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 Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2023 5:40 pm
“It’s not your fault. You have been working so hard, but it’s okay if you don’t figure things out right away. Everyone else has had all this time to figure things out, and you’ve been thrown into it, trying to catch up. You’ve done more than I could ever do. So I promise I will never think of you as a failure. I certainly won’t care if you need to try something again. The first, or second, or third time…? Those are just practice runs.”
Orien knew he was probably rambling a little, but Kaelan seemed so upset, even when he was starting to sound a bit better.
“I love you too, and you’ve never made anything hard for me. Well,” he paused and leaned close so he could whisper to Kaelan exactly what Kaelan made hard for him.
“And that’s all the time -- but I love you too!” he quickly added even as he was snickering a little in amusement already. “Sorry, sorry, I’ll be serious! I am happy! You make me happy!”
He was just also very immature about a lot of things. He couldn’t help it! Kaelan was too cute, even when he was soaked to the bone and sniffling.
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Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2023 6:05 pm
This time, Kaelan laughed with a bit more energy. Even if Orien was immature and exasperating, there was still just something about him that was so charming and genuine. How could he be upset when he was whispering things like that in his ear?
Well, if it had been twenty minutes ago, maybe he would have just started crying more. But twenty-minutes-ago-Kaelan had a lot of things he was still trying to work through. Present day Kaelan just thought about how much he loved his boyfriend, and how he said everything that Kaelan needed to hear.
“Stop,” he protested, but there was no heart in it, and despite how miserable he’d been earlier, he sounded like he was smiling as he said it.
“Thank you. That makes me feel better, though. I just hope the ‘practice runs’ don’t cost us too much money. But you–you never give yourself enough credit, Oreo. I couldn’t do anything I’ve done without you. You’ve been working so hard too. I’m just. I’m just really lucky I have you. And you mean so much to me. I'm sorry. I really do feel better now, though. Thank you. We should get out before we get sick."
He didn't move, but he was going to have to. He didn't want to make Orien try to carry him again, but he didn't really have the strength to start peeling off his wet clothes yet.
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Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2023 6:46 pm
“Don’t worry about the cost. I bet if we look at Jett with sad eyes he’d cave faster than you’d think,” Orien grinned, keeping his arms around Kaelan a little while longer in the tub.
“And I’ll make sure you don’t get sick. I’ve got a few ideas in mind to warm you up,” he teased, and reached over with his foot to turn off the water. They would have to peel off their wet clothes, but it at least provided enough of a shock factor to help Kaelan get out of whatever was tormenting his mind. At least this time. And at least for now.
Orien knew he couldn’t do everything to protect him, no matter what he tried. There were some things that Orien knew he couldn’t reach. All the monsters that still had their hold on Kaelan.
All he could do was hope he could be enough of a support to his boyfriend for him to be okay.
Preferably before Orien’s memory got worse.
“Come on, I’ve got you. Let’s get a snack and get in bed,” Orien prompted, carefully pushing himself up so he could help Kaelan to his feet. “You did so well, and you have nothing to be sorry for. I love you and will do anything for you.”
As long as Kaelan still wanted him around.
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