Sketching Blue (Cobalt)

[Cobalt Weaver]

Cobalt shook his head, “No, you didn’t miss anything.” He smiled at his friend, silently thanking him for understanding and being there and knowing and caring. For being the best part of Cobalt’s life. For being safe. Always safe.

Cobalt laughed shakily, “I don’t know if it’s a good idea. Can you imagine how expensive it would be?” He grinned, “You would think crying is sweet.” Honestly, that was probably eventually in his future. He cried when he finally realized that he was never going to see Danny again, so he would naturally cry when he finally realized that Danny was back. “But, feelings or something: I am so glad you’re back.” He leaned back in his chair and grinned absently, “Feels like I can start breathing right again.” He didn’t quite realize how much he’d been carrying around with him until Danny finally came back and took it all away.

“Danny,” Cobalt shook his head slightly, “You were the only person who wanted to associate with me in that entire place. You were—you are—the kindest person I know. So shut up with all this repaying crap. You don’t owe me anything. And for the sake of argument, let’s just say that it’s all even.” Cobalt didn’t think it was even for a moment, but this was a silly thing to argue.

Cobalt snorted when Danny tried to wheedle him into eating something larger, “What are you? My mother? I’m not hungry. I’m only eating a half a sandwich because I know I should. But I’m really not hungry.” He kicked Danny’s chair slightly, “Worry about your own eating.”

[Danny Silverman]

“Okay.” Danny smiled back at him. He might have gotten the silent thanks, he might not have. But he certainly seemed to understand the other man and accept what he’d said. And that…that would have to do for now. It always had before.

“I never thought about that.” Danny became a little more subdued at this. “I guess it would be expensive, wouldn’t it? Oops. The things you don’t imagine when you’re a little kid. Like money.” He wrinkled his nose at Cobalt’s statement, then grinned. “Of course I would! And feelings are good, no matter what you say. You just have to learn to express them, that’s all.” But he was just teasing. “I’m glad to be back.”

Danny also blushed at Cobalt’s statement, and nodded. “I don’t know if I’ll ever believe you,” he confessed quietly, “but I’ll do my best, I guess. I just…I don’t know. I still feel bad that I lost your address in the first place. I never wanted to lose you at all.” And he ducked his head, embarrassed and depressed.

“And no, I’m not your mother!” He drew himself up to look at Cobalt sternly, well, as sternly as he could with his glasses slipping down his nose. He pushed them up and tried again. “I’m your oldest friend! I think that counts for something. Besides, do I look like I need more food?” He patted his stomach although, to be fair, he was more toward the stocky range of things than actually round. “But you still need to eat more."

[Cobalt Weaver]

Cobalt smiled, “Yeah. You never think much about money when you’re a kid, huh?” He had had to, however, once he got to Hammel. Because it had rankled, getting allowances from the place he didn’t want to be in. And Cobalt had always been a particularly proud child, so he had been very careful with his money, rarely spending any of it and getting odd jobs as soon as he was allowed. Looking back, Cobalt could admit that he made things harder for himself than was probably necessary.

He almost spat out his water laughing when Danny reprimanded him about his feelings, “Oh listen to you. You’re the one that throws feelings around everywhere. And I don’t see what that ever got you.” Teasing, of course, but there was a measure of concern that Cobalt always felt around people like Danny, or Riley. He didn’t see how people like them could survive out in the world, with their hearts worn carelessly on their sleeves. “Me too.”

Cobalt shook his head, reaching over to grasp Danny’s forearm, “It’s not your fault. It was never your fault, it just happened.” He shrugged, “I didn’t want to lose you either. But it happened. I’m just glad it got fixed.” He eyed Danny nervously, not liking the look on his face, but not knowing how to fix it. This happened when they were children as well; Danny always seemed to know how to make Cobalt feel better, but Cobalt never seemed to know how to return the favor. “Don’t…um. Don’t let it eat at you,” He stammered, looking at him earnestly, “It’s okay.”

Cobalt barked out a laugh, “Then don’t act like my mother, sheesh.” He grinned teasingly, “Whatever, I survived this far, Silverman. Don’t push it.” He could understand Danny’s point, though. Danny was always healthier looking than he was, and Cobalt was still borderline sickly thin, despite being relatively healthy. “I’ll eat at dinner or something.” Which was a lie, he was rarely hungry at dinner, but sometimes it occurred to him to eat.

[Danny Silverman]

“Of course you don’t.” Danny laughed. “Money is something you have to worry about when you’re an adult and only when you’re an adult. I think it’s one of the things that keep you sane.” Or that’s how he had always viewed it. Actually, until he’d gotten adopted, he’d never had any money, and he’d always been pretty aware of that. Children who had money had better clothes, better models, and got sweets more. But maybe it was better that he didn’t, if you thought about it that way. He was probably thinner because of it.

“Throws feelings around?” He laughed too, leaning against Cobalt as he did. “Aw, c’mon! I don’t do that. I just like to smile from time to time. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that.” He tried to look serious, he really did. But he didn’t manage, and a grin appeared on his lips again. “I’m just teasing, Cobalt. I think you do okay, really.”

Danny never understood why Cobalt didn’t think he could comfort people. He just didn’t have enough confidence in himself. Now Danny was pretty sure that no matter what Cobalt said, he wouldn’t ever quite forgive himself for losing the address. But if Cobalt said that it was all right, then he was going to try not to let it bother him. So he smiled at Cobalt and nudged up his glasses.

“If you say so,” he said, then smiled, just a bit. “But I like acting like your mother. And I don’t believe that you’ll eat at dinner. Maybe you should come over one time with Riley and Griff and we’ll make you some food!” He looked like he liked the idea a lot. Perhaps more than he should have. “What do you think? A good meal. I won’t even make you eat lunch before so you’ll have that much food to eat after! I like it.”

Plus, it would introduce Cobalt to the two men that he kind of sort of…hem.

[Cobalt Weaver]

Cobalt huffed out a laugh, “I guess so, huh?” He shook his head, “Thing used to be so much simpler, didn’t they?” The shadow manipulator grinned wryly, “Even the hard stuff probably wasn’t as hard as we made it.” And Cobalt was practiced, even as a child, in making things harder for himself.

“You do so,” Cobalt protested with a grin, “You’re ridiculous about that. And you smile too much.” Which was not only teasing, but a blatant lie; Danny smiled exactly the right amount, and Cobalt was grateful for it. At Danny’s reassurance, Cobalt smiled, “Yeah, thanks. I try.”

Cobalt snorted, “You’re not my mom, Danny. I promise, I eat exactly the right amount. I just don’t get hungry all that often.” At Danny’s offer to join him and Riley and Griff for dinner, Cobalt automatically grimaced; he liked Riley and Danny, but Griff stressed him out. He was far too aggressively friendly. However, because this was Danny, Cobalt only said, “Sure. We’ll see how it goes.”

They talked more after, about day-to-day life and jobs and friends and family. And Cobalt did end up getting a full sandwich, just to make Danny be quiet and stop worrying.

[ooc: aaand wrapped <3]