|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2022 9:16 pm
Elliot didn’t need to promise that he was always going to keep an eye on Atticus–that’s what friends were for. And he knew Atticus would look after him, too. This wasn’t just two friends having each other’s back, this was something else. Something bigger.
They went to the Moon together. They had magic places together.
So far as Elliot was concerned, Atticus was his partner in this, and he wasn’t going to let anything happen to him.
“I don’t know how much I’m going to be able to sleep,” he admitted, “But thank you.” His hair was sticking up a bit but Elliot didn’t seem to care enough to fix it; Michael had seen it far worse. “...For everything. I have a million questions. But. You’re always there whenever we need you.”
A lot had happened tonight. A lot that he didn’t understand. Some was good. Some was bad. He wanted to think that everything was fine, but Elliot was curious. He wanted to know the truth. He could see that Oliver was overwhelmed, and Asher was hurt, so the best thing for him to do was send himself to bed so they could relax a bit, or have their own time to process things.
He hugged Michael for longer than he needed to, partly because he knew that Oliver wanted to come tuck them in but he’d just gotten Asher to sit back down on the couch and was leaning over, pressing his forehead to his husband’s. His eyes were closed, so he was probably taking a few seconds to calm down. Elliot didn’t blame him. He held the hug partly because Atticus had only just gotten a hug from Devyn and he didn’t want to rush that either.
He hugged Michael because maybe Michael needed it, too.
It was a good choice, because Devyn needed an extra moment to process what Atticus had said. It was probably only because Oliver had just said it, or maybe because Atticus’ heart was just so full of love, but Devyn hadn’t been expecting it in the slightest.
The necklace gave him away, even if only to Michael. There was a brief few seconds of flustered panic, confused appreciation, and then a grateful affection. Devyn did not throw love around easily, and it had been a very, very long time since he had told someone he loved them.
He realized he’d forgotten that he could.
But, as with all things important, he thought about what Percy would do.
It took him less than a second to decide to pull Atticus a little closer; he leaned in so he could hold him properly. So he could give him a good hug.
Sometimes, he didn’t know what he should say. He was still learning about Atticus, but he’d spent enough time with him that he was pretty sure that saying nothing would do more damage than anything he could say. So, he went with his gut, and he didn’t even think he was lying when he said, “I love you, too, Atticus. You’re doing so well.”
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2022 9:35 pm
Michael kept his arms around Elliot, especially since it seemed as though Devyn and Atticus needed a little more time.
But also because he did need the hug.
Already a smile, his lip still twitched upward at the flutterings in the necklace. Maybe it was a good thing that they’d worked it out so Devyn could adopt Atticus.
“And I always will be there whenever you need me,” he promised as he rubbed at Elliot’s back some more, and tried not to dread seeing him having to face youma and Negaverse agents in the future.
He knew he couldn’t let himself get worked up over it around Oliver and Asher, but after the horrors of the war he’d seen, well… He was just trying to be grateful that they had powers to help protect them now.
He would have to ask Ganymede about the whole Knights of the Moon thing. If something in the universe shifted because of their Velencian visitors… If they were gaining allies from other worlds and new Knights from the Moon…
What else was coming? Atticus wasn’t entirely sure how having good parents was supposed to work, so he was really just following Elliot’s lead. These were all new things to him, or at least several years old. The last time he’d really hugged anyone before meeting Elliot was his grandmother. The last person who told him they loved him as his grandmother as well. But hearing it from Oliver and Devyn, well, Atticus was trying really hard not to cry about how nice it was.
Taking one more page from Elliot’s book, Atticus leaned up a little more to give Devyn a kiss on the cheek, before finally pulling away -- otherwise he would likely try to hug him all night. Except he wanted to hug Elliot too.
He waited until Elliot was done hugging Michael before he could reach over and take his hand again. That wasn’t weird or too clingy, was it? He just really didn’t want to leave Elliot’s side. “Good night,” he said softly and gave a little wave to everyone.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2022 9:42 pm
“I know,” Elliot said, smiling up at Michael. “I’ll be here if you need anything, too. Just saying. Good night, be safe.” He squeezed Atticus’ hand and smiled at him.
Devyn had held the hug for as long as Atticus wanted, and even if his stomach was still a little twisty and his heart was a little fluttery, he seemed calm enough on the outside. “Good night,” he repeated, and leaned back–instinctively close to Michael, even without looking.
For a few seconds, Asher had cupped Oliver’s cheek, but he gave him a gentle pack and Oliver opened his eyes and stood up. He forced a smile that seemed to settle into place and look natural after a second, and then he nodded and turned to the boys. “Let me fuss over you for just a few minutes more. I’ll tuck you in, I can get you some water. Tell you a bedtime story. Whatever you like.”
Oliver was visibly apologetic when he continued, “I know I’m a little clingy right now, and I’m sorry. My heart hasn’t stopped pounding. Am I being too much of a nag if I ask if you can keep the door to your room cracked? In case I need to peek in. I used to do it all the time when Elly was smaller, he would sleepwalk. I’d hear noises and have to sneak in, but I was always so worried about waking him up. And, I’m sorry, I know I worry so much. I know it’s excessive. I’ll try to tone it down tomorrow.” Maybe. He’d try.
He couldn’t do anything else about any of this except fuss over them, and he knew he was overcompensating now for being powerless before, but.
His family was safe. He just needed to make sure they stayed that way.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2022 10:14 am
“I know,” Michael repeated back to Elliot with a smile. He knew Elliot would be there for him. And while he knew he could be a bit controlling, he wanted to make sure Elliot knew he relied on him as well. Even if it was little things.
When Devyn leaned back, Michael couldn’t help but lift his hand to place against Devyn’s back. Just to make sure that he wouldn’t fall or trip over nothing or whatever! But since his hand was already there, Michael figured he might as well rub Devyn’s back as well. He felt the way his necklace had fluttered, so he just wanted to make sure Devyn was okay. “I don’t mind,” Atticus smiled at Oliver and held his other hand out to him. The idea of Elliot sleepwalking was cute. He would have to make sure he kept his arm around him so he wouldn’t get up in the middle of the night while sleeping.
And maybe Atticus felt a little better knowing that they were being checked on. He didn’t mind the clinginess because he knew he was the same way with Elliot. And as long as Elliot was okay with it, then there was nothing wrong with being a little clingy, right?
“I’m sorry we worried you,” he added with a small, sad frown. If they knew they’d disappear, he was sure they would have left a note. “We’ll try to not do that again.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2022 11:25 am
The hand on his back was welcome, and Devyn turned to Michael appreciatively. He hadn’t quite relaxed; he looked after the three as Oliver left to tuck them in and though he didn’t say anything, he locked eyes with Michael for just long enough to convey that he very much needed to talk to him. It wasn’t an emergency. He was just easy to talk to. His thoughts were just a little scrambled, and his stomach was a little fluttery. Maybe he was just hungry.
Even food couldn’t tempt him to move from Michael, though. Especially not when his hand felt so nice on his back.
Oliver had taken Atticus’ hand, and Elliot was the one to tug them towards Atticus’ bedroom. “You only have to apologize for worrying me if you do something you knew you shouldn’t have. Otherwise, I’m not ever going to be upset about anything. We can’t control everything that happens around us, and I don’t want you worrying about me worrying about things none of us could control. I know you’re both responsible, careful, smart boys. I know you’ll look after each other, and I know you won’t keep secrets from me.”
He flicked the light on in the room and smiled, because he knew how hard Michael and Elliot had worked to make this room look nice. His eyes did not mist over when he saw Elliot’s stuffed whale tucked into Atticus’ bed. He pretended like he didn’t remember that their bedrooms were buried under rubble and debris and whatever parts of their roof that hadn’t completely collapsed.
Oliver put great effort into keeping his voice even, and he wiped his eyes before guiding the boys to the bed and drawing back the blankets.
He knew they were fourteen. He knew they were on their way to being young adults. He knew he was coddling them. He knew he was overprotective, and probably overbearing, but he appreciated so much that they just let him have his moment of fussing. He didn’t have a nice little room to hide away from his problems anymore. Didn’t have a nice little chair to melt into, or his nice little gameboy to focus on, or his nice little headphones and music, and–
He felt sick, but he smiled and gestured for the two of them to get into bed. “You really went to the Moon? You’ll have to tell me more about that. Michael’s only just told us about the whole Jupiter thing. He said he can take us so we can see. I mean, we believe him. Obviously. All of this. You know.” He gestured vaguely. “We’ll figure it out tomorrow.”
It was easier than trying to process all of it tonight. He could calm down. Maybe. They could see how bad the house was and know what they were going to be able to do about that, and then he could start working through the rest. “I’m just so glad you’re safe. Asher is, too. He was going to come with me but I told him to stay sitting. He’s so brave, you get that from him, Elly. I’m so lucky to have all of you.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2022 4:33 pm
“Oh yeah,” Atticus said after he’d climbed into bed and made sure there was plenty of space for Elliot and their whale. “That’s where I was before. Michael took me and Devyn to Jupiter. They have hot springs and glowy crystals and huge libraries,” he chipped. “The water there helped my injuries heal a lot faster. Maybe Michael can take dad to Jupiter-- oh…”
He paused for a moment, because maybe he was copying Elliot a little too much. Was it wrong of him to think of Asher and Oliver as his parents as much as he did Devyn? Well, and Michael too. But it was just so much easier to talk about them as his dads and not their names because Elliot did.
Atticus flushed embarrassedly and settled onto the pillows.
“But Elliot really is brave. Are your feet okay? I’m sorry you had to carry me.” He just needed to learn how to run better like Elliot. Or just not get into situations where he needed to run.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2022 4:46 pm
Oliver’s lip twitched and he pulled the blankets up over the both of them after Elliot climbed into bed. “Oh, wouldn't that be nice. I’m sure Asher would love that. Oh, and the springs.” Atticus was so sweet, now he felt bad about telling Asher to stay back when he missed such a sweet moment.
Elliot collapsed onto the bed and snuggled close to the whale and Atticus. “My feet are okay. I liked carrying you. I’m just glad you’re okay.” He squished his face into the whale and his eyes were already closed by the time he’d settled into the bed. “I want to go to Jupiter too. I want to go to lots of worlds. Oh, but dad should go first, yeah. Especially if it can heal. Is he really okay?”
“He’s really okay,” Oliver promised, smoothing the blankets over. “He lost a lot of blood but they patched him up. He’s going to need to eat healthy and rest and not do a lot of work. You know how he bounces back, though, he’ll probably be trying to do things by tomorrow, anyway. There’s a lot to do. But we’ll get it done.”
He’d seen the nightlight by the bedside and absentmindedly turned it on.
“It might be a lot of work, but we’ll get it done.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2022 4:53 pm
If Atticus was being honest, he liked being carried by Elliot too. He just felt bad because he didn’t want him to be uncomfortable or get hurt.
“Devyn said he’d take me to his world once it’s fixed. He’s not a Knight, but-- oh, what I meant to say is that I know he’d want you to come too. I asked about you coming to the zoo with us and he said he just assumed you’d be there,” Atticus rambled tiredly, and ended with a yawn.
He was glad that Asher was really okay, although losing a lot of blood was concerning.
“I can help so he doesn’t have to work as hard,” Atticus offered, because he knew what it was like to be injured and not be able to do much. He was grateful that Devyn took such good care of him during their time on Jupiter.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2022 5:06 pm
“I know,” Oliver said gently, and despite the stress and anxiety and worry flooding his heart, he was able to find some comfort in Atticus’ words. He was so sweet, willing to work so hard and do so much for others. And he was so good for Elliot, he cared so much. He’d never liked any of Elliot’s friends as much as he liked Atticus, and he knew he was biased, but still.
“We might need a little extra help. I might need help getting Asher to relax. He’s always gone out of his way to do as much as he can.”
He smoothed out Elliot’s hair, and then Atticus’, and sat on the edge of the bed for a moment so he could just breathe.
“I might need some help getting all of this information to stick. It feels like my mind is full of marshmallows, and any time I think too hard, they just puff up. Like they’re in the microwave, just about to explode.” He sighed, and shook his head. “If you two need anything, just call. Asher and I are going to be in the living room. I’ll try not to wake you up when I come to check on you. But rest up, if you can. I have a feeling that you two are going to have a very busy summer.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2022 5:12 pm
It was easy for Atticus to curl up next to Elliot. To slide his arm over his side to rest there. If their feet got a little tangled together, that was okay. He liked being close to Elliot, especially when he slept. He always felt safe with him.
And he knew he would feel safe knowing that Oliver, Asher, Michael, and Devyn were all in the house, keeping them safe.
“We’ll learn together,” he promised, because there was a lot that he didn’t know. “You’re helping to teach me things, so we’ll just have to help teach you.” He knew he wouldn’t have bothered trying to read as much as he did now if it hadn’t been for Oliver’s help. He wouldn’t have his name if it hadn’t been in one of the books Oliver suggested.
“Sleep well,” he smiled and then closed his eyes.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
