As far as enclosed spaces went, the rooms set aside for Eros - for them - in no way resembled a cage, but after Leonard had peeled his eyelids open, the lack of an ocean breeze blowing in from every side had been sorely missed. The lofty open space of their hideaway replaced by solid walls sandwiched between floor and ceiling, Leonard took a second or twelve to let himself adjust, lips moving silently as he reminded himself where he was, that he was safe. Safe. Safe. Safe and fuck the for now that his traitorous brain tried to wiggle in there.
Curled up in the tangled puddle of covers, the boy lay in the center of the bed, extending one limb at a time from the mass of fabric to stretch like a demented starfish. Eros had been summoned to his mother's house, and no way was Leonard able to think of it as anything but exactly that. That wasn't an introduction to which he looked forward. Like at all. The only thing that scared him more was the idea of meeting Ares, because wasn't that gonna be tons of fun considering the fucked up Jerry Springer family dynamics they all shared.
Eyes peeking out of his self-built cocoon, Leonard grabbed the jeans and t-shirt laying on the corner of the bed and finally shoved his way clear, dragging the clothing behind him to wash up in the attached bath. Ten minutes later, he was clean and dressed and licking at freshly brushed teeth as he bounced up and down on the balls of his feet, testing the springiness of the carpets that covered the floors as he tried to decide whether to open the door or stay inside. Stay or go. Stay or go. Stay. Go. Should I stay or should I go now... The Clash roared to life, and Leonard sang under his breath as he stared at the door. The door that locked on his side. His side. Not the other. It would open if he touched it. It would.
Leonard had been told he was welcome. Words pretty much exactly to that effect. Novel concept, sure, but if he was welcome, maybe that included the bananas he'd caught glimpse of in the kitchen. Potassium all wrapped up in a yellow jacket. On the other side of the door. The door that would open, but only if he wanted it to open. Not a cage.
A soft growl of agreement from his stomach taken as a sign, Leonard opened the door and peeked out, head inching out like a weird inky turtle finding his way out of his shell for the first time, and when the coast proved clear, Leonard inch-wormed the rest of the way out, pressed flat against the wall as he shut the door behind him. Welcome. Welcome, he was welcome. Not a cage.
Forcing his lungs full of air, Leonard pushed off the wall and let the song time his steps, one foot in front of the other. "If I stay there will be trouble... but if I go there will be double..."