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 Posted: Tue Apr 30, 2024 8:24 pm
Once more, Devyn laughed. He expected Michael’s tone, and his worrying, even if it was so long ago. It didn’t last forever; the rest of the conversation had shifted enough that he didn’t want to minimize the weight of it. The smile didn’t leave his face entirely.
“I love you, Michael. Do you want to tell me about that?” He didn’t have to, and just as Michael had left him plenty of openings to change the subject if it was too much, Devyn did the same.
“I have lots of weapons. Some even used to be magical. Peter’s been a great help organizing, he’s found things I forgot about.” Not surprising considering how long it had been since he’d last seen some of it, and less so considering how much of it there was.
“Did I mention how sweet it was for you to worry about something I did–what, centuries ago?” it was his turn to pepper Michael with kisses and he found himself quite liking the exchange rate they had going on. “I’m usually very lucky, Michael. And if I broke a leg then I would have run on that, too. Nothing was going to keep me from Percy, he needed me. And nothing would keep me from you. Just in case you were worrying.”
Michael probably wasn’t. He knew.
Devyn squeezed his knee. “It was strange seeing Percy’s memories. Not unpleasant. I’m sad to see what he had to go through, but he is as I remember him. I wish we’d gotten to see happier memories. I still miss him.” But Michael knew this, too. There was always going to be a place in his heart for Percy. He loved Michael immeasurably all the same. “Was it weird for you?”
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Posted: Tue Apr 30, 2024 8:24 pm
“I love you, too,” Michael sighed and tightened his hold around Devyn to give him a little squeeze. “I don’t think it was weird. It was heartbreaking, but also gave me a chance to see what things were like. I’m grateful for that. Maybe one day we’ll be able to share some memories about happier times,” he suggested, hopeful.
“I’m glad Peter has been helpful. I bet he’s having fun with it. While also taking it seriously, of course. And I hope he’s doing better. It’s weird that he doesn’t live here anymore. He moved in when he started high school. Probably one of the reasons why I couldn’t quietly disappear,” he admitted, knowing it probably sounded bad. It had been bad. Peter was smart though, and he cared more than people probably gave him credit for.
He turned to kiss Devyn once more, moving his hand to rest over Devyn’s on his knee.
“When we were testing out keeping the Negaverse from being able to teleport, I used an agent’s sword against him, while he was unable to call it back to himself, like they’re usually able to,” he let out a sigh, knowing he’d been reckless.
“I don’t think you’ve met him before. General Aquamarine. Absolute b***h. Blond, skinny, and has a bad attitude. He’d harassed me before. Bragged about torturing Chris and Paris when they’d been kidnapped by them. Ah, that was about ten years ago. I guess I couldn’t resist some payback for what they did to my family. I don’t know if I should have killed him, or if that would have just made it worse. He’s close to Jet. Close enough to have trained with each other’s weapons. That’s what they did when they kidnapped Ganymede -- switched weapons with each other.”
Maybe they could revisit what to do about the Negaverse later. For the moment he sighed and kissed Devyn once more. “Try not to run on a broken leg.”
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Posted: Tue Apr 30, 2024 8:25 pm
“I’ll do my best, Michael. But I don’t plan on being mountains away from you to have to worry about that in the first place. Besides, I’m very durable.” He patted his knee reassuringly. “Do you want to go visit Peter sometime? Every time I see him he’s working miracles. I don’t know how he doesn’t get lonely up there but I’m glad he doesn’t stay for too long at a time. Although, Alastor is healthier now. And the animals around the Hall are very social creatures. I’m surprised they haven’t tried to break in and explore.”
The world could be incredibly lonely when you were forced to be on your own, but Peter could come back any time he wanted, and Devyn went up often enough that he wasn’t worried about Peter. Especially when he did seem like he was enjoying the work up there.
“I’m glad he was there for you. I miss him being around here, too. He was kind to me when I first arrived, and very friendly. Very informative, too. But you were, too. And you’ve always been very resourceful, my love. I haven’t met Aquamarine yet but I’ve heard you give that description before. If we ever cross paths, I’ll be careful.”
Probably. Unless the situation demanded extremes.
With those two, it might.
“And you, too. But if you get into trouble with them, I’ll come rescue you. Not that you need it, you’re probably the strongest person I know. But just in case. And I know that if I ever get in over my head, you’ll rescue me, too. My Knight in shining armor.”
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Posted: Tue Apr 30, 2024 8:26 pm
Michael snorted softly, but the comment had earned Devyn a kiss on the lips. It was slow and lingered. Long enough to savor and for Michael to pour his heart into.
“The strongest person you know, next to you,” he pointed out, because he had no doubt that if Devyn could survive as long as he had, with all the heartache he went through, then he was definitely the strongest. “Unless you’d settle for a tie. We could always compete to see just who was stronger,” he teased, but kissed Devyn again.
“I’d like to see what Peter was up to, yeah. When we head up to check out the mountains maybe we can ask if he has any ideas. He’s got a degree in chemistry, you know. He might be able to determine the root cause of everything that happened if we got him some samples,” Michael suggested, although he knew it would be important to make sure Peter was up for the task. He was sure he would be, but he also didn’t want to pull his brother away from any work he was doing.
“I’ll be careful. I don’t plan on being too far from you, either. So hopefully you wouldn’t have to jump down any on a broken leg to get to me. I appreciate that you’re durable. I don’t need you falling apart on me at your age.”
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Posted: Tue Apr 30, 2024 8:28 pm
When Devyn laughed this time, it was less reserved. He shook his head. “Oh, please. Find someone in better shape than me ‘at my age’. I’ll take a tie with you for the strongest. I don’t know if I could compete fairly against you. You’re too handsome, it’s distracting. Not fair at all.”
If things had gone differently tonight, maybe Devyn could have gotten dragged back to old memories, old thoughts, old fears.
With Michael there, he never had the chance to get close.
“What’s Peter’s favorite food? We should bring him that as a treat.” Knowing Devyn, it was unlikely that he was even thinking about bribing Peter; he just wanted to give him something nice from home. “I don’t know if I’ve heard as much about his chemistry degree as I have about his other accomplishments. Peter’s really remarkable, isn’t he? That runs in the family, clearly. I was going to take some to Lucien, too. But I don’t want to put either of them in danger. I’m a bit more resilient to things of that nature. I’ll want you to be careful when we go up. Just in case. I’ve done what I can, but I can’t knowingly let any of you get sick. Ah, maybe I’m just paranoid. I’m sorry, I know I worry all the time. Alastor’s a big world. I know I’m overcompensating and throwing myself at every problem. That’s sort of in my blood.”
But he had so much to make up for. And now more than ever, with all sorts of life rearing its head, he wanted to be prepared for when they found people.
Devyn wasn't giving up on that, now or ever. No matter how daunting any of it seemed.
“I want to go back up to that island, too. I haven’t been since you and I first got there. I’ve dreamed about it, some. I can’t tell if it’s my imagination or if it’s supposed to mean something.”
Probably his imagination. He’d been dreaming of exploring everything up there since he was a boy. Now he had a way up, he just needed to make time.
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Posted: Tue Apr 30, 2024 8:29 pm
“Let’s make it a date, then,” Michael hummed, running his fingers through Devyn’s hair now, scratching at the back of his head playfully. “We can head back up and document things. Maybe bring Lucien if you wanted. See if he remembered anything. I don’t know how Peter would feel about researching old relics, other than making it his life’s work already.”
Michael was endeared, as always, to everything Devyn had to say. Even if he had to admit how he liked to throw himself at every problem.
“Mom’s lasagna still, probably. It’s definitely been used to bribe me, before. Not that you’re doing that,” he teased. Devyn hadn’t said anything about bribing Peter, but getting him food that he liked could very easily be used as a bribe.
“You’re cute, though. Not as indestructible as you think you are, but you’ve been very lucky to get out of some tight spots. Me too, though. I can’t be upset with you since I’ve definitely, uh… purposefully, put myself in harm’s way. Did I ever tell you about this?” Michael asked, gesturing to the scars down his cheek and jaw.
“I expected to get injured. It was the only way I could think of to get close enough to do any damage, myself. It worked out. I’m still here. I haven’t seen the half youma responsible for this in years. Looked like he was half wolf. The kid that rescued him though, I’ve seen around. Corrupted Senshi with bright orange robes and can blind with their magic. Black hair, and androgynous in appearance,” he hummed as he shared, lifting a hand to scratch at the scar that decided to feel irritated now that he’d brought attention to it.
“I’ll have to make sure we sit down and go over everything I’ve seen. I don’t want you caught off guard. I should have done more of it before now. I’m sorry.”
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Posted: Tue Apr 30, 2024 8:31 pm
A date? Devyn couldn’t deny Michael, especially when he was doing such nice things to his scalp and hair. He dipped his head backwards and sighed contentedly as his eyes fluttered shut. Just for a few seconds, at least. Michael was still woefully lacking when it came to being pampered so Devyn had a lot to make up for after Michael had been so good to him now.
“Lucien is not the best guest on a date but I’m fine with that, as long as I still get some alone time with you. We’ll have to visit your mother, I’ll ask if she can make some lasagna for us to take up to him.” It was unlikely that she’d pass up the opportunity to spoil her son; she had so much love in her heart and it must be hard with Peter so far away.
Michael was pointing at his scars, and now that he’d drawn attention to them, Devyn took it as an invitation to plant a few kisses over them. He’d taken Michael’s hand to hold, maybe to also make sure he didn’t scratch himself too hard.
“Don’t apologize. You’ve taught me so much, Michael. There’s been so much to learn here on Earth, every day I discover something new. You’ve done a good job, obviously. I’m alive and in one piece. I like to learn. And I like your stories. This scar means you’re very brave.” He had a few he’d gotten in the same manner; in combat, defense was the first thing Devyn sacrificed, especially if he thought if in doing so he could get an edge elsewhere.
And what were a few scars in exchange? He liked to show them off, anyway. Nearly all of them were badges of honor. He didn’t see a single one–on himself or anyone else–as some sort of blemish. Michael was handsome on his own, and by Earth standards. On Alastor? They’d have swooned over him. He probably would have had a marriage proposal any time he went into town.
“You’re going to let me give you a back massage after this, aren’t you? I thought I felt a bit of tension earlier.” ‘Thought’ of course, being his polite way of asserting that he knew. He’d felt those knots often, and after what they’d seen on Sessrumnir, after that storm, after all the stress of handling the Code and dealing with magical anomalies–of course Michael was tense. Things were looking up now, but Devyn was still determined to speed things up and make it easier on Michael in any way that he could.
It helped that he’d learned what he liked and what muscles needed the most attention. He was always quick to offer to work on Michael’s back. It was mostly for Michael’s sake, but Devyn couldn’t deny that he liked doing it, too.
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Posted: Tue Apr 30, 2024 8:31 pm
Michael chuckled softly in amusement and leaned closer to Devyn to press his lips against his cheek. “I’m going to let you do whatever you want after this,” he promised, ignoring the way his face flushed once more. He could laugh it off, of course. He wanted to pamper Devyn, but he also wouldn’t argue if Devyn insisted.
He still felt a little weak from the energy it took to get to Sessrumnir before, but not enough to make a big deal about it. He was sure Devyn could distract him as well as he could try to keep Devyn distracted.
As for being brave, he’d laughed softly again in reflection, clearly flattered and flustered. But then, that was just one more reason why Devyn was allowed to do whatever he wanted with him.
“Okay, maybe Lucien can stay with Peter while we have some time to ourselves. I bet they’d get along like he and Marius did. Ah, well… I guess his memories aren’t too clear about everything, but I bet they could learn a lot from each other. I bet mom would like that, so yeah, let’s do that.”
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Posted: Tue Apr 30, 2024 8:35 pm
Oh, Michael. With his cheeks that color it was perfectly easy to imagine what he was looking forward to. Devyn was, too. But there wasn’t any harm in soaking for a few more minutes, especially because he really did want Michael to relax and this was just about as peaceful as things had been in a long time.
“I bet Lucien and Peter would like each other,” he agreed, but there was a shadow of sadness in his smile.
Like he and Marius.
Lucien didn’t even remember him. A blessing and a curse, maybe. But Devyn had enough stories to tell. He still hoped that one day it would spark something.
Devyn was happy to have Lucien, regardless of the state of his memories. “Lucien cares a lot for Alastor. Even if he doesn’t remember everything, he remembers that. I bet he’d be interested in overseeing what Peter is doing. I bet they could find a lot to talk about. They’re both good company.”
And of course, if Claire would like that, Devyn supported it. He liked her very much, but despite his many years of life, any sort of maternal presence still felt so new to him. She was so sweet and caring, and had such a warmth about her. Of course he’d gravitate towards it. She had helped him restore Percy’s paintings, get them framed–she was the one with the connections and means and experience to get a gallery open. He’d gotten to spend a lot of time with her while Michael was at work, and he often enjoyed going out to lunch with her and listening to her stories.
Needless to say, he was very fond of her. He wanted to do right by her, and anything that would make her happy would make him happy. Especially if it was also going to be good for Peter and Lucien and Michael.
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Posted: Tue Apr 30, 2024 8:40 pm
While Michael didn’t miss the sadness in Devyn’s smile, he didn’t comment on it. Instead he pressed another kiss to Devyn’s temple and gave him a little squeeze.
“Thank you for sharing with me. I’ll probably think of more things to ask you later,” he warned, but for the moment he leaned back against the tub to just enjoy the warmth and company.
He couldn’t imagine what it had been like for Devyn. And for Percy. He was glad he had some more insight on what took place on both Alastor and Sessrumnir. Even though it took place hundreds of years ago, it was still an important part of Devyn’s life, and Michael wanted to let Devyn have time to process everything after being thrown back into memories he hadn’t had in a long time.
They would have to go back to check on the Code piece, of course. He wanted to make sure everything was okay, and that the water had drained. And if there was any damage to get that fixed up.
But for tonight, he was content with spending some more time with his husband. Especially since Devyn didn’t get to spend as much time as he wanted to with Percy. This was something he didn’t want either of them to regret missing out on.
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