A/N: It's been a really long time, for me anyway, since I updated this. I have this policy that once I finish the chapter after the current one I post it, and for some strange reason I got a whole two chapters past this one without posting anything. And it's been a whole month! That is very bizarre for me. I'd just like to thank the reviewers, 'cause without you guys, there would be no point in posting this.
Um, yeah, disclaimer and whatnot. Just read it.
Chapter Three:
Eclipse walked into Raenef's room with a pleasant smile. He felt the cool breeze blow his hair out of his face and looked over to the sofa Raenef had taken to sitting on even before their visits. He wasn't there, but Eclipse wasn't worried yet, it wasn't like Raenef had to be sitting on the sofa, waiting specifically for his therapist to walk in the room. Eclipse walked further into the room, getting a little more apprehensive when he didn't hear any noises, not even that of breathing. He walked out on the deck and all his worries disappeared. There in the corner of the balcony, the apparent form of a fifteen year old's body was leaning lightly on the banister. His blond hair was being tossed about while he looked out at the skyline. Eclipse walked up slowly to the boy and quietly announced his presence, but Raenef heard nothing. Eclipse sighed and walked within reaching distance and paused. He stared at the small portion of the boy's face he could see and wondered what his skin would feel like. No! He mentally berated himself for even thinking something like that, it was unethical, unprofessional, and the boy was so young. Eclipse lifted a hand and tapped Raenef's shoulder lightly. Raenef's body turned around, his eyes wide in shock, then softening when he saw who it was.
"It's a beautiful day, would you like to move the chairs out here?" Eclipse asked.
Raenef nodded and ran inside, followed by Eclipse. Together they pulled the heavy sofa out, but the effort made both of them winded and they sat down on the couch outside. Eclipse's chest heaved up and down, though he looked to be in good shape, he hardly ever worked out, always sitting at a desk or in a chair talking. On the other hand, Raenef's breathing had hardly changed, and Eclipse blamed it on age. But the little Raenef was sporting a fine sheen of sweat, which made him glow like an angel. Eclipse took one more deep breath and stood up, immediately tailed by Raenef. The arm chair was significantly lighter, and Eclipse wasn't heaving by the time they got it to the balcony.
"There, now we can enjoy the sunshine before winter comes," Eclipse said while sitting in his chair. He pulled out the notepad and pen and flipped the little book open. "Do you feel like talking today?"
Raenef's smile disappeared and he shook his head slowly.
"Alright then," Eclipse said, flipping the notebook closed again. He turned his gaze to the hillside facing them. He wondered what Raenef was staring at so intently, but quickly gave up trying to guess. Then a brilliant idea hit him and he smiled at the boy sitting across from him. All the work they did pulling the chairs out would be in vain, but he didn't care.
"Would you like to go for a walk?"
Raenef stared at his psychologist and stood.
The sun shone through the leaves giving everything underneath them a yellow-green hue. The perfectly manicured lawn looked so soft and inviting that Raenef couldn't help but to bend down and touch it. It felt good on his fingertips, and a small smile played on his lips. He stood again and ran a little ways to catch up to Eclipse.
Raenef slowed when he reached Eclipse and glanced at him, glad to be walking around outside. He hadn't been outside since he was admitted, and then he was struggling so much he really didn't have time to look at the scenery. The fact that he was out with the only person who ever showed any thoughtfulness was a big mood brightener, also.
They walked along a shaded path until they came to small grassy clearing surrounded by trees. Eclipse took Raenef by the hand and pulled him over to a base of a rather large tree far away from the path. Eclipse motioned for Raenef to sit down, and followed suit. They sat there in silence for a couple of minutes, looking at random birds that hopped around the ground or just up at the clouds. Time seemed to stop, and only Eclipse and Raenef occupied the space in it.
"This used to be my favorite spot," Eclipse said quietly. "Then I got so busy with work, I didn't have any time to relax."
Raenef nodded in understanding, though he had never been busy enough to not be able to relax. He had never been able to relax, though, due to being orphaned and homeless. He was always on the run from officials, usually for petty theft or what they assumed to be public drunkenness. Raenef sighed, in truth, his life had started to get better since he arrived at the asylum. No more worries about where he was going to sleep, or if his food was going to get him sick. He never had to worry about getting brutally beaten by the police, and if he kept on his best behavior in the ward, he would never have to worry about the guards. He was as close to being happy as he ever thought he could be. With this thought, Raenef slowly moved closer to his psychologist, resting his head on the other's shoulder. His lips curled up in the realization that being alone with the dark haired man in the beautiful sun spotted clearing felt completely right.
During this time, Eclipse had his eyes closed, enjoying the warm sun on his pale skin. He almost never went outside of the ward, he never had any need to do so. Though now he only had one patient, so he could focus all his energy on one singular point. And he thought it would be good for the teen to get outside, no doubt he needed to work his muscles, he was already thin. Eclipse smiled when he thought of how far his charge had gone since his arrival. He looked so much healthier, no longer thin with bulging eyes and translucent skin. Definitely a sign of malnutrition. Even though the boy was forced to come to the asylum, it had done him good. And if Eclipse couldn't find anything wrong, maybe he could stay? They couldn't just let him go back to the streets, at least, Eclipse couldn't. A light weight put pressure on his shoulder, causing him to come out of his thoughts and look in that direction. He saw a blond mass of hair on his left shoulder, and rested his cheek against it. His eyelids dropped dangerously low, and he fell into a light sleep.
Back inside the building, Krayon was walking down the hallway toward Eclipse's office. He was in a particularly good mood today, apparently for no reason. He was going to ask Eclipse to lunch, since both of them had to eat, and inquire about the little mute boy. Krayon knew that Eclipse wouldn't say "no" to talking about his favorite patient, and Krayon was the head of the ward, so he had a right to any new information Eclipse had to give. He smiled at himself for finally catching Eclipse in a place where he couldn't refuse.
Krayon almost skipped the small distance to Eclipse's office door, and when he reached out for the knob, he was knocked backward by the door being opened by someone on the other side. He looked up to see Eclipse's stunned assistant, staring back at him on the floor.
"Ah! I'm so sorry, Mr. Krayon. I didn't see you there." The brunet said, extending his hand in assistance. Krayon took it and hoisted himself up.
"Yes, well, things like that happen, don't they? No problem," Krayon said. He looked beyond the boy into the office and noticed there was no one there. "Where is Dr. Eclipse?"
"He's with his mute patient, I think. He doesn't really tell me things anymore," the boy drifted off, then seemed to realize again that he was talking to someone. He smiled at Krayon. "I just assume he's with that patient, 'cause he's always with that patient." He shrugged.
Krayon paused. Why was Eclipse spending all his free time with his newest patient? Krayon knew the answer, he just didn't want to believe it. HOW COULD ECLIPSE ENJOY THE COMPANY OF A TEENAGER MORE THAN OF HIS INTELLIGENT, GOOD- LOOKING SELF? He mulled over this for a couple of seconds longer than was polite, not noticing that the assistant was still standing there, waiting for his opportunity to nicely say that he had something else that needed his attention. Krayon snapped back to reality and waved his hand a little to the boy.
"I should be going now, I hope you find Eclipse," the little brunet said, edging slowly away from the man that shouldn't be in a lab coat, but rather in a patient's gown.
Krayon turned around and walked in the opposite direction from Eclipse's office, heading for, what was his name again? Krayon checked his palm pilot...Raenef. Right, he was heading for Raenef's room. His mood had taken a severe decline realizing that Eclipse was...he couldn't even say it. Krayon shook his head, trying to get unsavory images out of it. Sometimes he had absolutely no control over his imagination, which, he concluded, was probably good for his techniques in healing patients. Almost all of the patients he had were cured, and never reverted back to old habits. That gave him quite the name in the psychology community.
He reached the young boy's room and took out his master key. He swished it through the lock and waited impatiently for the door to open, tapping his foot at an irritatingly fast pace. When the door was just inches open, he pushed it fully and walked into the room. There was no one inside. Oh shit, that means they're out on the property, he thought. That meant he'd have to go search for Eclipse, which at that moment didn't seem like a fun thing to do. Krayon hung his head, wondering if he really wanted to put that much energy into a task that wasn't even necessary. Then a grin found it's way onto his features. Krayon knew exactly where Eclipse would take his favorite patient. He almost sprinted out of Raenef's room, slamming the door shut behind him and not bothering to wait and see if it had locked.
The next few moments were a frenzy of colors, as Krayon ran past shocked psychologists and patients alike. They were not accustomed to seeing the highest employee of the asylum running in that manner, and all thought something terrible must've happened when they flung themselves out of the way and dropping all sorts of instruments with loud clangs on the marble floor. Krayon vaguely remembered one of the orderlies asking if they could help, but he only waved his hand in a dismissive way and continued running. Once outside he slowed to a fast walk, letting his eyes adapt to the amount of light. He strained his memory trying to visualize where Eclipse had gone, his brow furrowing in the task.
Krayon's eyes snapped open as he remembered where to go. He praised himself on having such a good memory, for it had been years since he had visited Eclipse's spot. The back of his mind lingered on the fact that he had never personally been asked to go with Eclipse, but it didn't linger long.
This time Krayon walked through the shaded pathways, his body being calmed by the peaceful chirping of birds and the wind rustling through the leaves. He met a few people on the way, nodding his head or saying a small greeting.
He huffed. This was taking longer than he remembered. He hated it when things didn't go the way he wanted them to. Krayon quickened his pace, only to realize he recognized where he was. His lips grew into a twisted smile as he saw the little path off to the side. Maybe he would sneak up and see what the two were doing, his smile grew larger.
Krayon stepped off the worn path to the smaller one, slowly creeping toward his objective. When just feet away he dipped behind a thick tree, and steadied his breath. When he felt mentally and physically prepared, he turned and faced the tree, taking one last breath before slowly inching his face from behind his hiding spot. All the preparation in the world could not ready him for what he saw.
A/N: Okay, I will not wait a whole month before I post the next chapter, promise. Tell me what you think, please.