Work Text:
November 5th, 1605
“You know, I really don’t know what they expected!”, a 50 year old Neil mocked. “I mean, trying to blow up the parliament? That’s just ludicrous!” “I know right? I have to appreciate the attempt, though. I’m sure it’ll make for some interesting political advancements in the future. If nothing else, at least they’re doing a bonfire tonight to celebrate it failing.”, Todd responded. He had forgotten how many lifetimes of Neil he had seen passing by, but his appreciation for how he looked at 50 never wavered. His face grew softer, and his smile became more crooked, but that just perfected him even more. His hands became callused, but Todd’s soft fingers would graze them nonetheless.
Somewhere around 400 b.C., Todd met the boy who changed his immortal existence: Neil. Suddenly, everywhere he turned, there he was. Todd always saw the man change. Sometimes he’d meet him as a mewling infant, and he’d hold him with all the love in the world. Sometimes, already an old man, struggling to cross the street. No matter what, they would always come in contact with each other. Both of them remembered everything. No matter where either of them were, life always had a way of pulling them together. Todd, forever looking not a day over eighteen, would watch his partner slowly growing old, and eventually passing away. He’d had countless graves, with too many names to mention, but it was always the same person, it was always Neil. Neil and Todd, against the laws of the universe.
Throughout time and space, the two of them spent as many days together as they could. Todd being immortal was great for the pair of them, but Neil would grow old, tired and pained as the years passed until he eventually died in one way or another. Old age, sickness, battle, all causes of how he had succumbed to his fate throughout the centuries. They never knew when they would see each other again. Maybe Neil would be born somewhere in China, or Belgium, or an island in the middle of nowhere. But some inexplainable force always managed to bring them together again. Whether that meant sailing, climbing the mountains or walking a thousand miles, they’d be together once more. It felt like an endless game of cat and mouse, forever chasing what was doomed to disappear again. That doesn’t mean it’s not worth it, though.
July 13th, 1789
The French revolution was in its uproar. Todd had seen it all before. The anger of the people, the ignorance of the royalty and the rich. He picked up the newspaper which was dropped at the door of his humble home, which read: “La Patrie en danger: le peuple doit défendre la revolution!”. Throughout his (far too long) life, he’d learned every language he’d come across. He quickly translated in his head: “The nation in danger: the people must defend the revolution”, and shrugged. It all felt insignificant at this point. He’d seen revolutions before, and he’d see them again. It was bound to happen. Still, one thing in his life certainly wasn’t insignificant. The recurring Neil.
“Good morning, Todd!”, Neil beamed. Paris was in chaos, tense and loud, yet none of it seemed to bother him. Neil was as enthusiastic as when they’d first met centuries ago. Todd yawned, and looked at the 18 year old boy in front of him. It felt nice to finally share an age again, though kissing him when he was 70 was amazing as well. They had made a rule: they wouldn’t kiss until Neil was 16, and only when he was 17 would they go further than that. They were both technically centuries old, but it felt more safe that way. They had made their relationship official after the fall of the roman empire. For some reason, the time felt right. Ever since then, they’d faced prosecution, assault and death in Neil’s case, but nothing stopped them from being together.
“Morning, Neil. Have you got any bread?” “I didn’t know you had to eat, being an immortal being and all that” “Just because I don’t have to doesn’t mean I don’t want to!” “lucky for you, I have some. Come with me!”
Todd shut his door, and followed the brunette all the way to his house. It was anything but an awkward silence- you learn to be comfortable around someone after spending ages with them. They entered the house, and sat down at a dust-covered table. “Neil, do you seriously ever clean?”, Todd inquired. Neil laughed. “Why would I spend my life worrying about cleaning when I could spend it together with you?” Not finding a good counter argument, Todd stayed silent. He grabbed a pale piece of bread, and brought it to his mouth. The taste was bland, but that was to be expected during times like these. Nothing could compare to the Roman panis quadratus with honey and sheep’s cheese he’d eaten with Marcus Aurelius in 162 anyways. God, how he wished Neil was there with him. He would’ve loved it. He silently hoped food would be better in the future, preferably soon. “So, a bunch of people are planning on storming the Bastille tomorrow, do you want to join them?”, Neil asked. “Sure, let’s become a part of history again.”
If you look at the background of the painting: “La liberté guidant le peuple” by Delacroix, you can see them kissing, hands raised in the air.
June 7th, 2020
The invention of the internet was amazing. It made life so much easier for the both of them. Neil had died once again at the age of 42 in 2001, after being in New York when tragedy struck. Luckily, Todd had an email address by then, so once he could Neil was quick to tell him his location. Now, a couple of years and many technological advancements later, they sat isolated in their homes. Todd found the whole thing stupid- he was an immortal being, he couldn’t die. Not even if he tried, and trust me when I say he did try the first time Neil vanished from his life. Still, for Neil’s sake, they kept a distance when they could bare it in real life. He didn’t want to risk him getting sick.
“Look, Todd, I have dog ears!” Neil squeaked through the phone. He was gushing over the new filters on Snapchat once again, bearing that child-like innocence Todd knew all too well. This was truly a great time to be alive for a nineteen year old. Though Neil remembered everything, and still was the same person, it always surprised Todd how much he’d change with age. I guess those were the effects of puberty though, and Todd knew puberty all too well. He had been going through it for literally forever, an old man stuck in the body of an eighteen year old. “They look great on you, Neil. Also, remember that one guy we went to a party with in 1840? Walt Whitman?” “The guy with the beard?” “Yeah, that one! I figured that with all the free time on our hands, I’d read some of his work. Considering how drunk he was that night, I wouldn’t have expected such gorgeous work from him! I read Leaves of Grass in its entirety, and it was gorgeous. I’ll mail my copy to you if you want, he signed it for me in 1855.” “I’d love that! He truly was a cool dude.” The two men talked for the rest of the night, and eventually dozed off together on face time.
The pandemic meant calling constantly, and talking about nothing in particular. They would go outside at night together sometimes, only wearing masks when they thought they’d run into another person, and feel the moon shining light on their faces. The reduced pollution was also nice. For once in a hundred years, Todd could breathe the air and let it fill his lungs with enjoyment.
“Toddy? Todd are you awake?”, Neil complained through the phone. “Well, I am now. What is it?”, Todd yawned. “let’s meet up in the park. The moon is gorgeous tonight!” “Darling, it’s 3 o’clock in the morning.” Neil looked at Todd through the phone with his huge eyes, and Todd could never resist his gorgeous gaze. “… fine. But bring something to drink.”, he eventually caved. Neil thanked him profusely, before hanging up.
“Good morning, Todd!”, Neil barked. “What did you bring to drink?”, Todd grumbled. “getting right to it, huh? I brought a bottle of vodka and some bourbon to wash it down.” They sat down on the grass in an open field, and opened the bottles. Todd was forever grateful that his immortality didn’t stop his body from functioning like normal- which meant he could drink and get drunk like the average 18 year old. This also meant that the sting of that first sip never faded, and he’d be hungover the next day as well. Neil took a swig of the vodka, before passing it to Todd, who did the same. Neil let his head fall on the grass beneath him, providing a comforting pillow while looking up at the sky. “You know, I really missed you, Todd.”, he mumbled. “What? We talk every day, darling.”, the blonde responded, laying down next to him. “no, not now, when I was still a baby. They kept calling me Robert, and my vocal cords weren’t developed enough to tell them otherwise. I ran away as soon as I could, but they kept an eye on me almost all the time. I only found an exit when I was ten.” “Well, you found me, and for the time being we can spend it together. You’ll probably die at 93 like usual if nothing significant happens, so we’re good to go.” Neil turned his head to his lover next to him, and sighed. “I wish I was immortal like you. I never want to be apart. I want to spend forever with you, without having to find you once again.”
Todd swallowed, and turned his head to face the brunette. “me too, but we’ll make do. Life has granted us each other, let’s not demand more.”
They both took another sip of alcohol, and stayed in a comfortable silence for a while, only interrupted by the occasional swallow of vodka, and an occasional kiss.