Around and around we go

Chapter 3

        I didn't see him. There was no warning. He was just there like he had appeared out of thin air. Rounding the corner to the next flight of steps, completely in the zone, I literally step on him. He was sitting at the bottom of the short flight of cold, concrete steps, apparently lost in his own thoughts as he seemed just as surprised as I was to see someone in the stairwell this early in the morning; Not to mention the fact that as I step on him I go down, hard, directly on top of him. 
GREAT. I'm sweating buckets, probably smell fantastic, and I'm sitting here PANTING in some random person's lap at 4:30 in the morning. 
We're both so shocked at the whole thing that we just sit there for a moment. 
Removing my ear-buds, I start apologizing in Japanese, thinking he might not speak English. I hate when people just assume everyone speaks English everywhere, I've made it a priority to learn at least some of the basics of the languages of where I will be travelling to. 
As a sign of respect, and let's be honest, sheer embarrassment, I have my eyes and face lowered so I'm speaking to his blue flanneled pajama clad chest. Wait... I know these pajamas...
He lets out a soft chuckle and interrupts me. "I'm sorry, I don't speak Japanese that well... do you speak English?" 

I look up, and find what I was dreading most: staring back at me were the most intensely beautiful pair of blue eyes, searching my face with concern. 

"Oh yes! Sorry! I am so sorry! are you OK? I didn't see you there!! I don't think anything is broken... " I test out my limbs just in case. He smiles, relief showing in his eyes as I attempt to roll out of his lap, none too elegantly I might add. I flop myself down beside him on the step and attempt to catch my breath. 
He sits himself into a more upright position and turns towards me with this amused, yet curious look on his face. 
"What in the world are you doing out here... at this ungodly hour?" 

"I could ask you the same thing...." I ask with a raised eyebrow as I take in his PJ's and old man slippers... He's also got the most ridiculous bushy beard and long, mane-like hair. If we weren't in the nicest hotel in the city, I would have thought he was homeless. 

"Jet-lag. And I just needed to be... alone." Was that sadness in his voice?

With an all-knowing nod I just say "Ah yes, the dreaded jet-lag" 

"mmmhhhmmm... so. what exactly are you doing... besides trying to take out whatever is in your way?" 

"Oh my lord, are you OK? I swear I didn't see you! I am so very sorry!" I apologize profusely again, worried that I just maimed a guest of the hotel.. great.. .that's all I need... 

"I think I'll live." He gets up on his feet and offers his hand out to me, I take it and I wince in pain as he pulls me up. 
"Did I hurt you?" 

"I guess I slammed my wrist into that step pretty good" I can already see it swelling and there's a nice red mark which will surely end up as a massive bruise. "I'll just ice it when I get back to my room. No worries!" And no painkillers. This is going to be fun. 

 He's still holding my hand and looking at me like he's not convinced that I'm OK. His expression suddenly changes as he gently turns my wrist over to examine the injury and he sees my tattoo. He breaks into this massive smile and just says "Echelon?" 

Fuck. He knows. Just stay cool, it's been a long time since he last saw you. 
"Um...yes... kind of... " Hesitating slightly, I show him my other wrist, more as a test to see if he actually recognizes me. He tattooed the inverted triad on my left wrist several lifetimes ago.  "I haven't been a very good member as of late... You know.. Life... " So much had happened since I last heard that word. Echelon. Once upon a time it used to be the term for the family I never had. The only people who truly understood me. Or so I thought. 

  He's now holding both of my wrists ever so gently, examining the inverted triad on my left wrist,  rubbing his thumb over it like he's retracing his past. 
"I like them. I have a couple of my own." Winking at me, he releases me. "You should really ice that soon." 

Ok so maybe he doesn't actually recognize me. I release the breath I didn't realize I had been holding. "Yeah, you're probably right. I just have something I need to get done first. It's pretty time sensitive."  

 He looks at me questioningly, cocking his head to the side like a puppy. Feeling bad about almost breaking his precious face and disturbing his peace, I can't believe the next words that come out of my mouth. 
"Would you like to see what I'm actually doing, besides trying to take out whomever gets in my way?" 

"You've made me curious, and it's probably better than sitting here, right?" 

"I sure hope it is... but you have to promise me one thing" 

"Sure...?" 

"This is kind of my passion... My dream if you will... So please don't judge..." 

"Oh! You're a dreamer are you? Let's see this then! I promise to keep a very open mind and not judge!" He crosses his heart and gives me another wink and what I assume is supposed to be an innocent look.

"Ok...Well I'm heading up to the roof." 

"Lead the way!" 

We take the short climb to the top in the most awkward silence. I'm unsure which is racing faster; my heart or my mind. What was I doing? This is exactly what I did NOT want to have happen. I cannot be alone with this man. The part of me that I buried way down years ago was now screaming out for him. For his touch. For his love. For his friendship and family. He was my everything once. 

From the corner of my eye I swear I see him reach out as if to take my hand, but then drops his hand back to his side. I'm imagining things now. Get a grip. 

Reaching the top, I once again scan my keycard through the reader on the door at the top and step out into the cool, fresh air. Holding the door open for him, he's pulling on the most ridiculous fur trimmed hat. Where did that even come from? 

"Sooooo what now?" he asks. 

"I'm setup over there." I start walking towards where I had my camera set up and not paying attention, I trip over that same cement block from earlier, but he's snatching me out of the air, pulling me into an embrace from behind and preventing further injuries. He leans into me and I can feel his mouth close to my ear. 
"Well, I see you haven't completely changed; You're still as clumsy as ever."