Honesty Anway
Neo stood on the edge of a skyscraper as night-time descended on the Matrix. As the lights came on, he looked at all the people down below. 'I can't believe their oblivious to the fact this is all fake. It's like weeks ago when they were taken over by Smith never happened. Of course, to them it didn't happen and if I tried to tell them, they'd think I was crazy. Is Smith walking around down there ? Why did he start his own side of the war ?'
Shook his head to get rid of the question, but it wouldn't go away. He left the skyscraper the normal, if very much slower, way - doors and steps and more doors. Wandered, aimlessly, through the crowds until he ended up in front of the Heart O' the city Hotel.
'Didn't there used to be a park around here somewhere ?'
Walked a little bit farther and down a side-street, before found himself in a park with lights between the poplar and birch-trees. It was mainly empty at the moment. There was only one other person he could see. His vision flickered into code and he couldn't believe who it was. The exclamation that left him surprised him, "Smith ? What're you doing here ?"
Walked closer to the man, ah, program, as Smith replied, "Neo." That stopped him in his tracks, along with the fact that Smith had looked up, bright-blue eyes stared at him.
'His eyes are still one of the most beautiful shades of blue I've ever seen. Hell, it's a miracle I even can see since I came back…somehow. Wait, wait, I can't have heard that right ?'
"Smith, why did you just call me Neo ?"
The black-suited ex-Agent shifted slightly, almost like he was uncomfortable. "To quote yourself from weeks ago "Because I choose to." I realize now that I went about things the wrong way."
"What do you mean things ? Wrong way ?"
Smith's answer was evasive, "You, likely, would not understand. As such, I will keep them to myself."
About to demand an answer, he was stopped when his cell rang. "Neo."
Link's voice on the other end, "Hey, you know those vamps Niobe keeps running into ?"
"Yeah, their after her again ?"
"Yep, tell her, you're on your way ?"
Replied shortly, "U-huh." Then impulsively, he turned to leave. 'Seriously, again ? Ever since Niobe killed Vlad those vamps have been stalking her, I swear.'
Smith asked, suddenly, "Where are you going ?"
Half-turned back as he said, "Niobe's having problems with vamps again, like always it seems."
"Ah, I suppose you should be disappearing then. Good night, Neo."
"Uh, thanks ? Have a nice night, Smith." Stared for a second before he turned back around. 'Well, I never thought I'd say "Have a nice night, Smith" except in my dreams of our dates. God, it's strange saying that to him after everything.'
After he had saved Niobe from the vamps, he was distracted by his wondering about Smith. 'That didn't answer anything, just made more questions.'
Somehow, it became routine to meet Smith in the park after his last mission of the night. They would talk for a little bit, about their days or random stuff. It was odd when one night he walked into the park, smiling slightly, and stopped. 'He's not here ? How can he not be here ? Did something happen to him ?'
That night he couldn't sleep at all, it happened nearly every time that Smith wasn't there. Or he'd have terrible nightmares, one in particular was worse than others - Trinity stood in the park and glared at him. She would demand, "How could you do this to me ?"
He would ask, "Do what ? I haven't done anything to you ?"
Trinity would disappear into the trees for a second, return and say, "This." Then she would drag out Smith. Except he wasn't glaring and trying to kill Trinity, Smith was eerily still. Bright-blue eyes would stare emptily at him. Sometimes he'd wake up screaming from the horror of it.
Weeks of nightmares had passed, so, when he walked into the park and Smith was finally there again it was a miracle. He didn't think about the words that flew out of his mouth, "You're here ! Seriously, it's like hell when you're not here. I've had who-knows how many nightmares."
It surprised him when Smith laughed and walked up to him, "Well, that was honesty. Anyway, maybe you could understand my reasons now. I have to admit, my dear, that sometimes I worry about you as well. Especially, with all those vampires around."
His breath caught as Smith moved even closer to him.
'He worries about me ? He just called me, "My dear." My-freaking-dear. Well, we're being honest. What's he going to say next ?'
The end - Please review.
