Chapter 28 Chapter Twenty Eight - The Heart of the Storm (2/2)

If only Nathan would continue to look at him.If only Nathan would speak to him in that way.If only he was the one developing a relationship with the boy.

He was ten thousand years old, he did not believe in love at first sight, but that did not mean that he was unaware that there were people out there who could stir his interest within a moments meeting.Who could stand close by and have his body or soul react to them.Yet he would never label Nathan this simply.It was far more complex an array of emotions that stirred within him, no longer just a protective instinct and increasing each and every time his five senses happened to note the boy was close by.Even now, his arms ached to rise from where they hung casually at his side, to wrap around the boy and gather him close to his chest, to feel him warmth, to offer him comfort for his pains.

Before he could react on impulse, the lightning once more lit the sky, this time tearing through the cloud cover to split the air and crash somewhere just beyond the village boundaries.Nathan sank to his knees and clutched his ears, the thunder loud, deafening even those without his sensitive hearing.

”Christ!” Dexter cried out and hurried to close the patio doors even as Lucy buried herself against the dog, whimpering and Ren Zexian hovered, his composure a tiny bit out of sorts, over Nathan.Just as the doors closed did the heavens open with a heavy downpour and Ren Zexian felt the poison core within him stir.

”The taint is in the water,” he whispered, partially to himself, but Dexter heard and understood his meaning well enough.

”Yeah,” the man sighed, heavily.”We figured as much.Its why we put up with Tyler and all of his nonsense.There was only so much bottled water floating about.”

”Arsehole,” Tyler crossed his arms about his chest, but his anger melted as Lucy crept closer to him.He offered to hug her, comfort her through the storm, but soon discovered, as her belly rumbled, that actually she just wanted his pretzels.He shared with her without complaint.

Ren Zexian was lost in his own thoughts, wondering over the corrupted Yin he could feel within the rainfall.It was not heavy, but accumulated within a body, surely it would build up to cause sickness.One would either rise stronger or fall into the state of the walking dead from drinking the water the sky produced.The thunder punctuated his gloomy conclusion, but hands suddenly grasped his loose robes and quickened his heart, causing the gloom to vanish as smoke.

Glancing down, he saw two beautiful eyes staring at him, filled with a hope of fulfilment.But what it was that Nathan wanted of him, the boy would never freely tell.So he dropped to his knees before the boy, still keeping his hands from reaching out lest he frighten Nathan away.”What is it?” He asked in a calmer voice than he felt, aware of the heat of the boy's body, finding a little contentment in their closeness to the point that his core seemed to settle.  Or perhaps, he just forgot about the discomfort, his attention completely captured by Nathan.

”I don't like the thunder,” Nathan whispered in response.

”I see,” Ren Zexian replied.”I can't stop the storm, however.”

”That would be impossible,” Nathan said in agreement.

Ren Zexian glanced over the boy clinging to him with clasped fists, as well as quickly noticing that Paul had begun moving candles out of reach of tiny fingers, while Patrick coaxed her into trying the uncooked peas.The child no longer seemed to notice the storm, finding comfort in filling her small belly and Aslan at her back.He returned his attention to Nathan who winced visibly when the thunder crashed loudly overhead.”Do you wish for me to stay with you and help you through the storm?”

”Yes,” Nathan replied and his pink lips curved into a small, but satisfied smile, which stole Ren Zexian's breath away.He dare not start breathing as Nathan inched closer to him, seeming to find as much comfort in their nearness as did the older man.

”It's uncomfortable here,” Ren Zexian told him, worrying that the boy might be cold beside the glass door.  A touch of coarseness marred his usually clear tone of voice.”Let's sit over there, we'll be away from the window as well.”

”Alright,” Nathan agreed, remaining close until Ren Zexian settled upon the floor in lotus position.Dexter nudged Harry as the boy curled close to the older man, the pair producing a picture of harmony despite the continued chaos of the storm outside.