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 Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2022 6:49 pm
The corner of Devyn’s lip twitched again, and then finally he just let himself smile. He stayed still while Michael looked over his hand. “That sounds like a good plan. I appreciate you not trying to carry me to bed, I’d have felt awful if your back gave out. Since you’re so old and all, I guess that means that I’ll have to carry you around more often.”
Even if he was teasing, Devyn had always seemed to enjoy having the opportunity to carry Michael–and now he had more of an excuse for it without needing him to be hurt first.
He leaned a little closer, though, just to be closer to him.
“I really appreciate you, you know. You were very brave today. I’m not as eloquent as I want to be, but I’ll give you poetry tomorrow. I feel like my heart hasn’t stopped pounding all day, I don’t think it’ll stop as long as I’m this close to you. Oh, but look–my hand doesn’t look too bad, see?”
A few swollen, bruised fingers didn’t seem like enough to slow him down, broken or otherwise. And, he was determined to heal quickly; it seemed criminal that Michael should be so close and he shouldn’t be able to card his fingers through his hair.
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Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2022 7:02 pm
Michael hummed thoughtfully, as he held Devyn’s injured hand. And when he was satisfied that everything was still set to mend properly, he drew it closer to kiss. Very lightly, of course. Just a light press of his lips against the outside of Devyn’s hand, so he didn’t jostle his broken fingers.
“You shouldn’t be carrying anyone with your hand like this, and with your shoulder still healing,” Michael pointed out, even as he kept Devyn’s hand close to his lips to kiss again.
He understood what Devyn meant. He didn’t think his heart had slowed down at all.
“If being near me is what it takes for your heart to never stop, then I’ll just always have to be around,” he said as he gently guided Devyn the rest of the way to the bed to at least sit. Especially if Devyn’s knees were aching. He knew that stopping completely wasn’t what Devyn meant, but… if it also gave him a reason to be close to him…
“I love you,” he whispered then, sitting next to Devyn so he could still hold his hand, but also wrap a supporting arm around his lower back. “I was very proud of you today. I mean, I’m always proud of you, but you always look so impressive standing in front of a crowd. You were clearly born to lead -- or at least guide others,” he offered, not wanting to put too much pressure on Devyn. Not everyone could organize things like Devyn did. He did enough to disburse the shadows so they were able to succeed.
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Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2022 7:10 pm
Oh, he’d already forgotten about his shoulder. Being near Michael was unfairly distracting and he was easily led to the bed. He sat down and stretched his legs out in front of him.
The arm around him was reassuring and warm and he’d gotten used to being close to Michael so it felt like all of his problems just melted away. He felt incredibly pampered right now, but then, he really hadn’t come down from the high of seeing the Chaos chased off of his world. Or kissing Michael. Or being told that Michael loved him and was proud of him.
“I always look impressive,” he teased gently, but it probably wasn’t all a joke. He’d always taken his appearance seriously, and he’d taken great efforts to make sure that first appearances were always striking. He hadn’t known everyone that helped him today, but he owed them all and he had favors to repay.
“I bet there are some people rolling in their graves, hearing you say things like that. But thank you, Michael. I don’t miss the pressure, but.” He shrugged. “I suppose I do like when people listen to me. I’m very grateful for everyone who helped me, though. I don’t know how things would have gone if no one had shown up. Thank you for saving my a**. I want to kiss you again, I feel like a teenager. This is very flustering, I’m trying to pay attention but I don’t know how I never noticed how soft your lips look before today. I’m glad you don’t think I’m ridiculous. I want to be serious, but I’m so tired, I don’t think that’s happening tonight. I’ll have to process things tomorrow. For tonight, I’m just glad I get to be home with you and the boys.”
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Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2022 7:23 pm
“It’s true,” Michael agreed with a quiet laugh. “You do always look impressive. Well. More impressive now than you did when we first met,” he teased back, but there was a hint of worry in his voice, that maybe he was making bad memories resurface. He knew the horrors of what Devyn had to face on his own for so long. Maybe not exactly what they experienced while on Alastor, but the Chaos was real, and it had taken everything from him.
As Devyn spoke and confessed his feelings and observations, and thanked Michael -- which Michael didn’t think was necessary -- he gently rubbed at Devyn’s back, smoothing his hand up and down in what he hoped was a comforting gesture.
He could understand what Devyn meant, though. He felt young again as well, and was just as grateful that Devyn didn’t think he was ridiculous.
Michael pushed himself up from the bed then, purposefully not responding to Devyn for the moment. Instead, he moved to pull the covers down, and returned back to where Devyn was sitting so he could -- not carry him, but place his arm around his back again, and slid the other under his legs to pull him further into the bed.
And maybe he (gently) pushed him down against the pillows. It was the only way he could guarantee knowing Devyn would rest!
“You keep talking about wanting to kiss me, but never actually do it,” he teased, leaning close to Devyn’s mouth under the guise of making sure the pillows were properly fluffed for him. But in the end he didn’t kiss him. He still needed to get the brace for his hand.
“I’ll be right back,” he promised, and climbed back off the bed so he could disappear into the bathroom for a couple minutes.
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Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2022 7:32 pm
Devyn was curious, and content to let Michael maneuver him. It was amusing, because it was a side of Michael that he hadn’t gotten to see before, and Devyn liked it. And how could he complain when Michael was so close? When he was helping him to the pillows?
And then–
Devyn audibly groaned when Michael pulled away, and proceeded to sigh dramatically far too often than was necessary to establish that he was impatient waiting for Michael to come back.
For a brief instance he thought about just getting up to go see what was taking him so long. He knew it was his mind playing tricks on him; the seconds only felt like minutes. After spending all day with Michael, he should have had more tolerance for his absence. Instead, while he continued to huff and whine, he tucked himself in under the blanket. Only, he was a little more centered in the bed than he usually was, but he already expected to lay very close to Michael, and he was going to kiss him.
If he ever made it back to the bedroom.
Devyn was already struggling not to just flop around while he waited, but he was trying to be good and rest.
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Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2022 7:38 pm
Michael wasn’t taking so long on purpose! Okay, maybe he was a little amused by how dramatic Devyn was being. Although it wasn’t Michael’s fault Devyn just talked about kissing him and then never doing it. Sure, he could kiss him instead, but then he wouldn’t get to listen to him whine.
He tried to look more exasperated than amused when he finally made his way out of the bathroom. He had a roll of gauze with him, and looked like he was trying to decide the best way to keep Devyn from accidentally injuring himself during the night. He’d considered bringing out a brace for his shoulder as well, but decided he didn’t want to potentially irritate the wound.
“Let me see your hand again,” he requested as he moved to sit on his side of the bed, holding out his hand for Devyn’s. “I don’t know how long the medicine will last for you, but if it wears off, I can get you some more,” he reminded him. He wouldn’t be surprised if the soreness kept him up all night. He could already feel a throbbing in his forehead.
“All this whining… you’re going to wake the boys up.”
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Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2022 7:51 pm
Devyn was almost certain he should keep whining, but Michael was back so his dramatics stopped. He was tired too but he wasn’t going to admit that.
He presented Michael with his hand without any dramatics, and made sure that Michael had enough room to sit comfortably while he worked on it. “I can sleep through pain,” he reassured, and smiled so Michael couldn’t worry about him. He didn’t think it would always work, but he needed Michael to know that this was not the end of the world. They were minor inconveniences, they were things that would heal. A high pain tolerance helped, and knowing that he’d be out as soon as they turned off the lights only reassured his claim.
“But just in case, I put a bottle in my bedside drawer while you were in the shower. And a bottle of water, too.”
He hadn’t left it out because he still didn’t like the idea of cluttering up Michael’s very specific room, but he had everything he needed in close reach.
“If you need some, you can wake me up and I’ll share. I’ve got snacks, too. Because I know you’re not supposed to take them on an empty stomach.”
And, sometimes, Devyn’s stomach tried to play alarm clock in the middle of the night and he needed to remind it that they weren’t starving.
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Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2022 8:00 pm
While Michael was skeptical at first, he quickly let his doubts melt away as he let himself listen to Devyn’s voice, and the reassurance Devyn was offering him. He trusted him, and he knew it would have been a really silly thing to lie about when Michael could have just gone over to check his drawer. He didn’t. He trusted him.
And that was why, when Michael was done carefully wrapping Devyn’s fingers in a way that it shouldn’t cause him too much pain if he accidentally bumped his fingers into something during the middle of the night, he leaned down to press a quick kiss against his lips.
He didn’t let it last, because he was still getting things settled for them to finally go to sleep. The gauze was placed inside the drawer of his bedside table, and he used his phone to make sure the lights were turned off in the house, and to turn the lights off in the room.
The nightlight was on, of course. And that was enough to be able to see Devyn’s face as Michael finally laid down and pulled the covers up.
“Thank you, Devyn. I know I worry more than I need to but. I appreciate you trying to ease my mind about everything,” he said as he settled close to him. And not just because Devyn was already taking up most of the bed.
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Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2022 8:13 pm
When Michael started getting into the bed, Devyn adjusted positions to give him a little more room, but he also seemed like he’d made up his mind about holding Michael tonight. It wasn’t like it was uncommon for them to sleep close to each other, and after everything they’d already been through, he didn’t think closeness would be unwelcome.
But, he watched Michael, just to make sure he didn’t seem uncomfortable or annoyed, and drew him close.
And, kissed him.
Something not so quick, it was something that could linger. But Michael had teased him and only given him something hasty. Not avoidant, though; he wasn’t worried that Michael didn’t want it.
“If you’ve ever got something weighing on your mind, you can tell me. I’d rather you share it than try to take care of it all on your own. It’s easier when you have help.”
And, sometimes there were things you couldn’t do alone.
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Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2022 8:24 pm
The closeness absolutely wasn’t unwelcome. If anything, Michael needed it more than ever, but he also wanted to make sure he wasn’t pushing his emotions onto Devyn. He believed him when he said he loved him, but there was a lingering self doubt that he was trying to push away, and with that maybe he was still giving Devyn the opportunity to change his mind.
But as he settled into the bed and was drawn closer --
And kissed...
The thoughts and self doubt were at least temporarily silenced.
It wasn’t the first time that Michael wondered if Devyn could read his mind. He remained close even after their kiss, but he reached for the covers to fuss with them and make sure that Devyn was warm enough, and his shoulder wasn’t in a weird position to get injured, and his hand wouldn’t get crushed by mistake.
He knew they were both exhausted. Now wasn’t really the best time to try and delve deep into insecurities and things that bothered him. But he also wanted Devyn to know he could trust him, just like he trusted him to take care of his injuries.
“You won’t regret this in the morning will you?” he asked quietly, unable to look Devyn directly in the eyes, but it was dark so maybe he didn’t notice.
“I mean… you almost died, Dev. I thought--... no, it doesn’t matter. I know how I feel about you. I’ve felt it for a while. I just don’t want you to think you have to…”
Have to what? Say that he loved him? Michael grit his teeth against saying anything else for the moment. Maybe that wasn’t what Devyn was talking about and he just made things awkward between them.
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Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2022 8:34 pm
Devyn tilted his head as he looked at Michael. In the darkness, he couldn’t make out his features perfectly, but he knew them well enough that he could still read them easily.
“What’s there to regret? Not telling you earlier, maybe. Not realizing it earlier. I feel a bit daft, if we’re being honest. Now that I’ve said it, it feels so simple. Like I could have known if I thought about it, like it was always right there in front of me but I just didn’t see it.”
He was comfortable, and well-tucked in, and happy to be next to Michael.
“I didn’t say it because I had a near-death experience, if that’s what you’re worried about. I was more clear-minded then than I have been in a while. I don’t feel like I have to do anything right now. It’s strange,” he admitted, “because all my life it’s just been Percy. And I still love him, and I always will. I don’t think I realized you could love someone again after what he and I had. I gave him my whole heart. But then I met you and,” he held onto the thought for a moment.
“You made your own space in my heart. And that space grew. It didn’t take anything away from Perce, you just made something new there. And I thought my heart was locked off, I didn’t think you could fall in love with someone and not know it. I mean,” he had to consider his words and then shook his head. He had a lot of stories to tell. He didn't need to get into all of them tonight. “I didn’t know I could fall in love again. But you’ve spent the better part of this last year healing the parts of me that I didn’t even know were broken. So if you’re saying I don’t have to be with you, I know. But I want to. I’m excited to wake up next to you tomorrow morning. I want this. I want you.”
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Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2022 8:43 pm
If Michael was being honest… he already knew what Devyn was going to say. Even with his insecurities eating away at him, they were his insecurities, and not Devyn’s.
Devyn wasn’t one to be fickle about what he said or did. He was confident, and rightly so. And with that confidence, indecision was practically nonexistent.
At some point while Devyn spoke, Michael had reached up to wrap his fingers around the orb hanging from his neck. He could feel the steadiness in its pulse, and maybe it was brighter than even before. Alastor had been freed from Chaos. Devyn didn’t have to worry about the Core of his world being consumed while they slept in a comfortable bed on Earth.
Michael turned more on his side to face Devyn better, his free hand reaching to tuck the loose hair behind Devyn’s ear. To smooth his fingers over Devyn’s neck and behind the back of his head for a gentle massage. Then down to his injured shoulder to place his palm over it, as if to protect it from being harmed even further.
“I want you, Devyn,” he said quietly. He wasn’t Percy, and he knew Devyn was being honest in saying he would always love Percy, but there was new space in his heart to love someone else.
Instead of teasing him this time, Michael leaned close to press a kiss to Devyn’s lips. He let it linger as his heart raced.
Michael knew he was broken. He’d loved, or thought he loved, or did love and had his heart broken in the past, or parted ways, or was forced apart by death. He wanted to wonder what would have happened if things were different. If those from his past survived, or could tolerate him. Would he have crossed paths with Devyn? Surely he would have but… to what end?
He liked this one. Except it was hardly an end.
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Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2022 8:49 pm
Every little touch was a breath of fresh air, and Devyn could see how gentle and attentive Michael was being. The tenderness in the gestures wasn’t lost on him, and the admission of what Michael wanted–what he really wanted, when he wasn’t worrying about all the ways something could go wrong–was everything Devyn could have asked for.
The kiss was, too.
For as old as they both claimed to be, or feel, right now he could forget it. The aches and pains of their trial on Alastor might as well have been the distant past for as little presence they had in his mind.
He kissed Michael with a bit more energy and a bit more tenderness than before, because they had the privacy to do so, and they weren’t rushing or hurrying around to try and get somewhere or do something.
There was no expectation in the kiss, no demand. It was warm and reassuring and good. And different.
Devyn remembered every detail of Percy, and all that he knew about kissing came from him. With him. He’d liked that, and he liked this, too.
When the kiss broke, he didn’t feel like he was losing something. He felt like it was just an introduction to all the other kisses that would follow. Tonight, tomorrow, next week. Next year. However long he had with Michael, probably. If he had to move on to a new part of his life–a part where he was making these memories with someone other than Percy–he couldn’t imagine anyone else. He didn’t want to.
This was perfect.
So, he pressed his forehead a little closer to Michael’s and sacrificed being able to see him just to be close to him. “Then, you have me. And all the trouble that comes with me. But I’ll do my best to make you happy. And you won’t ever have to worry about chasing me away or doing the wrong thing or second guessing my feelings or motivations. You’ll know I’m here because I want to be, and because I love you very much.”
And he was going to say it until it sank in, until Michael couldn’t question it.
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Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2022 9:05 pm
While Devyn pressed their foreheads together, Michael returned his hand to the back of Devyn’s head to massage there and smooth his fingers through his hair. He couldn’t help but laugh softly at Devyn’s comment about trouble.
“We got rid of the Chaos on your world… how much more trouble could you be?” he teased, knowing that there was probably a lot of trouble Devyn could get into, just for the fact that he was new to Earth. Well, not new any more, but there were still countless things for him to experience.
And Michael had every intention of experiencing as many firsts with him as possible.
Which… he realized, was a huge change in his future plans from what they’d been in the past.
“Thank you, Devyn,” he said, his voice quiet again, but it was late and they were supposed to be settling down to finally sleep after such a long day. “You already make me happy. Before Peter moved in with me, I had considered just… leaving. I knew I would miss Elliot and his parents, but they had each other already. My family had been without me for so long already, it wouldn’t have made a difference. They were used to dad being gone. And maybe I got a little desperate for company. Made what others would consider poor choices, and maybe they were, or… maybe it just helped me keep going until I could meet you,” he suggested, but wondered if he was making any sense, or if he was just coming up with excuses.
“I love you, and care about you a lot. I’ll be better about… trusting myself when it comes to your feelings, because honestly, whenever you say you love me, all I can think of is why. -- You don’t have to answer that. It’s just… I don’t feel worthy,” he said, and then sighed with exasperation at himself. “And I whine a lot about myself. Sorry Dev, maybe I should warn you about all the trouble I come with.”
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Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2022 9:12 pm
Devyn made a little humming noise and shrugged. “If it’s your trouble, I don’t need a warning. I don’t care what it is, I’ll be here for any of it. I don’t think there’s anything you could do to scare me off.”
And, if there were, he wasn’t going to spend time trying to imagine it.
His eyes closed–dangerous, given how tired he was–but he couldn’t help it because the fingers in his hair just felt good.
“I’m sorry it took me so long to get here. And I’m glad you didn’t go somewhere I couldn’t find you. So thank you for waiting for me.” He’d found a comfortable position and didn't want to take the gamble that moving was going to ruin that. Even if he wanted to pull Michael closer and just hold him.
“I don’t think it’s whining, though. But you don’t have to ask yourself why I love you, you could ask me. I’m still finding the words, but I know they’re there. So, I’ll find all the ways to tell you. And show you. And reassure you.”
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