Reaching High

"Oh. That is good to know then. And I suppose he shall be able to return to her when it is truly his time. But...I wonder why he was able to come back?" And why not anyone else? Why not the people he missed, Cornelius and the nice girl who used to sell ink in the market or any other countless people who had gone to the barrier or Spire? What did Ronin have that let him cheat death? Sam wanted to find it and give it to those he had still with him to make certain they wouldn't leave. But if no one knew...it was a horribly frustrating hole in his knowledge. Remi brought the book down for him and as he always had been before, Sam was amazed by the easy skill. He grinned and touched a hand to his chin, for a moment impressed by the trick and forgetting who was performing it. He took the book and held it to his chest happily, smiling at Remi. But then the other man got up and came close and suddenly he was aware of how he smelt, of charcoal and baking and something Sam couldn't quite place but that he was immediately nostalgic for. He averted his eyes until he caught the beginnings of Remi making the ladder into being, could not look away from the miracle. "I...wow. I...don't know how to thank you for that." He watched Remi's hand for a moment then slipped his into the other mans and pulled himself up, trying not to think of the warmth. Once he was up he looked at their clasped hands, began to open his mouth as if he was about to say something, then turned to the ladder and let go to touch it. "You are...a very good man, Remi. Selfless. I never expected you to speak to me again, never mind make something like this." Samuel At seventeen, I started to starve myself I thought that love was a kind of emptiness And at least I understood then the hunger I felt And I didn't have to call it loneliness