Tales Of Corinthia

I got bored decided to write here we are.

Summary: Criminal’s partner finds out he’s a criminal and he goes through it.

Want to listen instead : https://youtu.be/76Q8tVXMBn0

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A thick layer of snow covered the city windows with frost and condensation. Smoke clouded in the air from hundreds of chimneys their fires burning below. Not a soul remained in the street once the sun had set for the night. The warmth of the streetlights guiding any wayward soul home. 

Above it all Silas sat legs dangling over the side of the cliff he found perch on. Each breath brought a puff of steam, something as a child he would pretend to be the smoke of his fathers cigar. A memory long past as he got further into his adult life. Nearly thirty he still had many questions, wishing to go back to the child he once was. 

Instead he dealt with the family business and all the problems that came with it. Even if he was slowly losing pieces of himself in order to do that. It was what he was raised for afterall. Sometimes he wondered what it would be like to grow up in a normal family. Not having to hide from the so-called ‘heroes’. Would he be a better person, maybe he’d work in an office or be a doctor. He was always interested in medicine. 

Snow crunched as his best friend walked up behind him, face covered by a thick cloth for warmth. The slightly younger man stood silently looking over the city, hands shoved deeply in pockets, “You want to talk about it?” 

He didn’t. What was there to talk about his partner, the love of his life, found out about the business. About all the horrible things he’d done. He knew it would happen eventually, she would find out or he’d have to tell her. But not today, not so soon. 

The file was on their kitchen table when he got home. She wasn’t there, at that moment so upon seeing it he just walked out. Surely by the time he got back she’d be gone, the police called. Even though he’d tried to fix the reputation, to do better. He did so much at the whims of his father. None of it was okay. 

It didn’t matter how she got it, whether it was someone he knew or not. Whether she had been looking him up after all this time. He didn’t care. But instead of saying any of this he just tiredly said, “Not really,” 

Flint nodded solemnly sitting down next to him in the thick snow, sinking down in the freezing embrace. Staying silent despite the way he shivered next to the man. Gently he pulled his friend into his side, giving him the quiet he came up here for. 

Silas had messaged him not to come over when he found the file, their plans for the night called off. The short message, ‘Talia found out, don’t come.’ had set the younger on a wild goose chase trying to find him. While Flint didn’t live the same life he had known the man since they were boys. Teen years spent complaining about their parents and causing trouble together. 

His own discovery of the truth came one night when they were caught with spray paint in the old abandoned school. Both of them remembered vividly the way Silas’ father had quite coldly lectured them. Putting the fear of god into them both but Silas was much more affected. Explaining when the man left them alone how he would have to make up the lost money. 

“I don’t think anyone can love a monster,” Silas said echoing the words he had said all those years ago. 

“You are no monster,” Came the same response as the last time. A soft sigh following it, before the joking addition of, “Well maybe for making me sit in the snow like this yeah,”

The joke managed to make both men chuckle slightly into the cool air, the eldests voice hoarse from the silent tears that fell. In truth he wasn’t scared of being caught, the police could take him a hundred times over. He was instead deeply distraught knowing that he had just lost the love of his life. The woman he intended on marrying, who he shared a home and life with. 

Their home that they decorated together. Both covered in paint for a few days after each deciding to start play fights. Throwing paint at each other, getting it in hair and clothes. Turning out to be a lot harder to remove than they thought. Talia had been so happy, the smile not leaving her face as they finally got their own home. Truthfully he looked back at the time with joy he never felt without her.  

Every moment with her brought him so much happiness, each dinner, and evening spent cuddling. Even their arguments and spats where they wouldn’t talk for a few hours. Almost always ending in them cuddling and watching a movie or him cooking her favourite meal. 

The first time they argued he found her in the conservatory reading a book, dry tears staining her skin. She sat gazing out the window book in hand, a deep orange glow lighting up her soft features. Her smile was ethereal, gazing into the garden they planted together. Realising she hadn’t noticed him he’d knelt and took a picture of the scene. Later showing her it nervously. 

This was different though they weren’t arguing, this wasn’t a fight. He couldn’t make this up to her. As much as he wanted to change there wasn’t a way out, the scars running too deep. 

“I can’t change for her, but I love her so much,” He whispered, continuing to stare forward. 

Flint nodded and sighed, “I don’t think she’d want you to change, she loves you not the idea of you,” 

“But what if that’s not enough,” It was a real fear he had held onto for years, what if she realised he wasn’t enough. Especially now, surely she couldn’t love him despite his sins. 

The younger stared into the sky, surprisingly clear for the weather, “was she packing when you got home?” 

She wasn’t, at least as far as he could tell. Their suitcases were still in the corner where they left them after their recent vacation. Ready to be put back in the attic. A task neither had gotten around to. 

Once again there was the crunching of footsteps in the snow behind them. Silas didn’t look, he didn’t need to, he’d recognise her pace anywhere. Whether the rushed unevenness when she almost ran through the house looking for things or the slow steady pace that came out when she was nervous. He always knew. 

“Can we talk?” Her question was quiet and only responded to with a nod. Flint getting up to leave. The woman taking his place on the cliff’s edge, “is this about the file?” 

Once again a nod, then a moment’s hesitation, “Why did you come here?” 

His voice was firmer than before as he steeled himself, expecting worse from the interaction. A habit that had caused them many arguments as he assumed the worst. Something Talia had become accustomed to and didn’t react to anymore. 

Instead she leant her head on his shoulder, “Am I not allowed to make sure my partners okay?” 

“I mean, why didn’t you leave?” He was still tense but dropped the harshness in his tone. His own cheek leant on her head. 

“Because you’re still the man I fell in love with,” Her voice was quiet when she said this, “I admit it was a shock, but you haven’t changed because I found out your past.” 

His shoulders sagged and his breath halted as he took in her words, she wasn’t leaving, she didn’t hate him. A few stray tears fell and he quickly wiped them away. He couldn’t look at her just staring out onto the city. But he knew this would work, there was no more hiding. She was his home.