Who am I really? | Glacier [DISCONTINUED]

Part six: Parchment ink

**Apologies for the wait for this part, it's been a few weeks!

Zane's POV
[Back in time a bit]

He had jumped back in surprise. His dark charcoal eyes seemed to whirl in confusion. 'Why is he moving away from me?' Creeping forward on the squishy ground, I sat close to him. I inspected his face, picking out the small shaky scars and the tiny misbehaving locks of hair hanging out in front of his eyes, asking to be fixed.

He wasn't making any noise or any movements to get away, or anything for that matter. Watching his eyes shrink slightly as I got close, I couldn't help but feel my stomach flutter with excitement. Slowly raising one of my hands, I placed it on the side of his face. I watched his gaze flick to the side and his lips part slightly in a gasp, his whole body rocking a bit with a noticeable flinch.

I pressed my lips against his. A comfortable warmth washed over me, new and exciting. I closed my eyes, feeling him completely still. But after a few short moments, he slowly leaned into me, smiling hugely and kissing back. I frowned slightly as he pulled back, eyes now wide and starry. I swear they looked like miniature constellations, dark with occasional flashes of small beauties.

"What.." He paused, eyes moving to stare off at nothing, searching for something to say. Soon he looked back at me. ".. what was that?" He asked, voice soothing. His voice was quite strange. Coarse like a gravel path, but soothing like a winter breeze.

"I wanted to know more about you." I replied truthfully. I couldn't lie. Ever since that day in the city when the three outlines on the rooftop had caught my attention, I'd been thinking about him, waiting for him to find me. But of course I was the one to find him, I've always been good at that. My eyes traveling back to the misbehaving strands of hair, I reached my hand that was previously on his cheek and the other from my lap to fix it.

Carefully pulling them back and soothing them back into place, I couldn't help but smile softly at the softness of his small mane. It didn't even reach his shoulders but it just covered the tips of his ears and was a bit of a mess. Busying my hands with his hair, I concentrated on making it look more organized, though it still looked like a soft feathery mane, despite my best efforts.

Giving into the fluffy hairdo, I lowered my hands, my gaze still on his hair. I made a 'Mmf!' noise when the same soft lips contacted mine, strong hands holding onto my waist. I could almost feel the color rising to my cheeks, though soon kissed him back, enjoying it.

He slowly moved back, quiet. I kept my eyes closed though, a soft smile on my lips.

"What's your name?" He asked quietly. Slowly opening my eyes, I noticed the world now bright and beautiful, the sun just over the horizon.

"It's polite to state your own before asking for another." I informed him. I was trying not to smile at the way his hands felt on my back or the sparkle in his charcoal chocolate eyes, but I could feel a small grin on my face.

"Oh! Right, it's Cole." He introduced himself. I didn't reply, my lips closed in a firm line. "So.. what's yours?"

"It's Zane." I replied, adding a small dip of my head. I just felt it was necessary and a bit more polite then not doing it.

"So... Zane?" He said. "Will you come back with me to the monastery?"

'The monastery? He must be talking about that building on the mountain not too far away.' I thought, still as I watched him move his hand just slightly to brush over the breast of his shirt, then lowering it. I honestly didn't know how to reply. I didn't necessarily have my own home, but could I really trust him? He might just be luring me in. 'No.' I shook my head slightly to rid of the thoughts. 'He wouldn't have kissed me if he was just using me.. he would be disgusted, right?' I could see him visibly frown slightly, gaze wandering away from me.

"I don't know.. would I be welcome?" I asked. For now it would be playing it safe, to see if he had any input on the situation.

He nervously smiled. "Kai and Jay have been dying to know who you are.. and I'm sure Sensei would warm up to you. Of course you would be welcomed." Even though his words themselves were confident, his tone was a bit questioning, if he was trying to convince himself as well.

I slowly nodded. "If you really think I'll be accepted," I paused for a moment, seeing the eagerness in his eyes. "Yes, Cole, I'll come back with you." He let out a sigh of relief, hugging me and placing a quick kiss on my cheek.

"I'm so glad!" He laughed. He froze for a split second, then pulling his arms back and reaching into the inside of his coat to retrieve a rolled up piece of parchment. He held it out to me with one hand, smiling sheepishly. "It's for you." He explained after I didn't take it. Tilting my head to the side in confusion, I took the parchment from his hands and slid off the band holding it together.

The soft piece of tan paper uncurled, a little bit frayed at the edges and crumpled. Though the hand drawn image on the parchment was unmistakably clear. I smiled,  staring at the drawing for a few minutes, just looking in awe at each small stroke of ink and tiny detail. This must have taken him hours.

Holding the parchment in one hand, I finally looked up at him. He was staring at the drawing in my hand, a nervous expression on his face.

"Do you like it?" He asked, keeping his gaze fixated on the small piece.

"It's beautiful." I replied quietly, the smile never managing to escape my face.

"I'm glad you like it" He looked up at me, charcoal eyes sparkling. Standing up, he rubbed the dirt and grit from his legs. "Ready to go?"

I nodded and stood, tucking the parchment, after I had put the band back on, into one of my pockets. "Lead the way."

[1072 words]