Exodus: NIGHT LIGHTS

Wrong universe buddy.

Ash peaked through the roof's entrance door. She didn't want to disturb him, but at the same time, she didn't feel like he wanted to be alone.

"Mateo?" She called out quietly. She felt the warm breeze pass by her as she opened the door all the way. It had to have been midnight by now because there was virtually no noise coming from the street below. Sirens could be heard in the distance but that was about it. That and the wind.

He was leaning against the ledge, the lights from below illuminated only his silhouette.  From the smell, she could tell he was smoking. Bad habit. She cleared her throat, in case he didn't hear her. He turned his head to her. Even from here, she could see his eye shine, like an animal you caught in a flashlight.

"Arashi," he murmured. It was almost as if he wasn't acknowledging her, but reminding himself what her name was. She walked up to him taking her place next to his spot on the ledge.

"Sorry. I just felt bad leaving you all alone here," she coughed. Mateo just stared at her, inspecting her face.

"Uncanny. I still can't believe it" he muttered, pulling out his cigarette and throwing it over the edge. She shifted uncomfortably. He stared at her a lot. She knew why. But still, it unnerved her a bit. Maybe it was because this man practically knew her inside and out and she knew nothing about him. Or maybe it was knowing his feelings and she'd never return them. Yet again, maybe she did. Something tugged her towards him, like a soft gravitational pull, a magnet. But something held her back.

"Tell me about her" She asked "You keep saying uncanny. You know things that I like and don't like. You say we are the same. But you won't say how. I'm curious to know how alike she and I are."

"Were," his tone becoming sorrowful, "how alike you were"

Right. His Arashi was dead. She swallowed hard. Now she felt stupid. She kind of forgot that, and now she was asking him to relive those memories.

"Never mind— you don't have to. That was stupid of me" she stammered, nervously drumming her fingers along the stone. He glanced down.

"She did that too when she was nervous"

"What?"

"She'd tap on things, and if there wasn't a surface to tap on, she'd tap on her legs. Her nails were longer so there was this constant clicking sound all the time because she was always nervous," he smiled, amused"She broke her nails during a fight, so for a good two weeks, there was a blissful silence."

Ash couldn't help but wonder how annoyed Rody would be if she had long nails and tapped all the time. He'd probably put tape on her fingers to stop it. She chuckled at the thought.

"Her hair was longer," he turned to her again "The blue was more prominent than yours, larger sections. Mostly because she was stressed 24/7. She had a whole team to lead, it took a toll on her"

"Well, my hair would be bluer if it wasn't for—" she faltered if it wasn't for Rody.

At the beginning of her living in Otheon, she had a responsibility she couldn't handle. And Rody was the only person to ever help her shoulder that weight. Without Rody, she'd be an empty husk.

"Rody" there was a stiffness in his voice. She couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed hearing him say Rody's name. Kind of like an ex meeting your new partner. Not that you and Rody are dating. She chided herself.

"Are you two—" Mateo arched his eyebrow.

"N-no! We're just work partners" Her skin started to burn in the areas where Rody had touched her last night "Just friends"