After they finished shopping, they started making their way back home. It was past noon now, and the streets were getting more crowded. Horns honked as cars were stuck in traffic, while innumerable people traversed the sidewalks.

Al was doing okay with the crowds, until they passed by a group of men having a particularly heated argument. As he did when he stepped out onto the street on his first day there, Al froze to the spot, in a crosswalk. His fists clenched so hard that his knuckles turned even whiter than usual and his nails dug deep into his palms. He felt rage boiling inside him. He seethed and breathed heavily. Feeling other peoples’ anger terrified him most of all. He used all his power to control his temper, as he stood there like a solid hulking statue of stone in the middle of the foot-traffic.

“Al?” Yui had crossed to the other sidewalk and was a good distance ahead, before he noticed that his friend wasn’t beside him. He looked back through the crowd and panicked when he couldn’t see him. He ran back the way he came, weaving through the oncoming people. Before long, he found him, standing there solid as a brick wall, in the middle of the street. He was thankful that Al was tall and always wore all-black. It made it easier to spot him in a crowd. “Al!” Yui yelled out to him.

Al snapped out of his trance. “Stay away!” He roared. The men who were arguing had gone away, but Al still felt their fury all too strongly. He was terrified of hurting Yui. He hated not being in control of his emotions like this. He felt like he was just a puppet on everyone else’s strings. His stern eyes glared at Yui.

Yui stopped six feet away from Al. “What’s wrong?” He asked, with panic in his voice. 

“Just… let me calm down,” Al said.

“There’s no time, Al!” Yui yelled, “the light will turn any second!”

Al couldn’t bring himself to move.

Yui ran into the street and stretched his hand out toward Al. “Take my hand!”

He took a step back, as though it were something frightening. “I can’t,” Al argued.

“Please,” Yui begged. “I don’t want to lose you!”

The light turned green.

“Al, a car is coming! Please!”

Al’s periwinkle eyes looked down at Yui’s outstretched hand. He reached out to grab it, but he hesitated. Was it okay for him to touch someone again? The wedding band on his finger reminded him of the last person whose hand he had held so long ago, but he didn’t want to think about that person. He wanted to forget. 

Al looked up at Yui’s desperate face. He looked like he was about to cry. Al couldn’t fight it. He gave in and took Yui’s hand, and they quickly ran to the safety of the sidewalk. The car honked violently at them, as it narrowly missed hitting them.

They caught their breath as they stood still for a moment on the corner.

Al noticed that Yui’s hand was warm and comfortable. He instantly felt that his touch calmed him down and made his empathy less overwhelming. Yui was a very touchy-feely person, so whenever he noticed that Al was upset, or if he wanted to show Al something or pull him somewhere, he had a tendency to tap his arm or shoulder. Al had felt it before, but he thought it was just his imagination. Now, he was certain. Yui’s touch helped him. He could still feel the emotions of the people around him, but it felt like they didn’t affect him as strongly, while Yui was touching him.

Yui was still holding his hand, long after they had crossed the street and passed through the crowds of people. They didn’t let go until they were back in the house.