:: The Joust of Riley's 17th Year ::

[eblouissant]

It was the first time that Riley had been on the field, he'd trained hard for this. Very hard, all around him the area of people watched from their stands and seats. His armor gleamed pristine, the visor over his head, the jousting javelin tucked firmly underneath his arm.

Riding astride on his stallion, he galloped toward the ready line as the Games Crier spoke out his name. "Sir Cyril of House Valiase and his opponent Sir Germaine Moreau, please take your positions." and then Riley was in place, his heart thundering in his ears even while all around him the stadium turned as silent save for a few coughs here and there. The horn was blown and then he dug his heels in, pressed himself forward and started.

Grounding himself into the saddle, his eyes never leaving his opponent. Pounding hoofs the only thing to break the silence. That moment of fear, the way his stomach hit his throat and made him choke, so close so close. Held Breath. And then the sound of armor where he prepared for anything. No thinking, nothing-- head empty.

A clatter behind him as he charged forth. He had expected weightlessness, pain, but nothing as he made it to the end and he turned his horse around to see the attendants on the field rushing to Sir Germaine's side to help him from where he had stopped. Already they were assisting him off his horse, medics and his page. And then the crier called out.

"The Winner, Sir Cyril of House Valiase!" and the crowd went almost wild. Somewhere in the stands, he knew that his father was smiling approvingly, but his eyes did not search for his father. But a pair of eyes that he knew quite well, sitting in the royal box. There he could see them there, clapping along with the crowds-- his father not too far away from King Etienne itself.

A polite smile at his father and his King. And then his eyes searched out his best friend Guillaume with a far more shy smile; he was handed a rose by his page and there was a moment where he tried to figure out what to do with it.. he knew what to do, give it to a young lady of the court as was the proper procedure. A look at best friend, fleeting before he cantered his horse up to one of the young ladies of the Court and he handed her the rose.

--

Parties were like this, the celebrations were massive and with no expense spared. Now Riley could have found much more useful things to spend money on than a fountain of champagne and one of matching chocolate side by side-- but he did not make the rules nor did he hold the purse strings, so he held a glass of wine and watched the dancing.

He'd already done the required dancing with the young lady he'd given the rose to, also had been grilled on his mother on if she would make a suitable 'wife' for him. He did not care either way, if they arranged it then they did, it was not uncommon for parents to arrange matches for their children though he'd heard Guillaume state that his father the King was attempting to change that, to make Olympia more accepting. Trying to bridge the gap between Sylvia and Olympia, attempting to give women more rights.. everything that most Lords balked at (including Riley's father).

It felt like a fairy tale that was told, a fairy tale where magic existed and where women could be knights, where a marriage was only dictated by love. it was such a beautiful fairy tale, but Riley heard his father speak in contempt of such things, and Riley was not sure of the country was ready for that yet.

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[giveanything]

That glimmer was enough. Liam's entire world had been upended in this moment. Part of him had realized at the time why his patron had made certain that he was a witness to what he'd believed to be Riley's execution. It was to break him, to crush any thought of rebellion before it could take root. The message was clear. Help is not coming. There will be no rescue. The world you knew is dead and gone. All that you loved is gone. Because it was loved by you.

But somehow here was his heart alive and beating in Riley, alive. And crying. Something tore in Liam's chest and he brushed away those tears with gloved fingers, very suddenly wishing he could touch him, feel his skin or taste his lips, remind himself what love tasted like. But he had no right to do that, not after all this time. Not with the things he'd done. He hadn't noticed that tears were falling from his own eyes as well.

"Your father doesn't know I'm alive. He thinks he's in charge, believes this was all his design, but the thing pulling his strings has his own agenda." More reason for Liam to get out of the city. And in those dark eyes there was the faintest flicker of something -- life, maybe even hope -- for the first time since that night.

[eblouissant]

"Then we will..." he spoke this quietly, the soft leather of gloves brushing away what had been. Riley wanted to speak, wanted to say something anything but his entire heart was still feeling something like shock over the fact that Liam was not dead, that he was alive. "We will get you to safety."

He glanced over his shoulder, at the milling crowds, the soft hum of noise. It still was not safe, for either of us so they would have to keep a low profile. He quickly got up and then he motioned toward some of the caravans off in the distance. "Come... we'll get you hidden." perhaps Riley should've been a little bit more careful but the part of him that wanted to help, came in even fuller force since this was Liam.

"I share a caravan with Kay'dia but she's out on patrol currently, making sure that none of the entitled nobles try to take what performers have not offered; it'll be a damn sight more comfortable than where we keep the accessories for our Bear Performers."

[giveanything]

Liam's face was masked, his hood still drawn but maybe Riley would see it through even through the obscuring fabric, the way Liam's mouth twisted in a sheepish almost apologetic smile, familiar in that it had been the face he'd typically made when he'd been caught up in a poorly thought out decision, but wasn't terribly apologetic about it. Okay yes maybe the Bear Performers accessories wagon was not the best option, but he'd been winging it. And he was quite sure that Riley's caravan would smell better, but again. He'd been very intent on any port in a storm. "I suppose I don't really fit in with bears." He was definitely on the twink end of the spectrum.

Reluctantly he dropped his hands away from Riley's face and picked his book back up, another soft dismayed sound as he realized he'd almost missed one of the flowers that had fallen, quickly and carefully picking it up. He couldn't lose them. They were all he had left. Except here was Riley alive and in the flesh and right in front of him. A quiet sob escaped before he swallowed it down and nodded. Right yes. Hidden.

"I don't mean to put anyone in danger by being here. Especially you. But I saw the chance and I ran and--" he forced himself to stop before everything came spilling out of him. Not out here. Not in the open where anyone could see, could recognize him. He finally climbed to his feet.

[eblouissant]

Riley was still in a state of shock and he was not thinking properly except to safeguard Liam, the rightful King of Olympia; he waited for Liam to gather what he needed too and then he was skirting along the outskirts, a wry smile crossed over his lips. "I promise you that this Caravan has ways of protecting itself so you will be safe, I can assure you that. Just right now with other people coming in and out, it could get messy if we're discovered."

Very messy. Two people who were reportedly dead to the world, with graves.

He'd seen his own grave, the words "Disgraced" written poetically upon it, he wondered what point his father had gotten to do that? He was still Liam's knight, and he.. his heart gods his heart recognized that immediately-- Knight Mode activated the way he guided Liam around until they both got to the guard caravan, and then he opened the door and motioned for LIam to quickly get inside.

"You were right to escape from wherever you have been held, they'll have to go through me to get you back." that was a promise, of course it was.

[giveanything]

Liam let himself be led. All these years, and it was still second nature to fall in beside Riley. All these years, and for the first time he actually felt safe, less because of the promise of the refuge the caravan provided so much as the fact that Riley was here.

He nodded. "We're both ghosts here," he murmured quietly. Both dead men somehow still on this side of the ground.

So he did not hesitate before climbing up the steps into the caravan wagon, looking back to Riley to make sure that the other man was coming as well. There was the sense in him, however irrational it may be, that if he let Riley out of his sight this would turn out to be nothing more than a dream, some desperate yearning in his subconscious manifesting itself.

Then Riley said those words, and Liam was swept up in a sudden rush of warmth and a simultaneously sinking cold at the thought of his demonic patron coming anywhere near Riley. No. No he couldn't let that happen. Oh gods he shouldn't be here. He was going to get Riley killed, for real this time. "No. No, I won't let him anywhere near you. I won't."

[eblouissant]

"Yes, that we are." he murmured in return, the ghosts and all that it entailed-- not fully existing in this world, at least as how it had been known once upon a time. But for right now they were relatively safe (he thought) and so he moved to turn on one of the lamps lightly. "My bed is on the left, you can make yourself comfortable there, I know that it is a bit cramped but both she and I take different shifts so we usually have it all to ourselves."

Usually, though in Faori that threw the schedule for a loop because of his special circumstances which he'd told the Caravan awhile ago that it was best for him to make himself scarce when he was in the Royal City.

"Do you want something to eat, are you thirsty?" there was a little ice box where meat and cheese were kept for sandwiches, as well as glass bottles holding local ale and mead.

[giveanything]

Liam hesitated before moving to sit lightly at the edge of the bed that Riley had indicated. He hadn't moved to remove his hood or mask yet, or his gloves, but dark eyes still watched Riley, entirely transfixed on him. A ghost, but the most welcome ghost he could imagine. Liam loved him, had always loved him, would always love him. When Riley was 'dead' Liam's heart had died with him. And now it wanted to beat again, but he knew that wasn't fair. Riley had been alive all this time, living another life that Liam knew nothing about.

He could have a lover, a family, anything. Maybe even this Kay'dia that Riley shared this wagon with? And Liam wouldn't begrudge him whatever life or happiness he'd carved out and built for himself. He'd be happy for him. He truly would.

But oh his entire being ached to feel those arms around him again, the haven that he'd thought was lost to him forever.

Liam only realized he'd been asked a question a few moments after Riley had actually asked it. He shook his head. "I'm all right." He didn't actually remember the last time he'd eaten, but he was still too caught up in the rush of adrenaline and fear to think about food.

And much more importantly. "You're really here. You're really alive."

[eblouissant]

The cloak came off and was hung on the little hook to the side of the door, and yes he had to stoop a little bit to do so, and then he came back toward the bed and sat down on it; the black of his garments and the rustling chain mail underneath.. for protection's sake. He smiled though it was a bit weary even as he looked to Liam, to the man who was masked but he still knew it was him-- the eyes.

He wanted to reach over and brush the backs of his fingers lightly over skin but he knew that he dared not-- he did not know, they both did not know.. the years hung between them, years that they had imagined would've been filled with beautiful memories and growing up together, growing older together. Whose to say what turn their lives would've been taken if it had been allowed to flourish unimpeded-- but those were only speculation.

"I could say the same of you, you know." he smiled but it was furrowed and there were still cares there, all the grief he'd processed trying to rush out of him, though there was still a grief that remained, because it had still happened, he'd grieved and time had passed.

"There are so many questions but I do not want to inundate you with them, I cannot imagine you are anything but exhausted." and then after a few moments he asked very softly. "May I.. see your face?"

[giveanything]

Liam found himself turning towards Riley, like a sunflower tracked the path of the sun across the sky, all too willing to fall over himself to bloom for the other man, returned to him like a miracle. He didn't deserve a miracle, but here it was anyway, in front of him.

That smile on Riley's face, and Liam was the one reaching out even though he knew that he shouldn't. He couldn't help it. That smile, how many nights had he dreamed about it, some small comfort that he could dream of everything he'd lost? But there was that sadness still in Riley's expression, and Liam wished he could soothe it away. He'd learned magic, but no spell that could do that. Still, his fingers touched over Riley's cheek, the edge of that smile.

The request startled him. "Oh. Right, of course. Sorry. I'm not normally allowed..." Well. The mask was always present save when he was left alone, put away until his master had use of him again. But he'd escaped that, and maybe he ought to start acting like it. He drew his hand back from Riley to push his hood back and draw the mask down and away from his face.

It was the face that Riley had known, the last traces of childhood gone, jawline sharp and defined, shadowed with dark stubble, but that mouth that had been so full of mirth and mischief, still managed a flicker of a smile, a shadow of the past, but more than he'd had reason for in ages. And since he could, he took his gloves off as well.

"I have so many questions too. I... I'd rather talk than rest."

[eblouissant]

Talking was great, it was good.

Thankfully most everything in the caravan could be reached from the bed, and so he leaned over to grab two bottles of mead and then he passed one to Liam; he had a feeling maybe a drink would be needed as they talked over what had happened, really just everything. He'd felt that soft shiver through his body the moment Liam touched him-- and as he passed the bottle over, he allowed his own eyes to drink over the features that were far different and yet still Liam-- beautiful. But he could use more to eat and drink, and also sleep.

They were going to talk about difficult things, but they were not alone-- not anymore. He shifted onto the bed, his back against the wall and then he patted the spot beside him, for Liam to come closer. There was safety in closeness.

"What happened, on the inside-- that night?" I heard that there was a plan and they uttered the intent of the plan but I do not.. I cannot begin to fathom."

[giveanything]

Liam took the bottle, looking from Riley, down to it and back again. The mead would probably help the conversation go easier. He could see the logic in this. Another attempt at a smile, and he ducked his head with a murmured thanks. It was a bit strange to smile, like the muscles in his face had nearly forgotten how the expression went, except he couldn't help but try because Riley was here.

That gratitude only grew as Riley indicated for him to sit close, and he did that. Not quite touching even though it was killing something in him every moment that he wasn't touching the other man to assure himself that Riley was real.

He took a drink before he tried to answer that question.

"We'd just finished dinner. Father and I were in the study, discussing the Spring Festival, talking about opening our borders more and inviting diplomatic envoys... Patrice was finishing his lessons with Sir Dumas, and it all happened at once. There was a commotion out front, but before we could find out what was happening, we heard the sound of struggle in the halls. They'd planned it for a long time. They'd infiltrated the guards and... anyone loyal to father was killed."

He shut his eyes. "Sir Dumas took Patrice off through the emergency passage to try to get him to safety. Father and I tried to barricade the door, but they broke through. They killed Father... he fell at my feet, shielding me. And then everything was on fire, and it was so hot and there was so much smoke. Then the demon came."

[eblouissant]

It was hard not to offer comfort and so very carefully Riley reached for the hand not holding the mead bottle, and he carefully twined their fingers together. Oh how they still fit together, he'd been afraid that they'd grown too much where those fingers wouldn't but now they were here and he found himself slowly rubbing his thumb lightly over the back of the hand.

He would have been there, he would have been here-- he should have been there, he had agonized over it but right now in this moment he hadn't been there and that was good because he could be here now to comfort Liam who had somehow been spared.

"And Sir Dumas and Patrice?" he had to inquire, were they still alive-- if they were then they had the very beginnings of a revolution. Of course he would not know that this would tie into the demon? And he somehow did not blink about the demon, or even express a bit of shock that there was a demon or that they existed. "Was there a deal involved? With the demon?"

[giveanything]

Riley took his hand and Liam looked over at him before he wrapped his fingers around the other man's in turn. Their hands did still fit together, as if that is what they had always been made for. The caress of that thumb soothed something in him, an anxiety that had been in full throttle for years.

He found himself chewing on his lower lip before nodding. "There was a deal. He offered me my life. I told him to go to hell. Then he offered to let Patrice live, and I..." Well, he couldn't say no. "I agreed. He let Sir Dumas and Patrice escape, and I belonged to him." His fingers tightened around Riley's again as if to remind himself that he was here in this moment, and not back in that flame-filled room.

"I don't know where they went, where they are now, but Patrice is still alive, somewhere." Though he was certain his little brother believed Liam himself was dead, and that was probably for the best.

"I've done so many terrible things since that night."

[eblouissant]

"Considering that a demon emotionally blackmailed you into a pact, that is no surprise at all." he said very quietly, here to offer comfort but also to make it known that he did not blame Liam or think that he was evil for doing what he could to survive. Because he'd seen the pain and guilt there, he'd always known that there was nothing that Liam had wanted to be but as good of a person as his father was.

He squeezed that hand in return, warmth and gentleness there within it.

"The only Olympian that is currently in this Caravan is Eden, her real name is Eloise and she wanted freedom so.. but otherwise these people come from Kyria, Sylvia and Falia." he said this quietly. "No one will know who you are, you will have a bit of anonymity." this was meant to assure him; he did not speak what was unspoken-- that the Demon would come after Liam-- it was an inevitability. "What is our plan once we reach Lashenett?"

[giveanything]

Riley always had been so ready to see the best in people, to see the best in him. Liam should have realized that was what the other man would do here as well. He wanted to argue, that Riley didn't know the extent of the blood that was on his hands. But he didn't know if he would survive seeing Riley look at him like the monster he was, the monster he'd been made into.

Instead he looked down to their joined hands, listening. Anonymity would be good. It meant that he could perhaps even show his face, once they were beyond the bounds of the capitol.

Then Riley said something that took Liam's breath away. "Our plan?" Liam repeated, somewhere between confused and tentatively hopeful. Because Riley was right in that unspoken assessment. Liam would be hunted down by his master. Whatever reason the demon had for making this pact with him, he doubted it was fulfilled yet. "You... you don't have to..."

Why was speaking so hard? Why did breathing feel like something he'd half forgotten how to do. "You have your own life, Riley. All these years, the life you've made for yourself, I can't ask you to put that at risk for my sake. And I know I can't pretend that you're still mine, as much I might want you to be." And oh did he want him to be. Not a single ember of the love he'd felt for Riley had lost a degree of heat. He would love this man until he took his last breath in this world, and likely in whatever waited for him after that.

[eblouissant]

Riley shifted, turned to face Liam-- those eyes searched Liam's face as he spoke, watching him speak those words about lives made for himself, of what Liam thought his life had been but it had not been anything except for a transitory period of going from one moment to the next, biding his time until he could find the perfect moment. "Do you know what I was doing in Faori City this night? I was scouting the bars for unrest, for dissatisfaction for the current regime; it's out there.. hell, I know it is out there. You cannot just overthrow a monarchy under which people were happy and think that it doesn't just affect everyone."

He did not let that hand go.

"And King Valiase has not made friends with the common folk, because he never cared about them-- he cares about padding his own cronies pockets through any means necessary. So I have spent time going from town to town and building contacts with people who want to revolt."

But there was more, there was far more. "And once my father was disposed and someone worthy could be found to take the throne and then I would allow myself to rest, but.. I always.. intended to rest.." and then far more quietly, "By your side..." so much that it was a whisper.

They both knew what that meant, given the circumstance.

And he'd had it in his mind, the end-- a beautiful starry night, laying on top of the cool earth under which Liam's body rested-- and then in the morning he'd be found, finally his heart at peace and perhaps finally with the man that he loved, still loved.

[giveanything]

Liam shook his head ever so slightly at that question, of what Riley was doing, but he was silent, hanging on every word, eyes widening bit by bit as the other man continued. That's what Riley had been doing, had been trying to put things right, as right as they could be anyway. Even if it was his own father. Even if King Etienne and his entire family were dead and gone -- as far as anyone knew, as far as Riley knew.

Liam wanted justice for his family, for what had been done. He wanted revenge. And here was Riley, his brave, beautiful, loyal knight, still out in the world looking for that justice for him already.

And then those heartbreaking words, so quiet and so fragile, and Liam wanted for all the world to remake this world in such a way that Riley would never have to sound so sad and so alone ever again. The words struck through him like a blade, but the meaning, the hint of that truth there washed over him as well, that Riley still loved him.

Liam was the one to pull his hand out of Riley's hold, but only so that he could throw himself at Riley, warp his arms around him, clinging tightly to him like he was the last stable thing in the wild winds up a hurricane. "Live by my side, instead. My Riley."

[eblouissant]

Doing good was not a matter of doing good so that others could see, no it was so that you could sleep at the end of the day, something relative that the peace one wanted to feel-- he had never these long years been afraid of death, but he knew that he could not die yet.. not while there was still work to be done; he'd wanted to put some closure there for those who had lost their lives.

But now Liam was hugging him close, and he returned it, wrapping his arms around those shoulders as he rested his forehead against Liam's. He was in love, even after all these years he'd kept his candle quiet but burning. And now he cried, because Liam was back, Liam was back and at his side and he allowed himself a sob while they clung to each other.

"We are in this together now, Liam... our plans, we are going to make sure that justice is to be had." he murmured, brushing his lips softly against the stubble of cheek. "And I am not leaving you... never."

[giveanything]

Liam melted into those arms, and for the first time since his world had been burned down around him, he felt like he was safe, like he was home. He could feel the sob that came from Riley, and he knew he was crying too, years of grief and loneliness and fear and pain where he hadn't allowed himself to cry, to mourn, clinging to that numbness that had settled in because he feared to do otherwise would have destroyed him to actually feel.

The slightest nod, because he knew they were close enough that Riley would feel the movement as much as see it. "Together. We'll do it together, put things to right."

They weren't the boys they'd been, all those sweet and naive notions about a world that had not yet revealed its teeth and claws to them. They'd both been wounded by those hidden, treacherous things, bore the scars of it. But they had each other again, and Liam could feel a wellspring of strength from that, from knowing that Riley was here and alive and in his arms again.

He leaned back just far enough so that he could kiss away those tears, lips lingering against his cheek. Then tentatively, like it was a first all over again, he let his lips find Riley's, light and brief, like a memory, like a plea.

"Even when I thought you were dead, I never stopped loving you. My heart has always been yours. And now you've come back to me..." And it felt like anything might be possible, that maybe they could actually take down a usurper and a demon, could set his kingdom back to rights. His kingdom. It was the first time he'd thought of it that way since his father was killed. Even his escape had been driven by a desperation to get away, nothing but pure fight or flight in action. But in Riley's arms he was starting to remember himself, who he had been and who he still was, in spite of himself.

Liam had never shied away from duty or responsibilities, had always wanted nothing more than to do right by the people of Olympia, to live up to the example his father had set. The crown he had grown up knowing would be his was heavy, yes, but it was a privilege and an honor to bear that weight, and one he'd embraced as a teen. He didn't know if he was worthy of the throne any longer, but he was certain that King Valiase was not, and never would be. So they would see him torn down from it, for the sake of justice. For the sake of Olympia.

[eblouissant]

It was true, they'd been guided by idealism where nothing could've touched them in that moment, except it did-- they'd been served with the utter worst of the world and their idealism had been powerless in the situation. But they'd grown and they knew not to blindly trust, they knew that there were enemies hidden and that not all people were kind even though outwardly they acted like it.

The kiss moved him in such impossible ways, the sweetness of that mouth and the way that they were laced with tears, tears of relief and also grieving for the boys that they had been; they had to do all this for the boys they had been-- because they had never deserved what happened.

"I think that you have come back to me." Riley murmured with a soft half sob half laugh that guided his words. "But I want to see things rebuilt and as they should be, I still want that world you promised you'd work for, and I will still support you and assist you." it had suddenly grown harder but the thing was that harder did not scare him, even less now that Liam was back at his side.

They'd done hard, lived through horrific-- they could manage this, and if.. if somehow they fail then perhaps it would inspire others to try again, to keep trying until finally Olympia was free and as she should be.

[giveanything]

How strange to finally let himself mourn losses when so much had just been returned to him. But that relief, that impossible joy at reuniting with Riley, had broken the floodgates of emotions and set loose a torrent that couldn't be contained. The one repeating thought though that pulsed softly like a comforting heartbeat was that Riley was alive. Riley was alive and Liam was back in his arms, and the world felt like it could start turning again.

"I intend to keep that promise. It's just a bit delayed, from what we might have hoped." More time. More work. More danger. But Liam had never been more determined than in this moment. Riley was right. They'd do this, or they'd die trying and leave the torch for others to take up.

Liam laughed too, and the sound was foreign in his ears, soft and uncertain but genuine as he remembered the feeling of it, of being alive. There were still tears in his eyes, but he smiled as he let his fingers slip into Riley's hair. "How are you even more beautiful than I remember?"

[eblouissant]

The mourning now took on a different form, and that was less painful-- but there was hope there too and that was a beautiful thing, it was not the hope that had fueled on every part of Riley's actions but he'd take it-- he would take it. His fingers brushed against a cheekbone, and those grey eyes were absolutely misty and teary but he was smiling.

"I think that the haze of tears is what is telling you that I'm more beautiful then you remember." he said with a chuckle as he pressed a soft kiss to the tip of Liam's nose, soft kisses that first against nose and then the tops of cheeks, forehead.. really anywhere he could reach.

"Everything looks watery under tears." he said this with a weak little sniff before he brushed that hair from Liam's brow." Now you however, well I think that you are more handsome then I remember." because Riley didn't look at himself in the mirror nearly enough to make any sort of comparison.

[giveanything]

Those kisses rained down, soft and gentle and Liam felt like the years fell away from his shoulders, fell away from between them. They'd lost so much time, had so much heartache, but they could make up for that lost time, couldn't they?

This was a second chance. To love. And to live. They'd find Patrice too, would find Sir Dumas and anyone else still loyal to his father. So much to be done, so many things to think about. And he was trying so hard not to think about the fact that his master would be looking for him, hunting him.

He pushed that fear down for the moment, letting himself settle into the warmth of Riley's presence. "Mm-mm. They've just made everything that much clearer." And Riley was beautiful, breathtakingly so, that even through everything he still kept that gentle softness, kindness, in mist-gray eyes.

Liam shook his head. "I've seen myself in the mirror recently. I look like I haven't slept in ages." Mostly because he hadn't. He also knew he could do with actually eating more than the very minimum necessary to survive. But he had reason to now, didn't he? Something to live for. Someone to live for.

[eblouissant]

"You have not slept in ages, that does not make you any less handsome; it just means that you probably should sleep." it meant that he would have to explain to Kay'dia the situation when she came through the door, if this had been less new he would've put the other man to bed and then moved out to find her but he did not want to leave the other man alone.

"Yes, I fully intend on bullying you to sleep much like i did when I was younger." he said this with a soft smile. "You should you know, and then you will feel better in the morning.. and I will not leave you whatsoever, I will sleep by your side while you rest." and do all that he could to keep Liam hidden and safe at least until they exited Faori city and headed to Lashanett.

[giveanything]

It was still very new, and if Riley made any attempt to leave right now, Liam would likely launch straight into a panic attack despite his best efforts otherwise. By tomorrow he would probably be steady enough to let Riley out of his sight. In small increments.

Liam wrinkled his nose at Riley. He remembered that bullying, and it had been the gentlest bullying. But it had also been infuriating because Riley used things like reason and logic, and that was entirely unfair as strategies went. And even now, Riley was right. He probably should sleep, and maybe he'd actually be able to for once, without being met with nightmares -- or worse with dreams of the world that had been torn away from me.

He hesitated a moment, and it was clear he was turning something over in his head before he decided to actually put it to words. "Will you hold me? While we sleep?" He had missed those arms so much that even thinking about it now stirred an ache in his chest.