Not Acid Nor Alkaline ~ Sleep Token FF ~

20.Hiding

The next morning I woke up as the sun was shining into my room.
I stretched myself and rolled over thinking I could close my eyes for another time, but I slightly bumped to something next to me.
With wide eyes I looked at the man lying in my bed, just remembering what had happened last night.
He looked so relaxed and he was still asleep.

I used this moment to look at him, I studied his face features that had aged over the past years, but still I could recognise the young man from a few years ago. I never knew why the others were bullying him.
He was very introverted, but always so kind and of course really clever.
He grew up to be a really handsome man now as I let my eyes trail over his half naked body and they ended on his beautiful hands with those long fingers.

A little well known noise let me quickly turn around and distract me. With a silent click, the front door had opened. Should I get up and leave him here?
Slowly I got up and decided to write a note and taped it on my door, so he'd know we weren't alone anymore and he could hide if needed.

I got my oversized sweater that layed neatly folded next to my bed and took some shorts out of my closed before I left my room.

'Good morning', I quietly greeted Abby that was in our living room.
She turned around and greeted me with a hug. 'Hey, it seems like you had a visitor.', she smirked and pointed at the two glasses that were on our table.
I bit my lip. 'He's still here.', I mumbled, realising I blushed.
Abby's jaw dropped. 'No way! Emma are you serious?', she asked me.
I nodded. 'Yes he came over that night.' I shrugged and took the glasses to place them into our dishwasher.
'Are you a thing? I mean do you even know now who he is?', Abby was really curious.

'First of all, calm down. He's still asleep. And yes I know who he is, but I respect his privacy and won't tell anybody until he wants to.' I explained to her with a smile. 'And maybe we are a thing.' The last sentece I tried to say as quick and quiet as possible, but Abby still got the message.

Before she could reply to me, someone cleared his throat.
'Good morning.', he spoke to us and there he walked inside. As I had thought, he was actually wearing his mask. Automaticly I smiled at him and when he was close enough I embraced him and gave him a little kiss. 'Good morning.', I whispered against his lips. Now that I knew who he was, it all again felt normal that he was wearing his mask.

'Mhh...good morning.', Abby said to him. She sounded a bit cold.
'See you. Have fun.', Abby said before she rushed of into her room.
'I'm sorry.', I mumbled and tried to continue, but got interrupted by him.

'No. Don't worry. I'll get she isn't into me hiding behind this mask.', Vessel said. 'But be aware, as long as she's being like that and as long as I can't trust her, I'll continue like that. I don't want her to blurt out my identity.' I nodded before I connected our lips for another time reaching out my hand to grab for his hair that was hidden under the hood of his jacket.
'I totally support you, I'm not telling her who you are. And I don't mind you wearing the mask.' I smirked. 'I mean it is kinda hot as well.' I bit my lip.

He chuckled. 'Maybe we should better head off soon. We can go to my place and have the whole place to ourselfs.', his deep voice sounded seductive and I knew he did this on purpoise in this moment.

He followed me back to my room where I got some fresh clothes and excused myself to the bathroom.
After a quick shower and little makeup I came back.

He was sitting on my bed, the mask lying next to him.
I smiled at him and got a little bag to put some stuff in it,before we'd leave. I placed my bag next to the door and came to Vessel who seemed to be in his thoughts. Without asking, I straddled him. 'Everything alright?'
He grinned. 'Absolutely.', his hands held me. 'Are you ready, darling?'
Darling? Did he call me darling?
My heart skipped a beat and I knew my cheeks became red.

'Yes.', I just said before our lips connected for a short moment.
His hands tightened around my waist and he just raised me a little. He seemed to be stronger than I originally thought. Both of us got up, he put his mask on and I grabbed a jacket and my bag. We left my flat and walked down the steps. Before I opened the entry door, he stopped and took the mask off. 'I think I'll be fine now. No one is going to recognise me.', he said, but kept his hood on. Not far from my home,  his car was standing.

When he parked the car again after a little drive, I was irritated.
'Why are we here?', I frowned and looked to the other side of the road, where my work place was.
He smiled and got out of the car. I did as well, but still looked at him questioningly. 'You think I'd walk long distance for my coffee?'

He got my bag from the trunk and took my hand before we walked to his place. From the outside it looked like an old warehouse. Inside the hallway didn't look like a normal apartment building as well. The hallway was big. We walked up the stair and then he opened a big metal door to let us in.
I walked in and were stunned by seeing a big room full of instruments. Was this his apartment or his rehearsal room?

I turned around to face the man. He placed the mask on a shelf next to the door. Obviously it wasn't just one mask he had, as there were a few already placed there.
'So this is your rehearsal room?', I asked him.

He put his hands to his pockets. 'Well, yes. Here is the place I am mostly writing my music.', he paused for a second. 'And this is also my apartment.' I followed his eyes that were looking to a corner. There was a mattress leaning against the wall.
I was surpised at first, yet it all made sense. Rent was high and here he always had the option to make music.
'I love the big windows and brick walls.', I said with a smile. I liked this industrial look and the windows let so much light inside.

'Yeah, I like sitting at the window, looking outside and thinking about song texts actually.', Vessel explained. Still he looked a bit insecure.
I walked to his piano that was right next to the window. 'I wish I'd know how to play it.', I was being honest. Sadly I never learned how to play an instrument at all.

He came to me and took a seat. 'Come here and sit down.', he patted the spot right next to him.
I did as I was told and watched him placing his hands on the keys. They looked so small in comparison to his hands. 'I'll teach you a bit, if you like.', he smiled at me and I returned it.
This was his element, his language.
So I gladly took his offer.