90

It was raining. The clouds were grey—the sky was grey. The sun could not be seen. Jin and Ashton sat down next to each other—on a nice bench—at Hudson's River Park.

It was incredibly cold; and they were forced to share an umbrella. Ashton shivered in the cold; quailing in that he thought he would freeze to his doom.

Jin glanced at him. "What's the matter?" he asked, something comparable to mist had escaped his mouth.

Ashton looked at him. His face tinged; lingering rubescent from the temperature. "I'm beginning to think that this isn't a summer at all but a winter."

Jin smiled. "Yeah, I guess it's pretty cold." he said that but hadn't shown any signs of being cold at all.

He felt the constant impacts of the rain dropping atop the umbrella he held over his head, and over Ashton as well. It certainly wasn't his umbrella by any means. He stole it—right in front of Ashton too. However, it was practically impossible for Ashton to rebuke him now that he was under a spell.

Jin missed Ashton's stupid worrying a trifle. "It's cold, but I'm sure you'd survive. You could probably get beaten by the wind alone. But you seem to never fail to get back up."

Ashton laughed. "Brings back good old memories when Dobby used to bully me. Look at us now."

"He was probably tired of you using your hand like a duster," Jin said, grinning.

Ashton grimaced in confusion. "What's that suppose to mean?"

A smug manifested on Jin's visage. "You punch as if you're giving a fist bump. And you slap like a pussy." His tone was deliberately taunting.

Ashton punched him to the shoulder. And, of course, he hadn't felt anything at all. Not even the slightest bit of pain. Jin simply laughed, and said, "See what I meant?"

Ashton furrowed his brows. "I did not exert maximum force with that blow, Jin. I didn't want to break your arm."

Jin averted his eyes. "Why not? Don't I deserve a broken arm?"

"Why'd you say that?" asked Ashton, a brow elevating.

Jin heaved. "I put you guys in a lot of danger. You could have died that day. I lost it after that. And I didn't even focus on you guys anymore. I focused on slaughtering those monsters. I was really—"

"Jin," interjected Ashton, "please don't raise that topic again. You're forgiven. You went cold for a few days; but you're all better now, right?"

Jin looked away. Guilt ate him whole. "Right," he said softly.

"Also Jin," Ashton started again, "I want us all to forget the past and move on. I have a lot of expectations on my shoulders. And I have a lot to do. However; I intend to find time to bond again with you guys.

"I can't," he quailed, "spend a month without you guys. You're my everything. All my hope. Without my friends in my life; there are merely books and high expectations; all of which I cannot live up to.

"I was contemplating a bit. And I came to the conclusion that I," he frowned, "I am nothing without you guy. Nothing."

He felt a hand wrap around the top of his head. He looked at Jin, only to see him smiling like an ethereal angel. He passed his hand through Ashton's hair in a caressing way. And Ashton observed just how heaven-like he appeared to be. In doing so, he could not help but tinge.

Jin finally wrapped the rest of his hand around Ashton such that Ashton's head was on his shoulder. Ashton smiled softly.

"Ashton," Jin said, "I feel the same. I feel like I'm nothing without you guys—my friends. I feel like I can't accomplish anything. I feel like I'm becoming a burden for you—deadweight. And this has been bothering me since we've become friends.

"I don't have anything to contribute. But you guys are always there for me. And Ashton … I said this a thousand times and I'd say it again. You are the person with the kindest heart among us all. Your love and innocence is so far … unparalleled."

Ashton blushed. "Come on, don't say it as if I'm the kindest person in the world. I make mistakes too, y'know."

"I know," Jin replied, "one of those mistakes was consorting with us ignorant fools you call friends. I'm sure your mother would agree with those words any day, any time."

Ashton put out a hand from under the umbrella, and allowed rain to quickly douse it. "Yeah, she would. But I honestly don't care what she says about you all. I can choose to consort with the devil if I wanna. You can't control someone's life."

Jin agreed. "You're right." Only he did have the ability to control someone's life, so there were two answers to Ashton's one proposal.

"You know, Jin, I wish I could be like you," Ashton suddenly said.

Jin wasn't sure what he was talking about. "What do you mean? Why would you want to be anything like me?"

Ashton looked away, smiling. "Your charisma, your strength, your demeanor, your confidence. These traits make you a likable person. This advocates why you gain friends so easily, even when you were a crippled. Your traits are compelling. Even though you don't see it; I do."

"The wholeness of my being opposes every single trait you've just mentioned," said Jin, faintly puzzled.

"Whatever you say, Jin. There would come a time when you'd understand. I'm only here today because of those traits, y'know." Ashton said, frankly.

Jin raised the corners of his lips. Just something about this day comforted him to the point of joy. Ashton was leaning on him from the right. Jin slowly turned his head to the left, such that he was able to see a figure standing in the heavy rain. He was looking up at a figure identical to him, who leaned on the back of the bench.

The figure slowly looked down at Jin. And then, an antagonistic smirk suddenly appeared on the figure's countenance.