Chapter 45 (Finale)

One year later...

Noel stood at his bar counter passing around drinks to the locals that came in as usual. The days had been quiet since the fall of Logan in the city. Many had come to the conclusion that the death toll had dropped drastically and could only find joy in the fact. Though others felt the fact that it was strange to see some of the most ruthless killers in the city disappear was something unusual and wanted to know more nobody had the answers to what really went down and could only spread rumors around that they had all left the city.

The sounds of small paws racing across the bar floor could be heard as he turned his head to see the small calico rushing towards him. It quickly jumped up onto the bar counter and meowed out at Noel as if it wanted him to pet it so he reached out his hand and stroked the fur of the cat carefully. It was strange holding on to the calico that was once Jade's but in the back of his heart he still held out hope for Jade's return. There was something in his heart that just felt like the man would find his way back to him some day. When that day came he knew Jade would want to see the calico again.

Ting Ting Ting

The sound of the bar doorbells sounded as someone entered the bar. All the people in the bar turned to look at who it was that came in. Many faces paled at the sight as they all got up to move further away from the bar counter. It had been a long time since Noel had seen people react in such a way so he had not noticed at first while he was cleaning a glass.

"Welcome." Noel spoke loud in a friendly tone without turning to look at who had come in.

"Your bar is as friendly as ever." A familiar voice called out with a familiar line that he had heard before from the doorway. The man slowly started taking steps towards the bar counter.

The glass that was in Noel's had fell from his hand and shattered all over the floor beneath him. His body whirling around to look at the man in black. That long black hair and pair of jaded green eyes made his chest tighten as tears back to fall from his eyes. Without a care in the world for how the other people saw him Noel found himself jumping over the bar counter and throwing himself into the man's warm embrace.

Jade's body felt warm and comforting to Noel just as Noel did for Jade. Whispers could be heard from all throughout the bar as the two of them stood there holding each other close without a care in the world for what was going on around them. It felt as though the whole world had melted away for them as they both had longed for each other. The only sound to reach their ears was the sound of the hearts beating inside their chests as Jade slowly tilted Noel's head up and leaned in to kiss him. It was a sweet and tender feeling that they had both waited a long time to feel once again.

"Your really real..." Noel muttered out under his heavy breath as the tears streamed down his face. He was almost scared to blink in fear that he might be dreaming.

"I'm really real." Jade pulled Noel in tighter against his chest as if he refused to let go of Noel. He had already gave his life up for this man once. In this life he swore to himself that he would live and die for Noel. The things that happened to him in the Void as he gained his life force back in order to return to Noel had taken him a year to completely heal. No matter how close he came to losing his life a year ago he felt he would still do it all over again for the sake of protecting the bright and cheery life that he held in his arms right now.

As Jade and Noel turned to look at the bar counter they saw the small calico rushing over to its master that it had long missed as well. Jumping up on to Jade's shoulders it wrapped itself around his neck with a loud purring sound as it nestled in as if it felt at home. A soft meow escaped its little mouth as it nuzzled up under his chin causing him to smile at Noel. He knew the man was soft at heart but he had never expected him to take in the little calico.

"It was so important to you.. so I thought.. It'd give you a reason to come looking for me if you came back out of the Void.." Noel blushed deeply as he spoke about the cat.

"I already had a reason to come back from the Void of nothingness," Jade leaned in close to Noel's ear. "You're my reason."

Jade smiled at the sight of Noel blushing from his words. It was something he had missed every second he was in the Void. Reaching his hand out to gently place the palm of his hand against Noel's cheek he could feel himself getting lost in those deep blues as Noel tilted his head into the palm of his hand. If there was anything worth living for this time around he felt he had finally realized what it was. His very life and everything about who he was meant nothing to him unless it was all for that warm smile on Noel's face. As he gazed into the blue he could feel himself drowning under the ocean of love that Noel carried in his heart for him. It was the type of drowning that he was happy to experience.

If love is a vast ocean, I welcome his love to sweep me out to sea. Jade thought to himself as he watched Noel closing his eyes. The only sound in the bar was the sound of the calico purring by his ear as his eyes got lost in the warmth of Noel's blushing face.