Unexpected Encounter

Two Months Later

Words in BOLD in between "quotation marks" represent thoughts of characters.
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December 15, 2017. London had been covered in snow for nearly a month. There hadn't been a snowy London like that in almost thirty years. The buildings and streets were completely white with snow and constantly being cleared out for driving.

On the account that there hadn't been snow like that in a very long time, most people stayed in their homes. James was having a stroll through the empty city. The few people who did go out mostly weren't up to anything good but they were not the reason he was out.

Due to his heightened senses, James could hear, see, smell, and feel things that other people couldn't. It was difficult for James to get a quiet day or a peaceful night of sleep, or an hour of stillness or minute without feeling the vibrations of nearby people walking or hearing the random noises surrounding him.

That month, however, was different. There was quiet. No one working construction or yelling at their kids, no cars honking to try and rush other people driving, just the occasional cough or footsteps of people nearby and the sound of the wind. Because of his healing abilities, James didn't have to wear warm clothes to keep him "safe" either. He couldn't get sick and he didn't like the big warm winter jackets because they limited his movements.

In other words, if anyone managed to catch a glimpse of him on the streets or on the roofs, they'd see a hooded lunatic with a scarf, jeans and boots on.

Alex was at their apartment working on designing a new logo for her boss. There was a new heater in the living room that she had bought so she wasn't too cold. She was on the beanbag with her laptop on her lap, wearing a long wool robe over her underwear.

Alex worked a few more hours and then heard knocking on her door and then the key turning. James always knocked on the door before opening it. It wasn't a code to say it was him, he just got accustomed to knowing there would be someone waiting for him when he got home, so he grew the habit of knocking first before opening his own door.

He still had his hood on, making it hard to see his eyes. His scarf as well to cover his mouth and nose. Alex put her computer aside when she saw him and crossed her legs revealing her right leg, soft, smooth and bare. James removed his black scarf revealing his lips, followed by his face as he took off his hood.

Alex stared, and smiled at him as he went to their room to hang his jacket.

"What are you smiling at?"

"I'm still not used to seeing you with that hair haha but don't worry, you still look cute."

James didn't like the sideburns when he had his hair long, so he cut it short again to the way he had back when he was younger to let it grow out properly again.

"I'm not cute haha"

Instead of continuing his route to the bedroom, James placed his jacket on one of the three chairs he had nearby as Alex got up to meet him in front of the hall to give him the kiss she didn't give him that morning.

"Isn't it nice not having a kid around to keep you in check? haha *kisses James* Wanna fuck me? *bites lips*"

"That's a dollar in the swear jar for you haha"

"Are you going to make me?... *giggles*"

"I think I will..."

Alex tapped James on the cheek twice and sat back down on the beanbag.

"That's good to know haha maybe later we can go all night again like we did in Japan if I finish my work tonight."

"Haha we don't have enough condoms for that haha"

"Oh, we won't need them haha... I bought more of those love pills."

Elsewhere in the city, Gabriel was sending his friend the news about his girlfriend. It didn't take him long to type up the message and send it.

"*sigh* All hell is going break loose..."

He was staying at a friend of his' house with his wife and daughter. There were no jobs for him to do-- He could work but he chose not to. Around that time, with Christmas right around the corner, he spent as much time as he could with his family.

"Hey, honey? When are we going out to buy the things for Christmas?"

Gabriel got married to a girl from Brazil. She, however, didn't have two Brazilian parents. Her mother was Australian with an aboriginal background from Tasmania. And so, most people would say that Gabriel married a top model. Even Alex agreed!

"I'll see about going tomorrow morning. That ok with you?"

"Mhm, that'll be great! Hey, when will I get to meet this friend of yours? James? Was it?"

"Well, Mr. Anmut is having a Christmas party just for his close friends, and since I qualify haha we'll be going. James will most likely show up with Alex, his girlfriend, the one we met the other day at the market."

Everyone in the house were in their pajamas. For them, that day turned out to be a lazy one. Gabriel himself was till in bed as his wife walked out of the bathroom and made her way back to bed.

"Yeah! I remember her! She was really sweet!"

"Yeah haha that girl's a miracle in his life."

"What do you mean?"

"Well haha James grew up in the streets with me but he was always... I don't know.. a little messed up. There were always people trying to kill him. James used to be a cold blooded killer! Then he got a girlfriend haha and he became happy for a while... Until Elena died..."

Natalia waited with curiosity, she'd heard some stories of the crazy things James used to do with Gabriel but they were all good stories... She had never heard a single memory from Gabriel where he portrayed James as a dark character. As the bad guy.

"What happened to her?"

"She was murdered..."

"Oh... I thought maybe a sickness, but..."

"Haha Elena couldn't get sick! James has... You know what? maybe he'll explain it to you when you meet him."

Gabriel turned to face his wife looking for some action, but she stopped him before he could touch her anywhere she didn't want him to.

"Then at least tell me what happened to her killer! Did you guys catch him or her? Did the killer get away with it?"

"*sigh* James insisted that he went alone."

"And?"

"And we still don't know what happened to the guy to this day..."

They talked a bit more, quickly changing the subject, and soon started kissing each other which led to the "action" that Gabriel was looking for.