|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2023 1:03 pm
Brooklyn went out to the back yard with Elliot, looking around and humming softly. “...You don’t give this place enough credit, Elliot you have to realize that my idea of outdoor spaces are like. Fenced in with concrete or one of the parks around here…this is…I mean it might not be what you used to have, but I could live out here honestly. Just get me a tent. Make this my home, right?”
Giving a half fake laugh, Brooklyn walked over to the bench that Elliot had mentioned, and not wanting to be needy, sat on it before he could put the blanket down.
“...So, Atticus lives right next door? That’s kind of cool, and nice that you have good neighbors, yeah?”
Such a charmed life. A best friend…boyfriend? She thought they were dating, at the very least they were very touchy feely and all over one another but, good for them. But having a family like he did and Atticus right next door…
“It’s just so nice. I hope he doesn’t hate me…”
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2023 2:42 pm
Elliot laughed and shook his head. “I don’t think Atticus is good at hating people. You both have just been through a lot. I can’t really imagine. I just hope we can all be good friends and look after each other. We’re not all in sync right now, but I hope we can get there. Yesterday was probably just a fluke, anyway. And now that we’re more on the same page, I think maybe we’ll be better going forward. Except, I can’t help but notice that you didn’t wait for me to put down the blanket, so…”
He gave her an amused half smile and laid the blanket down, and when he covered the bench, he laid the rest of the blanket over her lap. “You just want to get cold faster so we can get some of that cider soon, yeah?” he teased.
“I bet my parents are already working on dinner so they can send you home with something. If you like this backyard, you would have loved our last one. Wait until spring comes around. Our neighbors are great, especially Michael and Devyn and Atticus. The others are okay, but I’m definitely biased. They live right over–oh, well there’s Atticus coming out now. They live there. We go over and hang out all the time, or they come over here.”
He waved to Atticus enthusiastically, but glanced back to Brooklyn. “It’s gonna be okay, Brooklyn. We’ll all be okay. And if you get stressed or anything, or need a minute, we can always take a snack break and relax before coming back to things, okay? But I’m sure it’s going to be fine.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2023 6:22 pm
Not quite from next door, but from the house which had its backyard up against the Reid’s backyard, Atticus gently opened and shut the back door so he could shuffle his way over to where Brooklyn and Elliot were waiting.
The smile he’d been wearing was that of concern at first, but when Elliot waved more enthusiastically, he shuffled a little faster through whatever leaves had fallen from the mostly barren trees.
“Hi,” he greeted quietly. He had a large sweater on that definitely didn’t belong to him. On the back was an anchor and shield centered between outstretched feathered wings.
“Everything okay?”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2023 11:17 am
Brooklyn gave a little laugh and shook her head, though…it was kind of true. The quicker they got back inside to drink hot cider…the quicker it meant that this conversation would be over and everything would be okay again…
She gave a soft sigh when Atticus appeared there too, and though she had been expecting him, obviously. That was part of the whole reason she had come after all, Brooklyn still managed to jump.
A little.
After a moment she chewed her lip and then stood up, folding the blanket onto the bench where Elliot had wanted to put it in the first place, and she moved towards Atticus, hesitating before opening her arms, not wanting to just…attack the boy with a hug, even though she did just want to attack the boy with a hug. “...I’m sorry. I’m sorry that I hurt your feelings and upset you yesterday…I…I don’t want to not be friends and I don’t think that you’re weak…I’m sorry.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2023 3:34 pm
Elliot thought he had a good idea of when he didn’t need to talk; he’d already chatted with Brooklyn and he knew now was her time to talk to Atticus. He smiled when he arrived, and seemed like he was in good spirits. Hopeful, a little more than usual even.
He stood when Brooklyn did, and while she reached out to Atticus he took the opportunity to try and spread the blanket out across the bench so they could all sit together without the cold chipping in.
Still, he watched both of his friends as he did so; he was always looking for the best in people, and it was easy to find that in his friends. He just wanted to make sure they were okay.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2023 5:25 pm
Atticus saw the way Brooklyn jumped a little, and he paused. He didn’t mean to startle her, and he knew what it was like to flinch at everything. But soon she was getting up and moving to him, and he naturally opened his arms to hug her in return.
And apologize.
The sniffles started almost immediately. At first he was surprised, not because he didn’t think she would apologize, but by how desperate she seemed to be with her apology. He didn’t think that she needed to be that sorry.
“I’m sorry, too,” he blubbered, hugging her tighter, but not so tight that he would hurt her. Even if he wasn’t weak, he wasn’t exactly physically strong.
“I didn’t mean to upset you, either. I think you’re really great, Brooklyn.” Hopefully she wouldn’t mind if he ended up getting tears on her, but he turned his head to rub his face on his borrowed sweatshirt just in case.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2023 5:48 pm
Brooklyn relaxed when he hugged her back, when he wasn’t angry. Wasn’t yelling at her. This…
This was going to be okay.
But now he was crying...and now she was crying again and…goodness gracious. Thank goodness there would be snacks and hot cider after all of this…
“I think you’re really great too. I think you’re both really great and I’m…I’m so glad you don’t hate me…I thought for sure you’d hate me…I thought for sure I had ruined ******** everything up was what she had wanted to say…but she coudln’t use such words in front of these sweet things…probobably. She shouldn’t use them at this house at all honestly. It would give Mr. Elliot’s Dad number one a heart attack, she was sure.
“I’m…I’m glad that you guys let Soleiyu walk me home…he…told me a little bit about what was going on…and um. Said that I was the first Knight of my…my type? That he’s ever seen…so that’s kind of neat…” Her voice was low enough that only the two of them could hear it, but still, she reached out and beckoned to Elliot to join the hug. He was needed and she could talk easier if they were all close.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2023 7:10 pm
He’d expected the tears, but it didn’t lessen the way they tugged at his heartstrings when they started. He’d have been happy enough to let them hug it out and just make sure that they were okay, but when Brooklyn reached for him he offered no resistance and wrapped his arms around both of them.
“Well, you’re the first one I’ve met like you, too. Soleiyu knows what he’s talking about, so I’d believe him.” He didn’t ask why she was the first one, he figured if she was something completely new than she–and Soleiyu–might not even know.
“He’s been really helpful. He’s answered all of our questions, and helped us solve some difficult problems. He’s a good friend. I hoped he’d look after you and help you figure things out. I don’t know what I’d have done if I didn’t have anyone to explain it all to me. I’m lucky I had Atticus there with me, and people who had the answers.”
He rubbed their backs to try and soothe them a bit, and he rested his chin on their shoulders.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2023 7:41 pm
“Soleiyu has been really good to us. He helped me stay hidden when I was in danger,” he sobbed, although he knew he wasn’t making much sense. He didn’t know how much Soleiyu told Brooklyn, but he clearly told her enough.
He didn’t mean to start getting so emotional, but how could he not? He was with two people who were really important to him.
“Elliot is right. Soleiyu is really smart, so if he says something, it has to be true,” he agreed, tipping his head a little so he could rest it against Elliot’s as he hugged them both.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2023 7:50 pm
Brooklyn couldn't help but relax further into the hug. This…this was family. This was something she had always craved. Always wanted. Affection without strings…affection from people who just…liked her.
For some strange reason.
“He does seem really smart…he um. He knows the person I’m…the Page of? Lysithea, he said he was going to talk to her, that she was doing something on her homeworld…it…look, yesterday was a lot and I want to tell you guys everything but, I’m not sure that I really understand everything…and a lot has just…kind of evaporated from my brain and I’m so sorry about that. But…I’ll be more careful…I never wanted to put either of you in danger…I mean it. I just…I thought I could handle it…that’s all…I’m used to bullies…and all a monster is is a bully with…you know…teeth and claws and…more…ah. More muscles. But…I’ve fought off people with knives before and that was without any magic so…”
She shrugged and ducked away for a second to wipe her nose on the inside of her jacket sleeve before burrowing back against the two of them.
“...It seemed like a good idea at the time okay?”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2023 11:59 am
Elliot continued to rub their backs gently. He wanted to say that it was okay to reassure the both of them, and for a moment he thought that certainly they must know.
…But just in case, what was the harm in making sure?
“It’s okay,” he reassured, for slightly different reasons.
“It was a learning lesson for all of us. We’ll be better prepared for next time. And there’s no need for secrets since we’re all in this together now.” He didn’t like hearing that she’d fought people with knives, but he supposed that was better than the alternatives that could happen when dealing with people wielding weapons. “I’m sorry that we didn’t tell you everything. We didn’t want you to be in danger and–I promise, we were going to go talk to the Code, it’s just that we didn’t have time before you got your magic. We’re just…it’s not always easy to know what the right decision is in the heat of the moment. We didn’t want to hurt you or anything. We just didn’t want to make promises we couldn’t keep, or talk about something that could have been dangerous. But I’m glad you're here. I’m glad we got to talk. You’ll come patrol with us, right? We can train together to get stronger.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2023 1:33 pm
Atticus flinched a little as Brooklyn talked about the bullies she was used to, and how she had to protect herself. He squeezed his eyes shut and tried to ignore the way his heart raced. There were so many things about his old life that he didn’t want to think about. That he didn’t have to deal with now. At least not to the extent as before.
For now, he felt frozen in place, the tears escaping his eyes despite his attempts to calm down. It wasn’t fair. He didn’t want to cry right now. He nodded along with everything Elliot said, because Elliot was smart and kind and knew what he was talking about. He didn’t say the wrong things at the wrong time and upset his friends.
He just needed to make sure Brooklyn was okay and that Elliot knew he was okay.
Oh… but they were probably aware enough to know he was still crying. That wasn’t fair to them, either.
“I’m okay,” he blubbered before they could get upset with him, he hoped. “It just upsets me that you get bullied,” he tried to explain, resisting the urge to pull away so he couldn’t cry on them more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2023 1:57 pm
“Of course I’ll patrol with you! I want to get stronger with the both of you, and I want to be someone that you can rely on…just like you are people that I can rely on…and…and Atticus, it’s been a while since I had to deal with bullies like that. It was mostly back in the children's home…and a few times with some of my previous foster siblings but…things have been…they’ve been good lately. Between school and having you two? I’ve…I’ve honestly never been happier, so you don’t have to worry about that part.”
Brooklyn was quiet for a moment, thinking and finally drew away slightly, shivering just a little. “...We can keep one another safe. It’s not…anyone better than someone else, not anyone more important than someone else just because they have a family and you do…it’s us. All of us verses the world…and…I think I can learn to do that. But…I’m not great with like…inner change so…have some patience with me, please?”
It wasn’t easy to admit but…once it was out in the open…she did feel a little proud of herself for it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2023 6:59 pm
Alarm flushed through Elliot again at the thought that Brooklyn had dealt with multiple threats of that nature. He didn’t blame her for being defensive. He didn’t know if he’d have been able to brush it off as easily as she had, but he probably would have put on a good face for his friends.
He rubbed down Atticus’ back again, and took a few extra seconds to stroke his hair before he resumed. He didn’t take a break from stroking Brooklyn’s back as they hugged.
“We’ll be patient,” he promised. “We don’t want to rush you. And if it feels like too much, just let us know. We can take a step back or give you some time or space or approach a problem in a different way if you need. Change is hard all around, I’m proud of you for putting so much effort into all of this.”
He glanced at Atticus and then kissed his cheek when he saw an opening.
“I’m glad you’re not getting bullied anymore,” he told her. “But if you ever have any problems, you tell us, okay? We can help.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2023 8:41 pm
Atticus glanced up at Elliot when he felt him kiss his cheek. He tried to offer him a reassuring smile, but his lip just trembled and he failed to manage anything convincing. So instead, he just ducked his head down onto Elliot’s shoulder when Brooklyn drew away a bit.
It wasn’t because he didn’t like Brooklyn or anything like that! They were all friends of course, but he’d also known Elliot for much longer. Elliot had been there when Atticus hadn’t been Atticus. When he was dealing with his own demons, some more physical than others.
He hadn’t wanted Elliot to have to deal with his panic attacks or see the bruises he had or the scars, but Elliot had been there. Maybe one day Brooklyn would be too, although Atticus hoped there would never come a day where he had to dive back into his past.
Instead, he would much rather think about the future that Brooklyn wanted for them. He didn’t know if it could be just them versus the world -- he knew Brooklyn didn’t have parents, but he and Elliot did, and Michael’s family had been really nice to him so far.
But he could be patient. He had no problem being patient, especially if that was what she was requesting of them.
“I’m glad you’re not getting bullied anymore, too. It’s… it’s not a good feeling,” he admitted with a quiet sob. “But what Elliot said… we can help if you have any problems. I know it’s not easy, what you’re going through, Brooklyn. I know what it’s like. I…”
He stopped himself before he could say too much and make things awkward. He knew he was emotional, but he didn’t want to upset her again because he was remembering things that happened to him.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
