The words of Celesti last weekend at the expo echoed through Arik's memories like a steadfast siren.

'"I left you because no matter what I did you just wouldn't share those troubles with me. And you can't truly help somebody unless they want to help themselves."'

Those words cut deep for Arik. They put a ball in the center of his throat and screamed profanities toward his soul in an attempt to shake him from his selfish stupor. There wasn't a day that had gone by since then that he didn't think of those words. And there wasn't a day before those words that he didn't already know deep down that that was the reason she had left him. So, in a way, as agonizing as those words were to hear, they actually eased a lot of pain by finally giving a concrete answer to his insufferable insecurities.

But more importantly than that, he swore that he would never let something like silence ever get in the way of his happiness ever again. He vowed to work on his problems for the betterment of himself and those around him no matter how awkward or painful it was to push through. He finally wanted to help himself. And this moment at this food table at night with Celesti Mercurio was the perfect moment to crack that hardened shell of foible in half and share its contents with whoever truly cared. And there was possibly nobody who cared more than Celesti.

He grasped and floundered for the strength to voice his demons and then felt it. Suddenly, something clicked in his head and the sardonic tension pulling at his mind had eased. He was ready to talk.

"Celesti, there are some things that I need to talk to you about. Things about my past that I think you deserve to know about. I just don't know the right words to express it while making everything okay."

A dainty hand reached out on the table before him.

"You can tell me anything and I will not judge you. Incoherently ramble if you need to. I'll piece it together." She winked.

Thoughts of flight and superpowered humans crossed his mind. The thoughts of finally sharing his supernatural secrets with someone was tantalizing. But it still wasn't safe. He reeled back and stuck to his shadowy past.

You would think that someone who was already in a position such as this once before would know the words to say to get his point and feelings across. But as it turned out, that was not the case for someone who was as socially awkward and guarded as Arik. He tried his hardest to touch on the stuff going on before their breakup, what led to his pit of despair and how it channeled to destroying their relationship and self of self.

"You were— are— so much better than me," he expressed vehemently. "I was a nobody and you were this beautiful hotshot reporter and I knew that every time I was with you that people were wondering how this guy ever got with her.

That's why I always felt I had to push harder and be stronger. I eventually tried to be too strong and shared nothing with you that troubled me because I couldn't afford to look pathetic in front of you. You were all I had.

So when I lost you, I lost myself. I was already troubled and then I had nobody to brighten my life anymore. All of my friends had gone their separate ways, my parents wanted little to do with me, as I of them. I had no reliable job, selling commissioned art whenever and wherever I could until that stagnated as well.

I ended up having to sell everything I had just to live another day in this shitty existence. And I had no one to blame but myself.

The one thing I did have was a window's view six stories high in the sky. Everyday that I came into my house I would stare at it, as if it was staring right back at me and trying to communicate. I knew what it was trying to say." Arik's eyes began to mist as he pressed on.

"It was just trying to help me. It was offering death everyday and it was the only thing in this world that was trying to help me. But I staved off the thought for some reason. Maybe I was buying time in hope that something would happen that would save me. But that was all shit.

I couldn't take it anymore. Everyday felt like I had a 10,000 pound weight on my shoulders and I could feel life seeping from my eyes. Nobody I came into contact with cared or even pretended to care. So I decided enough was enough. In the end I cracked.

I said my farewells to those who couldn't see me anymore and I accepted the offer from the window.

Well, kind of.

I spent days working up the courage to do it. Even with my miserable existence, I was still plenty fearful to die. Which only made things worse. I decided I had hyped myself up too much on the window idea and that I needed another idea, something that was my way. If I was to die, maybe it should be in my own way and not a window's, you know?"

"But the windo—"

"Yeah I know. Windows can't have ideas. It was me all along." Arik cracked a much needed smile, as did Celesti with a look of trepidation. "It didn't matter anyways. I tried to hang myself and failed. That failure just felt like a final fuck you from god and it sent me overboard, literally. I dived through the window in rage and—"

A sudden cognizance washed over him as he realized the next part of the story.

'I can't tell her the immortality part. What do I do? She might know I'm lying. Dammit!'

"How did you survive?" she predictably questioned.

Arik looked away in search of a decent reply. "Well, I woke up in the hospital after that. Was in a coma for two weeks apparently? The doctors spewed a bunch of mumbo-jumbo about landing a certain way or hitting a soft patch of dirt or something. I don't know. It beats me. But obviously I'm fine!"

"That doesn't quite add up to me." Her eyes ignited with pontification. "But if the doctor says so. I suppose it is possible, however small the chance." Her eyes settled back to Arik. "Well, how do you feel now?"

Arik wiped away the orbs of tears that had accumulated on his eyelashes and sniffled.

"Well, since then I have mostly been doing really well, partially due to Kilvio's generosity. I've been managing to make something of myself and keep my mind busy everyday." Visceral images of death and fear scattered through his head, visibly disrupting his demeanor.

"But something is still going on, isn't it?" she called out.

He chuckled.

"You never miss a beat do you? Yeah, there is more. But please trust me that I just can't tell you about it right now."

She stared through his essence, permeating the moment with her longing for knowledge. But after a few seconds she gave in.

"Fine, I won't prod. But can you at least tell me that you're safe?"

"I'm safe. Nothing bad is going to happen."

"You're a terrible liar," she scoffed.

He snorted a laugh, apologizing with his eyes.

"Well whenever— if ever— something bad happens, I hope you can come to me. Cuz I will be here."

"Deal."

After that, they talked some more before deciding to call the atmosphere quits. They got into Arik's stolen muscle car and drove back to Celesti's place to drop her off. The car ride there was also filled with colorful stints of breathless talking and genuine laughter. Arik truly felt the vestiges of his past happiness resurface through their newfound relationship. And he would be lying if he didn't think about where it could go from there.

Arik walked Celesti to her front door like the true gentleman he was. The air was icy cold and the porch light accentuated their heated breaths. He was just glad that he decided to wear that red jacket, but even that wasn't quite enough to keep him comfortably warm.

"Thank you for agreeing to my impromptu outing. I know you probably had other plans for tonight, so."

"No, thank you for inviting me," she butt in.

"Okay. Well, I guess I'll see you whenever we plan something next time!"

"Excuse me? You're not coming in?"

Arik's face immediately blushed beat red as her words ricocheted off of his face, and his heart began to play at a thrashing tempo.

"W-what do you mean?" he choked out.

"Well you aren't working just yet, and it's incredibly cold outside. I was thinking maybe we could throw back a few drinks and hang out some more."

"Oh... Uh—" He checked his phone real quick, partly to play as if he had possible plans, but also to buy a few more seconds to think of a proper reply. "Yeah. I suppose I'm still available for a bit."

"Cool!" she sang.

He followed her into the cozy house, immediately being hit with a wall of warm delight. It was dimly lit and smelled of incense and pumpkin. It also would have been very quiet and serene, as the house was very tidy and tastefully decorated, but the dog was too excited to let anyone partake in any moment of indulgence short of giving her attention. And that was perfectly okay to Arik.

"Anything for the pupper," he always said.

Celesti places a couple of glasses on the counter along with a bottle of whiskey and vodka.

"Whoa! I don't know if I should be getting shit-faced tonight, Celesti." He threw his hands up in innocence.

"Well then don't," she said back with a smirk. "I have work in the morning so I'm definitely not going to be drinking too much either."

'I really can't be drinking too much. Who knows when I'll have to deal with that villain guy again. But I suppose as long as I just pace myself, I should be fine.'

He slowly dropped his hands in defeat before one finger zipped back up with a devilish grin. "I'll take a jack and coke, please!"

• • •

Consciousness woke Arik up from a tropical dream that he was already finding a foggy memory. His eyes slowly parted to reveal light beating down on him from an unfamiliar window with fancy drapes. A scent entered his nose that was unmistakable. A scent that he had dreamed of for years.

He lunged from the comfortable pillow of the bed he was on to see a room too fancy for his blood. A few pictures adorned the walls and he knew.

"This is Celesti's room," he whispered.

But Celesti was nowhere to be found. He noticed a note on the bed stand by his head.

It read: "Easy there speed racer. You drank too much and probably don't remember but I hid your keys and made you stay the night. No way you were driving like that. I've left to work, so text me whenever you feel like it. Don't feel pressured to leave either.

PS: Your keys are in the fridge.

Love,

Celesti"

'Damn. I can't believe I drank that much last night. Although, I haven't drank much lately, so my tolerance is most likely much lower than I thought. Oh well, I had a good night regardless.'

Arik stepped out of the bed and realized he was missing his pants. His heart raced with thoughts of what could have happened. A quick glance around the room revealed they were truly missing. He left the room on a voyage to find the treasonous bottoms.

The living room television was on at the end of the hallway. Arik could hear the canned laughter of some corny sitcom.

'Hm. Celesti must leave the TV on for the dog throughout the day while she's at work.'

He walked into the living room with a wobble and scanned the room from right to left for his pants strewn about somewhere. As his head turned fully to the left, he saw the image of a man jumping out before his eyes on the sofa.

"Hey! Buddy!" he said with his grizzly voice.

It was the man he was waiting for. The villain, sitting alone on the couch and eating a bowl of cereal.

"Looking for this?" He held an arm out that held Arik's balled up pants.

Arik's hair began to stand on end as scornful flames raged within his pupils.