Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Liam squinted, the dying light of the setting sun over the Golden Gate bridge a sight he never thought he'd see again. He took a few unsteady steps over to the railing, steadying himself. It was over. It was finally over. He was home. He was home for good. No more forest. No more crutches. No more ONE. He blinked tears away, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand. He almost couldn't believe it.

If it weren't for the copper lantern's looming presence behind him, he would've thought he was dreaming.

Airy was eerily silent. Unmoving, unwavering, almost like a statue. He seemed to still be processing what just happened. It didn't take long for a car to pass by, causing him to break out of his stupor and stumble back, crashing into the green backpack.

They both swiveled around to look at each other, Liam's expression quickly turning from hopeful, to annoyed, to confused. Airy's face remained blank, but Liam could see uncharacteristic panic in his eyes. It would be hard to tell for anyone else, but he’d been around Airy for long enough.

Airy took a step back, his eyes darting around nervously. "What?" Liam asked, his voice tinged with the barest hint of concern. Airy opened his mouth to respond, but no words came out. Instead, he pointed hastily towards the car that had just passed by, his hand trembling.

Liam sighed. It was going to be a long night.

It's probably been over a decade since Airy's last seen an actual car. He hoped this adjustment period for him wouldn't take too long. He looked on with annoyance as another car whizzed past, and Airy covered his ears, as if it were hurting him somehow.

Liam's frustration quickly turned into genuine concern as Airy dropped to his knees, clutching his head and squeezing his eyes shut. He approached Airy cautiously, dropping down with him and gently placing a hand on his arm. Airy flinched, pulling away from his touch and squinting up at him with a pitiful expression. Liam has never seen more emotion in this lantern’s face than in this very moment. He was almost trembling where he kneeled.

"It's just a car. It won't hurt you, Airy." Liam half-heartedly reassured him. Airy turned to fix his gaze on the road, his body tense and defensive, as if expecting every car to come crashing into him.

Liam moved to block his view, locking eyes with the lantern that seemed to stare right through him. He raised his hand for Airy to see, and tentatively touched it to his back. The moment it made contact, Airy blinked, his gaze now focusing on the person in front of him. His demeanor relaxed ever so slightly, familiarity flickering in his eyes.

It was incredibly off putting to see Airy display any vulnerability at all. His unshakable disposition made it seem like absolutely nothing would truly provoke him in any way. None of Liam’s attempts to rile him up have ever made him crack, until now…. and he didn’t like the result. It was more pitiful than anything.

He pushed down any feelings of sympathy for the lantern, pulling him up to his feet. Airy hesitantly lowered his arms, suddenly grabbing onto one of Liam’s straps and holding onto it for dear life. Liam grunted, not enjoying the tight squeeze of his strap but thinking it better than waiting here for Airy to quit his sudden meltdown. He took one more uneasy look up at him before setting out on his route. He wasn't entirely sure where he was going, but they couldn't stay here.

Airy stumbled along beside Liam, his grip on the strap of the backpack tightening and loosening in intervals as they walked. His eyes darted around nervously, his steps uneven and hesitant. It seemed like every single passing car made him flinch.

Liam was unsure how to handle Airy's sudden display of vulnerability. Both sympathy and growing frustration warred inside him as they continued their journey into the unknown. The silence between them was tense, broken only by the sound of their footsteps on the pavement.

As they walked, the sky above began to darken, thick clouds rolling in to cast a shadow over the landscape. The air grew heavy, pregnant with moisture, and the distant rumble of thunder echoed through the stillness. A soft drizzle began to fall, and they both glanced up at the darkening sky, faces etched with unease. The pitter-patter of raindrops on the pavement echoed through the empty streets, adding a melancholic rhythm to their steps.

As the downpour gradually grew in intensity, Liam found himself inching closer and closer to Airy, his wide brimmed lid nearly acting like an umbrella. He sighed, his annoyance growing as the rain soaked through his fabric. He picked up the pace, his sights set on a specific place. He hoped he remembered the way.

Airy clung onto the strap of the backpack tighter, his body language tense as the rain intensified. He followed Liam closely, his steps quickening to match his pace. The water glistened on his metal body, creating small rivulets that ran down his surface. Liam's determination to reach shelter soon became evident as they both dipped into an alleyway, Liam dragging Airy under the small light fixture that functioned as an overhang. He sighed in relief, sliding down the brick wall next to a large garbage container.

Airy huddled close to Liam under the meager shelter, his expression unreadable as he tried to understand the purpose behind seeking refuge in this particular alleyway. He too let out a soft sigh of relief, grateful for the temporary respite from the downpour. His usual deadpan expression returned, though there was still a trace of unease in his eyes.

The flickering light from the small fixture above cast a dim glow on both of them, the lantern's usually stoic expression seemed softened by the delicate lighting, his brows slightly furrowed as he observed the world around him. It’s been a long time since he saw… buildings, lights, garbage cans. Everything was new and overwhelming. He shifted his focus to the boy next to him who was wringing out his straps. He could barely hear his soft murmuring and mumbling over the sound of rain hitting the pavement all around them.

Airy's eyes remained fixed on Liam, silently observing his every movement. The lantern strained to catch his words, his ears, which were normally used to the stillness of the forest, unable to fully comprehend the sound of his voice over the rain. He tilted his head slightly, a glimmer of curiosity in his eyes as he tried to make sense of the boy's words.

Their eyes met for a moment, Liam furrowing his brow at him before returning to the task at hand. Airy's hand twitched involuntarily, as if going to reach out, before he quickly retracted it, unsure of his own intentions. Liam glanced at him, the tension between them thicker than the cold, heavy fog that was beginning to set in. Airy sat up straight, his lid bouncing against the wall awkwardly, as he reached behind himself to turn his own crank.

The gears within his body creaked and groaned to life, a soft glow beginning to emulate from within the glass casing of his head. With each rotation, the light gradually grew brighter and warmer. It started as a small spark, flickering with cautious hesitation, before spreading its warmth throughout Airy's body.

Liam could feel the heat radiating from Airy, a comforting warmth, like the crackling of a fireplace on a chilly night. He shivered, the chill of the cold air against his soaked fabric making him hiss through his teeth. Airy took notice, turning towards him and spreading his arms out in an open invitation to scoot closer. Liam scoffed at him, as if he would snuggle up to that thing! Maybe in Airy’s dreams!

Airy, undeterred by Liam's scoff, moved closer, his arms enveloping the boy in an unexpected embrace. Liam stiffened, caught off guard by the sudden physical contact. The lantern's metal body pressed against the sodden backpack, and there was a sudden strange sense of solace Liam found in being held by the lantern, their bodies fitting together snugly. The warmth emanating from Airy seeped into his chilled body, gradually thawing away the cold, and weakening Liam’s resolve. Despite his previous resistance, he found himself slowly relaxing into the lantern’s embrace, a frustrated sigh escaping his lips. His muscles gradually uncoiled, and he leaned his head against Airy's chest, finding solace in the steady slow beats of the lantern's heart.

Airy's expression remained blank, devoid of any visible emotion, but there was a newfound sense of contentment emanating from him as he held Liam close. It was as though Airy had found a puzzle piece that fit perfectly within the grooves of his existence, bringing a sense of satisfaction he had never experienced before. He relished in the sensation of another body against his own, the warmth and softness of Liam's frame providing a stark contrast to his own metallic exterior. The feeling of their bodies entwined was intimate and soothing, and Airy found himself clinging tightly to Liam, as if he couldn't bear the thought of the embrace coming to an end. Every breath Liam took, every slight movement he made, sent a wave of satisfaction rippling through Airy's being. The loneliness that had plagued him for years seemed to fade into insignificance as he held onto him, cherishing this newfound intimacy. In this moment, it was only them two against the world. A feeling like this could almost make him forget about ONE entirely. Almost.

As Airy remained lost in the embrace, a sudden noise disrupted the tranquility of the alleyway. The sound of a door opening and closing echoed through the air, accompanied by the thud of a bag of garbage being tossed into the bin. A pear-shaped figure emerged from the nearby building, the sudden sight of Liam and Airy catching them off guard.

Startled, the figure froze in place, eyes widening at the unexpected scene before them. They quickly regained their composure, averting their gaze and hurrying away, feeling like an intruder on an intimate moment.

Airy's attention was momentarily diverted by the figure's sudden appearance, his eyes tracking their hasty retreat. He shifted his gaze back to Liam, realizing that he had dozed off in his arms. Liam, lost in his exhausted slumber, remained blissfully unaware of the encounter. Airy carefully repositioned himself to cradle Liam's sleeping form more securely before settling back against the wall, his eyes fixated on the rain-soaked street ahead.

Chapter Text

As the night wore on, the sound of the rain slowly subsided, fading into a gentle drizzle. Liam remained nestled against Airy, his sleeping form rising and falling with each breath. The world around them seemed to fade away as they sat there, their bodies pressed close together, finding solace in each other's presence. The lantern, surprisingly comfortable despite the circumstances, found himself drifting off into a deep slumber as well, his grip on Liam never loosening.

Shortly after dawn, Airy stirred, his eyes fluttering open to the sound of loud machinery. The construction site nearby echoed with clanking and rattling, shattering the previously peaceful ambiance. Airy glanced around, his gaze falling on Liam, who had woken up as well.

Liam, who had been curled up against Airy, jerked away as if burnt, a blush flooding his cheeks. Liam's expression had shifted dramatically, his face contorted with embarrassment and what seemed like a renewed disdain for Airy. Airy, ever dispassionate, regarded Liam's change in behavior with indifference. He shifted slightly, allowing Liam to pull away, pushing himself up to a sitting position and brushing himself off as if trying to remove any trace of their previous embrace. He hastily straightened himself and stood up, sauntering over to the edge of the alleyway and putting distance between them.

Airy watched Liam's reaction with his usual unyielding gaze, unfazed by his sudden change in demeanor. He simply observed as Liam distanced himself, clearly uncomfortable with the closeness they had shared moments ago. Without a word, Airy rose to his feet, dusting off any imaginary dirt from his body. He made his way towards Liam with a slow, deliberate pace, his footsteps echoing through the alleyway. He stood uncomfortably close and offered no explanation for his previous actions. He simply stood there, his usual apathetic demeanor resuming, as the sounds of construction filled the air around them.

Liam's mind raced, trying to come up with a plan and attempting to ignore the approaching presence behind him. His mind was focused on practical matters, trying to prioritize their immediate needs. He knew they needed to find food, water, a place to rest, a charger for Texty, a way to recover his old belongings… a sudden growl emitted from his stomach, interrupting his train of thought.

It was a strange and unusual feeling in his abdomen, one he hadn’t felt in a good while. Airy’s dimension, along with the plane, somehow made it so you didn’t need to eat…? He didn’t understand it, but he was eternally grateful for that fact, or everyone on the plane would have starved to death a LONG time ago. He closed his eyes in concentration… where could they go? What places served free food? Was there a soup kitchen nearby? He glanced around, a little sign in the window of a nearby hotel catching his eye.

“Complimentary Breakfast: 6:30 am - 10:00 am.”

Liam glanced back at Airy, who continued to stand silently behind him. "I found somewhere to eat," he muttered, “Come on.” Hopefully they could slip in and grab a meal without drawing too much attention. He wasn’t sure what time it was, but he could see the sun had already risen a bit, so hopefully it was early enough. Maybe if they went in through the side, it would look like they were coming from the rooms in the back…? He mentally prepared himself to steal a bunch of food for later. Just in case. He silently thanked his lucky stars that he was born a backpack. He wasn’t sure how else he would carry everything.

As they walked towards the hotel, Liam couldn't help but feel a mix of determination and apprehension. He pushed any unresolved feelings to the back of his mind, focusing solely on the task at hand. He couldn’t think about that right now, just focus on surviving.

Meanwhile, Airy's thoughts wandered in a different direction. His gaze focused on Liam, and his face betrayed a sliver of longing. The memory of holding Liam, of feeling their connection, lingered in his mind. Despite his detached and apathetic nature, he couldn't help but wonder if it was acceptable for him to touch Liam in that way again—to hold his hand, or even just his strap. He fiddled with his hands, intertwining his fingers together and deliberating over his options.

As they passed by a colorful flower shop, the scent of blossoms filled the air, immediately pulling Airy away from his thoughts and stirring another longing within him. His gaze fixated on the vibrant array of petals and leaves, his hands still intertwined as his mind wandered back to his secluded forest home. For a moment, he was lost in the memories of lush greenery, the gentle rustling of leaves, and the delicate beauty of the flowers that bloomed in solitude. It was a setting he much preferred over the cold concrete jungle he found himself in.

Lost in his reverie, Airy came to a sudden halt, his eyes fixed on one particular arrangement of flowers that reminded him of a cherished corner of his forest. He reached out instinctively, his fingers grazing the glass of the shop's display window as his usual detached demeanor faded for a fleeting moment.

Noticing Airy's sudden stop, Liam turned to see him lingering behind, his gaze captivated by the display of flowers. He let out an exasperated scoff, his irritation evident. He walked back towards Airy, an impatient frown crossing his face, before reaching out to take the lantern's hand. "Come on, Airy," Liam said, his tone tinged with annoyance. "We don't have time for this." He gave Airy's hand a tug, urging him to continue walking towards the hotel.

Airy's eyes widened in surprise as Liam's hand enclosed around his own. He stumbled along obediently, a flush of joy and surprise creeping into his features at the unexpected gesture. The simple touch sent a wave of unfamiliar warmth through Airy's body, filling him with a rare sense of contentment that he rarely if ever experienced.

As he squeezed Liam’s hand with his own, Airy couldn't help but feel a surge of emotions he hadn't expected. This simple act of physical connection stirred something deep inside him. It was a feeling he had been chasing for as long as he could remember. In his desperate attempts to create interaction, he had never truly understood the depth of the feeling until now. It was the raw and genuine connection that he had craved all along—a touch that transcended the superficial, something that made him feel real.

The faint flicker of his longing to continue ONE still lingered in Airy's mind, reminding him of the superficial connections he had orchestrated. But now, with Liam's hand clasped in his own, he couldn't help but feel that this was something entirely different—something more profound. Perhaps, in this simple gesture, he had found a glimpse of the connection he had been searching for.

Maybe, just maybe, this was enough. At least for now.

He followed Liam's lead, his gait slightly awkward as he adjusted to Liam’s pace, catching up to him and walking side by side with the backpack. Airy kept his gaze fixed on their intertwined hands as they walked, his footsteps falling in sync with Liam's. He couldn't brush away the faint smile that tugged at the corners of his lips.

They approached the hotel, its grand exterior casting an imposing presence. But Liam had a plan. He approached the side entrance as sneakily and unsuspicious as possible, slipping in unnoticed and silently pumping his fist at the fact that it wasn’t locked. Airy's detached nature proved useful, his unassuming presence blending easily into the background.

The dimly lit corridor greeted them, its scent of polished wood and cleaning products filling their senses. Liam took a moment to compose himself, brushing himself off and trying to get into the mindset of someone who wasn’t kidnapped for over seven months to another dimension. He took a deep breath, and strolled through the hallways with a purpose, Airy trailing aimlessly behind.

Their presence blended seamlessly with the flow of hotel guests as they approached the breakfast hall. The area was relatively quiet, with only a few guests enjoying their morning meals.

As they stepped into the room, they were greeted by a tantalizing spread of culinary delights. The aromas of freshly brewed coffee, bacon, eggs, and warm pastries wafted through the air, igniting a hunger deep inside Airy, a hunger he hadn't realized he possessed until now. His eyes flickered with the barest hint of excitement and curiosity as he took in the wide array of choices before him. Cereals, fruits, eggs, bacon, biscuits, cinnamon rolls, what he presumed was a waffle maker. His stomach growled in anticipation, the hunger he had suppressed for so long suddenly making itself known with fervor. It’s been so long since he had tasted anything, since he had felt the sensation of sustenance.

With a newfound energy, Airy stepped forward, remaining impassive and beginning to calmly fill up a plate alongside Liam. With a calm and measured demeanor, he filled his plate to the brim, each section carefully portioned with a sample of everything. Liam followed suit, but didn’t intend to eat all of it, planning to store most of it away inside himself for later.

As Airy surveyed the breakfast spread, his eyes were drawn to the waffle maker, its shiny exterior beckoning to him. Curiosity sparked within the lantern, and after a brief moment of observing the strange instructions, he turned to Liam with a voice devoid of its usual monotone.

"Backpack."

Liam's eyebrows immediately furrowed in annoyance. He turned to face Airy, the green fabric of his face visibly tensing as he crossed his arms over his chest and gave him a disapproving look. He rolled his eyes at the lantern, a mixture of irritation and frustration evident in his expression, disregarding Airy completely.

The display went right over his head.

"How do you use this."

Airy gestured towards the waffle maker indifferently.

“I don’t know who you’re talking to, Lantern, but it certainly isn’t me, because that’s not my name.” Liam muttered as he sneakily dropped a fruit inside of his front pouch.

Airy stood there for a moment, his expression unchanged despite Liam's irritated response. He tilted his head slightly, processing what he had said. He stared at Liam, trying to recall the name he should use, but his mind drew a blank. His memory seemed to fail him, the weight of solitude and the passing of time eroding the memories that were once significant to him. He had a hard time recalling anything specific.

Airy took a tentative step closer to Liam and spoke in a hushed tone, his usually monotone voice carrying a hint of uncertainty.

"Um... What… is your name, again."

Liam let out a frustrated sigh, his annoyance evident in the way his shoulders slumped forward. He glanced around discreetly, ensuring that their conversation wouldn't attract any unwanted attention from the other hotel guests. With a resigned tone, he finally gave Airy the answer he sought.

"Liam," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.

Airy's features stirred ever so slightly, a barely noticeable shift as a ghost of a smile tugged at the corners of his lips. He took a moment to process Liam's response before repeating his question, his voice still soft and inquisitive.

"Liam... how do you use this?"

Liam let out an exasperated huff, annoyed by Airy's persistent questioning. Resigned to the fact that he would need guidance, he strode over to the waffle maker. With a mix of irritation and impatience, he proceeded to demonstrate the process step by step, pouring the batter into the mold, closing the lid, and setting the timer. Airy observed Liam's demonstration with a detached curiosity, his eyes focused on each step as he took mental notes. Once it was done, Liam carefully lifted the golden-brown waffle from the maker and broke it in half, placing one half on Airy’s plate and taking the other half to his.

“Thank you.”

Liam froze for a moment, taken aback by Airy's unexpected expression of gratitude. His eyes widened slightly, his irritation momentarily replaced by surprise. He wasn't accustomed to receiving thanks from Airy. Blinking in confusion, Liam muttered a brief "You're welcome," before resuming his usual guarded composure. 

With their plates piled high with various dishes, Airy followed Liam to a nearby table and they settled into their seats. As they settled into their seats, Airy took a moment to appreciate the array of food before them, his gaze flickering with a mix of anticipation and curiosity. He watched as Liam began to eat, and emulated his actions, picking up his fork and taking a small, delicate bite of the waffle. He savored the sweet and crispy texture as it melted on his tongue, a sensation he couldn't quite put into words.

For the first time in a long while, he was able to indulge in the simple pleasure of a warm meal. Savoring each mouthful, Airy ate with a measured calmness, appreciating the flavors that he had long since forgotten. Though his gaze remained detached, there was a flicker of contentment in his eyes as he shared this moment with Liam. As Airy tasted the different dishes, a hint of excitement crept into his demeanor. His detached facade melted away momentarily as he took one bite after another, sampling everything on his plate with an insatiable hunger.

Liam watched in surprise, his eyebrow raising as he realized that Airy was planning on eating everything now, rather than saving some for later as he had assumed. He was taken aback by the lantern's sudden appetite, realizing that he had underestimated just how hungry Airy truly was. "Wow, Airy," Liam interjected, his voice tinged with concern. "How long has it been since you've eaten?"

"Uh... I dunno." Airy spoke through a mouthful of food, not pausing to look at Liam.

"You’re going to get a stomach ache." Liam advised with a faint frown. "You don't want to overwhelm your body after such a long time without eating." He leaned back in his chair, eyeing Airy's gluttony with a mixture of fascination and concern.

Airy looked up at Liam blankly, taking a moment to consider.

"...Ok."

Liam's cheeks flushed faintly as he suddenly felt a pang of embarrassment. The concern he had shown for Airy's well-being clashed with his usual dismissive attitude. He quickly cleared his throat, attempting to regain his composure.

"Not that I care…" he muttered, his voice carrying a touch of defensiveness. "It's just... it would be a pain to deal with. We need to focus on our objective." He shifted in his seat, his eyes darting away from Airy, trying to downplay his momentary show of concern.

Airy continued to gaze at Liam with his usual blank expression, his eyes conveying no hint of amusement or understanding. His lack of reaction only served to intensify Liam's embarrassment, as he shifted uncomfortably in his seat. The lantern's detached gaze held a certain innocence, as if he couldn't grasp the concept of embarrassment or the social dynamics that entangled their interaction. Clearing his throat once more, Liam turned his attention back to his plate and took a bite of his own food, hoping to ease the tension.

“Yeah… so, I was thinking about what to do next. We have food now, and water isn’t too hard to get. I think we have to look for shelter next, and figure out some way to get my old stuff… if they even have it…? I don’t even know who would have it. Hopefully not my parents… Maybe the police or something…? Oh right. I have to tell them I’m not dead. Unless Owen already did that…?? Owen… Ugh…” Liam facepalmed, thinking about that time he slipped on the bridge, and mumbled to himself, “I lost his new phone number... How am I gonna find him… Facebook maybe? Maybe Bryce is on there too. Oh… goodd… what am I gonna tell them?? Theres no way I can just say, hey yeah sorry, I was kidnapped to another dimension for a bit but im ok now!” Liam paused for a moment, adjusting his volume to a whisper, realizing he was talking a bit too loudly and drawing attention. “Ugh… What am I gonna tell Bryce… If he saw you he’d probably beat you to death.”

As Liam rambled on, his voice filled with a mix of worry and confusion, Airy paused for a moment, his gaze fixated on the backpack. Though his expression remained mostly neutral, a faint trace of interest flickered in his eyes, along with a tinge of confusion. The mention of Owen, Bryce, and the potential danger of encountering Bryce caught Airy's attention, although he didn’t fully comprehend the context or the significance of those names.

Liam noticed Airy's sudden interest and couldn't help but let out a sigh. He gestured with his hands as he explained, “...Bryce, Soda Bottle. Owen, Nail.”

Airy's eyes widened ever so slightly at the revelation, a flicker of curiosity and intrigue dancing within them. His monotone voice took on a tinge of innocence as he uttered, "I like Soda Bottle."

Liam's annoyance was evident as he let out an exasperated sigh and shook his head. "Clearly," he muttered under his breath, his tone laced with sarcasm. He took a deliberate sip of his water, pausing to think. He had to come up with something to tell them… he had no idea what he would say to them now. There’s no way Owen would believe the truth, he’d already lied to him before, he’d probably think Liam went off the deep end this time for sure! Liam furrowed his brow as he contemplated, absentmindedly wrapping up a few pastries in napkins and depositing them within his front pouch.

Liam leaned back in his seat, his brows furrowing deeper as he crafted a story in his mind. He contemplated various scenarios, trying to come up with a plausible explanation for his absence. He took another sip of water before finally formulating a semi-plausible narrative in his mind.

"So… hm." he began, setting his cup down with a thoughtful expression. "Me being kidnapped is the only plausible answer. And it’s not entirely a lie.” He shot a hateful glance at Airy, who continued to stuff his face in return. “I was kidnapped, right at the bridge. They probably found my bike there, so it would make sense.” He tapped his fingers on the table, deep in thought. “I managed to escape… or maybe, they got bored of me. Or something. I don't know. Why do people kidnap people??” He shot a pointed look at Airy, who just shrugged. “That’s all they need to know, right? Are they gonna make me describe it in detail…? Ugh they probably will, won’t they. Jeez… how did I escape? Where did they take me?”

Liam pondered for a moment, contemplating the best way to explain his miraculous escape. He pursed his lips and leaned forward, his voice hushed as he began to weave his tale.

“A forest… in the middle of nowhere. And I escaped by… running away. Finding a road. Hitchhiking my way back to San Francisco… Yeah.”

As Liam finished his fabricated story, he gave Airy another glance, the weight of their shared secret lingering in his eyes. Airy averted his gaze, his eyes briefly flickering downward, as if acknowledging Liam's unspoken accusation. The tension between them was palpable, but neither of them dared to address it directly. A brief silence hung in the air before Liam sighed softly, breaking the silence. "And for Owen, at least. You were kidnapped too. And we escaped together," he muttered, attempting to put the underlying tension aside for the time being. “I doubt he’d press further.”

As they finished up their meal, Liam's eyes widened in surprise as he noticed that Airy had nearly finished his entire plate. "You were really hungry, huh?" Liam remarked, his voice tinged with astonishment.

Airy simply shrugged, his gaze fixed on his emptied plate. He spoke matter-of-factly, as if it were the most obvious explanation in the world, "My fire was on all night." He stated, his words lacking any further elaboration or explanation.

Liam blinked, momentarily taken aback by Airy's nonchalant response. The more he thought about it, the more It made sense—Airy needed fuel to keep his fire going, or something. But the simplicity of Airy's statement left him both fascinated and slightly perplexed. “Is.. Is that how it works?”

Once again, Airy shrugged. As Liam contemplated the mechanics of an oil lantern object, his thoughts wandered to the possibility of looking up more information on the subject in the near future. However, a blush rose to his cheeks as he quickly realized that searching for oil lantern anatomy might lead to a wealth of explicit content that he wasn't quite ready to stumble upon. He quickly dismissed the idea, deciding that it was better left unexplored. He cleared his throat awkwardly, shifting his attention to the rest of the food on his plate he planned to pack away..

Liam swiftly and efficiently began packing the remaining food into his compartments, wrapping them in napkins and making sure to separate and neatly pile the items so they wouldn't get crushed. With their supplies properly stowed away within his confines, Liam began to fill two plastic cups full of water, setting one down on the table for Airy to carry. Airy took charge of throwing away their trash, disposing of it in a nearby bin.

Liam gestured for Airy to follow as he began to leave. Airy picked up the plastic cup of water that Liam had set out for him, and followed after the hurried backpack. As he caught up to him, Airy's apathetic gaze settled on Liam's hand, his fingers twitching with an almost imperceptible hesitation. In a spontaneous moment, he reached out and gently grasped Liam's hand with his own, intertwining their fingers.

Liam nearly stopped in his tracks, his eyes widening as he turned to look at Airy with an incredulous expression. His mouth opened slightly as if he wanted to voice his surprise, but no words escaped, as he didn’t want to make a scene. He waited until they crossed the threshold of the front door to attempt to yank his hand out of his grasp, meeting resistance.

Airy held on tightly, his grip firm and unyielding as he continued to walk alongside him, unperturbed by Liam's attempts to break free. Liam's confusion and discomfort were evident as he glanced around nervously, worried about anyone observing his awkward struggle. He cleared his throat awkwardly, his voice hushed as he whispered through gritted teeth, "Airy, let go. We don't need to hold hands."

His monotone voice cut through the unease as he replied in his usual apathetic tone. "I like holding hands." He stated simply, as if his words held all the explanation needed. Liam's shoulders slumped in defeat as he realized that Airy wasn't planning on letting go… and with his strength, he couldn’t wriggle out of his grasp. With a defeated expression, he relented, allowing Airy to hold his hand without further resistance.

As they continued walking, Liam observed Airy's detached expression curiously. He didn’t seem to be holding his hand out of malice or manipulation, but simply because he wanted to... Wait, did Airy even realize he was uncomfortable? Does he really have to say it? Is he really that dense?

Liam’s mind wandered back to the time they spent together in the forest... All Airy really did back then was focus on ONE, and make accommodations for him. Liam. The person who tried to kill him not even a week ago. He cringed at the thought, counting himself lucky that Airy was kind enough to make him a cast, and even a bed afterwards. It seemed like no matter what he did, Airy just… wouldn’t hate him back. Was he even capable of that emotion? Or… any emotion at all?

Liam squinted suspiciously up at Airy, his brows furrowing as he analyzed the lantern's seemingly blissful ignorance. It was as if his world revolved around simple desires and pleasures, with no room for complex emotions or thoughts. Despite his best efforts, Liam couldn't help but feel a mix of curiosity and frustration at Airy's unshakeable contentment. It was as if Airy existed in a separate realm, one that Liam couldn't fully comprehend or enter.

Airy, on the other hand, remained blissfully unaware of Liam's scrutiny. His gaze remained detached, fixed on the path ahead, as he continued to hold Liam's hand with a faint smile. It was a small, simple pleasure to Airy, an innocent connection that he reveled in. He didn’t even question where they were heading, just following the green backpack wherever he may lead him.

Chapter Text

The sun hung high in the sky, casting its warm, golden rays upon the bustling city streets as the two objects made their way towards the library. The noise of the city faded into the background as they entered the cool, quiet space of the building. The air-conditioned stillness greeted them as they stepped through the entrance, something Liam silently appreciated, a luxury he had come to cherish.

As they entered the library, Liam's gaze scanned the surroundings, searching for the computer section. He spotted a sign indicating the direction, and he motioned for Airy to follow. However, Airy's attention was promptly snatched away by the rows upon rows of books that lined the shelves, his curiosity piqued. Liam didn’t notice the lantern drifting away from him as he began the search for a laptop charging cord.

Liam's gaze darted around the library, hoping to find someone who could help him. His eyes landed on a green book object, perched at a nearby table, engrossed in their computer. He found the irony of a book object in a library mildly amusing, but he focused on his objective. They had their own laptop out and plugged into the wall... maybe they would be willing to let him borrow the cord for a bit?

Taking a deep breath, Liam approached the book cautiously. He cleared his throat softly, catching their attention. "Excuse me," he began politely, "I couldn't help but notice that you have your laptop plugged in. My laptop is dead, and I was wondering if I could borrow your charging cord for a short while."

The book object looked up from their reading, a thoughtful expression on their face as they assessed Liam's request. After a moment of consideration, a gentle smile formed on their cover, and they detached the charging cord from their laptop. With a kind nod, they handed it over to Liam, who accepted it with gratitude.

"Thank you so much, thank you!" Liam said with genuine appreciation, a hint of excitement in his voice. Carefully, he plugged the borrowed cord into his laptop, making sure it was the right type of connection. As the familiar hum of the laptop's fan filled the air, a sense of anticipation washed over him. It had been too long since he’d heard from Texty last, he hoped they would still be alright… he wasn’t entirely sure how he was going to explain everything to them. He wasn’t looking forward to breaking the Airy news.

…Airy. Liam's excitement faded, a sinking feeling settling in his stomach when he didn't immediately spot the lantern by his side. Panicked thoughts raced through Liam's mind as he glanced around frantically, his eyes scanning the room for any sighting of the lantern. He wasn’t sure what he would do if he lost him in the big city. He tried to suppress his rising anxiety as he got to his feet, making his way to the bookshelves.

Finally, a wave of relief washed over Liam as he caught sight of Airy toying with a book on one of the shelves. With a sigh of frustration, he closed the distance, his steps more hurried than he intended. "Airy," he called out softly, careful to avoid drawing too much attention. "Stop wandering off."

Airy turned towards Liam, seemingly unperturbed by the sudden distress in Liam's voice. He glanced between Liam, and the book, his face betraying no emotion as he replied in his usual deadpan tone, "Okay."

Liam hesitated for a moment, contemplating how to best handle the situation. He leaned in closer to Airy, his voice lowered to a barely audible whisper, "You can keep looking at the books, just don’t leave the library, okay?”

Airy's response was simple and direct, devoid of any emotion. "Okay."

With a nod, Liam sighed and turned around to head back. "Okay. I’ll be by the computers if you need me. I’m going to talk to Texty.”

A glint of interest flickered in Airy's eyes, a subtle change in his otherwise stoic expression. "Texty," he repeated, the name laced with a curiosity he rarely displayed. The mention of another contestant seemed to ignite a spark within Airy, stirring a longing within him. Memories of ONE flooded back into his thoughts, and as Liam turned to leave, he was startled to find the lantern silently trailing behind him.

Liam sighed in resignation as he realized that Airy was going to be joining him in their reunion. He hoped Texty wouldn’t freak out too much. He returned to the computer area and took a seat, gesturing for Airy to pull up a chair beside him. The lantern settled down, perching on the edge of the seat with an almost childlike curiosity.

Liam navigated through the computer's startup screen with practiced ease, the familiar desktop interface appearing. He quickly opened Notepad, his heart pounding with anticipation as he typed a simple message to Texty. "Hello? Texty? Are you there?"

Another sense of relief washed over Liam as he witnessed a response being typed. 

“liam. What the heck. are you OK? what happened where are we???“

His eyes scanned the words, feeling a sense of comfort in knowing that they were still here. He wasn’t quite sure why he was worried they would up and disappear, after everything.

A tentative smile tugged at the corners of Liam's lips as he replied, his fingers flying across the keyboard. "Hey, texty!! I’m okay, we’re in a library back on earth. one is over now, for good. sorry for leaving you hanging, I lost the charging cord for a while. I’m borrowing someone’s cord right now so we have limited time to talk until I can get a new one.”

Texty took a pause, processing the information. They tentatively typed out their response, their words popping up on the screen slowly. “what… one is over? … how long was i out for?”

Liam sighed, realizing that explaining everything is going to be a daunting task. “Like… a week or two, maybe? sorry, i didn’t count. it was kind of hectic.”

Texty's reply appeared on the screen, their dry humor still evident, “wow… that feels very anticlimactic. but at least we’re not dead. lol. where’s bryce.”

Liam furrowed his brow, his train of thought momentarily disrupted as Airy leaned in closer to the screen, peering at Texty's responses with curiosity. Liam’s mind struggled to catch up as he tried to explain, his voice quiet as to not disturb the other library guests. "Uh… back home, I guess? We’re in San… San Fran…" his voice trailed off as he noticed Texty's quick response.

"erm. who is that."

Liam felt a knot forming in his stomach as he anticipated Texty's reaction to the revelation. His voice barely above a whisper, he hesitantly spoke the words. "...uh... Texty. Meet... Airy."

He managed an awkward smile, though he despised the situation he found himself in. The words hung in the quiet air of the library, the weight of the truth settling in his chest. Airy gave the laptop a small wave. “Hi Texty.”

Liam's heart sank as Texty's initial silence stretched on, the awkward moment consuming him. He glanced between Airy and the blank screen, sighing in relief when he finally saw movement, the search engine being pulled up. 

Liam's eyes widened as Texty attempted to perform a Google image search, 'gun pointed towards camera,' but failed to connect to the internet, as he hadn't set up the wifi yet. Frustrated, Texty switched back to the notepad and began typing once more, capitalizing each word, "Your Motherfucking Life Ends 30 Minutes From Now."

Liam's heart sank, his shoulders drooping as he tried to find the right words to defuse the situation. "Texty, I understand... that... you-" but his voice trailed off as a wall of text appeared on the screen, "why is his forehead so big oh my god. oh my god. LOL. LMFAO. I CAN SEE MYSELF IN THE REFLECTION. WHAT THE HELL. I COULD PLAY TIC TAC TOE ON THAT THING. WHY DOES HE LOOK LIKE THAT. LMFAOOOOOOOOOO."

Liam blinked in surprise, completely taken aback by Texty's reaction. He couldn't help but let out a small chuckle, relieved that Texty was taking the situation in stride, even finding humor in it. He glanced at Airy to see his reaction, but the lantern just cocked his head slightly, staring at the screen intently with interest.

Texty seemed to be taking their newfound situation well, as they swiftly pulled up a webcam to capture Airy peering down at them, snapping a quick screenshot. Without missing a beat, they pasted the image into MS Paint, drawing a tic-tac-toe board across Airy's prominent forehead. It was a strange sight, seeing the playful antics unfold amidst the seriousness of the conversation.

Liam couldn’t help but chuckle at Texty’s antics, but he quickly composed himself, realizing the importance of addressing the situation. He put on a serious face and whispered back to Texty. "Texty, he's going to be living with us for a while, until he can form a life here, and get back on his feet... and stuff. So... we're not killing him, okay? I made a promise."

Texty seemed to find further amusement in the situation, as they wrote the word "WHAT" in big, bold red letters across the image of Airy's forehead, accentuating the already exaggerated feature. Liam couldn't help but crack a smile at the absurdity of it all, his attempt to maintain a serious tone was crumbling. Texty swiftly switched back to the notepad, new words appearing on the screen, "YOU DID WHAT."

Liam struggled once again to find the right words, his voice faltering. "It's only... It's only for a little while...! I don't like him as much as you do, believe me."

As Liam uttered those words, Airy turned to look at him, his face devoid of any visible emotion. It was as if his expressionless gaze alone was enough to make Liam feel a twinge of guilt for speaking ill in front of him. But this was the very same individual who had disrupted his life, so he quickly justified his words to himself. It's okay, he deserved it.

"What?" Liam blurted out matter of factly. Airy blinked in response. Liam took a deep breath, attempting to regain his composure. "We're in this situation because of you, Airy. Don't think that just because I have enough decency to not let you die on the streets, that means I like you. Once you get a job and a place to stay, you're on your own."

The lantern remained unperturbed, seemingly unfazed by Liam's outburst.

Liam stood up abruptly from his chair, frustration clearly etched on his face. He turned to Texty and said, "I'm going to go find the wifi password. I'll be right back. Don't go anywhere." His gaze lingered on Airy for a moment, a subtle warning hidden in his words.

In bold letters, Texty wrote, "i cant even go anywhere WAIT DONT LEAVE ME HERE WITH HIM-" Liam had already stormed off, his footsteps heavy with irritation, not noticing Texty's silent plea.

Liam stormed through the library, the frustration driving him forward as he searched for the elusive password. His eyes darted around, hoping to spot a sign or the librarian, anything that would give him a clue.

After a few minutes of determined searching, his gaze landed on a small poster on the bulletin board. Scanning the information, he saw a small note with the library's wifi name and password. Relief washed over him, and he committed it to memory, heading back to the others with a more calm demeanor.

Liam finally returned to the others with a sense of accomplishment evident in his voice as he declared, "I finally found it- ...what are you doing."

His words trailed off as he noticed Airy and Texty playing a game of tic-tac-toe on the image of Airy's forehead displayed on the screen. Liam let out an unamused huff, shaking his head incredulously.

The question was rhetorical, but Airy turned to Liam with an answer ready, "We're playing a game." While Airy's head was turned, Texty drew in the winning letter X, striking a line through them diagonally and writing "KYS" in big red letters next to the board.

Liam's expression remained unamused as he responded, "Uh huh... WERE playing a game. Out of the way." He motioned for Airy to move from his chair, which the lantern did so with a clumsy shuffle, momentarily tripping over the chair's feet.

Liam reclaimed his seat, focusing his attention on the laptop, his fingers swiftly entering the WiFi credentials he had memorized earlier. With the connection established, he leaned back, waiting patiently for the search engine to load.

As the search engine loaded up, Liam turned his attention to Texty. "Okay, can you bring up the plane website? I don't remember the URL."

Without hesitation, Texty started typing into the search bar, "i have it bookmarked." They clicked on the bookmark leading them directly to the 'planedatabase.com'.

However, much to Liam's dismay, the website failed to load. Liam furrowed his brows, attempting to reload the page a few times in the hopes of resolving the issue, but to no avail. He turned to Airy, an expectant look in his eyes, hoping for an explanation.

To his surprise, Airy looked slightly confused as well, his face betraying no insight into the situation. Liam exhaled in frustration. "Why isn't it loading, Airy?"

Airy's response was not particularly helpful. "I... don't... know... uh..." he replied, his voice tinged with concern.  "...it was up... the last time I checked it..."

Airy's voice carried a tentative and slightly worried tone as he asked Liam, "Did you... do something on the computer... before we left...?"

Liam paused for a moment, memories flooding back of his previous actions. He considered whether or not to tell Airy the truth, questioning if it would do more harm than good. In the end, he decided to be honest.

"Uh... yeah... I... uh... smashed it," Liam admitted with a guilty expression, immediately regretting his choice of words as he noticed a hint of sadness flicker in Airy's eyes. Airy's face remained impassive, but there was a shift in his demeanor as he looked down to the floor and fiddled his fingers together.

“Oh…”

Liam shifted awkwardly in his seat, unsure of how to alleviate the tension in the air. He turned his attention back to the laptop, noticing Texty typing in the search bar. "why did you need the website anyways?" read the words on the screen.

Liam sighed, his tone tinged with frustration as he responded, "I was trying to find information about the other contestants... All I remember is Bryce and Amelia's names. And that Bryce lives in Bridgeport… and that Amelia was a yoga instructor." He had to actively prevent himself from instinctively calling them ‘Soda Bottle’ and ‘Scenty.’ He shook his head, facepalming at the realization. "It's going to be a pain to find the others now..."

He dreaded the thought of searching for the other contestants, unsure if he would ever locate the mysterious baby or the magazine. It all seemed like a far-fetched dream now, but one that left a lasting impact.

Liam decided to take a different approach and opened up Facebook on the laptop. He fumbled for a moment, struggling to recall his password as it had been so long since he last logged into his old account. After a few attempts, he managed to regain access, relieved to find that his account was still active.

Liam swiftly typed Owen's name in the Facebook search bar, pleased to find his friend's profile relatively quickly since they were already connected on the platform. He took a deep breath, feeling nervous as he pulled up the messaging system, contemplating what to say to reconnect with his old friend.

Before he could even start typing, Texty intervened, typing out the words "who is this?" on the screen. Liam let out a sigh and replied out loud while deleting Texty's message, "This is Owen... my friend from college. We used to work together."

Liam began typing his own message, "Hi Owen! Sorry, I lost the slip of paper with your new number. :( Do you wanna meet for coffee soon? I have a lot to talk to you about." He paused for a moment, realizing that the last part sounded too ominous and might be off-putting. With a slight purse of his lips, he decided to remove that sentence and then hit the send button before he could overthink it.

Anxiety began to bubble up in Liam's chest as he went over the fake story he had concocted in his head. The idea of not having to explain everything and just relying on Owen's sympathies seemed like a tempting option... maybe he didn't have to tell him everything... if he acted particularly traumatized...? As he continued to ponder, confusion seeped into his thoughts, clouding his mind.

"What am I thinking?" Liam muttered to himself, his gaze shifting downward to the desk. He couldn't understand why he was considering pretending to be traumatized when, in reality, he had experienced something genuinely traumatizing. The events of the past year were etched into his memory, still fresh and raw.

He shook his head, realizing the dissonance in his thinking. The truth was real, the trauma he had endured undeniable... so, why is it so easy to just pretend it never happened?

Liam's gaze remained fixed on his open palms as he sat there, lost in his thoughts. Slowly, he clasped his fingers together and rested on his elbows, bringing his hands closer to his mouth.

Here he was, stuck in this peculiar situation, accompanied by a living textbox and the lantern that had caused it all. In some way, he felt he should be reacting, overflowing with emotion, crumbling under the weight of his shattered existence. But the truth was... he didn't feel much of anything.

Was it a defense mechanism? Had the constant state of turmoil left him numb? Or was it simply exhaustion from carrying the burden for so long? What was wrong with him...?

...He was overthinking again. It took a while to register the sound of his own name, breaking him out of his stupor. He blinked blearily at the computer, hearing the familiar text-to-speech voice Texty preferred to use. It was quiet, thankfully, so as to not draw attention.

"Uh.... what...?" Liam responded, seemingly confused.

Texty shifted their method of communication, typing instead of resorting to the text-to-speech voice. The words appeared on the screen, asking Liam, "Are you good?"

Liam took a moment to compose himself, his gaze shifting around the room. He quickly noticed that Airy was nowhere to be found. Confusion etched into his features, Liam directed his question towards Texty. "Uhh... Yeah I'm... good... where did Airy go?"

Texty promptly replied, "i dont know. he left around when you said you smashed the computer. he just walked off."

A sense of concern washed over Liam as he inspected the library, his eyes searching for any sign of the missing lantern. Standing up to get a better look, he scanned the room, his heart skipping a beat when he finally spotted him, browsing the books once again, seemingly lost in his own world.

A sigh of relief escaped Liam's lips as he sat back down, settling in once more. Airy knew not to leave the library, so he shouldn't be so concerned... right? Yeah.

Liam took a deep breath, attempting to calm himself and refocus on the task at hand. He scooted his chair back in and resumed typing, entering "Bryce" into the search bar and narrowing his search down to Bridgeport. As the results populated the screen, he anxiously scrolled through the list of names and objects, his eyes scanning for the familiar face he sought.

And there he was, nestled in-between a sea of Bryces, was the profile of the one he knew. "Bryce Hansen." Liam leaned back in his chair, exhaling a sigh of relief. As he collected his thoughts, Liam noticed Texty typing "YOOOOOOOOOOOOOO" into the search bar.

He stared up at the ceiling, his mind buzzing with thoughts, trying to piece together how to approach Bryce... what to say after everything they went through. With a determined look on his face, he refocused on the laptop screen and began composing a message.

"Hi Bryce. I hope you're doing well. The code worked, I'm back on earth again. I can't come see you again like last time, but I just wanted to reach out. You're the only person I can talk to about what really happened, besides Texty. I'm still trying to figure out what to tell the police. Things have been really crazy. I'd like to know how you're holding up."

He hesitated for a moment, his fingers hovering above the keyboard, wondering if Bryce even wanted to hear from him again. Or if it would just be another painful reminder... Liam furrowed his brows in thought. It wasn't so much of a painful reminder for Bryce as it was for him... since he was lucky enough to be eliminated before Airy disappeared for 7 whole months (which Airy didn't really have a solid answer for. But then again, Airy didn't have answers to many of his questions, so it wasn't really a surprise.).

As Liam's fingers hesitated above the keyboard, lost in his own thoughts, Texty interjected once again. The words "also Texty says hi" appeared at the end of his message. Liam raised an eyebrow, taken aback by the unexpected addition. Texty simply typed "what." But before he could even respond, Texty quickly deleted their seemingly rhetorical question.

Liam let out a sigh, feeling the weight of the situation pressing upon him. With a shake of his head, he decided not to dwell on it for too long. He had been overthinking things far too much lately. He glanced at the message one last time, contemplating whether he should make any changes, but ultimately opted not to, fearing that he might overanalyze it yet again. Without allowing himself to think any further, he pressed the send button before doubts could creep back in.

The messages had been sent, and now he had to face the uncertain wait for a response. Feeling a wave of trepidation wash over him, he buried his head in his hands, his voice muffled as he addressed the empty space around him. "Now what...?" 

As dread settled in Liam's chest like a heavy weight, he came to the realization that the next step on his journey would involve retrieving his belongings and going to the police. The thought left him feeling uneasy, hoping that they wouldn't ask too many prying questions, and he could just get his life back in the simplest way possible.

The world he had returned to felt scary and cold, vastly different from the carefree sanctuary he had found aboard the plane. It was difficult to fathom that, just a few weeks ago, he had been willing to spend the rest of his days in that parallel world. The shudder that ran through him at the thought was enough to remind him of how grateful he should be for his current situation.

He turned his attention to Texty, informing the living textbox of their next course of action.

“Okay… so… Next I think we have to go to the police so I can get my stuff back. So I’m going to have to shut you off for a bit to conserve battery, alright?”

He received a quick response, "Shouldn't you wait until it's fully charged?"

Liam glanced over at the battery icon in the corner of the screen, noting that it was only halfway full. He then checked the time and realized they still had plenty of daylight left. Perhaps he could take a moment to rest here in the library, exploring the books and catching up on the news he had missed during his absence.

"Yeah, you're right," Liam replied, realizing that he did need to take a break and gather his thoughts. "I'm just eager to get my stuff back, but I should probably relax a bit..."

Texty promptly typed "yeah man" in agreement before switching to another tab, pulling up a video of adorable kittens playfully romping around. They both watched the video for a little while, feeling a temporary sense of comfort.

However, Liam soon felt the need to move, to get up and pace around as his restlessness took hold. He muttered to Texty, "I'll be back," before standing up and making his way through the bookshelves.

Amongst the rows of books, Liam spotted Airy, seemingly engrossed in reading one of them. It struck Liam as strange, seeing the lantern absorbed in the act of reading, standing right where he had retrieved the book. Not sitting down somewhere to enjoy it.

Liam's curiosity got the better of him as he approached Airy, his voice barely above a whisper. "What are you reading?"

Airy seemed lost in his own world, barely registering Liam's presence. He lowered his book and stared at Liam before finally responding, "...The Last Unicorn."

Liam raised his eyebrows, not expecting to actually recognize the title. "Like… the movie?" Liam asked.

Airy continued to gaze at him with an unreadable expression. It seemed like he was staring past him. "I remember... seeing it in the theater… when I was little."

Liam paused, reflecting on his own memories of watching that same movie as a child. It struck him as odd that Airy could recall such a specific detail from what seemed to be a distant past, considering he couldn’t remember a lot of things. "You remember that...?" he asked, his voice filled with mild incredulity.

Airy looked at him blankly before returning to his book, giving a curt response, "Yeah."

Liam took a moment to process this new information before swiftly making his way back to the laptop. He interrupted Texty, who was engrossed in watching kittens, and quickly typed into the search bar, "When did The Last Unicorn come out?"

As Liam eagerly pressed enter, the search results quickly revealed that The Last Unicorn had indeed been released in 1982. His eyes widened in surprise, the realization hitting him like a ton of bricks. Airy had mentioned seeing the movie in the theater as a child, which meant he must be at least in his thirties, if not older. The thought of Airy being significantly older than him, possibly even a decade ahead, left Liam feeling bewildered.

Lost in his thoughts, Liam barely registered Texty's confused response, "Uh... what?" As he stood up to make his way back towards Airy, Liam casually mentioned, "Airy saw that movie in the theater... He's freaking old." It was a passing comment, thrown out half-hazardly as he walked away. He failed to notice Texty typing “WHAT” over and over in the search bar, his mind full of questions, but not expecting many answers.

Liam walked purposefully back to where Airy stood, determination etched across his face. He wasted no time as he bluntly delivered the news, "The Last Unicorn came out in 1982…. it’s 2012."

The lantern lifted his head from the book, his expression revealing a hint of surprise at Liam's directness. He simply replied with a nonchalant, "Oh… … …That’s cool.."

Annoyed and unable to contain his frustration, Liam asked the question that had been burning in his mind, "Let me guess... you don't know how old you are either?"

Airy paused for a moment, appearing thoughtful as he considered the question. After a brief silence, he answered with a shrug, "Uhhhh... I… don't."

Liam's irritation bubbled up inside him, causing his cheeks to puff out in exasperation. "You don't remember your own name, you don't remember your birthday, and you don't even know how old you are. But you remember seeing this weirdly specific movie?"

Airy blinked, seemingly unaffected by Liam's frustration. He responded simply, "Yeah." His gaze returned to the book in his hands.

Unable to contain his mounting annoyance, Liam's voice rose slightly as he began nudging Airy toward the nearby tables. "Why are you just standing here? You're not going to read the whole book standing at the shelves! You’re getting in the way of other people!" Airy looked up from his book, noticing the stark lack of people around them. He allowed Liam to guide him, his attention fully on Liam now. There was a subtle yet undeniable sense of satisfaction on his face, he rather enjoyed being pushed around, much to Liam’s dismay.

With a frustrated sigh, Liam firmly shoved Airy into one of the seats at a table, intending to walk away and give himself some distance. However, as he took a step back, a sudden hesitation washed over him. He turned, squinting down at Airy as he gazed up at Liam curiously.

Though he despised Airy's apathetic demeanor, there was something undeniably intriguing about the lantern. He was an enigma, and Liam wanted to crack the code. They were going to be sticking together for a while, at least until he dropped Airy off with a family member or something. He had to learn more about Airy to even have a chance of finding his family… it had nothing to do with personal interest... so he told himself.

Settling down in the seat next to Airy, he leaned closer and posed the question quietly, "Do you remember anything else from when you were on Earth? Anything at all?"

Airy set his book down, and appeared to be deep in thought. For a moment, the silence hung heavy in the air as Airy delved into the depths of his fragmented memories. Finally, he spoke, his voice low and tinged with uncertainty. "I remember… my truck.”

Liam's eyebrows shot up in surprise at Airy's mention of a truck. "Your truck? You owned a truck?" Liam asked, genuinely intrigued.

Airy nodded slowly, his eyes distant as memories from his past were forced to resurface. “I had a big truck… It was gray. It was my home for a long time… I don’t really… remember how to drive… now.” He fiddled with his fingers as he spoke.

The image of Airy behind the wheel of a massive semi-truck seemed so incongruous with the lantern's current form. It was a glimpse into a part of Airy's past that Liam had never imagined. It was hard to think of him as someone who used to have a life here on earth.

Airy continued, his voice soft and distant, "It's gone now. I, uh... I think." His words trailed off, a hint of uncertainty lacing his tone.

"Why’s that." Liam inquired bluntly.

Airy hesitated, looking away for a moment before meeting Liam's gaze. "Well... it was a long time ago... and, uh... I crashed it. I think," he admitted, his voice tinged with a sense of guilt.

Liam raised an eyebrow, surprised by Airy's revelation. "You crashed it?"

Airy stared back at him with his usual blank expression, simply responding, "Yeah." He took a deep breath, fiddling with the pages of the book as if to calm himself down.

"Do you remember anything else?” Liam continued, silently noting down these details in his mind.

Airy's gaze shifted away for a moment, lost in thought as he searched the recesses of his memory for any other fragments of his past life on Earth. After a brief pause, he turned back to Liam and spoke in a quiet tone, "Not really… I dunno, I just remember random things sometimes. I can’t really… access them on command. It just happens.”

Liam furrowed his brows, looking down at the table, trying to come up with another question to probe further into Airy’s past. Suddenly, a spark of inspiration flashed in his eyes as he reached back and unzipped himself. With a fluid motion, he pulled out a cassette player… Airy’s cassette player. Airy's eyes widened in surprise upon seeing it, a rare display of emotion from the lantern. Liam held it out to Airy, asking "Where'd you get this?"

Airy took the cassette player in his hands tentatively, handling it with care as if it were a fragile treasure that could fall apart at any moment. There was a nostalgic glint in his eyes as he murmured, "Uh... I found it... back in the..." His voice trailed off as he traced his fingers along its cracked surface.

Liam leaned in closer, trying to prompt Airy to continue, "Back in the...?"

Airy looked up at Liam, blinking as if pulled back from a distant memory. "Uh. Back where we... came from. The forest," he finally explained. Liam observed silently as Airy pressed the buttons on the cassette player, the clicks echoing in the quiet room. There was no response, as there was no tape in the deck. Airy continued, "I think... whoever was there before me, owned it. Or something… do you have the cassette?”

"Yeah, it's in here somewhere, but we shouldn't play it right now. We're in a library," Liam cautioned.

Airy blinked again, as if coming to a realization. "Oh, yeah," he mumbled softly. Without warning, he stood up abruptly, Liam watching him warily as he positioned himself behind him. Suddenly his hands disappeared into his depths, placing the cassette player back inside him. Liam couldn't help but shiver involuntarily, not expecting Airy to act so suddenly. He had to resist the urge to shout at him. “Hey! What do you think you’re doing?”

Airy shuffled around the items inside him, curiosity getting the better of him as he explored what Liam was carrying. Liam slapped at him, trying not to make too much of a scene but also asserting his boundaries. Airy retreated his arms slowly as Liam grabbed him by the wrists, his eyes flashing with annoyance. "Don't do that!" Liam snapped.

Airy stared back at him blankly, his mouth slightly agape as his eyes slowly trailed down to where Liam held his wrists. There was a strange tension in the air as the two locked eyes, one angry and the other seemingly indifferent. "Okay," Airy replied, his voice devoid of emotion. Liam released his grip on Airy's wrists, the tension between them dissipating as Airy walked back to his seat. He sat down, his gaze fixed on where Liam had held him, while Liam zipped himself back up.

They sat in an awkward silence, Airy stealing glances at Liam as he fidgeted uncomfortably in his seat. Finally, he broke the silence, his voice soft and almost hesitant, "I like talking to you… Liam." The use of his name caught Liam's attention, making him look up, surprised.

"You used my name," Liam noted, his eyes meeting Airy's for a fleeting moment. Airy smiled at him, cocking his head slightly.

"Liam."

He whispered Liam's name with a surprising tenderness, a hint of longing in his voice that made Liam look away in embarrassment, unable to meet the lantern’s gaze. Airy leaned in towards him, still smiling as he asked, "What do you remember?"

A puzzled look crossed Liam’s face as he stared off in another direction. "What?"

"Your time on Earth... I know you were a telemarketer. But… that's it," Airy clarified, his voice low and curious.

Liam turned to face Airy, raising an eyebrow at him, "And exactly how do you know that?"

Airy glanced to the side, considering his words carefully before responding, "Uh... the... internet."

Liam propped his elbow up on the table, bringing his hand to his head. "...the internet?" he repeated, his tone laced with sarcasm as he looked at Airy incredulously.

Airy nodded in confirmation, "Your profiles... on the internet. That's how I found you."

Liam rolled his eyes at Airy's admission, "So, I can add cyberstalking to your list of crimes as well. Wonderful." Airy simply blinked in response, still staring at Liam with an expectant look, waiting for more information. Liam let out a resigned sigh, giving in to Airy's curiosity, "My life was... fine. I had a good job, and my friends from college. I had a nice apartment... which I don't have anymore," Liam admitted, shooting a slight glare Airy's way. Airy continued to stare back, intrigued and clueless about the implications of Liam's words.

Liam continued, his tone bitter, "My childhood... sucked. My parents sucked. And I really hope they don't have my stuff now that I'm legally dead. Is that good enough for you?"

Airy nodded at him, seemingly soaking in the information. However, Liam couldn't shake the feeling that Airy was a little too interested in his personal history. It started to creep him out, “Why do you want to know all this stuff?”

Airy answered a little too honestly, his voice surprisingly sincere, "Because I like you."

Liam's face fell, his mouth slightly ajar. “You… w-” He couldn't finish his train of thought as Airy scooted his chair closer to him, their faces a bit too close for comfort.

"I like learning about you," Airy added softly, his eyes fixed on Liam's. Liam looked up at him, at a loss for words. He saw his own reflection in the glass of Airy's bulb, noticing his face was a darker shade of green than usual.

Liam jumped back, stumbling over his chair in his flustered state. He quickly brushed himself off, as if trying to physically brush off their previous intimate encounter. Fidgeting with his hands, he stammered out, "Uh... I. You- I... have to go. Check on Texty. You. Stay here. Okay." Airy watched silently as Liam speed-walked away, a frown tugging at the corners of his mouth as he left.

Liam walked briskly back towards the laptop, his mind racing. He couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that lingered after their conversation. Airy was always weird, but that interaction felt even more bizarre than usual. Liam made a mental note to teach Airy about personal space someday, remembering that boundaries were something the lantern seemed to lack understanding of. He sat back down in front of the laptop, his eyes widening as he noticed Texty scrolling on a strange webpage before it quickly closed.

A notepad pulled itself up, displaying the words, "oh hey. welcoem back."

Liam leaned back in his chair, whispering to the screen, "Hey Texty. You charged yet?"

Texty responded in text, "yeah, its been charged for a while. you been talking with airy?"

Liam replied out loud, "Yeah. He's... as weird as ever," his gaze momentarily drifting towards Airy on the other side of the library, engrossed in his book. He refocused his attention back on Texty, asking, "What have you been up to?"

Texty pulled the web browser back up, and Liam noticed the strange URL, "endless.horse." The notepad opened once again, "I'm trying to reach the end of this horse. I think I'm close." They scrolled up to showcase the beginning of the horse, and its endless legs.

Liam squinted at the screen, noticing the scroll wheel was tiny. He asked, "How long have you been at this?"

Texty replied quickly, "idk maybe 5 minutes."

Liam blinked in surprise, "Oh!" He glanced at the open tabs, noticing his Facebook tab was still open… but with a (1) next to it. His eyebrows raised in curiosity, "Hold on, give me control for a sec." He moved the cursor over to the Facebook tab, clicking to open it and immediately noticing a new message. "That was fast," he muttered to himself, clicking on the notification. It was Owen.

“Hey dude! Sounds good to me, and it’s no problem I can just send my number here: (415 278 0443) Where/when do you wanna meet? Or I can plan it out if that’s cool with you. Just let me know!”

Liam couldn't help but smile as he read Owen's message. It was reassuring to see that Owen was still the same friendly guy he had always been. Liam quickly typed up a response, suggesting a coffee shop he had found on Maps that wasn't too far of a walking distance from his current location. While he was at it, Liam began pulling up information on the nearest police stations and homeless shelters. That's where they were headed next.

Liam took a deep breath and addressed Texty out loud, "Are you ready to go? We need to get moving while it's still daylight out."

Texty typed in the search bar, "yea im ready. are you done using the internet?"

Liam nodded, watching as the cursor moved to the Wi-Fi icon and clicked on airplane mode. Texty elaborated, "It saves battery, I think. This too." Liam observed the brightness level decreasing on its own.

"Good thinking," Liam remarked, "I don't know when the next time I'll be able to charge you is. Oh. Speaking of that, I have to give the charger back. Hold on." He reached for the charger, unplugging Texty and carefully coiling the cord. He made his way back over to the green book, placing it on the table next to them. He thanked them once again before returning to Texty. 

"Alright, I'm gonna close you for now. I'll see you in a bit," Liam said, reaching over to shut the laptop. Texty simply spammed the thumbs up emoji in response as Liam closed it and unzipped himself, carefully placing Texty inside and zipping himself back up. He then shuffled over to Airy, who looked up at him as he approached.

"Time to go. Go put your book back," as he gestured towards the book in Airy's hands. Airy looked up at him, then back down at the book, appearing a bit confused. "What?" Liam asked, noticing Airy's strange expression. 

Airy looked around before responding, "Uh... I don't... remember where I got it."

Liam facepalmed, grabbing Airy's wrist once again and pulling him out of his chair. "Just leave it then. The librarian will take care of it," Airy glanced back at the book longingly, but Liam interrupted his train of thought, saying, "We can come back some other time." It was as if Liam knew Airy was going to lament about not finishing the book.

Airy smiled faintly at Liam, his focus shifting to the sensation of their hands touching. "Oh, okay," he replied softly, feeling a warmth spread through him. Airy quickened his pace to match the backpack's stride as they made their way outside, a small tinge of excitement stirring within him at the prospect of another adventure. As long as he was with Liam, Airy was happy to be alive.