Jace Lorenzo Banks, a lachrymose man learned of life's secrets, stood alone on the beach, gazing over the ocean-colored water with his dark ruby spheres. His heterochromatic hair rustled lightly in the ocean breeze. He tried to deny the stirrings in his heart as he adjusted his crimson glasses.
He wore an obsidian shirt that left his khaki arms bare and a pair of loose leaden jeans. His heterochromatic hair was trimmed short around his head, complementing his melancholy light brown visage. An elaborate tattoo snaked its way around his visible skin. A prominent scar stood out on his hazel skin. A noticeable sigil provided proof of his descent. Furry ears flicked at the top of his head, and he twitched his multihued tail.
His thoughts wandered to his days in Ayden's company. One fateful day, Jace Lorenzo Banks had found him near death's door, and in a striking display of bravery, saved his very life. From then on, Jace Lorenzo Banks was sometimes needy and close, but then suddenly cold and fearful. Ayden tried his best to hide his pain, but it was plain in his depths. That was how it was to this very day.
Jace Lorenzo Banks's sanguine pools spotted Ayden further down on the beach, closer to the roaring sea. His lovely teal coiffure was attractive as ever. His depths were turned toward the ocean, hidden from Jace Lorenzo Banks's sight, but he knew and loved their shy lemon-colored hue. He was dressed in his own unique fashion, a style unlike that of anyone else Jace Lorenzo Banks knew. His skin was healthily color-touched fair and his form was slight. A prominent scar stood out on his alabaster, tinted with light brown, skin. Furry ears flicked at the top of his head, and he twitched his teal tail. As Jace Lorenzo Banks drew nearer, he caught a note of Ayden's familiar perfume: a sweet, rich lavender. His pools softened. It always reminded him of the time they shared. "Kitten," he called, walking towards him.
He jumped a bit before turning around, smiling shyly. "Oh, Daddy! I-It's nice to see you."
Jace Lorenzo Banks shrugged and said only, "Let's go." They began their leisurely walk along the ocean's edge.
"Jace Lorenzo Banks," Ayden intoned, "the sea is beautiful, isn't it? It's so royal blue and glittering." He glanced toward Jace Lorenzo Banks, who was unresponsive. "U-um... I'm really glad we can spend time together today. It's so lovely and warm."
"I don't care about the weather," Jace Lorenzo Banks snapped.
Ayden jumped a bit and then fell silent, barely whispering, "Sorry."
Almost instantly, guilt flashed across Jace Lorenzo Banks's face, but just as quickly his cold facade returned to hide it. He looked at him, the loveliness of his royal blue mane, the hint of sadness in his kind-natured crystals, and his beauty pierced Jace Lorenzo Banks's heart with shame. Who was he, after all, to hurt such a creature? Jace Lorenzo Banks was to him as a devil to an angel. He summoned the strength to confess, "No." Ayden looked up at him with surprise. "Don't be... never mind." I should be the one who's sorry, Jace Lorenzo Banks thought to himself, but he couldn't work up the courage to say it.
Gently, Ayden brought his hand toward his, whispering, "It's okay. I mess up a lot of things. Don't... don't worry for me." His caring words only drove the dagger of regret deeper into Jace Lorenzo Banks's heart. He could never do anything right. Ayden wasn't the one who broke him. Why should Ayden have to suffer for it? He wished he had the strength to be truthful to Ayden. He was so childlike to him.
For a few moments they passed through another chilly silence. "Ayden," Jace Lorenzo Banks murmured at last. "I like these dates."
"Do you really?" Ayden piped hopefully.
He was always reliving that day. Never good enough. Not only that, he was unable to forget that someone. And yet still Ayden looked at him with such adoration. Jace Lorenzo Banks was undeserving. "Yes," he muttered. "I like spending time with you." Ayden beamed such a happy smile at him that he couldn't help but look away. "I admit it, all right? ... I hate it when you're sad."
Ayden slipped his fingers into Jace Lorenzo Banks's curled hand and whispered, "I'm not so sad. I wish I could make you less sad. You're really hurting inside, I can feel it."
Jace Lorenzo Banks accepted his touch and held his hand in his, saying nothing.
After a few moments, they found themselves walking down the beach again. Endlessly, Jace Lorenzo Banks was haunted by his strange existence -- but he resolved to battle it alone, as he had all his life. Ayden could not know. No one could. It was his burden alone to bear.
All the same, Ayden seemed to notice. He looked at Jace Lorenzo Banks cautiously for a moment before murmuring, "Jace Lorenzo Banks? Is... something wrong?"
"Ayden... it's..."
And at that moment everything came together, all of the magic and the hurt that had been building that day, and he locked his spheres with his and whispered, "You can tell me."
It was like a floodgate burst, or some barrier of fear had been struck down. Jace Lorenzo Banks shook his head and everything came out at once. "I don't... I don't even know how to tell you this.... I'm not... I'm not alive in the way you are. Ayden... I fear you might not understand. My existence itself is so different from others who walk this world! When I imagine that you could think differently of me... it burns."
