: Saintsmourn - Nicholas & Patrick :

[dangernerd]

Nicholas Kirkland (Nicky to those who he considered friends) was at this moment finishing up the last of his reading for his college classes. In the little dorm-room that himself and Patrick shared, it was a muddle of books and random objects that they'd collected. Not only that but also bits and bobs of their friendship tied into neat little nostalgic notes.

The last rays of the sun was streaming in through the window and he was poised, feet crossed on desk and balancing barely on the back two legs-- precarious yes, and honestly he knew that he should not really be doing this. Coordination be damned, he'd never worried about it before despite the bumps and bruises he regularly got because he was perennially distracted.

It was almost time for Patrick to come home from his late evening classes and then they'd start their foraging for dinner.

After that, well the evening was still young and there was trouble to be had. All of which he looked forward to, after all Patrick had for as long as he remembered, been his favorite partner in crime.. they had grown up together and they had a special bond.

As close as brothers, except not quite-- and honestly? Nicholas was glad for that.

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[giveeverything]

Eventually the retching subsided, and Liam leaned back to sit on his heels and then tipped to lean against Riley's legs. Riley really was a creature of mercy, his earthbound angel. Liam shivered, turning to press his face against the other man's thigh. "I've never done that before," he admitted. "I wasn't sure it would work." He had full confidence he could pull the thing out of Nicky; he had been stronger, and he could feel as much, but actually destroying it?

That was a leap without looking -- which was much more his brother's style than his own. Speaking of his brother though. "I'm going to have to tell him the truth now." His voice was quiet, a shaky whisper, as he spoke those words.

In the other room, Trick tightened his arms around Nicky, leaning in to press his lips to his boyfriend's forehead. Relief rushed through him at the sound of Nicky's voice, and he managed a laugh. "You'd better be, nerd."

Nicky might have to pry himself out of Patrick's arms if he intended to escape them any time soon.

[dangernerd]

There was tenderness in the touch as Riley slowly allowed his fingertips to comb through locks of hair, understood the risk that Liam had taken-- it could've easily destroyed him and yet here they were whole, if but a little shaken. "If it helps in any way, I will be there." He then knelt down and wrapped his arms around that shoulder, his lips finding cheek. "Every step of the way." then even more quietly, "You did a very brave thing, and it makes me love you all the more."

Now though, it was time for the Priest to take care of Liam. He would do it with a gentle touch as he pressed the cool compress to forehead. "Is there anything that I can get you? Do you need me to bring you tea? A bottle of water?" this felt normal, it felt like a relationship, everything the both of them had denied themselves but together, it felt seamless and natural.

Thankfully Patrick did not have to worry about Nicky going anywhere, he was pretty locked in.

"I'm cold though.." he said, still wearing Trick's hoodie and a few layers under it. "I remember being too hot like an hour ago." But Trick was warm and he smelled very very nice, nice ebough that Nicky wanted to lose himself in his boyfriend. "I didn't.. dream you know... us right?"

There was something of the lost puppy in Nicky's eyes, it was a gesture that could sometimes be found on Graham's face though this was too a lesser extent. If he had found that it was all but a fever dream, he would be utterly destroyed, and he knew this. All of his memories were fuzzy, he remembered sensations and tactility, but words were harder to conjure up.

[giveeverything]

"It helps," Liam answered quietly. It helped more than he could find words for, more than Riley could possibly know. The other man had given him an impossible gift, had saved some shred of a soul that should not have been capable of anything other than corruption and damnation. "I would kiss you right now, but I should probably brush my teeth." Everything tasted like ash and sulfur and the distinct flavor of darkness which should not have a flavor but was unpleasantly anise-adjacent.

And none of it mattered, because Riley's arm was around him, and it did feel natural, falling into the arms he wanted to spend the rest of his life in. "I'm all right. Just catching my breath." He lifted his head then and moved to lean his forehead against Riley's. "I love you. Thank you for letting me."

It made the thought of what came next less abjectly terrifying.

Trick would do his best to keep Nicky warm while he recovered, and long after probably. He'd also fuss over him too, ply him with tea and soup and blankets and fairly aggressive cuddling. The question came as a surprise though, and he leaned back enough to look down and fall straight into that lost-puppy gaze. Oh.

Oh Nicky.

By way of answering, Trick leaned in and pressed his lips to Nicky's like it was their first kiss all over again, wanting and warm and full of lifetimes worth of yearning. Like it was a promise. "No, baby. Not a dream. You're stuck with me, sorry."

[dangernerd]

"I have some mouthwash in the little cupboard by the sink, you can use that if you want." another kiss to the cheek, it did not need to be a mouth kiss to convey the tenderness that the Priest felt for Liam, it came in any gesture, and it was sincere and gentle. Something that Riley was sure held power-- though it would not hurt to have another power source, as a backup.

"I'll go check on the kids, then?" they were kids, according to Riley. Though he did say it softly enough that only Liam could hear.

That was exactly what Riley came back to, it was the shared tender kiss between two boyfriends, he ducked back in for a brief second, just hiding around the corner as quiet as possible at least until this moment was over.

"Good.." a rather silly grin crossed his lips, lopsided and yet wholly charming. "Because let me tell you, gluing our hands together is something I could consider." his heart soared, the fact that Trick and him were real, that they were real.

[giveeverything]

There was certainly power in those small, tender gestures. There was power in the simplicity of love; Liam was beginning to believe there was little in the world stronger, and he was still half caught in disbelief that he was really allowed to have this. He nodded and rose to his feet, swaying only momentarily.

Steady enough. He helped himself to the mouthwash to try to rid himself of the taste of literal hell, splashed some water on his face and ran his hands through his hair, trying to put on the usual facade of fine just fine, better than fine, untouchable when he realized he was missing something. He poked his head out of the bathroom. "Angel, could I borrow pants?" If he was going to tell his brother and Nicholas the truth, he probably ought to be dressed in more than boxers. Maybe.

Trick glanced up at the sound of Liam's voice, almost surprised by the endearment. This... really wasn't just a seduction, was it? Whatever Liam and Riley were, it was something more than manipulation. He tucked that thought aside and looked back to Nicky in time to see that ridiculous grin, which was much better than those sad puppy eyes.

"I wouldn't put it past you. But save the glue, mm? I'm not going anywhere. But come on, let's get you off the floor." He moved to help his boyfriend up.

[dangernerd]

"Ah right, pants." Riley ducked further into the room and then quickly rummaged around until he found some run of the mill sweatpants which would fit Liam's lanky legs, then he very carefully tossed them at the other man with a bit of a smile in his eyes even if he tried to attempt to be solemn. "It wouldn't do to let your tea get cold, there is a story to tell as was promised."

And then Riley went back to sit down in the wing chair.

Oh he felt weak with every part of his body aching, it was true that they would likely not be going anywhere this day.. back to the room, that is after they listened to whatever it was that Liam had to say. He did manage to whisper against Trick's ear as he made full use of being propped up, at least until he could collapse gratefully if a bit weakly into the couch. "Pizza tonight." that was all he said.

He did have a fund for these type of emergencies, such not being able to leave the room because of important things, though this time things like 'sex' would be added to the list of important things. Sex with Trick.

[giveeverything]

Liam had officially killed his first demon in his underwear. So that was a milestone. He pulled the sweatpants on and nodded to Riley. There was a story to tell, and tea to drink, and while it was tempting to consider escaping out the bathroom window, Liam would try to be brave -- and thought maybe he could do it, if for no other reason than the look in Riley's eyes as their gazes met. All right.

This was happening.

He slipped back out to join the others, reclaimed his tea, and perched himself on the arm of Riley's chair, leaving the sofa to the rather shaky looking Nicky and relieved looking Trick.

Trick made sure that Nicky was settled, having no complaints about the way that his boyfriend leaned into him. "Yeah, it's definitely a pizza night." Pizza. Maybe a couple beers. And letting Nicky recover from sharing his body with a demon.

But first, well, first there was this conversation, that Patrick really did not know what to expect from. The silence that settled was tense, and both brothers seemed intent on avoiding direct eye contact. It was Patrick who finally broke the silence. "Thank you, by the way... for that. For helping us."

[dangernerd]

Nicky was still listening, however once Trick made himself comfortable on the couch-- the ginger was quick to lay down so that his head was laying in the other guy's lap, resting his cheek against a thigh as he snuggled down into the warmth of the hoodie that also possessed the scent of his boyfriend. This was clearly an invitation for Trick to run fingers through his hair, in fact if that did not happen he would start exhibiting cat-like behavior.

"Yeah, thank you." Nicky echoed with just as much gratitude even if his enthusiasm was waning.

For the time being, he did not want to think of sex or anything within that vein until he had a bit of his warmth and energy back.

Gently, Riley rested his hand on the top of Liam's and gave it a squeeze though he did not press the other man more-- after the discussion they'd had, this had been an inevitability though he knew that Liam expected a little bit more time.

[giveeverything]

Patrick found himself with a lap boyfriend, and something in him softened despite the tension in the room. He did not hesitate to start slipping his fingers into Nicky's hair, sifting through auburn strands. It was as much to soothe himself as Nicky though.

Liam shook his head at the thanks. "Don't mention it. I'm just glad we could help. But... yeah, that's sort of what I wanted to talk to you about. What happened just now, and what's been happening for years, and..." Ugh why was this so hard? Liam was usually a little too good with words, could talk himself out of trouble with the best of them, but this was terrifying, too close and too heavy. He turned his hand beneath Riley's to tangle their fingers together, trying to ground himself.

Patrick frowned. "What happened, Liam? You aren't even human anymore, are you? What happened to you?"

Those words had Liam visibly flinching. Well, it was a valid question. "I guess I'm not. Not entirely anyway." There was no denying that, not after what everyone had seen him do. "I sold my soul to a demon."

[dangernerd]

"How did that go? Did it hurt? Did you sprout strange appendages? I have read certain books about demon anatomy." Nicholas burst in with a little bit more vigour than perhaps should've been advisable, his curiosity had been his downfall through many different lifetimes and likely would be so again given any inclination.

You could not fault a guy for trying to weasel out information though he did stay perfectly still so that Trick could continue petting his hair; yeah, he liked that a lot.

Riley watched the way that the other man was tense and very carefully he reached over to take up the tea cup and then he pressed it right into the other man's hand, so that he could clear his mind. "Drink in between difficult parts." that was a comamnd.

[giveeverything]

Liam blinked at the onslaught of Nicky being Nicky. All right, yes, he should have expected exactly this from the personification of a curious cat made human. He resisted the urge to flee for the exit again, and let his fingers wrap around the teacup as Riley put it back in his grip.

He took a long, slow sip. Yes, sir. Liam offered Riley a weak attempt at a smile of gratitude.

"It was painless, at the time. Nothing happened then, except what I asked for. I was eleven, and I didn't really know what I'd agreed to. Not that it would've mattered. I told him I'd give anything I had..." He was dancing around the point here, and he wondered if it was obvious. "My contract came due when I was eighteen, and I've been his ever since. What you saw that time," he turned his gaze towards his brother, "I was reaping a soul for him."

Trick continued to pet Nicky's hair, quiet as Liam spoke. There was something really large being left unsaid, and it left a cold and heavy feeling in the pit of his stomach, like he knew what it was but couldn't quite find the right word, like trying to remember a dream after waking. Almost. Almost.

"What did you ask for?"

[dangernerd]

There was a bit of incredulity that crossed over Riley's face at the barrage of questions, he had not spent nearly enough time with the two boys to really understand what their core personalities were like. He knew that Patrick had introduced himself first, and then Nicky followed suit. He rather got the impression of a cat who liked only one person, so this was a different side to Nicky that he had never really perceived before-- it was enlightening"

Though there came the question, the one that was the loaded gun upon which all of Liam's bravado hinged. He avoided glancing over at Liam but he did move to press his hand right against the knee, his palm warm from holding the teacup.

There was strength in the small gestures, right?

And meanwhile, Nicky did reach for Trick's hand as well.. something just told him to.

[giveeverything]

Welcome to his entire childhood, Riley. These two were menaces individually and absolute terrors together when they really put their minds to it. But the terror right now, for Liam at least, was the answer to that question. He had kept this secret for so long. The only person he'd ever admitted it to was Riley, and even that was achingly recent.

One hand unwound from around the teacup teach down and grip at Riley's, not looking over at the priest either.

"Do you remember that day with the maple tree? When you fell?"

Patrick didn't answer, he was too busy trying to draw enough air into his lungs to keep breathing. Nicky would find himself with his boyfriend clutching that offered hand like a lifeline. He eventually managed a little nod, barely a movement at all.

"By the time I made it down, you weren't moving. And there was so much blood." Liam's voice had gone quiet, barely above a whisper.

The sensation of falling rushed into Patrick's memory, the scratching of smaller branches against his legs and arms and face, tumbling, and then a sudden shattering pain. Impact. And he'd... "No." Just as quiet as Liam's voice.

"You died, Patrick. You were gone, and I was supposed to take care of you. And then he was there, and he told me he could give you back and I--"

"No!" A shout this time, sharp and raw, Trick's voice sounding and feeling foreign in his throat.

[dangernerd]

And both Nicky and Riley were left with the fallout of this; while Riley remained silent as he had no real direct horse in this aside from the fact that he was here for support for Liam, Nicky managed to prop himself up a little while he still held his boyfriend's hand.

"I remember.. Trick and I were not together at the time but I remember feeling something." something sad, something melancholy, for a brief moment he'd felt his soul shatter as if crying in a way. He'd curled up in a little ball at their treehouse and had fallen asleep until Tish had come to get him. "That.. yeah, I remember feeling as if nothing in the world would be right ever again." a squeeze to Trick's hand.

[giveeverything]

"I'm so sorry, Trick. I should've looked out for you better. I couldn't lose you, not when I had a chance to get you back. So I took it. And you're alive and you're here, and I'm not sorry for that."

Trick could feel his eyes starting to sting, to blur with tears that wanted to fall as he replayed that day over and over. Nicky moving drew Trick out of the sudden flood of those memories. That day had been nothing but a blur in his mind since it happened, but now it all felt too clear, all too near. But what his boyfriend was saying, it struck something in him. Nicky felt it? His hand tightened around Nicky's in turn.

Liam looked at the pair in front of him, leaning forward to look closer, distracted from his own inner turmoil by this new piece of information from Nicholas. "Your souls are woven together..." He could see it clearly now that he was looking for it, now that he was seeing Trick and Nicky together for the first time since he'd learned what the sight that he'd gained with his contract meant. "Really tightly. You're soulmates." He turned to Riley. "Do you see it? Just there..."

What Liam had not yet put together, what was just beyond his realization, was that what he saw in Nicholas and Patrick looked shockingly close to what had only the night before been forged between his own soul and Riley's, like a garden grown from the first few seeds that had begun to sprout.

[dangernerd]

Riley's gaze drew to the two young men laying on the couch, he had not noticed previously perhaps because he needed to have it pointed out to him but once Liam drew attention to it that was when the magic eye picture came into focus and he noticed the intricate tie of threads that lay under the surface.

And if he glanced down at his and Liam's linked hands he would see a weave that was different yet held some similarities.

"I do see it." Whether he was acknowledging Nicky and Trick's connection or their own? That remained to be seen.

"Soulmates?"

For a moment Nicky sounded as if something like that might be preposterous, he was after all driven by logic so it may be to be expected.

Instead what he said was, "Hahah, can't escape me Trick. Soulmates mean you are stuck with me, no give backs."

[giveeverything]

Liam would notice that eventually and probably have a good old panic about having trapped Riley, because he was extremely skilled at finding things to feel guilty about. A natural talent that he'd perfected with a great deal of practice over the years.

Right now though he was watching Nicky because he did indeed expect the little logic monster to fuss about it, but instead he came out with that and Liam had to hide a snort behind another sip of his tea.

Trick meanwhile was thinking about that day -- the day he apparently died -- and thinking about the dream he'd had last night -- where he'd also died. And he was thinking about Nicky and how yeah, he could believe that they were soulmates. Ever since the moment they'd met, Nicholas Kirkland had made him feel whole, had made him feel home.

Of course, Nicholas Kirkland also made him laugh incredulously, despite the whole conversation. He took his free hand and planted it right against Nicky's whole face. Idiot. "If I'm stuck with you, you're stuck with me. So really, you're the one who has to deal with it."

Trick fell quiet in the next moment and risked a glance over at Liam. "All this time and you never told me... why? You let me think you turned into some sort of monster, and the whole time it was because of me."

[dangernerd]

"It was because he cared about you so very much that he wanted to see your happiness before his own." Riley said this quietly, his hands clasped together. "Surely you can understand that.." and then a nod to Nicholas who looked comfortable with his head against lap, though he was nursing his pride over having been palm smushed which had only lengthened the recoup time a little bit.

"We all have things that we want to protect, and you were so very young."

Nicholas remained quiet throughout all of this, because yeah.. he could see why Liam had did it and he would've done the same thing for Trick, but he also knew that Trick would argue because it was Trick.

And thus that is why he did not say a single thing.

[giveeverything]

Liam was grateful that Riley had answered, because he honestly hadn't known how to put it into words. He hadn't wanted Patrick to carry any guilt over the choice that he himself had made. Trick was his brother, and he had been so young. They were both children, but Patrick had barely started his life. Liam couldn't have lived with himself if he'd lost Trick that day.

Or any day thereafter. True, he'd mostly lost having his brother in his life these past few years, but at least he knew that Trick was still in the world, living and thriving even. "It was bad enough I had to carry this, and it was my choice. I didn't want to burden you with it too. Honestly, I didn't ever plan to tell you. Until some infuriatingly persuasive priest managed to change my mind. ...because I'm going to fight. I'm done being Gregory's pet." And for the first time since this had all started, he had some hope he could manage it, and he didn't have to do it alone.

Nicky's presence was still the only thing grounding Trick from pacing around the room in restless, frenetic motion. Instead he let the feeling of soft strands of auburn through his fingers stop him from giving into the whirlwind of emotions wreaking havoc in his mind.

"I am so fucking pissed at you," he informed Liam before adding a quiet, "Sorry, Father." For the cursing. But he continued. "You're an idiot, Liam. You're so unbelievably stupid it's incredible. I could have helped! I could have tried at least." Like he'd try now. Gear up, Nicky. They were now in the demon fighting business for keeps. "And I'm sorry. I sorry I assumed the worst without even..." He shook his head. "I'm just... I'm sorry." He only realized he was crying when his voice cracked and that last apology came out halfway into a sob.

[dangernerd]

There was the weight of Riley's hand on Liam's shoulder, and then the lightest of shoves that spoke without words, Go to him... in a way that meant that he expected Liam to do just that, to make amends and to be at peace with each other. The battle would be rough but there was strength in numbers, and now Liam had him, Patrick and Nicholas to assist.

Gregory would not know what hit him.

"He is an idiot." Riley said this quiet but with quite a bit of affection. "But let's just focus our energy on the future and let go what's in the past, that way we can come to this with clear and present clarity."

Nicky wiggled a little bit so that he would not be stuck in the crossfire of a brotherly hug, he was able to lift himself up with some newly gained strength so that he was settled back against the squabs, while he gave the Priest an approving nod. "Sorry Father, we swear like sailors."

"It's fine." Riley said with the barest hint of a huffed chuckle.

[giveeverything]

Liam glanced to Riley briefly at that shove, but the priest was right. Of course he was right, and that prompting was all he needed. He moved then, setting his teacup down and closing the distance to pull his brother into a hug. It was the first hug since they were teenagers, but he tried not to think about all the time and distance between them.

Trick stiffened briefly before turning into Liam's arms and hugging him back. "See? Even the priest thinks you're an idiot," he muttered, trying to hide the fact that he was well and truly crying. Trick wasn't much of a crier. He never had been, even as a kid when he'd been trying to prove he was tough enough to keep up with his older brother. Now though, he couldn't seem to stop it. "You're also an asshole."

Liam was close to tears himself, but he laughed. "Yeah, I know. You're right about both." He looked over Trick's head at Riley, offering him an almost mystified smile. This was happening, wasn't it? He mouthed a silent thank you to him.

[dangernerd]

Woops, there was the emotion that Trick rarely let anyone see; he was usually so cool calm and collected with a focus and a purpose, but there was that hidden softness to Trick, like the softer side of jerk which came out in the most surprising of moments. Nicky very respectfully turned his face away so that he wasn't staring at the brotherly reunion-- it was not polite to stare and at least he had learned that much in his years of hubris-coated life.

Riley merely smiled in that secret way of his, lifting up his tea mug before finally he took a sip of it, almost in tribute.

It was the first part of the multi-part happy ending.

"Good thing Tish isn't here, she'd knock your heads together." Nicholas did say after a long moment, "Y'know, really give you both something to cry over." which arguably Tish did not really make people cry, just intimidate the ever loving shit out of htem.

[giveeverything]

"Don't even joke about that. We already fought one demon. We can't handle Tish in the same day," Liam said with with the same solemn seriousness and quiet in his voice that medieval peasants had when they spoke of wolves and bears, like even mentioning their names might summon them.

Seriously, Nicky, do not speak that evil into the world right now.

Trick nearly choked on a laugh and drew back from the hug to look over at Nicky. "He has a point, you know." They did not need any more horrors in their life right now, thanks. He scrubbed a hand across his face, as if he could wipe away not only the tears but the memories of them from everyone who might have noticed them. "So... how are we going to take down this demon of yours?"

Liam frowned and shook his head. "Uh-uh. No. Nope, this isn't a we thing, Trick. You need to stay off his radar. Got it?"

[dangernerd]

This is where Riley stepped in quite effortlessly, because he knew that it would come to this-- that Liam's martyr instincts were going to come out in full force. After all the Priest had to very quietly nip it in the bud where he was concerned so he decided to apply a bit of rationale to this.

"Liam, Patrick is already on Gregory's radar, he considers both myself and Patrick his trump cards. So it stands to reason that we should all keep together as best as possible." and then glancing at the two young men assessingly. "There are things they can do such as research."

"Are you calling us nerds?" Nicky said before he remembered and then added on, "Because you'd be right."

"After this information, it is neither wise nor safe to keep these two so far out of our radar so I think that we can put them to use, after all this is Trick's soul we are fighting for as well."

[giveeverything]

Liam opened his mouth to continue to argue, but it would appear that he was quite soundly outnumbered here. Even worse, Riley was using facts and reason, and that was unfair was what that was. "How dare you go and bring logic into this," he muttered with a sigh of what could only be understood as surrender.

Except some of him, the part that was so relieved not to be so utterly alone any longer, wanted to drop himself into Riley's lap and kiss him senseless for all of this. The priest had been the catalyst in his life to actually change, to shift the balance he'd been suspended in for years now.

"Ha! See? Father Walsh is on my side. I win." Suck it, Liam. Trick flopped back to a seat, leaning his way straight into Nicky now, looking smug and satisfied that he'd just won the argument that his brother had been about to start. "And he's right. It's my soul too. ...he's also right that we're nerds. Not to mention, we're actually good at this stuff. It's how we spend most of our weekends." Researching paranormal things, getting into danger, getting out of it in one piece. Usually anyway. The incubus possession notwithstanding.