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 Posted: Thu Dec 12, 2024 9:11 pm
He told them ten minutes, twenty tops, but it was more like twenty-three. He took it like a failure, then shouldered it as he did all the others. Buried it deep. Told himself the way it gored him would remind him to do better. To be better.
Eion was dressed in his typical dozen layers. His coats didn't match his shoes, which didn't match his leggings. He didn't limp or wince when he walked, but he paused just a breath away from the door with the knuckles of his left hand. His face was mildly scraped and he sported a bit of road rash on his cheek. He was alive, if still catching his breath.
His boldness, his recklessness was getting to be too much again. He knew that. But to wrench himself away from the heat of the moment like that, even in the sensible case of self-preservation, galled him. It galled the youma in him. His body knew that any fight could be a last fight, that every fight was an opportunity to dominate or be destroyed, however preposterous or illogical it sounded to his still-working brain. Maybe he'd taken too many headshots, then.
It was something to think about while he stood in front of Aelius's door.
Someday, his luck would run out. Someday, he would die. It would force the team, the boys he married, to survive that trauma. That was why Aelius and Waru made so much sense to him. But here he was, walking in on it. Disrupting his own will.
Eion's head hurt. The December chill stole so much heat from him that he began to shiver. He knocked lightly.
I'm here, he wanted to say, but such a privilege was robbed from him.
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Posted: Thu Dec 12, 2024 9:41 pm
"Ei--!" The rush of dejavu as he swung the door wide in an instant made him momentarily queasy, he had to force himself not to do a double take for the layers of memories stacked thick as Eion's endlessly mismatched coats. His boy looking snuggly bundled all while he himself was shucked down to the basics; clothing casually soft enough that they could've been pyjamas of a slightly more stylish variety. Yet still warm enough to keep out the cold that lingered in the halls of an apartment complex large as this one.
He wondered if the place saved on heating bills by doing it? And thinking about that made him long for his small shoebox and the bed buried inside of it. For that door to be the one knocked on as lightly as this while his boy---
Their boy---
And as Waru actually looked Eion up and down, his smile didn't falter so much as it twitched and thinned into a neat press of a considering line. This too felt so ******** familiar ---
"On?! Huhmm, hangonasec..." A gentle tsk as he turned his head and shouted back into Aelius place with little aplomb and the finesse of a brick through a window. "Hey, Aelius! Can you get the first-aid kit please? THANK YOU!" And the smile was back, dialed to a ten, hung beneath eyes that gently spelled out 'imma pamper the ******** outta you' in the creases of lines his grin left.
He didn't chide his boy as he shoved the door the rest of the way open, didn't ask for names of people, or the plate numbers of whatever bus had nearly missed running his husband over. He knew by now, in a way that ached not at all unpleasantly, that even a heart as big as his couldn't tie a force of nature down...
Didn't mean he couldn't nurture the ******** outta it.
"Hope you saved room for dinner, Ei. C'mon, s'cold as ******** out this hall---"
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Posted: Sun Dec 15, 2024 2:26 am
Aelius had made it a point to take a very quick shower when he and Waru had gotten back to the apartment. He had practically thrown the singed duffle bag alongside the couch, just out of foot traffic, before heading to the bedroom to gather up clean clothes.
He'd only must gotten dressed in a pair of maroon sweats and a fitted long sleeved shirt when he heard Waru from the kitchen calling about the first aid. “What happened?” He called out.
The towel he had been drying his hair with was quickly tossed onto a hook on the back of the bathroom door. Aelius moved to the hallway closet where the well stocked first aid kit lived. When he walked into the living room and connected kitchen he saw Waru hoovering at the door, attention on someone who had just come through. Aelius assumed it was Eion, and as he sidled up to the two boys suspicion was confirmed.
“Jesus. Glad you came. Even if its for nothing else than to get fixed up a bit.” He ran a hand through his towel dried hair, sticking it for a few moments before a few wisps broke free to frame his face. “There's a blanket on the couch. Go get comfortable. If you need another let me know.”
Aelius was all too aware how much Eion disliked the cold. He himself was a hoarder of thicker blankets for this time of year. His own distaste for the cold temperatures not a secret. Thankfully, he was working normally again and could afford to keep the heat at a more comfortable level.
He side stepped out of the way and into the kitchen proper to set down and open the first aid kit.
“Speaking of food, what are we doing? Cooking? Doordash?” He questioned Waru as he began plucking out some first aid ointment and bandages from the kit.
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Posted: Sun Dec 15, 2024 9:41 pm
His boy was, of course, wearing practically nothing compared to him. Eion envied his ability to retain heat in that rippling, delicious wall of muscle he called a body. So he pouted about it, particularly when Waru decided to engineer a Scene about a few scrapes. It simply wasn't fair that Waru could both be overdramatic about his injuries and wearing mouthwatering sweatpants about it at the same time.
And Aelius popping in, all prettied up with wet ******** hair and more ******** sweatpants, didn't help either. Eion rolled his eyes to the ceiling, if only to avoid being too obvious about where he'd be staring.
It occurred to him to explain that roughly half his injuries were accidents, particularly the road rash and some of the bruises, but that impetus cooled when he decided he didn't want to sound more inept than he already did. They'd already glimpsed the end of a fight once that night; best to leave the rest of his wounds to mystery. They'd be gone in a few days regardless.
Not that he'd necessarily turn down a little doting.
Stepping in, Eion brushed past the pair and started to shuck a couple of his outermost coats. He quite liked the offer of a blanket, but he'd had too many layers on to be able to ball up on the couch under Aelius's offering. The coats were discarded on the floor like too much trouble as he beelined for the sofa.
In a moment, he'd tucked himself up inside the luxurious blanket and pulled the edge up past his nose as he shivered beneath it. Then, with hands just barely peeking out over the top of it, Eion signed his decision about the food question.
Doordash, he spelled carefully. Waru can transfer you the cash from my account.
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Posted: Mon Dec 16, 2024 1:08 am
Like a hen plucking scattered seed, Waru dutifully snatched the slew of trailing layers up off the floor, one by one, until he could drape the neat stack of them over one of Aelius kitchen chairs. Humming something to himself mildly, falling into routine motions with ease, and in making his rounds back to the couch he brushed by Aelius; warm hands trailing the man’s solid frame, an admiring sound for the neat prep work of supplies—
“Nice, looks like it’s Doordash, and? It’s free—” Said aloud for Aelius' benefit as much as his own. Spelling things out had never been his strong suit, even now, but Faustite did it so slowly. So carefully. Waru couldn’t have kept the admiration out of his tone if he tried. The way he sent Eion an appreciative look, even as he squeezed Aelius' shoulder with quiet gratitude, all before making his way back towards the couch…
“Les’see what’s still open n’delivering…*now*…where’d I put my…” He made a show of searching with his eyes for what he already knew was in his pocket. “Oh— maybe it's —“ False forgetfulness, patting himself down uselessly while encroaching on the Eion-ball buried into the couch like a burr. “Somewhere in—“
‘Hi, love. Missed you.’ His words softly mouthed, whisper quiet platitudes as he dipped his head into the blanketfied cocoon; the mass more fabric than boy at this point! Not so much so that he couldn’t find a space to press a chaste kiss. His lips falling on the rare patch of available, unmared skin showing right between Eion’s eyes, before he was nudging himself into the available space where Eion had shrimped himself. Happily adding a solid wall of warmth for his boy to lean on, like the shoring of defenses against an embittered rival: the dreaded cold!
Not that he didn’t get a kick out of it too. Giving himself a vantage point to watch the pair interact from, getting the amount of touch he always craved like some bottomless, touch-sucking pit.
“Ah—found it——“ And maybe, sometimes? He did know what he was doing. Like a rare moon of thought rising, instead of a lucky accident. “Looks like— restaurant or fast-food? And there’s D-Macs, La Merced, the usual twenty-four seven fried dives — Oh!! 7/11? Don’t think Todd’s on shift yet tho…don’t wanna risk gas station sushi......” A deep chuckle reverberated in his chest, as he scrolled through the app with his left hand, his right draped along the back of the couch.
“What do you think, Ei?” He only half-asked about the food as he leaned on Eion a little, tilting his auburn gaze hisnbundled boys direction.
’Doesn’t his a** look good in those sweats?’ A conspiratory hisst of vowels aimed for one sheltered ear. ‘If only there was a ballet with cute nurse uniforms—-‘ Shameless, because he always had been, always would be, and what better way to pamper his poor wounded boy? To show his praise for Eion coming back alive!! Only mildly scraped up and pouting — a far better outcome to all the times Waru could count before. How he’d much rather this than the nightmarish alternatives where Faustite bled out from some new hole that should’ve never been made in his body.
“And Aelius— any preferences on how to spend Ei’s dimes?” Attention flitting to nurse-designee of the hour and kit sorter extraordinaire. His eyes soft for Aelius, always. His smile warm as his tone, beckoning the other over with a sidelong glance.
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Posted: Tue Dec 24, 2024 7:41 pm
Golden eyes watched as Faustite shed his outer layers like some kind of reptile shedding its skin. The boy practically dove for the blanket that had been offered up, snuggling up and under it. Face and hands poking out, reminding Aelius of a child hiding from an imaginary monster. Amusing, for the fact that Faustite was the big bad in the room. A monster in his own right, but one well loved by the other men.
A smile was offered to the largest of the trio as a hand slipped along Aelius's hip and side in passing. Waru, dutiful man that he was, followed behind in Eion's wake, gathering up the coat and layers before nestling himself on the couch, with a show of loosing his phone that was far too lacking in genuine concern.
Aelius watched the whole proceedings, hands pausing in their search of the first aid kit as. The sight was warming to see. Two men, obviously in love, enjoying each other's presence. It was sweet, genuine, and endearing.
A green-eye'd monster rose from the depths. Only quenched by the sadness and melancholy that settled over Aelius like a think blanket of his own.
Pulling out bits from the kit, Aelius pulled out supplies that would suit the need. Eion had arrived cut up and bruised, but nothing that was seriously concerning beyond the fact that the boy was hurt at all. Considering how they'd originally found Faustite earlier though, it wasn't a surprise. Wounds like this though Waru and he were more than capable of dealing with for their complete lack of seriousness. Especially since, with Faustite's inner fire, infection wasn't a worry.
Grabbing a paper towel that he dampened with warm water, Aelius finally moved to join the two in the living room. "Dinner on Eion?" He smiled. "I don't have any preferences. I'll let you two decide." Not ever having been the pickiest of eaters, Aelius was willing to eat anything by this point. The hunger pangs had begun after all the energy he exerted at class along with the chase and surprise of finding Faustite as they did.
He deposited his small stash of items on the coffee table, handing Waru the damp papertowel. Another smile offered to the kindness that Waru's own eyes held as he watched Aelius. The dancer hoped his melancholy that still laid around his shoulders didn't show. But, considering the way that he and Eion had been getting along as of late, Aelius didn't want to push boundaries. Instead, he'd leave it to Waru to clean up anything that needed it. Besides, the man was already cozied up with Eion.
Aelius, instead turned down the short dark hallway that led to the bathroom and bedroom. He popped into the latter to retrieve another blanket that typically sat on the bed. This one a soft, fuzzy fabric of green and gold. He returned with it in hand, placing it on the armrest alongside Eion as an offering. "In case one isn't enough."
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Posted: Sun Dec 29, 2024 11:02 pm
He would've been fine to watch the pair act out their domesticities from the comfort of a blanket. He'd expunged most of his anger using someone else's face earlier; any commentary Aelius had in store for him would be much easier to weather now. But just as Eion expected Waru and Aelius to resume whatever they were doing before, his boy pulled up next to him with his usual bullshit and nearly smothered him with warmth.
Eion wasn't complaining for it. But even as he leaned into his boy to leech his heat, Eion spared a mildly worried glance at Aelius. If he could direct Waru toward the other boy, he would, but Waru only had room enough in his brain for one task at a time and Eion lacked the discipline to overcome his own hunger. It was difficult enough to wait impatiently for Waru to figure out where the ******** his phone was and determine what to order.
For his part, Eion shot him an increasingly impatient withering look. For as long as they'd known each other, Eion thought Waru understood how important it was that he eat frequently and for a shitload of calories, but instead, the boy chose to dally and incite more drama. He drew on all of his self-restraint to avoid staring boldly at Aelius's a** and instead increased the viciousness of his own stare at Waru. Then he jabbed the boy in the ribs with a sharp elbow. Food, he fingerspelled with meaning.
He didn't need to think about Aelius in a cute nurse uniform right now. And he certainly didn't need to think about making a boy in sweats into a bountiful dinner —
He perked at Aelius's inquisitive response, interpreting it in a manner wholly different than what was intended. He couldn't be the pair's hibachi grill, however; his aura would draw half the city's White Moon to Aelius's door.
The thought was soon put to rest as Aelius foisted medical supplies and another blanket upon them. Eion was quick to choose the blanket, molding it about himself until he was appropriately swaddled in heat. The bandages were left where they were, however; he didn't think himself in poor enough shape to use them.
Order from that soup place you like so much, Eion signed to his boy. The one with the old lady that sometimes beats you with her wooden spoon. Much-deserved assault aside, the food was always good.
After a pause, he added, He'd look better with those sweats on the floor.
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Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2024 9:25 pm
*’<********>--‘* tongue touched to clenched teeth, the curse holding more mirth than chiding. His eyes filled with fondness for being rushed along so deliberately by a sharp, well aimed elbow. “If you wanted a rib to gnaw on, Firebrand—“ hushed chatter, spoken as if all Eion ever had to do was *ask* and Waru would find some ill-advised way to pop the offending bone free and present it forth; slathered in sauce and made with loving care!
Maybe next time, when he stopped needing it for himself as a meagerly protective corset around his softest innards.
“Cause there’s food for your stomach — and food for your thoughts — and if the ultimate goal is to keep you full love? Then….“ Trailing off from what more he could’ve added to the question. His teasing gentle, even as his gaze turned sharp where it shifted to meet Eions fiercely frustrated one. Reading the demand clipped out in a quick twist of fingers while chewing the tip of his own tongue as he took his sweet-a** time to fulfill it. What was that old saying again? Something about hearts, minds, bodies and souls? About the best way into a person's greater graces being through consumption…
A prize flayed beneath wicked, promise-filled gazes. ********, if Eion didn’t look wicked when he got hungry like this; energy spent and snarling for it. If Aelius didn’t exude the essence of a feast; being easy — helpful — ********’ walking around and helping out so sweetly! Like it wasn’t even a thing that needed to be asked—
“Well Aelius, if you don’t care then…” His smile to the bluenette full of thanks for the other man, for the blanket, for the easygoing nature slid their way. “Oh-yeah! The ‘Big Dipper’, ******** me, Ei. It’s been a hot minute since I’ve bothered my ‘Mama Bear’ for her best grub…nights cold enough she’ll add in extra gristle for free…” His thumbs suddenly quick with it, now that the idea had solidified in his head; it nearly made his mouth water, already imagining introducing Aelius to less than fair cuisine while watching Eion get half of it all over himself in the process.
“That woman takes a pound of flesh in payment, but she’s a hag with a heart. She knows how to feed truly hungry people…all cheap n’messy-like, the way food was meant to be.” Humming hungrily as he flicked his phone off mute, tossed it aside while the little order meter spun and a car symbol blipped to life; a nice tip not only waiting for his Mama Bear like a digital money hug, but also for whatever driver bothered to pick it up and bring it out here in all the bitterness winter had shat up!
“You’ll love it, Aelius.” A warm promise strung around a kind smile, he turned to make a try at dabbing at one of the various minor scrapes that mared his boys features like a blurr effect; found it nigh damn impossible. His husband was more blanket than flesh now! “And as for you—“ His huff nearly petulant, eying Eion in his bundle like he was looking for an opening into a fortress and finding none. What could he do but give up his halfhearted attempt at getting the pair of boys closer — save of course answer Eion honestly about the sweats comment.
“I absolutely agree.”
‘Filthy’
‘Perfect’
Words mouthed silently over too eager slashes of teeth, hungry in another way entirely.
“That I’m gonna probably need help keeping you warm if it’s already like this — c’mere, Aelius! There’s room for more — “ As if he’d make it himself with his own bare hands if need-be. The way he’d missed this, platonic spice, that closeness that needn’t ever be more! Hell, could it even count as touching each other with an Earth's crust of layers between them? He thought not — but what did he ever actually know?
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Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2025 12:18 am
He wasn't at all surprised when Eion nabbed up the blanket and buried himself underneath it. He was like a caterpillar in a cocoon. All nestled in, comfy and warm. Only difference was, the boy wasn't going to emerge transformed with beautiful wings as a new being. Eion would always be Eion. The boy that Aelius loved besides the wary uncertainty he felt when interacting with him now. As much as he longed for the days when things were just easier between them, Aelius now knew that it was never going to the same. What they needed to do was create something new between them, but it wasn't going to be found quickly or easily.
It was going to take time, time that was going to frustrate but also temper him. Them.
Waru's excitement pulled him from his musings as he stood by the window watching like a specter. There but not. He smiled at the absolute glee on Waru's face and how quickly an order was placed. "Must have some favorites there with how quick you punched that order in." He teased, as he leaned hip against the window sill.
Waru was quick to promise a good meal though. "You've not steered me wrong yet." A no truer statement in matters of more than just food.
Eion's hands began again. Obviously something meant for Waru and Waru alone, and Aelius rolled his eyes for it, if not secretly pleased for his ability to catch what was said."You would agree with that." He commented to Waru nonchalantly.
To Eion he raised a brow. "And you shouldn't be encouraging him." Another bold tease. Though, who was encouraging who was the real question now. Aelius wasn't sure.
At the invite to move in and snuggle into the two of them, Aelius froze for a moment despite the teasing he'd just delivered. Hesitancy stayed him, eyes flicking between the two men nestled on his couch. He thought Waru wasn't going to try and play there games anymore, instead let things just...happen as they came. But the man was obviously incorrigible with his attempts.
Heart beating a bit with nervousness, Aelius capitulated to the request as he removed the extra pillow that sat in the corner of the couch and settled himself between the pile of blankets that was Eion and the arm of the couch.
He should have made Waru soot over and sit on his side. At least he would have felt comfortable cuddling then. Cuddling felt...felt too intimate, even platonically, for where he and Eion were.
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Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2025 7:57 am
If Eion could compress into more of a ball, he would have done so to the detriment of his own bones. Waru continued to shoot his mouth off, stirring up his frustrations as much as that upstart of a boy could manage. If he'd known he'd be walking into such a skirmish, he'd have gone after one more senshi before returning to their home for the eve. Would've been easier to tolerate the teasing and sit on his impulses.
His head poked up at the invitation for Aelius to come join them. Waru was in rare form to have gone that far, made worse for the fact that, evidently, Aelius could read sign language now?! That was a cheap ******** trick. Now he'd have to use Waru's pair of earrings if he wanted to make dirty comments about the boy without Aelius listening in on it. What the ********. ********, Eion shivered. With winter came a pervasive chill in the air that he found difficult to ignore in a human skin. No matter how heaters and radiators and stoves tried to fight it, Eion found it ubiquitous. It rendered him even more reticent to leave behind his normal habitus, particularly since he found that chill to be a refreshing balm while he was on fire. But here he was, bending to the wants of two boys who teased him in kind and frustrated him terribly. And he was paying for the food.
Feeling an utter fool, Eion laid his head against Waru's shoulder. If he was told he had to pull his hands out for some bandages, then he expected these unruly boys to cough up some extra heat in exchange.
Once Aelius joined them on the edge, Eion shifted enough that he could press his back to Waru's side and shove his cold toes under Aelius's butt. Which, of course, felt firm and well-sculpted from this angle. He supposed that would have to do until the food came — hopefully warm — and they could eat their fill.
When did you start learning ASL? Eion signed to the boy that he now faced.
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Posted: Sun Jan 19, 2025 10:36 pm
Waru chuckled deeply at being called out, playing sheepish at being caught. Even if it dismayed him not at all— “Don’t need no encouragement when it comes t’telling either of you — just — any number of nice things, Aelius.” But he would miss being entertained, and cheer-leaded, and ******** indulged on a whim. He almost thought it worthwhile to whine for all the ways he would’ve liked to compliment both the boys viciously. But he swallowed it down in favor of watching Aelius carefully come to perch near enough that the room finally felt normal to him. He wouldn’t have to twist, or shout, or watch either boy pace across a room. He could have them both close enough to touch — to talk to — and if asked by the others he would say he was doing it for them. To bolster good relations, to change the atmosphere, but the deep down selfish truth of it was that he was actually doing it for himself. The greedy desire that sat just beneath his skin and nibbled with starved lamprey levels of desperation at his core—- The *mine* that demanded *closeness* and how he wanted it right godamn *now* and he would beg for it even when patience, and waiting, and not pushing for anything at all was what had gotten him this far. But sometimes I just can’t help myself—- Not unless he was trying to, he realized, and h was decidedly *not* trying much of anything, instead he was soaking in the moment letting his eyes skip like happy stones between the pair. Waru straight up cackled unapologetically as Eion shoved his feet beneath the indigo haired boy! “Holy—*haah*—g’on n’tell him when you picked up the finger-spelling, Aelius.” It was all funny enough that he didn’t bother trying to hide his laughter for Aelius’s a** being the fortunate feet warmer this time — served the guy right! Instead Waru busied himself with tucking his phone away and tending to those wiggling fingers like a well baited fish. He left the sound on, waiting for the chimes that would signal their delivery’s arrival and then reached oh-so carefully to ensnare a single, thin wrist; every knuckle that got a bandage got a kiss first, like it was necessary to do so (because the best ointment for scrapes and bruises would always be a healthy application of love!) because his lips were warm and Eions fingers resembled slender ice-pics (were chilled like ones too!) and because he needed to bust his mouth however briefly while the pair chatted. The way meeting tiny not-needs and dolling out micro-affections to at least one of his loves made him feel at ease enough to settle more placidly beneath where Eions head and back pressed alongside his body; not wanting to dislodge the warm cocoon of cordiality that had fallen over them. He wanted to listen — to watch — and sup every expression the pair of boys sparred like he was trying to keep it forever
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Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2025 1:58 pm
If it had been a situation where he wasn't wearing any sort of coverings on his a**, Aelius would have leapt and cursed the atrocity of cold feet being shoved unceremoniously under him. As it was, the sweats created a decent enough barrier that it was less a shock of the senses and more a surprise at the comfort level Eion was showing. So, while he jumped, it was for different reasons than the others may have expected. None-the-less, he gave the swaddled boy a look.
“Two blankets not enough, hm?” An attempt at a tease as he shifted himself to better accommodate the tootsies under him.
As Eion extracted hands to sign to him, Aelius watched the movements carefully. It took him a bit to translate within his head. Some of the signs were shaky as best for him, but putting pieces together was plausible. Whatever he couldn’t piece together fully, Waru was helpful in translating in a way that let Aelius keep some face in his shoddy attempts.
“Uh. Honestly, it’s been since the summer when I really started putting effort into it.” The pillow he moved to get comfortable was pulled onto his lap and became a rest for his arms as he sat back. “Truthfully, I would be fluent or…at least better at it, if I had given it the time of day when I was a kid. I was just too busy with my own hobbies to bother investing myself.I didn’t see the point in it since I didn’t need it in ballet. I guess I was naive enough to think I wouldn’t ever need it." He shrugged. "I am not sure Trey ever did learn it himself. He may have what with the intent to take over the business but that was long ago..." Another life in all truth. "Even if he didn't I wouldn't be surprised if he's been learning recently. He could afford proper lessons if he wanted."
“But it became clear that if I wanted to have any sort of meaningful conversation with you I’d need to learn. It also means I can give you voice like Waru does when you need it.” He tilted his head, offering a teasing smile to the man who was peppering Faustite with small kisses that were both endearing and frustrating for Aelius to watch. He had never thought he would find himself jealous of Eion at any point, but here he was. Jealous of both boys for two different reasons. One for the attention they were getting and the other for giving that attention.
With sloppy and slow movements he attempted to quietly sign to Faustite knowing Waru was rather engaged at the moment and might miss it. We both know we can not trust him to… He paused. He didn’t know how to sign ‘translate’ and his brows furrowed as he attempted to think of a way around his lack of knowledge. His fingers and hand fumbled a bit until he figured out what to say. speak right for you.
He winced. It wasn’t the best and he damn well knew it. “My actual signing is poor. Sorry.”
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Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2025 8:28 am
Eion didn't mind the loss of a hand to keep Waru busy. Knew his boy needed to give affection as much as he thought that Eion needed to receive it. And Eion, while listening to the other two, was content to lounge bonelessly against Waru's sturdiness while Aelius shared recent developments from beyond Eion's purview.
He began to feel just the slightest bit imperious — like he sat atop a well-earned throne cobbled together of Boy. It was precisely what he wanted.
From the sound of it, Waru knew about Aelius learning ASL and had simply kept it a secret from him. He didn't begrudge the boys their time alone, or their hidden facts, but he gave Waru a sharp little elbow of a tease for managing to stay so mum about it. He didn't think the boy capable of keeping anything to himself unless it was life-or-death Negaverse business. Seemed he had more surprises than Eion had given him credit for previously.
For Aelius's jest, Eion simply lofted his brows at him. Two blankets surely kept him from getting colder, but two Boys would help warm him up.
He watched Aelius while the boy explained, letting his mind wander to fill in the gaps between words. It had taken much for Eion to overcome his own miseries and resentments enough to learn, and far longer still to get fast at it. But that was a burden blessedly kept off his team's shoulders and instead settled on the capable shoulders of those he had worked with outside of Destiny City. That so many of his team had picked up ASL as a result of his injury was itself heartening; he needed no further indication of his team's devotion to their cohesion.
So Aelius had abandoned it once — that meant he had a foundation from which to start. And, as Eion watched the signs he tried to execute, he couldn't help but think Aelius hadn't quite said what he meant to say, but Eion caught the gist of it. He was certain that Waru did, too, and Eion glanced up to shoot his boy a conspiratorial look.
Eion kept his own response slow and deliberate. I can hear, so you don't need to sign. Would be useful to know some basic terms in case we need them on a mission, however.
He wiggled his toes a little, where they warmed up beneath a boy. Sometimes it's a pain in the a**. And it makes my wrists hurt if I have to sign a lot.
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Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2025 8:18 am
It was nice to hear them banter with each other; a gentle game of badminton played with pillow-paddles and the downiest birdie he’d ever conjured into imagination. And for the first time since — ********> — he didn’t know when? It felt like he could truly relax while watching the unfolding coziness with lidded eyes, and a half-attentive nod or two. His own alertness to their conversation settled to a simmer as he simply soaked in the warmth of having the people he loved together and close enough to touch. And oh — how witnessing their shared happiness filled something left gnawingly empty within him. How badly he’d missed exactly this! These soft moments, Ei’s soft hands, Aelius’s soft smile.
He was so proud of them—
“We could always set’chu up on some master classes too, Aelius....” Waru hummed almost blissfully. Personally? He’d needed live examples himself, had digested YouTube shorts and ‘a sign of affection’ on tearful repeat like they were sacred tomes that held the keys to the universe. Because he had to see it all done with his own eyes to catch onto any of it; to watch those visuals on replay and mime the motions endlessly over, until they became somewhat rote and ingrained in his bones. In the bathroom mirror, in the dark, while casting it to their tv; at least for the simpler things. Because there were ******** nuances, intricacies, a thousand ways to say the same thing differently and with a splash of attitude depending on the shift of a wrist. And he felt the distance of not knowing those finer aspects the same as anyone thrown into a language they didn’t necessarily rely on to survive would always feel.
He knew his lackings acutely and it drove him in a circle—
Until a sweet redhead on the other side of a screen, who he’d ignorantly called ‘Pat’ until she’d told him outright, with forgiving eyes, that her name had actually been ‘Patrice’ the entire time.
He’d wanted to die just a little bit.
Until she’d taught him how to say it correctly with his own hands, and giggled with him through finger exercises that felt stupid but — hell— not nearly as stupid as him describing a vision for a ‘hand gym’ that would obviously be named ‘all hands on deck’. Because no amount of self-inflicted embarrassment would change how badly he wanted to be able to call Eion more than just ‘husband’ in short-handed motions and ‘baby signs’. Because he didn’t want to feel like he was steamrolling every conversation anymore. He wanted so badly to be the last person on Earth to misunderstand Ei more than he already did on an average Tuesday. He could only demand his love explain so much and not feel ******** burdensome…
The slow dawning realization that his typical, desperate eagerness to do anything for the sake of building a connection could be useful here. Giving him something to fixate on besides Aelius needing space while also getting steadily better as Faustite had been away. Giving him someone to practice with once he realized Aelius was over a healed hurdle and interested in trying again to mend things for the better—
“Heh, maybe we’ll even do some real lessons together on Ei’s dime t'get more'n the basics down. He’s such a generous bankroller…” The thought of calling Ei’ his ‘sugar’ anything twinged something gag-worthy in his mind, so he swallowed the concept and paid better attention to the request of a playful elbow in his side and his boy's fingers slipping free of his grasp once more.
“And because he rolls our banks? We can’t have his hands falling off at the wrist. Makes it an even better thing that Aelius is learning so quickly—“ And he didn’t bother to hide the pride in his voice, or the slight tilt to his grin that gave away the fact he was likely thinking of all the reasons he wanted Eion to avoid wrist injuries that had absolutely nothing to do with the three of them being able to communicate more efficiently. “Cause then, someday? Ei— you can just think s**t at Aelius. And then Aelius? You can sign it to everyone else….and we really should brainstorm a way to make the both of you psychic…but like...only with specific people? Yanno -- for -- uh -- mission security n's**t?” He elaborated no further as his mind ran on and he absently decided to make 'psychic lovers hat' Beans first official project the second she grew a star and some thumbs.
“Oh, hey!" When he realized the buzzing in his pocket wasn't just his wild imaginings and the chiming that followed was their delivery guy announcing he was halfway up the elevator. "Hold him, yeah? Foods finally here---" Playing hot-potato with the slender swaddle of his overwrapped husband, Waru extricated himself from Ei's curled weight with a roughly apologetic brush of hands while barely resisting the urge to re'tuck his boy in at Aelius side. "I now you're gonna love this Aelius, seriously. S'the best stuff for when it's cold out liked. You'll see..." Heaped gratitude and sly promises that glinted in the brief look he held with the bluenette before he was at the door; making nice while gathering bags that all said the same stark red 'Thenk You' in misspelled print over stretched white plastic.
Waru deemed that eating from the coffee table and couch was more than good enough for them all; that he could lay everything out and bustle into Aelius's kitchen to fetch extra paper plates and bowls, a number of accumulated packets of plastic utensils from other delivery nights; that they would do as well as the cheap, brown recycled napkins he knew were stacked alongside the containers in their delivery.
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Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2025 4:02 pm
The easy-going, cozy atmosphere between the three of them began to lull Aelius into a state of calm that allowed him to really relax into the couch. There wasn’t a movement to get closer to Eion, but that could be perceived as his intent to remain the boys dedicated footwarmer. He did however, shoot Eion a look at the toe wiggling. “Maybe I should invest in a heated blanket for you. Or even just a heating pad to keep your ice-cubes for feet warm.” A tease as he nestled into the corner of the couch just a bit more with shoulders relaxed and tension slowly easing from the rest of his body.
Eyes flitted to Waru who still acted as a personal lounge for the smaller of them. “I had debated doing classes, but didn’t want to start them from nothing. It feels more productive to jump in at the point I am at now.” Beans decided then was a good time to make herself known. A few meos and the calico was tip toeing her way around the blankets Eion was swaddled in before finding Aelius’s lap. Born from a habit now ingrained in him, Aelius made room for the feline, divesting the couch and himself of the pillow he had. He smiled warmly as Beans made him her own proper chair and loafed in his lap. Promptly he began scratching the feline’s head. “I think now would be a good time to start. I’ll make a point to look into a few places. I am sure DC has resources for that. Perhaps even one of the colleges teaches a course.” His gaze was on the creature in his lap as he spoke.
“But, it does sound ot me like someone needs to work on their wrist strength.” He glanced up at Eion, a brow raised. Purposely, or maybe not, he left the thought sit there a moment, almost curious to see where the other’s mind may wonder (His bets were to the gutter). “There’s a lot of exercises that could be done. I can do some research for you. I had to do quite a bit of work when I was a kid to work up my ankle strength.”
Waru was then moving in a flurry and Aelius shifted to allow Eion’s feet to slide out from under his a** easily enough as the burrito’d boy was moved. “You’ve not steers me wrong yet when it comes to food, WAru.” Aelius said with sincerity as the man bustled to the door to gather the goods.
The smell wafting from the plastic bag was more than enough to bolster the model’s confidence in trusting Waru when it came to food. Waru, bless him, made it a point to gather everything they’d need for their mini feast at the coffee table. While Waru gathered their supplies, Aelius began to fuss with the bag and pulled out the slightly heat warped styrofoam containers from it. Better to get the food out asap to avoid too much moisture build up. Last thing that he wanted was soggy, moist food. Yuck.
“You’ll have to explain everything you ordered.” Aelius said as he began popping containers open to display the small feast that was laid out in front of the three of them. “What’s your favorite of the bunch you two?”
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