Dark schemes in the background

Rhythms of music slowly fading in the distance as his heart drummed faster. Eyes opened in a mix of a complex set of feelings. Nurtured deep within him, good, warm, crawling under his skin as he stopped barely a foot from him...from the one his heart was going crazy...the one that was shining in his mind despite the heavy level of alcohol in his blood. Wyatt's legs refused to move any further, his eyes locked on those of Matthew. The latter also frozen. The scent of food, the music loud around with all the voices and mumbles seemed so vain right now. Nothing could make Wyatt look away. His tail swayed slowly as he opened his mouth a bit. Matthew seemed worried and could feel the shepherd was not himself. He was about to step forth but the shepherd stepped back and his look that seemed conflicted was now that of sorrow. Warm rivers of tears flowed on the shepherd's cheeks as the thoughts he tried desperately to choke down, emerged again. He could feel his face gets warmer and his ears lower as he gasped for air while crying silently. He looked down away from the gator, because this feeling was never something he called upon...before he could look up again, arms wrapped around him. The chill from the AC running, was now obscured by a warmth the shepherd found himself in. Matthew's expression was soft and calm yet filled with empathy. Wyatt was confused but the alcohol in his blood made his mind slow to react let alone react accordingly. He hadn't notice yet that his hands were reaching for the gator's back, returning the embrace. Wyatt's face was pressed against the chest of Matthew and all he could focus on was the slow steady heartbeat of the gator. Matthew spoke so that only him could hear.

Matthew: "I am here...I always will"

Wyatt had a bitter taste in his mouth and could only now remember a detail that made his heart stings. He had never felt such a thing for anyone, he was confused on what to think or what to feel. Haufiku and the others seemed a bit concerned and every one was silent. The hyena approached the gator and Matthew spoke.

Matthew: "I suppose he drank too much?"

Haufiku: "Yeah, he even beat Nik"

The bear growled while speaking loudly.

Nikolai: "Bullshit, I won, you all saw me"

Anvika: "Did we?"

The tigress swayed on her feet while moving past him and reaching Haufiku and looking at Matthew.

Anvika: "He just needs to rest a bit, I guess we did get overhead and let him drink too much. He is still a teen after all"

Matthew looked down at them then could feel Wyatt was falling a bit limp, he was probably half asleep.

Matthew: "Hey Captain, think he could use your room for the night? I can't bring him back through the tunnel if he is sleeping"

The hyena nodded. Matthew crouched a bit a picked Wyatt up in his arms. The latter was asleep, trails of tears damping his fur around his cheeks. He looked down at the shepherd then at the others who went back to speaking and laughing. Mostly because Melissa had tried diverting the attention again so that they would not be focused on the shepherd. Ben even walked closer with pizzas so that they would munch on them. Matthew followed Haufiku to a small hallway then there were some doors there. The hyena opened one and they entered a beautiful spacious room with a king size bed and a desk next to the wall with few books and papers scattered on it. The hyena even had his computer on the bed and few papers with lots of drawings and writings. Matthew looked as the hyena hurried to make space and looked back at the gator.

Haufiku: "Sorry, didn't expect my room to be used tonight, I was working before the party"

Matthew: "I am sorry for bothering you this much...I should have stayed"

Haufiku: "Hey say, not willing to pry but...what's on about you two? Earlier, you seemed to bicker that's why I sent you away to let Wyatt be for a minute"

The gator looked down at Wyatt and breathed slowly as light from the outside coming from the window slightly uncovered despite the curtains, poured on the shepherd's face. He looked so anxious and yet so calm.

Matthew: "I do not know, but I think I might have a clue..."

The hyena looked at the gator and then at Wyatt then back the gator and spoke with a slight serious tone.

Haufiku: "There's a saying my dad used to tell me, A heart’s depth is a well, its waters often hidden. To peer within, approach with tender care, lest you disturb the fragile surface and lose the treasure beneath."

Matthew's expression changed to admiration and he spoke.

Matthew: "That's beautiful...what does it mean?"

Haufiku walked past the gator and patted his shoulder while heading to the door. He stopped as he reached the doorknob and spoke over his shoulder.

Haufiku: "Time will tell"

With that note, the hyena went out and closed the door behind him. Matthew's face twisted in slight confusion then he could hear the shepherd mumble in discomfort and quickly reached the bed where he lied him down. Matthew was gentle while putting him on the bed, his hands careful not to hurt him. He grabbed the chair before the desk and placed it next to the bed. He sat and leaned a bit as he sighed while looking at Wyatt. The faint glow of moonlight outside reaching through a small opening in the curtains, pouring on them. It seemed ethereal. The music was barely audible, the gator looked around and understood why, they were soundproofed. He looked down at Wyatt and his eyes betrayed of his own pain as he spoke to the sleeping shepherd.

Matthew: "You would have liked her...she was witted and kind."

The gator's voice was low, almost mumbling his heart. His hand hovered to Wyatt's face and ruffled his cheek in an attempt to wipe his tears.

Matthew: "I'm sorry..."

Matthew leaned back on his chair and took out his phone. He saw a text from his sister saying she was arrived and was headed to her aunt's home already. He smiled weakly before sending a sticker. He saw there was also a reminder notification that made the gator feel a bitter taste in his mouth as he turned off his phone and could see his reflection on the black screen. He could see tears falling as he sniffed before rubbing his eyes. He felt a warm sensation in his heart then his attention was deflected on the shepherd who mumbled in his sleep. Bits of sentences that made no sense.

Wyatt: "only...care...but I...please...alone"

The shepherd's voice was filled with pain and Matthew was about to reach but the door was knocked upon then he turned to it and Melissa peeked through.

Melissa: "Hi big guy...sorry, can I come in?"

The gator nodded.

Matthew: "Not my room"

Melissa: "I asked Haufiku, he said to ask you."

He simply looked back at Wyatt and she entered but didn't walk to him.

Melissa: "I am sorry, I was reckless and fueled his drinking..."

Matthew: "He is not hurt so it's fine"

Melissa wanted to ask something but she could see that the gator was in no mood for that now. She just clenched her fists and went out with a "sorry again"

Wyatt rolled to sleep on his side, giving his back to the gator who leaned back and closed his eyes.

Wyatt's POV

I was barely feeling my body, and I had this horrible dull pain all over my body...I drank too much...but I couldn't remember why. I was about to convince myself then reality hit me like a truck...he was the reason...There was nothing I had thought about on that matter. After all, my father was always about me following one rule "Studies before flirties" I felt it weird...I never understood it quite right...I remembered that tickling sensation back in high-school, with that person...but this time it felt more than that but why did it hurt so much...

I opened my eyes a bit and could hear his voice behind me. He was mumbling...I dared not to turn back, I simply looked before me. I wasn't cold, I wasn't feeling anything but this sensation around my heart, like someone was gripping it..."why does it bother me that much?" I thought as I remembered what he said in the car...he had a girlfriend...this was a joke, I couldn't possibly be feeling this bad because of that, it made no sense..."why do I feel this?" My mind was slowed by my drunken state but it surely wasn't lacking for ways to torment me further. Then it played in my mind again, that need, that secret desire my heart wills...I turned to face the gator, a bit worried but noticed he wasn't looking at me but upwards...words tried to crawl up my throat as I dared not to speak up...I couldn't just tell him...fear was paralyzing my lungs and I could feel cold ravaging my insides as I thought of it...the prospect of acknowledging myself what I felt...of acknowledging what I was...I thought of my father, of what he could think...I thought of the world and my years in high-school...all these years I have always walked alone...barely made friends...and on that deeper level...with that person...I hesitated and simply watched from afar...too afraid...of pain, of judgment, of being rejected...of feeling that so called sinful way...I looked at Matthew and tried again to speak but I felt so cold...I was shivering...it was fear...tears couldn't even fall as I gasped for air that never came...I closed my eyes tightly...trying to make myself say those words that I wished to say..."what would it change? He has someone" "what if he doesn't feel that?" "What if he is disgusted?" "What if he doesn't want to talk to you anymore?" Question after question, I was feeling my own anxiety judging me...I was feeling it forcing me to remain quiet. I knew it was just in my head but then again...that voice was true...I could risk it all, I could lose him...I could lose myself...why was I so different? I always thought and pushed it away but now...it was intoxicating.

Matthew could hear slow and faint gasps and looked down at Wyatt who seemed to be having a nightmare or something. He rubbed the latter's hand and mumbled.

Matthew: "here, here, it's just a bad dream..."

The gator's finger rubbed with tenderness at Wyatt's hand and he felt himself melt into that before retracting his hand and looking away with a slight frown.

Matthew: "I can't...not again"

Matthew crossed his arms and looked away in a mix of pain from something...deep, something that hadn't healed. Wyatt opened his eyes and could see the gator looking away. As he feared to speak again, he couldn't help make a weak attempt.

Wyatt: "Ma...tt"

The gator didn't hear that and stood up before breathing in then out then looked down. Wyatt tried to speak again but simply gave up. The gator paced around before sitting back again and looked down at Wyatt who closed his eyes in reflex before that. The gator's look was not filled with sorrow but of a bitter care...Wyatt was feeling the lack of sleep and alcohol drifting him to sleep and his thoughts quieted down...

.

.

.

(*thundering noise*)

An explosion occurred on the metallic door of a warehouse. The dust was lifted while several soldiers covered in black with a falling star sigil, started running in. They all stopped and pointed guns around to make a perimeter around somekind of cylinder of metal with several warnings signs plastered on it. Someone walked after the soldier, he exhaled a thick smoke after taking his cigar out of his mouth. He grinned while chains swirled behind him and soon the light of the warehouse a bit flickering outlined the frame of a giant figure...covered with a dark cloak, its eyes glowing a menacing red glow while metal sticks coming out of its back with blood grazed on the top frame of the door. The creature lowered its head and stepped closer to the man with the cigar who then pointed at the cylinder.

?: "Take that, it's good for you"

The creature hesitated then arcs of electrical energy emerged from it to reach the ground in random patterns. The creature growled then jumped and punched the cylinder and making it explode violently. But right as the blast was to happen, the creature opened its arms and seemed to contain the energy of the explosion while absorbing it. Soon the creature was done and swayed on a foot before screaming upwards with horrifying noise. The man started laughing before taking out his phone and texted Cassius "I will come for my special gift" it took few seconds then Cassius replied "I will get it ready" the man laughed.

?: "Soon...Liam, this world will see it too"