Calling to the night


By: MayuCVA
To: LeShit(Casey)


Otasune / SnakeXOtacon / DaveXHal

No Spoiler Warning











He was leaving.
Dave was moving out. For five years, Dave had lived with Hal. They got along perfectly. Hal had never met anyone he was this close to, and Dave felt the same way. For five years, everything was fine. They had been moving in and out, but they had never stayed living separate for more than 3 days, and in those 3 days, Hal was dying to see him again.
Hal loved Dave. Everyday, Dave was in he's mind, and he couln't stop thinking about him. But Dave didn't love him back, he used to tell himself. How could he? You are nothing but a weak, stupid, geek... you can't even walk a mile without falling or spacing out... he used to tell himself every time he found himself thinking about him. About Dave...he's deep aqua colored eyes...that delicate tan that made he’s skin darker... the scars all over him... and that voice. Dave’s voice was like a mother’s lullaby... That feeling of love and happiness you got as a child when a mother carried you in her arms singing a soft lullaby... But Dave’s voice was rough, yet somehow... he loved that.
Everything was going downhill now. They barely even talked anymore.
“Hal” Said Dave as he came out of he’s room, sounding a little sleepy. “Have you seen my coat?”
“No...sorry”
“Are you ok?”
“hmm.. why you ask?”
“You sound sick. Your voice is trembling. Have you sleept well?”
“Yeah... don't worry about me”
Dave sighed and walked away. He was a bit worried, but he knew better than messing with Otacon. Once he got Hal mad, it would take weeks to get him in a good mood again. Dave closed the door softly behind him. Hal just kept looking forward, then, a small tear rolled gently against he’s cheeks... Hal’s heart was broken, and nothing could could make it better now.

It wasen't until the end of that silent, sad week that Snake admitted to be leaving. Otacon already knew just by looking at Dave’s room, which was slowly growing empty. Hal reacted as if he was fine with Dave’s option, but in reality, he felt the world crumble down on him, crushing him slowly in killing pain. Only five more days, and they would have to say goodbye.
The days went by slowly, yet so fast, and Hal grabbed onto the passing hours, hoping for them to never end. Grasping every second of time he had with Dave, as if the day he left, he would take Hal’s life with him. Every night was the same, Hal would cry himself to sleep in he’s dark, cold room. Everything seemed dull, and he didn't care about anything anymore. He would sit on the same desk, thinking, trying to come up with a plan, anything to make Dave stay, but everyday was a hopeless try.

That morning came. This time, they both woke up in silence. There was no “good morning” or even a “hey” between them. There was tick pressure in the air, along with sorrow. Dave would look at Hal worried. He looked sick. He had bags under he’s eyes, and his skin looked paler than usual. He looked terrible. Dave had not seen Hal like this since Shadow Moses... but this time, misery was added to that look. He’s eyes looked lifeless, he looked skinnier, and he looked very tired.
Dave started thinking how to help Hal in anything, then he remembered. He had not seen Hal eat anything in days, other than a few snacks once in a wile. Dave had to break the ice.
“Hal, you haven’t been taking care of yourself... Eat something before you pass out again”
Hal didn’t answer. He was just sitting on his computer desk. From what Dave could see, Hal was reading something, or seemed like it anyways, but his eyes... the light pale grey of his eyes looked dark and dull. There was no life in them.
“Hal?”
“Ok”
Dave was cut off by the sharp response. Hal only answered like this when it took him a lot of effort to talk, and the response finally came out, breaking trough his feelings as if escaping a jail harshly.
“Right...”
Dave turned around and walked back to his room.

Some hours later, Dave started packing everything in a car. Jack was there. It was probably his car, taking Snake to were ever he was going now. Jack also seemed a little worried. Dave and Jack were talking outside for a little bit. Hal was close to the door from inside,just far enough for them not to see him, but close enought to hear them talk. He could not make out what they were saying... then he heard Jack
“Snake, Are you sure he’s ok with this?”
“I don’t know... i would like he’s still the strong man i know...”
Hal realized the reason he heard them was because they were walking in closer. Hal hurried away from the door. He didn't want to be caught eavesdropping. As Hal gave a step back in such a hurry, he fell backwards behind the desk close to the door. He had landed in a small, dark place between the desk and the wall. He was about to let out a small moan as he felt burning pain on his foot, and looked to see a glass shard had stabbed his leg when he fell. Hal was about to reach and get it out, when he saw Dave’s figure enter the house, and he fell back again on the small corner. They didn’t see him. Jack followed Dave to he’s room to get the rest of Dave’s stuff. Hal got up slowly, with the burning pain of his foot. It wasn't bad. The glass had not gone too deep. A band-aid could get rid of this. He tried to ignore Dave and Jack’s conversation. He didn’t want to believe what was going on. He didn't want to hear it. Hal’s eyes were watery now, tears gathering, but he held them back, trying to stop himself from crying.
Hal reached the bathroom, which was right in between Dave’s and Hal’s rooms. He opened the cabinets to take out a small box with band-aids, the rubbing alcohol, and some cotton balls. He quickly took care of the wound, and placed the band-aid. It was better now, tho his whole leg was numb now. Hal walked out slowly, and heard Dave talking to Raiden again, but this time, he could not block it out.
“Thanks for taking all my stuff. I will leave tomorrow morning... I can’t leave Hal like this...not like this...”
He wasn’t leaving until tomorrow. Hal didn’t know what to feel. He felt happy that he had one more day with Dave, but he felt sad knowing he had to withstand another day with the painful fact Dave was leaving him.

Later on that day, Jack had left with all of Dave’s stuff, and said to be coming back tomorrow at 6:00 a.m. to pick him up. Hal never woke up until at least 10:00 a.m. so it was understandable Dave didn’t wanna leave when Hal was awake.
Hal locked himself in his room, alone, and full of sorrow. He didn’t want Dave to leave. He didn’t want him to leave him.... He didn’t want to wake up that morning to find the empty house, with Dave long gone. Part of him screamed at Hal to go out of his room and spend the little time they had left together with Dave... but the other half begged him to stay inside. He didn’t want to worry Dave anymore than he already was.
Hal curled up, sitting on his bed, back against the wall, hugging he’s legs. Before he could do anything, Hal had broken into tears. All that was on his mind was how painful Dave’s absence will be. How much saying goodbye would kill him... He didn’t want this. He loved Dave, and wanted for him to stay.
“Hal?”
a chill ran trough Hal’s back when he heard Dave’s voice outside, followed by a small knocking on the door.
“Are you ok in there?”
Hal dried his tears and tried to do he’s best to look ok. He walked to the door, and opened it slowly.
“Hal...”
Dave was really worried. He could see it in his eyes. Hal felt a little happy to see Dave cared about him, but....
“Whats up...?”
Hal tried his best to keep his voice steady.
“I made you something to eat, pleas come. I’m really worried about you..”
Hal hesitated for a minute. Dave WAS really worried about him. Once more he felt as if his eyes were gathering tears again, but he held them back.
“Thanks... I’ll be there in a minute”
“Alright...”
Dave walked away and Hal closed the door once more. He turned around and walked to the mirror in his room. He looked at himself and realized why Dave was so worried. His skin was white as death, his eyes were baggy and lifeless. He looked skinny, and his hair was a big mess. He looked scary, even to himself. Hal sighed and fixed his hair a little, and closed his eyes for a moment.
“Hal?”
Dave knocked on the door once more, sounding a little impatient.
“I'm coming...”
He heard Dave walk away from the door, and sighed once more. He looked at himself in the mirror once more before leaving with Dave.
Hal came out of the room, the lights of the living room hurt his eyes a bit since he came out of the darkness of his room. He half closed his eyes and covered the light from his face with one arm.
Dave game a small smile, but shook it off and walked to Hal. Dave wrapped an arm around Hal, and walked him to the table. They didn’t say anything as they walked to the table. Dave pulled a chair with his other hand, and helped Hal sit down. Hal rubbed his eyes with one hand, and yawned. He WAS really tired.
“I know how much you love all sorts of soups so...”
Dave passed him a bowl plate with a recipe Hal had tough Dave long time ago. It was white rise with chicken, cooked along with carrots and onions. It was simple, easy to make, and Hal loved it. Hal gave a small smile and thanked him with a big smile. Dave smiled back and placed one hand on Hal’s shoulder.
“Eat up”
“Thanks...”
Hal’s voice was weak, and so was all his body. He reached for the spoon Dave placed next to Hal’s plate, and started to eat. Dave looked at him, worried, checking that he ate all of it.
“Its really good...”
Said Hal with a smile as he ate. Dave’s smiled once again, and pat his shoulder with the hand he placed there a few seconds before, and removed it. Dave got up and walked back to his own room. Hal kept on eating, but his arms were giving up on him. As he got a spoonful of the food, his trembling hands let go of the spoon, and  the spoon fell against the plate, making a loud noise and spilling a bit of the soup around the plate. Dave turned around and saw Hal, flushed, reaching for a napkin to clean up the small mess. Dave walked back to Hal, and grabbed him by the shoulders.
“Hal, Are you sure your ok?”
“Y-yes... s-sorry...”
“You dont sound like it. Your hands are shaking too.”
“I....”
Hal stopped and placed the napkin on top of some of the spilled soup. Dave looked at him for a few seconds, worried, and saw Hal getting nervous with the passing seconds. Dave sighed and pulled a chair close to Hal, and sat next to him. Hal pressed his back against the chair, a little nervous, and shrugged. Dave gave him a smile, a little disturbed or shy, but it was a very beautiful smile.
“Fine, then i guess I’ll just have to help you.”
Hal was shocked when he heard Dave say this. Dave smiled, more comfortable this time, an actual, true smile. He grabbed a spoonful of the soup and got it close to Hal’s mouth. He was actually helping him eat it like if he were sick or something. Hal was happy, yet at the same time, he didn’t like feeling like a little kid. Hal stared at Dave, with a light blush across his face, and awkward look. He didn’t have to say anything for Dave to know Hal felt annoyed by this. Dave gave a small laugh and rolled his eyes, then pushed the spoon closer to Hal’s mouth.
“Stop being so stubborn and just eat, ok?”
“...”
Dave just kept that smile, and then Hal slowly opened he’s mouth a little bit.
“Much better”
Dave pushed the spoon inside Hal's mouth, continued helping him eat. Hal felt so embarrassed, but so blissful.


Then it was night. This was it. Dave was leaving.
That night, Hal just sat on his bed, thinking. First were the memories, then came the tears, the cries, and then... Hal went numb. There was nothing else.
Hal just stopped thinking about his memories, or anything, and the only thing left in his mind was the ringing in soft echoes. Dave was leaving.

Dave didn’t know what to do. Hal was not ok. Hal was not himself anymore... Could it be because he was leaving? Dave still hoped Hal was that strong man that got over Sniper Wolf and Emma’s deaths... That Dave leaving was no big deal to him. He really hoped so... But as the hours passed, and noon became midnight, he got a very bad feeling. There was a strange feeling in the air. He didn't know why, but there was also a very faint smell, different from the usual smell of cigarettes and dull oil candles Hal turned on once in a wile. There was something else... he knew that smell from somewhere, but the smell was too faint to recognize. Dave walked to his room, and as he entered, the bad feeling turned worse. There was something wrong. He couldn’t shake the horrible feeling he had, and his experience in the battle field had thought him to always respond toward this feelings, but how could he respond when he didn't know what was wrong?

Hal

Dave ran out of his room. That smell, he knew what it was. It was blood. He stopped at Hal’s door, and tried to open the door, but it was locked from the inside. He grabbed a knife and kept it close by in case someone, other than Hal, was there. He knocked the door, almost with punches.
“Hal! Open the door!”
There was no response.
“Hal!”
Again there was silence, and now, the faint smell of blood had turned a little ticker, tho still very faint. Dave waited a few heartbeats, and when he realized Hal wasen’t opening the door, he jammed the door knob backwards, breaking the lock, and slammed the door wide open.
What he was inside was shocking. There was no one inside else, but the smell of blood was still there, and in the corner of the room, on top of the bed, Hal was sitting, slumped against the wall, with lifeless eyes, and blood on he’s arms.
“Hal!”
Dave ran towards Hal, and cheeked his arms around. He pulled up his arm and saw something incredible. Incredibly stupid, and incredibly unbelievable. Hal’s wrist were slit. He held a pocket knife in his hand, and there was blood running out of them, and somehow, miraculously, he had missed the veins. The cut was wide, but not deep enough to harm anything that would have to be operated.
“Hal!? What the hell?! Hal! Answer me god damn it!!!”
What the hell... was all that went trough Dave’s head. Hal.. this wasn't like Hal at all! Hal would never...
“Hal!! Damn it, Hal! Answer me!! What the hell did you do?! What is wrong with you!? You...You aren’t this stupid, Hal!!”
Dave ran as fast as he could to the bathroom, opened the cabinet and took out the first aid kit. He ran back to Hal and started treating his cuts. There were several on the upper side of his wrist, and down. He still coulnd’t believe he didn’t cut any veins, but happy at the same time. Dave continued yelling at Hal of how stupid his actions were, and how the Hal he knew would never do something so stupid and childish, but he became tired when he noticed his words just didn't reach Hal. Hal was too...
“Hal?”
He’s eyes were dull, even more lifeless than before. All the light had been drained away, leaving him with dark eyes, staring into the middle of nowhere. His eyes were red, and his cheeks soaked in tears.
“Hal... please tell me whats going on..”
Dave tried talking more peaceful to him, trying to get Hal to talk. He waited, but Hal was just as dead looking as before. Dave wrapped an arm around Hal, and pulled him closer...
“Hal... I know you can hear me”
Hal did not change. It took quite a wile for Hal to react. The only thing he did was let out a weak sob. That was enough for Dave. He started to rub Hal’s back, comforting him. He still wanted to know what happened, but Hal’s well being came first. Hal’s silence was gone, as he broke into tears. Dave hugged him, carefully, Hal’s head against his shoulder.
“Why did you do this?”
“Dave...”
Hal could barely talk in between he’s cry. Not only could he barely talk, but he didn’t know what to say. He wanted to say “I Love You” and “Don’t leave” but he didn’t have enough courage. Hal just wrapped he’s arms around Dave, in those blood stained arms.
“Hal why did you do something this stupid? Hal, i know you better than anyone, and i know your not the type of person to do this... what happened?”
“Dave, I...”
“What?”
“....”
“Hal, answer me, what is it?”
“Its...its nothing...”
Dave didn’t have the patience for this. He got up, freeing himself from the embrace, and faced Hal with sharp, narrow eyes.
“Nothing!? You are saying this stupidity was NOTHING!?”
Hal shrugged back as Dave yelled at him, once again crawling into a little ball. Hal hid his face behind his knees, and waited for Dave to calm down.
“Otacon, Answer me, god damn it! You aren’t a kid or a teenager anymore! You must have had a real reason for this!! Hal!!”
Hal just kept looking away, not having the courage to say what happened. He knew how stupid and childish he looked, but he couldn’t do anything else.
Dave grabbed Hal by his shoulders and shook him around, angry and desperately trying to make Hal talk
“Hal! I can’t leave you like this! I won’t get out of this room until you tell me what happened! I don’t care if it takes me days!”
Hal twitched when he said this, and slowly looked up to his side, not at Dave, but Dave could see his eyes clearly. Hal was...happy.
Dave was cough off guard by this. Hal’s eyes had regained life, as if the “i wont leave until you tell me” part had made him happy.
“Your never going to tell me then, are you?”
Hal flushed, realizing Dave cough a full view of Hal’s plan just by looking at his eyes.
“Hal.. you don't... want me to leave?”
“...”
“Did you do this because I'm leaving?”
“...”
“Your worse than i thought... Your love and your sister die, and you keep going strong, but when a friend leaves you, you—“
“Its not like that!!”
Dave was shocked, got off guard once more by Hal. Hal seemed to have been stunned also, as if he had lost control.
“Then what is it!?”
“I...”
“What!? Hal, be a real man and speak up!!”
“Dave, i...”
Hal felt his heart pumping so hard it hurt. He felt his hands sweaty and he was shaking. This was it. Either he told Dave now, or Dave will leave him for ever. Hal kept telling himself, and was almost certain Dave did not share the same feelings as him, but at least, he may have a chance of Dave staying longer for their friendship... anyway, nothing would be ok anymore once he said it. He would say  it, and Dave would either go away and never come back, or... either way, nothing would ever be ok anymore.
“Hal!! I'm tired of this! Say it now or--!”
“Dave i.....”
Dave stopped when he saw how forced Hal was talking, and he was shaking.
“Dave....i...i...”
Hal couldn't do it. Instead, he threw himself, embracing Dave, and held him tight this was it.
“Dave, i love you!!”
Dave froze. He was left speechless, and could not move. Hal blocked away everything, just concentrating on having Dave in his arms.
“Dave...i don’t want you to leave!! I... I can’t live without you, Dave!”
Hal felt Dave relax a little, and then pushed Hal off carefully. Dave held Hal by his shoulders and looked straight into his eyes.
“Hal... why did you do this?”
Hal froze. He didn’t understand.
“...what...?”
“Hal, why didn’t you tell me this before...?”
Hal felt Dave’s grip on his shoulders tighten. Hal looked away, speechless
“Do you have any idea why i was moving in the first place?”
Hal looked back at Dave, confused. Dave gave a small, faint smile, and pushed Hal down on the bed. Dave stood there, sitting next to Hal, who was now laying on the bed, and his arms held by the wrists by Dave. Dave looked closely at Hal with eyes caring and dark.
“I was moving... because i couldn’t stop hurting myself living with the man i loved and not being able to say it, or hold you in my arms...I had to stop... before i went mad...”
Hal was speechless and...peaceful.
“Dave...”
Dave crept closer to Hal, and gave him a deep kiss, full of emotion. Hal closed his eyes slowly... he forgot everything. All that mattered now, was Dave. No words could ever describe the happiness Hal felt as he felt Dave caressing him after the kiss, and creeping closer to him. Dave held Hal in his arms, in an embrace, then pulled him closer. They were so close... Dave held him so tightly, Hal could feel Dave’s heartbeat along with his own. Two hearts becoming one in the dark, cold night.
“Jack is going to be mad for all the trouble i made him go for this... we were so stupid... how long has this been on?”
“2 years after we started living togheter....”
“Ever since i met the real you after shadow moses...a year at least”
Hal smiled. The coldness of the night faded with the happiness and relief warming him along with Dave.


Later that night, Dave and Hal laid together, tired, a deep embrace between the two men, their clothes tossed around the room. Dave held Hal in his arms. Hal breathing fast, trying to relax.
“Dave...I love you....”
Dave pulled Hal closer and kissed him deeply.
“I love you too...”

************************************************************

That morning, Hal woke up alone. He got up and noticed Dave had put Hal’s clothes in the small chair next to his bed on the computer desk. Dave’s clothes were gone. Hal looked around the room, but Dave was not there. He turned around to face he’s computer screen, which was still on. He put on his glasses and looked forward to the screen. The screen displayed the time clearly in the Otaclock: 10:22 a.m.
Hal turned around and saw the door slightly ajar. He could hear voices and then the main door close. Hal got up and got some clean clothes. He walked back to the other clothes he had been wearing the night before, and froze with embarrassment at the blood stained clothes.
Hal walked out of the room, and saw more things missing, and more packed up. Hal looked down, starting to feel depressed again, until he saw Dave come out of his room with a big smile.
“Hal, pack up”
“What?”
“We are moving”
Hal looked at him, surprised, and Dave’s smile turned into a small laugh
“Well, i already got the place, so I can’t just give it up now.”
Dave walked to Hal, and hugged him.
“And i want you to come with me. We always move around, so it should be no big deal, right? Besides, you don’t have that much stuff. You have less than me, thats for sure”
Hal blushed slightly and smiled, a small tear on his eye rolled down his cheek once more, and he pressed himself into Dave’s embrace.
“Yeah...”


The End.