#i have plans for a whole long thing

The morning after the reunion, Zolf wheeled himself out of his room in the back of the inn next to The Soggy Captain, attempting to open and close the door as quietly as possible.  He knew it was early.  Not like he’d been having much luck sleeping since, well, everything started, and even before then.  He wanted to get some time to himself and roll around the city a bit before the ominous looking rain clouds decided to drench them.

However, he rolled out of his room and immediately saw Wilde, stepping out of his own room a few doors down the hall.

“Oh, good morning, Zolf,” he said with a smile.  A sincere smile, though his eyes betrayed the myriad of emotions fluctuating beneath the surface.

“Yeah, ‘morning. Didn’t realize you were staying here.”

“Well, I figured it was best to find a room close by in case the festivities got bit toofestive.”

Zolf nodded. “Fair.”  He paused for a moment, during which time he and Wilde could only look over the other, really taking them in for the first time in years.

“We didn’t get to talk too much last night,” Zolf continued, looking at his lap.  “And there’s a lot I want to say.  You know I’m not good with words, but-”

“It’s okay, Zolf.”

“No, it’s not, I left.  Leaving is all I seem to be good at.”

Wilde moved toward him, hand outstretched as if to comfort him, but he stopped a few steps short. He still held out his hand, as if unsure of what to do.

“The short version is: I’m sorry,” Zolf said.  He made sure to meet Wilde’s gaze this time, even as tears began to roll down his cheeks. “The long version is-”

“We don’t have to do that now if you don’t want,” Wilde interjected.  “We’ll have time for that later.  I forgive you.  And, like I said, the door is always open for you.”

“I don’t want you to have to wait for me.”

“I don’t know how much choice either of us have in that.”

Zolf looked over Wilde again, grateful at least that the man seemed to be taking better care of himself now. And this was without Zolf making use of his kitchen and crafting him a variety of meals.

“There is one thing for right now.  Can I… We didn’t… Can I hug you?”  Zolf felt so small as he asked that, and he hated the way his voice quivered with the question.

Wilde smiled wide, his own tears starting to fall.  He knelt down next to Zolf’s chair and pulled him into a tight embrace.  Zolf hugged him back, burying his face in Wilde’s neck and letting the tears fall freely.

After what could only barely begin to make up for the embraces they missed in their years apart, they separated, though Wilde still remained on his knees as he wiped Zolf’s tear-stained cheeks.

“It really is good to see you again,” Zolf whispered, holding onto Wilde’s arm as if it was the only thing keeping him from being rolled away and never coming back.

“I missed you.”

“I missed you too.”

Before they could say anything more, a loud “Hello!” erupted from the main area of the inn, followed quickly by a scream and the hasty movement of some furniture.

“You don’t think… is Einstein staying here too?”  Zolf asked.

Wilde shook his head. “How long do you think he was hiding in thatcupboard?”

“Do you think he slept there?”

With a faint chuckle, Wilde stood.  “Shall we go see what he’s done now?”

“Yeah, let’s go.  And, Wilde?”

“Hm?”

“Thank you.  For everything.  You’re… You’re better than I deserve.”

“I don’t care about ‘deserve.’  I want you around, I want you in my life.  And that’s more than good enough for me.”