These Stories Are Reasonable

Umbrella (OneShot)

Stephen sat on the stairs with a smile as the  sunlight draped him in a gorgeous glow. The warm light brought out the beauty of his eyes and hair, shimmery, clean kept. Around them, the scenery became Eunjang. The few, terrifying steps that lead to the rooftop. Many times Gray had walked up them, rested his hand on the doorknob, and then run away. There was a world up there, one that his friends fancied, one that he feared.

"Hey Gray," Stephen's eyes, perfectly almond shaped and the color of fresh coffee, shifted from the sunny window to the other. Stephen wore the clothes of traitors. A dark black blazer branded with a shape that bore an uncanny resemblance to the Byuksan logo. It was worn freely, freer than Gray could ever bear to think of it now, unbuttoned completely as if it were any old jacket. As if weren't the sheep's wool that had allowed the wolves to go unnoticed. Gray focused instead on the crinkled white shirt.

He gulped as trembles began to overtake his body, "Stephen..." Gray muttered, tear eyed. Was it from seeing Stephen again, or from standing so close to the roof? He couldn't tell.

Stephen was more restrained than Gray remembered, not rushing to comfort him at all. Perhaps time does that to you. "Come on," He smiled sweetly, standing. Atop the stairs, he should've stood much taller than Gray, though now it felt as though they were seeing eye level.

"I.. I can't," Gray shuddered at the thought.

"But.. you can?" Stephen's head tilted like a confused puppy, "I'll show you, come on!" The smaller's body moved on his own, following Stephen up the stairs. Each step was agony, searing pain unlike anything Gray could've ever imagined. He wasn't telling his body to do this, why did he have to keep going? 

Violet eyes watched as long pale fingers twisted the doorknob. It was too bright outside, as if he'd opened his phone for the first time during a particularly dark hour of night. The light was blinding. Gray found the space to be similar to that of Byuksan's, though he'd never gone up there more than once. Perhaps all rooftops had to have a certain amount of similar details. There was only so much you could do with the space.

Breaths came shallow as Gray sunk deep to the floor, back scraping uncomfortable against the door as he did so. His eyes widened, then squinted shut in fear. 

"Gray?" Stephen questioned, his voice might've been the only thing that could've gotten Gray to open his glossy resin eyes. Gray watched the boy through partially blurred lenses, sniffling and tucking his knees tight to his chest, "Why do you fear this place more than me?"

Gray opened his mouth to speak, though every answer he could've ever gave was gone. His mind was blanking horribly, all he could think of was the fact that he was here. On the rooftop. He was in the very place Stephen had been. "I don't know," He squeaked out.

Stephen chuckled, resting his crossed arms across the edge of the wall, "What do you hear Gray?" He questioned, breathing in fresh air.

"Hear?" Gray paused, "I hear the thud of your body hitting the concrete and the crack of your head against the pavement; I hear Bryce and Oswald laughing and scheming as they look down on you; I hear the onlookers gasp; I hear homeroom talk poorly of you again; I hear sirens... and the ringing of Jeremey's phone as he tries to call me," He sobbed, adding on more and more things he couldn't have possibly heard in the first place, the things his mind had convinced him were truth.

"Oh Gray, but listen, close your eyes and listen," Stephen coaxed softly.

Gray had this terrible habit of listening to Stephen. If it was a trip to the Arcade or a spontaneous walk he'd suggested, that didn't matter, even if he gave the taller attitude, there would still be nothing more he wanted to do. "Okay," He whispered.

"What do you hear now?"

His breathing evened, the trembles weakened, "The wind, rustling leaves across the concrete," Gray paused, "Someone's playing soccer in the field, maybe it's Ben and Alex; There are some birds, but they're not very loud; and..." Cool wind whipped away the fearful and dense air that had been suffocating him, "I hear you."

"Very good, now..." Stephen watched Gray with a smile, "What do you smell?"

The other's eyes opened, "Smell?"

Stephen's gaze flickered away from the small boy, curled up in the floor, "To me, it smells like rain."

Gray took a deep breath, resuming the magic that happened when he didn't have to see where he was, "I smell it too," He hummed, as the thrumming of heavy rain drops on the metal roof of the Byuksan Middle school, sang a soft tune. 

"So how are you Gray?" Stephen questioned, extending a hand beyond the wall the allow the droplets to graze his fingers. "Really?"

"I'm okay,"

"I've noticed you have quite the fanbase," The auburn joked, relishing in the feeling of cold water on his palm, "It's a good group you've found yourself,"

"Yeah," Gray smiled sheepishly, finding himself usually embarrassed, "They haven't replaced you though!" He reassured.

Stephen laughed in response, "Of course not, they aren't me, they're them. They can't replace me because that's not their job," He flicked the icy rain water at Gray, then beckoning the boy to join him at the edge of the roof. Gray felt as if he couldn't stop himself from walking over there. He peered over the edge, though kept his eyes trained on the sky rather than the ground below. "Their job is to be who they are, your new friends, and to support you that way."

"Oh," Gray sighed, "When did you get so wise? Last I remember, you were no more mature than a second grader." It was a lie, Stephen had always been mature and smart and everything Gray loved. Even if he did act like a child sometimes, he lacked one main characteristic.

Stephen was far from selfish.

He laughed, "Ouch," Brown eyes scanned the gray cloudy sky, void like and bleak. However, it seemed that Stephen always saw something in the boring, blank, and bleak, and for that Gray's love for him only grew. "Do you need me to walk you home?" He asked, "I brought an umbrella."

Of course, there was nothing more Gray wanted then for Stephen to walk him home, for Stephen to come in, and play Tekken and order Chinese food. There was nothing he wanted more than for Stephen to spend the night and walk with him to school Monday morning. There was nothing he wanted more than another second with his best friend. "No," Gray's smaller hand closed, once empty, now it held an umbrella. "I've got my own now!" He smiled as the tears receded.

"Oh?" Stephen returned the smile, though Gray was sure that Stephen's was far more suiting, "I guess this is goodbye then?"

"I guess so..." Though now, Gray felt every feeling except for sadness, "I'll see you around Stephen Ahn, you still owe me for the Olympiad," Gray turned his back and made his way to the door.

"Ah, I hoped you'd forgotten!" Stephen half yelled, "Remind me next time!"

Gray smiled again, smaller, something more him, casual, "I will," He whispered, gripping the umbrella and turning the knob.

...

...

...

Gray awoke in his bed, sore and stiff from the lingering effects of the fight with Wolf. He'd fallen asleep in his day clothes yesterday and gotten his bed wet due to all the rain that'd gripped his uniform. He shifted uncomfortably onto something.

An umbrella.

"Next time Stephen Ahn," He smiled again, a forgotten feeling that pulled at his cheeks in a way he thought he'd never remember. "Next time."

........................................................................................................................

Ah, I like this!

I wanted it to convey a certain feeling I'm not sure how to explain. Rushed but slowed. Scary but calm. Saddening but accepting. Moving on yet holding on.

I hope I did well!

Love you!

Bye!