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 Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2026 9:43 am
Takes place after: Overreaction
Riker wasn’t coming home tonight so he’d borrowed all of the pillows. Instead of laying down, he was resting with his back against the wall, with one pillow wedged low. He wore a throw blanket around his shoulders, and a second one was rolled up around his neck like a travel pillow. He had two pillows on either side, like he’d made a little throne for himself, and one more on his stomach, where his arms were folded. His heated blanket was plugged in and warming.
His head was upright, mostly, resting against the lumpy blankets on his shoulder. His knees were half bent.
Positioned near the head of the bed, he was able to reach a half-drunk bottle of water. An ice pack, untouched, was wet with condensation. He had a few snacks, too–all bland and light, and currently untouched. Next to them, three bottles–one, Ibuprofin, open with the lid left next to it. The other, the bright pink bottle of Benadryl. Still capped. A third bottle, capped and hidden between the two, like he didn’t want to think about it being there but wanted it close just in case.
He held his phone in one hand, somewhat limply but enough that he’d be immediately alerted to any new messages.
His hair, still damp, framed his face like half-drawn curtains. His eyes were on the television, half-lidded, but not watching with any investment.
One of the stairs creaked so he listened for footsteps and–Talia, it sounded like.
He turned just slightly, trying–failing–to prevent the burn in his ribs. He moved just slowly enough that his head only throbbed a little when he looked from the television to the doorway expectantly.
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Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2026 9:55 am
Talia was tired. Worried, and tired. Not really the sleepy kind of tired but…whatever. It didn’t matter. Luke and Jason were patched up as well as they could be and were home, everyone else she knew of was home now or at least safe, and Julian was here which…
Truly, that made most of her worries go away.
She had a plate with a peeled and cut up orange on it which smelled…really nice. Fresh and fragrant, and the thing was exceptionally juicy too.
Carefully she knocked lightly on Julian’s door. “Hey kiddo, you still awake?”
She thought that he would be, she had waited after hearing him come home, pacing the kitchen as she listened to the sounds of him moving about.
“I brought an orange for you? And wanted to know if you wanted to talk a little?” From what she understood…tonight had been something straight out of a nightmare.
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Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2026 9:56 am
“I’m awake,” he assured, voice soft and mumbled. His eyes were slow to track her, like he was already somewhere between wakefulness and sleep. His nose hurt from the toxic fumes in the basement. A lingering burn stretched from down his throat, too.
He hoped it wasn’t rude that he didn’t sit up to greet her. Only half of his mouth managed to curl into a quick, tired smile.
“Thank you. How are Luke and Jason? Are you okay?”
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Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2026 9:57 am
“Are you okay if I sit on the edge of the bed? It’s all right if not. The boys are all right. Luke’s healed up as best as he could be, and there wasn’t much I could do for Jason, but I did what I could. They’re both shaken, and both tired, but able to go home.”
She had wished she could have done more for Jason, but he would heal soon, he was young. Strong. Ribs were annoying. Ribs were necessary but when they were injured.
“Is there anything you need from me, or want from me?” Talia hoped he would ask. Hoped there was something she could do. Something he would want. He never did ask, and she wished it would change. Maybe one day. Maybe tonight.
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Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2026 9:59 am
“Um,” Julian answered, which was common for him–like he didn’t want to give time for silence to breed but he also hadn’t had enough time to sort through his thoughts.
It didn’t help that his thoughts were coming a little slower tonight.
“You can sit,” he said, because that was easy. He would have moved to make space for her but there was plenty of room, and he didn’t want to push away from the wall or have to move his legs too much. He was comfortable–as much as he could be.
“I’m glad they’re okay. Thank you for taking care of them.” He knew she’d have done it no matter what, but it was still a weight off his chest to know they were safe–and well enough to go home. He didn’t seem to move, but pressure eased off his shoulders all the same.
“I don’t know if I can think of anything for me,” he admitted. His head hurt. He wasn’t trying to be difficult. Thinking too deeply felt like trying to force open a locked door–and even if his thoughts were clear, what was there to ask for? He had food, he had a home, a bed–safety. He’d been able to take a shower, able to tuck himself in, able to make himself comfortable. He was able to breathe here.
“I was thinking I might try to sleep first and then figure things out in the morning. All my thoughts feel a little scattered right now. I’m trying to make sense of a lot of things. But I feel so tired when I try.”
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Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2026 10:00 am
Carefully, Talia sat on the edge of the bed and reached out, hovering her hand over Julian’s head for a moment before she tucked a piece of hair behind his ear. “Is this all right? I know when I’m stressed I really like to have my hair played with, and if I can give you some comfort from that, I would like to.”
She gave a slight nod. “I’ll take care of everyone if I can, you know me.” Talia wanted to try to empathize with him, to say that she understood what he was feeling, she had bad run-ins with Faustite, after all…knew how nightmare-inducing Generals and General Kings could be…but, she kept her mouth shut this time. It wasn’t about her. She was here to give comfort to Julian, and she would let him talk if he wanted. It wasn’t how she normally did things but. She was trying. “Sleep always does help. If you have any nightmares, I can stay in here with you if you think that would help? I don’t mind the floor at all, and I want to be here if you don’t want to be alone. I’m happy to stay.”
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Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2026 10:01 am
Julian flinched, but the wince after was born of guilt, not pain. “Sorry,” he said, quickly and quietly. He lowered his head and kept his eyes on his hands, folded over the pillow in his lap.
Talia’s hand was gentle. She wasn’t threatening. He knew she wouldn’t hurt him.
He just didn’t trust his eyes right now. Off-balance and disoriented from earlier, now he was just tired. Movement in his peripheral triggered an instinct in him that didn’t belong.
He was safe in this room, he knew that. Safe here, safe with her.
His mind was just on loop from earlier.
“I don’t want you to have to lay on the floor.”
Julian picked at the thread on the pillow. It wasn’t by any means loose, but it was a little fuzzy and made it an easy target even in the darkness.
“Riker’s spending the night at a friend’s house. So I was thinking I might just watch television for a while. And then go to sleep.” His voice quieted. “I was thinking I might take a Benadryl, or something, if I was having a hard time sleeping. But I’m so tired. I might not need anything.”
His head felt heavy, and his gaze heavier. It was difficult to keep his eyes open.
“And I was thinking, if it’s okay, I don’t know. I think I just need to breathe a little. It’s just so hard to think. I’m sorry, I know I’m not very helpful right now. I really appreciate you. I’m sorry for being all over the place. I’m not very good at this. I’m trying.”
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Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2026 10:02 am
Talia nodded and slowly moved her hand away from him, not wanting to make things worse. “I understand. If you need me though, I’ll sleep on the couch in the living room, that way I’m at least close if you do need me…”
She gave a small smile and hesitated before shifting herself and standing back up again. “You don’t have to apologize for anything. I just wanted you to know that I’m here. I’ll always be here. You just rest, you just take what time you need, and I’ll be downstairs if you need me, or text me or whatever.”
Hesitating, Talia gave him a small smile, desperately wanting to tuck him in. To kiss his forehead to something.
“I love you, Julian. I’m so glad you’re home, and that you’re here. You’re never too much, just so you know. I’ll see you in the morning.”
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Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2026 10:04 am
Julian flashed a quick smile, short-lived only because of the effort it took. He wished he could have given Talia something more convincing and meaningful.
It wasn’t for lack of trying.
“Thank you. For everything.” Another apology sprouted to his tongue and he pressed his lips tightly together to trap it.
He swallowed the apology. It burned on the way down.
“I’ll be better tomorrow,” he promised. He wasn’t sure he would make it out of his room tonight, but now that he was without his adrenaline, it felt like all the more reason to just stay in bed and rest as much as he could.
He wanted to reassure that she didn’t have to sleep in the living room. He didn’t think she’d listen, and he didn’t want her to think he was ungrateful that she was willing to do that for him.
It was a little less daunting to know that if he needed her, he wouldn’t risk waking up Zac, too.
Julian relaxed, not much, but some. Progress was slow, and came in waves.
He thumbed at the lint-laden thread again. “I know I don’t make things easy,” he mumbled. “But I appreciate you being patient with me. Thank you. And, um. Please sleep well. Please don’t stay on the couch if it gets uncomfortable.”
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Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2026 10:06 am
“If you’re not better tomorrow, that’s okay too. You’re on nobody’s schedule but your own, Julian. Nobody expects or wants more than you can give, and it doesn’t matter if you don’t think you make things easy or not, you’re worth everything. Rest well.” She wanted to kiss him goodnight. Wanted to do something, but instead she gave a soft smile and left the room, going down to make up the couch for the night.
If she could at least do that much, she was satisfied.
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