|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2022 5:30 pm
The strawberry shortcake had been worth the wait. Empty bowls sat on the coffee table in front of him, and Atticus had taken the opportunity to curl up under a shared blanket with Elliot. It was getting late, but they were still so full of energy from their earlier excitement about becoming Squires.
They’d had a chance to visit Oliver and Asher and tell them good night, before going back over to Michael and Devyn’s so they could get into pajamas and sit down for dessert.
There was some movie playing in the background. Atticus couldn’t remember what it was called. It wasn’t anything anyone was really watching, just something to fill the silence if they needed a moment to breathe and zone out of whatever small conversations they were having.
Except there was an important conversation that they needed to have. Atticus and Elliot had talked about it on the Moon. And Atticus knew that if they didn’t bring it up now, they might not get the same chance later. Plans might already be coming together, and if they weren’t included, it might be more dangerous for everyone.
“Dad?” he asked quietly after a few moments of silence between conversation, both with the four of them in the living room and the movie in the background. But not before casting a glance up at Elliot for some extra courage.
“We want to go to Alastor with you. When you fight to take it back.” Michael had just been thinking about getting up and taking the empty bowls to the kitchen, while also getting Devyn another helping if he wanted more, but he paused instead. He glanced over at Devyn first, because Devyn would know more than anyone how dangerous Alastor was.
However… Michael already thought it was incredibly dangerous, and he wasn’t too happy about the idea of involving brand new Squires, much less two young boys he essentially considered his own sons.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2022 6:36 pm
The Dad seemed like it would always catch Devyn off guard. And yet, it was starting to feel so natural that Devyn didn’t question it. He turned his head to give Atticus his full attention.
Elliot had smiled reassuringly at Atticus, even if he hadn’t immediately been able to piece together what he was going to ask for. It just seemed like second nature to want to assure and support him. Except, when the words were out in the open, he adjusted positions just a little so he could sit up straighter. For as comfortable as he was, he wanted to be taken seriously.
It wasn’t the question Devyn had been expecting, though, and while he kept an easy expression, it shifted a little more into a frown.
He didn’t immediately say no, but that was probably only because of the surprise. And, because they might have been young but he saw no reason to treat them with any disrespect. They were good boys, they were trying their hardest.
Atticus just didn’t really know what he was asking.
“It’s going to be dangerous,” Devyn cautioned. “There will probably be a lot of fighting.” He was patient, though; he didn’t say no without understanding, first. “Why do you want to go up there? It isn’t going to be like my stories, not right now.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2022 6:47 pm
When Elliot sat up a little more, Atticus realized that he probably should as well, so he pushed himself up and folded the blanket down so that maybe Michael and Devyn would see them as young adults and not children.
Atticus certainly felt small. And inexperienced. But Devyn was his family now. And Michael. And the Reids. He couldn’t just sit and wait for them to hopefully have everything go well.
“We know it’s going to be dangerous,” Atticus said, as confidently as he could, even as he could hear his voice waver a little. “We can help. We want to be there for you. You’ve done so much for me. I owe you my life. Several times. You rescued me, kept in contact with me, you let me use your name and you -- you gave me your blood.”
He hadn’t seen it happen, but Atticus wasn’t unfamiliar with the process, from personal experience. And Devyn hadn’t denied it.
Atticus held onto Elliot’s hand like a lifeline. His eyes felt hot. He knew he was emotional, but he wanted to be there. He didn’t want something to happen to Devyn and regret that he wasn’t there to help. He had healing magic now! That should count for something! Michael sat quietly near Devyn, watching their expressions. From Atticus to Elliot, and back to Devyn. He focused on the necklace he wore, trying to determine if there were any fluctuations he should worry about.
“Neither of you have really fought against Chaos,” he said, although he felt like the decision would have to be Devyn’s. It was his world and he knew it best.
“Chaos doesn’t care that you’re young or inexperienced. It doesn’t care if you’re afraid or trying to do what’s right. You might die.”
Maybe it was too harsh. But he’d told plenty of other young Senshi and Pages the same thing. Give up, and go home while you’re still alive.
If convincing Elliot to stay home with Atticus and saving their lives meant being a little harsh, then he was willing to be the bad guy.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2022 7:08 pm
Elliot seemed like he was more ready to deal with Michael’s argument than Devyn. Devyn would be soft, for Atticus. Michael would be practical, because he was a teacher and was used to dealing with arrogant, bossy, know-it-all students. He squeezed Atticus’ hand to give him whatever reassurance he might need.
“But you’ve both fought against Chaos,” he said–politely! Because he wasn’t arguing to be mean, he just wanted to talk. Or be heard. This was important to them, too. “And Chaos doesn’t care that you’re older or experienced, or if you’re not afraid and trying to do what’s right. You could be in danger, too. And we know we’re not anywhere near as qualified as you two. But–the Moon did still choose us. And it gave us more power.”
Devyn listened, quiet again, but not with any reproach or frustration. He looked like he might have been actually considering it, even if there was something tired on his face. He didn’t miss the passion in either of the boys’ voices, nor the emotion in them. Atticus sounded a little nervous, but he looked like he was giving it his best effort.
Devyn might not have wanted to put the boys in trouble, but he at least respected the effort they were making–and he was proud of Atticus for speaking up for himself. He didn’t back down, and he didn’t just shuffle off or mumble or keep it to himself. Devyn smiled softly, for that alone.
“You don’t owe me anything,” he reminded Atticus gently. “Not for any of those things. I don’t want you to put yourself in harm’s way just because you think you should. I did those things because you being safe is important to me. I don’t want you in harm’s way.”
It still felt like a dialogue, even if Elliot might have been gearing up to move into the point of persuasive argumentation.
“Not everyone that goes into a battle is there to fight,” Elliot pressed, mindful to be respectful in all of this. He looked between Michael and Devyn, and stroked the back of Atticus’ hand while he spoke. “Sometimes there are people just to relay messages–and Atticus found these earrings on Ephesus, where we could hear each other’s thoughts.”
Familiarity briefly passed over Devyn’s face, and surprise, but he didn’t seem upset; Elliot continued, “People to help those who are hurt, people to prepare supplies, people to do rescue missions. Even if we’re not fighting, we can help. And–we’ll practice, and train–every day–just in case we do run into trouble. We’re not asking to like, be at the forefront of anything. We just want to help. If something happened to you–to either of you–what are we supposed to do? If we’re down here and you didn’t trust us to help, and something bad happened, I don’t know. I don’t think I could forgive myself. You’re really important to us. And you help us all the time. All the time. It’s not about paying you back or owing you or anything. And it’s not fighting to fight or anything, it’s not because we want like, bloodshed. It’s just. You mean as much to us as we mean to you, and you wouldn’t let us go into danger without being right there by our sides. So that’s just how we feel, too. And if things get too dangerous, we can leave. We can go to the Moon.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2022 7:37 pm
Michael kept his mouth shut around breaking it to both Elliot and Atticus that the Moon had been desperate for new Knights after being left alone up there for so long. It needed anyone that qualified even just a little. But he was pretty certain that would just break Elliot’s heart and make Atticus cry until next week, so he let out a small sigh instead.
“It’s not that easy to just go to the Moon,” Michael frowned, because while Elliot was obviously trying to come up with a good argument, it was still extremely dangerous for them to go. “Unless it’s different from anywhere else. It takes a lot of concentration to go to your wonder. If it was dangerous, you wouldn’t be able to just leave. And I doubt you would, anyway,” he pointed out, because he knew that Elliot was stubborn.
Maybe if Atticus was in danger or maybe if he was specifically told to leave, Michael fully expected Elliot to stay and fight. Or relay messages or whatever he thought he was going to do.
He didn’t miss the comment about earrings that could help them hear each other’s thoughts, but that wasn’t the conversation at the moment. Atticus sucked in a breath when Michael told them that they could die. He knew that! He knew they could probably die. Frustratingly, his eyes filled with tears, and he hated it because he did not want to cry right then. No one would take him seriously if they thought he would just cry about everything.
Thankfully, he had Elliot with him, and he squeezed his hand in return.
“We’ll be good. And careful,” he insisted, doing his best to hold his emotions back, but he couldn’t stop his lip from trembling. “Please. I don’t want to be left here without you. Please let us help. I don’t want to put myself in danger because I think I should in order to repay a debt. It’s because it’s the right thing to do. Because you’re important to us, and we want to help.”
Angrily, Atticus brushed away the tears that betrayed him. And then scrubbed his eyes for good measure, in an attempt to keep them at bay a bit longer.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2022 8:22 pm
Elliot might have used his tears deliberately, but Atticus was working so hard to stifle his own. Elliot didn’t even think he needed to start crying in protest, not with how much his heart ached to see how hard Atticus was trying.
And, it seemed like it was working.
Devyn’s face shifted in subtle ways, and it was very obvious that while he did not want the boys to be anywhere dangerous, he had his own experiences to rely on. He had his own emotions to sift through.
He had the same worries and concerns as Michael, just…
“I can tell that this means a lot to you boys,” Devyn said slowly, still so patiently. “But you’ve only just become Squires.”
“And you were seven when someone decided you should be a Senshi. You told us how young you were, and how hard you had to work. And we’ll work that hard, too, Devyn. Michael, you know me.” He faced him, as determined as Atticus. “I know my limits. I’m not arrogant. I’m not foolish. Can you just give us a chance? If there’s a test you want us to do, we’ll do it. I’m good at concentrating, I could get us out. And we’d listen to anything you said. You can’t tell us that it’s too dangerous and that everything’s fine and you can handle it on your own. We know you’re strong. But it’s not going to stop us from worrying. There has to be something we can do that you’d be comfortable with.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2022 8:53 pm
“I shouldn’t be here, but I am,” Atticus joined in, maybe holding Elliot’s hand a little too tightly, but he needed his support otherwise he would completely crumble.
“I should have died so many times that I can’t even remember them all, but I’m here. It must be for a reason. I’m a lot more durable than I look,” he promised.
And it was true! Of all the times he’d been hurt and ended up in the hospital, or when he’d been brought to Sessrumnir, or saved by Elliot from the Reid’s house and then brought to the Moon. Michael wanted to say no. He wanted to put his foot down, to tell them they were too young, that they would just get hurt, that they would break Oliver and Asher’s heart. Who was going to tell Elliot’s dads that they would be going into something dangerous? Surely Oliver would have a heart attack.
“You know we’d have to talk to your dads,” he pointed out, because he didn’t want to leave them in the dark. And they knew a limited amount of information about Knights and Senshi and Chaos. He couldn’t imagine they’d be happy about Elliot risking his life. Or Atticus risking his.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2022 9:19 pm
The one card Elliot didn’t have a good defense for. He knew his parents loved him dearly, and he knew they had a limited knowledge of what exactly went into all of this. They wouldn't want him or Atticus going out, but they didn’t understand.
“You know, if they were Knights, they’d probably want to come too. You know how important you are to them,” Elliot protested. “Or, maybe you don’t. I don’t know. But you’re really important to me, Michael. And I know you’ll do anything to keep Devyn safe. And I know he’ll do anything to keep you safe. And.”
Elliot pursed his lips together and did an impressive job of not looking frustrated. He knew what he wanted, he knew what felt right. He didn’t know how to get Michael and Devyn to take them seriously. They weren’t just kids. They’d been doing their best to get stronger, and they were taking all of this very seriously.
“I know you’re durable,” Devyn reassured, and worry creased his brows. He leaned back in the seat and exhaled, looking at the ceiling for a moment as he mulled over his thoughts.
Saying ‘no’ should have been easier, but it wasn’t.
He’d done reckless things when he was young, younger than them. He’d fought for what was important to him. He remembered being young and being told no, and pushing and rebelling, and…
“I don’t know what I would do if anything happened to you, Atticus. I can’t lose my son.”
He leaned over to smooth his hair out a little bit, but he wanted to make sure that Atticus was paying attention when he spoke again. “I don’t want either of you fighting. I don’t want to risk you getting pulled into the darkness while I’m not there. You can’t come where I’m going, that’s too dangerous. Even if you were Knights, I wouldn't let you. But let me think about it some. The Hall is fortified,” he said; he looked at Michael with uncertainty. “...There are safe places inside of it. Places where they might be able to help without facing any danger head on. I don’t know, I’m not saying yes. I’m saying, let me think about it. If there’s something you can do to help that’s out of the way and safe, I’ll consider it. But I don’t think you’re ready to be on the front lines, I don’t want you anywhere too dangerous. You don’t have enough experience with any Chaos for you to expect you to handle this. No matter how strong, or determined, or passionate you are. It’s not like fighting a person, it’s fighting a thing that has no form. There might be somewhere you can help. But if we find somewhere for you, and I’m not saying yes, it’s just an if, you have to leave if we tell you to. No arguments. No rushing into danger. You might see people get very hurt. It might be scary. I don’t want you physically hurt, I don’t want you traumatized. I want you safe. Do you still want to come, even if the only thing I have for you is to gather up some personal things for me and be ready to leave for the Moon if danger starts heading your way?”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2022 9:33 pm
Atticus held his breath as Devyn spoke, but he still couldn’t stop his lip from trembling. He couldn’t stop the wall of tears that filled his eyes. Devyn wasn’t saying yes. But he wasn’t saying no either.
But more than that, being called Devyn’s son hit a little harder than he’d anticipated. Devyn had said he was, before. This wasn’t new, but it was the first time it really felt like something and not just fake paperwork created in order to give him a place in a world where he wasn’t supposed to exist.
He tried hard not to blink, but the moment he did, the tears fell heavily. Atticus squeezed Elliot’s hand before letting go so he could reach out to wrap his arms around Devyn’s neck instead, and pull himself into his lap as he cried against his shoulder.
“We’ll be safe. We’ll leave if it’s dangerous,” he sobbed, although whether it was anything Devyn could understand was debatable.
Atticus didn’t want to just watch Devyn and Michael go to Alastor and not know if they would ever see them again. Even Atticus and Elliot were there to observe, maybe they would see something others wouldn’t that would be the difference between success and failure? Although, he didn’t want that burden on his or Elliot’s shoulders. Michael let out a defeated sigh. He wasn’t agreeing to this, but he was willing to discuss the accommodations with Devyn and figure out if there was something the boys could do while also staying out of danger. It seemed like an impossible task.
And there was still the matter of talking to Oliver and Asher about it. There was no way they were going to agree to this, even if Michael could absolutely see them insisting on going with them if they had magical Knight powers.
“We’ll talk about it,” Michael said after a few moments, because he didn’t want to just dismiss the boys, and Devyn seemed confident that there were safe places for them.
As long as the Chaos didn’t break in.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2022 9:43 pm
One of Devyn’s many talents included translating the words caught between sniffles and sobs, and he smoothed down Atticus’ back as he held onto him. He moved a little closer, partly to make sure that Atticus could stay comfortable–and close to Elliot–while Devyn still held him close.
“It’s okay,” Devyn soothed. “I know. I believe you.” He looked over Atticus’ shoulder, almost helplessly at Michael, because he wanted to say no.
But, if he’d been in their shoes, he’d have just found a way to get there, anyway. He probably would have gotten in more trouble after being told no than he would have if he’d just been given permission.
“We’ll figure it out and go over things. We’ll sit down and explain everything to you boys, and we’ll make a plan, and if you still feel like you’re going to be okay, we’ll do some extra training practice and find a safe spot for you. It’s going to be okay, though. No matter what happens, you know Michael and I are going to come back. I do have a lot of important artifacts in the back of the Hall, I don’t want them to fall into the wrong hands. And it might be good to have eyes back there and make sure nothing’s sneaking in through the back. We’ll figure it out. I appreciate you wanting to help, that’s very brave of you.”
Hopefully not reckless. Hopefully not dangerous.
He didn’t want them to be in danger on his world. He didn’t know what he’d do if anything happened to them up there.
Maybe they would be useful. Maybe there was something they could do.
Saving Alastor wasn’t worth losing either of them.
Elliot breathed a sigh of relief, because it was at least a chance.
“We won’t let you down. I promise. And we’ll train really hard to prove it. Anything we can do to help. I’m sorry for asking. But we wouldn’t forgive ourselves if something happened to you two and we didn’t at least try.”
Atticus was hugging Devyn, so Elliot wriggled out of his seat and made his way over to hug Michael, too–partly because he did actually want a hug, and maybe Michael needed one. He didn’t ham it up, he wasn’t trying to guilt him into saying yes.
He just really cared about him.
He didn’t want to lose him.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2022 9:55 pm
Michael wasn’t sure he deserved a hug. He hadn’t done anything worth a hug, so it took him with slight surprise as Elliot got up so he could hug him. Michael hugged him back, of course! He pulled him close and hugged him tightly.
Ah, maybe Elliot knew better than he did when it came to matters of hugs, because maybe Michael really did need a hug. He felt the tension ease from his shoulders, and while there was still a lot for him to worry about, he was content to take that moment to just breathe.
“Do you think we’d ever forgive ourselves if anything happened to you two?” he sighed.
He wanted to protect them, give them a little more time as children before they had to grow up. It was difficult to see them as anything but innocent children. They were both so young and had so much to look forward to. Michael knew he and Devyn would be absolutely devastated if something happened to prevent them from growing up. And he was certain Asher and Oliver would never forgive them for putting them in danger. Atticus held onto Devyn, but was happy that he moved closer to Elliot. He just wanted to hug him for a little bit, and then he would be better. Well, until the next time he felt overwhelmed or upset or… or happy. He tended to cry when he was happy, too.
He nodded along with Elliot, because they absolutely wouldn’t let them down. They were young, but others had been younger. They were given magic and a chance to help others and protect those they cared about. And he cared very much about Devyn and Michael.
Besides, if he was with Elliot, he knew nothing bad could happen to either of them, because Elliot wouldn’t let it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2022 10:13 pm
“I know you wouldn’t,” Elliot insisted quietly, but he pursed his lips and just gave Michael another good squeeze. “It’s just, the feeling’s mutual, Michael. And I know you’re older and more experienced so you feel like you have to protect us–and I appreciate that. You know I do. When I’m stronger, when I’m older, I want to be a Knight like you are. A good one, who cares, and who looks after people. We just want a chance. And we’ll train and practice and do everything we can to be the best that we can, just to prove it.”
He sighed, and flopped against Michael. “Just think about it. And let us listen to you when you’re planning, or talking about things. At the very least we can learn from that. Just. Food for thought, okay? We want to go, and we want you to consider it. So you’ve got the time from now until then to help us be the best we can be and think about what we can do to help.”
They hadn’t expected a yes, not really, but Elliot was hopeful for something. He was stubborn. He wanted to go.
Anything other than a hard ‘no’ right now was at least a good sign.
And, they’d bought themselves a little bit of time to prove that they could do it.
It was a lot to consider, and Devyn really didn’t want to make any rash decisions. It would have been safer to say no but he couldn’t say that it would have been better. He knew where he’d been when he was their age. He knew what he’d seen.
They were children. He didn’t want them to be soldiers, too.
Some things might have been unavoidable, but he didn’t want to rope them into something they weren’t ready for.
They had some time to figure it out. For now, this was enough. The boys should be celebrating their new power, not thinking about going into battle.
He’d talk it over with Michael later and get back to the boys when they weren’t so on the spot.
And, if it was a good excuse to keep them taking their training seriously, he could work with that.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
