|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2026 8:00 am
It wasn’t as though Riker hadn’t seen Cassidy since everything started falling apart. They’d still sat at lunch together. Still crossed paths in the halls. He’d even walked Cassidy home a couple times that week when the weather looked troublesome and he didn’t want him caught in the rain. He’d made sure Julian had a ride, usually with Elliot and Atticus, but he didn’t force Cassidy to endure that. Besides, the walk helped clear Riker’s head.
Maybe Cassidy could sense something was wrong, because he hadn’t been as bright and cheerful as he normally was. He didn’t crack jokes about everyone’s sullen moods, nor did he question the stiff way in which many of them moved, nor commented on the bruises beyond helping to cover them up if they looked too obvious.
Riker appreciated that about Cassidy. He was certainly someone who, despite his confidence, could at least read the room.
And things had only gotten worse. More dangerous. Énna had died, twice. And Cassidy would never know just how close they’d been to losing him, or Elliot, or any of the others that they’d slowly gotten used to being around and cared about.
Riker had messaged Cassidy a couple days after the starseed scare, asking if it was okay to stay the night. He already knew that his dad wouldn’t be there. Cassidy had mentioned something about a business trip for a week. They were going to figure out something to do about the Cahir problem, but Riker didn’t know what that would entail. Probably fighting. Probably risking their lives again. Probably getting his ribs broken again.
They were still tender. Although magic had been used to heal the worst of his injuries, there was still a significant amount of bruising over his chest. His cheek was still discolored from when Cahir punched him.
He’d said he ran into a door. He doubted Cassidy believed him.
Evan would pick him up the next day, but he’d insisted he was okay to walk to Cassidy’s house. And by the time Cassidy opened the door, Riker didn’t bother with a greeting. He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around him, holding on tight.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2026 8:01 am
“Oh?” Cassidy asked, wrapping his arms around Riker instinctively. He tucked his chin into the crook of Riker’s neck and moved his hands up and down his back. “Are you so worried about the door hitting you? Don’t worry, I’ll protect you.”
The house was warm despite the seasonal chill outside. Cassidy liked a comfortable temperature, although he had been known to turn the thermostat down as an excuse for Riker to hold him close at night.
Cassidy was cooking something–as expected–so the house smelled pleasant and welcoming. No apron, but his hair was tied up in a large, messy bun.
With Riker carefully collected in his arms, he pulled him inside and kicked the door closed. “Take off your shoes. I got you some slippers. Food still needs a few minutes to cool.”
Cassidy was wearing a pair of dark red slippers, and knee high socks. A pair of very soft, very handsome, black slippers were waiting for Riker by the door.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2026 8:01 am
Riker didn’t want to let go. Which he knew was stupid because standing in the doorway while the cold air blew into the house was not okay. He allowed himself to be pulled inside, and only pulled back when Cassidy mentioned slippers.
“You got me slippers?” he repeated in stunned amusement. He didn’t tease any more than that. Maybe he should have joked about how long Cassidy was expecting him to stay, but once he was there, he never wanted to leave.
He leaned back a bit more to look at Cassidy, as if he needed to make sure he was real. He lifted a hand to place on his cheek, fingers ghosting over his skin so he could tuck the loose hair behind his ear, then leaned close to press a kiss to his temple.
“Thanks,” he said, voice soft as he forced himself back, letting his bag slide off his shoulders and using his toes to step on each heel to get his shoes off faster.
“Smells good. What’re you making?”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2026 8:01 am
“Coconut Meringue.”
He didn’t have to say ‘just kidding’; his smile said it for him.
“It’s porchetta. With real fennel pollen, which will mean nothing to you, but trust me, it makes a difference. I’ve made six porchettas in the last month and none of them even came close because I was being cheap and didn’t want to cough up the cost for it. But none of the substitutes were right. This, this will be right. I mean, it’s not perfect. But I can’t be buying twenty pounds of pork loins in a month, my butcher is making fun of me.”
Cassidy didn’t actually care. He talked to talk, and filled the space while Riker made himself comfortable.
“It’s slow cooked. It’s the main course for tonight but I’ll let you take some home with you. It makes good sandwiches. I’ve had about four hundred. I’m ready to cook something else. And if you like this, then I’ll make it how it’s supposed to be–with a whole pork belly roast.”
Riker didn’t care that much about food, he was probably only humoring Cassidy anyway.
But, now that Riker had a moment to settle, Cassidy felt comfortable enough to get a little more bold. “You’ve got such a sorry look on your face. Are you sad about something? I’ll cheer you up. What’s going on?’
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2026 8:01 am
Riker let out a breath that was almost a laugh. Almost. More of an exhale of disbelief. Coconut meringue. Of course Cassidy would go straight for the one thing that could possibly kill him.
“You’re gonna give me a heart attack one of these days,” he muttered, but there was no heat in his words. Just tired fondness.
He stepped into the slippers, which were stupidly soft, and stupidly perfect, and ran his fingers through his loose hair as he followed Cassidy. The warmth of the house was already helping him ease a bit, like he was able to let down a few walls somewhere he knew was safe.
He tried to focus on the porchette explanation. He really did. Cassidy’s voice was easy to get swept up in. A distraction that let his mind drift somewhere other than the mess of the past couple weeks.
But then Cassidy said it -- You’ve got such a sorry look on your face -- and Riker’s chest tightened so suddenly that it almost hurt.
He didn’t know what he looked like. Sad, apparently. He thought he’d hidden it better.
“I’m not…” He shuffled his feet a little, glancing toward the kitchen instead of Cassidy’s eyes. “I’m not sad. Just… tired I guess.”
It sounded pathetic, and he hated that it sounded pathetic.
He tried to fix it with something easy. “It’s been a weird couple weeks. People acting strange, teachers assigning too much, everyone stressing out about stuff, just--” He paused and shook his head, searching for something that didn’t tread too closely to the truth. “It’s a lot. I’m fine. I promise.”
He wasn’t. Not even close. But Cassidy didn’t need to carry that. Not when it was so dangerous for him to be involved.
Riker stepped closer again, nudging Cassidy’s arm with his elbow.
“But… being here helps,” he quietly admitted. “So don’t worry. You’re already cheering me up.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2026 8:02 am
Cassidy looked at him like he was sizing Riker up–and he was–and then huffed. “Well at least you’re only half a liar, then.”
He hooked his arm with Riker’s and patted it reassuringly.
“If you’re tired, you can rest here. I won’t be too demanding today. Let me pamper you. I’ve got plenty of ways to cheer you up. Shall I tuck you in bed? I can bring you dinner, we can eat in there. Turn on the television, cuddle…” He shrugged, “Who knows. You can lay your head on my shoulder and let it all out if you want.”
He was only half teasing. “It’s not good to let that sort of thing fester, you’ll make yourself sick. Sad, tired. There’s not really a lot of difference, is there? Being sad makes you tired. Being tired makes you sad.”
Cassidy didn’t mention how defeated Riker sounded, but it was obvious.
“Maybe there’s something I can help you with. I’m good at solving problems. If you let me know what they are.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2026 8:02 am
Riker’s breath caught. Just for a second, but it was enough. Enough for guilt to flash across his face before he could arrange his expression into something more neutral.
Half a liar.
Yeah… that felt about right.
He swallowed anxiously and looked away, pretending to study the patterns on the floor as if that would save him from having to be honest.
“I don’t… wanna make you deal with all that,” he said finally, voice struggling to stay even. “It’s not fair to dump my crap on you.”
Especially when the “crap” in question involved monsters and starseeds and dying. Especially when Cassidy couldn’t fight any of it. Especially when one wrong sentence from Riker could get him killed.
He forced a small, awkward smile, but it felt wrong and he knew Cassidy would see right through it.
“I’m just… worn out. Everyone’s been, uh… going through stuff. Stress gets contagious, I guess.”
He tried to shrug, but he felt stiff. Like he’d trained himself not to agitate his chest too much, lest his ribs suddenly break again. Cassidy’s offer -- of bed and dinner and being tucked in like someone worth taking care of… it should’ve made things easier, but it made something ache inside him instead.
He reached out and brushed his fingers against Cassidy’s cheek, barely a touch, but enough to move his hair from his face.
“I appreciate it. A lot more than you probably realize. But… some stuff is just--... It’s not something you can fix. Even if you want to.”
Guilt crept back into his expression before he could help it, but it softened his voice to something raw and honest.
“I don’t want you getting dragged into anything that might hurt you.” Maybe if he tried to frame it as vague and protective instead of literal monsters… “You’re important to me. So just… let me handle it, okay?”
He paused and managed a small, sheepish smile as he stepped closer. “But I’ll take the cuddles. And dinner. That part you can fix.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2026 8:02 am
Cassidy was sure if he stared at Riker for long enough, he’d break.
Riker might have been able to keep a lot of secrets, might have had a hell of a spine, but Cassidy knew he could apply enough pressure to get his walls to crumble. And if staring at him didn’t work, he could always just start crying.
He granted Riker a mercy, though.
As Riker stepped closer, he wrapped his arms around him and drew him into his arms.
“Don’t be goofy, Riker. You don’t have to carry any trouble you’re going through all alone. I know you try to bottle all that stuff up. If you want to keep your secrets, I won’t squeeze them out of you.” But his arms were firm around Riker, as if to remind him that he could, if he wanted to.
“Don’t underestimate my ability to fix things. One day, you’ll be very surprised when you find out all that I’m capable of. But, since you’re under so much stress already, I’ll let you off the hook. For now. But when it starts feeling like too much, you come talk to me. Okay?”
He rubbed Riker’s back, like he liked to do when he knew Riker needed a special kind of hug, with extra care packed into it.
“And you’ll get all the cuddles and dinner you can handle. Now, and always. Secrets or not.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2026 8:02 am
Riker’s breath stuttered on the way out. Not enough to be noticeable to anyone else, but definitely enough for Cassidy to feel.
The hug should have made things easier. It should have soothed the panic building in his chest. But instead, the warmth of Cassidy’s arms made the ache grow sharper, like his chest was fighting itself. Relief and dread fighting to exist one over the other.
“I’m not trying to carry everything alone,” he mumbled into Cassidy’s shoulder, even though that was exactly what he was doing. “I just… don’t want you getting dragged into things you don’t deserve.”
He knew how weak the excuse sounded. He hated how weak it sounded.
Cassidy’s hands were rubbing his back, and Riker squeezed his eyes shut on instinct. Because if he didn’t, it felt like he might break apart if he wasn’t careful.
He tightened his arms around Cassidy, not wanting to let go.
“I know you could fix things,” he admitted quietly, the words a bit choked on how honest they were. “You always do. You’re good at helping people. And I trust you. I really do.”
That was the part that scared him. That he trusted Cassidy so much that he knew how easily it would be to draw him deeper into a world he shouldn’t even know about. He knew Cassidy might think he didn’t know about the monsters and magic, but if he found out that he did… what then?
He pulled back just enough to look at him, just enough so Cassidy could see the sincerity in his eyes, but hopefully not enough to see everything.
“There’s just… stuff that I can’t put on you. Not right now. It doesn’t mean I don’t want to. It just means I’m trying to do the right thing.”
He reached up, brushing the tips of his fingers along the line of Cassidy’s jaw, soft and almost reverent.
“And… yeah, if it gets to be too much, I’ll come to you. I promise.” A promise he desperately wished he could keep anyway, without everything going on.
Riker let out a shaky breath, pressing his forehead to Cassidy’s now.
“And thank you. For… not pushing. For letting me stay. You make things feel not as bad as they could be.”
He leaned in and pressed a slow, lingering kiss to Cassidy’s lips.
“I’m really glad to be here.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2026 8:03 am
Cassidy looked like he was searching for something he wasn’t supposed to find. Relentless, inquisitive. Thorough.
Riker was doing his best to be tender while staying resolute. It wasn’t that Cassidy didn’t respect the effort.
He just thought it was unnecessary.
Where Riker asked for tenderness, Cassidy returned it. He leaned into each gentle touch, mirrored each little gesture. Riker was already overwhelmed and he didn’t want to make things worse.
If all he could do was make a space for Riker to feel safe, he’d put his heart into it, and hope for the rest to fall into place. If it was meant to, it would. And if he needed to make sure it happened, he would.
Once the kiss was returned–because, of course Cassidy wasn’t going to skip out on that–he pressed his cheek to Riker’s and just held him.
“So mysterious. But that goes with ‘Tall, Dark, and Handsome,’ doesn’t it? Always trying to be so noble. Well, I guess I should be glad you come visit me when you want someone to take care of you. Even if you’re not good at saying it.”
He patted Riker’s back reassuringly, a bit playfully, but his arms returned to his protective embrace immediately.
“I’m glad you’re here, too. Let’s see what I can do to lift that mood of yours. If you won’t tell me what’s on your mind, or what I can do to help, I’ll just guess.” He kissed Riker’s cheek again. “I’ve got some ideas.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2026 8:03 am
Riker let out a breath that sounded like it was stuck between a huff of embarrassment and a laugh. He could feel his ears burning, and that familiar fluttering of disbelief that Cassidy actually meant it. He’d started to understand, too slowly, that Cassidy wasn’t cruelly teasing him when he said things like that.
It didn’t mean Riker believed it, but it meant something that Cassidy did.
He huffed with more confidence this time. “‘Tall, dark, and handsome,’” he repeated, shaking his head a little. “You make me sound better than I am.”
Not embarrassed. Not offended. Just quiet disbelief, the way he always felt when he was praised by the people he cared about after being struck down for years by people who were supposed to care about him.
His thumb brushed absently along Cassidy’s waist, probably making it too obvious that he was forgetting to keep his guard up. With Cassidy’s cheek against his own, and the comforting warmth of his arms… if that wasn’t going to loosen up the tension in his shoulders, he wasn’t sure what would.
And then Cassidy mentioned having “ideas,” and Riker felt the shift in the air around them immediately.
Not from worry or panic, just a warmth that curled through him and settled somewhere low.
He tilted his head back enough to meet Cassidy’s eyes, something curious and a little daring slipping into his expression despite everything weighing him down.
“Yeah?” he asked, quieter now. Not shy, but more like interested despite himself. “You’ve been thinking about ways to cheer me up?”
His hand slid up Cassidy’s back, slow and appreciative, but still gentle. He wasn’t as bold as Cassidy, but he wasn’t running from the implication either.
“I guess I should be flattered,” he forced a huff, but couldn’t hide the smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “You always have a plan.”
He paused, letting himself take a breath.
“...I’m listening.”
It wasn’t a challenge, nor was it an invitation he didn’t mean. He was warm and tired and wanted to be close, especially when Cassidy made the weight of everything feel less crushing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2026 8:03 am
“You should be flattered,” Cassidy reminded, settling easily against Riker and basking in all of the attention. “I don’t give my attention to just anyone, after all. Why should I make you sound better than you are? I’m just calling it like I see it. So the next time you doubt it, just remember you’re doubting me, my words, and my taste.”
He could feel Riker relaxing, in his own way. Less square in the shoulders, less tense.
The casual want behind his words that he failed to hide.
Cassidy liked to see it more than he would admit, only because he didn’t want Riker to pay more attention to it.
He’d overthink it. Cassidy didn’t want to lose the tell.
“Let me get you in bed and fed. I want you taken care of, first. Then,” another kiss to the cheek, and the corner of his lip, “I’ll show you what I’ve got in mind.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2026 8:03 am
Riker wasn’t immune to the effect Cassidy had on him. Far from it. The compliment, the teasing certainty behind it, the way Cassidy spoke like his opinion was the only one that mattered… It rested warmly in his chest, although he didn’t know if he could admit out loud how it affected him.
But Cassidy didn’t know what Riker saw when he closed his eyes.
He didn’t know how many times Riker replayed the sight of Yvoire’s body in his arms, or the sight of Amarynthos covered in blood, or the terrible, empty look in Dering’s eyes when there was nowhere left to turn, forced to obey a psychopath.
How easily it could have been Cassidy if he’d been involved.
The warmth curled low in his stomach… but so did a twist of fear.
Cassidy kissed his cheek, the corner of his mouth, and Riker shut his eyes for a second. Not because he was trying to avoid it, but because it felt too good. Like it was too much. Too dangerous in a completely different way.
When he opened his eyes again, his voice was softer, and a little more honest than before.
“Yeah… you take good care of me,” he murmured, his thumb brushing against Cassidy’s hip. “Maybe better than I deserve.”
He leaned in and pressed a kiss to Cassidy’s lips. When he pulled back it was with a quiet sigh, like he was trying to refocus.
“Could we just… I mean, after we eat, can we sit for a while? Just… I wanna be close. I just--”
His hand shifted to Cassidy’s side, holding him there but not gripping or preventing him from pulling away if he wanted to.
“I’m still a little--...” He paused and pressed his lips together and tried again. “...If I jump right into whatever your ‘ideas’ are, my brain might… go places I don’t want it to. Let me sit with you a bit, then you can show me whatever plan you’re hiding. I’ll get there. I just… need a minute.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2026 8:03 am
Riker didn’t bite for the distraction but Cassidy didn’t press it. He’d been chasing Riker for years. Sure, sometimes he missed the flustered avalanche of words as Riker tried to find his footing in a cascade of emotions and surprise.
But Cassidy was proud of him for finding his footing, somewhere between then and now.
“You’re cute,” he said softly, almost proudly, and helped himself to one more kiss before drawing back. “I can keep my hands to myself if that’s what you’re worried about. We can sit together for as long as you want. All night. You can even fall asleep against me if you want.”
He smiled again, and gave Riker a gentle half-hug. “You look like you could use a good night’s sleep. Let me go get dinner before my bed tricks you into ‘resting your eyes’.”
In his room, by his bed, he drew back the blankets and held them up expectantly. “Come on, get in. And stop thinking you only get to be taken care of when you think you’ve done something to deserve it. Are you beating yourself up again? Don’t do that. I take care of you how you deserve to be taken care of. Don’t let anybody tell you to settle for less.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2026 8:04 am
Riker grimaced. Not at Cassidy, but at himself.
“Sit all night?” he muttered under his breath as he followed him toward the bed. “That’s not-- I mean, I didn’t mean literally--”
But Cassidy was already pulling the blankets back, looking smugly comfortable about the idea, and Riker’s ears burned again.
He pushed off the slippers Cassidy had given him with his toes, nudging them neatly beside the bed like they were something precious. Then he climbed in, slow but obedient, sinking into the warmth of Cassidy’s mattress with a sigh he didn’t mean to let out.
It felt good. Too good. And too easy to imagine Cassidy climbing in after him.
He pushed that thought aside quickly, even if it tried to pull at the edges of his mind. Cassidy was getting dinner. He had to let him go.
Still, he couldn’t help but follow Cassidy with his eyes as he settled under the covers.
“I didn’t mean ‘sit all night,’” he said, almost sulking. “I do want to know what you were thinking. You can’t just tease me and then tell me to take a nap.”
He shifted a little, trying to find a position that didn’t make his bruised ribs yell at him. He ended up half propped against the pillows.
“And I’m not--”
He cut himself off, then tried again, quieter this time.
“I’m not beating myself up on purpose. It just… happens.”
Because every time he let the thoughts settle too long, he saw Yvoire limp in his arms. Saw Amarynthos and Ephesus covered in blood. Lifeless bodies. His friends hurt. Saw how close they came to losing everything. Saw how easily it could’ve been Cassidy. He’d already been too careless, letting Cassidy get to know him as Reims. What if there was no way out, once it started?
He let out a shaky breath, breaking off his thoughts.
“I just… I’m trying to let myself feel okay for a minute,” he admitted, looking up at Cassidy, unguarded. “You make it easier. That’s all.”
He reached out, brushing his knuckles lightly against Cassidy’s hip -- touching without trying to pull him closer. A silent, reluctant apology.
“Go get dinner,” he said softly. “But hurry back. I, uh… don’t really want to sit here without you. And I… don’t want to fall asleep before you tell me what those ‘ideas’ are. I promise I’m still curious.” Even his cheeks seemed to flush a bit with his ears.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
