::Author's note::
::Heaven is hardly perfect::
::Clive's P.o.V::
Waking up to a dream, it's kind of hard sometimes. Waking with tears running down your cheeks horrified from a nightmare can ruin your day. It just hurts inside to know that reality and fiction can cross your mind so easily. With a smile carved over your lips when awakening from heaven it can make the world seem to turn and grin back. Already the world was changing for a better side perhaps. The once bitter nights were growing warmer, and the slightest troubles had changed at heart. Was this world heaven, or was it not enough? Does this world exist, or is there no path for us follow down? If so, what path is there to follow along? The roads had long ago crumbled into ruins at the touch of those before. With golden gates closed, I can take your hand and lead you into my heaven where there is no pain. Jet... I welcome you to my heaven.
::Four weeks Earlier::
::Before the final encounter::
Time was slowing passing, the world dreaming by. Those who slumbered stared to the stars. Was there any hope up in the lights above? The empty feeling radiating back towards him while searching inside for answers of the heart. 'It plagues me to know your not here.' His mind echoed in protest of the search. Weakened physically, he was not to give up without seeing him one last time. 'But... do you want me to find you?' Finding it hard not to stop in the tracks of the sand, Clive stood to a still amongst the depths of the desert. This was his kingdom to roam, to find what he was searching for. When this adventure had first started, he believed he wanted to learn about the world. The world taught him though that was something he didn't dare to dream of, his eyes set amongst an angel possessed into the heavens that could never be brought down to his own filthy hands.
"I'm so dirty..." Shaken from the cold of the growing night, he huddled alone close to the fire. 'I made him dirty...' His lips trembled out the words but dare not enter them aloud into the air, but his breath carried them on. "He's not giving up yet though Clive, you have to keep going." The gunner's eyes grew wide with astonishment. That familiar voice that drew near to him, was it? Looking back he could see his wife, the woman he loved and was torn apart to see here. Both Virginia and Gallows placed to her side. The woman stood with tears in her eyes watching the man she longed loved be out of her own reach. "C-Catherine?" He croaked.
"Love makes you do crazy things... All the way from traveling the world after one person you love to going to their side... Love always shows a way through the darkness... No matter how old you get, that feeling of love bursting through your heart is always the same and most true to you more than yourself. Isn't it funny Clive? I mean, if you gone this far, what is stopping you?" Her words broken yet the feeling of emotion still lingered. 'Love makes you do crazy things, even if that means.... letting go of who you love the most.'
Seeing her like that was like an eternity of hell. What words she shared though had been true. Clive had gone so far just to find Jet on his own, he forgotten who was on his side. Virginia was the first to approach giving the older man a small hug. "You know, I never thought you'd be the one pushing everyone away. We'll always stick by your side no matter what. Remember, love conquers all!" Her grasp softened letting go of him taking a step aside while Gallows approached.
Clumsily he rubbed the side of his head looking to the gunner who looked curious of what he had to say. "Do you have to look at me like that?" He muttered at first. "I'm not good with these sorts of things, but what she said is right. We are by your side no matter what. We've been in plenty of situations and were not sitting alone on this one! All four of us are a team." Cheering, he raised a fist into the air proudly being followed by Virginia in the action. "A team!" She cheered along with him. Taking a side next to Virginia, the two became silent when Catherine came near Clive.
Sadness, joy, hatred, love, all of them being emotions which displayed themselves into her eyes forming the tears crossing her cheeks. Sadness for what she had given up. Joy for what Clive had came to see. Hatred for him being stripped away from her... and love, hoping that Clive and Jet would finally have a new future. Perhaps a better one then theirs. "Clive... I'll always love you, remember that. I'll never hate you for anything you done. I... wish you the best of luck." Brushing her lips onto her she forced herself away in small sobs. "Make sure when your journey is over that you will come visit me. Okay? I'll be waiting, as long as I can breathe... I'll wait for you..." Taking several steps away from the group that had reunited from such a long time, quickly her pace carried into the distance leaving Clive standing there in the cold. "Catherine... Thank you."
Love does make you do crazy things. It also stings deep inside like a knife when betrayed. To have a blessing though, by someone that loves you... I thank her for that each day I can breathe. I'll thank her for it till I die. I can hold him in my arms believing in no such thing as pain. Always I will carry a part of love for her inside my heart.
Catherine, I love you...
The hardest thing along the journey for Clive was not that very moment. In fact, he didn't learn of it until he heard of rumors about a boy far off in the desert being kept away. Believing it was a lead, he found out more than he had hoped for. Wounds smothered their bodies as the group stood near the cabin after a fierce battle. "Well Clive, you aren't just going to stand there are you?" Virginia teased. Gallows amusedly chuckled pushing Clive ahead, still a little creeped out of the idea of Jet and Clive being forever together, but it was what made them both smile. Never did the small android seem to smile before, so this was for the best. "Yeah, get your lazy can in there!" He ordered. Standing near the edge, the two left Clive to serve his own pathway. Neither of them could assist any longer until they were sure.
Stumbling towards the cabin, Clive found what he hoped and what he feared inside... He hoped for Jet, and feared for the worst. His heart sank into the pit of his stomach seeing the mess motionless upon the bed. Soft fleshed bruised, his body seeming broken against the mattress. "How Jet?" Tears flooded to his eyes. "You're the strongest I know.." Twisting the chains loose from the frail arms, slowly he noticed the angel was awakening within his arm. Poor Clive's heart pounding heavily, but words didn't have a meaning in an encounter like this. His arms wrapped around the cold body trying to bring back the life into him that was lost. Yet, even for a week state that the boy was in, he drew the energy to move close to Clive's warm lips, he himself drawing closer to him letting their lips meet to prove dreams do come true.
I found you...
Even after all this time.
Jet, you are my stars.
My hope...
My morning light.
You are...
My everything, my love.
You are, my story.
To be continued...