For the first time in his life he would meet the other time carrier. King had given him the domain that day at noon. They were the guardians of day and night. Six popped the collar of his dark coat. It was made of the starless skies, tailored by the goddess of the moon, an uniform for her guardian.
Six stared down the dark street. It was summer in the city. His night of control could be short.
A clatter sounded from behind. Six turned to see a young man the same age as himself. There was bleached blonde hair and tanned skin. He wore a blue T-shirt and sewn onto the shirt was the image of the sun. Six could see it was the uniform of the sun god.
"Sorry, I'm late. There was a line at the coffee stand." Sure enough the blonde was holding two cardboard cups. "Want one?"
Six shook his head. He just wanted domain over the time. Soon, sunset should arrive.
"Suit yourself." The man started sipping the coffee.
Six glanced at the silver pocket watch.
The blonde checked his own golden one. "Want to go for a walk? Sunset can drag out a little longer."
The man was right. Sunset could drag out longer on these days. Six couldn't help but think about the time meant to be spent. King told him the previous guardian was a woman named Queen. Then, he mentioned the boy. Thinking on it, Six couldn't help but feel revulsion for the man in front of him. How could he smile so easily?
"Are you feeling alright?" Six nodded. The man looked unsatisfied but continued the marching pace
They walked over the city, seeing the sights that belonged in their shared domain. The day guardian never stopped talking, which got in Six nerves. But, he had curious insights that helped Six think of old things in new ways.
The blonde finished a cup a started on another. "Want to go up the sea wall?"
"Sure." The blonde started off in the general direction before the night guardian could change his mind.
They meandered over the wall, sometimes stopping to watch the people below or the sky, which gradually turned pink, through the holes in the Fog.
Eventually, it became unbearable. The ticking against Six's fingers told him he had only seconds until the domain was to be transferred. The blonde sat on the stone of the Sea Wall. He gazed over the expanse of ocean that reached to the far distant horizon.
Six shifted in his seat, turning to face the man. The man only blinked when Six placed a sloppy kiss on his lips. A soft twinge of red bled into the pink sky.
"Let me," the man whispered. Hands lightly touched his face and neck, guiding. Soft, if chapped, lips brushed against his before pressing for a chaste kiss. Red bloomed across the sky fading into pink tendrils. The blonde pulled away, hands lingering only a moment longer.
"Here." He held out the cup of coffee. Belatedly, Six realized that was the plan all along. An indirect kiss may have ended the day just as a real one. If not they, could walk together hand in hand until the sky turned to pink and violet.
And even more likely, the man had no interest in Six.
The blonde smiled at him as he walked away, baby blue eyes dancing in the fading light.
Six sighed and leaned over the wall. He held the coffee in his hands savoring the chill of the sporadic sea breezes.
The thoughts of someone else filled his mind. He could easily guess who. Bitter bile rose in his throat, an uncharacteristic occurrence. One he could only contribute the strength of emotion and the power of gods.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the blonde wave.
"Hey, Six, name's Kyntak." He winked.
"Today's my first day too."
Six suppressed a smile.
"See you in the morning."