MegamanNTW: Hello again. This is my entry for the Christmas Time Again Challenge issued by Seducing Reason. As always I don't own Sky High or any of its characters.
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
"I'm sorry, Mr. Peace, they found his body this morning in the river outside of two. I'm truly sorry for your loss."
Zach bolted upright in bed, soaked in sweat and half blinded by his own fierce glow. He had been having the same nightmare far a year, reliving the day he had gotten the news of Warren's death. The pyro had been on a grocery run on Christmas Eve and has slipped and fallen in the river. The last Christmas present Zach had received was his lover's death. Now, exactly a year later he was still waking up to the same dreams.
He leaned over to check the digital readout of the clock on his bedside table. 4:23 am. He sighed knowing he's never get back to sleep now. Throwing off his covers he stumbled to his closet but stopped halfway when he saw the light on his phone was blinking. He sat down heavily in the desk chair and pressed the play button.
"Merry Christmas, Zach-Attack! We haven't seen you in forever, we miss you! Well, the reason I called was to say that Will and I are having a big Christmas bash at our house tomorrow and we'd like you to come. Wouldn't Christmas be nice again? Phone me back when you get this and hopefully I'll see you then. Talk to you soon."
Zach stared open mouthed at the phone as Layla's cheerful message finished and hot tears made their way down his face. "No, Layla Christmas won't be nice again. It will never be nice again." He sighed deeply, rubbing luminescent tears from his pale face.
The lobby of his apartment was quiet at this time of the morning, just like everywhere else in Maxville. It had been snowing the night before and everything was frosted with ice crystals. His breath rose in a white cloud in front of his nose as he gazed out into the still night. The atmosphere was quiet and peaceful, a pleasant contrast to the turmoil in his heart. How could Layla ask him to attend a party on Warren's death day?
Zach took the long way to his destination, through the usually crowded shop streets. Past Ethan's computer company, Will's real estate office, Layla's flower shop, and Magenta's veterinary clinic. It seemed Zach was the only person he knew without a successful business; he worked the lights for a small theater outside of town. Even Warren had owned the Paper Lantern for a few years.
Walking through the cemetery gates Zach's pace slowed and he came to a stop in front of a marble headstone. Sinking to his knees he gently brushed the soft snow off of the marker so he could read the words engraved upon it.
Warren Peace
Cherished Son
Superhero
Beloved Husband
Zach started to cry again, little pools of light dropping into the snow by his legs. "I miss you." He whispered, tracing the carved name with numbing fingers. Cold water was slowly seeping into his pajama pants and his bare feet were burning from the cold.
Zach slowly rose to his feet and brushed the snow off his legs. Leaving the graveyard he walked to the outskirts of the city. He stopped halfway across a wooden footbridge over a deep fast flowing river. The sun was just rising now, burning red, orange, and yellow into the sky.
Without hesitating Zach climbed up so he was standing on the flat railing. He remembered when this whole area was roped off with police tape. He watched the firey sun slowly claw its way past the horizon. "I'll never be happy. I'll never smile again. So really, what's the point?"
And then he dropped.
