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 Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2025 8:09 pm
As promised, Ganymede brought him water and food. Without harassment. Without judgment. She seemed like she was perfectly fine with letting him stew away at his Wonder. Avoiding his friends and the people who cared about him.
He couldn’t face them. He was ashamed. He’d been abandoned by his own mother, and the years of conditioned guilt and self loathing clawed at him until he felt there was nothing he could do but stay away, lest he draw everyone else into his misery.
Reims hadn’t wanted to see Yvoire leave, but knew he couldn’t have stayed. He hadn’t wanted Yvoire to see him like that, anyway. His face was still bruised. Everything was still bruised. A part of him felt even more guilty knowing that Cassidy, who he saw last before Yvoire, was probably worried about him. He’d promised to be more honest, and while he wasn’t exactly lying he had a feeling that running away was part of that not being honest bit.
Even though he had food, he was still hungry. He was trying to ration what he had, but he’d already missed a few days of school.
Most of his outfit had been removed. The cape was good for a blanket, but other than that, he was just in his shirt and pants. It wasn’t like he was getting any visitors, anyway. Other than Ganymede.
Outside, the sky was still oddly purple. Thunder rumbled in the distance, but the storm just seemed to linger over what he suspected might be the capital. The light filtered through the windows, making everything maroon.
He was confused when a sudden blip of aura appeared nearby. Two Eternals, it seemed. Except after a few moments, one disappeared.
Reims frowned and pushed himself up from the pew where he’d been sitting, and made his way to the large front doors to see what was going on.
When he hauled the heavy wood door open, he’d expected to see Ganymede. Instead it was--
“Malus.”
Reims stared, his ears turning red. “What are you doing here…?”
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Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2025 8:24 pm
Malus had been squinting at the sky, trying to take in everything could about the Wonder while still awkwardly waiting just outside the invisible barrier that prevented entry. He hoped Reims wasn’t going to leave him waiting out here, but–
Oh, there he was.
He breathed a sigh and looked like he was ready to wilt under the sudden relief of just seeing him.
Malus looked well enough, if not a little tired. His brows were knitted together and he didn’t know whether he should smile or frown. He was glad to see Riker! Just not the bruise on his face. Which meant there were probably more. He wanted to squeeze him.
“What was I supposed to do, I was worried! Can I come in? I brought French Onion Soup.”
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Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2025 11:20 am
Reims stared at Malus, then at the soup. He didn’t know what to do. A part of him felt like he was losing every safe space where he could be alone.
Another part was relieved to see Malus. Guilt tore at his heart, and he awkwardly cleared his throat.
“Yeah,” he mumbled, because while he wasn’t sure how to feel about everyone showing up at his Wonder, he never did enjoy being alone.
Sometimes it was just necessary.
He knew it had been at least five days since he’d seen Evan for his birthday, but… that wasn’t too long, was it? He was doing fine on his own. He could prove that he could survive on his own.
Still, he took a step back and made room for Malus to make his way inside the cathedral before the storm decided to head their way.
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Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2025 5:40 pm
Malus breathed a sigh of relief, in part because he was glad to be out of this weather but more so because he could see Reims.
…Who didn’t seem particularly delighted to see him but Malus did his best not to take it personally..
He hurried into the cathedral but before he even took the opportunity to look around, he stopped just past the doorway so he could gently hug Reims. If he had one visible bruise he undoubtedly had more unseen. “Julian said you weren’t at school,” he explained apologetically. “And you didn’t show up for work. Your phone’s off, so I started worrying. I’m sorry. I don’t have to stay for long if I’m intruding. I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”
He knew something had happened, he knew something was still happening. It wasn’t in his nature to just let it go, how was he supposed to just turn a blind eye? Maybe he was a little overbearing, maybe he was overcompensating. Sometimes Riker was difficult to read.
Sometimes he wasn't.
Malus just had to see him now to figure out which it was.
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Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2025 7:40 pm
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to see Malus. He just hadn’t been ready. He was still deep in thoughts of self doubt and trying to figure out his future. But he lifted an arm to hug Malus back as he made his way inside.
“I don’t have my phone,” he mumbled, already feeling guilty for not telling Julian that he was okay. He’d just been so miserable that he didn’t think about anyone else. How pathetic and selfish was that? He didn’t deserve a friend like Julian… or someone as caring as Malus.
He didn’t know what else to say. He could explain what happened, but that was so exhausting. And it didn’t really matter, anyway.
“I got kicked out,” he mumbled anyway, before he could change his mind. He shrugged, and looked away, because it wasn’t a big deal. Except for the fact that he’d been hiding on Reims and missing school and work.
And sure, he knew his mom was horrible, but she was his mom. And he was trying really hard to not care if she cared about him or not.
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Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2025 12:50 pm
“Why?” Malus demanded, shocked for the news but not mad at Reims–how could he ever be? He’d already made up his mind that it couldn’t have been his fault. Riker was a perfectly polite young man who was very courteous and respectful every time he was over. A little skittish, sure, and he butted heads with Zac, but who didn’t?
Panic welled in the pit of his stomach and he felt cold and clammy and dizzy. He took a breath and tried to suffocate the fluttering anxiety that just kept mounting. “No, I mean–what happened?” he asked.
Malus might have had the capacity to somewhat hide his emotions but in this moment the skill was forgotten. His eyes were wide but his brows furrowed and it was clear he was trying to process this news as quickly as possible.
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Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2025 6:04 pm
Reims winced at the demand, startled by Malus’ shock, but supposed it wasn’t unexpected. He hadn’t exactly sent any messages saying what was going on. Cassidy knew, but he didn’t think he would have gone airing his troubles to everyone else.
At least not if he was worried over where Riker had gone.
Oh… but now he felt even more guilty about suddenly leaving.
Reims lowered his eyes to the ground, his voice caught in his throat as he rubbed awkwardly at his arm and then his side where the bandages would probably need to be changed. But he didn’t want to show Malus because he would just worry more.
“I dunno. Just got tired of me being there, I guess. I was late making it back after our party, so it’s not like I’m completely innocent in this,” he mumbled, his voice clearly filled with shame over the incident. He didn’t know if he could look at Malus. He didn’t want to see the disappointment in his eyes.
“It’s fine, I mean… it’s a year earlier than I expected but…” He paused and shrugged. “It’s not a big deal. I’ll manage.”
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Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2025 9:54 am
“Of course you’ll manage,” Malus said quickly, and Reims was in his arms again. “Why are you staying up here? Come home with me.”
He didn’t know exactly what Reims was feeling but he could imagine. He’d been kicked out before, by parents who were just done with him and all his drama. Sometimes they let him back. One day he’d stopped begging and never saw them again.
Maybe it had been his choice. Maybe it had been theirs. He couldn’t remember right now and it didn’t matter anyway.
Reims was doing all those tell-tale things he did when he was trying to blame himself instead of his mother. He was avoiding Malus’ eyes, he was shrinking away, he was making excuses.
“You haven’t done anything wrong, Riker. Are you trying to punish yourself by staying up here? I mean–your Wonder is lovely, that’s not what I meant–I just mean, well–”
He looked at Reims helplessly and couldn’t help but gather him up in his arms again. “It’s so cold. And it seems so lonely. And you’re hurt, and you should be with people who love you, not sitting up here all alone. You don’t have to figure this out on your own, Riker.”
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Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2025 12:56 pm
Was he trying to punish himself? Maybe. Probably. If he made himself suffer one way or another, maybe it would make up for whatever he did to be pushed out in the first place.
He didn’t resist when Malus had his arms around him, but he didn’t know what to do other than just stand there.
“If I haven’t done anything wrong-- why was I…?”
His voice cracked on the words, and he cleared his throat and he regretted saying anything. He knew what Cassidy would say. That it was his mother’s fault and that Riker hadn’t done anything.
But hadn’t he? Maybe if he’d been a little more perfect, or a little more like his brother, he would have been accepted. He hated that he kept thinking back to the people who obviously didn’t care about him, but how was he supposed to just forget that they were the only thing he’d known for the majority of his life?
“I don’t want Julian to feel like I’m crowding him,” he decided to go with instead, once he was certain he had better control of his voice. “You’ve already got so much going on at home, I couldn’t--”
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Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2025 1:37 pm
Riker knew Julian would never feel like he was being crowded. Julian had often said that having his own room felt like too much space after the time he’d spent in foster care, and one of the first things he’d done after moving in was carve out a little space for Riker, too.
“You could,” Malus insisted. “You should. No matter how much is going on anywhere, if you’re in trouble then it’s never ‘too much’. Ever.”
He stroked down Reims’ back gently because he wasn’t sure what else to do. Well–no, that wasn't quite true. He’d envisioned a thousand times what he wished his parents could have–would have–done for him. He didn’t even think he was asking for too much.
“And if something is wrong or you need help, I want you to come to me. I want you to let me help.” He let out a soft, sad sigh. “Or, try to. You’ve been up here wondering what you did wrong, I could have at least told you that this isn’t your fault. I don’t think you ever did anything wrong enough for her to treat you like this. And I’m not just saying that because I think you’re a good kid and I care about you.”
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Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2025 6:36 am
Reims knew that Malus was trying to help. He knew he was being stubborn and defiant, because if he wasn’t then what else did he have? What he wanted had never lined up with what he was allowed to have.
Whether or not he did anything to be treated like he’d been, it didn’t matter. He was without a home, without a family, and the burden he would place on others--
What if they changed their mind? What if Evan was just offering it to him as a place to stay until he got too annoying, then he would be out on his own again? He knew that wasn’t likely to happen, but it could.
“I don’t know what to do,” he admitted, his voice thick with emotions. “School? I can’t afford that. I’ll have to drop out. I have to buy a new epi-pen because mine--”
It was left at home. His mom wouldn’t let him bring anything with him. He knew Cassidy had offered, but he couldn’t rely on his friend every time he needed something -- not because his friends weren’t reliable, but because he couldn’t stomach having them do everything for him.
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Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2025 7:26 am
“Riker, it’s just money,” he said. “We’ll get you an epi-pen. And anything else you need. We’ll sit down and talk about it, we’ll figure it out. You don’t have to drop out of school.” Oh, he went to that fancy, expensive school, and Julian only got in because of a scholarship–and probably Soleiyu–but Riker only had one year left too, right? That wasn’t too bad. That was doable.
“I need you to graduate so you can go to college and get a degree for us. I’m too old to go back to school.”
His chest hurt, in part because it was just so easy for him to worry and overthink things, but even the relief of seeing Riker was overshadowed by how much he hurt for him. The emotions in Riker’s voice made him feel emotional so it wasn’t hard to assume he must have been hiding out here because he knew Evan was going to be like this.
Malus sucked it up, though. He kept his voice even and his breathing smooth. Mostly. He kept his arms around Reims and kept rubbing his back, even though he wished he was a few inches taller so he could tuck Reims under his chin.
“And you’re too young to have to figure this out on your own. Please let me help.”
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Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2025 8:10 am
It was just money. A lot of money. And he didn’t want Evan to have to worry about paying for some random kid, especially when he was already paying him to help with the food truck.
Reims doubted that Evan was too old to go back to school, but he didn’t argue with him. Not then, at least.
“They’ll need someone to, like… sign permission slips and report cards and someone to call when I get sent to the office-- I haven’t! In a long time. But still.”
Too many things were cycling through his head. It didn’t help that whatever storm was outside felt like it was weighing the air down.
“I don’t even know what I’d do after I graduate. Help with the food truck, yeah, but I don’t need a degree for that. Music? I haven’t had much time to learn. Cooking? I mean, obviously I’d want to help you. Cassidy thinks I could be a therapist or guidance counselor or social worker or something, but I don’t know-- I’ve never thought of that. I don’t know what I’d even be good at. I’m not good with people--”
Just a handful. He felt comfortable around Julian. He knew his friend had been through a lot, even if he hadn’t told him everything. But he didn’t want to burden anyone with his own problems, even if they said it wasn’t a burden.
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Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2025 12:44 pm
“Give yourself a chance,” Malus said, and maintained a constant, gentle backrub. “You don’t have to figure everything out right now. Can we have Soleiyu hack into the school and put in my information instead? I’ll sign those things. I’ll make sure you have somewhere to stay. I know the house is a little crowded but there’s room for you. And warm water, and food. And people who care about you.”
He knew Riker was expecting the worst, he knew he was having a hard time valuing himself. He’d spent plenty of time before now struggling with his self esteem, and Evan didn’t even want to imagine how much he’d been feeling while up here all alone.
“If you weren’t stressing out so much about just trying to survive, maybe you could let yourself have more time for music. And if you stay with me, you’ll have lots of time for cooking with me. I think you could do guidance or therapy or social working if you wanted to. I think you could do anything you wanted, Riker. I bet they have programs to help you figure out career paths.” Maybe Michael knew more about that; he seemed invested in Riker’s well being, and he was a teacher. Evan could ask. He had time, and he wanted to see Riker succeed. He could do a little leg work to figure out some options for him to look into, especially since he already had so much else going on–even without being a Knight.
…And having to worry about all this weird storming.
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Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2025 5:35 am
Of course Soleiyu could change things in the system. He was smart and helped out a lot, and Reims knew that wanting more was just being ungrateful, but…
The school knew his mother. Those who didn’t like him because of his history or association with her and his brother would likely not just ignore the strange change in name for guardian.
And that was all it was. Just a change in the system.
Reims was quiet for a little while, letting Malus hug him and rub his back. His heart hurt but he didn’t know why. Nothing Malus had said was bad. And Reims knew better than to ask for more, especially if it made those he cared about decide it was actually too much to deal with him.
“Okay…” he finally relented, but felt defeated in doing so. And selfish for feeling that way. He knew Malus was there to make him feel wanted and convince him to go somewhere he was wanted and safe, so why could he not just accept that and deal with whatever happened?
Evan already did so much for him. And he felt guilty for putting him through so much. He knew he should just make things easier on him, however possible.
“Thanks, I’ll try…”
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