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Aiden, on his part, had been completely lost in his own thoughts that he didn’t even realize that Alexandre had started speaking. His mind, at some point, had registered the added weight hanging onto his arm when his boyfriend had looped his arm through his own.

He had felt so disassociated from the moment that when he looked down at Alex, his face looked completely blank. “Do what now?” he asked, brows knitting together he seemed somewhat confused, disoriented even, but at the very least Aiden definitely looked tired.

I didn’t think he cared much for haunted houses… it had been years since they went to one because as the days grew closer to Halloween the more odd things started to happen around them and Alex almost always came home hurt in some way.

“With how busy you’ve been are you sure you’ll have time?” It wasn’t a no, but then again it wasn’t a yes either. If anything Aiden was kind of deflecting. It wasn’t that he wasn’t interested in going. Rather, he was apprehensive about making plans knowing that the inevitable would happen and Alex would disappear or be pulled away.

As they continued to walk down the sidewalk, Aiden could feel a cold chill seep through his clothes and even though Alexandre was holding on to his arm, he could feel no warmth from his boyfriend as goosebumps prickled his skin beneath his long-sleeved sweater. Perhaps he was just simply coming down with a cold or flu, that would at least explain his dispassionate or uncaring mood.

The tighter Alex’s hold on him became, the heavier Aiden’s limbs felt. Normally it wouldn’t have phased him but for some reason, as they continued to walk through the shadows of the trees and buildings, it felt more and more like he was leaning to the side and was about to fall over.

Aiden wanted to pull his arm free if only to reclaim some semblance of balance while he walked but for now, he refrained from doing so if only to keep the peace between them.

“If you’d like to go to a haunted house, we can go. Just-” He paused, pinching the bridge of his nose with his free hand Aiden stopped. He looked down at his boyfriend, blue-grey eyes met those of slate and with a sigh, he added a stipulation. “Just don’t abandon our plans last minute.” Otherwise, he couldn’t guarantee that he would be there when Alex got home.

If Alex got hurt again because he ran off to do God knows what, then he would have to find someone else, perhaps his cousin even, to stand by his side because Aiden didn’t have enough room in his heart to care anymore.

“A bit,” he admitted.

Until Alex mentioned it, he assumed that he was the only one feeling off or under the weather. But it seemed he wasn’t the only one having trouble warming up. That at least explained why Alex was acting more cuddly than usual while they walked down the street.

“There should be a cafe a few blocks away. We can go in there and get something warm to drink.” Something else warm to hold onto and keep his hands and mind busy. Perhaps being around other people would help lighten the mood since this alone time they were having was doing more to make him feel antsy than relaxed.

Aiden, like the gentleman he was struggling to be, walked Alex to the front counter where the cashier smiled at both of them.

“What can I get for you?” She asked by way of greeting.

Normally he perceived the expression as nothing more than a mask meant to hide their destain for both his and Alex’s open relationship. Neither were cowed by the perception of others nor had they ever really cared for their opinions. However, this woman, despite how skeptical he felt about how much longer the two of them would last, Aiden felt like the barista’s smile was more genuine than Alexandres’ request to go to a haunted house.

What the hell is wrong with me...? He mentally berated himself.

For years he had wanted to, and tried to, keep Alexandre safe. But it was like he had constantly been held an arms reach away. Yet here Alex goes, saying the same thing as before about wanting to keep him safe.

It was all very backward.

“Yes, may I get your Pumpkin Spike Caramel Macchiato?” He looked down at Alex and waited for him to offer up his order so they could take a seat.

As the warmth of the cafe seeped into his bones, Aiden could feel his anxieties and worry ebb away albeit slowly. I must be getting sick it was the only thing that could really explain his mood swings.

“Go ahead and see if you can get a table. I’ll bring the drinks when they are ready.” Aiden placed a hand on his boyfriend’s upper back and gave him a nudge forward so he didn’t put up a debate and try to wait with him.

For all the s**t Alex had been putting up with him over the last few days, Aiden felt an emmense amount of guilt weighing down on his shoulders. And so, once he saw the ashen blonde take a seat, he re-approached the cashier and ordered a warmed cinnamon roll for them to share.

Something nice and sweet to hopefully lighten the mood. Alexandre was trying, so he owed it to him to at least give it one more go.

A few minutes later their order was called. With a thanks he picked up the drinks and with the pastry in hand he wove his way between tables and chairs to over where Alex was waiting. “One espresso with pomegranate.” The cup was set in front of his boyfriend and the plate was placed in the middle of the table before Aiden took a seat.

“Hope you don’t mind if we split it.” He could have purchased two but wasn't really hungry enough to finish one on his own.

“The cold I can deal with,” His wonder was far more fridged than it was here in Destiny City. A river of ice frozen solid with small towns or villages clustered together along the banks. From one of his last memories, he recalled that the Slidr river wasn’t always blanketed with ice, rather the water that flowed from Mimsburner, the well of knowledge, use to be a mode of transportation for many.

“What I can’t stand is working dark-to-dark shifts. Things at the restaurant are so busy that I barely get much of a break to go outside. Same thing for the pool.” The windows at the City’s Aquatic Center were mounted high and while some light did seep in, it really wasn’t enough.

Perhaps that was also something that was contributing to these mood swings he was having, some sort of vitamin imbalance that was making him more irritable than usual. I need to pick up some banana’s or oranges later. Aiden made a mental note then used the side of his fork to cut off a piece of the cinnamon roll and took a bite.