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 Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2024 11:38 am
This time, Cassidy was expecting some sort of tickle. He wasn’t as sensitive as he had been before, but he could have very easily started squirming if Riker kept that up. He invested in energy into vigorously working at Riker’s shoulders instead.
“What, do you think that’s rude or something? Sometimes it’s nice to just take a nap and not worry about responsibilities, isn’t it? The only thing rainy days are good for is napping. And soup. And I’ve got that last part covered, believe me. What, would you rather I stay in here and watch you sleep?” He laughed. “If that’s what you’re into. I’m just kidding, I’m not making fun of you. I just thought if you fell asleep, you might as well be comfortable, you know? I’m not going to creep on you if you do, just made sense to tuck you in. Is that weird?”
He mulled it over for less than half a second before he’d shrugged again. “Well, I don’t care even if it is. That’s what I’d want someone to do for me, so that’s what I’d do, too. Of course, if someone offered to play with my hair and read me a bedtime story, I’d say yes to that, too. Never look a gift horse in the mouth, Riker! If someone offers to do something for you, say yes. That’s my motto, at least, and it’s always worked out for me. I mean, look! It got you over here, didn’t it? And I’m having a great time.”
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Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2024 11:39 am
“I mean, I guess. I’ve only really been able to nap at, like, Julian’s place,” he admitted. It wasn’t that he wouldn’t like to nap. He just needed to be on guard at home. Sleeping was bad enough, but napping? That was just asking for trouble.
Cassidy didn’t seem too ticklish when he pressed his hands against his legs, so he pulled them back up to cross under the pillow at his chin.
“I don’t know, I guess I just don’t like being alone.”
It felt weird to admit, especially to Cassidy. But Cassidy was working so hard on his shoulders and back, and it felt really good, and he could feel himself relaxing some. Even though he doubted he’d be able to get up any time soon.
“I mean,” he frowned, grimaced, then sighed. “You don’t have to, like… leave if you wanted to take a nap too.” He was just going to ignore Cassidy’s apparent plans to creep on him or whatever.
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Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2024 11:39 am
Oh, good, Riker moved his hands. Cassidy’s heart was trying to decide if it wanted to be in his chest or his throat. At least it had settled, for now, even if he missed Riker’s hands.
As he leaned forward, Cassidy’s hair spilled over his shoulder and he had to flick his head to get it out of the way. He tried not to be obnoxious about it, especially when Riker was right underneath him.
“Oh, I get that.”
He worked for a few seconds more. His fingers were warm and a little stiff but he still had so much work to do.
“I don’t like to be alone either.”
He’d had more than enough of that. He wasn’t ashamed to admit it. Sure, usually he’d make a joke and laugh about it, or be dramatic and whine so it didn’t sound so depressing, but he’d teased Riker plenty already so it seemed only fair to give him a bit of honesty. Especially when Riker was being so honest, and vulnerable, with him.
“If you want to take a nap, I’ll stay with you. I’ll pull out the heated blanket, too. You’ll never nap better than when you’re in my bed, you’ll see. It’s like sleeping on clouds and being hugged by angels while they sing lullabies in your ear.”
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Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2024 11:40 am
“Oh, so you’re going to be hugging me and singing lullabies in my ear?” Riker snorted in amusement, but frowned, not sure how Cassidy would take his teasing. He wasn’t really teasing. Especially because Cassidy was pretty.
And the brush of Cassidy’s hair against his back was enough to send shivers down his spine. Which was stupid. It was just hair. And Cassidy was already kneeling over him and had his hands massaging his back and--
Okay, maybe he just happened to like all of it. He wasn’t sure if he was able to say that or not. He didn’t want to be weird.
“Alright,” he agreed quietly, because, as Cassidy said, you don’t look a gift horse in the mouth. And Riker really wouldn’t mind a nap.
“Uh… I don’t know if you plan on me leaving any time soon. But I figured you’d be here by yourself most of the night so, uh… I brought a change of clothes with me.” Which Cassidy would have seen if he snooped through his backpack a little more than he had to get his umbrella out.
“It’s just, I mean… it’s raining. And I think Julian is probably going to stay with Atticus.”
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Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2024 11:51 am
“Really?” Cassidy asked, and if he was trying not to sound excited, he failed. Extraordinarily. Nothing he did was going to cover that up so he didn’t bother trying.
He leaned closer to Riker, and even if he’d been determined to work out every knot, he was going at them with renewed vigor.
“Stay all night, I hope it doesn’t stop raining. I’ll turn the air down, too.” He leaned close to Riker’s ear. “So you won’t get hot when I’m hugging you and singing lullabies in your ear.”
Then, he sat back up again and massaged down Riker's spine. “I know a few lullabies on the accordion. But I don’t know why, it’s not like that’s an instrument you play to put people to sleep. You’ll see. I’ll try to serenade you, polka is definitely the way to go,” he laughed. “Sorry, I’m trying not to tease you. I’m really glad you’re here, Riker. I’m having a lot of fun. You can tell me if I’m being too much, I want you to have fun, too.”
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Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2024 1:38 pm
Wow… Riker really hadn’t been expecting a reaction like that. Nor had he expected Cassidy to lean close to his ear, so close he could feel his breath on his already overly flushed skin.
If Riker thought he would be moving any time soon, he was sorely mistaken. His cheeks burned just as much as his ears, and there was a part of him that wondered if there was actually some credibility to everything he’d talked to Elliot about.
He couldn’t deny that Cassidy was attractive, but until recently he thought that it was just normal for anyone to think that.
A shiver went down his spine, and he did his best to hide his face against his arms so Cassidy couldn’t see it.
And Cassidy said he was having a lot of fun…
“You’re not being too much,” he mumbled around his arms. “You can hug me if you want,” he added before he could stop himself. He did like being close to Julian, so Cassidy was probably the same.
As for him having fun…? It would probably depend on how much he would embarrass himself when he eventually had to get up.
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Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2024 1:45 pm
“Oh, good. Then, I will. I’ll try not to wrap around you. I have a lot of pillows because I guess sleep-me thinks I’m a spider monkey. I’ve squeezed the life out of half my pillows. Don’t worry, I’ll be gentle with you.”
And then, as if to emphasize that he meant it, he lightly scratched his fingers down Riker’s back. It felt good earlier when Riker had scratched his back, and despite all the teasing that Cassidy claimed he was trying to reel in, he really did want Riker to be comfortable and relaxed.
For a few seconds he just raked his nails down Riker’s back until he was certain he’d given every inch a little attention, but then he was back to trying to work out the knots. He wanted to think he’d made some progress but Riker felt like a puzzle box.
“Are you still tensing up, Riker? Take a deep breath, hold it, release it. I’m half tempted to tell you to go take a hot shower to try and relax. Especially if you’re spending the night. But maybe I could just go get a heat pack or something for you.”
Or they could just take that nap he’d talked about earlier.
He wanted to do anything and everything with Riker, and his enthusiasm for all of it meant he had to be careful not to bounce back and forth or leave too many open decisions. Somehow, he didn’t think Riker was the sort to thrive with too many options.
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Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2024 1:46 pm
Riker had gasped, made a poor attempt to hide it, and pressed his whole face into the pillow because maybe suffocating himself would ease the embarrassment.
“I’m fine!” he barked into the pillow, clearly muffled and hardly intimidating. How was he not supposed to tense up when Cassidy was using his nails like that?? When he was talking about being gentle with him, what did that even mean?? Was he going to end up regretting this??
But Cassidy liked to tease him. And he was clearly excited about him confessing that he planned to stay the night. He wasn’t sure how he could handle Cassidy being a spider monkey or possibly squeezing him to death, but he supposed there were worse things.
And he knew how it had been the first time he’d stayed with Julian. He’d curled up against the wall to the point where Riker was worried he might fall through the crack, or that maybe he would get cold with his back against the wall.
Since then, he’d convinced Julian to sleep closer to him, and they both benefited from it.
Maybe Cassidy would be the same way.
“It’s fine,” he tried again, not wanting Cassidy to think he was mad at him. “It just… tickles. I mean-- it feels good but. Maybe too good, I don’t know.” Maybe there was just something wrong with him.
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Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2024 1:47 pm
“Ohhhh,” Cassidy said, but he didn’t stop. He slowed down a little, seemed thoughtful, but after a moment just went back to working at the knots. “Well, that makes sense. I like it too. There’s no such thing as ‘feeling too good’ though, just saying. But Riker, you are definitely going to have to get more than one back massage from me, how many years of stress do you have built up here? Like what, sixteen? Seventeen? Jeez, man. Come over here and relax with me more often. Oh, maybe I work you up some.”
He seemed amused but unapologetic. “I’ll teach Julian how to do a back massage, too. That way you can always have someone making sure you’re not carrying too much stress. Riker, what do you do to blow off steam? I was teasing you earlier, about always being so serious? Maybe you forgot I asked.” Maybe he wanted Cassidy to forget he’d asked.
“I still want to know what you do for fun, too.”
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Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2024 2:20 pm
“I thought you were being rhetorical,” Riker scoff-wheezed as Cassidy worked on his back. He couldn’t even tell him to stop, because then he would have to get up, probably. And he couldn’t get up.
“Aren’t your hands getting tired? You don’t have to do it until you hurt yourself. And you don’t have to teach Julian. He has enough to worry about,” he insisted, a little distressed at the thought of Cassidy teaching Julian something with the intention of making him feel better.
“I don’t know. Run? I guess,” he shrugged, not wanting Cassidy to think he was ignoring his questions, which he wasn’t! There was just so much Cassidy was asking! How was he supposed to figure out which questions were most important to him??
“What about you? Teasing people??”
Okay, maybe he was worked up a bit. He was flustered and uncomfortable because he felt so good and didn’t know what to do about it.
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Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2024 4:13 pm
Cassidy laughed once more, but Riker was right. His hands were starting to get sore, and worse than that, his shoulder. A part of him wanted to just push through it, to just keep going, but he knew he wasn’t anywhere close to finishing up with Riker’s back.
He didn’t want to hurt himself and have any setbacks, so with a heavy sigh he started to wind down the massage.
“Yes, teasing people is on the list. I spend a lot of time online these days. You know, with my photoshoots. I like to keep up with what people are doing. I don’t know if I like cooking for fun. I like being able to share the food I make, does that count? I like baseball,” he said, and before he could dwell on that or bring the mood down, he continued, “I like spending time with my friends. I like being outside. I like playing video games, all of those things are fun. But I guess I could have fun doing just about anything. Ah,” he sighed, and finally stopped massaging. He kept his palms on Riker’s back, one on each shoulder blade, and then reluctantly rolled himself off and onto the bed.
Once more, he looked up at the design of the canopy above them, now just from half lidded eyes. The rain had picked up again and it was a little cooler already.
“I’ll try again in a little bit, if you’ll let me. I guess I’d better not overdo it in one sitting.” He deliberately didn’t rub at his shoulder because he knew Riker would notice. He’d just work it out the next time he got up. “How’s your back feel, any better?”
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Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2024 5:20 pm
It felt like it was more than just slowing down to save his hands from massaging so much. Riker couldn’t quite place it, but it was obvious that Cassidy had been really trying to get his back to feel better. It did! He just wasn’t sure if the effort Cassidy put into it was for him, or if Cassidy was just trying to get him to relax.
Well duh. It was a massage, of course he was trying to get him to relax. But no, it wasn’t just physically relaxing, but Cassidy had been so excited about the idea of him staying over, and of going over to his house in the first place.
He would have to make sure Atticus -- Ephesus knew to put some extra effort into Cassidy’s injuries sometime soon. Riker could only imagine how much Cassidy had hurt himself by putting so much pressure and effort into Riker’s back.
Riker pushed himself up just a little when Cassidy rolled himself off. Not for any reason other than to look at him. Just for a moment. He was looking up at the canopy. Riker couldn’t quite determine if it was resignation or acceptance or what in Cassidy’s expression.
He turned away from Cassidy for a few moments, reaching for the blanket at the bottom of the bed, and quickly tugged it up to toss over the both of them. He held onto the blanket as he reached across Cassidy, resting his arm across Cassidy’s chest, his thumb gently pressing into the muscles of Cassidy’s shoulder in small circles.
But other than that, he’d laid back down on the bed, his head close to Cassidy’s other shoulder as he closed his eyes.
“It does feel better. Thank you, Cass.”
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Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2024 5:26 pm
Cassidy had come to expect some things from Riker–the way his face turned red, the way he sputtered for a response, the way he stomped off.
This had been entirely unexpected. And entirely perfect.
He didn’t think he’d done anything to hint at the soreness radiating from his shoulder, but maybe he wasn’t giving Riker enough credit for how closely he was paying attention. He liked the weight, of Riker’s arm and of the blanket.
“Oh, well that feels nice, too.” He didn’t try to stifle the yawn, Riker had practically summoned it. “Maybe a quick nap, then. And then, all that other stuff we talked about, later. If that works for you.”
Truthfully, he didn’t want to move right now, or any time soon. He wasn’t exactly tired but he could sleep, probably very easily, like this. He liked Riker next to him, and he’d have said that if he wasn’t afraid of Riker finding some way to excuse himself or roll over.
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Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2024 5:26 pm
Riker grunted in response, already seemingly ready to doze off. It was better than trying to come up with an excuse to leave the room for a bit. No, he just needed some time to settle down. He knew being this close to Cassidy probably wasn’t helpful, but it was fine. It kept Cassidy from getting up and wandering around at least. For now.
“Yeah, I was promised food,” he mumbled, just in case Cassidy needed that confirmation that whatever they decided was fine for him. Taking a nap right now seemed like a good idea. Especially with how calm it was with the rain coming down, and his muscles felt more soothed than he could remember.
He still wasn’t sure how he felt about Cassidy. As Riker or as Reims. Cautious. Skeptical. But he’d seen how he reacted to Riker being there with him. He was happy to have him there, and not just some made up emotion to try and trick him into a false sense of security.
So… Riker was willing to let some of his walls down to prove to Cassidy that he was deciding to trust him.
Fin!
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