Without A Thousand Stars: Part II

Chapter 13

Raye lay in the makeshift bed, the worn-out mattress barely providing any comfort. They stared up at the darkened ceiling of the office-turned-quarters, their mind racing with thoughts and questions. Beside them, Nora slept fitfully, her back turned, though Raye knew she was likely restless.

Unable to stay still, Raye quietly slipped out of the room. The hallways of the Tower were dimly lit and echoey, filled with the distant sounds of men drinking, laughing, and some snoring. The atmosphere was thick with a mix of resentment and nostalgia that Raye couldn't quite shake off.

As they approached a door guarded by two armed men, their steps faltered. The guards straightened, their attention immediately focused on Raye.

"I just... want to talk to Onyx," Raye said softly, their voice barely carrying over the ambient noise.

One of the guards knocked on the door. "What?" Onyx's voice boomed from within, laced with irritation.

The guard looked at Raye. "Uh... Raye," they stammered.

The guard repeated the name into the room. "Raye."

There was a brief pause before Onyx's voice came through, tinged with an edge of curiosity. "Enter."

Raye took a deep breath and pushed open the door. The room, once an executive office, had been repurposed into Onyx's living quarters. It was dimly lit, the only source of light being the glow of a cigar Onyx was smoking. He lounged in a large armchair, the plush fabric contrasting sharply with the harshness of the surroundings.

Raye's gaze fell on Onyx, and they forced a small smile. "Still into those, huh?"

Onyx looked up, a smirk playing on his lips. "Yeah, they're probably gonna take me to an early grave if nothing else does."

Raye's smile wavered, their eyes threatening to well up with tears. They struggled to keep their composure. "What the fuck, Onyx? We thought you were dead."

Onyx tapped his metal arm with a rueful chuckle. "Not quite." He took another drag from his cigar, the smoke swirling around him.

Raye stepped closer, their eyes fixed on his metal arm, which was now more than just a prosthetic—it was a symbol of survival and loss. "What happened?" they asked, their voice barely more than a whisper.

Onyx's face hardened with a mix of sadness and regret. "Some asshole set off a bunch of bombs," he said, a grim humour in his tone.

Raye's heart ached at the thought. "Why didn't you come back?" they whispered, their voice breaking.

Onyx's sadness became more obvious. He looked at Raye, his eyes revealing layers of pain and longing. "How could I?" he replied, his voice strained.

Unable to hold back any longer, Raye lurched forward and wrapped their arms around Onyx, burying their face into his chest. The tears they had fought to control finally fell, their body shaking with the intensity of their emotions.

Onyx was initially apprehensive, hesitated before wrapping his arm around Raye, pulling them into a tight embrace. He buried his face in their hair, holding them close. They remained locked in each other's arms, the weight of years of separation and unspoken feelings finally finding release.

The night wore on, and in the dim light of Onyx's quarters, Raye and Onyx shared a moment of profound connection. It was a longing finally fulfilled, a balm for the wounds of the past. They held each other through the night, the barriers between them dissolving in their shared solace.

The first light of dawn filtered through the cracks in the room, casting soft, golden hues across the space. Raye moved with a quiet grace as they dressed, their figure illuminated by the dim morning light. Each movement they made was highlighted, a reflection of the fragile, transient beauty of their shared moments.

Onyx sat in bed, watching them with a mixture of melancholy and yearning. The cigarette in his hand glowed intermittently as he took slow, contemplative puffs. The smoke swirled around him, adding to the sombre ambiance of the early hour.

Raye finished buttoning their shirt and turned to face Onyx. They met his gaze and saw the deep sadness and longing in his eyes. He swung his legs over the side of the bed, the cigarette still between his fingers. He moved deliberately, as though he was trying to hold onto every second of their brief time together.

Standing in front of Raye, Onyx leaned in slowly, his movements gentle and unhurried. He brushed his lips against theirs in a tender, lingering kiss, the warmth of his touch contrasting with the cool morning air.

When he finally pulled back, his eyes searched theirs with an earnest intensity. "Don't go," he said softly, his voice barely more than a whisper.

Raye hesitated, their heart heavy with the weight of his request. They looked down, their hands gripping the fabric of their clothes. After a moment, they looked up at Onyx, their voice trembling slightly. "I can't stay... but I'll be back soon."

Onyx's expression softened with a mixture of acceptance and hope. He nodded, understanding the constraints that bound them, yet his eyes still held a glimmer of anticipation for the future. He placed a hand on their shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

As Raye moved towards the door, they cast one last look over their shoulder, seeing Onyx standing still, the cigarette smoke swirling around him like a fragile promise. They stepped out, the morning light greeting them as they made their way back through the corridors, leaving behind a moment that both healed and deepened their connection.

—

Nora stood at the base of the Tower, the oppressive industrial darkness contrasting sharply with the cold light of the morning shining through the cracks of the structure. Her face was a mask of stoicism, but her heart roiled with a storm of emotions—rage, betrayal, and sadness. She had come here with a purpose, but now, with Onyx standing before her, she felt unmoored, unsure of how to bridge the chasm that had formed between them.

The memory of their last encounter haunted her thoughts. The anger and confusion from that day still burned fresh.

Her hand trembled slightly as she extended it toward Onyx, the plasma pistol hanging loosely at her side.

Onyx's face remained an unreadable mask, his eyes cold and distant. His mechanical hand, cold and unyielding, met hers. The contrast between their hands was stark—her touch had once been met with warmth and comfort, but now, the chill of Onyx's hand felt like an impenetrable barrier.

They shook hands, the gesture formal and devoid of any of the warmth it once held. Nora's grip was firm but her heart felt heavy with the weight of unspoken words. As they finally released each other's hands, the silence was almost deafening.

Nora turned and walked towards the exit of the Tower, her steps resolute but burdened. The familiar hum of the hover truck's engine was a small comfort in the stark reality of her situation. Onyx's men, a grim and efficient detail, began to escort her and Raye to the Deltazone checkpoint, their presence a stark reminder of the fragile truce they had just struck.

Onyx watched from the shadows of the Tower's entrance. The cigarette hanging from his lips seemed almost a final symbol of their fractured past. His eyes followed Nora and Raye as they slowly disappeared into the horizon, the distant lights of the Deltazone checkpoint beckoning them forward.

The Tower loomed behind them, a monolithic reminder of the cost of their decisions and the uncertain future that lay ahead. For now, they had secured a temporary peace, but the road to their next encounter was shrouded in uncertainty and unspoken promises.