Blue Eyes, White Lies

Chapter 19

(I've made you suffer enough over the last few chapters take a boatload of fluff as we near the finale)

For the first time in a few days, I wake up to the smell of eggs and bacon. (I do not know where the bacon came from, but it is there). 

Ethan's healed quite a bit and is sitting fully upright, eating a plate I assume Eric made for him.  The scarring is still noticeable, but It seems it'll heal.

 Eric's in the kitchen, wearing one of those cheesy "kiss the cook" aprons. So, I do what it says. I stand up as tall as I can (he's a solid three inches taller at minimum), kissing him on the cheek. He laughs and smiles.

"You know what, Kei? You're fucken adorable." 

"I'm just doing what the apron says." I smirk. 

He chuckles. "God, you and Julian are amazing." He kisses my forehead. "Go eat. It's a big day, and it's gonna be a bigger week."

I grab a plate of eggs, sitting next to Ethan, who's got a laptop with him. 

"What're you looking up?" I ask. 

"Spots in the newspaper. You didn't think I wasn't going to help you with this, did you?" He laughs. 

"You make a good point." I nod.

"They're openings in the local paper. I'm trying to get one for whatever article or whatever you're writing."

"I haven't exactly started yet, but once I'm done with this I'm going to."

He gives me one of those "hell yeah" but also "go get em tiger" style nods. 

I finish up what I'm eating, then head upstairs. I mentally prepare myself for what I'm about to type out, opening up a google doc that I title "The Supernatural and Seraphim". 

It's hard to get started, but I do.

My name is Keiji Ahara. I may seem crazy, but I assure you I am not. I'm here to tell you about a danger those close to me have, and a predicament you may. 

 I go through every little piece of evidence I have, plugging in a hard drive with all of the pictures.  I upload them throughout, and where they're needed. It takes me three hours to finish, and by the time I'm done, it's a few thousand words and seven pages long (single spaced, size 11 Arial). I made sure to make at least one twilight joke, though. 

The final product has pictures of the coordinates, the bodies, the evidence. Everything I could find was poured into it. 

Ethan checks it over and helps me upload it to the internet. 

The days after aren't worth much of a mention. It took three days to publish it to the paper. It took two for the post to be noticed. 

Now was more important than then. Specifically, the next few hours. 

Hence why I stood in a suit, Julian helping me brush the mop of curly hair on my head into a more manageable position. The last time I wore a tuxedo like this, I was at prom by myself, stuffing my face with punch and cheetos. (Kinda hard to find a date when you're gay and not out to the town yet).

I can't say I don't like it though, I look elegant. It's black and white, as most tuxes are. Personally, I think I actually look pretty damned good. 

I didn't explain why I'm doing this, did I?

I'm delivering an address to the locals on the supernatural population today.

All four of us have to dress nice, actually. Julian's in a dark red tux, hair jelled back a bit (enough to keep out the flyaways). I'm not sure what Eric looks like since I haven't seen him, but I assume the same way. I know Ethan's in a robe of some sort. 

Just as I think that, Eric walks in, hair down and semi straightened (about as straight as gel gets his hair). 

"You two look incredible." He says, smiling. I blush a little. "And I assure you, you'll both do great." 

"Thank you... Public speaking never was my thing,  but I'm plenty willing to do it for this." I try to ignore the butterflies in my stomach. 

"Ethan and I are ready to go when you are."

—-

We walk about half of the way before a few security members escort us into what looks like the most expensive limousine I've ever seen. It reminds me of one of those ones in movies, super thick doors and men with aviators. 

It's a quick ride, but it's still nerve wracking. The stage is of a moderate size. The crowd however, is not. It's big. But I expected big. It wasn't every day a bombshell like this got dropped on the general public. 

Slowly but surely, I step up onto the stage, ready to deliver the address. The crowd goes dead silent as I start to speak. 

Before I know it, I've recited most of my lines with the exception. The last bit I need to.

"This part wasn't in the post or the article. I didn't intend for it to. But nevertheless, I've got something to ask of you. That thing is for acceptance. The path to justice may be a long and hard one, but acceptance is step one. And I'm ready to get there with you all."

There's a crescendo of claps and whistles, congratulating us. I leave the stage, waiting for the next few people to do what they need to. There's someone in a "team Edward" shirt, to which I see Julian cringe, and someone in a tinfoil hat in attendance among others. 

By the bottom of the stairs, someone's there. Not a scary or dangerous someone, just a someone. They don't look more than 19. 

"Excuse me?" They say. "I just wanted to say thank you to you four. I used to get laughed at when people asked for an explanation as to where I was on full moons, or why I couldn't wear certain metals. Everyone thought I was crazy." He takes a breath. "And I'm so damned glad there's someone here to help end that. You guys are doing great things."

Eric smiles.  "You want a hug, kiddo?" He asks.

The kid nods. "Yeah... that'd be nice."

The four of us wrap our arms around them.

———

One last chapter and the epilogue until we're done-

I'm gonna miss this project- but I'm glad I got this far