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 Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2022 4:55 pm
Elliot laughed softly. “Oh, yeah. I’m here for the pictures too, don’t get me wrong. I’m only doing okay in my Spanish classes, I don’t think I’m up for learning two languages at once. And, no offense, but I’m not sure Devyn could sit down for long enough to teach me how to read it.”
He knew Devyn could, but he couldn’t help but tease him a little, anyway. Devyn had a lot of energy, but when something was important or when someone was asking him for help, he always put all of his energy into that.
His arm hooked around Atticus’ shoulders and drew him just a little closer. The wet fabric of their clothes wasn’t really uncomfortable, but it clung to him in a way that made him acutely aware of his every move, and any change in the flow of water.
“I can’t promise that I’ll be able to stop you from getting hurt,” he admitted. “But I can promise that I’ll always do whatever I can to keep you safe. And whatever happens, you’re not in any of this alone. I’ll have your back. Or your side, or your front, or whatever you want me.”
He didn’t need to kiss his cheek, it just felt nice. Sometimes, his heart just pounded wildly while he was around Atticus and it seemed like the only way to calm it down was by kissing. Although, sometimes it just made it worse.
Now, though, it just brought him peace.
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Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2022 5:00 pm
Atticus giggled softly at Elliot’s promises to have his back, or any side of him. He liked being close to him, liked the kisses to his cheek, liked Elliot’s arm around his shoulders. He liked listening to his voice.
Devyn was wonderful though. And he knew that Elliot knew Devyn would take as much time as necessary to teach them if they really wanted him to help. It was one of the reasons Atticus thought he was so great. He thought Elliot was great, too. And so many people in his life. Michael. Elliot’s dads.
“I won’t let you be alone, either. I know I’m not physically strong, and I know I’m not as smart as you, but I’ll do whatever it takes to help. Oh, and I know you’re going to say nice things about me, because you always do, but it’s okay, Elliot. I know I have other strengths that, um, I hope make up for things. But I really do think you’re really smart and clever and brave. I’ll keep working on learning how to do first aid and healing. Just in case something happens.”
He was smiling, much more settled now than he had been. Elliot always had a way of making him feel at peace, and while he was still worried about Brooklyn and about Elliot being hurt, he was very content being with him in that pool.
“I’ve slept in this water before. It’s really nice, if you want to nap. Or if you want to talk more, or… I don’t know.” He wasn’t thinking about kissing him more, not at all.
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Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2022 5:22 pm
“Oh, those are tough choices. I was kind of thinking I’d like to kiss you more, too. Maybe we can squeeze in a little bit of everything. Talk some, kiss some, and then nap a little. I might snore, you can laugh if it sounds funny.”
He adjusted himself once more, this time shifting his weight so that he was resting against the back of the pool. He was holding Atticus loosely, enough to keep him close but not enough to smother him or to make either of them uncomfortable if they did start to fall asleep.
“I really like hearing when you talk about nice things about yourself. It makes me really happy. Like, I can feel my heart glowing a little bit. You have a ton of strengths, and as much as I like hearing you sweet talk me, I like hearing you talk about things that you like about yourself, or things that you’re proud of. I really appreciate you learning all that first aid and healing stuff. I’ll do my best not to get hurt, but it makes me feel much safer knowing that if I do, I’ve got someone as sweet and compassionate and hardworking and thoughtful as you to take care of me.”
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Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2022 5:38 pm
Oh, well if one of the options Elliot had in mind was more kissing, then why wouldn’t he want to do that?
Atticus paused for a few moments, and then wiggled a bit so he could twist around in the water so that he and Elliot were better facing each other, which really just meant Atticus was half laying against his chest. But he pulled back enough to be able to kiss Elliot again, unable to stop himself from smiling.
“You don’t snore,” he giggled. They’d spent enough nights sleeping over at each other’s house that Atticus knew that Elliot might breathe more heavily when he was really exhausted, but he didn’t snore. “And I wouldn’t laugh at you. But I might look at getting something to help you breathe better if you did snore.”
The smile remained when Elliot admitted to being really happy hearing him say nice things about himself, but he chewed a bit nervously at his lip. It wasn’t easy for him to say nice things about himself, but if it was something that Elliot liked…
“I’m not that good at saying nice things about myself, but… I’ll try harder,” he agreed. He was trying to think of other things he could say, but his heart was being fluttery and distracting. But knowing that Elliot liked hearing him say those things was encouraging. And for that, he leaned close to give Elliot another kiss.
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Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2022 5:55 pm
Atticus was precious. Elliot was young, he knew there were still a lot of things he had yet to learn, but he was old enough to know how important his boyfriend was to him. He wondered if it was the same time of feelings his parents had for each other when they were young, or if it was anything like what had happened for Michael and Devyn.
He returned Atticus’ kiss, and maybe offered a few extra just to make sure they both had plenty.
“Well, if I do snore, just know that it won’t hurt my feelings. But I appreciate you always looking out for me. You’re so sweet, no wonder my parents love when I hang out with you. They must know you’ll take care of me. Michael must trust me to take care of you, too. And Devyn. Although, I like how protective he is of you. I don’t ever have to worry about you being in good hands.”
He wrapped his arms around Atticus again, and planted both of his hands flat against him.
“Especially when they’re mine.”
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Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2022 6:35 pm
One day, maybe soon, Atticus knew he was going to have to ask Devyn about what it was like to be in love. He knew Devyn loved Percy, and that they’d met when they were young. And he knew Devyn loved Michael. So maybe Devyn would be able to help him figure out why his heart fluttered and his skin felt like electricity whenever Elliot was with him. Elliot didn’t even have to be doing anything. And he didn’t even have to be near Atticus for his heart to feel like that.
He shivered a little with Elliot’s hands on him, and it obviously had nothing to do with the temperature of the water. Atticus shifted his forearms to rest against Elliot’s shoulders so he wasn’t putting too much pressure on him, and brushed his fingers over Elliot’s cheeks, tucking his hair behind his ears.
“I like your hands,” he hummed as he couldn’t help but stare into Elliot’s eyes. “They’re warm and they protect me… and others. You care so much about people. I know you want to help whoever you can, however you can, and I really love that about you.”
Atticus loved a lot of things about Elliot. His heart was doing weird flip flops in his chest, and he took a moment to breathe by fussing over Elliot’s hair.
“I’m really… really lucky that you’re in my life. Lucky that I met Devyn too, and that you knew Michael. It probably sounds silly, but it’s almost like… I don’t know. Do you believe in fate? It sounds both silly and unfair that we wouldn’t have our own choice in how things worked out, but… I also really like the idea that I was always meant to be with you.”
Oh… maybe that was a little too forward of him. Atticus seemed to realize it and chewed nervously at his lip, his face already warm from the water, but now it felt more flushed. “I mean… I mean, I know we’re only-- only just started high school, and I’ve definitely never dated anyone else, and, well. I just… without you I don’t know what I’d do, or where I’d be -- oh, but that doesn’t sound fair at all. That wasn’t meant to put pressure on you or anything I’m just -- um. Grateful,” he quietly rambled, still fussing with Elliot’s hair, as if that was going to make his sudden awkwardness more tolerable.
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Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2023 5:18 am
Atticus had the unique ability to always put a smile on Elliot’s face, and now was no different. Looking into Atticus’ eyes, he couldn’t help but get lost in them as he listened to everything he said.
“I don’t think there’s any pressure,” he said, leaning into Atticus’ hand as he fussed with his hair. “I mean, I don’t feel any pressure. I feel nice, just the same as I always am when I’m around you.”
Even if Elliot had other friends, he couldn’t imagine feeling the way he did for Atticus for any of them, and if he were being honest, he really hadn’t ever imagined how things would be with anyone else–and he didn’t want to. He liked this.
“I think I might believe in fate, though. Sort of, at least. I don’t know if there was some big cosmic plan to put my parents together, or Devyn and Michael, but it’s hard to ignore that out of all the worlds in the universe, and all the years it took to get there, Devyn still wound up here at exactly the right time to meet him. So I think it’s fair to say that fate plays some hand in things. Or Devyn is just really lucky, I suppose that might be true. I mean, he did get to adopt you. So maybe fate is just putting two people together at the right place and the right time, and it’s up to them to figure out the rest.”
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Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2023 5:44 am
“I would like to figure things out with you,” he said softly as he brushed his fingers over Elliot’s face and through his hair. He’d already relaxed, because it seemed as though no matter what he said or did, Elliot was always so patient and understanding.
“If it was meant for us to meet, I mean… I would like to think that. I like getting the chance to get to know you. And I like that you get to know me. And I know that if Devyn is the lucky one, then dad and I are just as lucky that he showed up when he did.”
And knowing Oliver and Asher, Atticus might not understand the cosmic plan of things, but he knew those two were meant to be together, because without them he might have never met Elliot.
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Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2023 6:03 am
Elliot smiled again and rested a bit closer once more. He’d have just laid against Atticus if he hadn’t been considering that he might make their current arrangement a bit less comfortable if he moved. Laying against his boyfriend sounded nice, and he finally caved and closed his eyes.
A part of him wished that they were in bed so he could have just curled up next to him and let his fatigue take over. He was going to sleep well, whenever he let himself have the chance to.
“Well, I’d like to stick with you and figure things out. I think we’ve done a good job so far. I feel like we get more out of it when we do things together, so I’d like to keep that up, I think. I’ve never had someone who got me like you do. And I trust you with everything, and that’s always been such a relief. And not just because you’re a Knight like me or anything, but because you’re you. And maybe we can all be lucky that things turned out the way they did. I wouldn’t trade you for anything, and it’s been really nice to see Michael so happy, too. I’m just really happy now. So, of course I want to stick with you. I think we’ve got a lot of good things ahead of us.”
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Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2023 6:09 am
Everything Elliot said, Atticus felt the same. He didn’t have anyone else who understood him so well, or who he trusted so deeply. Being around Elliot brought him happiness and peace, and he absolutely loved seeing Michael happy, because he could tell it was probably hard for him to feel that happiness with everything that happened in his life.
But Atticus couldn’t say any of that because he was certain that if he opened his mouth, he would just start blubbering and crying again. Or maybe he would say something that Elliot wasn’t ready to hear, and he would risk everything for a moment of being too emotional.
So instead, Atticus just nodded and brushed his palm over the damp fabric covering Elliot’s chest and curled up closer to him in the water. They would be okay, and Elliot needed to rest before they figured out what else they were going to do. Both at Sessrumnir and once they got back to Earth.
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