TITLE: Empire of Dust
AUTHOR: kateafur
RATING: PG-15- Nothing seriously bad, but some may not like the topic, so be
forewarned.
CATEGORY: M/M, future fic
SPOILERS: General third season. Really general. Nothing major at all here.
SUMMARY: Maria has built a fantasy world for herself. It's time to face reality.
(I suck at summaries.)
Part One:
LET THE TRUTH STING
But here watching the night
As it opens like a flower
And the day starts to rust
Feeling time pound
Like a silent hammer
On this empire of dust
-David Gray-
Rule number one of our game: Take off the wedding ring.
Without hesitation, I remove the platinum band from my finger. I rub my finger
in a vain attempt to increase circulation there and remove the indentation marks
from where the ring has cut into my skin. Removing the ring always feels as
though a great weight has been lifted from my shoulders, like I'm free again.
Rule number two: Check into the room early, before the conference.
I breeze through the hotel lobby where I recognize a few faces from the earlier
showing. Feeling for the keycard I placed in my jacket pocket, I bypass the
check-in rush and head for the elevators. He'll be waiting for me. It's all part
of the game. I check-in early then leave my room number on his voicemail. I'm
sure he gets there at least an hour before I do, hoping I'll be back early.
We live for these times together. It's like this little world we built for each
other. This isn't a nondescript chain hotel- it's our palace. The walls here
glitter and the floor is paved in gold. At least that's how it feels when we're
together. Somehow, it never feels wrong. He was always so good at building
walls. Well, this time he helped me construct some of my own; I can exist here
and not worry about anything else.
It's hard to believe that this has been going on for almost a year. I think of
my poor husband at home, how he would never suspect me in a million years of
doing this. I would have never picked this lifestyle for myself. But this is
what I need to do to survive.
Funny, how we could never seem to succeed in creating a life together before.
Now we have. Granted, it's not the most conventional or secure existence. It's
ours, though. That's all that matters.
But, honestly, how long can this go on for? Covert meetings in hotel rooms can't
take the place of a marriage. As much as I would love this to be forever, our
empire is fragile- one gust of wind and it's all over.
I push those thoughts aside for now. Focus on the here and now. Tomorrow can
wait.
Rule number three: Act normal. No one suspects anything.
I step onto the elevator, thankful I'm all alone.
Scratch that. Tina Salancy from one of our affiliate galleries makes it on just
as the door is closing. Damnit. She's been bothering me all day with her
irrelevant questions and frizzy brown hair badly in need of some deep
conditioning.
"Maria!" She greets me with a huge smile. I plaster a fake one on my face,
carefully covering my naked left hand with my right one. It would be just like
her to notice the absence of my ring; after all she had the nerve to point out
my gold earrings clashed with it. Bitch. He bought me these earrings.
"Tina. What a surprise." I say dryly, not attempting to hide my annoyance. She
doesn't take the hint.
"They're having happy hour downstairs in fifteen. Planning on going? It sounds
like a lot of fun!"
"I'm beat. I think I'll turn in early."
She looks disappointed. Thankfully, before she can push the issue, the elevator
arrives at my floor. I give her a wave goodbye and hurry to the room. I'm
already twenty minutes late.
The door to the room responds to my keycard with a soft snick and I'm in.
Suddenly, I can breathe again. Just feeling him near awakens my soul.
I quietly drop my bag and remove my heels. If I know him at all, he's fallen
asleep watching some sporting event. Sure enough, the TV is silently playing a
football game and he's dozing on the bed.
Removing my jacket, I slowly make my way over to the bed. I stretch myself out
next to him, watching for signs he's awake. No response. Typical. I reach out
and gently run a finger over his jaw. He wakes up immediately, sharing with me a
little smile I know is reserved only for me.
"Maria." Just hearing him say my name like that, in a velvety prayer, makes this
all worth it. I smile, maybe for the first time since I last saw him. He waits
for me to speak, so I do.
"God, I've missed you, Michael."
That's all it takes for him to pull me into a rough embrace, his lips devouring
mine. Yes, this is definitely good. Not bothering with matches, he simply raises
his hand and several candles light up. The room, which before was beige and
depressing with a half-hearted attempt at a floral scheme, suddenly glows. The
sheets aren't scratchy cotton but decadent silk. Our balcony no longer looks out
onto a desolate alley, but a spectacular ocean view. We're the only ones who
exist in this world. We made the stars that shine above us in the sky tonight
and the sandy beaches below.
As Michael claims his favorite spot on my neck, I can't help but think we've
created our own little piece of heaven.