Archived AIM RP
Nathaniel (Teh Zan)& Jaden(o0 Sephiros Immortal 0o)


Nathaniel stood staring hard at the door. Yesterday ran through his head again and again. His father. His ... father. His father was alive, but his mother was still dead. Somehow, this reiteration hurt. The pain in his chest blossomed and he was unsure of himself. He had stumbled through a day with his father, spent some time with Jaden, but eventually... he had asked Jaden to leave so that the two of them could talk. His eyes fell to the floor. Would this be satisfactory? Would it be all right? Would Jaden be angry? How was he feeling about this? He'd clearly said his feelings for the boy in front of his father. In front of the man he was most afraid of telling. And he had not been shunned. Not been rejected. But his mother was still gone, and the man remembered far less then he'd assumed he might. The British youth debated on calling out to the other, letting him know it was him in the doorway, but instead he did not. His liquid green eyes stared hard at the door before knocking, his face set in grim seriousness.

At that knock, Jaden, who had been nervously 'studying' or more like writing out elven letters in a far more messy scrawl than his usual (one of his new 'fidgety' habits), stiffened, raising his head to blink at the door for a moment, as though he could not identify the sound. With a shock of realization but moments later, he hopped off the bed and scurried across the room, all but flinging open the door in his haste. Staring at the other from under now-messy blond locks, he smiled faintly then...even at his boyfriend's serious gaze, he wasn't off-put. Nat had come to see him, and after what had transpired, he hadn't expected anything less. "Hey, Nathaniel..." He reached out, and took the other's wrist, unafraid, "Come on inside, won't you...?" The smile faded to seriousness, a quiet solemness to match the British boy's own, but in truth, he was simply relieved that Nat had come here at all.

Nathaniel watched the scene unfold before him as if in slow motion. When the other grabbed his wrist, he was jolted back to the present and looked upon his boyfriend. Boyfriend. Yes. That was what he had said. Fearlessly claimed the other to be in front of his father. And even now this boy was welcoming towards him. Silently, still unsure of what to say, he followed the other inside, almost practically dragged for lack of effort. Jaden understood the situation. He understood a lot of things. The British youth looked around the room and noticed the scrawlings he'd been working on. A faint smile touched his lips. The boy wanted to be an elf. It was a far more impressive and peaceful pasttime than his own hobby. His own poison loving hobby. Yes. Jaden was precious to him. Now more than ever. Finally he found his voice, "About yesterday... I'm sorry."

Puzzled, his brows furrowed in confusion as he blinked up at the other, head canting to one side in silent examination. Slipping his smaller hand into the other's own, he squeezed gently. "Whatever are you sorry for, Nat?" Jaden had actually been a little glad...terrified, but glad, when Nat had told his father that the tiny American boy was his boyfriend. There had been a certain surge of elation, a beautiful glow at being acknowledged by the one he loved... It was enough to sustain him for months on end, really and truly. If Nat meant about Jaden having to leave, well...Jade understood that too. It had been forever since Nat had seen his father, and they needed some time together. Jaden was still something of an interloper, an outsider, and no matter how close he was to Nathaniel, he wasn't like a brother or a cousin, not that he'd really want to be, come to think of it.

"My... ... ... my father," Nathaniel said after a moment, struggling with the word. There was that ache in his chest again. Father. But not mother. His father. His father who had changed so much, who had apologized, who had said so many things while Nat was mostly speechless. His father who had looked upon his boyfriend with gentle curiosity and not the supreme hatred he was sure would come of such things. His father. The word was so unfamiliar to him, it tasted strange on his tongue. "To find out... he was...alive... I had to talk to him. Just the two of us." Nervously, Nathaniel used his free hand to run his fingers through thick honey-brown hair. Those toxic eyes of his sought the mismatched Jaden's. "And I'm sorry if you didn't... want me to tell him about us. But something in me... had to say it. I didn't want him to come back after all this time, after thinking he was dead... and have him know only lies about me. Have him believe I was still the little kid I'm not... does that make any sense Jaden?" His eyes were pleading, trying to find resolution in what he'd done and what he had happened. Trying to find acceptance. Trying to find comfort. Trying to find so many things he had never sought in another person. It was hard. It hurt and he was struggling. After being so used to being alone, this sort of dependency weakened him, but he needed it. Found that without Jaden this would've all the harder. Jade. Precious Jade.

For a few precious seconds, he stood there, stunned at the other's worry, but finding it completely endearing and thoughtful all in the same breath. With a small, understanding smile, he then wrapped his arms around the other, near-white locks almost completely shrouding his features now. "Oh no...I was happy...I was so happy...when you said that I was your boyfriend. You said it to your father, and I know how much your family meant to you, how much his opinion means to you. I was so glad..." He didn't really need much, did Jaden, just his place at Nathaniel's side, to be loved and acknowledged. "And I knew..." Face turning upwards then, mismatched eyes flickering with an inner warmth, "I knew you'd need to talk to him, Nat, really...nothing to be sorry for." Reaching up, he placed a single finger on the other's lips. "You're my dearest person...and I would respect your decision no matter which way it went, but...I have only the utmost satisfaction for the choices you've made, Nat. Really and truly."

Startled as the little blonde youth wrapped his arms around him, Nathaniel relaxed into the embrace, smiling softly at the American. There was something truly amazing about him and everything he was. Something truly wonderful. Something the Brit wouldn't trade for anything in a million years. That innocence, almost tangible, and the wisdom and maturity, almost perfect. Jaden was many things Nat could never be, and his sense of understanding never ceased to amaze the brunette. He was about to speak when the other hushed him with a finger. At this, he felt his face flare up and willed it not to, keeping his eyes locked on his precious boyfriend. His poisonous green eyes seeped into the other, spreading like his beloved toxins so often did. Spreading and infecting the both of them, or so he'd like to believe, with an emotion they wanted to hold close to their hearts. Hold it so close until it suffocated and consumed them. He smiled softly and kissed the finger pressed to his lips, before pushing it away gently, "My father's opinion has always been important to me. If I thought I would fail him then I would rather die. But now it seems... he doesn't have the same expectations of me anymore. He was even okay with my choices. With you. He said you looked to be a fine young man. He said he hoped I was happy. He said so many things I never thought my father would say to me. Things I thought I'd never hear from anyone that mattered like that. Words from someone who died a long time ago. But he's not dead Jade. My father is alive... and he accepts us. He accepts me." At this, he wrapped his arms around Jaden as well, pulling the other close, "And to have your support... Jade I ... I don't know what I'd do without you. It feels so strange, being like this right now. Everything that's going on... and you're the only one I can speak to. Listen to how I'm rambling...gods..." Nathaniel murmured the last bit, falling away before he leaned his forehead down to Jaden's, his eyes still staring. Then, without another word, he gently pressed a very light kiss to the other's lips and pulled away nervously. Somehow, he still wasn't used to such displays of affection.

Betwixt the words and Nat's hesitant kiss, a flush rose to the blond's pale cheeks, Oh but how he was thrilled, just to hear the words drop from the lips of his treasured Nathaniel. "Meleth..." He purred the elven word softly, "I'm so glad...nothing could make me happier to than to see you at peace with things, especially your family. I was..." He swallowed the lump in his throat that arose with the remembrance, "I was so afraid that your father would react badly, that things would end in a whole big mess again. But instead...instead you have your father, and he doesn't mind me...doesn't mind us. I don't know what I'd do without you either. I've always only ever wanted to see you happy." The small American's face lit up with a beatific smile, "You can ramble all you like to me...I never tire of hearing it, not from you." And so saying, Jaden stole another tiny kiss from the brunette's lips, blushing a deeper red this time, the color touching his ears.

There were so many things he wanted to say, so many things he wanted to reply. So very many emotions he didn't know how to convey, and how very difficult this all was! He didn't know how to control it, nor how to contain. He wasn't sure of the feelings rising in him, but all he knew was that his heart caught and he was stuck on Jaden. Flushing, he wondered why these gestures weren't embarrassing or awkward anymore. Merely, they were becoming a way to share the emotion they both felt, a way to connect the link between two separate people. That bond made Nat tighten his grip and pull Jaden impossibly closer. Finally, he decided on words he wanted to say, "What was the word you said before?" This came in a whisper. "The elven word?" There was time for all the other things later. Time for everything. Nat had time and reassurance. And although his heart yearned for his mother, he felt at ease. At peace. Somehow, the little American mellowed his soul.

And he could sense it somehow, could Jaden, the more comfortable aspect betwixt the two of them. Instead of being hesitant or fearful of messing up what they had...of losing Nat, he was instead finding himself in a very safe, warm place, made that much more remarkable with Nathaniel's arms around him. Secretly quite pleased by the inquiry towards the elven endearment, he smiled brightly, as this was a lovely combination of his two favorite things in the world. "Meleth...it means love, in elven...it's simple, but..." A pause to meet the other's eyes, those vibrant green eyes that he could so willingly lose himself in, "...it means so very much." The sort of meaning that was near and dear to his heart, something he had tied to him with no intention of ever letting it go.

"Meleth," repeated Nathaniel slowly after having learned the meaning of it. He released his hold on the other gently, just enough to raise one hand to run through the other's hair. "Jaden, you speak so often about my happiness... but what about you? Are you happy too? That and your safety is what matters to me." His voice was quiet, gentle, searching. All this time, how little had he realized? So very little. First he'd gone from treating this boy to nothing more than a dog, and now he was selfish about everything. Their relationship would be on tattered strands if Jaden was anybody but Jaden. Still, it wasn't fair. Was Jaden happy this way? Truly happy? Was there anything Nat could do for him? Nat's life was finally falling into place. A puzzle easier to solve, far easier than before. And yet, what about Jaden's puzzle? Was he sitting in front of it, clinging to the only piece that mattered, clinging to a small piece of happiness? Nat wanted to help Jaden finish the whole puzzle... and embrace all the happiness he could.

At the seriousness of the question, he couldn't help but release a soft, bemused laugh. Oh goodness but Nathaniel seemed to endear himself further to the tiny blond every time that the British youth opened his mouth. "I'm delighted, Nathaniel...I really am. Can't you see...?" He gestured about, "I have my studies, I've always wanted to study what everyone else laughed off as fantasy. I've met elves...I'm learning to speak the language, I'm going to learn magic. I can truly be of use for once in my life, I'm in this place, with new friends, people actually know my name." He laughed in breathless delight, pressing himself against Nat's sturdier frame, resting his head on his boyfriend's chest. "And best of all...I have you. I never thought once, that anyone would notice me the way you do...and even though it terrifies me sometimes, I adore every minute of it. Nat...I love you..." His voice dipped down to a fervent whisper, "I'd be happiest if our lives continued this way, each of us headed towards our seperate goals...but side by side with every step."

To the other's words, Nathaniel listened very carefully, embracing each one into his heart and mind, knowing that everything he did or said was just as reveled by the American. The two of them fit perfectly, matching their puzzles together. Poison and magic. He wondered if, together, they could make some indestructable? Something so powerful that the alien's couldn't stop it. It was an embarrassing thought though. Their love would stop the invasion. How cheesy was that? Even Nat flushed at his own thoughts, hating those. Where did they come from? How childish was that! Mentally, he scolded himself. When the other pressed his smaller self to the Brit's frame, he kissed the other's head gently. "Yes... that would also make me happy... I..." He paused, "I love you too."

He knew just how much it took, for the other to say it, that many things about this relationship of theirs were still somewhat foreign for the other. Nathaniel had been raised so very prim and proper, and it seemed to Jaden that he had just begun to break out of his shell of dutiful child, and become a fully fledged adult. It was a wondrous thing to watch, and sometimes, Jaden rather thought it capable of taking his breath away. This...this seemed the final step, this reunion with Nathaniel's father. His strange eyes alight, Jaden just tucked his head under Nat's chin, utterly content to be where he was. "I've never doubted that...not once. Thank you, Nat...I haven't had someone stick by me like this, not ever." A contented sigh escaped him, and he was silent for a moment, before slowly he tilted his head upwards to meet the gaze of his boyfriend. " C'n we just...stay this way for a while?" Cue the puppy eyes.

The British youth didn't quite understand what was happening, or how it was happening. What was going on in his life. All he knew was that this was unstoppable and he loved the little American in his arms. He loved everything about this little boy. The innocence, the kindness. The way he watched out for him. His eyes softened and he closed them and cuddled tightly to him. "It's okay... we can..." It seemed to be taking less and less effort to be with Jaden the more he did it. Being with Jaden was like a reaction. He didn't have to think anymore, and since he wasn't worried about consequences anymore, he didn't have to think at all. This was the breaking point. He didn't know how, but he'd fallen for this boy, this boy in his arms. A boy. The thought still shocked him, but one look at Jaden and it made his heart leap and blood boil. If anything were to happen to him, he'd wreck the world. He'd destroy everything for this one person. And he knew it. He knew it as well as he knew his mother. He knew it as well as he knew himself.

"Thank you..." He murmured softly, completely at peace now, as he was secure, resting in his favorite place in the world. He'd always had trouble, when he was younger...fearful, hesitant, shy, but it seemed as though Nat had come into his life, and Jaden had found a light to follow. Now...he was basking in its glow. "Thank you...if you'd stay the whole day...that would be good too..." An impish little smile, his hand seeking Nat's own, as though to tether him there, desiring to keep his beloved near. This part of growing up...it wasn't so bad, to find for himself a place, somewhere he knew that he belonged, and someone else who had become an integral part of who he was.

As their hands linked, he locked his fingers with the other, syncing together their hearts as well. Nathaniel, the stiff British youth that had entered into Shinkami so long ago, was finding his place here and now. Together with his best friend. His boyfriend. Someone who was dear and true to his heart. Would he stay all day? Of course he would. He'd stay forever. The other didn't have to ask. Smiling, he took the other over to Jaden's bed, knowing the other's room as well as he knew his own. Slumping down against the side of it as he always did, he brought Jaden down with him and into his arms. "Hey..." he said after a moment, remembering something, "Can I see what you were scribbling and scrawling?" And then he gave a brighter smile, true and honest, just for the other. He knew the other might flush but eventually he'd show him. And they could live out today like this. Priceless. Heh. He hoped this happiness would never end. Not now. Not ever.

"Oh...hmmm? Sure!" Quite happy for the other's interest, he scooped up his notebook, offering it to the other youth as he settled in at Nathaniel's side, half-curled against him. The warmth of his boyfriend was incredibly comforting, a familiar, special warmth. He was rather of the opinion that nothing and no one else could ever duplicate it...even if he had someone else by his side it would never be Nathaniel. Now that he had the other secured at his side for the day, well...Jaden would be utterly content. That was the way of things...always, so long as he had Nathaniel at his side, no matter what came at them, everything would be all right.