|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2023 6:46 pm
Over the last day, Morgan had exchanged a decent chunk of personal information with Casey, and to an extent, Ariel as well. It was only fair, given the fact that Morgan was currently taking care of Harrison–something he was still trying to wrap his head around.
Casey and Ariel intrigued him. He wasn’t going to deny himself the chance to investigate the odd sense of familiarity, and the strangeness of their first meeting. Since then, he’d taken patrolling the woods very seriously and stayed even more alert than usual.
Nothing so notable had happened in the days following their introduction.
And yet, they’d brought him a thank you gift, and then dinner, and then all of a sudden he was leaving with a dog, and now he was pulling into the parking lot of their apartment. Harrison was in the front seat and as he turned off the car, he side eyed the amount of fur she’d left behind. He didn’t care about that, it would be easy to clean. The problem was if someone else was going to sit there, they might not want to wear her fur to work.
He wasn’t even sure if Casey knew he was coming to pick him up. He’d texted a while ago to ask when Casey was going to be back at the apartment. Harrison was having fun but he didn’t want her to have to go a full day without seeing her family, so he’d planned to stop by so she could have a few minutes. He’d spoken with Ariel in their group conversation and learned that Casey wasn’t going to have much time between sleeping and catching the bus to go to work.
Morgan could have said that was just too bad and planned to meet up after that.
Instead, he’d volunteered to drive Casey so he could have some time with Harrison.
Public transportation was fine and all, if you didn’t have any other option. But, for all the time he’d spend catching one bus to another, or waiting for people to get on and off, what if he could just sit in back and play with his dog? And, Morgan had a full hour break for lunch. Not that anyone would have fussed too much if he took a little longer here and there. Most of the time he worked through his lunch, anyway. The park had adequate coverage today and he was only a phone call away.
He gave Harrison one last scratch behind the ear before he hooked her leash and led her out of the car. She didn’t need to be told where to go, she was home. She knew the way back to Casey’s apartment. If he’d walked, she probably would have led him right there even if he hadn’t been given the address.
Morgan let her take the lead, and she must have been outside for long enough so far because she didn’t even bother to stop and smell the bushes, she just led him right to Casey’s door. Casey should be getting ready to go now so he wasn’t afraid of waking him up. He knocked on the door, but just as his knuckles wrapped against it he was suddenly reminded of the frightened, worried expressions on Casey and Ariel’s faces when he’d first met.
“It’s Morgan,” he called, ideally to ease any concern before it could blossom. “And Harrison.”
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2023 6:59 pm
There were still sleep lines on Casey’s face from his nap. He’d fallen asleep quickly and heavily curled up with Ariel, so now that he was awake he was still a bit groggy.
But when he heard the knock on the door, he practically yanked the towel off the wall so he could dry his face and hurried out of the bathroom so he could open it.
“Harrison!!” he gasped in his excitement and dropped down to his knees so he could wrap his arms around a wiggling, equally excited dog. He’d dried his face off before, but it didn’t seem to make a difference with the way Harrison was licking him.
“What are you doing here?? I have to leave soon! Oh--”
He suddenly gasped and felt the color leave his face. “Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry. Did I say something that made it sound like I’m able to take her back now? I-I mean I can! I can… I can uh… I can get her to a kennel I think. I think there’s time.”
It wasn’t fair for him to have Morgan take care of his dog for so long! He just… he thought he said it would be at least a couple days that he was scheduled to work really long hours. Casey felt horrible and squeezed Harrison in apology while he tried not to panic. But she didn’t seem to mind. She was too busy trying to break the sound barrier with her tail wags.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2023 7:08 pm
A brow slowly raised on Morgan’s face. “What? No. Take your time getting ready, I’m going to drive you. I brought Harrison so you could visit before you had to go back to work. She’s got so much energy, I’m not sure how she’s not worn herself out yet. We’re going to have another walk when we get back to the park. Sorry, I hope I’m not intruding. Ariel said you were getting ready to take the bus. I didn’t exactly ask if I could come over to drive you.”
Liking public transport wouldn’t have been the weirdest hobby someone could have but he just didn’t see the appeal of it.
Morgan seemed fairly easy going; he wasn’t the sort to get wound up easily, so the thought of rejection hadn’t exactly occurred to him, and even if such came to pass, he wasn’t the sort to get upset or dwell on it.
Casey and Ariel both seemed to overthink things, and to worry too much. If he’d offered, he was certain that Casey would have just found a way to stress about the whole thing. Ariel’s head poked out from the kitchen; he waved briefly but disappeared almost immediately. The sound of clinking and the smell of coffee filled the apartment.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2023 7:17 pm
“What-- oof,” Casey gasped and was immediately knocked over onto his butt when he was caught off guard by Morgan’s comment. He was going to drive him?
“What? Are you sure? I… thank you. You’re already doing so much, though. That sounds like such a hassle -- Harrison wait, wait! I missed you too, but--” he tried keeping her under control, but now that Casey was further on the ground, Harrison clearly thought it was a game that they were playing and was trying to roll onto Casey while still being rather violent with her tail.
Luckily for Casey, he had a lint roller that he kept near the door, so he could at least remove the majority of Harrison’s fur that was bound to get on him.
“She’s been good, though?” he asked around the wiggling fluff. “I mean, I saw the pictures, but. I’m always nervous about just leaving her somewhere. I don’t want her to be upset. Maybe I’ve got more separation anxiety than she does,” he admitted as he wrapped his arms around her to keep her at least somewhat still.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2023 7:23 pm
“Oh, she’s been great. I’m going to buy a brush later. And a few tennis balls. It’s because I want to, not because I have to,” he clarified, because he was really sure Casey would try to insist on compensation or something. “It’ll be good to have at the park. I always wanted to clean up the lost dogs we find, they look a little rough when they come out of the woods.”
He was buying it for Harrison but Casey didn’t need to know that. He seemed to worry about generosity and Morgan wasn’t going to give him the chance.
While Casey handled Harrison, Morgan leaned over a bit so he could hold her tail. It thrashed in his hand but he held it still so Casey didn’t have to head to work with fresh bruises.
“How far away do you work? Can’t be that far. And I haven’t decided what I want for lunch, I was going to drive through town and see what sounded good.Harrison’s such a good girl in the car, I was going to let her stick her head out and enjoy the ride, too. So we’ll be in the car either way, might as well make your life easier, too.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2023 7:30 pm
Morgan’s explanation of why he was getting a brush and tennis balls had Casey closing his mouth around protest -- or at least an offer to pay for it himself. Harrison was his dog, so of course he would pay for anything she needed! But Morgan seemed to have a pretty good reason for needing those things, so he couldn’t argue too much.
He laughed when Morgan took hold of Harrison’s tail, and with his help he was able to wiggle out from under her and get back to his feet.
“Thanks. Uh, I think it’s only a few miles, but the bus takes forever because of the route it’s on. When I miss the bus, I can usually make it in time if I run, but that’s so embarrassing and I’m always so tired after. And then work is even worse,” he sighed, but missing the bus was always his own fault. Or usually. Sometimes there were circumstances that prevented him from getting there, but he was trying to give himself at least a fifteen minute buffer just in case.
“If you’re sure it’s not too much, that… that would be really helpful. Both you and Ariel have been so helpful to me. I don’t know what to do. Maybe I’ll just cry some more,” he said with a laugh, and then realized he’d basically just admitted to crying, so he laughed a bit more because yeah he was just making a joke.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2023 7:36 pm
Morgan nodded so casually that it almost seemed as though he hadn’t even really heard what Casey said. Until, “If you’re crying a lot, make sure you’re drinking something with electrolytes so you don’t get dehydrated.”
He absolutely did not regret making the trip out here. Harrison looked happy. Casey looked happy. And, now he didn’t have to ride the bus or run. So far, so good.
“It would be a cruel world if people didn’t look after each other when they could. Besides, we’re friends, aren’t we? You can’t feed someone like that and not expect them to want to stick around.”
Even if he was only teasing, he really didn’t want Casey to feel bad. Morgan had rarely done things for himself. His nature was to help others. Even if he didn’t always look the friendliest, or seem the most approachable. Casey had overlooked all of that–and, more than just tolerated that, he’d come back with cupcakes and apples and then dinner.
Morgan still couldn’t shake the familiarity about these two. Maybe spending more time with them would help clear his mind. Maybe they went to school together, or were neighbors at some point, or something.
Maybe there was just something special about them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2023 7:48 pm
Oh. Oh. Morgan said they were friends. Casey immediately perked up because he really did like Morgan! Oh… but in a different way than Ariel! Ariel was special, and he knew him more than Morgan, but they were both great.
Casey couldn’t help but laugh awkwardly again, and then glanced around from Morgan to Harrison and over to the opening of the kitchen.
“Ariel, do you need any help?” he called, still trying to keep Harrison from trying to trip him. He could smell coffee, and now that he could take a moment to breathe, well… it was nice. And work didn’t seem as daunting any more, now that he got to see Harrison and Morgan was going to drive him.
“Does coffee have electrolytes?” he wondered, but flashed Morgan a grin to show him that he was joking (or at least if it was something weird to say then he could brush it off as a joke). He would have to try and find something at work.
“Well, I’m glad you both appreciate my food. I haven’t tried using food to lure people to me before. I should clearly look into it as a way to make more friends.” Oh, that had to be followed by another laugh because… so cringe. He was embarrassing himself with smalltalk. He just hoped Ariel would rescue him soon!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2023 7:59 pm
“No,” Ariel called, distinctly like someone who needed help.
Morgan glanced up, but Ariel poked his head out from around the corner. “How do you like your coffee? Like, specifically. Two tablespoons of creamer? A cup of sugar? I can make you a cup, too, Morgan. How do you like your coffee?”
“Black,” Morgan answered. “But I don’t need any, thank you. No, coffee doesn’t have electrolytes. I think it can cause an imbalance, don’t drink too much if you’re crying. Pickle juice has a lot of electrolytes, do you want to stop and grab a jar on the way in?” He was teasing, but maybe only because poor Casey was worrying so much. He could see it on his face, a hint of panic.
He wasn’t that scary, was he? He’d taken good care of Harrison.
“Smoothies, too. Juice, milk. Sports drinks, but they put so much garbage in there.”
Ariel hovered, still waiting for an answer. He had let Morgan talk and assumed he was doing so because Casey looked so worried. In a way, it was a relief to see how easy Morgan seemed around him. Unflustered in the slightest. He wasn’t uncomfortable around Casey; he let him talk, responded, and never laughed at him.
He hoped Casey wouldn’t have time to get himself worked up before work, so he smiled at him and waited for the specifics of his coffee. He wanted it to be perfect.
…And the faster he finished, the faster he could run over and pet Harrison, too.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2023 8:12 pm
“Pickle juice?” Casey gawked, and it was as though gears were trying to process in his brain whether or not it would be weird to just drink pickle juice out of the container. But Morgan said it was good to drink, so he must be right, right? He was, like, a firefighter and they knew a lot of stuff about health and safety!
Oh, but Ariel was waiting for him to respond.
“Um. Oh. Uh. S-should I not have coffee?” Oh. Now he felt bad if he wasn’t supposed to be drinking coffee but Ariel was so kind to make him some. “Oh, usually just a spoonful of sugar and a little creamer. I’d use more but it’s more cost effective to use less, yeah?”
Maybe he shouldn’t admit that he would prefer to use more sugar if he wasn’t trying to save money…
“Thank you, Ariel.” He was so sweet and considerate. Casey wasn’t sure what he did to deserve a friend like him. Morgan, too. He was so kind to watch Harrison for him.
“Um, we don’t have to stop. I’ll… I’ll just not cry any more.” He didn’t know what he would do if he drank some pickle juice and it sloshed out onto his face and on his clothes. That was another reason for the people at work to make fun of him just waiting to happen.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2023 8:21 pm
Ariel would buy him another bag of sugar. He’d do two spoonfuls and see how that went. Hopefully well enough that Casey would stop thinking about drinking pickle juice. He disappeared back into the kitchen so he could finish quickly. He wanted to spend time with Casey before he left.
“Have the coffee,” Morgan reassured. “You’ll be fine. But if you feel sick later, get some chocolate milk or something. Sports drink if you need to. Just take care of yourself. Especially if you’re doing a lot of high energy things. If you want to cry, get it out. Emotions have a way of boiling over if you’re not careful. Did you eat enough?”
He glanced up at where Ariel had been, but he was gone from sight and hurrying about in the kitchen. “...I’m not trying to be a nag. You can tell me if I should back off. I’m used to only showing up when people need rescuing so I stay in that mind frame a lot. It’s hard to turn off. I know it’s a little overbearing.”
He didn’t really have an off switch, and he had a commanding presence enough as it were. If Casey was going to be honest, Morgan thought it was only fair to return the favor. He didn’t seem ashamed or embarrassed by his own traits; that was just who he was. Best to give Casey a fair warning if he hadn’t figured it out yet.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2023 8:26 pm
Oh no, Ariel was gone again. Even with Morgan and Harrison there, licking his hand and beating her tail against his leg, Casey was hoping to see a little more of Ariel before he had to leave. Not that he wasn’t really appreciative of Morgan! He just… wanted to make sure Ariel was okay, too.
But for a moment, Casey stared up at Morgan. And then he couldn’t hold back the quiet snicker, and then laughed because --
“Ariel said the same thing. Well, sort of. He said I would get sick if I kept things bottled up,” Casey explained, and it was hard not to smile and think about how good both Ariel and Morgan were to him. Even though they’d only talked to Morgan a few times, there was just something about him that Casey really liked. Maybe it was his no nonsense protectiveness.
“I don’t think you’re nagging. You just care. That’s a good thing. Thank you for caring, Morgan. Besides, I could say the same thing about me being overbearing. I feel bad a lot of the time because I talk so much and you and Ariel both seem to like to listen more than talk but, I mean, I talk a lot sometimes and wow, I’m talking a lot now so I’m going to stop,” he decided and closed his mouth before he could continue to ramble.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2023 8:34 pm
Morgan’s lip twitched into a smile as he looked down at Casey.
“Why? He and I like listening, and you like talking. It’s a good match. I’ve got a lot to say, don’t get me wrong. I just know a lot of it isn’t interesting. I could talk to you about bark or tracking or the water currents. But those probably sound boring.”
Casey was probably just polite enough to let him talk about it if he wanted to.
Ariel finally appeared, with a nervous smile on his face. He trusted Morgan in a way he wasn’t used to. He trusted Casey more, but Morgan–
Well, he knew where they lived. He knew his name. He knew where Casey worked. These were things that ordinarily would have made Ariel very nervous, but…
He couldn’t explain it. He had a coffee mug in each hand, and judging by the colors he’d made them exactly the same way. With a little extra sugar and a little extra cream because he didn’t make a lot of money but if things were going to change for he and Casey, he could splurge a little. Especially when it was so busy at work. “Here,” he said, careful not to let Harrison stick her nose in. He reached down to pet her as he balanced his cup in his other hand. “Thank you for stopping by, that was really sweet,” he said, chancing a quick glance up at Morgan. Who was still smiling at Casey. Or Harrison. Or all of them, he wasn’t sure.
“I’m glad to be here. It’s a nice break from my day. What are you reading?” he asked, because even if he’d said he only talked about boring things, he was pretty sure he recognized at least one of the covers from the books Casey had strewn about his apartment. The longer he looked, the more of them looked familiar.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2023 8:41 pm
Oh… oh no, Casey could feel his cheeks turning pink. Why did Morgan have that effect on him?? Ariel made him flustered too. But it wasn’t as though they were doing anything bad! They were saying sweet things and taking care of him and. Oh, maybe he just liked that people were nice to him. That was probably what it was.
Thankfully, Ariel was soon to join them, and Casey could stop looking super awkward as he tried not to insist that Morgan could talk about whatever he wanted -- he could! -- and instead take the coffee that was offered to him.
“Thank you, thank you,” he hummed and brought the mug immediately to his mouth. Oh, but he blew on it a little first! He didn’t want to seem too eager but…
“Oh, this is really good, Ariel. It tastes so much better when you make it,” he sighed contentedly and sipped some more, while also moving to stand with Harrison between his legs to keep her from jumping up and getting too wild around Ariel while they both had coffee in their hands.
As for his books--
Casey froze and glanced around. He tried keeping things organized, but sometimes he just set his books down and they just… got out of control.
“Oh, uh… I mean, it’s a lot of different things,” he mumbled sheepishly. Maybe now was the time for Morgan to start judging him. He would just start with the normal books and ignore the others.
“Um, it’s really just stuff I can find second hand. Or at the library. Did you know that you can rent movies online with your library card?? I didn’t know that until Ariel told me. Oh, um. There’s Julia Child’s autobiography, and, um… just… things… that I found. Lord of the Rings… Wuthering Heights… Sherlock Holmes… some cookbooks have a lot of stories in them too, I guess that’s in these days.”
There were many more than just those, but they ranged from fantasy to non-fiction. It seemed as though anything Casey could get his hands on for cheap, he brought home. Many looked like they’d seen better days.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2023 8:52 pm
Ariel smiled at the flattery, but quietly insisted, “It’s because I put extra sugar in.” His eyes darted from Casey’s face to Morgan’s as the silence began to grow. Morgan had yet to say something that disappointed or worried him so he didn’t know why there was a bit of nervousness twisting in his stomach.
He had to force himself to have a sip of his drink to keep himself from just holding his breath.
“Sherlock Holmes is getting a little dry for me. I’m trying to make it through the Lion’s Mane right now but I keep taking breaks. Have you read the Speckled Band? I liked that one. You like to read a little bit of everything, don’t you? Wuthering Heights is–” he stopped himself. Ariel looked a bit interested, but Morgan seemed mindful not to say too much about a book that might not be finished.
“You have interesting tastes,” Morgan concluded. “Maybe we can swap recommendations some time.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
