..::Promises::..
by Hayla
~o V o~
It was all too real. The dreams... the touches and smell... and most of all, the feelings. Even now Merion couldn't quite shake them. He had decided to walk back to his apartment. The air was cold and stung his lungs. It felt good. It was still snowing, getting heavier by the minute actually, and the frosty wind bit through even his well lined coat. He couldn't remember the last time it had actually snowed this much in the city . All he could think about was his warm bed only a few blocks up street. Yes... bed... sleep.
The "memories" had a habit of hitting Merion like a tidal wave. He used to be able to go weeks without the dreams plaguing him. But when he thought about them frequently, like he was now, every little detail came back with shocking clarity. And every night was a reawakening of something lost. Call it power of suggestion or what have you, but as Merion exited the restaurant and began the haul back to his apartment, he thought about him. Pippin.
Not thought, Merion assured himself. Remembered. He was remembering things about this person in his dream. So vividly, and so out of left field, that as soon as Merion turned the city block and was out of sight of Fred, should he for some reason give chase, he felt overcome.
His heart felt heavy and his feet began to drag. This wasn't like him. A weighty depression seemed to fall down on him and slow his pace till he was almost at a dead stop. A few people brushed him on the left and right as they made their way down the sidewalk, but Merion stood solid.
We will see the Shire again, Pippin... I promise you...
Merion shook his head as if to get rid of the voice in his mind-- his voice. Words he spoke. Where was this all coming from, he thought hopelessly. He turned to his right and entered a small store at the corner. He made his way immediately to the counter and purchased a pack of Parliaments. It wasn't like him to smoke... he hadn't done so for years... but he needed something to distract him, to calm his nerves. This was getting out of hand.
Grabbing a pack of matches as he left the store, he quickly lit up and let the nicotine laden smoke billowed through him. It was a strange sensation, that first drag. It made him feel dizzy.
You smoke too much, Pip...
"Stop," he commanded himself softly as he began to walk again. He was beginning to feel mad, like he was caught in a fucked up mind game. Everything was getting out of control, even his thoughts. Just stop...
He turned the corner, one more block to go, when he heard it. The sounds of fighting were unmistakable. He heard a small yelp and the banging of trash cans. He inched forward and peered down the small alleyway. Two figures were crouched down over a barely moving form. At first, Merion thought to call the police, but remembered all too quickly that he had destroyed his last phone a month ago.
"Shit," he muttered quietly. He threw the remains of his cigarette down and stepped around the corner, hurrying down the narrow path towards the fight. Normally he wouldn't have such confidence, but something inside him begged for action. It seemed a good a way as any to vent his frustration.
"Stop, police," he yelled in false confidence. He couldn't think of anything else to say, and he wasn't quite in for a two on one against himself as well. Luckily it worked, and the two figures jumped at his voice, then quickly skittered in the other direction. It hadn't even occurred to Merion that they might have been armed. He shook a little at that thought as he approached the body. It shouldn't have been that easy, but thank god it was.
The figure lay crumpled on the wet ground and shaking. There was a small whimpering noise issuing forth, and Merion became incredibly confused on what to do next. He stood there for one second, then reached down and gently clasped the young person's shoulder.
The person jumped and scrambled away, hitting the wall and cowering away from Merion. He raised his hands, for now Merion realized that it was a young man who had been attacked., to guard his face in defense.
"No, don't," he pleaded. Merion felt his heart fill with compassion.
"No, no," he coaxed quietly, squatting down and reaching a hand forward. "It's all right. They're gone."
There was a pause, and the young man peered from behind his tattered-gloved fingers. His green eyes shone fiercely and stared with wanton mistrust. Merion had seen that look before, in many court cases where a man was about to receive his sentence. Fight or flight. And judging by the piercing look Merion was being given, the man had regained enough of his senses to fight.
"Look," Merion said softly, extending both his hands and turning the palms upward. "I'm not going to fight you. I just want to know if you are okay."
The man turned towards the wall, slowly using it as a brace to get to his feet. He stood there half slouched, barely standing. He was breathing heavily and one of his arms was wrapped carefully around his waist. Merion stood as well, backing up a bit so as not to alarm him.
"Do you need help? I can help you."
"No," the stranger answered in a low, raspy voice.
Merion nodded. Who was he to argue? No point in picking another fight, and it was obvious he wasn't going to get anywhere. If the boy didn't want his help, there was nothing he could do. He had problems enough of his own. Merion turned his feet back towards where he came and began to make his way back to the light of the street.
There was a shuffle of movement, and Merion heard the labored breaths of the man behind him. "Wait," he breathed, his words breaking into a rough cough.
Merion slowed his pace.
"Wait, please..." he asked again with a hint of urgency.
Merion turned and for the second time that night his heart leapt out in sympathy. The poor fellow was struggling after him, but was clutching his side in such apparent pain that Merion immediately felt guilty for brushing the man off so quickly.
The youth shuffled forward, his steps awkward and uncertain. "Thank you," he wheezed.
It was only then that Merion detected a hint of an accent. He couldn't yet place it, but it was familiar and peeked his curiosity a bit.
"You're welcome."
The stranger eventually came a pace away from Merion, stepping into the light of the street. He stopped and swayed a bit.
Merion took in a sharp breath.
It wasn't until then, in the faint glow of the streetlight, that he was able to take in the full features of the other person. Merion felt his jaw slack slightly and his eyes widened in disbelief. I know you. He felt like pinching himself, because surely he had to be dreaming.
The young man's face, behind grit and a sliver of blood that ran along his scalp, was incredibly familiar. Green eyes... pale skin... thin pointy nose and high cheekbones. He had seen this man before.
"Come," he motioned, somehow managing to find his voice. "I'll lend you my shoulder... let's get you checked out."
The man almost fell completely forward, nearly knocking Merion over. Apparently it had only been sheer will that had kept him upright. Merion carefully positioned his arm around the boy's shoulders and let him lean almost his full weight against his own body.
"No doctor," he pleaded to Merion, his voice barely above a whisper. "Please, no hospitals..."
Merion shifted the man's weight and held onto him protectively, still feeling slightly dizzy with his discovery. "Alright, no hospitals," he promised, unsure of why. He really did need to get checked out by someone. "My place is only a block away. Can you make it?"
There was a small grunt which Merion took as acceptance. He slowly began making his way back home. His heart was beating quickly, and he held onto the man like some precious cargo.
It couldn't be. He kept thinking again and again. It was only a dream.
And as the wind picked up and blew cold air against the two, and as the youth clung to Merion for warmth and protection, Merion felt his stomach turn and a tingling run up his spine. I must be going mad, he thought soberly. He might have only been dreaming dreams before, but one thing was for certain--
Right now, he was awake...
oh, you know there's a part VI coming...