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 Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2025 8:07 am
When Riker shifted, Evan did too; he moved to meet him, moved to accommodate him. He held him close but he held him tenderly, mindful not to press too much into his chest, or anywhere else he thought might be hurting.
“I’ll never give up on you, Riker. Never. Just because you can’t see how good you are doesn’t mean I can’t. But you’re still young. Of course I looked up all that stuff for you. I’m not the kind of person that was ever supposed to take care of a kid. Not that you’re…”
Evan exhaled. “...I know you’re not a kid kid, but you’re still my kid. And however old you are, however old you get, it’s my job to take care of you.” A job he had signed up for. A job he wanted.
He smoothed his hand over Riker’s back, shifting positions just slightly. He wished he were taller. He could neither hunch down to hug him, nor sit on his knees to do so, and be comfortable. But, it was easy to sacrifice his comfort if it meant he could loan Riker a little extra.
“I’ll research how to be kind to yourself next, I’ll make that my homework, so we can talk about that. We’ll figure all of this out together. But don’t feel like you have to rush to the finish line. It’s not going to be a straight line there, anyway. You’ll have good days, and bad days. And that’s okay. Share them both with me.”
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Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2025 8:07 am
“It feels weird,” he said quietly as he rested against Evan, trying to keep his breathing even. “Being someone’s kid. I mean… one that’s actually wanted. But I think I like it. Being yours.”
He let his eyes close for a few moments. He knew he would need medicine if he had any hope of sleeping that night. He still felt achy and raw, and it was still a little difficult to breathe without it being painful. But as he rested with his head on Evan’s shoulder, his lips twitched into something a little softer than a smile.
“You don’t have to do homework for me,” he mumbled, his voice a little stronger now. “You already do so much. More than anyone ever has. Just you being here is enough. But I’ll try to share everything. Even when I want to hide. I know it’s not going to be a straight line, but I’m glad it doesn’t feel like it has to be alone anymore.”
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Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2025 8:08 am
“You’re already doing such a great job, Riker. Thank you for trusting me so much. I know that’s not easy.” It wasn’t Riker’s fault–and he knew that Riker did trust him. Evan wasn’t the problem. It was everyone who had hurt Riker, who had taught him not to ask for help, or to be ashamed of needing it.
He knew that Riker manifesting trust and offering it was no small feat, and so he handled that trust with great reverence and care. He didn’t want to think of the damage he might do if he betrayed it.
Thankfully, Evan had no intention of ever trying. Riker was too precious to him.
An unwanted child for his mother, but the child he never knew he wanted for Evan.
He wasn’t going to throw that away.
“I know I don’t have to do homework. But I want to. Don’t think I do it because I feel obligated. It’s because I love you. And you deserve the best version of me and all I have to offer. And you have your own homework, and you’re actually getting graded on it. So I wouldn’t make you look this stuff up on your own. Anyway, it’s confusing and it’s a lot to take in. I don’t mind. It’s not an obligation. I promise. If I’m going to ask you to do your best, I need to be willing to do my best for you, too.”
He didn’t want to get up, didn’t want to pull away.
…But Riker was in here for medical treatment, and hugs could heal the soul but unfortunately didn’t do much in the way of mending the physical body. He just didn’t want to leave the room to get the rest of what he needed until he knew Riker was okay to be alone for a moment. For now, he could at least breathe.
“Do you want me to grab some water so you can take your medicine? It doesn’t look like you’ll bleed out in the next two minutes so I can grab it and then get you patched up.” It was a suggestion, not a decision, and there was always space for Riker’s preferences. Especially when it was his body that needed help right now.
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Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2025 8:08 am
Riker huffed out something that was almost a laugh, but it broke into a sigh about halfway.
“You make it sound like I’m about to die on you,” he muttered, but the corner of his mouth twitched a little. “I’m fine. Just… sore. And poked full of holes.”
There was the faintest glimmer of humor that shifted into his expression, and he straightened himself up with surprising restraint so as not to whimper or grimace. He wasn’t going to fight the help being offered. Not when he actually kind of liked being cared for. It was almost addictive, but he was careful not to take advantage of Evan’s kindness.
“But yeah, water would be good. Medicine too. Thanks, mom.” He grinned, but it eased into something softer soon after. “I don’t know how you do it,” he admitted quietly. “Most people would’ve been long gone by now, but you’re still here. Researching things. Mothering me. Making sure I don’t bleed out on the floor,” he added with a small, tired, but amused huff. “You always make it feel like I’m worth the trouble.”
He paused, his ears burning a little.
“I like it. You fussing over me. It makes me feel… I dunno. Wanted, I guess. But uh… yeah I’ll still be here,” he promised, sheepish but full of fondness and adoration.
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Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2025 8:08 am
Before Evan pulled away, he placed one more kiss on Riker’s head and smoothed his hair down. “You’re wanted,” he promised. “I’ll go fast. I know you’re not going to die on me or something, I know you’re too strong for that. But I still worry about Zac any time he comes home in too sour of a mood. Of course I’m going to worry about you too. So, let me. You’re not any trouble at all, Riker. So you’re worth all of it.”
Raising a teenager probably should have been harder. Evan hadn’t made it easy on his parents. He’d gotten moody, thrown temper tantrums, rebelled just to try and get their attention. It hadn’t mattered. They hadn’t wanted his obedience or love, so the drama and outbursts were just his last ditch effort to get anything from them.
Riker didn’t do that to Evan. He made everything easy. Undoubtedly because of his horrible mother and how badly she’d warped his perception of love. Evan wasn’t even grateful to her; he’d rather have a rowdy and troublesome son that hadn’t had to hurt the way Riker did.
But he didn’t love him any less for who he was. He just loved him a little more tenderly for what he’d been through.
“I’ll be right back” he promised, and turned on his heels quickly, pulling open the door as if he meant to jog to the kitchen.
Maxim was a speedbump; the dog was laying on the ground and rapidly jumped to his feet, stalling Evan for just long enough that he stopped in the doorway. “Oh,” he said, and tilted his head. Instead of rushing to the kitchen, he stooped a bit to pet Maxim’s head as he peered down the hallway, looking both left and right before adding, “Huh.”
On the decorative table just outside the door was a stack of fresh towels, still warm from the dryer. But that wasn’t as interesting as the pair of neatly folded pajamas–Riker’s, or the cold bottles of water and a sports drink, or the ice pack between both of them. A bottle of Ibuprofen, not the Advil he went for, and Benadryl next to it.
Maxim wagged eagerly and looked like he might try to come into the bathroom to help, but Evan just pet him once more and told him to stay there. He gathered everything from the table and carried it into the bathroom, carefully migrating things to the sink.
“Well, back,” he announced, though he hadn’t left at all. He uncapped the Ibuprofen and, shaking out a few pills, glanced to the drinks, then to Riker, as if to silently ask which he wanted.
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Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2025 8:08 am
“Oh,” Riker stared, looking at the bottles Evan set down. It didn’t take a genius to process that someone had been looking out for him. And based on the medicine bottles, Riker was confident he knew who. The pieces clicked together quickly enough that he didn’t need to ask how Evan collected everything so quickly. His face warmed a bit, and he shuffled his feet awkwardly.
“Guess that means Julian was out there for a bit,” he mumbled, but he didn’t sound upset. Just flustered in a way that made his voice crack halfway through the question. “I don’t mind. I just… hope I didn’t say anything too stupid. I don’t want him worrying or taking things the wrong way.”
He reached for the sports drink with his slightly less torn up hand, made a very momentary attempt at opening it, before handing it back to Evan with a silent, sheepish request for help. The pills, though, he took and tossed them into his mouth, then took the bottle once it had been opened to sip from with a mumbled thanks.
“I should probably get cleaned up, huh?” he let out a small breath that might have been an awkward laugh. “I don’t want to freak him out. Then you’ll both have to mom me, and I don’t think I can survive that level of affection.”
As if there was any protest in his voice. As if his lips weren’t twitching into a fond smile at the corners. Not that he was going to go out and get hurt with the intention of looking for affection! But he couldn’t deny that it was nice.
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Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2025 8:08 am
Evan gladly opened the drink for Riker and passed it back without any fanfare or dramatics.
“Well, I think we both already started,” Evan said, gesturing to Riker’s pajamas. “But good of you to be mindful of our hearts. Don’t worry, Riker. You didn’t say anything stupid. Do you want me to ask Julian what he overheard while you change? Well–let me make sure you’re all wrapped up. I want to put some bandages on your fingers just to keep them clean. But I’ll go fast. You’ve had a busy night.”
…And he doubted he’d be able to make Riker sit still if he was worrying about Julian, or what he heard.
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Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2025 8:09 am
Riker shifted a bit so Evan could work, holding out his hands obediently for the bandages. He’d long since learned that letting Evan fuss over him took half the time it would if he tried to insist he was fine.
“I’m not going anywhere until you’re satisfied,” he muttered, but there was no bite in the words, just a tired fondness as he watched Evan settle. “So go ahead. I’ll sit still.”
He glanced to the door for a moment, then back at his hands.
“You don’t have to ask Julian anything. I’ll… talk to him myself when I’m cleaned up. I just don’t want him looking at me and thinking I’m worse off than I am. You don’t have to rush, either. Just do what you need to do. I’m good here.”
The words came out quieter than he meant, but he meant them. Sitting there, sore and patched together, but warm and cared for… He thought he’d be able to make sure Julian was okay after all of this, next.
“Thanks, Evan,” he said after a moment, voice softer still, but he managed a small smile. “For staying. For putting up with me. For everything.”
Fin!
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