Searching For Time (book 2) ✔

Together At Last

Harry quickly caught up with Carlos and gazed at the snowy-haired boy with concern as they sped out of the school and onto a grassy courtyard. There, Carlos sat down and remained passive for several moments until, finally, Harry's shouts were heard.

"Hey, Carlos! Hey. Pup? Carlos!"

"Huh?" asked Carlos whose eyes looked a little glazed over. He was so focused on getting out of the hall he didn't even notice the pirate had followed him. He wasn't exactly surprised as he seemed the closest to Carlos out of everyone, but he had a feeling something was off...

"Are ya good, pup? You sped out of that hall like a ship on high tide, I didn't realise you were so fast."

"Am I? Maybe that's why there's athletics trophies in my dorm room." he said with thought.

"Yeah, anyways, do you want to talk about what happened in there? You were a little freaked out and I wanted to know if you remembered anything that made you react that way." Harry pressed.

"Well-" he started but cut himself off. He did remember something but it was horrible and made his injuries burn with pain: It was of a dark and murky cell with rotting bars creating a heavy door. There was maniacal screaming and blood. Blood everywhere. It made him want to throw up at the thought that, maybe, it was his blood splattered so violently across the coarse brick walls.

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to. But sharing may release some burden. Besides, I want to know how you're doing." Harry explained.

Carlos was silent for a few seconds before he gazed into the eyes of the teen next to him and saw there was no lies just sincerity. With a shaky breath he began to tell Harry what he had visioned.

"OK, I was in a horrible room and it was dark and I could only see red all over the place..."

It took a long time for Carlos to tell Harry due to the fact he started shaking and struggled breathing multiple times, each time met with a comforting rub on the back from the older teen.

"Well I can tell ya that's a memory from the past. It was when-" he stopped himself from saying too much.

"Harry," Carlos began timidly with his head down, "you all keep telling me that my memories would come back in my own time but I'm not sure it will be anytime soon. And I don't want to spend forever trying to piece myself back together. Can you tell me something, at least?" he asked.

Harry was silent for a few seconds as his icy eyes grew wide. That was the most his love had said since he woke up without stopping or stuttering. The fact he had spoken to Harry himself created a flicker of hope that maybe Carlos felt the connection between them. He could only wish.

"Pup, I would love to tell you everything but I don't want to overwhelm you and cause a panic attack." he said.

"Please. Harry, please, anything that will help me remember." he begged with tears in his eyes.

"OK." Harry realised that it was his idea to help Carlos remember with their help and not helping him would be hypocritical.

'Uh what a snobby word. This place is making me go mental.' he thought with a shudder.

"Thankyou." Carlos cheered and hugged Harry. It didn't register what he had done before he felt two sturdy arms wrap around his small frame. For a millisecond his eyes widened and he was going to pull away before he felt a familiar pain in his chest. It wasn't a harsh or piercing pain but more of a pang of anguish or loss.

Without another thought he buried his head into the pirate's shoulder and relaxed. He felt safe for the first time since he woke up.

With slight reluctance they both pulled apart but just looked into each other's eyes. Suddenly, Carlos' vision changed and he could see many pictures flash in front of him: the brightest cerulean sea glittering with sunlight, a cheery and slightly mad laugh echoing as a dingy market place appeared, a small apartment with a welcoming ambience... and a pair of the brightest blue eyes with thick black eyeliner rimming the edges.

They were lovers!

This whole time Carlos felt there was something different between him and Harry than with the rest of the group. Yet he couldn't put a name on it. With his heart wrenching he realised that this whole time Harry had acted like they were only friends and he must have been shattered when he could not remember their relationship.

He felt small tears run down his face and a calloused hand lift his chin up to meet those icy eyes he would know anywhere.

"Pup? Y'alright? Why are ya crying?" Harry asked searching the boy's face for pain.

"I remember." he muttered inaudibly.

"Huh?"

"Harry..." Carlos breathed out before colliding into Harry with a hug. He sobbed and apologised over and over:

"I am so sorry! I completely forgot and that must have been so hard on you! All this time and I didn't remember. How could I forget Harry? How could I when you are so important to me? Oh, please don't hate me, I'm so sorry. I love you Harry!"

"Carlos, you remember?" Harry asked in complete shock.

"Yes! I remember the dock where we would sit for hours and talk about the future and the apartment where we would feel safe and that time we completely destroyed the town centre and how I had the most fun in my life! I remember!" he gushed out.

Harry had never smiled so widely in his life. He smiled and clutched at Carlos' arms.

"You remember! Me, us?"

"Yeah!"

Harry gazed into his love's eyes once more before pulling him into a kiss. It was passionate ad full of longing. He was not expecting Carlos to remember so much so soon but he was not complaining. He had his pup back!

Carlos pulled Harry in closer and they kissed until they had to break apart for breath. Their foreheads rested against each other and they revelled in their reunion.

"I love you." Harry whispered.

Carlos smiled and looked into his pirate's eyes before replying.

"I love you too."