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i'm on myway

[ And it isn't long before he's there with a duffle bag and looking for Eliot.

Hoping that he doesn't notice Caleb's wrinkled clothes, the dark circles under his eyes and how absolutely high strung he looks as if he's been wound up way too tight. ]

Eliot!

[When Caleb finds him, El is leaned up against a building. He looks more or less how he did the last time Caleb saw him. But there's a tightness around his eyes that gives away a headache, and he looks confused, and a little diminished, mostly because he's currently dressed in a flimsy paper gown that only just covers the essentials. He looks up when Caleb calls him and smiles in relief.]

Hey ... I'd say I'm glad to see you, but that's a wild understatement.

[ There is no hesitation. Caleb launches himself at Eliot, wrapping his arms around his neck and clinging to him as if he's afraid he's not real. Not caring that the bag slaps against him, or that he's acting like an idiot.

Eliot is okay and that's what matters. ]

I was so scared you weren't coming back.

[Eliot is a shade slow to catch him in his arms, the headache currently beating its way through his skull making his reflexes shit. But he still wraps his arms tight around Caleb in return.]

Back from where, exactly? Last I remember I was about to leave the theater for the night and then I was stumbling out of the Orientation Center with my ass hanging out and no idea how I got there.

[ Eliot's words bring on the worst sensation, a pain that he has no words for. He draws back, staring at Eliot with tears tracing down his cheeks. There's so much there, emotions he has no idea how to put into words.

The same with the truth that he realizes he has to tell Eliot, and he should hear it from Caleb. ]

You texted me that night saying you were on your way home. You... You never made it. Someone from the city told me that you... you were killed, Eliot. That was three nights ago.

[Eliot's hand comes up, thumb brushing away a tear, and he frowns at Caleb explains.

He remembers the theater, grabbing his stuff to go, and then ...

He tries to remember past that and his head just blossoms with pain again, tendrils of a headache lancing behind his eyes and down his neck along with in his damn brain. Eliot sucks in a pained breath, pressing a hand to his eyes.]

I don't remember. Or can't remember, more likely, since my head is splitting open when I try. Who killed me? Why? Are you all right? Quentin? Margo, Francis?

Edited 2021-04-05 01:32 (UTC)

[ He's clinging to Eliot and he knows it and he knows it's not what he needs right now. Except he's become so close to Eliot and he doesn't want to let him go. He needs him here.

Only holding tighter when he draws that breath. ]

Don't think about it. Please. Don't hurt yourself.

[ Of course this place has done this to him. ]

I don't know. The city sent someone to tell us and that was all we were told. There's been other deaths too. A guy I met found a body.

[ Which doesn't help. Not in the least. ]

I'm fine. Quentin... he's not handled it well. He's wasted best I know. Margo is swearing revenge and I don't know where Francis is. I've just been trying to hold everything together because everyone swore you'd be back.

[ The words are rushed, cracking and he's just so desperately holding tight to Eliot. ]

[Eliot holds tight to him and huffs a pained little laugh.] Try not to think about pink elephants.

[It's impossible not to think about when someone he trusts and loves says he's been dead - all he can do is try to figure out HOW and WHY, and then want to drive an ice pick through his skull.]

So maybe just wrong place, wrong time? I hate that more. If I'm going to die I need it to be a vendetta and something elaborate and dramatic.

[Eliot bends his head over Caleb and kisses his forehead. He takes a deep breath, trying to think through the pain in his head.] Okay. Okay. Let me get dressed, and then help me back to the apartment, and if I can still see when I get there, we'll go from there, okay?

[ That only makes Caleb hold him tighter. A little over three months ago and he would have been determined to never end up in this place again but he knows he cares about Eliot so dearly and just knowing he's been through death hurts.

Even if he's realizing that Eliot doesn't remember how he died and Caleb is thankful for that. ]

I guess? I don't know. Another guy I've met found a body too. But those assholes who killed people before made a lame ass post about how it wasn't them but just seemed like they were bragging.

[And it had taken everything in him not to hurt them because he was hurting.

Caleb nods at that though, drawing a shaky breath and stepping back so that Eliot can work on getting dressed. ]

Whatever you need. I'm here for you. You should text Quentin, or plan to see him. He hasn't been handling this well.

[Eliot just leans into him, mostly letting Caleb and the wall prop him up and trying to NOT think with ... limited success.]

Unless the city wants to suddenly get free with access to its security footage, we might not know for sure anytime soon. We'll have to rely on my brain eventually getting more cooperative.

[Eliot draws a shaky breath and then straightens up, taking the clothes as Caleb hands them to him and pulling them on, hands a little shaky as he gets dressed.]

Lets get back and then I'll text him and Francis and Margo before I pass out.

[ Caleb has worked hard to be strong, and he's tried to be the one to hold others together. He worked so hard to be the man others needed but just because everyone said Eliot would be back doesn't mean he had been sure. And missing him hard hurt more than he could find words for. Even if he had opened up to anyone.

Which he hadn't. He had just stayed strong. And now he draws back to keep being as strong as he needs him to be. ]

You... will you stay with me tonight.

[ Even if he's sure, with that question, he's failing. ]

[Eliot is visibly a bit unsteady as he pulls on clothes, but he manages with a little help from Caleb and the nice, sturdy wall.

When he's dressed he balls up the hospital gown and throws it in the nearest dumpster, then gives Caleb a thin smile.]

Let's go, handsome.

[His head tilts a little and he reaches up to brush shaky fingers over Caleb's cheek.] Of course. We live together, for one, and for another I don't really want to be alone either.

[ Caleb stays close, hovering, watching Eliot and trying not to just reach out and steady him but staying close enough he could.

The moment he's dressed and ready, he's right there, leaning into him and that touch. He catches his shirt with shaky fingers. ]

I'm just glad. I've just been holding things together but... it scared me.

[ It's a reminder how easily he can lose the people he loves here and it hurts. ]

[Eliot blows out a relieved breath when he's dressed like a human again, and lets Caleb half prop him up, but curls an arm around him too, since he sees the shaky fingers, hears it in his voice.]

I'm sorry. But you're here, and I'm here, and we're okay. We can just stumble our way back to the Up and collapse and figure out what happened as much as we can later. Okay? Once we get there, you don't have to hold anything together.

[ He pushes in against Eliot thankfully, glad to have him there and close. He rests his head against Eliot's shoulder for a moment before straightening, nodding at that. ]

Sounds good. Just... don't go and die again. Okay? It's a rule.

[ And he kind of means it, though he knows that it's not something that he can truly makes happen. ]

[Eliot runs fingers through his hair tiredly and then kisses the top of his hair. He smiles ruefully.]

I promise to do my utmost not to. It's really not on my to-do list. But if I do, you get to decide my punishment.

[Eliot goes quiet then, focusing on just making his way home with Caleb and letting Caleb help him.]

[ He's walking carefully, keeping Eliot close as he uses his magic and his strength to keep him upright and keep them moving. Going slow and steady, just needing to do all he can to take care of his dominant. But more than that, his friend. ]

You just want me to punish you. Admit it.

[ Because it sounds like them, their teasing and their jokes. ]

[Eliot huffs a laugh, wincing slightly as he does.]

Maybe save it for when I can enjoy it. But then - absolutely, anytime you want, gorgeous.

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