My Beautiful One

26. The cadence of heartbreak

I felt cold.

So cold.

I was lying on my back, with no idea or ability to think of where I was and how I might have gotten there. All that existed was the cold, and a dull, throbbing pain in my arm.

But then my last memories surfaced, and I could feel more than cold. 

Misery. Despair. Heartbreak.

I gasped, and my eyes flew open to see that I wasn't in Jonathan Morgenstern's inter-dimensional apartment.

Shock. Relief. Curiosity.

I was back in Manhattan.

In a wet, cold, dingy alleyway, unable to move, of course, but it was still Manhattan: where the Institute was, where help was, where my friends were. Home.

Gratitude.

I tried to move my arms and legs, push myself into a sitting position, but it seemed that my body wasn't cooperating.

Frustration.

A choked sob burst from my lips, and a single tear rolled down my cheek. All I could do was lie there and wait for somebody to find me, hoping that I wasn't glamoured, because I wouldn't even have minded being rescued by a mundane at that point.

Then I heard footsteps.

Felt strong but gentle hands lift me and pull me against a warm, wet chest.

I managed to move my head just a little to look up at my rescuer. I couldn't really make out the face, but the dim fluorescent light of the street lamp turned their hair silver like the moonlight, and the arms that held me were lean and strong.

Love. Longing. Hope.

"Sebastian..." I whispered, and lifted a shaking hand to trace a finger down his cheek. "You came back for me. You left Jonathan behind."

I could hear him talking. Quick, worried words, but gentle ones too. But I was too tired to listen, and fell asleep just as we were turning onto the street the Institute was on.

*   *   *

 "For a smart person, you're remarkably bad at chess." I said, grinning, as I moved my queen into place. "And checkmate, by the way."

Sebastian smiled crookedly. "I suppose the only chess I've played has been with real people."

"I have no idea what you mean, and do not endeavour, at the present moment, to find out." I said as I began clearing away the pieces and putting the board back into its box. Sebastian helped, and a minute later, we were sitting on the couch wondering what to do. It had been the first day that he had not had to leave the apartment at all, and this 'day off' had mainly been spent talking, being lazy, and experimenting with the new romantic side of our relationship.

"So what now?" I asked

"I can think of something we could do." Sebastian replied nonchalantly.

"Play Cluedo?" I suggested, raising an eyebrow.

"Not exactly what I had in mind."

"Rune Pictionary?"

He laughed and pulled me into his lap. "Guess again, Silver." He said, and then he kissed me.

I woke up slowly, blinking to dispel the dream even though I was reluctant to wake up. It had been a nice dream- a memory of the first of that carefree trio of days before I found out who Sebastian really was.