Crimson

Consequences of heat ...

Juno stared off at Ali's retreating back .

I had mixed feelings about Ali watching mine and Vita's interaction .

It left a sour taste in my mouth , like how one felt when their parents had just watched them kiss someone .

It was incredibly uncomfortable and more so because it had been Vita of all people , the same person Ali had warned me to stay away from for a reason that even I understood , our safety .

But , when he tried to think of Vita as some barbaric soldier that would cart them off the moment he discovered what they had been doing he could not form an image .

Especially after watching Vita's little act after I had pushed him for kissing my neck unconsciously .

It had been adorable and held no similarity to the vile image I had carried of brigadiers .

Nero and his flapping d**k also did not fit the vile image of brigadiers .

I sighed and began to walk off in the direction that Ali had gone , It was always best to talk about issues early with Ali .

Waiting for his anger to cool did not work for Ali .

Trying to maneuver myself around the crowd was harder than I thought .

Sometime between when I had come through here with Vita and now , the crowd on their feet had doubled and drunk people were the most unresponsive people .

When I had finally reached one of the small stages that filled the place , I got on it , searching for Ali or traces of him .

Ali hated strangers touching him , so there was bound to be a trail of people that were either laying on their asses or looked extremely distraught .

He was not up ahead like I had thought and there were no traces of fallen people .

I got off the stage and made my way to his room up the stairs .

I pushed the door but it would not budge , doors at The Haze were never locked especially Ali's doors .

He had taught me that it was important to feel safe regardless of how reinforced my door was .

And now he had locked his door to keep me out .

This door was built to keep people out for a while giving us enough time to either escape or get rid of any incriminating material if there was ever trouble , it had been my idea and now I was going to suffer for it .

Picking the lock was out of it .

I knocked softly and waited , my right ear was pressed to the door .

There was no sound .

I knocked again .

This time more aggressively and I groaned loudly .

I had forgotten that my ear was pressed to the door , so , I had felt all of the loud reverberations and my ear had began to ring .

I grabbed my right ear and moved away from the door .

The door flew open and Ali grabbed my shoulders shaking me .

" What happened ? "

He was panting furiously as he said this .

His eyes raking my body for any signs of trouble .

I laughed despite the still very loud ringing in my ear .

The pain intensified with the sudden laugh , so , I put my hands on my ear trying and failing to lessen the pain .

" Are you not supposed to be still mad ?"

I received a glare that caused me to realize I was not such a funny guy .

Colourless irises could do that .

His face clouded as I watched , each passing second proved how much more cloudy his face could get .

He stepped back into the dark room and I waited a beat before following him into the room .

I closed the door behind me and waited for my eyes to adjust but nothing was happening .

I could hear the soft rustling of sheets .

He had sat back down , I wondered if I should also find some place to sit .

I felt around but I could not find any fey lanterns .

I stumbled slightly and exhaled loudly , this was not working out .

" Were we not supposed to stay away from brigadiers because they meant trouble ?"

He was almost mumbling but I could still hear him clearly .

" I was not trying to st....."

Ali interrupted my attempt at a refuting statement .

" Especially with your recent stunt at the shelter ".

I had not being trying to cause trouble when I had sent them to the shelter .

I had hoped they would understand and at least empathize with our vision.

The fact that Ali kept bringing up this issue and I kept apologizing for trying to help people was making me upset .

" I was not trying to pull a stunt , I was genuinely worried about our situation ".

Silence ...

" I get as worried as any one of you do about our situation , I hate the fact that you seclude me like I do not care ".

The more I thought about it , the angrier I felt .

" The shelter , the raw blueprint to all that we do was all me , so , why do you act like I exist with the sole purpose of exposing us ".

I was angry .

Angry because all this just made me feel like a child throwing a tantrum .

I wanted to be one of those that were cool even when they were angry .

I had something more I wanted to say .

" If anything happens , if we get exposed , I would be executed ".

" I think about that everyday ".

Now , my anger had reached it's final stage , the tearworks .

It did not matter the situation , once my tears were triggered , I could never get them to stop abruptly , I had to let it run or rather tear it's course .

I was sniffling and dabbing my nose furiously .

" Everyone , every single one of these people realize the gravity of what you do which is why they have offered to do this little ".

I wiped my runny nose once more , so I could listen to what Ali had to say .

" We all know the punishment you will get should you ever be caught , which Is why we would rather seclude you than have you do more .

If any other person is caught , since they are not you or I , they will be safe , they are willing to do whatever for the purpose of our goal including keeping you safe whether you like it or not ".

He sounded resigned to some gate that I could not see .

" I will not let anyone take the fall for me ,not even you Ali . I knew the consequences before I started ".

Ali snorted .

" No one is taking your punishment from you ".

I nodded and then realized he could not see me.

" Good then " , I replied .

Another unbearable silence .

" So , did you see Vita and I behind the building ? "

I waited with my breath bated , I could not begin to imagine if he had seen us before I had pushed the brigadier .

" No , I only saw you come out with the brigadier ".

I sighed , a silent relief .

" I'm sleepy , Ali ".

He was silent , had he also fallen asleep .

He cleared his throat then .

" The host can not leave before the party is over ".

I laughed at his tone , he had actually sounded professional and I knew that none of Ali's thoughts about parties and the stress it came with was professional .

I heard him move and I moved too , towards the bed .

At least I was sure where that was .

He swung the door open and a little light filled the room.

Using the light , I took off my boots and earrings while he stood waiting .

When I was done , I tucked myself in .

" I'm done ".

I informed him .

" Let's have a short one tomorrow morning , it has been a while . Goodnight ".

He slammed the door before I could reply .

I groaned loudly , I was too tired to find him and complain .

I closed my eyes , feeling sleepy already .

The thought of tomorrow made me cringe so badly , I thought I might be unable to fall asleep .

But , when I did fall asleep , the last thing I had been thinking of was wetness behind my ear and on my neck .

I had slept off whilst thinking of the embodiment of liquid heat that was here to send me to my execution .