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 Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2026 9:31 am
Zac sucked in a breath like he was thinking deeply about it. Puffed out a cheek in thought. Shifted the air from one cheek to another and then finally shrugged.
“Yeah, you can take the car. But don’t ******** with my radio settings. Soleiyu was messing with something last week and I just got things back to how I like them. Forget about filling up, I topped up this morning. You think getting in and out of the car any more than necessary is good for your ribs? Take it easy. Do the bare minimum. I’m not going out tomorrow, just text when you get there, and when you’re leaving, all right? And if anything happens and you don’t feel like you should be driving, just call. I don’t want to get a call that you got into an accident because you were ignoring a concussion or something, all right?”
Though Evan wasn’t as pushy as Zac, it was clear that he shared similar sentiments. He was just significantly more tactful about it. Of course he wanted to spend time with Riker. He wanted to make sure he got there safely.
He also wanted to respect that he was nearly an adult and he was capable of doing things on his own. And he and his friends had been through what sounded like hell already. He didn’t need to be dealing with overbearing adults. “I’ll feel better knowing you got in safely,” he sighed, much more honest in his worrying than Zac was. “If you need anything–anything at all, we’ll both be here. We’ll keep an eye out for Julian, we’ll make sure he gets the antibiotics. I’m sure he’ll text you when he gets in. If he doesn’t, one of us will.”
Evan leaned back on the couch, not quite deflating, and certainly not putting any distance between himself and Riker. “...Thank you for coming home, Riker. I’m really glad we got to see you before you left for the night. I’m still going to worry about you, but I won’t stay up all night worrying.”
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Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2026 9:31 am
“I won’t touch the radio,” Riker promised, almost immediately. “I won’t even turn it on.”
There was just the faintest hint of amusement in his voice, quiet but sincere.
“I’ll text when I get there. And when I’m heading back. I swear I’ll take it easy.”
It was easier to talk when he was focused on the practical details, but there was a warmth building in his chest that had nothing to do with the bruising. Zac didn’t just hand out his trust freely, and Riker knew that. The fact that he was being lent the car, that Zac was worried enough to make him promise to be careful… ah, well, Riker would hold himself together so he wouldn’t embarrass any of them, but it meant more than he knew the words to express.
He shifted slightly, turning toward Evan enough to press a brief kiss to his forehead. His voice softened as he leaned back again, quiet but full of emotion that seemed to overflow.
“You’re stuck with me, you know,” he said, almost shy but not joking. “I’m not going anywhere. I’m a lot more durable than I look.”
He glanced toward Zac then, eyes tired but bright. “And someone’s gotta make sure you’re not stuck doing all the yard work.”
The corner of his mouth twitched just faintly, not quite a smile. “I’ll be careful,” he added, soft and sincere with every word. “Thanks for trusting me. I’ll make it worth it.”
He looked down at Maxim, his hand resting on the dog’s back again, and although he didn’t say it out loud, it was clearly there in his posture, his expression, his voice. The quiet awe of something as close to a family as he would ever have. Of belonging somewhere, finally, and realizing how much that mattered.
Fin!
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