Chapter 25.

"You are interested in human things?" Dorian asked tilting his head curiously. Moth nodded, "I found human books and I used them to figure out how to build a home. My interest in humans started there. I figured humans would be incredibly smart, I thought they could teach me a lot of things." Moth glanced over at Dorian to see that he still seemed to be intently listening. "But Lane told me that humans are selfish so I decided I'd just try to learn what I can from books." 

It'd be too suspicious to say that I'd be happy to teach him, I'll go with a more subtle approach so he wont see me as a threat. "If you'd like I can bring you some books. I have quite a large collection of books." Moth looked enticed for a moment, his antenna perking up before his steely expression returned and he turned his gaze away. "No thank you. I can find my own." Dorian hummed in thought for a moment reaching over to a shelf nearby, pulling out a large leather book before dropping it in Moth's lap. "Here, this is a book on some popular art before the apocalypse, it's one of my favorites and it has pictures." Moth glanced at him before glancing at the book, "I can read well, I don't need you to give me books with pictures." Moth aimlessly started to flick through the boo, stopping at points that he found interesting. "So what were you doing before this?" Dorian asked causing Moth to glance over at him. "Do you mean before you dragged me out here or before I met Lane. I assume its the latter given how fast you found us the last time. I lived in a small home that I built with another humanoid. I built a garden and a life for myself. I quite enjoyed that life, of course until it was burned down." He said, pointedly looking over to Dorian. Even though there was a harshness in his tone it was obvious that there was a hint of sadness underlining his tone. 

"I'm sorry. I interrupted your peaceful life with my greed." Moth shrugged, "It was bound to happen. Besides, I wouldn't have Lane right now if it weren't for you." Dorian fell silent for a moment with a twinge of jealousy which he quickly brushed off. "Are you still interested in humans or are you going to stick with books?" Moth thought for a few moments, "I suppose I am." Dorian leaned closer to him. "Even with all the bad people you've met?" 

"There has to be good ones out there." Dorian smiled bitterly. So innocent. Human's are awful things which he'd find out if I hadn't snatched him up. Well, I can't let him grow to hate humans. If that happens he'd hate me so I'll have to preserve his innocence. For all his bravado and iciness he seems so- A loud screech of a walker brought him out of his thoughts and caused him and Moth to turn their heads towards the noise. The two were tense for a moment before Moth's eyes widened in realisation. "Lane." He yelled before hurriedly climbing off the bed and standing up but before he could run he was stopped by a hand around his wrist. "Let me go. I have to go help him." Dorian let the hand slip from his grasp with a bitter smile. "Don't forget about me now that he is back. I have his medicine" Moth nodded before running away into the darkness. After the humanoid was out of sight Dorian flopped down on the bed with a sigh. "I miss him already." 

As Moth moved closer the screech became almost unbearably loud. Moth winced and covered his ears without slowing his pace as he rushed forward. "Lane!" He yelled out as he brushed a plant out of the way but his voice was being deafened out by the scream. Lane was still in the hammock but was sitting up and looking around frantically, his mouth wasn't open but the screech he was emitting grew to become piercing. When his gaze landed on Moth covering his ears, he stopped screeching immediately as relief flooded into his eyes. "Moth. There you are, I couldn't move. Please. Come here." His last words were broken as if he were holding back tears. Moth didn't hesitate and immediately ran to his side, a nervous knot formed in his throat as he tried to swallow down his emotions. 

He reached out and caressed Lane's face with a worried expression. "Hey, how are you feeling, you shouldn't be sitting up." Lane didn't bother to respond and just grabbed Moth by his waist and pulled him onto the hammock with him, moving himself on top of him and holding him closely, nestling his head into his neck. "Lane? Are you alright?" Moth asked, running a hand through Lane's hair. Lane let out a sob which caused Moth's hand to halt from the shock. "... I was really, really, worried." He mumbles into Moth's neck, causing him to shiver slightly. "As you can see, I'm okay." Moth says with a slight laugh, hoping that it would help him calm down.

 Lane doesn't say anything back and just tightens his grip on Moth, deeply inhaling his smell. "I was really worried. They told me they were going to sell you off again and I just snapped. I don't remember what happened all that well but I knew I was just angry and scared." Moth rubbed his cheek against Lane's head to comfort him. "Of course you were scared you almost dies." Lane let out a sniffle. "I wasn't scared about that, somehow I knew I was going to live." He lifted his head up to show off his red rimmed eyes that were glistening with tears. "I was scared to loose you again." He mumbled his words before collapsing back on top of Moth and crying into his shoulder. Moth's eyes widened at this and he clasped Lane tightly nestling his face into Lane's neck as tears welled up in his eyes as well. They silently cried together in each others warmth for a while longer, long enough for the moon to have moved halfway across the sky.

Moth had grown tired from all the crying and was starting to fall asleep when Lane finally lifted his head from where he was planted in Moth's shoulder. Moth was about to ask how he was feeling when a pair of lips were pressed against his. Moth was confused for a few moments as hurried kisses were placed all over his face before he grabbed Lane and guided him to kiss him on his lips. They kissed lightly for a few moments before the kiss deepened rhythmically while Lane slipped his tongue into Moth's slightly open mouth. The kiss was passionate, filled with the emotions and longing of both people. They broke away after a minute, both of them breathing heavily. Moth turned away from Lane, blushing and averting his eyes while Lane laughed and wiped the salvia off of Moth's chin before rubbing his cheek against his. 

As the two were enjoying their quiet moment, the light patter of rain caught their attention causing them both to glance up at the glass barrier shielding them. The rain signalled the transition as winter came into spring. They were silent as they remembered their promise to build a home together during spring. It was a dream that seemed impossible now.