Grief

With Nikki's hand against his arm so lightly, he couldn't help but blush. He still couldn't manage a smile, not after last night- excluding the one that had come up while he slept- but it was still a very kind gesture. Under any other circumstances, he would've been grinning and giggling, just like on any other day...

And now Nikki was holding his hands. He felt his blush grow darker, face warming from the simple touch so very quickly. Even if they could never be more than just friends, that didn't mean he couldn't treasure every moment of it. He was sure now that Nikki accepted him, what did he have to worry about?

So, feeling a little daring, he reached out and drew Nikki into a hug. He pulled the younger, blonde teen against him, nuzzling his head into Nikki's shoulder and giving a very contented, "Thank you," almost too quietly to hear. He stayed like that, one arm around Nikki's shoulders and the other wrapped around the middle of his back, for what seemed to be a peaceful respite in an otherwise Hellish series of events. Even if it likely was the last, the only time that he would ever get the chance to hold him like this, he was glad to have taken the opportunity.

...He returned the hug. Not only returned it, he even moved his legs around him. Did he realize what kind of position that put them in? Of course not, Nikki was too innocent for that. Still, the feelings that it gave him... He wanted to laugh and cry at the same time, to shout out in joy and despair, wanted to hold on and never let go so long as he had the capacity to do it. And in all these conflicting feelings, the only thing he could manage to do was stay silent. Words couldn't express how he felt; Nikki had said not to thank him.

All he could do was stay quiet as Nikki gave him the comfort he so desperately desired, loving every tender moment that was drawn between the two. For the first time in what seemed like forever, he managed to smile. It was small, but... He was smiling. The dark, grey clouds in his soul were finally starting to part, even if just a little, and slowly at that. Even if it wouldn't go any further than this-

Oh, the phone did not just ring!

He scowled in his head, hating that the embrace would have to come to an end. "I'll get it," he said, pulling back oh-so-reluctantly as he finally stood up from the bed. He made his way sleepily into the kitchen, running a hand through his hair- ugh, he always got the worst bed-head. shielding his eyes against the rays of sunlight that streamed in between the blinds, and picked up the receiver.

For a moment, he looked confused, having been greeted by a stream of Italian; speaking English for so long, he'd almost forgotten that it wasn't his native language. Still, he understood every word, giving the occassional 'si' and nodding his head. His eyes slowly widened, a mix of trepadation and terror in them; his own stream of Italian was soon spouting into the other end of the phone, sounding worried and, above all, sorrowful. He couldn't believe what he was hearing, there was no way in Hell- All those people- Because of-

In two minutes, he'd been brought from elation to the brink of tears again. Why did these things keep happening to him?! Did Death enjoy following his existence and causing him strife?! He dropped the phone, letting it clatter to the floor, sinking to his knees while it fell. He placed one hand on the floor, steadying himself, lest he smash his head against the counter. The other hand covered his face, which was contorted in an unspeakable, insurmountable grief. He didn't care about the damn phone, he didn't care about anything right now! Everything was his fault lately, everything was because of him! All he wanted was to disappear, to leave himself behind and run away from his problems! All those people- Toby- God, why?!

By the time Nikki would have come into the kitchen, he would find nobody there. The kitchen was empty, save for the furniture and the appliances. There was no trace of Seth, no note explaining where he'd gone. No sound of a car starting, or of a door closing. There was nothing, save for a phone laying on the cold linoleum tiles, letting out a monotonous, dead dial tone.