Page 63 of Unruly
“How does a person get experience?”
“By doing things.”
“Exactly.” I lift his hand and brush my lips against the back of it. “I don’t mind being the first person to show you around this modern world. I definitely don’t mind being the lucky guy who gets to kiss and touch you.”
He laughs softly, shaking his head. “You’re very good for a man’s ego.”
“I’m not just blowing sunshine up your ass, Farnsworth. You’re gorgeous, and I find you very, very appealing.”
“Thank you. You know it has to be temporary, of course.”
“Of course. Is that something I have to get used to? I can never have a lover? Never fall in love?”
“No, that isn’t the case. Do you remember reading about the love bond in the handbook?”
“Love bond?” I repeat, searching my memory. “It sounds vaguely familiar.”
“Most Chasers skip over that part. They’re too overwhelmed by all the other duties and responsibilities they have to notice it.”
“Yeah, maybe that was it. What do I need to know about it?”
“Borja, your heart works like it always did. Your emotions work like they always have. Except for an added boost of immortality, you’re the same man you’ve always been. You can fall in love just as any mortal human being can.”
“But then they grow old and die, and I don’t.”
“Right, unless there’s a love bond.” He exhales slowly. “It’s a ritual I would conduct on your behalf, and it would essentially tie your chosen person’s soul to yours, thereby giving them immortality.”
My jaw drops. “Seriously? That’s pretty major.”
“Yes. It’s also very, very rare.”
“Why?”
“As I understand it, it’s difficult to find somebody who can understand what you do and how you must live. It’s not like a regular job. You don’t just blend in with society anymore. You’d have to tell the person, and they’d have to accept it. There must be a great deal of trust built at that point. They’d also have to be willing to accept a love bond with you, and you only get one. If they were to leave, it would destroy you.”
“I see. Well, I guess it’s neither here nor there right now.”
“No, but if love is something you seek, you can find it.”
“What about you? You could find love too, couldn’t you?”
He shrugs. “It’s extremely difficult for me, because I live in the Revival House, and I’m not exposed to the mortal world very often. When I am, it’s usually just for brief periods. I suppose I would have to either choose to spend time in the Above to find a mate, or I could, I don’t know, stumble upon someone in my world, like a Chaser.”
Farnsworth actually blushes. The longer he’s up here, the healthier and more human he looks.
“I don’t really interact with Chasers much. Only briefly.”
“Except for me.” I smile. “Wouldn’t that be something if you and I fell in love?” He clears his throat, trying to tug his hand away, but I hold it tighter. “Is that so far-fetched?”
“It doesn’t make any sense. I live in the Revival House and you live here in the Above, and, well, it just… it just wouldn’t work.”
“You know something, Farnsworth? My grandmother used to tell me that love will always find a way.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means that when two people are in love, regardless of the obstacles they face, they’ll figure it out. Don’t you think you should at least hold out hope that something like that could happen for you?”
“I’m not at all interested in it.” He pulls his hand away successfully this time and straightens his bow tie. “I’m much too busy for those kinds of things.”
