Hi! Koyoa actually gets credited w/ giving me this idea a long time ago in a comment somewhere on one of the chapters of Good Enough :)  I was thinking of turning this into a book, I have a lot of ideas for it, but I'm not sure it would be anything more than silliness. Let me know what you think - book? or leave it and move on.

All of this traveling I'm doing lately gives me a lot of time to write... so sorry if i'm overloading lol. 

______

He hated this new house. It was too big and too fancy and there were too many rules. ‘Don’t touch this. Don’t go in here. Take off your shoes.’  Hmph. Stupid.

He wasn’t a baby anymore, he was 7 now. He knew how to be careful without everyone freaking out at him every two seconds.  He sighed as he found nothing exciting when he went into the attic or any of the bedrooms or even the basement. It was boooorrrinnng. He made his way outside, heading out towards the lake and the huge garden that covered acres of their new land. It was surrounded by a tall wall of topiary and looked like something you’d see in one of those movies about old rich people. At least it was colorful. 

He’d been wandering around amidst the foliage when he heard giggling. He would have been afraid, but it sounded like another kid. Sometimes his curiosity got him into trouble, but he didn't ever really let that stop him. Hopefully that just wouldn’t be the case this time. He chased the voice all the way to the far wall of greenery. He put his head closer to the leaves, listening as he kept hearing the giggles, and then a quiet singing. He stood back, trying to figure out a way through it and to the woods on the other side and after a bit of searching he found his way out. He was able to wiggle on his stomach through a weak spot near the base of the wall and he grinned when he was on the other side, dusting off the dirt he would no doubt get in trouble for later.

It was kind of dark now that he was in the thick cover of the trees, but he wasn’t deterred and he took off once again after the voice. After quite the trek he pushed through some bushes and into a bright clearing, complete with small stream, huge rocks and a boy about his age chasing some butterflies.

He laughed when one of the butterflies landed on the tip of the boys nose and he let out a giggle as he tried to look at it.

He gasped a bit once he set eyes on Scott, eyes wide, and the butterfly flew away.

“Hi. Are you my new neighbor?”

The strange looking boy tilted his head and regarded him as if he’d never seen another boy before. He took a step back. 

“I’m Scott.”

“What’s a Scott?”

He laughed.

“Me. My name is Scott.”

“My name is Mitchell.”

“Wanna play, Mitchell?”

The boy just watched him with wide eyes and a raised eyebrow for a moment before he nodded. They laughed and chased the butterflies, watched the fish swimming in the small stream. Mitch showed him how to climb the trees without breaking the branches or falling.

They were sitting on one of the huge rocks while they caught their breath after chasing a bunny for quite some time before Mitch insisted that it was tired and was done playing.

“Why are your clothes so weird.”

Mitch pouted and looked down at what he was wearing. “Me? You’re the one whose clothes are weird. You look like a sunset moth.”

“What’s that?”

Mitch grinned and laughed again. “You’re funny.”

“Your ears are weird.”

“Yours are too.”

Scott started to ask another question but he could hear the sound of his mom’s voice calling his name in the distance.  He sighed and slid off of the big rock.

“I gotta go.”

“Ok.” Mitch’s smile fell as he hopped gracefully from his perch.

“I’ll come back tomorrow. We can play then.” He heard his mom getting closer.

“See ya later, Mitchell!” He turned and hurried back towards his mom’s voice and wiggled his way back through the small space.  He took off running towards the house with a huge smile on his face. Mitch was weird, but he was fun. 

Maybe this new house wasn't so bad after all.

___


“Mitch!” He hurried into the clearing and smiled brightly when he saw his friend sitting there on their rock.

“Happy Birthday!” Mitch grinned at him.

He climbed up onto the rock next to him. “Thanks.”

“I still can’t believe you celebrate your age.”

“Hey, being twelve is a big deal ok!”

He laughed that melodic laugh. “Well, in the spirit of celebration, I brought you a gift.”

“Really? I thought you said your people don’t do birthdays.”

“We don’t, but you told me that it’s customary to give something to the person whose birth is being celebrated.”

He smiled and took the small drawstring pouch that Mitch offered him. He carefully opened the delicate string and emptied the contents into his hand. It was a tiny ornate purple bottle with some type of sparkling liquid inside. He held it up to watch it sparkle in the sunlight that leaked through the center of the canopy.

“It’s a healing serum. It can cure anything, but there’s only enough for one use and it can’t bring back the dead. It's really hard to make so don't lose it.”

“It looks awesome.” Scott’s blue eyes found the golden flecked eyes of his best friend. “Your eyes are gold again.”

Mitch looked away with a shy smile and when he looked back they were a swirl of brown and deep green. “Sorry.”

Scott smiled brightly. “Why do they turn colors? You never want to tell me.”

“They just do.” He shrugged, but Scott could see the blush on his cheeks.

“Well, thank you for my present. I love it.”

“Make sure you keep it safe, and don’t tell anyone about it.”

“I know, I know. No one can know about you. I got it. I won’t tell, I promise.”

Mitch smiled again and watched him through bright eyes. “I have something else for you.”

“Yeah?”

“Hold out your arm.”

He did and Mitch held it gently in his cold fingers as he turned it over.

He watched the boys face, and then his eyes, completely captivated by the ring of bright purple appearing around the very outside of his irises. Mitch ran his fingers over the soft skin on the inside of his wrist and as he did two shimmering gold lines moved and swirled into a beautiful pattern before settling into his skin like a tattoo. He didn’t feel a thing.

“Only we can see it, don’t worry. Now if you ever need me you can just call my name, think of me and I’ll come.”

“Any time? Anywhere?”

“Only emergencies, Scott. I could get in a lot of trouble, you know that.”

He smiled and nodded as he ran his finger over the lines.

“I have something for you too.”

Mitch seemed confused. “But it’s not the anniversary of my birth.”

Scott laughed and moved a bit closer. “It’s ok. Sometimes you can give a gift just because you want to.”

“Alright.”

He smiled and leaned over to place his lips against Mitch’s cheek, lingering for a few moments before he pulled back with a blush.

Mitch smiled and touched the cheek with the tips of his own fingers. “That was nice.”

Scott giggled. “Your eyes are gold again.”

Mitch pouted and closed them quickly as Scott burst out laughing.

______

“Mitch?”

“Yea?”

“I wish I could show you the beach. You’d like it.”

“I’ve seen beaches before.”

“Yeah, but those are time pocket weirdo beaches.”

“I wish I could show you my world. You’d love it.”

“I wish you would let me bring my friends to meet you, they’d love you.”

“Scott, you know I can’t. You know what would happen.”

“Why? No one would know! They wouldn’t tell.”

“It’s too dangerous. We made a pact. You can’t tell anyone or... “

Scott sighed. “Or you’d have to disappear and make me forget. Right.”

It got quiet and tense for a couple of moments.

“Y’know I wish you could meet my friends too. They would think you’re really weird, but they’d like you.”

“Do people get picked on for being gay?” He looked up at him.

Mitch shook his head. “Love is different where I’m from. It doesn’t matter who you fall in love with, but love is sacred. Once you give your heart away, there’s no getting back.”

“You, like physically rip out your heart?”

“No, silly.” He laughed and rolled his eyes. “Like, when my father fell in love with my mother…  he didn’t do it on purpose, but he did and it was forever. When she died...” He trailed off for a moment as he tried to keep it together.

Scott slid his hand over and into Mitch’s, squeezing it gently.

Mitch gave him a small smile and continued.  “He still loves her and only her. It’s a forever bond. He will mourn her forever.”

“That’s really sad. I can’t imagine never being able to love again. That has to be the worst feeling ever. So, I guess you have to be really careful who you give your heart to then.”

Mitch turned back to look at the stars in the sky. “Does your mom know you’re camping out here?”

“I’m 15, I don’t have to ask permission to go camping in my own backyard.”

Mitch laughed that melodic laugh again.

“Hey, Mitch?”

“Hmm?”

He sat up a bit on his elbow. “Can I give you a gift?”

“If you want to.”

Scott fidgeted a bit but finally he just gave in and pressed his lips to the rosy pink pair he kept dreaming about. He felt tingles all through him, and it took him quite a few moments before he pulled away.

Mitch smiled at him and they both sat up to look at each other.  “I liked that gift.”

Scott grinned. “Yeah?” He leaned in again and shared another and then another and another.

He held the golden eyed boy as they both practiced the art of kissing, over and over again.

___

Mitch sat and waited, but no one came.

He wasn’t surprised by now, but that didn’t stop the disappointment.

As Scott got older he was hot and cold, distant and yet sometimes so loving it left him giddy and breathless.

Tomorrow was another day.

___

“I’m telling you he’s real. He can do magic and his eyes change color and he has pointy ears just like in the movies.”

“Scott, there’s no such thing.” Kevin shook his head.

“I think you’ve been spending too much time with Avi.” Kirstie joked.

“Or maybe he just can’t hold his alcohol.” Esther smirked.  They all giggled.

“Guys, I’m telling you, he’s real. Just trust me.”

“How much further.” Esther whined a bit.

“We’re almost there.”

He finally came to the clearing and let his three friends come in behind him.

“Aww this is cute. Can we come camping here?” Kirstie spun around as she looked, almost losing her balance and teetering slightly as she laughed. "We could build a bonfire or something." 

“Mitch?? Mitch! Come out, I want you to meet my friends!”

“Is your boyfriend shy?” Kevin laughed a bit as he took another drink from the bottle in his hand.

Scott looked around, calling his name again, even going so far as to touch the golden symbol on his wrist that only he could see, but still no Mitch.

“It’s ok, Scott. This place really is beautiful by the way.” Kirstie tried to be supportive of her friend, but all of this talk about his imaginary boyfriend was really starting to worry her.

“I swear he’s real. He’s probably just hiding. But … he doesn’t need to. They’re good people, I swear!”

“C’mon. Let’s go get some food, I’m starving.” Kevin shook his head and headed back the way they came.

He took one last look around and headed off behind them with a sigh. He didn’t see the boy in the trees with tears sliding down his cheeks.

__

“MITCH!!!” He called his name again, standing in the forest for the third time that week and still he got no answer. He’d started to panic when the golden lines that always made him feel close to Mitch no matter where he was, looked as if they were starting to fade.

He gasped as he turned around and there he stood.

“What took you so long! I’ve been trying to find you all week! I need you to fix it! Something’s wrong!” He held up his arm, but Mitch just gave him the saddest look.

“I told you not to tell.”

“I’m sorry, I had a few drinks and they didn’t believe me anyway. You made me look like an ass.”

He just stood there.

Scott walked over to him and lifted his chin to kiss him softly. “I missed you.”

“I missed you, too.”

“I’ve never seen your eyes turn lavender. It’s pretty.” He ran his thumb over his cheek. 

Mitch just nodded.

“I’m going to go get the tent, ok? I want to hold you tonight.”

He nodded as Scott gave him one last kiss before he hurried off.

The sad boy gave himself to Scott completely that night, clinging to him after it was all over. Scott kept kissing his face, telling him he loved him, that he was beautiful, perfect.

As Scott slept he easily slid from his arms. He placed one last kiss on his cheek. “Goodbye, Scott.”

He closed his eyes as the magic escaped from his fingers and the golden lines on his wrist disappeared. His own cheeks were wet with tears that would continue to fall for a long time.

He took one last look at the sleeping blonde before he left the tent.

He didn’t have to see to know that his eyes had turned silver, just like his father’s had.

______

What the hell?

He awoke in a tent in the middle of the woods, for some insane reason.

I’m never drinking again.

He groaned as he packed everything back up and headed back for the house, still wondering what in the hell had possessed him to camp out in the woods alone when he had a perfectly warm bed only a few hundred feet away.

He kept feeling like he was forgetting something, but as the days passed the feeling faded.

Life moved along…

Just like normal.