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 Posted: Sat Apr 17, 2021 8:16 am
“I could do it!” He protested, flushing… though he knew that was a lie. Truth be told he’d just try very hard to keep up and pray that he could protect Jace, even knowing that Jace had a magical uniform too now. And then… Then Callan knocked with the strangest question. “Of course I’m decent! I…” He glanced towards Jace and felt the blush in his cheeks intensify. oh… His shoulders sagged slightly with the realization. Shoot, he’d almost… almost had a chance to tell Jace. “We’re both decent, I borrowed the first aid kit.” He called after a moment. "I am going to have opinions later though!" Which would mostly be on how on earth Callan had known and hadn't he any respect for terrible teen romance movies and slipping people in after dark? Regardless of the fact it was a really good security system to have alerted him. He was not entirely convinced that Callan wasn’t secretly able to conjure some magical uniform too, something that gave him ‘super big brother powers’.
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Posted: Sat Apr 17, 2021 9:20 am
The coloring across his cheeks was contagious, and Jace had to look away as if to hide his own.
“We?” Callan asked, with faint, faux surprise. Like he hadn’t gotten a notification on their security system that there was movement outside the backdoor and checked to see Jace being smuggled in.
He cracked open the door so he could lean against the door frame. “Oh, just Jace. You should have said something, Holden, I’d have brought up snacks or something. First aid, is everyone alright?” he asked, glancing between the two of them like he could tell what happened just by existing in this shared space with them.
Jace looked humiliated, like he might just die, but was scraping by to collect whatever pride he’d left scattered on the ground. He sat up and insisted, “I’m fine. It’s just a scratch.”
Callan watched with a raised brow, but knew better than to harass Jace. He looked between them but nodded. “Well, Holden’s got good hands, he’ll take good care of you. Best you just stay still and let him work or it’ll take twice as long. Do you two need anything?” he asked, eyes returning to Holden with barely concealed amusement.
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Posted: Sat Apr 17, 2021 10:50 am
Holden’s face says that he in no way, shape, or form believes that Callan didn’t know that there was someone here. The timing alone was too perfect. “Snacks still work.” He countered, glancing away like the posters and paintings on his wall just became the most amazing thing. “It’d probably be just the thing since someone let their enormous dog off its lead, if I were Jace I’d have been terrified, but he knew to come and get taken care of!” He bit his lip. “Jace, did you want to ask to stay for the night? You could just… say I accidentally ran into you, and we could talk and there would be my Brother’s amazing coffee in the morning?” He turned back to Callan and stuck out his tongue, just a little.
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Posted: Sat Apr 17, 2021 4:40 pm
Before Jace could politely decline, either because of pride or any actual reason, Callan interrupted, “That’s a good plan.”
He was barely hiding a grin, and had the ability to seem very serious, even about such tiny little things. It was useful when he wanted someone to agree with him.
Like right now, because he wasn’t sure how convincing Holden could be on his own.
Callan continued, “Unless you can jog home before this rain sets in. It would be irresponsible for me to let you out. I’ve heard the storm tonight is going to be a bad one.” No, to be honest, he supposed he’d heard that it might be bad in a few hours, and there was probably plenty of time for Jace to comfortably get home. “I can drive you home.”
“Oh--no, I couldn’t ask you to do that for me,” Jace insisted, because really, he wasn’t sure he wanted to be in the car with Callan, but before he could say more, Callan cut him off, “Oh, if you insist. If Holden doesn’t have something you can borrow to sleep in, I’ll get something. You should just leave a pair of clothes here in case this happens again.”
“Oh,” Jace said, and really couldn’t say no, because Callan had a way of imposing while being so polite, and--how do you say no to someone who fills out a doorway? “Okay.”
“Okay.” Callan smiled pleasantly. “I’ll be back soon with snacks, I want opinions on this new recipe before I make a video. You two have fun.”
But not too much fun.
He waved, and then disappeared into the hallway, whistling as he closed the door behind him.
Jace was too stunned to hear Holden’s phone go off with a new text message.
Callan had texted him a thumbs up and a winky face.
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Posted: Sat Apr 17, 2021 5:59 pm
“I… mean I would absolutely save you closet space.” Holden said dazed. Snacks… yes that was good, no one was in trouble, Callan wasn’t mad, it was fine! And then his phone dinged. He picked it up from where it rested, and then squeaked, setting it down almost as fast as he picked it up, before picking it up again and starting to type out a message to Callan which was mostly scolding while he blushed. //Stop it!! no!! I have no idea if he likes me like that!! He might like girls!! Oh my gosh!!!// Before stalling himself out realizing he was being rude to Jace. “Heh…” He coughed. “Um… Yes, finishing your scrapes in case there is salt on the snacks.” He stuffed the phone to one side and started dabbing at the injuries again.” “S….Sorry, dog was the first thing I could think of.” He murmured . “With this sort of thing being real, maybe we should… I mean Callan would be thrilled, but he could teach us, like, self defense.”
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Posted: Sat Apr 17, 2021 6:45 pm
Jace rubbed at his face with his good hand and let out a groan, slouching a bit and letting his head hang. “I guess,” he grumbled. “...As long as he doesn’t get any ideas about, you know. Anything coming of it.”
He looked like he was ready to squirm but had resigned himself to staying still; even now, there was a bit of pink smattering his cheeks and he couldn’t look at Holden. “...I’d like to be able, I don’t know. Make sure that I don’t get killed by any, you know. Dogs.”
Should he hire a private fitness instructor to help him prepare on the side so he didn’t let Callan down? What if he didn’t improve fast enough, what if he wasn’t strong enough, what if he couldn’t learn fast enough? What if he disappointed Callan and Callan told Holden?
He crossed his legs where he sat but was otherwise still for Holden. “Do you want to? I mean. Together? If it’s not him, we could go to the gym or something.”
...Callan would insist he did it, but Jace was honestly afraid to disappoint him, for some reason.
Holden’s phone dinged again.
‘He’s your best friend and you don’t know who he likes? I’ll ask when I come up.’
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Posted: Sat Apr 17, 2021 6:53 pm
//Don’t you DARE!!!// He typed out hastily to Callen. “I…Oh yes, no I’d very much like to train with someone. I know you’d be a lot better than me, I mean I know some armed combat but what if I was disarmed…and stamina, I could use that… and then if I had enough stamina I COULD go on runs.” He murmured, and tried to focus even harder on the scrapes. “With Callan at least I know he’ll be super patient, he knows it’s not my calling, but he’s really good when he teaches. It always surprises people.” HE shrugged and had a small smile of affection on his face for his Brother….who had better NOT ask who Jace liked… he didn’t want to know if it was someone else, or if it was just something Jace didn’t feel. He did want to know…but also nope.
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Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2021 7:39 am
Jace looked at him inquisitively for a moment. “What do you mean, ‘I know armed combat’?” He squinted. “What, do you know how to use a gun or something?”
He didn’t want to admit that the idea of Holden fighting was oddly--what? Attractive? Oh my god, Jace, wow, that’s so dumb, you can’t just think that. Besides! What did Holden arm himself with! Words? A paintbrush? His phone? those eyes?
His heart was pounding and he just groaned, rubbing at his face harder as he tried to stay focused. On the bright side, he was so distracted that it didn’t even hurt while Holden checked over him and got him patched up.
“--I don’t even know if I want to know. I’ll think about it. I guess we can ask your brother? I can’t probably squeeze some time in. I don’t know how tight of a schedule I can keep, but...I mean, if you’re willing to work something out with me--and if he is--” he shrugged helplessly, “I can try. But--no costumes. Ever. Please.”
From the phone, ’Ok, love you. I’ll play it cool. Small talk over coffee’, followed by another winking emoji.
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Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2021 7:55 am
“Oh! Noooo-no-nono” He shook his head and waved his hands to fend off the idea of using a gun. Uh… I think it’s normally called Tessenjutsu… It uh… Iron Fan technique. I know that and a few Kata from Mixed Martial Arts, n-nothing like Callan mind you.” His phone dinged again and he peered at the screen, making a strangled sound in his throat. He considered sending back a ‘oh my god stop winking’ - but decided that would probably result in something else deeply supportive and also, in this moment, deeply embarrassing. Keep the topic to fans, keep it to fans!! “I know more of um… there was a class on Chinese dance that had fans, and I sort of loved that so that’s why I agreed to learn the Tessenjutsu, which is Japanese in origin but…” Oh god… he was rambling.
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Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2021 8:08 am
Jace seemed to have renewed interest, like he was surprised at all of this. How did he not know this about Holden? How did he keep something like that secret?
He squinted, in that way that he did when he was processing information he didn’t quite know what to do with.
The only part of ‘martial arts’ that made sense was ‘arts’, because that was the Holden he knew and understood.
“Really?” he asked, because sometimes Holden could say something that maybe sounded true, and maybe didn’t, and--Jace didn’t have the energy to try and process too much right now.
But...it was something else to focus on. It was something different than youma, and magic, and--Holden didn’t think he was crazy! And Jace was desperate to cling to something, anything, until he could calm down and figure the rest out.
“...Can you show me? I--I mean, like. You don’t have to do it here, like. We can google it or something, you don’t have to, like. I’m not. I’d like to see you do it, though. Sometime. If you want.”
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Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2021 7:19 pm
“I… mean, I don’t really do it that often, it’s sort of a side, thing.” He murmured like he was a little embarrassed by doing it at all. His face felt very warm and he scooped up his phone to hide behind. “I mean, I can show you, yeah… it’s … I mean if you wanted to see it done WELL I can take you to show you one of the seniors but, I have a few fans in my closet. But, first we’re making sure you aren’t going to have gravel as a new type of tattoo!” He checked the injuries closer to be sure as he dabbed at them. "....do you want to just see me, or would you like to see Callan do it with me?" He added with a small smile. "He's actually...really good, because of course he is. He's so talented, like you... how do I know all you amazing people?"
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Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2021 8:17 pm
Jace seemed surprised again. “Your brother does it?”
He tried to imagine it but the image was quickly chased away because--of course Callan would. Callan was always trying to support Holden, and it was strange in a way he understood but didn’t quite get. He never saw Callan tease or harass Holden, not like he and Xander did. They could quarrel and bicker and harass each other, but Jace would have killed for Xander.
Callan would have killed for Holden, but Jace wasn’t used to seeing families care for each other like that, and--
He was too frazzled to try and process things he already didn’t understand so he just shook his head.
“I wouldn’t want to impose. Unless you wanted to. I bet you do it just fine. And I wouldn’t feel weird watching you do it. I might feel weird watching someone else. But you don’t have to if it’s weird or anything. My hand feels better. And my knees, thank you.”
Everything was sore, hot, but his face was hot too so maybe that was just him.
“So you--I mean, you’re amazing and talented too, you know. You can do so much. You’re creative and can do things no one else can, so...give yourself some credit, too…”
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Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2021 4:27 pm
“He does.” Holden said sounding amused. “He’s… super supportive, I think I could take up belly dancing and he’d still join me.” He shook his head then at poor Jace. “It’s not imposing, I’m just, you’re the person I’d want to impress you know? People at competitions are just strangers, you’re you!” He leaned back and nodded then, satisfied that Jace was feeling better. “Do you want a shower before settling?” He offered. “I’ll find you some clean stuff that might fit again. Food? Desert counts as food… I mean it’s sorta healthy-ish desert but I tried!”
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Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2021 6:02 pm
Jace thought he had an answer, but honestly, every thought seemed to slip out of his mind when Holden said he was the one he wanted to impress.
"Food, I--I don't want to bother your brother or anything. I can just order delivery if you want, it's the least I can do since, ah, I'm staying. I mean, if the weather wouldn't be too bad for someone to come deliver. But, I should take a shower," he said, but thinking too hard felt like trying to pull himself out of a chest deep mud puddle. He was suddenly self conscious that he might smell or something, but to be fair--he had just been out running. "...And text Xander, at least. If I needed to, he could cover for me."
Jace wasn't sure if asking him to cover for him was worth the amount of teasing he expected, but he was too tired, too drained, to really care.
His mind kept going back to Holden saying he was the person he wanted to impress most. "--You know you do impress me, right? Constantly. Are you telling me you've been in competitions, or just thought about it? And belly-dancing? Where did that come from, is that something you're planning on picking up, too?"
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Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2021 1:28 pm
“Do you really think we’d not find you something tasty and healthy for food?” Holden teased. “You take a shower, I’ll see about grabbing you something I know you’ll like from the kitchen, I’ll set you some clothes by the door too okay? So you can text Xander, blame the weather, or whatever you need, lord knows I don’t… think we need Xander knowing about your new uh… “ He waved his hands trying to think of how to put it. “….well, I’m not sure what he’d do but I think unless it happens to him too, maybe we don’t share that just yet. And no no… I mean, they have some interesting costumes for belly Dancing, and there is a really fabulous gentleman who does it you can look up online but, no It was just the first thing to come to mind to show how supportive Callan can be. Why, would you like to join me?” He grinned.
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