Pairing: SyndiSparklez (Syndicate x Sparklez)

Summary: A life without love is no life at all.

I don't really know how long I've lived like this. It feels like I've done this all my life, but I know that can't be true. Even if I did have anything before this, I can't remember any of it. I can't remember having a family. I can't remember having friends. Nothing. I don't even know my real name. I just know that I have a job to do.

Crouched in the shadows, I watched them talk. Carefree and naive. I wanted to be like that. I watched the girl giggle nervously and stare at her shoes. The guys eyes twinkled as he stared at her beauty. It was time.

Still and unmoving as possible, I drew back with the feather barely touching my fingertips. Just one shot. That's all.
I released the end and watched as it flew straight through the girls heart. She gasped for a moment, holding her chest. The boys eyes grew in concern at her actions. And then it finally sunk in, and she stared at him for a moment with pure affection, before pressing her lips to his. He was shocked at first, but eventually sunk into the kiss. I smiled at the new couple. I want that. I want sweet innocent love that'll last for ever.

But Cupid isn't meant to have another half. My job is to make every one else happy. Im not supposed to matter. I'm not supposed to have love. I wanted it so badly. Now you may be thinking, why don't I just find a love? Meet someone and try to find love the normal way? Well guess what. It doesn't work that way. Humans can't see Cupid. I can walk through a crowd of people and none of them would even feel my presence. I'm invisible to the world. I'm the loneliest person on the planet who gets to watch other couples find love and run away together. It's torture.

I watched the new couple scurry off down the dark streets and into their new life. Time to move on to the next one I guess.

I began to walk to the park where there was always a pair ready to be a couple. I was almost out of arrows. I'd have to make more later I suppose. I reached the park in just a few short seconds. A cool perk to being Cupid is that you can get to places pretty fast. All I have to do is think about a certain place and I'm there in three seconds flat.

It was dark out and the moon was shining brightly, but there was still a few people roaming the park grounds. I didn't see any compatibility between anyone though. I saw a couple already married. They held hands on a park bench as they whispered sweet nothings to one another. I saw a girl with a broken heart that couldn't be fixed. Some people I came across just couldn't love any more because of how hard they fell. It was depressing to watch them. They always seemed so lifeless. And then I saw a guy. I couldn't really read him though. He was sitting on a swing by himself with his hands in his pockets and his head down. He didn't look sad but he didn't look happy either. I'd never seen anyone like him. Usually a human had an emotion I could read. It wasn't always happy or sad, sometimes it was bitter or angry or depressed. He was just...neutral. And here he was all alone. Maybe if I got closer I could read him better.

I moved a bit closer. I could see what he looked like now. He had jet black hair, brown eyes, and he had stubble covering his neck and cheeks. He was kicking at the dirt underneath him. I still couldn't read him, so I got even closer. And then his head turned and he was looking straight at me. He couldn't see me, could he? That's impossible. No one can see me.

"Um, hi?" He did an awkward wave in my direction. He could see me. He could freaking see me. How was this possible?

"You can see me?" I stepped closer towards him. His eyes moved as I moved. He really could see me. This is amazing.

"Yeah. I like your costume. The wings look real." He nodded towards the white wings attached to my back.

"Costume?" I guess I did look like I was wearing a costume to him.

"You're Cupid, right? It's a great Halloween costume. The arrows look great too."

Halloween? What's Halloween? I probably shouldn't ask. It's a human thing that I don't understand.

"Thanks." Say something else you idiot! This is the only human in the world who can see you!

"You think you could shoot me with one of those arrows?" He laughed. What did that mean? He wasn't happy? I'm so clueless. He's impossible to read.

"What do you mean?" I sat in the swing beside him so I could see him better. I still couldn't read him.

"Just...you know...wish I had somebody to spend the holidays with. Sorry, I'm being rude. My names Jordan. What's yours?"

Name. I don't know my name. What's a common human name?

"Um, it's Tom." Tom. That sounds normal.

"Cool." He went back to staring at the dirt. Why can't I read him?! This is driving me nuts!

"Any reason why you're out here alone?" I asked him. He just shrugged and sighed.

"Just felt like I needed to be here for some reason. I don't know why. Maybe I should just go home..." He kicked a small rock half way across the park. "So why are you here? I don't mean to be rude but it's a little weird you're all by yourself in the park with a Cupid costume on."

What was I doing here? Sitting next to a stranger that I barely knew? He just interested me. He could see me and hear me, while I couldn't read his emotions at all. This had never happened to me before.

"I don't actually know either. It's odd. Can I ask you something?"

"Sure. What is it?" He looked up from the dirt and gazed right into my eyes.

"What are you feeling?" I wanted to know so badly. I didn't even care about human casualties and manners, I just went for it. He probably thinks I'm a creep now.

But he didn't show any sign of being weirded out. He just smiled a little and began to pick at his fingernails. "To be honest? A million things at once. I'm tired, lonely, confused, happy, and angry all at the same time. Weird right?" He chuckled.

It wasn't weird. It was amazing. I didn't know a human could feel this many things at once.

"It's not weird. I think it's amazing. You're so neutral..."

"That's a good way of looking at it. To me...it's just really confusing to be like this all the time. Some of my friends call me bipolar. I don't think I'm bipolar. Bipolar is when you switch between feelings really quickly. I'm just feeling everything." He seemed to be assuring himself more than me. He was so insecure. Why? He's obviously special if he can see me. Does he know he's special? Probably not from all those other idiots telling him things that aren't true. What friends would call you bipolar? He needs good friends. He needs someone to care about him.

"You aren't bipolar. Something's different about you, but that doesn't mean you have a disease or a disorder. It could just mean you're special."

He shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. I don't know anything. I don't know why I came here. I don't know who I am. I just dunno..." Now I could read him. He was stressed. Pulling at his hair and biting at his nails.

"Maybe fate took you here...so you could meet a new friend?" I did a funny pose in the swing.

He laughed at that suggestion. His laugh was like music to me. Why? There wasn't anything special about it. It was short and awkward. But still...it was really unique and cute.

"Maybe. I better get back home. I have work. I guess I'll see you around Tom Cupid." He grinned and stood up from his swing. I didn't want him to go. I wanted to talk and get to know him and find out why he's special.

"Okay...bye Jordan." I waved as he began to walk off. Although after a moment or two of walking, he stopped and turned back to me.

"Um, I'll swing by tomorrow night...if you're gonna be here. If not then it's cool I just-"

"I'll be here. Same time same place." If it meant finding out about you, then I'd meet you anywhere.

"Great! I mean, cool...bye Tom." He did a short awkward wave and began to walk the path that lead out of the park. He was actually excited that I was coming tomorrow.

I was excited too.

~

"Please don't start calling me that." Sparklez begged pitifully.

I smiled evilly and cackled. "What's the matter Sparkley pants? You run out of glitter?"

He'd shone up today with a butt covered in glitter and stickers. I hadn't been able to ask him why over the absolute laughing fit I was in. I was still laughing even when he sat down ten minutes later.

"I hate this stuff. It gets everywhere and takes weeks to get rid of." He wiped more glitter from his green shorts. It sprinkled off into the wet grass, making it shine even brighter in the moonlight.

"I think it looks great. A true Sparkley captain." I nudged him and he shook his head in shame.

"I didn't put it on me. Not my fault." He brushed even more glitter from his arms and beard.

"Aw who did this to the poor Jardon? Was it a fairy?" I laughed again. My ribs hurt from the whole incident.

"No, it was this girl I'm friends with...she's always making art projects. She decided it would be fun to have a glitter covered nerd." He huffed and slumped down into his swing.

Girl? What girl? "Uh, what's her name?"

"Her name? It's Erin. She's hilarious." He shook his head and smiled at the thought of her.

It made me frown. Is Erin his love? He seemed so fond of her. Not being able to read him is like being blind. I hardly know anything about him.

"Is she your love?" I didn't mean to sound so sad about it. I just felt odd that he already had a love. Jealous, even. I shouldn't feel this way.

"What? No no! She's just my friend. I don't have a girlfriend. I've never had one." His cheeks began to redden. Talking about love must make him embarrassed. That was cute.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you feel embarrassed. I'm just trying to figure you out."

"Figure me out? What about you? You're a mystery too. Why are you still wearing your costume today?" He pointed at my wings. I forgot about those. Damnit.

"They're um...they're semi permanent. They stay on for awhile. The glue doesn't come off easily."

"Oh come on Tom. Don't lie. I know you love wearing those. Don't be embarrassed about it. I think they're pretty cool." He gave me an encouraging smile. I do love my wings, but it's not like I can just make them disappear. I'm stuck with them for the rest of my life.

"Thanks..." I smiled back at him.

We sat in silence for a long while. It wasn't awkward or uncomfortable. It was nice. It was nice being in each others company.

"Can I ask you a question?" He suddenly asked. I nodded in response. "What exactly do you do? Like, job wise and stuff? I've never seen you around LA before until yesterday. Did you just move here?"

"Yeah I just moved here."

"Okay. What's your job then? Or are you unemployed?" Unemployed? What does that even mean? I guess I have to think of a job. A job. How can I describe my job without giving myself away? It wouldn't feel right telling him another lie about myself.

"I'm a...match maker."

He burst out laughing and held his stomach. Did I say something funny? I thought a match maker was a job. Setting people up is a human job, isn't it?

"I'm sorry, I'm being rude. It's just- the Cupid thing and your personality...it's just really odd." He wiped away a tear and attempted to contain his laughter.

"What's wrong with my personality?" I was a nice person, right?

"Nothing! Nothing's wrong, it's just...you strike me as the no rules or anything goes kinda guy. You don't seem like the lovey dovey type that likes to see happy relationships."

It's not like I had a choice to see happy couples. I used to love my job. I spent every moment of every day making arrows and finding people that would be perfect together. Now...I just feel so lonely. Like every time I see another happy couple, my heart breaks a little more inside. I don't really like my job anymore.

"I used to like my job. I don't like it anymore." It was safe to tell him I was unhappy. He doesn't know about me. It's fine.

"Why don't you like it anymore?" He asked with concern in his eyes.

"...I'm really lonely. I can set other people up, but I can't do it for myself. And it's freaking torture to see a billion other people together and here I am...just alone." I could feel tears stinging my eyes. It felt good to be able to just share what I felt with someone other than my wall at home.

"I could probably help you find somebody. I mean, I'm not a match maker but I'm sure I could find somebody for you to hang out with." He was trying to be helpful. He just didn't understand. I can't be in love. It's not possible.

"No it's not-...I'm just incapable of being with someone else. It's really hard to explain. I can't with anyone." If he tried to introduce me to anyone, they wouldn't see me anyway. He seemed to be the only person in the world who could see me. Occasionally a few people would walk by the swings and give Jordan weird looks. But who wouldn't be creeped out if you saw a stranger on a swing talking to thin air?

"Oh. Okay. Have you ever thought maybe you're a different sexuality? Maybe you're just attracted to different types of things or people. Asexual people don't feel attractions."

"Then why would I want love so badly..." I felt a tear fall down my cheek, but I quickly swiped it away. I knew what sexualities were. I'd set up many couples before who had different sexualities. I'd even seen asexual people before. They always seemed to content without having to worry about love. I wasn't asexual. I wish I could just tell him who I was. It would be so much easier. But he would most likely not believe me and run away because he thought I was a creep. I don't want to scare away the only person I can talk to.

"I'm sorry I can't help Tom. I don't really understand."

Of course you don't. No one does.

"It's okay. It's not a big deal anyway. I better get home. I have some things I have to do later." I had nothing to do later, except make arrows and wallow in my own self pity. I just didn't want Jordan to see me upset. I don't want to diminish his happiness.

"Well okay. I don't think I can come by tomorrow. I'm going to a party and the guy who invited me really wants me to be there. Hey, would you wanna come with me? You could meet Erin and my other friends." He smiled at me with a hopeful face. I can't go with him. What would his friends say if he introduced them to the air?

"Nah that's okay. I have to work."

"Oh...well if you change your mind, here." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a crumbled banner. He handed it to me and I smoothed it out so I could see it. It was a party invite. It had the address and the time, along with the guys name who was hosting it. I really wanted to go. I've been to a human party before because of my job. They were a lot of work. It's hard to read people when they're drunk off their asses.

"Thanks. I'll see you Jordan." I gave him a small wave and he returned it. I ran off to the alley way, and when I finally reached home to my broken down shack and laid down on my dirty mattress, I cried. I want love.

I don't want to be alone anymore.

~

The next day was hard. It was bad enough the night before I didn't sleep at all. The fact that there wasn't a soul in the town that was alone made my day even worse. Every one was holding hands, kissing, hugging. It was like the universe was laughing at my loneliness. I wanted to die. I missed Jordan. I missed his comforting words and his laughter and his stupid puns. I missed him so much.

After a few hours of searching for lonely people, I finally gave up. Everyone must be happy today I guess. Except for me.
I went home. I couldn't stand everyone being in love anymore. It's actually starting to hurt.

As I was walking through the ally, I heard laughing. Two girls stood by one another, walking and laughing about something. The way they looked at eachother was so special. It was like the way Jordan looked at me when I talked about something personal. It was care. They cared about eachother more than just a casual friend thing. They suddenly stopped walking and just stared at eachother for a moment. The blonde girl looked like she was trying to get something out, but she couldn't say it. The other, a brunette, looked like she wanted to say something too. Neither said a word.
They loved eachother. They were just too scared to admit it. They hadn't experienced anything like this before and it scared them. They were scared of the others opinions.

I pulled an arrow from my bag and positioned it in my bow. The blonde one was the bravest. The brunette was the most quiet. I'd shoot the brunette. Neither would expect her to act on her feelings.

I let loose of the feathery end and watched as it went straight through the brunettes back. She gasped and arched her back. The blonde ones eyes went wide with worry and she grabbed the girls arm, asking if she was okay. The brunette stared, and then acted on the feelings she buried inside. She kissed the blonde. The girl was so surprised she nearly fell. Eventually though, she went a long with it. Her hands brushed through the brunettes hair, and the brunette held the blondes waist tightly. They were like two missing puzzle pieces put together. They fit perfectly.

I reached into my jeans pocket and pulled out the banner. The party was right across the street. I could go, it was still going on for another hour. I needed to see Jordan. I don't know why, but seeing this...seeing hope for these two hopelessly lost girls, makes me feel like I need to see him.

I flew onto the rooftops and began to head towards the address. I started thinking of conversations we'd have. He'd probably ask why I came at last minute. I'd say something like I needed to see him. I needed to be in his presence. I needed him.

I heard some loud music playing nearby, so I followed it. In minutes I was in front of a large alleyway, even larger than the one I had been in previously, filled to the brink with people. Drunk teenagers kissing and dancing and being free. Love finding its way through alcohol and drugs. My mind swarmed with readings. Shy kids thinking about asking someone out. Insecure people asking questions about their looks. Drunk minds slurring through thoughts and feelings.

It was a big mess. How was I gonna find Jordan in all of this mess?

I walked through the crowd of people dancing. None of them paid a bit of attention to me as I walked pass them. I bound have shoved them out of the way, but I couldn't touch them. My hand would always go straight through. I forced my way to a clearing so I could at least try and see where I was.

I ended up seeing much more than that.

I saw Jordan. Beside Jordan, clinging to his chest, nails combing through his hair, lips pressed to his, was a girl. She had long pretty red hair that reached her waist and a short black dress that hugged her slim figure. She's Erin. And she's not just a friend.

I felt something snap inside of me. Horrible feelings ran through my heart as I stared at them. Thoughts of jealousy, rejection, hurt. Jordan loved someone else. And it wasn't me. That thought made me feel so angry. I was trembling with anger. I felt like nothing else mattered anymore. My job, my feelings, my life. I wanted Jordan and he didn't want me. Cupid can't feel love. If I can't feel love, then what else matters? Nothing.

They pulled away for a second. Erin stared into Jordan's eyes with admiration. Jordan remained as he always had been, neutral. That is until he saw me. His eyes widened and he immediately forgot all about Erin. "Tom? Tom what are you doing here?" He yelled to me.

I didn't respond. He loves Erin. That's all that I could comprehend at the moment. My anger was getting too much for me to handle, so I turned and left. I shoved through the crowd of people as Jordan called my name from behind me. I read their emotions as I ran by, and it made me even more angry. I couldn't control myself.

I violated the rules that I've always lived by.

~ Jordan's p.o.v.~

"Tom! Wait! Come back, what's wrong?!" I knew what was wrong with him. He was hurt. It was impossible not to see how angry and hurt he was when he looked at me. Like I betrayed him. I did. I let Erin kiss me when I knew Tom had feelings for me. I'm a terrible person.

He eyed people as he ran, I noticed. He seemed to get angrier every time he did. Strapped on to his back was a bag full of arrows, the same kind he carried with him ever since I met him. He pulled one out and didn't even flinch as he stabbed a man in the back with one. I felt myself stop. He just stabbed someone. What have I done?

But then something absolutely strange happened. The arrow disappeared. The man who was stabbed kissed the guy in front of him, and then they were both making out with eachother. What? What the hell just happened?

Tom pulled out another. I watched as he skimmed a girls bare stomach with the arrow tip while he walked past her. She didn't even notice. She was still dancing to the music. He stabbed her too, and the exact same thing happened. She kissed the guy in front of her without a moments hesitation.

And then it hit me. It wasn't a costume. The wings, the arrows, the bow. Tom was Cupid. He made people fall in love.

He stabbed a another person, and then another, and then another. He growled or shouted in anger every time he did. He was fed up, I realized. He was tired of seeing all these other people who needed love, so he was messing up their lives to make them fall in love with the wrong people.

"Tom! Stop please! I'm sorry!" I don't want him to do this. He's hurting people because of me.

I finally escaped the crowd and left the alley way. Tom was far ahead of me, still holding arrows in his hands. I have to stop this. He's going to hurt more people if I don't. I ran after him as he ran down another alley. "Tom please! Stop this! This isn't right and you know it!" I yelled after him.

He ran faster and turned a corner. He really doesn't want to see me. He's so angry. I feel so horrible. I broke his heart.
I turned the same corner, but stopped when I saw the street paths. There were three of them. Which one did he take?
I didn't see any sign of him. Not a trace.

I've lost him.

~ Toms p.o.v.~

It wasn't right to do that shit to those drunks, but I don't care. I just want to be in love. Is that too much to ask?

Everyone else gets that chance. Every human gets a chance at love. Why can't Cupid? It's not fair.

I finally lost Jordan when I turned the corner. I was relieved. He's a human and I shouldn't have meddled with his life. He found love and I shouldn't stop that. I'll just have to deal with it.

I opened the curtain to my shack and ducked my head as I went inside. I was always too tall for the doorway. It's too small in here. It's too lonely in here. I sat down on my mattress and threw my bow into the corner of my room near the door. I don't need it anymore. I'm not being Cupid any longer.

I stared at my arrow and it's sharp tip. It must hurt to get hit with one of these. Or maybe it just feels so good that you feel like you need to gasp. I don't know. I tried to imagine the feeling that the humans felt when I hit them with one. It must feel amazing. I traced the tip with my finger. It couldn't hurt that bad, right? I wondered if it would work with me. It would, wouldn't it? Maybe if I stabbed myself with one, it would work. Yeah. It might work. I could finally feel love. I could finally be happy.

I lined the sharp tip up with my heart and took a deep breath. Here goes nothing.

~Jordan's p.o.v.~

I took the middle road and ended up finding one of Toms arrows that had been tossed into a ditch, so I kept going that way. Eventually I stopped at a dead end and beside it was a small shack. The windows were sorta dim, like it was being lit up with candles. Curiosity took over me and I walked to the small curtain that hung over the doorway. I pushed it back just a little to see what was inside. My eyes landed on a bow on the ground. Toms bow. He's here.

I jerked back the curtain, expecting to see Tom making arrows or valentines like I imagined Cupid would do.
Instead, I see him laying on a dirty mattress soaked in blood. He was on his side, clutching an arrow that was stabbed into his heart. He stabbed himself. Oh my god.

I ran to him and bent over his broken form. His eyes were closed. That's not a good sign.
"Tom? Tom wake up. Tom you can't die. You're Cupid you can't die. People need you."

He didn't respond. I was too afraid to check his pulse. I gathered his body in my arms and took him off of the bloody mattress. I don't want him to die on that. "Tom...please. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I dont love Erin. I didn't mean to kiss her. She kissed me and...I didn't want to hurt her. The truth is...I love you. I really love you. I didn't realize it until you left last night...by then it was too late to tell you. Please don't go."

His eyes remained closed and so did his lips. Blood began to stain my shirt as I held him. Why did he do this? Was he trying to make himself feel love with his arrows? He wanted to feel love so badly. He must have done it because of that.

"Tom I love you. Please come back. Please." I kissed his head and closed my own eyes to prevent tears from spilling. I had to open them again so I could keep myself from breaking down.

And then all of the sudden, the arrow disappeared, just like it had when he stabbed those other people earlier.

"T-Tom?" I asked. I saw his eyes open slowly. They landed on me immediately. He was alive. Oh thank god.
Before I could even say a word, his hands wrapped themselves around my neck and he pressed his lips to mine.

The arrows. They worked.

His lips were so soft. He tasted like honey and happiness. I ran my fingers through his blue hair and he knotted his in mine. After a few seconds I had to pull away because I couldn't breathe.

"I love you too." He whispered and brushed a thumb over my cheek. "And I have a confession to make. I'm not a match maker. I'm Cupid."

I laughed and sobbed at the same time, pulling him closer to me in fear he'd be taken away again. "I know. I know..." I brushed his hair softly.

We sat in silence for awhile. But it wasn't awkward or uncomfortable. It was nice. We just enjoyed each others presence.

"Can we go to the park?" He asked quietly.

"Of course we can. Whatever you want."

Because I'll do anything for you. I'll give you all my love.

I'll give you anything you want, because you're my Cupid.
~
ALL I WANT IS THE TASTE OF YOUR LIPS ON MINE! GIVE ME LOVE! GIVE ME LOVE!
I'm sorry. Ed Sheeran is my baby. His songs have made me cry more times than I can count xD
Please listen to the song Give Me Love while you read this. If you have not heard it, then you're life is meaningless. XD

You also need to watch the music video. It's basically this entire one shot but with Tom as the angel and Sparklez as the handsome cop :3

PLEASE. ALL I ASK OF YOU BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE IS TO WATCH THIS. IT WILL MAKE YOU CRY HAPPY TEARS.

Goodbye now!

- Lee
Btw, if you have watched it, then you know what my profile picture is xD