Warm On A Cold Night

When you're constantly confined into suffocating whirlpools, and never ending bottomless spirals, floating above those waves and soaring against them feels like a dream so out of reach. A peculiar fantasy. For some, anything is ever so simple to overcome, but many others frantically struggle to breathe, gasping for air, when you're not even drowning. The shrinking pool of ragingly deep oceans, physically non-existent, yet, why do some people feel a lump in their throat? Some call this intense feeling chronic demons, some call it fleeting emotions.

What appeared to parade as a silent night was in fact the loudest night of Erin's life, for the more quiet it became, the more his inner thoughts screeched and clawed at his brain. His chest tightened marginally, as his hysterical mind clutched his throat ever so gently. Those superficial spirals seemed inevitable as they only grew tighter and deeper, locking Erin in its terrifyingly firm hold. They strove to suffocate Erin, almost succeeding before Erin shook his head violently, snapping upwards from his bed. No matter how hard he tried, the condensed clouds of quietude drove his mind deeper into a frenzy.

It was one of those nights, types of nights Erin could never run away from, when his demons howled the loudest. He never once caved in, hence why he's still alive and breathing, but they only grew stronger with time. He doesn't want to be here, or anywhere, for that matter. He just wants to feel free, be free. It's one of the only things he'd ever wanted.

It begged the question, if you can't measure it, does it really truly exist? How big were these whirlpools? How does one even begin to measure the mental framework of raging seas?

It was simply one of those nights in which Erin became an emotional outlet for his one dimensional demons. A night where they simply unapologetically screech with their cacophonous cries.

The unwanted, overcrowding, wicked mind conjured up thoughts so chilling, it hazed Erin's sense of reality at times. It was powerful enough to make him question his mere existence, make him question if he was a waste of space. Intrusive voices echoed in the cave of his rapidly beating heart, as his body began to go numb.

Thwacking the thin pillow on his head, all he wanted to do was go deaf, thoughtless, emotionless. Scrambling to the bathroom, he flicked the cooling water against his burning skin, desperately trying to regain any lost oxygen. Whining, he grabbed a hold of his hair, tugging at it before leaning his head in the sink.

"Please..," Erin pleaded, whispering it to himself over and over again, groaning when a whistling sound penetrated his skull.

A beam of light pierced his whirlpool, boiling it to the touch. It sizzled, sputtered, and evaporated, leaving the bottomless spiral empty. A good empty. The type of empty where the end is in view, where you know you can breathe.

His brother had embraced him, firmly in his engulfing grip.

"Gihyun.. What are you doing here..?" Erin croaked, removing his hands from his tangled hair.

"Something was...I don't know, but I could tell. Please, talk to me, brother," he whispered with wide eyes.

Erin's cold, blueish lips began to quiver, as he twirled around and embraced his brother back. "Don't you worry, Hyunnie. My head just began to feel heavy, is all," he reassured, raking a soothing hand between Gihyun's soft locks.

His younger brother scoffed. "How do you expect me to believe you? I come in and you look like you're just a minute away from a damn seizure!" Gihyun wavered slightly, but was immediately hushed as Erin soothed him, turning the lights on.

"I was just in a rush, don't worry," Erin smiled. A weak excuse, but hushed his brother nonetheless. The room went silent, and all he could do was thank every being for Gihyun's arrival. His head ached more than before, and the voices got louder. It's getting harder to resist, but the angel of a boy in Erin's arms reminded him, he could not be selfish. He had to pay back his brother to the best of his capabilities. Then, and only then, could he drown with no regrets.

There were six more hours until he had to log on again, which left him to wonder if his friend was online right now. He might've been, but it was two in the morning. What time is it in Japan? There was no time difference, Erin recalled. In that case, he probably wouldn't be online. He felt selfish all over again, for silently wanting him to be online at the same times, for mentally coazing him to play. But then again, is it wrong to want some company?

"Listen, Gihyun. Go home, have a long sleep, sleep in until noon. Order yourself a fresh pizza, and lie in tomorrow," Erin told Gihyun, who meekly observed him with a reluctant look in his eyes.

"I have school tomorrow. Plus, I can't waste money. Pizzas are expensive," he defied, going back to place his head in his brother's chest.

"Oh, Gi. You sound sixty years older than you are." Erin sighed, hoping it sounded somewhat playful. "How about this; if you treat yourself, I'll, um, go on a walk? In the garden?" he lightly suggested, hoping his enthusiasm irradiated onto his brother.

"Hm. Really..?"

"Yeah, really. Only if you hold up your end of the deal," he pinched his little brother's nose, watching him playfully cringe.

"Okay, okay. You promised, though. I will be asking the nurses," he squinted his eyes, going to pick up his backpack.

"You do that. I'll see you the day after tomorrow."

"I love you, Rinnie," Gihyun smiled brightly, lighting up his face.

"Not if I love you more, Gihyun."

He watched his brother leave, before limping back to his bed, ogling at the Moon. Mr Blue was a bit farther away this time, slightly more on the golden side. A little less round, more like a semi-circle, actually. Nonetheless, Erin adored every colour and angle the trusty Moon had to offer him.

He sat against the brick-mimicking bed, made himself as comfortable as he could. Flashes of pristine white paper momentarily blinded him. He felt it beneath his fingertips, sighing. It wasn't as soft as Parvaneh's paper. He reached for a pen and let the ink invade the depth of his mind, binding it to paper. Minutes passed, and he wrote a poem for Mr Blue. Minutes more had passed, and he still couldn't make peace with the war between him and his stiff bed.

Sleeping is the same as being unconscious and playing Parvaneh, right..? Erin mentally pondered, hands itching to pull on his headset. Groaning, he gave in to his tempting desires, delicately flattening his hair as he pulled the headset over his head. The familiar cold metal bar tingled when it came in contact with Erin's forehead, shivering at the low temperature. Once secured, the world around him began to fade, as the virtual one came into sight.

All he wanted right now was to relax, and forget. All he's currently yearning for is a bed to swallow him whole the way a whirlpool does with water.

Releasing a drawn out breath, he smiled as he looked down. His new attire gave him an enhanced confidence he very much deserved. Looking back up again, he deadpanned as he saw a lump in his bed. Picking up his shoe, he lobbed it as his head, watching him flinch drowsily.

"Ah. who's there," Uriel snapped up, eyes still closed. His monotone voice made his attempt of a threat rather weak, humorous, even. A single track of saliva fell from the corner of his lips as he smacked them together in distaste.

"Erin," he sighed, pulling the blanket off of his body.

"What are you doing here?" he croakily hummed, itching his head.

"Are you asking me what I'm doing in my own house? Why are you here, is the real question," he huffed with his arms across his chest, pretending that Uriel being there was the worst thing to happen to him, and not something he was silently hoping for.

"Can't you see what I'm doing? I'm sleeping?" Uriel responded as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. Erin opened his mouth, and shut it after second thought. Giving up already, Erin's arms dropped from his chest.

"But, how did you even get in?"

"I just walked into your house. I guess friends have access to some of your stuff, too," he said as his words trailed off as he began to fall back into the vast bed.

"Uriel, go home. Why on earth are you here at two in the morning?"

"Sleeping here is like sleeping there, except this bed is much softer," he bounced slightly, causing Erin to chuckle vaguely. He wasn't wrong, though. So long as your real body was unconscious, it didn't necessarily matter in which world you slept. "So, why are you here?"

"Same reason as you," Erin replied, as Uriel 'ohed', rather impressed.

"Woah, great minds think alike," he cockily tilted his head, an arrogant aura seeping from him.

"Fools seldom differ," Erin retorted. Uriel's face went flat, as a perplexed contortion of his features were displayed.

"What the fuck does that even mean?"

Erin simply ignored his comment, pushing Uriel to the farthest side of the bed, whilst he huddled on his own side.

"Yeah, no. What on earth are you doing? Six feet, bro," Uriel panicked as Erin got cosy on his own side.

"This is my bed. Leave if you don't want to sleep on your own side," Erin huffed, a modest portion of his being almost, almost, manifesting the opposite.

"No homo bro. This shit is way too gay," Uriel cringed, as Erin began to wonder. The mere motion of wondering lead him to wander. He wandered into the clutches of territory irritation.

Is this boy just intensely socially incapable? Parents teachings? Or perhaps, a fragile masculinity. Maybe even internalised homophobia? Whatever it was, it was too early on to ask. Or, maybe it wasn't.

"Look, I don't know what your deal is, and frankly, I can't bring myself to care right now," Erin heaved, teeth clicking as he locked his jaw. "I'm not having a good night, so either keep your comments to yourself, or bloody leave."

Erin never snaps; that much is an irrefutable fact. He's the embodiment of a dolphin arising to the surface for fresh air when in a predicament, and handles things with a beautifully level head. Clearly, today wasn't one of those days. Clearly, Erin could talk back if he wanted to; he just deemed it a waste of air.

Uriel's wide eyes mimicked his dropped jaw, only snapping back up as quick as it was pried open. His head twitched away from Erin's piercing eyes, watching him turn to face the balcony. Uriel rode a guilt ridden, regret fuelled train of thought.

Sensing the lack of acquiescence, Erin sighed, muttering a short 'whatever'. Mentally shrugging, he gazed at the Moon. "Pretty," Erin almost hummed, eyes full of its blinding glimmer, leaving behind the previous words he spat in the dust. Uriel shuffled, head perched up higher on the pillow to gaze above Erin's frame and straight to the balcony. Peering above his shoulder, the said mesmerising sight came into his view.

"It is.." he whispered back. Averting his heavy gaze, Erin's slim frame came back into view again. A delicate curve dipped inwards as his chest connected with his hips, creating a silhouette that seraphs envied. Even his fluffy midnight hair thrived in the moonlight. Uriel solemnly smiled. "It really is."

Uriel had woken up early to complete some errands. He woke up croaky, drowsy, and beyond irritated; he always did, but more-so with the way yesternight unfolded. They say you wake up with whatever emotions you slept with, after all. Skimming his eyes across his surroundings, he identified the place as Erin's home. His eyes softened when he recognised Erin, jolting up and away from bed to look in the mirror. More specifically, his eyes.

Arriving at the place he was first lead to in the beginning of the game, he frowned. There was a queue that stretched up to ten metres. "Why in the fuck is there a queue for a store like this?" he groaned, rubbing the back of his neck in annoyance.

The boutique stood tall despite its short height, resembling a store straight out of a cartoon. At that thought, Uriel couldn't help but cringe, clenching his teeth. The queue of players eventually faded, leaving the ever-increasingly impatient Uriel at the doorstep. He felt slightly conflicted, unsure of whether or not to continue. This setting was very much unlike him, and he swore he wouldn't return to such a 'feminine' store. With a loud groan, he ran into the store, sealing his fate before he could run away.

The petite, bowl cut blue haired woman returned, as Uriel stared at her in distaste. The way she was everywhere put him in a worse frame, but swallowed it down and continued to run his errand.

"Welcome back! How can I help you, V?" the woman cheered, smiling as she twirled around him.

"Stop doing that, les-" Uriel paused, sighing. He decided against it. "Hobbit. You're making me feel nauseous," he gagged, having a low tolerance for 'spinning,' or most things in general.

"I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch that. Please repeat, good sir!" she beamed even brighter, sending Uriel into an even more sour mood.

"Mirror. Shadow," he ordered, snapping his fingers. She immediately bowed, snapping back up as the items appeared. Distastefully, he held the items, having a staring contest with his reflection. Swiping a finger into the black eyeshadow, he eyed it, swiping it onto his lid messily. He blended, moved, swiped, and packed on the dusky powder, before looking into the mirror again. He looked fierce, wild, yet madly in control. The dominant aura only doubled, as his gloomy, curly locks fell in front of his forehead.

He couldn't lie to himself. He liked it. He never thought in a million years that he'd allow such an item to even graze his face, but here he was, swiping it on purposely. And, he liked it.

"Kim Uriel, you only get sexier day by day," he cocked his head in the mirror arrogantly, before barging into the woman, ready to walk out.

"Ah, ah, ah! You must pay for the additional items you have applied or wore!" she tutted cheekily, shoving her hand out for Uriel to place the money.

"The fuck, you greedy bitch!" he shouted before attempting to run out, only to faceplant, thanks to the dubiously well placed foot tripping him over.

"That'll be three hundred gold coins!"

Erin awoke feeling much better than the night before, though, a cloak still lingered over his consciousness. He wandered around his home, feeling a little less accompanied, a little colder. He saw that his friend was online, but didn't have the courage to message him; after all, there was a reason he left in the morning to begin with. It has been hours, and he passed time laying against his couch, eyeing his notification corner every now and again.

A small 'ping' sound jolted Erin back to life, as he scrambled from the couch, sitting up straight.

'- You, come meet at river.'

Chuckling slightly as he shook his head, he rubbed his eyes awake, switching to his freshly made attire and dashing out the door. Deciding to run, he ran, twisted and turned until the immeasurable river came into view, occupying the expanse of the ever-wide horizon.

The boy sat at the foot of the river, skidding rocks across the untainted surface. Taking in a deep breath, Erin ran further down, slowing his pace when he was in arms reach of Uriel. Tapping his shoulder, he smiled before sitting down beside him.

"Yo. You took so long," Uriel complained, as Erin bit the inside of his cheek ready to retort a comment.

"I didn't even take long," Erin looked up. "It litera-" he paused, eyes wide as he took a second glance at Uriel's face. The assertively bold eyeshadow almost seemed to frame his eye. It was definitely worth the double take. "No way...You actually did it?" Erin beamed in glee, reaching out to touch his eye. Uriel looked other-worldly, his sharp eye only looked sharper, lips forming a tiny, almost faint smile. The powder was soft to the touch, but didn't rub off, even as he used his thumb to graze against the skin. Uriel's eyes widened as Erin's finger caressed the surface of his eyelid with utter daintiness. Erin's own doe eyes were dilated in curiosity, plump lips forming a small pout. The black hair usually sleeked up fell to touch his brows, limp from all the running he did. Uriel watched rather intently.

It has appeared to have mesmerised the raptured Erin. A beautiful sight, an omen of art, could leave him gazing at it until his eyes burn. After all, the single eye sporting intensely deep colours mimicked the captivating essence of mythological beings.

Uriel didn't move an inch. Startled? Perhaps, a little perplexed? He couldn't tell if he leaned in further to the touch, or not.

"It really suits you, Uriel. I didn't think someone like you could even listen to a 'midget'," he smiled, unbeknownst of the magic his fingers worked on the latter.

"I, um, I know, I look amazing," Uriel stuttered for the first time in an eternity, turning to face the river embarrassedly.

"I wonder, is it waterproof..?" Erin smirked slightly.

"This powder would be begging to stay on my godly eyelid. It's not going anywhere," Uriel scoffed.

"How 'bout we test that hypothesis?" Erin grinned, scarcely leaving a single grain of a second for Uriel to reply as he threw him over his shoulder, lobbing him into the lake, instigating a gargantuan wave that tsunamis envy.

"Ah! Wait- What the actual-!"

"Pfft- Ha!" Erin doubled over on his hands and knees, considering his fate death by laughter. He doesn't recall laughing this hard ever, Uriel's aggravated flailing only setting him off into a deeper frenzy. Uriel caught his balance, squirting out water imprisoned in his mouth, resembling a slightly decaying fountain.

"Son of a bitchstick, I'm going to end you!" Uriel emerged from the lake, wiping his wet body over Erin's as if he were a towel, as he lightly punched against his chest defiantly. Giggling in his grasp, Erin tried to escape, but Uriel grabbed him by the waist, pulling them both into the cold lake.

"Agh, it's too cold!" Erin whined, mentally cursing the cold feeling not so delicately tickling his body.

"You ass, you threw me in it!"

"Well. Your eyeshadow is waterproof, so," Erin cheekily giggled again, dipping his whole head into the water. Might as well get it over with, before Uriel decided to do it for him. Uriel could've sworn he heard heaven's gate open at the ringing of Erin's laughter, promising himself he'll hear it more often. It was one of those laughs that had you uncontrollably stretch your lips, resembling a goofy, mind-numb teenager. Uriel, man of action, head empty. No thoughts. It's the rule he lives by religiously. He gave it no further thought.

They messed around, splashing water into each other's faces like they were children again, not once allowing their great, triumphant smiles to waver so much as a smidge.

Climbing out the body of the glistening, multihued water, their wheezes merged with the sounds of their breathless laughter, thunking their heads against the lakeside. Their lungs had recaptured the untainted air, expanding their insides with every deep breath. Eventually, their rapid intakes of breath simmered into soft sighs and occasional giggles.

Uriel turned to his side, forehead glistening with cool water, face land with ecstasy. Erin mimicked his actions, flipping back stray wet strands once prodding into his eyes.

"You look like a rat," Uriel breathlessly chuckled, splashing loose water drops from his hand upon Erin's glowing face. Watching Erin recoil like a lizard, he shook his head, shifting his head to gaze at the clementine sky.

"Yeah?" he smiled quietly, and watched the clouds sway beneath the rays of the unreachable sun. They're so removed from everything over there. It's like the rest of the world is turning without them.

"Yeah," he absently replied. "You know, I have a groundbreaking conspiracy theory," Uriel abruptly turned, voice unwaveringly firm. The context clue pushed Erin to listen earnestly.

"Go on?" Erin raised a brow.

"I would bet six kidneys that this place is actually heaven, and the headset is the gate here."

Silence.

Erin blinked slowly, before saying, "and, I'm gonna guess you have no evidence for your theory?"

"Yes, I do," Uriel slams a palm against the floor as he arose from lying down, earning a series of small birds' absence as they flew away in fear. He smiled awkwardly, throwing an apologetic wave in their direction before he continues. Erin didn't even bother to question it. "I bet this is heaven, and heaven is supposed to be perfect. I reckon we clinically die each time we wear the headset, and get transported here. But then, something doesn't add up. Does that mean Earth is Hell? It's like if you go to a symphony orchestra and they start playing Work by Rihanna. It makes no sense."

Erin scrunches up his nose, making a disgusted face. "Of all the analogies you could use, this's what you went with."

"Shut up, I dreamt about that once," Uriel said. "And stop trying to change the subject. I'm being serious."

"Alright, fine, let's say you're right," Erin gave in, rolling his eyes. "What are you getting at?"

Uriel smirked, falling to lie down again. "I reckon you're fake, and this is my imagination, or we're actually in a simulation."

Erin laughed a little, whilst Uriel wore his smirk proudly, almost laughing with him.

Erin blinked a few times with an amused smile, trying to process Uriel's absurd theory before he reached over and threw his wet blazer at the younger boy.

"You're out of your mind. This isn't fake and I'm not some figment of your dumb imagination."

Uriel crossed his arms against his chest. "That is exactly what a figment of my imagination would say."

Erin slumped against the ground, quite visibly giving up. "You said that you go to school and do homework and stuff, right? Like whatever the hell subjects you take, you have to learn stuff in, right?"

"Yeah?" Uriel narrows his eyes, like he can't quite understand what Erin is getting at.

"And you honestly think your brain would come up with all of those complex concepts on its own?" Erin deadpanned. "Why would education be a part of your weird coma-induced hallucination when you hate it in the first place?"

At that, Uriel visibly deflated, chuckling at himself whilst Erin patted his shoulders, every fibre of his being urging him to hold in his laughter. "You're right." Uriel sighed. "Fuck you, little Einstein."

The sun set, as the dusky hours began to make its appearance, reminding Erin he needed to get back.

"Hey, Uriel?"

"Mhm?" he hummed, lying on the dirt, whilst Erin was sat up watching the stars commence their twinkle.

"I think I have to get back now," he breathed, Uriel not failing to hear the delicate voice laced with a hint of sadness.

"Oh."

"So, I'll see you soon."

"Uri."

"Huh?"

"Call me Uri."

"I'll be online tomorrow...Uri," Erin smiled. It almost became easier than blinking.

"I'll send a message when I'm on," Uriel sat up.

"Get back soon, it's getting late," Erin suggested, opening the scroll to reach the log out option.

"Will do, Mum," Uriel teased, earning a chuckle from the smaller. "Goodnight," he hesitated. "And sleep well, Rin," he finished, baritone voice sending Erin into a trance.

"I - You too."

Erin felt every cell in his body face south, all in unison itching to run away from the game and into the comfort of his pillow, skin burning to the touch.

They were such simple words, but meant the world, especially if they came from someone as snarky as Uriel. Even then, those words alone...They meant something to Erin. Those were words he always gave, but usually never received. Goodnight. It was an expression of wishes, to wish someone a good sleep. Sleep, you wake up from it. Erin would sleep well, and wake up again. He didn't quite understand why, but he felt like those were words he'd never forget, only growing desperate to hear them more often. He felt like a sticky, warm and stupid ball of sap.

"Goodnight to you too, Uri."

-

Virtual reality is such a strange phenomenon. It makes you question your morals, true character, and your memory. Did it really happen? Or, did your hopelessly hopeful mind conjure it, the way it conjured the red string? If everything really happened, does that mean Erin is becoming a product of warmth because of a real person? And, Uriel is learning to sway to the rhythm of lax because of a certain raven haired man? That they both have a real bond that was being nurtured ever so carefully?

Erin feared that all it took was a reality check, and all the precious memories he had made in the game were nothing but an illusion. It was an irrational fear, but a fear nonetheless.

Uriel, however, did not give it much thought. Predictably. He wasn't the type to stress, and would just say 'it is what it is'. They really are north and south. Though, he'd admit, if this was just all a figment of his imagination, the thought of someone like Erin not being real would probably send him into some kind of existential crisis. He had never had a friend like Erin; someone who seemed cold, but cared, who had an eye for the creative arts, for liking things Uriel liked. They were certainly of high polarity, but oddly enough, it's what kept their flame alive and burning. Erin could comfortably say the same, too, for he didn't really have friends anymore.

Uriel had 'friends', more or less; the type of friends your parents would tell you to avoid. Apparently, friends, nonetheless.

"Yo, Uri. We're heading to Kaishi's, you comin' this time? Or are you too much of a pussy?" a rather big man chortled, smacking into his other nearby friend's shoulder, nonsensically finding hilarity in his comment. 'Wow, ha ha, got the whole room laughing,' Uriel pettily retaliated.

"Yeah, no. No thanks. Hard pass. I value my lungs. Besides, what are you? A fucking chimney? Why do you smoke so much?"

"Same reason we fuck," he answered smugly.

"To become diseased?" Uriel smarmily replied, scrunching his nose in distaste.

"No, you idiot. 'Cause it feels nice," his friend replied in a vapid tone, as if his word was law.

"Kim Uriel, are you becoming soft?" they chimed, eyes squinting as they sneered.

"Fuck off, I'm going home," Uriel snarled, pulling his hood up before jogging away. "You make Erin look like a saint," he mumbled.

"Who?"

Groaning, he turned around, pulling his hood down even further. "None of your bloody business."

"You really are going soft. Who's this little 'saint' yours?"

"Your nan, so piss off and leave me alone," Uriel spat, regretting the stray murmur he let loose.

"Wow, who knew he's on his knees for saints?" one of the boys patronised, earning a chorus of laughter from the other two 'friends'.

"Oh, you love dirty knees, don't ya, Kimmy boy?"

And that, marks the last straw for a Uriel. He considered himself a bit more patient than usual these days, but he could only stay calm for so long. A punch to the boy's jaw sent him stumbling backwards, grasping onto anything and everything to regain his balance. Of course, he couldn't. he fell on his back, winding him momentarily. A shoot of electricity jolted into his back as he gasped for air, unable to move.

"What the hell, dude!"

The hand he used to punch now ached, knuckles fading into a soft pink colour. His mouth opened, but not a single sound escaped. Clenching his jaw, he flicked his hoodie back on, running home to his mansion. He didn't know why it affected him the way it did. Or, maybe he did; thinking wasn't his style, after all. Was it because it wasn't true? Or, because it was true? Because it was plainly intolerable?

Uriel found it immeasurably, unfathomably difficult to keep his thoughts on the other side of the shore. At some point, the ship will reach land, and the sea of thoughts will come with it.

These days, he felt as if he didn't know himself well at all, as if everything he once was and thought became an insignificant part of himself, completely overshadowed by something. Huffing, he opened the door, slamming it behind him.

"Uriel; do not slam the door!" his mother scolded. Granted, he shouldn't have done that, fair enough, but it's only been two seconds, and no one asked him if he was okay, if he had a rough day or not. Not even a small hello.

"...Sorry," he dejectedly muttered, trudging up the stairs.

"Wait, before you go, I need to add," his mother began. Uriel paused halfway, wide eyed. Maybe, just maybe, she wanted to talk. "Your report card is despicable. We are hiring the doctorate tutors for three weeks. If nothing changes by then, you are getting home-schooled," she plainly spoke.

Of course. Nodding, he made his way up.

It was a Saturday, which meant his ban from entering the outside had been lifted, and he had hours of time to waste doing nothing. Locking his door, he sloppily yanked the headset over his head, sighing before shutting his eyes.

Awakening, he peered over the landscape, recognising it as the lake he and Erin messed around in- the place he logged off, thus where he'd return. The green light by his friend's name shone brightly, signifying that he was already online. Minutes passed, and he stayed in his spot.

'Ping!'

Slackly, he gazed upwards, seeing a small message illuminated before him.

'-Hello! Mission?'

Erin had messaged, linked with a small quest requiring two people. Upon skimming it, he gathered that they had to go into rather cold mountains, retrieve a gem, and return it to a blacksmith. A small dose of serotonin excreted in his body, happily accepting the request with the press of a button.

Erin appeared before Uriel out of nowhere, scaring him out of his wits for a moment.

"It's terrifying, isn't it?" Erin chuckled, giving Uriel a playfully knowing look.

"Nah, your rat face scared me more," Uriel rolled his eyes, childishly kicking the ground. The few words Erin had said was all it took for a small smile to force its way onto his face.

Uriel was quite out of character, Erin noticed. Slightly quiet. They began to trudge up hills to reach the snow coated mountains, whilst Erin rambled about random myths he had read that day.

"Like, how cool would it be to see it tied to your pinkie?" Erin excitedly beamed, clapping his hands together. Uriel had been completely zoned out, head in an entirely different realm. "Uri! Did you leave your brain back in the real world..? Uri?"

"Just keep it down, would you?" Uriel lashed out, face as stoic as Erin remembered from before.

Erin's hands dropped from in front of him gently, slowly losing enthusiasm. Muttering a small 'sorry,' he lowered his gaze, fumbling with his fingers. Minutes passed as such, and Erin grew slightly worried. He couldn't help it; it was in his nature. He had never been this silent around Erin before, he'd either argue, complain, or make jokes. This wasn't like him at all.

"Uri, aren't you hungry? It's been a while," Erin wondered, considering the fact that he would usually beg for snack-breaks minutes on end.

"Do I look like a pig to you?"

"I-I was just-"

"Mhm," Uriel passively silenced, not in the mood to talk. Received. Understood.

Erin was baffled. Completely clueless as to what to say. He's obviously been...sharp-tongued before, but they were never quite as oddly different as now. It's a different type of stand-offish. Erin could only guess a segment of his pre-existing nature was reinstating its position, or, he was upset. His lips stretched into a frown.

"Uriel, are you okay? We don't have to do this mission if you don't want to," Erin suggested, lightly tapping his shoulder in comfort. Seeing him flinch to Erin's touch made Erin recoil his hand shamefully.

"I'm all good. I want to." he curtly replied. Erin tried to be rational, reasonable, and understanding, but refused to understand why walking all over him could be justifiable.

"You're allowed to be upset, but that doesn't mean I'm a doormat," Erin gently reminded, sighing. "I know we're strangers, but you can still talk to me if you want, you know?" Erin offered kindly, but immediately dropped his smile, as Uriel gave him a side glance with the black shadowed eye. Instantaneously, Erin looked ahead of him, adamant on not pressing on it anymore.

They reached the foot of the mountain, as the snowy breeze instantly tickled their foreheads. It had barely been a minute, and the pair began to shiver.

"Hey, do you have that particle amulet we used in the Battle Royale on you?" Erin timidly asked, rubbing his hands together.

"No," Uriel lied through his teeth. He didn't know why, he just felt like being recalcitrant today.

"That's okay, I brought us coats!" Erin cheered, pulling out two heavy padded coats, hats, and a single pair of gloves. Yes, it did hurt Erin when he gets rejected, but he wanted to try and try and keep trying. Instead of being petty, as he'd prefer to do, he showed his tentative side instead. "Here, put these on," Erin pulled a hat over Uriel's head, adjusting it ever so carefully, flicking hairs out of Uriel's eyes. Nudging backwards, Uriel pushed Erin's hands away, muttering as he adjusted his own hat. Silently, Erin handed him the warmer coat, and the single pair of gloves.

"Won't you be cold..?" Uriel reluctantly muttered, focused on pulling the woolly gloves over his long fingers.

"I'll be okay. I have a really high temperature skill now," Erin smiled, full well knowing that that was far from the case. He never went into cold areas, because if he got so cold it affected his real body, he wouldn't be in the best situation, to say the least. His body is already naturally cold as is. Flicking the thin coat over his lean body, he began to walk. This time around, he felt like living a little, following Uriel's carefree nature. Live a little.

The mountains have kept safe the soul of its land for time unmeasured, telling of it in words unspoken. Sweet blue-slate to silver-white dotted across the pair's vision, as the earthy mountains rose as great as rocky declarations of hope to the sky. The giant rock's crown was a satin white, and the pair etched closer and closer to it in search of the jewel. If earth had a pulse, it rose through the mountains. Erin felt the pulse, he felt the exhilaration, he felt alive, despite the half dead person walking beside him. Erin had never seen snow so white, or snow in general, and he was ecstatic.

He ran around jumping in it endearingly, kicking the pearly powder in pure bliss.

"Hey, Uri, you should join in!" Erin ushered, flicking his hand back and forth signalling for to Uriel to come over. Exhaling lightly, the smile on his face couldn't be stopped. He hiked over, sitting down as he watched his friend play.

Minutes passed, and it was safe to say, Erin felt.. off. His body felt a little heavier, groggier, fuzzier. His reaction time has slowed down, and he can't run around as much, either. Even his energy levels have decreased. Standing still for a moment, it dawned upon him. His real body must be freezing. Frantically, he rubbed his hands against each other, jogging on the spot. Furrowing his brows, Uriel watched, perplexed.

He couldn't lie to himself, it was freezing, and now it felt like the ice cold air in his lungs was rapidly crystallising and solidifying into snowflakes.

"Yo, let's move quick, I'm getting cold," Uriel hummed, aiming for his nonchalant demeanour he's upheld for so long.

"Okay," Erin easily complied, voice fainter than the sliver of a whisper from a mouse.

Retrieving the gem had been a task and a half, but they had managed. It was white itself, but camouflaged brilliantly in the snow. Ogling at it, the shorter was fascinated. The white opal. It is indeed white at first glance, but once you twist and turn it, different glimmers of colour gleamed on the inside.

"You know, these are usually found in Australia, sometimes Canada, too," Erin tried to form a conversation, but his teeth began to chatter away.

"Cool."

"Your home, Japan, has a lot of quartz and jade crystals, you should go into those caves someday, if you haven't. I heard the sights are beautiful," Erin daydreamed. He'd give anything to see those in real life, but given his condition, he knew he couldn't.

"Why'd you know so much about glittering rocks..?" Uriel huffed, but genuinely somewhat curious.

"I tend to have a lot of time on my hands, so my brother buys me all sorts of books," he responded, putting the stone away in his pocket, though, that left no room for his hand. Sighing, he left it out in the cold.

"You clearly never leave your room. Kill two birds with one stone and buy your own stuff."

"I should, shouldn't I," Erin solemnly smiled. Erin wished he could retort an argument, but it was the truth. He deemed himself a burden to his beloved brother.

Silence overtook the pair again, and Erin really couldn't handle it any longer.

"Should we just cancel this mission? I don't want to be a bother."

"No, what? No. You didn't - no. I'm just not in the mood."

Erin raised his head, voice as gentle as could be.

"I told you, it doesn't feel nice being the doormat. Wanna talk about it?"

"No," Uriel firmly denied. He wasn't one to vent, or explain his emotions. It just hadn't been something taught to him, it wasn't something he's ever learnt to tackle.

"Would it help if I went first?"

Erin really, sincerely did want to strengthen their bond, because being friends began with understanding each other, knowing what to say or what not to say. For them to trust in each other. It had to begin somewhere. Nodding silently, Uriel discretely adjusted the hat so he could hear a little better.

'Oh,' Erin pondered. He realised, he had to talk. Talk about what? He didn't want Uriel to know about any ocean-deep details at all. He decided to go with the flow.

"I.. Well, I-" he paused. "This feels...Yeah. Um, I've felt low too. Everyone does, right? My parents...actually left me and my brother, maybe five years ago or something, because of a thing that had come up." Erin shrugged lightly, speaking as if it was a distant memory of decades ago. "At that time, my aunt raised us for a little while, and we didn't really have anyone to show us the 'manly' stuff, like getting into sports or fixing cars. Not that I care for it," Erin chuckled. "So, I guess you could say I'm not that manly. I was kind of picked on for it, but that didn't bother me. Not that I mind, I like me right now. It was hard back then but what can you do?" Erin warmly smiled despite his cold body.

Uriel was never one to ponder, to regret, to dwell on things. He was a simple person. It was safe to say Uriel felt something akin to regret. His jaw peered open the tiniest bit, teeth poking through minutely, as his eyes were glittering with intent. At that moment, Uriel was sure he felt guilty. Very guilty. Calling Erin malicious names was the mere basis of his doings, names he couldn't even count on his ten fingers, and a few of them involved his familial status. His head hung low in shame. Erin took notice, face grimacing in concern.

"Hey, no, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you more upset."

"No, no. You didn't. I just, I'm sorry. I added to that load." Uriel's voice was seasoned with an earnest tang. A flavour Erin didn't mind tasting again.

"Uri, it's okay. I don't really care about it now," Erin smiled, knocking lightly into his shoulder. "So, your turn, good sir. You up for it?"

"I don't know; like, they're not too big, you know? I can deal with it."

"No problem's too small if it hurts you."

Uriel's eyes spoke when his mouth refused, and if Erin's smile is anything to go by, Erin got the message. That's one thing of many that he really appreciated about Erin. The tips of his ears weren't so cold anymore.

Taking a deep breath, Uriel continued walking beside Erin in the snow, watching the crystalline flakes flatten beneath his feet. "I don't know. It's just a bit...? My parents don't really care for me. You know I'm rich, but that seems to be their personality trait. The butlers take care of me more than they do. We don't talk unless I'm in trouble, which is fairly often. They only care about Kim Uriel's image, and not the Uriel behind it," his voice was taut, wavering awkwardly.

He glanced over at Erin's face, and witnessed unblemished attention. His tension bubbled over into something only slightly short of slack. "Before I logged on, I got in a fight with a few of my friends. They said I was soft or whatever, for not wanting to smoke or fuck around. It's stupid," Uriel heaved, weirdly feeling this mental weight dissipate. It was a nice feeling, for his head felt empty for once. The good empty. Instead of leaving his thoughts to crowd his ship, he let them out, boat empty and gently swaying.

Erin lightly, hesitantly ruffled his friend's hair, smiling. "If that's what it takes to be 'soft,' then I'd wear that label like a damn crown.You're gonna be okay, Uri." Uriel slightly frowned, but Erin's smile minutely grew, as if he wanted to share his energy. "I get it. We can't choose where we bloom, but if we have a choice to make it better, we should take it. Your parents don't know what they're missing out on. Missing out on all the epic food combos, your mad theories."

So that's what it was. His parents created him to become the unsure, defensive boy he became. Now that Erin knew, he had felt compelled, a slight boost of determination to stay by his side. Maybe, just maybe, Uriel could help Erin too.

"I'm proud of you, Uri. You deserve better."

Uriel felt grateful in that moment. Grateful he was in the forest that day, that he ran into this seraph disguised as a human. he felt this urge to share everything with Erin, to share all his ups and downs. For once, he felt like he found someone who might help find himself.

"I want to be a painter," Uriel shot out of nowhere.

"Then paint. I have a spare room in my house, you can room in there and paint all you want," Erin bit back a grin, something in him somewhere growing giddy and restless. He knew Uriel's train of thought. He knew, he just wanted someone to share himself with, the Uriel shadowed by Kim Uriel, and he was more than willing to be that person.

"Really? For real? You sure?" Uriel smiled fully for the first time that day, lighting up, melting the snow around him at the idea of painting again.

"Why not? It'd be nice to see some life in my home."

"Thank you, thank you, thank you! Paint's been banned at my house, so - thank you little midget," Uriel beamed, mouth resembling a rectangle. A unique, boxy smile, wide and unapologetic. He almost looked like he was too big for his body, bursting with this newfound vigour that can't be contained, so his arms awkwardly waver instead.

"Tsh. Glad to see you back to yourself," Erin sarcastically rolled his eyes.

"Good to be back, shrimp."

Shivering, Erin began to tremble, unable to stay on his knees anymore. He stumbled forward half a step, alerting the fretted boy beside him.

"Rin, are you okay?" he shook the boy, watching him drunkenly stumble up on his feet again.

"I'm.. I'm okay. Just a little longer," he dazingly braved, watching Uriel touch his hand briefly.

"No, you're freezing. I thought you said you had a high temperature skill?"

Het met Uriel's eyes, simpering them away.

".. I lied, I'm sorry."

"No, don't-" Uriel huffed. "Take your jacket back," he began to unclothe himself, but stopped when a firm hand smacked his forearm.

"It's okay, hold onto it."

Mumbling incoherently, Uriel blushed marginally, eyes fluttering away from Erin. His large, warm hand wrapped around Erin's smaller ones, ever so gently tugging on them. Nearing Uriel's body, he placed his hands into his coat, interlacing their fingers delicately. They held hands cosily in Uriel's coat pocket. Instantaneously, Erin warmed up, snuggling his hand further into the taller's. Their faces were beyond flushed, unable to make eye contact. Sometimes, the smallest of gestures touched Erin's heart so much more than the grand ones. So much, that he couldn't hear his own thoughts over the rapid strumming of the strings in his heart. It was odd that he felt so much more alive here, than he did in reality.

"Stay warm, Erin."

The snow thinned, and the grass tickled its way through the layers, scenery slowly but surely glowing greener and greener with every step.

The whirlpool simmered to a hiccup in the vastness that is the ocean. The same ocean Uriel's ship is sailing on. He felt calm.

He's mentally forgiven Uriel.

"Thank you, Uri."