"Hey, Caster, you good?"
"Hm? Oh, I'm fine, just wondering..." Elias trailed off, his voice growing soft, almost hesitant.
"On what?" I asked, noticing how his eyes refused to meet mine, as if there was something he didn't want me to see.
"Nothing, just wondering why you called me a perverted person when we're both dudes. It hurts my feelings when I haven't even laid a finger on any woman. I've just been working and working for the past millennia," I said, my voice lighter but with a small tinge of frustration. I wasn't angry, just... confused.
"Oh... sorry, I said it in a way to hide something personal," he mumbled, his voice shaking with an edge of uncertainty, as though there was more beneath his words than he was letting on.
I couldn't help but smile at his awkwardness. "Nah, it's fine. Are you a girl? Genuine question." I teased, unable to resist the playful banter, though a part of me was genuinely curious about what was going on in his mind.
"No. I am a man, it's true." He said it with a little more conviction, but it was clear he wasn't completely sure of himself either. His voice faltered just slightly, and for a moment, I wondered if there was more to his identity than he let on.
"Alright," I laughed lightly, hoping to ease the tension. "So, what are we gonna do now?"
And then, as if on cue, his face turned bright red again, as though I'd just hit some invisible button inside him.
"Dude, you're red again..." I sighed, baffled. What the hell was going on? One minute he was a powerful, almost god-like being, and the next, he was blushing like a kid with a crush. It didn't make sense.
"I... I love you, okay?" Elias blurted out, his voice barely audible but full of sincerity, and in that moment, I froze. His face was on fire, and I could almost feel the warmth radiating off of him. "And I keep getting weird thoughts about... us."
"Sorry, what?" My mind was racing, trying to process what he just said. "Dude, you keep mumbling stuff," I said, trying to keep it casual, but deep down, I was flustered too. Was he being serious?
"Nothing..." he mumbled again, his voice barely a whisper.
It was impossible to ignore now—Elias was the most confusing, adorable, and inexplicably endearing being I'd ever encountered. And here he was, looking so fragile and human in his emotions, so unlike the distant, celestial entity he appeared to be. I couldn't help but tease him.
"Oh right, what's your name, Tomato?" I smirked, hoping to break the tension.
His reaction, though, wasn't what I expected. He froze, eyes wide with alarm, like I'd triggered something in him. "Elias... stop making fun of me," he murmured, almost pleading.
"Elias," I repeated, my voice gentler now. My smirk softened into something more affectionate. "You look like a child no matter which direction you face."
It was playful, but I meant it. Elias had a way of looking so innocent, so vulnerable, even though he carried the weight of millennia on his shoulders.
But then the mood shifted. The air grew thick, and a heaviness settled over us. It was then I heard it. The soft sound. Barely a whisper at first, but unmistakable.
Elias was crying.
My heart dropped. I hadn't meant to upset him—not even close. I was just teasing, but now I was faced with a side of him I hadn't expected. A side that needed comfort.
I took a hesitant step toward him, but the moment I did, he stepped back, his eyes wide with panic.
"No... don't get close to me, you meanie," he muttered, his voice wavering as though he was trying to push me away, but it was obvious he didn't want that.
I froze. What the hell was I supposed to do? I didn't know how to handle this. I'd always been alone, locked away in that library, and now I was here, faced with someone I cared about—someone who was hurting.
I didn't have time to think. I moved forward, grabbing his arm gently and pulling him into my embrace. He stiffened at first, but after a moment, his body relaxed against mine.
"I'm sorry, okay?" I whispered, holding him close, trying to make him feel safe. "I'm just a man who's been isolated for so long. All I've had for company are books in that library... and I thought maybe, just maybe, I could joke around a little, you know? Just let myself have a little fun." I sighed. "I never meant to hurt you, Elias."
He didn't respond at first. His face was buried in my shoulder, but his breathing had slowed, and his body had become less tense. I ran my fingers through his hair, instinctively soothing him in a way I hadn't done before, but it felt... right.
After a while, he whispered in my ear, his voice soft and vulnerable. "Let me stay for a bit more... just like this."
Without thinking, I nodded. "Alright."
And so we stayed, the world around us quiet, our silence comforting in its own way.
---
Later...
After what felt like an eternity, Elias had fallen asleep in my arms—while still standing. My legs, however, were not as strong. They were about to give out.
I tried to adjust, but it was too late. My knees were buckling under me, so I carefully laid us both down, still holding onto him.
"What are you doing, Caster?" Elias mumbled, barely awake, his voice still thick with sleep.
"Oh, sorry, did I wake you up?" I said, a little embarrassed. "I'm just trying to lay down because you've fallen asleep while standing, and my legs are giving out."
He blinked lazily, still half-asleep, but there was a small chuckle in his voice. "Oh... sorry for the trouble. Can I still sleep here?" He asked, his mind clearly thinking of the moment as his chance to snuggle in closer.
I grinned, despite myself. "I don't mind," I said, even though on the inside, I was thinking Oh god, I don't even know if there's snot on my clothes!
Time passed slowly as we lay there, wrapped in our own little bubble. I could feel myself drifting off to sleep too, but I fought it, humming softly to keep myself awake.
But then, as I hummed, I realized—had Caster fallen asleep?
A few minutes later, I heard the quiet sound of him stirring. "Huh? What was that?" he mumbled, still half-asleep. "Oh, the blank white space finally turned dark and cold. Does that mean it's day and night here? I don't care. I wanna sleep so bad..."
He yawned, and in that moment, I couldn't help but smile softly. We both lay there, tangled up in each other's warmth, letting the hours pass. There was so much I didn't know, so many things left unsaid—but for now, it was enough.
I pulled him closer and muttered, "Sleep well, Elias." And with that, we both drifted back into a peaceful sleep, the world outside feeling far away.