to do this.
He stands up hastily and pours the rest of his drink in the sink. He grips the counter as the song starts to play over and over in his head. He can sing every word, knows the tune inside out. He has a duffel bag of clothes for the young boy and food for him to eat. Perth is not even sure if he does eat. He takes one last long breath and then stands straight. He grabs his bag and heads towards his front door.
He walks down the path that leads into the woods like he's done so many times. His fiancee is still asleep in their bed and he knows she won't worry when she wakes up. She thinks he's going to talk to God and not the Devil.
He enters the peaceful tranquility of the woods and without noticing he relaxes. The trees loom over him and small creatures watch him. His shoes crunch along the ground and he follows the song. He doesn't know how long it actually takes him to get there - it only ever feels like the blink of an eye - but soon he's in the clearing with the glass dome and the small pool of water. He can't see the boy and the music has stopped. Perth swallows back his fear and his feet drag him towards the dome. He moves silently, almost as if floating and finds a small door that faces away from where he enters. He slowly pushes it open and his breath catches as he takes in the sight.
The boy lies there, asleep. His naked body is covered by kaleidoscope colours and beds of leaves all around. Perth tries to move his eyes away from the sight, but he can't. Something about the dreaming boy lying there makes Perth's stomach twist and he can't deny that he finds the whole thing beautiful and perhaps magical as well. He jumps when the sleeping boy stirs and slowly opens his sparkling eyes. The boy smiles at him and Perth just looks away and sets down his duffel bag.
"I brought you clothes. Put them on before we talk please," Perth tells him emotionlessly. Saint just gives him a tired, confused look that Perth ignores as he walks away. He needs to just tell
this boy to leave him be. Perth is not gay and he's happy with his life as it is. He doesn't need this thing messing everything up for him. He turns when he hears the small patter of feet and he tries to maintain a normal face when he sees the boy wearing his clothes.
"What do we need to talk about?"
Perth yawns. Saint's Adidas sweater just fits the taller boy and his joggers are baggy, but short on him as well. Perth didn't bring him shoes in his rush, but at least he can talk to the boy now without feeling more uncomfortable than necessary. "You smell good" the boy also remarks and Perth chokes and looks down. This is not going how he wanted.
"Thanks... and we need to talk about you leaving me alone" Perth finds his voice and he makes eye contact with the boy. Saint just laughs and shakes his head.
"I have been. I've been sleeping" the boy tells him, gesturing back to the dome. Perth bites his lip and shakes his head. That's a lie. Perth can hear Saint singing all the time.
"You've been singing to me" Perth argues and Saint rolls his eyes. His long fingers play with the sleeves on Perth's sweater and his toes dig into the ground.
"I've been sleeping. You left and I got very sad and I went to sleep. You've been hearing the song because your heart desires to be here" Saint whispers. Perth shakes his head in bewilderment and he closes his eyes so he can calm himself. He won't let this crazy man in his head.
"I need you to just go back to where you came from" Perth informs him and Saint just rolls his eyes and turns on his heel. He sits down by the water and rolls up the joggers so he can put his feet in it. Perth waits for him to say something, but the boy just sits there, no sound coming from him. "Well?" Perth demands and the boy turns back to him, his eyes dark and his lips pursed.
"I come from here. You're the one that keeps coming to my home. You need to go back to where you came from. I no longer believe you're my soulmate because you're a very mean, hateful man and I do not like it" Saint spits at him. Perth feels a pang in his chest at his harsh tone and he's left speechless at what he said to him.
"I'm not mean or hateful! You're just crazy!" Perth shouts. Saint just snorts and his eyes remain locked on Saint's.
"I'm not crazy. You're crazy. Stop coming to me if you think I'm so crazy and bad. I have been minding my own business out here for many, many years and then you came to mess it all up" Saint tells him. Perth is surprised that he's talking back to him today. He needs answers and to get that he needs to stop fighting and listen.
"How many years?" Perth asks. Saint seems shocked at the question and how Perth's tone isn't hostile for once. Perth watches as the boy licks his lips and turns back to the water.
"I'm not sure anymore. I was born a long time ago and the Gods admired my beauty. They gave me the power of immortality, but with a twist. If I ever found my true love, I could go on and live a life with them and then finally die. That was so long ago" the boy sighs. Perth nods and he takes a small step towards the boy.
"Gods? Plural?" He asks and Saint looks at him and he gives him a smile that holds years of wisdom and truth.
"All Gods exist. Egyptian Gods and Hindu Gods and Muslim and Christian and Greek. They all exist among us, watching us. They're brothers and sisters and it's sad that you all fight over them" Saint muses. Perth tries to think of something to say to him, but he can't fathom words. How do you tell someone that believes in every God, that only one an exist?
"Okay, so the Gods made you immortal. How do know your true love isn't a girl?" Perth asks and Saint laughs and he looks at the boy with shining eyes and a smile that could make anyone smile back at it.
"Because a girl didn't walk through here. You did" the boy tells him simply. Perth jumps when Saint pops up in front of him again, his hand moving to touch Perth's cheek.
"Did you get your speed from the Gods as well?" Perth tries to joke. Saint smiles, letting his thumb brush the soft surface of Perth's face.
"The Gods have given me many things to repay me for their favours. I'm very skilled in many areas" Saint tells him in a low voice. Perth forgets how to breathe for a moment as he just stares into Saint's eyes and he almost lets the boy lay his lips upon his, but he jumps away at the last second. His heart pounds and his hands shake and tears build in his eyes.
"Don't. Don't ever do that again. I will not let myself sin for you. I will not turn my back on my God" Perth cries and Saint immediately looks upset and regretful. He moves forward to comfort the boy and Perth backs away from him quickly.
"I'm sorry" Saint says and Perth blinks away tears and shoves his hands in his pockets. He needs to clear his head, but he can't escape any of this even if he wants to.
"I will not be corrupted again by someone like you. I will not go back to that" Perth tells him and Saint's brow is furrowed but he nods his head.
"That's okay. We can be friends then? I don't like sitting here alone and we can just wait for my soulmate together" Saint offers quickly. Perth looks down at his shoes and his stomach growls from lack of food. He then looks back up at the sad, lonely boy and shrugs his shoulders.
"Sure. Just stop singing to me at night. I need to sleep" Perth sighs and Saint nods his head.
