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 Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2023 1:22 pm
“You did really great tonight, Kay. Seriously. I need to learn to be more patient like you so I can get more energy. It’s just a pain to stand still and wait, you know? But oh, I bet Jett would be proud of you, too. I’m definitely proud of you. But I always am, because you’re perfect,” Orien rambled as he pushed the door to their apartment open.
They’d just gotten back from a night of gathering energy, and while they could have used the mirror in their bathroom (although Orien was vaguely aware that it was probably a little risky to do so -- but anyone who wanted to climb the seven flights of stairs to get to their apartment to fight them was welcome to try) they’d decided to reward themselves and splurge for on a fancy dinner.
“Here’s your burger, make sure to eat the fries while they’re hot, too,” Orien insisted, and pulled out a fry to toss into his mouth, decided it wasn’t hot enough to burn Kaelan, and held one out for him to bite if he wanted.
They'd come across one of those Star Festival vendors on their way home, so of course they had to pick up a set of charms. Orien picked up the gold because Kaelan decided to be sweet and comment how it matched his eyes.
“I don’t want you to have to worry about doing this once your classes start. So don’t worry about having to do all this, too. I can handle it, I promise.” He would do anything for Kaelan, and it didn’t matter if he was a little tired from it. Kaelan needed all the rest he could get so he could do the best in all his classes.
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Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2023 1:53 pm
Kaelan’s cheeks were pink from the praise but he hadn’t been able to wipe the smile from his face the whole time Orien was talking. The trip upstairs hadn’t even been unbearable; he was still riding the high of a very successful night of energy gathering. And, he liked the way their charms jingled in tandem as they'd come up the stairs. He'd gotten the amber star, because now that they'd started collecting them, he was determined to get the whole set. The apartment could use a bit more color, and these were free, so it was an easy choice.
He leaned forward and pinched the fry between his lips as he plucked it from Orien’s fingers. He tried to savor the flavor but it was so good that he practically inhaled it anyway.
“You did good, too! What you lack in patience you make up for with enthusiasm. I think it all balances out. Jett would be proud of you, too. My classes haven’t even started yet and you’re already worrying about me?”
He tried not to sound too excited about classes--college classes!--starting soon. He was still waiting for some financial aid to come in but it was probably going to be extra funds. It was supposed to go towards his books but he’d already found a website with free resources at the library and downloaded all but one of his books for this semester.
“We’ll see. I think I might be able to juggle it. I’m already going to be doing less hours at work so I can’t imagine I’ll be that tired. Summer will be harder than Fall because the semesters are shorter. But if it’s not too hard I want to pick up extra hours, Jett already said I could. I don’t want you going out alone too much either, if you got hurt or something and I didn’t know what happened? I don’t know what I’d do with myself. Maybe die.” He was unwrapping his burger but he’d already opened his mouth expectantly, like he was waiting to be fed another fry.
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Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2023 5:38 am
Orien snorted, but was already holding out another fry for Kaelan to take from his fingers. He would have happily sat there and hand fed Kaelan if he could, but he knew Kaelan would probably start fussing over him eating, so he dug through the bag to find his own burger, while also shoving another fry in his mouth.
“You won’t die. You’ll be fine. You’re stronger than you think. And super intelligent. And clever and gorgeous and Jett would make sure you were taken care of, so don’t worry about me so much, okay? But I promise I’m not planning on doing anything that would upset you. Or make you worry. Or be dramatic and say you’d probably die,” he snickered good naturedly.
He was very aware that Kaelan likely had a much longer life ahead of him, given all the garbage he had in his body since before he was even born. He already suffered from memory loss and muscle tremors. All it would take is for one of his organs to shut down and for them to not be able to afford the medical care, and that would be that.
But he tried not to worry about it, despite the fact that he hadn’t been to a doctor since getting out of Juvie, and he certainly didn’t think those doctors counted.
“I’ve already picked up some blank flash cards to help you study. I mean, I’ll help quiz you on things, of course. Like you helped me. I can at least do something useful,” he insisted around a bite of burger.
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Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2023 5:49 am
Kaelan almost immediately had a look on his face–some combination of worry and stress and denial.
“You can’t just go from one topic to another like that, Oreo. You’re always useful.”
He lowered his burger, not even tempted by the delicious smell for the moment. “You mean too much to me, I don’t care how strong you think I am. I’m not, without you. And you’re so brave and hardworking and clever and gorgeous and nothing’s going to happen to you because if Jett would take care of me if something happened to you, he’ll take care of you while you’re here. I will die if something happens to you, so nothing had better. Okay?” he pressed, so insistent on it that he’d already committed to starving himself until Orien promised.
Kaelan’s brows were doing that thing they did when he was feeling too many emotions, and he looked like a beaten puppy as he waited for Orien to tell him he wasn’t going anywhere, ever.
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Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2023 6:18 am
Ugh, not the sad puppy face… Orien made a face as well, but his was more of a guilty grimace with a slight amount of panic.
“Okay, okay! Nothing’s going to happen!” he promised, if only to get Kaelan to stop looking at him like that. How was he supposed to deny him anything when he gave him that look?
He didn’t think that Kaelan would actually die, even if it would feel like the end of the world for a little while. But there was so much that Kaelan had to live for, and so much that had been taken away from him. For Orien, he was aware that he couldn’t actually promise that nothing would happen, but Jett already knew to take care of Kaelan. Even if he was also aware of how miserable Kaelan would be without him.
One day, if his memory just completely failed, or his body, or anything, he didn’t want Kaelan to deal with that burden.
He sighed, dramatically, because that face Kaelan was giving him was just going to be his undoing. He set his burger down and moved close enough to Kaelan so he could wrap his arms around him and hold him tight -- while being careful not to squish his burger.
“You’re so cute. How did I ever get so lucky?”
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Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2023 6:29 am
Kaelan’s face relaxed immediately and he drew the burger to his lips so he could finally take a bite. “Okay, good,” he said around his mouthful, and held up his burger so Orien could have some too. He’d put his burger down, what was Kaelan going to do–let him starve?
He nestled a bit closer.
“I feel like I’m the lucky one, you know. That’s why I don’t ever want to lose you. I care about you too much. You’ve been the only constant in my life for so long. If I didn’t have you, I’d just fall apart. You’re really important to me. I want to be with you forever, so don’t say such glum things. Especially when things are finally looking up for us. And we have magic. If something ever starts to go wrong, won’t Mirrorspace help us, anyway? I mean, sure, we have to help it get stronger, but. I think we did a good job tonight. And we’ll do a good job tomorrow night, too. And every other night that we can make time. I can’t wait to go explore it, Oreo. For when we don’t need Jett there, and we can just go off on our own.”
Not that he minded Jett! He just didn’t want to look silly in front of him and he knew he got starry eyed every time they wound up in Mirrorspace.
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Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2023 6:36 am
“You won’t lose me. You know how stubborn I am. Even if I get lost, I’ll find my way back to you,” he grinned and took a small bite of Kaelan’s burger. He wasn’t going to take food from him! He needed to eat more than Orien did!
“I can’t wait to start learning how to make things. Did you see Jett showing off the other day? He had to be showing off. Making fancy chairs out of nothing. He could have just made some stools and I would have been impressed,” he snorted and gave Kaelan a gentle, loving squeeze.
“I want to be with you forever. You’ll never get rid of me if I can help it. You’re perfect. And wonderful. And so sweet and thoughtful,” he signed dreamily, although it was clear he was teasing a little. Out of love and not malice!
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Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2023 6:45 am
It wasn’t much of a secret that Kaelan was a bundle of nerves and doubt, and in nearly all circumstances he might question anyone’s kind words for him. Not Orien’s, though. Even if he was teasing, if he was just being silly, he could say anything.
He leaned against Orien and nuzzled under his neck. “Well, I love you for all of those things and more.” Orien was good for him. He was brave and bold and dedicated and loyal, and for every hole in Kaelan’s heart, Orien was a patch to make it better.
Kaelan felt like half a person without Orien. Less, maybe. He didn’t feel like he had all the pieces to function on his own, but Orien was more than a crutch. He was every little thing that Kaelan was, but better. Stronger. Woven into the fiber of his being in a way that made Kaelan think he was whole again.
He could do the things he dreamed of because he had Orien there.
If he didn’t have him–then what was the point? How was he supposed to get his footing? How was he supposed to think he deserved nice things enough to work for them?
“I want you to be with me forever. And I want to be with you forever. You don’t have to do anything alone. And I don’t want to do anything with anyone else.” He tried to kiss wherever he could reach, and if it was Orien’s chin or his collarbone or anywhere else, he was happy to do it. He just didn’t want to move away from him. Oh, but he should eat his burger, and let Orien have his. Just a few seconds longer, then.
“I need to practice my magic more, I want to get stronger. So I can make you fancy chairs.”
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Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2023 7:43 am
“Oh, be careful now,” he teased, rubbing his hands on his clothes before he got grease in Kaelan’s hair as he brushed his fingers through. “You sound like you’re proposing to me. All these forevers and I love yous and sweet words and kisses. How could I ever resist saying no?”
He was smiling as he said it, even as his heart ached. He was teasing, and knew that something like that was more complicated than just saying they wanted to be together forever. He didn’t want Kaelan burdened by him, no matter how much he loved him and how much he wanted to be with him forever. No matter how much Kaelan cried and insisted that he couldn’t survive without him…
Kaelan deserved more than him. Even if he didn’t want to truly admit it. Even if he wanted to hold onto the one thing that was good in his life. But he didn’t want to stand in the way of something better for Kaelan. Someone who could pull him out of this miserable life of poverty, followed by shadows of their pasts.
He didn’t want to let go. But he knew the risks of Kaelan being stuck with him.
“I don’t want fancy chairs. Just you,” he said quietly and gave Kaelan another squeeze. And when the pain in his heart had eased up a little, he pulled back to grin and leaned in to whisper exactly what kind of fancy chair he could think of Kaelan practicing using his magic for -- one that he knew would make him maybe frown with confusion at first (because he was sweet and innocent) and then blush horribly when Orien went into further detail about exactly what said chair could be used for.
“But don’t worry, I’d be gentle,” he teasingly promised with a kiss to Kaelan’s temple.
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Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2023 4:32 pm
Kaelan was content to dream of marriage, and all the doubts and worries that came with that, and he was ready to dream of all the sweet nothings that Orien whispered in his ear, and–
Orien knew him too well.
Everything played out exactly as he predicted.
Kaelan was so red by the end of it that the only thing he could think to do was shove his burger in Orien’s mouth to buy himself a few seconds to collect himself. “You’re incorrigible! How long have you been waiting to tease me about that? No, I don’t want to know. Eat, Orien! You’re too skinny, and it’s probably because you run your mouth so much while your food gets cold!”
He was almost stumbling over his words as he tried to collect himself; he was visibly flustered by Orien’s teasing. Not uncomfortable, never uncomfortable. Probably even interested, once the surprise wore off. He didn’t know how many times Orien would be able to lure him into some sweet fantasy and then spring something like that on him.
What did you even need to get married? A declaration? A ring? He didn't know how much a ring would cost but he couldn’t just get him something plastic. Wait, were they old enough to get married? Did somebody have to sign paperwork? How much did that cost?
He’d have to go to the library and find out. If his face ever stopped burning.
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Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2023 9:59 am
Orien didn’t choke on the burger as he cackled with glee when Kaelan finally retaliated. But he did make sure to pull it out of his mouth after taking a bite so he wouldn’t choke.
“It’ll be fun,” he grinned wickedly, and then after swallowing he leaned close to press kisses all over Kaelan’s face, purposefully getting in his space and making it difficult for Kaelan to be properly upright.
“You’re just as skinny as I am,” he pointed out, but was still looking quite pleased with himself. He reached for the burger he started out with, and since there were less bites in it, he handed it over to Kaelan to eat, and kept the one Kaelan shoved in his mouth.
“And you’re so cute when you’re red like this. So, so cute. You’ll have to let me know what you think about what I said later,” he winked, but took a step back so Kaelan wouldn’t be tempted to shove a burger in his mouth again.
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Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2023 10:09 am
Kaelan didn’t protest the burger swapping; what was his was Orien’s, and what was Orien’s was his, and he doubted either of them would go hungry tonight anyway. He huffed and grumbled and did his best to put on a front, but the fact that he fumbled for his words and turned redder probably meant that he was only shocked, not scandalized.
“I don’t even want to know where you come up with these things,” he huffed, and took another bite before he could say something embarrassing or silly.
“Maybe we should both talk less and eat more.” He spoke around his burger, but his shoulders slumped and he let out a contented sigh because it was so good. He could eat garbage like this for every meal and be happy about it–even if he did know how to make healthier food, and even if he had been trying to cook well-rounded, affordable meals for the both of them.
With Orien further away from him, he took the opportunity of the extra space to nudge his shoes off and he leaned against the wall while he did so.
“I love you so much though.” He couldn’t help but speak around the burger to say it. He didn’t often talk with his mouth full but that was important. There was too much love in his voice for him to sound like he was complaining, but he couldn’t help but whine about how much he loved him. How much he pined for him, how much he missed him, how much he just wanted to be with him. He shoved another bite in his mouth and mumbled around it, “Maybe if you finish eating and get on your pajamas you can tell me more about this chair or whatever.”
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Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2023 10:32 am
Even before Kaelan stopped talking, Orien was shoving the burger into his mouth. He was obviously interested in talking about the chair he’d teased Kaelan with. And he was teasing a little now by being so enthusiastic.
But he also took the time to kick off his shoes, and while he shoved another bite into his mouth he tugged at his shirt to pull up and over his head, shaking out his long hair once the shirt was tossed onto the back of the kitchen chair.
It was cute the way Kaelan whined, though. Orien loved it. He loved everything about Kaelan, who could do no wrong in his eyes. He was so sweet and good. How did he ever get so lucky?
“I have a horrible, depraved mind,” he confessed, but he didn’t seem too upset about it. The truth was that Kaelan probably really wouldn’t want to know where Orien came up with some of his ideas. As horrible as his memory was about most things, some other things just seemed to absorb into one’s very soul, for better or worse.
Kaelan was definitely one of the better things. The best. And Orien would go to the ends of the universe for him if it made him happy.
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Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2023 10:49 am
“I didn’t say that,” Kaelan corrected, following suit. He shoved a few more fries in his mouth and set his burger down next to the stack of books he’d started reading for school.
“I happen to love that part of you just as much as I do everything else. Nothing about you is horrible. Maybe a little depraved. But you’re so cute, I can’t even hold it against you.”
He was peeling off his clothes quickly, eager to be done with the day and to have an excuse to just curl up and rest next to Orien. Maybe someday they’d get a television and could fall asleep watching silly movies together. They could have matching rings. They could have a better apartment. Maybe a pet.
He didn’t need any of those things to be happy; as long as he had Orien he knew he’d be okay.
He just wanted better, for the both of them. He wanted to be able to pamper and spoil him and make sure he was treated right for the rest of his life.
Marriage really didn’t seem like such an unobtainable goal, he just needed to see how to do that. And hope that Orien wouldn’t feel weighed down by labels or paperwork or–
No, he was overthinking things. They were happy together, and he couldn’t imagine a world without Orien in it. He didn’t want a world without him.
“You worked hard today. I want to give you a back massage when we’re done eating. Oh, and I want to work on your hands, too.”
He loved Orien, absolutely, through thick or thin and everything in between. He might not be able to spoil him with any of the big things he dreamed about, but for now he was going to spoil him in every other way he could manage.
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Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2023 11:18 am
“Horrible and depraved,” Orien repeated himself, although he was clearly amused by how much Kaelan was working to make him feel better about it. Which was a good thing, because all the horribleness and depravity was definitely going to be used on Kaelan. Maybe not so much the horribleness. That would be for anyone who upset Kaelan.
“Lies. You’re the cute one,” he insisted as he hopped on one foot as he tried to kick his pants off alone with his shoes at the same time, but it wasn’t working as well as he thought it might. He ended up having to sit on the floor, but grabbed a few more fries to shove into his mouth as he did so.
The offer to give him a massage and work on his hands had Orien pausing in his attempt at tearing off his clothes so he could pull on some pajama pants. He smiled, though, because Kaelan was too sweet. When he was around it was easy to forget how bad the tremors got sometimes.
“Do you want me to tell you what I’d like to do to you when you’re done, or would you like me to leave that as a surprise?” he grinned, finally getting his pants and shoes off and hopping back up.
With very predatory steps, he crossed the distance between them and took hold of Kaelan’s wrists, and forced him to take a couple steps backwards until he was up against the wall, where he then lifted both hands above Kaelan’s head before kissing him.
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