EnglandXTheLonelyReader - Destination

The dark clouds hang in the sky over you, giving you some amount of company as the cold sensation of rain drops cloud your mind. The dark blue awning above is barely big enough to shield you from the downpour. You try and pull your hood forward to try and keep your hair dry, but you can already feel the water seeping through. At least your feet are dry. You don't really hate the rain, but getting stuck in it sure is bothersome.

The world is bathed in gray, the sidewalk reflecting the grayscale world above. There's no one here. Every store's door is shut, lights off. Cars roll past, people minding their own business, going on without you. It's just how the world works, no one cares unless it concerns them somehow, unless they've got something to profit from.

At least, that's the truth that's always in the back of your mind.

Your breath condenses into warm steam as you exhale, and the smell of wet asphalt floods your senses as you inhale. The rain doesn't look like it's going to let up anytime soon. You're bored, wet, and cold. What were you doing anyways?

Just as you step forward to brave the downpour, the warmth of another person radiates on you, and the rain suddenly sounds like it's hitting plastic. For a moment, you're a little confused.

"You look freezing." A warm voice says in a thick British accent. You turn around to see a handsome young man, golden blonde under the overcast skies, thick eyebrows and apple green eyes, holding an umbrella out over you, soft rain pelting his face. He seemed to appear slightly bothered, yet empathetic.

"Oh, I'm fine." You say, a little shocked, quickly stepping back.

"Doesn't appear that way to me, 'love." He frowns, taking a step forward and repeating the gesture.

"Look, I'm fine, really-" You step backwards when suddenly the world seems to spin. His warm embrace is suddenly around you, rain falling, umbrella tossed a few feet away.

"Close one." He breathes, his face warm and flushed, right next to yours. You barely have time to realize you slipped when he props you back up and goes to fetch the umbrella.

He coughs slightly at the awkward moment when he returns, and holds the umbrella over you, this time standing next to you. He's a little wet now, and you feel a little bad.

"Well after that I really can't let you go now." He says in a slightly playful tone. You're somewhat intrigued by this mysterious stranger. "Where are you headed? I'll walk you." The Brit offers.

"Well…the station." You say, frowning to cover your interest. You made it up, it's not like you have anywhere to go anyways.

"We're going the same way then." He says, but you can't really read what he's thinking.

The rain falls lightly on the umbrella above you two, and now your shoes are a little wet. You realize it's a lot warmer next to him when you were alone. It's strange, you wonder, you haven't felt like this in a long time.

"I'm Arthur, by the way." He gives a slight nod. "Do you find yourself stuck in the rain often?"

"No, not really." You reply, stepping over a large puddle. "I'm (_f/n_)."

You can see Arthur smile in the corner of your eye, but when you look he has the same softly grumpy expression.

The station looms in the distance, destination closing in. But you have this strange feeling that it's more of a starting point, bathed in the rainfall, streaks of golden light shinning from the heavens around it.

You silently pray the rain will continue.