A Surprising Spring

Chapter Eight

Zekiel pulled back from Nicholas before the Sprite had a chance to react, positively or negatively.

Katy's mouth was hanging open, her eyes wide. She was completely frozen. The Messenger briefly wondered whether he would get into trouble if she had gone into shock or anything.

Running a hand through his curls, Nicholas glanced up at Zekiel, who was still looking across at Katy. Briefly, the Sprite ran a finger across his lips, unsure as to whether he'd enjoyed the kiss or not - or whether it could even be called a kiss, that brief, unexpected press of lips. "Zekiel..."

His Messenger looked down at him, his dark eyes unreadable, his being seeming to disappear into the lengthening shadows of the evening.

For a moment, they just looked at each other, neither one sure how to go on. Then Zekiel coughed. "Well, I thought that might get her off of your back."

Slowly, Nicholas nodded. "Yeah, I suppose it will do that... How long had you been here?"

Uncomfortable, the Messenger looked away. "Just a few minutes. I was coming, and saw Katy, and thought I'd wait a minute, you know. In case."

"In case I'd suddenly decided she was the love of my life?"

Zekiel shrugged, his lips tilting up at the corners. "Something like that."

"Speaking of Katy..."

Both of them turned to look at the mortal girl, but she was no longer there.

Nicholas chuckled. "Seems it was super effective, Zeke." He tipped an imaginary hat in his Messenger's direction. "Thank you."

"Well then..." Zekiel started after a pause, and looked pointedly up at the purple sky. "Time for me to head off."

The Sprite nodded, wandering away from him towards his camp. "I suppose it is."

Zekiel paused for a moment, looking almost awkward. It seemed strange to Nicholas - who, although now seated a good ten metres away, was watching the Messenger closely. Zekiel couldn't be awkward. He was always so certain, so sure... never quite arrogant, but irritating all the same.

Swallowing some lump in his throat that he didn't pause to think on, Nicholas grinned his big grin. "No need to worry, Zeke, I won't start lusting after you. It was a good Katy avoidance technique..." The Messenger's face was unreadable in the dusk, his eyes still and his expression blank. "...And that's all."

Slowly, Zekiel nodded his head. He took a moment to clear his throat, to try to ignore the flush of embarrassment that was trailing up the back of his neck. "Of course," he replied, and pretended that his voice didn't sound rough.

Just as the Messenger turned to go, his hand rising to cast him away, Nicholas's face creased up in confusion. "Zeke?"

"Yes?" Zekiel responded, without turning back to the Sprite. He felt that if he did, something inside of him that he hadn't yet acknowledged might crack.

Nicholas lay back and tucked his hands beneath his head. "Why did you come here at all today? Was there something you needed to tell me before the whole... Katy incident?"

Zekiel shook his head. "No, Nicholas." He felt something burn behind his eyes. "Nothing at all."

~~~

Back in his room, Zekiel shed his cloak slowly, trying to ignore the trembling in his hands. Slowly he sat down on his bed and took off his boots.

There was a knock at his door.

"Come in!" He called out, and felt the words scratch at his dry throat.

The door opened and Bastien's head peeked in, followed by the rest of him. His hair was still damp, as if he'd only just finished bathing.