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 Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2022 6:18 am
Takes place October 23, 2022 after the Into the Shadows event. “I’m sorry,” was the first thing Atticus whispered to Elliot when he realized that the light he could see wasn’t from the nightlight, but rather coming in through a sliver at the edge of the blackout curtain Michael had over the windows in his room.
Which meant that Elliot had probably been awake for a while. But since Atticus had managed to curl up, practically on top of him, with an arm draped over Elliot’s chest. He was glad he hadn’t hindered him too much that he hadn’t been able to fish out his phone to play on.
He appreciated not waking up alone more than he could express in words, but he also felt bad that Elliot had probably been bored out of his mind for… who knew how long.
Michael and Devyn were already up and out of the room. Probably why Atticus had managed to press so close to Elliot for warmth.
And because his heart still hurt.
He knew the Chaos had been fake, but in the back of his mind, something like what he’d seen could happen. Which meant it could happen to Elliot, too.
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Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2022 7:13 am
“For what?” he whispered back. He’d curled his arm around Atticus to make sure he was supported while he laid on Elliot’s chest. He’d turned the light on his phone down so it wouldn’t wake Atticus up, and he’d been perfectly content to play around on it while he waited for Atticus to wake up.
He hadn’t been in any rush; the bed was comfortable, and he had plenty to do on his phone. He could hear voices outside–more than just Michael and Devyn, so he supposed that meant his parents had come over. And, he was pretty sure he was starting to smell breakfast, but it was still early enough that he wasn’t sure.
It was dark, but not so much that he wasn’t able to make out Atticus’ form in the room–and he could feel exactly where he was, anyway. He rubbed his back gently, lightly working his nails into it.
“I’m comfortable, are you? You can get up if you have to, but you don’t have to rush, either.”
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Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2022 7:37 am
Atticus chewed on his cheek while he contemplated all of the things he felt the need to apologize for. Keeping Elliot awake with his crying. Making him worry. Being needy and clingy. Keeping Devyn and Michael up when they had obviously been comfortable alone together. Maybe for being useless on Alastor. He’d used his magic, but only after everything was over. He was sorry that he’d put Elliot and his dads in danger before. Sorry he made Devyn reveal his identity to him to protect him.
He thought he’d been ready for whatever the Chaos had to throw at him. Maybe he would have seen the man he used to live with -- the one who’d wanted him dead. Or maybe the people from the Negaverse who had tried hurting him. Or the bullies from school.
Instead, the Chaos picked up on his worry and love for Alastor. He supposed he should be grateful that it hadn’t been Elliot that he saw, unlike Elliot who had apparently seen him.
He didn’t want to be seen as needy or too scared to do anything. Someone who cried about everything and hid from dangerous things.
So he didn’t list out all of the things he was sorry for, because he was sure they would be there a lot longer if he started.
Instead, he smoothed his hand over Elliot’s chest, picking at the invisible lint on the fabric of his shirt.
“Yeah, I’m comfortable. Thank you for being patient with me, Elliot. I’ll be okay,” he promised, even as an annoying heat filled his eyes. No, he wasn’t going to cry. It was too early.
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Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2022 7:45 am
Elliot couldn’t move much now without dislodging Atticus, which was absolutely out of the question. “Is it really me being patient with you if I like being around you? I promise, I’m not going anywhere.”
He could only give him a half hug, and since he didn’t think that was enough, he kissed atop his head, too, and put the phone down so Atticus knew he had his full attention. On another day, he would have just pulled up some cute videos they could watch together, but he wanted Atticus to know that he was important enough to have all of Elliot’s attention, especially when he wasn’t feeling well.
“Yesterday was really hard. I kept dreaming about something happening to you. It was really scary. I was looking up some classes we could take, maybe. So I can be strong enough to protect you. I don’t want you to have to worry about me. I can hear Dev and Michael in the kitchen, I think my parents are over. Just in case you were wondering where they were.”
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Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2022 5:29 pm
His heart jumped a little when Elliot mentioned his parents. Atticus wanted to give them hugs as well, but he also didn’t want to start crying as soon as he saw them. He’d missed them, and he wanted to make sure they were okay. Or at least they knew that he and Elliot were okay.
“You said you saw me hurt, didn’t you?” Atticus asked, tilting his head back a little so he could look at Elliot’s face. “I’m sorry. That does sound really scary.”
He didn’t want Elliot to think that he didn’t care about listening to him if he wanted to talk about what he saw. It wasn’t fair that he got to whine and cry about something that wasn’t real when everyone else was being strong and probably ignoring how horrible the experience had been, so as not to make him upset. Or maybe that was just really egotistical for him to think.
“He -- Alastor… or, well, the Chaos… kept telling me everyone was dead. It was so real, Elly. I didn’t want to believe him. I felt like it was wrong, like maybe something was missed, but…”
Atticus paused to take in a shaky breath. Maybe it wasn’t a good idea to talk about what happened the day before as soon as they woke up.
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Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2022 5:40 pm
Elliot drew Atticus closer, and groped for the blankets so he could bundle him up a little more. He wrapped both of his arms around Atticus and made sure he was surrounded by love before he spoke again.
“I thought I was ready for it. If that’s any consolation. And even when I told myself ‘this isn’t real’ it still felt real. I was really afraid that I was going to lose you or something, and it just. I don’t know. I’m really glad we had those earrings though. And I’m really glad that Alastor doesn’t have any chaos on it anymore. I don’t know how Devyn dealt with that for so long.”
Or if it was always like that, or just shades of that.
“I didn’t like seeing you hurt, though. It made me sick to my stomach, I thought I was going to pass out. I didn’t want to believe it, but it was so real. I should have known it wasn’t you, no one could replace you. You’re too sweet and too perfect and it tried, but it wasn’t you. I was just so worried that I didn’t even question it.”
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Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2022 5:45 pm
He wasn’t sure how Elliot always managed to make him feel so cared for and important, but he did. Atticus just hoped that he could make Elliot feel the same way. He shifted a little, but only to make sure that Elliot was still comfortable, and so he could stretch his arms up a bit and sink his fingers into Elliot’s hair as he laid with him, wrapped in his arms and blankets.
“I’m glad we had the earrings, too. I’m really glad you’re okay. Is your head feeling better?” he asked quietly as he smoothed his hand over Elliot’s head where his injury had been. He hoped his magic really worked and healed him, so of course he wanted to make sure.
“He didn’t mention you being--... he didn’t mention your name. I thought it was weird, but… There was blood and he was warm and hugged me tight. I thought part of me died when he said everyone was dead, though. Before I tried asking about you I mean. I thought… maybe you’d managed to hide somewhere, and that you needed help. It sounds silly. But I’m sorry I worried you. I wasn’t hurt, I promise. I… I don’t know. I was so close to the Core. It felt like I couldn’t have been hurt.”
Maybe that was just something in his head, but he felt protected there, even with the fake Alastor trying to convince him otherwise.
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Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2022 6:20 pm
“Yeah, you can’t even feel the bump anymore, can you? Go ahead, try to find it. You can poke it.” He’d prodded himself once last night and felt only minimal pain, but in his tentative examination this morning he’d feld hardly anything. “Your magic is amazing, it’s like I wasn’t hurt at all. I’m really glad you didn’t get hurt like I saw. It doesn’t sound silly, by the way.”
His mind was a little scrambled and all his thoughts seemed tangled up and going in every direction, but he knew he was happy to be here with Atticus and he couldn’t really ask for more.
“You don’t have to be sorry for worrying me. I should be sorry for worrying you! Which, I am, but. You were so brave and amazing with your magic, it was really knightly, Atticus. And I bet, maybe the Core did keep you safe. I mean, you’re Devyn’s son, of course he would have wanted to protect you. And if all I got out of it was a bumped noggin–I’ve had worse in ballgames, so that’s practically nothing at all. That chaos was really gross, though. I’m sorry it made you see those things. I’m sorry it was so tricky, too. Is there anything I can do to help?”
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Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2022 6:50 pm
Atticus didn’t poke where Elliot’s injury was, but he did brush his fingers through his hair and gave his scalp a little massage while he was doing so. He was also trying not to let himself blush too much at having his magic being called amazing or that he was knightly.
“You’re really sweet, Elly,” he sighed contentedly as he hugged Elliot tighter for a few moments. “Thank you. I don’t feel amazing, but when you say it, it’s easier to believe. If it’s something that will help you or anyone else, then I’ll do my best.”
He liked to think that Devyn really did think of him as his son, and not just some kid he was trying to protect. He felt like Devyn loved him, and he felt safe near the Core, just as he felt safe with Devyn. And, of course, Elliot and his parents. Michael as well.
“I’m okay,” he promised, or at least he was okay for the moment. “Just being with you helps. I can’t believe you swept me off my feet like you did, when you saved me from that shadow,” he smiled with endearment as he brushed his fingers through Elliot’s hair again.
“You’re really knightly, Elliot. I didn’t get to appreciate it as much yesterday, I was so scared and upset. But as soon as you had me in your arms, I knew everything would be okay. Is there anything I can do to reassure you that I’m really okay and not hurt? I don’t even think I got any bruises.”
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Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2022 6:57 pm
Elliot hummed for a moment, and for as confident as he was, he realized that his face was a little warmer than usual. He was lucky that it was dark enough in the room that he didn’t have to worry about it or he might have had to turn away or scrub at his face.
“Well, I know people can get hurt in ways that aren’t just physical. So I guess I just want to keep an eye out for that. I mean, I know what you saw sounded pretty bad.” The bleeding, and the dying, Elliot knew that Atticus had been shaken. He was used to cuddling or sleeping close to each other, but they’d never migrated into Michael or Devyn’s room. He didn’t know if it was something Atticus did sometimes already
“So I just want to make sure that it’s not something that stays in your mind. It was a really convincing, mean trick, and I want to make sure that you have better, nicer things in mind instead. And it’s okay if it’s just going to take some time, I’m not going anywhere. I just worry about you, Atticus, you’re really important to me. And I think the injuries you can see are easier than the ones you can’t, and if you say you’re okay, I’m going to trust you. But if you ever feel like you aren’t, just let me know, okay? No matter what.”
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Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2022 7:27 pm
Atticus chewed on the inside of his cheek as he listened to Elliot, still brushing lightly through his hair as he rested against him. His heart felt fluttery and warm, like it always seemed to when he was with Elliot. He didn’t know how Elliot could make him feel so special with just a few words, but he was incredibly grateful for Elliot’s patience. Even if Elliot claimed it wasn’t patience at all, since he liked being around him.
Carefully, so he wouldn’t hurt Elliot, Atticus pushed himself up a little. Not enough to push the blankets off of them, or enough to pull away from Elliot’s arms. Instead, it was just enough so he could inch up a little more so he could place a soft kiss on his lips, lingering only long enough to hopefully express that he cared a lot about Elliot too.
“I don’t know if I’m okay,” he admitted, because he didn’t see a reason to hide things from Elliot when he was so open about wanting to know. If it had been someone else, he might have continued to insist that he was okay, but Elliot made it so easy for him to be honest.
“I was really scared. I don’t know what I would have done if you were really--...”
He paused to take a breath and then wrapped both his arms around Elliot’s neck and shoulders and squished their cheeks together.
“You’re really important to me, too, Elly.”
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Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2022 7:46 pm
That little kiss made his heart skip a beat, and for all the times that Elliot was pretty sure he might have been getting addicted to them, it was pretty obvious right now. He held Atticus close, in a hug that hoped translated to a promise, too.
“It’s okay if you’re not okay. You don’t have to force yourself to be. And if you need to figure it out, that’s okay, too. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
He’d had friends. He’d had a lot of friends! But he liked Atticus and–
Oh, it was that easy, wasn’t it?
He did like him, didn’t he? And wanted to kiss him, and cuddle with him, and–
Well, no, maybe he was just stressed about yesterday?
No, he’d liked things like this for longer than just that. He kissed Atticus’ lips gentle and ignored how hot his face was.
“It was a bad trick, but I’m going to do everything I can to make sure that’s not ever going to be true. And if you want to take it easy for a while, we can. We can practice, Michael and Devyn can teach us some things to help us fight. But we can work on fixing up the Moon if you want to take a break from anything scary. I don’t think anything can hurt us up there. And we can talk about anything whenever you want. I think yesterday was pretty traumatic so we can take some time to work through it all, there’s no rush. We can focus on school, and Halloween, and, I don’t know. We can go roller skating, or,” he seemed thoughtful, “Maybe we can go canoeing or something at the reservoir, while the trees are all pretty. Or…mini golf? Or we can just go to the park and sketch or something. We can bring Michael and Devyn, or my parents, or, I don’t know. Maybe we could just go out and do some things, just us, every now and then.”
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Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2022 8:09 pm
Atticus didn’t think he could ever get tired of the kisses. Even if they were both incredibly inexperienced and still only in highschool. But he never felt anything but safe with Elliot. Even if his stomach contained about a billion butterflies.
He hated what they and everyone else went through the day before on Alastor, but if it meant having the excuse of curling up next to Elliot, well… they were all alive and relatively uninjured, so that was okay, right? He’d run out of magic by the time he had the chance to try and heal Alastor and Sessrumnir, but they’d both insisted it was okay -- they had Sessrumnir’s Springs.
“Just us…?” he repeated curiously, although Elliot might have meant nothing in particular about it. He’d mentioned Michael and Devyn and his parents as well, but… “Just us would be nice. Every now and then. Oh, but of course I wouldn’t mind our parents coming with us. But… I like spending time with you.”
He paused for a moment as he crossed his arms lightly over Elliot’s chest so he could see his face easier, but he wasn’t pressing so hard that he would hurt him! And then he laughed softly.
“You make it sound like we’d be going on a date-- oh… Is… is that okay? Because… if you wanted to…”
Atticus could feel his own face heating up again, suddenly worried that maybe Elliot really didn’t mean it like that.
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Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2022 8:19 pm
“Well,” Elliot considered it for a few quick seconds, “I suppose I was sort of thinking that, yeah. I mean, I’d be happy just going to the park and hanging out with you. Or staying at home. But. I don’t know, I guess I was thinking about it some and we already spend so much time together. And I like it. And I like kissing you? And it’s not so different from what we do already. And I know my parents like you, and I like you, and if we were better off just being friends, we could just go back to that without anything being weird.”
But, he couldn’t really imagine it being weird.
“My parents met when they were younger than us, and they always said healthy communication was important and they never found a problem they couldn’t talk about. And I never really thought about dating or anything before I met you, so. You’re the first person I’ve wanted to date. And I took some time to think about it and, you know. I do. If you want to! But no pressure. And if you’re not happy or it’s not what you thought it would be, it’ll be okay. I don’t want anything to come between us, ever.”
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Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2022 9:18 pm
“No!” Atticus blurted out, and then suddenly realized that his thoughts and what Elliot was saying wasn’t matching up, and he flushed red. “I mean, yes. Yes, I would-- really like that,” he quickly tried catching up to where his brain had short circuited.
“I mean. No, I don’t want to just be friends. Oh, but if you wanted to be, then we could but I like you a lot and I like kissing you too and you make me really, really happy, Elliot. I just-- you’re sure?” he squeaked in distress, pushing himself up a little so he wasn’t right on top of Elliot as he stumbled through his words.
Maybe he was just making a big deal out of nothing. Elliot was just asking him to do what they were already doing. It wasn’t as though Elliot had to just hang out with him. Elliot had plenty of friends. And because of his new identity, Atticus had another chance at just being a normal kid.
Or at least as normal as a knight of the Moon could be.
But Elliot said he took time to think about them dating. Atticus felt like his heart was going to explode.
He pushed himself up a little more, shifting so he could sit instead of sprawl out over Elliot -- and patted his own cheeks a few times, as if to wake himself up from a dream. But when he opened his eyes, Elliot was still there. Looking as sweet and wonderful and kind as always.
“I’m not going to cry,” he insisted, ignoring the fact that he was furiously blinking away the tears that threatened his eyes.
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