Elliot

Bleddyn sipped his coffee in silence after the words left my mouth. “What’s her name?” I asked, changing the subject.

His gaze shifted from the mug. “Chloe,” he responded.

“Is there any specific reason why she would disappear?” I prodded.

“No.”

“Did she say or do anything that may have hinted toward it?”

“Are you a detective on the side or something?” I smiled.

“No, just a researcher at the University.” He laughed. “Have you tried tracking her phone?” Bleddyn stared at me. “I’ll take that as a no.” I motioned for his phone, “I can track her phone, assuming you didn’t find it in her apartment?” 

“No, it was gone.”

I, then, began the rather easy process of tracking another person’s phone.

“How did you learn how to do this?” Bleddyn asked, examining me over my shoulder.

“You learn a lot trying to track down a cheating partner,” I replied bluntly. 

Bleddyn remained silent after that, obviously too awkward to delve any deeper. 

“There,” I said, a light smile graced my lips, “do you know where this is?” I showed him the locator map.

“No, not at all,” he began, “but I also cannot think of why she would ever be in Virginia.”

I looked closer at the map. Oh shit. “She was a Classicist like you right?” 

“Yeah.”

Play it cool, Elliot, he doesn’t have to know.

“Okay, so maybe we should monitor this for a day, let you finish up your exams and we can go down there. See for ourselves.”

His face turned bright red. How adorable.

“Yeah, I like that plan.”

He took his last sip of coffee and I gestured to the mug, “Do you want any more?”

“Thanks, but I probably shouldn’t have another cup if I want any sleep tonight.” I grabbed the mug and went over to wash them both out. 

Virginia had a few N.E.L.O.S. branches. 

James was in town for a few days… 

I stopped my train of thought right there. Thinking of that bastard would only make me angry. I was in no place to be angry right now. 

I was pulled out of my head when I heard Lex pad into the kitchen. I quickly looked over to Bleddyn to find he was engrossed with something on his phone.

“Did anything weird happen today?” I whispered to Lex.

He meowed.

“If you’ll excuse me for a minute,” I spoke up, “I just need to grab something.” I made for my room, Lex padding behind me.

The door closed and I watched as Lex leaped onto the bed. “Now what happened?”

“I was taking my normal cat nap at around noon like always when I heard this thud. I went to inspect but everything seemed to be in order in your room. So if that's something weird for you.” 

I swiftly looked around the room, nothing was missing. No missing blueprints for the body switcher, no missing gun, no missing anything. “That’s it?”

“I was asleep the rest of the day.” 

“Nothing seems to be missing or out of order. When our company leaves, there will be more time to go through things. But stay in here for the time being.”

Lex, laying on my bed, yawned. “Just remember to use protection, Kid.”

I rolled my eyes and made sure to completely close the door as I walked back to Bleddyn. The sky’s tones had deepened as the moon rose higher in the sky. Bleddyn sat on my couch, eyes glued to an unchanging page on his phone. 

“How many texts have you sent her?”

“Probably twenty by now.” His eyebrows were bunched together and lips pulled tight. He was scared. I sat down beside him on the couch. I had to get him to think of something else or he wouldn’t sleep.

“You need to try thinking of something else,” I said, “to try and regulate yourself right now.”

“I don’t think I can,” he mumbled. I took the phone from his hands, grabbing his attention.

“Close your eyes.” His eyes drifted shut. “Try to remember the last time you felt safe.” I lowered my voice to a soft whisper. “Where were you?”

I saw him inhale. “My apartment.” 

“Was it this morning?”

Yes.

I cupped his jaw with my hand, “Take a few deep breaths and relax your body.” I took his hand with my free hand and swiftly checked for a heartbeat. He was calm. “You can open your eyes.”

His eyes appeared once again, a smile grazing his face. “Thanks.”

I smiled.

Bleddyn

The next few days were buzzing with exams. After I left Elliot’s that evening, I had spent my time either studying or testing, trying not to think of Chloe until everything was completed.

However, that forgotten night still came back to me in bits and pieces. I saw flashes of me pinning down Elliot, of us kissing, of me making dinner.

That last one was the weirdest. I never cook, and even if I do, it’s something like cereal. 

It had to have been a dream. Or a vision into some parallel universe.

At least exam week went by rather quickly. I was able to survive with only minimal damage to my self esteem and many late nights at the library.

I hadn’t seen Elliot since Monday night, but once I was released from my last midterm Friday afternoon, I definitely was not expecting to find him in Cafe Caffeine with Dr. Hutchenson.

My night shift was going to begin in thirty minutes and I knew it was a bad idea to head home just to leave again. I figured I could just hang out in the cafe and wait for my shift to start. After entering the Cafe, I instantly noticed the white hair of Elliot, but was surprised to see him laughing with my professor. 

I tried to slip by them, but Elliot caught my eye and winked, possibly drawing Hutchenson’s attention. 

My attention was taken away when the girl who was manning my position at the register called for me. I turned and headed behind the counter where Emily-- my coworker-- stood anxiously looking at her phone. We were acquainted pretty well, well enough that I knew her father was currently in the hospital for stage four thyroid cancer. "Hey, I know that you aren't supposed to start for another half-hour, but I just got a text about my dad--"

"Go, I've got you covered." She gave me a thankful look and quickly rushed to the back to grab her things.

"Thanks B, I owe you one." 

"No problem, just drive safely."

So I began my long shift, thirty minutes before I should have, and with too many customers to attend.

(It's probably unprofessional to keep my phone on me at work but it's a habit thanks to Erebus and the looming sense of Hell breaking loose.

But Nihil was right in front of me right now, and I love him, and we apparently sometimes make out. So you can chop it up to a habit-- for this shift anyways.)

As I rang up a customer, I saw Dr. Huchenson throw a smirked farewell to Elliot and briefly waved a salutation to me. I smiled as I wrote a name on a paper cup. 

After about an hour, the cafe calmed down. All the students were done with midterms and probably at home packing for Christmas break, making for a rather empty cafe. 

Elliot stayed though. 

I knew he would.

"Hey," he said, standing up and walking to the counter. 

"Hi," I respond, while cleaning.

"How was your day?"

"Exhausting. I'm just ready to get out of here. Chloe still hasn't texted." 

"Has she moved?" I shook my head. "Good." 

"So we are still leaving tomorrow right?"

"Yes. I figured you were already packed correct?" I nodded, looking at him oddly. "Well to save time, I thought you could just spend the night at my place and we could leave bright and early since we are taking my car."

My breath hitched, "I wouldn't want to be a burden or anything." 

Elliot leaned on the counter with a smile playing at his lips, "You could never be a burden, Bleddyn." 

I met his gaze across the counter, trying my hardest to keep my emotions under control. "What about my bags?" 

"We can swing by tonight or tomorrow morning. Or I could go get them right now if you gave me your keys."

I laughed, "Like I'd give my keys to Dr. Nihilistical." I paused. He stared at me. Oh shit, I said that out loud.

"Love, if I wanted to hurt you, I would have done it a year ago." I blinked. "How did you know?"

"Your hair. It's too perfect." 

"How long?" He was smiling.

"Since the sidewalk incident." 

"And you still--"

"Like you? Yes, a lot actually."

"So, will you let me go get your things? I promise I won't snoop around in your base, Erebus." I stilled. "Just toss me your keys, we already know each other's big 'secret.'" 

"Fine, but when you get back, I expect, answers." I tossed him my key ring. "I'm guessing you know where you're going?" 

"Obviously. See you soon, love." He gave a brief wave while exiting the cafe and sauntered down the darkening street.