Fin stared at Alistair’s long, naked form, hair cascading like an ebony-and-blue waterfall. Alistair pressed a smaller man against the wall, their bodies shuddering with each thrust.

The human teen gasped as he looked on. If that was Alistair, then who was the smaller man?

Fin crept closer, unable to stop himself. He didn't know why it was so important to know who the man was, but it was suddenly the most important thing in the world.

Alistair threw his head back in ecstasy, and Fin was fascinated to see Alistair’s familiar features softened by youth—his cheekbones less defined, his cheeks rounder, looking about sixteen or seventeen.

When the smaller man looked back over his shoulder at Alistair with lust-lidded eyes, Fin saw he was about the same age. His hair was an inky purple streaked with green, tied in a quickly failing braid. The crest on his forehead was a jagged star.

"Gods, Simon..." Alistair moaned.

Fin had mixed feelings about what he was seeing—a surge of lust at Alistair in such a state, even as a younger version, but also a stab of jealousy toward Simon. In the end, inadequacy settled heavy in his chest; he couldn’t give Alistair that kind of satisfaction. Not yet, not as he was now.

"Touch me," Simon gasped. "I'm close."

Alistair wrapped his arms around the purple-haired man, one hand catching his erection and pumping it swiftly. Alistair's thrusts were steady and deep as Simon's moans and gasps became more desperate until the man's entire body tensed tight as a bow string—thick splashes of white decorated the wall in front of him, dripping slowly towards the floor.

Alistair kept thrusting, clearly excited by the orgasm that had taken Simon. His jaw tensed as he clenched his teeth.

"Don't you dare cum inside me," Simon warned, still panting from his own orgasm.

Alistair only made it a few more thrusts before he stumbled back, pulling out of the smaller man. The nightmare took himself in hand, pumping himself roughly until he came, seed arching from the tip of his cock to splatter on the floor.

Fin was nearly entranced watching Alistair’s climax—even in his younger form, he was achingly beautiful.

"I'd let you come inside me..." He whispered aloud and immediately covered his mouth with a hand, shocked by himself and the words that had come out of him.

Simon tugged on a pair of pants and pulled a handkerchief from the pocket. He used it to clean the wall, then tossed it to Alistair. The nightmare wiped himself off, then crouched to clean his cum off the floor.

"Come on," Simon called, walking to a desk Fin hadn't noticed. "You keep distracting me and we'll never get this done."

"Me?" Alistair sounded affronted. "You started this!"

The two bickered good-naturedly as they faded from view. For a moment, Fin stayed alone in the room, then Simon and Alistair appeared again, clothed this time.

"Come on, Alistair..." Simon cooed. "It'll still be there after you get me off."

Alistair sighed, but there was a smile on his face. "You're terrible, Simon."

He began unbuttoning his shirt.

Fin watched the wet spots vanish as the room returned to its tidy state. The two men stood, and Alistair pressed Simon against the wall again. Fin realized the scene repeated itself from the beginning this time, rather than the middle.

Fin backed away, back out the door of this scene, wondering where to go next.

"So are all the doors memories like these?" he wondered.

Fin kept moving, ignoring the other rooms. At the end of the hall, he found a solid wooden door. He hesitated, then opened it, relieved to find only a normal-looking room: a couch, desk, bookshelves, and a thick carpet. No one appeared, and he let out a breath.

He was caught off guard when the door opposite swung open, and an apple-cheeked little boy with platinum blond hair and sapphire eyes darted in. A small blue oval with an infinity symbol at its center marked his forehead.

He took one look at Fin and a gap-toothed grin split his face.

"Daddy!" he shouted as he bounded across the room to wrap his arms around Fin's waist.

Fin dropped to his knees, stunned, and hugged the little boy. Tears rolled down his cheeks. He wiped them away, stood, and lifted the child.

"H-Hey, sweet one." He responded softly as he began gently petting the child's platinum hair and rubbing the child's back.

"Daddy," the little boy said worriedly. "Don't cry. Are you sad or do you have a hurt?" The blond held Fin's face in his small hands. "Do you need Father? He always makes you smile all big and funny."

Fin let out a soft chuckle. "Yeah, I think I need your father." He told him. "Why don't you go get him for me?"

As soon as Fin set the boy's feet on the floor, the shorter blond was scooting out the door, calling loudly for his father.

"Father!" He shouted as he ran. "Daddy needs you! He's crying and I don't like it!"

Fin sat heavily on the sofa. The little boy's hair was just the same shade as it was before he dyed it, and he had the same pale skin as well. The teen suddenly wished he'd asked the little boy his name. Finian knew this wasn't real, but it still seemed important somehow.

The other places he’d visited seemed filled with memories and glimpses of the past. Where was he now?

Fin nearly jumped out of his skin as the door burst open, slamming into the wall and lodging the knob in the plaster. A wild-eyed Alistair charged through the doorway.

"Fin!" the nightmare shouted. "Where are you bleeding? Keep the injury above your heart!"

The little boy scooted in behind him, carrying a small white metal box with a ruby plus-sign on it.

"We'll save you, Daddy!" the little boy shouted exuberantly.

Fin shook his head and rushed over to hug Alistair tightly. Illusion or not, all he wanted in that moment was to hold on tight.

"Alistair…" he sobbed into his chest, wishing with all his heart that imagined future could someday become reality.

As he cried, vertigo overwhelmed him. When it passed, Alistair was still holding him, and they were back on the waterbed.

"I’ve upset you." Alistair's voice was heavy with sorrow. "I'm so sorry, Fin."

"Would you...?" Fin questioned with a shuddering breath as he wiped away his tears and looked up at the Nightmare.

"What can I do?" Alistair said gently. "Ask anything."

"Would you really wait for me?" The teenager asked.

"As long as you need." Alistair brushed Fin's hair from his damp eyes. "I know this is probably overwhelming. Tell me what I can do to help you, and I'll do it." The nightmare brushed a stray tear from Fin's cheek. "Just don't ask me to leave."

"On one condition," Fin countered.

"Tell me." Alistair held his breath, hoping.

"That you don't ask me to leave, either." Fin stated with finality.

"Never." The nightmare's breath left him in a rush. He pressed soft kisses to Fin's still damp cheeks. "Can I ask what upset you? I'm so sorry I hurt you."

"I wasn't upset, I was just...deeply moved." He confessed. "Your thoughts on our possible future together were absolutely lovely."

"Thank the gods." Alistair's body relaxed, pulling Fin backwards with him to sprawl on the pillows. "I was so afraid I'd hurt or upset you."