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 Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2025 8:02 am
“Whatever!” Riker grumbled, flustered by Zac’s seemingly flippant commentary. “Sorry for trying to be nice or whatever! Nothing’s going to happen to me so--”
Things had happened to him, but he was fine. Just like things had happened to Evan before. Things that he knew Zac had been around for, although he only knew as many details as Evan had been willing to share. And some of those details hadn’t been spoken, but Riker was able to piece together pretty confidently through context.
Which only made him more flustered. Especially since he knew Zac was a good kisser. Gross.
“Forget I said anything,” he scoffed and shook his head, his face flushed red because of course trying to talk to Zac about anything would be made weird. He wouldn’t be surprised if Zac just saw him as an annoying child to deal with, despite whatever Evan said about how Zac wanted him around to teach him things. Teach him things so that Zac wouldn’t have to do those things, probably.
He opened his mouth as though he was deciding whether or not to say anything else, but decided against it and turned towards the garage door instead. He wished he would have just kept his mouth shut. At least Evan would be happy to see him.
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Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2025 8:04 am
Behind him, Zac scoffed. “You’ve had a rough night, so I’m not gonna rag on you too much. But I’ve seen you ‘be nice’, you can be real sweet when you want to be.”
He shrugged. “But I meant what I said. You did a good job out there. And you came back in one piece. So, if you aren’t going to thank yourself, at least be proud of it. But not too much,” he warned, “I don’t want you to get all arrogant about it.”
Riker was both easy to read, and not. Undoubtedly, there was something more he wanted to say to Zac, but he hid what he meant behind other words. Why thank him for looking after Evan? It wasn’t Riker’s job, and Evan was capable of looking after himself. Sort of.
Zac didn’t know what Riker was trying to say and with as twisted as he got in his own head, it could have been anything. He knew Riker had a friend over so he didn’t want to go into much detail where he could avoid it. Cassidy was a bit nosy anyway; he was surprised he wasn’t clinging to Riker on the way down, or sneaking on the stairs to eavesdrop.
“I’m glad nothing happened to you. Make sure it stays that way.”
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Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2025 8:04 am
Riker paused at the door, anxiously chewing on the inside of his lip. Zac wanted him to be proud of himself that he came back in one piece. And he was glad nothing happened to him.
Once again, Riker opened his mouth to say something over his shoulder, but instead only managed to shift his expressions from flustered to flustered and confused. Then to hopeful, then a weird twist of annoyance, although it was unlikely directed at Zac, despite looking at him.
“Yeah,” he managed to choke out, which was definitely super eloquent of him, and would absolutely make Zac want to waste time talking to him more often (not). He was tempted to say you too, but had a feeling that -- from the last thing he’d said to Zac -- it would be brushed off like it was a joke.
It was fine. He didn’t want to bother Zac more than he had to. It was bad enough that he wasn’t sure if Evan was right about Zac actually wanting him around. Maybe just to do chores.
Before he could make a bigger fool of himself, he quickly scampered out of the garage and to the kitchen.
He made a detour to the bathroom so he could get changed, but after that, he went right to Evan.
Sure, Evan was at the stove, and probably shouldn’t be bothered, but Riker wrapped his arms around him in a hug regardless.
Fin!
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