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 Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2025 4:51 pm
Julian was a light sleeper so it wasn’t surprising that he’d been in the between-state between going back to sleep and waking up for a while. He’d been aware of the front door opening but Maxim hadn’t barked and there hadn’t been any major indicators that something was going on downstairs.
Julian was curled up in bed with the niggling feeling that something wasn’t quite right but he was tired enough that he didn’t drag himself out of bed to go investigate. So, he stayed awake and listened, just in case there was a problem and he needed to–
Well, he was safe here. He knew if something was wrong, someone would come get him.
The television was on, nearly silent but casting enough light across the room that it chased away all the shadows. He stiffened when he heard something in the garage. Up the steps. In his room.
There was a split second where he thought he should pretend to be asleep, but he heard Maxim’s collar a few seconds later. So, probably Evan.
Or–
Julian pried his eyes open and squinted in the darkness. His gaze immediately landed on the shadowy figure at the top of his stairs.
“Riker?” he whispered, rubbing at his eyes and sitting up.
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Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2025 5:26 pm
Even though Riker was trying hard not to wake Julian, he suspected he might have already stirred. Especially when all it took was for him to reach the top of the stairs. Riker winced, feeling guilty about bothering Julian and wondering if he should have taken Evan up on his offer to stay in the living room with him.
But then he thought about the other people who would be around.
“Hey, sorry,” he whispered back, quietly setting his bag down and going to his drawer to dig out a change of pajamas. “Do you mind if I stay up here with you? I didn’t mean to wake you,” he frowned, absently licking his lip where it had been cut -- and regretting it because it stung.
“I just had to get away from my house, you know? Too much going on.”
That excuse might work at least until it was light. For now he just wanted to give Julian a reason to peacefully go back to sleep.
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Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2025 5:42 pm
“Oh, okay,” Julian whispered, and scooted over to make room for Riker. He immediately set about adjusting the pillows and stifled a yawn as he did so. Surprise and worry might have woken him up quickly but were quickly replaced with curiosity and delight at the thought of Riker spending the night. He wasn’t so foolish as to think there wasn’t some unfortunate circumstance that had manipulated the occasion but he was glad to have Riker here nonetheless.
“I warmed up the bed for you,” he continued, layering two pillows for Riker. He gave him the fluffiest, coolest pillows. Those were always the nicest to lay on.
Maxim nudged his nose into the back of Riker’s leg and he sleepily trotted over to put his chin on Julian’s bed just to see what he was doing. Maxim only occasionally slept in bed with Julian, but he was a bit more involved when Riker was over. Sometimes he just liked to do his rounds. He hadn’t quite made up his mind about tonight.
“You don’t have to leave early in the morning, do you?” he asked, stretching so he could scratch Maxim’s head before he flopped back down on his pillows and adjusted the blankets so Riker could crawl in easily when he was ready. There were things to hide behind if Riker needed privacy, but Julian was very good at respecting boundaries and had already squeezed his eyes shut tightly in case he was planning on changing here.
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Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2025 5:43 pm
Riker paused and pressed his lips together. Gingerly since he didn’t want to hurt himself again. Julian was so quick to offer his bed that Riker didn’t get a chance to say he could sleep on the floor. Not that he’d ever slept on the floor when he stayed the night with Julian, but he didn’t want to crowd him if he needed space.
He leaned down to give Maxim’s butt a scratch, and then worked on quickly changing out of his clothes and into his pajamas. There wasn’t anything he’d consider indecent about it, but he kept his back to Julian just in case he felt uncomfortable with him getting dressed. He supposed he could have taken everything back to the bathroom, but he was exhausted and cold and just wanted to lay down.
“No,” he frowned, putting the clothes he’d been wearing in the drawer. He would see about getting everything washed later. It wouldn’t be the first time he just combined his clothes with Julian or Evan.
“I was hoping to stay for a day or so… maybe through New Years if I can manage it. If I don’t run out of clothes.” As if Evan would let that happen.
“You okay? Ah, we can talk in the morning, sorry. Thanks Jules. You gonna stay watch, Maxim?” he hummed, giving him another scratch on his head as he sat down on the edge of the bed.
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Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2025 6:08 pm
Maxim had been granted just enough attention that his tail started to wag again, and if Julian and Riker were awake, he was certain to get more attention. He seemed to be waiting for Riker to get comfortable and was already eyeing the foot of the bed like it had his name on it.
“I’m okay,” Julian answered, but seemed a little confused as to why Riker was asking. He had to wrack his brain to consider if there was anything he’d forgotten but he was pretty sure he was fine! He cracked an eye to peek at Riker, certain that he was done getting dressed since he’d sat down already. He still spoke in a whisper but it was a little less hushed. “You won’t run out of clothes, we can just do laundry. Stay forever.”
He yawned once more but peeled back the blanket, as if to encourage Riker to tuck himself in and take advantage of the warmth. Julian’s room wasn’t cold by any means but it was still winter and some of the chill crept in.
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Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2025 6:09 pm
Riker could hear the slight confusion in Julian’s voice, and he couldn’t help but smile a little. It was probably just him overthinking things, but naturally Julian would think everything was fine with himself because that was how he survived. It was as if he knew showing any kind of weakness would put him at a disadvantage. Maybe it was just subconscious, but if it kept him safe, Riker was okay with it.
“I would like to stay forever,” he admitted quietly, helping Julian with the blanket as he got under the covers. He made sure he left enough room at the foot of the bed for Maxim as well.
“I hope you don’t mind me staying close. I’m freezing. But I don’t want to turn you into an ice cube, too,” he snickered quietly, although he stopped himself quickly because it hurt his face to do so.
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Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2025 6:30 pm
“We’ll warm up together,” Julian answered easily. His head hit the pillow and he hadn’t recovered since, but he was fighting off the fatigue at least until he could make sure Riker was comfortable. Sleep was heavy in his voice, but Julian was stubborn in his own way. Avoiding sleep for a minute or two more wasn’t going to hurt him.
He waited until Riker had settled in and then stretched one arm over him so he could hug him from behind. The blankets had been pulled up over their shoulders just in time for Maxim to jump on the bed. He laid between the two of them, mostly on Riker’s legs, and wasted no time stretching out.
“Are you hurt anywhere?” he asked quietly, letting his arm drape over Riker without squeezing him, just in case.
Julian didn’t pry about the specifics; there were plenty of ways Riker could have been hurt–sports, an accident, powering up.
If he was here now, Julian could imagine other ways, too.
He just wanted to make sure he didn’t accidentally hurt Riker.
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Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2025 6:31 pm
Riker frowned for a moment, but reached up to place his arm and hand over Julian’s arm so he wouldn’t be tempted to pull it away immediately. Hopefully. He had the blankets up over him and the pillows were perfectly set for him. Clearly Julian had taken notice of how he’d liked to sleep in the various times he’d spent the night. Including when he was recovering from before Halloween.
“I’m okay,” he said quietly, giving Julian’s arm a little squeeze to reassure him. It didn’t matter where he was hurt, he didn’t think Julian could have made it worse even if he tried.
“Sleep well, Jules,” he stifled a yawn, moving his legs just enough so they wouldn’t fall asleep too quickly with Maxim on them. He was sure Julian would be concerned in the morning, but for now they could at least pretend like everything was okay. “Merry Christmas.”
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Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2025 6:49 pm
Julian was quiet for a few seconds, undoubtedly mulling over Riker’s answer. He might have been tired but he wasn't the sort to just fall asleep in the middle of worrying about someone. He gave Riker a gentle, careful squeeze and pressed close.
Riker was cold, not frigid, but clearly without the benefit of having been tucked under warm blankets.
Julian could never be greedy enough to keep all this warmth to himself.
So, Riker’s cold became his, too. They’d both warm up soon.
“Good night, Riker. Merry Christmas.”
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