Strings Of Fate

Chapter 69: A fragile mind

    It was as if the clock was beginning rewinded. The rotting skin gradually returning to its bronze color, covering the body once again, ripped clothing being restored. Hair regrowing eyes no longer liquid.

    The body was restoring itself?

    Angel only gawked as his mind froze both horrified and confused at what he was witnessing.

    Five minutes and the body was back to normal. The smell still lingered in the basement but no corpse was there. The body lay there for a few seconds, still and unmoving.

    And then a harsh cough left it, followed by a gasp.

    The blonde continued to stare, the body doubling over as its coughing and gasping continued. Trying to get used to being alive once again it seemed.

    The coughing died down and then they just panted softly, as their breathing was being controlled.

    Silence fell as Angel watched motionlessly.

    A sigh filled the air as the body looked down at his hands moving them over his face. "Ugh...I feel disgusting." He got to his feet, brushing himself down. He massaged his temples as his eyesight refocused, finally noticing the pink hue in the room.

    Alastor's expression fell as he turned, and his eyes landed on Angel. Huddled in the corner of the room, staring distraughtly at him.

    Every movement he made was inspected closely as he walked over to the Italian. Angel pressed his back up against the wall, as Alastor knelt reaching a hand out Angel flinched away. His eyes squeezing shut.

    As the hand brushed against his cheek, wiping away a stray tear he trembled his breathing shaking. This touch, he'd craved it so much and missed it dearly, yet dreaded it all the same.

    The memories flooded back at just this faint touch. Every single second spent down there came to light.

    His eyes opened once more, hesitant at first. The sight before him made him all the more confused.

    To see Alastor here, to see that face again. To see him alive...made Angel feel a way he couldn't understand. Happy, yet afraid.

    But to see him frowning, made chills spread across Angel's arms. He no longer saw Alastor. Or at least, not as he had before. He didn't see a human man before him, but his..partner?

    And that left him feeling disoriented.

    "Y-your...your not..." Angel's voice trembled uncontrollably, his eyes unable to meet Alastor's. Instead casting down. "Why aren't you smiling."

    To see Angel like this, it hurt. Yes, it indeed hurt a great amount. But was Alastor angry at him for it? No. Was he upset? No. Merely concerned for the other's mental state. As it was in a very fragile state right now.

    He wanted to grab Angel's face, to hold him and tell him it was okay. That it would be alright. But he knew such actions, while would have helped to comfort him in the past, would only make things worse now.

    So Alastor took his hand away, realizing being touched by him was something the Italian couldn't handle right now. And that was okay. Even if it hurt.

    "I can't smile when the man I love is in such distress before me." He answered honestly. His mind was shaken in its own right.

    Angel didn't respond immediately; several minutes passed. And the blonde shook or coughed during it. "I-I'm sorry.." He held himself, trying to get the shaking to stop. Yet it wouldn't. "I-I just can't-" he tried, another small cough cutting him off. The fumes in the basement weren't helping things.