|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2015 12:45 am
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2015 2:24 pm
 |
|
|
 |
 ❝ Merry Christmas ❞( who : Yves ) ( where : Home ) ( time & weather : Late afternoon; snow has been steadily falling all day and the night is quiet. )December 25, 2015
The tree was small but decorated generously; baubles large and small, varying colors, styles, some on the floor and broken because Bubs couldn't help himself. The living room was dark save for a lamp in the corner, but Yves liked to let the tree lights illuminate the room at night. Something about it always soothed him as a child, and that hadn't changed when he became an adult. Underneath the tree sat several presents wrapped in shiny foil paper, red with golden ribbons and bows. Yves was crouched by them, face lit by the blinking lights of the tree.
He hadn't been expecting them by Christmas. It just didn't feel right not to get them something, just in case. He wanted to be prepared in every possible way. He stooped down and moved one of the gift tags so he could see it better in the light.
Yuri.
He didn't know when that name had felt right, he couldn't even remember the exact moment he'd come across it. He just knew he wanted a name to put to his future raevan, and it wasn't going to be George. He had wanted something neutral, something that would suit any gender pronouns. His house full of books and none of them were baby name books - didn't everyone carry those, just out of curiosity? Thankfully, there were a multitude of baby name websites that were more helpful than they probably needed to be.
He tried the name again in his head, for the thousandth time: Yuri.
A variant of the name 'George'. He hadn't meant to try to tie the raevan down to its past life or anything weird like that, but the name had stuck out and before he knew it, he was talking to his mother about Yuri this, when Yuri shows up, Yuri that. He'd even changed it up because the original format of the name had included an extra 'y' at the end, but the raevan would be their own being, a completely new person.
Blinking back into focus, Yves looked down at the package he was suddenly holding in his lap. It was nothing fancy - a sweater, big and cable knit and warm. If the raevan had come in the winter, they would want a sweater, right? The other presents were just as generic in style, a couple of easy-to-read books (would they love stories as much as he did?), a stuffed animal. It was hard to know what the raevan would like when they were born, but he did know that coming into a new home could be scary. Yves had wanted them to know they were welcome and safe.
Did he feel silly for getting a raevan that wasn't even born yet presents for a holiday that was almost over? No. He would hold onto them and he would give them to Yuri when they arrived. He would do it for every holiday up until then, because it already felt like Yuri was a part of their family.
Setting the present box back down, Yves rose from the floor and stretched his back. Bubs was asleep behind the tree, as he loved to do when he wasn't too busy trying to destroy it. Peanut was curled up on the couch nearby in his cozy sweater, watching Yves. Christmas with the family had come and gone, Peanut had already destroyed his stocking and the cat had ripped his own down days ago. Peanut had been particularly spoiled when Zeke had sent them gifts - his prized Santa squeaky toy lay by the tree, half defeated but still holding on strong.
Zeke had given Yves a set of two matching mugs. His first reaction had been to share some coffee or hot cocoa with the raevan when they arrived, but they probably wouldn't be able to drink that sort of thing just yet. Instead, he would put them away until they could use them together. The two of them, by the window, talking about their day. He smiled. He was smiling a lot lately.
He knew Zeke didn't want him to feel indebted, but the overflowing amount of kindness the vet had displayed made him feel that he had to at least return the favor with something, soon.
The chaos was over for the season, but Yves tried to imagine Christmas Day with a newborn raevan. It probably wouldn't be this quiet next year, would it? He smiled and rubbed his arms.
"Come on, Peanut," Yves called, summoning his terrihuahua from his perch on the couch. Before the dog could get up Yves scooped him into his arms and gave him a quick and soft squeeze to his body.
Giving the tree one final, fond look, Yves took Peanut to his bedroom and plopped him on the corner of the bed. He would read until he was tired, and then he would wake up and it would be another day.
Enjoy the quiet while you can, his mother had teased, but she couldn't do anything to hide the excitement in her eyes. Yves smiled up at the ceiling and grabbed his book.
A little noise wouldn't be so bad. |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2015 1:24 am
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2016 3:10 am
|
|
|
|
❝ Home ❞( who : Yuri, Yves ) ( where : Home ) ( time & weather : Early morning, and it's pretty cold! )January 1st, 2016
The road passed by the window in silence. His knuckles felt like they might explode from how tightly he was gripping the steering wheel, but Yves didn't want to make a mistake, drive carelessly. He kept his eyes trained on the road ahead, but every stop light and sign he found himself glancing over at the newborn strapped in next to him.
Newborn. Hah!
Yuri looked more adult than his own guardian did. Yves found himself always checking to make sure Yuri was correctly buckled in - the seat belt sat across the raevan's chest a bit awkwardly, but it held him safely to his seat. Although neither had spoken since they'd left the lab, Yves could tell that Yuri was brimming with excitement and anticipation. Everything they drove past he would stare at with fascination and, despite the cold, he'd insisted on driving with the window down so he could hear and smell everything.
Wasn't he cold? Yves sat at a stop light and nervously tapped his finger against the steering wheel. After some hesitation, he flicked the heat on. Yuri turned his head quickly to stare at the vents, his eyes widening.
"What was that?"
"Ah?" Yves looked at him, startled to hear him speak again.
"Um," Yuri replied, seeming to wilt a bit back into his seat. Lord, for someone so large and intimidating to look at, he was sensitive to everything. Yves made a mental note to be careful of his tone and responses; he had to help shape a young mind and he wanted to do it in a positive way.
Yves drew in a long breath and smiled.
"I'm sorry, Yuri, you--you surprised me. What were you asking me?"
Yuri sat forward again, his mouth turned down into a tiny frown. He pointed toward the vents with a skeletal-tattooed hand. "That, it got warm. What was that?"
"That is the heater. It makes the car warm. The window makes the cold air come in, so I thought--I thought you might like some warm air." He paused and worried his lip. "Do you not like it? I can turn it off."
"It's okay," Yuri quickly responded, and then he went back to staring out the window. The closer they got to their home, the more anxious Yves felt. The stomach in his knot was overwhelming. It threatened to come up and he didn't want to throw up in front of his new child.
Honestly, it was difficult to imagine the person in the passenger seat to be a child. He acted like a newborn in that he seemed to know very little about things, and he was incredibly curious and eager to learn about everything, just like a child. But his muscular frame and deep voice made it all very confusing and hard to put together in Yves' brain. Nonetheless, this was his raevan, now. He was responsible for him, to raise him.
He turned right. He had this.
When they pulled into the driveway, Yuri's ears perked up and he looked left, right, all around. Finally he settled on staring at Yves, the question hanging in the air between them. Where are we?
Yves cleared his throat and tried to smile through the nervousness. "This.. is home, Yuri! Welcome home."
"Home," Yuri echoed. He fumbled with the seat belt because it was keeping him from getting out of the car; Yves helped him and then watched as he let himself out the door. Raevans were strange - some things they seemed to know, others they didn't, and there were still things that Yuri was simply learning at a rapid pace. He knew wolves were smart, but what effects would his soul have on his personality? His upbringing? He had so many questions.
Peanut was already in the window and ready to stir him out of his thoughts, barking because he heard the car pull up. When he saw Yuri floating in the driveway, his barks increased in both volume and ferocity, which caused Bubs, who had been sleeping peacefully on the couch, to leap up and run away. Yuri floated in place, shocked. He waited and endured the barking for several seconds before deciding to float right up to the window, where he then pressed both hands against the glass.
"Hey," Yuri said, staring down into Peanut's eyes. Peanut did not stop barking.
"Hey."
He didn't know what the small noise maker was, but it was familiar somehow and he liked it despite the high-pitched barking. Yves watched them with raised eyebrows, trying to decide when to intervene. To his surprise, a small smile had formed on Yuri's face. He drifted to the door and waited beside it for Yves.
Yves fumbled for his keys that he'd stupidly put back into his pocket. "I'm sorry for Peanut," he stammered, finally finding the house key and holding it to the doorknob. "He's so loud, I--"
"It's okay," Yuri cut in. "I think it's just... scared." He looked down, voice dropping to a quieter tone. "Like me."
Yves blinked at him, unsure of what to say. He worked his jaw and tried.
"You, you know... me, too." Yuri looked at him. "I'm... scared, too," Yves confided. He wanted to pull Yuri into a hug, let him know everything would be okay, but instead he gingerly placed his hand against Yuri's arm. Yuri looked down at his hand and back up, his mouth set in that tiny line.
"Yeah," Yuri said. He didn't sound confident, but he looked like he understood.
Yves beamed. |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2016 10:18 pm
|
|
|
|
❝ Like Another Time ❞( who : Yves, Hector ) ( where : Grooming Salon ) ( time & weather : Bright and early, already becoming quite warm out )January 24th, 2016
"I want you to meet him."
"I know."
"Well?"
The question had hung in the air. Yves watched Hector's face, his big, golden brown eyes boring holes through the older man. Hector was looking away, at the door of the salon. In silence, he worked his jaw - he always did that when he was thinking, Yves had noticed. He'd noticed a lot about Hector since he'd cleaned up and started hanging around more.
Well, being coworkers would allow for that. Yves shifted his weight from one foot to another, broom in hand. He noticed he liked to rely on the broom when he was feeling awkward, but it was nice to have something to lean on.
"You should meet him," Yves stated, raising his voice a little to draw Hector's attention back. Hector, in response, turned his head and looked at Yves, his expression a direct pierce.
"I know," he responded, voice plain. He scratched the back of his neck and sighed. His dark hair was becoming more gray and white than black anymore. "I... I know. But I didn't want to make it weird."
"Weird?" Yves echoed.
"Yeah, you know why," Hector said back, and this time he was crossing his arms and staring Yves down. Having a good foot or so on the other man cut an intimidating figure, but Hector wasn't the kind of guy to act scary around him. Yves appreciated that. Hector sighed again.
"It's not the same, it's not... George, you know."
Yves set the broom aside. He didn't need it anymore. Instead, he stepped closer to Hector and gingerly touched a hand upon his bicep.
"This is true," he said, gently. He looked down. "But you still deserve to be in his life, too. Even if..."
Even if he doesn't know who you are, he wanted to finish, but he decided not to say it. It didn't need to be said, after all.
Hector drew himself up. "He's with your sister, right? When's he gonna come work with you, huh?"
"Of course," Yves said, face flushing. "I wouldn't leave him home alone! As for when he will join us... I don't know, he's so young."
Placing his hands on his hips, he also tried to make himself look taller, but failed miserably. Hector laughed and poked his forehead.
"Nice try," he replied. His tone had lightened a bit, and a soft smile had replaced the look of apprehensive hesitation he'd been wearing for the past half hour or so. Despite the change in demeanor, it was obvious he was still nervous about it. Yves couldn't lie; he was, too. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
