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lavolat · 4 months

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Next Door - A Pre-HL:A Fic

The night was young.

Any newfound crickets made such darkness come alive, as the fog settled in those city streets. Curfew, at the latest; none dared to venture out the roads in fear of rebuttal. From no one else but the Combine. 15 years it's been, and they haven't suspected a thing.

Of whom or what was among them.

Checking his watch, he made sure to count the seconds by. Breath in and out - in and out. Within that fog, came the dense shadow of a man. His steps echoing in like mist on a lake. With the tiny sliver of light left among the shot-out street lamps, was the glistening of a metal key. Old, antique, scuffed and some part ruined. Delicate eyes gazed to the world in the palm of his hand. A future laid hidden. A distant past to finally catch up in the blink of an eye.

And it all started with the unlocking of the door. A building not unlike the rest; a new tenant. He was nobody and everybody. He overlooked the chipping paint on the door, the filthy knob ready to be finally turned. Until he paused - at the subtle sound of an old television coming to life. Static, from beyond the door behind him. The suited man turned momentarily towards that door; who in the world would be awake at this hour? With a gentle blink of his eyes, he soon turned back to his own door, heading inside. What did it matter to him? The others were free to do what they wanted, within regulation of course. The Combine sought to patrol much of the area to which they lived - hindering this city from some much-needed sleep as it is.

To him, it was much-needed.

A bedroom, a bathroom, a small Slavic kitchen and window. Water dripped from the taps, a reserve not too far gone, but not too safe to drink. Boil, sanitize and consume accordingly. It would be only a matter of time before they forgot who they truly were. Slowly coming to a shut, the door muffled that distant sound of static, and isolated the man within. Eyes glanced to and from of the small estate, wood creaking to the newfound weight.

Water hit his bare skin and hair, as he sought to bathe after what felt like millennia. Droplets rolled and caressed his creviced chest, eyes never straying from the drain at the bottom of the tub. Water circled and circled dizzily, a black hole sweeping the prettiest of stars. Steam coated the mirrors, covering the man's shame as he finally got out within that two-hour mark. Anymore and his skin would be fiercely scarred. Yet he found no reason to look at himself any longer. He had what any man had. But where was the confidence?

Where was that suave predicament?

With a soft thud and creak as he pressed himself against the mattress of an old bed, it seemed like sunrise already came to. Slowly shutting his eyes upon the noise of Combine construction, soon came an era of a new day. Blue eyes slowly re-opened, gazing to the cracked ceiling above. Radio had sprung to life, within that morning, and the vapor of hot coffee left his mug. Too hot to handle, at least for now. He remained shirtless, listening to the feeble static tunes coming from the radio. Whether it be old or simply not receiving a welcomed signal, the static remained in his ears since the beginning of the night. He would rather the thumps of a Combine Strider than the mess of telemetry.

With a click of the radio off, he glanced to his front door as the static returned, muffled. Neighbors - fully awake and accounted for. Dressed up for a simple walk into nothingness, he left his apartment, glancing to the woman kneeling upon the floor. Paint can, paint brush; the same static tunes released from the same old radio, left her to find therapy in painting her front door white instead of a crisp, dusty emerald green. She turned to look to him, pausing her artwork. Forest-like eyes, a youthful expression, brunette hair as clean as the water would allow it. Dressed in civilian clothes with the prospective number on it. A stark difference from him.

Being the first to break eye contact, the suited man made his way down the hall, heels echoing away with the creaks of the old wood. She remained her sight on him by the time he turned the corner; out of sight, out of mind. Yet he was on hers all the time. Who was he? A new one, at best. Green eyes glanced to his apartment door, noticing all the paint chips crushed along the floor. A year's worth of dirt left behind for anyone to clean up.

She doubted he'd be the one, to.

Hours on end, he never returned until the sun stretched along that hallway wall in a vibrant orange. The woman was no longer there - and neither the paint chips upon his door. Wiped clean, swept and disposed of, the door was painted white, just like hers. Eyes momentarily glanced to her door just the same, making note of the room number fancily decorated. Adorned with fake flowers and a Cyrillic sign of 'welcome.' It was a home, made of embarrassingly, feeble human nature.

But it was certainly charming. Though, what sparked her to paint his door marble white was all the same confusion to him. They did not know each other - should not know each other. Yet, this was provided an invitation. Subtle, yet got the job done. Entering his home, he closed the door behind himself, as one looked through the looking glass upon their own door.

The woman softly removed herself from the peephole, pressing her back against it. Subtle eyes glanced to and from the ceiling, and the gentle bite of the lower lip made her certain of his thanks. The days grew warm, and so did her greetings. She found herself present outside in the hallway each time he left his own estate, giving gentle glances and tender smiles of greeting. He hardly matched her enthusiasm, however the subtlety was all there.

However one day... subtlety didn't cut it.

She got bold. Finally, a "hello" crossed his mind in the image of her voice, causing him to glance to her fully. He felt like a deer in headlights to her greeting as he left his key in the door. Old, antique - just like him. He couldn't understand, why was she noticing him? Lightly holding her hands in front of her waist, gentle eyes looked him up and down.

"... you must not work around here..., you're gone for a large portion of the day, I never see you."

Silence.

"... Rani. If you ever wondered."

"Name."

"That's right..., now that I hear you speak, I feel less worried." Those same gentle eyes glanced to the tips of his shoes, letting the silence of infrastructure slowly build over them. Within a gentle inhale, he turned back to his door, turning the key to unlock.

"Listen..." A pause, "... like any good neighbor, it would be... nice, to get to know you. I'm making dinner, old recipe. If you have no more plans tonight... I'd be happy to pull a seat up for you." With a subtle creak of wood, he shifted his weight to turn towards her, deep eyes dilating at the offer. A youthful gaze held such little hope yet prepared for the unforeseen answer. Silence was eternity, for him. With a light quirk of a brow, he turned back towards his door, pushing it open with little force.

"... we'll see." Entering inside, he closed it before she got a good look at his living arrangements; leaving her in the gentle silence of an unsure answer. Thinking quietly to herself, she then turned back to her own abode, door left wide open just likened to her heart. Uncertainty was the answer. They hardly knew each other, but what better way now than to take a risk to know?

Quietly gazing to her old TV as she sat upon the dinner table, she had it at an obsolete volume, listening in to the door across the hall to open up. She had hoped - no, she wanted to hear him approach. The ticking of her own heart was loud enough to outweigh the clock. Afternoon turned to evening, and lamps were sourced to cozy up that small kitchen. Dinner ready to be served, she remained at the table, her eyes never straying from the front door. With each ticking minute, her hope was stripped away.

Had he forgotten? Or caught up with work? Or simply just didn't want to--

A knock. A feeble attempt on her life. She rose too quickly from the table, nearly tipping the chair she sat on yet stopped such ruckus from happening. Taking a gentle breath, she approached her door, opening it with a slow turn of the knob. With the youthful face peeking out, deep eyes glazed back into her hopeful ones.

With the gentle clinking of dishes and utensils, she couldn't help but pause and watch him eat. It wasn't often she had people over, and especially someone whom she's never seen before. Yet she was one to attempt such a feature. Most neighbors never say a word to her. A simple wave of the hand or just rotating schedules never allowed her to get fully experienced.

"You're staring."

"...Merely happy you accepted." Glancing back down to her own plate, a smile curled upon her soft lips, before forest eyes glanced back to his emptying plate, "would you like more?"

"It's quite enough. Thank you." Wiping his mouth quietly with a cloth napkin, he glanced to the walls of her abode. Decorated in old wallpaper, it was upkept to the best of her ability. A clean home was a happy home, and an unstressed mind. Though, he made note of the lack of portraits that contained any sort of family. It was merely of plants, or old polaroids of buildings long left abandoned in place. Of when it used to be occupied.

"... am I allowed to ask what you do?"

"..."

"... I can take no for an answer." Gentle eyes glanced to his hand as it remained clasped on the cloth napkin. Gently inhaling, he sat back in his chair, preventing himself from slouching over. The chair moved with a gentle creak of old wood, yet durable enough to hold his weight for years on end. Most wouldn't get the luxury.

"Then no."

"... worth a try." She quietly mumbled mostly to herself, turning her head towards that of the dripping faucet. Silence remained in those long minutes, yet it was a certain comfort. They both knew what this world came to, it was no surprise nor exception. They had means of making their allowance and ration, through other 'intended' circumstances at times.

Wasn't always a walk in the park.

Standing up from the table, the suited man grabbed for his blazer, leaving the young woman to gaze up to his sudden want to leave. Rising from the table as well, she inhaled, "You don't have to."

"Meaning?"

"... I can... make something else."

"Understand this: ... Rani, I do not subject myself to any means of a relationship, whether meaningful or not. It is by no means 'your fault' no matter what the outcome may be. But know this: I appreciate the delicacy you have attempted to serve me." Distressful silence overcame the very kitchen they stood in, as if the world silenced themselves to listen.

"... what if I don't want a relationship?" A mere whisper, cut across his ears likened to a sharp blade, paused him in his step to view her. "... nowadays, it's hard to come by."

"Pleasure isn't simple. It leaves room for error."

"I'm willing to take that risk."

"You are not." A pause. "You are... not." With a gentle wave of his hand, he released a soft breath. The very idea of it was at the latest - impossible. They would be found out, very quickly, should that happen. Quietly approaching up to him, forest eyes held that same little hope he made a note of earlier.

"Am I... or are you?" Staring down at her, she made note of his dilating eyes, studying such marbles within. Lightly curling his fingers inward towards his palm, he hesitated his breath to the gentle hand laid upon his chest. This was unforgiveable to say in the least, letting another touch him. Closeness was not easily swept under the rug for him. Yet, he knew what lied before him. A future in the making; what more than a little detour?

"... don't be scared..." Whispers within that quaint cozy home, turned to bed creaks. Bodies in a tight embrace as they kept themselves quiet past the unforgiving curfew. Any sound of the Combine utility trucks passing by their street rendered them still, and yet once silence returned to the foggy streets, left their world to come alive.

The bed creaked to their movement, hands gently clawed at his bare skin to the well-developed pleasure of their intimacy. He was quiet, for the most part, listening to the other partner's gentle moans and hisses. She planted her face into his shoulder, eyes clenched closed to the building pressure in her lower abdomen.

He wasn't inexperienced. Just not well-experienced.

With a high coming to a close, he gazed to her glistening face of pleasure, erupting into a dwindling past-time of post-consummation. Hair a fluffed mess, she softly sat up onto her forearms to his leave from her embrace. Quietly standing in the nude, he slowly gathered his clothes strewn about the wood floor.

"... worried?"

"..."

"... I understand." She gazed to him as he got dressed. Covering her shame with the bed sheet, she scooped back her hair. "... I didn't think we were being loud enough but.. who knows."

"I am not worried about that."

"Then what are you worried about enough to leave?"

"... under these circumstances, we are neighbors. We cannot be anything more than that."

"Is it because of your work...?" Silence overcame him once more, not bothering to do up his tie just yet. With a quiet huff in amusement, she then smiled gently to him. "... either way, I won't tell a soul." Deep eyes gazed to hers; almost in... a thankful plea. Taking only but a moment for her, he then turned on his heel to leave her bedroom, and save her the shame of another intruding on her personal space.

Awaking in his own bed, eyes gazed to the chipping ceiling, and ears homed in on the tweeting of native birds outside his window. However, something else got his attention within that gentle sunlight. TV static, and old tunes playing upon it. His weight felt... loads lighter, and he couldn't seem to figure out why. Not bothering to dress himself into his suit just yet, he moved into his kitchen, pausing at the sight of a freshly brewed cup of coffee and bread on his table.

"Good morning." Lifting his head at the voice, he glanced to the young woman sweeping the floor in his living room. Opening his mouth, he then paused as she shushed him. "... I don't like to see my friends living in such filth."

"... how did you-"

"-you left the key in your door, last night... if it's the only one you have, I thought I'd return it to you." Setting the broom aside, she moved to scoop up the dust and peeled paint from the floor to place it into the small trash can. "... you know... most would start redecorating after a few weeks of being moved in."

"... hardly the time."

"Well, this time, I'll do it for you. But next time, I won't be doing it again."

"That isn't necessary."

"I know... but what's a good neighbor for?" Smiling softly, she had then gone back to sweeping, making sure to collect the dust bunnies from the corners. It was strange; this woman was acting like his unmarried wife. Was it customary here in this building? Or was she just a special case? Inhaling in softly, he turned back to the coffee and bread left for him. What was he supposed to do? This wasn't in his established schedule. Moving back to his bedroom, he closed the door, just wondering what he got himself into. She wasn't... deadly, or a creep, perhaps just misunderstood.

She was lonely, and her niceness showed. Lightly swallowing, he moved to get re-dressed back into his suit, remembering the events from last night. It wasn't like him. No. This was wrong. And it was getting more wrong by the minute. Yet he didn't have the intention in him to tell her no. Something was preventing that.

Fixing up his tie as the last statement piece, he finally left his room, blinking as his neighbor was now gone. The coffee was still upon the table, along with the key to his estate. Was she... really in his house, or did he hallucinate? Thinking back, he gazed to his front door, wondering if she was waiting for him to come out. He needed to leave, yet he wasn't sure if he had the patience to face her at this very moment. He was a man without regret, yet perhaps this time was different.

Rubbing his fingers together in thought, he slowly moved towards his front door before pausing at the sound of a distant alarm. He was used to many alarms, but something felt... different. And not in a good way. Checking the time, he inhaled sharply before taking a rushed step forward to the front door, opening it.

Peeking out into the hallway, he glanced to the door across the hall, feeling a wave of recognition come across him. No, not today. Shakily hanging onto the door, he then crossed the barrier, knocking firmly on the decorated door of fake flowers and marble white finish. With the door opening, he wasted no time.

"Get out. Take only the essentials with you. Documents, records, or pictures. Do not take the stairs, leave out the fire escape."

"What are you...--"

"Just do it. Now." Firmly stating, he watched as the young woman then turn on her heel back inside her estate, doing as she was told. Waiting within that hall, he looked around in case anyone was coming up. With the alarms now desperately ringing in his ears, he looked as she finally came out with a box of personal items.

"What's going on?"

"Go out the fire escape and run. Do not stop for anything, just get as far away from here as possible. Do you understand me?"

"You're scaring me..."

"Just... go. Hurry." Eventually giving a nod, she moved down the all to the window at the end, pulling it open to reveal the fire escape. Watching her crawl out, he mentally apologized before moving back into his own estate, closing the door firmly behind him. For once in his life, his heart was racing. Shakily letting go of the doorknob, he backed away from it, hearing the hastened footsteps of his future captors. Inhaling in slow, he stepped towards his bedroom window, glancing out to the streets. Combine trucks sat parked on the curbs, as they were given the authorization of a sector sweep.

Miscount detected.

Inhaling in deep once more, he closed his eyes, hearing his front door get kicked open and the soldiers to start their search. Once they reached his room, and the door had finally opened to reveal rifles pointed to him, he glanced over his shoulder, eyes illuminating to a disrupted glow.

Finally.

#for the people who hadn't seen it

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