Rorie O'Bannon (roriemccool) wrote in tiberiusswann, @ 2011-04-23 18:17:00 |
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Entry tags: | garret, mal, max, rorie |
Sunday November 16, 2008
Who: Garret and Rorie, then Mal and Max
What: Proposals and houses
Where: Rorie's house, his neighborhood, then Mal's place
When: Noonish
Last night had been a late night, Garret spending a few hours on the computer even after he'd signed off on Mal. He was thinking, and researching, and checking his accounts and calling his accountant (who was used to this behaviour by now was but still displeased by it). And it seemed settled, and Rorie would be happy, and that was what mattered.
Wearing a zip up sweatshirt, a casual pair of jeans and his running shoes, Garret showed up outside Rorie's ill-gotten house and stood looking at it a moment, frowning. He hated it just on sheer principle, and i fact didn't even want to go inside. But he did anyway, phasing through the front door and scoping out the living room. Pete came trotting over, seeming half interested. Garret frowned at him, Pete sniffed his leg and they slunk off again, unimpressed. "Rorie," he called, hands in his pockets as he casually strolled through the place. "Are you up yet?"
Rorie had finally woken up about ten, head feeling like a jack hammer had made it's home in his head. So for about half an hour he stayed in bed, nursing his hangover with a glass of water, sprite, and lots of tylenol. About 11 he finally was dressed in pajama pants and shirtless, he made his way to the bathroom to piss all the water he had downed the night before and the water he just drank. Sighing, his head just lightly throbbing and making him have a pretty dull mood, he was planning on laying back down in bed for another half hour before he heard his boyfriend. "Yeah, I'm here," he said walking into the hall from the bedroom.
He was a sight for sore eyes. Smiling softly he went over to Garret and wrapped his arms around him, kissing him on the lips before burying his face in his neck. Humming softly after taking a deep breath, he just stood there for a moment soaking it up. "So wanna come back and lay in bed with me a bit?" He asked with a soft chuckle.
Rorie looked like delicious hell. Garret chuckled a little when he saw him, taking that skinny boy in his arms and holding him tightly, returning the kiss happily. "Mmm, as tempting as that is... no. We've got to look at a few places today, and it could take awhile so you need to finish getting dressed and we need to put some food in you, and then we can get going."
"Mmmm, fine," Rorie sighed, smiling as he pulled away. "Wear anything special so I don't look like your weirdo nephew or something?" He chuckled softly, just in a good mood for some reason. He was probably feeding off of Garret's obvious good mood. Not a problem for him. Going back to his room, he pulled out a pair blue jeans, his gray t-shirt, and blue plaid over shirt. Quickly getting dressed and slipping into a pair of boots that actually stopped at his ankles, he went to the kitchen to get some cereal. He actually felt like a grown up a bit. His own house, despite hating that he lived there, his own stuff that he paid for. It felt kinda good. Downing the cereal, he put the bowl in the sink and grabbed his wallet, keys, and leather jacket. "Ready babe," he said tucking everything away as he slipped his jacket on.
While Rorie got dressed and ate something, Garret wandered around the house, looking at things and finding faults. There weren't many to find, Rorie's bio-dad had done a pretty good job, but he still hated the place. It just reeked of false love, of someone using money to placate. What was it about parents that made them think that one nice gesture could somehow erase decades of shit? It was disgusting, and it made Garret hate the place more and more.
Sitting down on the couch, he went to reach for the remote when Pete hopped up and sat down beside him, and just stared. Slowly, Garret's head turned, staring back at the beast. And that's how they sat until Rorie found them, both just staring at the other. "Hang on," he replied slowly. "He has to look away first."
Raising an eyebrow, Rorie looked between his boyfriend and his dog. Really? "You won't win, that dog doesn't blink," he said as he leaned back against the wall and watched those two. It was true. Rorie had had several staring contests just because the dog would stare at him endlessly until he fed him or paid attention to him or something. It was kinda creepy really.
"He's not gonna blink," Rorie said insisting as he stared at the two before Pete made a move, sending Rorie into a fit of hysterical laughter. Without much warning, Pete got his loving in on Garret as he just went forward and attempted to climb on him while licking his face. "Oh my God!" Rorie cackled, holding his sides as Pete whine and groaned as he made himself fit in Garret's lap.
"It's not the blinking," Garret insisted, "he has to look away first, that's the point. He has to know who's in charge." And clearly, Garret was not the one in charge. Because when Pete decided to climb on him, despite Garret's shoving, the dog ended up in his lap. "Are you kidding me?" he asked Pete, hands raised like the thing was made of nuclear venom. "Get the hell off me!" He didn't want to hurt the stupid thing, but if push came to shove Garret would knock that thing to the floor. And, it seemed, he did have to. So wrapping his arms around Pete's legs, Garret stood up, lifting the mutt with him. "Reeking like you is not how I wanted to start my day," he pointed out, dropping the dog on the sofa unceremoniously. "Ugh. I hate you."
Rorie was too far gone to help. He was busy in the floor laughing too hard at the scene. Pete wasn't all that insulted or had his feelings hurt as he was dropped onto the couch with a grunt. That was fine by him. He got the couch. So he laid there with a groan and watched the tv, ignoring Garret as if he was dismissing him. "Oh my God. . ." Rorie gasped for breath as he stood up, wiping his face of tears from laughing so hard. "That is the best dog ever," he breathed as he settled down. "Okay, ready babe?" He asked clearing his throat a bit.
Brushing dog fur (and theoretically dog stink) off his sweatshirt, Garret shot a look at Pete before following Rorie to the door. "He's not coming with us when we move," he said simply, still grumbling and dissatisfied. "I'm throwing him away and he can live at the town dump where the rest of the garbage belongs." Of course, he wouldn't actually take Rorie's dog away from him, but he was regretting ever having brought the damn thing in to begin with.
"No! Not my Petey!" Rorie wailed dramatically, laughing before locking the door and following Garret before pausing. "Moving? What do you mean moving?" He asked going to catch up with the other. "And you said we. What's this 'When we move' business?" He asked. Curiosity getting the better of him as he started to pester his boyfriend, he stayed close. The arguement to keep his dog and the dog himself forgotten for a bit as Rorie found this new subject quite interesting.
Keeping his hands in his sweatshirt pockets, Garret moved briskly, long legs gaining their stride. "You said I could take care of your living arrangements," he pointed out. "You said you hated living here, so you have to move. And since I'm going to be helping with that... we."
"You're gonna move in with me?" Rorie asked, keeping pace, his own long legs moving right with Garret's. He didn't even notice where they were going. "You wanna try again?" Biting his lip, he looked at his boyfriend curiously. If Garret wanted to try, he would gladly give it a shot. There had been enough time and events to get them used to living alone, mainly for Rorie, and he was practically an adult taking care of himself. He hadn't gotten sick in a long time and he was doing what he needed to.
Pausing for a moment, Garret kept his voice even. "I didn't say that," he said quietly, giving Rorie a small side glance. "Though I suppose I will spend a good amount of time at your place, since I won't be able to run into you campus anymore." Stepping closer to Rorie, he stole the younger man's hand in his own, lacing their fingers. "If I'm finding the place, and I'm paying for it- which I am," he insisted before Rorie could protest, "so I feel I can call it my place."
"Oh," Rorie said, feeling a bit disappointed, but it wasn't something to be upset over. It wasn't like Garret was never going to be around, like he said, he was paying for it and he was going to spend a lot of time there as well. "Okay," he said nodding, smiling softly. "So I should make sure to always have room in the bed for you at any point in time in case you feel like sneaking in when I'm all passed out and tangled in the covers snoring and drooling," he chuckled walking with Garret, taking in the crisp air and the calm feelings he had for once.
Nudging Rorie with his shoulder, Garret chuckled a little. "I will always crawl into your bed and molest you, despite your drool and snoring." He loved Rorie so damn much, just thinking about groping him right now made him grin.
They went a little while further, getting into the more secluded areas of town where the trees became denser and the houses became fewer. "So, baby... did you want to find another house, or an apartment?"
"Good, I'd hate to have something turn you off and I wake up alone in a puddle of my own drool half drowning," Rorie grinned. A real smile in what felt like ages. He'd been faking it for the most part, making people believe that he was okay when he really wasn't. Opening up to Garret last night, actually asking for help. . . It took a weight off him.
"Yeah," he nodded. "I'd like to. I want out of that house," he sighed. "It seemed like a good idea at the time, I got away from the school and I had a place of my own and then it just felt like something was always looming, like I was inviting Liam in any time he wanted because I took it. I don't like it and I think it's as bad as being at school."
Garret did not need any excuse to help Rorie out of that damn house. He hated it, and he hated Liam, and the further he distanced Rorie from that psychopath the better. Gradually he slowed his pace as Rorie talked, looking around at the houses. The trees mixed in well with the houses, obscuring them a little from the road. It was a perfect suburban little street.
"I know what you mean. And you're right, I think distance from everyone there will do you some good. Might do you both good, when Finn gets back. Though, hon... I have to admit that I'm not really a fan of you two being alone in a house together. I know that therapy is going to help him get well, but... I think it will still be awkward for you, and strained." Stopping, he turned to face Rorie, taking his other hand. "So, I guess I just need to know that you're totally sure you want to live with him? Just you two in a house together?"
Rorie has thought that it was just how it was gonna be. That Finn would get home and they'd live together. He didn't stop to really think about out it was going to really be. He'd been so focused on making sure Finn would be okay that he didn't give himself any consideration. Now that he was asked about how he felt, if he really wanted to be along in a house with Finn. . . He wasn't so sure.
"I don't know," he said looking down at his hands in Garret's, thankful for holding them because talking about, like really actually acknowledging that something was wrong, something could go wrong was scary. "It'll be awkward and strained for a bit. I'm. . . I'm a little worried that he'll do something, okay a lot worried. I mean, he was supposed to be getting better and look what happened," he sighed. "I. . . I don't think I trust him like I used to," he said softly. "I'm worried and scared for him and worried and scared of him. That's something I gotta work on myself in my own therapy while he's away, but. . . I don't wanna make things bad by locking my bedroom door at night because I'm scared my brother might come in in the middle of the night and either rape me or kill me," he sighed, gripping Garret's hands a bit tighter. "No. . . I don't wanna live alone with him," he said softly, biting his lip. "Not yet and probably not for a long while."
Even though what Rorie saying was serious, and severe, Garret smiled. Because this was what he wanted to hear. Not that he was glad that Rorie felt uncomfortable, but it made this, what he had up his sleeve, much more likely to go over well. "Okay," he said gently. Nodding over his shoulder at the house they'd stopped in front of, Garret asked "What do you think of this one?"
Looking up and over Garret's shoulder, Rorie smiled. "It's beautiful," he said as he looked at it. It looked big enough for Pete and Max to run around in and it didn't look like it would be a pain to keep clean. The yared was well kepts with trees around it making it more homey and secluded instead of just smashed together like a can of sardines that the city felt like sometimes. There were bushes in the front the made it even more. . . Cute.
"I'm glad you like it," Garret smiled, tugging Rorie along, walking backward a little ways down the road. "Although, if you don't like this one, then you can also pick that one." He nodded to the house next door, another little house set back from the street, though the backyard was longer and less wooded but surrounded by trees. "You can pick whichever one you want... because Mal will be living in the one you don't want."
"What?" Rorie said blinking as he looked at the new one. He could have either one? Mal was going to get the other? Laughing as he smiled, he looked at both houses. He had to choose? "He'll be right next door?" He grinned as he looked at the first house again before looking back at the second. Rorie would have freedom and privacy, but still have Mal close in case something happened. While the younger man didn't necesarrily love Mal by any means, he did trust him that he wouldn't let anything happen to Rorie. It was a small peace of mind as Rorie looked and tried to decide. "The first one," he grinned looking back at Garret. "I want the first one."
This was quite the reaction that Garret had hoped for. "Then that's the one you get," he grinned, tugging Rorie's hands sharply to drawn him close, pressing a kiss to his lips. "I talked to Mal last night, and I asked him how he felt about living with you, and he actually seemed to really like the idea. And I like the idea of my men being close, all of us together... it'll be great." Or it would be horrible and Garret would have a mental breakdown. But he was eager to figure out which it would be.
"Plus this way you and Finn can have some privacy. I didn't know if he'd like being shoved into a house full of people, and I know you don't want him living alone, and I don't want you two living alone, so... this seemed to make sense. And I'll stay in either your place or Mal's... or at my campus apartment, if I have a late shift or something." He didn't know how Rorie, or Mal, would feel about him keeping his place on campus, but it made the most sense to him.
The tug was met with a gleeful squeal as Rorie flung his arms around his boyfriend's neck melting into the kiss with a grin. He swore his foot even popped up a bit, all girly and romantic like. "It'll work and it works for us," he said smiling, feeling just happy for once amongst the bullshit and drama and random stuff. "I love it, you have no idea how much I love it," he said as he hugged Garret close. He was out of that damn house and Finn still had a place to go and it wasn't school and it was perfect for them.
"That's good," he smiled, just looking into Garret's eyes, their faces pressed close. "I'd be worried if you were too tired and had to drive home," he giggled slightly as he just melted into the other. "Thank you baby, thank you so much."
This was the reason that Garret was so in love with Rorie- the younger man made him feel like he did everything right. He felt good about himself, like he could fix any problem, make anything better. He loved Rorie so damn much, loved that look of hero worship on his face. "Anything for you," he said seriously, kissing Rorie deeply. He could just stand here and kiss him all day, just kiss him in front of these houses, houses where Garret was going to move his family into. A place they could all call home. Garret had never really felt like he'd had a home before, except for when he'd been lying in Lloyd's arms in Wales.
"I'm kind of nervous about this," he admitted between kisses. "I've never lived with anyone but you, and that didn't last too long and... I don't know how I'm gonna be with this."
It was so perfect, worthy of a movie scene. The kind that won awards and so much acclaim. The whole thing felt so perfect and surreal that he was half afraid he'd wake up to an empty bed and a hang over. Home had been so fluid before. It had been with his parents, then with Finn, then the school. None of it had felt like a solid ground that he could stand on, it was always crumbling beneath him, but this, this felt solid and sturdy. Weighted in a good way. Like when a strong wind came by he wouldn't be blown away. He had someone to hold onto and he was currently wrapped around the older man.
"Things are different now," he said softly, enjoying the kisses. "We've all grown together, like roots of trees tangling together. Instead of things coming between us now, we keep them out." It was an odd analogy, but it worked for this purpose. "This time you're not forced into anything, you're not contained and you're not flapping in the wind either. You've got a course instead of being boxed up or trying to grasp fog." Rorie knew how Garret got, he got antsy and fidgety if he felt like he was being constricted. He would fight and get moody and then things would be said that couldn't be undone, but this was good. It was a good comprimise of having freedom and a path to follow instead of tight stalls not letting him turn around to go back.
With a little sigh, Garret rested his forehead on Rorie's, hands gripping the younger man's thin arms. "I hope you're right. I want this to work, and I want this to be good, but... I know how I get. You know how I get. I don't want to get everyone together and then..." Leave. He didn't say it, but they both knew it. "And I don't want you to, either. Or him. I don't want to start a family and get left."
"Well I kinda can't," Rorie said softly. "I've got this thing where I really like you and I love you and even with all this shit that's been thrown at us, piled up and buried us again, I still love you. I have never doubted that for the entire time we've been together. If there's one thing I've never questioned, it's that I love you and no body can change that," Rorie said softly. "If I could marry both you and Mal to prove that, to make it easier to believe I'll stay, I would. I would get myself attached at your hip, I would get your name tattooed on me. . . Actually that's not a half bad idea," Rorie mused.
No, it wasn't a half bad idea. And it was a little startling, because Mal had said something eerily similar not too long ago. Certainly not the tattoo part, but the other thing. "It's not," he said, smiling slowly. Arms wrapping tight around Rorie, Garret hugged him close, kissing him again. "We could, you know? Why not?! I mean... it's not exactly conventional, but we're not conventional either. And it doesn't have to be legal, just... symbolic. And small. And nice." And now he was grinning, overcome with giddiness. This could be amazing, it could be... perfect. It could be everything he had always wanted in life but he could never seem to grasp.
"Really?" Rorie grinned, laughing at the kiss. "Now remember, I'm not wearing a dress and I doubt Mal would wear a tux," he teased. "It's something to think about," he said, serious now. "I know it sounds good, and I'd like to, God I'd love to marry you Garret and maybe Mal," Rorie chuckled. "Let's do this first, okay? House first, there's still Finn to add in later, I want him there for it," he said softly, looking almost sad. "There's a lot we've both missed out on and I don't want him to miss out on this. It wouldn't be the same without him there and I don't know if I could without him, you know?" He said looking up at Garret. "I want all my family there, well not all all, but the ones that matter. Think you'd be up to working on it first? Think it over more and stuff?" Rorie wanted this, he wanted it bad. He had never thought he'd be married let alone have a boyfriend with a house and a dog and a step son and his boyfriend's boyfriend.
This was probably crazy, and Mal would probably say no to it, and it was all so sudden and not planned out at all, but Garret couldn't contain his excitement. This was such a great concept! The three of them, together forever... it sounded amazing.
"Of course, yes, definitely. You're right. We should think about it, and talk about it, and of course Finn should be there. I want him to be there." And oddly, he did. Finn was in his life now, just like Max was in his life, and even though he didn't quite love the idea, he was willing to accept it because he loved Rorie. And he loved Mal. "You're right. I'm jumping too fast. We should talk to Mal about this. OH! We should talk to Mal about this right now! We should get lunch! Come on baby, let's go back to the house and get the car and pick him up!" Taking hold of Rorie's hand, he tugged Rorie along, grinning from ear to ear. "And then we can bring him to the house!"
Laughing, because he couldn't help but catch the excitement that Garret was just bursting with right then, Rorie nodded. "I'm gonna laugh so hard if you get a wedding planner or something," he grinned. "Or better yet, get us on one of those weird reality shows so we can have this epic, extravagent wedding," he teased a bit, but he couldn't help but like the idea. He could be married. It was crazy not too long ago that he could even consider that. Now, it was a very real possibility. Grinning, laughing at his boyfriend as he was tugged along, he jogged to keep up, ready to run if need be. "Okay!" He cried as he felt just a surge of happiness for them, before a sudden wave of sadness hit him. Just out of no where and for a few brief moments he just felt like breaking down and crying.
It wasn't that long, but it was enough for a few stray tears to fall down his confused face before he felt fine again. Then, like magic, he had an explination. Finn was getting new meds. Just like that he knew. Rorie had almost completely forgotten about their link, it'd been so quiet, but the sudden up and down of both their emotions probably jump started it again.
Laughing, because he couldn't help but catch the excitement that Garret was just bursting with right then, Rorie nodded. "I'm gonna laugh so hard if you get a wedding planner or something," he grinned. "Or better yet, get us on one of those weird reality shows so we can have this epic, extravagent wedding," he teased a bit, but he couldn't help but like the idea. He could be married. It was crazy not too long ago that he could even consider that. Now, it was a very real possibility. Grinning, laughing at his boyfriend as he was tugged along, he jogged to keep up, ready to run if need be. "Okay!" He cried as he felt just a surge of happiness for them, before a sudden wave of sadness hit him. Just out of no where and for a few brief moments he just felt like breaking down and crying.
It wasn't that long, but it was enough for a few stray tears to fall down his confused face before he felt fine again. Then, like magic, he had an explination. Finn was getting new meds. Just like that he knew. Rorie had almost completely forgotten about their link, it'd been so quiet, but the sudden up and down of both their emotions probably jump started it again.
If it had just been himself and Rorie, or just himself and Mal, there would absolutely be a wedding planner. There would be everything, because he would want everything. They would get married someplace brilliant and gorgeous and perfect and amazing because it was the only wedding Garret would ever have and he'd do it all the way. That's how he'd planned it with Lloyd. But because it was the three of them, they couldn't really do something like that. Plus, convincing Mal that he wanted an archway of cupcakes would be mission impossible. Still, it would be nice. Damn nice. Perfect, but small.
Turning back to grin at Rorie, he caught the tears on his cheeks, but he assumed that they were happy tears. Pausing in the run, he turned to his little love, this boy that had somehow changed his entire life, and pulled him close. "Hey now," he said gently, wiping a stray tear with his thumb. "Don't get too excited yet, we still have to ask Mal, you know? And he's always so agreeable," he grinned, then kissed Rorie.
Not wanting to spoil the moment, Rorie just smiled and nodded. He was probably going to get a lot of those for as long as he lived, so he would just have to get used to it. "It's just. . . I never thought I'd be in this place in my life," he said. "With someone so perfect for me and it's a lot, but a good a lot," he laughed. "Even if we don't get married, it's fine, I just wanna be with you. That's all the matters to me," he said before kissing Garret back. Sighing as he melted into his lover again, he couldn't help but just feel hopeful for once.
Hopeful that nothing would come along and just smash this to pieces and leave Rorie on the floor in tears as he tried to pick it up. He wasn't thinking about the past right then, he wanted to have something to look forward too. Even if Garret wouldn't marry just him, he would be okay with that.
There was no guarantee that Rorie wouldn't end up getting hurt, that this wouldn't go comlpetely and horribly wrong, that this wouldn't fall to pieces and destroy everyone's lives. But that was a risk you always took when in a relationship, though this relationship between the three of them seemed more precarious than most.
"I never thought I'd be here again," Garret admitted truthfully. "Especially so soon. After Lloyd, I thought... what's the point, you know? I had found someone amazing, and I'd ruined it, and it was obvious that I wasn't made for being involved with someone. But then..." Grinning wickedly, Garret reached around Rorie, grabbing his ass and pulling their bodies close. "Then a skinny little goth boy called me up and asked for help, and he had the saddest little puppy eyes I'd ever seen. And once I'd cast my spell on him, I knew he was mine. But I didn't expect him to cast a spell on me too. And since then, I've been completely, totally, head-over-heels stupid for the boy." He pressed one kiss, and another, and another, on Rorie's lips. "I'd die for him," he said softly. "I never thought another person, especialy someone so different from me, could make me feel like this."
Squeaking at his ass being grabbed, Rorie grinned and giggled slightly as he was pulled close to Garret. Resting his hands on his chest, he listened to him grinning. It was like a movie plot and he was slightly happy for that. Movies like those always ended with happy endings. Maybe he could get one too. Taking the kisses, sighing softly as he listened to him, he figured, what the hell.
Standing a bit longer, enjoying this, he finally pulled back knelt down on one knee. Looking up at Garret as he held his hands, he felt like he might pass out a bit. They had just talked about it, agreed to it, so why not? "Garret Foss," he said unable to stop smiling. "I love you so damn much, that after trying to live without you I know I can't. I can't stand not being with you. I love all your quirks, your goofs, your flaws. I love it all and I want to have it all. I know Mal's not here right now, but for right now. . . Will you marry me?" He asked biting his lip, hoping he didn't just make things too real to where Garret would baulk and Rorie would end up feeling like a dumbass for ruining a good day.
Garret had expected Rorie to grin, and giggle, maybe swoon a bit. He had expected blushing and kisses and all that wonderful mushy shit that made him so incredibly happy. But he hadn't expected this. he hadn't expected Rorie to take charge, to get on one knee, to look at him like he was. And he certainly didn't expect it to feel so real. They had just been laughing about it, almost joking, giddy and silly. But Rorie was bringing it to a whole different level in Garret's mind. No one had ever asked Garret to marry them before. He hadn't expected to ever get married, or to want to, except for Lloyd. And with Lloyd it had always seemed obvious that he'd be the one to do the asking. This felt very backward.
"Honey I-" Pausing, Garret swallowed, a surprised hand placed on his chest. Was he getting choked up? Oh shit, he was! Rorie was going to make him cry! Clearing his throat, he tried again. "Yes," he said simply, swallowing, hoping against hope that Rorie wasn't noticing the change in his voice. "Of course."
Rorie felt like he might have a heart attack with as hard as his heart was pounding. Waiting and watching Garret, he chewed on his bottom lip, hope and fear on his face as he waited for his boyfriend to answer. He nearly burst into tears from relief and happiness at his answer. His grin felt like it was going to break his face as he felt his eyes start to burn from the tears that weren't going to be held back. He had said yes! Standing up and wrapping his arms around Garret, he kissed him deeply. Taking the moment to just bathe in the sunlight of the Sunday afternoon.
"I love you," he whispsered kissing Garret again. "I love you, I love you, I love you," he smiled, pecking his lips between each admition. Sniffling softly, he chuckled. It was weird to be crying and happy at the same time and yet, he didn't mind it all that much.
Taking Rorie into his arms, Garret held onto him tightly, returning each kiss, his own smile seeming forever frozen in place. How long would it last this time, he wondered, until something else went wrong? He couldn't think like that though. He wouldn't. Because something could always go wrong but he knew that he wanted Rorie, and he wanted Mal, and being without them was worse than anything that could happen with them. He had felt like that with Lloyd, but in this case, he knew that he could make both Mal and Rorie happy just being who he was, not holding back, not changing.
"Come on," he said, giving Rorie one last squeeze before relenting. "We need to go get Mal and drown him in happiness against his will."
"Let's go throw rainbow streamers about him so Max can get in on it too while Mal just sits there all grumpy like," Rorie laughed as he laced his fingers in Garret's again. "I'd say we could always throw rainbow confetti, but I'm afraid Max might eat it," he grinned as they started to walk again This was just amazing. It felt good, things were on a track that wasn't spiraling out of control and Rorie could actually feel himself on something solid. "Oh! We're gonna have to go furniture shopping!" He cried in realization. He didn't have furniture to move into the house and he wasn't taking any from the house he was in now. "I'll have to go through the house tomorrow and make a list of stuff we need to get and next day you have off, we can go furniture shopping," he grinned. Of course he was half teasing. He knew Garret hated shopping and Rorie could shop for furniture like no other. Chances were, he would be given a credit card and be Mr. Accomplishment with it so Garret wouldn't have to mope around the store or try to find a TV to watch football or whatever sport was one.
It was a beautiful image, the thought of Mal scowling beneath a shower of ribbons and confetti and rainbows and laughter, Max bounding all around and trying to eat tiny glittery bits of paper. Garret chuckled as they walked, though Rorie turned that lighthearted chuckle into a deep, miserable groan. "Do we haaaave to?" he whined, shoulders slumping a little. "Can't we just find an interior decorator to take care of it?" Mostly, the question was why he had to go. Rorie was right, he hated grown up shopping. Clothes were fine and cars were fine and sometimes food, but adult things like furniture and groceries and curtains and such were just too boring.
Rorie just laughed. It was fun to tease his boyfriend, well fiancee now. It was weird to think of Garret like that. It was exciting too. "Oh maybe, maybe I wanna drag you around and ask if beige goes with burgandy," he giggled as they walked back to his house. It wasn't that far and they had run halfway there anyways. "Don't worry babe, you won't have to suffer the scourges of furniture sales," he promised. "Though I will need someone to help so I can figure out the damn colors," Rorie sighed. He seriously had to get on the ball and figure out if he could get a spell or healed or something that'll let him see color. Even for a day that would be awesome. Going to Garret's car, he got in and waited for the other so they could head over to Mal's and harass him with the good news and then play with Max, well the last mostly for Rorie. It was a quick drive and soon they were walking over the apartments, hands laced together with a jaunty walk it seemed.
Mal was enjoying making lunch for Max for once. Maybe he'd just finally gotten used to the incessant questions over the past couple weeks, but it didn't seem as frustrating now. He finished putting together the pup's monster sandwich before working on his own, leaving the meal on the counter where it would tease the pup. He had to be amused somehow. "Rorie is Garret's which makes him mine even though we haven't had sex." Sniffing, he caught wind of a couple familiar scents just outside his door. Looked like he was going to have some visitors. "Here," he spoke to Max, passing over the sandwich on a plate. "Go sit down." Turning back to the counter, he pulled out more bread, to make sandwiches for his boyfriends.
Not even Mal's dour sense of everything could ruin Garret's mood right now. He was happy. It was intoxicating to be happy with Rorie, for all to be right with the world. And he was happy with Mal, too. He was just happy. They were all together and everything was going smoothly even though there was still shit in the world to be had. Mal had a pup to take care of and he had no idea how to do it, Rorie had a suicidal/homicidal brother who had plunged pretty far off the deep end, and Garret had both of them to try and hold upright. But for this morning, right now, all was good.
So used to not knocking, Garret simply phased through the door, pausing when his right hand didn't come with him. The hand still attached to Rorie. "Oops," he said, stepping back out and instead using the doorknob. "Sorry babe. Hey Mal! We're invading your personal space!"
Walking up the stairs and to the door. Rorie automatically stopped, he was lacking in the power department to just walk right through things and so he squeaked a little when Garret walked right through and took his hand till he bumped into the door. Making a slightly sad, pouty face, Rorie giggled as he came in behind Garret when he was finally able to. "Yay! Invading of personal space!" Rorie cheered a bit, the good mood contagious. Walking in, he gave Max a wide grin and wave as the boy-hound worked on his giant sandwich. "How're you today?" He asked, resting his chin on Garret's shoulder as he stood behind him, all affectionate and giddy.
Mal set the meats aside, having finished with those while Garret phased through the door and leaving his other half outside. "Smooth move, Garret," he murmured, wondering what got the two men so perky on a Sunday morning. "You invade my personal space frequently, or used to," he called out. "Not like it's anything new." Adding cheese, lettuce and tomato to the three sandwiches, he settled each on a plate to put on the table. "Take a seat. I made lunch for you." Since there were more people, Mal grabbed a bag of honey barbeque chips and tossed it on the table for the lot of them.
"Shut it," Garret replied jovially, flashing Mal a grin. It had been smooth, thank you very much. Right up to the point where Rorie's inability to walk through things had stopped him. Looking over Mal, Garret hummed a little, turning his head to kiss Rorie's cheek. Mal looked remarkably sexy doing domesticated duties, he was half temped to go over there and grope him thoroughly. "I love you," he said simply, releasing his grip on Rorie's hand to come up behind Mal and kiss the back of his neck. "Thank you for taking care of us," he purred, squeezing the hound's ass before moving away and taking a seat at the table across from Max. "Hey, little thing," he said kindly.
Max was too busy scarfing down lunch to get up and bark at the door like he usually did, but he did return an enthusiastic wave to Rorie when the younger man gave him one. He liked Garret and Rorie, and he liked the way Malcoda was when they were nearby. He seemed... lighter, if that was the right word. Less like an elder and more like a human, but in the good way that humans were. The way that was smiley and funny and less likely to shout at him. "Hai Gwit," Max said, mouth full of sandwich. "Ow goo oo an Alcoga ave shecks?"
Rorie went over to the table, automatically taking a seat next to Max and watched him eat till his own plate was set in front of him. He couldn't help, but just smile and enjoy the small being. Taking the sandwich, he looked up at Mal and smiled. "Thanks," he said taking the sandwich and biting into it as he chewed and listened to Max try to talk. Chewing a significant less amount of food, Rorie laughed at Max's question. "Chew and swallow Max, then talk," he said like it was normal and the pup understood completely. There were moments where it was just him and Max and they had to practically sign because there wasn't enough words they both understood.
Mal sighed at Garret. "You don't cook, so if I don't feed you who will?" He didn't bother to move away from the touch or try to start his own. It would've gotten in the way of lunch. Sitting in his usual seat at the head of the table, Mal closed his eyes slowly for a moment at Max's question. It was difficult, but he could decipher it. To busy himself, he took a bite of his sandwich and reached to open the bag of chips. This was going to be amusing.
Garret did not speak the language of children with their mouths full, so the question was comlpetely lost on him. "I have no idea what you just said kiddo, but listen to Rorie." There, that was a fairly parental answer. Actually, he felt proud of himself.
"Shorry," Max mumbled, chewing quickly then swallowing. "How do you and-" Pausing, Max gave a glance to Mal, remembering that he wasn't suppose to use the elder's real name. "How do you and Mal have sex?"
There was a long pause, in which Garret stared at the child, his expression blank and absolutely priceless. What in the world kind of conversations went on in this place while he wasn't here? And why was he asking Garret when Mal was supposed to be his parental figure? "Uh..." he said finally. "I don't... none of your damn business?"
Rorie's eyebrows had shot up to his hair line at the question. Did Max really just ask that? Really? He wasn't sure whether to laugh or look on horrified. So he went with the quieter one as Garret explained. "Uh. . ." He said himself. "You don't ask adults those kind of questions Max," he said gently, looking at Max, not sure if Mal would groan or sigh and roll his eyes, or speak some hellish tongue that he had no clue what it meant.
Since he was expecting the question, Mal sat comfortably in his seat, munching on his sandwich, occasionally eating a chip or two and trying not to laugh at the flabbergasted expressions Garret and Rorie wore. He'd expected embarassment from the two and was happy he wasn't disappointed. Turning to Max, Mal nodded once, pleased that the pup used the nickname rather than his real one.
"But I want to know!" max protested, because Malcoda had tols him to ask Garret and so he had and he wanted an answer. Why couldn't he just have one, it made no sense at all. "I know how the bitches do it because they have the right parts and you don't so if you can't have pups and you still mate then how does it work?"
It seemed that Mal was not going to jump in here and have any kind of opinion, which could only mean that he had been the one to set this up. Garret shot him a look, and not a pleasant one, before settling back into his seat and plucking a chip from his plate. "Well," he said simply, "the last time we did it, I took my erect penis and inserted it into Mal's ass, and thrust vigorously." Hey, if they were going to talk sex, he wouldn't be coy about it. Obviously Max had a need to know, so now he knew.
Rorie wasn't sure what to do, Garret just went out and told a twelve year old how gay sex works when he had more of a mentality of an eight year old. A smart eight year old, but still, he was young. It just didn't sit well with him. Looking down at his sandwich, he listened and sighed. Maybe Max would understand, after all it wasn't an odd thing to be curious. Though it just felt uncomfortable to be saying it allowed like that while eating, like it was nothing.
To Mal, it was nothing. Max would have learned about sex in his training at some point. Hounds were supposed to mate and breed, and it was up to the males to know which bitch was in heat. This was nothing new to him. But it was fun to torment the humans. Glancing at Garret, Mal narrowed his eyes. He wasn't annoyed really, but he didn't have to like it. "You've got shit for memory, Garret love. The last time we did it, it was my cock in your ass. Right before we left the hotel." Turning his attention to Max, Mal reached across the table and pat his head. "Don't stress about it too much, pup. Focus on females for now. They're good practice, alright?" With that, he considered the conversation done.
Maybe Mal was done with the conversation, but Max certainly was not. In fct, he was a little horrified. Absolutely nothing about what Grit had described seemed to be pleasant at all! "Why?" he asked, looking between Mal and Garret. It was just... well how could that be any good at all?? Bitches were made for that kind of thing, but males weren't, and putting things in there was just... well there was nothing to say about it that would make it make sense.
Holding up his hands, Garret shook his head. "This is all you," he told Mal plainly. "I've said all I'm gonna say on the matter. You're his parent." Garret could handle a kid asking him a basic question about sex, or masterbation, something normal and boy-like. But not this. Having to explain why something was enjoyable when sheer physics dictated it shouldn't be was beyond his realm of responsibility. So instead he turned to Rorie, nudging him with his shoulder affectionately. "Hey you," he smiled.
He must have been staring at his plate of a half eaten sandwich hard because it took a moment for him to realize that Garret had nudge him. Blinking, he looked up wide eyed at Garret before smiling back. "Hey," he said, feeling all those happy feelings flood back. His fiancee. Oh, they might need to mention something. "So Mal," he said feeling a bit nervous about this part. "How do you feel about. . . Say a marriage of sorts between me, Garret, and you?" Tact was not Rorie's strong point.
Glancing at Max, Mal shook his head. "Drop it," he ordered softly. Max could bring it up again later, but not now. It was time to be finished with that discussion. Passing Max the chips, to show that he wasn't angry, Mal tucked back into his own sandwich. He couldn't even take a bit before Rorie spoke, and to focus, Mal slowly lowered the sandwich back to the plate. "Come again?"
Despite not allowing Mal to ruin his good mood buzz, there were still certain ways to approach a subject like this. Rorie had not executed one of those ways. In his mind, Garret did a facepalm so hard he would have broken his own nose. Outwardly, though, he simply cleared his throat a little. It was better than explaining butt sex to Max, but not much. The look on Mal's face seemed indicative of that. "We were discussing it this morning," he said gently, "and wanted to bring the conversation here. To include you into it."
"What's marriage?" Max demanded loudly, poor little pup's mind a tizzy of confusion right now. Too much new information and too many new questions and too, too much English.
Okay, it could have come out better than that. "We wanted to talk about it and you are included in this relationship, so we can't just keep it between me and Garret. It's equal, so if there's a marriage of sorts, you would be included just like if you two decided to get married I would be included as well," he said hoping he didn't sound like an ass putting it that way, but he sure felt like one. "Don't worry about it Max," Rorie said turning to the pup. "Just focus on eating and I'll explain it later," he said pushing the plate forward a bit before stroking the boy-pup's hair back affectionately.
"Max," the older hound spoke calmly, a major clue that he was hiding what he was feeling. "I need you to take your lunch into the living room. You can watch TV and have a picnic." He hoped the pup would go without being ordered, since it was something he wasn't often allowed to do. Mal needed the time to process just what was going on and how the hell it came to be. Leaning back in his chair, he glanced from Garret to Rorie before settling on the younger. "You and I don't have a relationship that would work. Our only connection is through Garret. Why strap yourself to me because of that?" Of course, he was deliberately ignoring their phone conversation from the previous night.