(April '16) Prompt #2 - Outside the Window

[Naraness]

April's 2nd prompt is the phrase "Outside the Window"

This prompt was submitted by AngelFire!

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[Omac]

One down!

Spoiler: Level 1C 

Level 1C - Outside the Window

I stood outside the window of the house that had previously ended my life. I couldn’t wrap my head around what had happened. I just kept watching the chandler swing back and forth through the open window. Somehow, even though I lost, the umbrella I obtained was given to the lady without me directly doing so. Almost like the second I obtained it the mission was over and that’s all I had to do. I didn’t know what had happened, but I needed to move forward in order to find the great dragon.
That’s when I saw something inside the house. The skinless woman, who was simply a skeleton, arrived in the house with her holeless umbrella. “Honeybear I’m home and I brought you something I found,” she reached into her pocket and pulled out a small blue crystal, “I think it’ll be very beneficial for your magical abilities,”
From the direction of the kitchen came a man in a black hoodie with the hood up so his face was to appear a mystery. He yanked the crystal from her hands, forcing her to step back. “Thank you sweetheart, this will allow me to restore my powers at long last. Come, I made dinner,”
She smiled like she was still alive. That’s when I noticed a newspaper leaning against the window, the date from over twenty years ago. I was witnessing something that shouldn’t be possible, this window wasn’t just a window to the house, it was a window into time itself. I wondered if I could somehow change it to show me what happened to the crystal, but instead I watched the couple have dinner.
“How many crystals do you need? How many is there?” the woman asked.
“It’s unknown how many there is. Possibly hundreds, but the more you have the more powerful one becomes. There is a legend of a king that will collect all the crystals in many years and will become a Gem Master. This hero isn’t even born yet… So I can use these crystals before he arrives in any way I wish,”
I wondered if I was possibly that king. I mean why else would I be shown this? I’m a king, apparently, and these crystals might be powerful enough to restore my memories or make me strong enough to defeat the witch. If only I could get my hands on one, then I could find out. My thoughts were interrupted when the woman steps back running back to her umbrella. I didn’t understand what was going on until it was over.
Her lover pulls out a gun and aims it at her with a smirk planted on his face. “I love you I really do, but I cannot have you getting my way,”
The woman uses her umbrella as a shield as the bullets fly at her, putting small holes into her umbrella. Sadly, the bullets don’t stop at the cloth shield and she is struck multiple times. She tumbles backwards, her head bashing against the floor, her blood splattered all over the walls. She tries to crawl her way to the other umbrella in the back by the stairs, but she doesn’t make it as he holds her up by her hair and blows her brains out. For some reason the color of her remains turn green, sliding down the wall.
Now everything makes sense. She wanted me to get her an umbrella without holes because she thought it would keep her safe. The walls were oozing green because of her blood. But, why would her husband pull the trigger in the first place. That’s when he turned towards the window and my eyes met his. Nothing. Just an empty blackness where his eyes should be like he didn’t have a soul. I looked to the crystal in his hands turning a dark red color before exploding blasting himself all over the walls like his wife’s. It seems the crystal drove him to kill her and then self-destructed. But, why? Maybe the power was too much to take and it drove him mad?
I I couldn’t take looking at the disaster anymore and turned around ready to puke. I need to move on. JJ came to my side, but I pulled him away before he could look at the window. He asked why I wouldn’t let him see so I released him and he looked at the window. He didn’t see anything, but empty house. I looked it back to see the room like it was when it started. Like, it never happened. I couldn’t take it anymore so I started moving forward.
At the end of the road before the house was a path leading into another part of the forest. I was hesitant to enter another dark part of the woods, but I moved forward to get away from that window and that house. I had so many questions, but I was afraid to ask JJ any of them, as I didn’t truly trust him.
“Omac, sir?” JJ asked, “What’s wrong sire?”
“Nothing. I just need to keep moving forward, are we almost to the great dragon?”
“Somewhat. We’re almost to a dungeon, so we’ll have to be careful to avoid it. It’s very dangerous inside of them and there are bosses ready to kill any trespassers. But, they hold very powerful weapons and items that can be useful our journey. Maybe, after we visit the great dragon we’ll make a trip to one of them,”
I had more questions about what he said, but I didn’t want to dwell on them. Obviously these things called “dungeons,” were something that was best avoided. I’m not powerful enough to take on any powerful monsters just yet. I think once I meet the great dragon, it’ll let me know what I need to do in order to defeat the great witch. A question did come to my mind though that needed an answer, “Who exactly is this witch?”
“We don’t know. We’re not even sure of the gender of the witch, all we know is they use magic. I don’t know anyone in the kingdom who has magical abilities,”
It was then that we took a turn and someone came out from behind a tree with a gun pointed directly at JJ. At least if I was the one hit it there was a chance I would be alive, just rebooted back to the start of this road, but I didn’t know what would happen if JJ got hurt. Would he come back? I didn’t know and I didn’t have time to waste… I was running out of time!

[AngelFire]

Spoiler: Outside the Window 

Normally they would have preferred the silence they were usually met with, but the echoes of children laughing was a welcomed change. The young couple chatted animatedly, talking about changes they would need to make for their future. Within a year so many things would change the way they lived their lives. There was a small crash in the backyard, just outside their window alerting them to what’s going outside.

They walked outside, wanting to make sure the neighborhood children were alright. They lived in a small community, and many of the neighbors knew each other well. A handful of children stood outside of the gates, waiting patiently for the couple to come out. The youngest, a dark haired girl, ran up and embraced the older woman.

“What happened Rita?” the woman asked.

“Vaun kicked the ball too hard, and it sailed over the gates.” Rita cried, pointing an accusing finger at the small groups of boys. “They didn’t want me to play with them.”

“It’s ok little one,” the woman muttered, patting Rita on the top of the head. “Go play with the other children.”

“We’re sorry.” The boys sighed, looking at the ground.

“Don’t worry about it, are all of you alright?” The boys nodded, still not willing to look at the two. “Be more careful when you play.”

“And involve everyone.”

The boys ran off now equipped with their soccer ball in hand. Reg, the husband, wrapped his arms around his darling wife, as they watched the children play. His fingers laced with hers, over her growing belly. It always amazed the two, at how the things outside their window always managed to remind them of their coming child.

Word count: 282

[Kris]

Chapter 4

Chapter 5-

I was in a bar.

Wasted.

I know it can be a start of a very awful joke, but those were the facts, without much option to change it. I don't know how I got there. Well, wait, I think I have some idea... I'm pretty sure I walked all the way here. Of course I did, I didn't had money for gas for some time now...

Things have been going downhill ever since Jack's died. I took it really bad and my recovery was very poor and slow. Tobias helped as much as he could, but I think at some point I just asked him to do something better with himself than just take care of me. He got some really cool offer from the university, the brainiac that he is, and staying in the hole we called "home" was not something I would have agreed to.

I still have flashbacks of our last fight...

"Are you out of your mind?!", he cried as he watch me throwing his stuff out to the street. Of course I was not out of my mind, I had a very perfect idea of what I was doing and why I was doing it. He, however, probably didn't get it.

"You gonna do it, Tobi. You gonna fucking take that offer"

God, the way he protested. Said someone needed to watch me 24/7 because I'm too crazy to be left alone.

I mean sure, the fact I threw his stuff outside of the window didn't help to prove my "sanity" case, but I think I got the message that he would be happy elsewhere clear.

He left two days after to the expensive dorms, probably living his bachelor paradise life. He must have a girlfriend by now. She must love pink and kittens. I totally don't see him digging punk hoes or gothic chicks. Then again, he was more than happy around me so I am not sure.

I'm gonna miss him.

anyway, as I was saying things weren't good on my part. I barely got outside, and most of the money went to pay the rent. Thank god for those saving under the pillow. But yeah it's been rough.

"I think you had enough".

I looked up and noticed the barman from which I just ordered another shot. It's my fucking money and my fucking depression and he won't be the one to tell me what I want and-

"You Vel?".

I slowly turned around (It's not that I wanted to turn slowly mind you, I just found the function of doing it to be terribly active. God, amazing how less control one have when drunk). Anyway beside me set a guy... It looks like a guy... I think... really handsome.. with small sunken eyes and strong jaws lines that framed his face square like. He has a shaved untrimmed small beard and a spiky blond hair. Less happy blond than what Tobais had.

Blonds everywhere. Wish I was blond.

"Excuse me, I'm talking to you!"

"That's cute!", I grinned and barely got my head up (because I was annoying and the fact my head felt heavy helped to prove my point), "I was talking to this guy toooo!", I pointed at the barman, "And I was just making my point see".

I guess if I was more conscious I would have probably asked the blond how the fuck he knew my name. Or more to say my nick name. Which have become my name. I don't think anyone knows my name anymore aside of my mother. Anyway, if I were more aware I'd probably be wondering about how he knew me or what he wanted, but honestly all I wanted was another sip of that damn cheap booze.

"If you don't give me that drink, I'll tell you exactly how I met your mother!", I hiccupped, "Father... grr... this thread doesn't work for girls right?", I laughed in a very stupid manner while a line of drool lingered from my lips.

I think if I was aware, I would have probably wanted to die now. Fucking drooling in public and making joke of myself. But I wasn't. And I didn't care.

I think at this point the barman was about to slap me good (I saw his hand raise at me), but that blondie stopped him, "Doesn't worth it man, she looks terrible anyway".

"Wait, what.... I look awesome!", I hiccupped, "I bet you can't wait to get me on a ride!".

I saw a glimpse of evil sneaking into his eyes. I think at this point, as much less aware as I was, I realized he was thinking of something that I probably would not like.

But I could have barely dragged myself off the stool.

"Whatever that lady got, I'll pay, and I'll take her off your shoulders, how does that sounds?", he said waving bills with expensive figures and dead presidents before my eyes. (sure, rob it in my face).

"Fine", said the barman, but I think I saw him being annoyed with the gesture just as I was. He didn't take the money but instead said, "Just clear her off here".

"You got it!", he grinned with a big smile. I felt his hands under my shoulders.

"You smell nice!", I teased as my head was bunched to his neck, unable to catch my balance as he force me on my legs.

"Not something I can say back, but I think it's the booze", he pulled my arms, "Let's go".

I dropped to the floor, feeling the room spinning above my head, "What? no.... ", needless to say my words didn't carry much struggle with it.

"Oh boy", he took a deep breath before he heaved and I soon find my head hitting hard against his back as he was lifting me, as though I was nothing but a sack of potatoes. I was still drooling and my hair was a mess.

There were echoes of laughter that ringed all the way to the door, and were left behind once we were out.

Chapter 6

[m139]

Before I begin...

This is not a completed work, but rather an experiment in writing in blank verse. It is not perfect, I know- such things happen when you are trying to write 1,000 words in a day, but it is a try. When I get around to writing out the actual thing, it will probably be much shorter, and more readable. As it is, I wrote parts as they came to me, and did very little editing. This is a rough draft of what could be.

It is also important to note that this writing is a bit experimental. It is written as a piece to be spoken by two people, never to actually look at each other, but to always stand side by side. There are parts of it that are meant to be spoken by one, parts that are meant to be spoken by the other, and parts meant to be said by both together. There are even lines (some of the couplets) meant to be said at the same time. Honestly, I hope to have this recorded at some point.

Now without further ado, I present,

"The Other Side of the Window"

Enjoy!

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I know what I know, little though it be
Inside, the fire and the light surround me
Here is comfort and warmth, here is safety
Here, I know what I am, who I am
Here, I know what I see, what it all is
All, except what lies outside the window
that I do not know and cannot fathom

I know what I know, little though it be
Outside, the stars and sun and moon surround
Here it is wild and predictable yet
Here, I know what I am, who I am
Here, I know what I see, what it all is
All, except what lies inside the window
that I do not know and cannot fathom

And though I know what I have is quite good
I cannot help but wonder what is there
behind the other side of the window

I stand, and sing the songs of hearth and home
I stand, and sing the songs of primal growth

I stand and sing my songs all by myself
For there is not one soul beside my side
I sing and stand and somewhat sad

I wonder at the world that I have found
And wonder at the world I do not know
What is on the other side of the glass?

Sometimes I imagine I see a face
A face exactly just the same as mine
The same mouth, the same eyes, the self same hands
in the mouth I see sadness and desire
In the eyes I see a look of longing
And in the hands a need to act

While I look out it looks in back at me
While I look in it looks out back at me

And I cannot help but draw nearer still

And the mouth is posed as if it would speak
if not for the barrier between us
I wish to speak, to open up my mouth
but do not for the words would be wasted
How can I speak to an image in glass?
A person I shall never know, nor see?

Alone, I have all that I really need.
I have comfort, shelter food and clothing
I live the dream that man has long since formed
I live that powerful dream now actualized
But what man is here to celebrate it?
There remains none standing but I alone
And I wonder if this is really life

Alone I have all I really need
I have freedom, open spaces and wilds
I live the dream of naturalists reborn
I live the dream of hands gone back in time.
But what man is here to celebrate it?
There remains none standing but I alone
And I wonder if this is really life

I again stare into that window glass
And see that same person, yet different

Different from the one who stares from inside
Different from the one who stares from outside
Yet I look into those eyes and see me
And I turn and look away with shame
For what if they see the hurt that I hide

So I look again at what surrounds me:

The cardboard structures built up in my life
The peace and security I strive for
Are these things only ever illusions?
Do we reach out only to touch the wind?
The modern life I live, day in, day out
The routines I follow each passing day
Is it all for naught? Does it all decay?
Have I wasted this life that I live?
Is life more than the comforts of the home?

The empty howling of the wild, wild wind
The roaming and freedom that I long for
Are these things only ever illusions?
Do we reach out only to touch the wind?
Natural life I live, day in, day out
To do exciting things each passing day
Is it all for naught? Does it all decay?
Have I wasted this life that I live?
Is life more than the freedom to roam?

I ask myself if I am lost in this
And find I do not know what I speak of
I do not know what to question at all
And I cannot tell the truth from the false
And I am falling, falling, falling down.
As of yet, I know I have never stood
The pit is jet black, and it surrounds me
Artificial lights try to light shadows
But only end up casting them about
And I am as lost as I was ever

And who is there to ask the unformed "what"?
The "what is this life I am living now"
"What is it for, what shall I do in it?"
And who shall speak to ask that unasked "why"?
The one that hidden deep inside me cries
But yet is never uttered through my lips
For I am afraid: not so much to ask
but afraid to possibly find the truth
For what if the truth reveals nothingness?

And what if the reflection is content
What if the image knows what is the truth?
I think the person in the window knows
And so puts on that soft self-same sweet smile
and asks if I want to cross hat abyss
And find what lies there on the other side

Oh, the reflection cannot be the same
cannot share all the hurt, the loss, the pain
So different is this reflection from me.
I turn away from that unbroken glass

There is someone outside the window, true
But I know that I cannot break the glass
Forever separated, this divide
splits us into two who might have been one

And still I shall always wonder about
Forever ponder on that distant face
So near and yet so very far away
still looking at me through the hazy glass
whose inquisitive stare matches my own
and whose personhood I shall never know
"Who are you?" this question I would but ask
if words could travel across space and time,
"And what lies beyond, where you are standing,
What mysteries and happiness do you know
behind the other side of the window?"

[ArtisticVicu]

“Hey, dad.” He looked over at his eldest finding their gaze out the dining room window. “Who’s that standing at the end of the walk?”

His gaze turned to the window over the sink as he automatically reached up and turned the water off.

Outside the window, the morning was still going strong. What counted as the front yard was illuminated by the streaks of sunlight that made it through the large trees. The street beyond the small yard’s fence was still bustling with morning traffic - both vehicle and foot traffic - but not an eye strayed to stare at the figure standing at the end of the walk at the closed gate.

He turned, drying off his hands. “Go free your Pa of the twins and send him to me. I’ll go greet our guest.”

He watched them leave, a tight expression still on their face of apprehension and confusion. He tucked the towel back into place hoping the hints of pain he had seen as well were from a mild headache rather than the pain he had gone through when he had first met one.

He was pulling on his other shoe when his husband joined him.

“Polaris said you were going to go see about a stranger at our gate?”

“Not sure if you’ll be able to see them. Surprise Laris was, honestly.” He paused, gaze on the wall opposite him. “Surprised I hadn’t felt them.”

“S-Ona?”

He smiled up at his husband. “Always so quick.”

The offered hand was warm beneath his and he let his husband pull him to his feet. “Polaris has met M-Ona before.”

The door handle, in contrast, was cold to the touch. “I had forgotten about that.”

The air was still crisp and cool despite the hour and the handle added to the note that the night had been cold. The stranger at the gate was watching the trees dance in the light breeze drifting through though their attention was on him when the door opened fully. In a form not even remotely human, he was impressed that not a single eye flickered towards his home. Humans eyes were drawn to what they could not see if conscious enough and he knew there were at least three that weren’t children that would be able to see the creature standing at his gate.

“Time has passed graciously and kind, Star Ona,” he offered formally as he stepped off the landing that counted as their porch. “What draws one as you to me once more?”

The large black eyes of the S-Ona narrowed in the equivalent of a human smile. “Can not an old friend say hi, Ilnruk?”

He tapped the side of his nose with a smile. “No old friend of mine stands before me, Star Ona. Velgrath has long since left this Seer be for many kind years. But you know that as I know that. What brings you here, for I know it is not this Seer you are here to see.”

The S-Ona’s eyes narrowed even more till they were nothing more than thick dark lines on their pale head. “There yet has been word of such tongues from you, Ilnruk.” The entire creature’s head moved with their gaze. “Will not the child of one be just as quick?”

He looked beyond his husband to the door, spying his eldest standing in the doorway with the twins. The scowl on the eldest’s face was more annoyance than pain and his smile turned into a grin. The twins darted across the short stretch of sidewalk and plowed into his husband’s legs, tiny hands clinging to fabric as both started talking at once. “Laris,” he spoke out as his husband dealt with their youngests in hushed tones. “Come meet the Star Ona currently giving you a splitting headache.”

“I wouldn’t call it so much splitting as annoying,” Polaris offered, approaching with a wariness he appreciated. “You’re the one that’s been talking to me, then?”

“As it would seem,” the S-Ona spoke. He got the distinct impression the mouthless creature was grinning.

“Then drop the tongues, Arak,” Polaris bit out, “and properly introduce yourself.”

The S-Ona laughed. and those eyes, though wide, conveyed the grin he could feel. “You’ve certainly raised them right, Ilnruk. And you’ve had a good teacher, too. It’s not often we get Seers that can speak so eloquently that I couldn’t resist.” The S-Ona bowed deeply. “I am Elnarak. Velgrath was a dear companion of mine before the situations with you drew them away. I am glad their impression on you and yours has lasted.”

Those dark eyes had briefly flickered up to his husband before settling specifically on the twins. They were still talking but their voices were muffled by magic of their own draw. He could see on his husband’s face that it was only one sided, though, and that they were hearing everything quite well. “Velgrath was extremely potent,” he offered, turning his attention back to Elnarak. “I would be surprised if their touch didn’t touch the children of my children in some way, Seers or otherwise.”

He got the impression that Elnarak was grinning again. “And now it’s my turn,” those dark eyes turned to Polaris, “with them.” Those black eyes were on him again. “But this time the danger ahead is nothing like what you had to be prepared for, Seer.”

Outside the window lightning lit up the night sky. The pouring rain was streaking the window and blurring the city lights he had missed seeing. The glass itself was cool against his forehead as the rumble of thunder made it tremble. A deep breath fogged up the glass beneath his line of sight.

A presence he had missed far more pressed in at his back and he pulled his head away from the glass, straightening his posture as two very familiar arms wrapped around his chest. “Are you going to keep the windows up all night?” a voice asked nonchalant in his ear. “I’m sure they can support themselves.”

A smile pulled at his lips as his gaze focused on where a reflection should be. The lighting was off, obscuring both of their faces. “I apologize, Ezekiel. I had not been paying the time any mind.”

There was a kiss to his neck. “You’ve been lost in thought for hours, love. It’s now approaching three in the morning and we still have a 9am meeting.”

He leaned his head back, weight shifting into the sure body behind him. “I had forgotten about that.”

Another roll of thunder. He wasn’t sure if he was sad or not about missing the lightning that had preceded it.

“What has your attention so tight, love?” that voice softly coaxed.

He sighed. “The Walkers were preparing me for something but since I’ve returned to this….” he made a face, “I don’t know, world? I haven’t been able to figure out what. It feels like it should be obvious but even my Sight isn’t helping me. I can’t See anything. Haven’t since I came back.” The arms tightened around him. He wondered if they were in response to the tension in his own body. “And it scares me.”

“Come to bed, then,” Ezekiel urged. “Please, love. You need sleep. We both do before tomorrow’s meeting. Afterwards I am whisking you away to some beach and we’ll sit and talk about the marriage you promised me three years ago.”

He chuckled. “I did promise you that, didn’t I.” He turned around in that embrace, snaking his arms around someone he never wanted to let go of again. “To bed with us, then. We have a busy day tomorrow.”

Outside the window, the rain had turned into a drizzle but the bright morning sun was already above the layer of clouds leaving the view outside gray and wet. It was certainly better than the chaos of the meeting before him. With a solid foot on the table, he rocked on the back two legs of his chair, glaring at the idiots before him. The few that were actually trying to accomplish something were saved from his wrathful gaze and the touch of magic he couldn’t quite wrangle in.

Ezekiel sat back down with a quiet snarl, glaring at the atrocity of a man at the other end who took Ezekiel’s move as a surrender. Even the uncontrolled touch of his magic did nothing to get the atrocity to fall silent when his glare landed on the man.

“Lord Talmas, unless you have something of use to say, shut the fuck up.”

His voice was sharp, cutting through the atrocity’s words with ease. The magic that rolled with his words got everyone’s attention. He stood slower than he would normally, splayed his hands on the table and leaned into them slower than normal. He let the magic around him thicken and weigh heavy on all of them. His glare remained on Lord Talmas at the other end of the table. “We are here for a reason and I am sick and tired of listening to your pompous ass speak as if you’re important.” The man bristled at that and he stood his full - albeit a bit short - height. “Unless you have something of value to contribute to the actual reason this meeting is being held, sit down, shut up, and listen. The only reason you are here is because of your status, Lord Talmas, and I expect you to act your position and not the entitled little brat you’re behaving like.”

Outrage erupted around him. The thickened magic buried all of them as he sneered at those that had jumped to defend the other man. “You are welcome to leave,” he informed each of them and many of those still seated. “I am not forcing you to stay. However, if you walk out that door, I will make sure that whatever aid we send you takes its sweet ass time getting to each of you specifically. Your people will be fine but you, personally, may perish if you don’t start acting like the leaders you are expected to be. I promise you that.”

Everyone settled as the magic lifted and he fought the urge to sigh. He turned a softer gaze to Madam Van. “We will be proceeding under the impression that the intel you have received is accurate. I would much rather be prepared than caught not. We’ll have to be careful, though. If we do too much, they may move faster than we can keep up with.”

He wasn’t sure why Sight warned him, why Sight showed him moments before it happened, but he went from calmed fury to terrified for Ezekiel’s life at the flip of a switch. Without thinking, he spun from the table, grabbed his fiance’s arm and pulled as magic surged at his command. The explosion slammed into what barrier he could swiftly construct and shattered it. He and Ezekiel were thrown to the floor and his head erupted in pain.

It was like he had become Sight. Everything - past, present, and possible futures - were filling his mind and it was all he could do to keep himself separate from the flashing instances. He witnessed things he knew could happen and witnessed things he prayed never did. There was no point of reference as he watched people he didn’t even know - couldn’t even recognize as a type of being - in a world so unfamiliar deal with horrible or fantastic or breathtaking or heartbreaking things so rapidly over what felt like an eternity - or was it only a few seconds - that he started to forget he was even a person to begin with.

The pain flared and he cried out but none that he saw heard him, his voice lost in the in betweens, lost to the passage of time, and he felt so isolated. The chaos around him seemed to only get more frantic and he wanted to close his eyes, to block it out, but he had no eyes to close.

“Come on. Just a bit more, Ilnruk.”

He was standing. Multiple scenes were happening around him barely an arm’s distance away from him, but he was standing and he had a body again.

“Good. Good. This is good.”

The voice echoed about him but it was hard to tell if it was in his head or in the space he was occupying. He looked around despite only seeing different scenes everywhere he looked. “What’s good?!” he shouted back. “Who are you?! What’s going on?!”

“Introductions when you are more stable. Now, Ilnruk, focus. Work with the Sight. It does not have to control you.”

“How?” He didn’t care the word carried his desperation. “I don’t even know what’s going on!”

There was a heavy pause as several thousand, very violent, very horrible things showed around him in rapid succession. “Despite our lack of time, I’ll start you off from the beginning. Breathe deep and slow. Breathe, Ilnruk, and be still.”

Outside the window, the sky held a spattering of clouds. The sky itself was dark, like the sun was at the edge of the horizon. He knew it was early morning. He knew it was early morning 17 days after he had yanked Ezekiel from harm. He knew what had filled those 17 days for the world but, more importantly, he knew what had transpired in his home and around it. A debilitating headache made it hard for him to even want to move but he moved anyways.

Ezekiel’s gaze was where he looked for it, meeting that bewildered gaze steadily. He didn’t have to look to see the scarring around the man’s throat, the raw look to his hands, the clothing that was somebody else’s and dirtied with dust, grime, and blood that was and wasn’t his own. Most of it wasn’t his own. He didn’t have to ask to know what his fiance had lived through, what had happened in his absence, and he wasn’t sure if he cared enough to hate that fact at the moment.

He would later.

Ah, yeah, he hated it.

“Peter,” fell off his fiance’s tongue rough and choked. The man was at his side but he was already getting out of bed, hands up and pulling the other man in for a tight embrace he knew the other needed.

With the other man’s face buried into his neck and shoulder, he looked at the only other figure in the room. “Velgrath. Star Ona are not supposed to be getting involved. You know this.”

The S-Ona smiled the only way they do. “And yet I am here anyways.” Those black eyes became their normal shape, focused a stare on him that was neutral, expectant. "Welcome back, Ilnruk.“

"I’m glad to be back.” He meant it. “But now we have work to do.”

“Velgrath has told me some of what had been happening to you,” Ezekiel offered as he pulled away. “What should I expect?”

“For this to be chaotic and seemingly hopeless before it works,” he offered truthfully. “If we act now and act quickly, we can get the desired outcome with as little death as possible.” He started for the door. “We have to speak with Brekon first.”

A hand wrapped around his wrist and he looked back at Ezekiel. “Peter, Warren-”

“I know.” There wasn’t much time and they were wasting it. He rolled his arm over in the hold and gave Ezekiel’s arm a squeeze. “Do your best not to fight me in what I’m about to do. It will work.” He locked eyes with Velgrath. The S-Ona was waiting already knowing what was about to happen. “The execution of it all will probably be a bit messy.”

Ezekiel’s expression didn’t lose the worry.

Outside the window, the summer heat was coming off the patio in waves distorting the view beyond. Soft chatter behind him reminded him of where he was and what he was doing. He turned only to be startled to find Ezekiel barely a step away. The man’s hands were wrapped around his arms as he swayed a bit too far off balance from the mild fright. He offered an embarrassed grin. “Sorry. You startled me,” he offered lamely.

Ezekiel’s expression was surprisingly controlled as the other man offered him a soft smile. “I noticed. I came over to see if you wanted anything to eat. You barely touched any of your breakfast.”

He shook his head, hands splaying themselves on Ezekiel’s well dressed chest. “I’m ok for now. Thank you, though.” His gaze went to those in the room.

Warren and Brekon were on the couch asleep both heavily covered by blankets that hid the serious injuries they had both sustained. Hidden even by bandages were the pale starburst markings of Velgrath’s gift to them both at the cost of the S-Ona’s existence. Pandora was sitting with Madam Van, the young boy he had briefly met an hour ago asleep on her lap. He knew Aiden was somewhere close in the freshly repaired mansion toting around the two little girls and smallest boy that made up the rest of his and Pandora’s little family. Probably the kitchen if Ezekiel’s mention of wanting anything to eat was anything to go by. The three M-Ona were still huddled around his journals for some reason, Pandora and Aiden’s eldest boy smack dab in the middle of the trio wide eyed.

He didn’t recognize the seven other moving bodies in the room but that was probably fine.

He looked back at Ezekiel and briefly wondered how long he had been lost in thought. Ezekiel’s touch was still on his arms, gentle and soothing and oh so patient. He smiled up at him. “Sorry. Being without Sight and magic seems to have robbed me of more than I thought.”

Ezekiel pressed a kiss to his forehead. “I doubt you were robbed of anything but those, love. Come. The others will be joining us soon.”

Outside the window the snow was drifting through the still night air. He felt Ezekiel shift on the bed behind him but the small body resting against his chest kept him awake at the dead of night. He had to concentrate to get magic to warm the blankets a bit more and he felt both bodies relax again. He returned his attention to the snow and waited.

Nothing came. No vision of a moment, no impression of events to come, no understanding that he shouldn’t know. Nothing. No voice, no presence, no swell of magic.

Instead he found the exhaustion that comes with raising a child barely in school and twin babes. He found the quiet hum of magic far softer than the magic he had grown accustom to. He found a peace he had never known had existed till he had everything that had made him who he was ripped away and then shoved back into his arms.

All but Sight.

He shifted in the bed, settling the little body against Ezekiel’s chest before curling around the small child and into Ezekiel’s chest himself.

But that was to be expected. Sight had left all that had possessed it. It would be a long time before it returned to any again like that.

The little body between him and Ezekiel burrowed deeper into the warmth in its sleep.

Well, that depended on perspective. To the Ona, it would be a brief pause in Earth’s existence before Sight would be needed again.