The Silver Seer

Chapter 34: A Dance at Dusk

When Reko comes to, sensations he's never felt before surround him. His body is warm, and he's lying in something soft and fluffy. Though his mind isn't completely clear, he doesn't mind, as the events of earlier come right back to him.

It's at that moment that he realizes his arms are wrapped around a peacefully sleeping Lars, and the boy takes his time to wake up while looking at him. The moonlight that floods into the room illuminates the freckles that spread across the bridge of his nose, and Reko is slightly jealous of his long auburn hair- it appears as though the strands are the flames of the metaphorical fire that warm the boy's heart.

And though they are not open, Reko adores his green eyes. They remind him, obviously, of the pine forest back in Bern, but also the parks he used to enjoy walking through in Finland. And that memory itself brings back countless others. Butterflies, flower crowns, soft smiles, comforting words. His captain's generosity. His smile, his laugh, the way his eyes light up when Reko visits him during nights when everyone else is asleep.

But there are other, far more violent memories. Gunfire, smoke, ruins, darkness, screams. His captain's trembling figure. His finger on the trigger of the pistol held to the side of his head, the tears that stained his face, and his yell that still sent chills down Reko's spine.

He pulls Lars closer to him, pressing his face between where his shoulder and neck meet. He resists the urge to cry, to scream, to convulse out of the fear and hopelessness that threatens to consume him every night. Lunas died because he went berserk. Reko does not want these emotions to affect his system so the very same thing happens to him.

He does not want to hurt Leon, Hesekiel, Lumi, or any of the officers he works with. He does not want to harm his captain or make him have to kill the one soldier he loves, but this time it's really Reko. He does not want to cause Lars any pain, because he knows he may be the only joy in the teenager's life ever since his parents were killed.

"Mmm. . .? Reko. . .?" Lars' voice- soft and sweet- makes Reko's heart skip a beat before he hastily releases the teenager and sits up.

"Ah, anteeksi!" The mechanical being looks at the boy as he opens his eyes and rises up out of bed.

"Vær det ikke. A nightmare?" Lars' head turns to stare at Reko, and the boy can't help but stare back after nodding.

He was always self-conscious of his rather skinny physique. Soldiers usually have some muscle, if not a lot, yet Reko doesn't have a need for it. His system doesn't need more weight- it just needs electrical currents and functional sensors. Yet Lars makes the boy feel just slightly better about himself- though far from frail, Reko can see the beginnings of a toned abdomen beneath his skin that reflects the moonlight, making it appear as though he's not really here- he's a gift from the heavens that the mechanical being is blessed beyond imaginable to have.

"I hope I'll be able to protect you from whatever your nightmares depict." At Lars' promise, Reko realizes his face is warming up. "You're blushing again. It looks even better in the moonlight." The teenager's breath tickles Reko's left ear, and the boy snaps himself back to his surroundings, yet his face only grows warmer as he realizes his lover has moved to be right in front of him.

He can feel Lars' fingers underneath his chin, and when he gives Reko a smile- that small, genuine smile- the officer puts his hand over where his heart would be as if that part of his system threatens to leap from his chest. Although it is just a heart-shaped piece that processes the currents running through his body, it could very well malfunction...

Reko just continues staring at Lars until he brings himself to close his eyes as he's softly kissed before the latter steps away and continues to dress- the mechanical being notices Lars didn't dress into his top yet. He moves his head down and to the side to hide his warm cheeks, receiving a short laugh from the boy.