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 Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2024 8:09 pm
Takes place late October 2024 Follows Homecoming
The reminder of how sweet and attentive his best friend was brought a small smile to his face.
He hated being stuck in bed. He knew he needed to recover, and the faster the better. He was sure he could only go so long without his mother finally trying to check in on him. Thankfully he had three teachers covering for his absence, so the administration was less likely to call his home.
It was also probably due to his medicine wearing off that he was drawn out of his restless sleep into a restless wakefulness. With a bit of effort (and moaning and groaning since he was alone and didn’t have to worry about anyone fussing about him), he pushed himself up enough to check the side table for his medicine and water.
His lip twitched again when he saw not just the medicine, but a list of times for when he took them and when he could take more. He wasn’t sure whose idea it was to keep track like that, but he appreciated it. He glanced at the time on his phone, before quickly taking and swallowing a couple more pills.
Except now he didn’t want to sit in bed. Or watch any television. Which meant getting up and slowly shuffling to the stairs. Thanks to the mechanical chair that had been added, it wasn’t miserable trying to get down.
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Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2024 8:14 pm
This early in the day, there was no telling who would be around, where. Evan was obviously banking on everyone being gone because he was in an old shirt that had clearly already been stained, and was just a little too big on him. His pants were too tight, and faded black that had a few bleach stains, too. He was wearing slippers and shuffling around the living room while Maxim tried to n** at them, but he knew Evan’s limits and never really stressed him out.
Evan was laughing and probably encouraging him so he didn’t seem like he minded.
There was a distinctly chemical smell in the air, and Evan had what looked to be some aluminum foil covering the sectioned part of his hair he always had dyed. The television was on, some old movie from the 80s judging by the graphics. Evan hadn’t even seen Riker come downstairs–until he did, and yelped.
“Riker!”
Maxim jumped, but his tail was wagging immediately and he pranced over to Riker. He was careful around him, he knew he was hurt so he knew not to jump.
Evan placed a hand over his chest and breathed a sigh of relief. “Are you okay? You’re up earlier than usual, I thought I had an hour before you’d start waking up. Do you need something?” Riker knew he could call and Evan could have brought him up anything, so the fact that he was down here made Evan worry.
Maybe he shouldn’t, though–it wasn’t enough of an emergency that Riker had phoned him for help, and he’d made it all the way down the stairs, and–
No! Riker was supposed to be resting!
Evan shuffled over and held an arm out like he expected Riker to take it, and it might have been his way of offering Riker support to walk, but Evan was afraid to hug him too tightly so he’d been using this method as a faux-hug until he could judge how badly Riker was hurting.
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Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2024 8:14 pm
Riker immediately winced when Evan yelped. He hadn’t meant to startle him, but he figured he probably looked pretty bad since he hadn’t showered-- since getting back from the springs. Gross. He hated having to change his bandages, and mobility was still limited anyway. He tried to use a washcloth to at least clean his hair with some shampoo and water, but he was probably also still pale and sickly looking.
“Sorry,” he frowned, although it looked more like a pout as he held his hand out for Maxim to sniff, and then huffed when Evan held out his arm. Riker took it, of course, and then shuffled the rest of the way into the living room.
“I’m okay.” As if he would claim otherwise. “Just restless and bored,” he admitted, eyeing the foil in Evan’s hair, and his nose wrinkled a bit from the smell of chemicals.
“You know… I started believing that your hair color was natural. Obviously it’s dyed, but…”
He didn’t know how he was going to continue that thought. Not when he was already out of breath and aching from walking down the stairs.
“Is it okay to be down here? Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt anything.”
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Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2024 8:17 pm
“Riker, you don’t have to apologize for anything,” Evan reassured quickly. “I just got startled.” He gave him a look, Riker knew how he was. He took slow, careful steps as he guided him to the couch. ”You’re more than welcome to be down here. Do you want me to make this up for you? You’re not interrupting.” A bit of color had spread over Evan’s cheeks and, maybe self-consciously, he fumbled with the foil in his hair.
“I don’t like to do this when other people are around,” he explained. “Sometimes the chemicals are–I mean, I’m used to it, but sometimes it can be a lot. And Zac teases me. But he’s been doing that since high school, and–well, I’m almost done. I have to bleach the roots to add color in.”
Did Riker need the whole run down? Probably not, but Evan was rambling as his heart calmed. He kept his head tilted away like he might spare Riker the worst of the fumes.
“How are you feeling, are you hungry? Can I get you anything? Don’t be modest. You’ll be taking care of me when I’m old so I’ve got to put in the work now so you don’t throw me in a nursing home.”
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Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2024 8:17 pm
Riker snorted quietly in amusement, and then immediately winced. “Ow…” he mumbled and shook his head before Evan could fuss. “It’s more uncomfortable than painful,” he lied, but hoped he was convincing enough if he didn’t make eye contact. He was focusing on getting to the couch, so he definitely had an excuse not to look at him.
But he had noticed the color on Evan’s cheeks. He scowled a bit to learn how he was teased about it, but glad that Evan still did something he enjoyed regardless. Or maybe it was just so part of his identity that he couldn’t not dye his hair.
“Does it hurt?” he made another face, realizing maybe that he’d asked a stupid question. “Wait… no, I know hair doesn’t feel pain. I’m still waking up.” It was a stupid excuse. Stuff with chemicals seemed like it should hurt, somehow. Especially when it was bleach.
“Don’t worry, mom. I would never throw you in a nursing home,” he gently teased, which was a good cover as he hissed in discomfort as he carefully sat down. Moving around was exhausting, but at least he was still moving.
“Anyway, I think it’s a good look for you. I wouldn’t recognize you if you didn’t have your hair colored.”
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Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2024 8:17 pm
“Oh, sorry–no laughing,” Evan chastised, but there was no seriousness. He just didn’t want Riker to hurt himself. It didn’t matter if Riker had been quick to reassure him that he was fine but he couldn’t have been either uncomfortable or in pain and Evan would have worried all the same. Riker wasn’t very convincing anyway, not when he was avoiding Evan’s gaze.
Evan wasn’t very strong but he was very determined, so he put all of his strength into making sure Riker was able to gently lower himself onto the couch. As soon as he was seated, Evan shook out the blanket hanging over the back of the couch and lay it over him.
“You’d probably recognize me with my hair dyed. I used to do it because–well, because I was trying to be edgy and was having a misplaced bout of teenage rebellion. I wanted to be noticed. But I also wanted people to leave me alone. But–you know, that sort of thing makes sense when you’re sixteen. I’m sure you get it.”
Even if Riker didn’t, Evan didn’t think he really needed to explain it.
“I used to dye it red, but it clashed with my uniform. I’m just kidding. Well, only a little. I wanted something a little softer. I tried a few colors, you know, blue and pink, a couple different shades. Have you ever thought about dyeing your hair?”
He sat on the armrest of the couch, close to Riker but hopefully away enough that he wasn’t going to get sick from the smell. Some people weren’t that sensitive to it. Zac wasn’t really but he put in a good effort to ham it up.
Evan brushed his fingers through Riker’s hair gently, in the same place Evan had sectioned off and coloring right now.
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Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2024 8:18 pm
It was still a lot to get used to. He teased Evan about mothering him, but part of him really really wished he could have had the experience of having a motherly figure in his life. Or even a fatherly one. So often, Riker felt like he was being raised by what he saw on the television, or even his teachers. But too many of them got frustrated with him and gave up. He had to raise himself, and that obviously hadn’t turned out very well.
But as Evan brushed his fingers through his hair, Riker remained very still. Any kind of physical affection -- motherly, platonic, or otherwise -- he realized he was desperate for, but he couldn’t do anything about it, lest he end up pushing people away from him. More than he had.
“I’ve never thought of it before, no. Well, at least not before meeting you,” he admitted, mumbling a bit sheepishly. “Do you think I should try some dye to go with my teenage rebellion phase?”
He felt a little giddy about the thought, but he didn’t want to get his hopes up in case Evan didn’t actually want to help him. Not that he expected Evan would do that, but he didn’t want him to feel pressured. So instead, Riker adjusted the blanket to keep himself busy and to buy Evan some time to change his mind.
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Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2024 8:19 pm
“I think everyone deserves a teenage rebellion phase. I can help,” he volunteered, certain that Riker would make himself too worried working up the nerve to ask. “I mean, I can teach you how if you want to do it yourself, but you’re still supposed to be resting. It’d be cruel of me to make you work for it.”
He was still gently carding his fingers through Riker’s hair, a little more now since he hadn’t pulled away. “It’s fun to get to change up your look every now and then. And if you don’t like it, the good news is that you can always just dye it to something else. Do you want to try? Your hair’s dark, like mine, so we’d have to bleach it first. But don’t worry, I get the good stuff, it doesn’t even fry your hair.”
Evan intended to make sure Riker benefitted from the mistakes he’d already made; no reason for Riker to suffer if Evan already had.
“If you could dye your hair any color, what do you think you’d want to try first?”
Maxim had followed them to the living room, no longer interested in Evan’s slippers. He sat by the side of the couch and rested his chin on the couch cushion, nudging his nose into the palm of Riker’s hand and looking up at him with big, pleading eyes.
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Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2024 8:19 pm
Riker kept his hand out, letting Maxim put his nose against his palm, but he turned his hand so he could rub Maxim’s muzzle and scratch his cheeks.
It was difficult not to answer right away. He didn’t want to sound like he wasn’t thinking about it, but he already knew what color he would have liked to try if given the chance. He was too embarrassed to admit that it was because Evan used to.
“Red, maybe…? Unless you think that would clash with… my outfit.”
Obviously it wouldn’t, but once again he wanted to make sure Evan wasn’t just being nice and would hopefully let him know if he was making a bad decision.
“Um… but probably just my bangs, like yours. But-- yeah, if you don’t mind.”
He was trying not to sound like he was excited about it, but he couldn’t quite stop the shift in his voice to a slightly higher pitch.
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Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2024 8:20 pm
Maxim was content with the affection he was getting and didn’t demand more. He knew Riker was hurting, he was sensitive to those things. Maxim was always gentle, but more so when he thought someone needed a little tenderness. He’d come to visit Riker up in Julian’s room a few times already but he was visibly happier to have him downstairs.
Riker had been somewhat reserved of late, but Evan understood. He’d been through a lot. He was trying to pretend like he was just fine, trying to make everyone think he was strong and unbothered and not worried or in pain.
Evan didn’t judge him for that, but he immediately brightened when he heard that hint of excitement in Riker’s voice. After all he’d been through, Evan wanted to give him whatever happiness he could offer.
“How could I mind? I think red would look great on you. And I’ve got red. You know, just in case I was feeling nostalgic. Or if I wanted to do something for Halloween. I got orange too but you know, I just couldn’t.”
Evan was practically ready to jump up and get things together for Riker.
“Oh, this’ll be fun. All you have to do is sit still for a little bit, I can take care of it. We’ll have to rinse out your hair twice, once after the bleach and one after the dye, but if I help you then you won’t even have to get in the shower. Oh! But before I get any of that, did you take your medicine already? Do you need something to eat?”
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Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2024 8:20 pm
“I took medicine,” he promised, and he was obviously telling the truth because he looked up at Evan when he said it. As for food, he made a bit of a face as he thought about what he could possibly stomach. He knew he should eat, but he didn’t know what. He’d mostly been eating soup and a few crackers… but mostly soup.
“I should probably eat,” he admitted, but again hesitated about what. “Sorry, I’m just tired. But restless. I don’t want to sleep but I also don’t feel like I have the energy to do much.”
It sounded dumb when he said it out loud. But he liked how eager Evan seemed to help him with his hair.
He liked the idea of a change. He was already growing out his hair enough to pull it into a ponytail if he wanted, so some red in his bangs should be fine, probably.
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Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2024 8:22 pm
Evan could have reminded Riker again that he didn’t need to apologize but he was quickly seeing it was a lost cause. It was something Riker would have to grow out of, not something Evan could hammer in with reminders.
Besides, he was still playing with Riker’s hair, though he’d moved to another section entirely now.
“Oh, I think I understand. It sounds like you’re going stir crazy. Well, you’ve been in bed for so long, a change of scenery will be good for you. Maybe I can pull out the lounge chairs, we could sit in the backyard. Get you some fresh air and sun.” Maybe it would be enough to lure Riker into a nap.
Evan would have loved to do something more exciting with him but he knew how important it was for him to rest.
“I can whip you up something fast. What sounds better, a peanut butter and jelly smoothie or scrambled eggs with crumbled bacon? Maybe French Toast if I cut it into small pieces…? Oh, I don’t know. Those aren’t your only options, by the way. I’d make you anything you asked for. I know you’ve had so much soup, I could probably get you a little snack now and get some French onion going for lunch. What do you think you’re ready for?”
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Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2024 8:22 pm
It was all so… gentle. And kind. And while he knew he’d likely never hear it be said to him, he wondered if this was hope people felt when they were loved.
Maybe his drug dulled brain was coming up with ridiculous things. Evan was a friend. His boss. Mentor even. And he was sweet to literally everyone, so Riker knew he was just making up fantasies in his head. Just because no one else had ever given him a handful of different options to eat and was willing to make anything Riker wanted, didn’t mean Evan wouldn’t have done the same for literally anyone else. Because that was who Evan was.
All that Riker knew for certain was how he felt about Evan. And about his friends.
Or… maybe that was part of his fantasy. It wasn’t like he knew beyond movies and television and video games what a family and love was like.
“Oh, uh… whatever--... whatever is easiest,” he quickly tried clearing his throat of the sudden wave of emotions. He rubbed his face, brushing away the tears that filled his eyes.
“I don’t-- I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I’m just tired. I’m okay,” he quickly insisted because he knew Evan was sensitive to changes in voice and demeanor. “Um… french toast if that works?” he also added, hoping that giving Evan a task would distract him enough to not think too much about things.
“And then yeah. Sun sounds nice. Does hair bleach better in the sun?” If he kept talking, he could use it to hide. He just needed his eyes to stop trying to leak.
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Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2024 8:23 pm
There was a box of kleenex on the side table, and as Evan continued to smooth Riker’s hair with one hand, he stretched so he could reach it without moving. Maxim nudged Riker’s hand again, and Evan just placed the tissues within reach.
“No, but the sun feels nice and fresh air is good for you when you’ve been cooped up in the same room for too long.”
He sucked in a breath and held it for a long moment. Not long enough for the moment to get stale, or for the words on his tongue to suffocate in his lungs.
“You know,” he said slowly, thoughtfully. Riker was so prone to worrying. He held himself to such a lofty standard and he wasn’t even happy to be pretending.
“No one’s home. It’s just you and me right now. There’s nothing ‘wrong’ with you, you don’t have to hold all that in. I can go make French toast if you want to be alone. Maxim’s good company. But I could stay, too. And I could play with your hair. And I could tell you it’s okay.”
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Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2024 8:23 pm
Riker knew he was being ridiculous. Sure, he was hurt, but it wasn’t like he was bleeding or anything like that. He shouldn’t be behaving this way. He wasn’t a child. He didn’t need to be coddled or told nice things. Sometimes he would imagine what it would be like, but that was just the dreams of a little kid. The real world wasn’t like that.
He didn’t want to be alone. He froze for a moment when Evan suggested actually going to make him something to eat. Riker tried hiding the hesitation by reaching to grab a couple tissues from the box, and to give Maxim another rub in his head.
Too many things had happened recently. He still wasn’t sure where he stood with Énna. He didn’t want to worry his friends. He wasn’t sure if he could ever look Elliot or Atticus in the eye again after they saw him like--
And this whole time, it was his friends who cared about what was going on, and not his own mother. Was she relieved he’d disappeared? Would she even care that he got hurt? Ah… he already knew the answer to that.
“I don’t know,” he mumbled, hiding his face behind the tissues, but also not moving for fear that Evan would get up. But if it was awkward or weird, Riker didn’t want to keep him there. He didn’t want to be more of a burden and waste of resources than he already felt.
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