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 Posted: Sat Oct 12, 2024 7:46 pm
The leaves were starting to change color already. There was still a warmth in the night breeze, but Reims could tell that the seasons were in the process of changing.
School had started not long ago. Even though they hadn’t seen each other as civilians for the whole summer, he kept his distance from Énna as much as possible. He was hoping that the distance would make it less uncomfortable for him. Especially since they were once again in the same English class. Thankfully his seat was so far away from him that he doubted they’d be put into any group projects together.
Either way, Riker did his best to stay busy by making sure Julian was getting accustomed to things at the school. And to both awkwardly avoid and be quietly friendly with Cassidy whenever he popped up in the hall. Usually Riker was able to slip away, especially when they all needed to get to class, but he would admit that it was nice to see his friends cheering him and Elliot on at meets. He knew how disappointed Cassidy was about not being able to join the track and field team for cross country, despite the cheerfully dismissive laughter about it. He was glad that Cassidy at least had Atticus to keep him company. And Julian now, too.
If Énna ever showed up, it certainly wasn’t for him. He did his best to avoid making eye contact, not wanting to cause trouble for anyone. He knew he hadn’t been a very good person and Énna had every right to hate him. But because of what he’d done, Riker knew how difficult it was for everyone to get together. If Elliot invited everyone over, Énna would likely not show up if he found out that Riker would be there. If Julian wanted to invite friends over, he was often discouraged by the idea of having to leave someone out and thus ended up never following through with his plans.
But Yvoire really seemed to enjoy his time with Reims. And Reims enjoyed his time with Yvoire. They always had fun. Well, a lot of it was cleaning up their Wonders. And there was more of it where things were emotionally heavy and Yvoire was clearly not okay because his dad had been killed. But other than that, they often found things to talk about that didn’t cause any problems!
Like tonight, they were supposed to meet up to hang out. Go patrolling, or whatever fancy thing the other Knights and Senshi called keeping an eye out for danger.
That didn’t stop Reims from bringing some broccoli cheddar soup with him.
He was already second guessing himself.
Who brought soup to hang out with someone? Julian didn’t seem to mind the corndogs he’d brought before, but Julian would likely suffer through whatever would be easiest and least offensive.
He had two small containers with him. And spoons. And bread. Because everyone liked bread, right?
Unless Yvoire had a gluten allergy. Or was lactose intolerant.
He could see a trash can from where he was sitting on a bench near the fountain he’d suggested meeting up at, tempted to dump everything before Yvoire showed up.
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Posted: Sat Oct 12, 2024 7:47 pm
Yvoire arrived with two steaming takeout cups from one of his favorite cafes and a small, not-quite-shy not-quite-confident smile.
“Hi, sorry,” he said. “I didn’t mean to keep you waiting. I stopped for something to drink on the way and it was busier than I thought it’d be. Lots of people on night shift, I guess. Do you like pumpkin spice lattes? I’m sorry, I should’ve sent a message and asked. I got these from a little hole-in-the-wall cafe. They’re better than the stuff you can get at Starbucks.”
Yvoire rambled a bit, but his voice was as quiet as always—not a whisper, but low, not terribly assertive. He felt small and awkward, which wasn’t an uncommon experience for him, but one he hated even more when he was around someone he liked.
He liked Reims. Yvoire told himself the nature of that feeling was friendly so he didn’t end up disappointed. Reims was brave and kind and he made Yvoire feel safe without making him feel weak and pathetic. (Yvoire did that all on his own.)
“I think I was just a little excited that it’s getting cooler,” he said. “You know, not as warm and humid. I like fall and pumpkin stuff, so…”
Yvoire flushed faintly. Even around Reims, who never judged him, he still expected to be judged. Yvoire picked at the side of one cup with his thumb, nail painted a deep, sparkly red.
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Posted: Sat Oct 12, 2024 7:53 pm
Reims practically jumped up from the bench when he saw Yvoire getting closer -- oh, but that was probably weird. He should probably just wait patiently because that was cool. Or something. But he offered him a smile as he listened to what kept him, only to let out a quiet laugh.
“Oh, we had similar ideas,” he said with a sheepish grin. In the end, he’d kept the cups of soup just in case, and was glad that Yvoire had also brought something to share.
“I don’t think I’ve had any of those. Uh, is it sweet? I mean. If that’s okay to like sweet things,” he grimaced, not wanting to seem weird. Normally when he was around others, he got plain black coffee to show how cool he was or something stupid like that. But since hanging out with people like Julian, he’d slowly gotten used to the idea that he wouldn’t be judged for getting sweeter drinks.
“I know it’s getting late, so just in case you didn’t have anything to eat, I brought some broccoli cheddar soup,” he explained, glancing down at the disposable bowls. “Uh, these came from a food truck. But it’s really good. I go there all the time.” And not just because he worked there.
“But don’t feel obligated to try it. Thank you for the latte, though! I could use a little boost. And… I guess since there aren't really any threats around, we could just sit and relax for a bit and just chat?” he suggested, glancing towards the bench, and over to a picnic table close by. It was quiet in the park. Just the insects -- mostly cicadas that he could recognize. Maybe the occasional bat swooping around in the trees.
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Posted: Sat Oct 12, 2024 7:54 pm
“Thank you…”
Yvoire’s cheeks went a little warm; he thought it might be dark enough that Reims wouldn’t notice. There were street lamps to light the way, but their warm glow only stretched so far. Shadows crept in the spaces between.
He nodded and made for the picnic table, setting the drinks down when they arrived.
“They’re a little sweet,” he said. “But I don’t think it’s overpowering. Sort of in-between. It’s espresso and milk—I had them use regular milk. I hope you’re okay with dairy. Umm, this place adds a little pumpkin puree, too. Most don’t, since… it’s usually just the spices in a Pumpkin Spice. There’s some vanilla added in it, and I brought some sugar packets in case you wanted a little extra.”
Yvoire bit at his lip, afraid he was talking too much. He swallowed before he could ramble more, eyeing the soup Reims brought.
“It smells good,” he said. “The soup, I mean. I actually—I love broccoli cheddar.”
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Posted: Sat Oct 12, 2024 7:56 pm
If Reims did notice the flush to Yvoire’s cheeks, he didn’t say anything about it. He wouldn’t want anyone commenting on his ears turning red if he was actually flustered about something. The little grin that tugged at his lips certainly wasn’t because he thought the color looked nice on Yvoire’s pale skin (it was).
“Oh really?” he blinked, genuinely surprised by Yvoire’s explanation of the drink. “I guess I never really paid attention. It sounds good! I just thought people must really like pumpkin. I didn’t know it was just spice usually.”
Although he felt pretty silly for admitting it. Maybe it was common knowledge, but he didn’t usually indulge in fancy drinks at cafes.
He perked up a bit more when Yvoire said he loved broccoli cheddar.
“Really??”
Oh, too much enthusiasm. He cleared his throat and tried not to bounce on the balls of his feet as he gathered everything up from the bench and started walking backwards to the table.
“I hope you like this one then. The broccoli pieces are cut up pretty small so you don’t really notice the texture. I like the little -- uh -- top parts of the broccoli, but you’ll have to let me know if I’ve got any stuck in my teeth after. I’ll do the same for you, don’t worry,” he insisted.
His heart was racing and his stomach was doing weird flip flops. He felt like he needed to find a way to impress Yvoire, and for reasons more than trying to convince him that he wasn’t that bad of a person. He knew he couldn’t keep his secret forever. Maybe a little longer would convince Yvoire that he was more than just a school bully who’s seen the error in his ways.
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Posted: Sat Oct 12, 2024 7:56 pm
Yvoire sat on one of the picnic benches. He wasn’t sure if Reims would want to sit next to him or across the table, but he left plenty of space beside him just in case.
“Thank you…” he said again, ducking his head a bit to hide behind his hair for a few moments in case his face was doing something weird. He didn’t want to be too exuberant, but he didn’t want to be too reserved either, and he wasn’t sure he was doing a very good job of it. Mostly he was uncertain, but happy and hopeful, too.
Drinks and soup in front of them, Yvoire popped the lid off of his portion and began to eat, stirring his spoon through the soup as he swallowed his first taste. It was still warm, but not scalding, so he could take a few bites in relatively quick succession.
“It’s really good,” he said, pushing his hair back out of his face to tuck some behind an ear. “You got it from a food truck? I didn’t know you could get soup from those. Usually it’s tacos or ice cream. They probably do really good business this time of year, though.”
He took a few more bites, savoring the taste. “I really—thank you—I know I keep saying that, but… I just want you to know I… This is really nice. I like that we can hang out like this. Sometimes being around everyone can be a little stressful because I don’t know which conversations to follow and I always feel kind of… I don’t know. Like I don’t belong, even if no one’s ever made me feel like I don’t. That’s just me being me, I guess. I didn’t have any friends until I became Yvoire…”
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Posted: Sat Oct 12, 2024 7:57 pm
Was it weird to sit next to Yvoire? He supposed it would be better and give them more space if they sat opposite each other, but he wanted to be able to talk to him without having to be too loud. That seemed like a good enough excuse, and not because he wanted to sit close to him, right?
Since Yvoire didn’t take up too much room, Reims made himself comfortable next to him. He took a sip of the latte and made a noise of pleasant surprise.
“This is really good, too. Thank you, Evie,” he said with a small grin, also pleased that Yvoire really liked the soup. “Yeah, they have a lot of cheese dishes. You know. Like grilled cheese, mozzarella sticks, mac and cheese. Nachos. Sometimes warm brie and fruit depending on what was easy to stock.”
He spoke proudly of the truck, even if he hadn’t admitted to working there, much less knowing the owner. Evan had put a lot of work into it, and it was something he was passionate about. Passionate enough that Reims wondered how well he would do with a focus in culinary when he got out of high school.
When it was Yvoire’s turn to speak, he paid attention of course, but took a few bites of soup himself. Just so he wasn’t letting it go cold.
But he paused and frowned when Yvoire admitted to not having any friends before becoming a knight.
“Being Reims is probably the best thing that’s happened to me,” he admitted, setting his spoon down in his soup. He didn’t glance over at Yvoire, not wanting him to see the regret in his eyes or expression.
“I can be myself as Reims. I don’t have to put on an act -- to try and be someone I’m not. I know I messed up a lot, and I don’t think that being Reims has voided out anything -- I still have a lot I need to make up for. That I want to make up for. But… yeah, I get it. I didn’t really have any friends either. And I really like being your friend, Evie,” he said as he glanced sadly over at him.
“I know you’ve been through a lot. A lot that you definitely didn’t deserve. But I always like talking to you and being around you. You’re like… a calm in the storm of all this magic. It’s settling to be around you, if that makes any sense. I think you’re reliable and you have a big heart. And, like, I don’t know. Is it weird if I called you cute?”
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Posted: Sat Oct 12, 2024 7:58 pm
Yvoire didn’t understand some of what Reims was talking about. Being himself. Messing up. Making up for things. What did he have to make up for? Yvoire only knew him as Reims. He had no idea what Reims’ life was like outside of this. The others were more or less the same whether they were powered up or not. It made sense that they were who they were because they acted the same, and when he could see through the magic they looked the same, too.
Surely Reims was still Reims without the magic. Even if his name would be different. Even if he might not wear a nice suit or carry around a stained glass sword.
Yvoire looked down at his soup. He stirred his spoon through it again, his small smile giving way to an equally small frown. He wasn’t upset with Reims bringing it up, but he didn’t want to think about Daddy right now. He didn’t want to be sad. Maybe he didn’t have much of a choice in that. Happiness always seemed so fleeting.
Then Reims said such sweet things, and Yvoire’s face went warm and pink again.
“I don’t think it’s weird,” he mumbled, fiddling with his spoon. “I mean… unless you think I’m weird, then I guess it might be weird to think I’m cute, or… I don’t know. I am weird. I don’t think I’m very good at being a friend. Or maybe I’m not very good at being a person. I don’t really know who I am or what I’m doing, but… I like being around you, too.”
The color in his cheeks darkened. Yvoire held very still instead of shaking his hair into his face, like he wouldn’t make a fool of himself if he didn’t move.
“I like that we have something to share,” he said, quiet and shy. “You know, Reims and Yvoire. That we have a connection. Like how Ephesus and Amarynthos are so close. Not that we’re like them,” he added hastily.
His heart skipped a few beats. Yvoire had to take a breath to settle himself. It didn’t work. “But I mean… it feels kind of like fate, doesn’t it? That we both awakened when we did, and our Wonders are so close, and we met the same friends. Sometimes I think it’s stupid to believe in stuff like that, but it’s also… kind of comforting…”
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Posted: Sat Oct 12, 2024 7:58 pm
“What! No way, you’re not weird at all!” Reims sputtered incredulously at Yvoire’s question. But he could sort of understand what he meant about not knowing how to be a good friend or person. Or knowing what he was doing.
There was a lot that Reims didn’t know -- about others or himself. He was learning, but it felt like a slow, painful process at times.
“I think it’s really cool that we’ve got Wonders so close to each other. It does feel a bit like fate, and I don’t think it’s stupid to believe in that stuff either,” he insisted, his brows furrowed a bit with concern.
Before, Yvoire’s cheeks had been just a bit pink, but now they were really pink. Red, even. Absently, Reims lifted his hand so he could place the back of his fingers lightly against Yvoire’s cheek.
He flashed him a sheepish smile, prepared to withdraw his hand if Yvoire seemed like he definitely didn’t want to be touched. But his cheeks were so red that they looked almost painful.
“Do I make you nervous?” he wondered. His fingers were cool. Much cooler than Yvoire’s cheeks at least.
“I think we’re kinda like Ephesus and Amarynthos,” he added after a moment of thought. “We’re a good team. I know I can rely on you. I’m always worried when I can’t find you when there’s, you know, big stuff going on. You being by my side is a comfort. Just like our Wonders being so close.”
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Posted: Sat Oct 12, 2024 7:59 pm
Yvoire flinched away from the fingers against his cheek. Not because he wanted to, but he was startled, and the fingers there drew attention to the fact that he was blushing, and even if that happened a lot, he kind of hated it sometimes because it made certain thoughts and feelings so obvious. But then he hated himself for flinching away, too, because he liked Reims and didn’t want him to think he didn’t want to be touched. He didn’t know how to get that across without saying it.
Then he didn’t know how to say it.
“No,” he said, because he wasn’t nervous. Not really. Okay, maybe only a little. But not because of Reims! He made himself nervous!
Yvoire looked at him with bright eyes. He lifted his own hands to cover his cheeks like he could hide the color.
“I’m always… sort of nervous. But not because of you,” he said. “We’re—I mean—Ephesus and Amarynthos are… different. Because they’re… you know…”
Dating—which was a thing Yvoire definitely could not say without specifying that he and Reims were not. But he also didn’t want Reims to think he wouldn’t want to, or that he did want to, or that he thought about it at all, or that he didn’t think about it. He did his best not to think about it, actually, because they were friends and Yvoire liked that. He liked that so much! He wanted to be friends! But maybe he got a little jealous of how close Ephesus and Amarynthos were sometimes. And Reims was so nice. And he was cute. And Yvoire liked the way he felt when he was with Reims.
But he also knew he wasn’t the only person Reims spent a lot of time around. He wasn’t the only person Reims worried over or cared for.
“You and Rose are—I mean you seem like you’re—”
Yvoire hesitated. He didn’t really want to think about Rose either.
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Posted: Sat Oct 12, 2024 8:00 pm
When Yvoire flinched away, Reims simply lowered his hand. He knew better than to touch without permission, but it was cute the way Yvoire then tried to hide his face behind his hands.
Oh, and he was kind of stammering and struggling for words. That was also kind of cute, but Reims didn’t want him to be upset or uncomfortable.
He shifted a bit, turning on the bench of the picnic table so he could better face Yvoire. He took another sip of his latte before it could get cold, hoping to give Yvoire some time to put his thoughts together.
Of course, Reims was surprised when Rose was brought up.
“Rose?” he blinked in confusion for a moment, setting the cup down on the table but not letting go of it. “I guess if anyone was my friend before becoming Reims, it was her,” he admitted, still watching curiously how Yvoire was clearly flustered. But why would he mention--
Oh…
Now it was Reims’ turn to turn red. First his ears and then it stretched to his cheeks.
“We’re not-- I mean. We’re friends. She knows I can be uh… cranky about things. She helps keep me grounded but-- Did you think we were going out?”
Because it certainly seemed like that was what Yvoire was implying.
Rose was beautiful and kind and cheerful, but Reims always felt subpar to her. She was a cheerleader and popular and had a ton of friends, and he was just some weird kid that she knew through their moms.
“Sorry--” he quickly tried to ease any discomfort Yvoire might have been having.
And then it suddenly hit him. All of the awkwardness. All of the gentle smiles, all of the kind gestures. Yvoire being flustered and not speaking in complete sentences. The way he’d kissed his cheek that once--
Did Yvoire actually like him?
He liked Reims…
The thought in the back of his head was like ice water.
“My stomach gets all twisty and my heart feels like it’s trying to escape my chest when I’m around you,” he blurted out, although his voice was quiet, like he was sharing a secret he wasn’t supposed to but couldn’t help himself. “I don’t know what that means-- I didn’t know. I’m not--”
Not worth Énna’s forgiveness for what he’d done to him…
“I’m still trying to figure things out. Being Reims-- it’s like I can breathe. I don’t have to listen to what people want, what my family wants or what they think is okay. They would never accept--”
He didn’t know what he was talking about any more. Part of him wished he would disappear on the spot and then he wouldn’t have to worry about Yvoire being weirded out by him. His face felt like it was burning and he anxiously picked at the fabric of his pants, before rubbing his sweaty palm on it.
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Posted: Sat Oct 12, 2024 8:01 pm
Yvoire’s stomach twisted. His heart felt like it might lurch out of his chest. He knew exactly what Reims was talking about, but he almost couldn’t believe it, because he was just… Yvoire. He was just Énna, and being either of those things never really amounted to anything. Yvoire wasn’t ashamed of who he was but he also didn’t think he was anything special. He was sad and weird and never quite fit in anywhere, even with his friends.
Swallowing heavily, Yvoire kept his hands on his cheeks. He saw the color spread over Reims’ face and felt safe again. Even if it was a little awkward. Even if he was a little unsure. He thought maybe Reims felt the same way. That was comforting in its own right.
“Why wouldn’t they accept—” Yvoire began, but stopped himself quickly.
He wanted to know.
He wasn’t sure if Reims wanted him to know.
Reims was protective of his life, of his identity. Or maybe it was that he was protective of who he was as Reims. That seemed more likely, based on what little he’d said. He liked being Reims. He didn’t necessarily like being who he was when he wasn’t Reims.
Yvoire didn’t feel the same, but he could still sort of understand. No one had to know who Reims was. He could live a second life if he wanted to.
“You can talk about it… if you want,” Yvoire said—slowly, gently, so he didn’t put too much pressure on Reims to do something he might not want. “You listened when I talked about—” Daddy. “—And even if I don’t want to talk about it a lot, it makes me feel better that you know. I feel like… I don’t have to hide when I’m sad. I don’t have to pretend that I’m fine. I can think bad things or be angry about stuff and you’ll know why, even if no one else does.”
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Posted: Sat Oct 12, 2024 8:01 pm
It was reassuring, if nothing else was, that Yvoire felt better that Reims knew about how he felt. Reims wanted to know. He wanted to know why Yvoire was always so sad, why he was angry sometimes, and why he kept himself hidden away from others. He knew it hadn’t been easy for him to talk about. He didn’t seem like he talked about it with many others -- if anyone.
Reims chewed on his cheek, trying to decide what to do. There was so much he could talk about. So much that he knew he shouldn’t talk about. He wanted Yvoire to be his friend, at the very least--
Did he want more than that? Even he didn’t know. His brain felt like the gears got muddled and stuck when he tried thinking more.
“My whole life I’ve been told that I’m unwanted,” he started somewhat awkwardly. He might have mentioned similar things to Yvoire before, but if he did he always tried to end the topic quickly.
“And not, like… ‘maybe I’m misunderstanding what my family means’ kinda thing. I’ve been told in those actual words that I ruined their lives for being born. Uh--”
He didn’t want to make everything about himself. He knew it was awkward to talk about already, which was why he tried not to. But Yvoire asked. He was going to trust him.
“So-- for context-- my family all has really blond hair and bright blue eyes,” he explained, and then awkwardly gestured to himself. To his obviously not blond hair or blue eyes.
“Yeah, I think the divorce papers were served while I was still in the hospital. It seems pretty stupid to say out loud. Like, I know it’s not my fault. But I didn’t really know that until I became Reims. Because then I had another perspective on things. That maybe my family would never want me around, even if I did everything I thought they wanted me to. Even if that meant doing things I didn’t want to, just to make them happy. Which, I mean, they never were anyway. Mom hasn’t gotten rid of me because she gets a huge child support check. I’ve never met the guy who sends her that check. Her ex-husband wants nothing to do with me. Pretends I don’t exist, at best. Purposefully gets my older brother really expensive gifts or trips around the world when he’s feeling vindictive towards my mom. I tell myself it doesn’t bother me, because what else can I do? But…”
He shrugged then, hating that his eyes were feeling hot. He didn’t want to be emotional. He wasn’t in pain, wasn’t bleeding, so he wasn’t allowed to cry--
Reims cleared his throat and made sure he wasn’t looking at Yvoire, just in case it was really awkward and stupid for him to get emotional over such selfish things.
“They hate anyone who isn’t exactly like them. Their class, their looks, their thoughts. I only have about a year or so left until my value as a child support check is over. I guess I’m just trying to figure out what I’m going to do. I’ve heard people sometimes live at their Wonders, so maybe I’ll do that. Sorry, that was really-- it was a lot. I’m not sure you wanted all that. But… thanks.”
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Posted: Sat Oct 12, 2024 8:02 pm
Softy, Yvoire said, “Oh…”
He knew immediately that it was inadequate.
No words could encompass how awful he felt. That wasn’t why Reims had told him, of course; Yvoire didn’t get the impression that Reims was looking for pity or sympathy. There was no competition between them to see who had the more miserable life. Yvoire had told Reims he could talk and Reims was doing so. The more they shared of themselves, the better they would know one another, and the more they might be able to understand.
Yvoire had nothing in his life to compare to Reims’ experience. Daddy was dead; nothing would ever make that better, but at least when he’d been alive Daddy had loved him. Dad loved him, too. Yvoire was cherished. He was fortunate to have parents who wanted nothing from him but the chance to love him. Not everyone could say that about their parents.
Slowly, Yvoire lowered his hands from his face, which had lost a bit of its color as Reims spoke. Tentatively, he reached for Reims’ hand, giving Reims plenty of time to pull away if he didn’t want to be touched.
“I’m sorry,” Yvoire said.
He knew that was inadequate, too.
Yvoire stared at Reims intently; though he noticed the wet sheen over Reims’ eyes, he didn’t draw attention to it. He didn’t know what to say, or what to do. Yvoire didn’t know how to comfort Reims when he couldn’t even imagine being shunned for what boiled down to the mistakes of his parents. It wasn’t fair. It wasn’t right. But Yvoire couldn’t do anything about it. He couldn’t take the pain away, couldn’t change anything about Reims’ family, couldn’t give him anything but his company and acceptance.
“I can help,” he offered, then felt guilty for it. What could he really do? “I mean, if… if it comes down to it, and you decide you want to stay at your Wonder. We’ve been working on it, and it’s looking better! Ganymede says there are places that are liveable, so… we know it’s possible…”
Stupid, he told himself. Stupid, stupid. But he was fifteen and helpless. He couldn’t offer Reims a home. He couldn’t offer him a family.
“I’m sorry, I wish I knew what to do,” he said, voice a bit strained. “I don’t know what I would do if my family was like that. But… I hope you know, at least with me, and I’m sure the others, too—I mean… You are wanted. Maybe that’s not enough, but… but you’re wanted.”
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Posted: Sat Oct 12, 2024 8:03 pm
Reims hadn’t expected Yvoire to take his hand, but he didn’t pull it away. He felt guilty about it, knowing that if Yvoire knew all of the secrets he’d been hiding from him, Reims might never be able to talk to him again.
He knew he was opening a huge door. He knew he was risking being ridiculed or at the very least having what he’d admitted be used as blackmail--
No… Yvoire wasn’t like that. Énna wasn’t like that. He had every right to hate Riker for being a horrible person to him. And Riker had done his best to give Énna the space he needed. It was probably considered super toxic or stalkerish that he was sneaking around as Reims, being friends with him when Yvoire didn’t know. But even if Énna used anything he’s said against him, Riker was certain that it would only be deserved.
He gave Yvoire’s hand a little squeeze and offered him a smile. It didn’t reach his eyes but he was sincere in wanting to reassure him -- someone he cared deeply for. Ever since they’d first spent time alone together, looking through the ruins of Reims, he’d felt a strange twist in his stomach. Only after talking to Elliot did he wonder if maybe… maybe it was more than what he realized.
And now Yvoire knew how he felt.
But he still didn’t know his secret.
“Thank you. I know at least Reims is wanted, so that’s helped out a lot with trying to figure things out,” he promised. “And it’s okay, really. It was nothing you or anyone else could have known. But… thank you.”
Another pause, another settling breath. He straightened up a little, his voice a little lower and his small smile shifting into something more serious.
“I want you to know that I think you’re incredibly strong. And brave.” Yvoire had been through so much. He thought that Yvoire had it worse. At least he didn’t have to suffer through losing someone he cared for… at least not yet… at least not with death…
“You’re clever and smart. Resourceful. And a good friend. Um…” His lips were dry so he licked them. Preemptively, Reims carefully withdrew his hand from Yvoire’s. He rubbed his sweaty palm on his thigh again.
“You also deserve to know the truth… You know me. And I was… awful to you. I was wrong. I was -- desperate. Lost. It’s not an excuse and -- I didn’t think I would be telling you any of this tonight,” he continued with an awkwardly nervous bark of a humorless laugh. “Not about my family, or how I feel, or that I might-- I mean… I don’t know what it really means for how I feel but… I don’t think it’s-- um… I don’t know. I just know I like being around you and… it’s not fair to you not to know.”
And because there was no other way he could possibly explain things, so he did the easiest thing he knew that would prove things without words, and powered down.
Instead of an elegant top hat and suit with sparkly gems and shiny metal, Riker sat beside Yvoire with an old, black zip up hoodie and jeans that were too short for him as he continued to grow. His heart was in his throat, but for a different reason now.
“I’m sorry, Evie…” he mumbled, staring down at his knees because he didn’t think he could look Yvoire in the eye.
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