A/N: This was a series of four short pieces I posted over the course of a year and a half. The idea was to explore some pairings that aren't canon, at least not outright, without playing them out to any large degree -- sort of a challenge to try and make various pairings seem plausible. This first one was originally posted on LJ July 26th, 2007. Title from Death Cab For Cutie's "I Will Follow You Into The Dark."

Part 1: The Hint of a Spark (Moritz/Melchior)

Sometimes the things about ourselves that perhaps we should question, should pay attention to, are the very things we don't see ourselves until after they've been revealed to those around us.

It was an exceedingly nice afternoon. A dry heat embraced them with a sort of comforting touch -- but still, it pulled at their jackets, itched at their skin, and as they stumbled under the shade of a tree they quickly discarded their woolen cages of jackets and unbuttoned their vests.

The ground beneath them was rough and uneven, intertwined with large, spider-esque tree roots and scattered leaves and branches. When Moritz leaned back against the chipping bark, it rubbed painfully against the back of his head. When he looked out, however, the ground spread out before him was dabbed with spots of sunlight like an impressionist painting, and he was willing to endure the reality to experience the fantasy.

They filled the silence with idle chatter.

"It's a lovely day today," Moritz commented

"A little sweltering," Melchior said, pushing up his sleeves and glancing at the sun with slight distaste.

"At least the heat is better than the bleakness of winter," Moritz said.

Melchior didn't reply, but Moritz saw the smirk twitching at the corner of his mouth. Moritz studied the black buttons on Melchior's vest as the other boy leaned back against the bark of the tree, closing his eyes and letting the leaves cast muddled shadows on his face. The stillness of the woods was peppered with bird's song, a slight breeze rustled the tree branches and made the shadows flitter about like living beings. Everything seemed strangely serene. But, it was an eerie serenity, and it made Moritz's skin crawl with something strange and unbidden.

The silence hung over them, and it ate at him but Moritz felt as though there was something new, something strange in this single moment that he wanted to grasp onto for just a second more, and a second after that, just to be able to understand it's meaning.

Moritz reached forward, tracing his thumb over the grooves in the button on his friend's vest. He wasn't sure, exactly – it wasn't the button. It was the action, somehow. Something in it made him hold his breath.

He glanced up and met Melchior's eyes – and there was no reason not to expect that, but somehow it broke something, pulled the color from Moritz's face, and made him feel that he'd made a mistake. He dropped into a fearful situation where he could not speak on his own behalf, even to himself.

There was nothing questioning or accusing in Melchior's gaze -- just that sort of affectionate amusement that lingered on Melchior's face, at times slightly mocking and other times slightly comforting, every time his eyes fell on Moritz. There were questions, however, weighing down Moritz's chest, blocking his throat, and when Melchior's fingers brushed lazily over his own just for a moment, perhaps meant and perhaps not, Moritz wasn't sure whether to flee or to burst into tears.

It wasn't that he didn't want this – or that he wanted it, he didn't even know, couldn't bring his thoughts into focus. He was left chasing feelings without logic and drowning in questions, questions, questions.