Who: Finn and Riley What: A Scary Sight When: Morning, 6th August, 2019 Where: Their Apartment Rating: Mid Status: Complete
There were very few times in his life where he would admit to being horrified by something. Usually when Riley had an experience he dealt with it appropriately and then moved on from it with the exception of a rare occasion or two which linger on.
The morning of August sixth was one of those rare occasions that Riley would experience and probably never forget. Few times in his life had he come upon a situation he didn’t know how to handle - the death of his mother had been a large milestone - but fortunately he had support at home.
It had started like any other morning - breakfast, coffee, get dressed, be silly with Finn. And then head off to work to prepare for the school year to once more begin. The teachers tended to their classrooms, petitioned for supplies, but it took a while to get what they needed so the earlier this could be done the better.
That had been the goal, at least. But Riley didn’t make it to work, or at least to the classroom. The sprawled, murdered form of the discarded guard blocking the entryway to the Marketplace was enough to make him spin around on his heels and high tail it back to the apartment. Nobody was allowed in or out of the crime scene, and after seeing what he had he figured a day off was welcomed.
Frowning, he pushed his way back into the apartment. A lot was going through his mind and the usual sunny disposition had faded away into something more serious. With a click the door behind him closed and Riley leaned backward against it, still wearing his shoulder bag and shoes, dressed for work. Eyes would fall to the ground and he didn’t realize he was crying until the droplets began to bead up on the tops of his shoes.
Finn had a later start than normal that day, someone had decided that Finn needed to sleep in on occasion and two days a week would open up the library and get a start on the day's work until about 11am. He liked these days because it meant more time with Riley, they could eat breakfast together and chat away like the old married couple that they almost were.
He had just finished putting a load of washing into the machine when he heard the sound of the front door opening and closing, that was weird cause Riley should be at work by now. "Ri? That you?" He asked, pressing the start button and going to investigate.
Seeing Riley leaning against the door Finn hurried straight over, something was definitely wrong even before he saw the tears. "Honey, what's wrong?"
His bag would work down from the shoulder, strap sliding to settle in the crook of his arm and then finally down onto the floor with his hand. It felt too heavy, laden with the burden of the morning plus whatever silly, useless things lay beyond the flap.
Riley heard Finn calling for him. His throat felt too dry to say anything in return as if it had closed up and sealed away sounds. But when his fiancé appeared he leaned forward, arms winding around Finn’s frame. Burying his head into one of the other man’s shoulders the sobs began to find their way out. He shook hard with them, fingers curled into Finn’s clothes clinging and desperate.
Finally he managed to get himself together and he pulled backward, a mess of tears and puffy eyes. “A guard was murdered in front of the Marketplace. Saw him lying there. Throat all ripped out.” A sniffle.
Finn held onto Riley, letting his fiancé cry and shake. His own arms raised and pulled the other man into a firm embrace, he hadn't seen Riley this upset for ages and murmured soft soothing words, sometimes it was all that was needed, knowing that they were there for each other.
When Riley spoke about a murdered guard, Finn's hand reached up and carded through the curly brown locks. Any death was horrible but something so gruesome as their throat ripped out? That was even more shocking.
"That's horrible!" He said, although he was more concerned about Riley than the guard. "Come… sit down." Finn slowly started walking the two of them towards the couch, while he didn't know what to say he could at least hug Riley and comfort him in that way.
A sniffle would be taken and he felt better once it’d been gotten out - the story, the emotions - following after Finn as the man lead him along. The bag at his feet was abandoned but he didn’t care, it wasn’t as if it was going anywhere. He even took a second to toe out of his shoes, recalling at the last second that they were still on. He didn’t want to track anything on the floors or the carpet though he didn’t remember stepping in anything disgusting.
“It was horrible,” he confirmed, moving to sit down on the couch once they’d reached the destination. A sigh and Riley leaned to the side, resting his head upon Finn’s shoulder. His eyes would close but he saw only the burned images of that event instead of the usual darkness. His eyes would snap open again.
“What if that had been one of us?” He inquired in the voice of a sparrow. Him, Finn, any of their friends? He didn’t know that particular guard - and while everyone he knew tended to find the guards unfavorable they were still people at the end of the day. Nobody deserved to die like that.
Once seated on the couch Finn put an arm around Riley’s shoulder, pulling him against his side and offering some comfort to his obvious distressed fiancé. He knew about the other guard, the one who was injured but survived, and now this guard. Did someone have some vendetta against guards or would they soon branch out into other residents as well?
“Oh honey.” A kiss was placed on top of Riley’s head. Finn remembered when he saw his first dead body, he had pulled the man out of the ocean but sadly they were unable to be revived, he knew that it wasn’t the most gruesome scene of death but that memory had stuck with him and one that he knew he’d never forget.
He was worried too, although it was more about the safety of family and friends. Word had come back through his channels about the detainment of several residents lately, not to mention what they had done to Daryn, she was such a shadow of the woman that he had known years ago. “I know… but it wasn’t. Whoever, whatever did this doesn’t seem to be interested in the residents, they’ve just gone after guards. Unless that changes, I think we’ll be okay.” He hated trying to rationalize it but he had to try and stay positive.
Arms would wind around lithe frame, and Riley leaned more into Finn. He sniffled again, closing his eyes. Riley could’ve been anywhere in the world just then as long as those arms stayed around him. Eventually the feelings would fade and things would go back to normal. But until then he would sit there with his fiancé and see how things played out.
He couldn’t shake the question he’d posed - what if one of them was next? Those letters on the sign were etched into his brain. This was supposed to look like the residents were rioting, angry, what if the Government got worse?
“I know,” Riley nodded. He hoped to whoever was listening up there that Finn was right.
Finn hoped there would be no rioting, or that the government and those in charge on this island didn’t crack down even further on the residents. Life was hard enough for some of them, especially the new residents who had no real idea just how tough things could be here. It had taken Finn quite some getting used to and he had seen a lot of change on the island - both good and bad.
With his arms wrapped around Riley he held onto the other man protectively, while they were together in this apartment nothing or no one was going to harm them and he was going to do his very best to keep it this way, this was their haven in an otherwise dark world.
“I’ve got quite a bit of time before I have to head in for work, do you just want to stay here for now? I’ll walk you to the school if you want me to.” He’d walk Riley right up to the door if it made his fiancé feel any safer.
He appreciated the consideration but he was torn about what he wanted to do. Riley knew his heart was in his class and students. But there was no class that day, only for the teachers to report in and begin preparations for the school year ahead. He figured they’d extend a free pass considering the circumstances of the day. The burden now was too substantial and he was still in too much shock to function in any capacity that would do anybody any real good.
“No, I wanna stay home. I feel safer here,” He explained, shaking his head. That didn’t mean Finn couldn’t go to the library, though Riley hoped he’d be careful. Not wanting Finn to do something on account of him he kept his worries to himself, and wouldn’t admit to being restless while his fiancé was gone to work.
Maybe he would try to take a nap, sleeping was good for troubles once in a while. Or he would find something else to distract himself with in the meantime.
Finn nodded, after seeing something as shocking as that he could completely understand Riley wanting to avoid the area and having the day off school preparations, he just wished that he was able to take the day off so they could spend it together, unfortunately he had used up a few of his ‘sick’ days recuperating after the hurricane and he couldn’t just close the building or leave it to the few others who worked there too, it wasn’t fair on them as they had other jobs too.
Fingers carded through those gorgeous dark curls, soothing and hopefully slightly distracting as well, giving Riley something else to focus on for the moment. “That’s fine honey, remember to lock the door behind me and I’m sure there’s that baseball bat still hiding under the bed if you feel threatened at all.” Another kiss to the top of the head. “I’ll be home as soon as I can, I’ll drop in and get something for dinner.” He didn’t expect his fiancé to cook tonight, spending some of their allowance on take out food was definitely worth it.
Those fingers in his hair did act as a valid distraction. He smiled finally, leaning into that touch. “Alright, I will.” It was a promise he’d be sure to keep. And at the mention of the bat a nod would come. He doubted anyone would be dumb enough to try anything but then a bat was no match for a gun.
He didn’t want to be without Finn but they couldn’t always be together and Riley was not going to live in any more fear than everyone already did. Being apart would give him time to sulk and then figure things out and get better. Maybe he’d even take a nap or something.
Upon mention of dinner Riley grinned, “Aw, those premade meals ain’t as good as what I can make but okay. Just this once.”
Finn hoped that the bit of time alone would help Riley process what he had seen and start the steps about healing from that trauma, it wasn't easy but Finn would be there whenever he was needed, even if he had to leave work for a bit, not like they were dozens of miles away and he could pop back during a break.
"I know nothing is as good as homemade, but I want to give you a break tonight and if that means dropping our culinary standards for a night, so be it." It was a tease, the premade meals from the Marketplace weren't that bad and hopefully by the afternoon all signs of the mornings trauma would be gone. "Is there anything else I can get you while I'm out?"
Laughing softly - eyes squeezed shut, head thrown back - at the quip about lowering their culinary standards Riley found himself utterly tickled. He sighed with amusement, taking a deep breath, as his eyes opened and his chin lowered so that his eyes found Finn’s. “You’re...that was a damned good joke. You’re so funny.” A little giggle and Riley would nod. “Deal. I couldn’t argue with you anyway. I reckon you’ll dig something good up.” He was easy to please, Finn probably knew that by now.
Eventually the memories would fade. He would never forget what he saw but the impact would lessen. Leaning over Riley pressed a flutter of kisses against Finn’s cheek, jaw, the side of his face. “No. I love you, be safe please. And try not to flirt with the guards, okay?” He quipped playfully.
It was good hearing Riley laugh, a smile spread across Finn's lips upon hearing the sound, in all the sadness he still had the ability to make the other man smile. He had no idea what he'd find at the Marketplace for dinner but he'd bring back something, after so many years he knew exactly what Riley did and didn't like when it came to almost anything - from food to entertainment.
Another smile blossomed at the flutter of kisses to the side of his face, another sure sign that Riley was starting to feel a bit like his usual self. "Aww, not even the nice ones?" Finn quipped back, he wouldn't flirt with anyone anyway, except maybe for a bit of fun with Riley's full permission. "But I'll behave myself and won't go stirring up any hornet's nests. But any problems just message me, okay?"
He’d have done literally anything to see Finn smile. The time the other man had spent in the hospital following the hurricane had taken its toll on the both of them. But they’d prevailed and it felt to Riley like that had been another lifetime ago, not just a few weeks. There was nobody else in the world who could bring him out of such a deep sadness and make him smile the way that Finn could. Having a soulmate was a beautiful thing.
A giggle would leave him. Riley made a face, “Are there any nice ones?” Once in a while he would notice a guard being considerate where another would not be. Did that qualify as nice?
Nodding, he smiled, “Scouts honor.”
Before Riley Finn had never believed in things like soulmates, it was just something made up by romance novels and the like. But since Riley he knew there was no other way to describe it, they were soulmates and he wouldn't change that for the world!
A gentle shoulder squeeze. "There's that big guy, he seems nice enough." That was one of the rare secrets that he had kept from Riley, that the guard he was talking about had an off island mail service and Finn had used it on more than one occasion to contact his family and the guard's friend who smuggled things in for residents as well. They were probably the only two nice ones on the whole island.
"Were you ever a boy scout?" Finn chuckled before pressing a soft kiss to Riley's lips.
In reply to the mention of the guard Riley could only offer a shrug. He wanted to experience it for himself, not that he felt Finn wasn’t being truthful he was just stubborn and hard headed - traits he knew that Finn knew he possessed. “I guess so. I don’t ever see him being a dick to anyone, so I guess that’s fair.” At least not in the way that resembled any of the behavior or mannerisms of the other guards.
Riley would puff his chest out proudly in reply to the next part. “Nah, only in my dreams. Pops would never let me go. Didn’t want me bein’ around any of those scout leaders and all.” That rumor couldn’t be true for all of the Scout Leaders, but regardless his Pop was the one who held the leash in their family.
“I could show you a few of my skills, though.” His eyebrows would waggle suggestively and the kiss would be returned with a grin.
Finn had gone through the scout movement, he had enjoyed learning about the outdoors and gaining skills that he would probably be using if he wasn't stuck on this island. But he remembered Riley saying about how strict Pop Kip was, and glad that his fiance was now far away from that kind of control. "Well you know how I feel about your father." Nothing good.
The kiss didn't last too long, as much as Finn would love to get wrapped up in Riley he had to get to work soon. "Oh I know all about your skills! Wish I had time now but it'll have to wait until tonight."
That comment about his Pops earned a snort of amusement and disgust coupled with a nod. How Finn felt was how everyone felt about Pops. Even the people from the church avoided the little trailer if they weren’t sure his Mama would be home. Buddy Kip had pushed everyone out of his life and it seemed that everyone was better for it.
One of those signature double winks would be offered and Riley nodded, grinning foolishly up at his fiancé. “Sure sure, just don’t get all turned up at work. Save it for when you get home, Kay?” The last part was said cheekily, and then a giggle would follow. He was only teasing of course, he had nothing but trust for the blonde.
He sighed with happiness and smiled, “I can’t wait to get married to you.”
In some ways Finn was glad he had never met Buddy Kip and probably never would, he did know that the Thompson’s though would welcome Riley into the family with open arms, they had told him as such in smuggled letters and he had sent a few photos and got them in return. Maybe one day they’d all be able to meet in person and Finn could show off his beautiful husband to his amazing family.
The grin was returned, he loved that double wink of Riley’s, it always made him smile. “You know I’ve only got eyes for you honey. We can always have some fun in the bedroom after dinner.” Which would probably happen, they were crazy in love and it showed in their sex life.
He gave Riley’s shoulders a squeeze. “Still thinking sometime next month, not too hot and not too cold, perfect for a nice wedding. But for now, let's just cuddle.”