Chapter 12

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The next morning Alan woke up feeling pretty good. He had this pretty amazing dream last night. In the dream he was in a relationship with Eric and they were both really happy from being with each other. Dating each other only enhanced the relationship they had shared for years. With the dream he decided that he wasn't going to shy away from the truth. While he wasn't going to come between Eric and whoever he was dating he wasn't going to avoid him. If Eric found out he found out, they would acknowledge it and move on. Hiding from everything would only come back to bite him he was certain of that. Going into the kitchen he reached for a coffee mug and saw the bruise still on his wrist; that was strange. Setting the mug down he pulled his wrist closer to take a better look at it, it was odd that a bruise lasted this long. Applying just a slight amount of pressure he winced and pulled his hand away as a sharp pain ran through it. It felt like someone ran needles through his wrist. Curious but figuring he would be sorry he did the same thing to the other one. Right in his assumption he shook them out, whatever Ronald did to him was more than just a simple hit. He probably hit his nerves and did more damage than just bruising. If he had time he would stop by the infirmary and see if they had any ideas to have it heal faster. He used his hands for everything and not having them bother him was a must.

Seeing the giant stack of paperwork waiting for him on his desk he forgot about getting looked at today. This paperwork and having to reap meant no spare time what so ever and probably for a while too. There had been so much going on in London he wouldn't be surprised if there wasn't one soon.
"Alan, ready to go?" Eric came up beside him holding their weapons.
"You're joining me?"
"Everyone is going in groups. A few came back injured last night, all of this work is from that."
"Demons?"
"We aren't sure but most likely. Will won't let anyone go alone until we are certain about what is going on. A lot has been going on in the Underworld, that kid with the demon butler is probably causing trouble for us again. That kid can really be a pain."
"What kid?"
"Come on I'll tell you on the way."
Taking his weapon from Eric and gathering their lists they took off. He was interested to know more about what Eric was talking about.

So far they hadn't spotted any demons but the wake of destruction was immense. A giant fire in the East End took so many lives. Alan didn't think a kid could do this, influenced by a demon or not. The area from what he gathered was low end and filled with drugs among poor children working hard to survive. But still something so devastating wasn't something they deserved.
"Did you want to split up or stay together?"
"Let's stay together just in case. Whether the kid is involved or not the demon could still show up. There are a lot of souls here."
"Okay." Together they ran towards the flames and the souls that needed to be collected. They weren't scared of being burned; fires weren't all that dangerous for them so long as they didn't decide to go swimming in them. The more Alan looked at what happened the more he saw this being more human error than anything else. Hearing Eric shouting something he saw him run passed him grabbing his arm with him.
"Eric, what's going on?" It wasn't like him to run away from anything.
"Fireworks."
He no sooner got the words out of his mouth as the building went up in a huge ball of fire and lights. The colors were pretty and all but it wasn't getting anything done.
"The whole place was loaded with them. That's probably explains how the other two got hurt. I'll bet the whole area was littered with them. One went up and the others caught as well since they are close together." Waiting for the explosions to stop a little they got back to work. They still had a lot of work to do and this was only slowing them down.

Alan stopped to flex his hands for a moment; the pain on them was making it hard to hold his scythe. This was ridiculous, he needed to get better and he needed to do so now. Re-gripping the handle he tried grabbing it a little differently to see if that would help. Not really but the pressure seemed to decrease a little. He needed to get done here and go home; maybe if he applied heat and wrapped it would heal faster. Crossing another name off the list he realized there was still a lot of work to do. For now it looked like he would just have to deal with the pressure and stay focused on the task at hand. At least they didn't have to fight anyone, he wasn't sure he would be able to do as well in a fight as he would if he wasn't injured.

By the time all the souls were collected Alan could barely hold his scythe. It looked like the paperwork would have to put on hold for now.
"You alright, you seem exhausted?" Eric came up beside him noticing the sweat that shined off Alan's face.
"Yea it's nothing. I think Ronald damaged a nerve in my wrist the other day. It's taken a bit longer to heal, and this mission didn't seem to help."
"You should have told me I would have divided the work differently."
"It's fine, really. Besides it wasn't an issue when we started."
"Even so you should have brought it up. Now come on let's get out of here. The smoke is starting to give me a headache."
"Sounds good to me." Allowing Eric to take his weapon they walked side by side down the street. For Alan this was fine, as long as he got to be close to Eric he was happy. No, he was wrong; it wasn't fine, he wasn't happy. He still felt alone because he was so close yet so far from something, from someone he truly wanted. Feeling the pain in his chest he tried to stop thinking about it, he couldn't dwell on what he couldn't have. He refused to cry, to show Eric the truth this way.
"You up from a few drinks, or is your hand bothering you too much?"
"No I'm up for that."
"That's good; it feels like we haven't done that in a while." It did feel like it had been a while, this time though he wasn't getting drunk no matter what. He had too much work to do tomorrow to deal with a hangover. And he wasn't up to saying anything he would regret later thanks to being intoxicated. That was all he needed later. Eric was glad Alan agreed to come out with him; he wanted to explain himself for yesterday and for why he chose to lie to him in the first place. He was never crazy about lying to him but he had gone against his better judgment. He felt having at least a beer in him would help express his thoughts better, loosen him up a bit. Sure they had been friends for years now but he still held back his thoughts and he knew Alan deserved better than that from him.

"You sure you're alright Alan you're hardly drinking anything?"
"What? Yea, just not in the mood for this as I thought."
"Want to head back then?"
"No, I'm content here."
"Scared you'll get drunk again? I promise I won't leave you like I did last time."
"You know me too well." Joking back he just smiled as he forced a sip down his throat. That idea worked well for him.
"Well since you're sober I want to bring something up with you."
"Okay."
"About what I did, I'm sorry. I just didn't want to hurt you. I didn't want you to feel like things between us would change if you knew."
"That wouldn't have happened. But, being lied to for weeks makes me feel great just you know." So he remembered what happened when Ronald first started hanging out with him; that was so long ago, he had grown up a lot since then. How could he be in love with someone that barely knew him?
"I probably knew that but I still worried, you're too important to me to lose. I didn't want to see you cry again."
"You're still,"
"treating you like a child, I know. Sorry. But I don't see you as one."
"Well thanks, make me happy to hear." Going back to looking into his beer he tried to hide the attitude his voice was starting to carry.
"I see you as much more than that."
"Oh really?" He knew he was failing at not blushing from hearing that, maybe Eric was tipsy and wouldn't notice.
"I see you as much more than that, so much more." Smiling he moved a little closer, he could see the blush in Alan's cheeks. God he was gorgeous and in more than just looks. Taking his hand he gently took hold of Alan's chin, saw into the beautiful green-yellow eyes that always showed the soul of God's perfect creature.
"E…Eric? What are you" He was cut off as Eric's lips touched his own. He knew he should pull away, that Eric wasn't thinking clearly, but he couldn't. His heart wouldn't let him as it exploded in joy; this was what he waiting for. But not like this, this was wrong. He didn't want to be that person. Pulling away he tried to avoid Eric's confused and lost expression as he pulled out money to cover his drink and forced himself not to run until he was out of the bar.
"Alan!" Not sure how much he just threw down he ran after him. Had he read him wrong? Were his feeling one sided? "Alan, wait up!" Running down the street he grabbed his hand and stopped him from going any further.
"What do you think you're doing, let me go!" He couldn't turn to face him, he didn't want him to see the pain he was in from walking away.
"I'm sorry. Just hear me out."
"Hear you out? You just kissed me! You're obviously not all there from drinking."
"That's not it."
"That's not it? What kind of fool do you take me for Eric? Honestly, I swear you can be so stupid for thinking I would allow yo," He spun around to face and get his point across only be cut off and rendered speechless.
"I love you Alan!"
"…W…what? No, no you don't!"
"Yes I do. I've loved you for awhile now. I tried so hard not to because of our jobs. I knew that if I fell for you I would always worry about you instead of the assignment. Only that plan backfired by making me love you more. I only started dating the woman from Affairs in hopes to fall out of love with you. Turns out it didn't work like I planned."
"Eric. I." He didn't know what to say, didn't know what to do. Eric Slingby just told him he was in love with him. Their feelings were mutual, he didn't have to be scared by them anymore.
"You what, don't feel the same way? I understand and know I'm sorry for putting you in an awkward situation.
"No, Eric, I love you too."
"You do?" He smiled and let his shoulders drop to relieve some of the pressure he was holding in them. Hearing that made him happier then he thought possible. He had been terrified his actions had ruined everything until a moment ago.
"It took me a long time to realize and when I did I feared I missed my chance. I think I have loved you for a long time but was to naïve to see it as that."
Eric pulled Alan's body closer to allow their lips to meet again only this time he hoped they met for a bit longer. Alan grabbed the back of Eric's jacket to stand taller. He couldn't explain what it felt like to be this close to Eric, to feel his lips on his own, to feel the heat that came off him, to feel his arms wrapped around him. For the first time in his life he was grateful he wasn't a human; that they could be together for so many years, so many centuries. Feeling Eric pull back slightly he tried to bring him back.
"Don't worry I'm not leaving, do you mind if we take this somewhere a little more private?"
Alan couldn't stop his face from exploding into a giant blush as Eric whispered to him.
"No, I was just thinking that."

Eric led Alan inside his house and towards the bedroom. He wasn't hoping for things to get that far but his bed would allow them the space to get comfortable. Even, if they just made out or even relaxed in each other's arms. He could feel how nervous Alan was as he saw him down.
"I promise I won't do anything you don't want to do. I'm just happy to have you here with me." Bringing him closer his lips gently moved up and down Alan's neck. He could feel the pleasure he got just from this. Feeling Alan's hand carefully grab his head he pulled away to have Alan passionately kiss his lips. The passion he got from him was unlike anything he had ever gotten before. This must be what true love felt like. Alan's hands went for his jacket and tried to pull it off, without question he allowed it and helped him take it off. Feeling him try to undo his tie even more and go for his shirt buttons he pulled back just enough to make sure this was what he truly wanted.
"Alan, are you sure about this?"
"Yes. Just be gentle, please."
"Anything for you."
Pushing him back on the bed they took off each other's glasses and Eric found himself getting lost in the other's eyes. Alan was really his, they were each other's and nothing and nobody would ever change that.
"Eric?" Hearing his sweet voice he pulled out of his thoughts and focused solely on the person he was with. The person he loved so much, the one he would do anything for.

Alan laid in bed beside the one he loved, the one he just gave himself to. He couldn't be happier.
"Alan, are you alright? Did I hurt you? I tried my hardest not to."
Rolling to his side he smiled at Eric before moving closer to rest his head on his chest. The smile grew as he felt Eric's arms wrap around him holding him closer, holding him tighter.
"No, I'm okay. You didn't hurt me at all."
"Good, I'm glad to hear it." Nuzzling his face into Alan's shoulder he inhaled deeply, taking in the beautiful scent of his lover. Alan moved his head to get comfortable and to hear the strong heart of the one the one that held him, of the one he loved so much. He couldn't have been happier with how the night played out, he regretted nothing just as he had hoped for.
"Falling asleep Alan?"
He didn't want to but he found it hard to keep his eyes open. His body had never been this relaxed before nor this comfortable.
"Mmmhmm."
"Sweet dreams then. See you in the morning."
Smiling at how true and perfect that sentence was he allowed his mind to start to drift off.
"See you in the morning. I love you."
"I love you too."
Gently running a hand through Alan's hair he noticed how soft it was just like the rest of him. Listening to Alan's breath become softer and softer he attempted to fall asleep as well. He couldn't believe he was really sleeping with Alan, the person his whole body was in love with. He really hoped this wasn't some dream for it was he never wanted to wake up. He had waited so long for this day and it had been worth it without a doubt. He never loved anyone as much as he loved Alan and he would never love anyone else. Not that he had to. They could stay together forever; they had so many years ahead of the, it was exciting to think about. He hoped every night was as wonderful as this one and something told him it would be.

Alan woke up first to see Eric still holding him tightly yet sleeping soundly. At least he looked comfortable meaning he hadn't been heavy while he slept on him for part of the night. Not comfortable with the idea of getting up with nothing on and Eric possibly seeing that he searched for something from where he was in bed. He knew they had just slept together but the idea still bothered him. Finding his pants he slipped them on so he could go into the bathroom and shower. As he let the warm water run over him he saw the marks on his wrists, they seemed to have gotten worse. Reaching outside of the shower for his glasses he slipped them on so he could see them better. Taking another look, sure enough they had, it seemed there was a thin line starting to run up his arm now. It wasn't far up his arm, maybe an inch or to but still it was there. How was that possible? And how was it affecting both of his wrists? Was it some sort of infection, or allergic reaction?
"What is going on? What is this?"

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Wrote this chapter in a day I am proud of myself. Typed it the following day because I was tired but still Yay for me! The reviews are lovely and please know if I don't reply back to it that doesn't mean I love it any less that means I want to but am probably on my phone and it's a pain to do so. I love you guys and hope you continue to enjoy this story for I know I certainly am.
~Femalefighter~