Time Warp: Feline Fandango

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Early Spring 2027

Tak's friends had pulled through. Or rather, they'd pulled some strings and helped Oriel get back on his feet, in a sense, and into classes at the local community college. It was something he hadn't gotten the opportunity to go through with when he was a fresh graduate from high school. Back then, Oriel had no confidence that he could even consider something like college. He was barely able to pass high school, after all, and had all sorts of complications with his learning that made it a good ten times harder than the average person to accomplish. These days...well, he still had some small level of difficulty, but it wasn't as bad. And Oriel had lost the constant drone in his head that convinced him that he couldn't do it even if he tried. These days, the drone said that even if he failed, there wasn't any reason why he couldn't at least try. Because that would at least result in something, even if it wasn't officially recognized by a sheet of paper.

Progress. It happened, over the years. And these days, Oriel was more willing to lean on the support that his friends and family tried to provide him. He still wasn't the same happy, excitable, full-emotional-spectrum-feeling boy he used to be - Oriel didn't think he would ever go back to being that way again - but he was definitely feeling a lot more hopeful about his life than he was nearly a year ago when he first was released from the penitentiary.

He had Tak, a good friend of many many years, who was now to be the mother of his child. He had his adoptive mother, still alive and well and willing to let Oriel stay with her until he got back on his feet. And, a miracle of miracles, he had Phoenix by his side again. Even if it was a Phoenix who didn't remember a large portion of his past, including Oriel himself, he was back and despite his memory problems, had chosen to stay with Oriel and share their life together side by side.

And now...now Oriel was in classes again, working towards an associates in culinary arts. He figured, why not? It was something he was good at, enjoyed, and maybe he'd even try to do the whole 'opening his own restaurant' deal. Maybe. He wasn't that far yet, first he had to get through this first semester of classes.

Oriel sat at the table of his mother's dining room, mulling over a small stack of books that he was slowly running through. It was his day off. Since he'd started going back to school, Oriel started taking less hours at the convenience store. His hair was pulled back into a low ponytail and held down with a clip to keep out of his eyes while he studied. He didn't know where Phoenix was at the moment, as he'd developed a severe case of tunnel vision whenever it came to focusing on his schoolwork. Oriel probably needed to take a break soon.

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Phoenix was doing better than he had in... Well, as long as he could remember, for the most part. Over the last several months, memories had occasionally and slowly returned to him, mostly about Hammel and Pilot Ridge and the friends he'd had there. Oriel's memories were still mostly in the dark, but that didn't really matter anymore - Phoenix was his again, and that was all that he needed. They were already living together, and Phen had no intentions of leaving to go anywhere until the actually moved out and found a place of their own.

Because that was what he was hoping would happen. Phen was more cleaned up, less shaky, and a little less thin from when he and Oriel had reunited, and he'd managed to get a job working a few days a week at the local animal shelter. It wasn't a huge job, and he only made a modest amount of money, but he had to start slow so he didn't overwhelm himself. Besides, animals had a way of soothing him like nearly nothing else could.

He was incredibly proud of Oriel for getting back into school. His studying cut into the time they spent together, but Phoenix didn't mind - as long as the younger man was working hard and passionate about what he was doing, he would stay out of the way for the most part. Sometimes he just asked Oriel to tell him what he'd been learning about as a way to help the man retain what he'd been studying.

Today, however, he had something else in mind as he crept from their room towards the dining room, keeping quiet as he watched Oriel study from a distance. A soft smile brightened his features as he looped his arms around Oriel's shoulders from behind, nuzzling his chin down to peer over at what he was working on. "Workin' hard?" he murmured. "I haven't heard you get up in a while, so I thought I'd come make sure you're takin' breaks. What're you readin' about?" Phoenix pressed his lips to Oriel's neck and kept his arms wrapped around him, expecting the other man would politely shoo him away if he was being bothersome.

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Oriel, as he and his instructors were finding out, was actually quite the avid learner. Oriel wondered why he’d convinced himself that it was so impossible to do anything in high school before. Granted, he had his reading difficulties back then, but once he passed that hurdle, things actually came relatively quickly to him. He still had trouble sometimes, yes, but with the right tools at his disposal, it wasn’t half as hard as it used to be.

He wasn’t going to be reading heavy novels anytime soon(he didn’t really care for them anyway), but he enjoyed what he was required to read for his classes at least.

Oriel didn’t think he’d ever get enjoyment out of anything in life again. It was a nice feeling, actually.

Oriel didn’t hear when Phoenix had entered the room, his concentration was pretty fierce when he wanted it to be, so when those skinny arms slid over his shoulders and curled around his neck, Oriel blinked up in surprise, his glasses dropping down to hang off the tip of his nose. “Phoenix?” he uttered, turning his head slightly as he pushed up his glasses. “Uh…Yeah,” he said, looking back down to his books with a small half-smile. He’d been doing that a lot more recently too.

“Nothing that important. Just some basic stuff about knowing your way around the kitchen.” It wasn’t anything that Oriel didn’t already know, just that Oriel hadn’t had it laid out for him so properly before. Most of what Oriel knew he had to learn from trial and error. “This one…” he pulled out another thin book. “Is about safety and sanitation.” He breathed out a soft laugh from his nose. “I didn’t realize someone could write so much about something that seems so basic.” Oriel cupped his hand over Phoenix’s arm that was laying across his collarbone. “What are you doing?” he asked looking up at his lover.

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Phoenix had always thought that Oriel was smarter than he gave himself credit for, and even though he didn't remember thinking that now, he had already caught onto the fact all over again. Oriel was sharper than he was by a long shot, especially now - Phoenix had always been slow, but now, with his sluggish and spotty memory and trouble making new memories, it was even worse than before. Still, he managed to get by, as long as people didn't mind that they might have to remind him to do something one or five times.

He had to grin at the sight of his lover's glasses perched on the end of his nose. Oriel looked like an adorable nerdy old person when they slipped, and Phoenix thought it was incredibly endearing. He'd been able to buy a pair of glasses for himself recently, which had been a huge help in him getting a job. "You're such a hard worker," he murmured, nuzzling his cheek against the man's scruffy neck.

"Mmm... Should I ask you t'go an' make me a sandwich, then?" he teased, looking lazily down at the notes spread before Oriel. It was an incomprehensible blur at that distance without his glasses. He watched as the younger man pulled out another book, chuckling a little along with Oriel. "Wow. And you're gonna be tested on all this stuff?" It'd been so long since Phoenix had been in school, and he'd never gone to college, so he hardly even remembered what taking tests was like, other than it had always seemed awful at the time.

At the question, Phen's eyes flicked guiltily to the side for a moment before he settled back on Oriel's face. "I, um, I wanted t'talk t'you about somethin'," he began, pulling out a chair so he could sit beside his lover. Phoenix took one of Oriel's hands in both of his own and traced a thumb along the back of it. "There's, um.... There's this kitten at work that likes t'follow me around when I'm cleanin' the litterboxes an' stuff. His name is Bandit, and he's the cutest little kitty I've ever seen." Phoenix lifted his best puppy eyes up to Oriel. "I was wonderin'... If maybe... You'd want t'go meet him and think about maybe possibly sorta takin' him home." He bit his lip, knowing he was probably asking for a lot. But he just couldn't help it!

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Oriel didn’t mind that Phoenix was a little slow on the uptake. He always had been, and Oriel had never really minded before. Sure, it was a little annoying sometimes when Oriel had had to worry about Phoenix getting himself hurt or in trouble because he was absent-minded at exactly the wrong moment, but for the most part, Oriel found it attractive. There was still an inkling of the idea that it gave the two men a reason to stay together, because Phoenix needed someone to watch out for him. But these days it was less about a desire to control and manipulate Phoenix into stay and more about the simple fact that Oriel cared for the other man and enjoyed taking care of him. Even with his faults, Oriel had a lot more trust in Phoenix’s ability to take care of himself now than he did as a boy.

Oriel nuzzled his head into Phoenix as he rubbed up against him. “Thanks,” he said, in his usual rough and low voice, worn from a decade-long smoking habit that wasn’t looking to cease anytime soon. “A sandwich? Here I’m studying to be a full-fledged chef, and you want a sandwich?” What a waste of his skills. Oriel shook his head and smiled. There would be other chances to cook him a 5-star quality meal. “Alright,” he agreed, starting to push himself out from the table. Oriel removed his glasses and set them on the table. He only needed them for reading.

“Yeah, at the end of next week is the midterm.” There weren’t as many quizzes or assignments in college as there was in high school, but there were comprehensive exams at least twice in the semester. And one of his classes had a practical skills quiz every two weeks. It was a lot more intensive than it seemed. Either way, Oriel was still having fun with it.

Oriel watched Phoenix curiously as he settled himself in the chair to the side of him. He raised a thick eyebrow at the mention of a kitten. Oh…he could see where this was going. “Hmm…” he hummed in thought. Honestly, Oriel would love a kitten, especially if Phoenix wanted one. But… “I don’t know…it’s not really my decision. This is my mom’s house, after all. We’d have to ask her first.” And once she gave approval, then it was just a matter of whether or not they could afford it.

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Phoenix had once again quickly learned how protective and supportive Oriel was. Right from the start of their being reunited, the younger man had offered Phoenix his home and helped him get back into life again. Phen felt like he could never repay him for how much he had done, and was still doing. All he could do was be there and love him and hope that that was enough.

"Mmm..." he sighed softly, letting his eyes drift shut momentarily. Even after these last several months, he still wasn't entirely used to the sensation of someone warm and close and touching him with soft caresses. "Well, if you wanna make me somethin' more fancy an' stuff, I won't complain." Phoenix grinned and opened his eyes, which were sparkling with mirth despite the dark circles under them that would probably never go away. "You, um, cooked any Korean stuff yet? If you can figure out how t'make good kimchi like my mom used to, that's all I'd want t'eat." And as far as he knew, it wasn't that hard.

But anyway. "Eek, midterms," he replied with a small shudder. "You started studyin' for it yet?" Phoenix didn't know how early one started studying for exams, especially in the culinary field. "I'm glad it's not me. I can't remember anythin' I read yesterday." There was no way his brain could take intense classes anymore. He just didn't have the capacity, but that was okay.

He nervously waited for Oriel's answer; it was actually one that he hadn't even considered, which was dumb, because he saw Oriel's mom on a regular basis, he just somehow forgot that this was her place sometimes. "Yeah, yeah that makes sense," he murmured, rubbing his thumb over a rough callus on the man's hand. "Do you, um, think she would say yes? Do you wanna go look at him anyway?" Phen glanced back down at Oriel's books and added meekly,"I mean... If you're not too busy." He scooted a little closer so he could lean against Oriel's shoulder, his shorter-cropped hair nestled against Oriel's own.

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Oriel was glad that Phoenix was getting along well. The other man had a job and was more self-sufficient than he probably gave himself credit for. But he was also glad that despite that, Phoenix let Oriel baby him sometimes. Not the kind of mushy stuff they used to do as a kid, but just doing simple things for him. Like making him a sandwich.

“You want kimchi?” Oriel said, his lips turning into a soft smile. “I can do that.” He remembered how to make it. Phoenix asked him to make it so many times back in high school. “How ‘bout I make some tonight?” It was a good thing too that he already knew how to do it. Oriel didn’t think it was something that his program was going to teach him how to do. They focused mostly on western cooking techniques and recipes rather than eastern dishes.

Oriel nodded, looking back down to his books. “Yeah, I have. Couple days ago.” Oriel wanted to get a head start on this and hopefully prove to himself and his teachers that he had what it took to get through this program. From what he heard, there were a lot of people who dropped out. Oriel shook his head. “Honestly, I’m nervous,” he breathed. “I was never good at testing in high school.” Oriel had gotten used to Phoenix not being able to remember things that he should know, so he’d gotten into the habit of simply explaining things to Phoenix as if he were a person who didn’t know anything about Oriel and his teenage years. Because, well…he was.

Oriel turned his hand up to clasp it around Phoenix’s then leaned forward as he fully enclosed his hand within both of his own. “I don’t know…I think she might. But I’m not going to expect her to.” Oriel gave Phoenix a stern look. “So you just have to prepare yourself for the fact that we might not be able to have a cat until we get a place of our own.” The thought of sharing an apartment with Phoenix, just the two of them, had Oriel feeling fuzzies in his belly. It really was an attractive idea. Maybe they should consider it soon? “But…I do want to see him,” he said with a smile as Phoenix leaned into him. “I could use the break anyway.”

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Phoenix's eyes lit up. "Would you really?" he asked excitedly. He didn't realize that Oriel had made it for him before, so it made it even more special. "That would be amazin'! You're the best, hunnybear." The nickname was one of many he'd been randomly sprouting at his lover lately, after having discovered a website with a huge list of pet names to give your significant other. Some of them were absurd... But Phoenix still tried them out, if only for giggles.

"Mmm..." Phen's fingers trailed absent-mindedly down Oriel's arm. "That's good. Startin' early is always the best idea." His thumb circled around the man's wrist as he mentioned his worries. "You're gonna rock it," Phoenix said with confidence. "You've been studyin' so much these days, I don't know how you couldn't ace it. Besides, it's somethin' you enjoy, and not like... Math or something." His brow furrowed curiously. "Wait, you don't have t'take math, do you?"

He pondered this for only a second until Oriel's hands wrapped around his, and Phoenix focused back on the present. He nodded somberly at the man's words; he understood. "Well.... If nothin' else, that would just encourage us t'get a place of our own even sooner," he murmured, heart fluttering. They'd talked about moving in together in a place of their own, but it seemed like... A fantasy, that they could be that independent and happy. "Okay!" he said enthusiastically, bouncing up to his feet with a brief moment of the same excitable energy he'd had as a teenager. "I'll grab my jacket and my shoes." And with that, Phoenix hurriedly shuffled away to get his things; he was ready in less than two minutes. "Ready when you are," he chirped, hovering near the front door.

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Hunnybear?

Oriel raised an eyebrow at the nickname. So of course, Oriel understood that Phoenix was probably just trying things out to see what fit….but he wondered just how many he was going to try out before he gave up. Then again, Oriel also wondered how many he should let Phoenix get through before he finally revealed the one they used to use.

But what if Phoenix didn’t like it? What if….well, if he found another one he liked, the Oriel figured he may as well let him use it. Oriel’d let him have his fun a while longer.

Oriel snorted at Phoenix’s “encouragement”. Phoenix really didn’t remember how much trouble Oriel had before. “I guess we’ll just have to see.” If he ended up having the same problems as back then, then he might have to make special arrangements to take his written exams separate from the rest of the class. That’s what he did a lot in high school. It’s probably what saved him back then. It took a lot of pressure off him, of having to get through everything under a defined time limit when it usually took him longer than most to get through and understand a single question.

“Yeah,” he replied. Math was necessary for cooking. Extremely so. Oriel shrugged. “I’m not too worried about that, though. Math is easy.” It was just numbers, there were only ten of them, and the rules were straightforward. At least, that’s how Oriel saw it. Not like English, where there were 26 letters, a million punctuations, and a billion rules where at least half of them contradicted themselves.

Oriel smiled again. He really was doing it a lot easier these days. He blamed Phoenix completely. “Yeah…I’d like that.” They could move out and get their own place soon, right? “Right,” he said as he got himself up from the table, watching as Phoenix ran off like a kid to go get ready. Oriel grabbed his own shoes next to the couch and slipped into them. “Right, let’s go,” he declared as soon as he stood up. Phoenix was already ready by that point. Oriel snagged the Korean man’s hand and led him out, stopping briefly to lock the door behind them. “So what’s this kitten look like?” he asked.

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“Mmm…” Phoenix hummed, still tracing his finger along Oriel’s arm. It lingered over the promise tattoo etched on the bottom. “How about we do somethin’ nice the evenin’ after your midterm?” he suggested with a shrug. “Like… I dunno, go to a movie or out t’dinner or somethin’.” So then Oriel could look forward to the day too. “Or whatever you’d like. You wouldn’t even have t’drag me along if you didn’t want to,” he added with a faint smile. Phoenix knew he was probably a burden all the time.

“… Oh,” he mumbled, feeling dumb. Phoenix looked at the floor, blushing. “I… I can hardly even do basic math. Me and numbers don’t really get along well.” They got all jumbled up in his head when he tried; he couldn’t remember if he was that bad at it before his accident or not. Then again, he wasn’t much good at writing or science either. The only thing he seemed to be decent at was drawing.

It was really nice to see Oriel smiling so much more now, especially since Phoenix seemed to be the one to often trigger them. “I would too,” he said softly, lacing his fingers with Oriel’s briefly. “Maybe somewhere near Tak so we can be there when….” When she gives birth to your child, he finished in his head, feeling a slight pang of jealousy that he quickly squished. “Okay,” he agreed, giggling like a teenage girl as Oriel snagged his hand and led him outside. It was easy to tell it was spring, with everything starting to bloom. Phoenix took a deep breath of crisp, clean air and smiled up as Oriel spoke. “He’s a calico with bright blue eyes,” he replied, picturing the kitten in his head. “He’s spunky, and has a bit of an attitude, but he’s adorable.” Phen had gotten his fair share of injuries at the cat place. “Come on, this way,” he said, tugging Oriel along the road towards the animal shelter like he didn’t know where it was. Phoenix couldn’t stop smiling. “Just you wait, you’re gonna wanna keep all of them,” he teased quietly, squeezing Oriel’s hand. “I never shoulda got a job there. I wanna keep them all for myself.”

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Oriel furrowed his eyebrow in some confusion. “Why wouldn’t I want to bring you along?” he asked sincerely. It just seemed expected by now that Oriel would pretty much go anywhere special with his special person, but just because it was expected, didn’t mean it was an obligation. No, it was expected because he thought it was obvious that he wanted Phoenix there. “Didn’t I say I want you by my side?” Oriel gripped Phoenix’s hand, taking it between both of his. He lowered his eyes…then pulled them back up to meet with his lover’s. “I don’t want to lose you again.” And Oriel might do anything to keep that from happening.

Oriel shook his head. “It’s okay. You have other things you’re good at.” Like drawing. And being an absolutely wonderful person. Oriel had always thought that Phoenix was a far better person than he was, and being around him, in turn, made Oriel strive to be a better person. That was another thing that hadn’t changed in their relationship.

Oriel’s smile only grew to hear Phoenix suggest such a thing, oblivious to the other man’s insecurities about the situation they’d arranged with Tak. To be honest, Oriel was more excited about it than he thought he’d be when they started this whole thing. And what made it more exciting was that Phoenix was going to be a part of it. He wanted the kid to have the both of them as a father. How lucky he was…or she…

The air outside was still chilled somewhat, though Oriel had never been bothered to much by the cold. In weather like this, however, Phoenix still needed to bundle up a little just to keep himself warm. But even so, Phoenix seemed far too excited to be letting that bother him and keep him from pulling Oriel towards the animal shelter where he worked. Oriel snickered as they moved down the street. “I have no doubt,” he replied. “I kept you, didn’t I?” He gave Phoenix’s hand a squeeze to show he was joking.

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Phoenix blushed and stared at the ground, shrugging meekly at the question. "I... I dunno..." he mumbled. "I guess some days I have a hard time believin' this is real. That... That I'm gonna wake up and be back in the facility again and nothin' will have changed." It was a concern he didn't voice too often, but it was there nonetheless. He shyly met Oriel's eyes, watching as the younger man took his hand as his heart fluttered in his chest. "You did..." he murmured, taking a long, deep breath as a tentative smile passed over his lips again. "And... I'm not goin' anywhere, as long as you want me." He sometimes still couldn't grasp that he was loved by someone. He felt so unlovable at times. But apparently there was something there that Oriel liked.

His smile widened a little, and he leaned in to peck Oriel on the cheek, just below his ear. "What'm I good at?" Phoenix asked, a tad slyly. He wouldn't mind hearing what Oriel thought about him that was positive; he could always use a confidence boost.

Tak's place was actually between Oriel's mother's house and Phoenix's workplace, so Phoenix almost suggested they stop by for a quick visit... But he was really eager to show Oriel the kittens. Then again, Tak was looking awfully cute herself these days with her tummy getting all big and round with Oriel's child... Phoenix was smiling to himself without even realizing it, a sort of dopey look that he wouldn't have expected to come from him, given he was still jealous over the fact that Tak could provide Oriel with something he couldn't.

As long as Phoenix kept moving around like a kid on too much sugar, he shouldn't get too cold... Although after he stopped being quite so excitable, he gingerly nuzzled himself under Oriel's arm for extra warmth. He gasped and pouted when Oriel spoke. "I guess I kinda was like a stray you just picked up on the street, huh?" he asked, the lightness in his voice indicating that he was in on the joke. Phoenix chuckled and buried himself further into Oriel's side. "Mew," he giggled. "Shoulda got me a collar." Phen was oblivious to the sort of thing that might bring to Oriel's mind. Whoops. They passed by the blocks, Phoenix still guiding the way towards the shelter from his place tucked into Oriel's arm.

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Oriel squeezed his hands over Phoenix’s, drifting his eyes downward to follow the striations in the woodwork of the table. “You’re not the only one.” Oriel had the same fears, only the place he woke up was between two cold, concrete walls with the weight of one other person resting on the bunk above his. A person that changed out often enough. The only thing good about that place had been the food and the fact that there was always something to do. And if you couldn’t find one, then they’d give you something. Oriel didn’t like the person he’d become while locked away, no matter how necessary it was for him to stay sane. And here Phoenix was, all over again, bringing him out of that darkness by simply…being.

He closed his eyes as Phoenix tapped Oriel’s cheek with those full lips of his. “Well…” Putting it into words always seemed to be the hard part. He wasn’t good at it as a boy, and he still wasn’t good at it now. “Youu….you can draw.” That one was obvious. “And…you…make people smile, just by being you.” Did that count? “You’re…you’re always doing whatever you can to please others…even though you don’t have to.” The next one was an obvious one. Oriel leaned in and returned the kiss on Phoenix’s cheek. “You’re an excellent lover.”

“You’re kind…energetic…silly, childish. You’re always looking forward the next day, the next hour, hell, even the next minute.” Now the praise might be getting excessive. “You…you always bring out the best in other people…you make me, no…you inspire me into trying to be a better person.” Oriel offered a quick smile before turning away, embarrassed that he’d managed to say so much.

What did it matter? It was all true.

Oriel thought about that himself, about stopping by Tak’s place for a visit. But this errand was for the two of them and the two of them alone. He didn’t want anything to interrupt that. And if they really wanted to, they could just stop by on the way back. After the two men had spent their time together.

“Yeah,” he said with a gentle smile. “And I’d do it again in a heartbeat.” Oriel shook his head at the collar comment, deciding not to address it. Oriel didn’t do a lot of that stuff anymore, not in the bedroom. Phoenix seemed so happy like this. He didn’t want to say anything that might potentially scare him away. That was the other fear Oriel had. That when Phoenix finally remembered, if he ever remembered Oriel, that he’d be scared away by some of the things they used to do. Oriel was…a frightening person as a boy. He…wasn’t that person anymore either.

Oriel continued to walk with Phoenix on his arm, not even realizing that he’d fallen silent after that last remark.

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Phoenix's cheeks gradually grew hotter as Oriel laid on the compliments; he wasn't used to such praise, especially so much of it, and he almost felt guilty for asking about it now. "I didn't know that I make people smile," he murmured, thinking he would be self-conscious about that now. It was a good thing, though, right? When Oriel spoke about his, uhm, loving skills, Phoenix's face turned beet red and he hid his face, letting out an embarrassed mewl. "I don't know about thaaaat," he squeaked. Phen still felt incredibly inexperienced in that department. "I don't know what I'm doin' half the time..." Usually he just went on instinct.

He kept his face hidden as Oriel continued on, only daring to peek out when he'd finished talking. "That... That was really sweet," he mumbled, his eyes damp with emotion. "I don't.... I dunno how you manage t'see that much in me..." As far as Phoenix was concerned, he was still just a pathetic amnesiac who stumbled over his own two feet multiple times a day. "Thank you...." A small tear managed to slip past his waterline and slide down his face, which he wiped away with an embarrassed snort. "I'm good at bein' emotional too," he mumbled.

Phoenix smiled and gave a little 'hee' at Oriel's response, wrapping his arm around the younger man's waist and nuzzling his face into his chest. Of course, since he wasn't paying attention where he was going (he really should have known better), Phen managed to trip over his shoe and half-stumbled as they walked. It was only his grip around Oriel's solid figure that kept him from faceplanting. "... I should pay attention t'where I'm goin'," he mumbled, shooting his lover an embarrassed look. Still, he kept close to Oriel, just making sure to take better care of where he was putting his feet.

After a while longer, they reached the block that the sanctuary was on. Phoenix picked up the pace and eagerly tugged Oriel towards it like the five-year-old he really was. When they went inside, he greeted the person behind the front desk with familiarity and smiled fondly up at his companion. "This's Oriel, my..." Phoenix fell into a flustered silence, uncertain if the term 'boyfriend' was the best word.

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Everything Oriel said was true, at least in Oriel’s eyes. Though he could understand how it was hard to see those kind of things by oneself. Oriel thought he didn’t have any redeemable qualities himself, but common sense said that Phoenix saw something worth staying for. All those things Oriel just listed were only a few of the reasons why Oriel wanted Phoenix to stay with him, though if he went any further with the praise, he was bound to start moving into obscenely doting territory, where almost none of what he was saying made sense. Some of it still didn’t, it seemed.

Oriel shrugged. “I’ve known you a long time. That’s all what drew me to you in the first place.” Phoenix was always trying to do his best, even if he didn’t believe so. And Oriel always admired that. “Heh…yeah, you’re good at that too,” Oriel agreed, reaching over and giving Phoenix’s cheek a gentle poke. “Then again, so am I,” he muttered to himself, remembering how worked up he used to get over such small things.

“Pfft…” Oriel held back a laugh, wiggling his lips into an unsteady smile as he tried to keep himself from bursting. “Maybe…if you just stay close to me, though, I’ll be there to carry you when you need it.” Oriel ruffled Phoenix’s hair. “On my back even, if you want.” Oriel’d do it forever if he had to.

Oriel hadn’t really been to the sanctuary before, not as a kid nor as an adult. If Phoenix hadn’t worked there, then Oriel would never had stepped foot in it ever. He gave a gruff nod to the attendant, presumably Phoenix’s coworker. “Soul mate,” he finished Phoenix’s sentence without hesitation, curling his arm around the shorter man’s shoulder and pulling him in for a side hug so there would be no confusion as to what they were to each other. “Or partner, if you want to make it less cheesy.” Either was true at this point.