Within the Mist- Maylor

Realness

His worst nightmare had become a reality for Brian. Losing his former job at the production company also meant getting stripped of all of his money. He did have his own, but it was bound to run out someday. And to his utter dread, that day had come too soon. Yesterday his time had come and was kicked out of his luxury apartment in the hills and now had to figure something out by the end of the day or it would mean that he would be left with nothing in the freezing cold that overtook him. 

The memory of it stayed fresh in his mind, sometimes thinking that he was back in the moment. The way the owner had tears in their eyes, dreading to tell him the news and once they did, those feelings imprinted onto Brian. His whole world being turned upside down just as it had the day he lost his job and now he lost his home, nowhere to go. That wasn't going to stop him from working, he still had to earn money to be able to sustain himself for the meanwhile. And that too ended too soon. Standing outside for who knows how long, being in the same boring sight that he'd become used to. Dark skies reminding him of that time when it rained, and it hadn't come on yet. 

Maybe there was no rain, but by the way that the clouds in the sky looked, he shouldn't count on it. They swirled around in the sky, moving slowly and being a sort of off color, filled with what was that? Oh fuck. Shivering in his tracks, the cold air brushing up against him, snow sprinkled down onto the place, frosty snowflakes chilling his skin the moment they made contact. No signs of it stopping soon, coming down with even more, filling the place and building up fast. Turning around, Roger walked out of the bookstore, closing it up for the day, fiddling with the lock. After he was done, he went on his way to go back home, but not before Brian looked at him, staying silent. Roger gave him a confused expression, what was he doing?

"Aren't you going home?"

The question he'd been dreading. At that moment he didn't know what got into him, but the words came out without too much hesitation, letting Roger know how much of a failure he was.

"Yeah, no...about that, I kind of got evicted." He wouldn't stop there. "I hope you don't mind me asking but...can I stay at your place tonight?'

It took Roger by surprise but after a few moments he was able to see through to him and was left with delight, a bittersweet smile making its way onto his face. Sorrow was in the mix, feeling bad for Brian for being evicted. No one should ever have to go through that, he knew the experience too well.

"Sure, let's go." he gestured, trying to hide the excitement in his voice, locking eyes with him. Brian didn't take long to see past his feelings and smiled at him, a playful smirk that was. Oh no, that look, he only ever did that when he was about to do something naughty.

"Race you, I'll follow."

With that, Roger went off, running in the snow. Brian did as he said, following behind Roger. It was a close race, catching up to him at some points and Roger pushing himself to go even faster. He couldn't let Brian win, and he made sure to go even faster than him. Giggling under their breath, Brian continued to chase after Roger, snow being thrown into the air from under their feet, this was the best thing that had happened tonight. After running for some time, Roger came to a slow stop at an apartment building and Brian took the hint and stopped with him.

"Over here."

Going with him, he followed in his steps, going to who knows where. Passing through multiple rooms, the light of them barely illuminating through the snow, they went into the shadows. Passing through an obscure area of the place, Brian got an unwelcoming vibe from the darkness that seemed to stretch upon for what seemed like forever and wanted to get out of there as fast as possible. Roger took note of this and gave him a reassuring look. He didn't want to make Brian scared.

"Almost there."

Leading him through the dark space, the sight of a comforting area of the buildings came into view, illuminated as bright as could be. Relief took over Brian, he didn't know how much longer he could bear to be in the darkness. Passing by multiple rooms, Roger stopped at one, Brian standing behind him. Struggling to get the keys in, a shout from a distance shook him to the core. Jumping for a split second, his breaths hitched at the very voice. The apartment owner that could only be described as pure terror. Their voice was what it took for him to stop and look to see where it had come from. Not even a few blocks away, there they stood, about to go somewhere else.

"Don't think you can escape me, Taylor. You're next."

Fuck.

Jamming the keys in, he burst inside and Brian got the memo, going in as fast as he could if it meant not putting Roger through any more discomfort. Seeing him sink down into his bed, he didn't like seeing him upset and would try to lighten the mood up a bit. Giving him a few seconds to calm down, he came in when he felt that the time was appropriate, Roger sighing as he let go of his feelings.

"Wow, you really get yourself in trouble, don't you, bookie?"

Looking up at him, they met eyes, Roger's being slightly teary.

"Yeah, I guess so. What makes you say that?"

"They're always calling you by your surname and you know you're in trouble when that happens."

Roger giggled a little bit under his breath.

"You're right, they always do that. I don't see why they never call me by my actual name, I barely do anything wrong but you've seen them in action, they nitpick at every single thing I do or say, it's frustrating sometimes."

"And what might that be?" Brian asked. He hated to admit it, but he'd never gotten around to getting his actual name, always calling him by some type of nickname. Embarrassment pinged at him for not knowing something so important, but he pushed the feeling away. Roger didn't get the hint at first but when it came to him, he was ready to answer.

"It's Roger."

Looking him in the eyes, Brian soon turned away, gazing into the distance. His name lingered in his mind, this was the name of the person that made his life all that better since his world crashed. Roger ready to say something, Brian came back with his own thoughts.

"That's a beautiful name."

Roger stumbled back at the surprising words, having to take a moment to recollect himself. The person he looked up to saying something so small but meant so much to him. Roger himself wasn't a fan of his name, but now with Brian saying otherwise, he was seeing his side of things and perhaps would change his mind on it.

...

A few conversations later and Brian was sound asleep on Roger's guest bed, cozy as could be. Pillows bunched up next to him, hugging one of them for comfort while he slept in peace. This was the Brian Roger liked to see, the one that had no worries in the world and where in his dreams, his life was still the perfect one he knew. Roger had nothing but sympathy for him, he lost everything he ever had and this was the least he could to help out and he wanted to do more. Looking at him, a knock at the door snapped him out of it and that was when Brian's face scrunched up and eyes fluttered open, their drowse filled nature drooping them down. Roger didn't want Brian awake this soon and went up to him, lightly stroking his head.

"Shh, I'm right here. Go back to sleep."

Giving him a light smile up at at him, that was enough to bring him back into his dreamworld. Slowly leaving his side, he reached the door, opening it with doubts. The first thing to come into view was the apartment owner. Eyes widened, but he kept it inside, trying not to show his obvious fear of them.

"You're up."

Stepping outside, he closed the door behind him and he was ready to have a talk with them, one of important matters.