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 Posted: Sun Jun 09, 2024 4:54 pm
Evan debated for a moment and then nodded. “Visiting me counts as self-care, I think. You’re here so I want to take care of you. You know, like a good host. Not anything weird. Obviously you are able to take care of yourself. What I mean is, you’re welcome here as long as you’re fine with me caring about you.” Because that’s what friends did, anyway. And Riker already said he trusted Evan so he must have felt safe over here.
That counted for self-care.
Not that Evan was even the best at giving any care to himself, but in looking at the chicken he was making, he chose the biggest, best looking piece and decided that one was for Riker. He was still growing, and he was going to need all his strength if he was going to be rescuing his friends from scary monsters.
“You can come visit me and Maxim any time you want. He cuddles, too. If I’m having a bad day, I can lay on the couch and he just crawls up and puts his head on me. Sometimes he tries to sleep on my stomach. It’s hard to be upset when he’s trying to lick your face or hide his nose against your neck. He looks too silly.”
Maxim’s tail wagged from where he was laying, lazy but content.
“I hope your friends are doing okay. Talking can help a lot. Sometimes it’s just nice to have someone to listen and be on your side. Do you have any ideas for what might make them feel better?”
“Bake them some cookies,” Zac said from behind them and Evan practically squawked in surprise. Zac had come in through the back door and had finished half the cup of water Evan left out for him already. He was standing under the air vent but hadn’t shown up intending to intrude.
“Zac! Don’t sneak up on us. I’m cooking.”
“Mm,” Zac said, but Evan had company so he didn’t point out that he’d been cooking since he woke up, nor did he point out that he hadn’t snuck up so much as just not loudly announced his arrival. “Smells good.”
“It’s almost done. Riker, this is Zac. Zac, Riker.”
Zac nodded though didn’t seem surprised. He’d pieced this together before he’d even announced his presence.
“I do have some cookies, they’d probably go well with lunch,” Evan mused. “There’s probably just enough for all of us, we’re almost out. Is that your way of saying you want more?”
“No. I don’t have a sweet tooth. Talia baked it out of me.”
“Oh. Well, cookies would keep, and they’re a nice way to say ‘thinking of you’.” Evan finished plating up Riker’s sandwich and nodded for him to help himself to any of the condiments; he was working on Zac’s but already knew how he was going to make it. He moved so Riker could move with him, and when he started dressing up Zac’s sandwich he did so at a comfortable speed so Riker could do the same for his own if he wanted. “I’m not used to you having good ideas, Zac.”
Zac snorted indignantly and Evan looked at Riker as he asked, “Do you want to make something for them while you’re here?”
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Posted: Sun Jun 09, 2024 7:05 pm
Riker didn’t jump in surprise, but the appearance of someone he didn’t know -- or at least hadn’t officially met -- had him bristling just a bit.
Obviously he knew Evan thought very highly of Zac, but that didn’t mean anything if Zac didn’t like him. Or if there was anything he didn’t like about Zac.
He nodded in response and kept his mouth shut as he listened to the two.
Maybe it was a streak of defiance, or maybe he was purposefully wanting to prove to Evan that he thought very highly of him, but when he was asked about making cookies--
“Actually, I wanted to see if you had any of that bacon you made left over. Or if we could make a new batch? I’m sure cookies are great and all,” he shrugged, glancing over at Zac as he straightened up to show he wasn’t some small kid -- he was just slouching over the counter when he’d come in.
“But everyone makes cookies. I want to give my friends something unique. And it was delicious, so I want everyone to try it,” he insisted with a warm smile at Evan.
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Posted: Sun Jun 09, 2024 7:47 pm
Zac might have suspected he knew what Riker was up to; he kept his distance but seemed amused. His feelings weren’t hurt, everyone did make cookies. He lifted his glass of water.
“We can make bacon. I’ll get some defrosted and clean up. It’s not that hard, I’ll teach you. And it doesn’t take long. And Zac likes the candied bacon no matter what he says about sweets.”
Zac shrugged and lowered the empty glass. He wasn’t denying it but his eyes were already on the sandwich Evan was bringing him. They swapped dishes; Evan pushed the plate into Zac’s hand and took the water, and flitted about to refill it while neglecting the sandwich he was making for himself.
As Evan passed Riker he gave him a look, more of surprise that he was so tall, but Evan had gotten complacent with him resting against the counter. He pulled out the pack of bacon and refilled Zac’s water and returned it, but Zac was already biting into the sandwich and nodding approvingly.
“Are you done with the yard?”
“Going to take a shower in a minute,” Zac half-answered. “Won’t bother you if you’re having home ec classes.”
Evan still hadn’t stopped moving and was finally assembling his sandwich. Maxim watched enthusiastically. “Don’t say it like that,” Evan huffed. He gave Zac a look but it only got him another shrug. “You don’t complain about the food”
“No,” Zac agreed, “I don’t. Although, I’m pretty sure you’ve made enough food for the entire block already. Are you sure we have fridge room for more…? Just don’t work too hard.” He looked at Riker and said, “Make sure he takes a break at some point. He’s been on his feet since for longer than I have and he doesn’t know his limits.”
“Stop it,” Evan huffed once more, and looked like he was ready to shoo Zac out of the kitchen himself. His cheeks were a little pink, and only because he didn’t want to look like he couldn’t take care of himself in front of Riker. “I’ll rest, I’m almost done. Bacon’s easy, when it’s in the oven we’ll sit down and watch a movie or something.” He turned to Riker. “If that’s okay. Do you want to stay for dinner or are you doing something with your friends?”
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Posted: Sun Jun 09, 2024 7:53 pm
Riker watched the two interact. He was still trying to figure Zac out, but Riker felt guarded and protective of Evan.
“If you’d like me to help you take things to donate again, I don’t mind,” Riker offered Evan a smile, hoping he would feel reassured instead of teased.
“He’ll take a break when he’s ready, you don’t have to treat him like a child to prove a point,” he scoffed at Zac with a frown.
Whatever that point might be. He was sure Evan would tell him that Zac meant well and it was fine, but Riker could see the way his cheeks flushed and how he huffed at least a few times already.
“I would never say no to your cooking, Evan. Thank you. I was going to try to meet up with at least one of my friends after dinner. Especially while the bacon is fresh.”
He was already looking after Evan. He didn’t need some other guy coming in telling him how to take care of his friend. Obviously he knew that Evan didn’t know his limits, but there comes a point where it’s just nagging to remind them because they’ll push those limits regardless. Instead, he fully planned on supporting Evan however he could, and offer him assistance even without him saying he needed it.
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Posted: Sun Jun 09, 2024 8:27 pm
“Ohhh, tough guy,” Zac said, far more amused than antagonized. He almost said ‘suck up’ too but Evan was giving him a warning look so Zac once again shrugged and took another bite of his sandwich. “Aren’t you going to tell him that it’s good to worry about your friends?”
“No, he already knows that,” Evan shrugged. “Thank you, Riker. Maybe we will go donate something. You can help me figure out what we’ll have for dinner.”
“Is anyone else going to be home for dinner today or are they doing their own thing?” Zac asked, moving to better fit under the air vent.
“I’m not actually sure. But I’ll check. Everyone’s been so busy lately.”
Zac nodded thoughtfully and then shrugged. “I might be out later, too.”
Briefly, Evan gave him a look, but he didn’t pursue conversation on the topic. “All right. ‘Just don’t work too hard’, ‘don’t push your limits’,” he nagged.
Zac scoffed again. “Sure. Anyway, you two have fun. Thanks for lunch.”
“Come back if you’re still hungry,” Evan insisted, even as Zac mumbled something through a mouth full of food. Maxim got up and, wagging, followed after him.
A door swung in the distance–Evan had been listening to it–and then he turned to Riker and said, “Anyway. I think he likes you, don’t let his attitude mislead you. If he bothers you too much I’ll just tell him to leave us alone when you’re over. But he’s not a bad person. He’s–it’s really complicated, I’ll tell you about it some time. But not now, eat your chicken. Do you need help making it?”
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Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2024 7:42 pm
Once again, Riker was silent as he observed both Zac and Evan’s interaction. He frowned a bit and was almost disappointed that Maxim decided to go with Zac, but that was fine.
He glanced at the sandwich that Evan started for him and shook his head before busying himself with condiments that had been nodded to before, but he’d been too distracted by Zac to do anything about.
“Should I be here?” he asked then, suddenly feeling as though he was imposing, one way or another. He didn’t want to make things more difficult for Evan, even though he’d told him it was fine, any time he wanted.
Riker seemed to realize he was asking a stupid question, or at least a question to which he knew Evan’s answer to, but not necessarily anyone else’s. For all he knew, Evan was the only one who didn’t mind him being there.
“Sorry, nevermind,” he mumbled. How Evan could tell that Zac liked him, was beyond his understanding. But that didn’t matter, because he quickly finished making up his sandwich, which he recognized as the biggest piece that Evan had been cooking, and took a bite.
“This is really good, Ev…” he breathed out a sigh of contentment around a cheek full of sandwich so he wasn’t technically talking with food in his mouth. “Thank you.”
He supposed he would just have to try and understand everything else, later.
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Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2024 8:17 pm
Evan brightened immediately. “Yes, good. Eat all of that so you don’t have those thoughts. Good food will chase away bad thoughts,” he promised. He took a big bite of his own sandwich and leaned against the counter.
He could be critical of his cooking–of everything, really–but he couldn’t deny that he liked this, and Riker looked happy, and he knew Zac enjoyed it.
When he chewed and swallowed he added, “You’re allowed to be here. You are very wanted here. Zac is socially awkward, he’s not used to having people over. It’s not like he invites friends over or anything. Don’t tell him I said that, he’d probably get snarky about it because I don’t really invite friends over, but.” Evan shrugged. “It’s complicated. I’ll tell you more some time. But…”
He let his words trail off for a minute as he sorted through his thoughts.
“Just trust me when I say Zac’s a good person. You just can’t take what he says at face value. I know it sounds like I’m making excuses but I’m not, it’s just complicated. He’s been through a lot. But you’re my friend, you’re welcome here. I told him about you, anyway. Not everything, he doesn’t know about,” Evan gestured vaguely, “you know. Just that you saved my a**. And that I felt safe with you around. He even suggested I should ask if you wanted to work part time at the food truck with me.”
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Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2024 6:02 am
There were a lot of things being added to the I’ll tell you some time list, but Riker didn’t comment on it. He was grateful to be included even a little. Even if he felt like he was intruding.
Riker gave Evan a skeptical look. He didn’t really think helping Evan out that one time a youma attacked his food truck counted as saving his a**.
But… the idea of working part time with someone he cared about and enjoyed being around? Well, his ears were definitely red, and he hoped his hair covered them enough.
“He said that?” he couldn’t stop himself from asking, even though he knew he shouldn’t bother since obviously Evan wouldn’t tell him if he was just making things up. He wouldn’t tell Evan, but he didn’t seem like he would be very good when it came to lying, much less making up stories.
He busied himself by taking another bite of his sandwich and nodded. Who was he to deny helping Evan? “Well… yeah if you need help, of course.” Maybe then he would be able to save up some money for himself, and not rely on the kindness of others.
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Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2024 6:46 am
“Yeah? I’d appreciate it,” Evan said, already convinced that it was mutually beneficial for the both of them. “I can pay you under the table so you don’t even have to worry about taxes or anything. I mean, that’s what Zac said. He was doing some jobs like that in high school. And I figured with how much your mom and brother harass you, the less they know about anything, the better. But–yeah, I mean. I’ve been talking about getting some extra help for a while. I just, I don’t know.”
He shrugged and took a bite of his sandwich to buy himself a few seconds to think about what he wanted to say.
“I get really frustrated when people are in my space, a lot. I hate meeting new people. I don’t want anyone in my kitchen unless I can trust them. So just posting a job listing isn’t really ideal for me. And I don’t know how I’d fire someone. But you, I mean. I’m already comfortable with you being around. And if we did get attacked by youma, I’d be safer. Some of the summer recipes I want to do take a little more time in the kitchen so I can’t keep running back between the counter and the kitchen, and I do have people help me out sometimes, but I can’t always take them away from their own things. So if you could help out some time–I mean, no pressure, it could just be whenever it works for you–I’d like that.”
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Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2024 9:47 am
He didn’t have to think about it very hard. If Evan needed the help, then of course Riker was willing to do whatever he needed him to. Even if it was just taking out the trash or keeping things cleaned up.
But he didn’t want to seem like he was desperate or anything like that! He took another bite of his sandwich and chewed thoughtfully.
Evan said he was comfortable with him in his space. More or less. And if he took the job, Evan wouldn’t have to worry about being stressed over hiring someone else.
“Just tell me when,” he nodded. He’d already said he would of course help, and he meant it. “I usually only have baseball in the afternoons, but… nothing planned for the summer. Probably staying out of the house as much as possible,” he admitted with a grimace.
He glanced up then, looking at Evan with a helpless desperation. He needed the chance to do something with his life. He could only do so much as a Knight. If he had no money, then he would be stuck relying on his friends for everything, and he didn’t want to do that.
“Thanks… I won’t let you down.”
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