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 Posted: Tue May 03, 2022 5:24 pm
Under Michael’s watchful eye, Devyn began to prepare the food to go into the oven. That was easy enough, even if he was used to different utensils and different ways of cooking. He could line the pans with aluminum foil to make them a little easier to clean, lay out the food. He’d just washed his hands so he wasn’t worried about food contamination, and while he was certainly less concerned about such things for himself, he didn’t want to get Michael sick.
“I can swim. I used to love the water. Alastor’s just ruined a bit of its charm. If I’m not in a cave, or stuck in a current, I think it’s just fine.” The idea of a lot of water wasn’t particularly appealing to him, but the way Michael talked about it–the way he’d sighed when he mentioned he hadn’t gone out since last summer–was enough to make him think there must be something worthwhile about it.
“A few hours in a car doesn’t sound so bad. I was going to ask if we could go have lunch by the water when we head out to the reservoir this weekend. I think I miss it. Nice, gentle water. I mean, I’ve seen the ducks by the pond in the park. And it’s not like I’d have to worry about anything if I went out to the water with you. But some time out, away from the city seemed nice. I like being able to hear the sounds of nature, and the fresh air. The last time I was on a sailboat was a very, very long time ago. I don’t think any of them had motors back then. But you make it all sound fun.”
And, it wasn’t like Michael called things fun often enough for Devyn not to notice that he’d said it, now.
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Posted: Tue May 03, 2022 5:41 pm
It all sounded like a very nice idea. And part of him was excited for it. The other part was skeptical. Probably because it sounded too nice. Too good. Not that Devyn had been anything but kind and considerate, but Michael wasn’t sure how much he was pushing himself out of his comfort zone for Michael’s benefit.
Another part of him was worried about getting too close. He was already thinking about Devyn constantly during the day, and while he could say it was just because he was worried, he also thought about things like how the tie he’d picked out to wear that day had the same color blue and gold of Devyn’s eyes, or if there was maybe a better hair care product he could suggest Devyn trying that would be similar to the kind he was used to using back home.
Or maybe trying to think about what foods Devyn liked best, or if he really just ate everything with no bias. Or the way he smiled, or the way Michael found himself smiling when he could feel the orb pulsing in a way that usually indicated that Devyn was in a good mood.
“No caves near the reservoir. At least none that I’ve heard of. They usually block off anything dangerous,” Michael explained, glancing across the room at the flowers that Devyn set on the table so he could keep himself from watching Devyn too closely and making it weird or something.
“But yeah, if you’d like to do that, we can.” It wasn’t as though he had any other plans.
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Posted: Tue May 03, 2022 5:52 pm
When Devyn had finished laying out all the food, he looked to Michael for approval and then picked up the trays so he could carefully put them in the oven. He wasn’t going to burn himself in front of Michael. This was easy, anyway.
“I’d like that a lot. I like the city,” he admitted, “But it’s very different from what I’m used to. Back when Alastor was healthy, you could get lost in the forests, and it was never stressful. You didn’t have to worry about crowds of people, or getting hit by a car. Just quiet, peaceful. I miss healthy worlds. The kind where you can smell it in the dirt and trees, and everything’s just alive. I find myself wanting to do all these things I didn’t even know I missed. I love being out in the woods. Getting away from how busy everything is seems really nice. I mean, I love it, the city’s exciting. But getting away seems good.”
He could look forward to the reservoir, then. To getting more comfortable in car rides, and he could take some time to admire the reservoir. It would give Michael time to get his boat, and then they could go to the ocean sometime, and–
Wait, Devyn had only ever been on a boat for traveling purposes, he wasn’t entirely sure what the purpose was when you were doing it for leisure. But, he was interested, and Michael would know better than anyone.
“What do you do when you’re out sailing on the ocean? Do you fish, or…?”
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Posted: Tue May 03, 2022 6:18 pm
“Not worry about the crowds of people. Enjoy the smell of the wind and the feel of the sun and spray of water. I like to go out on the water because there’s no one else around. So, I guess it’s similar to how you feel about being in the woods. But, yes, sometimes I do fish, although I like fishing from a pier more than deep water fishing from a boat,” Michael said, and couldn’t help but smile a little.
He knew it wasn’t the same as being in the woods, but it was a similar feeling that they both enjoyed. Being away from everyone else was refreshing. Grounding. Gave him a chance to recalibrate so he could get back to the rest of his life.
Michael made sure to pay enough attention to what Devyn was doing to make sure he didn’t need any help, but he seemed to be doing just fine. He was much older than Michael was. He’d lived through so much already -- he could handle being in an alien kitchen with a fussy host.
“Sometimes it helps me think, when I’m out on the water. The waves drown out other thoughts,” he explained, hoping it didn’t sound too silly.
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Posted: Tue May 03, 2022 6:30 pm
It was probably silly to say that Devyn was proud that Michael didn’t have to correct anything that he’d done, but he was. Really, he’d had the easy part, Michael was the one who had to figure out the temperature and tell him how long to cook something for, but he was learning. He’d probably still choose to cook with supervision for a while, if only because he really didn’t know what he’d do if he burned down Michael’s house.
Even if there didn’t seem to be any actual fire.
“It sounds nice. Would it bother you if I came along? I can’t promise to contribute to any calm that might come with going out on your own. Not sure I’d be able to be quiet for all of it. I used to lay by the river sometimes. It wasn’t quite the same as what you’ve described. You could hear the water lap against the shore when it was windy, or when there were too many boats passing through, but it was grassy so it sort of softened it a bit. Right now, it’s all flooded. All you hear is the rushing water, and it sounds angry. I’ve seen it pull down trees. Not safe to get anywhere near it, now.”
He glanced back over at Michael and said, “You know, I don’t think I’ve ever actually been out on the ocean. I’ve been to the beach before. I mean, it might be different here than what I have in mind. The most time I ever spent at the beach was off-world, though. Pretty place, though.”
Probably lost, like all the other worlds, if everything he’d heard was true. He had no reason to think it wasn’t, he just hadn’t seen anywhere else.
Except for Sessrumnir.
That was enough for him.
“We have oceans on Alastor. But I’ve never had to sail across one. But we don’t really have beaches, it’s all rocky. And there are legends that say sometimes the sea just opens up and swallows ships whole. You, ah” he paused, and clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth. “You don’t have things like that on Earth, do you? Or sea monsters that can do the same?”
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Posted: Tue May 03, 2022 6:36 pm
Once again, it was difficult for Michael not to just smile and accept everything Devyn was offering. He liked the idea of someone going with him, even though he wasn’t sure how entertaining it would be for Devyn. And he would feel horrible if Devyn regretted going.
Still, he made himself hesitate, made himself think about everything and slow down and try to stop himself from so easily opening up to Devyn about everything. It shouldn’t be so easy to trust him, and it made Michael nervous in a way he couldn’t explain. Maybe he was just afraid he was setting himself up for heartache and misery and -- despair.
“I would really like it if you came along,” he said before he managed to talk himself out of it. Being honest with Devyn was still easier than coming up with something to lie about. “I like the quiet, and being alone is usually the point. But it reminds me of how alone I am -- ah… or have been,” he corrected, because Devyn was there now, and he said he would keep an eye out for him and all that. Michael just hoped he wasn’t keeping too close of an eye on him because he would really like his heart to chill out.
“We have all kinds of beaches. I can show you the ones we can reach easily if you’d like. We have rocky beaches too, but there are some that have really soft sand, some with a lot of shells that wash up. Some beaches are even pink or black. Depending on what’s in the sand,” he explained.
He was sure that Peter could have come up with stories about sea monsters, but Michael just smiled and shook his head. “Myths and legends, yes. We have very large aquatic animals. Sharks, whales, giant squid… but in my years of being on the ocean, I haven’t known anyone to actually witness a sea monster. And live,” he added, but winked as proof that he was joking.
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Posted: Tue May 03, 2022 6:47 pm
Devyn scoffed, and gave Michael a look, just as he tapped his arm playfully. “Don’t tease me about sea monsters, they could be anywhere. Maybe not even just in the sea, Michael. Really, don’t give me inspiration for new nightmares.”
The corners of his lips were pulled too tightly, into a smile he was trying–and failing–to hide.
“I don’t know how I feel about large aquatic animals, but I suppose as long as they leave you alone while we’re out there, I won’t fuss.”
He felt warm, partly in excitement and partly because–
Well, he wasn’t sure. This was becoming common, and maybe that meant it was becoming a problem. He’d liked when Michael said he’d like if he came along, but the feeling was mutual because he liked the idea of going along.
“If they’ve never bothered you, let’s hope it stays that way. We can go enjoy the quiet and be alone, together.”
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Posted: Tue May 03, 2022 7:03 pm
Even if Devyn was trying to hide his smile, Michael couldn’t stop himself from laughing now. Once again, Michael was finding it too easy to talk to Devyn. Which was probably why, when he stopped laughing for a moment, he said, “Well, since any new nightmares will be my fault, you’re welcome to wake me up in the middle of the night if you need company.”
That was too much, wasn’t it? They were… what were they? Friends? Sure, when Michael didn’t remind himself that he had Percy’s starseed. Otherwise, he had no idea what any of this meant to Devyn. But for the moment, Michael was content with just giving him someone to talk to. And to keep an eye on him in return.
“You’re safe with me,” he promised after a moment of contemplating what he wanted to say. Pretending like he never said what he said was… cheap. Insulting to Devyn’s intelligence. Taking advantage of Devyn’s sincerity.
“Nightmares or real. And you don’t need an excuse to wake me up. If you’re lonely or bored or…”
Stop it… I’m trying…
His heart was fluttering again, and at some point he glanced away from Devyn again. Maybe if he stared at the oven it would look like he was trying to be useful and not trying to avoid seeing Devyn’s expression.
He concluded his unfinished sentence with a shrug and a halfhearted grumble about how he would likely be awake anyway.
And he absolutely wasn’t thinking about being alone with Devyn on his sailboat, because that was just because they were friends. Or something.
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Posted: Tue May 03, 2022 7:19 pm
Oh, Michael was doing that thing again, where he said something charming and then shuffled back into himself. Devyn wondered how badly he’d been burned in the past that he felt like he needed to clam up after showing a shred of playfulness. And then, he felt a little mad about it, because–why? Who should have the right to make Michael feel like he couldn’t be himself, or couldn’t say nice things?
“I know I’m safe with you. Never doubted that. You sure you want me waking you up if I’m lonely or bored? Because I’ve thought about it. I know you have to wake up early for work so I try not to come bother you. When I’m alone in my room, trying to sleep or just staying quiet, sometimes I just get these thoughts in my head. Started to write them down so I’d remember to ask you at a reasonable time. I really didn’t think you’d appreciate me creeping into your room to ask how the internet works, or waking you up to see if you had anything I could stitch up. I know you have a hard time sleeping, I don’t want to–”
He paused, like the thoughts all fell out of his head, and crossed his arms over his chest as he leaned back against the counter contemplatively.
A few seconds passed, not many, but enough for Devyn to think about the offer. Briefly, he looked up at the ceiling, but then he nodded and looked back at Michael. “Okay,” he said instead of any socially courteous, polite refusals.
“I’ll do that. But if I show up with a pillow and blanket, you have to scoot over. And if you have a nightmare, or you’re bored or lonely, you have to come get me, too. I don’t have a schedule to keep, so you can’t even feel guilty about it.”
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Posted: Tue May 03, 2022 7:33 pm
He’d expected courteous, polite refusals, because who in their right mind would actually take someone up on that? Someone they didn’t know very well, or at least only briefly. There was a part of Michael that wondered if he should regret saying anything to begin with.
But as it turned out, Devyn was not just agreeing, but offering the same.
The weird tension that had been creeping into him at the start of Devyn’s polite questioning started to ease back out. He knew Devyn probably worried about waking him up, or bothering him, but if Michael was honest with himself, he liked being needed. Even if it was for something as simple as keeping someone company if they had a bad dream, or trying to explain how the internet works.
“Okay,” Michael said quietly in return, glancing up at Devyn again with continued wonder and curiosity. He knew he kept turning it over in his mind, but he had just never met someone he could talk to so easily. Maybe it was just part of Devyn’s natural charm. But then why did Devyn seem to enjoy talking with him, too?
“I sleep on the left side, by the way. Just in case you think I’m giving up that side of the bed,” he explained, hoping it was as casual as possible and that he wasn’t just offering Devyn a place in his bed. That was weird wasn’t it?
“Easier for me anyway, since I’m left handed,” he said and held up his hand as though it would explain everything, but he was really just grasping for any distraction from anything weird he might have said. Luckily he felt his phone vibrate with the timer he’d set, so he could keep his mouth shut by shoving wings and pizza into it.
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Posted: Tue May 03, 2022 7:43 pm
Devyn laughed, but it was in the good natured way he did when he was happy about something. He’d never really laughed derisively or mockingly, and even if he had, he couldn’t imagine laughing at Michael like that.
“Oh, well we won’t have a problem then. I can sleep anywhere.” When he got to sleep. But if he could fall asleep in the bathtub, or a chair, or standing up because he woke up in the middle of the night and leaned against the wall to look out the window–
Yeah, the right side of Michael’s bed sounded completely sleepable.
“I’ll keep the left side of mine open for you. Of course, if I’m in the middle, just roll me over. I usually sleep by the wall if I’m alone, or closest to the door if I’ve got company. Old habits. And I sleep wherever I can breathe when Princess is involved.”
It wasn’t the first time he’d seen Michael set a timer on his phone, and that made sense given that he didn’t like the beeping of the appliances. Devyn very expertly mimicked Michael and put on oven mitts before reaching in and grabbing the trays to check on their dinner.
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Posted: Tue May 03, 2022 7:59 pm
He liked Devyn’s laughter. There was a musical quality about it, and Michael couldn’t help but want to hear it more often.
“If you have company?” Michael asked before he thought better of it. He had no idea what Devyn’s and Percy’s relationship was like, other than what he’d seen memories of. Devyn obviously adored Percy more than anything, but Michael had no idea if Devyn had other lovers -- or friends -- who were given the opportunity to share his bed.
And since Devyn apparently had no qualms with sharing a bed with someone else, then maybe there were others. So he was just used to having company. And it wasn’t anything for Michael to feel weird about. He didn’t feel weird, but he wondered if he should. Or maybe he was thinking too much about it. And he certainly didn’t feel jealous about it, because that would be insane. Anyone he’d shared a bed with before would have been long dead by now. And they were only friends. Keeping each other company.
“That looks good,” he commented on their dinner instead. The crust was browning and the wings should have been in long enough, but because Michael didn’t like leaving too many things to chance, he pulled out a thermometer from one of the drawers to stick into one of the wings. There was a marker on the thermometer, but it was also connected to an app on his phone, which he showed Devyn.
“It just makes sure the internal temperature is hot enough to be fully cooked. I know you can probably eat anything and be okay, but I don’t want to take that risk.” After all, he was supposed to be looking out for Devyn, and this was one of the ways he could do that. “I can download the app on your phone so you can use it if you want.” Obviously, Devyn didn’t have to if he didn’t want to.
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Posted: Wed May 04, 2022 6:52 am
Whenever Michael shared something on his phone, Devyn always leaned in so he could see it and was attentive so he wouldn’t miss anything, either. “Yes, thank you. That’ll be helpful when I want to have dinner ready for you when you come home from a late night.”
A distant plan, but one he was keeping in mind, because no matter how much Michael might like to cook, he shouldn't have to on nights where he was out late or tired. And he deserved more than a sandwich or a bowl of cereal.
“Would it surprise you to know that I have actually had company in bed? I’ve had plenty of experience learning sleep etiquette. I’m very good at lying still when I have company. I don’t kick in my sleep at all. And I run naturally hot, so you never get cold next to me.”
He seemed pleased with himself for this, and went to fetch some plates for them. “Percy ran cold. Used to stick his feet on me all the time.” He obviously didn’t mind, and spoke about this like it was a fond memory. “Marius used to sleep in bed sometimes, too. Almost always when Percy was there. But sometimes while he was gone. Percy used to read to him until they both fell asleep, so if I got in late I had to tuck them in and work around them. Sometimes they’d have nightmares. Made them feel safer to sleep between me and the wall. I never minded. Marius did kick, though. Possibly on purpose. Never seemed to kick Percy.”
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Posted: Sat May 07, 2022 4:24 pm
While Devyn was working on getting plates, Michael pulled out glasses from the cabinet for them to drink from. Napkins too, since it was likely going to be messy eating wings. He didn’t seem to mind, he just wanted to be prepared. And while he had various choices of soda and juice available in the refrigerator, he went with just water for himself. There didn’t seem to be any alcoholic beverages anywhere. Although they might have been tucked away elsewhere in the kitchen.
“I can’t promise I won’t put my feet on you, then,” he gently teased, as if he wasn’t sure if he should joke about something like that. Obviously he wouldn’t want to tarnish any fond memories Devyn had of Percy. It was sweet that he would have to tuck Percy and Marius into bed, though. And he wondered what nightmares they would have had. He knew it was a different time, and a different world, and he knew that Percy had been attacked at least once, since that was the first memory he had of Princess, but other than that…
“I’m glad they had someone to help them feel safe. They must have really trusted you.” To fall asleep around someone was a strong testament of trust, if anyone asked Michael. Probably why he did his best to never have to. Although it seemed as though Devyn didn’t mind Michael seeing him asleep.
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Posted: Sat May 07, 2022 5:32 pm
Again, Devyn laughed. “Well, I suppose if you have cold feet, I can’t blame you. I don’t mind sharing my warmth with you. So I suppose you can come visit me if you’re cold, too.”
His smile didn’t leave his face, even if he was sad that they were gone. The memories were still fond in his heart, and if he held onto the good parts, then maybe he’d just forget all the bad. He didn't know if there was any point to holding onto all the negativity. Maybe that’s why he let himself forget it all before.
“I know Percy trusted me. Marius must have, too. We didn’t get off to a great start, but I’m glad we met. We worked it all out. Even,” he paused now, because he never liked saying it, but…
“Even after Percy passed, sometimes he’d come in. I traveled a lot afterwards. Didn’t know how to slow down. Kept myself busy so I didn’t have time to stop and think. But when I was back, he’d let himself in.”
Sometimes wouldn’t even say anything. Devyn had always known it was him by the way he came in, the way he crawled into the bed. The way he’d just crawl in and lay with his back to Devyn.
He hadn’t always seen how much Marius missed Percy, too. He wished he’d been able to be there more for him back then.
His heart hurt, just a little for now, but he just shook his head and laughed again. “I think it takes a lot to trust someone enough to be so vulnerable in front of them. I want to live up to that.”
He didn’t know when he’d begun to trust Michael so completely, but it was long ago enough that he really didn’t even have to think about it at all.
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