Harold looked confused and adjusted his glasses in a nervous gesture. “I’m unsure of what you are alluding to, Mr. Reese.” He said but it sounded like a question.
“We’ve faced death so many times, refusing to let the other die. We’ve saved each other’s lives many times. You’re always there, listening. And I’m always here, waiting for the numbers. Protecting them. Protecting you. You know that I’d give my life for you, and I know you’d give yours for me. We… we have this. But… tell me, Harold, what is this?”
Suddenly turning rather pale, Harold listened to John’s words and after a long while of silence, he got up and limped to the couch, sitting on the edge next to the other man. He looked sincere when he answered. “I’m not sure what this is, John. I’m not even sure there is a fitting name, or, so to speak, that we even need one.” When he continued to speak, his voice sounded soft, “We are partners.”
John waited for him to go on, but Harold had stopped talking. He felt hurt, because if this was all that Harold thought they were, then it was much less than what John felt towards the other man.