The early morning sun woke Lionel up. There, he found himself in Carter's arms.
At first, fear filled him before he realised Carter was still with him. 'He didn't leave... just yet.'.
Such a thought made his heart plummet to the ground. Despite the champagne - not like he had a lot, to begin with - he reminisced of last night and the early morning that followed. The way Carter kissed him and the way he kissed back.
He had no recollection of when he fell asleep.
So, taking hold of his phone, he checked the time. 6:32 AM.
Turning his head, his gaze found Carter's face. His eyes were closed shut as Lionel managed to feel his breath. He further heard his heart beating when he turned his head against Carter's chest.
Lionel felt Carter take a deep breath before he stretched.
Allowing him the space, Lionel lifted his head from Carter's body and it was there that a stretch caught up to Lionel too. Straight after, a yawn engulfed him.
"Good morning, Sleeping Beauty..." Carter spoke out, his words held a softness that was totally new to Lionel. All the while, Carter kept his eyes on Lionel. A smile grew on his lips when he saw Lionel looking back at him. "It's a shame that no guy made you his... swooped you off your feet and brought you home with him. But I also cannot express to you how glad I am that that's not the case...".
"Why do you say as such?" Lionel asked before he could think through his words.
"Because it means I get a chance to do just that..." Carter responded as the smile returned to his lips.
At first, a smile formed on Lionel's lips too. But it wasn't long before it was reduced back to nothing. "Carter... But you do realise we might never see each other again after this..." Lionel asked him the question they both dreaded the most. It affected Carter's smile in a similar way. Just like Lionel's, it declined to a mere line across his lips.
"Don't say that...". Carter tried to think of what more to add to his words, but nothing else came to his mind.
"However, I can't help but think about it, Carter... and I have ever since last night...". He lied. Lionel thought of such for longer than he wanted to admit. Dreads of them parting filled his mind for much longer than last night.
"We will think of something... I'm sure we will," Carter responded. "Only if you want to continue seeing more of me...".
"Are you suggesting I might not want to see you again?..." Lionel asked, wanting more clarity as to what it was that Carter meant.
"I just wanted to give you the freedom to express whether you wanted to see more of me or not," Carter reiterated his words.
"Yes. Yes, I would like that. A lot, Carter.". Pausing to swallow the evergrowing lump in his throat, Lionel continued. "What about you?".
"Yes, yes, I would, Lionel. More than anything..." Another pause. Carter's smile returned to his lips. "So, I guess we have that settled then.".
"What now?" Lionel inquired.
"Now... Now we just wait. We wait for things to fall into place..." Carter responded as he gazed at Lionel. He noticed the slight confusion expressed across his face.
However, in the hope of withdrawing such a look on his face, Carter moved himself closer to Lionel before claiming his lips as his, just like he did last night. "Alright, I have to get ready...". And with that, Carter stood up before getting his stuff to freshen up.
He walked away and it wasn't until minutes later that he returned. He was gone again once he got a batch of clean clothes.
Returning, Lionel was struck with a strong wall of fragrance. He instantly knew it was Carter.
"Sorry, Carter, before you sit down...". Lionel managed to stand up and get his stuff before he made his way to the bathroom.
The strong smell of cologne that still lingered in the air proved to him that the bathroom he attended was previously used by Carter himself. He smiled, looking at himself in the mirror, thinking of how Carter used it only minutes ago to see his own reflection.
It took him some time to brush his teeth and wash his face before he further freshened himself up with a new pair of clothes
Before walking out of the bathroom, he made sure to spray himself with his favourite fragrance. A floral, fruity mix that was practically made for him, or so he was told.
Returning back to Carter, who sat in his shirt, suit trousers and a tie around his neck, Lionel placed things back into his back before requesting for Carter to let him back to his seat.
Lionel noticed how Carter had a file open on his laptop. He was already working this early in the morning, and deciding to allow him to do what he needed to, Lionel had his gaze out the window.
Out the window pane, the landscape changed once more. Through the night, they crossed their second - and final - border. Now, they travelled through the countryside of Doulour.
Doulour... They slowly neared Carter's stop.
Soon after, Lionel's stop was to come too. The end of his journey to Porto Biondo.
Thinking of such, Lionel turned himself toward Carter, watching him type away. The sadness further filled him as the lump in his throat made an inevitable return.
With Carter back in his formalwear, him working away and the two women in front of him still asleep, everything was slowly returning to how it was when they left for Veursau. When none of this trip happened yet. When all of what had happened was due to occur.
He wished he could rewind time, for he'd have known what was to come up. He would have had a different approach to it all. 'But... had I done things differently, would I still be in the same place that I am now?'. Keeping his eyes on Carter, he further thought. 'Would things between us be the same... just like they are now?'.
Carter turned his attention away from his work and toward Lionel. There, he saw him, looking off into space. Deep in thought. "Lionel?".
Shaking himself out of a trance, "Yes?" he responded.
"Are you okay?".
He nodded his head, "Yes, I'm okay... You?".
"Yes... You seemed out of it.". Carter paused for a moment, keeping his gaze on Lionel. "Are you sure everything is alright?".
Once more, Lionel nodded his head. "Yes, I'm sure.".
"Alright.". And with that, Carter returned back to work. All the while, Lionel returned to looking back out the window.
He cursed himself for allowing more sadness to build up in his chest. He didn't know what to do to get rid of it.
Not long passed before Carter began to pack up. He placed his laptop into his backpack along with what remained of his chocolates from their chocolate taste only hours prior. He zipped up all the memories in his bag.
With their journey taking them into a more built-up area and with the train slowly reducing its speed, it gave Lionel an indication that they were approaching Carter's stop—the small, beach city of Hautfort.
The metal wheels of the train screeched as the platform of the station came into view only minutes after the first plots of residency came into view. With a gentle stop, a loud hush was heard through the cabin as Carter stood up to get his bags from the above baggage rack.
"Looks like this is it..." Carter spoke up, his gaze failing to come off Lionel. However, noticing a build-up of people behind him, Carter had no other choice but to make his way out of the vehicle. "Lionel, wait...".
Lionel wanted to call out his name, but all he could do was swallow his words down.
He looked around but a knock on the window caught his attention. It was Carter. He stood on the other side of the train, with his baggage beside him.
Mouthing what he wanted to say to Lionel, Lionel's reaction was the furrowing of his brows. He couldn't understand what it was that Carter wanted to tell him. "W-wait!... Now you wait!" was all Lionel managed to say before he too stood up and rushed out of the train.
"Lionel?... Lionel?? What are you doing? The train is about to leave!".
"I'll take my chances..." Lionel began. "Because... because who knows when I'll get to see you again, Carter..." Lionel spoke out. He felt tears accumulate in his eyes as he looked at the man who stood across from him. He tried his best to keep his tears at bay. To now allow Carter to see them.
But with how Carter's gaze softened, Lionel knew he failed in doing so.
Carter was about to speak up when a static, female voice came on. It was one of the staff at the station. "Dear passengers. We sincerely apologise as the train service to Porto Biondo will be delayed by approximately 10 minutes due to the delayed oncoming 6 AM service to Verusau from Solide. Once again, we sincerely apologise for the delay.".
"Looks like I've got more time anyway..." Lionel tried to shift the focus of the conversation elsewhere.
But Carter knew better. He smiled before taking a step or two to close the gap between them both. With that, he wrapped his arms around Lionel. "Don't you dare think that I didn't see the tears in your eyes," Carter began, chuckling at his words, in the hope that it would have a similar effect on Lionel. "Don't cry," he added. "I am most certainly not worth your tears, I can promise you that much.".
At his words, Lionel let out a melancholic chuckle. "You better stop talking like that if you claim you're not worth my tears.". Even his words made Lionel tear up a bit more.
"I will," Carter whispered.
"Good.".
"I don't want to see you sad, Lionel.".
"And there you go again..." Lionel spoke up.
To his words, Carter couldn't help but let out a snicker before tightening his grip upon Lionel. A mere moment later, Carter picked Lionel up, and as if it were to be a natural reaction, Lionel gasped, wrapping his legs around Carter's waist. "Carter!".
"I've got you, I've got you!" he called out.
Opening his eyes, Lionel found himself higher than before. His new height totalled that of being greater than Carter's.
Without him noticing, a smile took place on Lionel's lips. Carter savoured such a sight. Seeing Lionel's content.
"That's what I want to see," Carter spoke up. "That beautiful smile.".
Lionel's gaze dropped back down to Carter. Just like him, his Grump was smiling too. His words left an impact on his chest, it was like a small blow to his heart. He wanted to shift his thoughts away from such, otherwise, he was aware of how things were going to end.
So, he looked around himself. "So this is what the view looks like from up here...".
Carter laughed at his words.
Seconds passed before Carter gently lowered Lionel onto his feet. "No more tall Lionel.".
"Pity, I was starting to like it up there. In the clouds.".
From there, silence descended amongst them both once again. Lionel gazed into Carter's eyes as did Carter into Lionel's.
"Lionel..." Carter began, breaking the silence. Looking down, he took hold of Lionel's left hand. He placed something into the palm of his hand. A white, folded page. "Call me whenever you can...". He paused to let another smile take place on his lips. "I'll eagerly be waiting to hear your voice...".
"Carter..." Lionel's voice trailed off as he looked down. Unfolding the page, there he saw a number, written in black ink.
And there, just like Carter, Lionel had a similar reaction. So he looked up at him. "Thank you, Carter...". Folding the page back up, he put it into his pocket, ensuring it moved nowhere. "I'll eagerly be waiting to hear your voice on the other end of the line too...".
And with that, Carter leaned in once more and pressed his lips against Lionel's. It was a surprise at how soft the kiss felt, unlike what had happened earlier that morning. The bites, the intensity.
It was a pleasant change, however, sadness further built up within Lionel as he wanted to feel Carter's intensity once more. One last time. Until they were to meet again.
"Go..." Carter whispered. "Otherwise, your train will be off without you on it.".
If it wasn't for the amount of money Lionel spent on his accommodation in Porto Biondo, he would have happily missed the train.
"I- I'll call you when I can," Lionel spoke out as he parted from Carter's embrace. And with that, he made his way back onto the train. He hurried back to his seat where, outside the window, his eyes were greeted by Carter once more. Lionel waved at him and he waved back.
Seconds passed before the late train pulled in.
Beeps echoed through the cabin as the doors of Lionel's train shut closed. And seconds later... they were off.
Lionel's eyes followed Carter, as Carter walked in the direction the train went. He began running until the train outran him. And with a final wave, the platform came to an end.
Breathing out, in the hope that such would help Lionel release some of the sadness he held within his chest, he realised it didn't help.
The seat next to him was empty. His travel companion was gone and all that was left of him was the small, creased piece of paper with a phone number on it. His phone number.
Extracting it from his pocket, Lionel pulled his phone out before he began typing in the digits onto his phone.
Once he was done, he hit the green dial button below the zero.
Ring. Ring. He heard the melody of excitement chime as he neared his phone to his ear.
Back at the station in Hautfort, Carter merely managed to exit the station when his phone went off. 'Unknown Number' his phone read. However, the unknown caller was very much known to him. Or at least he hoped it was him.
So, accepting the call... "Hello?... Lionel?".
"Carter..." was all Lionel managed to whisper before he broke down into tears. Hitching a breath, he tried to compose himself.
"Lionel?... Lionel?? Are you crying?".
"No... Maybe..." Lionel responded before breaking into mere laughter as he wiped the tears off his face. "It just... it already feels so lonely without you on this damned train... So I just wanted to call you. To save your number," Lionel spoke out, trying to reason with himself. 'And I wanted to hear your voice...'.
"I already missed your voice...". Lionel consumed the static of Carter's tone through his phone. "I'm glad you called me...".
Nodding to his words, as if Carter could see him, Lionel held his phone to his ear, closer than ever. "As did I..." he responded.
"I can't wait to see you again..." Carter broke the silence that lay between their call.
"I can't wait either, Carter...".
Again, muteness. However, knowing that each was in the silent company of the other, they let the silence prevail. As long as they both had the other in the reach of their hand, just like now. As long as they both heard the other breath.
"Listen, Lionel. I've to go now. But I will call you.".
"Meeting with the 'idiots'?".
Carter laughed. "Don't tell them that I called them that.".
"My lips are sealed," Lionel responded. Hearing Carter laugh warmed his heart. "I'll talk to you soon.".
"Alright..." Carter's voice trailed off, but he couldn't quite find it within him to end the call. "If I could, I'd kiss you right now.". He spoke up again. "And I need you to end the call because I can't do it...".
"I- well, how am I supposed to do it then if you can't?".
"Easy. Just think back to 2 days ago, when I wanted to bite your head off since you interrup-". Lionel hung up. A smile grew back onto his lips as he thought over their call.
Then, looking at his 'recents', he changed the bunch of digits into a name. Carter.
Leaving his phone on the table, it seemed as though Lionel's smile had no intention of going away.
Looking out the window, he gazed at the vast greenery of the fields, of the grass. Trees. 'I feel like things are already beginning to slowly fall into place, Carter.'.
He looked out the pane, unable to wait a minute more until he arrived in Porto Biondo.
Unable to wait to hear from Carter again...
The End.