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 Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2024 6:09 pm
“Mm, no particular desire to be too far from land,” Devyn corrected, despite it being only semantics that kept him from agreeing fully. “But I do have a particular desire to be with you. It’s not my life I was thinking about, it’s ours. You’re different on the water than you are on land.”
He glanced down at Michael as he continued; his feet knew the path well enough that his eyes were free to wander.
“Not that you aren’t perfect on land, but I feel like you’re more honest out there. Your posture changes, you look more relaxed. There’s an image of you burned into my mind, from the last time we were out. You were sitting on the edge of the boat, your legs were over the side, you were leaning back. It was starting to get late and we’d just come up from a swim but we hadn’t yet started to head back for the day. The sun was close to setting, you know, when everything is just golden? You were glowing. The sunlight kissed every part of your face, intimately enough that I would have been jealous if you hadn’t looked so peaceful. It was like the stress just melted off of you. I wouldn’t take you from the water, Michael. It means too much to you. We’ll make time to travel here, and time to fix up Alastor, and Sessrumnir. But we’ll take time to do the things you like to do, too. I might not always enjoy the water, but I love you. So I’ll find a way to enjoy it, too. It’s not so bad if I’m not stuck under it, anyway.”
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Posted: Fri Mar 08, 2024 4:28 pm
Michael stared at Devyn, and he could feel his cheeks burning again. For Devyn to have such a specific memory that he could so easily share…
It wasn’t embarrassing, but it was certainly humbling. Michael didn’t think Devyn paid that close attention to him-- No, that wasn’t quite right. Michael knew Devyn paid attention. He knew what he liked and disliked. He knew when he was getting too lost in his thoughts and when he was maybe not being entirely honest about things. Not that Michael outright lied to Devyn. At least not for anything important.
But there was something about the way Devyn could paint pictures with words. The way he could flatter and praise and be sincere.
Eventually Michael had to look away, pretending like he was trying to find something to grab out of their bag of food as he huffed.
“Thank goodness I’m the only one you want to charm,” he mumbled, squeezing his arm a little tighter around Devyn’s shoulders in appreciation.
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Posted: Fri Mar 08, 2024 4:33 pm
Devyn directed his gaze to the path ahead of them but he didn’t hide the smile that had again twitched onto his face. Michael had no reason to be so modest about all of it, but if Devyn were being honest he enjoyed seeing him flustered. Nothing uncomfortable! But Michael could be so stoic, so brooding, sometimes. Often, it was a mask. He kept people at distance, as if by doing so he might keep them safe.
Or keep himself safe. Michael was afraid to lose those he held dear, this was no secret.
He was letting himself be vulnerable. Letting Devyn see him be vulnerable. Devyn wouldn’t take advantage of it; the splash of color across Michael’s cheeks even in the shadows of the night was more than enough, even if only in the brief few seconds he’d let himself see it.
“Well, you deserve the charm. Someone to sweep you off your feet.” It was too peaceful to hold Michael like this so he resisted the urge to run home so he could show off how fast he was. “Someone to treat you as well as you treat them. Although, you make for such competition.”
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Posted: Fri Mar 08, 2024 6:08 pm
“You’ve already done that, quite literally,” Michael feigned another slightly exasperated sigh, but there was a smile there as he tilted his head against Devyn’s shoulder. He still held on, wanting to displace his weight as much as he could to help Devyn out. He knew he was a hypocrite for getting flustered about being carried when he liked carrying Devyn but… it was easy to tell how much Devyn cared about him.
And loved him.
Which was still a little overwhelming to think about, but Michael was grateful.
Making sure the bag wouldn’t fall from where he balanced it on his lap, Michael lifted his head as he lifted his hand, gently directing Devyn’s face so he could kiss him.
“Since we’ll have the weekend to ourselves, what would you think about us getting some food together and head up to Alastor? Or Sessrumnir if your energy is still low from the last time you went. There’s a lot of things I’d like to do to celebrate your victory. And you. For being so wonderful and deserving of every good thing.”
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Posted: Fri Mar 08, 2024 6:16 pm
“Oh, I like the way you think. Only good ideas in that head of yours.” Devyn walked a little quicker. Not because he could feel the strain in his arms, though there was a faint burn, but because they still had a lot of time to make up. He liked Earth–loved it, maybe, but probably only for the people who lived here.
He loved Alastor unquestioningly. He loved Sessrumnir the same.
He couldn’t help that sometimes they felt like home in a way that Earth didn’t.
Michael was thoroughly spoiling him this weekend.
He’d enjoyed Michael’s kiss, but he’d enjoy it more when he could properly reciprocate it.
“I’ve got a few ideas for how to celebrate, too. But I have to admit, I was thinking more about how to show how much I appreciate you. Let’s start at Sessrumnir, get a good soak in. Then we can see where we wind up. I’ve got energy in me to take a trip to Alastor. And I haven’t shown you what I’ve been working on in a while. My garden’s coming in really well. I’m surprised that we didn’t have much of a winter this year, but I think my world’s got too much energy to take a season to rest. It’s still got a long way to go before it’s back to normal.”
But, it was trying. And he was glad to show all of it off.
And, truth be told, he was glad he didn't have to worry about melting ice carrying hidden poisons, or overflowing rivers tearing up the banks.
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Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2024 9:58 am
“We could probably get home faster if you weren’t carrying me,” he gently teased. Not because he wanted to be put down, but if they both had ideas that were better suited for when they were comfortable and no longer out in public, well…
“But you’re very strong, Dev. You’re cute when you show off.” He was surprised Devyn hadn’t tried running yet, but he didn’t want to say it and encourage him and potentially end up with one or both of them getting hurt.
“I’ll bring some more tools up that you might be able to use. I was going to suggest building a trough to help deter any animals from the garden. If they had somewhere they knew they could get food and fresh water, maybe they’ll leave your hard work alone. Unless you’ve already done that and I’m ruining the reveal.”
There were a lot of things he could suggest or help with, but there was a part of him that wondered if Devyn would rather just do it himself, for the most part. It was his world, after all. Michael was just a visitor. Definitely not someone who should start implementing changes.
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Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2024 10:47 am
Devyn was visibly pleased when Michael called him cute, and he very much liked that his showing off was going noticed. But, Michael was right. They would get home faster if he weren’t carrying him.
“Well, I don’t want to put you down,” he decided, and increased his pace. Not enough to jostle Michael, but enough that it was still noticeable.
“Thankfully, Alastor has provided my guests with plenty of food and water, so it hasn’t been on my list of things to prioritize. With spring around the corner, though.” He smiled, and for as much as he’d love to have looked down and admired Michael’s face, he kept his eyes on the path before him. “I’d love your help. I’ve got plenty in bloom already, I’d hate to bring you or Atticus up and have nothing to show for it. The goats are getting a bit pushy, but they’re coming and going a bit more. They might head back up the mountain soon.”
He hoped. But he couldn’t be sure it was safe. Yet.
He didn’t allow the doubt or worry slip into his voice; instead, he raised Michael in his arms just enough that he could kiss his forehead before returning to a more comfortable position.
“You can give me all your suggestions when you’ve had a chance to look around. Although, I’ll try not to work you too hard, since this is supposed to be about us relaxing.”
They could always push the labor to another day, though.
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Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2024 11:41 am
“Dev,” Michael sighed, but smiled gently. “I don’t care if you don’t have anything to show. I just want to spend time with you. And I know Atticus wouldn’t care, either.”
He knew how hard Devyn was working, but he didn’t want Devyn to think that he had to have everything perfect for them to visit. Things changed, whether altered by time or the weather or the world itself. There was no guarantee things would be the same from one visit to the next, especially with how Alastor was seeming to heal.
It made him feel a little guilty for not going to Sessrumnir as often, but maybe it was because of the lack of total familiarity, or maybe he was worried that he wouldn’t be good enough to help his Wonder recover. It sounded like an excuse, so he just never talked about it.
And Devyn didn’t need to let anything slip into his voice. Even without the necklace, Michael knew what could be waiting in the mountains. He knew there were secrets on Alastor hidden even from Devyn. Things that still tore at his heart.
Michael playfully twirled some of Devyn’s hair around his fingers as he held onto his shoulders.
“Oh… I don’t mind some exertion while relaxing,” he hummed casually, but couldn’t quite keep his lip from twitching into a smile.
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Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2024 11:50 am
Devyn’s laugh spilled from his lips, warm and loving. For that, he stopped, and did look down at Michael. “Well. All right. If you insist.”
Like he wasn’t looking forward to it as well.
He’d have to pick up the pace. Especially since he’d decided to give himself a moment to just admire Michael’s face. He didn’t always get to see him so relaxed, or with such playfulness. Another memory to file away and draw on when he needed a reminder of all the good in the universe.
This time, he couldn’t wipe the smile from his face.
“I know you and Atticus don’t need some grand show every time you come to Alastor.” He worked on it while they were at school, always once a week. Sometimes more when he could manage it, but resources didn’t always allow. He visited Sessrumnir once a week, too. Mostly just to straighten up, to visit Princess. She got an update of his life and a day full of stories every time he visited.
“But you know I like to show off. Alastor does, too. Especially for you. Everything’s always grown twice as quickly on the days you come up with me. I work hard on the days I go up by myself so that I can relax up there with you. You know? We’ll take it easy when we go up. Maybe we’ll have a picnic on the river. Or I’ll put up a swing for us. You fill my heart with love and my head with dreams, I only ever think of all the ways I want to spend my time with you.”
He had a list of a thousand things he regretted never doing with Percy, and the list was longer when he thought of all the things he wished he could do again.
He wasn’t going to miss out on any of them with Michael.
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Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2024 11:59 am
“Oh, I’ll have to borrow some of your lines for my poetry,” Michael laughed, but he was still smiling and clearly just teasing. How could he not enjoy everything that tumbled from Devyn’s lips when he said it as he did.
“I’ll wait until we’re having our picnic, or soaking in the springs, to shower you with all the things I could say about you. I feel like I’m being challenged.”
Another tease, of course. He was looking forward to whatever they ended up doing. Just spending time with Devyn was good enough, so anything else was a bonus.
“A swing, huh? I don’t think I’ve been on a swing since I was a kid. We could probably rig something up if you’d like.”
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Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2024 1:57 pm
A decade ago, a hundred years ago. Devyn wouldn’t have imagined he’d ever be able to love life again. No longer was every day a challenge. He wasn’t fighting for survival. He could stop and smell the flowers. He could let himself love.
There were still days that he grappled with the fact that half his heart still belonged to Percy, but Michael had always been understanding. He’d never made a fuss about the fact that Devyn still wore his first wedding band on a necklace.
He didn’t live in grief anymore. He spoke about Percy often, but it was impossible to tell many of his stories without also explaining Percy’s presence and impact. There were centuries without Percy, but what was there to say of them? They were miserable. Full of suffering, full of loss, full of despair.
Sometimes Devyn gave himself a headache just trying to pluck a single memory out of those years. They were vague and blended together. A mixture of poor diet and poorer sleep had done little to help preserve those memories. He had no reason to miss them.
But, sometimes such things flickered to the forefront of his thoughts. Like now, but only so he could look back on how bleak his life had been, for so long, and be awestruck by how fortunate he felt now.
“I’d like that,” he confirmed. All of it. Every moment with Michael, he wanted. Greedy, desperate. He wanted to paint over those centuries of solitude and anguish. Instead, he wanted to fill his memories with Michael’s laugh, his smile, his love.
It was more than just having a good night. He felt at peace. Even in the face of Earth’s war with Chaos, even knowing that Alastor had so much work it needed, he felt relaxed. Invigorated. Hopeful. A renewed strength pushed through him, another burst of energy. He held Michael firmly in his arms, more than confident that he could carry him the whole way home. And after. Through the whole weekend, and longer.
“Anything you want to do, Michael. I want to do it all.”
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