Content Warning: Some mild intimacy

Despite my intentions to remain detached, I ended up falling for him anyway…

Andreas put his arms around Viro from behind and held him close.  It was the early hours of the morning and they were curled up in the blanket on the floor of the lantern room.  The soft green glow from the Northern Lights filtered through the windows.  They were still wearing their thick coats, although the zippers were halfway down since it was getting stuffy.  Andreas brushed his lips against the back of Viro’s neck.  Viro exhaled softly and Andreas felt warm tingles course through his own limbs.

Perhaps it was inevitable because of the constant proximity…or my own loneliness…

Viro turned to face Andreas.  His expression was soft and serene.  Their lips met and their kiss deepened.

I was originally afraid that if we started something, I’d be devastated if it ended someday and I’d be left with a profound sense of loss even worse than what I was experiencing before.

They pulled apart to catch their breath and Viro turned around completely so that his chest was pressed against Andreas’.  He wrapped his arms around Andreas’ back and laid his head in the crook of Andreas’ neck.  Andreas embraced Viro tighter, wrapping himself around him like a protective cocoon.

Perhaps I should just cherish the moment and not think too much about the future…

Andreas ran his fingers through Viro’s hair.  Viro raised his head to gaze into Andreas’ eyes.  Andreas slid his hand to Viro’s cheek and gave it a soft caress.  He leaned in and they kissed again.

***

One week later…

Andreas and Viro stood outside looking at the sea as Bjorn ran around them.  The waves crashed onto the shore and droplets sprayed into the air.  The wind whistled and made a mess of their hair.  Andreas smiled at Viro’s dark disheveled bangs and embraced him from behind.  

“Andreas?” Viro said.  He leaned backwards against Andreas’ chest and turned his head.  Andreas kissed him and held him tighter.  

I still don’t know what he’s really thinking, Andreas thought.  I hope he’s happy here.  

He rested his head on Viro’s shoulder and they continued watching the rising and falling of the waves.

Would he want to stay here for an entire lifetime?

Somewhere out there, Viro probably had a home and a family who was worried sick about him.  Andreas did not want Viro to leave, but he also felt it was wrong to keep him here if he had loved ones who were looking for him.  Of course, there was also the possibility that Viro was estranged from the other people in his life and had no one who noticed or cared about his disappearance.  This thought also made Andreas sad, since he had grown up in a close-knit community.  If someone from the island went missing, everyone would know about it.

Viro turned around in Andreas’ embrace so that they were now facing each other.  He snuggled against Andreas’ coat and wrapped his arms around Andreas’ waist.

He really likes doing that, Andreas thought as he smiled.  He placed his hand under Viro’s chin and brushed his thumb against Viro’s lips.  Viro’s cheeks flushed and his breath hitched.  Andreas leaned over and kissed him.

It’s good that we live far from town, Andreas thought.  No one’s around to see us.

The endless waves continued to crash gently upon the shore and seagulls glided in the air.

Far away from the shore, a mysterious man in a long dark coat put his binoculars down.  He narrowed his eyes and frowned.

***

A few days later…

Andreas and Viro were in town again to buy more food.  Bjorn wagged his tail as he trailed behind them.  As they walked along the sidewalk, Andreas felt an eerie sense of unease as the townspeople stared at them coldly.  He had never experienced this from them before, since they all knew him very well.

Are they staring at Viro?  he thought.  I really wish they wouldn’t do that.

As they approached the grocery store, a group of serious-looking men in long dark coats walked up to them, blocking their path.  They definitely did not look like locals.

“Um…can I help you?” Andreas asked.  He noticed that Viro looked nervous.

“We’ve come for the creature,” said one of the men.

“Sorry?” Andreas asked, confused.

The man turned to Viro and smirked.  “You thought you could just disguise yourself as a human and hide in plain sight, didn’t you?”  Viro winced.

“Huh?” Andreas said.  “What’s going on?”

“Demon!” the man shouted.  “Show yourself!”  He raised an amulet in the air.  It emitted a blinding light.

Viro screamed and cowered.  He fell to his knees and bent over forwards, grabbing his head as if he were in pain.  Bjorn began to bark incessantly.

“Stop!” Andreas shouted.  “What are you doing?”

Black wings shot out of Viro’s back.  Andreas’ eyes widened and he gasped.

The men in long coats took out their weapons.  They looked like intricate swords and daggers from a bygone era.

“No!  Don’t!” Andreas cried.

“Step aside, young man,” said the man with the amulet.  “These are things you wouldn’t understand.”

Andreas stepped in front of Viro and held his arms out to shield him.  “I won’t let you hurt him!”

Another one of the men laughed.  “Haha, of course, you’ve already been bewitched.”

“What?” Andreas asked.

Yet another man spoke.  “We’ve been observing you from afar.  You and that creature have been…very affectionate with each other.”

Andreas gasped and his blood ran cold.  He felt like there were a thousand insects crawling under his skin.

“Yes, kissing out in the open like lovers,” the amulet bearer remarked.  “Who knows what else goes on.”

Andreas’ face turned red and his heart began to pound.  He felt lightheaded.  The townspeople around them gasped and began to whisper amongst themselves.  Their expressions went from cold indifference to thinly veiled hostility.

“This is your last chance,” the amulet bearer continued.  “Step aside or else.  We’re not responsible if you get caught up in the crossfire.”

Andreas refused to budge.  He stared them down and kept his hands up.  Cold sweat formed on his face and limbs.

“Suit yourself, you were warned,” said the amulet bearer.  The group of men began to lunge forward, brandishing their weapons.  Andreas tried to block them and they tackled him down.  The wind was knocked out of him as his back hit the ground.

“Viro!  Run!” Andreas shouted as he struggled against the men.

Viro looked at him with a frightened expression.  “Andreas…”

“Don’t worry about me!  Run!”

Tears welled up in Viro’s silver eyes.  He spread his wings and flapped.  A gust of wind radiated outward and black feathers circulated in the air.  Viro propelled himself into the air and flew away.

Andreas looked upwards in awe.  “Viro…”

He had no time to say or think anything else before a sharp pain exploded in his head and his vision went dark.