Archive of Our Own ^beta

The large, cobblestone, market square had been set up and decorated for the holiday. Triangle banners, spanning several uncoordinated colours, were strung between buildings and street lamps. A large bonfire burned in the middle of the market, permeating the otherwise frozen air with a welcomed warmth. Tables dotted the back area, nearest the food stalls that had been erected for today’s celebration. The smell of cooked, baked, and fried foods left the breeze swollen with delicious scents. Strands of blinking, festive lights decorated every edge, table, and surface they could, illuminating the lingering piles of snow with glittering colours. 

On the other side of the square, where tables tapered off, was a space left open for fun and dancing right before a makeshift wooden stage. Senku stood upon the stage as he was pulled every which way while his group of friends sought his opinions, talents, and attention. The party didn’t start for another hour, but there was plenty of work to be done until then, and it seemed that Senku’s expertise was paramount for a perfectly executed night. 

“It’s rare to see you outside of the lab,” a voice cut through the mindful silence that had taken up residence at the corner most table. It was hidden back by the less interesting booths; entrenched in shadows and far from the clamouring group. Francois had appeared out of the evening mist with a fine silver tray in one hand and a steaming hot cup of freshly brewed black coffee in the other. They set the cup in front of Xeno, who had taken the table for himself. 

“Senku’s cohorts dragged us both along,” Xeno sighed as he graciously accepted the drink. “Forcefully,” he tacked on. Between the ever indulgent Ryuusui and the strong mountain of a man named Tsukasa, the two had pulled Xeno from his work bench and out the door before he could convince them he was better left alone. 

“A break from routine can feed the mind,” Francois thoughtfully stated as they tucked the tray under their arm and turned on their heels to return to work. 

“May I request a whiskey on the rocks?” Xeno asked before they could leave. 

The butler paused for a moment before a soft smile rested on their face and they gave a shallow bow. “Of course.” 

Xeno turned his attention back to the large stage where his protégé, Chrome, and Suika were double checking all the wiring for the sound and lights. It was an odd feeling watching the boy he once taught taking charge and even leading his own students now, and oh how well he did that. For a moment, it felt like if Xeno took a step back, he could leave the world in Senku’s hands, ensuring a bright future.

A glass of amber coloured whiskey appeared before him, breaking him from his thoughts. A clear sphere of ice turned in the glass as it took its spot on the table next to him. A single, small, air pocket had created a bubble in the otherwise perfect ice and left it unbalanced so that the thinned side shifted upwards, the bubble laying just above the smooth surface of the alcohol. Next to the glass, Francois placed a crystal ashtray. Without another word, they left once again.

Dark eyes watched them retreat to their duties as Xeno was left to ponder. He may have to consider an experiment to test for mind reading abilities since the butler was a bit too good at predicting the needs of others. 

The bonfire in the middle of the square caught his attention as the flames licked at the darkening sky. Vibrant reds and yellows swirled and rolled, pulsing like a heartbeat. Star-filled eyes latched on to the rhythmic movement as he fell into an old memory to pass the time. 

_____

The night was dark and a grey chill- one that had long since overstayed its welcome yet threatened to persist for many months more- hung over the two-story home. Embers jumped from a backyard bonfire and pirouetted in the shallow space where land met sky. Boisterous tales, inflated by alcoholic confidence, swelled in the otherwise peaceful night. 

Off in the corner of the yard, just on the outskirts of the circle of warmth thick with dry air from the fire, were two young boys sat in plastic chairs picking at plates full of roasted food. Hotdogs fresh off the stick and charred with mindless neglect filled their mouths as chips and s’mores promised to follow. 

“There’s no way that’s true,” Stan insisted around a mouth full of bread and meat; mustard staining his cheeks. 

“No, really! There was a full study done on training new senses. One of the most successful ones was implanting a magnet under the epidermis and unlocking the ability to perceive magnetic fields. The more magnets, the better an idea one could get for the invisible fields around any object. Stronger magnets not only can pick up metal outside the body, but can even pick up on the overall magnetic pull of the Earth, so people can always know which way north is.” 

Xeno had jumped up on the chair and swung his arms around excitedly as he talked about the latest study he had read on hacking the physical form using quantum biology as learned from birds. His half eaten plate of festive food was left unattended on the ground for the late-night ants to swarm. 

“I bet that would come in handy when hunting,” Stan pointed out. He shoved the last of his hotdog in his mouth as he paused to ponder the benefits. “I’d never get lost, even if I stalked my prey deep into the woods.” 

“Exactly! Not only would I have an intimate knowledge of the electric-magnetic field- one of the four universal forces- but I’d also be able to keep a grip on small screws and such as I build machines. The possibilities are endless when you let science advance the mundane!” Xeno looked down at his hands as he flexed his fingers, tapping them together like mini tongs while he imagined what it would be like. 

“Hey, it’s getting late. You think they’re going to start the fireworks soon?” Stan wondered out loud as he looked over at the group of adults all chatting around the fire. 

“Dunno. I haven’t even seen them bring any out.” 

“Mmn,” Stan groaned his frustration. “I bet dad drank too much beer and forgot about it. I’ll go ask.” The young blond boy jumped off his chair and wandered over to the fire. Sun-kissed hands pulled at the shirt sleeve of a man who looked a lot like an older, more masculine version of himself. 

“I thought your mom told you, we didn’t have time to pick any up this year. We’ll just have to wait for midnight when the city does their show,” came the slurred reply. 

Stan pouted as he relayed the bad news to his friend. “I wouldn’t have bothered asking you to come over tonight if I had known it would only be a bunch of my dad’s friends getting drunk around the bonfire with no fireworks to set off.” 

“Well, why don’t we just make our own?” 

“What do you mean? Aren’t they super hard to make or at least really dangerous?” Stan asked, curiosity piqued. 

“Your dad has a bunch of ammunition, right? All I need are a few dozen bullets, some sugar and table salt, as well as aluminum foil. I should have everything else we need to make homemade fireworks.” Xeno grabbed his messenger bag off the dead grass and hefted it up as the two of them excitedly scampered into Stanley’s home. 

With the evening well on its way and the grown ups distracted by booze, the two kids set to work on their crafting project. Stanley procured a full box of ammunition from his father’s gun case and taught Xeno how to “pull” a bullet: taking the projectile out of the shell to pour out the gunpowder hidden within. In turn, Xeno showed Stanley how to cut and roll strips of paper into compact tubes and then cut out circles that matched the ends perfectly to act as plugs.

“I found sugar, salt, and aluminum. Was there anything else we needed from the kitchen?” Stan asked as he placed a large bag of sugar on the table next to a roll of cooking foil and a small salt shaker. 

“That’s perfect,” Xeno proclaimed. The two of them went to work tossing sugar into the gunpowder before grinding both of the remaining items into dust. Xeno mixed those in with different batches of the sugary gunpowder. Once he was happy with the ratio of their mix, he taught Stan how to pack the tubes they had made. One side was capped off with low-heat hot glue and the paper ends that had been cut out. They used a flat ended marker to tamper the mix and pack as much as they could into the small rolls before sealing the other end the same way. 

Stan was left to fill the homemade firecrackers as Xeno used the hot glue, careful not to let it get too hot and risk igniting it early. 

“Okay, next is taping them up,” Xeno announced as he pulled a roll of gorilla tape from his bag of tricks. “Duck tape is good, but gorilla tape is the best if we’re going for theatrics. Make sure to really wrap these tight and pay extra attention to the ends, that’s the weak point.”

“Got it,” Stan muttered as he took one of the strips of tape Xeno had cut off. He wrapped the large end of it around the tube but was quickly stopped.

“Here, like this,” Xeno corrected him before he could get too far into his firecracker. “Make small strips and tape it around the ends like so. And once they’re completely covered, you can go around the full shell before doing one more pass on the ends with more strips.” 

“Okay, I can do that.” Stan followed Xeno’s steps and the two children made quick work out of their dozen fireworks. The tubes were lined up, one stack with the aluminum flakes and the other with salt. 

“This is the last step,” Xeno announced as he pulled a plastic bag full of small strings out of his bag. “I made some spare fuses in case the fireworks we set off tonight didn’t work. I figured it was best to be safe and have a back up so we could re-light any duds. Now we just have to pierce a tiny hole in the middle of our homemade ones and shove about half of the fuse in, then pack it with the leftover gunpowder.”

“Like this?” Stan asked as he shoved a pointed pen in the middle of one of his fireworks and swirled it, opening the hole wide enough for the fuse to be inserted. He used the point of the pen to place it and packed in a small amount of gunpowder to fill the remaining space. 

“That’s perfect!” Xeno praised. The two finished off their pile of explosives and clapped their hands together to shake off the excess black powder that painted them. “Great job, and we even got done before midnight!” 

“So now we get to set them off, right?” Stan asked excitedly. 

“Let’s do it! Come on!” Xeno pulled Stan by the long sleeve of his sweater while he scooped the firecrackers up and rushed them out to the front yard. The two of them set up in the middle of the asphalt covered street and placed their first one. “Want to do the honours?” 

“Heck yeah!” Stan shouted as he jumped around, body boiling with excess energy from his excitement. “I grabbed my dad’s spare cigarette lighter. Stand back and I’ll light this puppy!” 

Xeno shuffled back a few paces, putting a reasonable amount of distance between him and their first attempt. Fire flicked in Stan’s hand as a brilliant yellow warmed his fingers and caught the fuse. A hissing noise announced his success at lighting it and sent him running to join his friend on the side lines. 

A deafening explosion rang out against the otherwise quiet neighborhood and echoed off windows and cars parked along the street. A bright explosion flashed before them illuminating their surroundings as if they had stolen a small spoonful of sunlight. Several sparks of brilliant white from the aluminum flakes coloured the explosion as the sugar lent it a sparkling effect. 

“WOW!” The two boys exclaimed in unison. 

“That was so amazing! I’ve never set off a firework that cool before!” Stan jumped up and down in place, unable to contain his excitement. 

“Thanks to you packing it heavy and taping it tightly, these came out perfectly!” Xeno held his hand out for a solid high five, palms smacking against one another with painful fervour. “Hurry up, hurry up! Let’s light more.” 

Stan grabbed a second firework and rushed it out to the middle of the street, quickly lighting the fuse and retreating to their safe spot. An encore of explosives, this time lit bright yellow thanks to the salt, rewarded their hard work. 

The two of them cheered and shouted as the second explosion ended and the lingering sparks glowed and died against the black tar of the road. “These are so awesome, Xe!” Stanley praised, already shoving three more in his hands so he could rapidly fire them. 

Soon, the adults would come around from the backyard and drunkenly lecture the two kids for tearing apart ammunition and making homemade firecrackers. In only a few minutes their fun would come to a crashing end and they’d be forced to miss out on the rest of the new year’s festivities. But for just these few precious minutes, the two engaged in pure, unadulterated fun as they basked in the glory of their hard work paying off. 

Tiny faces, overflowing with awe, watched as glittering sparks lit up their wide smiles. The smell of discharged explosives filled the cold air and wrapped around them with a taste of triumph. Their first ever new year’s celebration had been a smashing success. 

_____

The evening had darkened and was only kept at bay by the crackling bonfire which was fed with several large logs of wood, too weak to use in the rebirth of the world’s construction. Several party goers had arrived as the festivities slowly started. A band had assumed the stage and now played out relaxed melodies to encourage people to shed the sorrows of the last year and enjoy the night.  

The tables swelled with people looking to indulge in the delicious foods that had been prepared for today. Dishes from around the world were served alongside alcoholic specialties from every country.

“Dr. Xeno!” An overly excited and high pitched voice called out to the silver-haired man. His attention fell to a small group approaching him with plates stacked high with bits and bites of all kinds of cuisine. The ever energetic Suika led the pack as she rushed over to him with a smile on her face and a hand in the air as if waving to dispel the cursed air around him. “Dr. Xeno, have you tried any of the yummy food yet?” 

Her shoes clacked against the cobblestone square as she came to a rest in front of the sitting scientist. A tuft of hair was displaced in the soft evening breeze, heated with fiery warmth. Following behind her were the sisters: Kohaku and Ruri, and behind them was the elderly craftsman who may be the only one who could match Suika’s radiant energy when science was involved. 

“Ah, I haven’t gotten around to it yet. It all smells quite enticing though,” Xeno half-lied. He had no intention of eating anything since he didn’t have the stomach for it. If it weren’t for Francois’s constant catering, coming by to refill his drink, he wouldn't even bother with that much. Though, admittedly, a hot coffee on a balmy night was a treat in and of itself. 

“Well, you better hurry up. I can’t imagine the food lasting for too long even with Ryusui’s insistence on over-preparing,” Kohaku laughed as she picked at the bits on her plate, too impatient to wait till they were seated. 

“Some of the old worlders were talking about taking us to a shrine tomorrow for a New Year’s visit. Will you be going as well?” Ruri asked. 

“Ah, the shrine visit is more of a Japanese tradition. I’ve never indulged in that myself,” Xeno hummed, wondering if he should take the suggestion and experience a new piece of his mentee’s culture. 

“It’s going to be a new experience for us,” Suika announced. “Usually the villagers just have a small feast, so all of this stuff is so exciting!” 

“We also have that New Year’s wine we brew each year. It’s so sweet it’s almost gross,” Kohaku groaned. 

“I bet the villagers made extra this year to share with everyone,” Ruri noted. “I’m not huge on the taste either, but I like the tradition attached to it.” 

“Oh, and what might that tradition be?” Xeno asked, interest piqued by the mention of the lesser known villager’s history and practices. 

“Sharing a drink with your friends and family ensures a prosperous year for love and life,” Ruri answered. 

“Hey, why don’t you come with us and grab a cup?” Suika eagerly invited him along. It was oddly endearing seeing how much she wanted to connect with the senior most scientist.  

“We’re fine here for now. You lot go on and enjoy yourselves,” Xeno plastered a smile on his lips, growing weary of wasting his time talking to people he didn’t want to be around at the moment. 

“What do you mean?” Suika asked as she tilted not only her head, but her whole body in confusion. She may have lived a few extra years compared to the rest of them, but her mannerisms were that of the child she once was. 

Kasaki lifted an eyebrow to mirror her confusion before his attention rested on the glass of untouched whiskey on the table in front of an empty chair. He humphed his understanding before stepping in and offering Xeno a quiet way out. “How about we track down Senku and Chrome. Knowing those two they’re so busy caught up in some sciency talk that they’re going to miss the whole festival.” 

“Oh! You’re right. I haven’t seen them for a while.” Suika turned her body and attention away from the silver-haired scientist. “Okay! Let’s go find them!” 

The group bid their goodbyes as they shuffled off towards the stage, ready to start the search where they last saw the two. Xeno waved them off with the last shred of his patience before resuming his quiet isolation, waiting for the man who belonged beside him. 

_____

Clouds of dust, thick and suffocating, caught in the beams of light emitted from two large flashlights. A couple of teenage boys shuffled through the cold grey concrete of an abandoned apartment building. Graffiti littered the walls and paint peeled where there was none. The carpet was ground down after years of abuse and neglect and a disgusting water-logged smell haunted the lower levels. 

“Can’t we just tear into any of the walls and start pulling from there?” Stan asked as he stepped over a pile of debris left over from where the ceiling had collapsed in. The old, wooden boards showed in the open space, rotted and warped. 

“We could, but I’m after copper with as little damage as possible. The higher the quality, the better it will work,” Xeno answered. He shuffled through the long hallway towards a staircase hidden behind a heavy, metal fire door. His boots tread heavily against the floor below them, lending a false weight to his otherwise puny frame. A thick black hoodie was drawn tightly against his body, offering some much needed protection from the freezing air. 

“What makes you think you’ll find better quality towards the top?” 

“Simple, last time I came here to steal metal, I realized no one had been able to get past this emergency door. It’s latched so that one can only exit it, not enter so the top most floor must have been left untouched.” The two boys stood in front of the door, cold to the touch and oddly intimidating in the otherwise pitch black building. “So, think you can open it?” 

Stan scoffed at the stupid question as he pulled out a lock picking kit he had hidden in the pocket by the knee of his cargo pants. He revealed a beautifully crafted array of metallic tools with varying tips and wavy bodies. “I can,” he said with confidence as he set to work. He leaned over a hidden latch where a key would otherwise be used to open the door from their side. 

It only took a few well placed tools, some scraping of metal on metal, and a rough shove to get the door to yield for them. A thick, stale wind welcomed them to the final floor of the abandoned building. 

“Well done!” Xeno praised as he rushed up the thick, concrete stairwell that somehow felt colder than the weather outside. A bulky metal handrail lined the walls and guided the two teens up towards their treasure chest. 

A sun kissed hand skimmed against the icy metal as Stanley followed close behind. “This stuff seems pretty sturdy. Want me to pull part of the rail?” 

“Nah, not this time. I’m not looking for iron, especially since that’s fairly easy to scrape from even simple structures. Our prize waits in the penthouse.” 

Stan shrugged and rushed up the stairs, taking them two at a time and beating his winded friend to the very top of them. A second fire door hid what remained of the large apartment from them. Xeno had the honour of pressing against the deactivated metal door, giving them unfettered access to the suite. 

“Hey, it looks almost normal in here,” Stan pointed out. He wandered into what was a parlor of sorts set up with a large poker table and several couches surrounding an old tv stand and a set that was about the same age as the two of them. “It’s like the person who lived here left expecting to come back but never did.” 

“It’s not unusual for rich people to have multiple homes in different cities. In fact, my family has a cabin in the mountains up north,” Xeno stated as he walked around the walls, taking in the layout of the suite. 

“After we’re done tearing out the copper, I say we should give the rest of the place a makeover,” Stan said as he shoved a foot into a solid walnut coloured table beside one of the couches. A few dust-covered decorations shifted from the abuse and fell to the floor, one of which was an ornate glass vase that shattered into a dozen glistening pieces amongst the carpet of dust and cobwebs. “I call dibs on the TV.” 

“That’s a CRT television,” Xeno scoffed. He stopped in his tracks and looked over his shoulder at Stan while his hand rested against the outer wall, having been skimming it as he took mental notes. “That means busting it would be dangerous at best and deadly at worst.” 

“Come on, the electricity has been off for, what, a decade at least? There’s no way it’s that dangerous to break a glass box.” The blond teen turned his mischievous gaze to the crowbar he held in his dominant hand. He tossed the heavy metal tool up in the air, letting it twirl like a baton before snatching it from the sky and putting his back into a swing like a professional baseball player. The crowbar slammed into a lamp on the table next to him and sent it flying across the room, slamming against the opposite wall. The light bulb turned to snow upon impact and the metal base became embedded in the thin drywall. “See, no sparks.” 

“That’s all well and good with everything else. But CRTs retain a deadly amount of volts and are slow to dissipate. Even trained professionals are weary about handling those things.” Xeno rolled his eyes as he set upon his task once more, moving down a hallway and through the various rooms in the suite. Kitchen, bedrooms, bathrooms, but he hadn’t stumbled upon what he was looking for. 

“You’re just saying that so you can break it yourself,” Stan grumbled as he followed behind Xeno, keeping the light from his torch in front of his friend to aid his search. 

“By all means, if you intend to ignore my warning feel free to come back by yourself and break it despite the risks, but I will not play accomplice to your own suicide,” Xeno hissed. He threw open a door hidden between the master bathroom and bedroom, face lighting up as his own flashlight glinted off the dirty metal door of a fuse box. “Found it!” 

“This is perfect. I can repurpose a bunch of this stuff in my own machines!” The silver-haired scientist dug around in his messenger bag for a few tools before handing his flashlight over to Stanley, instructing him to hold it steady so he could see everything. “What’s your obsession with breaking everything right now, anyway?” 

“Dunno, it’s fun?” Stan muttered to his shoes. Truth was, a frustration was festering under his skin. New bruises mingled with old ones hidden by the thick black clothes he dawned for their midnight mission. Cuts, bruises, and wounds decorated his body thanks to his dad’s latest lashing after a particularly bad Christmas Eve fight. Three horrible gashes had dug deep behind his shoulder blade and were healing with agitating pain. The blond was left restless with an itch to cure his need to exude control in his life, if only over inanimate objects. “Isn’t there some tradition about breaking stuff to bring good luck?” 

“Are you referring to breaking dishes outside the homes of loved ones? I believe that one got started in Denmark.” Xeno unlatched the last few pieces he’d been working on, dropping all the components in his bag along with his tools after giving a couple of mindless taps against the metal frame of the fuse box. “Can’t say I’ve ever known you to be superstitious though.” 

Stan’s face went a faint red as he was called out on his thinly veiled lie. “Well, I mean, it wouldn’t hurt to try. Right?” He muttered through inflated cheeks while avoiding those accusatory eyes. 

“Why stop at broken dishes, then?” Xeno guided the two of them out of the small storage closet and back to the large open parlor. A view of the night-shaded downtown shown far below them, buildings and businesses lit by thousands of lights seemed to glitter in the wavering atmosphere. The air was ice cold and they could see thick dots of moonlight reflected on the water off in the distance; far beyond the parts of the city they stuck to. 

“Why not?” 

“There are dozens of traditions to herald good luck for the coming year. Why not do multiple and test if the possible luck compounds? If you’re going to be superstitious- a highly unscientific view might I remind you- you might as well go big. Open windows and doors to get rid of the bad air left from the previous year. You could eat a dozen grapes at midnight and carry around an empty suitcase. Maybe wearing brightly coloured underwear would suit your line of thinking better?” 

Xeno wandered over to the sliding glass door that separated them from the icy air outside. His eyes latched on the world below. People, so far away, all participating in odd traditions, just because that’s the kind of strange creatures humans are. 

“ Tch. You think coloured boxers will bring good luck?” Stan chided as he joined his friend at the window. All he could see was a darkness that swelled under his feet, filled with hatred and pain. 

“I wasn’t the one suggesting that breaking things would do the same,” Xeno chuckled. He pulled the sleeve of his hoodie up and revealed a back-lit watch cradling his wrist. The hands ticked away, announcing the new year was quickly approaching and so too were the fireworks the city would light. The noise would cover up any the two teens would make while tearing down the walls around them to strip copper pipes and wires from the condemned building. 

“If it’s good luck you’re after, then perhaps we shouldn’t look farther than the tradition of our own country.” 

“Yeah, sure, okay. Let me just put the ball drop on that old CR-whatever TV.” Stan scoffed as he turned to face his friend, already sick of his insistence on continuing a conversation that was started because they both knew Stanley had lied about his intentions. 

“Not that one,” Xeno corrected as he wrapped a hand around Stan’s wrist and pulled him forward, unbalancing the unsuspecting blond. His other hand threaded through sunshine tresses and pulled him down so that their lips could clash. The alarm on his wrist watch started shrieking out its warning that midnight had hit just as the first few fireworks lit up the sky outside. Brilliant reds, greens, and yellows illuminated the two teens as they locked lips. The metal crowbar dropped from Stanley’s grip as he stood in shock. 

Golden eyes went wide as he tried to understand what had just happened; what was still happening . He groaned his disapproval as he tried to steal his head back from the cold, pale hand that held it in place. He could feel the harsh caress of over-eager lips pressed against his own. 

Xeno held fast and even doubled down on his effort, tongue forcing its way between their lips and into Stan’s slack jaw. The blond jumped from the unexpected intrusion and pushed against Xeno’s chest, prying his friend off of him. 

“DAMN IT, XENO!” Stan shouted as he brought a fist up to his mouth to hide the strand of saliva that broke free and glinted in the moonlight against his chin. A crimson flush had taken up residence on his cheeks. “I get it! I lied to you about my reason and I won’t do it again.” 

He turned away from the small scientist and picked the metal tool up off the floor. Stan wandered over to the closest inner wall and slammed the crowbar into it.  Bits of drywall rained from the impact and he pried a larger chunk from the dilapidated building. “Let’s just get your copper and leave.” 

_____

Evening had given way to night and the bonfire in the middle of the market square burned through the supply of fresh wood fed into it by the stronger warrior types from the Japanese kingdom of science. Strapping young men showing off their muscular builds tossed large logs into the fire and watched as it snapped and licked at the residual sap clinging to the rough bark. 

Among the group of meat headed ex-warriors, were a few of the soldiers from Xeno’s army. Maya had shown up every man in the group as she hauled a full-grown tree over by herself before snapping it into quarters to feed the flames. Charlotte and Brody also assisted, though they were smart enough to reign it in so they could avoid the inevitable challenges issued by ego-hurt idiots. 

The large brunette laughed boisterously as she agreed to a show of strength between her and some of the scorned. She took up residence at one of the many, now empty, tables as she took down one after another at arm wrestling. 

Behind her, a crowd of excited onlookers watched as a well-dressed magician took the stage. It was the boy with split coloured hair who shined with a million sparkling stars clinging to his purple show suit. Children and new worlders clung close to the stage as his tricks started out simple enough. Some sleight of hand and impressive showmanship to lead their eyes quickly gained the rest of the crowd’s interest. 

“Your people have been a great help,” Tsukasa said as he, Senku, Matsukaze, and Ginro stopped by Xeno’s table to talk.

The air around them was thick with the smell of nicotine thanks to the cigarette that now burned between fingers chilled from the encroaching ice of night. 

“Now that we’re working together, it only makes sense to lend aid where it’s needed. Besides, the more we assist here, the more you’ll owe us down the line,” Xeno boasted. 

“That’s fine with us. We’ll just have to work you ragged before you can bother to ask for anything in return,” Senku met his cold demeanor with that of his own. The two scientists shared a devious laugh that was nothing more than a thin mask for the truth they shared: that both of them appreciated having the other by their side to work towards a future fit for humanity. 

“By my count, there should be several more of your people. How come there are so few at the celebration tonight?” Matsukaze asked. The samurai themed warrior suspiciously eyed the dark alleyways as if the missing soldiers were lurking just outside of his vision. 

“Ah, you and your kind wouldn’t know this, but military types and fireworks don’t mix well.” Xeno stated. The glass of whiskey hit the table with a shaky force as their conversation continued. 

“That’s right. In this world, untainted by war, there’s no understanding that fireworks have an undesirable effect on those who have seen hell and now live to tell of it,” Tsukasa stated. There was venom in his words as if this had been a point of contention in his life. 

“Some can get over it by self medicating with toxic poison and alcohol,” Xeno pointedly said as he eyed the burning cigarette, “but most are better off refraining from subjecting themselves to it all together.” 

“It sounds like some people are much bigger scaredy-cats than they let on~” Ginro sang out with characteristic overconfidence as he prodded the tiger. “A few dozen loud noises and the great and mighty American soldiers hide like worthless turtles in their shells.” 

“Yeah, hiding away from a few explosions is pretty pathetic,” Senku laughed, pins underlying his statement as he picked on Ginro for losing his nerve the few times he’d been in the lab when their machines backfired. “A few loud noises isn’t the issue here. Would you say a firework sounds like a gunshot?” 

Ginro paused and his face contorted as he thought about it. He’d only heard either of them a few times but Matsukaze was quick to answer for them as he affirmed the statement. “You’re right. The two sound alike.” 

“Well, my soldiers would see it as the other way around. A firework sounds like a gun thanks to being around guns far more than the other. We might understand the difference, but our minds still make that link.” Cold fingers tapped the cigarette against the side of the crystal ashtray, depositing burnt flakes of tobacco and paper into the glass dish. A small mound had already accumulated as the night wore on. 

“Being in life or death situations is bad enough, but being reminded of them after you’ve left those behind…” Tsukasa’s sentence petered out as he looked over his shoulder at his sister who jumped excitedly in front of the stage as Gen showed off yet another impressive trick for the children in the front row. “It leaves you feeling powerless. The first time around you might be able to fight for your life- to throw a punch or pull a trigger- but reliving those memories means you can’t physically fight back. You’re left with the anxiety and fear but no way to combat it.” 

“It’s too late to care about that by now. Those who can handle the noise are here and everyone who can’t, is off somewhere else,” Senku loudly shrugged off the heavy atmosphere the chat had created.

_____

Thick sheets of snow sat heavily on the mountainside. The smell of chilled pines permeated the air and made each breath painfully fresh. A small cabin was illuminated with soft flickering light from the fireplace. It was a small home with a tiny bathroom, a smaller kitchen, and a living room and bedroom that spanned near equal spaces. Outside was a porch swing, weighed down by a drift of snow, and a heavy-duty truck with mud and ice caked on its tires. 

Inside, where the pulsing warmth of the fire’s light caught against shifting sheets and displaced hair, were Stanley and Xeno. Heavy breaths mingled in the comfortable setting, soft moans decorated the otherwise quiet night. Lithe fingers sat against a sweat dotted chest as Xeno sat on Stanley’s lap while the marine laid back in soft caress of a cloud-turned-bed. The two men were completely exposed to one another and the dark night that lingered outside. 

Xeno’s hips ground up and down as he shifted his weight, slowly riding the blond to heaven. The fire’s warmth only added to the growing heat that enveloped the two lovers while they rubbed against each other, seeking yet another orgasm before midnight hit. 

Pale toes curled in on themselves and long, silver tresses tickled his shoulders as Xeno rolled his head back. A blush burned against his face, shoulders, and knees as the caress of a climax built in his stomach. Large, calloused hands sat against his hips and helped guide his body to the slow rhythm the two basked in. Sharp teeth bit at purple stained lips; his makeup was several shades lighter than when he had applied it since most of it now dressed Xeno’s paper-like skin. Kiss marks, hickies, and love bites adorned him like gold on a god. 

“Cumming,” Xeno whispered into the calm quiet of their shared room. Ataraxia wrapped around them soft as satin ribbons. 

“Cum for me, Xe,” Stan sighed, melting into his own pleasure. The two gently strained against one another as a relaxing orgasm shook them. Muscles tensed and tightened in unison. As quiet and somber as the snow outside, their hearts and bodies entwined.

Xeno laid atop Stanley and listened to their hearts beat in time as the hazy heaven slowly dissipated from their minds. Chapstick softened lips pressed into the side of Stan’s neck and up to his ear before making their way to his lips, tasting the high-end lipstick once and again while the minutes ticked away. 

Fingers, rough and scarred, slid against the porcelain of his sides and shackled him in place beside his beloved childhood friend. Tongues and lips lingered for a moment longer before Stanley pulled away from the magnetic pull of the moonkissed man. “I thought you wanted to watch the stars when midnight struck.” 

“I do,” Xeno sighed against the brick wall of a chest he laid on. He let his head fall upon Stan’s shoulder, silver hair brushing against the lingering love bites that littered his neck. “You’ve been overseas for more than a year and I only have you to myself for a few more days before you’re set to leave again. I just want to enjoy my time with you,” he lamented. 

“I promise to make love to you as much as you want, but I’m not going to put up with you chewing my ear off for not letting you stargaze like we planned.” He effortlessly displaced the lithe man and gingerly placed him on the bed beside him before rolling off it, digging around for the heavy winter wear they had torn off in a haste after setting foot in their cabin. “Get dressed,” he directed while tossing a thick cashmere sweater to his lover made of moonlight.  

Xeno slid the soft sweater over his head and let the fabric hug his body in place of his lover’s arms. He huffed his annoyance but understood that a break was necessary and his emotions would get the better of him if they did, in fact, skip their yearly tradition of watching the midnight skies. The doctor, with his lower half still on full display, entered the bathroom for a quick clean up before they left. Meanwhile, Stan opted for a few wet-wipes so he could pull on the rest of his clothes and sat Xeno’s on the bed. 

The two walked through drifts of snow that licked at their knees as they traversed the thickly wooded forest surrounding their cabin. Stan guided them beyond the dying fire’s light so that the only thing they could see was the clear, vast sky above. Shimmering clusters of galaxies greeted their tired eyes. Xeno leaned against the blond, shoulders knocking into shoulders as they stood in the frozen wonderland taking in the beauty of their universe. 

“It’s so beautiful. Every time I see it I can’t help but fall in love again,” Xeno breathed out, warm clouds of breath floated languidly in the windless night. A chill nipped at his cheeks, turning them several shades of strawberry. 

“I was thinking the same thing,” Stan whispered so softly that a falling snowflake could be heard over his confession. Golden eyes shined in the moonlight as he watched the scientist’s awestruck face. His mouth, petite and adorable, was left open as he watched the glittering stars overhead with renewed reverence. 

A leather glove covered hand shifted Xeno’s attention from the cosmos to Stanley as he guided his eyes back to Earth. Soft lips pressed against icy ones, sharing a chaste kiss amongst the snow softened silence of the new year. A quiet alarm buzzed against his thigh, announcing the end of the countdown. A sea of pure white, unsullied by people and animals alike, encased the two men as they lingered in one another’s touch. 

Xeno pulled away only to shift his feet, letting himself face his lover in the winter night. Yarn adorned hands caressed sharp cheeks, tempting him back into another kiss. Before their lips could meet again, a firework went off somewhere down the mountain. A spark of red lit up their serene surroundings and froze the marine in place.

Gold eyes went wide and muscles tensed where he stood. Xeno pulled away, hand shooting down to his pocket grasping at the electric insurance he packed. He’d learned the hard way long ago that a sudden onset of Stanley’s PTSD could be dangerous and that fireworks were the worst way to trigger it. 

Hazy amber eyes shifted as the soldier slowly came back to his right mind, finally looking at Xeno once again as the frozen panic passed. A cold sweat dotted his skin. He wordlessly shifted away from Xeno, and opted to stare into the pitch black void of the surrounding forest. 

The scientist relaxed and pulled his hand away from the taser he held as he too shuffled to face away from the blond. The two of them stood in strained silence as the night wore on with no more unwanted noise. Wet flakes of snow had shaken loose from the branches above them thanks to the wave of disturbed air that vibrated from the explosion. 

“This county prohibits fireworks, so I’ll be sure to report the idiots who shot that off,” Xeno muttered to himself as he pulled off one of his gloves and felt around his other pocket. A small, pale hand produced a pack of cigarettes and a lighter that he’d foreseen the possible need for. Stan never moved from his unblinking spot as Xeno placed a cigarette on his own lips and lit it, letting the tobacco’s scent stain the fresh air. 

Xeno took a couple short breaths, willing the aromatic drug to catch further while the cold nipped at his bare hand. He stuck his tongue out with revulsion and tried to dispel any of the toxic gas that had leaked into his lungs. The cigarette rested between his fingers, unsmoked, as the two men stood in awkward quiet. 

They were still new to this part of their relationship: how to deal with the adverse effects of Stanley’s chosen lifestyle. As far as Xeno had come to understand it, the blond wanted to treat it the same as how Xeno chose to treat his own mental breakdowns. Which was for the other to ignore it as it happened and to continue on as if nothing had changed. 

It seemed they both desperately sought out the same thing during those moments: a reminder that a single bad reaction wasn’t enough to ruin their relationship. An inaudible gesture to remind the other that nothing changed between them regardless of the outburst was all that was needed. 

Stan’s head tilted towards Xeno, led by the tendrils of smoke that tempted him. The scientist didn’t dare look him in the eye as he held his hand up, wordlessly offering the lit cigarette to help calm his nerves. A leather clad hand plucked it from his grasp and placed the offering between purple painted lips, all too eager to inhale the calming drug. 

Slowly, their gazes wandered up the tree trunks, past branches of pine and snow, and into the cosmos that consumed them. The two men stayed by one another’s side as they took in the tranquil beauty that swallowed them. The universe was quiet, cold, and unforgiving yet also birthed everything in existence and they couldn’t help but appreciate it for creating the soulmate that stood beside them. 

_____

Midnight was fast approaching and the festivities were ramping up in anticipation for the main event. Children ran rampant as those older than them took to the dance floor, letting loose with the energetic music that filled the air. The bonfire had torn through the majority of its kindling and was now clinging to the leftover wood that still supplied life to the warmth. 

The corner table that sat occupied now rested in shadows as the line of booths behind it closed one after the other. The last lingering food stalls were quickly selling out of their goods and the workers were fast to join the celebration now that their labour was done. 

A flash of sparkling light caught onyx eyes as Xeno noticed some of the kids had gotten their hands on sparklers. Among them were Luna, Carlos, and Max who were playing happily with the handheld fireworks. Luna’s face shined like a star in the darkening night. Each spark only made her smile that much more brilliant. 

“Reminds me of our New Year’s celebration at the colony,” Xeno reminisced. A third, or perhaps a fourth, cigarette now burned and filled the air with a disgusting, toxic scent that made the scientist dizzy. “You remember it, don’t you?” 

Senku had emerged from the crowd and stopped to talk to the pink-haired girl. She quickly straightened out and hid the burning stick behind her back. A chuckle came from the table as the scene continued. Words were exchanged, though unheard from where they stood. 

Mirai and Suika had jumped out from behind Luna as they swiped the sparkler from behind her back. She seemed to panic as she lost the balancing act of playing it cool and sophisticated for the scientist and wanting to hold on to the precious firework. 

“She begged for fireworks that whole night.” 

_____

The year had been fraught with hard work and setbacks. The Americans had worked their way from the stone age to the early industrial era in just over a year and a half and the pain and exhaustion had caught up to them. The benevolent dictator had deemed a day off necessary to help reset their mentality and to boost morale in the coming year. Now that they had entered into the age of gunpowder and iron, everyone would be working far harder than before, not for survival but for insurance for the upcoming future. The “X” marked scientist was dead set on rushing beyond where society had left off and surpassing the old world’s knowledge. 

Alcohol and food flowed freely through the small gathering as Xeno played several records he’d made special for their more festive occasions. Among the revived were a few good voices that had been lent to recreating music. It was no live band, but it worked for what he needed. 

Xeno watched from the corner of the ballroom in the beginnings of his castle. There weren’t many floors yet, but this had been one of the most important, doubling as a war room of sorts. The silent sniper sat at his side as he stole a moment away from his troops. The two of them wore strict looks as they surveyed the rowdy party, keeping straight faces among their group to exude a daunting authority shared between them. 

A cigarette rolled along painted lips, teasing the relaxing drug that sat unburned. The military man didn’t dare light it next to Xeno while he was already on edge from the rabble rousing. Parties had never been the scientist’s scene and he only ever showed to make an appearance, create connections, and to show face before leaving frustrated and annoyed. 

Stanley had accompanied him to far too many events like this one to know the pattern. Oftentimes, it was best to be a quiet rock for him to lean on when he felt overwhelmed. 

“Dr. Xeno!” Luna’s bubbly face had appeared out of nowhere, surprising the scientist and pulling him from his thoughts and bringing him back to the present. “Thanks for the party! It’s so fun getting a day off to relax and enjoy.” 

“I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself.” The doctor straightened himself out and put on the fake face he showed whenever society dictated he play nice. 

“How are you planning on setting off fireworks?” Carlos asked from their medical expert’s side. “I haven’t seen you set anything up in here. Is it out in the fields?”

“Yeah, will we be going outside for the show? We’ll need to bundle up if we do since it’s such a cold night,” Max added, flanking her other side. 

“I fear you misunderstand. Even though this is a New Years party, there will be no fireworks,” Xeno addressed the misconception with stern correction. 

“How come? We have lots of gunpowder that we’re not using right now. Even if we did go a little overboard, we’ve got everything we need to make up for the loss,” Carlos prodded. Apart from Xeno, he had the best understanding of their stock since he was the one who worked with it after the dictator taught him how to properly mix and store it. 

“Something like a firework should be easy to make for someone smart enough to make guns,” Max prodded. 

A vein jumped just beyond the collar of his shirt, visible only to the silent sniper beside him. “Making fireworks is children’s play,” the doctor scoffed. “However, we have to keep in mind our company. Since the majority of people here are ex-military it’s best to not poke the bear with loud explosions.” 

“...oh,” Luna’s voice was softened by the embarrassment of not having realized the obvious. “I was looking forward to them but I hadn’t thought about that.” Her body sank from the solemn sadness that plagued her. 

“Isn’t there something we can set off? Maybe if we made a few smaller ones and went down to the lake?” Max bargained. 

“No,” Xeno coldly clipped the word. “We’re not continuing this conversation.” 

The trio looked dejectedly before turning to the party behind them, opting instead to go back to picking at finger food and listening to the drunken marines getting out of hand. 

Xeno pushed himself back into his seat, arms crossed in his lap where the table hid his annoyance and kept the offense out of sight of his troops. Metallic fingernails clipped at his arms as he watched the trio continue on with deflated interest.   

“Funny to hear a pyromaniac say no to burning things,” Stan interjected from his side, breaking the quiet that lingered in their corner. 

“I have good reasons to refrain,” Xeno huffed. 

“It’s been years since you watched the fireworks. Wasn’t that your favorite thing about this holiday?” Stan pointed out. 

“It used to be yours as well. Things change.” 

“Xeno,” his name caught him off guard. It was gentle yet filled with dangerous venom. “Don’t use my life as an excuse to not enjoy your own.” 

“What makes you think I’d do such a foolish thing?” Xeno shot his partner an accusatory look. “I have science and you by my side. I’m more than content.” 

“I’ve seen the way your face softens when you talk about seeing them. Even back in the old world, you still wanted to watch them, didn’t you? But you always made it a point to take me on a secluded vacation any time I was around for a firework heavy holiday.” Stan shifted his head so that he caught the dictator’s eyes, holding him with scathing honesty. “Is it because I scare you, or is it because you think you have to carry my burden.” 

“Neither.” Xeno stiffened, eyes scanning the room as if looking for a way out of their conversation. The two often avoided heavier subjects, opting instead to assume the other was always on the same page when it came to important talks. Xeno wasn’t about to allow their streak to be broken by something as meaningless as fireworks. 

“Look at me.” The command forced Xeno’s head to snap towards the military man. He hated how quickly he bowed to his words.

“It’s not just about you. There are many more people from your unit here who most likely share the same aversion. I’m not about to risk it just for some coloured explosions.” 

“If you forgot how to make them, just admit it. There’s no need to lie to me,” Stan smiled a wicked, knowing smile. 

“ Forgot !? You think I’d ever forget how to make something?” Xeno spat the word out like mold as he rose from his chair. “How dare you question my intelligence.” 

The silver-haired scientist stormed away from the sniper, stopping to drag Luna along behind him as he left the ballroom. Carlos and Max quickly followed along, unwilling to be separated from the object of their affection. Stan sat back and chuckled as several eyes shifted towards him, wondering what had happened. Xeno may be a master at manipulating others, but Stanley wasn’t exactly bad at it either, especially where his partner was concerned. 

“I didn’t do anything, I swear!” Luna protested as she was dragged by the scruff of her dress into the scientist’s lab. The two boys burst in behind them, protesting the rough treatment of the shaken girl. 

“You’re helping me with some crafting,” Xeno said as he released her, metal fingertips swiftly turned to skim through his collection of supplies. “Since the two of you followed us, you’re being put to work as well. Grab some of that wire beside you and cut out twenty-four, equal length pieces. They need to be the length of a ruler.” 

The two boys looked over at the spool of wire he had pointed towards and back at him, wondering what he could need all those pieces for. Since they were allowed to stick by Luna’s side, they opted to stay quiet and get to work. The two quietly fought amongst themselves over the proper length as they measured and cut. 

“While they work on that, we’re going to make the compound. Grab five small beakers, the scale, and a large bowl for mixing,” Xeno directed as he pulled several glass jars from his shelves.

“Potassium nitrate, aluminum, sulfur, charcoal, and… dextrin?” Luna read the labels as she set the beakers in front of each of them, already guessing that they’d be measuring them out. “I recognize most of these, but what’s dextrin?”

“It’s a binding agent made from baking cornstarch,” Xeno stated as he began to scoop out their proportions and weighed them. “It’s perfect for this project since it won’t dampen our mixture.” 

“So, what are we making?” Luna picked up one of the measured beakers and looked it over. 

“Don’t you know? You were the one begging me to make them.” Xeno sat the beakers in front of her and waved for her to combine them in the mixing bowl. 

Luna nodded her understanding as she dumped the base components into the bowl and began mixing them together with a glass stir stick. “Are we making fireworks?” Her voice hitched with high-pitched excitement. “I mean, not that a cool, capable gal like me would mind going without them for the party.” 

Xeno hitched an eyebrow as he looked her over. She was a strange one, always wanting to act mature beyond her years. Not that he could really call her out on it since he’d done the same thing when he was a child. He smiled to himself as he turned away from her and pulled out a drawer with wax paper. 

“It’s not a New Year’s party without fireworks. Since supplies are limited, however, you’ll have to help me burn these. We can’t waste any of what we’re about to make.” Though he would never admit it, he had a soft spot for smart kids who chased knowledge and maturity. He wanted to provide them with moments of simple joy, reminding them that being a kid wasn’t a terrible thing to be. Whether it was helping create a rocketship from scratch or enjoying a night of pyromatic entertainment, it didn’t matter. 

“Right!” Luna nodded frantically before putting all her energy into mixing the components together. The mixture slowly firmed up, binding and becoming moldable. 

“The wires are ready,” Carlos said as the two boys brought them over to the table. 

“Good. Now, tear these scraps of cloth into thin ribbons.” 

“Hey, I remember this fabric. It’s the batch we messed up and weaved too thin to be useful, right?” Max pointed out. He’d been stuck on the craft team since breaking out of the stone and due to his weak muscles and weaker constitution, he wasn’t good for much more than fine hand crafts. 

“That’s right. It’s terrible to waste finite supplies and I knew I’d find a use for it.” Xeno turned to the pink-haired girl as he addressed her next. “Luna, we’re going to wrap the cloth strips around the wire then coat the mix on it. Like so.” He took a ribbon of torn fabric and spun it around the wire, being sure to leave several centimeters towards the bottom so he could comfortably hold it. Afterwards, he applied a thin coating of their compound to the fabric then placed the finished stick on the wax paper he had placed. 

“OH! We’re making sparklers, aren’t we?” Luna’s eyes glittered as she recognized the final form of their project. 

“Correct, you get a star,” Xeno joked. “Now be careful to layer the mixture on as thin and uniformly as possible. If there’s large clumps more of it will catch at the same time and you’ll risk burning yourself when we light these.” 

Luna nodded her understanding and focused on her work. Carlos and Max joined in once they finished tearing the cloth. The four of them had completed their batch of sparklers in no time and Xeno moved them over to a makeshift ventilation area. He turned a fan on high and let it quickly dry their sparklers. 

“Wow, that was really easy to make,” Luna pointed out as she washed her hands.

“Fireworks have been around since ancient times. They’re rather simple once you know what you’re doing. With that said, you’re still working with explosives so it’s best not to mess with them if you’re not acquainted with the chemicals you’re using.” 

The sparklers dried in no time and were quickly ready to go. Carlos held the first one from their batch, one of the clunkier ones that Max had pieced together. Xeno leaned over and lit the end on fire, letting their homemade firecracker catch. It instantly glowed brightly as white sparks jumped off of it. The trio’s eyes all lit up as they watched the first fireworks in the new world burn brightly. 

“These came out perfectly. Why don’t we go down and share them with the rest of the party?” Xeno said as he ushered the three of them back to the ballroom. The ex-marines were somehow much worse off then when they left, having gotten into more alcohol than Xeno had brought out for the party. Maya stood by the table that was once filled with food, now picking at the last of the snacks. Stanley was absent and suddenly Xeno understood how the party had unwound so quickly. 

He picked up two flutes of champagne and wandered through the unruly mess of adults who now sloppily danced their cares away as the midnight hour ticked closer. Xeno pushed his way through two large doors on the opposite side of the room, making way to the balcony outside. 

A numbingly quiet night welcomed him as he wandered over the metallic panels that made up the outdoor area. Directly in front of the door he’d come out of, was Stanley, leaning against the banister as he smoked the cigarette that had decorated his lips all night. Xeno shivered as the frozen night air wrapped around him. 

“It seems we can’t trust our little colony to behave themselves when we’re both absent,” Xeno chided light heartedly. 

“It’s fine. For just tonight, they can let loose and pretend the world isn’t as messed up as it is.” The blond turned away from the full moon that hung above them as it swam in an ocean of stars; once unseeable from the concrete jungles of humankind. “Soon they’ll have so much work to do they won’t be able to catch a break.” 

“Spoken like someone who knows from experience,” Xeno chuckled. He took up a spot next to Stanley and wordlessly held one of the flutes of alcohol to his partner. A gloved hand plucked it from his hand and held it out, waiting for the toast Xeno would inevitably give. 

“To a future full of science,” Xeno said, wanting to keep his ambitions in check so he didn’t waste the night rambling. 

“To another year by your side,” Stanley added as they tapped their glasses together, glass chiming softly in the icy night. The chilled champagne tasted bitter and the bubbles tickled their mouths as they took their drink. “So, where are they?” 

“Where are what?” Xeno asked as his eyes turned upwards to the glowing moon. His eyes sparkled with moonlight and stars that hid in his own, personal cosmos. 

“The fireworks. I want to see them.” 

“What ever could you be talking about?” A smile pulled at Xeno’s lips, playfully teasing the man who’d infuriated him enough to spur him into action. 

Stanley placed his empty glass on the banister and wrapped his free hand around Xeno’s hips, yanking him with gratuitous strength into his embrace. Purple tinted lips floated close to his ear as he leaned in, whispering his threat. “Will I have to strip search you?” 

A playful laugh broke Xeno’s demeanor as he gently pushed an elbow against the eager marine. “I’d rather not end up naked and catch hypothermia thanks to your impatience.” Metallic claws pinched at the contents of his pocket and produced two of the sparklers, offering one up to the blond. 

Golden eyes glittered as he looked down at them. “It’s not what I expected,” Stan said as he plucked the offered sparkler from Xeno’s claws. He rotated it between his fingers, looking over the lumpy mixture coating a thin wire. 

“Maybe… maybe I’m not the only one who misses fireworks,” he thought aloud. “You got a light?” 

A smile pulled at purple lips as Stanley produced his box of matches. They held the ends together as he placed the flame under them, yellow pulsing like a tiny heartbeat in the winter night. The sticks caught on fire and small, white sparks jumped from them, illuminating their faces with fantastic, glittering stars. 

“You’re amazing, doc,” Stan praised as his eyes glowed like rare metal, fixated on the beauty of fire. As the sparks fizzled out, he leaned over and tasted the soft skin of Xeno’s lips in a chaste kiss, daring to steal one despite their subordinates being only a door away from them. 

_____

The night was winding up to its grand finale. Gen had taken the stage and now led the countdown to midnight. The crowd of people swarmed the dance floor, abandoning everything else as they eagerly announced the few lingering seconds of the old year. 

TEN. NINE. EIGHT.

A burned out cigarette sat on the side of the crystal ashtray, adding to the other used butts that sat in it. A small hill of grey ashes swirled, disturbed by the small draft of air that blew through the open market. The bonfire had simmered to the point that it was nothing more than a few embers glowing with worn out warmth. 

SEVEN. SIX. FIVE. FOUR.

“We’ve been through many great years together, Stan.” Xeno admitted. His eyes watched the crowd getting antsy as the best part approached. “I would have never gotten as far as I did without you.” 

THREE. TWO. ONE! 

“I promise: I’ll bring you back to my side no matter what,” Xeno whispered to the cold, lifeless dog tags that dangled from his fingertips. The engraved name “Stanley Snyder” shone in the explosive lights as fireworks lit up the sky. Vibrant reds, purples, blues, and yellows painted the sky with wonder as the noise echoed across the entire gathering, chiming against the dog tags and the glass of whiskey, now watered down from the melted ice. 

Xeno closed his eyes and sealed his promise with a kiss against the cold metal trinket that tied him to his soulmate. 

[Art by Author]