Crimson Bonds

Chapter 14: The Calm Before

The night was unnervingly quiet as Babe sat on the edge of his bed, staring out the window of his apartment. The city lights flickered in the distance, casting a faint glow over the streets, but the usual bustle of the city felt muted, as if the world itself was holding its breath. The encounter with Thanom still echoed in his mind, and despite Billy's reassurances, a nagging sense of dread lingered in his chest.

Billy was in the other room, casually flipping through a book he'd found on Babe's shelf. His presence was comforting, even if he wasn't saying much. Babe had gotten used to the quiet moments between them, the way Billy filled the space without needing to speak.

But tonight, there was a tension in the air that neither of them could ignore.

"I can hear you thinking from all the way over here," Billy's voice broke the silence, light but with an edge of concern. He closed the book and walked over, leaning against the doorframe. "What's going on in that head of yours?"

Babe sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's everything. Thanom, the Blood Moon, the Council... Krit's been acting weird. It feels like everything's piling up, and I can't stop it."

Billy moved closer, his gaze softening as he sat next to Babe on the bed. "You don't have to stop it. We'll handle it, one thing at a time."

Babe glanced at him, trying to find some comfort in his words, but the doubt still gnawed at him. "Krit barely even looks at me anymore," Babe muttered, his voice quieter than usual. "I think he's scared of me."

Billy frowned, his brow furrowing. "It's not you he's scared of. It's what's happening around you. Suriya's probably feeding him all kinds of garbage, making him doubt things."

"Yeah, well, it's working," Babe said bitterly, his hands clenching into fists. "I can feel everyone pulling away."

Billy reached out, gently placing his hand over Babe's. "Not everyone."

For a moment, they sat in silence, the weight of unspoken words settling between them. Babe looked down at their hands, at the way Billy's touch grounded him, even when everything else felt like it was slipping out of control.

"I don't know if I can do this," Babe admitted quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know if I'm strong enough."

Billy's grip tightened, and when Babe looked up, he saw the fierce determination in Billy's eyes-the kind that always made Babe feel like maybe, just maybe, they could survive this together.

"You're strong enough, Babe," Billy said firmly. "And you're not doing this alone. You've got me, you've got Elysia, even Krit, despite his doubts. We're not letting you go through this on your own."

Babe swallowed hard, nodding slightly, though the uncertainty still lingered. "It doesn't feel like I'm in control anymore. The magic, the Council, everything-it's all pushing me in different directions, and I don't know which way to go."

Billy leaned in closer, his voice low and steady. "Then let's figure it out. One step at a time. We don't have to solve everything tonight, but we can start by trusting each other."

Babe met his gaze, the tension in his chest easing slightly. "You trust me? Even after everything?"

Billy's lips quirked into a small, teasing smile. "If I didn't, I wouldn't be here."

Babe couldn't help but smile back, the warmth of Billy's presence seeping into the cracks of his doubt. For a brief moment, the weight on his shoulders didn't feel so heavy.

Later that night, Babe found himself outside, the cool air brushing against his skin as he stood on the fire escape, staring up at the sky. The moon hung low, its pale light casting long shadows over the rooftops, a stark reminder of what was coming.