Essence of Quinn Parts 3 & 4 (MxM)

Dark Shadows

*Two years have passed since the last chapter*
Also, another reminder to read my Nameless Ghoul story if you haven't already because the main character from that is just about to rock up here in the next chapter...

Quinn must have dozed off reading a book on the sofa in Fire and Water’s room during the early hours because he woke there with a stiff neck. Imp trilled at him when he stirred and jumped up into his lap. He had no clue how she’d got in there but he no longer questioned how she did things and just went with it. He scratched behind her ear absentmindedly and tried to figure out what time it was. It was still dark out but it felt like morning.

Air, Earth and Fire were on an overnight stay with Secondo so he and Water had the lair to themselves until later the next day. Water seemed to have been at a loose end, he didn’t usually like being alone so he’d invited Quinn to watch a movie. That had progressed to a deep philosophical conversation and then some creativity when Water had been hit with inspiration for some sketch or other. Quinn had settled in with a book resulting in his current position.

Water was in bed and he sat up, stretching out his limbs.

“What time is it?” he asked groggily.

Quinn glanced at the clock in the wall.

“Seven.”

Water groaned. He wasn’t an early riser like Earth and Fire.

“I guess I should get up. I said I’d swim with Calista and the others,” Water said.

He, Primo’s water ghoul Lir, Calista, Rain and Mist had a nice little water pack going on. They met most days to swim in the water hole in the Abbey’s woods.

“So early? It’s freezing out,” Quinn said.

It was December and the temperature had plummeted over the last week. It wasn’t below freezing yet, but it wasn’t far off either. Water shrugged.

“Once we’re in the water it doesn’t matter.”

“Rather you than me,” Quinn said, climbing to his feet and doing his own stretch. “Want some coffee?”

Water nodded so he left him to it and went to set some off in the kitchen. Once it was brewing he hopped up onto the countertop to sit and wait for it.

“Quinn?” Quinn blinked, coming back to himself. It was Water. His face hovered in front of Quinn’s, his hazel eyes full of concern. “You okay? You’ve been gone for ages.”

Quinn frowned, he’d just had a blurry vision but he didn’t think he’d zoned out for that long.

“What? How long have I been?”

“About half an hour.”

“Oh. Really?”

He tried to recall the vision. It must have been important, they didn’t usually take that long in real time. There wasn’t much to go on, most of it had been fuzzy but it had left him with that feeling of dread that he sometimes got. At least his nose wasn’t bleeding this time though. Bonus.

“Was it a vision?” Quinn nodded. Water cupped Quinn’s cheek, tilting his head and looking him over. He frowned and took Quinn’s hand, gently guiding him down from the counter and leading him to the dining table. “Sit. I’ll get you coffee. It’s ready,” he laughed, looking at the full pot that had brewed.

“Thanks,” Quinn said, head still fuzzy and trying to figure out what he’d seen.

“Do you want to write it down?”