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[giftedthom]

HOKAY, THIS IS NOT IMPOSSIBLE!

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[giftedthom.livejournal.com]

"Like what?"

[shall-go-free.livejournal.com]

"Illness, death, age--innovation."

Xas shrugs, not quite smiling. Then it disappears entirely.

"Life. Existence is an entirely different question."

[giftedthom.livejournal.com]

Thom looks at him.

"You really want to know what it was like?"

[shall-go-free.livejournal.com]

"I do. It is why I spent time among you--them--even before I had no other choice."

[giftedthom.livejournal.com]

For a minute or two, Thom doesn't say anything. He pushes his hair out of his eyes, looking thoughtful.

Seriously, "D'you . . . if you want, I can. Show you my life.

"All of it."

[shall-go-free.livejournal.com]

Xas studies him, still and pale as a statue in a churchyard.

"I would be almost content for you merely to tell it."

There is a faint pause, and he draws in a breath.

"Yes."

[giftedthom.livejournal.com]

Thom smiles. "It's not very long, mind."

He reaches out; places one thin hand on Xas' cheek, fingers cool and smooth.

Closes his eyes.




A moment later, without flash or flare, Thom lets his hand fall.

"Interesting, though. Isn't it?"

There's a strange, almost alien expression in his eyes; something Xas has never seen before.

(Or has he, now?)

[shall-go-free.livejournal.com]

"The life of a sparrow is short, as well, but rumor has it He watches all of them fall. How could I do any less?"

Xas watches Thom out of wide blue eyes.

"So that is what it is, then? And--"

He falls silent.

That is what you are.

[giftedthom.livejournal.com]

He looks like he doesn't quite know what to say.

At last, "I'm not -- nice."

[shall-go-free.livejournal.com]

"No. But neither was Sobran, and I loved him more than well enough."

[giftedthom.livejournal.com]

Whatever Thom was expecting, that certainly wasn't it; he looks stunned.

"That's. Not. I'm not asking for that."

[shall-go-free.livejournal.com]

"No. But then, you don't have to. And I never said that I was offering."

Xas smiles, body held so very still. If he had wings, the would be furled closed. Tightly closed.

"Only that lack of niceness is little barrier--for me, at least--to affection."

Beat.

"Or to friendship."

[giftedthom.livejournal.com]

"I don't have friends."

Thom says this firmly.

[shall-go-free.livejournal.com]

"I know."

"Neither have I, at least not for a hundred years. You might consider it an experiment?"

[giftedthom.livejournal.com]

"No."

[shall-go-free.livejournal.com]

"Fair enough."

[giftedthom.livejournal.com]

Thom stares at Xas for a little while.

Then he gets up and walks away.

[shall-go-free.livejournal.com]

Xas stays where he is, a statue of a wingless angel, staring out to sea.