Mending Bridges

Jean couldn't believe this guy. He was English, his accent a mix of everything from Scottish to Irish to Welsh. He acted like the world was a mistake, like everyone who breathed was a terrible accident and should be eliminated. He had a tough guy act that Jean just didn't - couldn’t - grasp for the life of him. He seemed like he was just full of negative bottled up emotions that were bursting at the seams and ready to explode at any given time. He was a ticking time bomb.

Yet...as he stepped closer to the other man sitting at the edge of a cliff, Jean saw the soft, unguarded expression on his face that was so full of sadness and hope and a touch of youth that it made him pause.

This man...no.

Daniel was a boy just as much as he was in this strange world.

This boy went through hard times. And Jean finally understood as he sat next to the other that they were both lost in life and its meaning.

He couldn't handle looking at him anymore. It reminded Jean of all the times when he would lie in bed and question everything. Every relationship, every second, and every moment of life itself. So he did to Daniel what he always did when the questions became too much for him to handle. He turned away from him to watch the sunset. It was a gorgeous gold with flecks of pink and orange splattered like a painting as far as the eye could see. It reminded him of something his aunt would create when they would take a walk down to Paris during the summer, as she happily painted and whistled an old French tune and he watched her with content.

The gold light of the sun shone on almost everything around the two of them, casting everything else in light shadows. It was weird to Jean, how after every disaster, the sun will always glow bright each rise and set, even if it’s on the opposite side of the world, or on a different one.

It was Daniel that broke him out of his musings, yet he spoke so softly Jean almost thought he didn't speak at all.

“Why us?” His voice was so full of unhidden self-doubt and a bit of a tired undertone that shouldn’t have been present.

Jean blinked a couple of times before turning away and facing the sunset before gaining the courage to answer the question that could possibly change their whole relationship.

“I don't know. Why do we exist? What is the purpose of fighting? What is the gain? Is loyalty even real in a world full of untrusting backstabbers?” Jean asked numbly. He wondered if he was telling Daniel any of this, but couldn’t seem to stop the words from pouring out. He kept his thoughts secret for too long.

“I don't know why we exist. I don't see any purpose in fighting. I don't know if loyalty or trust or love even is real.” He paused, watching from the corner of his eye as Daniel stared at him apprehensively. Jean paused under the heat of it before shaking his head and continuing.

“I don't know. We're so young. We know nothing, and we might never find out any answers to our questions.” He watched as Daniel finally slumped his shoulders in quiet defeat. The silence was almost deafening as neither boy spoke.

“I don't know,” Jean concluded tiredly, “but I'm willing to find out.” His voice came out firm, but as quiet and as gentle as the wind that whispered around them, blowing their hair and the tree leaves behind them in soft waves. It suited the sunset, Jean thought.

The next few minutes were spent in silence before he heard a low sigh come from beside him. They both turned to each other, but what Jean saw stunned him as he finally got a full look at the other boy.

Earlier, he would have laughed if he was told that Daniel was not just an jerk. Jean thought he knew Daniel. He was cold, calculating, stubborn, temperamental, yet…

Maybe that really wasn't the real Daniel.

Maybe this was the true one. The one that was afraid of his place in the world, just like he was. Who was afraid of not making a difference, yet afraid of speaking up.

What Jean saw would forever change his opinion of Daniel King.

He saw Daniel's eyes, usually a full emerald green, sparkle with golden flecks of the quickly fading light. One half was still emerald, but this closer look showed him the other half. A light coloured green that was hard to catch at simple glances. His softly rounded freckled-splattered cheeks made him look younger, yet there was a sense of age around him that made him look ancient. His bangs were shaggy, falling into those beautiful eyes of his that Jean had the sudden strong urge to push them back just to drink in the sight of them. His light auburn hair was highlighted with streaks of blond, and on anyone else, Jean would've seen it as unfitting. However, with Daniel, it seemed to suit him. He was a misfit, perhaps, but Jean found himself not wanting it any other way.

“I want to find the reason. I want to find the answers. But I can't do it without you.” He blurted out before he realized.

Daniel's brilliant eyes widened, his mouth gaping open slightly, as if in slight shock. As if he had never heard anything like that in his entire life. He probably never did, Jean realized sadly.

Then he did something Jean never would've thought Daniel could do.

He smiled softly, his face beaming, the expression unusual on his usually stony hard face.

And Jean smiled back, finding himself feeling more comfortable around Daniel than ever. And he found himself liking it, too. He could get used to this.

Turning back towards the last rays of light that were disappearing, they watched as the stars and moon took over, signalling the end.

It was the end of the day, yet the beginning of a new one. It was poetic.

Jean meant what he said. And he was glad that he’ll be able to share the quest with a new friend.

Friend…

Was Daniel a friend?

His question faded when Daniel stood up and offered his hand to him, that same small smile still hanging on his soft lips. His hair swished around his face more wildly as the wind sped up, the stars reflecting the trust sparkling from those beautiful eyes that were uniquely and utterly his.

“Let’s find those answers together, then. I'm ready if you are.” was the explanation.

Jean smiled and took the outstretched hand as Daniel hauled him to his feet. Daniel’s palm was rough, as though he had been through many fights through his short-is life. He wore a ring on his pinkie, the shape of a knot he didn’t recognize, but looked vaguely familiar.

When Jean realized he was holding Daniel's hand for longer than necessary, he let go with a cough and hoped the other didn’t see his face reddened under the bright moonlight.

Daniel only smiled again, yet Jean didn’t miss the red tone that took his face. But he didn't understand why it made them so flustered.

Ah well, it doesn’t matter much. I have a new friend to face the world with. And this time, I’ll be ready.