Who: Ehren and Dorian What: Discussing Dorian helping free Logan When: August 10th, 2019 before this [backdated] Where: Outside the Facility’s Library and the Forest Rating: Medium Status: Complete
It had been a month since their first and last date and Ehren was nervous to see Dorian again. He felt humiliated about how everything went down and he just wished he could erase it all. But that wasn’t why he needed to speak with Dorian, it was because of Logan. Dorian had valuable testimony regarding Logan and it was absolutely necessary in building a case for him. He arrived at the library and sat in front of the building, looking around to see if he could spot Dorian.
It was a cloudy day but the air felt nice outside, the cool breeze calmed his nerves. It was easier now that he didn’t have any anxiety to relax but different things still made him nervous from time to time.
—
Dorian had spent half a week inside the Finn residence on Justice Avenue. Recovering from the physical and emotional injuries had taken some time. But he was better, cautious yet better. Wearing a long sleeve t-shirt to cover the healing abrasions around his wrists, the taller man quietly but quickly walked to the library. Tucked in his right sneaker was a razor blade. He couldn’t be too careful. The guards and doctors were monsters.
Slowing as he saw Ehren sitting there, he looked around for anyone lurking before closing the distance between them.
---
His face was bruised and his left eye only red since the swelling had gone down. As he stood the ID card swung from his neck, his new mutant status displayed. “Thank you for meeting with me.” He said quietly as Dorian approached. Nodding his head in the direction of the woods he began to walk to where there were no cameras or bugs.
As they walked he began to speak. “The reason I asked to speak to you about my friend Logan. He told me that the two of you met during the storm?” Ehren asked as they walked further and further toward their destination.
—
Dorian’s ID card lightly swung on a chain around his neck. He blinked as he noticed the bruising to Ehren’s face. What had happened? “You’re welcome.” He whispered and soon followed the other man towards the woods.
“Uhm….yeah,” he breathed. He had only began to put the pieces together that the quiet, hardworking blond-haired man was the large wolf that saved him from the storm and defended him any further injury due to that guard. “He did. I didn’t know he was the wolf until people started talking when that guard, uhm, was found recently.” His hands had gone into the pockets of his jeans. If he had only known sooner, perhaps he could have helped him.
---
They continued to walk and Ehren nodded his head as he listened to Dorian speak. He sighed at the mention of the guard. “I don’t know if you know this but I saw you that night, I watched them kick you out. But I was on the verge of a panic attack. I couldn’t move.” The whole memory of it was terrifying. Shortly after I got home he fell face first into his floor and had a vision about Dorian.
But that’s not why he was here. “Logan is being charged with murder but he’sinnocent.” Finally they came to a clearing far enough away from everything else. “He told me that the reason he bit that guard was because he was hurting you. Is that true?” Of course he believed Logan but Dorian might have a different perspective on the whole situation.
—
Dorian looked over at Ehren as he spoke. “No, I didn’t. I was a bit panicked that night.” He breathed and nodded. That evening and night was chaotic to say the least. He wasn’t able to go back to the Finns and April. But he was so thankful for Logan for helping him.
As he walked he kept looking over his shoulder. “Really?” Dorian asked at the murder charge. Then he stopped as they reached the clearing. “Yes, that’s true. The guard had shoved me to the ground and I hit my head. Then he wouldn’t let me go back inside.”
—-
That made Ehren so mad, that the guards were allowed to do that to people here. What right did they have? The people on this island were still human and they deserved respect. “He needs our help. Roman wants to take your testimony as a character witness.”
Dorian didn’t owe him anything, Ehren had used him and he wished every day that he hadn’t. “I know it’s not ideal but we need anything we can get. Logan didn’t do it and I don’t want to see him take the fall for it.”
—
If Ehren knew what happened a week and a half ago or did he know? Dorian nodded as he looked over at the other man. “Yes, he does.” Then the taller man breathed and exhaled.
Why was the government using Logan as the scapegoat for whoever was doing this with this ‘revolution’ displays? “I don’t know him that much, but he seems to not be the type. Self-defense, yes.” Dorian shook his head, “But not murder.”
---
A small smile came to lips but there was still sadness in his eyes. “Will you testify for him?” Ehren asked, hopeful that their short history didn’t get in the way of him helping Logan. There was also the small task of telling Dorian about his vision.
Whatever romantic feelings had been between them had dissipated over the last month but he didn’t want to see the other man hurt. “I know it’s a lot to ask but we need everything we can get.”
—
Dorian immediately nodded. He owed him so much after Logan provided him shelter and warmth during the storm. If only he had known the man was also the wolf, he would have thanked him words. Now he would with hopefully getting him set free.
When used, when manipulated, he closed himself off. So what beginnings of romantic feelings he had for Ehren had dissolved. His intentions were focused on helping Logan. “I will testify. I don’t want him held for something he didn’t do.”
---
Relief washed over Ehren’s face when Dorian agreed, he brought his hands to face and let out a breath he didn’t know he’d been holding. “Thank you, thank you so much. You have no idea what this means to me.” Dorians testimony would definitely help his case.
“I also wanted to tell you about something. After the storm, I had a vision about you, and Caspian and some woman I’ve never seen before. You were captured.” Hopefully he’d come to him within enough time. Things started to happen with Logan and he simply hadn’t thought about it since.
—
Dorian steeled himself as he watched Ehren seemed relieved by his answer. “You’re welcome,” he spoke almost automatically. Logan must be really important to him. They must be close.
Then he lifted his chin a little at Ehren telling him of a vision that had taken place a little over a week ago. Dorian clasped his hands in front of himself. The right sleeve of his shirt inched up on his arm, showing a bit of the bright white of the bandage around his right wrist.
—
Ehren looked down when he saw Dorian clasp his hands and saw the bandage on his wrist. “I’m too late…” he said as he stared. Of course he was too late because when has anything happened at a convenient amount of time in his visions. “I’m so sorry.” He said with a frown.
Things were over between him and Dorian but it didn’t mean that he didn’t care about the well being of the other man. He still looked back fondly on some of their interactions. “Listen, I know things didn’t work out between us but I hope in time we can be friends again.” Especially now that Cas had begun to take him under his wing, but he didn’t need to thrust that on Dorian. Ehren would make the effort if Dorian wanted to be friends, otherwise he’d leave him alone.
Normally he might try to leave or curl up into the fetal position in a situation like this, but Ehren was different now since Cas had removed the root of his anxiety. “I understand if you don’t want that though.”
—
“Don’t blame yourself. I’m okay. Caspian and Laura got me out of there,” Dorian offered softly, his voice a little darker. He kept his recovery to himself and his rescuers. There was no need to let it show.
He never wanted to be used again. It was a constant fear that he combatted. Being taken by the government was a fear made reality, thus the razor blade in his sock. Perhaps Ehren had changed. He didn’t seem as insecure or fragile as before. “Maybe we can be friends again.”
“Give me some time. What you saw happened and I’m working through it.” An olive branch of information that have a peek of the taller man’s vulnerability.
—-
He offered a small smile to Dorian. “I can do that.” He promised, stuffing his hands into his pockets. He’d been detained recently too and while he hadn’t been experimented on yet, that didn’t mean it wouldn’t happen at some point. He could understand why Dorian needed time.
Hell, Ehren needed time but he had to spend it to figure out how to get Logan released. Nothing else in the world mattered to him more right now. “I need you to speak to Roman, he says he knows you? I think that guy is a Grade A creep but he’s the only chance I have. Is that ok?” Because if faced with the same scenario, Ehren would have said no.
—
Dorian nodded silently. Thankfully Caspian and Laura got him out before the needles and/or scalpels were in hand. But Dorian was still quite wary. The nightmares had continued and kept reminding himself that he was safe and hopefully whoever (if any) left alive that night didn’t remember that he was meant to be there.
It seemed that Ehren felt for Logan a good deal and let alone a kind, quiet, and heroic person was being wrongfully held for murder. He would help him. “I will speak to him. Yes, that’s okay.” Dorian exhaled slowly. He was quite aware of what he did to get Caspian’s case prioritized. But it was his choice.
—
“Great. Thank you so much Dorian, truly, it means the world to me that you’ll do this.” Because Ehren was starting to feel a great deal for Logan and it wasn’t totally fair that he was asking Dorian for his help. Logan deserved his help at least, because Logan was a good person.
“Roman said he’d contact you but if you’d like to set up a meeting with him I’m sure he’ll see you.” Ehren had gotten the feeling that Roman had alternative motives when it came to Dorian. His expression when he saw him shopping for their first date at the grocery store seemed oddly possessive. It made him sick, but he couldn’t stop him from doing anything, not while Dani still loved him.
—
Dorian could almost hear the desperation, the caring for Logan in Ehren’s voice. It was much more than he felt for Logan himself. This was a dangerous road he was on.
“I will contact him,” he nodded. The taller man was afraid, sickened, unsure. But he would do this for Logan. He needed to be free of the wrongful charges.
---
Things had started to take a turn with Logan and Ehren and if he got released they would probably go further. Ehren had very quickly felt bonded to the other man. “Thank you again.” He said, leading Dorian out of the clearing and back out into the main part of the island.
He didn’t know what else to say, things were awkward between them but at least Dorian agreed to help. “I know I don’t exactly deserve your help, but Logan does.” He added, making it to the beginning of the forest.
—
“You’re welcome,” Dorian said automatically.it was good Ehren had found someone. He himself wasn’t currently at a place for such. Quietly, he followed the other man to the main part of the island. He kept an eye out for guards, the fingers of his right hand trembled.
Awkward seemed to a normal thing for the taller man while on the island. “Yes, Logan needs my help. I will send a message to Roman when I get home. It should only be a few minutes.”
—
Once they were back near the library Ehren turned around to look at Dorian and offered a small smile. “I’ll see you around, Dorian.” And maybe he would but it’s not like Dorian ever deigned to tell him any information about himself so maybe he wouldn’t.
While Ehren had used Dorian, he never meant to hurt the other man. Ehren also felt hurt, felt hurt that Dorian had done such a number on him, but that was him being selfish. He wasn’t going to be selfish anymore, not if it meant he could get Logan back.
With that he walked toward the facility, on his way to an appointment now that the government knew about his abilities.
—
Dorian nodded as Ehren turned around to face him. “I’ll see you.” He spoke and then he decided to say something else, something caring despite his need to stay strong and neutral. “I’m glad you met Logan.”
He was alone but for the Finns and perhaps Riley as a friend and Finn as a fellow book nerd. If he could help people, he would. Yet, he felt he was going to regret meeting with Roman again. But he promised Ehren.
The taller man turned and made his way back towards the Finn residence.