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 Posted: Sat Oct 14, 2023 6:27 pm
Viconius always powered down in the darkness, somewhere a few blocks from Sterling’s house, and crept back into the house through his window. It was easy, he’d done it countless times. No one even knew when he slipped out. Sometimes he left the lights on so it looked like he was still awake, and he locked the door. If he didn’t answer, they would just think he was ignoring them. Sometimes he would turn out the light so he could pretend like he was in there, just sleeping deeply.
This had gone on for months and they were none the wiser. Tonight was no different; he’d gone into his room and turned out the light, snuck out the window, and gone to chase away all the Chaos he could find.
It was a calm night, and there was very little Chaos. He dusted one youma. It was getting colder out, and the trees were dying. That alone wasn’t enough to drive him to return, but when the first few drops of rain started to fall, he’d bolted. He didn’t want to deal with being soaked.
He was fortunate; by the time he reached the house, it had only just begun to sprinkle heavily.
Like always, he quietly pushed open the window. He’d perfected sliding it open almost silently. Effortlessly, catlike, he gripped the windowsill and pushed himself in. He had done this so often that he knew exactly what moves to make, and being lean and flexible helped him. With his hands on the windowsill, he balanced himself enough that he was able to jump and get both feet up, too. He perched, crouched a bit so he didn’t hit the top of the window frame, and was maneuvering so he could slide through feet-first into the dark room.
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Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2023 6:03 pm
Sterling and Priam had both known of Vico leaving in the middle of the night, and they had both assumed it was him going patrolling and honestly…if that was how he wanted to do things…that was fine. But…tonight, Priam was gone on an overnight shift at the hospital and Sterling was…quite lonely.
He had made a batch of cinnamon rolls, adding in a little pumpkin pie spice just to make them festive and had slathered them in cream cheese icing that he had put a few drops of orange food dye into and they were very cute.
The fact that Viconius hasn’t come out at the smell of the baking made Sterling think that he had once again slipped out, most likely through his window…and something about the sight of the cheerful cinnamon rolls cooling on the counter and the fact that he was alone and had to eat them alone suddenly…
Made him feel almost angry.
Going against his more rational instincts, Sterling crept into Vico’s room and took a seat on the chair that he would sit on when he was invited into the male’s sanctuary which…wasn’t often but. They were becoming friends. At least he thought so.
He had been sitting there for nearly an hour, resentment and annoyance beginning to fester when he heard the sounds and saw the male slipping back inside.
“You know, Viconius…you do have a key to the house and you are welcome to leave and come at your own discretion…I just wish you’d use the door and not get the window dirty with your shoes every night.”
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Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2023 7:03 pm
It wasn’t like this being his room meant it was his room, but Viconius had come to expect a certain amount of privacy. When Sterling spoke from the darkness, he dug his nails into the windowsill and hissed at him, like a startled cat.
A second passed before he collected himself. He couldn’t see Sterling but he’d heard him clearly enough to know where he must be located.
“What are you doing in the darkness? How can you stand this?” He crawled through the window and tugged his hair through before he closed it behind him. He slid his shoes off effortlessly before he stretched his hand to the lamp at his bedside and flipped on the light.
His nose wrinkled at the sudden light but he turned to face Sterling suspiciously. “I like the window.”
How did Sterling catch him? What difference did it make?
There was something in Sterling’s expression that made him a bit uneasy; he stood up slightly and hovered near the window as he observed him questioningly.
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Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2023 7:18 pm
“There wasn’t anything better to do…Priam’s at work and you were gone…I had made cinnamon rolls and I thought for sure you’d come hang out with me in the kitchen when you smelled them but you weren’t here.” Sterling wasn’t…pouting. Not quite, but he was looking at Viconius with some reproach, blinking against the sudden light.
“We know that you sneak out, and it’s absolutely fine to go out and everything but…seriously, you don’t have to sneak…ah.”
The annoyance and anger faded slightly and Sterling stood, stretching slightly. “Why do you like the window so much? What’s wrong with just using the door? Neither of us are going to be angry at you for living your life…”
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Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2023 9:26 pm
Viconius lingered by the window still, tensed slightly like he might have been tempted to just leave through it again. He had that trait, though; like a feral creature still trying to familiarize himself with civilized society. He had a tendency of just walking off, sometimes mid-conversation, so it wasn’t so strange that he might just leave.
He just wasn’t used to Sterling being cross with him.
His skin felt like it had been pulled tightly across his bones and he wasn’t sure why he felt so uncomfortable, even after his mood seemed to shift again.
“I don’t understand,” he finally said, because that much was true. There was still a lot that Viconius didn’t understand. He asked questions, often, even if he didn’t always seem to like the answers. Sterling always seemed patient with him.
This, though. This just seemed different.
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Posted: Mon Oct 16, 2023 12:50 pm
Sterling watched him for a moment, the smallest of frowns marring his expression. “What don’t you understand? What can I make clearer for you…and when you’re…I have a question too…what can we do better? What about us do you still not trust? Are we doing something wrong that you feel you have to sneak out?”
It had been bothering him for far too long…and even though Sterling had finally reached the point where he was ready to ask…he wasn’t really sure he was ready for the answer.
“Do you feel like you can’t trust us to let you live your own life? It makes me feel…like I’m messing up in some way, and if there’s a problem, I want to fix it.”
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Posted: Mon Oct 16, 2023 6:06 pm
Viconius stared at Sterling for a moment, and then his eyes finally narrowed in thought. “Is that a factor you consider on Earth?”
It wasn’t exactly an answer to Sterling's question but he wasn’t quite sure what to say. He hadn’t ever thought about it before. Honestly, he hasn’t even known they were aware that he was leaving so he hasn’t considered how they would feel about it. It was natural for him, sneaking was just in his nature. What he did, for his sake, was no reflection of his thoughts on Sterling or Priam. They were accommodating. A bit more friendly that Viconius was used to, and a bit more chatty than he knew what to do with, but he found them rather likeable. He listened to them, often. Even if he didn’t always seem to.
“I trust you enough to sleep under your roof. I don’t even lock the door.” Most of the time. Was that not a display of trust?
Viconius could be belligerent, but his furrowed brows and pressed lips indicated no hostility, only deep thought. Why did Sterling seem so upset? Viconius was still tense, like a spring coiled too tightly, but he couldn't understand Sterling at all.
“You are neither guard nor parent. If I am free to leave, what difference does it make what exit I use? I have not reported to anyone in a very long time. I don’t understand this ritual. Or what it has to do with trust. Why does it hurt you?”
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Posted: Mon Oct 16, 2023 7:50 pm
Sterling frowned at the question, but didn’t really…understand what was being asked so let it go, for now. “I’m not your guard or your parent, but…Priam and I consider you family, it’s…something here on earth, yeah. But…you’re…important to us. We’re both powered too, there’s nothing that you should have to hide.
He hesitated and stood up, holding a hand out to Viconius. “Look, I’m sure that you know that I’m a very…emotional person, I can’t really help myself but…It hurts my feelings when you hide things. Especially when they could end up with you being hurt, or killed or corrupted by chaos…it just…I would be more comfortable if we knew when we were all going out, just so if you don’t come home, we can go looking…or if I don’t come home or Priam, then the other two can come looking. We can help each other and do what we can to keep us safe…but. If you’re sneaking out of the window…how are we even going to know that you’re gone?”
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Posted: Mon Oct 16, 2023 8:48 pm
Viconius was quiet again but after a few seconds to himself, he held out his hand. Suspicious, of course, but only because it was in his nature. If he hadn’t trusted Sterling, he wouldn’t have even done that much.
“...I don’t like people to know where I am,” he said slowly, like the words were foreign.
In a way, they were. Not just because this was not his first language; there were many times that Viconius would say something to them in his own language and only realize later that they could not understand him.
But then, even when he was speaking their language, they did not always understand him.
It wasn’t their fault; he didn’t really give them the chance to.
His personal life was all but locked and sealed and he never gave any indication that he even wanted to talk about it.
But then, on nights like tonight, he was reminded that they were very much not on the same page. It was quiet enough that he could only hear the rain outside. The dogs must be sleeping. Sterling must have been lonely.
That, Viconius understood. He was the way he was because of loneliness. And betrayal. And madness. None of which did he intend to relay or admit. They were fleeting thoughts, if even that, gone as fast as they had come.
He didn’t need to tell Sterling that he wasn’t used to this–it should have been obvious.
“Chaos will never take me. I am immune.” If he wasn’t, he wouldn’t know any differently. He had not succumbed to the Chaos on his world and he would not here, either. “I don’t like to take keys with me. I like the window, it’s easier.” He looked at it, and then at Sterling with something that could almost pass as a pout. He didn’t have the words to explain it, not in a way he thought Sterling would understand. “I. Will try. The front door. Sometimes. Maybe.”
Probably. He was an impulsive creature; he didn’t always think before he did something.
Like when Sterling told him to be careful because the stove was hot so he’d stuck his hand on it to see how hot.
Very hot. He’d learned.
He hadn’t done it again since then.
Most of Earth was about learning. He just had a lot to work through. He was a creature of habit, even when it hurt.
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Posted: Mon Oct 16, 2023 9:11 pm
Sterling smiled and took hold of Viconius’ hand, lacing fingers with him and squeezing lightly. “I very much appreciate that. And I appreciate you. I understand that you want to keep secrets, I do…I’m just…not used to it. I’ll try. I have been trying but…it just.” He shrugged and squeezed the male’s hand again.
“You’ve become important to me. And the thought of losing you is becoming unimaginable. I don’t want to think of you being hurt, and immune to chaos or not…I just…” He shrugged. “I would be upset with myself. You’ve seen how I get when I think about Yu vanishing. Well. You’ve gotten to be that important…so…”
Another squeeze. “Just please be careful. Do you want some cinnamon rolls? I think we both need them after this chat.”
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Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2023 7:38 am
Viconius eyed Sterling’s hand on his own with curiosity. There was a lot about Earth that he didn’t understand, but little gestures like this…
Were still very confusing.
Sterling was speaking kind words, though. Offering him food.
Even if Viconius didn’t completely comprehend this interaction, or many of the established rules on Earth, he knew that Sterling had gone out of his way to look after him. He kept him fed and housed and somewhere safe and away from Chaos.
He needed time to think about what Sterling had said, and all he wanted anyway was just someone to share his cinnamon rolls with.
“...I will eat your cinnamon rolls. I can smell them, it’s very nice.” Silent, again, as he found the words, and then finally mustered the will to speak them. It sounded foreign on his tongue, and uncertain; “Thank you.”
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