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'Listen, even with our abilities, we can only do so much,' I say
In a warehouse, outside the city, I was walking with Kyle with Foss in front of us.
'I'm not happy about it, but she's right. We need to change our strategy. If we want to stop all of this, we need to know names, places, and connections. We have to destroy Latnok from the inside and stop waiting that something will come up to act,' He says
Foss stopped and turned around to face us.
I knew Foss agreed with us. Destroying facilities was easy. He trained us to take on an infrastructure. But, it didn't change anything. They reassembled and rebuilt their operation.
Foss sighs.
He stares at us. Then his eyes turn to me.
'Did you find anything on Grace ?,' He asks
'No. She covers her track well, and I can't really make her a priority, or they'll get suspicious,' I reply
Kyle and I uncovered some illegal activities in the midst of our search for Latnok operations. I was able to slyly get the Bureau to investigate Grace Kingsley and other seniors members of Latnok. We started to interrogate some of them except Grace, who disappeared.
I was getting tired of all of this. Grace, Latnok, Adam.
I feel Kyle's gaze on me. 'Shit'
'Alright then. We'll lay low on facilities and try to find another member that will lead us to the others,' He suggests.
He sports a furrowed brow. Our efforts to end all of this have crawled along. The insidious anxiety that they will sneak up on them intensifies. We were in the dark as to their real agenda.
'Call me if you find anything,' He adds, then leaves.
I watch him. Kyle gets closer and raises his left hand to my cheek.
'You doing okay?,' He asks softly.
I smile. I knew it bothered him the same as me. The lack of progress.
'Yes. I'm just a little tired and annoyed. That's all,' I reply with as much sincerity as I can muster at the moment. Although, Kyle's proximity always got to me viscerally. I was soothed by a wave of serenity instantly.
I place my hand on his left wrist. Then, I look him in the eye. The smile widens with genuine delight.
'Thank you,' I say with his eyes staring right back at me.
'Anytime,' He replies with a radiant smile.
I close my eyes for a few seconds. Taking in his presence as a sense of calming certainty settled within me. Our bond got stronger as the years went by. It wove a kindred spirit connection surpassing all conventional relationships we have.
Yet, the weight of the years grows oppressive.
'Come on. Let's go for a drink,' He cheerfully says.
I open my eyes and laugh.
'A drink ? You sure you can handle one ?,' I ask with a grin.
He laughs, then puts his left arm around my shoulder and guides me towards his car.
'You won't get me that easily this time,' He offers.
'What? We had fun,'
'You had fun. Me, not so much,' He says.
He drags me outside the warehouse. It is quiet. The lights of the city far away dance to join the moonlit canvas of the night sky. As I am opening the car door, Kyle pauses to look at me straight into the eyes.
He takes a moment.
'I love you,' He fondly says.
I beam at those words. His eyes openly full of warmth.
Kyle and I have been through our fair share of hardships. It doesn't seem like we will get the freedom we yearned for in our younger years. Though, in the end, I guess it doesn't matter. In the beginning, we were together at Zyzyyx. We were the same until Kyle's birth.
Later, I came into the world.
It is that turning point that changed us. Alone, lost, confused, in the middle of dead bodies and the smell of burning flesh, I had experienced the harsher parts of that world while he the best.
Now, we have both endured enough. Although we keep seeing it with a different veil, we have both the same vision of the world.
It is comforting to feel that we are in this together with each hearbeat.
Looking back at him, I let out a carefree smile.
'Of course, you do. What's not to love.' I boldly reply. I chuckle at him as he laughs while getting in the car.