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 Posted: Wed Jan 01, 2025 4:45 pm
Naturally, Casey pressed his forehead back against Ariel’s when he leaned close.
“I’m sorry, Ariel. I’m so, so sorry. You’ve never been selfish or dramatic. I was the selfish one. I should have talked to you about how I felt. I was just-- afraid.”
Meeting Mason had been wonderful… for a time. Things changed after a few weeks. He started saying and doing things that made Casey paranoid. And he wasn’t allowed to spend time with his friends. Or… Mason would find ways to distract him to the point where he couldn’t get in touch with Ariel and Morgan.
“Morgan said he thought we were already dating when he first met us,” he confessed, his cheeks burning, but his voice sounded a bit giddy. He would have never dreamed it. It wasn’t until Mason that he realized he could date someone in the first place.
“I’ll never do it again, Ariel. I promise. I never want to be without either of you. I’ve been miserable too. There’s been so many times I wanted to talk to you and couldn’t-- Ariel, I’m so sorry.”
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Posted: Wed Jan 01, 2025 4:45 pm
“Casey,” Ariel said gently. “Those aren’t things you have to apologize for, it’s okay. I’m just glad that we can talk about it.”
He had mixed feelings about a lot of this—there was still too much he didn’t know and didn’t understand but his heart was fluttering. He was anxious. He was worried. He was happy.
How emotions were tumultuous and uncertain but he couldn’t remember the last time his heart beat this powerfully for anything but fear. The adrenaline was welcome, it woke him up but did little to help sort his thoughts. He knew he was giddy and a small part of him felt guilty for it. Casey had been through so much hardship and Ariel hadn’t been there to help him. Casey had to hurt to get to this point and Ariel regretted that for him. He hadn’t known this could have been an outcome—or maybe he was too afraid to risk what they had to go for more.
“I don’t want to be without you either,” he whispered. “Meeting you was one of the best things that ever happened to me. And Morgan—” he glanced over but once he saw how comfortable Morgan looked he returned his forehead to Casey’s. “…I feel like I forgot how to live, and then you came into my life and I was allowed to. And Morgan, I don’t have enough nice things to say about you. I’m sorry. I know I’m all over the place. I wish I had something more eloquent to say. My heart hasn’t stopped pounding. My hands are getting sweaty. Casey, you mean the world to me. You both do. I mean, really. Is this—I mean, really, this isn’t going to mess anything up? Whatever this is, it’s still—I really can’t lose you too, I’m sorry. I’m not strong enough. I just want to make sure…”
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Posted: Wed Jan 01, 2025 4:45 pm
Casey felt the same way, of course. He didn’t want to mess anything up that was between them. He needed Ariel and Morgan in his life, even more so now that he realized how horrible he felt around Mason.
“I feel like you’re meant to be in my life, Ariel. Morgan too,” he swallowed back the emotions that rose up in his chest. “I can’t explain it, but it’s like I can’t see color clearly unless I’m with one or both of you.”
He knew that was a little excessive, but it was how he felt. There was a lot that didn’t make sense, but there was also a lot that did.
Like, being together with Ariel and Morgan without worrying they would get in the way of each others’ relationships. Because they would be in a relationship -- the three of them, together.
Which was why after tilting his head to kiss Ariel’s forehead, he reached out his hand to Morgan, hoping to get him to come join them on the couch. The side he was on was already occupied by Harrison, but beside Ariel was empty.
“I really, really need you both. I’m sorry it took this long to figure out. I don’t ever want to be without you two again.”
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Posted: Wed Jan 01, 2025 4:46 pm
Morgan was easily summoned; he took a seat next to Ariel and wrapped his arm around the two of them, taking the opportunity to briefly scratch Harrison’s ear, too.
“That’s very poetic, Casey. I like the way you said that,” Morgan mused.
“It was nice,” Ariel agreed. His face was red, not just because Morgan was leaning so close to him. It felt like he was underwater but it wasn’t unpleasant. Or maybe he just felt like he was floating. He drew in a deep breath to stabilize himself and leaned against both Casey and Morgan.
They felt like a safety net wrapped around him.
“I feel like I’m falling,” Ariel murmured. “In life, I mean. Everything moves so quickly and I feel like the ground is always falling from under me. Except when I’m with you two. Maybe it sounds silly,” he mumbled, but when Morgan shook his head he continued, “Finding you was like finding myself again, too. I like who I get to be when I’m with you two. I feel like I lost who I used to be, but. I don’t know. I like this more. I wish I’d found you sooner.”
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Posted: Wed Jan 01, 2025 4:46 pm
With Ariel between them, Casey made sure to hold him tight. He pulled his hand away from Ariel’s hand so he could wedge his whole arm between him and the couch. With his other hand, he reached out to place it on Morgan’s thigh, if only to make sure he knew he was absolutely included and wanted.
“It’s definitely not silly,” Casey agreed, still leaning close so he could press his forehead against Ariel’s.
“No matter what -- if you ever feel like you are falling again -- we’ll be here to catch you. And Morgan is actually a professional in rescuing people!” he snickered. Not because he thought anything that they were saying was laughable, but because he felt so elated and happy that he couldn’t think of any reason not to make a joke or two. Even if it wasn’t a very good joke.
“You both accepted me for who I was,” Casey shared as well, because he knew how Ariel felt. “Until you… I didn’t think it was possible for anyone to tolerate me. I know I can be a lot, and I talk a lot, and I make a lot of mistakes--”
He paused to take in a breath. Harrison was happy to be with them on the couch, so of course she took the moment to try and lick at both Casey and Ariel’s faces. And Morgan’s hand.
Casey gasped and giggled and lovingly pushed Harrison’s face away from his.
“I wish I’d found you sooner, too.”
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Posted: Wed Jan 01, 2025 4:46 pm
In an effort to try and guarantee Casey a chance to speak, Morgan busied himself with petting Harrison’s muzzle. Even as Casey and Ariel both laughed from her antics, Morgan smiled.
“Well, don’t look to the past for too long,” Morgan advised. “Look to the future.” He rested his free hand over Casey’s, and squeezed it gently. “I’ll be here if you need rescuing. Or, even if you don’t.”
Ariel laughed softly and sank backwards again, like he could just rest against them. It felt like they’d caught him already. “I’ll try,” he promised. “...I have a hard time outrunning the past. Not so hard when I’m here with you. Casey, please don’t ever change. I love listening to you talk. You’ve never made a mistake that stuck with me. I can’t think of one now.”
Morgan nodded. “You’re not a lot, Casey. You’re wonderful. I’m the best judge of character here, so trust me when I say it. I wouldn’t lie to you. You’re perfect the way you are.”
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Posted: Wed Jan 01, 2025 4:46 pm
Casey was pretty sure he could easily cry. Ariel and Morgan were showering him with such kind words, even after he’d pushed them away for so long.
“Okay,” he said quietly. He smiled -- he wanted to smile! It was sincere! But the way it wobbled was because his emotions were getting the better of him.
So he pressed his face against Ariel’s shoulder as he clung to him.
“Thank you for staying with me.”
He was pretty sure he made a lot of mistakes. Like stepping away from Morgan and Ariel, when he should have never left their arms.
Fin!
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