|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2022 8:25 pm
Michael snorted in amusement, unable to stop himself from smiling. “Okay okay, I can’t type too much in this thing or it’ll take longer to send. Probably.” He didn’t want to doubt Soleiyu’s expertise, but knowing how long it took between messages meant they had to be selective with what they said.
He would just have to check how Devyn was doing later. It was his own fault for bringing up Atticus. What did he expect? For Elliot to just not want to say anything?
“Remember, you can’t let anyone know,” he said again, because it was obvious that Elliot was excited and in a good mood, and his parents would probably want to ask him why his mood had suddenly changed for the better after his friend was taken into witness protection or whatever.
“I promise we’ll look out for him, okay? He won’t ever have to worry about food or missing you or anything. Just give us a little more time to make sure everyone is safe.”
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2022 8:33 pm
“Okay, I will,” Elliot promised. “I’ll go back to moping soon, I promise. I’m still going to worry about him! And miss him!”
He sucked in a big breath and really tried to calm himself down. It didn’t work very well; he took a large bite of his burger and shifted in his seat again. He managed to chew and swallowed, but it seemed like he’d rushed it so he could speak again.
“I’m glad Devyn is with him. I know he’ll look after him. Ch–Atticus likes him, so I feel better. I won’t tell anyone, I promise. I’ll just get some things ready for when he’s going to come back. I can wait to see him. I can be patient.”
Especially if this ended with him getting a happily ever after–not having to worry about anyone or anything.
“I’m still going to get him some stuff together, so that if it takes a little longer for everything to work out, he’ll still know that we’re thinking about him. That’s okay, right? –I won’t pack the ice cream cake. Just normal things. I’ll be totally inconspicuous.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2022 8:39 pm
“There’s still going to be a lot we need to set up so we know he’ll be safe. We’ll need to do it in a way so that you and your parents are safe, too.”
Michael didn’t like that the Negaverse was somehow involved. That someone had tried killing Atticus, and that apparently his father wanted it to happen. He didn’t know the motivation behind it, but it made him sick. If he had anything to say about it, he would never let Atticus get hurt again. Just as he would make sure Elliot stayed safe.
“That sounds like a good idea, though. Maybe you can share the cake once he come back. We’ll still need to celebrate his birthday.”
Although it might be a good idea to get new paperwork created with a different birthday, just so it was harder for his dad to track him.
“If you can think of things he might like, make a list. I’ll help you buy everything,” he promised, and then glanced at the door. “We won’t even tell your parents.” Since they tended to get a bit flustered when Michael spent too much money on them. He couldn’t imagine why.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2022 8:48 pm
Elliot pursed his lips thoughtfully, and maybe he’d learned a little about sharing from his parents.
His parents, who had taught him that if someone was in need, you should do your best to help. So, if he was expected to offer help, he couldn’t imagine any reason to decline. Especially because he was pretty sure Michael didn’t worry about money as much as his parents did.
“You’re a really good guy, Michael.”
He wasn’t saying it just because he offered to help him buy things, or because he was somehow involved with smuggling Chad out of danger’s way, and he was thinking of some long term solution–some plan to get him away from his problems and give him a fresh start.
A chance.
“Like, a really good guy. Like the best guy I know.”
His parents excluded, but they didn’t count.
“Will you and Devyn come celebrate with us? I don’t know if he’s ever had a big party–oh, we’ll have to change the name on the cake, it says Chad. I won’t bring it up to my parents. I’ll make a list of things–are you sure? You have to give me suggestions, too. Or tell me if I’m going overboard. I won’t even put a puppy on the list.”
Another bite of the burger, this time with more enthusiasm. The gears in his head were ticking again, and he was already trying to come up with a mental list of everything he wanted to gather up for Atticus, as if he could find the perfect collection of things to make sure he knew how much everyone cared about him and wanted him to be okay.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2022 8:54 pm
Michael smiled and took a few moments to take another bite of his burger. He didn’t know if Elliot was right about him being a really good guy. There were plenty of things he’d done in his life that he wasn’t proud of. He wasn’t always patient, and he tended to be controlling if he was particularly worried about things. He was mean to people who didn’t deserve it, because it was easier to get them to hate him than explain why they’re in danger if they don’t listen to him.
But the sentiment was sweet, so he didn’t try to correct him.
“Devyn and I will celebrate with you. We’ll fix the name beforehand, don’t worry,” he promised. That shouldn’t be too difficult to fix. They might be able to just scrape off the frosting, or purposefully cross it out.
“No puppy,” Michael groaned, but also laughed. He didn’t want to have to deal with a puppy. “But… honestly… We’ll probably need something bigger than a backpack for everything. He’s not going back to his house. Ever again. He’ll need clothes. Shoes. Everything you can think of that you have that you need every day. Hairbrush, toothbrush,” he started the list, but figured Elliot would understand. All of the essentials.
“We can start off with the basics, and then once he comes back and gets settled, we can pick out stuff that he likes, himself. How does that sound?”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2022 9:09 pm
Elliot nodded along as he listened, because Michael was presenting a very good point–if he wasn’t going home, he’d need things for his new home. Wherever that was going to be.
He didn’t know. Did Michael know?
“Is he going to stay with you?”
He was the one who knew what was going on, anyway!
And he wasn’t supposed to tell his parents that he knew about any of this so he doubted that they were the ones taking him in.
“My parents said they’d adopt him,” Elliot reminded, but if anyone was going to house Atticus–well, he trusted Michael every bit as much as he trusted his parents. And Michael was cool! Elliot had been looking up to him since he was just a kid, and he’d always loved getting to visit him whenever he had to go hang out at the school after work.
“So if he needs somewhere to go, I’ll share my room with him. Just–if you don’t already have that worked out.”
He looked at Michael expectantly, very eager to hear about whatever he had worked out.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2022 9:16 pm
He couldn’t help but smile when Elliot reminded him that of course Oliver and Asher would adopt Atticus. That was something they would do. Not just because they were good people, but because they obviously cared for the kid as well.
“Oh? You’d want Atticus as your brother?” he hummed, picking up a few fries to eat while he let Elliot think the question over. With how they were always wanting to see each other and worried about each other and Atticus would sneak out at night to see Elliot, well… they were still both young. Not so young that they didn’t understand themselves a little, but he had a feeling that at least Atticus thought of Elliot as more than just a friend.
Elliot? He was very kind and patient and excited about Atticus, but it was difficult to determine just how he felt. Michael suspected they’d figure things out when they were older.
“I’ve been thinking about who he should stay with, too,” Michael admitted, and for reasons he couldn’t tell Elliot, he didn’t think he was comfortable letting Atticus stay with the Reids. If the Negaverse came after him, he and Devyn were better qualified for handling that.
But then he had to consider his parents adopting and housing the Senshi and Knights that Ganymede ended up purifying. There were too many new Gallo siblings to account for, in his opinion. Too many things that could tie them to the White Moon.
Which meant only one other logical option.
“We’ll figure it out,” he promised, deciding not to get into more details in the end. After all, it wouldn’t be fair to dump a decision like that on Devyn without talking to him.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2022 9:34 pm
Of all the things Elliot had thought of, it wasn’t really Atticus being his brother. He didn’t know why he was suddenly confused and flustered about the whole thing. His lips pursed and his cheeks puffed out as he mulled it over.
It took a moment but he exhaled and then shrugged, maybe a bit too enthusiastically. He was just trying to shake off the strange emotions he had suddenly developed.
“We’ll figure it out,” he agreed. “As long as he’s okay. But let me know if I can help. You know I’d do anything for you, Michael. And Atticus. I care a lot about my friends.” As if Michael wasn’t practically family, but now that he was thinking about that he wasn’t sure if he should say that or if it was just tacky. Especially if Michael didn’t feel the same!
Too confusing.
Elliot ate a few more fries to buy himself a few seconds to mull it all over. “Thank you for telling me the truth, though. I really appreciate it. You won’t regret it, I’ll keep it quiet.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2022 9:40 pm
“I know I won’t regret it,” Michael promised with another smile. He trusted Elliot, but more than that, Elliot knew that it was important for them to keep things secret to help Atticus.
“How about you start on your letters and a list of things we can look for, and once I’m done with this paperwork, we can look on my laptop for things we can order for Atticus?” he asked, because maybe that would keep Elliot content enough to sit in one place for a little while longer.
Maybe distract him from the way he was looking rather flustered.
“And I hope you know I’d do anything for you, too.”
Elliot wasn’t his kid. And he was friends with Elliot’s parents, of course. But he’d always felt a strong connection to the kid. Something he couldn’t quite explain. But he very much enjoyed watching him grow up, and wanted him to thrive and be happy.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2022 9:46 pm
Elliot smiled around his new mouthful of food and nodded. He’d managed to finish half of it and looked like he was almost too eager to finish the rest, but instead he decided he’d just make quick work of it so he could clear off the desk and start writing notes.
“I do, yeah. I mean, you’ve already been great. And I really appreciate it.”
Michael didn’t have to be there for him, or his parents. But he had been. Honestly, for as long as Elliot could remember. He couldn’t clearly recall a time when he didn’t have him in his life.
“That sounds like a good plan, I’ve got my notebook in my backpack, I’ll get started as soon as I finish.” And, he was definitely trying to finish his meal quickly. “You eat, too. You’re looking skinny. Hope you aren’t forgetting to eat just because Devyn’s not around.”
He was probably fibbing. Definitely not trying to get Michael to eat quicker so he could finish his work and they could go back to talking about Atticus.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2022 9:53 pm
Michael snorted at first, and then he laughed. Of course Elliot was going to try and call him out on not eating. He was eating plenty! He just also tended not to sleep as well without Devyn there. He hoped Devyn was at least sleeping on the mattress he’d found him and not the chair.
“Alright you got me. But don’t tell Devyn,” he grinned and took another bite of his burger. And maybe he also knew that Elliot wanted him to hurry up so they could get everything figured out for Atticus once he returned.
And maybe one day he would be able to take Elliot to Jupiter, too. Preferably not because he needed to hide him from the Negaverse.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
