Time Warp: If I Could Save Time In A Bottle (Phoenix)

[Deleted]

Winter 2026

A couple weeks had passed since Phoenix had suddenly come back into the ink manipulator's life. Suddenly and unexpectedly. A literal ghost from his past. The man he once loved and who was supposed to have died. Oriel was supposed to have given up on him. Though now that Phoenix was back, Oriel...had a lot to consider.

Like...did he still love Phoenix?

Oriel had forgotten what that felt like. He knew what he was supposed to do to express it, how to take care of the other man who was clearly just as broken as Oriel, but...Oriel couldn't tell anymore.

He wanted to think that those feelings were still there, buried beneath all those walls that Oriel had erected over his years holed up in a world that left him no choice but to give up such an important part of himself. Maybe they were and just needed a bit of help in order to resurface?

Oriel didn't know. But regardless, Phoenix had returned and needed a place to stay. With permission from his adoptive mother, Oriel had offered up his home. They hadn't discussed how long he was to stay, but...guess it was assumed to be until Phoenix got back on his feet. Found a job. An apartment of his own.

For now, they were just living, slowly, one day at a time. Oriel would come home from work and often find Phoenix on the couch. Oriel would take off his shoes and workshirt, grab a couple drinks from the fridge, and sit beside him. And there they'd stay for nearly the whole evening, their fingers barely laced, and sharing the briefest of conversations. Oriel wasn't much of a talker anymore.

Today, Oriel had the morning shift at the convenience store, which meant that he got off during the early afternoon. It wasn't even 3 o'clock yet by the time he got home. And when he opened the door, he was met with yet another nostalgic surprise. "Phoenix," he said in his usual husky voice. Oriel blinked, taking in the image, before speaking again. "You cut your hair." Oriel continued to stare as he shut the door behind him.

[Deleted]

Phoenix could never have predicted or expected the way his life would turn upon coming back to Pilot Ridge. Not only had he found a face from his past, but he was given a place to stay and food to eat thanks to the kindness of Oriel and his mother. Phoenix was incredibly grateful, and hoped he could, somehow, return their kindness someday.

He hadn't found a job yet; he hadn't even looked, really. Phen's confidence was slacking in many areas. He had panic attacks sometimes, often triggered by seemingly harmless things. He had trouble with closeness, though that was gradually getting better the more time he spent around Oriel. He had yet to trigger any memories of the man, though. He'd had a few flashes of other things when he'd visited places - like some of his teachers names when he'd visited Hammel, or remembering the bubble tea shop when he'd walked past it. The little things kept him going, as did Oriel himself.

He was a quiet man, but that was alright with Phoenix. He didn't talk a lot anymore anyway; it wasn't unusual for them to find themselves in long periods of now comforting silence. It'd been strange at first, but the pixie was slowly getting used to it.

Today he'd taken the initiative to actually, finally, cut his hair. It had been getting to the point where he'd been tying it back so it didn't completely cover his eyes and get in the way; he figured he might have a better chance of an employer taking him seriously if he ever got an interview, too. Phoenix didn't really think it all that important, though, until Oriel arrived home and immediately pointed it out.

Phoenix glanced up, and smiled with a slight blush. "Yeah... It's really weird t'get used to," he replied softly, running his fingers through the short strands. "I think I like it though. It's not in my way all the time." Hesitantly, Phoenix walked forward and gently took one of Oriel's hands in both his own.

"I, um, I had an idea," he murmured, slowly lifting his eyes to meet the taller man's. "I thought we could go out and, um, maybe do somethin', for once. I noticed there's a thrift store just a couple blocks away... I thought, um, maybe we could go check it out. Maybe buy somethin' at the bakery across the street." He felt silly after saying it, so Phoenix shrugged and meekly looked down. "I mean, if you want to. We can stay here like usual if you'd rather, I'm fine either way."

[Deleted]

With his hair finally cropped short and brushed up out of his face, Oriel could see more clearly the effects that time had on his old lover. It was reminiscent of how Oriel found Phoenix when they first met…only much harsher. Phoenix had clearly aged to look older than he really was, the man’s own natural youth not being enough to hide it. Phoenix was older than Oriel, but even as young adults the asian could easily pass for a young teenager.

However, the shorter hair also had another effect. It…seemed to brighten up the other man. Like it’d brought him just a little bit out of the darkness that he’d been lost in. And even more, Oriel found himself suddenly lost in memories, swept back to the time when Phoenix had first cut his hair that short and created a very intense, and wholly unexpected, reaction in his younger lover.

Oriel stared at Phoenix as he relived that moment, until he was pulled back into the present by the asian’s touch. Oriel glanced down at their hands, his face relaxed with something of a smile hidden somewhere in those features, while he listened to Phoenix’s request. “Yeah, we can do that,” he said, nodding slightly and looking back up to Phoenix. The smile was gone. “Just let me change. I’ll be out in a minute.”

Oriel gave Phoenix’s hands a soft squeeze before slipping from them and retreating to the bedroom in the back. It’d take only a few minutes, but when he returned, Oriel would have changed from his work clothes into a simple pair of jeans and an old, long-sleeved shirt. He grabbed a jacket from the closet and handed it to Phoenix. “Wear this,” he instructed. “It’s cold out.” It was still the middle of winter, after all, with Christmas and New Years around the corner. Oriel had no plans to do anything special for those days. They'd long since become just simple days to him.

[Deleted]

Despite the refreshing change, Phoenix also felt very... Exposed, now that he couldn't hide behind his hair. He was well aware that his almond-shaped eyes were bordered with early crows feet, and his face was as thin and gaunt as the rest of him. At least he shaved now on a regular basis, otherwise he'd be stuck with constant, thin, wiry stubble that wouldn't look good on anyone.

Phoenix, of course, didn't remember how Oriel had reacted the first time this had happened; hell, he didn't even know it'd happened before. So he just shuffled a little as the younger man stared, assuming he was lost in some memory. Phen enjoyed the somewhat serene expression on Oriel's face for the moment, though. He did smile himself, though, as the man agreed. Enough so that the whites of his teeth peeked out from behind his lips. "Okay," he breathed, a spark in his eye. He was happy Oriel wanted to.

He returned the small squeeze and let Oriel change; he himself was dressed in his usual, oversized long-sleeve shirt and baggy jeans. He probably could use some new clothes, but he had no money for them, and didn't want to ask any more of Oriel and his mother than he had already. Phoenix was putting on his shoes when the man reappeared, and he gratefully took the jacket and put it on, zipping it up to his chin. "I'm not cold when I'm with you," he said, quietly and simply, without embellishment. But he still needed a coat.

Once Oriel was ready, they headed outside. Phoenix instinctively found Oriel's hand again as the cold wind hit them; he pulled his hood over his head. "It's not far," he said again. "Just, um, this way, I think." He gently tugged Oriel in the right direction, licking his lips against the cold trying to dry them out. "How, um, how was work today?" he asked after a few minutes. They passed by a couple rowdy teenagers who gave the two weird looks; Phoenix ducked his head and turned slightly towards his companion as they kept walking.

[Deleted]

Despite the worn look that Phoenix had, Oriel couldn’t say that he found the other man repulsive. No, Phoenix looked a lot better now, now that he’d cleaned himself up, than he had a mere day before. The small change in his appearance seemed to lift up the former addict, like he was plucked out of that depressive state that he’d been in since arriving in Pilot Ridge. It was a very noticeable change. Even the suggestion to go out was something different. It would probably be just as good for Oriel as it was no doubt for the pixie.

Oriel had much more control over himself than he had as a child. Life was no longer completely about physical relations for the man. Sure, there was a drive, but it wasn’t so urgent, as it was when he was younger. He didn’t need it these days, though he still took it when offered.

Tak had been there for him on a number of occasions since Oriel’s return. For now, though, his relations with her were now more out of gratitude than anything else.

He could do something for her, so he did.

And now…he could do something for Phoenix. Or was Phoenix doing something for Oriel? Either way it was simply…nice, to spend these day with him. Their relationship today(if it could be called that) had lost the exciting dynamic that it once had, but that had been exchanged out for something more bittersweet. Calming. Comforting. Oriel wasn’t sure what it was, but he wanted it to continue, for as long as life would allow.

Oriel nodded down at Phoenix, but still helped him get the coat on.

Oriel kept his eyes forward as they walked down the sidewalk, though he kept his hand wrapped around Phoenix’s, letting the shorter man guide him in the direction of the store. He ignored any stares that the to might have been getting. “Fine,” he replied. It was work. There was not much to report about it, it was pretty much the same thing every day. Not much variety. Neither good nor bad. Though after a moment, Oriel attempted to offer something more than his one word answer….which left him walking with his lips slightly parted as he tried to think of something that was relevant. He came up with nothing, so instead turned the conversation back to Phoenix. “Did you do anything today?” He much preferred listening to Phoenix talk than talking himself. Even though neither did much of it anymore.

[Deleted]

Phoenix couldn't remember the last time he'd had relations with anyone - really, he couldn't. And since he'd been in the facility, he'd grown wary and nervous about physical closeness, shying away from the rare hug or gentle touch. He was growing more comfortable with Oriel, though; he didn't mind leaning on him, and holding hands, and sometimes spooning in bed (though he got a little claustrophobic if he stayed that way for too long).

So the idea of sex was far from his head. He supposed he'd do it again if he ever felt comfortable enough, but for the time being, he was fine where he was at. Well... Maybe not fine, but he managed.

He liked where he was at now, much more than he'd been for a long time. He still had mornings where he woke up and forgot where he was and momentarily forgot who he was with, but it all eventually settled and he felt better once again.

And holding Oriel's hand felt nice. Like an anchor, a lifeline, tying him to reality.

He nodded at the man's short answer, not expecting anything more. Compared to Oriel, Phoenix was still talkative, really. "That's good," he replied simply, leading the man around another corner. When Oriel asked about his day, Phoenix shrugged and looked up at him. "Um, apart from getting my hair cut.... I went by a park an' watched some cute birds for a while." Phoenix smiled fondly. "Oh! An' I stopped by the old pet store I used t'work at. I saw a, um, black kitty... An' I remembered Oreo." He didn't remember much, just that he'd tried to get the cat once and had had it taken away for some reason or another. "Did you know Oreo?" he asked softly.

The thrift store was coming up just a couple more blocks ahead. Phoenix wished he had some money to use if Oriel found something he liked that the pixie could get for him for Christmas or something.

[Deleted]

Oriel was….thankful? Glad? that Phoenix hadn’t insisted on sleeping away from Oriel, even after that first night. Even now, Oriel still slept better having someone to hold onto. Knowing that there was someone else in the room with him helped him relax. Though if Phoenix had insisted on sleeping on the couch, Oriel would have just ended up carrying him back to his own room when the asian man started distressing again from his nightmares. Their current arrangement was just a lot better for both of them.

He adjusted his grip on Phoenix’s hand, subtly brushing his thumb over Phoenix’s. Oriel may not have been as expressive as he used to be, it wasn’t something he could just come out and say, especially if he himself didn’t really understand it; but he did want Phoenix to know that this small amount of contact between the two men was appreciated.

Oriel flit his eyes down to Phoenix at the mention of the pet store. So he remembered that? And…that stilly little kitten that they snuck into the dorms? That was so long ago. “Oreo…” he repeated thoughtfully. “Was that his name?” Oriel remembered the cat more than the name. “….we tried to sneak him into the dorms at Hammel. They don’t allow cats as pets, so we only had him for a day or so.” Oriel pursed his lips into something of a smile. “I’m surprised you remember that.” It was such a small incident. That cat was only a part of their lives for two days at best. And of all things, Phoenix remembered it. But not how Oriel was a part of it.

They crossed a street, still walking hand in hand, and as they approached the building on the corner, Oriel’s eye caught a poster advertising the aquarium down in Burlington. “Do you remember that place?” he asked, nodding to the poster.

[Deleted]

Phoenix was aware of every slight brush, every tiny bit of contact between him and the younger man; he felt the brush against his thumb, and gave a small smile. Oriel didn't need to say anything; the fact that they were walking this way at all said enough.

"I... I think so..." he replied, gaze lifting up in thought. "That's what I remember, at least, but I guess that doesn't say much. He must've been black an' white." Like the one he'd seen in the pet store today. Phoenix listened with intrigue as Oriel offered the memory - he relished them, trying to imagine the situations himself, even though he felt like a stranger listening to them. "That sounds like somethin' I'd try t'do," he agreed with a small, raspy laugh. "So... So we brought it into the dorm we shared, then...?" Phoenix tried to remember, but... Nothing but the cat came in his head.

He let Oriel take the lead as they walked towards the shop in view, glancing around the street for ant other familiar sights; none popped up. However, he looked at the poster when Oriel pointed it out, wracking his brain for a connection. ".... I think I remember the fish... Maybe..." he said, slowing a little. It was vague, though. Fuzzy. "No details, though." Phoenix held in a sigh; he was used to this by now.

The door tinkled as Phoenix opened it and nodded to Oriel to go inside first, trailing after as he finally let his fingers slip out of the man's grasp. "Ta-daa," he said softly. It was a decent-sized place, and nearly overflowing with all sorts of things. "I know it's not... Necessarily excitin', but you might like it." Phoenix lifted a hand to automatically curl a strand of hair behind his ear, but there was nothing there. "Wanna look around?"

[Deleted]

“Just barely.” The kitten was mostly black, as he remembered it. It might have had a little bit of white on it’s chest but he couldn’t recall it that well. Some features stuck out more than others. “It had brilliant blue eyes…..and was defeated by a bowl of milk.” The only thing cute than that to Oriel at the time was Phoenix himself, fussing over the kitten and pretty near any other animal they came in contact with. That was why he got the job at the pet store in the first place. Phoenix had just loved working with the animals.

Oriel felt a little awkward telling Phoenix about himself. About the memories they should have shared. Oriel treasured those memories, but to be the only one to have them was…incredibly lonely.

They’d make new memories. Oriel shouldn’t hold onto the hope that Phoenix might suddenly remember if he told him enough. There was no guarantee Phoenix would ever remember.

“It was your room,” he replied. “My room was in a separate dorm, but I came over often.” For hanging out, but mostly for intimate times. For Oriel’s games. Until Oriel was comfortable enough with Phoenix to let him see his own room.

Again, Oriel let himself get his hopes up, and was disappointed at something he knew wouldn’t happen anyway. Oriel gave Phoenix’s hand a gentle squeeze, but didn’t say anything further about the aquarium.

Oriel nodded as Phoenix held open the door and walked inside, stopping just inside the door to wait for his companion. Oriel wouldn’t say that he’d been here before. It was a thrift store. And Oriel wasn’t exactly rolling in money. Where else was he going to shop for clothes?

“Sure,” he said, noticing the awkward movement that Phoenix gave. It was almost too hard to not reminisce on every small thing Oriel noticed about the other man. He turned and headed further into the store, towards the knickknacks and kitchenware and other similar items, holding his hand out for Phoenix to take again if he pleased.

[Deleted]

"Defeated by a bowl of milk...?" Phoenix repeated with a half-smile. "I... I bet it was adorable." He was still trying to imagine it; fortunately he had a good imagination. And, well, he still loved animals, especially cats (dogs not so much, the large ones scared him); if he ever came across a kitty on the street, he still had to stop and try to pet them.

"My room..." Phen vaguely recalled it, but there wasn't much to recall, as far as he could remember. It had been pretty drab and plain. He sort of thought he remembered not spending as much time in it at some point, but he didn't know why until Oriel had told him. "We must've, um... We must've been pretty close, huh?" he murmured. It was almost as though fate had been cruel and erased his mind of the memories of the person it seemed he should remember the most.

Phoenix had already apologized numerous times for not recalling things. He thought Oriel was probably tired of it by now.

Phen trailed after Oriel inside with shuffling steps, rubbing his hands against his arms to try to warm up a little. Even the small walk had left him a little chilled, despite the jacket and Oriel's presence. "Okay," he replied with a tiny smile. Phoenix saw the hand and slowly laced their fingers together once more; Oriel's palm was rough, but warm and dry, and... Slowly becoming familiar. He followed him towards the area he was heading, glancing around at the various items they passed.

"Lookit that," he cooed as they passed by a kitten plushie. "Awwww...." Phoenix stopped and stared at the little thing, eyes wide. It was simple, but for some reason it captured the still occasionally child-minded man. It was an orange one, not like his old Oreo, but it had pretty blue eyes. Phoenix shook his head and smiled sheepishly at Oriel. "Sorry.... I get distracted really easily..."

[Deleted]

Another transient smile crossed his lips. Blink and you might miss it. “Yeah. It was.” When they moved out of the dorms, they wanted to get a kitten. Or twenty. “You always liked cats.”

Oriel nodded slightly. “Yeah,” was all he said. It was probably clear by now to Phoenix how close the two men were. There were just some behaviors Oriel had towards Phoenix that couldn’t be explained otherwise. Like pulling him into bed with him. Like holding hands. Overall just trying to take care of the other man. Oriel still wasn’t sure, though, if those actions were based on an echo of emotion, something real, or just a general force of habit. Or maybe it was a silent, desperate attempt to pretend to be normal. To not be the shell he was.

It was easy to do the actions. Everything else was…

It was warmer inside, but only enough to shield one from the elements. It was still chilly enough inside to make one’s hair stand on end, but not enough to one’s health in danger. In fact, if the store were full of customers, their collective body heat would have put the temperature at something resembling comfortable. His hand intertwined with Phoenix’s brought more warmth than the store. Oriel let it lead him through the the small shelves of the store, collected with old, forgotten treasures.

Oriel watched as Phoenix seemed to become fascinated by them, one by one. “It alright. We’re here to look at things. So…look.” He gave Phoenix’s hand a small squeeze of support.

[Deleted]

Phoenix had figured out by now, or at least guessed, what they had been to each other all those years ago. He'd never asked Oriel outright since the first time; he didn't really need to anymore. Just as long as the younger man was there for him, and kept doing the things he did that helped Phoenix cope with his memory loss more than anything they'd done at the facility, he would be alright. Because for the first time he felt like he had a chance of making new, pleasant memories with someone he was slowly growing more fond of.

He was glad Oriel had been up for doing this. For something so simple that Phoenix was already enjoying. His own smile came harder these days, although it was often triggered by small, simple things, like the little bits and things he was finding in this shop. "Okay," he said softly, smiling up at Oriel as he reached out and took the plushie in his hands. "Heh... Squishy." After a moment, he deposited the toy back down and began wandering again, keeping close to Oriel's side for both warmth and comfort. "D'you see anythin' you like?" he asked, passing slowly through the jewelry and accessories section. Phoenix snagged the silliest hat he could find and gingerly placed it on Oriel's head, biting his lip to hide his laughter. "It... Suits you," he giggled quietly.

To make up for it, he put another one on his own head. "I guess I got crabs," he said, almost doubling over in his quiet laughs.

[Deleted]

“Maybe,” he said, looking more at Phoenix than any of the items in the store. Watching Phoenix like as he gleed over the little things and ran around excitedly like a child used to be one of Oriel’s favorite pastimes. It was kind of amazing, surreal even, to find out that all these years later, with both of them having changed so much, that Oriel would still get some measure of satisfaction just from watching the Korean scamper about like a goof, imposing his ridiculous on his more serious counterpart.

Oriel looked up with a raised eyebrow as Phoenix placed the ridiculous looking hat on his head. “…what is this?” he asked, unamused. He would have taken it off instantly if Phoenix hadn’t decided to join him in his silly-looking splendor.

”I guess I got crabs.”

Oriel gave him a blank stare before finally replying. “I didn’t give it to you.” He flicked his eyes up to the hat then back down to meet with Phoenix’s. “You got ‘em all by yourself.” A small, half-smile followed.

[Deleted]

Some things apparently never changed. While Phoenix didn't have quite the same energy he used to, and his eyes would never be as bright and playful as they'd been before, he was still the same person even after all these years.

"It's a... Parrot," Phoenix replied, trying to keep his face serious; he was failing at it miserably. He hoped Oriel wasn't annoyed by it, but... He couldn't help himself. And seeing it on the apathetic man's head was funnier than Phen could have imagined.

He didn't expect Oriel's response to his own hat, though. Phoenix's eyes went wide, and he sucked in a surprised breath, before breaking into more laughter a moment later. "You accusin' me of sleepin' around?" he chuckled, eventually taking both of the hats off and putting them back where they'd been. His hand found Oriel's again, and he resumed wandering. "I know it's hard t'believe, but even with this hot body, I haven't seen action in a long time," he went on, trying to sound light-hearted, but in reality it was kind of sad.

Phoenix quickly shook it off and meandered to the craft supplies. His hand found an old, used sketchbook, which he picked up and flipped through. ".... I used t'draw," he stated, as though surprised. The memory had suddenly hit him like a brick. "I just remembered." Phen looked up at Oriel with wonder. "Did you know that?"

[Deleted]

Oriel wasn’t annoyed…at least he didn’t think so. Phoenix use to do this sort of stuff all the time and…Oriel remembered it made him smile. Yeah, that’s right. He liked it. Did he still? Oriel couldn’t think of a reason for why he wouldn’t other than he himself had just changed too much….which he had….but only in that he couldn’t quite grasp what it was he felt for this man. He knew what it was supposed to be, what it should logically be. That was…probably the most frustrating thing about this extended encounter with this person from his past.

But Phoenix seemed to be enjoying himself…and Oriel supposed that that’s all that mattered. It was important for Phoenix to be okay, and to be happy. Nothing else mattered.

Oriel was silent as he tried to think of a follow up, to continue with the joke…but…it disturbed him more than he anticipated. “Good,” he said, his tone seeming to darken. No, that wasn’t right…why should it be good that Phoenix hadn’t been with anyone…?

Oriel found himself watching Phoenix more intently as that subject matter continued to mull in his thoughts. Oriel nodded. “Yeah,” he breathed. “I knew.” Oriel stepped closer to Phoenix, his gaze still strongly fixed down on the shorter man. “You used to draw me a lot…” Used to…used to…every other thing he said stared with that, didn’t it? His hand came up to settle over Phoenix's which still held the sketchbook. "...all the time, actually."