Stay With Me

Elliot stood in awe as Moon tossed her coat onto the nearby sofa in the living room, her movements graceful yet purposeful. With a gentle grip on his wrist, she guided him into the expansive kitchen, which seemed to rival the size of her entire home's living space. He couldn't help but marvel at the sheer grandeur of Moon's house, realizing he had never experienced anything quite like it before. While he may have glimpsed similar mansions from the outside, stepping into one was an entirely different sensation.

The elegance of her home struck him profoundly, with its understated yet exquisite décor, predominantly adorned in shades of black, grey, and white, accented delicately with touches of gold. It was a testament to refined simplicity, with each element meticulously chosen to create a harmonious and captivating atmosphere.

Nervously perched on a stool at the counter in Moon's kitchen, Elliot gathered the courage to pose a question that had been weighing on his mind. "Moon, do you, umm... live with someone?" he stumbled over the words, his uncertainty palpable. Her smile, radiant and reassuring, washed away his anxiety as she responded, "No, I live by myself. I'm usually never home, as I'm busy with my job, so I only come to sleep or sometimes not even that."

Elliot's surprise was evident as he gasped slightly before blurting out, "Then what's this mansion for, if you're living alone?" Moon's laughter tinkled like music in the air, her affection for him evident in the twinkle of her eyes as she regarded him with fondness. He wore his curiosity like an endearing charm, and she couldn't help but indulge him. "What do you think? Any guesses?" she teased, the playful lilt in her voice inviting him to explore the mystery of her grand abode.

Elliot pondered for a moment before offering his thoughts, "I'm not entirely certain, but perhaps your adoptive parents are exceptionally wealthy, or it could be a matter of personal preference, I suppose."

Moon's smile held a hint of sadness as she reached out to gently pinch his soft, pink nose, eliciting giggles from him. "No, silly," she responded tenderly. "I don't have parents. I was adopted, but my adoptive parents... they passed away in an accident. So, I've been on my own since I was seventeen, while you were merely thirteen by then."

Elliot struggled to find the right words before responding, his voice tinged with sympathy. "I'm truly sorry to hear that. But if you don't mind my asking... wasn't seventeen the age when you were adopted?"

Moon's expression softened, a melancholic hum escaping her lips before she replied. "Yes, it was. Just two months later... they were gone. I lost them almost as soon as I found them. But what's done is done, and dwelling on the past won't change it. All we can do now is create new memories, with the life we've been given to stay together."

Elliot's nerves got the better of him as he apologized once more, a few tears escaping from his eyes. Moon quickly moved to his side, gently wiping them away with a tenderness that spoke volumes. "Why are you crying?" she asked, her concern evident in her voice. "It's not your fault. Now that you're with me... I never want to see tears in your eyes. Ever. Do you understand?"

Elliot nodded solemnly before speaking, his words heavy with emotion, "I've been wrestling with this thought for a while now. While I didn't experience adoption like you did, I found solace in believing that you had finally found a warm, loving home. But now... realizing that you didn't even get the chance for a happy ending after being abandoned in an orphanage, it's... it's deeply and painfully saddening to me."

"Hey, hey! Wait a moment!" Moon chuckled affectionately, her words wrapping around Elliot like a warm embrace. "You're still that chubby little child from the past, as delicate as a flower petal. My petal." She paused, her gaze softening with tenderness. "It doesn't matter what has happened before. What matters is that you're here now, by my side. After losing everything... I feel like I've been repaid in a way that's more valuable than any riches, something so precious that it defies measurement with mere paper and metal. And that's you, my petal. My dearest treasure."

With a warm smile gracing her lips, Moon enveloped him in her arms, a gesture that spoke volumes of the newfound warmth she had rediscovered. Once forgotten, now effortlessly summoned, her smile radiated a sense of comfort and security she thought she had lost forever.

However, for Elliot, it was vastly different.

He had long been aware of Moon's caring nature and foresaw her developing a lasting affection for him, transcending the fleeting moments they shared. Yet, what filled him with fear and sorrow was the possibility of her losing the newfound warmth he brought into her life. The thought haunted him, especially given the ticking clock of his numbered days. He harbored no desire to mislead or burden anyone with his impending departure, determined to spare them the anguish of clinging onto him in sorrowful agony.

Throughout his life, he had harbored a silent wish for her to find happiness, hoping that one day she would forge a beautiful life, one where memories of him would gradually fade away without causing her any sadness. Yet now, he found himself unable to quell the growing pain within him whenever he envisioned her facing the prospect of losing something precious once more, confronted with the brutality of such encounters.

And that fear gripped him tightly.

Moon had always held a cherished place in his heart, and he stood prepared to offer up his very heart for her to thrive and flourish like a blossoming flower.

However, with each passing moment, he watched helplessly as every shred of hope dwindled before his eyes.

Despite his deep affection for her, he felt crippled by cowardice, unable to summon the courage to warn her that she stood on the brink of losing everything once more.

"Elliot!"

Moon's voice sliced through the fog of his thoughts, pulling him back to the present with a sense of urgency reflected in her concerned gaze.

With a nod, Elliot acknowledged her call with his voice lost to the weight of his thoughts.

Moon's lips curved into a gentle smile before she responded, "Perhaps we should avoid delving into anything too heavy on our first encounter. After all, we have all the time in the world for us to explore each step together."

Elliot felt a pang in his heart at her words, the notion of "all the time in the world" stirring the pain of longing within him.

However, he couldn't bear to see her upset at that moment, so he mustered a smile and dispelled the tense atmosphere. "You're right," he agreed. "Let's move on to dinner straight away. After all, you mentioned you also hadn't eaten all day back in the car."

Moon quickly responded, "Oh, right! But... before we do that, aren't you going to ask what this mansion is for? I'm actually quite eager to share if you're stumped for guesses."

Elliot paused in contemplation before responding, "I've run out of guesses, so please enlighten me." Moon's grin widened as she wrapped her arms around his waist, her face nuzzling into his neck. "It's your house, Elliot," she revealed, causing Elliot to flinch, his eyes widening in surprise as she continued.

"If I were to present the papers to you this instant, your name would be on them," Moon explained gently.

"Naturally, it includes my signature, as this house was intended as a gift for you. Unfortunately, you weren't available to sign it yourself. Once I felt I was making progress in my search for you and had accumulated enough resources, I had this house built in your name. It hasn't been that long; it's only a year and five months old. I made a promise to myself that I would only set foot inside with you by my side, so I kept it locked up until now."

Once again, Elliot found himself at a loss for words.

"And don't worry," Moon reassured him. "Everything is in perfect working order. Despite my promise not to enter, I made a point of doing so every month to restock the groceries and meticulously maintain every aspect of the house. I wanted to ensure that when the time finally arrived for us to enter together, the house would be fully functional and flawless. That's why you'll find the fridge filled to its brim, along with the cupboards stocked with everything you could possibly need to make yourself comfortable. Welcome back into my life, my precious petal."

Elliot tightened his arms around her, feelings of love, adoration, and sadness swirling within him.

All he could manage was a nod, hoping to conceal the overwhelming emotions of pain that threatened to betray him.

"Shall we have dinner now? What are you in the mood for?" Moon inquired, running her fingers through Elliot's soft, silky locks.

Elliot blushed slightly before responding, "Sure. Anything is fine, though I'd prefer something light."

Moon let out a soft hum before guiding him back to the stool. "In that case, I'll whip up some sandwiches," she declared. "I'll make sure you'll fall head over heels for my cooking."

Elliot chuckled as she concluded her boast about her cooking prowess with a playful wink, but her next words left him utterly stunned.

"Although I've never actually cooked before."

Elliot approached the pantry with uncertainty, his words hesitant as he questioned, "Wait... are you certain you can cook? Especially if you have no experience."

Moon's grin remained radiant as she responded, "Don't worry, Elliot. Cooking isn't about skill; it's about cooking from the heart. Just trust the process, and you'll be amazed by the outcome."

Nervously, Elliot nodded in agreement before offering, "Alright, but if you need any assistance... just let me know."

Moon tossed her hair back proudly before declaring, "Nonsense! I wouldn't dream of making you work on your first visit here. Trust me, I'll whisk you away to culinary paradise." Elliot nervously swallowed, a smile playing on his lips. As he observed her more closely, he couldn't shake the feeling that she didn't seem like someone who cared much about learning to cook.

Moon's smirk widened as she snatched up a knife, using the black ponytail band she had been wearing on her wrist to tie back her hair. Pushing up her sleeves, she deftly wielded the knife, slicing through vegetables and meat with the skill of a seasoned chef. Elliot felt a wave of relief wash over him as he watched her expertly handle the ingredients, realizing he had been worrying needlessly.

Moon swirled the contents of the pan with her knife, and then she deftly lifted the contents of the pan into the air, a graceful ballet of ingredients suspended momentarily before descending back into the embrace of the pan. However, her expression soon shifted as she noticed something amiss.

As Elliot pondered what Moon was up to, she voiced her thoughts aloud.

"Huh... why isn't it sizzling?"

Anxiously, Elliot responded, "Because... you haven't turned on the stove."

"Oh."

Moon muttered, face-palming at her oversight.

She turned to Elliot, a sheepish grin playing on her lips as she chuckled at the situation. Then, with a nervous smile, she posed her question.

"And… how do we turn it on?"

Elliot couldn't help but shake his head affectionately at her adorable blunders. With a gentle smile, he rose from his seat and made his way to the stove. It was an electric stove, one he was familiar with, so turning it on posed no challenge. After switching it on, Elliot turned to Moon and gently reminded her, "You do realize you need to add some oil for it to cook, right?"

Moon's energetic nod confirmed her understanding before she responded confidently, "Of course! Just relax, and dinner will be ready in no time."

Although Elliot felt somewhat reassured, a lingering doubt gnawed at him. He couldn't shake the feeling that perhaps she was unaware of the necessity of oil. If only Elliot knew for sure that she genuinely didn't grasp the idea of needing oil for cooking.

Elliot nodded before posing his question, "Um... do we have any room temperature water?"

Moon, engrossed in her search for oil, glanced up at him and responded, "No, I only have chilled water in the fridge. I'll remember to leave some out for you next time."

Elliot simply nodded before responding, "Oh, it's not a problem at all. You don't have to go out of your way.

Whatever works for you." With that, he made his way to the fridge to retrieve the water bottle. However, just as he was about to take a sip, he was startled by Moon's sudden loud yell.

“Ah!”

Elliot turned to face her, his eyes widening in alarm, only to witness flames erupting from the pan. Without hesitation, Moon hurled the pan out of the window, the sound of glass shattering echoing loudly through the room.

Elliot's throat tightened as he hurriedly inquired, "What happened?!"

Nervously, Moon forced a smile and responded, "I, uh... I accidentally used something else instead of oil. But don't worry, we can always order something."

How could this be possible? Elliot distinctly remembered seeing Moon use the bottle of oil just before he fetched the water. Puzzled, he returned the unused water bottle to the counter and approached her, seizing the bottle of oil. Baffled, he furrowed his brow and posed the question, unable to comprehend the situation.

"Which oil... smells like gasoline?"

Moon cast a wary glance around before hastily replying, "Oh, don't worry about it. Maybe the oil was… expired? Yes, that must be it—expired oil," she insisted, her voice carrying a forced cheerfulness. "There's no need to dwell on something so ridiculous. Let’s just order takeout and move on, shall we?"

Moon swiftly grabbed the oil bottle from Elliot's grasp and discarded it in the sink, urging him to move along before he caught on to her mistake of mistaking gasoline for cooking oil. But Elliot wasn't finished with his questions. He paused and inquired once more, "And what about the kitchen's window?"

And Moon grumbled inwardly at the thought of 'why this stupid window had to exist in the kitchen in the first place' but Moon hastily answered as she tugged him by the hand towards the living room, "Don't concern yourself with the window. It can always be replaced."

Elliot hummed thoughtfully as he observed her browsing through her phone to arrange a replacement for their ruined dinner. A notion struck him then, likening her to a "Kitchen Monster," a term he conjured in his mind.

He couldn't shake the feeling that perhaps she shouldn't be permitted in the kitchen if they wished to prevent their house from burning down to ashes.

Despite a shiver running down his spine, Elliot couldn't help but smile affectionately as he watched Moon grumble in frustration about how "she wanted to cook for him, but nothing went as planned." Regardless of the outcome, Elliot cherished the time spent with her.

After all, his life was fleeting.

~><~*~><~

Having finished their dinner an hour earlier, they opted to gaze at the stars from the rooftop of their house.

Their laughter rang out amidst the twinkling sky as the night grew colder. With plenty to catch up on, they began by revisiting their past at the orphanage where their paths first crossed. Moon gently intertwined her fingers with his as she broached the topic, her curiosity piqued.

"Hey, I've been meaning to ask you... how did you manage to get through high school? Did our orphanage provide assistance, or did you rely on some sort of student loan?"

Elliot tore his gaze away from the mesmerizing starlit sky to meet her eyes, speaking with sincerity. "Well, actually... I did receive financial support from the orphanage to attend high school," he began. "But I also found work as a part-timer at a café owned by a friend's parents. I needed the money to repay the loan from the orphanage and cover upcoming school fees. Then, one day, my principal informed me that a business tycoon had paid the fees for all the orphanage students. So, getting through high school wasn't as tough as I'd anticipated, and I was able to repay the orphanage in full in no time."

Moon emitted a soft hum of interest as she listened intently, her hand gently caressing the back of his. "Wow. I had no idea there were still individuals generous enough to offer such assistance," she remarked. "Now that you've graduated from high school, which university are you attending?"

Elliot responded with a nod, a hint of gratitude in his voice. "Yes, there are still kind-hearted people out there, and if I ever get the chance, I'd like to express my sincere gratitude to whoever helped me," he said, and Moon hummed in her response. "Oh, and I'm currently enrolled at the University of Manitoba. It's a really wonderful university."

Moon, her hand gliding smoothly and gently over the back of his hand, abruptly halted her actions, her eyes widening as she listened to him extol the virtues of the university. As he continued to praise it, all Moon could think about was that it was the very same university she had to infiltrate.

"Oh, is that so? Well, as it happens, on Monday, I'll be paying a visit to your university with a colleague of mine. We've got some business to take care of there. Care to meet up?" Moon inquired.

Elliot's smile widened, his excitement palpable as he responded, "Absolutely! Let's definitely meet up! But, Moon, I've been meaning to ask, what line of work are you in to achieve such success at such a young age?"

Moon clenched her teeth in frustration, realizing she still hadn't come up with a plausible explanation to share with him. She needed to concoct a convincing story that could account for her opulent mansion and the purpose behind her visit to his university.

Aware that revealing her true profession would likely drive him away forever, Moon grappled with the dilemma.

'How the hell am I supposed to disclose that I kill for work? And that I am the deadliest and most sought-after assassin in the world, a fact known to all who sought my services but couldn't meet my exorbitant price.' As she wondered and searched for a solution, Moon dreaded the idea of imposing her reality on him and causing him pain, as she knew very well that knowing her truth was only going to make everything hard for him.

Reluctantly, she resolved to fabricate a lie, an alternative that didn't require much effort to conjure.

With a heavy sigh, she turned to him and responded, "You wouldn't believe me if I were to reveal what I do for a living."

Elliot whined in confusion, "Oh, come on! You've got to tell me." Moon chuckled at his adorable persistence before responding, "I'm an artist. And quite a successful one, if I may say so myself."

Elliot gasped, his eyes sparkling with awe.

Moon cleared her throat, silently acknowledging as she thought, 'Good. He seems to be buying it. I had chosen an Artist for a reason. There was one whose life I had saved once, and now I could call in that favor.

Despite my repeated explanations that the rescue had been an accident, the Artist remained my staunchest admirer. It had all begun with a twist of fate; the gang I was hunting had coincidentally been tailing the Artist.

Mistaking my intervention for a deliberate rescue, the Artist had become convinced of my heroism. Now, I relished the irony. I had unwittingly gained a devoted ally. 'Hahaha. Whew, finally I can get out of this safe-'

"What pen name do you go by?" Elliot eagerly inquired.

DA-DUN!

Moon’s eyes widened while she felt as though luck was not on her side that day.

She was clueless about what a "pen name" even meant.

Hell, she didn't even know the artist's name she was impersonating!

Moon nervously cleared her throat before speaking, "I... I don't have- ACHOO!"

Elliot jumped in surprise, quickly moving beside her as Moon sneezed. He draped his jacket over her shoulders, saying, "Oh, sorry, I didn't realize it was getting so cold. Let's head inside for tonight. We can always continue our conversation next time."

'SUCCESS!'

Moon inwardly cheered as she nodded at him with a smile.

No amount of cold could freeze her, as she was incredibly accustomed to various temperatures. Her survival instincts were far stronger than those of an average human.

Moon and Elliot stepped inside, Moon feigning the effects of a cold. She transformed herself into the epitome of fragility, clutching onto Elliot's jacket as if it were her only lifeline. Every tremble she exhibited seemed calculated, designed to evoke sympathy and concern.

Yet, beneath her facade of vulnerability, Moon harbored a hidden agenda.

"Hey, Elliot! It's past midnight, why don't you stay the night?" Moon suggested, taking a step closer to him.

"Are you out of your mind? How can a girl and a boy spend a night under the same roof without being married?" Elliot stammered, his cheeks flushing as he bashfully spoke, his loud voice tinged with shock.

"Damn," Moon muttered under her breath.

She hadn't anticipated Elliot's innocence to this extent. Her suspicions had lingered, but he had surpassed even those.

Moon realized that now, she would have to get serious with him.

Because she wasn't… up for any rejections.

"Well, Elliot," Moon declared, determination lacing her words. "I won't let you go. So, make up your mind; are you going to stay, or shall I make you stay?" Her voice carried an edge as she advanced toward him.

Once her words settled in the air, she reached out and grasped his waist, pulling him close. As she stared into his wavering honey eyes, she couldn't help but acknowledge their mesmerizing depth. It was like staring into a universe, and within his gaze, she found him breathtakingly beautiful, with stars gleaming in his eyes.

Moon's heart yearned to embrace and protect him until the day she died.

He was her most cherished treasure.

Elliot's cheeks flushed with bashfulness as he glanced back at Moon, innocence radiating from his doe-like, wide eyes. "You're already touching me. Let go! We can't spend the night together. We're not kids anymore," he protested earnestly.

A smirk danced across Moon's lips as she drew Elliot into her embrace, her whispers brushing against his ear as she peppered his neck with delicate kisses. "Oh, my dear," she murmured, her voice laced with mischief, "if you resist... then I'll certainly do more than just to touch you. So, be wise in your next decision. Because your choice could either lead to you sharing a bed with me peacefully or finding yourself pinned down, indulging with me into something... far too naughty for your innocent mind to comprehend."

Elliot swallowed hard, and his eyes widened as his fingers clutched the sleeves of her sweater while trembling slightly. "How... shamelessly bold are you?" he questioned incredulously as Moon kissed his neck with a smirk, her delight evident while being intoxicated by his scent.

"Pfft," Moon chuckled, meeting his gaze unwaveringly. "Why not reject my offer to spend the night and witness just how shamelessly bold I can be? Although I bet, I'll always be recklessly bold with you, my Love."

Moon's tender touch caressed his right cheek as she uttered with an undertone of desperation, “Just… stay with me, Elliot."

Elliot simply shook his head, his shyness evident, before responding, "Fine. I'll stay. But no funny business."

Moon couldn't help but smirk in delight at his innocence, yet she couldn't deny a twinge of disappointment.

The urge to kiss him passionately surged within her, but his words, 'no funny business,' held her back.

Respecting his boundaries for their first encounter after so many years, Moon decided to comply, though she couldn't help but wonder about the future because in the future, she might not consider controlling herself around him.

With that, Moon took his hand and led him to the bedroom they would be sharing for their first friendly night together, after so many years.