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 Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2024 8:38 am
Cassidy laughed. “Are they still kissing? I don’t want to bother them if they are. It’s a big favor to ask, isn’t it? Using healing magic? I’ll be patient.”
He wasn’t patient. He was worried it wouldn’t work. Or excited that it was. He didn’t want to be let down but he wanted to have faith, too. If he went in with negative expectations, he wouldn’t be so upset if it failed. He could get back on his feet and work on Plan B.
…But it was really hard to not dream that this was some magic cure-all.
“I’ve got friends I can ask,” he said, circling back to the first question. He was treading lightly. “But everyone already treats me like I’m made of glass. I think some people are afraid to touch me. I get the weakest hugs. And I get it. Yeah, it hurts sometimes. But I’m not going to fall apart or anything. I know I’m not as good as I used to be but every day I get a little better. I don’t want people to think I’m broken. Anyway, your massage is helping And this water’s nice. So I’ll be good as new in no time. Especially if Ephesus’ magic works.”
Amarynthos raised a hand to rest against Ephesus cheek and he cupped it gently. “Oh, that’s a good idea. I’d hate to come home caked in all these minerals. Of course, I didn’t bring any soap or shampoo. I bet your dad has some.”
He was obviously teasing, as if he wanted to tell Devyn that he and Atticus were going to go take a shower together. Of course, that’s probably what Devyn and Michael were doing right now, anyway.
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Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2024 8:39 am
Reims knew it must have been hard for Cassidy. To be treated differently like that. To be looked at like he had changed. In a way he had. He’d been injured. Almost died.
The reminder that he hadn’t seen Cassidy in the hospital came flooding back. Awkwardly standing at the door number he’d seen in the group text with some dumb flowers he’d picked from a bush on the way inside, only to find out that Cassidy wasn’t there. He didn’t even like Cassidy, he’d told himself. But he was their teammate. And it wasn’t Cassidy’s fault that Riker was afraid to see him broken.
He let go of Cassidy’s shoulder, and instead lifted his arms to wrap around him. He knew it was probably awkward, but he held him tight. Maybe a little more gently on his injured side, but he still gave him a good squeeze.
He didn’t say anything. He didn’t know what to say. But he rubbed Cassidy’s back, and probably awkwardly rested his chin on his shoulder.
Ephesus laughed, because oh no he didn’t want to mention to his dads that he and Amarynthos were planning on spending more time together. They probably suspected they’d want to, since they’d been dating for about two years now! But still!
“I’m sure we can figure something out,” he decided, and then glanced over to make sure their friends were okay. Oh, but seeing them hug made Ephesus want to hug Amarynthos. So he did.
“We can get some extra towels, too. Bring some extra up to the Moon. Just in case.”
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Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2024 8:42 am
There was a brief moment where Cassidy seemed like he was worried Reims was going to leave. He tensed again and sat up a little, almost like he was going to turn around and look at him.
He didn’t have to. Once Reims’ arms wrapped around him, he fell quiet and then relaxed into the hug.
Instinctively, he rested his temple against Reims. A moment passed and he sighed. “Well, your massages could use a little work. But your hugs are really good.”
“I love that you’re always thinking ahead, Effie. I’m so lucky to have you in my life,” Amarynthos said softly. He drew Ephesus closer and held him with arms full of love. If he were being honest, he felt a bit guilty facing Reims and Cassidy like this. He knew something was going on over there, he just didn’t have any idea what. They both seemed like they were doing okay, but he felt bad for being so absent.
It was hard to pretend like they didn’t know Cassidy, but maybe it wasn’t fair to put the burden solely on Reims either.
“...Maybe we should see what’s going on over there soon,” he mused, resting his chin on Ephesus’ shoulder. “I don’t want Reims to think we ditched him. But I did like getting to soak with just you for a bit.”
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Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2024 8:42 am
Reims clicked his tongue to the roof of his mouth as he mumbled about how he already knew his massages weren’t that great. But clearly something he did was right, because Cassidy felt like he was more relaxed now than when he was trying to help his shoulder.
But Cassidy deserved a little bit of a break. Even if he might never know who Reims was -- and for good reason -- maybe being friends like this was okay.
Ephesus could have happily sunk into Amarynthos’ embrace and stayed like that for hours, but he knew Amarynthos was right. He didn’t want to let Reims or Cassidy feel like they were being ignored.
And Ephesus, as nervous as he was about it, still wanted to use his magic to see what it could do.
“I liked it too,” he let out a soft sigh, and leaned up to kiss Amarynthos’ cheek before reluctantly pulling back.
“Would it be okay if I tried using my magic?” he asked a bit louder, over the sound of the water, while trying not to look directly at Reims or Cassidy since he didn’t want them startled or embarrassed -- although that was mostly for Reims.
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Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2024 8:43 am
Though Cassidy could only make out a little bit of Reims’ mumble, he didn’t have time to reassure him that he still liked the massage before Ephesus had spoken. Torn between wanting to stay in Reims’ arms and wanting desperately to find out if Ephesus could heal him, Cassidy hastily splashed some water onto his face and scrubbed enthusiastically before sitting up a little straighter. He moved his wet bangs out of the way so he could see better.
“I’d like that,” Cassidy answered quickly. Amarynthos placed a hand at Ephesus back, choosing instead to stand by and support him instead of doggy-paddling off to swim in the pool.
“Is there anything I should do, or…?” Cassidy didn’t move away from Reims, and instead he just leaned back against him a bit more, like that’s where he felt safe in the face of uncertainty. His heart rate had picked up, a mix of anxiousness and excitement. “How does your magic work? I’ll try anything, I just want to know what to expect. Please. And thank you. I really do appreciate all of this.”
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Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2024 8:44 am
At first, Reims tensed. If Ephesus and Amarynthos were going to come over then he was definitely going to back off so he wouldn’t be teased for being too close to someone he’d had a whole panic attack over not even a week prior.
But as he shifted to back away, he could feel Cassidy lean back against him.
He dared not look at the Moon Knights, instead staring off towards the waterfalls from the pools that lined the cavern walls, and the glowing lights that surrounded them.
Probably very awkwardly, under the water, he moved his arm to rest behind Cassidy’s back. Just so he would have support if he leaned back more! He didn’t really know what to do with his hand, so he awkwardly kept his wrist and closed fist against Cassidy’s side. Ephesus was grateful for Amarynthos’ support, even though he wouldn’t have blamed him for swimming off. He could also tell that Reims was avoiding eye contact, so he did his best to not give him any attention. He offered Cassidy a gentle smile and held up his hands to pull his honeycomb scepter from its subspace pocket.
“You don’t have to do anything. And you don’t have to thank us. We’ve wanted--” Ephesus paused, his lip trembling a little as he corrected himself. “We like being able to help those we can.”
It was difficult not to wrap his arms around Cassidy and apologize profusely for not being able to try his magic sooner, but he knew they were trying to keep their identities secret.
Still, he needed a moment to settle himself, so he made it seem like he was adjusting his scepter to properly use his magic.
“It will smell a little like honey, and any aches or pains should fade. Um… I’m actually not really sure how it works, but it helped both Reims and Amarynthos and others before. So I hope… even if it’s just a little…”
Focusing his magic then, Ephesus did his best to channel as much of it as he could to Cassidy’s shoulder and side and leg.
Quote: Channeled with the power of hope, Ephesus uses his magic to heal moderate burns and wounds. The longer he channels his magic, the faster the wound is healed. Major burns and wounds can be greatly aided, but not healed completely. He cannot heal life threatening injuries but he can stabilize them until proper medical treatment can be acquired. The person experiencing the magic will have the distinct taste and smell of honey. Those who are usually averse to the smell and/or taste of honey won’t find it unpleasant. It has a calming effect, and fills the target with hope that everything will be okay. Any anxiety or emotional distress the target is feeling will also be tempered, or eased completely. Can be channeled up to 60 seconds.
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Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2024 8:46 am
Reims was moving away, and then he wasn’t, and Cassidy breathed a sigh of relief he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. As Amarynthos and Ephesus approached, he watched them with bright, curious eyes. What nervousness swelled in his stomach was at least kept at bay by Reim’s supportive hands.
Amarynthos smiled as they approached but it was lost on Reims who was working very hard to avoid them. That was all right, he had no reason to push.
His hand never left Ephesus’ back and he hoped that if he wished hard enough for the healing magic to work on Cassidy that maybe it could do something more than what they’d seen before. Ephesus’ magic had already worked miracles before, so maybe another one wasn’t so impossible.
He waited.
Cassidy waited.
He smelled the honey. He felt a soothing warmth spread through him. For a few seconds, it felt like walking through a dream. The weight of his injury dissipated, and for a moment he felt normal again. He thought he might jump up, or throw his arm over his head, or play baseball again, or–
The ache was still there. He didn’t want to compare it to a stench covered up by fine perfume, but he felt it in his heart. It hurt less but it still hurt.
It wasn’t some magic cure that could make everything bad go away and reset him to how he was a year ago.
It helped, but–
Cassidy had to clench his teeth and force himself to breathe slowly.
It was okay. He’d wanted a miracle but he hadn’t expected one. He’d been prepared. He still felt better now than he had this morning so it wasn’t like this was wasted. He just didn’t want to deal with the reality that he might never actually fully recover.
But–
He could still smell honey. The tension in him knotted worse, and then it felt like it began to untangle. It was one magic, one time. What if he just needed a lot of little magics? Or what if there was stronger magic? Or, what if he really did just need time? This wasn’t so bad. Sure, he couldn’t do everything he wanted right now but he could do other things. He could keep trying. He wasn’t going to give up.
There was hope in him, even if it was tempered by a cruel reality. He didn’t cry in the face of disappointment so he was already counting that as one positive.
“I can feel it,” he said finally. “It’s tingly. It makes me think of getting tucked under a warm blanket on a winter day. You know, safe and cozy. It’s weird. Is it greedy of me to ask if we could do this again sometime down the road or is this a one time thing only?”
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Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2024 8:47 am
Reims could feel Cassidy tense. Under the water, he relaxed his hand so he could awkwardly brush his fingers against Cassidy’s hip and side. It was supposed to be a soothing gesture, so he hoped it wasn’t weird or ticklish instead.
He knew he wasn’t very good with comfort, but Julian seemed okay with his hugs and gentle touches. Yvoire as well. And Dawn didn’t seem to mind him holding her hand, although that was mostly for him, he knew.
“Not a one time thing!” Ephesus quickly promised, making sure to concentrate all of his magic on Cassidy before finally withdrawing the scepter and letting it fade back into subspace. He was a little winded after using all of his magic, and was grateful that he could lean back against Amarynthos’ supportive hand.
“I’m sorry, I wish my magic could do more. I know it’s more like a quick fix but--! With the Springs, it should be better, faster. This was where a lot of people used to come for healing,” he shared, trying very hard not to start talking about his dads and making it easier for Cassidy to connect the dots.
“Would you like to get out and rest for a bit? We brought some snacks too. And some drinks.”
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Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2024 8:48 am
Cassidy was still holding back in some ways, and maybe it was more obvious to Reims if only because he was still pressed against him. He was fairly proficient when it came to only showing what he wanted people to see, so if there were any underlying doubts or disappointments, they didn’t register on his face or in his voice.
“Get out, already? I don’t know, I feel like I could stay in here forever. It’s so warm.” And Reims was definitely more supportive under the water. He was pretty sure he’d lose that if they got out.
“Oh, but I don’t want the tomato pie I made to warm up too much. You have to try it,” he insisted, because even if he said it before, he was still very proud of it. “I got it just right.” And he only had to make four this week to do it.
“You don’t have to apologize for your magic, though. That’s silly. I think it’s amazing, I’m really grateful that you shared it with me. And these springs. I’m so jealous that Destiny City doesn’t have anything like this. We can get out. I guess you’re not supposed to stay in warm water for too long or you get sick?”
“I don’t think this is hot enough to make you sick. Maybe sleepy,” Amarynthos suggested, arm wrapped around Ephesus' side as he held him close.
“Oh, I guess that makes sense. I was just thinking I was going to have to be extra careful not to doze off. It’s nice here.” In the water. In Reims’ arms. “I do feel better, Ephesus. Thank you. A lot. I know you said I don’t have to thank you, but it’s not really fair for you guys to run around doing all these nice things for people and not get appreciation for it. You’ll burn out if you keep that up. So let me do nice things to thank you, too. I just have to figure out what you like, first. So if we get out, you’ll have to tell me more about yourselves. And what I can do so you let me stick around,” he laughed. “Is it weird to do all this for someone who’s just normal and not out there saving the world with you?”
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Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2024 8:49 am
“I don’t think it’s weird!” Ephesus chirped, his arms folded over Amarynthos’ arm around his waist. “It’s probably safer, anyway. For you to know about what’s going on. Oh, we can’t tell just anyone though,” he added with a frown, tilting his head back against Amarynthos’ shoulder to look up at him to make sure he was in agreement.
“We can tell you more about ourselves,” he agreed, even though he knew he should be careful. “I know a nice place to rest. One day you should come and see the rest of Sessrumnir. It’s not just the springs. There’s a lot of really cool places to see.”
Since it seemed inevitable that they would be getting out, Reims figured he would make the first move. He brushed his hand against Cassidy’s side once more, as though for a little extra support, and then pulled away so he could wade to the side of the pool.
“I’m gonna get some dry clothes on, then,” he mumbled, still avoiding eye contact from Amarynthos and Ephesus, just in case they wanted to comment on anything.
He was just being friendly! That was all.
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Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2024 8:57 am
“All right, we'll change in a minute, too,” Amarynthos said, still nodding along with what Ephesus was saying. It was easier for them to change than it was for Cassidy; all they had to do was disappear behind a wall, power down, power up.
“Oh? I’ll be the odd one out. I’m going to take a few minutes before I try to change. I don’t think I could squeeze myself out of this while it’s still so wet, no matter how good I’m feeling right now.” Less good, because Reims’ hand was gone, and even if he was certainly among friends he had definitely been soaking up that contact.
“But that’s okay. I’m really glad Reims was there to protect me from that youma,” he said, loud enough that Reims could hear. “I mean, I thought I was just pretty lucky that I didn’t get eaten or something. But I never could have imagined that there was this whole other world of things going on, too. I feel spoiled, but yeah, I’d like to see Sessrumnir.” Which was a mouthful and he made a face afterwards like he had to reset his mouth to work properly again. “If it’s not too much trouble. I’ll have to give you an update on how I’m feeling after all of this. So you know your good deeds aren’t being wasted.”
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Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2024 8:58 am
Already on the edge of the pool and ready to get out, Reims paused. And not just because of the compliments Cassidy was throwing his way.
With the pain Cassidy was experiencing, he could only imagine how difficult it would be to get out of wet swim clothes, especially since he’d seen first hand how he couldn’t raise his arm up too high.
“Do you want any help?” he offered, but realized that was probably weird. Not that he hadn’t seen Cassidy in the locker rooms, but that was before the accident.
Self consciously, Reims rubbed at the scar that went the length of his forearm. He could keep his eyes closed if Cassidy was also self conscious about any changes to his body, but he didn’t want to start offering too much too quickly.
Ephesus was also ready to offer to help. Cassidy had helped him with various outfits in the past, especially the ones that had a ton of buttons, or bows on the back, or just helping him make sure everything was layered right--
But that was Atticus. He knew it would be weird to offer, even if he wanted, so he just took a step back with Amarynthos.
“Thank you. I would like an update. We’ll keep looking for other solutions on our end, too,” he promised.
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Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2024 9:00 am
Cassidy had never been particularly self conscious before the accident, but he’d also had the benefit of a pretty face and a good body. He might have said he didn’t have to work hard for it, but he always had. He worked out, he had a nightly routine, he wore sunscreen, he did hair care. He put in a lot of effort to be the best version of himself.
He was still trying now. Things were just different.
There wasn’t much time to make a decision when he was sure that Reims would take silence as rejection, so Cassidy started wading towards the side of the pool. “Well, since you’re offering.”
Amarynthos was doing his best not to look at Reims, not because he was embarrassed or had anything snarky to say, but because Reims was really obvious about when he was feeling shy. He didn’t want to antagonize him in any way that would have had him lash out at Cassidy, so it was easier to just pretend like he and Ephesus were in another room while those two spoke.
Cassidy smiled at Ephesus. “You’re sweet, thanks. I’ll try not to keep you waiting for long. If you want to get the pie out of my bag, you can. There’s nothing in there that I’m embarrassed about, I brought it all to share.”
When he reached the edge of the pool, he held a hand out for Reims. “Will you help me up, too? I’d look silly if I slipped and fell. I don’t want to undo all the work you guys have put into me already.”
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Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2024 9:01 am
He hadn’t really known what to expect. Part of him thought that Cassidy would for sure say he could handle it on his own. So when he agreed, Reims could do nothing but awkwardly nod.
Sure, Amarynthos hadn’t said anything. And he wasn’t looking at him. But he could tell that he was purposefully not looking at him. Or maybe he was just being paranoid.
Reims clicked his tongue when Cassidy held out a hand to him. Like he was going to yank on his arm and pull it out of socket? Undo all the work they put into him? Absolutely not.
With a bit of a splash, Reims hopped back off the edge and into the water. Scooping Cassidy up in his arms was like nothing in the pool. Besides, what was the point of having magical super strength without being able to show off a bit.
Hopping back out was also nothing, although he had to be careful about losing his balance as he got back on his feet, and then let Cassidy back onto his. Gently. So he didn’t trip and fall or anything crazy like that.
“Come on,” he gestured to Cassidy, and then frowned at Amarynthos and Ephesus. “You better not eat it all while we’re gone,” he warned, then turned to lead the way towards the changing stalls.
Ephesus could only smile, and glance curiously over at Amarynthos, like he wasn’t quite sure what was happening, but he was interested in seeing what happened. After Riker had such a bad reaction to seeing Cassidy the other day, it was really strange seeing him so attentive and even affectionate with him now.
Not that Ephesus expected Reims would ever admit to something like that.
He lifted his hand in a friendly wave as the two got out of the pool, then looked up with wide, questioning eyes at Amarynthos, as though asking if he was seeing the same thing. Well, he supposed they could get everything set out for their snack while Reims helped Cassidy with his clothes.
FIN
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