Part Nineteen

Clayton rushed downstairs in a hurry, mind running wild as he glanced out of the window. The rain was getting harsh now, bringing in heavy black clouds that hung low in the sky and the air was filled with fog and darting rain drops. It was only four minutes in and the street was already taking some serious damage.

He scurried to the kitchen only to find nobody there. He has the basement locked off for now, since there's nothing down there except boxes of unwanted things littering the place. The blond began to fumble around the house in dread, and when he couldn't find the elf anywhere, he glanced outside to the backyard.

He couldn't see anyone out there, just pouring rain and swaying trees. Then, he remembered the magnolia tree in their backyard. He couldn't be out there.. That's too dangerous. There's no way.. Clayton huffed and threw on his jacket, grabbing an umbrella from the rack beside the sliding back door. He slid open the sheet of thick glass and shut it behind him as he exited.

Gazing around the backyard, he swallowed down a heap of his anxiety. The blond opened the umbrella and stepped out onto the porch, fleeing down the stairs as his bare feet sunk into the wet, muddy grass. Grimacing, the blond quickly made his way to the tree, calling out for the elf on his way there.

He saw nothing as he stood at the base of the tree, and when he was about to give up, he heard something snap from above him. It was quiet, and barely noticeable through the rain. He gazed up to find one of the branches bending on the weight of something above him. Then, the drenched form of a sleepy Oren came into view, white hair soaked and clothes clinging to his body as he climbed down a branch.

"There you are! Jesus, you scared me half to death, Oren! Why are you up there?!" he called through the rain. The umbrella was just barely able to shield him from the rain as he stood at the trunk of the tree. The elf didn't reply, and only climbed back up to his cot. With a sigh, Clayton raised a foot and climbed the split in the trunk, bare hands scraping against the bark that was home to hundreds of gross, crawly insects.

"Oren?" he asked, his tone much softer as he climbed higher up the tree. He was now able to see where the elf was staying, the branches weaving against each other like a large basket that held him. There was a giant leaf that draped over the top and opening of the cot, concealing where Oren slept; or rather, where Oren tried to go back to sleep.

The elf didn't respond to his call, only silently watched as Clayton crawled towards him in the cramped space. Clayton had to shut his umbrella so he could fit entirely. Once Clayton was settled in with him, he threw his head back and slackened.

"Look, I'm sorry," he began, "and I'm not surprised that you don't want to see me right now. I talked with mom, you know, for help.. Well, your confession was just... a little sudden? I mean, I wasn't expecting it." Clayton explained, watching as Oren shivered at the cold rain clinging to his body. He hugged himself and bowed his head, white bangs hiding green eyes.

Clayton glanced down at his jacket and unzipped it, tossing it to Oren as he waved a hand for him to put it on. Oren gave him a a silent look of confusion, but put it on anyways. "I just... it's not like your confession made me uncomfortable. If anything, I think it made me happy."

His face screwed into one of dubiety. "At the time I didn't know how to react and I rejected you without a clean reason. Yeah, sure, the whole "I like girls" thing was a little true but then I realized you're the only boy who's made me feel... I dunno', alive. I guess." Oren hugged himself tightly and closed one of the jacket flaps around his torso as he listened.

"After I talked to mom, I noticed the crush I had, or, have on you. But you ran off crying and I didn't know what to do. I was scared, Oren." the human looked down and picked at a loose thread on his sweatpants. The elf finally looked up to him with shy, glassy eyes, his mouth opening to speak, only to close like a fish out of water.

Then, he bolted forward and wrapped his arms around Clayton, squeezing him tightly as he pulled the two backwards. He didn't mind the smell of rain water and he sure as hell didn't care about the rain seeping into their clothes. Their bodies pressed together to smith a heat that made the two feel content.

Clayton returned the hug, palms sweating as they swept across Oren's back. He buried his nose into the elf's shoulder, breathing in as the sound of their synced heartbeats drowned out the rain. Oren's ears twitched upwards when he felt the pair of hands run up either side of his spine, and he pulled back to give Clayton a hopeful stare.

"What does that mean for us..?"

Clayton looked away, but only for a moment as he thought. Relationship-wise, he was all in for it, but... it seemed a little rushed. He turned back to Oren and let a smile lift his lips.

"Will you go out with me?"

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Thanks for reading Part Nineteen!

Shortest chapter yet. Sorry about that.