Loving Eros

Chapter 7

chapter 7

"I have faced it, a life wasted, I'm never going back again. I escaped it, a life wasted, I'm never going back again. Having tasted a life wasted, I'm never going back again." -Pearl Jam

The group had long gone home to rest, preparing for the massive change in work ethic they would return to in the morning. Now that Story had arrived, things had gone much slower. It was hard for anyone to blame Benjamin when he said that Spera should've been taking their work more seriously. However, while everyone else was asleep, there were two still awake in the city.

Sheldon City's 'Central Park' was far from the center of the encased city, but more to the far side, close to the wall. It wasn't as much a park as much as it was a gated forest area, being that it was hard to walk two yards without encountering the bark of an oak tree. On occasion, one would be lucky to find a gravestone in front of one of the trees. The cemetery was on the opposite side of the city from the park, but some-- very few, were buried there. No one visited often, or strolled on through, except for two individuals. Often just the one.

Ozzy and Seraph were casually striding through the park, which so happened to be where Ozzy chose as a base of operations-- A home. Seraph's blonde hair was shadowed, while Ozzy's raven hair reflected off of the moon's faint light.

"So, must be nice to have a new recruit aboard, huh?" Seraph smiled, attempting to get a word or two out of Ozzy.

Ozzy shrugged. "I'm not quite sure. Everyone else seems to be enjoying Story's company."

Seraph sighed, already defeated. "You know, Ozzy, your personality is really dessicated."

Ozzy raised an eyebrow. "I'm not quite sure what you were expecting, you know very well why."

The barista ran a hand through his hair. "Well... She's the one, isn't she? Story?"

Ozzy nodded. "Yes, that's how it appears. You'd have to ask the big man upstairs, but I'm sure you knew the answer to your own question."

"Pardon me for trying to have a conversation!" Seraph crossed his arm, puffing out his cheeks.

"Please tell me you're not actually pouting."

Seraph frowned, slumping in defeat. "Fine, fine. You're no fun."

Ozzy sighed, stopping in his tracks. He gazed up at the night sky, a mutter held across his lips. "Fun isn't what I'm here for. I know I sound like a walking cliche, but it's true. I'm here to take care of Story, to keep her safe. That's all."

Seraph sat down on the grass. His heart weighed heavily, a stream of aching pity flowing through him. "There was a time when you were filled with the motivation to do this in atonement."

Ozzy looked over his shoulder at Seraph for a brief moment, then allowed his eyes to drift back to the sky. "Why would I atone for something, is a question I might ask if I could. I have no reason..." Ozzy stopped. The rest of his sentence slowly slid down the back of his throat. He looked down at his hands. "... How odd. I can't seem to continue that thought."

Seraph's heart only filled with more pain. He shook his head. "It's because you're not allowed to be wrong. You had a reason once."

Ozzy turned around to face his companion. "Explain."

Seraph chuckled. "I should've expected the lack of curiosity as much as a need for information. Well--"

The two were interrupted by a sharp, high-pitched noise, as if someone was scraping glass against solid brick. A raven swooped down, its claws aimed at Ozzy's face. He stood still as its claws quickly grew closer to his eyes, and with one swift movement, he threw his upper body to the side. Before his body could descend to the ground as his foot coordination was disheveled, he switched a foot behind him and twirled, regaining balance. Seraph jumped back to his feet and looked around. His nerves spiked. The two of them directed their attention at a tree nearby, which was only to be touched by a single, gloved hand. Slowly and shyly, a woman's head peeked around from behind it. Ozzy immediately recognized her.