Alchemy

Days that bind us

Kyle lay on his bed and stared at the ceiling. It was late. He was waiting for Dan to text back but half expected that he'd fallen asleep.

Something was bugging him. Something about the man who dealt the phone to him felt so familiar in the worst of ways.

Kyle shuddered and rolled onto his side, pulling his covers up around his shoulders. Shame it wasn't the cold that caused the shivers.

- - - - -

'It's been a week, surely you should have heard something by now?' Dan asked as he sat across from Kyle at a table in the library.

Kyle shrugged and flipped the page of his book. 'Maybe he's deciding what he needs.'

Dan and Kyle had been spending more and more time together. They'd constantly be texting each other when apart. The only one who really seemed to notice was Charlie, being Dan's roommate and all, but he wasn't particularly bothered.

Dan gave out an almighty yawn and stretched his hands over his head before resting his face squarely on his book, arms hanging by his sides. 'I caaaaaaaan't be botherrrrrrred,' came Dan's muffled voice. Kyle reached over and poked at Dan's head and Dan swatted at him.

'D'ya wanna go for a walk?' Kyle asked, pulling his hands back and shutting his book.

'With you?'

'Yeah.'

'...... hell yeah.'

The pair put on their scarves and cloaks. They took a detour to their rooms to drop their books off, then snuck away to the forest.

A red-tailed hawk sat on a tree stump and Dan cocked his head. 'Pretty bird. Didn't expect to see any of those here.'

The bird screeched and leapt at the pair. Dan yelled. Kyle stood stoically and laughed.

The hawk morphed into the familiar shape of Ralph, also laughing at Dan, who was trying to protect his face with his hands.

'Dude, relax, it's me,' Ralph smiled, patting Dan on the back.

Dan immediately relaxed. 'I. I knew that.'

Ralph turned to Kyle and raised an eyebrow. 'Why are you here? Fulfilling your end of the deal?'

Kyle shook his head. 'We're just taking a walk. I don't even know what the dude wants from me yet.'

'Just be careful around here.'

With that, Ralph morphed back into a hawk and returned to his post.

- - - - -

The two boys wandered around the forest for a bit. A quiet hung in the air as birds chirped and the cold ground crunched slightly beneath their feet.

Kyle took Dan's hand without thinking as he looked around. Dan was surprised, but squeezed the brown-eyed boy's hand to reassure him.

When the pair emerged, the sun was dipping in the sky. Dan turned to Kyle, their fingers still intertwined. 'What are we, Kyle?'

Kyle's eye's met Dan's. 'I... I don't know. I'm sorry if this is too much, I just...' He pulled his hand away from Dan's and hugged himself.

'No, it's okay, don't be sorry. Whatever this is,' Dan gestured at themselves, 'I'm fine with it. With all of it. Even if I have to bail you out of trouble, or find whatever crap that dealer wanted, I'll be right beside you.' Dan took both of Kyle's hands in his. 'I'm glad I met you. Even if you can be a pain.'

Dan leant into Kyle and kissed his lips. Kyle's eyes widened in shock, but then closed as the pair enjoyed the moment.

As they pulled apart, Kyle exhaled. 'Please don't tell Will. He'll never shut up.'

- - - - -

Dan and Kyle lay on Dan's bed in his room. Charlie was on his side of the room, studying as his little dragons chased each other around on his desk. All was quiet, save for the little roars and bursts of fire from the dragons, the Charlie occasionally flipping a page in his book.

The shattering of glass killed the silence. Dan and Kyle both shot up into a sitting position, Charlie jumped and turned to see what happened, the dragons all flocked to the top of Charlie's bed post.

In the middle of the room sat a large great grey owl, clutching a letter in its beak. The trio watched as it walked towards Dan's bed and hopped up, then dropped the letter in Kyle's lap. It glared at the boy, then took off back out of the broken window.

Dan exhaled. 'That was the grumpiest looking owl I've ever seen.'

Kyle nodded in agreement, then looked at the letter in his lap. 'I guess this is the dealer's letter, huh?'

Charlie, sensing the two wanted a little privacy, jumped out of his chair and headed towards the door. 'I'm... gonna tell someone about the window...' With that, he swiftly left the room.

Kyle ripped the letter open. His eyes scanned the paper quickly then he swiftly folded it back up and stuck it under Dan's pillow.

'Dude, the hell? You alright?' Dan asked the nervous looking Kyle.

Kyle bit his lip and looked at Dan. 'I am royally fucked this time, Dan. I'm in over my head...'

Dan raised an eyebrow then fished the letter out from under his pillow. Kyle was hugging his knees as Dan unfolded the letter.

His eyes went wide as he opened it, exhaling a quiet 'what the fuck,' as he did so.

'Greetings, boy.

I asked for a rare item. I know what I need now.

Find me a dragon egg. Do not disappoint me. You'll regret it if you do.

- L. P.'

Dan put the letter aside and took Kyle's hands in his. 'We'll figure this out. I promise.' Dan planted a gentle kiss on Kyle's forehead.

'Th-thank you...' mumbled Kyle.