and we are the dreamers of dreams

"sounds good to me," that outing would be a double-win for him: sweets were one thing, but any time with hero absolutely anywhere in the world was on a whole other level. "mmh, i don't know," a stream of nervous laughter escaped him. "i think i'm still too much of a baby to get a tattoo." though the more he spoke to her, the more the idea started appealing to him. that was maybe a recipe for disaster in the making, though. "but i do want to see that one. i don't know if i feel more sorry for you having to concentrate for that long on something like that, or her for having to sit for it for that long." jonah popped another jelly sweet into his mouth and blinking at her request, nodded. "course you can." he grinned. "it's no trouble, honestly. i like knowing you're home safe -- and you bring me sweets... that's like, the opposite of trouble."

jonah's laughter was so cute that it was all hero could do to keep from leaning across the table and kissing him then and there. "i promise, it's really not that bad. you're tough, i know you could handle it! but there's never any pressure. if you ever do decide to get in the chair, i hope you'd make it mine," she said with a bright smile. there was no doubt in her mind that he would be one of her favorite clients of all time. "you kinda get into the flow, you know? it's really helpful, 'cause then you don't realize how sore your neck is till later," she added with a laugh. there he went again, being so effortlessly sweet and charming. her lips puckered slightly before she realized and pressed them together. down, girl - don't scare the nice man. "maybe you could, y'know, stay there for a bit with me, too. if you'd like."

she grinned right back at him, eyes crinkling with mirth. god, he was so silly and she was so in love with him it made her silly. she wouldn't have it any other way. laughing freely, she tipped her head back and let it rest against the cupboards above as she watched him. both eyebrows raised. "i promise you i didn't know that," jas leant forward, crossing one leg over the other and placing her elbow atop, chin in her hand so that she could blink innocently up at her tall drink of water boyfriend. "awfully unprofessional of you, darling," she drawled. "but i suppose you're cute enough to get away with it," an exaggeratedly thoughtful hum given. "pretty much anything? like what, baby?"

"oh, sure you didn't," wes replied, momentarily hypnotized by the movements of jasmine's legs. their sex life was quite a healthy one, of course, but every single time she came home he felt like he'd just been rescued from ten years spent alone on a deserted island. he had always lived to make people laugh, the satisfaction from hearing titters and chuckles and full-on guffaws making him feel like he had a purpose in life, but jasmine's laugh in particular was absolute magic and he would never get enough. "how dare you imply i was ever trying to be professional," he said, resting his hand over hers. he bit his lip and let his gaze drop to her own mouth, then grinned and met her eyes again. "no, sorry, i can't do the sexy thing, 'cause you're just so bloody adorable as well as gorgeous. have i already told you that about eighteen times today?"

"i reckon i could make good money from them. you know you're ridiculously handsome, right? some modelling agency'd snap you right up." a soft smile blossomed across his lips as he watched fenn melt again under his touch, a distinct feeling of being at home and at peace settling in his own chest for the first time since they'd departed. it might've been a slightly crazy decision to hop on the nearest plane, but there was no doubt it was the right one. shaking his head at his own idiocy, malik kissed forrest's head again to reinstate the calm he'd just ruined whilst letting him work through the confusion. "yeah, just in about the most roundabout way ever," another kiss and he grinned. "sorry love. i probably should've saved this 'til you were more awake." he wouldn't have been able to hold out that long. a happy sigh. "good. great, then it's settled. soon as it's safe you'll come home with me. to our flat." brushed his hand lightly up and down forrest's side. "it'll be so nice having you there." it would make it feel properly like home, and not just somewhere he lived.

forrest rolled his eyes, but color momentarily returned to his pale face. "all right, romeo. i really only like you takin' my picture, y'know? never felt so looked-after with anyone else," he added more softly. and sure, he obviously wasn't just talking about being in front of a camera. he matched malik's grin, slowly raising one hand to trace a finger around his lips. "goddamn, you're cute," he observed. "and you're all mine." life was good, as far as forrest was concerned. sure, he was a little beaten up, but that was nothing kisses from the love of his life, time, and copious amounts of medication couldn't handle. "nooo, 's ok. i'm very excited even if it might not seem like it," he promised with a hazy smile. "we're gonna start a new life together, huh?"

evidently, it was still a little too early to try and slice the remaining tension with a jest. atticus looked a little... pathetic, looking up at james with that frown, and as wrong as it may have been, it didn't make him regret the attempt. "it doesn't matter," he urged, punctuating the brush-off with a quick kiss to the crease in atty's brow. "i will," he gave a firm nod to drive the point home. his mind had been entirely made up on the matter. with atticus in the state he was, he couldn't bring himself to care a jot at being found with him -- there was no other option but to see him put right. or as right as he could get him. "i don't care," james laughed a little as he said it, fingers still anchored on atticus' chin as he shrugged. "i can think only of you right now. i want to look after you." not least as he very clearly needed it. "you're all that matters, do you hear me? do you think you can walk? with my help?"

atticus' eyes fluttered shut, and he found himself leaning forward even as the too-brief kiss ended. he had lied about being with others, of course, yet even if he were presented the opportunity he knew that no one else's hands would ever feel as right as james'. were he not in immense pain he would have wondered if he was dreaming, the other man's touch as loving and gentle as he remembered. he wanted to close the short distance between them and press his lips to james', to kiss them both into flushing and breathless messes like he used to, but the fear of rejection gave him pause. the other's words were a balm to his wounded soul, and despite himself those battered and shredded hopes began to resurrect themselves. he nodded dumbly, too stunned to speak, but at last found his voice. "ye - yes, yes, i can walk. i - i believe i might need help standing, though, if you would - er - indulge me."

"oh, i know," she dragged the vowel out, nodding seriously. jas could probably count on both hands the new interests ( or the new knowledge, anyway ) she'd developed from her relationship with wes. she liked to think she'd given him some, too, though struggled to think of what. it was all extra, anyway. she'd have been content with 'just' him. "do you promise, my prince?" jasmine laughed, the sound renewed as she was transplanted onto the counter. she went to grab his chin to give him another kiss, but he'd moved away just too soon. instead, she planted both hands either side of herself and tilted her head to watch him again. him doing anything was definitely her favourite sight. "ooooh. i wanna try some of that sauce, so... that, mayo, turkey, cheddar cheese and tomatoes for me. what d'ya think, mr. chef?"

wes shot a goofy grin at jasmine over his shoulder. she knew him just as well as sam and jonah did, and had learned it all in a much shorter period of time. he'd learned all about her, too, of course, soaking in every bit of information about her like he was back in school - except he'd do well this time. "but of course, my heartstrings. hearing that gorgeous voice of yours over the radio always revs my engine, you know that," he said, tossing a wink in her direction as he pulled out ingredients. he nodded as she gave her order, placing each item on the countertop next to her. "i think that i am having some naughty thoughts about my customer," he reported. "and that i'd do pretty much anything to get a good review from her."

julian appeared to change his mind about whatever he was set to do with their hands, but teddy paid it little mind. he gave small squeeze, intending it to be reassuring. teddy moved to sit cross-legged on the floor, inching closer to jules' side. "i'd like to keep it," answered in defiance of the recommendation nothing on earth could persuade him to take. if he had been entrusted with it as jules said, he would remain its vigilant keeper. watching him settle back again, their hands in jules' lap, teddy emitted a wistful sigh. "i think you deserve that. to be happy." he was more than pleased to know jules seemed to think teddy could give him that -- but why, then, wouldn't he let him? it was all he wanted to do. "you wouldn't be an imposter. why would you feel that?" asked quietly, leaning to rest his cheek atop julian's nearest leg, facing outwards. "i think you are very harsh on yourself."

if jules did not require the chair to stay upright, he would have clambered onto the floor to sit with the other man. despite himself, a small smile crossed his face at teddy's emphatic response; it was so uncharacteristic of him, this soft, sweet man, but something about his resoluteness having to do with jules made the man in question fall even more in love. "as is your right," he murmured. he swallowed hard, jaw clenching. "you do," he replied, more a flat statement than a question. "you think that because you are a special person, one who sees goodness in everyone. i do not necessarily think myself a monster, but i might humbly suggest that perhaps your view of me is more rosy than reality." his heart clenched at teddy's sweet, trusting gesture, and before he could stop himself his free hand had found the other's curls. "i have already broken your heart once, shona. what gives you such faith that i will not do it again?" he closed his eyes and shook his head. "i think you are simply kinder to me than i deserve."

it was getting increasingly easier to ignore the reprimanding attempts atticus seemed intent on continuing the more the other wept and held on -- and james was quite sure atticus would absolutely hate it, but he needn't know. "i know, and i am sorry." just not enough to fulfil his request. instead, he continued his affectionate ministrations, holding the other as tight as he could while trying to avoid causing any more physical harm, intermittently kissing the top of his head. "no, no, atticus, that's not what i meant," extricating a hand, he pushed atticus' down to wipe the tears away with his own shirt sleeve. "i was thinking more of your pride," a gentle tease. "if... you want to go separately, we can do that, but i am more than happy to go with you now," touched atticus' chin gently. "i promise you i will come either way. the decision is yours. though if it sways anything, i would prefer to come with you. it will give me the chance to catch you if you fall."

atticus was surprised at how the apology softened his anger, his temper ebbing even more quickly than it already had been. he knew this man better than he knew himself, and it was clear that there was genuine remorse there. still, atticus meant what he said - a statement of regret did not do him much good when he fell asleep each night praying he would not wake. he looked at james in confusion, a frightened and wary animal fearful of traps, but the other's choice of word made him frown. "my pride," he repeated in a dull voice, as if the word were unfamiliar to him. still, the man he loved was acknowledging him, touching him, offering to stay with him - there were more important things on which to focus. "you would walk with me?" he posed the question carefully, mindful of a caveat. atticus sucked in a shuddering breath as james touched him, the feeling somehow alien and familiar all at once - christ, what he would give to be with this man again. "what if someone were to see us?"

he uttered a thoughtful hum, "yeah, maybe." a brief pause. "mostly though, i think i'll take pictures of you," malik already had a fair few photographs of forrest that weren't... explicitly military, but they had still been taken in that context and he didn't like to admit it, but it muddied them a little. "i think that can be arranged." he declared, settling at forrest's side as his arm was arranged appropriately. angling the other to rest above the other's head, he carded fingers through fenn's hair once more, in search of the same response. "yeah, yeah, you're right." turned to kiss his head. "listen, about a... trip overseas. to london. i was thinking... before all this happened, even, actually. well, i was wondering more than anything, i guess -- jesus, one sec," he emitted a bark of laughter. "i was wondering if you'd want to come live there, with me."

forrest laughed. "i don't think there's much money in that." still, malik was extraordinarily talented and fenn wasn't worried about the other man's career in the least. he deserved time to rest and heal before jumping into his next adventure. his eyelids insisted on closing again as ali's hand found his hair, and he brushed a few languid kisses to the other's shoulder. blinking his heavy eyes open as malik seemed to get worked up about something, concern warred with confusion through the haze. he registered that malik seemed to have voiced his thoughts, and fenn mentally rewound to find out what he had said - or maybe asked? "wait," fenn said, furrowing his brow to put the pieces of this mystery together. "you're askin' me to come live with you in london? 'cause if that's what you're askin', then the answer is hell yeah. i hope that's what you're askin', 'cause i'll be real sad if it's not."

for once, he found himself practically believing her without question. helped along by the sense he'd had that he was always meant to be a father. it was scary, yes, but he'd wanted it his entire life. "we do," sam agreed warmly, gaze flickering between the top of evie's head as she kissed, then rested against him and the picture. ideally, they'd spend the rest of the day like that. "mmh. i'm gonna be no help whatsoever," a playful shake of his head punctuated by laughter. "don't ask me to do any reigning in, it'll be completely pointless. actually. is it... too early to start getting a room ready?"

"i knew it," evelyn said with a laugh. sam spoiled her, there was no getting around it - and she adored him for it, among many other reasons. "all i bought so far was the onesie. i wanted to do most of it with you," she explained. she perked up at what he mentioned, a fresh wave of excitement rushing over her. "no, not at all! we can repaint - oooh, maybe wes would do a mural! and we'll have to get a crib, a changing table, a comfy chair for us to sit on while we're in there with her - no, love, i think we're better off starting right away. this is going to be so much fun," she enthused, delighted by the prospect of one of her favorite activities with her absolute favorite person.

he chuckled to himself, wondering if it was possible to get high off forrest's reaction to the simple touch and continuing to test the hypothesis. "i know what you meant," a slight nod and he chuckled again. "none taken, love. that's partly why i left, hmm? could've stayed longer, but... wanted to look down at lens at something nice for a change." and it didn't get much nicer than forrest. "you do?" bit momentarily on his lip, stroking bits of fenn's hair away from his face. managing to hold back posing the question a little longer, he watched forrest intently for a moment, the argument back and forth occurring in his mind despite the other's assurances. after a long silence, he gave in, pushing the chair back again to stand up. "okay," he breathed. "please tell me if it hurts, though." needing no further encouragement, he made his way carefully to lie on his side next to forrest, an elbow on the pillow and head propped up by his hand. "can i put my arm underneath your back or somewhere? where's best?" the urge to frankly crush forrest to his chest and never let go was ever-present, but he was far too scared to give in to it.

"maybe you could become a wildlife photographer or somethin'," forrest mused. "but nothin' dangerous - just, like, birds. yeah, i think you'd take real nice pictures of birds," he said with an earnest nod, warming to the idea of malik having such a safe job. "'course i do. only left georgia to get sent to the front lines, didn't i? i think i'd prefer my next trip overseas to have a little less gunfire and a lot more you." he grinned as his boyfriend gave in and settled next to him, kissing wherever he could reach. "i will, promise. but i think 'round my front would be better," he said, reaching to position ali's arm around his waist. "yeah, that's good," he sighed, relaxing further against the bed and the man next to him. "see, ali, now we all feel better."

an outsider looking in might not believe it, but laurie had already calmed down considerably in the matter of excess. sure, his standards were still far higher than most, but will's placidity had had some effect. or at least some of his attention had turned to using his powers on will rather than solely on himself. either way, he was much changed -- and for the better. "and you're welcome for that," he smiled into the kiss, resisting the urge to pout as they broke apart, only to immediately give in when will rightly accused him of being grumpy. he might've just said it himself, but that wasn't the same. in a childish display, he crossed his arms over his chest and frowned. "i'm a delight." it was certainly advantageous that he managed to make someone with the patience of a saint fall in love with him. "i will not," he smiled, carding his fingers through dark curls at will's temples instead. "well, something has to balance out your saccharine niceness." he laughed. "i think it says that i can forgive anything for a pretty face," teasing, he kissed the tip of will's nose. "you are very pretty, my love," emitted a satisfied hum.

will repressed a grin as he stood and rounded the counter to slip his arms around laurie's waist. "you are," he agreed, pressing a few quelling kisses to his husband's temple and cheekbone. laurie's ego was a delicate thing, but thankfully it often seemed to be soothed just as easily as it was wounded. "you're a fantastic cat dad and a wonderful husband who does what i ask with only minimal to moderate histrionics." he smiled as laurie combed his fingers through his hair, one of his absolute favorite displays of affection. "mm, i know how you like pretty things, darling, but i would hope that you married me for reasons other than my apparent attractiveness."

he rolled his eyes, puffing air in response to the compliment. it was nice to hear it from forrest again -- the only person's opinion who really mattered. "so are you," returned without hesitation, returning to his tracing along the other's hairline, fingers dipping into his hair and occasionally scratching his scalp delicately. "i think it goes without saying that there's gonna be so many pictures." mostly of forrest, he thought, but didn't say. he paused his assault of affection to admire the effect it had, only to be drawn back into it by the flush dusting his partner's cheeks and planting two more on each. "georgia?" he frowned. oh. right. he hadn't revealed his plan yet. "mmh, yeah. it does." he nodded and tapped forrest's nose. "not as far as... say... london, though, huh?" malik was fully aware his being more explicit would probably benefit the moment -- fenn was still clearly foggy because of the drugs -- but there was something quite thrilling about waiting to see if just bringing it up provoked any response. "i don't want to hurt you, jaani." it was an absolutely terrifying prospect.

forrest grinned at malik's reaction to his admiration and the reciprocation of it, but when the other touched his hair he was gone. "mm-hmmmm," he said, eyes practically rolling back into his head. "pictures of - of you 'n me. i want nice pictures of us, ali - nothin' blown up in the background. no offense to you and your work," he added, hoping he wasn't spouting anything too impolite. "yep - got sent half a world away and i ended up right back where i started," he reflected with a sigh. "mmm, always wanted to go to london. wanna go even more now that i know it's where you live." he frowned as malik voiced his fear, hoping to quell it immediately - and, yes, to get what he wanted. "you won't," he promised. "baby, i'm on so many drugs right now, i don't think i'd feel it if i jabbed a pen into my leg. and you're so gentle - please?"

he didn't need to use his imagination to work out where the sentence was headed. the thought had crossed his mind the moment he'd seen atticus, bloodied and bruised as he was. he'd hoped it was his own mind catastrophising, but that clearly wasn't the case. james held him a little tighter, about as desperately as atticus was clinging to him. pressing his face into atty's matted hair, he shushed gently. "i can't," he choked out after a moment, "i can't. it's not true," he couldn't let himself lie like that -- partly on that basis alone, it was a terrible lie to tell when atticus owned his heart and forever would, but the knowledge that doing so would be taken as... permission of sorts, he would not do it. "i know. i know you are," murmured, rubbing soothing circles across the expanse of the other's back. "i'm so sorry, atticus." kissed the top of his head, unable to stop himself and closed his other hand over the one gripping his shirt. "let me take you to bed. i will help you up and to your room. we can... we can talk more, then. or i can go. i will let you decide. but we shouldn't stay here, alright?"

atticus continued to weep against james' chest, his last remaining shred of dignity be damned. "then lie," he choked out. "i do not care. this is far too cruel a manner in which to treat someone you purport to love." despite the admonishment he clung to the man, terrified that at any moment someone would come this way and james would immediately let go. he felt utterly pathetic in that moment, reaching a new low in what he had previously thought was rock bottom, yet he could not deny that james' touch was ever so slightly soothing him. he nodded at the offer, yet the desperate, manic energy bled out of him at what james said last. he reluctantly pulled away, still crying but no longer sobbing. "you're right. someone could see you with me, and -" he closed his eyes and shook his head before reaching up to wipe a sleeve over his tear-stained face. much as he might selfishly wish for james to be knocked down to his level so that they could be together, it could impact not just him but his entire family. "perhaps we should go separately. but - but you would come, yes?"

"i do," confirmed keenly and before julian could even finish his own sentence. he could have written meaningless nonsense and teddy would be just as enthused by the prospect of reading it, though he was sure the likelihood of that was... well, not even slim, but non-existent. if the scene had been any less emotionally charged, he might've been tempted to ask there and then. the idle tracing continued for a long moment, accompanied by quiet and intermittent humming. despite his general... aversion to physical touch, he found himself wanting more, now that julian was before him, closer than they had been since their night together. it would probably be too much, too soon, to voice that. selfishly, though, he wanted to. as if answering his prayers ( or responding directly to his thoughts, he did get the sense that the other had that ability ) jules rested his hand atop teddy's and he smiled warmly. a disapproving frown accompanied the smile, but he waited for jules to finish before speaking. "i don't want anyone else's love," turned his hand to hold julian's gently, gaze dropping to look at them. "i won't look for any of that elsewhere when i know i have the perfect source right in front of me, right now." a pause. "do you not think you could be happy with me?"

god help him, julian malik would do anything for that smile. but that was the rub, was it not? teddy had asked for so little, and jules could not even provide him with those meager scraps. how was he to prove to either of them that he had changed? his shaking hand steadied as teddy held it, and he brought the other man's to his lips to press a reverent kiss to it before he thought better of it. "well, you have mine forever," jules said hoarsely. "what you choose to do with it is up to you, of course, though i cannot recommend discarding it strongly enough." he set their entwined hands back down on his lap, sighing heavily and leaning his head back against the chair. "i think i would be happy for the first time in my life," he admitted. "and i would feel like an imposter for the rest of my life."

"exactly that," he nodded. it would be their mantra for however long it took for forrest to get back to his usual self, and probably beyond that. he could believe it already: with the first two parts satisfied, the latter would surely fall into place. the kiss to his temple received an appreciative hum. "oh," somehow, malik had managed to completely forget the bleached look he was sporting. he laughed lightly, running his fingers through his hair to make it stand up. "thanks. told meera i felt like a change -- it was her idea, and then she ended up doing it too." she'd done a bang up job, as far as he could tell. "you don't have to thank me for that. no way i wasn't coming." captured him in another, quicker kiss. "i'd follow you to the ends of the earth, no questions asked, you know that?" kissed his forehead again, then planted one on both cheeks and finally to the tip of forrest's nose. "i want to hold you so badly."

forrest grinned, grateful that malik seemed to have sensed his need to touch the new hair and performed the gesture on his behalf. "yeah, she did a helluva job. but you're gorgeous no matter what, ali. i want some pictures of you, 'n us, now that we can be normal." something in him uncoiled at his own word, a bit of the weight that had settled there ever since he'd enlisted slowly easing. he had a feeling that it would be like that every day with malik - slowly but surely healing, both physically and mentally. "i know," fenn murmured, his heart thrumming in his chest at how much he seemed to mean to malik. he flushed as his boyfriend went on, resisting the urge to turn and press his face into the pillow - though the kisses certainly helped. "guess i do now. georgia kinda does feel like the ends of the earth, don't it?" he laughed through his nose and corrected himself, in an exaggeratedly precise tone, "doesn't it." forrest knew that he was a relatively smart person, learning disabilities nonwithstanding, but much as he liked his accent he had always worried a little that it came across as unintelligent. "well, what's stoppin' you, mr. sahni? sure, it's not exactly a king, but we've shared small beds before, haven't we?"