Malcolm - Post Chapter Six

“Sloppy.”

In the last hour, Malcolm had drawn four separate spells around gateways that were still partially open. Ones that previous Gatekeepers have made and never closed. Milo, Malcolm was assuming, was partially responsible for this. And even if he wasn’t, he would have know they were here. Some of these looked as if they had been open for a long time. A few years at least. And Milo didn’t do anything about it.

Neither had Malcolm when he was Gatekeeper but he was more pissed at Milo for life in general and therefore was going to blame him for even the smallest inconvenience. At least in his head.

“How can I help you?” 

Malcolm stopped at a small grove of burnt trees. The bark was black and pieces of glass protruded like stepping stones around the base.  Hollowed out lanterns lay on the ground, a chain looping through a heavy hook near the apex of the orb.

“How much for a night?” Malcolm asked.

The man looked like he was in desperate need of a meal and was eyeing Malcolm in a way that suggested he hadn’t had anyone ask for pricing for quite some time. “How many occupants?”

“I’d need two lanterns.”

The man nodded, looking around at the offered rooms. “What will you give me?”

Malcolm took three sketches from inside his jacket pocket. Small maps that he had memorized. Ways into the market proper for worse men than him to use and steal from the overtly rich.

The innkeeper raised a brow. “With that info, I’ll give you a credit for more than one night here.”

“Good. Because I don’t know when we’ll be going back home.” Their short trip was clearly not going to be that. Malcolm thought they’d be lucky if they even thought about going home tomorrow.

“You can have the two pods over there. With the teal glass.” They looked to be some of the only ones fully intact.

“Thanks.”

Malcolm took the crank the man handed him before moving to the larger of the two orbs. He pocketed Deucalions. Of course he would offer that Lamplight have the smaller room to themselves but he hoped his sleeping companion tonight was not their tour guide.

Putting the crank in, he pulled himself slowly upwards towards the tree lines. After so long without the lights, it looked strange now to see them dotting across the horizon. Malcolm hadn’t realized how much he missed them. Though, this small trip had put a lot into perspective.His inability to deal with the fact that life had passed him by these last ten years. The loss of his sister. The return of his mother.

Lamplight.

Milo.

The Gatekeeper role that he so desperately missed. He hadn't realized how much he had tied up in that identity until he saw Milo wearing it. Badly, he might add.  

“Fucking take it back if you miss it so much!”

“Don’t be melodramatic.”

“I’m being serious. Take it. Kill me. At least then I’d be free from this fucking curse you put on me. I didn’t fucking want this job, Malcolm. I would give it back to you in a second if I could.”

Malcolm winced. Such a disregard for his life. A Gatekeeper couldn’t do that. They valued life, even theres, above anything. But Milo hated his role so thoroughly that he was willing to take the risk of never coming back.

The lantern reached the tops of the trees, swinging a little. Malcolm sat in the middle of the pod, looking out over the city to see if he could spot Lamplight. The city was far more vast than he had realized however.  It was filled with dipping curves and deadends that lead to beautiful murals. The artist in him itched to explore. To hide away somewhere and draw until he forgot the world around him. It was a luxury he had once partook in when the world became too much. But he wondered if he was too old for such things now.

Leaning back against the cool glass he thought of his predicament. The lover he once had versus the one he hoped to gain. The intertwining lives of the two of them. The unspoken dance that was happening in their day to day. He had to play it all carefully. Slowly. The baggage that was slammed between them was not easy to unpack. 

But oh did he want to.

There was beauty in what was happening to them right now. Malcolm was tired and he questioned how they were going to handle it all, but it was such a vibrant display of life that he felt his heart sing. And for once, Lamplight was here. He could talk to them. Share his thoughts and his dreams. Express his fears.

So why hadn’t he.

Malcolm’s eyes traveled across the City of Lost Lanterns, out towards the darkness of the Outlands. Towards the Market Proper.

Milo was somewhere in those walls. Waiting for them to return home. Most likely pacing and wondering what was happening out here between his ex lovers.  Malcolm took a perverse joy from that. And if he were a lesser man, he would have made a move here. Came to his Lamplight and opened his heart. Just so he could show Milo that he fucked up more than he’d ever know.

Malcolm hit his head back against the glass. 

Lamplight, however, didn’t deserve that. Petty competition that would never end was not something he would ever put on them. He loved them too deeply for that.

So, Malcolm would wait. He would wait forever if he had to. Because the Night Market was worth it.