Daniel leaned back against the streetlamp, ignoring the cold of the metal as it chilled his back. Ice crystals lined his hair. He'd been out in the rain last night, and now it was snowing. The bridge was brilliant white in two foot snow drifts, marked by gray sleet along the curb. Of course his sneakers were frozen solid, but it didn't matter. In five minutes it would be decided. Jump or stay.

He could finally hear the car rolling up through the snow, somehow driving through the ice and falling flakes. He looked to his left, and watched the limousine pull to a stop. The back door opened, and Armand, bundled up in a fur lined coat with matching boots, stepped out.

Daniel looked away quickly again. Two tears trickled down his face and froze before they got halfway. Would this work? Would Armand understand? For the love of--Daniel, why do you always do this? Big meaningless gestures that he never gets. You put yourself through hell and there's no reward in return. He could kill himself, and would Armand notice? Would he even remember? This was the fourth time this month he had left. The other three times he'd gone back on his own. Not this time. He was determined to make Armand bring him home, or he wouldn't bother anymore.

Armand stared at his fledgling, his face as cold as the sky. Daniel looked pathetic, absolutely pathetic. His hair was frozen, his shirt would probably break apart if he moved...the two tears he was trying to hide so obvious. His arms were crossed, they would probably shatter if he tried to lower them. How long had he been out here like this? Since last night? Did he know he'd been dreaming during the day? Amethysts, rimmed in pearl.

Armand and Daniel both sighed and didn't say anything. Both of them just stood out in the snow, which was starting to bite at Armand's boots. The limousine chauffer was certain they were both insane. Weren't they going to say anything? Armand smiled at the man's thoughts. Yes, we are insane, aren't we? He felt the faint brush of another mind, one he had not felt in decades, reaching through the mortal's thoughts, translated poorly. It was only the ghost of a feeling, but he withdrew as if he had been burnt. Daniel. He hadn't felt him like that in a long time...or felt such sorrow. Had Daniel felt anything?

Suddenly brilliant red flashes burst overhead in violent explosions, bursts of yellow and orange setting the sky on fire. Armand didn't have to ask. This had been planned for him. A scarlet starburst shot through the clouds and rubies fell to the ground. Gold followed afterward in a shower. The snow all over the city lit up in different shades and the snow itself flickered like neon lights. Daniel turned to Armand, watching the red glare on his clothes and face, reflected in his eyes. Please...

The fireworks ended within a few minutes, and everything was quiet for a moment. Daniel looked at his lover, who didn't move. He glanced back down at the snow around his legs. That was that, then. Time to jump. Leap into the ice and never come back. Why couldn't Armand ever just reach out to him--?

A gloved hand slid into his, tugging him away from the lamp, to the limo door. He was pushed inside, more because he could barely move than because Armand was impatient. The door closed, and the warm air circulated around him. The melting ice made him look like he was crying human tears. Something pressed against his wrist, tightly clasped with a solid click. He looked down. A bracelet. Amethyst stones, ringed by mother-of-pearl. The lock seemed odd, and when he examined it, he realized there was no way to take it off short of breaking it.

"Boss...?" he whispered, his voice ragged.

"You have your ways," Armand whispered. "I have mine. Proof that I love you."

A lump formed in Daniel's throat. "I dreamed of you last night."

"And tonight, you will rest in my dreams."

The End