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 Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2025 10:44 am
He’d apologized to Julian, of course. He knew it had been rude to take over a shared room and turn it into his personal makeout spot with Cassidy.
He’d gotten carried away and he felt guilty for it, despite Julian insisting it was fine. That it was Riker’s room too, and that he should have knocked.
Except Riker didn’t think it was fair that Julian thought he had to knock on his own bedroom door. So even though he accepted Julian’s reassurances, Riker had already decided to never do that again if he could help it.
If he could help it.
Cassidy had a way of getting him flustered and distracted, and Riker wasn’t entirely sure how well he’d be able to stick to that promise, but he was damn well going to try.
Today, though, he was going over to Cassidy’s. He told himself to focus on anything other than how badly he wanted to kiss him. But the words rain check and pay you back double had been branded into his brain like a kid waiting for Christmas.
He slowed the bike Evan let him borrow to a stop once he’d reached Cassidy’s driveway, and pulled out his phone to text that he was there. It had been almost a week since the world nearly ended, and while he’d certainly seen Cassidy during that time, it was never alone.
And that was fine, but…
He didn’t know why he felt nervous. It was just Cassidy. He’d been over to his house plenty of times now. Maybe it was the anticipation of something he didn’t entirely understand.
Or… maybe it was guilt for hiding the truth about his identity from Cassidy this whole time.
By the time Cassidy got to the door, Riker had already removed his helmet and was attaching it to the bike’s handlebar.
“Hey,” he greeted, trying to sound casual. Instead of just showing up with nothing and looking entirely unprepared, he had a backpack with pajamas and clothes for the next day.
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Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2025 10:45 am
“Ohh, I like a man on wheels. Very sexy,” Cassidy crooned. He’d answered the door in a black apron that was as much fashion as it was function; the top was fitted and tied tightly around his waist, highlighting his silhouette, while the skirt flared around his hips. He’d patted flour out on it long enough ago that the white dust had settled, and the pockets, though deep, were empty. His hair was tied up in a sloppy bun that made him look both hardworking and lazy. And, in his opinion, very cute.
He leaned forward to kiss Riker on the cheek, a bit obnoxiously. “Next time show up with a tie, too,” he said, pulling him inside.
The apron almost gave the illusion that he wasn’t wearing much beneath it, but Cassidy spun too quickly to maintain the illusion. He was wearing shorts, like always, and a thin, white turtleneck with the sleeves rolled up. He held Riker’s hand in his own as he led him inside, shuffling in his slippers. “Want to put your bag down in my room?” he asked, hardly hiding how glad he was to see it. “I’ve gotta take the quiche out of the oven but it’s got like two minutes left. You can get comfortable and I’ll be in there in a minute? Or you can come watch me cook.”
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Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2025 10:46 am
Oh, he hadn’t expected to be called sexy for riding a bike. That was new. Hopefully his hair wasn’t too messed up from the helmet. Although with how Cassidy had his hair, he doubted it mattered. Maybe.
He was trying to not get distracted by the kiss to his cheek, or the fact that for one mesmerizing, disorienting second, it looked like Cassidy wasn’t wearing anything under his apron. Just soft, flour dusted fabric, bare legs, and--
Oh, wait, no, he had on shorts. Of course Cassidy was wearing shorts. Because not wearing anything would have been ridiculous and Riker was horrified that his brain had even considered--
“Wait, why do I need a tie?” he blinked with confusion, Cassidy’s words catching up to him as he was pulled inside the house. He quickly removed his shoes by stepping on the heels and pushed them to the side of the door and out of the way, but he was still trying to process why he needed a tie. He would have to ask Evan. Or if Evan didn’t have any, maybe Zac would let him borrow one.
His brain short circuited again just a second later.
“What? Kiss?” he echoed, staring like Cassidy was speaking a foreign language. “What do you mean kiss? You’re putting a kiss in the oven?” he sputtered, but then grimaced at himself.
…Was he betraying his thoughts already?
Curiously, he followed Cassidy to the kitchen to try and catch a glimpse of whatever was in the oven, but it was too difficult to see, and the glass oven door only reflected back his own confused face.
“Uh… yeah… I’ll be right back,” he quickly agreed, not wanting to stand there awkwardly while Cassidy handled things in the kitchen. He ducked down the hall and tossed his bag inside before heading straight back out. If Cassidy was going to be throwing around terms like kiss and wearing an apron like that, then Riker definitely wasn’t about to miss any of it.
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Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2025 10:47 am
Cassidy had laughed, bright and rich and full of life. Riker was too easy to tease. No matter what happened, Cassidy hoped that never changed.
Of course he came back, Cassidy knew he would. So, he made sure that when he was checking the oven, instead of just stooping a bit, he made a scene out of it. He wanted Riker to look, he was going to give him something to look at.
“A quiche,” he clarified, when he heard the rustle of clothes behind him. “It’s an egg tart. Savory, not sweet.” For snacks, for freezing, for breakfast. He pulled out two muffin trays of them, swayed his hips, and set them atop the stove.
“But if you’re hungry for kisses, I’ve got those, too.” He looked over his shoulder and blew him one for show.
As per usual, Cassidy was home alone. In sharp contrast to Riker’s home, which was always full. Of course it was refreshing to know he could say anything, do anything, and no one would interrupt.
“Come get one. A kiss, not a quiche, they’re too hot. We have to let them sit for a few minutes,” he said, but he was already turning off the stove and setting aside the oven mitts. He should have taken the apron off too but he liked the way it kept Riker’s attention so it could stay for a minute longer.
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Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2025 10:47 am
Oh… oh, he knew what a quiche was. Evan had made some before. He just-- he thought--
Well… whatever. He’d gotten a laugh out of Cassidy -- a really cute one, too -- and that made it feel like his momentary forgetfulness was worth it.
In his defense, he’s always been more interested in eating them than remembering the fancy name they were called. And Cassidy… Cassidy had a way of making him hungry for things he didn’t quite have the words for.
He was just trying not to be too embarrassed about being caught off guard. Or staring. Or how Cassidy seemed to know exactly what he was doing when he bent down like that, the apron swishing around his hips and highlighting his long, bare legs.
He was trying to be good. Trying to focus. But Cassidy had just offered. He was teasing him, daring him…! How was Riker supposed to not take a step closer? How could he resist reaching out to place a hand on Cassidy’s hip and, without overthinking it, lean in close to press their lips together? How could he resist the softness of Cassidy’s cheek as he placed his palm on his face to keep him from pulling away too soon?
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Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2025 10:47 am
Oh, Riker was a fast learner. Too fast!
Cassidy wasn’t supposed to be the one with a fluttering heart but he liked the way it felt like it tickled his ribcage. He didn’t need Riker’s hand to hold him in place but he leaned into it anyway.
There was still a bit of hesitance in Riker’s kisses but he was getting more confident. Had he been practicing with someone else? No, Cassidy wanted credit for this. He was nearly seeing stars.
Cassidy didn’t pull away. He waited, with no urgency, for Riker to be the first to move. He was happy where he was. A little too obvious? Probably. Now that Riker was on the same page as him, it was hard not to just throw himself into Riker’s arms and demand attention. And no one was here, why bother putting on airs?
He wanted to hang out with Riker no matter what they were doing–though, Riker had promised to play a video game with Cassidy later, and help him go through his closet. Which was probably boring, but Riker was so agreeable and so good at reaching shelves.
Naturally, Cassidy would cook, and kiss, and charm.
When they did part, he pressed his lips together to even out his chapstick–the one Riker said he liked four times now, and not just because it didn’t have coconut.
“That was nice. Let’s do that more, I missed you. But you feel a little tense, is that just from the ride over?” They spoke often, if not in person then on the phone, or through texts, so he thought he had a pretty good idea of what was going on in Riker’s day to day. All the more reason to add, “Or are you keeping secrets from me?”
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Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2025 10:48 am
Riker was going to say how he’d missed Cassidy, too. He was going to comment that he liked how his own lips felt after kissing Cassidy while he was wearing that chapstick he liked. He was going to agree that they should kiss more, because why not?
Instead, his eyes widened in alarm and he blurted out, “No!”
Because nothing screamed ‘guilty’ like a kneejerk denial to a question that hadn’t even sounded serious.
Riker winced, knowing that he was already in trouble.
“I mean -- not no like that. Just… no secrets. Not, like, real ones,” he quickly sputtered, tripping over the words as he desperately attempted to make them less suspicious, and making them even more suspicious in the process. “Not the kind you’re thinking of. Probably.”
Great. Probably? He couldn’t just keep his mouth shut.
He rubbed at the back of his neck, trying to keep his obvious panic contained. He glanced over at the oven as if hoping it would spontaneously combust and he’d be saved from the conversation.
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Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2025 10:48 am
Cassidy’s brows lifted expectantly, waiting for Riker to expound, but the explanation never came. “Ohhh,” he said. He gave the word room to breathe, but when Riker again failed to elucidate, he realized he’d probably have to needle him for an answer.
He made guilty look cute.
“Not real secrets. Just fake ones?”
Cassidy hummed, pressing his hip into the counter as he leaned against it. He pressed his lips together and pretended to mull it over.
“What kind do you think I’m thinking of?”
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Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2025 10:48 am
Riker had been hoping that Cassidy would just drop the conversation entirely. He was still holding out for the oven to explode. So when Cassidy pushed him to respond, the first thing that escaped his mouth was an awkward laugh. Which only made his already red ears darker.
“Oh… you know. Just. Stupid secrets. That don’t really matter.” He was floundering. Still, he knew he couldn’t just leave it at that. Not when Cassidy was looking at him with those bright eyes and slight curve of his too soft lips and being all curious and knowing and annoyingly cute. He gave a resigned sigh.
“... Okay, fine. You wanna know a secret?” he huffed, shuffling his feet a little as he crossed his arms defensively over his chest. He didn’t wait for an answer, not wanting to overthink it more.
“When I was little, I… uh… used to pretend I was in a band.” He grimaced again, sheepish and awkward. “Like… full-on pretend. I made a mic out of a toilet paper roll and wadded up toilet paper taped on top. I used an old broom for a guitar. I made up dumb songs and choreographed little dance moves in my room when no one else was home. Made up imaginary friends who would play bass and drums and keyboard.”
He rubbed the back of his neck again, glancing anywhere but Cassidy’s face.
“But then my brother found out and--”
Riker’s shoulders dropped, shame replacing the awkwardness.
“Uh… yeah I stopped. I have my guitar now, but there’s no way I’d try to join a band or anything like that. But… there’s your scandal. I’d thought about it again the last time Mr. Reid was teaching me how to play some new chords, but…”
He hadn’t meant to make the mood shift, and he instantly regretted bringing up any story that involved his old family. But he supposed it was better than revealing his actual secret.
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Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2025 10:48 am
Cassidy watched him with a knowing smile. On one hand, it was endearing that Riker would reveal such a silly little secret from his childhood. On the other hand, Cassidy knew that wasn’t what made him look so stiff and stressed.
“Oh, that’s cute,” he said, and meant it. Tit for tat, he gave Riker something, too. Maybe out of sympathy more than wanting to talk about himself, and only because poor Riker’s face was so red. “When I was little, I used to pretend I was a mermaid any time I was around water. I wouldn’t get out of the tub, someone had to pick me up and carry me. Then I grew these babies,” he said, and took the opportunity to show off how well he could hold an arabesque.
Would Énna have had notes? Probably. He doubted Riker would.
He feigned a stretch while he held the pose, still inviting Riker to look. He was always more honest when he was disoriented, anyway. But, Cassidy’s slipper was going to fall off if he kept this up, so with great reluctance, he put both feet back on the ground and smoothed out his apron.
“Your brother is stupid. You should write me songs, I want to hear you sing. I’ll watch your choreography. I bet you dance real nice.”
He planted one hand on his hip and tilted his head slightly, watching Riker closely. “Anyway, why not be in a band? I think that’s hot. You already told me you might try singing. Guitar and lead singer is a killer match. And you’ve got the looks. I bet Julian would play violin for you in a heartbeat. I’d play accordion for you in half of one,” he laughed, because even if he was teasing, he’d have done it. “Maybe I’d even ask Mr. Reid to teach me bass or keyboard. I mean, an accordion’s half keys anyway. Drums might be a little out of my league,” he said, and rolled his bad shoulder as if to ease the tension at the mere thought of putting himself through that.
“Put Elliot on drums, he’s got the stamina. I mean, we’ve got all summer. Might as well have fun before school starts up. And it would give me an excuse to hang out with you more.”
Not that he needed one. He was just making sure Riker had a bit more time to tuck that secret of his a little deeper, since it didn’t seem like Cassidy was going to get the truth from him about it.
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Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2025 10:49 am
Even though he knew Cassidy wouldn’t make fun of him, it was always the expectation his brain was waiting for. Cassidy had never made fun of him, had he? Teased him a little, but nothing ever cruel.
As Cassidy told his story about how he used to pretend to be a mermaid around water, Riker felt the stress ease from his shoulders. It was cute, and somehow very Cassidy.
Naturally, Riker’s eyes immediately focused on Cassidy’s legs when he showed them off. HIs fingers twitched from where he’d tucked his hands under his arms, like maybe he wanted to reach out and-- what? Touch Cassidy’s legs? No, he couldn’t do that. He was pretty sure Cassidy was okay with him looking though. Well, actually, he knew he was okay with it.
He let out a small sigh, his stress diminishing further. Although he wasn’t sure if a band was the solution. It would give them the chance to be together more often.
“If we did do a band, you’d have to star in the music video,” he decided after a moment. “You know. Since you’ll probably be best at the choreography. And you’re bendy.”
Ah, he immediately regretted that last word. What was Cassidy, a straw?? Riker’s ears burned.
“I mean--... flexible. Not, like… weird flexible, but like… you know. Graceful. And coordinated. In a good way. In a-- uh…” he groaned and unearthed a hand to rub his face. “You know what I meant.”
After a moment, he dared to peek through his fingers at Cassidy, and then dropped his hand so he could reach over and lightly tug at the opening of the apron pocket near Cassidy’s waist instead, touching it like he wasn’t sure if he was allowed to or not.
“...Maybe I would write a song for you,” he mumbled, feeling awkward about it. Quieter, too. “If you promised not to tell anyone. Or laugh. Or expect me to sing it unless no one else is around. Or maybe just you.” He sighed softly again, but instead of trying to find somewhere else for his eyes to focus, they lifted to look at Cassidy once more, open and earnest and a tiny bit vulnerable. “You make it feel safe to be myself.”
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Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2025 10:49 am
Cassidy’s lips curled into a fresh smile, because Riker was always saying things to dig himself a hole. He always dug himself out, though. Even if sometimes he just needed a hand to help pull him out.
Though Cassidy could have offered him a hand now, he didn’t. Riker was cute, face in his hands and peeking through his fingers. Cassidy watched him with an endearing smile.
Smiled more when Riker’s hand found his pocket.
Bit his lip when Riker was so sweet and vulnerable.
Oh, he was so cute when he wanted to be. But he wasn't even trying, was he? He was just being himself. Because Cassidy made him feel safe enough to do it?
Riker was such a romantic. He didn’t plan these things, did he? Just said them, like he wouldn’t know what it would do to Cassidy’s heart, or his stomach, or his brain? He could feel warmth flood through him, like Riker didn’t even have to be touching him to make endorphins explode inside of him.
Thought of teasing Riker slipped from his mind becuase–yes, Cassdiy was very bendy, in some parts. To make up for the stiffness in others. He wished Riker paid attention to him when he was whole, before the accident, but maybe it was better that he didn’t know what he was missing.
It was Cassidy’s turn to lean forward, to gently cup Riker’s cheek in his hand. He could look wherever he wanted, but Cassidy wanted him to know it was okay to look at him. Cassidy wanted him to look at him.
“I’m good at keeping secrets,” he said, and let that hang in the air for a moment before he smiled and spoke again. “You can trust me with yours. Or, just trust me with you. You can be yourself with me. I like you how you are. And if anyone tries to give you a hard time about being yourself, you come get me. I’ll take care of it. And I’ll take care of you, too.”
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Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2025 10:49 am
Even though his head always told him to be careful, to not trust too easily, to not let anyone in. Don’t give anyone something they could use to hurt you… his heart seemed to know better. Or maybe it just knew Cassidy. He didn’t flinch when Cassidy touched his face. He didn’t pull away or shut down. He just… stood there and let him.
He hesitated, not sure what he wanted to do or say. Cassidy made it so easy to believe him.
“Do you…--”, he started, quiet and cautious, unsure of what he wanted to ask or at least how he wanted to finish the sentence without giving too much away. Obviously Cassidy knew about the war, but he wouldn’t just come out and tell him that he knew about magical people, right?
His heart was racing. He wanted to ask Cassidy what he thought about magic, but it seemed a little ridiculous when he thought about it. Cassidy knew Reims. Knew Cynthus and Rose. He’d been to Ganymede, to Jupiter. He knew about things that normal people shouldn’t. If Riker mentioned any of it, he would basically be giving himself away.
He was afraid that Cassidy might think he didn’t trust him. But the truth was… he didn’t trust himself. Not with something this big. Especially not after Énna. He didn’t know what he’d do if Cassidy was mad that he didn’t tell him and decided he wanted nothing to do with him. Riker didn’t know if his heart could handle that again.
“Ah… I-- forgot what I was going to say,” he mumbled awkwardly. But his hands found their way to Cassidy’s hips. He kneaded his fingers there, as though unsure what to do with them, but needed Cassidy’s grounding presence.
“But… I do trust you,” he promised, looking at Cassidy almost desperately, still somewhat vulnerable and quiet.
Then something shifted, his expression turning to something a little more skeptical, maybe a little flustered. “You don’t think I can take care of myself?” He wasn’t upset about it, and he made sure it didn’t sound like an accusation. Maybe a little teasing humor. Something of a defense mechanism, just in case it was needed. “You know I’m… like, mostly self-sufficient. I do my own laundry and everything.”
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Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2025 10:49 am
Was Riker getting himself worked up? Was that flush because he'd put his hands on Cassidy? Without prompting, without guiding? Oh, he was so silly.
"You didn't forget what you were going to say," Cassidy said, resting his hands atop each of Riker's. He looked at him with an amused smile, and his nose briefly up a bit when he said it. His face relaxed quickly; there wasn't any frustration in his expression. He just thought Riker was funny, sometimes, so he squeezed his hands before rubbing his thumbs over them. "But that's okay. I trust you, too."
Even if he was trying to huff and puff and make himself seem so big and independent. Not that he wasn't. Riker was just deflecting, he was so transparent. Cassidy thought he should let him think he did a good job changing the subject.
"I think you can take care of yourself. But that's not the point! Maybe my love language is taking care of people! I'm a guy, too. Just because I want you to squeeze my waist and pick me up," he said, patting Riker's hands insistently. "doesn't mean I don't have the masculine urge to run into danger to keep you safe. Hm. I guess the apron isn't helping. Well, I've got the feminine urge to take care of you, too. Maybe even the non-binary urge to take care of you! But I don't know what that is. Don't cancel me. I'd figure it out for you."
He raised his hands now, a palm to each cheek, and squished Riker's face. "Just because you can take care of yourself doesn't mean you shouldn't let other people help sometimes. I'd feel real good about myself if you let me take care of you sometimes, you know."
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Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2025 10:50 am
There was clearly some kind of spell that Cassidy had placed on him, and Riker didn’t know how it worked so well. Every time he thought his brain had caught up to what was going on, Cassidy said something that made it short circuit.
But he froze when Cassidy smiled up at him, looking at him again with that knowing, amused smile. He sounded so confident about knowing he didn’t forget-- how? Of course, the way his face flushed in response probably confirmed just that.
He didn’t move when Cassidy squeezed his hands, and he didn’t pull away when his thumbs brushed over his skin. Instead, he stared down at Cassidy’s hands covering his own. Cassidy wasn’t pushing him for more, and Riker found himself holding his breath, waiting… He was still trying to process ‘my love language is taking care of people’ when Cassidy threw something else at him.
Squeeze my waist and pick me up--
“Wait-- what?” Riker sputtered, his face almost instantly turning red. “You want me to-- like… actually pick you up?”
He stared at him for a second too long and then immediately panicked that he sounded rude. “Not that I-- I mean. I could! I’d like to. You want me to-- here?”
Oh, he was just making this worse.
“God. Why are you like this,” he groaned at himself in distress. But before he could move, or remove his hands from Cassidy’s waist to rub his face raw, Cassidy had his palms on his cheeks. He let out a heavy breath, eyes fluttering shut at the touch. And Cassidy was still talking and still doing that thing where he said kind things and actually meant them. Riker didn’t know how to brace for that kind of impact. Not when he was still waiting for the floor to drop out from under him.
“I--” he started, then paused, then opened his mouth to try again. His breath hitched on the emotion and he made a face because he was such an embarrassment to himself. “You know I’m not good at that. Letting people take care of me.”
He’d spent his whole life taking care of himself. Surviving, somehow. Evan had to practically force him to sit down and relax when they first met. He would have bled to death before asking for help when that woman tore through his arm with a broken glass bottle… if it hadn’t been for the Code summoning Amarynthos and Ephesus to him. He really would have died if Ganymede hadn’t known to call for Sessrumnir and Alastor. And he’d certainly needed help when he was recovering.
His shoulders dropped a bit with his voice. It wasn’t sad, exactly. But there was something heavy and truthful in his words.
“But if you really want to…” he breathed, his hands giving Cassidy’s waist a squeeze, a little tentative but with more confidence. “... Maybe we can try it your way. A little.” Not that he understood what that meant, or what he was actually doing. But Cassidy really did have a way of making it feel like maybe…. Maybe he didn’t have to know everything to deserve something good.
“...Also, uh… I could definitely pick you up. Like, easy,” he blurted, as though trying to regain some of his dignity after being so unintentionally emotional. “You’re light. Yeah, you’ve got amazing legs, but I’ve got strong arms. And an excellent core. You’ve seen my abs.” Okay, maybe that was a little too much, but maybe one day he would learn to shut his mouth before making a fool of himself.
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