Chapter 16

Disclaimer- I own nothing!

Alan sat on a rooftop enjoying the view of the arriving spring time. Winter was as beautiful in his eyes but feeling the warmth that came with spring as well as watching the blooming life form around him was what made it even better. Watching the flowers and trees bloom, he could spend hours here. This sight was his sunrise, sunset scene. Just watching the flowers open or just swaying in the breeze was fine with him. He knew Eric, no matter how much he loved him, would never do this. Or find as much, if any enjoyment in it. He probably didn't even know a spot like this existed. Seeing his target in the distance he reluctantly stood up to do his job, maybe he would come back here after he finished for the day, before he went home. He loved this spot; it was a great area to just think.

Finishing up with work he noticed the sunset was just starting. Debating between heading back to go home with Eric, or staying in the human world a little while longer he decided to stay. Nothing against Eric but he saw him every day or just about it anyway so spending some time a part wasn't a big deal. Going back to the spot he was at earlier he watched the flowers sway, some were closing up as the sun left them. Seeing them getting ready for the night reminded him that another day was coming to an end. Meaning he was another day closer to his own. While he hadn't an attack since around the start of the New Year and was nowhere near as severe as when he collapsed in the snow he still knew he was dying. Every day the thorns became a little closer to his heart, to claiming his life.

"Hey, I figured you would be here." Hearing footsteps behind him he saw Eric coming to sit beside him.
"How did you know I would be here?"
" I saw this place some time ago and it seemed like a place you would come."
"You know me too well."
"Thank you. Some view huh."
"Yea."
Seeing Alan going back to the ocean of flowers below them he wrapped an arm around his shoulders and pulled him closer. He had guessed he would find him here once he finished up with work, he wasn't sure if he would head home or not. They may have been together and slept over each other's place every night but that didn't mean they were attached to the hip. Though he liked Alan near him in case he had another attack, so far he only had two he knew of. One before he knew he was sick and one right after the New Year. That had been the worst experience of his life. Alan had been in the kitchen getting a drink when he heard glass shatter. Running in he saw Alan over the sink trying to hold himself together it looked like, he could see him in pain and as much as he had wanted to help or do something, anything for him all he could was watch. Keep his arms around him and watch.
"Eric? Are you still with me?"
Realizing Alan had been talking to him he had that unpleasant memory go to the back of his mind again and give him his attention.
"Of course, sorry. You were saying."
"I knew you weren't listening to me."
Smirking from his victory he moved a little closer to Eric to rest more comfortably on him. He was glad he was here and they were enjoying this together. That's all he was saying to him.

"Alan you up for a little sparing?" Ronald ran up to him as he split ways with Eric who was going out on assignment.
"Sure. I need to burn off my lunch anyway. I think I ate more then I should have."
"Sweet." Even though he didn't have to spar anymore since he was past the point of it being mandatory he still loved it and tried to do a little every day. Finding Alan as the only one available worked even better since he still couldn't beat him. Both walked together to the training room joking around while they quickly changed and stretched. Ronald could feel it, today was the day he would land a blow on Alan at the very least. He would take him down, make him feel it in the morning, bruise him so hard he had it for a week. Yea, today was the day it was all going to happen.
"Plotting my demise, keep dreaming." Seeing this strange smile cross Ronald's face Alan couldn't help but tease him. They had practice quite a bit together and he still couldn't hit him, what made him think today would be any different?

It didn't take long for them to end up their standard position of weapons locked with full force behind them. This was usually where Alan took over and landed a blow on Ronald. Getting ready he went for the attack, only, Ronald dodged before it could land. He was improving it seemed. Still it wasn't enough for him to get the advantage. Side stepping Alan easily avoided the attack. Going to show him how it's done he prepared his weapon and footing. His weapon lowered as he was suddenly gasping for air. His body felt like it was catching on fire, his veins carried a searing pain throughout his body. Not now, not with Ronald here with him.
"Alan? Hey Alan what's wrong?"
He could hear Ronald beside him and starting to panic but his lungs wouldn't allow him to tell him he would be fine. Would he be fine though? Curling up in a ball on the floor he tried to keep his mind sane. It was easier said than done as it kept telling him he was going to die, and he would be alone forever. That all he knew was suffering and that was all he would ever know even after he was dead. His body hurt, the fire was burning him alive from the inside out. The thorns were stabbing his organs and veins and being dragged around throughout his body. Not sure what was going on with Alan and hearing him gasping for air Ronald ran to the side of the room with a direct link to the infirmary. Pushing the intercom button he tried to coherently tell them to get down here before running back to Alan. What the hell was going on with him? Had he hurt him somehow?

Eric stood with a few others where their desks were when he heard about nurses being summoned to the infirmary. He didn't hear the whole thing but he heard Alan's name and something about Ronald freaking out. Forgetting who he was with he dropped everything and ran as fast as he could to the training room.
"Alan!"
"Eric!" Ronald stepped away from Alan who was still crumpled on the floor. "I don't know what happened. We were sparing, he was fine, I didn't touch him but, then,"
"I know. Alan, it's me, I'm here, you'll be alright." Putting his arms around him he lifted him off the floor holding him close.
"…Eric…" His vision was blurry even with his glasses on his face, not that he could feel them on his face. His body hurt so much, his lungs were even burning. Death had to be close now, Eric probably wasn't even here with him, he was probably just delusional from the pain. Refusing to let anyone else touch him in the state he was in Eric gently lifted Alan in his arms to carry him to the infirmary and let him rest. He could tell the nurses were baffled and wanted to look at him but Eric refused to let them to do anything while Alan was out of it. Watching his breathing start to settle back down and his pained gasps for air were turning to normal inhales and exhales he sat in the chair besides him. It seemed the thorns were letting up. This attack seemed longer than his last one. He needed to find a cure for him and he needed to find it soon. He wasn't sure how long Alan had and he couldn't wait until he had none left to help him. He had been looking through every book the society's library held and he found nothing. Not even the hint of something. He refused to believe there was nothing out there. If there was information on the disease itself then there had to be something, anything on a way to cure it.

"Hey Eric, is he up yet?" Ronald snuck his head in the doorway, worry clearly written over his face.
"He just fell asleep. I figure he'll be out for a while."
"Oh, well is he still in pain?"
"No he is past it. You can come in you know."
"It's okay. I should be getting back to work. Let me know when we wakes up. Oh and tell him I hope he is better soon alright."
"Sure."
Both knew he wasn't getting back to work. He would stay outside the room until Alan woke up and he could figure out what happened to him. Really Eric should tell him, he did know, but this was something Alan had to do. William would probably be down here soon as well to figure out the truth. Alan's future here could be coming to an end; he didn't want that to be the case and knew Alan wouldn't either. But it would be safer, what if he had an attack on the field while facing a demon. He could be killed, if not seriously injured. He wouldn't be able to handle it if something happened to him. Alan wanted his independent but he needed to think about his health and safety. They could go together; it would be like old times, like when they first met each other.

"Hey there."
Hearing a soft voice he turned to the bed to see Alan awake and looking at him with a soft smile.
"Hey. Are you okay?"
"I think so. What are you doing here I thought you were out on assignment?"
"Change of plans, William wanted someone else to go, some trainee I think, I never left."
Sitting up he winced, it seems the thorns were still reminding him of their presence. Eric's arms sprang up towards him ready to grab him if anything happened. He could tell Eric was watching him; he waved him off knowing the sharp pain had left him already and was nothing to worry about.
"Where is Ronald I want to apologize for this?" He couldn't remembered what had happened exactly outside if the thorns attacking his body but he knew he had been next to him and slightly recalled hearing panic in his voice.
"He is pacing outside the room. I'll get him for you."

Alan watched as Ronald walked in, worry written all over his face. He really scared him before.
"Are…are you okay now?"
"I am. I want to apologize for scaring you."
"What happened? Did I hurt you somehow? I didn't think I hit you but I'm not sure what happened."
"You didn't hurt me. I should have told you sooner but I'm sick. I get these attacks every so often from it."
"Do you know what it is? Can you do anything for it?"
"No I can't but they are pretty rare, spaced months apart so I don't worry about them too much. And I do but promise me we'll keep this between us. I have the Thorns of Death."
Seeing the look on Ronald's face he could tell he knew of the disease and was horrified by what it meant.
"Alan Humphries. We need to talk in my office." Everyone in the room looked towards the door to see William standing there. He knew this was coming and it was only a matter of time. The last thing he wanted though was to be forced to quit his job. He loved it here, paperwork included, he loved the people he met, the experiences he had, he loved allowing humans to go to heaven and find peace there.
"Of course sir."

Getting out of bed and ignoring the protest from Eric to wait he followed William to his office. He felt weak still from the attack but he could hold it together long enough. Sitting across from William who was at his desk he waited to hear his fate here.
"I don't want to let you go but if it is true that you have contracted the Thorns of Death I must discuss your future with us. Do you wish to stay here?"
"I do sir. Nothing would make me happier then to keep my post here. I don't want anything to change because of this. I don't want to get less work either."
"Then nothing shall change until I deem fit. Should you go on assignments with a partner from this point on?"
"Not if I don't have to. I can handle being on my own there is no need to worry about that." He was grateful nothing was changing it sounded like. That really was his biggest fear and part of the reason he hadn't said anything to him about this before. Once Alan left William's office he got sat back in his desk chair and thought of the future Alan faced. He had a touch and painful road ahead of him. It seemed he would have to think about some changes to who his top death gods were. Ronald could probably pick up Alan's slack once he was gone but they would still be short a reaper and his best one at that. A fate such as the Thorns was not a pleasant one and it was a shame it had to fall upon Alan, the most level headed, hard working, and smartest, reaper.

"Alan stop." Eric pulled Alan's hands away from his chest trying to halt his advances for the tenth time. They sat on Alan's bed and the one sat on the other placing soft, simple signs of affection on the other's neck and now slightly exposed shoulder.
"Come on. I'm fine I swear."
"I don't care. I refuse to do anything that stimulates your body for another attack."
"I've never had two on the same day."
"I'm going to put you through that risk." Frustrated with what he was hearing and now sexually frustrated Alan got up to leave the room. It was hard to say no, especially with how cute he was now but he was going to his stick his ground on this one. Alan was too important to him to risk putting his body through another attack so soon after his last one. Besides he wanted to talk to him about something, it involved their future together so he deemed it pretty important. More important than sex, that could wait, though the thought of waiting seemed laughable.
"Alan, don't get upset over it I'm just looking out for you."
Finding Alan on the couch resting his head on his knees he sat next to him in hopes he could get him to understand his insane logic. Because deep down he wanted him, he wanted him so badly right now, especially after what happened during work but he wouldn't let that clog up his thoughts.
"You promised me that nothing would change between us."
"And nothing has."
"Don't lie. I see how scared you've become, how you never want to get too close to me."
'What are you talking about I'm always near you."
Shooting him a "you know I didn't mean it literally" look he huffed and placed his head back on his knees. "We used to be so close, one never getting enough of the other at night. Now look at us. Now you're stopping any attempt I make."
"Just for tonight."
"This isn't the first time you've pulled away from me! You used to never say no, I would!" Getting off the couch he moved to the single chair and curled back up.
"I'm trying to protect you."
"Well maybe I don't want protection! Maybe I want sex! The type of sex we haven't had in what feels like years! You want distance from me I bet. That's why you keep telling me no. I'm dying, I have baggage. You don't want to deal with that I'm sure. Why not go spend time with your girlfriend then. I'll bet she misses you!"
"What the hell?" Now on his feet he stood over Alan demanding an explanation. He wasn't seeing anyone else, he didn't want to, Alan sick or not. "You idiot. I'm not seeing anyone, the woman, my girlfriend as you said, broke up with me soon after we got together. We were never really a thing anyway. We were more like friends with benefits and once I promised you I wouldn't sleep with her or anyone else and I told her I couldn't sleep with her it was decided mutually that we should split."
"You told her about us?" Defrosting he let his legs touch the floor.
"I've told that you came first and while back then I didn't what was going on I knew I needed to tell her why I suddenly couldn't spend the night with her."
"You idiot." Flinging himself off of his seat and into Eric's arms, his anger towards him vanished.
"I'll take that as a thank you. Alan. I want to ask you to do me a favor. For us, for our future together."
"What, anything you know that."
Sitting them back on the couch he pulled Alan arm distance away to look into his eyes. He really wanted him to understand how serious he was about this.
"What, Eric, tell me?"
"I want you to move in with me."

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Sorta started the next chapter plan to work on it more after work today so who knows you might get another chapter soon. No promises though. Please review I love them as much as I love you.
~Femalefighter~