A/N: When the story takes over and what was chapter nine in the draft is now chapter twelve. When did that happen?
Paul lay on his bed in tears, as Ken sat beside him and gently caressed his back. There was nothing he could do to comfort Paul. He'd warned him it would be difficult but at least they were dealing with it together. As his crying began to subside, Ken lay beside Paul and wrapped his arms around him. Paul turned to face him, his head nestling into his chest and Ken quietly told him, "It's going to be okay."
"How do you know?" Paul asked.
Of everything Ken had told Paul, he'd never mentioned Gemini was still alive. Rather, he'd shown Paul the timeline Gemini had left behind and how they had to make sure it happened.
"But we don't know what happens when Fourth meets Gemini next. The timeline isn't complete. Or is it?" Paul asked.
Ken closed his eyes, holding his breath as not to show Paul his frustration. After an extended silence, Ken replied, "I don't have the answers for you. I don't know what happens next for you or Fourth."
Fourth paced the foyer of the dormitory as the sun set and students began to trickle back to their rooms. As the street lights came on and the foyer grew quiet, Fourth slowly made to his room. What Paul had spoken to him about after class the day before, he couldn't get out of his head. If he told Gemini the truth, would it save him or not. The dilemma that presented itself to Fourth was crushing him. As he reached his room he hesitated to enter as both the fear Gemini would and wouldn't be there created conflict within he could no longer endure.
Hunched and dejected, Fourth removed his key from his pocket and opened the door.
Gemini didn't realise he'd been staring at the door again until his phone sounded. With a glance at the screen, he ignored the notification and went back to staring at his note for his next exam. But the words on the page blurred and Gemini gave a shake off his head and closed the study books. It had been a rough day and the disappointment he'd experience on his return to his room to find it was his room and empty, hurt even more.
He stared at his hands on the desk, when the sound of the key in the door caught his attention. Gemini pushed the chair back as he stood and it wobbled before steadying itself. As Fourth caught Gemini's eyes, his expression showed anguish and as they came together, Fourth wrapped his arms around Gemini and held him tight.
Gemini wrapped his arms around Fourth's waist, his own concerns forgotten as he realised something was wrong.
"Fourth." Gemini said against Fourth's neck.
Fourth only held him tighter and Gemini became even more concerned.
"Fourth." Gemini said again a little louder as he attempted to pull away to look at him.
Fourth allowed Gemini to let him go and when Gemini saw his tears, his expression softened.
"What's wrong?" Gemini asked, raising a hand and gently wiping away Fourth's tears.
When Fourth didn't respond, Gemini took his hand and led him towards the bed. As Gemini sat, he pull Fourth down beside him.
"What's wrong?" Gemini asked again, still holding Fourth's hand, he placed it on his lap.
The dilemma Fourth found himself in only made him cry harder, as he lowered his head to Gemini's shoulder and continued to weep.
Gemini too began to feel stressed by Fourth's condition and gently caressing the top of his head, told him, "It's okay. Whatever's wrong, you can tell me."
It took several minutes before Fourth's breathing subsided to a slow steady pace. When he finally sat up, he stared at Gemini, who once more wiped his tear streaked face.
Gemini waited, until Fourth quietly said, "If I know what happened to you. Would telling you now be the reason you disappear or not telling you be the reason you disappear."
Gemini stared at Fourth immediately aware of the question he asked. "I think... you should tell me."
Fourth shook his head, fear once more consumed him, as his head dropped afraid to look Gemini in the eye.
"Fourth." Gemini said gently, placing his hand under his chin and raising his face to look at him.
"Fourth." At his name being called again only then did Fourth meet Gemini's eyes.
"I would want to know over not knowing." Gemini's eyes pleaded with Fourth.
Fourth dropped his eyes, his body slumped further, as he said, "You get poisoned."
Fourth didn't dare look at Gemini and Gemini could only stare at Fourth, not expecting to hear what he did.
After a moment Gemini gathered himself and taking Fourth's hands in his, said, "It's okay."
Fourth's head shot up as he said in anguishing, "But... if it was okay... then wouldn't I be able to find you in my time. If I was able to save you... wouldn't..."
Gemini didn't let Fourth finish as he placed his lips on Fourth's to silence him.
Fourth, stunned by Gemini's actions, took a moment before he returned the kiss. When Gemini pulled back, Fourth frowned and removing a hand from Gemini's raised his sleeve to wipe his tears from around Gemini's mouth.
Fourth quietly complained, "There are better times to do this than now."
"Maybe." Gemini replied, one side of his mouth turned up. "Let me get you a face wash and we'll have a proper conversation about this."
As Gemini went to stand, Fourth grabbed his hand and pulled him back to the bed, and said, "No."
Gemini stared, confused and Fourth told him, "The door frame. I won't be here if you go through it."
Gemini nodded and Fourth took the other sleeve of his shirt and wiped his own face. Gemini also helped wipe his face clean with his hand.
"Can you tell me everything about your time. From the exact day you first met me until now?" Gemini asked.
Fourth nodded, and Gemini rose and retrieving a note pad and pen from his desk, sat back down and wrote an extensive time line of everything Fourth knew.
It was late evening and Fourth lay against Gemini on the bed, with Gemini's arms wrapped tightly around him. Exhaustion had long since taken over his body, as he was barely able to keep his eyes open.
"Fourth." Gemini said quietly against the top of his head.
"Mmmm." Fourth murmured.
"What is the date tomorrow?" Gemini asked.
"Why?" Fourth asked.
"Let's meet up." Gemini suggested.
There was a part of him that didn't want to know if telling Gemini was for the good or not.
"What if you don't turn up?" Fourth asked and before Gemini could respond, Fourth went on. "Let me think about it."
"Okay." Gemini said and he went back to caressing Fourth's hair until Fourth fell asleep.
Fourth moved and it was then he realised he was still lying in Gemini's arms. The morning sun streamed through the window and Fourth rolled away from Gemini and forcibly blinked his eyes. They were dry and sore and he could barely see through them.
"Morning." Gemini murmured, as he rolled over and snuggled back into Fourth. Gemini's hand moved over Fourth's chest and came to a stop above his heart. Fourth closed his eyes and the soreness subsided, yet his body reacted to Gemini's touch and he bit his bottom lip to suppress the urges building up inside.
To defuse his bodies reaction, Fourth responded half-heartedly, "Lucky you didn't put 'good' in front of that morning."
Gemini pushed up on his elbow to look down at Fourth. As he watched Fourth's lower lip between his teeth, his eyes closed, Gemini slowly began to move his arm across Fourth's chest. Fourth pursed his lips as his breathing grew heavier. Gemini smiled and leaning down began to gently place kisses along Fourth's neck, making his way along his jaw line until he reached his lips. Gemini gently kissed Fourth and only when Fourth opened his eyes to stare at Gemini, did Gemini pull back and tell him, "Now it's good morning."
Fourth couldn't help but smile and pushing Gemini away, scoffed at him.
The expression of laughter on Gemini's face slowly vanished as he stared down at Fourth. "I'm going to leave you now. I'll see you later today."
Fourth's expression also changed, as fear began to once more show across his face. Gemini quickly kissed him again. "It's going to be okay. I'll meet you at the cafe on the corner at twelve."
Fourth gave a nod but couldn't make himself smile. Gemini rose and before going into the bathroom, gave one last glance towards Fourth in his bed.
Fourth closed his eyes as he heard the bathroom door open but the sound of it shutting never came, and Fourth rolled over and cried.
"Are you sure about this?" Paul asked as he accompanied Fourth to the cafe.
"No. But what can I do." Fourth replied.
"Let me go instead." Paul pleaded.
"It's okay." Fourth told his friend, when in fact, it was not okay. Deep down something told Fourth Gemini would not be there. That nothing in his time line had changed. If what he'd told Gemini had saved him, then they would have met the same time they met Ken.
As they reached the cafe, Fourth turned to his friend and said, "You don't need to stay. I'll be fine. Really."
Paul looked around, then back at Fourth, "Are you sure?"
"I'm sure. You go. If he doesn't turn up I'll meet you back at the dorms."
Paul nodded and patting Fourth's arm, turned and left.
Once around the corner, Paul stopped as Ken approached him.
"I can't do this." Paul said, his face in anguish. "Why wasn't the timeline completed after their last visit before this. We know they arranged to meet but did they? I don't dare to think how Fourth will be if Gemini doesn't show up. Will that mean we failed to save Gemini?"
"It's going to be okay?" Ken said, taking Paul's hand in his.
"You keep saying that but how do you know." Paul demanded.
Ken took Paul in his arms and hugged him tight, as he responded, "I say that because I have to believe it's going to be okay. Why else would something as bizarre as this happen in the first place. You have to believe too."
Paul buried his face against Ken's shoulder. "I'm sorry you've had to go through this alone." Paul told him.
Ken held Paul close to him as he stared out across the street, and at Gemini who watched on, his expression pained and sorrowful.
The clock above the tables against the wall showed ten minutes to twelve and deep down Fourth already knew Gemini wouldn't be there. The latte he'd order sat in front of him untouched and he watched the red second hand move slowly round the clock. Before he realised, it was ten past twelve and the latte had gone cold. There was no point waiting any longer, and standing, Fourth abandoned his untouched latte and left the cafe.