|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2021 4:09 pm
Jace was a little embarrassed but found himself nodding compliantly. “Yeah. I mean, no. I mean. Um.”
No, don’t think about belly dancing, or anything like that, or--
Jace’s whole brain felt fried and he was scrambling just to speak.
He cleared his throat, “I mean, Xander doesn’t need to--I can’t tell him,” he said, and seemed like he was torn because he didn’t want to lie to his brother. He didn’t want to keep secrets, but…
“Xander would probably want to go out with me. I mean--if I did go out, at all. You know how curious he is. If he knew there were things like this out there in Destiny City, I don’t--I don’t know what he do. He’d might try to go see for himself. And if anything happened to him,” he shook his head quickly. “I don’t know what I’d do. No, it’s better that he doesn’t know. At least, not until I know what’s going on and can make sure he doesn’t get hurt.”
He exhaled and had to shake his head, quickly forcing himself up. “Um. I can use your shower or do you want me somewhere else? I’ll go fast and text Xander when I’m out. I, um. I mean, I could leave the door unlocked if you want to throw the clothes in the sink? ...Or I can just grab them from the hallway when I'm done. Whatever works.”
He wished he had an excuse for why his face was suddenly burning.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2021 5:30 pm
“Honestly, as much as I love Xander, I can imagine him sticking his face in the mouth of the thing that attacked you to try and find the zipper.” Holden said seriously. “And you can always use my shower I’ll check the door and put the clothes wherever you’re comfortable too, how’s that sound?” Holden too was blushing, the delightful idea that he was trusted to open that door even if it was just to slide clothes in while Jace was behind a plastic shower curtain. He bit at his lower lip and ducked his head slightly. “R…Right so um, clean towels are where they normally are, I’ll warm up some food and sort out clothes and… um… yes! As always take your time, it’s tankless and you should enjoy that luxury! If you want I’ll even start um, stocking whatever shampoo you prefer! I know mine’s a bit…” He waved his hands and made himself stop talking before he called his personal choice anything derogatory.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2021 7:18 pm
Jace could imagine Xander shoving his hand down some monster's throat to try and find some 'off-switch', or to try and cleverly discover how such a prank was being pulled. Honestly, it made him nervous just to think of how dangerous it would have been for his impulsive brother.
"Yours is nice," Jace insisted as he stood up and brushed himself off, ready to banish himself to the bathroom for a few minutes so he could clear his mind and wash up. "I like how it smells. I'll use it and think of you."
Oh, no. No, no, that was a horrible thing to say, he should have banished himself faster.
No! ********, Jace! Why did you say that! You just said you'd think about him in the shower!
He should have let that youma kill him.
On his feet, he was already walking quickly to the door. "I'll go fast. I don't need anything fancy for dinner. Thank you for taking such good care of me. Like always."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2021 10:36 am
There was really no hiding the delighted smile, or the level of blush that crept down his neck as the statements sank home. A delighted flutter in his stomach, of delighted…hope? assurance? “I’m glad you like it!” He called. Waiting a moment till he heard Jace vanish into the bathroom before allowing himself to fold over and do an abbreviated sort of dance of pure delight, trying hard to keep it quiet. God… He should just ask… or just….tell Jace he liked him, or, hell He’d probably sound like he just m want as a friend and then he’d feel dumb. “Take your time! You deserve good things!” He called after a moment before making himself get up and hurry down stairs to assemble a small dinner, nothing that would seem like he’d tried ‘too hard’ so he wouldn’t make Jace uncomfortable but also wanting to treat him. He knew for all that there wouldn’t be any hiding the delighted bounce in his step if Callan was downstairs waiting. Though maybe he could just direct Callan into helping him with a meal.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2021 3:07 pm
Callan was in the kitchen, of course, and looked like he was fixing himself a snack. He turned to face the entrance to the kitchen at the exact second Holden entered, and his eyes lit up expectantly.
They lived in a comfortable house--larger than they needed, really, but they deserved a home, and it just made sense to have a place big enough for them to grow into.
...Big enough that Holden would never feel like leaving, maybe, but Callan wasn't going to let himself fuss over the idea of Holden growing up and moving out.
Especially not when there was a boy in the house.
"Well?" he asked, eyes on Holden. He had only heard one set of footsteps--he'd been listening--and assumed that the sound of running water must have been Jace upstairs, showering. So, shamelessly, he insisted to know, "What happened, what's going on up there?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2021 3:25 pm
“Uhhh…I said he could uses the shower and I’d lay out some clothes for him to change into.” He said the smile clear. “And he … said he liked the shampoo I use…’ He flashed a grin at Callan, a sort of mixture of shy and hopeful all the same. “Want to help me make up a small dinner? Nothing too fancy, he’ll be alarmed. And nothing…happened, nothing you should be worried about anyhow. He got… jumped by a really big mean dog on his walk, and I said If he’d consider getting some training with you, just to protect himself, I…. would train too?” he glanced over and up hopeful. “I’d feel better knowing he was safe, and you’ll feel better if I do more, right? Like... anyone who'd teach a dog to jump a jogger in the park...”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2021 4:36 pm
Callan laughed, but kept his voice soft as if he were afraid Jace might somehow hear from all the way upstairs. "You don't have to butter me up to give your boyfriend some lessons. You're so obvious," he said, and would have reached over to mess up Holden's hair if he didn't know there was a boy upstairs he had to impress. "I'll have to keep the heat up so he's tempted to take off his shirt, right?"
He wore a grin, but there was nothing malicious about it. "If that's what it takes to get you to train with me, I'll take it. I told you, Destiny City's a dangerous place. I don't want you getting hurt. Let me know when he's free and we can figure something out. I'll make time for you two. A dog, though," he clicked his tongue and shook his head. "I'll do some research to find ways to best take care of aggressive dogs, too. Tell him he's got nothing to worry about. Now," he looked around the kitchen.
"Dinner. We've got some leftovers from last night, that's not too fancy. He can eat shrimp, right? Sauce should taste better tonight after it's soaked into the pasta. Or, if you're feeling really--disgustingly--not fancy, you can microwave him one of the frozen meals. I got a few, just in case. They're sort of healthy."
Not really, nothing compared to homemade, fresh meals, but sometimes even Callan wore himself out and needed something easy.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2021 6:28 pm
Holden huffed out an embarrassed laugh. “Maybe, if we all train together.” He said. “I am.. serious though, I should start learning. I think you’re right… it is more, dangerous than I think I really knew. I never worried so much when it was you, you’re… you’ve always been my wall, my safe space, but what if something bad happened to you, or jace or… “ He took a breath and let it out slowly, very serious in a way he so seldom showed. He laughed after a moment though. “I think I’d rather feed him the shrimp, I really do still believe microwaving anything adds a unique and, terrible flavor. So healthy or not, I bet you anything he’ll be eating far too many microwave awful after his results from Law school come in.” He laughed and then added. “I told him I’d show him some of my work with the Fan’s too… if you wanted, we could turn that into a spar tomorrow? Though I should work on hand to hand too, It’s not like I carry an iron fan with me everywhere I go.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Apr 24, 2021 7:22 pm
Callan turned to look at him, and he had adopted his more serious expression--the one that might have just looked angry, unless you knew him enough to know that he was just worried. “Nothing is going to happen to me, Holden. Ever. I’ll always be here for you.”
Nothing would stop him. Ever. He didn’t care what obstacles there were, he’d overcome all of them. Holden had lost enough already; Callan wasn’t ever going to be a name added to the list.
But then, he reached over to ruffle Holden’s hair--because now, how could he not.
“I’m proud of you,” he said, and went to get the leftovers. “If you want to spar with the fan, we can make that work. And we can work on hand to hand, and even just evasive maneuvers. For all those times you forget your iron fan at home. Never hurts to know a different way to get out of a dangerous situation. You don’t think he’s going to have bad news when his results come in, do you? I thought he was studying pretty hard. He’s never failed a test before.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Apr 24, 2021 7:31 pm
“I can’t imagine him failing.” Holden shook his head. “He’s worked too hard for too long, and his mo... he’d have failed something ages ago if he were going to. I think even most lawyers have to check laws to phrase them right but I bet he could quote it at you in full legalese.” He sighed a little sad at the thought . “If he ever did fail, I... I’d be there for him of course, but he’s so hard on himself.” He turned and watched his brother for a while, thinking on everything they had lost, how Callan had held it all together. He marched over and wrapped his arms around him. “I’m so lucky... I wish everyone could be this lucky.” He murmured.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Apr 25, 2021 9:16 am
Callan paused and had to crane his neck over his shoulder to look at Holden.
For a moment, he didn’t reply; he just tended to the dinner he was reheating on the stove--properly, for Jace. And then, he adjusted his positions, turning to wrap his arm around Holden. He gave him a squeeze, rubbing his back, and then just settling into a half hug.
“You okay?” he asked, because he always asked, and always seemed to care. No matter how big or little the problem was, he always wanted Holden to know he’d be there for him. Jace wasn’t a problem, but he knew that Holden was often distracted thinking about him, and what he was going through.
Holden had a big heart, and cared. Deeply. Tremendously, even.
Callan couldn’t help but wonder if there was something else beyond the obvious that he could see, so he added, “Is Jace okay?”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Apr 25, 2021 9:42 am
“Yeah.” Holden said softly. “He’s ok, I mean he’s as okay as he ever is, if you know what I mean. I was just thinking how lucky I am to have you… and sort of low key judging his Mom, I know she’s … I know she has good intentions but she… “ He heaved a sigh. “I just…care. I care about him a lot, but you knew that… threatening to just ask him, good lord.” He gently ‘punched’ his Brother. “Thanks for being you…I was just appreciating how fortunate I am, promise.” He smiled up, leaning into the half hug.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Apr 25, 2021 5:56 pm
Callan looked at him for a moment but just smiled, squeezing once more. “I’m twice his size, I can just pick him up and shake him until I rattle some sense into him. Should do the same thing to his mom,” he mused, because really--he couldn’t claim to know much about the woman except from what he’d heard from Holden, really.
And even then, how many angry rants had he sat there and listened to, about how Jace had to cancel because his mother thought he was slacking off, or made plans without telling him. How many times had Callan listened to Holden worry about how miserable Jace was during this or that, or how he wasn’t sleeping, or eating healthy, or any of the very long list of things that Holden worried about.
Because, really.
Who was actually looking after Jace if not Holden?
He had a brother, a sister. They looked out for each other--and Callan understood and appreciated sibling camaraderie. He was older than the rest of them, but they had a loyalty to each other that he could respect.
Except, they were still young, and learning who they were, and dealing with pressures he could only imagine.
In some ways, he’d grown up the exact opposite.
There hadn’t been anyone to guide him or help him make decisions, or make decisions for him. He’d had to sit down and think about them himself, and deal with the infinite possibilities of what life could hold for him--and Holden.
Jace had a predestined future, written by a woman who didn’t know how to take no for an answer. She wasn't looking out for him, she was projecting herself onto him and hoping if she pushed hard enough, she'd leave a permanent imprint.
He sighed heavily and stirred the shrimp and pasta; the smell was rapidly filling the room. “She’ll be a horrible mother in law, Holden. I hope you’re preparing for all that trouble.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Apr 25, 2021 7:22 pm
Holden laughed softly. “She has to get through Jace’s Brother in law if she wants to start anything though. I know she wants to make sure he does well, it’s sort of… tough love. But she just dosen’t see what it does to him I think, and that’s just… Jace. I know he worries about Xander too… and Im less sure about Dani but… “ He shook his head. “It makes you understand why you can’t really wish for happiness for the whole world…. because sometimes what makes someone happy will make someone else … unhappy too.” “Mmmm… Smells amazing as always, He’ll be so flustered and it’s going to be wonderful.” He beamed, meaning it. “AH! I should bring him clothes and come back for the food!” He said realizing that Jace would probably be done washing before the food was all the way warmed…
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2021 6:30 am
“Tough love only goes so far before it’s just mean,” he said, a little less shy about sharing his feelings on the matter than Holden might have been. But, he had less at stake to risk by saying something. It wasn’t his place to share such things with Holden’s friend, but he couldn’t help himself to remind Holden--just in case.
He’d never seen Jace be mean to Holden--and he was certain that if they’d ever gotten into a fight, Holden would have told him--but he didn’t want there to be any misunderstanding that he did not approve of such things.
He didn't want to see someone hurt Holden and listen to Holden make excuses for them.
“Go on, go on,” Callan said, and leaned over to kiss atop Holden’s head. “Get him clothes. If you can’t find anything to fit him, you can grab anything in my room. I’ll finish this up. If you aren’t back by the time it’s done, I’ll deliver it up. Never hurts to do a little extra cardio.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
