Until the Day I Die

::Part 5::

It turned out that it was just the war that was over and that the world went on spinning as if the shining light in his life had not been extinguished. It seemed insulting, somehow, that the rest of the world did not feel the loss.

Cyril was straightening the shelves in his shop when a letter slipped through the postal slot with a soft rattle. He did not turn around.

Another letter was pushed through the slot and he ignored this one as well because it broke his heart. How could it be that a sound that had once brought him so much happiness now tore him to pieces?

Another letter was pushed through.

Cyril growled and stormed over to the pile of letters. He picked them up and turned the first one over in his hand. There was no return address.

Dearest Cyril,

I told you to trust me.

Regretfully yours,

Lukas

Cyril stared at the letter after he had translated it. It was cruel, too cruel, for someone to send these letters when Lukas was gone. He opened the next one.

Dearest Cyril,

I keep my promises.

Regretfully yours,

Lukas

He opened the last letter.

Dearest Cyril,

I love you.

Regretfully yours,

Lukas

He sank to the ground and leaned against the door as he cried.

It was too cruel.

Another letter was pushed through.

Dearest Cyril,

I'm so, so, so sorry. Can I come in now?

Regretfully yours,

Lukas

Cyril leapt up and tugged the door open and the man who had been sitting on the other side fell into the shop. He was holding his hands up in a peaceful gesture and was painted with a sheepish smile.

It was Lukas.

He started explaining himself in rapid German that Cyril did not understand as he stood up and Cyril started shrieking at him in French. He pointed at Lukas and at the letters and Lukas tried to calm him down.

He did not want to be calm; he wanted to be upset.

Cyril grabbed the stack of letters and hit him with them over and over again. Lukas was laughing as if delighted even as he covered his head for protection.

Lukas backed him up into the corner and plucked the letters from his hand. He set them on the countertop. He began tracing his cheekbones and running his fingers through his curls and Cyril wanted to do the same.

Cyril kissed him. He kissed him as if he would never see him again because he had been so sure that he never would.

The kisses were desperate and heated and not enough after waiting for what seemed like a lifetime. He started unbuttoning his uniform, but Lukas broke the kiss and leaned into him with a heaviness that had little to do with weight.

"Je t'aime," he whispered in a language that Cyril knew.

"Ich liebe dich," Cyril whispered in reply. He had learnt it months beforehand when he first realized that he was in love with the soldier.

Cyril untangled himself to lock the brilliant red door, this time with both of them on the same side of it, before returning to Lukas to speak a language both of them understood:

Love.

A/N ;; Did I trick you? Lure you in with angst? …no?

Hmm, I'm actually not too sure about this part in general. Did I rush it? It almost feels that way... but I'm not too sure. I do like it the way it is, though.

Well anyway, that was extremely saccharine and sentimental... I should be ashamed. It was a lot of fun to write, though, and a bit strange because it started as a little idea in my head that was delivered via a history class and it just... grew. Of course, it is set during World War II.

Lukas will have some explaining to do after the initial high has worn off... Cyril might just murder him...

And actually, it was common for unions of these sorts to occur (although perhaps not between two males necessarily... but I'm sure it happened, maybe... ) when soldiers were stationed outside of a town whether or not the soldiers were enemies and whether or not the couple spoke the same language. Love, or lust, needs no words.

Reviews would be appreciated.