Quiet Motion

The approach of nightfall brought with it a sense of anticipation for Rose. She lay on her bed, thoughts consumed by the impending meeting with Klaus. Her gaze remained fixed on the clock, each tick resonating in her mind.

Agreeing to rendezvous with Klaus at 9:00 pm, she resolved to wait patiently. But waiting for something of this magnitude was not easy, especially in her situation. A flood of questions swirled in her mind, wondering what lay ahead.

As the clock's hands converged on nine, Rose's heart skipped a beat. With a deep breath, she closed her eyes momentarily, collecting herself before opening them again. Determined, she waved her mother goodbye and set off for the designated location.

Upon reaching his house, which was a considerable distance from her own, Rose hesitated before pressing the doorbell, her anxiety palpable. The suspense was becoming unbearable; she was eager for the revelations that awaited her.

The door swung open, revealing a woman who had been interrupted from her evening activities. As Rose realized who stood before her, she introduced herself with a touch of uncertainty.

"Good evening, ma'am," Rose began. "I'm sorry to intrude, but I'm here to see your son."

Meeting Rose's gaze, the woman's features softened into a warm smile, responding equally as friendly. "Oh, hello there," she replied. "You must be a friend of Shade's."

"Actually," Rose clarified with an awkward smile, "I'm here to see Klaus. We're... friends from school, and we had plans for this evening."

A momentary pause followed before the woman continued the conversation, a smile returning to her face. "Well, isn't that interesting?" she admitted. "Well, I'm Natalie Walker, Klaus' mother, as you probably gathered. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Natalie was taken aback by the presence of such a striking young girl at her doorstep, claiming to be there for Klaus. While she knew her son had his own unique charm, she was also aware that he generally avoided attention and preferred to keep to himself. She still felt confused by the situation, so summoning Klaus seemed like the best course of action at the moment.

Hearing his mother's instructions from the living room, Shade ascended the stairs to find Klaus and deliver the news. Klaus, in turn, made his way downstairs, acknowledging the unexpected development.

"Oh, it's you," Klaus muttered upon laying eyes on Rose.

"Oh, come on," Rose quipped playfully. "Don't be like that."

"So... you really do know her?" Natalie chimed in, seeking confirmation as she attempted to understand the unfolding situation.

Klaus let out a sigh ."I guess," he confessed softly.

Rose mirrored his sigh."There you go again," she retorted, referring to Klaus's typical phrase.

Keen on keeping the interaction brief, Klaus turned his attention back to his mother. "Sorry, Mom. We'll be heading out for a while," he explained. "Is that okay?"

After a brief pause, Natalie nodded cheerfully, granting her approval before the two of them embarked on their intended outing.

"I should start expecting the unexpected at this point," Natalie mused aloud, watching them depart.

A small giggle escaped her lips before she reentered the house, a sense of amusement lingering.

Klaus and Rose walked side by side, wrapped in a heavy silence. Rose was unsure how to bring up the topic of Klaus's abilities, while Klaus seemed lost in thought, avoiding conversation. Though he paid no attention to it, the tension between them was clear, casting an undeniable weight over their interaction.

Soon enough, Klaus broke the silence. "I think we're far enough," he said, extending his arms and crouching slightly in a way that suggested he was offering to carry her. "Hop on."

Rose was momentarily speechless, her face flushing with surprise. "W-What do you mean?" she stammered, her gaze dropping to the ground to avoid his eyes.

"Have you ever seen my art pieces up close?" Klaus asked, his tone remaining casual despite the unusual offer.

Rose shook her head, a mixture of confusion and curiosity swirling within her.

"There's a piece I think came out great, about a few miles from here," Klaus continued, his hands still extended. "So hop on, and I'll take you there."

Rose was a jumble of conflicting emotions and unanswered questions. Her mind buzzed with unspoken thoughts of his persistence, as well as the distance being a concern. But before she could object, Klaus uttered a phrase that sent a jolt through her, weakening her resistance and stirring a strange sense of submission.

"Trust me."

Klaus had never displayed such sincerity toward Rose during their time together. As he uttered those words, it felt as though he had finally granted her access to a part of himself that he kept guarded.

Drawing closer to him, Rose surrendered completely, allowing herself to be lifted into his arms. Her cheeks were aflame with embarrassment, and she found it difficult to meet his gaze. He instructed her to close her eyes briefly, which heightened her curiosity. And then, before another moment could elapse, he prompted her to open her eyes again.

Looking at the surroundings, Rose quickly recognized that they were no longer where they had been before. The surroundings had shifted dramatically, and her expression shifted along with it. Nothing but confusion and disbelief mingled on her face.

"You... and we... but we were... and... but how?"

Stunned and rendered nearly speechless, Rose grappled with the shock of the situation. In the blink of an eye, they had traversed several miles.

Seated on the ground, Klaus took a moment to catch his breath while Rose continued to grapple with her astonishment, trying to make sense of the impossible.

Finally recovering his breath, Klaus finally spoke, confirming her suspicions. "So yeah, I can move at an incredible speed," he muttered. "And if it wasn't already obvious, I can only do so at night, with the absence of the sun. Also, the toll it takes on me is the same as if anyone else had covered the distance."

Rose remained in a state of disbelief. Despite having covered such a distance in the blink of an eye, Klaus had managed to catch his breath in just a minute or two. It defied all logic and understanding.

After a flurry of questions swirled in her mind, Rose gradually settled into a state of relative calm. Soon enough, they both reclined on the roof, their gazes fixed on the street art Klaus had collaborated with Wallpaper to perfect.

CONVERSATION

Rose: So you're fast, but only at night, huh?

Klaus: I guess.

Rose: How long have you known?

Klaus: A few years, I think. I can't remember exactly when, just that one day I tried to run and noticed a sudden burst of speed.

Rose: And you weren't frightened or shocked?

Klaus: At first, sure. But after a while, I realized being surprised wouldn't change anything.

Rose giggled.

Rose: Wow. You really are emotionless, aren't you?

Klaus: At least now you know how I manage to cover the city with my art.

Rose: I guess that's true.

They remained quiet for a while, their gazes alternating between the sky and the artwork on the wall.

Rose: How about your brother, Shade?

Klaus: I don't think it's the same with him.

Rose: Why not? I mean... You guys are brothers after all, right?

Klaus: We are, but not by blood.

Rose: Wait, what?

Klaus sighed, his eyes closed for a moment before he reopened them.

Klaus: Not many people know this, but Shade is my adopted brother. My mom took him in when we were babies, so we grew up like biological siblings.

Rose: Wow, that's honestly a shocker.

Klaus: It should be, considering you're the first person I've told.

Rose was left speechless by Klaus's openness. He was sharing his life with her for the first time, and the revelation made her happier than she had anticipated. Because of this, she began to delve deeper into her thoughts on the situation.

Before learning about his abilities and getting to know him better, Rose had honestly been irritated by Klaus. Out of everyone around her that she wanted to impress, he was the one who didn't pay her much attention. That irritation was what drove her to engage with him in the first place.

It had started as a challenge to make the most popular nobody in their school fall for her, even though he was known to resist such advances. However, over time, she found herself genuinely enjoying their time together. It was almost as if their friendship was destined.

"Maybe even more than friends," a fleeting thought suddenly crossed her mind, but she quickly dismissed it in disbelief.

Rose had never experienced this kind of connection with anyone. It wasn't solely because Klaus was the only person not easily swayed by her attention, but rather, he was someone she felt comfortable around, someone she could lean on. And she couldn't explain why.

As Rose drifted back from her thoughts to the present moment, she noticed her eyes locked with Klaus's.

"Are you okay?" Klaus asked in slight concern.

Startled, Rose averted her gaze in embarrassment, her cheeks flushing. "I-I'm fine," she stammered in response.

After a while, Klaus recognized an opportunity to gain insights into the origins of their abilities. "So, do you have any idea what might have caused all of this?" he asked.

Rose turned, gazing back at the sky, her expression steady. "I'm not certain," she admitted, "but I do think it's connected to the giant men we see in our dreams, considering we both experience them."

As Rose mentioned this, Klaus recalled her earlier mention of sharing the same dreams. While he couldn't quite grasp the connection, her point intrigued him.

"If I were to take a guess," she continued, "I'd say there's a chance it's related to beings beyond humans, hence the appearance of these giant men."

Klaus glanced in confusion, beginning to understand her perspective. "Do you mean gods?" he asked.

Rose turned to him, her explanation continuing. "In the books and stories," she began, "the gods were often depicted as larger than humans, sometimes stated to be around eight feet tall. That matches the figures in my dreams."

"But that's not possible," Klaus retorted, his low tone tinged with skepticism.

Rose raised an eyebrow. "Why do you say that?" she questioned.

"Because the gods aren't real," Klaus said.

A moment of silence hung in the air as Rose gazed at Klaus, clearly perplexed. After a moment, she suddenly burst into laughter at his response. "After all that you've experienced with having powers," she teased, "do you really think it's impossible for the gods from the stories to exist?"

Klaus found himself at a loss for words, recognizing that Rose had a valid point. "I guess not," he mumbled, his gaze shifting to the sky.

A few moments passed before Klaus continued. "But are you genuinely convinced of this theory? Or do you just want it to be true?" he asked.

Rose fell silent for a moment, contemplating her response before finally speaking. "I suppose it's a bit of both," she said earnestly. "Especially for now, considering I don't really have a better theory."

Klaus and Rose lingered on the rooftop in silence for a while, soaking in the atmosphere before finally deciding to call it a night and return to their respective homes.

For Klaus, the evening had shed light on some of his queries, though he knew he still had much to uncover about his own abilities. He was surprised by his newfound zeal for understanding, a fervor he hadn't experienced prior. Somehow, he found himself feeling a sense of relief, as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

Returning home, Klaus took a quick shower to cleanse himself from the night's excursions and strain from the runs. Soon after, he slipped into bed, ready to embrace a peaceful sleep...

Or so he thought.