James (jamesownsit) wrote in tiberiusswann, @ 2011-11-11 21:34:00 |
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Entry tags: | devon, james, rocky, syn, will |
Sunday - February 15th, 2009
Who: James, Will, Rocky, Devon and Syn
When: Afternoon
Where: Syn's apartment
What: James is here to save the day!
Rated: NSFW
It had been a very long three days that James had spent trying to make it back to the TJS campus. He and Fisher had headed out pretty much right after he had gotten off the phone with Rocky and it had taken them two days and a shit ton of money to get to New England. Flights were delayed and tickets were few and far between and he had had to literally buy their way on a plane and the both of them sit and wait for nearly fourty-eight hours before they even allowed on a plane. It was Saturday night by the time they got to the city and it was Sunday before they'd been able to get to the campus.
Accosted at the gate, they were both given an injection before they were allowed on campus along with several viles of medication and a few syringes with instructions to administer to those they were going to see as there had yet to be time to get the cure widespread throughout the entire campus. He and Fisher went their seperate ways once they were inside as Fisher needed to check on his brother and it was doubtful he would be well received by James' family just now.
James started toward his old apartment on campus and then stopped, realizing just then that he had no idea where on campus they were right now. Pulling out his phone, he called Rocky hoping he'd be able to get through this time. He was glad to hear it ring, but before she could answer, he ran across someone in the hall the he knew and asked them instead if they knew where his son was. They gave him an apartment number, one that he was not familiar with and he was off. It didn't take long to find it and he pounded loudly on the door.
~~~
Will had improved since his brief visit to the afterlife, but he was still sick. He took comfort from the fact that Syn looked so much better, and that despite his experimental healing the sprite was able to move around. The angel was still confined to bed, making it difficult for him to get up and piss like he so wanted to. He couldn't do anything he wanted to, which made him terribly grumpy. The only way to shut him up was to hug him, and so he appeared to be getting grumpier by the day.
Rocky on the other hand, despite not being sick, felt like her stomach was turning. After a short respite with Fox she had, nevertheless, been dwelling on her converastion with James, if it could be referred to as such. Before she could explain why 'Will died' wasn't so final James had hung up declaring he was on his way, and since then she'd not had any service. He wouldn't come, though, she reasoned, and that was why she didn't bother telling Devon of her contacting his father.
A brief ring of her phone interrupted her thoughts but she managed to check the number. James... he wasn't here, but he was probably ringing to - and who was that at the door? Thumping like her brot- shit.
"Uhm... I'll get that, Okay?" she shouted loudly, darting towards the door before Devon could even make it out of wherever he was. "Stay there!"
~~~
It felt like it took an hour for someone to come to the door, and when it was finally opened and James saw Rocky there looking... Well, as well as she ever did though maybe a little tired and worried, he felt relieved. He took a step inside the door and then pulled her against him in a hard, tight hug.
"I'm so fucking glad you're okay," he muttered against her hair. He felt like he hadn't been breathing for days, really, holding everything in so tightly wrapped that he felt like he could just snap at any moment. Of course he still couldn't relax just yet.
"Where's Devon?" He pulled back to look at her. "Is he okay? Is he... I mean... how is he... dealing?" He couldn't even say the rest of it, couldn't bring himself to even think about it at this point. Not yet. He could have a fucking break down later if he needed to but right now he needed to take care of his kid even if he wasn't sure that him being here wouldn't just make things worse.
~~~
Before Rocky could say a word she was dragged into James' arms. He looked good, tanned, fresh, alive, which was more than he could say for her. Bedraggled and worn, Rocky sighed and returned the hug, feeling terribly guilty. As she pulled away and looked at him, sadly, she wished she could form the words to explain her mistake to him, but...
"I'm fine. Devon's... ok, actualy," she said awkwardly, running a hand through her hair. "Listen why don't you... I mean he's... oh go see for yourself..." She sighed, very distressed, gesturing towards the bedrooms.
~~~
Something seemed to be very wrong in accordance with her demeanor. James frowned, watching her for a moment. "What are you not telling me?" He asked, but he didn't bother to wait for an answer. She gestured toward the bedrooms and his only thought was that somehow Devon had fallen ill too or something and he could feel his pulse pick up suddenly.
Taking off in long, quick strides down the hall, James headed into the first room he came to. When it finally registered to him what he was seeing, he stopped, dead in his tracks. Devon was in the room and there were two people in the bed, a small man that he didn't actually recognize and another taller one that Devon was actually sitting beside and sponging off his forehead. It took a moment for it to actually completely hit him who the other man was.
"Will?" The word was practically croaked, and Devon looked back toward him when he heard him speak, having been too preoccupied to notice that he had walked in before James had actually spoke.
"Dad? What..." Devon looked confused first and then angry. "Why the fuck are you here?"
~~~
Rocky didn't want the wrath of James so it was best to just let him figure it out for himself. As she watched him go to the bedroom she went to the kitchen, pouring herself a large drink. That was the best thing about Syn and Ikon's apartment: always stocked with booze.
Unaware as to the newly arrived visitor, Will remained in bed, hand holding Syn's fingers and leaning towards Devon's touch. The sponge was nice, soothing to his fever which continued to run high. He wished to fuck that he was able to get out of bed and run a cold shower all over his body but only Devon would be able to manouver him and he'd already done so much....
A familiar voice met his ears and Will stirred, glancing towards the door where he believed the mirage of James was hovering. Oh great. Now he was hallucinating... but Devon's reaction clearly indicated otherwise.
"James...?" he murmured softly, as shocked as the rest of them that the man was standing at the door. In fact he was so eager to know for sure that he wasn't just seeing things that he made an effort to sit up.
~~~
"What the..." James was conflicted. He wasn't sure if he should be relieved or pissed off or both. "Rocky told me you were dead." No, she had told him that he had died. She had never said that he had stayed dead after he died. He must have misunderstood. It must have been touch and go. And now....
"Why the fuck didn't she call me back?!?" Devon was watching him with a brow slightly arched, lips pursed in a tight scowl.
"Upset that you can't dance on his grave?" The boy finally asked his father, his tone definitely hinting at more than a little displeasure at his presence here.
James simply looked at him, an expression that clearly expressed how utterly shocked and appaled he was at the suggestion, but he didn't say a word. Instead, he became aware of the viles in his hand and then moved forward, instructing Devon to "get out of the way" in the process.
"What is that?" Devon asked, incredulous of his intentions. "What are you gonna do?"
"It's the cure, Devon. I'm going to save his fucking life, if you don't mind, now move out of the fucking way and let me take care of this." Devon moved to his feet, leaving room for James to work, the older man taking a seat on the bed beside of Will and popping the top off of one of the syringes.
~~~
Rather than speak out during this father son spat, Will practically shrank back into the bed, eyes darting down. He didn't know why James was here but apparently he was greatly surprised that Will wasn't pushing up the daisies. Glancing at James as he and Devon growled at each other, the angel was prepared to try and roll away or feign deafness or something but he caught wind of one word.
"Cure?" he repeated, staring at the needle. He fucking hated needles, and he shuddered at the sight of it, inching away. His arm was freckled enough without a little prick. "Do... do you know what you're doing with that...? Eurgh..."
~~~
"Yes." It was a lie. James had never in his life given anyone a shot but they had showed him how to do it when they were administering his own and it was either give it to him now or wait until they got around to him and that just wouldn't do, not if he had knocked on death's door once already and then turned around and came back.
"Hold still," he instructed once the needle was filled, and he grabbed his arm quite forcefully, able to hold him down rather easily, and pushed the needle into Will's vein, a bit of red penetrating the syringe before he pushed the contents down, the burn being nearly immediate. He retracted the needle and then rubbed the entry point before folding his arm over and holding it that way.
"I need some of that," Devon spoke up. "For Blue. She's in the other room. And Syn too." The sprite was, since the incident, the most stable of the three of them though so he was at the bottom of the priority list as far as triage was concerned.
James handed over one of the viles and syringes to Devon with instructions. "Make sure you get all the air out before you put the needle in." It probably wouldn't kill Blue if he didn't seeing as how she was already technically dead, but better safe than sorry. "I'll take care of that guy." He nodded toward the sprite who was somehow managing to sleep through all the yelling that had been taking place just now. Of course Syn was used to loud noises during sleep after so many years of living with Ioakeim.
~~~
Of course it was a lie. Will gave James a look to show that he knew precisely that the demon had never done this before but he held still as instructed. Not like he had a choice in the matter. It was either protest and whine or get fucking better and he knew which he'd prefer after over a week of hell.
As soon as it was done the angel pouted, rubbing at the spot James had just injected him. It fucking stung and he grumbled though he felt slightly better already. That had nothing to do with James being there, oh no. If anything he would much rather be cured and then go off and hide somewhere rather than look so pasty infront of his ex-lover.
Glancing at 'that guy' Will squeezed at his hand, urging him to wake. "Syn... hey, Synbin..." he whispered softly, his other arm at a very odd angle right now. When Devon was out of the room, but just before Syn was awake, the angel finally turned to James, almost shyly. "Thanks. For, y'know. Not stabbing me, and... coming. I guess."
~~~
There weren't really any words that James could think to say at that moment when Will turned to him and thanked him. He just sort of scoffed, like he was in disbelief of the fact that he was being thanked, and then shifted his focus to the other syringe in his hand, fixating his gaze on it as he filled it simply because he needed that focus right now. As well as Will knew him, he knew he'd know that he was repressing something but he couldn't let go of it just yet.
Standing up, James moved around to the other side of the bed just as the other man started to stir. "This is going to sting," he announced as he took a seat and grasped the smaller man's arm. He was admittedly far less gentle but Syn issued no complaint other than a soft whimper before shifted his gaze to meet Will's own.
"We're gonna be okay?" He certainly hoped that was the case and there wasn't some other reason why he woke up to find some man he didn't currently recognize injecting him with something cold and burning.
~~~
Typical. James was being repressive when Will was being nice. The angel said nothing more, allowing James to work silently. He had other things to focus on in any case, like his friend who lay next to him, waking from a slumber. Shifting so that Syn was supported Will watched as he was injected with the serum of whatever it was. The moment the sprite looked up at him Will greeted him with a smile, relieved.
"Apparently," he replied softly, stroking some hair from the man's eyes. The angel was feeling better already and he thanked however out there had come up with this stuff. "No more bad dreams, healing or... afterlife. Which is a good thing, right?"
~~~
Syn felt... relieved. He didn't feel better just yet, not even a little, but he was glad that this was going to turn around soon enough. He offered a small smile in return and then nodded his head. "A very good thing," he croaked out, closing his eyes and giving Will's and a soft squeeze. "Glad you were with me."
James could feel those familiar stirrings of jealousy as he watched the two of them together and he had to remind himself that he had no right to be jealous any longer. They were divorced, finished, through, and he had moved on. It was only right that Will do the same.
And yet, in spite of being aware that he needed to keep an eye on the both of them for a bit to make sure there was no sort of reaction, he had to get out of that room. And so he announced, "I'll be in the hall if you need anything," and then moved to make a hasty exit.
~~~
Though Syn being with him was so much comfort he couldn't help but feel James' emotions surging through him. No, he had no right to feel jealous that Syn and Will were close like this, no right at all. The angel need not tell him, though, because he already knew exactly that. James was the one to choose another man over the angel, to be with this other man despite the connection the two had....
Good job they hadn't been married or anything. He watched as James left the room, eyes sharp and letting the demon know, should he care to look, that the angel knew precisely what was going on in that head of his.
After saying nothing on James' departure Will then turned to Syn once more, stroking his cheek. "Lookit you, beautiful. It's like I've not seen you in weeks, yet you've not left my side since this thing began."
In the living room Rocky was still nursing her drink, worried about what might be going on. She'd heard loud voices, but nothing more...
~~~
Syn groaned. "Ugh, not beautiful. A tired mess," he laughed, then opened his eyes to Will once more, the blue seeming a bit brighter today than it had for days and days now. "Good to see color in your face again." Will was already looking brighter and more vibrant and alive than he had looked for however long this mess had been going on. And Syn was relieved, so relieved. "Dunno what I'd do without you, William."
James stopped short of going anywhere else once he'd made it into the hallway and had closed the door to the room behind him. Reality started to sink in, coupled with the tension and exhaustion of the last several days, and he found himself sobbing, quietly, a hand moving up to cover his face. He could KILL his sister right now for putting him through the hell that this last three days had been.
~~~
Will petted Syn's chin with a finger. "You are beautiful and I won't hear another word which says otherwise..." The angel felt better, probably better than he looked. With a smile he pressed a kiss against Syn's mouth, softly but firmly also, letting it linger for just a few moments before he pulled away. "I don't know what you'd do either," he winked, but it was clear that he felt the same way. Another kiss to his lips and then the angel was moving, determined to get out of the bed.
"I'm going to get something to drink for us," he told him. "You stay there..." It was a stern instruction, emphasized with a wag of his finger. Yeah, so he was a little wobbly on his feet, but he managed to exit the room - and then he bumped straight into James.... a James who appeared very upset. "Oh. Sorry."
~~~
Syn closed his eyes and sighed into the kiss, opening them when Will pulled away to smile. "If I keep saying otherwise will you keep doing that to shut me up? If so, that can be arranged." He exhaled a soft laugh, then received the second kiss with a slight squeeze of Will's hand before the other was attempting to climb out of bed. "Be careful," he instructed. Will was kind of wobbly and Syn was worried he might fall and then he'd have to figure out a way to drag his ass out of this bed and try to get him up, but he made it out the door okay.
The door opening scared the shit out of James and he moved to wipe at his eyes hastily before he offered Will a scowl. "You shouldn't be up moving around yet. You could fall and hurt yourself. I told you to yell if you needed anything."
~~~
"Well if I fall and hurt myself I'll need helping up, so then I'll yell...." A scowly response met an even scowlier scolding. Will leant against the wall slightly, steadying himself, before he sighed. Being snappy wouldn't do either of them any good. James was here for a reason... just didn't know what that was. And he was obviously upset... but he should cry. Will had cried for days, weeks after he'd left him. The angel deserved some tears.
"You'd be better off healing other people than running around after me. Or talking to your son..." But Will's head was dizzy and he had to lean his full back against the wall, trying to make it look intentional when it was clear he was still off-center.
~~~
James gave Will a look, one that showed that he was clearly not amused. "There's no one else here that I give a shit about," he replied simply. Everyone that he was concerned about was here in this apartment, after all, save for Cecilia who wasn't in the state at the moment.
"Look, you can barely even stand up. Just tell me what you want and I'll get it for you." He pushed himself away from the wall in preparation to go and fetch.
~~~
Oh so James gave a shit about Will. How nice. Tilting ihs head at him, Will studied the demon a minute before he smiled. "Anyone ever tell you your bedside manner leaves a lot to be desired?" he asked casually, before he too pushed himself up from the wall. "I just want something that isn't water for me and Syn.... yourself too, if you're staying."
~~~
That statement was enough to get a smirk from the demon before he replied simply, "All the time." There was more than he wanted to say, that he felt like he needed to say, but instead he just looked at Will for a moment before he said, "Go get back in bed. I'll bring you both something." And yes, he was sticking around, at least long enough to ring Rocky's neck!
~~~
With one eyebrow raising, Will's lips turned into a smirk before he grabbed hold of the wall, propping himself up. "Well be qiuck about it," he said, giving him some sass, before he made his way back into the bedroom, just reaching the mattress before he threw himself down, already tired. Though he appeared fine, with his face down in the sheets which smelt of illness and oddly, of death, Will was only just coming to grips with the fact James was here. Again. And he wasn't sure how to feel about that.
~~~
James scowled at him but then turned to head down the hall, pausing to purse his lips in a frown when he spotted Rocky before he moved to get the pair of men a drink. "Wanna tell me what the fuck happened now?" He would talk first. And depending upon the answers, then he would yell.
~~~
Oh goody. As she saw James enter the living room Rocky stood, raising her hands in defeat before she even began. "Look, I said on the phone that he had us all worried but you'd dropped the phone by then, and the service went out just after, and I tried to call, I did.... but I thought maybe you'd change your mind or you'd call again or something... a virus hit us, Will healed Syn because he was dying then Will died for like... God I don't know - seven minutes? and Devon was screaming and Syn was crying and it freaked me out James!" Waiting to get that out? Possibly. And Rocky wasn't sure if she felt better for it.
~~~
James was listening to her, but he wasn't sure that he was really hearing her. She was giving him excuses and though they may have been valid excuses perhaps that did not negate the hell that had been these last three days for him. "Do you have any idea, Rock..." His voice trailed off and he laughed. "Three days. For three days I thought that he..." He couldn't even say it. "I am so... unbelievably pissed off right now. And relieved. And fucking..." He exhaled a breath and added, "I don't even know what I feel right now."
~~~
"Like that surprises me," Rocky retorted, glaring at him. He could say how bad he'd felt all he liked, it was nothing. "Try living here. Try being trapped in this school without power whilst the people around you are sick, or dying, or DEAD! People have died during this, James, and they've not come back like Will has! So excuse me, but three days agonising over what the fuck happened with Will is nothing compared to what I've gone through." folding her arms she glared at him, breathing heavily. "Never figured you'd run here for him. Little too late if he was dead."
~~~
"I came here because of Devon, because of you!" James retorted, turning toward her, the filled glasses on the counter ready to be taken to Will and Syn. "Because I knew that if he was... that you would both be... fucking..." He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Fuck it. You're right. Three days thinking that my ex-husband is dead and my sister and son are probably falling apart is nothing. Hell, I'm sure I even deserve it which is probably exactly what you were thinking in not clarifying the fucking situation. How silly of me to be a little fucking angry and hurt right now."
~~~
"Then how come you're not with Devon right fucking now asking how he's been doing?!" Rocky shot back. "And yeah we WERE in pieces, but no, I didn't think it was what you deserved because I didn't 'clarify'. The moment I knew that you were coming I wanted to 'clarify' because I realised what I'd said! You deserve to be happy, James, that's what you deserve.... and you deserved to know what had happened here. That's all."
~~~
"Because he's taking care of Blue right now, apparently, and he doesn't seem to care to talk to me." James replied and shook his head. "Which is typical. And which is precisely why I shouldn't even be here right now but..." He exhaled a breath and then he muttered, "I'm too fucking tired for this." He grabbed the drinks off the counter and then headed down the hallway toward the bedroom without another word.
"Everything okay?" Syn asked once Will had made it back into the room without anything to drink for either of them. He reached a hand out to stroke fingers lightly up and down Will's arm. "Hey, talk to me." Clearly something was distressing him and it wasn't the illness this time around.
~~~
"He still loves and needs you!" Rocky called after him, as if going to tend to Blue was any reason to avoid talking to him. James needed to reconnect with his son. They both needed to sit down and not fucking yell at each other.
Whilst still on the bed Will was wanting to be swallowed into the sheets, enveloped in Syn's arms, and just go back to sleep. But Syn was pressing him for something and that was when the angel realised the sprite had no fucking clue who had just given him a shot. "That was James," he said, muffled into the sheets before he raised his head, turning over onto his back and reaching up for Syn's touch. "Y'know. James. Coming in to save the day, make us all better..." And it was clear that he wasn't sure how to feel.
~~~
"Oh." That was just about the only thing he could think to say in that situation. He was clearly distraught by this, and Syn wanted to say something that would make him feel better but he wasn't really sure what to say. So he settled on this, "It's good that he still cares." He was glad that he'd come with the cure even if it had left Will feeling slightly conflicted. Syn grinned and added with a smile, "Explains why he jabbed me so hard."
~~~
Whilst the last did make him smile a little, Will reached up to try and reach Syn again, stroke him and feel him near. He knew that it'd be weird for Syn to meet James, but still... at least James had brought something which might not make their first meeting too horrid. "He doesn't even know who you are," Will laughed. "That's the ludicrous part of it.... but from what I gather I think he just came cause he figured I was dead."
~~~
"Well, you aren't. And neither am I. And... we're going to get better and things will be.. good," Syn smiled. And then he realized he had forgotten to tell him something that he'd wanted to tell him before this had all started. "Did I tell you that I-" He was interupted by the bedroom door opening and James entering with two tall glasses of soda, both with a straw to make it easier for the weak ones to drink from.
"Sorry it took so long," James said, watching the pair of them as he crossed over to hand them both their drinks, waiting for them to shift to a seated position before he gave them up. The last thing he needed was for them to try and drink it laying down and end up choking to death.
~~~
Will had been rapt with attention to Syn as soon as he'd started speaking, as normal. Syn could speak forever and Will would never get bored listening to that voice. For a moment he even forgot that he smiling up at him. He was so glad that he'd healed him.Not because he'd reached some sort of closure, but because he doubted that Syn would have been around to even receive the cure had he not tried it.
At James' presence Will was slightly annoyed that Syn hadn't got to tell him once again what he'd intended to but the welcome sight of soda made the angel sit up rather quickly. "I am so fucking glad you still stock soda, Syn," he growled, eagerly reaching out for the glass.
~~~
Syn was a little annoyed as well, but at least there would be time to tell him later. It was a conversation they could perhaps have when they were feeling better. It would be more.. meaningful then maybe. Syn smiled and muttered, "Thanks," when James handed him the soda. At least one of them was grateful.
"I wouldn't have any if Ioakeim was still here, I'm sure." Syn exhaled a small laugh, sipping the soda gingerly and coughing a bit as the carbonation burned his sore throat just a bit.
"Anything else I can get you?" James asked, more than ready to get out of this room right now. He didn't care for the way that being here with the pair of them made him feel.
~~~
The moment Will had the drink he almost guzzled down half of it in one go, making him hiccup afterwards. After the hiccup he did a rather large belch and giggled, bashful. "Well... can't say I've changed," he shrugged at James, mulling over the next question. "Uhm.... no... thanks. Just - stick around?"
For some reason he wanted James to stay so that they could talk. And he meant properly talk.
~~~
"I wouldn't mind some fresh sheets," Syn piped up. "These.. kind of smell," he added in a small voice. He was sure that Will would concur. They stunk like death and disease and sweat and that was not a pleasant odor. Speaking of smelling, "A shower would be nice too if maybe.. maybe someone could just help me to the bathroom? I think I could do okay on my own afterward maybe."
James gave Syn a look to indicate that he clearly had not be talking to him but then he replied simply, "Fine.Right. It's probably a good idea to get you both cleaned up a bit."
~~~
James may not have been addressing Syn, but Syn was no less ill and still deserved what he asked for. Smiling at him from sucking on the straw Will then nodded in agreement. "Yeah we really could. I stink. And I'm pretty sure it's not of Issey Miyake. The whole bed needs an exorcism..." It was clear that he was getting a little fire back in his belly now as he picked up a sheet in disgust and threw it on the floor.
~~~
And now James was just starting to get annoyed. Of course when was he not annoyed? That may be a better question. "So which one of you is going first?" James asked as he walked over to pick up the discarded sheet and toss it into the nearby hamper. He'd get Rocky to take these somewhere and dispose of them. Hopefully there were a few spare sets around here somewhere that he could use to change the bed out.
~~~
"First? Why don't we just save time and go together?" It wasn't a ploy to make James mad, and it wasn't intended to cause him any further annoyance, but a genuine suggestion, because they may as well get it over with then both settle back down. Right? Clambering back off the bed Will polished off his soda and then tapped the light on in the bathroom, leaning on the door frame. "Or - I dunno if either of you would be uncomfortable... so... it's up to you both... I mean I will go first, if you like..."
~~~
It may not have been his intention, but that wasn't to say that it didn't get a response. James looked like he may just.. flip out right then and there and Syn, watching him, had a hard time not smirking about that. But in an effort to keep things nice, it was Syn who piped up and said, "Maybe we should just go one at a time. It'd be easier that way for.. for James to help if either of us needed it." He offered Will a smile. To be perfectly honest, Syn's recovery time didn't seem as rapid as Will's was. He still felt like a weak little kitten and he wasn't sure he was quite up to the attempt just yet. He needed a few minutes still.
~~~
James was so fucking temperamental. Will was about to say something when Syn interrupted, and he nodded his agreement. "Ok..." Though it wasn't like this wouldn't be awkward. Will hadn't been naked in James' company since - well in a while. And he didn't particularly want to be naked right now but if he didn't shed his clothes and shower, then he'd continue to fucking stink and he didn't really want to continue.
So, moving into the bathroom, he began to slowly shed his clothes, peeling off his shirt that he'd worn for a week or more, and dropping it onto the bathroom floor. It was a slow process, just trying to work his limbs and be clear-headed enough to function but by fucking hell he would do it.
~~~
James wasn't going to go into the bathroom unless Will indicated that he needed his help. Instead he was going to hover near the door and brood, it would seem, but Syn had other ideas. This was his first time meeting the angel's former husband, and he had a few questions he wanted to ask. The first was, of course, "Why are you here?"
Casting a glare in Syn's direction, James scowled at him for a moment before he answered simply, "My sister told me that Will had died. She neglected to inform me that he'd mostly recovered."
Syn nodded his head, quiet for a moment before he shifted on the bed, grabbing the pillows and starting to strip off the cases. "And if he had, what good would being here now really do?" The sprite wasn't afraid of pushing the demon's temper. Whatever came from it, he was sure he could handle it. Besides, he doubted he was as bad as everyone seemed to paint him. Will wouldn't have been so tolerant of someone too terribly horrid, right?
Scoffing, James stared at him incredulously. "Uhm, console my son and my sister maybe? Make sure that things were... were taken care of."
"And you're disappointed?" Syn asked, his tone neutral, curious, but not accusatory.
"No," James replied. "No, I'm not.. disappointed, I'm... relieved. And I'm.. I'm angry. I'm angry that.. that Rocky let me think for three days that... And it wasn't even..." He exhaled a breath. "Who the fuck are you? Why are you.. talking to me? I don't.. even fucking know you." James walked over to help rip the sheets off the bed now that Syn had gotten to his feet and was struggling to pull them off on his own, throwing them aside with a scowl.
"Syntax. There should be fresh sheets in the hall closet. And no, you don't know me, but I know him and..." Syn pursed his lips in a soft frown. "Don't you dare fuck with his head and heart again while you're here or I will fuck up your world. I promise."
~~~
Under the water Will felt like a God. It was warm and soothing, and cleansed away every ill from these last few days. If he could have, he would have stayed there for hours but James might have panicked that the angel was dead or something. He'd done that to him before, once, when they were in St Lucia. Just stayed in the shower and cried, and James had come to get him...
Putting his face under the stream of the shower he forced his eyes shut tight, angry at himself. If he'd not got sick then James wouldn't be there, and Syn wouldn't have to be putting up with the demon's glares or whatever. After washing his hair around five or so minutes later, Will eventually stepped out of the shower and loosely wrapped a towel around his waist, letting the cool air dance over his skin. It was so refreshing, and he took a few deep breaths of steam before he made his way back into the bedroom.
~~~
This man was tiny and not at all imposing. He seemed so meek and so.. helpless, so the words coming from his mouth, the promise, was a bit surprising. James quirked a brow slightly and then tossed the last of the covers to the side. "I'll keep that in mind."
"Please do," Syn replied simply, and then moved to take a seat in a chair in the room as James headed to the hall to get fresh linens. By the time Will emerged from the bathroom, the bed was all fresh and clean and the dirty sheets and linens had been removed from the room.
~~~
The room smelt lush, and Will smiled as he saw the bed completely made. Padding around to where Syn sat the angel bent down and pressed a kiss against his forehead, taking his hand to squeeze as he had done throughout. "Did you scare James away?" he asked idly, not really caring if he had. In fact he even removed the towel from his waist and rubbed it across his body so he could get dry but more importantly, get in the bed.
"I need a drink. And I mean a proper drink..."
~~~
Syn looked up at Will when he came out and smiled. "Maybe," he replied, and then he laughed a little. "He's off taking the dirty linens out, I guess. I'm sure he'll be back." He gave a small shrug of his shoulders and then purred a little as Will dropped the towel. "Mmm, yummy. Looks like I need to hurry up and get a shower so I can climb in bed with a naked you."
Syn pushed himself up on his feet somewhat shakily and then steadied himself with a hand on the arm of the chair. "Wish me luck," he remarked before he headed into the bathroom on his own, leaving the door cracked enough that Will could hear him if he needed help since he seemed to be doing so much better than he was right now.
~~~
"He should be scared o' you, you fearsome kitten..." he purred, but then Syn was complimenting his body. and Will gave his ass a little wiggle. He was feeling very good, something abuot being free from the contraints of the bed and able to get clean! Rubbing his hair dry the toussled looking angel made sure that Syn was safely in the bathroom before taking his eyes away, wrapping the towel back around him as he sought to steal some of Syn's soda that had been left.
~~~
James headed into the living room with the linens and tossed them on the floor there. "Can you take care of these?" He asked, though it was less of a question and more of him telling Rocky what to do. "And we should probably figure out something to cook. I'm sure it's been a while since they've had much to eat."
Meanwhile, now that Blue was feeling better and seemed to be stable from the cure, Devon decided he needed to check in on Will and Syn. Hearing James in the living room, he was sure this was the perfect time to drop in and still avoid him so he knocked softly on the bedroom door and then slipped inside.
"Hey, you." Devon said softly. "You okay?"
~~~
Rocky took the sheets obediently, quietened, and shoved them in the washing machine. As James suggested something to cook she shrugged, gesturing to the cupboards. "Pasta and some sauce I guess. Not exactly had time or availabliity to shop...." There was a definite change in her demeanor as she showed him where everything was. Turned out there was some mince in the freezer which she set about defrosting - in her palm.
As Syn showered and James was in the living room doing - something - Will meandered around just enjoying the feel of function. It was comforting to hear the shower running, knowing that Syn was alive, but just as he found himself missing another person. Devon had done so much for him, had barely left his side throughout, and since James had turned up it felt like hours since he'd seen him. But right on cue, as if called there by Will's thoughts, the medium was at the door and the angel instantly went over to scoop him into a damp, but very tight, hug with a smile on his face.
"I'm fine," he murmured, not really knowing how to thank him. "If it wasn't for you... I probably wouldn't be."
~~~
The last thing Devon expected was to be swooped up into a hug like that. Poor Blue was still barely able to move at this point having gone through so much pain in the last week with her body growing almost uncontrollably. But Will seemed to be fine and that definitely gave Devon some relief as he hugged the other man back tightly.
"Silly angel," Devon remarked. "You know I'll always take care of you when you need me to." He pressed a osft kiss against the other man's temple and then pulled back to look at him. "Are you really okay? Like.. all the way okay?" He was worried about how James being back here would impact Will but he seemed to be handling it okay right about now.
~~~
It was probably exhileration that was causing Will to be so active, because although he could tell he was better there was no doubt he was still tired and dusty to say the least. Maybe it was even the anxiety of having James back around.... but Will was determined to ride it out and look fucking good in the process.
The question from Devon made the angel's smile falter slightly, then Will shrugged like it was nothing. "I'm fine. He's here. The real question is are YOU ok with him being here?"
~~~
"No," Devon answered honestly. "But... There's nothing I can do about it. I mean at least he.. brought those shots and... changed your sheets." He nodded toward the bed and then scolded Will slightly by adding, "On the bed that you should be back in instead of flittering all around here like you weren't just knocking on death's door less than a week ago." He rubbed his arm with his hand and said, "Come on. Back to bed with you. I'll check on Syn in the shower and get you both something to eat."
~~~
It was possibly a stupid question but Will had had to ask it. Nodding he stroked up and down Devon's arms, trying to comfort him before he went all adult on his ass. "You should talk to him. Y'know when you're both not so angry." Whenever that might be. But right now Devon had a purpose, which appeared to be getting the angel back in bed. Will conceded - for now - but at mention of Syn a smirk crossed his face. "OH yeah? Checking out Syn in the shower? Should I be jealous, Dev?" and he shot him a wink, trying to surpress a cough.
~~~
"Checking ON not checking OUT, Will. Those are two very different things," Devon smirked, giving him a slightly tired smile. He pulled the covers down so that Will could climb into the bed and then tucked them up around him, having a seat on the edge to look at him for a minute. "I'm glad you're gonna be okay. I..." He exhaled a breath, and then he just leaned in to hug him again, simply staying that way for a long moment, head against his shoulder and arms wrapped around him.
~~~
"Yeah you want his ass," Will continued to tease, a grin crossing his features. He felt really good, happy to be here, but he also felt rotten as hell. Being back in bed, keeping settled, snuggling down just made him realise that walking made his head dizzy and he balked slightly his stomach rolled but that was all prior to Devon's lovely hug. Will accepted it gladly, breathing him in. He smelt of affection, relief and ... Devon. Keeping him close the angel whispered, "I'm glad I'm gonna be okay too."
~~~
Devon rolled his eyes and retorted, "I think you're talking about yourself now, Will." Will was not the only one who was relieved. Seeing him up and moving and just... alive was.... Devon didn't know what he would do, how he would react, if he lost Will. He would not be the same sweet boy that he was now if that had happened, that much he was certain of. Already he had lost so many people, had given up so much, and there was no way that he could even fathom... And now he didn't have to. He pulled back just enough that he could press a kiss against the other man's lips, firm and yet undemanding, soft but very present. "I love you," he said in a soft voice as he pulled away, stroking his cheeks with fingertips.
~~~
Devon had transformed so much that he was barely recognisable from the little kid Will had known only a month or so ago, though he still held that undeniable sweetness and dedication that the angel had loved about him. Devon was truly a man now, and a much better man than his father which could only be celebrated. Through his illness Will had seen Devon as a grown up for the first time, the six year old not even a shadow now. As Devon kissed his lips, and stroked his face so tenderly, the angel was suddenly moved and he stopped himself from crying. He could blame it on tiredness, but... "I love you, too, Devon," he said softly, stroking back through his hair.
~~~
This whole fiasco had been the opportunity for growth that Devon had needed. Before he had still felt young and impatient and now... he didn't really feel that way anymore. He actually felt older. This whole thing had aged him on the inside and he could feel that too. He was glad he wasn't the only one who saw it though. Devon smiled as Will stroked fingers through his hair and exhaled a soft sigh, turning his head to kiss his palm. "I need to go check on Syn now." It was no secret that the sprite had been doing consistently not as well as Will had, save the whole near death thing, and he was worried that he would need help. Another soft kiss was pressed to Will's lips before Devon stood and headed into the bathroom.
~~~
The way Will looked at him might as well have been a chocoholic viewing a triple chocolate gateux, ready for the eating; fascination, awe, appreciation – ok yeah and maybe a little lust. Even as his 17 year old self Will had seen Devon as attractive, and a part of that still remained. Of course even as a 112 year old he recognised pretty things, and Devon was insanely handsome, having taken after James a great deal. But Will didn’t hold that against him. As he watched Devon go Will sighed himself, resting his head back into the pillows and closing his eyes. Relief was such a tame word.
~~~
Devon was right, Syn needed help. He had run out of energy while he was in the shower and was currently just sitting in the bottom letting the water beat down on him, trying to find the will to stand up and get out. Devon shut the water off for him and helped him out, helped him dry off even, and then helped him from the bathroom back into the bedroom to join Will in bed. He didn't bother getting him dressed because, well, Will wasn't dressed and Syn's poor skin was already red and raw from where he had been ill to begin with so he figured it would feel good to be without clothes for a bit.
With a smile cast in Will's direction, the sprite climbed under the covers and then proceeded to slide in close to Will. "You two rest," Devon said, stroking fingers through Syn's hair before gliding them down over Will's exposed forearm. "I'm going to go make you both something to eat, okay? And then I'll be back." He had no idea that James and Rocky had beat him to it.
~~~
With the sound of the shower turning off and soft voices in the bathroom, Will was close to falling into a deep sleep – but then the door was opening and Will was eager to know if Syn was ok, so he raised his head. Returning the smile the angel believed that it was a) very cute to see the two together, and b) hot to see Syn naked. Snuggling up to the sprite the moment he entered the bed, the angel wrapped his arms around the other man’s cool form.
The gesture of affection from Devon was duly noted, the angel’s beady blue eyes watching him for a long moment before he allowed himself to rest again. Maybe Devon was really growing, not just in himself but in attachment to the sprite... interesting. As soon as they were alone Will placed a kiss against Syn’s forehead. “What were you going to tell me before, Synbin?” he asked softly, stroking his smooth skin.
~~~
Syn had almost managed to drift back off to sleep in that few moments of silence after Will had wrapped his arms around him. He barely registered the question and replied with a sleepy "hmm?" before his brain actually managed to process. "Oh, that." He hesitated for a moment. This was a warm and sweet and comfortable moment and he didn't want to make things tense but... "Before this all happened, just before, I... I put a hard stop on things with Bastian." Syn seemed to cling to him tighter, willing him not to react in a bad way to the man's name being mentioned. "I haven't been a good friend to you lately, Will, and I know that. But that's going to change now, I swear."
~~~
He hadn’t wanted to make the sprite uncomfortable so he regretted bringing it up, but he’d wanted to know. Will couldn’t stand not knowing. When the sprite clung to him and revealed that Bastian was no longer involved the angel’s eyes widened in surprise, then immediately narrowed. It wasn’t out of distaste for Syn’s actions he just wondered if Bastian had done anything bad to him... when he found out that wasn’t the case, a small smile graced his lips. “Syn...” he said gently, “I would hope that we always be friends. But I don’t just want to be friends with you. I want... what you want. What you said, in the church. I’m practically there already, we just need time...”
~~~
"I want that too," Syn said quickly, and he shifted so that he could look at Will. "But I do... care about him. I do and that isn't just going to go away, you know?" He frowned a little. "I care about him, but I love you." He paused and then asked in a soft voice, "Can you be okay with that?" What he was really asking, he wasn't sure, he just... wanted to feel that moment again and bask in it and just... stay there for as long as he could.
~~~
It was odd for Will to be on this end. Again. Though Syn wasn’t saying ‘oh I love him again, I’ve fallen back, I don’t want to be with you any more goodbye’ there was still a deep-rooted fear that someone in the background of his lover’s life would come back and snare them, take them away from him and leave him thoroughly miserable. So whilst Will was terrified, and being unable to fake anything at the moment it was clear in his eyes that he was scared to death, he nodded slowly. “Yeah. I can try.” Fear was a horrible thing. It made his eyes tingle and sting like he was about to cry, but he wasn’t. Not again.
~~~
This was precisely what he didn't want to happen. Those unshed tears that glistened in Will's eyes made Syn's heart break and he quickly shifted from where he was laying beside him to instead climb on top of him, straddling him as he met his gaze with intensity. He wasn't sure where the energy to do that came from, but it came from somewhere. "I love you, William. Not him, not anyone else, but you, just you. And..." He slid his hands down Will's arms and then took both of his hands, pulling them up to place them at his throat. "I am yours, if you want me to be, always."
~~~
Swallowing, the angel didn’t know where to look. It was silly to think that he was getting overemotional about something as trivial as Syn caring about another man, because of course he would. Syn made deep connections but none, Will believed, to be as deep as theirs. As the sprite assured him of his devotion Will’s thumbs traced over the skin of Syn’s neck, brushing his fingers against him. The first person to call him William had been James. It was a special exception to the rule of names. Syn had use of that now. “I want you, Syn,” he replied eventually, deeply, finding the position of the sprite to be very alluring despite his recovering state. “A sun is nothing without its Earth.”
~~~
The hands on the throat were symbolic, of course, and Will would understand that. He may not be fully involved in that lifestyle, but he knew enough about it to know what it meant. It's where Syn would wear Will's claim on him, if that's what he wanted. And if he didn't, that was fine too. They would both know it was there. Syn smiled a little as he remarked, "A sun without an Earth is still a star." His point? He would not be what made him, only what made him more.
"I still feel awful," Syn remarked after a moment. "But, if you wanted to, if you thought that you could..." Yes, he had noticed the depth of his voice and the life the seemed to stir beneath the waist. "I wouldn't care if it could only be quick and maybe even horrible because we both feel still feel bad."
~~~
Maybe Will would put something there to symbolise that Syn was his. Though he understood the connotations he hadn’t previously practiced them. Syn was in that world, though, he wanted to display something, and Will would happily do that. In fact he was already thinking of ways he might be able to show his claim, but Syn was being cute, and then very suggestive. In fact, he was suggesting something Will should like very much.
“Devon might be back soon,” he said softly, but it wasn’t an excuse not to. Far from it. The angel’s hands wandered down free of Syn’s grasp, along his chest and stomach, before they snaked around to Syn’s pert ass, giving his cheeks a firm squeeze. “So it better be quick.”