♤SPRING SHIELD (MxM) ~fantasy~♤

An article

Kristian

I'm exhausted. I woke up late,imagine the embarrassment I felt when a seven year old asked me to wake up.
Then I packed last minute lunch for them and rushed to work. I've been okay for the past few days but today is just not my day.
As usual since Elijah left. When I get to the office there's paparazzi waiting for me. The work and the kids... it makes it feel like it's been years since he's been gone.
I can already here there shouting before my driver even gets to the spot point. My heart starts to race,the questions they ask me get a little... intense. A lot came back to me when I went to my apartment. I haven't had time to think about too much. But,McConnell was right.
We have history. He was that man... the man whose been haunting me in my dreams. For so long even after all those stories I heard of me being strong and unyielding,I was in that type of situation. Such darkness once surrounded me once. The reality terrified me. Now,I think I'll be haunted again for the rest of my life.
Regaining my memories is like feeling life long regrets all over again. It's painful but I have to.
With a click I put my shades on to protect myself from the flashing lights. I push my car door open and walk out,it's surprisingly easy because of the security guards protecting me. Like moses walking through the red sea. But even he had to hear the waves crash around him.
The same way I still have to hear their taunts as well as questions. Or just questions meant to taunt me.
The clicking starts,camera lights from each corner. "Kristian! How long will Mr Lewis be gone? Has he revoked any rights to the company to you?"
"Mr White! Is it true that you're currently staying at Mr Lewis' mansion?"
"Kristian White! Is it true that you're two timing Brent McConnell and Elijah Lewis?"
"White,where exactly have you been these past years!"then all the noise disappears when the doors close behind me. Quickly I take my shades off and walk up to the elevator.
"Kristian. You're late,"Sam tells me when I walk into the laboratory.
"Blame the paparazzi."I mutter,sanitising my hands and walking to my work station making sure that nothing on Elijah's desk has been touched. That's top secret stuff.
I sit down. And start to record all the meetings I need to go to today in place of Elijah and the work progress. I known him. He'll probably want a record of everything down to a T.
"Paparazzi? I'm sure it's not just that... you're like twenty five minutes-"
"Sam Phillips."I warn turning my head up,"I have other things to do that are outside the office. I am late,and I apologise for that but you're in no position to tell me that I should step up,are you?"I make my voice sickeningly sweet and tilt my head feigning innocence. After a second he walks away muttering something under his breath and I keep writing.
I work peacefully for a while before a shadow goes straight over my paper work. "Kristy,it's so nice to see you."I look up to the woman with jet black hair and blood red lipstick,
"Jessica,was it? Same here."I'm not even going ask her what she's doing here. Probably getting something for McConnell,
"I'm not interrupting anything,am I?"she asks,sitting down in the chair across me,whipping her hair back,
"No."she is. But I don't think It's my place to tell her that. "Is there anything I can help you with,Mr Lewis is currently away on business."
"Yes,I know that. It's why I'm here."she explains checking her French tipped nails. I raise a brow before placing all my pens down and giving her my attention,"My boss. McConnell,he's battered and bruised right now. And it's because of you and YOUR boss Lewis."I knew they got into a fight that night.
"I see... but how does it have something to do with me? McConnell and my employer have tensions before I was even involved. I'm afraid I can't help with that."it can't be that bad. I bet Lewis took a shot,McConnell threw a punch. Battered and bruised is too far,
"He has a fractured jaw and a cracked nose. Like hell it doesn't have anything to do with you,"she starts to raise her voice and subconsciously I push back from her. I'm too tired for this.
"Oh dear,has he gotten medical care? Either way,Jessica I wasn't there when it happened and I don't know if it had anything to do with me,which I doubt."I adopt a dismissive tone,tilting my pen from side to side. Counting each second of time she's wasting.
I think I definitely would care more if I didn't know what our history held.
"Kristian,you did this. You feel bad about what happened in the past so you schemed this entire thing up. I get that you feel wronged or or- bitter! But you can't do-"her attitude is becoming more and more frantic by the second.
"Bitter about what? I don't care about whatever you're on about. But when you barge into an office which I am in charge of,I'm afraid I'll have to feel wronged. Jessica."
"About... about... you're just pretending to not know!" People outside start to stare at us. I need to finish this quickly,
"You're here because of his pride right? Well,coming here and screaming at the top of your lungs about how injured he is surely is making the situation worse. Especially when Lewis had a single skin level scar."
"So you do know they fought. You're jealous right? That me and McConnell are together after everything,aren't you?"she sounds like someone going through a downwards spiral. Like she's been having these pent up thoughts for months. No,years.
"Jessica,I'm warning you-"
"So what if he cheated on you with me! He's my fiance now! He LOVES ME,not you anymore so stop trying to get his attention back. Just stop it won't work,we were seeing each other even when you two were supposedly in love."she cracks. Her eyes popping out and her voice raised all the way,like someone on the verge of insanity. Her hair seems to stop being silk in mere seconds and become some sort of an abandoned bird nest.
Despite myself I feel bad for her. It's like whatever scene of past was created seven years ago,she's never moved on. She's stuck in that darkness and it's eating away at her. Causing her to become like this and most likely... she'll never recover.
Pushing my chair all the way back I press a button and slowly I say,"Security."
"You- ugh. I'm leaving,but I swear..."the guards coming over makes her stop. And she pushes past them then out the door.

_____________

Another long day ends up with me sitting in my bed after making supper and putting the boys to sleep.
I snuggle into my blankets and stare at my phone screen. The past few days have been quiet,nothing from Elijah's end. And each day I wish more and more that he was here,after each tough meeting,after each slightly burnt waffle. Everything that he would have no problem doing makes me yearn for his presence.
And his lips. I really miss his lips.
I stare at my blank phone screen too scared to call him. He might be in a meeting. Or sleeping. The time zones from here and parts of Europe are insane.
I'm about to sigh and give up when my phone vibrates in my hand. Elijah. My heart skips and I tuck myself in before making him wait for a minute. He can't be thinking I'm too eager.
"Hello?"I whisper. I don't know why I whispered. I guess I'm excited.
"Been a while,huh?"After being away from him for so long his voice turns my stomach into knots. Ugh,I wish I could see him so bad it's making me sick.
"Yeah,"I say,blushing a little,
"I'm in Spain right now,so it's kind of early over here."his statement is supported by his yawn,
"You're in Spain already?"I ask,playing with my hair,
"Mhm,got here two days ago. Now I'm finishing up the first parts of it. Enough about me,how was your day?"he sighs,and I can here ruffling. I can imagine that him in bed laying down,
"One word,long."
"Sounds like it. Anything big happen?"he laughs. And I don't want to tell him that everyone has been treating me horribly or that I was yelled at each day by a different level of crazy.
"Lately... there's this article that everyone has read."
"Article?"
"Yeah,it's crazy popular. About me,"
"Wow,you're quite the big shot now. Don't forget to thank me when you make it big."he teases,Lewis certainly doesn't need anyone to tell him thank you.
"Haha,very funny... It was kind of a break down on my life and theories on how much power I hold in your company now. Where I'll go in the future. It's got a lot of people analysing my timeline."I explain. The article was big,it was by this huge news company and it had things about me that I had totally forgotten about.
Making me out to be some sort of master mind.
Which is certainly an upgrade from all the other stuff. But not good.
"Hm. In their defence you do have a pretty crazy life. Kind of like a legend or a phoenix. Makes sense that people are lapping it up."
"Does it?"A pause,"Can I see you?"
"As in?"I don't answer him but click my phone request a face time. He barks out a laugh when he sees it,"Ah,Red,I don't really want you to see me right now."he reasons after he's done laughing,
"Well,I want to."
"You're so annoying sometimes,do you know that?"his words are harsh but his tone is soft. Forgiving. He turns his camera on and I deduce that I have this man wrapped around my finger. There he is.
I smile when I get to see him. But he places his hands over his face while chuckling. The shy side of Elijah is surprisingly adorable.
"Oh,you look awful."I mock even though he looks good for someone whose been doing so much travelling. He makes a pouty face that's just so... freaking cute.
I wish I could hug him.
"Okay,you can see me. Now what?"
"Eh,it's only your head. What are you wearing?"he takes a moment to look down,
"Black shirt and sweat pants... nothing formal. Maybe these sandals that the hotel gave me for booking a two night stay at a presidential suit."
"Wow a suite all to yourself?"I say,and he rolls his eyes,
"Yep,I need it. Learning how to plan my day all by myself again."
"So you finally know how to appreciate me?"I say,placing my phone at a good angle in front of me,
"I'll live."he shrugs,
"Yeah,about the tapes that we got..."
"The surveillance footage? You found something worthwhile?"something about the way he perks up when I'm talking about this makes me feel... seen.
"Not in the batch we had. But the woman working the counter? She sent me some and... well,McConnell was right."he stares at me then his expression darkens,
"About what?"
"We have history. Me and him were together... at some point."he becomes quiet all of a sudden,focusing on listening. "Ever since my accident there's been this man. Haunting my dreams,living in my nightmares. Faceless. But he used to terrify me,even if he was just standing there. Like a part of me knew he was dangerous."
"It was... him?"he asks,I can see the way his jaw works and the way his gaze grows cold. But he's taking the time to hear what I'm saying,
"Yeah. All this time I- it was him. I'm not sure yet,but I think our relationship was abusive. It makes me feel a little irked."I explain,fidgeting with my shirt. Then he just keeps quiet,"...sorry did I..?"
"No,it's not- you're killing me,Red. Why are you telling me when I'm so far away?"he sighs,holding the bridge of his nose and shutting his eyes,"Now what? I can't hug you and comfort you,happy?"
"You want to hug me? Fine,"I lean in to the camera. He raises a skeptical brow,
"What are you doing?"
"It's called a virtual hug. Here,lean in,"I say and he actually does making me laugh. We share a short lived virtual contact. A couple of tears fall from my eyes and I swipe at them. "Bye,"I wave,
"Are sure you don't want to keep talking? We can if you'd like."
"No,I'm good. You cheered me up."he really did.
"Never thought I'd hear you say that."he teases and I smile. We wave at each other and I blow him a kiss.
He pretends to catch it and blows me a kiss of my own. "Night,Red."