: 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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[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.

[dangernerd]

"Not so fast, Mr Leary." Riley said, directing his grey eyes right upon both of the recalcitrant troublemakers, and he knew they were trouble. One could not exist within a ten mile radius of them without understanding this. "This means that you have to check in with me or your brother whenever you need to go somewhere, even if it is something as simple as the cafeteria. Because this is your soul on the line as well, we have to take extra precautions."

Sorry boys, Riley was going straight up into mother-hen mode and there was not a damn thing that the two of them could do about any of this.

"This means that as if right now, your possessed house spelunking is on hold until we've determined that the threat has been eliminated."

"I can make us all communicators." Nicky was very quick to say, because well he could. He already had a drawer of walkie talkies that he was attempting to overclock as best as you could with a walkie talkie, this meant that he would have to get on it.

[giveeverything]

Oh yikes. Mr. Leary. Trick sat up a little straighter. That was just short of using his middle name -- which he doubted Riley knew to use anyway -- in terms of you're in trouble instincts. Then the priest kept talking, and he immediately slumped back, this time it was his turn to drape over Nicky, like an inflatable arm-waving tube man who lost all its air. "You've gotta be kidding me. Check-in? Like you're our probation officers?" Okay so maybe he was a little overly dramatic; it was to compensate for his embarrassment over the crying earlier.

He paused though to look up at Nicky. "You mean your pet project spycraft stuff? That'd be cool, and a little less obnoxious for having to check in with." Since, you know, cool spy shit.

Liam shook his head at both his brother and at Nicky. "This is serious, you two. You don't know Gregory like I do. You haven't seen what he's capable of..." Liam had. All too clearly, all too closely, and the idea of Gregory coming after Riley or Trick or Nicky was still horrifying, a cold icy weight in the pit of his stomach. "Riley's right. You check in. We make sure none of you are caught out alone or unprepared." Nicky's communicator idea was good though, and it would perhaps keep him occupied for a while.

[dangernerd]

Nicky folded his arms across his chest and adopted the slump, because when faced with family it was easy to turn into a teenager again. It was science in a way, especially for young men who were barely past the age of drinking much less even older than that. And technically they were both more adults than they were, definitely Riley was an adult and Liam? Oh occasion.

"Yeah, I'll let you be my lovely assistant." Nicky shot Trick a look and then he had the audacity to waggle his brows (though thankfully he was still not hard). "But I can have something rigged up by tomorrow night I think, with enough pizza and Mt. Dew."

"Excellent." Riley thought that Liam handled himself rather well, but also it managed to do what Riley hoped-- and that was to con Liam into allowing people in on this war too. Really, the Priest was the true winner when all was said and done.

[giveeverything]

Trick snickered at the eyebrow waggle -- which was not helping the not taking this seriously allegations -- lifting a hand to tug at Nicky's hair. Pulling his hair because he totally had a crush on him. "I'm not wearing sequins." But he'd help Nicky do his science tinkering as best he could.

Even though he knew this was dangerous -- and really he did know it was perilous and could end in disaster -- Trick felt lighter and strangely relieved. He... he actually had his brother back, didn't he? And he had a boyfriend. And he wasn't ever going to become a priest.

Liam was entirely unaware that his angel had plotted this all out with subtle pulls of strings. Clever, evil, beautiful, wonderful Riley. If he hadn't already been in love with him, he would've fallen here and now. It was a weird feeling, to be here in this room with people who knew his worst secrets and were still willing to help him.

It was strange not to be alone. He smiled, an almost bewildered expression on his face, quiet disbelief that this was happening. A moment in this lost in thought and feelings, and he shook his head. "I'll treat you two to pizza, as long as you promise to behave."

[dangernerd]

It was good to know that the two of them were like twelve year-old boys about this whole 'in love' thing, it really suited it as well as substantiated the fact likely in Liam's estimation that they probably required watching after the hijinks that they'd reportedly gotten into the night before. They were super mature adults, there was no doubt about it.

"Hey, I'm not gonna turn down pizza.. and honestly? I have a lot to work on this weekend so I think we're safe, but I can make sure that Trick doesn't leave my sight."

He'd follow him down the hall, into the shower.. even into bed. You know really buddy things.

"Wonderful then that is settled, I think that in which case Liam has nothing to worry about." and then Riley turned around to face Liam. "This also means that I have to keep you close.. you know this right?" did Liam? Well now he knew.

[giveeverything]

"Good. Keep him on a tight leash, Kirkland." Liam would do his damnedest not to think about his dumb little brother and his equally dumb little pseudo-brother showering together and getting up to bedroom hijinks. He'd already had to consider it way too much when Nicky showed up possessed by a sex demon. So.

Trick meanwhile was rolling his eyes and waving a hand dismissively at his brother. "Whatever. I'm behind on homework too." Since he had gotten a grand total of zero non-carnal anything done the past stretch of time. He'd gone from pulling Nicky's hair to twining that lock around his fingers now, looking at him thoughtfully. Maybe they'd make some time for non-homework though, once they'd both had some time to recover. Don't mind the half come-hither stare in your direction, Nicky. Trick was, well, a red blooded young man in his prime, after all. With a soulmate, of all things.

Liam seemed satisfied with this and nodded, taking a moment to point at his eyes and point at Nicky. Then Riley spoke, and he turned to face the blond to assure him that he'd find something to worry over, before feeling a fluttery sensation take sudden flight in his chest. "Oh? That a fact, angel?" And because he couldn't get caught blushing in front of the two idiots on the couch, he stepped in closer, settling a hand at Riley's hip, voice dropped low and half purred. "How close were you thinking?"

[dangernerd]

Let's not talk about leashing, especially after the past 12 hours that he'd had in which case he had rather vigorously fucked and been fucked by his boyfriend, Liam's brother. His constitution could not survive that though he would not mind talk about that, he was open to a lot of stuff. But there was something about the way that Trick was rolling the hair around fingertip, and the look in that eye that wasn't precisely sexual but still something.

Then there was the vibes he was getting from Liam and the Priest which arguably he was still sensitive to like some horny town residue that lingered long after the resident had vacated.

He cleared his throat and then tugged at Trick's hand. "I think we better go. I think that if we hadn't barged in like this, they would've been well on their way to poundtown, yeah?"

What a way to ruin a sexy moment. Riley had been quite interested in what Liam was saying, like they were mentioning battle tactics, and then the lowered voice coupled by a purr. And then Nicky opening his big mouth, which brought his palm to his face so that he could drag it down.

[giveeverything]

Not precisely sexual, not precisely not. Trick was probably thinking about utterly filthy things right now, like holding Nicky's hand again on the way back to their room and wondering if his boyfriend had a preference for being the big spoon or the little spoon. Such scandal.

...no wait, the Scandal was Nicky's mouth. Trick nearly choked on a sound as he heard what the other had to say, unsure if he should laugh or not. "You can't say poundtown to a priest, Nicky. I'm pretty sure that's in the Bible somewhere." Okay yeah he was laughing now.

Liam, however, was not laughing. He was however blushing and turning to stare at the ginger menace. Maybe he should have let the Incubus eat him after all. "Nicky, I swear, if you are not a speck on the horizon in the next thirty seconds..." He let the threat hang.

Trick just laughed again, and hopped to his feet, pulling Nicky along with him. "Yeah, yeah, we're going. Remember. You owe us pizza. Hawaiian. And wings."

Maybe Liam should've let the Incubus eat Trick too. "And for the record, we were sleeping."

[dangernerd]

Holding hands could be filthy underneath the right circumstances, it was all in the slide of thumb against the bridge of hand, or the intimate slide of fingers. Trick should try him sometimes, he'd find that Nicky was down for such filthy not without marriage behavior such as hand-holding.

"Hawaiian pizza.. and wins." Nicky chimed as he was pulled rather easily. Some of his strength had come back magically, certainly enough that his feet started to move once more. "Also whatever, I know first hand what happens when you wake up from sleep with a pretty boy lying next to you."

He'd said too much, and his voice was a echo down the hall, good job Nicky-- one point for each side.

"They are so exuberant." Riley said with a laugh, still a bit flushed from the candor and also from Liam's proximity. "They remind me of my brothers, well... some, I have so many." he said with a sideways glance at Liam.

[giveeverything]

Trick was still laughing as quickened his step and pushed thee door shut and led Nicky down the hall before Liam could decide to give chase and murder his soulmate. Probably better to save his brother from succumbing to his dark side when he'd sort of just gotten him back in a very real way.

"What happens when you wake up with a pretty boy next to you?" He asked with a pointed lift of his eyebrows as he let his steps slow once some distance had been put between them.

---

Liam took a breath and reminded himself that killing Nicholas Kirkland, while it may be justifiable homicide, would still be homicide. Luckily Riley was there, looking flushed and laughing and everything in Liam's chest felt too full and too warm. Well, yeah, okay, see. This would clearly keep him from sin.

At least murderish sin. Lust flavored sin on the other hand...

He slipped his arms around Riley's waist, stepping in close enough to lean his forehead against the priest's. "The fact you survived so many siblings with your sanity intact is evidence you're a much stronger man than I am."

[dangernerd]

Nicky was rather fond of his life, even moreso now that Trick and him were a couple. He followed as best as he could, and thankfully he had quite a bit of strength recharged; granted, he was still tired and would require a nap but he rather thought he could do that safe tucked in the circle of Trick's arms.

He slowed as well, using his arm to wrap around Trick's waist so that he could steady himself but really it was so that he could have an excuse to get all handsy up on Trick. "Well, my memory is not clear but...." then he, in true Nicky fashion, waggled his brows. "It may have involved a bit of hanky-panky." adding a little spanky to that as well.

"Liam would barf."

---

"I can assure you that Nicky equals around three of my siblings so.. the strength is not that pronounced." there were a few that were rather mild mannered, like Dante. The twins however, yeah they were a bit of messes and he realized that quite well. "But, I guess what is another one to the pile." meaning that he would not mind adopting Trick as his own brother, and maybe Nicky in a sort of 'he's my stepbrother and I only see him on weekends' sort of way.