A quick shout out to Truenovel91, just to let you know you were heard. I have some ideas of a work I call Insult, and Injury, but for now here's some fatherly warmth.

Peace, Love, and Chaos,

- S. Nightly

Maxxor worked tirelessly, but it seemed he was not quick enough. By the time he returned to his office, he found the sun was almost gone. There was no chance Tom would still be hanging about the city. Flopping the papers down on his desk, he growled with anger. The pages scattered across his desk, and flowed over into the floor only increasing Maxxor's annoyance. He gathered the pages bitterly. As he collected them he discovered a letter atop his desk. He immediately recognized the writing on the front, a quick scratched name in poor handwriting.

A slight smile spread across Maxxor's face. Tom had begged Bodal to teach him how to write in their language, but it seemed his lessons could not improve basic skills such as neatness. Abandoning the papers for a moment, Maxxor opened the note. His smile immediately fell away when he found the page to be stained with tears.

Dear Maxxor,

I hope you can read this. If you can, I just wanted to say goodbye. It seems I'm faded faster than expected. I feel like such a coward for not being able to say this to your face, but I knew if I did you would drop everything. Or maybe you wouldn't have cared. I suppose part of me doesn't want to know. Either way I wanted you to know, you are the most amazing creature I have ever known. I'll miss you. Please tell Najarin, Intress, that I'll miss them too.

Goodbye,

Thomas Anthonio Majors

The note fell from Maxxor's hands, and he ran out the door. Shoving through anyone in his way Maxxor took the secret tunnel from his palace to the wall. Tom had to be there. There just had to be a little more time. Seeing the boy standing dead center on the wall Maxxor called out to him.

"Thomas!"

He raised his head. Tears streamed from his sapphire eyes. He moved his mouth to say something, but no words could find their way out. A sudden pain ripped through Tom causing him to hunch over, holding his sides. His scanner fell to the stones beneath his feet. Maxxor reached the boy in time to catch him as his balance was lost to virtigo. Holding him in one arm, Maxxor lowered him to the ground. He looked as if he was in so much pain.

"Tom, what is wrong?" He begged.

Little bits of Tom turned blue, and began to break away. The piece floated upwards, and faded away like dying embers for a weak flame. It started on his cheek, his arm, and knee, spreading slowly outward.

"It hurts s-so much…"

"Tom tell me what I can do to help you. How do I keep you here?" Maxxor demanded, holding the boy's quickly disappearing hand.

"I-I'm so s-sorry…Y-ou must think I'm such a c-coward."

"Never…Tom you are the bravest human I have ever met…Please don't go…"

"Keep it-t, safe." Tom said weakly, pointing to his cracked scanner. "For me."

Tom's entire body jolted as another wave of pain ripped through him.

"Tom!" Maxxor cried, holding the boy tightly.

More of Tom's code continued to slip away, disappearing into the sky.

"Maxxor…Before I-I…Thank you…T-thank you for every t…." He couldn't finish.

"Tom…No…"

Tom's eyes fell closed, and his grip grew weak. The code fell away faster until there was nothing left for Maxxor to hold on to. The last of Tom disappeared, and Maxxor was left alone as the sky grew dark. Now he had all the time in the world.

Lightning illuminated the room, but it was the loud boom of thunder that caused Maxxor to bolt up into bed. Breathing heavily, he looked about the dark room still trying to comprehend that what he saw was only a dream. Throwing back the sheets Maxxor set out to prove it was so.

As he walked down the hall the latched windows were assaulted by a heavy down pour of rain. The storm outside was fierce, but then again storms in the Overworld always were, despite being so rare. The further Maxxor came the more he began to think himself a fool. There was little doubt in his mind that Tom was not safely tucked into bed, dreaming peacefully a sunny day spent by the sea with his friends, and family.

Maxxor was surprised when he was proven wrong, as he pushed open the guest room door. Tom was at the small desk off to the side of the room with one arm curled beneath his head, and the other stretched out across his workspace. The window across from him clattered as the rain, and wind from outside caused it to swing, and tremble. How the human managed to sleep so soundly through such a racket was a mystery. Maxxor promptly shut the window before turning his attention back to Tom.

"You will freeze if you leave the windows open." Maxxor mused with a smile.

Tom did not so much stir to his voice. Maxxor pushed back some of the large books which were scattered around Tom's head. English, mathematics, science, history, Tom even had a textbook on French (as if speaking two languages wasn't enough). They formed a barrier from the rain, but it seemed they had not been able to do much more than that.

Maxxor was always fairly impressed with the education Tom described to him. He had never been taught half of these subjects when he was Tom's age. The boy did not seem to mind the work load either. Tom even went to great length by studying after Bodal's lessons. On occasion he would even bore Kaz by asking him to study with him, rather than run off somewhere. It seemed, the idea that he would need these skills when he returned home never left Tom's mind. It was a very admirable trait. Unfortunately, this did not mean Tom was good at his studies.

There was no question he was a musical prodigy, but his skills in math, and his English grades would probably improve with him being absent. The fact he struggled to maintain average grades forced the boy to study that much harder. It was a challenge that left him with little time for sleep.

"Tom... Thomas, wake up." He whispered in an attempt to ease the boy out of slumber. When it failed he used his normal tone. "Tom, get up before you hurt your back."

Maxxor laid a gentle hand Tom's shoulder in an attempt to wake him. He received no response, even with a gentle shake. Maxxor sighed. It seemed Tom could balance his time well, but only when he negated sleeping. Calmly, he plucked the boy from the chair, and carried him over to the bed. Once Maxxor settled the child in his usual place Tom let out a deep sigh, and let his head roll to the side as Maxxor pulled the covers over him.

Reassured Maxxor prepared to return to bed, yet something in the back of his mind told him his business was not yet finished. Maxxor instead crouched down by the bedside, placing a hand upon the boy's head, gingerly brushing back his hair. He could not allow their time together to slip away so easily, less his dream return. It was not ideal, but if only for a moment, Maxxor would offer his company.

"I hope you know how important you are, Thomas." He whispered to the silent sleeper. "I hope you know how much you are loved. Not only to others, but to Intress, and I."

Tom gave no response. His eyes twitched beneath the lids as he dreamed. For a moment Maxxor thought he had awakened him as his lips cautiously quivered. Tom muttered something inaudible in his sleep. The most the Overworlder was able to make out was the words 'can't fail'.

"I want you to know how amazing you are." Maxxor continued. "Never sell yourself short. You are an intelligent, caring, and wonderful person. The music you play every morning astounds me, and even in ignorance you are wiser than even myself. Whatever you do, you set all your mind to the task, along with all of your heart. Do not be deceived, you will do great things Thomas, and when you wake I will tell you all these things again. This way when you run off to new adventures tomorrow, you will remember to come home."

Tom stirred from his slumber. Innocently, he nuzzled the pillow as he wrapped his arms around it. Maxxor smiled as Tom curled up into his natural position, and drifted back into his deep sleep. He pulled the shifted covers back up to Tom's shoulder. Silently, Maxxor crept back out the door, taking one last moment to watch Tom rest peacefully.

"Goodnight Thomas." Maxxor whispered as he shut the door. "Sleep well."