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 Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2023 8:54 am
Kaelan laughed again, even though there was a very unwanted wetness in his eyes. He was used to burying things that hurt, but the storerooms were all full and he couldn’t help that things were bubbling over. He hoped the laugh covered up the shudder, and he squeezed his eyes shut as he held onto Orien.
“Good, because I really do think I’ll need help. My legs are all tingly already. I was worried I was going to split a seam. But I guess that doesn’t matter now.” They were close enough to Orien’s apartment, already.
He squeezed him tighter, and buried his face against him as he held on.
“Thank you for coming to get me. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
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Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2023 2:25 pm
There were a lot of things Orien did in his life that he regretted. Things he was still doing that he wished he’d done differently or better. But he didn’t regret trying to help Kaelan when they’d first met. He didn’t regret staying by his side and working through whatever was thrown at them. Kaelan changed him for the better, made him feel like he was worth something, which was more than what he could say about anyone else in his life.
He wanted so desperately to not scare Kaelan away now. Now that they’d been apart, and now that he’d made plenty of new choices that he regretted. If Kaelan decided to walk away…? He didn’t know what he would do.
“Well, you’d be stuck in those clothes for much longer,” Orien pointed out, a gentle tease, and bumped the stairwell door to the seventh floor open with his hip so he wouldn’t have to put Kaelan down. Not when it was obvious he was feeling overwhelmed and emotional.
It wasn’t the most secure building, but it seemed quiet enough. Someone was playing their music loudly down the hall. Someone else seemed to be having a conversation on the phone.
He came to a stop in front of one door, and gave Kaelan another kiss.
“My keys are in my back pocket,” he said, still pretty insistent on not putting Kaelan down. “Would you mind?”
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Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2023 3:32 pm
Would he mind reaching into his back pocket? Could he ever?
Kaelan stretched, and maybe groped around a bit dramatically until he found what he was looking for and tugged out the keys. “I got them. I can almost reach the door if you let me unlock it,” he said, and wrapped his legs around Orien to get a better grip so he could fumble to stick the keys in the lock.
“Can you hear the fabric stretching? I am going to tear these seams.” He stretched again, jabbing the key towards the door. He wanted to go in! He wanted to see Orien’s place, wanted to drop off all his papers, wanted to just latch onto him and never let go.
“Do you live alone? Nobody’s going to pop in and see me tearing these things off, right?”
He tried not to sound too hopeful. Or worried.
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Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2023 5:49 pm
“Oh yes, it sounds like you should get out of those immediately. I might have to dig through some things to find the clothes I got for you, though,” he teased, moving closer to the door for Kaelan to unlock it.
“Just me,” he hummed, as if anyone would actually want to live with him. He was still worried about Kaelan changing his mind after seeing just what they had to work with.
The door was pushed open and they entered the kitchen. It had the essentials. A refrigerator, oven and stove and sink, but there wasn’t much else, and very little counter space. Balanced on the edge of the sink was a small cake with white frosting and green Welcome home scrolled across the top. They’d already passed the door to the small bathroom.
The rest of the space was barely any bigger and consisted of a bed, a loveseat, and a small table with a couple folding chairs.
“It’s not much,” he frowned as he kicked the door shut behind him. He was grateful to have windows, since that meant he didn’t need as many light fixtures.
Now though, with it being dark and rainy, the whole place seemed much more dreary than he’d hoped for first impressions.
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Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2023 6:33 pm
As soon as they were inside, Kaelan was looking at everything. His eyes were moving so quickly that he almost made himself sick, but his mood picked up immediately because it was real.
“You only have one bed! It’s so big! We won’t have to cram into a twin. And your kitchen is so cute! Can you see anything out of your windows?” he asked, and craned his neck a bit–but not so much that he had to move in Orien’s arms.
He was excited, because this was Orien’s. And it was bigger than where he’d just been staying, and it had a bath.
He was looking around when he caught sight of the cake and paused. Even from here he could read what it said, and he stared at it for a moment while he tried to figure out if that was going to tip the scales and send him into tears or not.
No, he could hold it in for a while longer. He just needed to pepper a few more kisses on Orien’s cheek. “It’s perfect, I love it all. But I love you most of all.”
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Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2023 8:29 pm
Orien didn’t think there was much to love about the apartment, except that it wasn’t the center they’d lived in for years. He tried keeping it tidy, and it helped that he didn’t own a lot of things. Everything was second hand or store brand. The blinds were open, but it was mostly gray beyond them, and there was a decent view of the building next door, but it was mostly pretty drab.
But that’s what happened when he couldn’t afford to pay for much more.
However, the kisses to his cheek and everything Kaelan said made Orien’s heart flutter. His eyes felt hot and--
He finally had to sit down, but took Kaelan with him as he sat on the edge of the bed, holding him tightly.
“I love you, too.”
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Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2023 9:09 pm
Kaelan straddled Orien as they sat on the bed and maneuvered just enough that he could set his bag down on the bed before draping his arms over Orien’s shoulders so he could hug him. He squeezed tightly, too caught up with just being close to him to worry about getting the sheets damp.
“I won’t take up much space. I didn’t bring anything, just that bag. And there are a lot of places around, I’ll see if I can start applying for a job soon. Not today, I just want to spend today with you. I want to catch up on everything. If it were better weather, maybe I’d want to walk around outside, but. That can wait. I just want to be with you right now.”
Maybe it was desperate, maybe it was clingy. He didn’t even care right now
For as much as he wanted to see the outside world, he was still a bit intimidated by it. Just for right now! But Orien had worked so hard and accomplished so much. He had a whole apartment! And he’d gotten five jobs!
“I’m so proud of you. And I appreciate you so much. I can’t believe I’m here, this feels like a dream. I don’t want to wake up and be somewhere else.”
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Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2023 7:12 am
“I’ve got some stuff for you,” Orien promised, holding Kaelan tightly. Maybe he was feeling a bit desperate as well.
“I know I said I got some clothes for you, but, I mean, I have a toothbrush for you too. And other things I thought you’d like. Um. New towels. I think you’ve got around the same size feet as I do, so we can always share until you get your own,” he offered.
He knew it wasn’t much, but he tried. He’d been hopeful that Kaelan really meant it when they’d made their promises.
He just… needed to get some other things sorted out.
“I’m proud of you, too. I’m so relieved you’re finally out of that place. And you won’t wake up anywhere that isn’t next to me, I promise.” Well, unless Kaelan wanted to.
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Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2023 8:31 am
Kaelan wanted to squeeze him tighter, but he already had such a good grip that he was worried about hurting him if he kept at it.
“I don’t know what I did to get so lucky with you.” He wanted to promise that Orien wasn’t going to regret it, but there was a part of him that didn’t think Orien was even thinking like that. He felt foolish for having all his doubts earlier, or being so worried. He felt guilty for letting his imagination run wild; he should have known better.
“You’re literally my favorite person. When I get settled, I’m going to pamper you so much. And we’ll do all those cheesy things we talked about. Bubble baths. I’ll make you candle lit dinners.” He peered over at the kitchen. “I think I can make some macaroni and cheese at least, on that stove. Some romantic ham and cheese sandwiches, maybe. I’m really excited, Orien. I’ve got a few appointments I have to keep, but–I’ll get my paperwork out, we can talk about all of that. I have to give them an address for where I’m staying. I just want to make sure that’s okay? I mean,” Orien sounded like it was okay, if he’d already done so much. “I don’t think anyone’s going to come knocking, I’ve been good. I’m going to be good. I just want to make sure. I think I need that for job applications, too. I’m sorry, my mind is all scrambled. I just want to sit here and talk and kiss you and probably cry some but I’m not really good in new places, and I’m all anxious and worried about everything.”
It was easy to be honest around Orien. Well, mostly honest. He didn’t think he could look him in the eyes and lie, anyway, and he thought it would be better if he was just honest about his feelings. He didn’t want Orien to worry that he was doing anything wrong.
Orien was perfect, Kaelan thought the world of him.
He just had a lot to process and him being overwhelmed was his own fault.
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Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2023 10:29 am
Orien laughed softly and rubbed Kaelan’s back as he went over everything he planned on doing. Not laughing at him! He was just happy to know how excited he seemed to be, and how sweet he was. It felt like forever ago when they first started talking about things like bubble baths and eating desserts first for dinner. He looked forward to all of it.
The longer he was with Kaelan, the easier it was for him to calm down and relax. Which shouldn’t have been at all surprising since that was all it took when they’d first started getting to know each other.
“You’re lucky? I feel like I’m the lucky one. Thank you for not giving up on me back then,” Orien said as he pressed another kiss to Kaelan’s face. Maybe he wouldn’t give up on him now, either.
They were still damp and needed to change, but Orien just wanted to hold him a little longer. He would just have to hold him once they were dry.
“I think I promised to help you out of these wet clothes,” he quietly reminded him with his lips pressed against his cheek.
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Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2023 10:50 am
“Oh, that’s true. You did,” Kaelan laughed, and though he sniffled, he wasn’t unhappy right now. A little chilly! But he’d just have to stay close to Orien. And maybe ask for a warm bath.
“I’ll never give up on you, Orien. I know too many good things about you. Like how capable and hardworking and strong you are.” He rubbed down his back and then kissed his cheek once more. “We said everything was going to be okay. So, now we’re together again, and it can be.”
There were a lot of hoops to jump through, still. He didn’t have his feet on the ground yet and he still felt like he was waiting for everything to implode. But they were together again, that was a good first step. His plans felt scattered, like he had pieces in mind but no idea how to achieve the full pictures.
That was a good start, too.
He wasn’t alone. Orien made him stronger.
Made him the best version of himself.
He just needed a little more time, but things were going to work out.
They hadn’t come this far for them not to.
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