Last Day in Darkness

~ 1 ~

From the rocking chair by the window, Alyo looked out at the frozen darkness. No matter how long he stared outside, the sun still wouldn't rise. Misha whined at his feet, and Alyo sank his fingers into her thick white fur.

She relaxed, fluffy tail wagging against Alyo's slippers. Then Misha's ears pricked as boots came up the stairs to the front door. A key slid in, the knob turned, and the apartment's silence broke.

"Holy fuck it's cold." Calder did an awkward twirl as he attempted to put down his shopping bags and take off his coat while remaining on the little mat. "Oh, don't offer to help! I'm all right, really. You stay under your warm, cozy blanket."

"You seem to have everything under control."

"Is that sarcasm?" Calder took off his beanie, revealing messy bleached hair. "No answer? That's rude, I hope you're aware. Bloody fuck, it's freezing in here." Calder went to the heat settings panel.

"I turned it off. I'm broke, remember?" Alyo said, and Misha licked his hand.

Calder turned to look at him, hand on his hip. "That's funny, I also remember telling you that you can ask me for money literally any time."

Outside, the superintendent was taking her evening stroll. Walking stick in mitten-clad hand, she gave Alyo a nod of acknowledgment then went her way. She seemed fond of him because he was from Russia like her. Alyo never told her; his accent gave him away.

"You've done so much for me," Alyo said quietly. "I can't ask for more."

"What? You're mumbling." Calder's dark blue eyes flitted to the painting drying on the easel. His handsome face brightened. "I actually fancy this one!"

Warmth colored Alyo's chest. "Thanks."

He'd dreamt of a gray wolf attacking Misha in the snowy wilderness. The whimpers of his dog as she convulsed and the wolf ate her without waiting for her death, Alyo wished he could unhear. But he couldn't shake it off so for once, he'd decided to change the story. On the painting, the wolf just approached Misha curiously, their snouts almost touching.

"Does this mean you're not depressed anymore?" Calder asked.

"I never said I was depressed. You assume too much," Alyo replied as he rubbed Misha's back.

"The stuff you paint says otherwise."

He meant Alyo's piece of the red aurora, which Calder had hung proudly before realizing that, if you looked closely, there were grim reapers hiding between the ribbons of light. Calder had been spooked, but hadn't had the heart to take it down and put it with the rest in the back of the closet.

The rocking chair creaked as Alyo leaned back and plucked a cookie from the jar on his lap. But Calder came over his shoulder and slapped his hand to make the cookie fall back in. Alyo looked up. "Worried I'll get fat?"

"Please, your skinny arse couldn't get fat if you tried. I know what's in those."

"Since when do you have a problem with me getting stoned?"

"Since I need you at the club tonight. Someone called sick."

Alyo groaned. "Can't you ask someone else?"

Calder stared with one eyebrow raised, so Alyo tried, "I already worked two shifts this week, won't your clients get fed up with my blood?"

"Pun intended?" A smile lifted the corner of his lips. "Your blood is perfection, my love."

"Lucky me."

Calder gave a theatrical sigh. "Less sarcasm, more romance! Kiss me then hurry up and get dressed."

Alyo kicked off the blanket, got up and stepped closer until their hands touched and fingers intertwined. Calder freed one hand so he could smooth down Alyo's long hair, trying to get rid of the static.

"Fine," Alyo said, "but I want the corner with all the plants."

Calder smiled fondly. "You got it."

Alyo pulled him into a tight hug, which Calder eagerly returned with a content sigh. His skin felt cold but warmed up quickly in Alyo's arms. He wished they could just stay like this tonight. Cuddle in front of some old movie, get high together, and forget about the degradation of the world.