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 Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2025 8:13 am
Riker had only just started his new life with Evan and Julian, he didn’t want to leave now. Not when he was happy for the first time in probably his entire life. Not the superficial happy, but make-your-heart flutter and can’t-stop-smiling happy. Even now, as Evan suggested bribing Maxim with food to stay with him, he couldn’t stop the twitch at the corner of his mouth. He wasn’t used to smiling much, but it was becoming easier by the day.
“Sounds like you’re having fun,” he greeted after giving the door a little knock and pushing it open once they’d reached the landing. “Jules, we’ve got a couple for you to taste test. I’ll eat whichever you like less,” he told him, not wanting him to worry about wasted food.
“Did I miss anything?” he asked, but he was glad that Cassidy was at least distracted enough to be talking and laughing. Julian was probably worn out, but likely politely following along.
“Thanks, mom. Uh, there’s room on the desk,” he gestured, which had already been cleaned off by Julian of course. He gave Evan an appreciative smile, and hadn’t forgotten his promise to him.
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Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2025 8:14 am
Cassidy looked up eagerly, and even Julian’s eyes seemed to sparkle in the dim light. Julian was a decent host–or, at least, a decent audience. He sat on the bed hugging a pillow close to his chest while Cassidy shared very detailed and unnecessarily dramatic internet lore.
“I always have fun,” Cassidy insisted. Julian didn’t disagree but he was visibly tired. Hungry, too, but he didn’t realize how much until he smelled the grilled cheese.
Not willing to make Riker look too sappy in front of his friends, Evan smiled. “Perfect, thank you. I don’t know how you keep your room so clean but it’s always so nice to come up here.”
Julian found himself easily stressed in a cluttered or dirtied environment, and he brightened a bit when Evan noted that he appreciated the cleanliness of it. An organized bedroom was unsurprising from Julian; he liked things to be tidy and he had a history of needing to keep his space as such. His foster homes required it, and Hillworth, and even before that he’d always tried to keep things neat.
“You didn’t miss,” Cassidy answered. “But me, I hope.” To Evan, his tune changed to something a bit more respectable. “Thank you for letting me stay over. And thank you for dinner.” Julian offered his thanks almost immediately afterwards, like he’d been waiting for Cassidy to finish before he spoke, and quietly informed, “You didn’t need to do anything special for me…”
“I wanted to. I had one earlier, I think it’s good! But if you don’t like it, Maxim does.”
The dog’s tail wagged and it seemed that the trek up the stairs had woken him up a bit. Or, maybe just the prospect of three people getting ready to eat. There was too much for them to eat on their own. He’d have to help.
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Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2025 8:14 am
Riker’s lip twitched again at Cassidy’s comment, but he held himself back from responding. Not while Julian and Evan were there. He would have plenty to talk to Cassidy about later. When they had some time alone.
“Julian does a good job making sure I keep my stuff picked up. I don’t have a lot but, uh… I tend to rush.” He would be first to admit that sometimes his clothes ended up on the floor, or his shoes kicked off in the middle of the room. He at least tried to make it up to Julian by making sure the bed was made up in the mornings.
Of course, once everything was set down on the desk, Riker turned to Evan with his arms open so he could collect him in a tight hug. He pressed a kiss against the top of his head, which was easy given their height difference.
“Thank you. I’ll let you know if we need anything,” he promised, his voice softer so that only Evan could hear him. He rubbed his back and held him close, wanting to give him the best hug he could manage. He always tried giving Evan good hugs, but this one he was trying extra hard.
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Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2025 8:14 am
Oh, Riker was so tall. Evan could have been swallowed up in his arms. He squeezed Riker in return and almost laughed at how easy it was for Riker to just kiss atop his head. Evan was spoiled in a great many ways, and he felt it now more than usual. Cassidy was chattering something to Julian so he took the moment to savor the hug. He didn’t want to pull away first but he didn’t want to embarrass Riker, either.
Cassidy didn’t know what they’d been through tonight. “I love you,” he said quietly, and gave one more squeeze. “And that was a very good hug, Riker. I want more like that.”
He patted his back quickly when he stepped away, and before any but Riker could see the wetness in his eyes, he turned away. He smiled, but he rolled his eyes at himself.
Julian was already shaking his head slightly, as if to convey that Riker was overexaggerating just how much of a mess he might have made. He hadn’t moved since the food was brought up, but it was common for Julian to wait until others had started eating before he did, too. Cassidy was lounging, perhaps hungrier for company than for food, but he was being patient and pretending like he wasn’t staring at Riker.
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Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2025 8:15 am
While Riker didn’t want Evan to cry, he’d expected it a little. It was sweet, and he was still getting used to someone being so emotionally open with him. His friends were in that same realm of course, but Evan looked after him in a different way.
“I love you, too,” he said just as quietly. He let Evan step away before he turned back to his friends, making sure to bring the plate of sandwiches with him and set it carefully on the bed.
“Sleep well,” he said to Evan as he got the cups of soup as well to pass to Julian first, and then Cassidy. He sat down on the edge of the bed, maybe a little closer to Cassidy than was necessary. From there, he could casually place his hand on top of Cassidy’s, while still holding the cup of soup to sip at.
“Don’t be jealous, I’ll give you both good hugs too,” he promised with a small grin. No doubt they’d seen him hug Evan, so of course he’d make sure to offer.
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Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2025 8:15 am
“Oh, good,” Cassidy said; Evan had only just left to head downstairs and Maxim was still trying to decide if he wanted to go after him or wait for the boys to eat. He sat down on the floor expectantly. In ordinary circumstances, he might have jumped on the bed, but he seemed to be waiting patiently, to show he was such a good boy.
Cassidy was already looking like he wanted to throw him a whole sandwich but he managed to distract himself by eyeing Riker. He didn’t need to scoot closer but he did. If he could have crawled into his lap, he would have.
“I am jealous,” he declared, but without any venom it seemed like he might have only been teasing Riker. “I hope you hug me like that all night.” But Cassidy had already declared that he was going to squeeze Riker so he was going to be hugging him one way or another.
Once more, Julian waited to find out what was going on with the food, but Cassidy took away the need to ask by inquiring, “Which sandwiches are for Julian? Do you have a sensitive palate, Julian?”
“Oh, um–no,” he answered slowly, with just enough hesitation that Cassidy already knew there was more to it. “Cheese, um, it isn’t my favorite sometimes.”
“Really? Oh, that must be hard. I imagined that you get cheese with every meal here.”
“Sometimes,” Julian agreed. “But it’s okay. It’s all delicious.”
“Yeah,” Cassidy agreed. “I like coming over here to eat. And the food truck is good, too.” He sipped at the soup while he squeezed Riker’s hand. “I’m dying to dig in so, like. I hope this isn’t rude,” he said, and held the mug of soup between his thighs so he could get a plate out with one hand and take one of the sandwiches from the bottom. “I hope it’s not rude to just scarf this down. Do you guys do normal sleepover things every night, like stay up and gossip and tell scary stories, or do you just curl up and go to bed?”
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Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2025 8:15 am
“That one is for Julian to try,” Riker indicated to the plate that had been placed on top, so thankfully wasn’t the first one Cassidy went for. Not that it would have really mattered, but he wanted to help both Julian and Evan out by letting him at least taste the one meant for him.
“We usually just go to sleep,” he shrugged, making sure not to meet Julian’s eye as he said it. For the most part, that was the truth. They talked until bedtime, or did homework, or lazed about watching television or playing games, but when it came to sleeping, once the lights were off that was usually it.
Sometimes, one of them would work up the courage to talk about something that had been bothering them. As if it was only safe to do so in the dark, when it didn’t matter if the other was paying attention or just dozing off. They always stayed alert for each other, no matter how tired they were.
But that was for the two of them to know. He trusted Cassidy wouldn’t be malicious about anything he learned about them, but Riker and Julian tended to be more private about their personal lives, especially the one they shared.
“Don’t feel guilty about eating whatever you can. I already ate one downstairs. Sorry!” he grinned a bit sheepishly, but it didn’t look like he felt too horrible about it. Evan’s cooking was always great, so of course he didn’t mind being spoiled!
Riker at least took pity on Maxim, and tore off a corner of his sandwich to toss over to him.
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Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2025 8:15 am
With explicit instructions that that sandwich was for him, Julian carefully picked it up with a soft word of thanks. He wasn’t a picky eater by any means, but he was curious about this one, made special for him. He had his suspicions, of course, but he took a bite, mulled it over, and then nodded approvingly. He didn’t have the same taste for cheese as Evan might have, so all he knew was that it tasted good.
He was glad that Riker had answered for him, and though he took careful bites, he was also mindful not to talk with his mouth full. It was a good excuse to keep quiet and listen, and one he often fell back on. His eyes raised to watch Riker and Cassidy while they spoke, and briefly to watch Maxim snatch the offered sandwich corner out of the air. He took his time to savor it but kept his eyes out for more.
“I won’t feel guilty. Evan knows we only have normal sized stomachs, right? There’s enough for like two, maybe three more people here. Oh well. Eat up, you have to grow big and strong.” Cassidy took another grilled cheese even before he’d finished his first because he knew he had the space for it. He definitely wasn’t going to feel guilty about eating the food.
He’d learned a long time ago that if the food was made, it was made to be eaten–and if they ever ran out of food, someone would make more. His family had operated with that mentality since he was a small boy. If anyone was still hungry after this, Cassidy could whip something up for them.
Releasing a contented sigh as he chewed, Cassidy had barely swallowed before he was talking again. “I think it’s cute that you two share a room. I’m surprised you can just go to sleep? If I’ve got someone around me, I feel like I’ve always got something to say. And if no one’s nearby, there’s always the internet. So I usually play around a lot on it until I fall asleep. All the crazies come out late at night, it’s fun. I love reading their conspiracy theories. I’ll have to show you my favorites sometime.”
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Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2025 8:15 am
“We’re ‘growing boys,’ or something like that,” Riker snorted quietly in amusement because Evan really did make them a ton of sandwiches. Maybe Zac really should have grabbed a few more on his way to whatever he was going to work on.
Balancing the cup of soup against his leg on the bed, and picking up the sandwich to eat while holding Cassidy’s hand as subtly as possible was only a little bit of a challenge. He didn’t want Julian to feel too weird about it. So far it didn’t seem like he really noticed. But then again, he was probably exhausted.
“Are there any you actually believe?” he asked a bit warily, giving Cassidy a somewhat skeptical look. He was worried that if he started looking too much into conspiracies that he’d start believing them. Maybe Cassidy could give them the shortened version of the ones he liked best.
“Going to sleep is fine, but weekends are hard to not just sleep in,” he admitted, although his ears burned a little. He liked how warm it was to wake up next to someone he cared deeply about. And if he wrapped his arm around Julian to rest his eyes for a bit longer, it was difficult to not just fall asleep again.
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Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2025 8:15 am
“There might be a few,” Cassidy said coyly, in a teasing voice. He hooked his finger around Riker’s. Julian wasn’t looking at them, but it seemed like he was now busying himself with looking up at the ceiling. He’d seen the stars a hundred times, but it was easy for him to just look up at them.
Though Julian hadn’t commented on it, he’d seen the way Riker had placed his hand so close to Cassidy’s, and considering how shy he was–and how he’d only just told them about things, Julian didn’t want to intrude. It was easy for him to rest his back against the wall, and he didn’t have to see the sandwich to eat it.
“I like the ones about the monster at the reservoir, but lots of people have weird stories about seeing monsters watching them through the window. Oh, sorry Julian. You don’t like monster stories?”
Julian opened an eye, only then aware that he must have been making a face. “Oh, it’s fine. I thought I was going to sneeze, sorry. They’re okay.”
Cassidy watched him for a second and then smiled. “Oh, okay. Well, I don’t want to give anyone nightmares. I’ll tell you all about them sometime. Do you think we can sleep in tomorrow? …If you wake up before me, you can just leave me in bed. If you can get out of my arms, haha. I’ll try not to talk so much that I keep you up all night. But I’m really happy to be here. Like. Really happy.”
He squeezed Riker’s hand once more.
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Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2025 8:16 am
As he usually was, Riker was quiet while Cassidy spoke. It gave him time to eat some more of his sandwich (one of them) and sip some more of his soup. The warmth of Cassidy’s hand and the occasional squeeze made it hard to ignore the fact that they were all incredibly lucky to be there in the first place.
After weeks of preparation, they’d faced off against a very real threat to Earth. A threat that might only be the first of many. Would they be strong enough? Would they be able to save everyone again?
He supposed now was not the time to let the reality of everything that happened sink in. They were supposed to be settling down. It was already early into the morning, after all. Part of him wondered what could have happened if he hadn’t told Cassidy about the world potentially ending. Would he just be blissfully unaware? Somehow Riker doubted that. Cassidy was more perceptive than people probably gave him credit for. He masked it well with his bubbly personality.
“I’m happy you’re here, too,” he said after a moment, but didn’t just look at Cassidy. He looked over to Julian as well, grateful for everything he did to keep them safe that night. He deserved to rest after all of that.
Not only that, but they’d both given him a chance where others might hesitate.
And with Cassidy, he might have not even had a chance to get to know him if the car accident he’d been in had been any worse.
“Really happy,” he quietly agreed, looking up at Cassidy again as he squeezed his hand and held onto it for several seconds. Cassidy might have forgiven him, but he was still trying to work through his own guilt of not being there when Cassidy had been alone and in pain and probably scared.
He was glad Evan and Julian agreed to invite Cassidy over so he wouldn’t have to be alone while everything was still settling from the fight that took place beyond the Moon.
“Anyone or anything that tries to mess with this house will seriously regret it. I’m pretty sure Zac would be first to volunteer to, uh… defend his property. But me, too,” he huffed, not wanting Julian to be uneasy about anything that might be creeping around at night. At least there was nothing making noises under the bed, and there hadn’t been for a long time.
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Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2025 8:16 am
Julian nodded, reassured by Riker’s conviction. Zac would be the first, and Soleiyu had some cameras and defenses already installed to keep them as safe as possible. They were on the second floor up here, it would have to be pretty wild to see some creature looking at them through the window.
He was glad he’d already closed the shutters, though.
Maxim was usually very alert and aware so if anything had been going on, he’d have let them know. Even if food was involved.
“Oh, you’re so brave, and strong,” Cassidy cooed, and while he might have been teasing, his eyes sparkled in a way that said he meant it, too.
“I’m so happy you live here now. Sorry if it’s tacky! It’s just so nice to be able to come over! And everyone here is so nice. You too, Julian. This place feels like a home. A good one. I always like being over here.”
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Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2025 8:16 am
“I like living here, too,” Riker agreed with a quiet sigh. Not because he was upset about anything, but it was definitely a relief to not have to worry about things once he got home.
“Thanks for letting me share your room, Jules. I know Zac built it for you, but I feel like I can relax here and not just hide or think of ways to escape.”
Of course, after saying all that he cringed at himself.
“That sounds more dramatic than it really was.”
Kind of. In a lot of ways it was significantly less dramatic, but from an outside perspective, it probably wasn’t normal. After staying with Julian and Evan and everyone else for the time that he had, it was easier to see just how chaotic his life had been.
“If you ever need space, you know I can give you that,” he reminded Julian, although he didn’t think Julian was all that eager to get rid of him. Not yet at least.
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Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2025 8:16 am
Julian’s attention returned to the two in front of them, and now that he felt obligated to answer, they had his full focus. He still avoided looking at Riker’s hand on Cassidy’s, as if he were to give any indication that he’d seen it might ruin their moment together.
He didn’t want that for either of them; he knew what Riker had been through, even if they hadn’t been able to talk about it much. He had an idea of how the night had gone for Cassidy, too. He wanted them to be able to find comfort in their closeness without worrying about him.
“It’s always good to know where the exits are,” Cassidy said, as if he meant to reassure that it wasn’t too dramatic or weird for Riker to have said such a thing. “I always check. In case of a fire.”
Of course, it made sense, and Julian smiled placatingly at Cassidy. “Um–no, I don’t need space. But thank you. This room is already so much for me, I’m glad we can share.”
He didn’t really know what to do when the space was just his, And, he slept better when he wasn’t alone.
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Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2025 8:16 am
Julian was too sweet. There was a lot that Riker wanted to talk to him about. He hoped that bringing Cassidy over didn’t make things difficult for him.
“Me too,” he nodded in agreement. He did like that they could share. It was better than being alone. Which meant he would have to be more diligent in at least calling Cassidy when he wasn’t able to stay over, just so he wouldn’t be alone.
He hoped his other friends were okay, too. Dawn and Maisie seemed to be fine, but Énna left for home soon after returning to Earth. Atticus and Elliot were okay, and had plans to take it easy.
After taking the last few sips of his cup of soup, he reached over to place it on the side table to keep it from being knocked over.
“I promised Cassidy I’d sleep without my shirt on,” he told Julian then, trying not to sound amused by it. “I hope that’s okay.”
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