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 Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2026 9:22 am
Takes place early January 2026 after: Fresh Air
“Ribs are sore. Got kicked pretty hard. There’s a cut on my arm,” he made a small flapping motion with the elbow of his injured arm that would have been somewhat comical if it hadn’t been for the situation surrounding the injuries.
“Everyone’s alive. I wanted to check in before keeping Énna company tonight. Well… today.”
He didn’t let Evan hesitate for too long, and instead of letting him worry about where he could touch him, Riker reached out to wrap his arms around him instead.
“Sorry for worrying you, mom.”
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Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2026 9:23 am
“I know you are, it’s okay,” Evan said quickly, and when he still wasn’t sure where to put his arms, he just draped them around Riker’s waist and held him loosely to avoid his ribs.
“I’m really proud of you for telling me. Honestly, you don’t know what a relief it is just to know. I’ve only been getting bits and pieces of info. Soleiyu went out, Talia went out. You’re going back out. Let me drive you, is that okay? If you’re hurt, you don’t need to be walking around.”
Riker probably could have driven himself, it was just Evan’s way of fussing a little extra without being too overbearing. He wanted to reward Riker for being honest with him, not smother him. Evan couldn’t help that he himself was just a little jittery and anxious and thinking of all the ‘what-ifs’.
“I don’t know when anyone else is getting back but I’m sure they won’t need me. Zac’s here. Julian’s–no, he’s not back yet. I don’t know why I thought he was with you. He’s okay? You’re really okay? And Énna?” Obviously not if Riker was going to stay with Énna, that was a red flag that something big had happened.
Evan didn’t pull away; he left that choice in Riker’s hands because Evan would have just held him there for as long as he could if it were up to him. Riker was safe here and, as Evan often did when he didn’t think he knew what to do, he thought about what he would have wanted if it had been him in Riker’s place.
…And he would have wanted someone to hold him for a little longer than they needed to so that he didn’t have to hold himself so tightly.
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Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2026 9:24 am
Riker didn’t answer the question about being driven yet. It wasn’t the right time for it, and Evan deserved more than a distracted half promise. Instead, he just let himself breathe. The longer he stood there, the more real everything felt. The more real Evan felt. And he needed that more than he’d realized.
“I know,” he said quietly, his voice gentle. “Thank you for waiting up.”
His hands moved slowly, finding the middle of Evan’s back and drawing him in until there was no space between them. His ribs protested, but he didn’t care. He needed the closeness. For a long moment, he just stayed there. And when he finally spoke again, it was mumbled into Evan’s hair.
“Julian’s okay. He just needed some time to himself. You know how he is. If there’s anyone else around, he forgets to take care of himself first. He needed the space to breathe.”
He rubbed his thumb in a slow circle against Evan’s spine, hoping to soothe some of the tension in his back. He’d gotten pretty good at it, thanks to being around Cassidy so much.
“I’m going to ask Atticus or Maisie to take a look at him once they’ve rested. Just to be on the safe side.”
He hesitated for a moment, his voice lowering until it was only for Evan to hear.
“We went exploring. Thought it was just an abandoned district with a bunch of fake rumors. But there was… this basement filled with these weird plants and youma. We didn’t even feel them until we were right there. There were a lot of them, and we all fought like hell. Some of us got hurt, but that wasn’t the worst part. As soon as the youma were gone, this General appeared and started attacking us. We managed to get out, but some of us were pretty hurt.”
His arms tightened a little around Evan, a silent apology for the worry, and a wordless promise that he was there, and that he wasn’t going anywhere.
“I might talk to Zac later,” he said after a moment, his voice sharpening just a little. “I got a pretty good look at the General’s face.” Before he got kicked off his feet.
He paused for a moment, his voice softening again as he pulled back enough to meet Evan’s eyes. “But I’m home. And I need you. I always will.”
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Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2026 9:26 am
Riker’s gentle massage wasn’t unwelcome but Evan’s hands hovered as he tried to figure out what was safe to touch. Ribs and arm were obviously bad but he knew there was more than just what he’d been told. It probably wasn’t anything deceptive, maybe those were just the worst. Riker’s neck was bandaged. So maybe there were other injuries, too.
Even without crushing him into the hug he wanted to give him, Evan held him firmly.
More so when he learned about the General. His breath hitched only once but he drew in a steadying breath and tried to force calm over himself, even when he felt icy and brittle and anxious.
And after all of that, Riker was still trying to make sure he was okay.
A shuddery breath fluttered from his lips and he rested his forehead on Riker’s shoulder as gently as he could. “You’re such a good boy, Riker.” He told himself little things, like ‘don’t get too worked up’ and ‘don’t panic’ and ‘don’t make Riker worry’ and though Evan tried, he was still learning.
Riker could probably feel his heart pounding in his chest, and if not that then he could certainly see the frequent, short breaths Evan was taking. Steady, deep breaths were too far out of reach.
“That sounds very scary.” And he was not infantilizing Riker because that sounded scary to him because he was an adult and was terrified and what if something had happened and they were more than just pretty hurt and–
He hugged Riker again, gently, but the tremor in his arms was because he was holding back, not because he was afraid.
Except, he jumped when a voice behind him–Zac–said, “What did he look like?”
Zac was dressed like he’d been planning on staying in, having just taken a shower and put on sweatpants and a faded old t-shirt. He looked thoroughly unamused, and equally unashamed for having overheard–but it was their fault for having a conversation in the middle of the room.
Anyone could have walked in on them on their way to get a drink from the kitchen, which he had.
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Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2026 9:26 am
Riker’s hands stilled at the sound of Zac’s voice. He didn’t tense, but something about Zac’s tone had a way of making him instinctively straighten up.
He gave Evan’s shoulders a slow, reassuring squeeze before answering, his voice quiet but clear.
“He was tall. Taller than me by a head, maybe more.” He paused for a moment, as if replaying the memory frame by frame. “White hair. Shoulder length, kind of messy. Eyes were sharp -- dark, maybe red or brown, but it was hard to tell. There was a mask covering the lower half of his face, metal, from the nose down. Black uniform with magenta trim. Looked like he was from some old military reenactment group.”
He let out a slow breath, steadying himself as his thoughts tugged at more than just his memory. “He was strong. Didn’t waste time talking. Just… hit hard. Fast. He wasn’t sloppy though. He knew exactly what he was doing.”
Riker glanced between Zac and Evan before he nodded toward the couch. “You okay if we sit? I’m fine, I just…” he shifted his weight a little, careful of his ribs. “Standing makes it harder to pretend I don’t hurt.”
When they sat, he leaned lightly into Evan’s side. “It was scary,” he admitted quietly. “But we’re alive… That’s what I keep reminding myself. I thought maybe you’d recognize the description.” He looked up at Zac with a bit of apology in his eyes. The words came out softer, but with a steady thread of determination woven beneath the fatigue.
To Evan, he brushed his hand over his knee. “Hey… I’m okay. You don’t have to hold your breath anymore.”
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Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2026 9:27 am
Evan’s frown deepened but he said nothing, just glanced between Riker and Zac.
The more Riker spoke, the less impressed Zac looked, not because Riker was doing a poor job of describing the man but because he sounded absolutely ******** unfamiliar. Some rat, crawled out of the woodwork.
He nodded to the couch, not because Riker needed permission but because he always seemed like he wanted to be told that he was doing the right thing.
Evan had cleared space on the couch, not that there was much of a mess, and then helped Riker lower himself. He sat next to him and wrapped an instinctive arm around him, and flashed a quick smile when told to Breathe. “I wasn’t,” he said, slightly too high-pitched. And, judging by the very long exhale that followed, he realized that he had been holding his breath.
Zac looked unimpressed, and then he looked pissed, and then he managed to reel himself in and only looked moderately inconvenienced as he sank down in the chair across from the other two.
“Doesn’t sound like anyone I’ve heard of. I’ll see if I can dig up any information.”
It wasn’t ever a good thing if someone just showed up out of the blue–skilled, efficient, powerful.
Someone who slipped under the radar usually had a lot more problems than just what you could find on the surface.
Zac had noticed the general absence of people in the house. He knew where Talia had gone, but Soleiyu’s absence was noted. Zac didn’t ask, he didn’t have to, but he knew Riker and Julian had left together. Riker wasn’t distraught, so obviously Julian was fine, even if he wasn’t in the room.
Even Maxim had been gone–until he trotted into the room, spotted Riker, and ran over with a butt wiggling with excruciating enthusiasm. He pranced by his ankle but always had an incredible gentleness about him. He rested his chin on Riker’s knee and looked up at him with whale eyes.
Zac pressed one elbow into the armrest and put all of his weight into it. “How bad did he hurt you?”
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Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2026 9:27 am
Riker reached down to scratch lightly behind Maxim’s ear, more grateful for the dog’s timing than he’d ever admit. The simple, steady weight was grounding, and Riker couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at his lips as he pet his head.
“Hey, boy,” he murmured, the grin brief but real, before glancing back up at Zac.
The question was there, but he couldn’t bring himself to answer right away. For a moment, Riker hesitated, his hand stilling on Maxim’s head.
He didn’t want to lie. Not to Evan. But Zac had a way of making him want to stand taller, steadier, even when he felt like he was barely holding himself together. His ears burned. With embarrassment? Shame, maybe. Expecting to be scoffed at, or mocked. In his heart he knew that wasn’t Zac’s intention… but the fear was still there.
“...Couple ribs,” he said finally, keeping his voice even. “Cracked, maybe. Hurts to breathe deep, but it’ll heal. Got some healing magic already. Just need to rest a bit.”
He didn’t mention the gash at his neck or the growing bruises discoloring his torso where the General’s kick had landed. The truth wasn’t a lie if he didn’t volunteer all of it.
He leaned his shoulder carefully against Evan’s. “It looks worse than it is,” he said softly. “Promise.”
There was a moment of something else in his expression. Something vulnerable. A hint of an apology maybe… for worrying them both. But he didn’t look away when he met Zac’s eyes again.
“He was fast. Stronger than I expected, but we still got everyone out. No one died.” Even if Yvoire almost had. His voice was steady as he spoke, determined to prove himself as someone capable, someone who could be trusted to handle complicated or even dangerous situations.
“I didn’t freeze,” he insisted, trying and failing to keep all of the desperation out of his voice as he tried to convince Zac that he was good enough. “I kept my head. I just… wish I’d hit harder.”
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Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2026 9:29 am
Couple ribs. Cracked, maybe.
And?
It looks worse than it is.
Yeah, if you were blind.
Zac watched Riker as his stress, or anxiety, visibly grew. Zac didn’t have to say anything and it was like Riker was tattling on himself. If he thought he was playing this cool, he wasn’t.
And then there was Evan, who had wrapped his arm loosely around Riker’s waist so he could hug him without squeezing him, and Maxim, who just nosed into his hand and lapped at his palm affectionately.
“You’re not on trial, you know,” Zac said finally, watching him with an expression that gave away nothing of his emotional state. “That’s what they do, it’s the Negaverse.” He sounded short, blunt, but Riker was sitting too tall. His shoulders were too square.
“Look,” Zac moved, resting his knees on his elbows and hunching a little, so he wasn’t even sitting as tall as Riker. “I don’t think you froze. And even if you had, that doesn’t matter. The Negaverse can teleport. They’ve got youma. Sometimes getting out alive is the best thing you can do–and you did, and you got all your friends out, too. Stop beating yourself up. You think I won every fight I got into?”
He didn’t scoff but he rolled his eyes–at himself, not Riker. “Not the first time around at least. But you’re alive, so you can go back for round two. Or three, or four, or however many times it takes. But when I ask how bad he hurt you, it’s not because I don’t think you did good enough. I want to know how badly I’m going to make him hurt before I kill him.’
“Zac,” Evan scolded, but Zac didn’t seem remotely flustered. He shrugged and leaned back in his chair.
“What, am I supposed to sit around while someone hurts my kid? No, Evan, we talked about this. I don’t play that game.”
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Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2026 9:29 am
Riker froze.
For a second, he wasn’t sure if he’d heard right. My kid.
It wasn’t loud, nor forced, nor did Zac draw any attention to it… but to Riker, it sounded like acceptance. A quiet claim of belonging that felt both heavy and safe, like an anchor in a storm.
He wasn’t supposed to react. He knew that. Knew that if he moved too much, if he looked too long, Zac might take it back. He might correct himself, say it was just something people said. But everything went still around him, and something unsteady twisted through his chest. And it had nothing to do with his broken ribs.
He’d asked Zac to be his dad just months ago. Zac had said yes like Riker wasn’t supposed to expect anything. Riker had decided that was good enough. But hearing it now, unprompted -- hearing the my -- it broke through the part of him that had always been prepared for people to change their minds.
He didn’t move right away. Maxim nosed at his hand, patient and grounding. It took that small, simple touch to remind him to breathe again.
He leaned back a little, close enough to Evan to press their shoulders together, not wanting to draw attention to the weight something so simple held for him. His ribs ached. His throat burned. But at least that pain made sense.
“I get it,” he said when he finally found his voice, quiet but even. Like he wasn’t just trying to process filtering out a lifetime of rejection in exchange for something so seemingly casually said. “About the Negaverse. About what they do. I’m not trying to find trouble. I just--” He hesitated and let out a breath, even if it made his chest ache. “I want to be better. Stronger. So next time, it’s not this bad.”
He looked between them, his eyes settling on Zac last. “What game don’t you play?” His tone was careful. He wasn’t being defiant or accusing. He just wanted to understand. “You said you and Evan talked about it. If it’s something I can help with… I want to.”
He looked at Zac for maybe a little too long. Quiet and searching. Not looking for permission this time, but rather proof that Zac meant what he said. Even if he was afraid he might regret seeking the answer.
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Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2026 9:29 am
Evan opened his mouth like he meant to discourage Riker from letting Zac actually answer but he bit his tongue because–
Riker wasn’t a child. Even if Evan wanted to protect him like one, it would have just been a disservice to him. So instead, Evan looked at Zac pleadingly.
Zac made it impossible to know if he’d taken Evan’s silent request under consideration at all. Stiff and agitated, undoubtedly from the slowly mounting stress of actually thinking about what might have happened that evening, Zac forced himself to stay still.
“I don’t think you should help me with something like this,” Zac said simply, but that opened the door to more questions, ones that he wanted to answer even less. Gruffly, he amended his answer to say, “I mean, I’m not going to let someone dangerous just walk away. I don’t want to give them the chance to hurt someone else again. That’s all.”
All he was willing to say about it, at least.
“I know you’re not looking for trouble.” All the more reason for him not to get involved with whatever Zac got up to. “But that’s got nothing to do with being better, or stronger. If you want to get stronger, you practice. No shortcuts. You want to train with me sometime? We’ll go up to my place, I’ll teach you what I know. But you’re hurt right now,” he reminded. “You can’t keep up at me if you’re not at your best. So I need you to slow down a little and heal. Actually heal. Not just tell me you’re fine.”
“Zac,” Evan protested, but whatever he might have said afterwards died quickly. He didn’t want Riker pushed too hard but he didn’t want to speak over him, either.
Zac was undeterred regardless. “Tell me how badly you’re hurt and I’ll show you how to work through it. I’ll teach you how to make sure you know what you can push through and what you need to slow down for. But don’t sugarcoat it because you’re worrying it’s going to change what I think about you. You got too used to lying to make other people happy–I don’t want to be happy. I want the truth. So your ribs are maybe cracked. And? What else?”
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Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2026 9:30 am
Riker hesitated.
He could feel his heart pounding in his chest. Zac’s question felt heavy, like being handed weights to carry, and for a second he almost said nothing. There was a strong instinct to downplay, or sidestep, and it was so ingrained in him that digging through it for Evan’s sake had already been difficult. It kept him out of trouble when people didn’t have to think about him. It meant people couldn’t judge him or think less of him if he said he was fine.
But Zac wasn’t asking in order to trap him. His words hadn’t sounded like a threat, just… concern. And it made it more difficult to deflect.
His fingers pressed absently against Maxim’s fur, grateful for something to ground himself with in addition to the warmth of Evan next to him.
“It’s not that bad,” he said at first, but even he could hear the lie just under the surface. He let out a slow breath and tried again. “The ribs hurt the most. Just a cut on my arm. I guess his sword cut my neck. Uh… Atticus’s dad said he’d get everyone some antibiotics since there was a lot of toxic s**t being moved around. But the rest is just… sore.”
He hesitated again, unable to shake the feeling of shame. He should have been faster.
“Got kicked harder than I was expecting. He-- uh… the General… he got Elliot, too. With his sword. Cut through Énna pretty bad. We almost lost him… The others were messed up, too. Pretty sure Atticus has a bad concussion.” His thoughts went to Julian, Dawn, Maisie, and Lyon. The twins and Stirling went their own ways, but he hoped they were okay. “There were eleven of us. Four of us had summons. We’d all been worn down from the dozen or so youma that attacked. The big one was able to almost break through shields. Then he just… showed up without warning.”
The words came out too even, but there was a sharpness in his eyes when he lifted his head, something cold stirring in the wine red. “If people like that walk away, they’ll just find someone else to hurt. I don’t--” he stopped and bit the inside of his cheek, catching himself before he said too much. He didn’t want to upset Evan but… “I don’t want that to happen again.”
He didn’t mean to sound angry. But there was something inside him that hadn’t stopped burning since Northpoint. A promise to himself that he wouldn’t let something like that repeat. He refused to just stand by and let his friends get hurt if he could have done something about it.
He looked down again, brushing his fingers over Maxim’s ear, leaning a little heavier against Evan. “If you meant it. About training… I want to.” He paused, not looking up right away, but added after a moment, making sure his voice sounded less like a desperate plea. “When I’m healed.”
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Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2026 9:30 am
Evan’s arm was gentle, reassuring. He held Riker close as if that could protect him from the horrors of the world–of the Negaverse–and hated that he couldn’t just squeeze him. Evan was careful, though. Delicate. Not because Riker wasn’t strong, but because he’d been hurt too much already.
He’d been tense for a moment, but by the time Riker had finished talking, some of the stress seemed to have eased from him. He wasn't quite relaxed but neither was he so tense.
There hadn’t been a right answer, but Riker had said the right things, too.
Zac, though not so obviously pleased, was equally placated. “Good answer.”
He sounded like he meant it, too. No sugar coating, no trying to justify things, no trying to lead with a poorly veiled apology.
“You can’t control what your enemy does. You won’t learn what you need to know until you realize you don’t know it.” But this was a shitty way to have to learn it. “I bet you could have taken him if he didn’t throw all those youma at you first. But the Negaverse fights dirty. I’ll teach you how to fight dirty, too. He won’t get away with doing something like this again.”
Evan side-eyed Zac but it wasn’t enough to deter him. They both wanted Riker to stay alive. If that meant working outside of the rules, sometimes that’s what had to be done. Maxim sensed no tension in the air but it didn’t stop him from demanding more attention. He pressed his flank against Evan’s leg, which was an equally convincing distraction for him. Evan sank his fingers into the dog’s fur and began to pet him, drawing in one slow, calming breath.
“I should have taken you to my Wonder by now anyway. We’ll carve out some time. Don’t rush your healing. Ribs can ******** you up if you’re not careful. But when they heal, they’ll be stronger. So make sure they heal right. When are you seeing Atticus’ dad about those antibiotics? Don’t get lazy with self-care, you stay on top of that, Riker. I don’t want you getting sepsis or something. That’ll knock you out for even longer.”
Evan had a worried expression still, undoubtedly because he was thinking about Atticus and Elliot and Énna and almost losing him.
“Who did first aid?” Zac asked. “Nothing against your friends, I’m sure they’re perfectly good for it most of the time. But I want to make sure you’re okay–really okay. Not just ‘surface level okay’ before you–what did I hear, you’re going to spend the night with someone?” Énna, he thought. Made sense if the kid almost died. Riker was protective. Near death experiences were a good time to have a friend to rely on.
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Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2026 9:30 am
Riker didn’t move when Zac said good answer. It wasn’t exactly praise -- Zac didn’t talk like that, Riker had learned -- but it still felt like he was being seen. Maybe even… trusted.
He shifted slightly, careful not to pull away from Evan’s hold. He could feel the tension in him. Riker pressed back against him, just barely, letting his weight settle against him. Just a quiet reassurance that he was there and that Evan didn’t have to worry so much.
He wasn’t even sure if Evan would ever stop worrying, though. Or if Riker actually wanted him to.
Maxim’s head was on his knee again, and Riker reached down to brush his fingers along his head, grateful for the company.
“Atticus’s dad already checked us over. He said he’d call in favors to get more antibiotics, but I’ve got two days’ worth from their supply on Sessrumnir.” He reached into his pants pocket, trying not to make a face as he moved, and pulled out a small, labeled baggie, holding it up for Zac to see. “These are for Julian. He’s supposed to take them with food. There’s instructions inside.”
There was a pause, like he was trying to figure out a way to explain. “They’ve got good medical supplies. And there’s a hot spring that has some kind of healing magic. Ganymede showed up with extra energy if we needed it. Atticus and Maisie used their healing magic. Atticus’s dad said he’d check in on everyone again at some point. But I’ll take it easy. Promise,” he said finally, quieter. “I know what happens if you don’t let broken ribs heal right. It’s not the first time I’ve--”
He paused again and shrugged. It wasn’t worth getting into the details. His words had been honest at least, even if they were cautious. Riker didn’t make promises unless he meant to keep them.
“You’re right,” he said after a moment’s hesitation. “About not letting him walk away. If he shows up again, I want to be ready. I’ll take whatever you’re willing to teach me.”
There was something softer there, somewhere between gratitude and reverence. He didn’t look up when he spoke again, but his voice was steady in a way that made it clear he meant every word. “Thanks. For trusting me with that.”
He paused again and nodded in confirmation. “I’ll head over to Enna’s in a bit. Just for the night. I don’t want him alone. Evan offered to drive, but…” Nothing against Evan, but it was so late and he was worried about him having to drive back by himself.
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Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2026 9:30 am
It couldn’t be said that Zac relaxed, but something of an understanding washed over him, as if by hearing the name Sessrumnir was enough to secure a bit more credibility.
Of course, ‘It’s not the first time’ hung heavy in the air, even with Riker’s best effort to sweep it under the rug.
Evan let him. Zac let him.
They knew.
“But I pick better music,” Zac suggested dismissively. “And he’ll just ******** with my seat settings anyway, right? I’ll drive.” Before Evan could protest, Zac said, “You can come, but I’ll drive.”
Evan’s open mouth closed without argument. He didn’t care to drive to drive, and since no one was trying to force him to stay home, he had no reason to butt heads with Zac. He was further reassured by how well it seemed everyone had been taken care of after the fact. Healing magic, restorative springs, medicine, treatment–
Some of the tension in his stomach uncoiled further. They weren’t just hoping to be okay. There were people making sure they were okay.
Zac stretched to take the bag from Riker, looking it over. It’s not like he suspected it was laced with anything, nor did he expect to infer some greater knowledge just from looking, it was just habit. “Julian didn’t go to the springs with you? Or did he go with Talia? She said she was heading out earlier.”
He withdrew his phone to check the time and then pocketed it again promptly. It wasn’t too late that he thought he should worry about her or him. None of Riker’s friends lived so far away that it would have taken much time to get there and back. Without waiting for Riker to answer, he asked instead, “How long will it take you to pack your overnight bag? Can you do that while taking it easy? I don’t want Atticus’ dad to check in and think we’re working you to the bone over here.”
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Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2026 9:30 am
“I can pack while I’m sitting,” Riker said quietly. “It won’t take long. I have a bag that I usually keep with essentials.”
Just in case Cassidy called, or Dawn. He never liked leaving Julian, but the others knew how important Julian was to him, and let him call to tell him good night.
But the way Zac said I’ll drive did something strange to him. It wasn’t a question or a negotiation -- just a decision made because Zac cared enough to make it. Evan did that, too. Riker was used to Evan’s kind of caring by now. Evan’s warmth and affection never seemed to run out. It was steady and patient, even as he worried. But Zac’s caring was different. Firmer, more certain. Like he didn’t have to jump through more hoops to earn it.
And Riker didn’t realize until that moment how much he’d needed that.
His hand dropped to Maxim’s head again, fingers combing through fur. The motion helped keep his voice from shaking. “If it’s okay, I was kind of hoping I could drop Énna off myself. Just in case he changes his mind about wanting company. I don’t want him to feel stuck or… awkward. But if you don’t mind lending me the car, I’ll bring it back in the morning. I’ll fill it up before I do.”
He hesitated, glancing up at Zac for a moment before looking down again. “I just think… maybe it’s something I should do myself. But I really appreciate the offer.” He didn’t want either of them to think he was ungrateful. He was! It was just… a complicated situation.
“Julian didn’t go to the springs,” he confirmed after a moment, trying to keep the worry from his own voice. “He said he needed to do something at his Wonder. I think he was trying to make sure everyone else got healed first. I’ll try to contact him before I go. Make sure he’s okay. But if he gets back before I do, make sure he takes those,” he nodded to the antibiotics.
He went quiet for a moment after that, then leaned back into Evan again, just enough to soak in his warmth. It wasn’t dramatic… just appreciating the affection and safety Evan offered him.
“Thanks,” he said finally, barely above a whisper. “For worrying. For… everything.” His voice was a bit shy but earnest. And as horrible as the situation was before that led to this, sitting there with both Evan and Zac, and Maxim of course, felt more like a family than he’d ever had before. The only way it could possibly be better was if Julian was there with them.
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