The Storm

Darkness had fallen over Alcorith as a portal tore open in front of Silver Moon. The air had turned cool, the wind causing Esper to grab his hair to keep it from tangling. Matthew had his arm tightly around Esper, the heavy feeling over his shoulders a subtle comfort.

Stepping inside, Esper was met with the sweet smell of Matthew’s cooking. He still found it hard to believe that Matthew ran a restaurant in his spare time, despite his other occupation as a mercenary.

The dining room was small, with only four sets of tables and chairs. Dark colored walls, velvet trim, and low lighting cast a calm, classy atmosphere, which was in stark contrast to its bubbly owner.

There was a circular countertop that surrounded the entrance to the kitchen, which was almost bigger than the dinning room itself. The building was familiar to Esper, as Matthew had him wait tables from time to time.

A warm hand slipped around Esper’s as Matthew led him to the back of the dining room, pushing open a door.

“I know you haven't been up here before,” Matthew murmured, “So I'll guide you. We're going up some stairs, so be careful.”

Esper slipped off his shoes as his feet touched a carpeted staircase. Taking light, careful steps he climbed to the second floor, where the floor abruptly turned to tile.

The kitchen was small and cramped, with minimal floor space and counters crammed with food and empty plates. Silver Moon’s kitchen was the picture of perfection, but Matthew Mortis’s was not.

“Well,” Matthew said, almost bashful, “This is where I live. Feel free to make yourself at home. Here, let me show you the couch. I'm sure you're ready to sit down.”

Once again, Esper’s bare feet met grubby carpet as Matthew let him settle into a narrow couch. He sank several inches into the couch, obviously the place where Matthew sat every night. Esper wrinkled his nose. This also appeared to be the place he ate every night as well.

Matthew fell beside him, pulling his phone out of his pocket. “Check this out, Esper,” he said, wrestling his phone into Esper’s hands, “I was playing around with the settings on my phone, and I fixed up the voice command for you! Since you're, uh, y’know, it's hard for you to use a phone regularly, so I thought I could make it a little more accessible for you. All you have to do is press the center button and say ‘call Umbry’, and it'll call Umbry!”

Esper blushed as he rubbed his finger against the button, shocked that Matthew went to such means to accommodate him. “Thank you, Mr. Matthew. I really appreciate it.”

Matthew placed another device into his hand. “I've gotta go take a shower, so make yourself at home. This is the on button, and this flips through the channels. Watch whatever you want.”

The weight beside Esper lifted, and he heard the bathroom door shut. Getting up, Esper took it upon himself to explore the rest of Matthew’s apartment.  As he stumbled around the  coffee table and kitchen counter, he ran into several piles of dirty clothes and pizza boxes. Socks were also strewn haphazardly around the floor. It was almost funny compared to Umbra’s meticulously clean house.

He picked the remote up, skimming through the channels based on sound alone. He wanted to find something Matthew would enjoy. Relaxing music caught his attention- the Weather Channel? He hoped Matthew would like it.

Leaning his head back, Esper listened to the Local on the 8’s, letting the somber tone almost lull him to sleep.

----

“What's this?” Matthew said, his voice sharp.

Esper sat up, craning his head forward. “Oh, it appears that there's a storm cell over Alcorith,” he said, parroting what the man on t.v. had said, “It shouldn't be severe, so there's no need to worry.”

Matthew's presence felt different- more serious, more startled. It was almost alarming. He shifted his weight from foot to foot, his wet hair sticking to his neck.

He spoke again, a gruff tone that made Esper flinch.

“Esper, go home.”

Author's Note- aha sorry for the delay. im lazy.

and my dear baby esper...i love him..

and matt whatchu doin honey