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A normal day in the archives, slaving over paperwork that never varied and killing time before meetings just to return to the cycle of paperwork and managing the archives. Rubbing at his temples in frustration, Elias stood abruptly, leaning against his desk before sauntering over to a nearby table, picking up the water pitcher that sat upon it.
There was a chill that crept into the room, spreading and rolling through the room as if inviting itself in, Elias knew what it meant immediately. A small smirk appeared on his face as he tipped the pitcher in his hand, the water cascading with consistency into the glass that he held in his other hand. “Peter, you do know it’s summer,” He spoke, a manner of which it was obvious that he was trying to hide his smirk.
“I can never sneak up on you anymore,” Peter whispered, a small and deep chuckle rising from his throat as he stood in the corner, pushing off of the wall to walk to Elias. His heavy boots made almost no sound, despite the weight, deciding to resign himself to stopping just behind the shorter and slender man.
The silence lingered like fog, almost climbing and inching itself up around the two as they stood there, not quite touching but close enough that both could feel each other’s presence. A breath as cool as an October’s breeze rolling over the rapid waves of an unforgiving ocean reached the back of Elias’ neck, a quiet shudder reaching his body as he stood his ground.
“What? You’re not going to look at me?” Peter rasped, his voice playful but firm, as he always was. The shorter man was confident in his ability to be as cold as his counterpart pretended to be, but this thought had been quickly interrupted. A cold and calloused hand finding an end to the formal vest that he wore, snaking itself up with the patience and precision of a snake hunting its prey.
Elias felt himself jump, one would exaggerate 5 feet off the ground, but it was enough for him to move away from the table that once held the pitcher, which now had collided to the floor with a splash and a hollow thud. The man huffed in annoyance, putting down the now icy glass and tucking his shirt back in before adjusting the vest to sit neatly on his slim frame.
“What is the purpose of your visit?” Elias asked, picking up the glass and finding that his fingertips were in contact with little shards of ice that had formed on the glass, but he refused to give the broader man the satisfaction of recognizing this. He took a sip of the water, not taking his eyes away from Peter as he stared back at him, eyes locked in a dance that neither knew their part in.
“I come back as you asked and that’s all you have to say?” Peter asked with a sigh that escaped his pale, thin lips. It was at this that the fog around them that had developed at some point became thicker, hiding both of them in the relatively small office. A skill of Peter’s that now made it impossible to see across the room, succeeding in hiding himself once again.
“You’ve been gone for six months,” Elias pointed out, putting down the glass and taking a step through the heavy fog, just to see the other’s face that had become almost hidden as everything that resided in the office. The white of his beard and milky skin blended into the fog, but it wasn’t enough to hide him now. Elias could see him and it wasn’t possible for him to shrink back into the shadows of the fog he fell into so often, and he did this knowing that neither were ever good at confrontation.
“So? That was never a problem before,” Peter pointed out, being the first to truly look away from the intense eye contact, unable to keep it up as he looked through the fog that was all but tempting to step back into and let it cradle him, to give him that sense of security once again. Though it was different, he was tethered, being seen as he was despite his best efforts of providing a comfortable cover.
“I… Missed you, while you were away,” Elias confided, raising his hand to cradle Peter’s face but began hesitating, his willowy hand staying in the air as he stared at the taller man. He mentally chided himself for the vulnerability, having told himself that it was best to be cold and collected this time to prove a point. But being stood here in front of him now seemed as if he had only seen him yesterday, as if time didn’t quite make sense and that almost persuaded his anger.
Elias felt a hand cup the back of his own, still cold and rough as it had always been, his fingertips feeling the ends of the white scruff that hid Peter’s face, the rough and tangled hair finding its way between slender fingers.
“I have no excuse for how long it took me to dock once again, Elias,” Peter spoke, still unable to look back into the eyes of Elias, who moved his hand to hold the face of the quiet spoken man. He knew that much, he knew how much space he took, how many times even when they would sleep in the same bed that the sleepless nights that Peter would walk in the rain to feel alone once again.
Elias maneuvered his hand to press against the scruffed face, bringing those milky white eyes to meet his own once again, as painful as it may be for Peter to reciprocate it. “I see… I know what takes you on a long voyage, I’ll just be pleased when you are here,” He whispered, as quiet as it was, Peter seemed to listen and understand what he was trying to say.
Peter leaned into the touch, the soft grip that held his head in place, knowing that everything he was and is, in the shadows and unable to meet the eyes of those he saw to look after, he was everything but in the presence of Elias. He enjoyed the contact as long as it would last, despite his nature, yet would never express how he reveled in the feeling. An avatar of The Lonely enjoying the company and touch of the one who served The Eye, one who saw everything and more if he wished, it was as if his attraction was meant to be a paradox.
“... How about I see you at yours, tonight, I’ll make dinner,” Peter offered gently, taking Elias’ hand and pulling him closer until he had seemingly pulled himself from the fog that surrounded them, watching it fall like a curtain to reveal the rest of the office still intact. Elias looked to see Rosie, the door cracked open enough for her head to poke in and see the two men in their embrace.
“I’m sorry, sir, but I heard the pitcher fall and I came to replace it,” Rosie stumbled out as she stood there, feeling as if she was intruding on a moment she was never meant to see. Which could have been true, no one was ever meant to look upon this moment, but then again, The Eye always watches.
“It’s alright, Rosie, I’ll see to it that the mess is cleaned up. It was my clumsy actions that created it after all,” Elias reassured, giving her an equally reassuring smile before gesturing to that she could take her leave, the two men watching as her head ducked out of the room in a swift motion, the silence being filled with a small click, leaving the shorter of the two to chuckle as he focused back to Peter.
“Forgive her, she is as curious as always,” Elias whispered as he hesitated to step away, bending down and picking up the forgotten pitcher and seeing the water was no longer splashed against the ground. He stood slowly, turning to look at Peter again, seeing that his pale lips were holding back a small smile.
“Your shirt is untucked again,” Peter pointed out in a sweet-toned manner, a small chuckle escaping his lips that was unable to be suppressed. Elias stood and untucked the rest of his shirt, sure of himself that he would have to fix it properly when he had a mirror, placing the pitcher on the table before sauntering back over to Peter.
“You’ve done worse,” Elias quipped, his smirk returning as he grabbed the edge of the coat that flowed to right above the ankle of the wearer, pulling him closer and being on his tiptoes to be face to face. Elias looked into the unnaturally white eyes that shined with the mist of a calmer and forgiving sea, one that held many secrets and wonders beneath. He found that if he looked close enough that he could see his own green eyes reflecting back, the color muted by the white, but green nonetheless.
“I’ll see you tonight, but I swear to whatever forces hold us, if you make stew again, I’m going to throw you all the way to Sannikov Land,” Elias joked, letting Peter’s coat go but staying as close as he could, close enough to feel Peter’s breath on his face, too close to smell the wisps of the sea that lingered among his jacket. Neither made a move to pull away, locked into yet another dance that both stood in silence for.
“I’ll see you tonight,” Peter finally found himself saying, his voice low and strained as he was the one to pull away, hoping that Elias did not find it to be for any other reason than if he hadn’t, he would have lost himself in the pools of green and golden flecks. It felt like being at sea, there was a vast expanse of water that would take you with no hesitation, and despite Elias never wanting to get his hands dirty, he always did give off the sense that he could surprise you at a moment’s notice.
“I’ll check up on you later, I have a meeting with the board, and I have to look presentable,” Elias announced, adjusting his shirt cuffs, even if it wasn’t helping in his situation. Peter nodded in acknowledgement, shuffling to the door and finding that he stopped as he grabbed the handle.
“Is something wrong?” Elias asked gently, walking over to the man and putting a hand on his arm that held onto the handle of the door. Peter swiveled his head to look at him, seeing his stance with one hip cocked to the side, his posture leaning to the right because of this. Elias’ eyes looked across his milky face and was scanning for anything without knowing what to look for, ironic for someone who serves The Eye.
Peter chuckled and shook his head, his hand slipping from the door handle as he turned his body to face Elias once more, taking a step closer to tower over him. He looked over the other’s expression to study what he must have been thinking, leaning down and placing a gentle peck against the man’s forehead. Elias seemed surprised that he initiated affection, let alone something that he had always seen as unnecessary.
“I’ll see you when you return home,” Peter whispered, a small smile appearing on his fine lips, turning to leave, leaving a bewildered man behind as the door opened and quietly clicked shut. The room was silent and the air no longer had a lingering chill to it, but Elias’ spine still let out a shiver as he shook his head, touching his forehead with a gentle hand.
“Home…” He whispered to himself, his hand dropping to his side, slowly making his way over to his desk. He lazily dropped into his chair, sighing as he glanced at the clock and feeling his once rapid heartbeat stop as he realized he was going to be late. Once again, he abruptly rose from his chair, tucking in his shirt with haste as he sped down halls before appearing at the doors with a deep exhale escaping his lips. He smoothed his hair back, composing himself from his disheveled state that he had found himself in before pushing open the heavy oak doors.
"That is the last time you make me late, Peter Lukas."
But he thought this in vain, The Eye itself knows just how much of a lie that was.