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 Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2024 5:34 pm
For a few seconds, the only sound in the room was that of the three boys crunching on their snacks. Cassidy laughed around his and had to raise a hand to make sure he didn’t accidentally spit out any crumbs in the process.
He didn’t say just kidding this time, in part because he’d decided to take it upon himself to conduct a scientific experiment logging Riker’s responses, and he always seemed to get a bit more flustered when he couldn’t tell if Cassidy was being serious or not.
Even now! Look at him, squirming! So red! So cute, did he even know?
“Well, you get better first. Then we’ll worry about lessons. But I want you to come over anyway, even if you’ve got nothing to learn! Julian, I don’t know how you got Riker to trust you so much that he’s staying here. I’ve known him for years and I only got him to come over a few weeks ago! I’m glad you’re staying here, though. My house is lonely, it’s a horrible place to wait to heal. I mean, the bed’s comfortable, but the days take so long to get through. And I definitely wouldn’t have had a cool chair to share. And you get to stay with a professional cook? I’m so jealous. I wonder if he knows any authentic Italian recipes? No, don’t tell me. I want to think I’m the only one in your life that can cook for you like that!”
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Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2024 5:35 pm
Riker scoffed, quickly swallowing the rest of his cracker.
“Julian is naturally trustworthy,” he shr-- no, stop that. He needed to stop shrugging whenever he said things. At least while his shoulder was healing.
He managed to stop in time and held back a wince. It also stopped him from saying how Evan was more than just a professional cook. How he was practically the parent he never really had. Someone who cared about his well being and had the means to make sure he was taken care of. Riker knew his friends would do what they could for him, but there was a difference when an adult was involved. Especially when it came to having to pay for things. Although the thought of Evan having to spend money on him made his heart sink a bit into his stomach. He knew Evan didn’t mind, but still.
“But I’m definitely not going to complain about good food,” he admitted, glancing over at Cassidy with a bit of curiosity, as though wanting to make sure he was still going to cook for him. He felt spoiled with so many people taking care of him. A bit flustered about it, too.
“Maybe you should just hang out more,” he mumbled a suggestion, hoping it wasn’t overstepping. It was Julian’s room, but Riker knew what it was like to be alone.
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Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2024 5:36 pm
Julian hardly spent any time actually thinking about it. Riker wasn’t always easy to read, but sometimes he made his wants clear.
He was suggesting that Cassidy hang out more. He wanted Cassidy around. He was inviting him–or as close to it as possible–so Julian found himself nodding quickly. He’d just finished chewing a cracker but was still covering his mouth. “You can come over,” he agreed.
Cassidy’s interest was quickly rejuvenated. “When?”
“Um, well, whenever you want, I think? I don’t really have any rules about when people can’t visit. Um, as long as I let them know that I’d like to have company, they’ve always said yes.”
“Oh, your parents–oh, or, guardians?–seem pretty cool. I like that, maybe we’ll get along.” He was good at buttering people up, for the most part. But he was also good at pushing buttons. “Can I play hooky from school and come visit you tomorrow, Riker? Is that okay, Julian?”
“Oh, um,” he contemplated for a moment and then said, “Well, I think Evan’s going to be here, so as long as it’s okay with him? And, um, as long as Riker’s free.” It wasn’t that he thought Riker needed an out, but just in case he wanted there to be something for him to call on. He knew it must be lonely, and boring, to be stuck up here and just needing to rest. If Riker wanted company–and if Cassidy was willing to skip school to be that company–then Julian didn’t see any harm in it.
Well, unless anyone asked him where Cassidy was. He wasn’t very good at lying.
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Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2024 5:36 pm
“What, are you gonna sit around and watch me sleep? Or try to beat the high score on the chair?” Riker asked, maybe a little more aggressively than he intended, but then again he also hadn’t intended for his ears to burn brighter at the thought of Cassidy skipping class to hang out with him.
“It’ll be really boring, but, I mean, I don’t care if you want to,” he awkwardly mumbled because he would like the company. He just knew he couldn’t always stay awake for very long. He didn’t want to pass out and leave Cassidy there to just sit around.
It was sweet that Julian was willing to let Cassidy hang out with him, though. If Julian stayed home, he would probably spend most of his time napping with Riker too. Or at least that was what Riker would have liked. It was a little much, he knew. Julian had other things to do. But maybe Cassidy-- No, Cassidy might end up kicking him if he flailed around too much. Maybe that was a bad idea.
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Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2024 5:47 pm
“Oh, then I’ll come over tomorrow! My doctor says I’m still supposed to be getting lots of rest, the school’s already been notified that I might have a lot of sick days. Practically a free pass to skip whenever I want. Do I have to watch you sleep or can I nap, too? I’ll bring a pillow and blanket, we can make it a daytime sleepover.”
“We have an air mattress,” Julian volunteered, “Um, just if you do want to stretch out when you take a nap. I can get it blown up before I go to school tomorrow.”
“Oh, you’d do that for me?” Cassidy asked. A little smile had already twitched onto his face because Julian had made it all too easy to deduce that he and Riker must have shared a bed. Unless Julian was sleeping downstairs on the couch? No, doubtful.
“That’s sweet, Julian. No, you don’t have to do all of that for me. Did Riker tell you I’m too clingy when I sleep? I am. I guess you must be worried I might squeeze the rest of his blood out of him?”
Julian blinked. “Oh, no, I wasn’t thinking–”
Cassidy laughed. “I’m just kidding, I’ll be careful, don’t worry. An air mattress sounds great.”
Though Cassidy had been spending more time around Julian lately, it was still taking a bit of time to understand Cassidy’s peculiarities. Julian watched him for a few seconds before his expression drifted back into another smile. “Okay,” he said, choosing to take his words at face value.
“I’ll bring some of my comfort movies, Riker. If you fall asleep during them we can just rewind. It’ll be fun, maybe we can do homework together.” Cassidy scoffed shortly afterwards; he’d probably bring over a video game and some snacks and use Riker’s injury as an excuse to nap and relax all day. “I’ve got a lot of gossip to catch you up on.”
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Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2024 5:47 pm
“Shut up,” he whined, but there was absolutely no heat to it. It was more out of embarrassment than anything else. His ears were still burning! He didn’t need Cassidy advertising that he’d slept in his bed! Not that it really mattered. They were just napping, just like they’d do when Cassidy came over to visit again.
“All that gossip will put me to sleep,” he grumbled, debating on if he wanted to shove his mouth full of food or not. He really didn’t mind Cassidy talking, but it was embarrassing to admit! He didn’t want Julian thinking he was being replaced either. Not that something like that could ever happen, but still.
“What do you possibly have to gossip about anyway? Actually, I don’t want to know. I guess I’ll find out tomorrow,” he groaned.
But… he didn’t want Cassidy to think that he didn’t want him to come over. He just didn’t know how to say something like that. His heart was already racing, and he knew Julian would probably notice anything weird going on with him.
So, as casually as he could, he placed his hand beside Cassidy on the bed. He only used his pinky to brush against his leg, but did so with enough weight that it was obvious it wasn’t just an accident.
He braced himself for Cassidy to question him about it. This was something he usually reserved for Julian, who he could communicate with even when they weren’t talking. But Cassidy? This was a complete shot in the dark if he’d understand that he didn’t really mean the harsh things he’d said.
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Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2024 5:52 pm
Cassidy only laughed when Riker told him to shut up, and even if Riker had meant it, good luck getting Cassidy to keep his mouth closed. “I have so much gossip! What, you think I don’t have my ear to every wall I walk by? Please! I’ve got so much dirt, it’ll last for days.”
He didn’t have to look at Riker’s hand, or his pinky. He knew where it was by weight alone, and he placed his hand near enough that he could curl his pinky with Riker’s.
It wasn’t clear if he was doing it to try and get a rise out of Riker, or if it was his way of saying that he saw through him and understood. Either way, he seemed casual.
“If you want me to use my voice to lull you to sleep, I can do that.” He shrugged, not at all because he was teasing Riker by showing off that he could. “Don’t worry Julian, I’ll take good care of him! You look like you’re already worrying about tomorrow, but don’t. I’m good company!”
Julian’s troubled expression was obvious, but he was doing his best to read between the lines and pick up on what Riker really meant. Cassidy just so happened to be looking intently enough to see through both of them.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” Julian said quickly as his expression relaxed. “That might just be my face. I trust you! I’ll make sure the fridge has lots of snacks.”
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Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2024 5:52 pm
It was a strange mix of being too overwhelmed to function… and a state of relaxation that made it possible for Riker to breathe easier. Cassidy hadn’t said anything about Riker touching him, and even reciprocated in a similar manner.
Riker was positive that his face was red, and not just his ears. He knew Julian was probably worrying about him, but there wasn’t really anything to worry about.
Because he was happy. He would be happier if he was surrounded by even more of the people he cared about. But he knew he shouldn’t be greedy.
“I’ll be okay,” he promised Julian, reaching over to brush his free hand against the back of Julian’s. Much less subtle than with Cassidy, but he knew where he stood with Julian. He was still figuring things out with Cassidy.
“Should we put on a movie? I know Cassidy doesn’t have anything better to do,” he huffed, really just looking for an excuse to close his eyes. He was tired, and the emotional whiplash didn’t help.
“Or maybe homework?” he suggested with a grimace. He’d probably sleep through that, too.
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Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2024 5:53 pm
Julian didn’t need much assurance, and even if Riker looked a little pink he also didn’t seem like he was in any sort of distress. He drew in a silent breath and smiled, just to make sure Riker knew that they were on the same page.
“What? You want to do homework? No, gross. I want to watch a movie. What’s your favorite?”
He was looking at Julian first, and it was clear that now that the spotlight was on him, he was clamming up.
“Um, I don’t really have a favorite, I don’t think. Um…”
“Oh, that’s okay. It could just be one that you like. I bet you’re a romcom kind of person, Julian.”
“Oh, maybe,” Julian answered, like he wouldn’t sit through anything that wasn’t too scary or violent.
“What about you, Riker? Are you a romcom kinda guy? I am, it’s not a trick question. I was going to tease you but you’re supposed to be resting so I’ll just come out and say it. Have you seen The Proposal? I think you could stomach it even if you don’t like rom-coms. Oh, I think 50 First Dates is cute, too. You have to watch Overboard with me, too. I’ll make a list,” he said nonchalantly. “If you don’t have a movie to put on, I’ll pick. I have great taste.”
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Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2024 5:53 pm
Riker just grimaced. The knee jerk reaction was to say something like action and adventure or something manly like that. But he’d been watching movies with Evan, who happened to like mushy things. Not that Riker disliked the movies that Evan liked, but he wasn’t about to tell Cassidy that he’d actually already seen all three of the movies he mentioned. Thanks to Evan, of course. He’d seen other movies thanks to Zac, though.
“I dunno. I don’t really care,” he grunted. “If I don’t like it, I’ll just go to sleep.”
It was probably rude to go to sleep during a movie someone picked out for them to watch, and he probably would do his best to stay awake, but he was really tired.
But then he paused and pressed his lips together, curious… and probably playing into stereotypes or whatever it was.
“Under the Tuscan Sun?” he hummed, but snorted quietly in amusement at himself. “Bet that’s one of your favorites.”
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Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2024 5:56 pm
Cassidy just huffed. “If you fall asleep during one of my favorites, that’s okay. I’ll just rewind it and make you watch where you left off once you’re up!”
He curled his pinky around Riker’s playfully, a much gentler approach than prodding him with his elbow. “Look at you, though! Mr. Romcom Connoisseur! I bet you think you’re so clever, do you think I just look for movies that take place in Italy?”
A second passed, and then he laughed. “Well, I do, you got me. We should put that one on. It’s a nice little feel-good movie. And if you’ve already seen it then you don’t have to feel bad about napping.”
“I can put that on,” Julian assured; he didn’t stray from Riker’s side but he stretched to get the remote and start setting it up. Cassidy helped himself to another cracker and then scooted closer to Riker. “If you fall asleep, you can rest against me.”
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Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2024 5:57 pm
Riker didn’t pull his hand away from Cassidy. Nor did he move much when Cassidy scooted closer. Julian was still in reach, and Riker felt comfortably safe with the both of them there. And Evan was downstairs too. And he was pretty sure he could hear the leaf blower, suggesting Zac was probably outside.
He was too tired to argue, anyway. So when Cassidy settled down, Riker allowed himself to tilt his head against Cassidy’s shoulder.
“Thanks for coming to see me,” he mumbled quietly. He would be embarrassed later about how easy it was for him to just accept Cassidy’s offer. Usually it was only Julian he felt comfortable napping against. But Julian was right there, too. And he hoped he would also sit closer to him. But if that was too weird, he would just have to wait for that night.
Fin!
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