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 Posted: Sun Jul 12, 2026 11:05 am
Backdated to Thursday, March 19 Riker had only been gone for five days and Cassdiy was already, embarrassingly, pining for him. They'd talked often, but Riker was busy with the team, and while Cassidy was sometimes invited to tag along as an honorary member, sometimes he was not, which left him feeling particularly needy and subject to extreme FOMO.
Thankfully, Énna and Atticus had been there to keep him from wasting away and wallowing in misery, but he required three of his tender-hearted friends to occupy him, and one was home "sick" for the last week.
Cassidy had, at first, suspected that Julian must have snuck onto Riker's bus with him, but he had no way to prove this outside of his gut. It wasn't like Julian would have slipped into any pictures, so there was no evidence, but he wasn't answering his phone.
Riker said he was sick, so Cassidy nearly went over with homemade soup, but the weather had been so dreary all weekend that he'd missed his chance to catch them in a lie.
Of course, when Riker showed up at school on Thursday without Julian, the story became a little more believable, and the way he kept checking his phone for updates eased Cassidy's suspicions. He was neither happy nor disappointed about this, because the gossip would have been fun and he'd have liked to tease Riker, but at least he didn't have to be jealous. Oh, and Julian actually being sick for this long was probably not a good thing either, but Riker said he was at home resting and not in the hospital.
But, knowing Riker's secret--and Julian's--meant that 'being sick' could just have easily been code for 'got attacked by a Negaverse agent and is at home recovering,' so his investigation wasn't yet over.
He'd kept tabs on Atticus, too--because if Julian needed healing, certainly Atticus would be the one to call.
...Except, he'd been with Atticus quite a bit. Elliot was gone, so Cassidy had taken it upon himself to make sure he didn't wane away without his other half.
So he needed to dig deeper.
Thankfully, and with a standard degree of needling, Riker agreed to come over for dinner--and even then, it was only because Julian was sleeping so deeply that he wouldn't be missed.
Riker was worried about Julian--really worried--so Cassidy suggested making a homemade meal to take back to him.
Cassidy's freezer was full of half-prepped meals and ingredients, so if he wanted to make lasagana--and he did--it wouldn't take the five hours it did the last time he'd charmed Riker with it.
Riker definitely needed some charming.
He was carrying stress in his jaw, in his shoulders. Cassidy could probably get him in the hot tub without any fuss, and maybe a bubble bath with a little bit of fussing.
They'd walked to his house, chatting about this and that. Riker seemed distracted, and Cassidy was, too. It was hard not to snatch Riker's hand and kiss him silly, but he was patient enough to at least wait until they'd gotten inside. The door had only just clicked closed before he dropped his bag to the ground, just as Riker did his own, and pressed Riker's back to the wall so he could kiss him.
It was unfair that Riker had grown so tall, because Cassidy still had to lean up to meet his lips, but the distance did nothing to dampen his enthusiasm. He placed a hand on either side of Riker, caging him in, and kissing him deeply.
He broke the kiss after a good few seconds, only to say, "Make sure you take off your shoes, I just waxed the floor," before he promptly returned his lips to Riker's.
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Posted: Sun Jul 12, 2026 11:07 am
Riker barely had time to register the click of the door shutting behind them before Cassidy was on him.
He let out a startled breath, his back pressing against the wall as Cassidy crowded in close, warm and insistent in a very, very effective way at cutting straight through the miserable loop Riker's thoughts had been stuck in all day. His hands found Cassidy easily, with one catching his waist and the other bracing lightly at his side. And then he was kissing him back before his brain had any chance to catch up.
Which was probably for the best.
Because if he let himself think too hard, he'd remember Julian, probably passed out in bed. He'd remember the letters. He'd remember how sick he felt, how angry, how helpless. He'd remember all the things he couldn't fix just by wanting to.
Cassidy's mouth against his gave him something else to focus on. Something immediate and real. Something he could actually hold onto.
So he kissed him back, leaning down into it with a quiet sound that got caught somewhere in his throat. His fingers tightened for a moment at Cassidy's waist before he forced himself to ease up again, careful not to dig in too much. Cassidy always had a way of making him forget himself for a second. Maybe more than a second.
Then Cassidy pulled back just enough to mention the floor.
Riker blinked at him.
His brow furrowed immediately, the dazed look on his face giving way to open confusion. "You just—" He was still a little breathless. "You waxed the floor?"
Cassidy kissed him again before he could get a better answer, and Riker, traitorously, let himself get distracted all over again. He kissed him back, slower this time, but no less eager for it, one hand sliding more securely around Cassidy's waist to keep him there.
When they broke apart again, he was still frowning a little.
"Is that a normal thing you do?" he asked, completely serious, as if this was part of the interaction his brain had decided needed immediate clarification. "Just… wax the floor?" He paused, then added, a little more suspiciously, "Did you do that today before school? For real? Or are you just trying to stop me from falling on top of you?"
Which, now that he'd said it out loud, maybe wasn't helping. His ears warmed, but he stubbornly kept going.
"Not that I—" He cut himself off with a grimace, then let out a huff. "Nevermind."
His hand smoothed against Cassidy's side, giving himself something to focus on before he finally let himself look at Cassidy's face again. Beautiful, smug, impossible Cassidy, who apparently waxed his floors and ambushed people with kisses the second they walked through the door.
Riker's expression softened despite himself.
"...Hi," he said belatedly, because apparently getting kissed stupid had erased all of his thoughts. Then, quieter, with a tired honesty he didn't bother to hide, "I missed you." And he suspected Cassidy would understand that saying he missed him while they were at school had a slightly different meaning.
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Posted: Sun Jul 12, 2026 11:08 am
Oh, Riker.
Cassidy always loved when his edges softened, when he went from flustered to–
Well, whatever this was. Charming, honestly. Unfairly so. If he hadn’t been smitten before, he would have been now.
He smiled at Riker, self-satisfied and basking in Riker’s glow.
“Hi.”
Another kiss, unhurried, and he stood on his tiptoes to decrease the difference in height. “I missed you, too. You’ve been so busy lately. I never get you all to myself these days.”
He huffed, a bit dramatic, but there was a sparkle in his eyes and his grin never wavered. “If I’d known I’d get you over, I definitely would not have waxed the floors. It’ll be hard for you to carry me if we’re slipping around everywhere.”
Cassidy leaned closer, nearly nose to nose. “Of course, I’d never want to stop you from falling on top of me. That sounds like a very good time. Maybe we should try it?”
He kissed Riker’s nose. “Just kidding. The wax should be cured but it can still scuff easily. My dad started two weeks ago and hasn’t finished. He’s been so busy at work, just–nonstop.”
Turning his head, Cassidy observed the shiny floor proudly. It wasn’t a perfect job, but if his dad wanted perfect, he should have paid a professional. And not left the job unfinished.
“The floor was so ugly, and my socks kept sticking to it. I woke up early and couldn’t sleep, so I finished the job. How long do you think before he notices?” Cassidy barked a laugh. “Anyway, he won’t even be back until Saturday so I figured it was a good time. I’ll be able to put the rugs and furniture back by then. Sure would help to have a big, strong man,” he hummed, and batted his lashes at Riker. “Want to spend the night on Friday or are you planning on staying home and getting sick?”
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Posted: Sun Jul 12, 2026 11:09 am
Riker narrowed his eyes a little when Cassidy said maybe they should try it, trying to decide if he was being made fun of.
Then Cassidy kissed his nose and ruined whatever suspicion had been forming.
He let out a quiet huff that didn't have much heat behind it. "Yeah, okay," he muttered, like he wasn't at all disappointed by the just kidding. He was. A little. But he wasn't about to say that out loud.
His hand shifted at Cassidy's waist, brushing his thumb against his side before he made himself relax it.
"I mean, I probably shouldn't fall on top of you," he said, with complete seriousness. "You'd crack your head on the floor. Or I'd land on your shoulder weird and make it worse. So."
He paused, brow furrowing like he'd made a very important point.
"Not that I haven't thought about it," he added, then immediately grimaced. "I mean — not the injury part. Obviously."
Smooth.
His ears burned, but Cassidy had moved on to the topic of the floor, so Riker forced himself to follow. "I never really noticed before," he said, and then realized how that sounded. "Not because it didn't look bad. I just…" He pressed his lips into a thin line. "...usually had other things to look at."
He meant Cassidy. Obviously. Which only became more obvious the longer he stood there failing to come up with something else to say.
So he cleared his throat. "It looks good," he finished awkwardly. "You did all this by yourself?"
He glanced back to Cassidy's face, then away again when the whole big, strong man thing threatened to make him embarrass himself even worse.
"I can help," he mumbled, quieter but with certainty. "With the furniture, I mean. Or whatever else you need."
That part was easy.
Friday was harder.
"I want to," he admitted after a moment. "I've just gotta make sure Julian's okay. He's not sick sick. He just… needs somebody there right now."
His hand smoothed once along Cassidy's side again.
"But I can stay late," he added. "And I can text him. Maybe Friday too, if he's doing better." He paused and made a face, clearly flustered. "I'm not trying to ditch you."
He leaned in and kissed Cassidy again, as if to prove himself.
"...Also," he continued when he pulled back, voice low. "For the record… if I did fall on top of you, I'd try to make it worth it."
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Posted: Sun Jul 12, 2026 11:09 am
Cassidy could feel the heat radiating from Riker’s face from where he stood, and it only stretched his smile further. For as awkward as he could be–which Cassidy was perpetually endeared by–sometimes he knew what he was doing.
Like that hand on his waist, that was nice.
Even though he was talking about Julian.
“Well, maybe I’ll angle myself by the bed so you can show me what you mean,” he hummed, only more pleased with himself because–well, it was always nice when Riker initiated the kisses. He was such a prude not so long ago, so every kiss felt like a little victory, and Cassidy was always in the mood to celebrate.
“Unfortunately, the wax needs up to two days before I can put the furniture or rugs bag, so we can’t rush it. It’s okay if you can’t come back,” he lamented, pined, sulked. “Maybe I’ll ask Elliot to come over.”
He sighed, dramatically. “If I can find some way to get him off Atticus. Who, by the way, was lovesick without him. I looked after him, don’t worry. I held down the fort. Even though you ran off to play baseball without me.”
Cassidy hummed, and while there was always a part of him that hated what had been taken from him–that wanted to be there with them, not out of pity but because he’d been good, because he wanted to be with his team and play–he was still teasing.
And he made sure Riker knew by plastering a few more kisses along his jawline.
“I wanted to steal Julian for a sleepover but I couldn’t get a hold of him, and then you said he was sick, so.” He clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth. “I tried, though. I know you two worry about each other when you’re apart.”
Of course, Riker had said plenty of interesting things, so it was hard to pick which one to talk about. Telling him that the floor had only been sanded for two weeks waiting for the wax was far less interesting than dreaming about Riker toppling onto the bed with him, or figuring out what mysterious ‘sickness’ Julian had going on right now, where sick didn’t mean sick, just ‘needs tending’.
Cassidy patted Riker’s arm reassuringly. “I appreciate you prying yourself from his side to spend a little time with me. Come on, let’s get started on dinner so it’s at least ready for you to take some back. I know Evan’s going to make dinner, and I’m sure he’s cooking with plenty of love, but–you know.” He gestured towards the kitchen. “I’m sure you have plenty of love to give, too. What type of sick is he if he’s not sick sick? He’s been out of school all week. It’s not contagious?”
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Posted: Sun Jul 12, 2026 11:09 am
Riker clicked his tongue immediately when Cassidy mentioned asking Elliot, his expression turning sour with quiet disapproval before he could help it. He muttered something about how if Cassidy asked Elliot then he'd just have to assume he hit his head on the floor, not quite glaring about it, but definitely not not glaring either. Elliot was… Elliot. Annoyingly capable. Annoyingly charming. Cassidy was probably teasing, but that didn't stop Riker's hackles from going up.
The kisses along his jaw softened him a little, though, like always.
"I know you tried," he said, quieter now. His hand stayed at Cassidy's waist for a second longer before finally slipping away. "And I know you'd only want what's best for him."
He hesitated after that, trying to decide how much he wanted to say. Julian's privacy was important. Riker knew that better than anyone. But Cassidy was good at keeping secrets, and if he was asking, it wasn't because he was trying to pry for fun. He hoped.
"It's not contagious," he said after a moment. "I think he's just… heartbroken."
The word felt strange out loud, too soft and too raw all at once. Riker made a face and glanced away, jaw tightening.
"You know he was in foster care for a while, right?" he asked, even though Cassidy probably did. "Something happened. I don't know all of it. Zac got really pissed off, but he wouldn't tell me everything, and Julian…" He let out a sigh. "Julian's always been private. Especially when it comes to his life before I met him."
Which only made it worse, if he was being honest. Julian suffered quietly. Almost like if he kept it hidden well enough, no one would notice how bad it was.
Riker glanced up tiredly back up at Cassidy, but there was sincerity in his expression. "I'm trying not to push him. Just… be there. Make sure he eats. Make sure he sleeps. Make sure he knows he's not alone."
He paused, expression softening again when his eyes settled properly on Cassidy, who had somehow made himself into someone Riker actually wanted to tell things to.
"But yeah," he added, a little awkwardly, because he didn't want the whole night to turn into being about Julian. "We should make dinner." And then he huffed. "I do have plenty of love to give. I'm just not always great at… presenting it."
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Posted: Sun Jul 12, 2026 11:10 am
Though Cassidy’s face never changed, something in his eyes did. The natural resting state of his face seemed to be ‘perpetually amused,’ but without moving, he softened. “Oh, heart sickness. Well, I guess that blows my plans to convince you to stay here so you didn’t catch whatever he did.”
He looked at Riker for a moment and then hummed. “Looks like you already did, anyway. Well, come on. I know a few recipes that are good for the heart and soul.”
Lacing fingers with Riker, he squeezed gently.
Whatever happened with foster care was, probably, better than being starseeded, but it didn’t seem like there was much to celebrate.
“If you’re really curious, I bet I could get it out of him,” he mused. “If you think knowing anything more would make your life easier. But I’m going to guess you’ll just tell me ‘no, it’s okay, just give him space,’” he said, mimicking Riker’s voice.
“But I can tell by the circles under your eyes and the wrinkles in your forehead that you’re going crazy. I bet you’re trying to bottle it all up back home so you don’t feed into whatever he’s got going on.”
He stepped on the wax floor tentatively, but it was perfectly smooth, and very shiny. He still had a bit of work to do on it, but–as expected–at least it wasn’t tacky anymore.
“You don’t have to tell me about what’s going on with him. You want to talk about what’s going on with you? You know you don’t have to keep things bottled up here. And I know you don’t always know it’s okay to open up. But it’s a safe place here, you can be real with me.”
He swung their hands together as he led him into the kitchen. “I was thinking we could sit in the hot tub for a while. And I’ll massage those knots out of your shoulders. I know you’ve got, like, four hundred.”
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Posted: Sun Jul 12, 2026 11:11 am
Riker scoffed quietly at the mimicked voice, though there wasn't much bite behind it.
"I don't sound like that," he muttered, which was probably exactly the sort of thing someone said when they did sound like that.
His fingers tightened a little around Cassidy's hand when they laced together, grounding himself in the warmth of it while he followed him into the kitchen. The softness in Cassidy's expression hadn't gone unnoticed, even if Riker didn't know what to do with it besides letting it settle somewhere inside his chest, soothing the soreness there.
He let out a huff. "I am curious," he admitted after a moment. "Mostly because I want to know who I'm allowed to be mad at."
Ah, well… that came out more bluntly than he meant it to, but it was true. The not knowing was eating at him. Not because he thought he had any right to know every piece of Julian's life, but because if someone had hurt him — again — Riker wanted somewhere to put all the anger that was festering uselessly inside him.
He frowned a little as he thought it over. "Maybe you could sweet talk it out of Zac," he said, then grimaced. "Actually, no. That's a bad idea. Don't listen to me. If Zac decided he didn't want to tell me, he probably had a reason, and if you tried it he'd just get suspicious and annoying." He sighed after a moment and shook his head. "I just hate not knowing how to help. Or if there's even anything to do."
At the question about himself, his brow furrowed. He looked down at their joined hands, then ahead again, expression thoughtful in that heavy, tired way he'd been carrying around all day.
"I don't know," he said honestly. "There's not really anything bottled up that I can think of. Not about me, anyway. I'm just…" He made a vague gesture with his free hand. "Focused on him. Probably too much."
But Cassidy's house was safe. Cassidy was safe. And maybe that was part of why Riker felt a little more worn down here than he did anywhere else — because his guard kept trying to come down even when the rest of him was still braced for impact.
When Cassidy brought up the hot tub, Riker glanced over at him, suspicious for maybe half a second before the thought of hot water and Cassidy's hands on his shoulders sank in.
"You're bribing me," he huffed.
A moment passed.
"...It's working."
His mouth twitched a little, not quite into a smile, but close enough to count on him. "There's definitely at least four hundred," he added, quieter now. "Maybe more. So if you're volunteering to deal with that, I'm not gonna stop you."
He squeezed Cassidy's hand as they kept walking, then glanced over at him again with tired sincerity. "Thanks," he said, voice raw from his guard slipping faster now. "For… all of this. Even if you do sound ridiculous when you try to sound like me."
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Posted: Sun Jul 12, 2026 11:11 am
Cassidy, for all his love to argue, didn’t have the heart to butt heads with Riker about how he sounded, so he just smiled sweetly and swung their hands together, even after they reached the kitchen. He began to pull things out of the freezer with one hand.
“All of this and more, Riker. The night’s still young, and I am full of energy.”
And worry, despite the theatrics.
“Four hundred knots, five. If you stay for long enough, I’ll work them all out. Don’t worry, I won’t keep you from Julian,” he promised, with faux exasperation. “I don’t stand a chance against him on a good day, I know my luck with a bad one.”
If Julian messaged Riker to say he wanted him home, Riker would have taken off, full speed.
“I’m a pretty good sounding board, but I get why you’d be tight lipped with what you do know.” Riker was protective of Julian. Cassidy was, too. Not that there was a reason to be if Riker was around, but when he wasn’t–
Well, Julian was pretty good at taking care of himself. In his own way. He could learn a thing or two, or twenty, about caring for yourself, but that was neither here nor there, and–oh, Riker’s brows were furrowing again.
Cassidy leaned over to deposit a few more kisses on his cheek.
“Anyway, back to you and your bottling. You’re allowed to be bottled up and frustrated on someone else’s behalf. You feeling helpless and not knowing what to do must drive you crazy. And you have no idea who you’re allowed to be mad at?”
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Posted: Sun Jul 12, 2026 11:11 am
Riker's expression shifted into something more flustered and a little glum at that. He hated how easily Cassidy had called him out. Hated that there was probably truth in it.
If Julian texted and said he needed him, Riker would go. Immediately. No hesitation.
But it wasn't because it was Julian — Or… not just because it was Julian. He hoped Cassidy knew that. He hoped all of his friends knew that.
His gaze dropped to the counter for a moment, pressing his lips together in thought before he looked back up at Cassidy with quiet seriousness. "If it was you, I'd come," he said simply. "If you said you needed me, I'd come. Same with Énna. Or Dawn. Or—" He cut himself off with a small shrug, wondering if listing everyone out would make it sound less true somehow. "You know what I mean."
He paused, then frowned a little harder as he processed his thoughts around everything. "And it's not like Julian specifically needs me, probably. I'm just… there. I'm the one who has to go back, anyway. It's convenient."
That didn't sound right either, but he didn't know how else to explain it without making it weird.
Cassidy's kisses helped. They always did. They softened the edges, even if they couldn't fix everything.
Riker let out a slow breath and leaned just slightly into the last kiss before answering. "I know it has something to do with his mom," he admitted. "I just don't know what." His brows furrowed again. "He's never said anything bad about her — or anyone, really. So I can't tell if that means nothing was wrong before, or if it means it was bad enough that he doesn't know how to talk about it. Or he believed one thing and it ended up not being true…"
The thought of the letters in the drawer drifted across his thoughts but he didn't know what to do with it, so he didn't bring them up.
"So yeah, not knowing who I'm allowed to be mad at is driving me crazy. Or why I'm mad. So it's just… there. With nowhere to go."
He squeezed Cassidy's hand before he finally looked at him again, tired and earnest and still a little embarrassed at how transparent he probably was. "I know you're right," he muttered. "About me bottling things up. I just…" He made a face. "It feels stupid to make it about me when he's the one hurting."
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Posted: Sun Jul 12, 2026 11:12 am
Cassidy had a few ingredients laid out, pulled from the fridge and freezer. He tugged Riker along with him–turned on both the stove and preheated the oven, and then led him to the pantry, where he pulled out a few more things.
“Why does that feel stupid? I’m making it about you. Julian’s not even here. And if he was, you know he’d be worrying about you and trying to make sure you were taking care of yourself. He wouldn’t want you to bottle things up. He’d say, ‘Riker, I trust Cassidy so much, and I know you do too. It’s okay to talk about whatever’s bothering you. I want you to be okay.’”
His Julian impression was not so far off either, but he made too much of a show by batting his eyes and pursing his lips–which, as it turned out, was simply a precursor to kissing the back of Riker’s hand as he began to continue prepping dinner one-handed.
“If you don’t know who to be mad at, be mad at the world. Vent, get it off your chest. I talk out loud all the time,” he shrugged. “Helps to get it out of your head. Otherwise it gets so stuffy in there you can’t make room for the important thoughts.”
Of course, it was easier to speak out loud when you were a party of one and not a full house, but Cassidy was more than happy to share.
“So go on. You’re stressed because he’s upset and won’t tell you what’s going on, not the full story, so you don’t know how to help, and you know something’s wrong, and maybe it’s his mom, and maybe it’s foster care, but you don’t know that either. And you’re worried Julian doesn’t need you and that you’re just ‘convenient’, and you’re worried you’re not enough to help him, but you feel like you have to. And–oh, sorry. You’re supposed to be telling me these things. Go on, I’m listening.”
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Posted: Sun Jul 12, 2026 11:12 am
Riker let Cassidy tug him around the kitchen, still holding his hand, still trying to decide if he felt comforted or mildly trapped.
Probably both.
He knew Cassidy wasn't trying to be cruel. Cassidy wasn't cruel. He was nosey and dramatic and too smart for his own good, and maybe jealous in a way Riker wasn't entirely sure how to handle yet, but he wasn't bad. Riker knew that. He trusted that, just as he trusted Cassidy.
Still, his shoulders hunched a little as Cassidy talked, and his brows pulled together.
"That's not—" he started, then stopped, because Cassidy kissed the back of his hand and it made whatever irritation he'd been trying to gather slip right out of his grasp.
Which was probably unfair of him, especially when Cassidy was only ever looking out for him.
He let out a slow breath and glanced down at their hands instead of Cassidy's face.
"I'm not worried he doesn't need me," he said quietly. "Or that I'm just convenient like— like I don't matter or something. I know I matter to him."
He knew the words came out a little stiff, kind of like he had to force himself not to make them sound like a question.
"I just mean… I'm already there. I already live with him. So if he needs something, it's easier to ask me than someone else. Less effort. Less guilt for him. And Julian hates feeling like a burden. So if I'm there, maybe he doesn't have to feel as bad about needing help."
He paused, chewing on the inside of his cheek for a moment as he tried to figure out how to say the next part without sounding defensive.
"And I'd do that for you too," he added, glancing up at Cassidy now. His expression was earnest, but a little hurt around the edges. "I meant that. If you called me and said you needed me, I'd come. I don't care if I was asleep or busy or pissed off or whatever. I'd come."
He looked away again, mouth pressing into a thin line. "So… when you don't really say anything to that, I don't know what I'm supposed to think," he admitted, quieter. "Makes me feel like I said the wrong thing. Or like I'm doing something wrong by caring too much about everybody. Or that maybe it's hard to believe I'd actually do for anyone else what I'd do for Julian."
Which was stupid. He knew that. He knew his friends trusted him. Agreed to give him the responsibility of making the tough calls. He just needed to believe it, himself.
"I know you're trying to help. I know you want me to talk. I just don't know what there is to say about me. I'm stressed because Julian's hurting. I'm mad because I don't know who hurt him. I'm tired because I can't fix it. That's all."
Except it wasn't, not really. But it was as much as he could gather of his thoughts when they kept circling back to Julian asleep in bed, suffering from pain that Riker couldn't reach.
He glanced at Cassidy again, softer this time. Guilty, maybe. "And I like being here. With you. I don't want you thinking I don't." His fingers tightened carefully around Cassidy's. "You make me feel better. Even when I'm being like this. So… tell me what to do before I start feeling weird about being useless while you make dinner one-handed."
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Posted: Sun Jul 12, 2026 11:12 am
Cassidy tilted his head and looked at Riker for a few seconds, searching his face for what else he might be thinking but not saying.
“I know you’d come if needed you,” he said simply, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. Like it existed so earnestly, so truthfully, that it hadn’t occurred to him that it needed to be said.
There had been a time, sure, when he needed Riker, and Riker hadn’t shown up. But how could Cassidy blame him? He had so much going on. And he was here now. Cassidy didn’t hold a grudge, and the ache in his heart had faded. Or, at least, was so deeply buried that it wasn’t worth dwelling on.
“What’s wrong with caring about everyone? I’d rather you care too much than not at all. I think you do neither, by the way. And if you want to help, you can fill up that pot with warm water, please. I need to do a quick-thaw for my noodles.”
Riker needed a task, needed to feel useful. He was glad for the help, but it didn’t mean he didn’t still watch Riker closely.
“Anyway, I know you care about me. I like when you’re here, too. Of course, I’m flattered that you say I make you feel better,” even though he wasn’t sure he’d accomplished anything more than kissing him so far today. “...I just know how you are with your secrets. I mean, ‘privacy’. I think you’re just so used to keeping things bottled up that you don’t even realize you’re doing it.”
Cassidy shrugged, arranging his ingredients while he spoke.
“But if ‘that’s all’ then I’ll stop pressing. I didn’t ask you over to harass you. You’re important to me. And Julian, too. But it sounds like he’s got lots of people taking care of him right now. I just want to make sure someone's taking care of you too.”
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Posted: Sun Jul 12, 2026 11:12 am
Cassidy said it like it was obvious.
Like of course he knew Riker would come if he needed him. Like of course he knew Riker cared. It made Riker's ears warm, and his brow furrowed in embarrassment more than frustration.
"Oh," he said, because apparently that was all his brain had to offer. "Okay." Yes, very articulate.
He grabbed the pot before he could stand there looking stupid for too long. Having a task helped. Fill the pot with warm water. Simple.
"I don't think I have enough going on for anyone to need to take care of me," he muttered as he turned on the faucet. "Not compared to everyone else."
But Cassidy's words lingered. Secrets. Privacy. Bottling things up.
Riker watched the water rise, jaw tightening a little in thought. His fingers brushed absently near the scar on his neck — the one he didn't exactly try to hide, but didn't show off either. One more thing people saw and didn't always ask about. One more thing he didn't explain unless he had to, and even then it was always too vague to be a real answer.
"There are things I want to tell you," he said quietly, before he could stop himself.
His stomach dropped.
"I trust you," he added quickly, still not looking at him. "It's not that. I just… last time I told someone something important, it screwed everything up."
Énna's silence still sat too heavy in his memory. Months of it. Enough that it made being honest feel more like a risk.
He shut off the water.
"I'm not trying to keep you out," he said, voice lower now. "I'm just trying to figure out how to say things without… screwing things up."
He carried the pot over carefully and set it down where Cassidy needed it, then glanced at him with tired, guilty honesty. "But I do want to tell you. Maybe soon. Just… trying to psych myself up, I guess."
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Posted: Sun Jul 12, 2026 11:12 am
Cassidy watched him carefully, like he was looking for some crack–not to apply pressure, but maybe to avoid it altogether.
Riker was touching that scar again, like he was still getting used to it being there. Did he even know he was doing that? …Did he even know how obvious it was?
Cassidy dropped the bag of frozen noodles in the pot but kept working, if only because Riker seemed to squirm when he had too much attention. So obviously this was weighing heavily on him.
“What are you afraid you could screw up with me, Riker? I mean, what are you doing–running drugs? Who cares, my dad’s a pharmacist. Oh no,” he rolled his eyes, “drugs. What, are you kicking puppies? No, Maxim likes you too much. Did you get Dawn pregnant? No, she’s too skinny. Well, I don’t know. I’m out of ideas.”
He propped his elbow on the counter and looked up at Riker. “If it’s not any of those things, it’s probably fine. Anyway, I’m not the kind of guy who just reams someone out for keeping secrets.”
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