Roan approaches the man he has been waiting for, holding onto the poach in his pocket. "I have your money, do you have it?"
The man flashes the tiny device before they exchange. "You know how a field disrupter works right kid?"
"Place it next to the field for thirty second after activating it."
"Well good luck on your journey. Not many elves choose to leave and fewer actually make it past the guards." he grunts, skimming his finger through the pouch to make sure all the currency owed to him is there.
"Well one things for sure, you'll never see me again."
On his way back to his dorm, Roan is suddenly struck with new found courage. For just one moment in his life, he wants to stop running away and starts running towards the troubles in his life.
It only takes ten minutes for Noa gets to the holding cells after being contacted by one of the guards, throwing on a white night coat and picking up her large, black, handbag.
When she arrives, she is surprised to see Roan. "Where is he, let me see him?" he screams louder after failing to be let in by the guards. "I need to speak to him!"
Noa looks at Roan wearily but tries her best to diffuse the situation. "What is this officer?"
"He is demanding to see the prisoner, but we have orders to keep them apart."
Noa turns her head and looking back at Roan. "You, why do you want to see him?"
"I need answer."
"Well, there, we have a solution. I can go in with Mr. Delgado here and if anyone asks, we claim Restorative Justice."
Roan flinches, surprised that she would choose to help him so quickly. "Why are you helping me?"
"I'm a fixer and although what has occurred between the two of you is disastrous, the bond shared between two mates is sacred to the Calamity Order." Noa smiles, looking over her shoulder. "I once had a mate. I'd give anything to be given the chance to speak with him again."
Once inside the prison of the Space Elf, Roan bends down to kneel in front of Zarion. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm here to ask you some questions." Roan glances at the intimidating woman behind him before looking at Zarion's face. "I need you to answer them for me."
"Whatever you want."
Roan looks behind himself again just to make sure Noa is still there, feeling safer knowing that she is here. "Why me?"
"What do you mean?"
"Why did you choose me to be your mate...soulmate?"
"I did not choose you...I mean, you can't choose who your soulmate is, that is in fate's hand." he replies.
"That can't be true."
Zarion sighs, bowing his head. "It is true-"
"No-"
"Yes, it is, just listen to me-"
"There has to be a reason why it was me because if not-" Roan closes his eyes and counts to ten, reminding himself he would not be angry when he finally came face to face with Zarion. "Before me, did you date anyone else?"
"No."
"But am I your type or something?"
"I-" The flow of the conversation halts as Zarion struggles to admit the truth to Roan.
"You...? You what?"
Zarion sighs, raising his head to look Roan in the eyes. "Before you...I never...I never looked at any guy the same way I look at you." Zarion elaborates on his meaning. "I never had feelings...for boys...the same way I have feelings for you."
"Oh." Is all Roan can say, never knowing that feeling as he has always been grounded in his bisexuality. "Oh." he repeats, feeling out of depths with this topic.
"I understand if you're angry with me I totally deserve it."
"I'm angry and tired and sad and I just want it to stop!" Roan takes a deep breath, squeezing his legs with his hands to stop them from shaking "I just feel like I have been dealt an infinitely bad hand." he whispers.
"Time is almost up, if you have any other questions-" Noa begins before being cut off by Roan.
"What is your favourite colour?" Roan asks, failing to meet Zarion's eyes.
"Midnight Blue."
"Are we really doing this right now?" she whispers to herself.
"How many siblings do you have?"
"Four, through marriage."
"Your favourite physical part of me?"
Zarion smiles, answering without hesitation. "Your hair."
"Night or day?"
"Day."
"Summer or Winter?"
"Summer."
"Ocean or lake?"
Noa taps her heavy boots on the ground. "Okay, the last few I understand but how is that relevant?"
"Lake."
"We..." Roan runs his hands across his face, frustrated with the outcome. "We are just nothing alike."
"You know what they say, opposites attract."
Roan frowns. "We aren't fucking magnets Zarion, so I'll ask again, why was I chosen?"
"I know you want to believe that everything we do Is our own free-will but somethings are out of our control Roan." Zarion cups his hands around Roan's.
"Don't touch me!" Roan grumbles in a low warning tone, slowly pulling away, hating the part of himself that doesn't want to let go.
"You haven't been sleeping because you keep getting nightmare, probably of my face...my other face." The chains on Zarion's feet clank together as he moves.
"Your favourite colour is Crimson Red, even though you like to think it is Black, you have no siblings, your favourite body part of mine are my hands which is weird sure but I don't judge."
"You are a night-time person, Winter and trick question, you would choose the sky because you hate being...grounded."
"So what?"
"We do not need to be the same when we know each other so well."
Roan feels the ghost of a smile tickle the corer of his mouth. "Actually, I prefer Summer. I'm cold blooded remember?" he whispers the last part into Zarion's ears so that they can't hear him.
Zarion chuckles quietly, his ribs hurting when he does. "And you are stubborn as all hell." he whispers back.
Roan looks down at their hands, the tips touching, his hands no longer shaking with rage or fear. "I want you to know...you used to make me feel safe Zarion."
"And you make me feel dangerous."