Dark smiled as Alexander leaned over his shoulder to read the book. He relaxed as Alexander read a part of the book aloud. The words fell smothly from Alexander's lips as though he had read them a thousand times. "we were all going direct to heaven, we were all going direct the other way - in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only." Dark frowned it sounded much better when Alexander read it, compared to when Dark read it. Dark fought the instict to curl up in Alexander's lap and demand he read the story, it sounded almost poetic coming from Alexander, but Dark's words sounded harsh and mixed up, though it be the same text.

he had never seen those words until the moment he read them but like all things from stories he knew it inside and out he knew of sydney and lucie and charles as intimately as anyone besides the writer could but it was hollow in that he felt nothing for them. he much preferred the other's way of reading before his interruption, it had emotion and life to it, it was not perfect as his always must be but it had a personal feel that alexander could never recreate. he stopped reading then and turned his face into his lord's shoulder he did not cry though he knew how to and he made no noice though he knew he ought to have. he simply turned his face in and stayed

Dark almost tensed when Alexander put his head into his shoulder but managed not to. He felt as though the other was crying but Dark knew not why. He could tell Alexander was not physically crying so he figured it must be an overactive imagination. He assumed this to be a sighn that Alexander had nto minded his interuption and was allowing him to continue. Dark read to Alexander most of the first chapter lost in the words and the feeling of Alexander so close to him.

he did not sleep though this was not unlike a dream, he was still and the other was still and the story he knew/did not know cast it's spell and he figured himself to be someone else in another time in another way. he played at the idea of leaving his book and becoming another one, a kinder one with a middle for it's begining and an end that did not chance as the moments passed. maybe he though, he was sleeping then, but he knew in his heart of hearts that if he slept even for a moment the story would end and dark would be lost or consumed or ejected, any way he would be lost to alexander and with that thought he brought himself fully back into the world. he turned his face so that his chin sat upon the others shoulder. he was rewarded with a moment of a profile beyond beauty, soft lashes on half closed eyes, mouth moving softly along the trajectory of the eyes and a single lock of hair pulled free, this was the face of a Reader. he was almost sad to see the face turned towards him but the Reader was replaced by Dark equally beautiful but in a way that was not so easy to define


(annnnnnnnnd now i have officially fallen for you, shame)

Dark smiled at Alexander once his attention had left the book and noticed that Alexander looked much more relaxed. "Coaxing you out of the shadows was challenging, but could we please not do that again?" Dark then relized that if he wanted to go anywhere he would have to move Alexander. Feeling lazy, Dark simply rolled to the side so that he was facing the grass and his back was to Alexander. Something about this place made him sleepy he decided, he wanted to drift off here with Alexander by his side. Dark was slipping away to dreamland and so he almost missed his last though of 'Alexander is back were he belongs, by my side.'

when the boy had drifted off he he had laid back and stared into the sky, the blotted black of trees covered one end and the sunset that had never gotten to begin was now finishing casting a fiery light over them, from this angle it looked as though the trees were burning against a purple brocade. he warmed the night air to keep the other comfortable. he also willed the grass and clover dark lay upon softer and plusher. he had not expected they would come back to this point, the sky and the reason vastly different though the setting was eerily the same, he wondered why this plce did not whisper for continuation. actually he had noticed that the book's demands had all but disappeared from his mind, as if it chosen to sleep once more as the boy next to him was doing now. he began to piece things together, wondering if the boy had really come to terms with being the Writer as well as the Reader. he was still sick from his cruelty to his lord even though he had no choice in the matter, it sat heavy with him but he was also happy that dark had not hated him for it. he looked at the other again. he did not know what compelled him as he laid a hand on the other's face but the wish felt natural and right.


he fell into the dream

Dark was having a nightmare. It was one he was familiar with, the forest were he had been raised was burning and he would here the people's cres. Dark knew from experience he could not move and he would say here and stand untill the fire went out and all that was left was ash. A repeated nightmare of a war from his mother's generation. The return to the forest of his hime must have triggered something to make the nightmares return. Dark could feel the blistering heat as rose, wave apon wave from the forest and recognized another scream, different from the rest. It was Alexander's, and Dark felt his heart stop. Alexadner was not allowed to die!

he could feal the phantom whispers of fire flicker about him and all through the world, cries and screams and gasps and bellows surrounded him, death and cooking meat filled his nose, he could not see the people but the rest of his senses were enough to warn him against wanting to he so desired to right this world to ease it and cleanse it of it's demons but this was a dream, unlike the real world he had just left there was no control to be had here, only his lord could affect it. to his side he saw a shadow come towards him, as it passed he recognized it as dark, he tried to reach out but his hand made no contact as he knew it wouldn't he followed behind.

Dark is runnning towards the burning forset, he can move. The one thought on his mind is Save Alexadner. Dark had forgotten that this was a nightmare, forgotten this was not real. He knew he had to reach the forest and Alexander before the fire stopped, before ALexander was gone. As he came nearer to the forest the cries dimmed and Dark knew that they were dying and that ALexander could be next.

he searched as well even though he could do nothing if he found what they were looking for, the flames had died but to compensated the darkness rose up, rearing like a mad-man dark and tall and threatening.

Dark arrived at the forest to late, it was ash. The cries had ceased and everyone was dead. Dark fell to knees he had once again; failed to rescue them from the burning forest. Alexander and Dark's family had burned to death and he had been unable to stop them. Dark felt a stinging in the corner of his eyes sting but no tears came. Alexander was dead and he was alone once again,

he reached out though he knew he could not touch, he wrapped his arms about the boy crossing hands over the other's heart. he did not understand the meaning but he did see the message.

Dark felt warm arms wrap around him, and soft grass beneith him. He was no longer kneeling in a field of ash but beside a stream. He was in someone's arms, "Alexander?" it came out as a question and DArk hated himself for it. It made him seem weak. He hoped it was Alexander though, it meant it was just a dream he had had and not real.

he fell out of the dream as the other woke up, he found himself holding the other in much the same position he had attempted in the dream world, protective as any parent. he did not stop to wonder how it was that this ame about, he blamed the world for answering wished it was not privy too. for not the first time it chafed him to feel the constraints of the book. 'alexander?' he hummed a little, he did not trust himself to say anything lest the other know he had seen

Dark felt Alexander's humm and allowed himself to relax. It had been a nightmare and he tries not to think about it or he might overanalyze it. He knew he was safe in Alexander's arms. "Sorry, Alexander, did I disturb you?" He really hoped he had not said amything during the dream or cryed that would be hard to explain.

'no my lord' whispered into darks hair. if the other would not talk about it neither would he, it was their first secret and he would keep it safe for as long as the other needed him to


(oh hey, it'll take a week for the art to get done)

(Okay, that awesome)

Dark was surprised he had not disturded Alexander. He knew sometimes would movein his sleep, He was not going to push the issue though. "Take a walk with me, Alexander. I feel restless after my rest." He could not move from his position without Alexander moving first and he would not mind sitting here for a little longer.

he pulled away at the command, he stood tall and reached down for the other his hair blowing in a breeze who's only purpose seemed to be for this moment. his proffered hand an unnamed offer

Dark grapped Alexander's hand to help himself up. Dark's hand stayed in Alexanders's evven as they started walking. Dark wanted to have constant confermation that Alexander was actually alive. His dream had seemed real but as long as Aleander was there he knew it was not. Dark came to the sudden opservation that Alexander was his grounding dtone here, if ALexander was to leave or die Dark would simply disappear into his own nightmares.

as they walked he realized somehow they had sped by another chapter, the book was half over and yet the more time he spent in the company of the other the more he felt as if it was only the beginning. the nagging itch of it bothered him more than the silence of the book, he was beginning to lose track of things for all of his living in the now of things. he tightened his grip on the other's hand slightly his assurance of things was slipping and his lord dark, who was all that held the world together, seemed to be slipping too, the tightness of his grip and the warmth of his side were stabilizing but only when he stopped thinking, every time he went back to his musings things became undone again. they contined walking until they came back to a familiar part of the woods, it was the tree they had hid in and the shamrock patch he had taught the other in

Dark's eyes widened at the sight were he had been taught to change the shamrock's color. A quick glance at Alexander told him he had relized what this place was. "The beginning?" Dark asked Alexander, "Did one of us wish ourselves back here or did the flow do it itself?"

'i am not sure' and he wasn't. it was fitting though, they hadcome mostly full circle though with much more in them than before.

"You and your crazy book." Dark said fondly. A full moon appeared suddenly plunging from day to night and Dark knew he had wished for it. The moon gave a new look to the area he had first learned to control his wishes. The green disappeared to be replaced by ice and snow making the area glow faintly because of light rays being scattered by the ice. Even with the ice and snow the place was not cold however.

he smiled and let the wish fill him as well. he did not what compelled him to pull the other out into the snow to dance but it felt right

Dark let his lips curl into a smile as Alexander and himself danced. Dark rested his head on Alexander's shoulder as they danced a slow dance. And once it was done Dark reacted on impulse and tilted his head up and kissed Alexander. Dark froze when he relized what he had done and blushed. Dark did not run away from Alexander like he wanted to do. Dark liked Alexander aparently as more then a friend and he knew if he walked away he would never live with himeself.

*dies laughin as he realizes he does not know shit about romancy things*

he blinked. his first impulse was a slight offense he was the prince, his second was slightly more appropriate. he slid one hand from the other's waist and tipping dark back slightly to hide them both in a cascade of his hair he reversed the action and kissed his lord.

(I'm shit at romance things,too. Which is why I do angst so romance never happens.)

Dark was surprised when Alexander kissed him back but did not let it show. Alexander was a good kisser for never having kissed before. Both Dark and Alexander pulled back at the same time and Dark was blushing again.

the snow began to fall then in large fluffy parts, it fluttered around them most certainly it was the stuff or blizzards but nothing touched the ground, instead it just swirled about giving the impression of a shaken globe that had yet to settle


'i think' whispered alexander 'i know why the book is silent.' he put his arms back around the other as the resumed the dance. 'i think it is because your wish has been granted. though, 'he paused again 'i wonder why the story is still continuing. have you any other wishes?'

Dark thought for a couple of minutes, "It might be a subconsious wish, one I'm not aware of." He allowed himself to follow Alexander's movements. "I can't remember the wish if it was a consiouse one." The white glow of the ice and moon made Alexander appear more beautiful than before. "I do wish the story would never end, so I can stay with you." Dark allowed himself the bitter thought of that would never happen.

his heart clenched. did his lord really just condem himself? did he really utter those words. he stopped, taking hold of dark's arms he looked the other right in the eyes. 'is that true?'

Dark was shocked when Alexander stopped dancing and asked him if he really wanted that. Dark glanced at the sky then closed his eyes, "Yes, I'm sure. Even if I wasn't my wish would be that you could return with me." Dark opened his eyes to show Alexander that he was sincere. "I have enjoyed my time here." Dark would not tell Alexander that he would return to an empty house in a forest full of people. Dark had been despite his best efforts qn outcast. Dark did not like the physical work, he much prefered knowledge and books.

'could you enjoy it forever though?' he sounded melancholy to his own ears despite the un-paralleled joy he felt at the earlier words. something about this seemed off, the other was telling the truth but something was off. he felt a wish from the other but it was muddled and incoherent

Dark grinned, he could answer this wuestion easily, "I could live forever with you by my side." He could not live here in this current setting forever, but he could live in this realm. It would be more of a home then his house.

it grew clearer but it was still so hard to to grasp ahold of. it bothered him now, taking up the space left behind by the book. he tried to take hold of it but to no avail, he tried a new direction. 'may i tell you a story?' he asked

"Of couse you can." Dark was confused why was Alexander telling him a story. He was not going to complain though, if Alexander wanted to tell him a story then Dark would listen. Maybe Alexander was trying to diverge from the topic before, that was fine with Dark too.

he sat down in the snow pulling dark with him. 'once upon a time' he held the other tight like when they watched the faerie hunt 'there was a once a child, who shunning his friends and family sought to play by himself, one day he returned home and everyone had left. the house remained as it was when he left that morning only noone was to be found. he did not question it and did his best to go on with his day, he succeeded for three days before his loneliness was too much, he went into the woods and hid himself in a big tree to escape. a fairy lived in the little boy's tree and could hear his sadness. she asked him what was wrong and he told her of his family. so to make him happy again she built a little man made out of twigs and leaves from the tree, when she was done the little man began to dance and sing to the delight of the little boy.' he turned to the other hand hoped he understood. seeing the other nod he smiled 'but,' he said, leaving off the story, 'this is a tale unfinished, there are two versions, one where the little boy lives forever in the woods with his stick-man and another, i am the story-teller but you tell the story, how does this one end?'

Dark tilted his head wondering why Alexander wanted him to pick the ending, "I want the one where the stick man and the lonely boy don't stay in the forest." It was the one Alexander had not elaborated on so it was natural that he be curious about what it was.

'then,' he said reaching out once more. 'make a wish.' grasping at the nebulous he watched it flare into full bloom. the world went dark.

When the light returned Dark recognized where he was. It was the library where he had first picked up the book. "What happened?" Dark asked Alexander confused at what had just taken place.

he coughed once to help settle the pain of transition, he felt as if he had been pulled inside out. clutching at himself he looked around. 'you made a wish...' he realized he was in a library, though from the looks of it the collector was unsure of his preferences, there were titles of all sorts surrounding him, each compelling him to look inside, he took a step towards one but was stopped by the next question