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 Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2022 12:12 pm
Devyn had shifted positions again, propping himself up so he could rest his cheek in the palm of his hands while he looked at Michael. He was still smiling a bit, nearly even laughing when Michael teased him.
He wasn’t the least bit offended; he’d probably already figured Michael would have done the same thing.
“I’ll do my best,” he promised. “Sometimes I’m still trying to figure out when I need help. I hate asking for it. But I think it’s easier when you go into it thinking there’s a ‘we’, not just an ‘I’ and a ‘you’. It’s not a debt to be passed and forth, just something to be shared. If that makes sense. Back home, asking for favors meant accumulating debts and never knowing when someone was going to call something in. You can’t be known for keeping your word if you turn them down, so sometimes the requests weren’t always savory. I don’t feel that way with you, just, for the record.”
He wasn’t really under the blankets, so he maneuvered himself when he expected it was going to be a cold night. The rain was always cold, he wasn’t going to risk accidentally shoving a cold foot against Michael in the middle of the night while he was fighting to sleep.
“I appreciate how much effort you’re making for me. For you. I’m glad you’re letting me stay here tonight. I’d have thought myself out of sleep, too. And, on top of that, I feel like I can hold myself accountable and ask more responsibly when you’re around. Otherwise, I might have just snuck out and followed Asher until I knew where Chad lived. And then who knows what could have happened from there, I might have just kidnapped him back, anyway.”
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Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2022 12:21 pm
“It’s definitely a ‘we’. You don’t have to do any of this alone any more. And… I know that I don’t have to, either,” Michael admitted.
It was hard asking for help. He wanted to seem reliable with everything put together. He used to be more arrogant about things, he knew. He used to shove his own problems under a rug, throw on a charming smile, and pretend like everything was perfect.
The years chipped away at that. Maybe his own attempt to hide it made it erode faster than it could have. He’d fallen low, became desperate for any kind of affection even if it wasn’t good for him. He made himself think it was good for him, when in reality… it was just a farce to try and keep himself going.
“Maybe that’s why I stayed here. I figured you would have tried to take him. Ah, and I probably would have tried the same. But things could have gotten… difficult, if they knew who was taking the kid. Maybe I just need you here so you’ll know if I try to sneak out,” he suggested, but then paused and sighed. “We would both probably try to sneak out at that point.”
He would have kept Chad with them in a heartbeat if they could, but… that could have gone very poorly for them. Maybe not for him, but he didn’t want Devyn to get into trouble.
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Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2022 12:37 pm
At this, Devyn laughed again. “Well, at least we’ll know how to get into trouble together. I’ll do my best to stay put tonight.” He moved again, once more settling back into the pillows. “Maybe I should just start spending every night here to keep an eye on you. Especially if the weather’s going to be like this–all summer?” He clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth.
“I suppose it’s not a good idea to go out in this weather. Not this late. I’ll be less tempted to do something if I’ve got you next to me. I don’t toss and turn. I just sleep.”
He let out a heavy, content sigh.
“Which has been so nice, Michael. It’s gotten so much easier when you’re around.”
He closed his eyes and didn’t even seem to tense up when thunder rolled around them.
“We’ll take care of Chad. If all ‘legal’ options are exhausted, we’ll figure something else out. I’m good at working around obstacles. I just need to know that he wants someone to intervene. I’ll worry about him for tonight, but maybe Soleiyu can figure out something we can do for him tomorrow.”
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Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2022 12:45 pm
Michael snorted softly in amusement, and shifted to roll onto his back as well. “It shouldn’t be like this all summer. Well, we might have other types of bad storms later on in the year, but… hopefully not,” he sighed.
Oh, did it sound like he didn’t want Devyn to stay with him every night? Should he want Devyn to stay with him every night? It was a nice thought.
“I don’t mind,” he said after a moment, just to make sure. “Especially if you’ve been sleeping easier.” He’d been sleeping easier too, but he didn’t have to make it about himself if Devyn was going to offer his own experiences about it.
But, it probably wasn’t a secret that Michael slept easier as well.
“Get some rest, in case we have to harass Soleiyu tomorrow. And Dev? I’m glad you’re okay.” And Chad too, but he hoped that went without saying.
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Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2022 1:02 pm
Devyn smiled again, even as he relaxed into the pillows. “I get the distinct feeling that I’ll be okay as long as you’re around.”
Summer storms weren’t intimidating. The rain wasn’t like on Alastor, not like Jupiter. Thunder was an inconvenience, but in the effort to hear Michael speaking he’d hardly heard it at all. Maybe he’d have an excuse to sleep in here more often. Maybe he wouldn’t need one.
They’d see Soleiyu tomorrow, he was already certain of that. He wasn’t even holding his breath on getting his power back or anything, he just wanted to know that they could do something to help Chad.
“Good night, Michael. Sleep well.”
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