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It was late at night, far too late for any Ego to be roaming about. Ever since the incident where King ventured off into the forest late at night, causing everyone to have to look for him in the dead of night, Dark had put on a sort of ‘curfew’ for them all. So no more idiots decide to get lost, forcing everyone to cooperate for their search.
It was about an hour and a half from curfew, and the good Dr. Iplier was… he wouldn’t admit it himself, of course, but he was worried for the Author. Having him back, it was a near constant mental battle with himself; he didn’t want what they had back then, he’d matured and learned from their relationship. He knew he had to let go. And… he had, he just didn’t expect him to come back.
Oh how odd it is to grief someone who is alive.
The Author was deep within the forest surrounding the manor, only possession in hand his trusty metal bat, the moonlight reflecting dramatically off its metal exterior. The doctor didn’t exactly know why he was here, but he had a hunch that the Author was seeking some sort of mental peace with himself. To know that all that remained of himself after his death was still there, changed, but there.
The Author stood in the clearing, face emotionless, absent and in his own thoughts. Dr. Iplier trudged on through the long unkept grass surrounding the area, he cursed as he tripped on a vine and fell on his face with a grunt. The Author glanced back at the doctor, huffing before walking over to him and helping him up, “What’re you doing here? Isn’t it past your bedtime?”, The Author joked, peeling off grass and dirt off Dr. Ipliers coat. Dr. Iplier merely rolled his eyes before grabbing onto the Author's forearm, the other regarding him with a questioning look. “Very funny. Look, you can’t be here out this late, Dark doesn’t like us wandering off in the night. You’re gonna get in trouble and if you get in trouble, so do I.”, Dark, knowing how close the Author and Dr. Iplier were back before his death, assigned him to pay close attention to the other and make sure he didn’t do anything… suspicious. Dark wasn’t a paranoid man by any means, but if he had him personally looking over someone it had to be for good reasons, at least that’s what the doctor liked to think.
“Pssh, the old man has you playing babysitter? He truly hasn’t changed, has he?”
“You bet. Now c’mon–”
“Now hold on just a second!”, the Author pulled back from the doctor, “I’ve only been here a few days, and I haven’t even gotten the chance to be welcomed back home! Won’t you give me at least, say… 15 more minutes?”, the Author gave him his best puppy eyes, fluttering his lashes to sell the bit. Dr. Iplier snorted, mission accomplished the Author thought. “Well… I suppose it wouldn’t hurt. Just– don’t take too long.”, before Dr. Iplier could get too far away, the Author grabbed onto his sleeve, “Wait– don’t, uh, shit.”, Dr. Iplier turned fully around so he could face him, the Author looked almost… embarrassed, how he got when he wanted to desperately ask something of him but just– couldn’t. Dr. Iplier let out an exasperated sigh, “What is it, Author?”, the Author inspected the others face, before coming to the decision to say what was on his mind.
“Stay with me.”
“What? Author, I have things—”
The Author grabbed both of his hands and held them, “Doc, c’mon. Just you, me, the forest and maybe a few worms on the ground. Like– old times!”, Dr. Iplier snatched back his hands, immediately tensing up in defense. The Author looked at him with– with these eyes that just screamed of hurt. They looked away, the air around them feeling awkward. They both knew they’d have to eventually tackle their intertwined pasts, it was inevitable. The Author started walking back into the clearing, Dr. Iplier glimpsed back to him. His gaze softened, who could say no to those eyes? Examining him further as he laid down onto the forest floor, he admitted that he sure did miss those beautiful eyes of him, they were this dark amber color that shone oh-so alluring in the dark.
He walked on over and sat next to him, crossing his legs and looking up with the Author to the sky. It was a full moon tonight, the moonlight shined on his hair like waves, he was in fact so enthralled with this that he hadn't even realized he was staring, and the other was staring right back at him. The Author arched a sly brow, he smirked as Dr. Iplier blinked rapidly, “You haven’t changed one bit, Doc.” he chuckled.
The Author fell back against the grass with a thump, spreading his arms and feeling the grass. Dr. Iplier fell back with him, his arms staying cross over his chest. “You know,” he started, Dr. Iplier observed him, “Ever since coming back I’ve been, finding myself enjoying the small things. Things I had yet to realize would mean so much once you’ve… gone through the experience of not living any longer.”, Dr. Iplier moved onto his side, paying attention to the other's words. “It feels so bizarre being able to feel and touch, again. The feeling of my lungs being filled with air,” he took a deep breath, before letting out a satisfied sigh, “It’s invigorating. To live,” his fists shook before his face before falling down onto his chest, fiddling with his fingers. “The smell of fresh pine, the silence of the night and not the one of never-ending void… I thought that once I was gone, I’d be at peace.”, he looked to Dr. Iplier with a bittersweet expression, “Guess I was wrong.”
Dr. Iplier had no words. He put his hand on the Author’s shoulder, “Welcome back, Author.”
The Author’s eyes, those damn eyes, he thought. Glimmering in the night, he couldn't help but grab onto his hand and lay back down, just enjoying the quiet and peace of the forest. Meanwhile the Author was still enjoying the moment, focusing on the wind taking pace and flowing through his hair, his eyes closing in contentment. He brought his focus down to their joined hands, rubbing his rough finger over the doctor's smooth palms.
Dr. Iplier was happy to just stay here, with the Author, forever. Even though the nagging logical side of his head was screaming at him to put this to a halt, notice the signs, realize that they were getting close again, he found he didn’t mind. He’s changed, surely he has!
He wanted to kiss him oh, so badly. To feel his warm breath over his lips again, those strong arms keeping him in place. All these memories came back to him, hitting him like a wave, one he was happy to drown in.
—————
In the morning, they woke up entangled, with Dr. Iplier’s head on the Author’s chest, his hand wrapped around his shoulders and holding the doctor's left hand gently. The sun was obstructed by the long tall trees surrounding them, but bits of light were hitting him in the face, a yawn erupted from him causing it to wake the Author as well.
“Shit, sorry I… guess we must’ve fallen asleep.”
“That was… nice. Even though we did sleep on the dirty grass, and… great now my coat is muddy.” Dr. Iplier huffed, causing the Author to let go of his hand in favor of brushing off his coat. “Ah, you can always just clean it, Doc.”, he nodded in response, he felt so faint, like he was floating and he couldn’t just quite get down—
Wait… what was he doing in the woods in the first place?
Oh.
Oh shit.
It hit him like a truck, they’d missed the curfew, Dr. Iplier blanched before abruptly sitting up straight, hand tight on his hair. “Oh shit! We missed the curfew!”, the Author sat up, hand falling down to the other's waist before quickly dropping down onto the grass. “Dark’s gonna kill me.”, the Author pondered for a bit, choosing his next words carefully. “Not going to happen,” he started, Dr. Iplier glanced at him curiously, “You see, doctor, let’s say I just, simply wandered off on my own, with you trying to track me down but ultimately failing, then who’s at fault there? Certainly not the man risking his good night’s sleep over me!”, the doctor tried to glare at him, lying to Dark of all people was a dangerous game to play, but… The Author was a good liar, maybe this could work… Trying not to smile, but ultimately failing he rolled his eyes and nodded,
“Of course, of course. Because that’s exactly what happened.”
“Precisely!”, the Author got up on his feet and helped the other up, wrapping an arm around his shoulder as they walked back to the manor.
He missed this, missed him.
He didn’t mind not being alone again.
And he was sure it was mutual.