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 Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2024 1:13 pm
Michael didn’t exactly consider himself spontaneous. He liked things planned out. He liked knowing what was going to happen. He liked being able to prepare for all scenarios. So signing Devyn up for this tournament at the last minute had been probably one of the most spontaneous things he’d done in a while.
The night and day before the fighting tournament came and went in a blur. For the most part, the tournament itself had been a blur for Michael, who only had eyes for Devyn of course.
He didn’t regret his spontaneity, because Devyn looked like he was having a really good time sparing with other fighters in matches of hand-to-hand combat. It was in Devyn’s blood to fight, and there was a part of Michael that felt guilty for not encouraging Devyn to do these things more often. He didn’t discourage him, but he was acutely aware of Devyn being from another world with a different understanding of customs and social norms. He wanted to keep Devyn safe, but he also knew he couldn’t be there for him at all times.
Once Devyn had been crowned the winner, and they collected their winnings, they didn’t go straight home, although they easily could have. Instead, Michael wanted to treat Devyn to the various food trucks and stalls that had been kept open for the sake of the tournament. It was also close enough to a park that they could enjoy the night air (and their food) in relative privacy.
“You’re amazing,” Michael declared for the dozenth or so time since the tournament ended. He pressed his lips to Devyn’s lips, not being shy about crowding him on their shared bench with a bag of various kinds of food set on their laps. He had one arm on the bench behind Devyn’s back, and if he happened to twirl his hair around his fingers, it was just because it was there to do so. But also because he liked playing with Devyn’s hair.
“We’ll have to sign you up for better fights. You almost looked bored during a couple of those,” he teased.
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Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2024 1:55 pm
Devyn was privileged to have had many good nights with Michael, but maybe because he was still riding the high of an invigorating victory and being thoroughly flattered by his husband, tonight was ranking very high on his list of favorite nights.
And he was surrounded with almost more food than he could handle.
He’d worked up quite an appetite and Michael had pampered him, again.
Comfortably seated on the bench, Devyn had one arm on the bench behind Michael’s back as well. He thought they fit together particularly well like that, though the thought that they might be crowded together never really crossed his mind. He was comfortable. Still glowing, soaking in the praise.
“No, not bored. I just thought I had a very clear advantage in some of them.” A little bored, but his smile said he intended to be polite about it. Some of the fights had been more exhilarating than others. He’d dragged a few out. He’d shown off quite a bit. He was a performer in the ring, like some of the show was for his opponent, some for the audience. Some for himself.
A lot for Michael, if he was being honest, but of course he was peacocking for his husband.
“I had a good time, though. Thank you, Michael.” He’d said it half a dozen times already and didn’t plan on stopping any time soon, though. “You’re already thinking about my next fights?”
He might have sounded like he was teasing but he made no effort to hide how delighted he was with all of this.
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Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2024 7:08 pm
“Of course,” Michael laughed. “Seeing you enjoy yourself so much makes me want to look into as many opportunities as possible. As long as you’re up for it.”
He knew Devyn sometimes went to fight in matches on his own. He knew that was how Devyn made any kind of money when he’d first arrived on Earth, and Michael was grateful that Devyn had the skills to be able to take care of himself. Michael didn’t know why he could feel auras all the time, but he was glad because otherwise he might not have taken notice of Devyn as quickly as he had.
“I like watching your fights. It seems second nature to you. And you look really good when you’re in your element. Incredibly attractive,” he hummed and gave Devyn a little squeeze, although with his free hand he held it out, palm up.
“How’s your hands? And any other injuries that I should keep an eye on for you? I’m not worried,” he quickly insisted. “I just don’t want to have a reason to worry. I don’t think anyone hit you hard enough, but I want to make sure you heal up and there’s no complications.”
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Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2024 7:19 pm
Devyn offered his hand, not quite for inspection but so he could place his palm atop Michael’s and lace fingers with him. His knuckles were scraped, a little raw, but he hadn’t broken skin. He’d been particularly attentive at dodging, mostly to avoid any obvious damage. He didn’t want Atticus to see a bruise and worry, and he didn’t want to be so sore that he couldn’t enjoy his free time with Michael. He’d have a few bruises on his forearms, where he’d deflected or blocked when he wasn’t sure he could dodge effectively.
He was durable. Unbothered and unworried about any real damage, it was vanity alone that secured his caution. That, and making sure his family didn’t see anything that looked too bad. Michael could tend to his wounds later, what little of them he had.
His sleeve was rolled up already but he wasn’t trying to hide any of it. A little red, a little blue, a little purple. A papercut on his middle finger that he’d been rather dramatic about this morning, but he claimed that was the worst injury he’d received all day and it was already half healed.
“I think I got hit in the side once or twice. It doesn’t hurt much, but you’ll have to give me a good look over when we get home. Honestly, I think a dip in the Springs would have me good as new so I feel pretty good.”
After this long he doubted it was the adrenaline speaking, but he’d give it a bit more time. “If anything changes, you’ll be the first to know.” He squeezed Michael’s hand.
“I could hear you cheering for me, you know. Over everyone else. Made it a lot more fun. I’m not used to people rooting for me to win.”
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Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2024 7:55 pm
“If you keep this up, you might start building a fanbase,” Michael chuckled with amusement, lifting Devyn’s now linked hand with his own to his lips to kiss. A kiss for each knuckle and then another on the back of his hand for good luck.
“You can be sure I’ll give you a good look over once we’re home,” he said with clear teasing in his voice. “I kind of wish we were home right now. Although I suppose it’s dark enough that we could get away with some things…”
He knew it was probably too much, but he was in a good mood, and he liked seeing Devyn worked up, although he seemed to have barely broken a sweat.
“You can be sure I’ll always cheer for you, though. Even though I knew you’d win. You’re very good at fighting. I could tell you were showing off. It was cute.”
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Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2024 8:14 pm
Devyn laughed softly, like he might have been trying to keep it down. It wasn’t just Michael’s suggestive teasing, but it definitely hadn’t helped.
“Well, you were there. Of course I was going to put on a show. I had to make sure your eyes stayed on me. I don’t need a fanbase, only you. Besides, you’ll make more money if people dislike me. I have to say, it was a bit cleaner than the places I’m used to. A lot more rules, too.”
The corner of his lip twitched, like he was trying to hide another smile.
“I don’t think I’d want to take you there, you’re too good for them.” He didn’t want Michael to worry about all those other nights he’d inevitably need a quick fix to burn out his energy.
“Shall we polish off this food, or pack it up? We’ve had a good long night out here. I don’t want to keep you from home. Dark or not, I can think of a few better places for that checkup. Shall I carry you back to the house? You can feed me while we walk.”
Michael could walk on his own, and Devyn was technically full, but if he was going to be so playful, Devyn had every intention to indulge him. If him fighting helped Michael relax any bit, all the more reason to make a habit of this.
He felt young, which was a silly thing until he remembered how old he was. He’d missed so many years of his life, of Michael’s. He’d take any chance he could to have fun with him.
They both worked too hard not to enjoy the time they had together.
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Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2024 11:08 am
“Oh?” Michael laughed quietly in return when Devyn admitted to not wanting to take him to the other places that he fought at. That was fair! Devyn was welcome to have hobbies that he did away from everyone else. If it helped him unwind and work through anything he might be having, then Michael supported that.
Michael also knew that when he wanted to be alone, it was so he could withdraw from everything easier. So he could slip away without worrying anyone. He knew that probably wasn’t the case with Devyn, and he knew he could always make sure he was okay with the necklace, but.
Maybe he’d been hoping to spend more time watching Devyn do something that he loved doing. Regardless, he resigned himself to respecting Devyn’s boundaries. If he didn’t want Michael to watch his fights, then that was okay.
And he certainly didn’t want to say anything and ruin the good mood.
“I can still feed you while we walk,” Michael pointed out, pressing another kiss to Devyn’s hand, and then removed his arm from around his husband’s back so he could grab their bag of food. He pushed himself from the bench and tugged Devyn’s hand to help him up as well.
“We can also save what’s left for later. Some time in the toaster oven and these will be good as new.”
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Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2024 11:37 am
“Oh, the faces you’d make if you saw where I was before you found me,” Devyn laughed. As Michael moved, so did he. Slowly prying his hand from Michael as if it were agonizing to be separated by mere inches, he sighed so heavily as he did so.
A smile never left his face.
Michael had not told him he shouldn’t carry him, so after Devyn accepted his hand and pulled himself up, he scooped his husband into his arms as if he hadn’t just come from several rounds of fist fighting.
He shifted him a few times, as much to make Michael comfortable as it was to show off that he still had strength in him.
Before Michael could protest, he started back towards home. Sort of. It wasn’t quite the right direction but he’d figure it out when he got to something a bit more recognizable.
“Did you text Atticus already to tell him how I did?”
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Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2024 11:58 am
A blush colored his cheeks when Devyn lifted him into his arms, and although he eyed Devyn with momentary exasperation, he made sure to put his arm around Devyn’s shoulders so he wouldn’t have to work so much to carry him.
Most of the people in that area had left already, so while it was probably silly to see a grown man being carried by another grown man, Michael resigned himself to indulging his husband. He was pretty sure he’d already told Devyn that he could carry him whenever he wanted.
“You think I would make faces?” he huffed, but it was light and teasing. Devyn was probably right, depending on how rough the place was. However, he liked to think that he was open minded enough to give things a chance.
Maybe not if there were questionable substances in active use, or other illegal activities but mostly that would just be because he wanted Devyn to be safe, especially since he was only a couple years new to Earth.
“Of course. I was giving him updates. He’s very proud of you but said he was too sleepy to stay up longer after hearing you’d won. Not that it was a surprise.”
Michael used the opportunity to do as they’d discussed and pulled out a curly fry to hold up to Devyn’s lips. Nothing that he could choke on while walking, hopefully.
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Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2024 12:28 pm
Devyn accepted the fry with ease, so the little n** Michael got on his finger during the process was obviously deliberate.
“Those dastardly Reids must have worn him out,” he hummed. Last he’d heard, they were going to make sure they had all of their homework finished, make dinner together, and then go for a walk together. Nothing particularly strenuous; they were always up to something, though.
Probably had an early morning tomorrow. Oliver always got up to make breakfast, and on their day off they’d probably scheduled some fun little outing for the family.
Which meant, while Atticus was enjoying his time with them, Devyn could enjoy his time with Michael.
“I’m so glad he’s got them in his life. He deserves a good support system. Of course, we’re all lucky to have you. I can’t imagine what I’d be doing if you weren’t taking care of me. I’d have to have a job,” he mused, but dismissed the idea with a laugh. “No, I’d probably just be doing this. I don’t like the idea of being tied down. Perhaps I’d open a candle shop and compete with Myles.”
He’d acquired a great many skills over his years but the idea of monetizing any of them was so foreign. Of all the burdens he carried, he was glad finances weren’t among them.
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Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2024 1:01 pm
Michael snorted at the praise, giving Devyn another slightly exasperated look, but there was so much love and fondness in his eyes that it was hardly worth noting.
“Please. There would be plenty of people to take care of you. And you’d be able to take care of yourself, anyway. But I know for a fact that you can charm just about anyone. If anyone is lucky, it’s me having all of you.”
More times than not, Michael thought about what his life would be like without the Reids, without Devyn, without his family. He wondered when he would have sailed off into the horizon never to return without them to look forward to seeing. He wondered what would have happened if he followed in his friend’s footsteps after they’d left the Navy after that horrible incident…
Michael fished out another fry to offer, not at all put off by the risk of being nipped at.
“I’m glad he’s got them too,” he said after a moment, because he didn’t want to talk about himself. He would rather talk about Atticus and Devyn. “Poor Myles would probably have a heart attack if he knew you were going to compete with him.”
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Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2024 1:06 pm
As before, Devyn nipped at his finger. He cast a curious look at Michael, brief and inquisitive like he’d almost suspected his thoughts were drifting somewhere unpleasant, but with the conversation back on Atticus he carried on with it.
He adjusted Michael in his arms, not because he was heavy but because he wanted to make sure he was comfortable. And because he wanted Michael to know how easily it was to carry him.
Not as easy as Atticus, but he wanted Michael to think it was.
“Thank goodness you’re the only one I want to charm, hm? The same could be said for you, though. If you’d wanted, you’d have a line of suitable bachelors and bachelorettes vying for your attention.” Even with that make-believe sour demeanor, Michael was a catch. Especially when he let you know the real him.
Devyn kissed his forehead. “ I won’t compete with Myles. He’d be a good sport about it, I’m sure. But I don’t want to make his life any harder. He’s good for Atticus, too. I think Atticus has learned a lot from him, though I don’t know if he’ll ever actually open up his own business. Whatever he does, I’ll support him. As long as he’s happy.”
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Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2024 1:40 pm
“Thank goodness I’m already married,” Michael responded with another quiet snort of amusement. He purposely avoided Devyn’s curious glance, but that was okay because they were talking about other things now.
“He’s been very good for Atticus. For Elliot too, I think. It’s good for them to meet other people and have an adult other than their parents that they can go to if they need anything,” he hummed thoughtfully.
“I’m not surprised they’ve been spending a lot of time together, given their age. Atticus and Elliot,” he clarified and ate a fry for himself before offering another to his husband.
“Hopefully they know to come to us if they're uh… curious about things. But I guess that’s what the internet is for, too.”
Not that Michael wanted to think about the two teenagers he was most responsible for growing up, but he knew it was inevitable.
It was cute that Devyn was so doting. Michael just needed to make sure he didn’t do anything or say anything that would ruin Devyn’s good mood.
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Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2024 1:45 pm
Devyn hummed, either because he understood or he didn’t. His mind was pulling in a hundred different directions, but he’d finally reached a location that he recognized well enough to know that he’d walked a bit in the wrong direction.
That was fine, Michael hadn’t noticed, or minded. He redirected his course and began down a different sidewalk.
“You’re very cute when you worry, you know.” Devyn hadn’t been too concerned about any of it, but Michael was probably better with kids or teenagers that age, anyway. He knew better for what to expect.
“If the boys ever need anything, they’ll come to us. Or Myles, who will go to Jeremy, who will come to us.” Nothing to worry about. The boys were in good hands no matter what the occasion.
“I’m glad they have a big family. I always wanted that, when I was younger. Percy had one. You, too. My family was a collection of people I found along the way and was lucky enough to have by my side. Well, I suppose it still is.”
Even if one family felt very far away, sometimes. Never far in his heart, though.
“What will you do when they get old enough to go to college, are you worried about empty nest syndrome or does that mean we’ll be taking some trips out on that boat of yours while they’re gone?”
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Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2024 6:01 pm
Michael had noticed that they’d been going in the wrong direction, but wasn’t in a rush to get home, and figured that Devyn would either realize he was in the wrong place, or he was taking a more scenic route. Either way, spending more time with Devyn wasn’t a bad thing.
However, he did huff when teased about being cute when he worried.
“I didn’t think you had any particular desire to be out on the water,” Michael frowned a little as he eyed Devyn skeptically. Of course Michael would have loved to be out on his boat, but making sure Devyn was comfortable was more important to him.
“We could do that,” he continued, since Devyn had suggested it. “Or we could travel around the country if you wanted to visit more places on Earth. Or we could focus more time on places that need fixing up.”
He felt as though he knew Devyn would much rather be working on fixing up Alastor. Taking a nap under a beautiful golden oak was probably preferred to being jostled around in the waves. Michael didn’t blame him for enjoying something that was familiar. Maybe that was why Michael liked being on the water so much.
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