They walked through the empty streets. Night was deep already, no one else walking or driving. Just some windows in the surrounding buildings filled with light, a few awake. It was 7 PM only, yet everyone was sleepy. A slight fog flew above the ground.

Between the both was a awkward silence. One of them was having a hard time, obviously.

“You don’t have to be nervous Chandler,” the red-eyed said. “Just two new friends, hanging around a bit at the home of one’s. Talking about…. Stuff.” The shady glance Timothy gave were hard to ignore for the little one. As before, he was blushing. Yet he was thankful for the cold, which helped him to distract himself a bit.

“You’d consider us friends, wouldn’t you?”

He enjoyed to tease Chandler, who just nodded.

…. Maybe not the kind of friend he wished for?…

“What do you mean by ‘stuff’?” Chandler asked, which was quite the surprise for Timothy.

“Stuff. Getting to know each other.” Both had their intentions. But both a bit different.

A few days were the reason for a certain silence. Between both of them, was nothing at the moment that led to talking. Actually, both of them were interested. Both of them had more than enough questions. Still, what could happen, was what kept them in their minds. The blue-eyed little, was distracted, every second, again and again his thoughts grabbed him. Barely able to look at the eyes of the red-eyed, since every look made his blood rise… from anger? Or rather excitement?

And he on the other side, the red-eyed giant, he was focused like a laser. Sharp like a sword. His thoughts circling about not to be invasive. Not to act to harsh. Not to tease too much. Trying to hold himself back. What was the reason for him to think like that? S After all, he’s going home with a stranger. A stranger, he knows a bit and feels pretty close with, but still he had nothing in common with him. Or at least, he didn’t know, what was behind the name Chandler. And what weight hid behind the name Simmons…

Talking about ‘stuff’ would be normal to get to know each other. Still, though both of them didn’t know about each other’s intention, both felt that they had different than just ‘talking’.

“I googled a bit, the last days. About you. And your Ex,” the blue-eyed said. It took the other one by surprise.

What did he find out? Or rather, what would he think? Would he even listen anymore?

“Yeah… right,” he said. Nervous. His heart beating from the tension.

“I’m sorry, really. I should’ve waited until you were ready to tell me. But still, what I read was disturbing.”

And the tension kept rising. His worries came true. What if someone found out? Even though his past was not truly a secret. At least not fully.

“You did not murder her, right?” the blue-eyed said.

Timothy knew what was coming, still that startled him. Pictures of Chandler going crazy, being afraid of him and keeping his distance were floating in his mind. What would he think? Could he convince him?

“Would you believe me if I’d say no? That would be a first…”

The blue-eyed stopped walking and looked at the red-eyed. Deep in the eyes. He hesitated for a short moment. He wasn’t sure for a little moment. Anxiety for a little moment in his eyes. Which the big one saw. Yet he kept going.

“Of course. I trust you,” he said and grabbed the left hand of Timothy. His mind said no. A kind of force that tried to keep him going. He felt a distance and attraction simultaneously.