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 Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2022 9:17 am
Elliot was going to spend the night with Atticus tonight. They’d left to go pick things up so Elliot could have a full overnight bag. Devyn had gone with them, not because he was needed, probably–hopefully–but just in case, anyway. He’d gone under the guise of making sure that Atticus didn’t hurt himself or push himself too hard, but the reality was that he just wanted to make sure he didn’t get hurt.
…And, it gave Michael some time to talk to Oliver and Asher, who had been very patient and open minded
They could have gone back to the house. Oliver almost did; he wanted to stay with the boys, but. They needed to talk to Michael. He could see it in Asher’s face. And, whatever Asher wanted to know, he wanted to know.
Oliver was looking out the window, watching as the three took off. Asher glanced from his husband to Michael and then took a seat on the couch.
“What’s going to happen to his father? Is he going to get away with everything?”
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Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2022 9:25 am
Michael knew it wasn’t going to be easy for Oliver and Asher to just accept things as they were. He knew he owed them at least something of an explanation, even if it made him anxious and uncomfortable.
He watched out the window as well, hand wrapped around the orb at his neck as he did so.
“It’s more complicated than a corrupt police officer,” Michael said quietly. He could drag it out. He could run circles around the truth and not let them know the details. Keep them in the dark and shrug off any questions they might have.
But they were Elliot’s parents. And Elliot was close to Atticus.
“The people involved in my dad’s death are involved with his father. Maybe not the same people, but the same organization.”
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Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2022 9:33 am
Both Oliver and Asher turned to look at him, each with similar expressions of concern and confusion.
“I’m sorry,” Oliver said first, out of habit maybe, but mostly because he knew how much losing his father had hurt Michael. And maybe because he wasn’t sure if Michael was still mad at him. But. Just in case.
“Who are they, how complicated?” Asher asked. Understandingly. Patiently. He wanted to make sense of this, and if this was a sensitive topic–okay. But if the police were involved, if there was illegal things involved, if there were murderers involved…
Yeah. He wanted to know whatever he needed to know to keep his family safe. To keep Atticus safe.
To keep Michael safe, too, if he could do anything about it.
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Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2022 10:56 am
He felt tense. Uncomfortable. He knew he was getting into territory that he rarely broached with others. He didn’t like being the one to say anything, in the off chance that they were somehow involved with the Negaverse, but…
He’d known Oliver and Asher for over a decade. He’d taken care of their kid. In many ways, he considered Elliot as close to a son as he would ever have -- which was probably overreaching, seeing as Oliver and Asher were right there to take care of him. Elliot didn’t need an extra parent.
Michael gripped tighter to the orb for a moment, and squeezed his eyes shut. Just for a moment as he grounded himself and tried to calm his heart, before opening them again.
“There’s an organization in Destiny City… and in the rest of the world… called the Negaverse. They’re… dark magic,” he said, knowing it wasn’t exactly the care but he thought it might be easier for them to understand. “You’ve been here long enough to know all of the strange things the city is known for. People that fall into mysterious comas. Monster sightings. They’re the cause. The Negaverse. They have powers you could only imagine. They can control creatures called youma. Once humans from a thousand years ago, but their bodies were twisted into monstrous forms and have no or little will of their own. They serve Metallia, a manifestation of Chaos. They take energy from people. They take starseeds -- essentially your soul. Without it, you can’t be reborn. You can’t live without it.”
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Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2022 12:21 pm
“What?” Oliver asked, brows furrowed. Michael wasn’t joking, he knew he wasn’t joking, but it sounded like a joke. Sounded unbelievable, except. Michael wasn’t joking, he wouldn’t joke about something like that. He wouldn’t joke about how his father…
He moved closer to Asher instinctively, and they sat down on the couch together.
Asher wrapped his arm around him and leaned back against the couch, watching Michael for a moment. They let it ink in.
There were strange things that happened in the city. Students went missing, or got sick. Or their parents did. The news always had an answer, but it wasn’t like they hadn’t had their own strange encounters, too.
Still, it was strange to talk about it like it was real. Like they were just accepting these things instead of trying to find reasons to explain them away.
“That’s a lot to take in,” Asher said after a moment. Not a rejection, just an explanation for their temporary silence. “...Where did you learn about all of this?”
…And how?
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Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2022 12:30 pm
Michael twisted the necklace anxiously between his fingers. He could hear his heart in his ears. Maybe he was making this a bigger deal than he needed to. Maybe it would be better if they’d known all of this ahead of time. Maybe it would have helped to protect them better.
He wished Devyn was there.
And he didn’t know why his thoughts went in that direction. It wasn’t as though Devyn could speak for him. It wasn’t as though he could do more than just sit there with him. Maybe place a comforting hand on his shoulder. And in a way, Devyn was with him. Which was why he held onto the necklace like his life depended on it.
“Destiny City is… unique. There are people who also have… magic… and they do what they can to keep the Negaverse from preying on the innocent. Destiny City is the only place the Negaverse doesn’t have total control over, from what I understand. The media once tried playing them off as terrorists -- I’m sure you remember some of those segments. I think they still blame magical terrorists every so often but not as much as before.”
Michael shifted where he was sitting, rubbed his free palm against his pants to wipe off the sweat. He knew he shouldn’t be as nervous around his friends, but he also knew the risk he was taking.
If he wanted them to trust him, he was going to have to show that he trusted them.
“I learned all of this because… I am one of the people trying to keep the city safe. It’s… very important that we keep our identities secret. My other name is Sessrumnir. I’m a Knight of Jupiter. I’ve been a Knight for about as long as we’ve known each other.”
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Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2022 12:50 pm
Oliver looked like he was still processing this; he was a bit more expressive now, which was at least a good sign. He had two noticeably different versions of ‘thinking’; the first was the only one to worry about, because he steeled his emotions and seemed to detach himself as much as possible. The second one meant he wasn’t hiding anything, but it meant that he processed the emotions internally and outwardly instead of just trying to bury them.
Distrust and anger didn’t cross his features once. Confusion, doubt, acceptance, understanding, uncertainty–he expressed them all easily, and he was squeezing Asher’s hand tightly even though he wasn’t looking at him or Michael.
Asher took only a moment to speak because it really wasn’t hard to see how uncomfortable Michael looked. “I guess that would explain a lot.”
There were many stories that didn’t add up, but what were they going to do? Who were they doing to ask?
Michael, apparently.
“How did you get involved in all of it? What does all of that mean, Knights and all?” He had so many questions but was trying to simplify them. “I’m sorry, I know we’ll have a lot of questions. If you can’t answer, …Well, we’ll trust you anyway.”
He looked at Oliver, who nodded, but still didn’t seem like he’d remembered how to speak yet. Gave Oliver a squeeze. Smiled for Michael, even if he didn’t think it was anything worth being happy about. He just wanted him to know it was okay. Asher continued, “It’s just a lot to swallow. How did you keep this all a secret for so long? Does Atticus know? –Does Devyn?”
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Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2022 12:57 pm
Some of his anxiety lifted when it seemed as though they were taking him seriously. He didn’t expect otherwise, but he could never know, and his worrying never let him think of just the good outcomes.
But he did try to offer them both a small, sympathetic smile for their confusion, and their patience. He knew it was a lot to take in, but he wanted to make sure they knew everything they wanted to know. Especially if they might end up being in danger because of their closeness to himself and Devyn.
“It’s okay. Thank you for trusting me,” he said, his grip easing a little on the necklace. “You know I like to keep to myself,” he shrugged half heartedly. “Easy to keep secrets when I don’t talk to people. But yes, Atticus and Devyn know. I took them to Jupiter to hide this past week. That’s where they were. Sessrumnir… is what we’d call a Wonder. It’s… a place of power and magic. Wonders exist on all of the planets in the solar system, including Earth. There are some outliers as well. Probably more that we don’t know about or have access to. A thousand years ago was a time they called the Silver Millenium. Sessrumnir was a college back then. People from all over went to learn there. Ah, no, it’s impossible to see any Wonders on planets. They’re protected. And yes, the weather is just as bad as you’d imagine, but sometimes it lets up a little. I’ll take you one day if you’d like,” he offered, because it was pretty rude to tell them all of this and just expect them to take his word for it.
“It’s in ruins now. Metallia took over back then and Chaos started destroying everything it could reach, but all of the magic was sealed away and Metallia was dormant until about… a handful of years before I awakened, I believe. I was attacked by one of the monsters that wander the city, and I guess that was enough to trigger becoming a knight. No, not everyone who is attacked by monsters becomes a Knight. Atticus was attacked by one, the first night we met him. Yes, there are Knights about as young as him and Elliot, and there are Senshi even younger, although it’s uncommon. Senshi and Knights work together to try and stop the spread of Chaos. Senshi get their powers from entire Worlds. Name a space object and it probably has a Senshi to protect it, although I’ve never met the Senshi of Earth or any of the planets in our solar system.”
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Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2022 1:09 pm
Oliver made another face when Michael said he took them to Jupiter because he was a teacher and teachers knew that you didn’t just go to Jupiter, but–
Michael was not joking and he had an answer and–well, he could have spent all week planning this, but this was a lot of effort to come up with a reason to illegally adopt Atticus so he could make sure he was safe, but–
Oliver reached up to rub at his template; at some point in time his brain had just stopped, and all of the information kept building up but it wasn’t even trickling through anymore, and now he was just waiting for it to all just explode in his brain so he could pick up all the little pieces and try to put them back together into something that made sense.
Asher had a more straightforward process; he treated it like he was being told a story that was difficult to believe but was waiting for that one thing to make everything click into place. It was as unrealistic to him as the idea of him and Oliver having a child–a nice story, a sweet dream, until suddenly his name was on the birth certificate and there was a baby in his arms.
He didn’t ask if Caspian knew, or if maybe this was one of those things that pushed them apart.
“Okay,” he said slowly, mulling it all over. Michael did read a lot of fantasy books, didn’t he? But this didn’t sound like any of that.
…And Asher had seen things before, things he couldn’t explain. Things that didn’t make sense. What Michael was saying didn’t quite make sense either, but Asher knew him. Trusted him.
“Well, you know Oliver and I don’t really have a large friend circle to go off and gossip in, so you don’t have to worry about us. We’re good at keeping secrets.” Usually much smaller ones than this, but. “If Atticus knows, he’s going to tell Elliot. It’s only a matter of time. And El’s smart enough not to go run his mouth to anyone, but. I appreciate knowing you’re not encouraging him to keep secrets from us. I’m having a hard time imagining all of this,” he admitted. “I mean, a magical college on Jupiter. Monsters. Magic, Knights. I believe you,” he said, because he wanted to reassure Michael, but he wanted to be realistic about it, too. “I’m curious about being on another planet, I’d like to see that. But no pressure. Are there a lot of you? –Knights and magical warriors and–so it’s magic then? Or is it really something sciencey, that’s disguised Atticus? How is it really done?”
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Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2022 1:19 pm
Michael felt bad for Oliver. He knew he was probably having a hard time processing all of it. And there wasn’t much that Michael could show them at that moment to prove anything. He could show them his signet ring that he wore-- which didn’t look like anything special to anyone else. He could show them his scars-- which he could have gotten from anywhere, such as a motorcycle accident, although the claws and bites were a little more difficult to disguise as an accident. He could take them out into the woods and power up for them. Take them to Jupiter. But that couldn’t be right then.
For Oliver’s sake, Michael didn’t say a talking cat made the technology.
“There’s a necklace he wears that protects his identity. It’s… partially magic. I think. But a lot of advanced technology, too. Technology people on Earth aren’t able to replicate,” he explained, hoping that was good enough for now. “And it’s no pressure at all. I would be happy to take you to Jupiter once I get some energy back. It takes some time to build up the strength to travel there again after just getting back.”
There were probably other places they could go that were more convincing than some old ruins. The storms made it difficult to see anything but clouds. On Ganymede they’d get a nice view of Jupiter and the other moons.
“Compared to Earth’s population, no. There’s not a lot of us. Hundreds, maybe. But no one is obligated to use their magic. Some discover they have power and then never use it. I’ve maybe seen a hundred Senshi and Knights together at various points in time, but there are always different ones showing up or disappearing. The Negaverse has control over hundreds of youma, and a number of very powerful people that can easily kill whoever they want. They have lethal weapons, where Knights do not, and Senshi just have magic. They can teleport in an instant. Summon others to appear with them. They meld into the media and politics for power, making deals with those in high places. That seems like that could be the case with Atticus’ father. I don’t know why he wanted Atticus dead, but apparently he made a point to leave the house so he had an alibi. After the first time Atticus was attacked, we gave him a pen that he carries with him that gives us a signal when he needs help. That’s how we got there so quickly to save him.”
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Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2022 1:27 pm
“Okay,” Asher said again, pretending for a moment that this was easy to accept. He pretended like it didn’t go against everything he’d ever been taught before, that it didn’t directly contradict all the things he thought he knew about magic and monsters. Mostly, that they didn’t exist. “But they don’t know who you are, so you’re safe. Because you’re good at hiding your secret identity.”
That part was easy, Asher could process that much. But he’d said we got there quickly. He didn’t ask exactly how Devyn was involved, only that he was certain that he must have been. Unless Mr. Art Major was really just so unthreatened by powered magical people with monsters and teleportation and weapons that he went to go rescue Atticus, anyway, but.
“I wish you’d said something years ago,” Oliver said suddenly, and finally reached to rub his face again. He was a little jittery and it seemed like where his thoughts had stalled before, now they were all rushing out. He hadn’t spoken with any seriousness, but when he looked at Michael again it was to say, “I was out one night and saw the weirdest thing. I mean, just some guy standing there, in a weird outfit. I just thought–you know, kids and their fashion–and he turned and looked at me, and he just disappeared. Into thin air. I thought, maybe I was just working too hard? That I wasn’t sleeping enough? I just imagined it? I don’t know,” he said again, talking a little quickly. “Except I felt like someone was watching me. I told you about that,” he said, looking at Asher.
“You told me about that,” he agreed, and Oliver turned back to Michael to continue, “I had to call out from work, for like three days.”
Asher nodded, as Oliver went on, “I thought I was paranoid, I could have sworn someone was following me. It stopped after a while, but I still get goosebumps in that part of town. By the old movie theater. I don’t go there anymore. I mean, maybe it’s good you didn’t say anything, I don’t think the truth would have been any more reassuring. I like the idea that I was just imagining it all much more. Is there–is there something we can do to be safer? Is there something we need to do for Elliot, or something for Atticus? Or you? –Or Devyn?”
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Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2022 1:32 pm
Once again, Michael frowned sympathetically for Oliver’s benefit. He did feel guilty for keeping them in the dark. He’d tried for years to keep his own identity secret, but slowly more and more people were finding out, especially as their family grew.
“I’m sorry,” he said quietly, remorsefully. Maybe he should have told them. Maybe his own paranoia was getting in the way of his friendships. Maybe that was why he had so few.
It was concerning that someone had been watching Oliver. Maybe to recruit him? Maybe to just get his habits and then drain his energy? Or maybe it was more than that, he didn’t know. His heart ached uncomfortably. If something had happened to Oliver, or Asher, or Elliot…?
“Send me a text or call if there’s ever anything suspicious?” he offered, not knowing how much he could suggest without getting magic involved. “I can have a pen like Atticus’ made for you. To use if you’re in danger. We’ll be okay here. I, uh… I can feel them. They have a different energy to them, so if they get close, I can sense them. It’s not something everyone like me can do. But I’m glad you’re okay.”
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Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2022 1:40 pm
“No, no,” Oliver said quickly. “Don’t apologize. I mean, how could any of us have known? I know I overreact, you’d think me silly if you knew the half of it.”
But, Michael did know him. Very well. So he was a little skittish, and a little nervous, and a little quick to panic. It hadn’t been enough to chase Michael away yet. Probably because Asher and Elliot were so wonderful.
Oliver was leaning into Asher much more now, and Asher seemed comfortable with this. He wrapped his arm around him and drew him a little closer. “Are you sure you want us to text us if there’s ever anything suspicious?” Asher had raised his brow and was giving Michael a very serious look. “I mean, something suspicious is going on every other day or so. You might have us on high alert for a while. I’d hate to text you about a suspicious looking bush in our front yard and get you all worried about nothing.”
“It’s not nothing, I saw it move,” Oliver huffed, but was animated again when he explained, “It probably just needs to be trimmed, but I’ve seen it moving. So I think there’s something living in there. I don’t want to get out there to cut it back a bit and get attacked by an opossum or something. But now I’m worried it’s a monster opossum.”
Asher hummed thoughtfully, nodded, and kissed Oliver’s temple. “We’ll take a look. I’ll cut the bush back, maybe Michael can come over and help me. If you can feel if something’s wrong, you can tell us if there’s anything we need to do at the house. I don’t want the boys getting into any trouble, Atticus has been through enough and I don’t know what I’d do if anything happened to Elliot. This is a lot,” he said, apologetically, “I know I’ve got questions, I just can’t think of them all right now. I hope you won’t mind me asking you about everything for the foreseeable future. I believe you. Just. Have to put this all into a different perspective. And you let us know if there’s anything we need to do for any of this. Anything you need.”
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Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2022 1:58 pm
“I’ll come over,” Michael said with a nod. He didn’t mind helping cut back bushes. He’d been helping with little odds and ends around their house for years, so doing some yard work wasn’t anything new. And he was happy to do it. It gave him a chance to get out of the house, and to see Elliot, and to help out his friends.
“If you like the size of the bush but want to know what’s hiding under it, we could always trim up the undergrowth,” he suggested. “I can also have lights installed around the landscaping so you won’t be surprised by anything. Probably those low can lights that shine upward. If you’d like. Or maybe some rope lighting along the path and to trim around the plants.”
He knew how much work the Reids had put into their house, so he wanted to make sure they were comfortable as much as possible.
“You can ask me as many questions as you want. I haven’t told Elliot any of this. I wanted to make sure you knew first. It might make Atticus feel better if Elliot knew too. He’s been keeping it a secret for a while now, but I don’t think he likes to keep secrets from Elliot.”
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Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2022 2:09 pm
“I’m surprised Elliot doesn’t already know,” Oliver confessed. “When I was his age I had a hard time not telling Asher everything. He was my best friend. But I suppose they haven’t known each other for as long as we did.”
“No, but they care about each other a lot. We were talking about maybe getting some lights installed. We’ll see what you think when you come over. I’ve got shears, it’s not like I can’t just trim it back.” But if Oliver was worried, Asher wanted to make sure he felt better about all of this, and having backup for a monster opossum was in everyone’s best interest.
“Thank you for helping Atticus,” Oliver said suddenly, and he seemed to have settled into something like comfort again. It might have had something to do with the way he was pressed against Asher. “I’ve been really worried about him. When that officer came over and started asking questions I got nervous, and then he got attacked, and went missing, and–I just, I really expected the worst. I know this must have been a quick decision. And a big one.” Michael had never talked about having his own kids, but here he was, with a whole room made up for Atticus. Put together in a week. Adoption papers, getting him into Azure, making sure he was taken care of…
Michael had put a lot into this and a lot into looking after him. “You have a really big heart. I mean, I knew that already, but still. You’ve always been so kind to us, and to El. I just–well, no, actually, I’m not even surprised, you’ve always been like some knight out of a fairy tale book, anyway. I mean, no, I am surprised, this is all very–well, a lot–but the least surprising part is that you’re a knight. That part makes sense.”
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