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 Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2024 10:40 am
Like a cat sitting on someone’s lap, Reims froze as Cassidy rested his head on his shoulder. He didn’t want to move and scare him away, or make him think that it wasn’t welcome.
He was grateful that Cassidy seemed like he was being serious about not getting into trouble on purpose, and calling him heroic made his ears burn all the more. He mumbled about how it was just easier that way, but unlike a lot of times when he was positive that Cassidy was teasing him… he didn’t feel that way this time.
It was surreal that Cassidy would talk about him to him. Calling Riker his friend, and how he’d helped with taste testing the pie. It had been good, and he felt guilty for having such a horrible reaction to Cassidy when he saw him, especially since it hadn’t been his fault.
Coming out and admitting to being Riker would have made things easier but…
He also liked this-- friendship? Whatever it was that he had with Cassidy as Reims. What if it was different if he found out? What if he ended up hating him for lying or keeping secrets? He hadn’t even told Énna yet, but he was trying to give Énna space.
“I’m sure it’ll be really good. I’m looking forward to it. If you want to cook for me… yeah okay. I don’t mind. As long as you don’t feel obligated.” He tried not to breathe as he spoke, just in case Cassidy decided to sit up with the smallest movement.
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Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2024 10:43 am
Cassidy was cozy here, and he had to make sure he didn’t let his eyes close for too long lest he be tempted to fall asleep for a minute. He felt safe enough to rest against him, he just didn’t want to inconvenience him like that. He must try the pie, Cassidy couldn’t keep him from it.
“I know I don’t have to. I want to cook for you because I want to make you happy. And everyone has to eat, I want to make you good, healthy food! To keep you strong and happy. I mean, I could keep bringing you protection crystals. I’ll probably do that, too.”
He laughed softly but sighed like some of the stress escaped his body with it.
“You’ll have to tell me what foods you like. Well, I guess you should taste the pie I make before you commit to letting me cook for you. But I’m excited. It’s nice to have something to do to keep me busy. Normally–I mean, normally, before, I’d have been out with my friends or running or playing at the park or something. I spent a lot of time outside, and roughhousing, and all that. So it’s been an adjustment. I’m having a lot of fun cooking, it keeps me busy. And it’ll make me a better marriage candidate, right? Who can say no to authentic home cooking, made with love, right? I’ll be a hot commodity in no time,” he laughed.
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Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2024 10:47 am
He wanted to make him happy? Reims was pretty sure he could count on one hand the number of people who actively tried to make him happy.
No, that wasn’t fair. The rest of his team did a pretty good job with making him happy, even if it was just passively. And for a moment, Reims wasn’t sure if he meant his baseball team or his magical team. They were starting to overlap and he wasn’t sure what to make of it.
“What! You’re already thinking about getting married?” Reims stared down at Cassidy in disbelief, frowning at the thought and--
Why did his stomach twist uncomfortably at the thought of Cassidy being with anyone? He wasn’t the only one he felt that way about, but since Cassidy was right there, how was he not supposed to think of him with some other guy, getting married, making food for them--
“So… how do protection crystals work, anyway? Do you, like… throw them at people? I guess that would be pretty painful if you were hit with a rock,” he quickly tried to change the subject before he thought too deeply about marriage. To anyone. They were just teenagers! How Elliot and Atticus had it figured out, he had no idea.
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Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2024 10:49 am
Cassidy laughed often but it had been a while since he felt free and able to do so. He hadn’t had so much to laugh about when he was off on his own, and talking to people over the phone or online just wasn’t the same as being next to them.
He was definitely making up for lost time now.
“Relax! I’m not going to get married any time soon. But there’s nothing wrong with thinking about it at least a little bit, right? Don’t worry.”
He patted his back reassuringly but didn’t move from his shoulder.
“Protection crystals aren’t supposed to be weapons but I think that’s the most practical way to use them. I mean, they are rocks. It’s all kind of superstitious so my mom says ‘you get back what you put in’ so if you don’t believe in it, it won’t work. But if you do, the crystals will protect you. My mom’s given me like eighty so far, she’s always worried I’m going to hurt myself. I mean, fair! But she gave me all these tips for, you know, ‘attuning your spirit energy’ with the crystals so you can–she used different words–but you can basically summon the good vibes. She makes it sound like you’ve got some supernatural blessing from greater spirits. To be fair, I like the idea that you can put your energy into a pretty stone and it can amplify all that. Like, if I want to protect you enough, that’ll transmit into the stone and it’ll protect you. I don’t know if it’s all true,” he admitted, “but I did my best with that bracelet. And all those stones passed through the hands of people who actually know what they’re doing. But, who knows? It could be real, right? Doesn’t hurt to try, I guess. Don’t think I’m some kook.”
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Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2024 10:50 am
“Cassidy,” Reims snorted quietly in amusement. “I’ve got some weird magical powers. How could I possibly think poorly of you for anything? I don’t really understand the whole crystal thing, but I also don’t really understand this magic we have. The energy thing kind of sounds like the Negaverse, though. I mean, not really. But that would suck if they have a way to use crystals to, like, absorb energy.”
As far as he was aware, they couldn’t. But he’d heard something about aliens using stones for energy gathering? Others used mirrors? It was all too much to keep track of.
“It sounds interesting though. If that’s something you like, then, I mean, people collect rocks, so it’s kind of the same thing? And the thoughtfulness that went into my bracelet--”
Reims paused to glance down to his wrist at the bracelet there. He only had a few items that his friends had given to him that he treasured. This was definitely going to be one.
“Thanks. I know I said it before, but you really didn’t have to, especially since you were already making me pie.”
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Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2024 10:51 am
Cassidy smiled as he looked down at the bracelet on Reims’ wrist too. “Hey Reims.”
He had something to say, obviously, but he took a few seconds after that to think about how he wanted to say it.
“You have a hard time thinking people just want to do nice things for you, don’t you? I mean, don’t get me wrong, there is a part of me that wants to make sure you like me and want to keep me around, and there’s a part of me that wants to do something nice for you because you did something nice for me, but it’s not all transactional. I did it because I wanted to do something nice for you. I know I didn’t have to do anything. I could have been a d**k and not even said thanks! But that didn’t feel right to me. I wanted to do more than that. I’ve got a good sense about people, you know. Mom calls it a sixth sense. She’s a little crazy, so maybe I get that from her, because she says she’s got a sixth sense too. I don’t think she does, I think she’s just looking to find her place in the world and have something that makes her special. But everyone wants to be special, so.”
He shrugged, but not so much that he’d have been dislodged from Reims’ shoulder.
“Don’t you want to be special, too?”
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Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2024 10:51 am
Reims glanced down at Cassidy, head still on his shoulder, when he said his name. He waited and listened with curiosity, although it shifted into something like resignation the more Cassidy said.
Don’t you want to be special, too?
He was quiet for a little while as he chewed on the inside of his cheek. Did he want to be special? Maybe once upon a time. When he was younger and more naive. When he didn’t know he didn’t have to follow a certain path. Becoming a knight changed all of that.
“I just want to exist,” he admitted, feeling a little silly for doing so. What would he get for being special? More recognition? He didn’t want the attention. Not like he used to. Not when it was from the wrong people. Would he get gifts and praise? Would they be worth anything to him, or was it just another way to fill the void.
But he cleared his throat, because he didn’t want to offend Cassidy accidentally.
“I mean-- I feel pretty special being a Knight. I didn’t expect it to happen. I didn’t know it existed when it did. And I feel special knowing people like you and Mary and Effie. I guess it’s hard to want to be special when I’ve been told since I was born that I was unwanted and that me being around ruined the lives of so many--”
It was too much. He was getting too personal, and although he as Riker hadn’t divulged that information with Cassidy, it wouldn’t be hard to figure out if Cassidy asked the right people about him. Julian especially. Maybe even Elliot.
“I don’t think there’s anything wrong with people wanting to be special. It’s nice to feel good. I guess I just need to get used to it more.”
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Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2024 10:51 am
Cassidy picked his head up, finally, but it wasn’t because he wanted to move.
He just wanted to see Reims. He wanted Reims to see him.
“You sound like you’ve had to deal with a lot.” He didn’t really sound surprised but he was still making sense of things. Reims only ever gave him bits and pieces and he was carefully, diligently, piecing them all together.
“No wonder you try so hard to keep everyone else safe, huh? Well, I want you around. And you didn’t ruin my life, you saved it, probably. I wonder how many other people out there are alive or safe because of you. I hope when you go home, you think about that and not about whatever those other people were saying. They don’t know s**t. It’s not like you’re–what was that kid’s name? The one from the Omen. Damien.” He shrugged, and rested his chin on Reims’ shoulder so he could rest against him but could look up at him, too.
“It’s cool if you want to just exist. I mean, I get your reasons for it. It sounds like a lot of the attention you got was bad attention? But it won’t be like that forever. You’d be special to me even if you weren’t a Knight. I bet you’d have still tried to save me even if you didn’t have magic powers. I’ve got a really good sense about people,” he reminded. “And it is nice to feel good so you definitely need to get used to it more. I’ll help. Because I want to, not because I feel like I have to. Being around you makes me happy. So you should get to be happy, too.”
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Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2024 10:52 am
Reims opened his mouth to protest when Cassidy moved. He didn’t really want him to move, even if that sounded ridiculous. He just had his head on his shoulder.
But now he could see Cassidy’s eyes, warm with flecks of gold and green that seemed to shine brighter in the light of the crystals that illuminated the little room.
His heart felt like it was fluttering, and his face flushed red to the point where he was certain Cassidy could feel the heat from his cheeks. Now with Cassidy resting his chin on his shoulder, Reims tilted his head up to stare straight ahead as he fidgeted with the wet clothes he was still wearing.
“It’s fine,” he mumbled weakly, his voice clearly struggling to make any sound. Was it fine? He didn’t know. He wasn’t entirely sure what he was even responding to at this point. His brain felt like it had a couple gears that stopped working. Like a fog had rolled in. He heard everything Cassidy said, but it was taking some time to compute a response.
“I am happy being around you.”
He didn’t think he would be, but he’d clearly been wrong about a lot of things and was desperately trying to make up for that.
“I don’t like seeing you in pain. And-- you know-- you’re funny and clever and nice. And it’s okay that you keep things to yourself, but I wouldn’t judge you if you needed to-- you know-- not laugh at everything that makes you uncomfortable to talk about.”
Was that too much? Too presumptuous? Probably, but his mouth seemed to be working on its own while his heart was fluttering stupidly.
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Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2024 10:54 am
It would have been unfair to say that Reims’ squirming was cute, so Cassidy only thought it. He wore a crooked grin and one eye crinkled shut but he didn’t laugh this time.
“Oh, handsome and brave and compassionate and clever. What a catch you are, Reims!”
He couldn't be sure before, because the lighting was a bit questionable, but he thought he’d seen a bit of color to Reims’ ears. Now he was sure he saw it on his cheeks, too.
“When I feel like talking about uncomfortable things without laughing, can I borrow your ear? I think I’m okay for right now. I feel better if I can laugh at them. But I appreciate you offering. I don’t think you’d judge me. But you can’t offer that and say you don’t like me in pain!” He laughed again, but this time his smile reached both of his eyes.
“Just kidding. You should laugh a little more, Reims. It’s okay to. You don’t have to be so serious about everything. I bet you’ll get ulcers when you’re older, from trying to be so serious all the time. Are you afraid people will laugh at you if you show them your true self?”
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Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2024 10:55 am
Reims clicked his tongue to the roof of his mouth.
“No,” he grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest in defiance. Except that he was afraid of being laughed at. Showing his true self had more consequences than being laughed at, too.
If he was honest with his feelings… would he be kicked out of his house? Worse? He didn’t know and was afraid to find out. That probably made him a coward -- definitely not as brave as Cassidy claimed he was.
“I’m not serious about everything! There’s plenty I’m not serious about,” he frowned, his face still red. The color wasn’t fading with Cassidy’s teasing. He hoped that Cassidy knew his response to letting him borrow his ear was of course, but he was too flustered to say anything else for the moment.
Especially after being teased about being a catch.
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Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2024 10:55 am
Cassidy had to bite his lower lip to stop from grinning any more than he already was.
“Oh yeah? Tell me one thing you’re not serious about!”
He scooted closer, so Reims’ arm was pressed almost into Cassidy’s chest, and if he kept scooting forward he could have probably even touched his nose to Reims’ cheek.
Yes, he was teasing him now, but he wanted to know! Reims seemed reserved, like he was always holding something back! And he was being so stubborn! Cassidy wanted to know something, anything. He’d already shared personal things, it was only fair!
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Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2024 10:56 am
Reims sputtered and grimaced, leaning in the opposite direction of Cassidy as he scooted closer to him. Not because he was afraid of him or anything like that! He obviously didn’t mind the closeness with him having his head on his shoulder for a while!! Or hugging him! But now he felt like he was being interrogated!!
Oh, but also, the closer Cassidy got to him, the more erratic his heart fluttered and stomach flipped.
“What! I don’t know! It depends!” he insisted, moving his hand to catch himself as he leaned even farther away from Cassidy on the--
Much shorter bench than he remembered it being. He let out a surprised gasp as he missed the edge of the seat and toppled over the side and onto an embarrassed heap on the floor.
Thankfully, the ground didn’t seem that hard, despite being stone, and it wasn’t a very high fall. His ego hurt more than anything.
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Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2024 10:58 am
Cassidy laughed. He couldn’t hold it back. He wasn’t laughing at Reims, but the situation was too comical to keep it in. He had restraint but not that much.
“Okay, okay! You didn’t have to do that just to prove it, Reims! Here,” he said, and held out his hand to help him up again as he leaned over the bench. “Let me help you up.” He laughed again but there was nothing cruel or judgmental about it. He looked at Reims fondly, and maybe with a bit of worry because what if he did actually get hurt! Being silly, of course.
That was obviously intentional. And even if Cassidy thought it was a mistake, there was no way he was going to let Reims know. He didn’t want him to leave with a bruised ego, especially when Cassidy was so sure he could puff it back up a little.
“You’re silly, Reims. You made me eat my words, you win. Are you okay? Oh, wait. Sorry, habit,” he said, and had to switch which arm he was offering to help Reims up.
Cassidy didn’t even seem to feel self-pitying about it, he was still smiling. Only, now his cheeks were a little pink, too.
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Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2024 10:58 am
Reims took a quick assessment of himself, and when he was sure he wasn’t injured, he reached up to take hold of Cassidy’s hand. Well, the hand of the side that wasn’t injured. He knew better than to try and put pressure on Cassidy’s injury.
Oh… but in the questionable light of the room, he could have sworn that Cassidy looked a little flushed. Which, of course, made Reims’ slightly fading red brighten back up again.
“I’m okay,” he promised, not wanting Cassidy to worry about him. He got back to his feet and shuffled a little, feeling like he wanted to say something, but not knowing what to say. He didn’t think falling off the bench proved that he didn’t treat everything seriously, but Cassidy seemed to be in a good mood, and he wasn’t going to ruin that.
He cleared his throat and glanced around.
“Do, uh… you need help with your shirt?” he offered, since Cassidy had clearly had trouble getting in and out of clothes before. Sure, they were tight and then wet, but still.
“Probably want to make sure the others haven’t eaten all of the pie.”
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