Come on, Ade, meet the family! - Sincerely, Cas

[Laine]

Cas’ teeth glinted faintly in the moonlight as he chuckled, and Ade couldn’t help but smirk at the story, too. “Don’t think I won’t do the same, if you go off on an adventure without me.” As much as he hated the future, space travel, the food, the sheer terror – a far more horrifying thought would be being left at home, rotting in the apartment for when his lover returned. If he returned. His thoughts turned to the Time Agent who passed – it could just as easily have been Cassidy. Then what?


“For me…?” He said. Adrian leaned over his hand from the arm rest, searching for Cas’ own in the pale light. “In that case, I think we should definitely go.” His face was tense as he smoothed over the dark skin with his thumb, mind clouded with the sudden concern.


“…But I think we should do something more important, first.” The doctor bit his lip as soon as he said it, feeling his chest suddenly tighten in anticipation.

 

[chellemrys]

Cassidy drew up a brow, looking Adrian up and down. "I think the Gliesian atmosphere is getting to you." Since when did Adrian want to go somewhere in the future, and not sit at home in his comfy apartment. He had actually convinced him...?


Cas' confusion didn't go away, especially at Adrian's tone of voice. He left his hand get lifted, and looked down at Adrian's hand that was practically fluorescent, while the moon didn't do anything to make his own hand appear. A short silence descended, Cas quickly breaking it. "And what is that?"

 

[Laine]

“I think, maybe…” He started, suddenly losing his nerve at the sound of the Lieutenant’s confused voice. He has no idea where this is going, does he…? Adrian squirmed on the spot, feeling a sudden sweatiness in his palms. “We need to…I mean, we should…I - I just wanted to ask…”


He turned back to Cas, face creased in anguish. The other looked back at him. Dark, wild tufts of hair were almost invisibly silhouetted against the seat he was resting on. The smirk that was all-too familiar was there, too, although it was slightly lost by a cocked eyebrow of confusion. A slight mischievous spark hid behind his impossibly dark eyes. And in his hand was comfort, warmth…a strange sense of safety, even after all they had been through. Perhaps it was the atmosphere. Perhaps it was the stress – or even the euphoria. It certainly wasn’t what Adrian had originally planned. But at the moment, as they lay quietly together, surrounded by terrain that mirrored both of their home worlds…It seemed to make sense.


“Cassidy Petar…will you marry me?”

 

[chellemrys]

Cas' smirk widened at the uneasiness of his lover, and fought laughter. He was not sure what the lack of confidence was all about, but he enjoyed it nonetheless. It probably made Adrian more uncomfortable, but all together it was all too funny to pretend to ignore. He opened his mouth to remark, 'You alright, Adrian? Need help?' But thought better of it, clamping his lips into a smirk again.


When Adrian finally worked up the bravery to ask, the cocked eyebrow remained. He just stared at him. Seconds passed, as he thought over what Adrian had just said. Seconds that probably felt like an eternity to the now crumpling Adrian. He pulled down his dark brows, the smirk fading. "Adrian..." He whispered, opening his mouth halfway, words hanging in the the air, building suspense for Adrian to sweat over. "What...?" He frowned, "What is a... marry?"

 

[Laine]

The Lieutenant’s face was frozen – in disbelief, Ade assumed. His clammy hand was now clamped to Cas’ with anticipation as he waited for a reply. He leaned slightly closer, urging him desperately to speak.


“…M-Marriage.” Adrian repeated, smiling weakly, as if the Lieutenant had misheard him, “Y-you know…to marry…someone…?” He winced as Cas’ confused expression remained. Anxiety started to gnaw at him as no reply still came, and the doctor’s chest grew ever tighter with worry that he had misjudged the situation. “We’ve…we’ve talked about this, before…?” He murmured, face slowly falling. He pushed his free hand through his hair, sighing in exasperation.


“It’s – it’s…it’s like – ah!” Ade stammered, scouring his mind until he remember his and Sabe’s conversation earlier that day. Desperate to salvage the moment, he shuffled to sit up, still tightly holding his lover’s hand. “OK. OK. Cassidy-”


He cleared his throat, taking a deep breath and started again. Both his voice and his hands had a tiny quiver to them as he spoke, “Cassidy Petar…will you…bind…to me?”

 

[chellemrys]

Cas' eyes widened in realization, and he watched Adrian sit up hastily from where he lay, letting him tug on his arm weakly. He couldn't resist the teasing though... "I mean- if you want to go again..." He whispered, waiting for a reaction with the mischievous smirk that usually marked his face. He laughed after a few moments of silence, and he rolled onto his back.


He stared at the ceiling of the car, blinking a couple times. Binding ceremony. A-zaa, Cas, you always told yourself that kind of thing was not for you. And it was true- he had. Why would he get bound to someone if he didn't expect to live to his thirties? He peeked at Adrian's hopeful, exasperated face. But you also said you would never have a relationship. His eyes flickered back to the roof, far away and swimming through his thoughts in private. But- you are not going to live to your thirties. Being hit with his own mortality could always give rise to a sense of panic, a tightness in his chest that made him want to live, rather than stagnate. He glanced at Adrian again, his hopeful -and now tormented- face in the glow of the car's buttons. He pulled his hand away, and shuffled onto his elbows so he was a bit closer to Adrian. "...Yes."

 

[Laine]

Ade’s heart plummeted as his lover drew his hand away, the innuendo a mark of his failure. He felt his stomach churning as the Lieutenant crawled closer, his face a crumpled, agonising mess. He took a sudden gasp for air as the word left Cas’ lips, and the colour that had drained from his face suddenly flushed back all at once.


“R-really…?” He murmured, struggling to keep the disbelief out of his voice. The weak smile expanded into one of severe relief, bordering on crazed. Ade’s hands felt around in the dark, one finding the back of Cas’ neck and tugging him closer. Turning his head to the side, he closed his eyes and he drew into a passionate embrace. At the last moment he paused, bottom lip quivering as he reached his lover’s face.


“Oh…oh my god-” He mumbled, suddenly backing away. A pale hand moved to cup over his mouth, another sliding out from underneath Cassidy and reaching for the passenger side door handle. Ade struggled with it for a few seconds, before wrenching the door open. The car was instantly filled with retching sounds as he heaved outside – the unfortunate result of the built-up excitement and tension.


It wasn’t until a few minutes later that he dipped his head back in the car, wiping his mouth and taking exaggerated breaths through his nose. He looked back at Cas with sheepish smile, realising that the romantic moment had been suitably diffused. “S-sorry, Cas...” He murmured, sighing loudly, “I didn’t expect you to…say yes.”

 

[chellemrys]

Cassidy giggled at Adrian's gasp, and froze as he was pulled into the tight embrace. He slowly brought up his own arms, squeezing Adrian's waist while still laughing. Cas pulled back slightly, advancing for a kiss, but Adrian tore away, suddenly leaning out the door, vomiting over his nervousness. The agent's grin melted, and he hesitantly reached over, placing a firm hand on Adrian's shaking back.


"A-Ade?" Cas drew his arm back, letting it hover in the air in front of Adrian's pale face. He watched as his love leaned back and struggled to breathe. "You're such a drama queen, Adrian." He giggled, diving into the back and nabbing his backpack. He pulled out a circular, metallic canteen. He pressed a shiny blue button on the side, and opened it for him, "Here."


Cas smirked, "I was going to kiss you~" He turned to the wheel, adjusting his seat so he could drive. As he started the car, he peeked over at the other, "You sure you're ready to do this?" He turned the control so the vehicle soared upwards, heading towards the road again, "Oh, and by the way. That's not what you say when you want someone to bind with you." The agent grinned, "You better learn fast, because soon you have to repeat after this robot saying something like this:

"Adakah anda , Cassidy Petar, mengikat dengan saya: keluarga setia saya selama-lamanya , kekasih saya untuk panjang, dan -Paling penting- hanya saya?"

​

 

[Laine]

Adrian took a few sips, swilling out his mouth inbetween deep breathed. He was slightly relieved at the Lieutenant’s comment, and sighed as he slid the seatbelt over his chest. The car liften off the ground easily, and Ade gripped the passenger-seat door handle as it raised, biting his lip. “I...Yeah. Yeah, I am.” He sighed, smiling weakly at Cassidy, “I’ve been thinking about it for a while...Although I guess I thought you’d have met my parents, first.” He shrugged, assuming they’d have time to visit them before the ceremony.


He chuckled nervously as Cas mumbled the well-rehearsed alien phrase. Blinking hard, he repeated as best as he could, “Andargh…anka…mengu…mango…Cassidy Petar-” He poked his fiancé in the ribs as he heard sniggering. After several tries, he rolled his eyes, gesturing with his hand, “Whatever. I can practise later – you can teach me it when we get back to your place. After you've broken it to Alecia and Rozalyn you're a bride to be.”

 

[chellemrys]

Cassidy shrugged, "It doesn't matter. Mom didn't meet Dad's parents until afterwards..." He forgot to specify which mom he meant, but then again it didn't really matter. He sputtered a laugh at Adrian's ill-attempt at reciting the words. "A-zaa... You sound like a cave-man, Ade." He drove on, Adrian not realizing they were going in the completely wrong direction to go home.


Cas blinked, and looked over at Adrian, stopping at a set of Gliesian white traffic lights that had symbols signaling whether or not to stop rather than colors. "What?" He glanced over at the lights, but looked honestly confused. "You just asked me to... We aren't going home first, Adrian. Why would we do that? If I made the promise, then it's to be done - there's no room for chances in between." He was rambling on about some 51st century ethics that Adrian would have no clue about, but nonetheless he did so. "Anything you need before we do this? Some nausea meds?" He teased, grinning. "Oh, and it's custom to buy some..." He listed off some obscenities, looking over to see if Adrian would blush. "And, I can do that. I can rock a dress for you- if you're really into that." He looked devilish, as he stepped on the gas again.

 

[Laine]

Ade shook his head, chuckling a little. “What…are you talking abou-” His jaw fell agape as his love sped on, suddenly alarmed by the speed at which everything was going. “Now…You mean, now?!” He said, genuinely surprised. Sure enough, one look out of the passenger-side window told him he wasn’t anywhere near Cas’ parents house – instead some built-up floating district, with bright street signs pointing in random directions. Cas – suddenly a man on a mission – he swerved and swung around corners, the usual cocky smile brandished as Ade did, indeed, blush. "You want to get...?!"


“I – I mean, I still want to do it,” He said hastily, pushing a hand through his auburn hair, “But – we can’t just…go like this, Cas. I’m not dressed for it, I need to take a shower, you’ve still got drool on your shirt, for Helmi’s sake,” He growled, noticeably stressed as the car started slowing down. “Can’t – can’t we just go back to your folks house for an hour?!”

 

[chellemrys]

Cas looked over, surprised, "Of course I mean now!" He grinned, turning back to the road, "That's what time agents do, I mean. In stories..." He trailed off, slowing down. Oh. He realized the inner meaning behind that suddenly, embarrassed that he didn't understand it before. "It's practically custom. We'll be there in less than five minutes." He realized how upset this would probably make Adrian, and instead of continuing he swerved to the side of the street. "Wait here." He hopped out of the car, running off into a store on a corner, marked in Gliesian.


He ran out moments later, cradling a large bag. He slid back into the car, digging through the bag. "Here-" Immediately he tugged out a bottle of mouth wash, "Knock yourself out." And then a shower in a can. "Shower in a can. Fancy name for dry shampoo." He sprayed the foam into his hand, and scrubbed at his scalp for a mere minute, brushing it out with a hair brush he pulled from his bag. He tossed them both at Adrian. Then he pulled out some black pants. Well... Scrub pants, actually. "Thought this would fit you... And would be fitting." He clicked his tongue, acknowledging the pun, and continued digging.


As he grabbed the next item, and felt his face start to burn. He was showing how much he cared about a ceremony he used to call silly. He pulled out a tiny bouquet; the curly flower petals were black rimmed, with purple outlining a neon blue center. He poured the inside of the bag out, and petals flew about the car, a few catching in his hair. "Here- I saw this once on an Earth television TV show. I think those things you guys call soap operas. I don't even know what an operas is." He destroyed the word, mispronouncing it completely. He put the bouquet in Adrian's lap. He took the mouth wash from Adrian, taking a swig and spitting it out the window, before tugging off his shirt to turn it inside out, sliding it back on with a contented sigh.


His cheeks were burning, and he was grateful that both the car and his skin was dark enough that Adrian couldn't tell. Cas threw the bag to his feet, "There's... Other stuff in there too." The dark eyed agent elbowed Adrian, "You should-a seen the cashier's face." He started up the car, before exclaiming a quiet 'helmi', and ducking down to grab a box of pills, "You may want to take a couple." A shaky hand reached out, and clicked the radio on. He flicked through some stations, before stopping and turning it off, unable to be that cheesy. "Here- you chose."


Cas grinned, speeding off again towards their destination.

 

[Laine]

Ade was speechless as he was hit with a barrage of stuff, his words coming out as a jumble of “Whah!” and “Aagh!” sounds, punctuated as the Agent suddenly set of again. “Th-thanks, hun…” He finally muttered, too swept up in the moment to be truly appreciative of such a gesture. He gingerly placed the bouquet on the dash as he reached for the pants, tugging them on over his shorts, and eyed Cassidy as he necked a couple of the mysterious pills, rolling his eyes at the seams visable on the Agent’s inside - out shirt.


As they neared their destination, and Cas began to slow the car down, Ade felt marginally better – after swigging more mouthwash and brushing some life back into his hair. He focused on his own reflection in the rear-view mirror, trying to calm himself down. If the car wasn’t so dimly lit, he would at least be reassured that the Lieutenant’s shaking hands were a sign that he was just as nervous as he was. But without it - he assumed it was how Cassidy expected it to be: how a Time Agent would do it. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat, chewing on a fingernail as he tried to put aside his grudges against the Time Agency, and everything that came with them. They brought you Cas, after all, he sighed, reaching back onto the dash and grabbing the tiny bouquet back.


They stepped out of the car – into another invisible sidewalk, with an impossibly dark landscape glowing faintly in the moonlight beneath them. Adrian looked pale, but thankfully the nausea pills were doing their work this time. Cassidy stepped out of the car moments later, still donning the signature cargo pants, but at least he had a clean shirt, and his hair was now looking far more organised than it had ever been. “You look…good, Cassidy.” He smirked nervously, hands clasped around one another. “…Almost marrying material, I think.”

 

[chellemrys]

Cassidy snatched his bomber jacket up, tucking it around himself hastily as he stepped into the chilly Gliesian air. He grinned, "It's open another hour or so I think." The department lights were on, so he was confident they could still get bound, even though it was now dark out. He held out his hand, looking down and rolling his eyes at the compliment. Surprised to hear it, in a way. But he did try, and was glad Adrian acknowledged his efforts.


"Marrying material?" Cas stifled a laugh, turning to face Adrian with a cheeky grin, "What about now?" He took one hand and ruffled his own hair, sending stray pieces into obscure positions, and into his eyes. Besides, it felt so unnatural to have brushed hair. But then he paused, "But what is marrying material, Adrian?"


The dark agent tugged Adrian gently towards the doors, making the nervous Adrian -who was slowly crushing the bouquet- follow him. Cas walked up to the desk, going back and forth with a human man, who had the common dark skin and hair of Gliesians, like Cas. He handed Cas a clipboard, and the agent hastily filled it out for both of them, handing Adrian the pen at one point to have him sign a dotted line. Then they took the paperwork away, and they were escorted into a room behind the desk. The door shut behind them.


Cas turned to Adrian in the darkness, "Any final words?" He laughed, biting his lip as they waited for the automated machine's instructions.

 

[Laine]

Several times Adrian tried to claw Cas’ hair back into order, like some kind of persistent parent as they walked up to the counter. “Well, you were marrying material.” He sniggered nervously, recoiling as the other batted him away. He had nothing to do but scrunch the tiny bouquet in his hands as he anxiously waited for the two Gliesians to finish their discussion, picking at the tiny petals until barely any of it was left.


The doctor couldn’t help but feel a twinge of claustrophobia as they were shut in the darkness of the tiny room. He cleared his throat, searching around for Cas’ hands in the dark. “Uh, no – I don’t think so. Cas.” His nervous smile was carved into his face, staring roughly at Cassidy’s face, barely visible in the ceremony room. He waited awkwardly for a few seconds, squinting at the panel on the side of the wall. “Wait, just go through those lines with me again-” He began, but was cut off by a woman’s automatic voice emanating from the ceiling.

 

[chellemrys]

Cas jumped at Adrian, grabbing his pale hands in an attempt to scare; naturally Cas was able to navigate a bit better in the dark than his doctor lover. The agent reached up and ruffled Adrian's hair, "Oh calm down- it's a listening and repetition deal. Nothing more." He turned to face the panel on the wall, as the machine told them to do so, but he tangled an arm through the bend in Ade's arm first, holding on with a pressed grin; trying to keep his smiling under control. Cas let his head lilt to the side, to rest on Adrian's shoulder, tufts of dark hair flying up and tickling the underside of Adrian's jaw.


"Potvrdenie identity: Cassidy Petar a Adrian Mason?" Cas reached out, pressing a couple buttons on the screen, confirming who was on which side. "Nádherný!" Cas hastily whispered 'I'll translate', before she continued.


Cas whispered to Adrian, trying to keep up with the words. "...First- are rules." And with that, Cas went into a robotic, tireless drone of translation:


"With these words you give up sole ownership to all you own- your partner and you share objects equally, and cannot differ between after this, unless an agreement upon separation is made. Next, unless this is a poly-amorous binding, you promise to cease involvement in situations considered intimate with any other being. You will wield dual-citizenship of the partner's native planet, and your own. And most important, you agree under legal terms that you are responsible for their welfare and care, should anything happen, until death parts you."





Cas squeezed Adrian's hand, pressing a button on the machine, which then proceeded to the second part of the ceremony. "Now for the vows... Just, when I point to you, you need to listen and repeat everything they say." Cas took the lead, entering his name as the first to say them:

"Aj, Cassidy Petar, sľubujú strážiť Aderiyaan Mason, vždy, a na starostlivosť v presne rovnakým spôsobom. Sľubujem, nikdy podvádzať, nikdy opustiť; to je moje poslanie slúžiť im až do smrti, nad všetkými ostatnými mocnosťami. Nebol by som tu, keby som nemal rád je nad všetkých, vrátane seba, a to najmä v prípade som nechcel zaručiť aspoň až do smrti ma vezme od nich."

​

(I, Cassidy Petar, promise to watch over Aderiyaan Mason, always, and to care in the exact same manner. I vow never to cheat, never to abandon; it is my mission to serve them until I die, above all other powers. I would not be here if I did not love them above all, including myself, and especially if I did not want to guarantee this at least until death takes me from them.)

 

[Laine]

“I am…calm…” Adrian breathed, squeezing the other’s hand. He stared at the panel while foreign words were called out, hearing them translated in his lover’s voice caused him to shake in anticipation. This is it…? We’re really doing this…? Planting a kiss on top of the tufts sticking in his chin, he shifted in place as Cassidy began to speak, perfectly and proudly in his native tongue.


The Lieutenant squeezed his hand again after his vows were finished. “…Me now?” Adrian mumbled, withdrawing his head and swallowing thickly. Tiny beads of sweat began to form on his forehead as the machine read out his version of the vows, only marginally slowed down for the foreigner.


“I…Aderiyaan Mayssoon…sloobyu…straajeet, Tcassidy Petar, vishdy a…a nan…” Not knowing whether he had to be exactly right or not for it to work, he poured over every word, the Scottish-American accent warping and practically destroying the meaning for over half of them. At one point he lost track of where he was at, and a feeling of panic began to flutter in his chest as he almost stopped completely, grasping for the words in his head, “…ney-bol be…be…some…some too? – ney-bol be some – ach-”


With little prompting from the machine or his lover, he struggled on, finally coming to it’s tortuous end in considerably longer time than Cas had spent on them. “-mah vez-vezmuh ood…necht…” Adrian only realised he was shivering after he had finished, the flowers crushed in one hand, his lover’s crushed and sweaty in the other. He stood idle for a few seconds, waiting for the machine to do something. It spat out another command in Gliesian, and Ade breathed a long sigh of relief. “Is…is that it?” He murmured softly.

 

[chellemrys]

Cas looked up at Adrian as he began, but quickly found himself looking back at the screen because he could not take his amount of concentration seriously.


Cas held back snickers, his shoulders shaking from the effort. He put a dark hand up to his lips, to clamp them shut. He drew Adrian's hand close, rocking with it, while Adrian gave Cas' hand a suffocating squeeze.


As soon as Adrian finish, Cas doubled over, belting out uncontrollable, entertained laughter. "Y-You sound like a caveman!" He wheezed, wiping at tears. He straightened up when the instructions repeated themselves, and he pushed a few more buttons on screen.


"There's only one more step." Cas turned his full attention to the screen, his face dimly lit in the pale glow. He was selecting planets, and checking spelling of names. When he was satisfied, he turned to Adrian and grabbed his hand, guiding it to a hole in the wall. "Put your hand in here..." He did so at the same time, facing Adrian. A clamp that was searching grabbed his wrist, and a panel rise to press his fingers and palm flat. He knew it had done the same for Adrian based on the small jump he gave. "Now, we just wait." He felt the tiniest prick, before his entire arm went numb inside. The agent reached with his free hand to take the same of Ade's, teeth gleaming in the soft glow because of his revealing grin.

 

[Laine]

“-At least I don’t look like a caveman,” Adrian huffed, grimacing at the Lieutenant’s hair, barely visible in the dark. Confused about it’s meaning, he obediently stuck his hand at the hole in the wall. The feel of the slight needle against his flesh made him wonder if it was something to do with blood, or DNA. How romantic.


In the minutes that the machine was whirring, Ade felt himself finally begin to calm. His breaths were no quick and shallow, and the familiar tightness in his chest was beginning to fade away. He looked down at Cas’ glowing teeth, a satisfied smirk on his face. “I don’t know why you’re smiling,” Adrian remarked, “You’re…bound to me, now.” He chuckled, nudging the other with his elbow awkwardly as their hands were still clasped tight. “A-zaa. Helmi, that Lieutenant Petar is bound to some – giant, handsome, red-haired caveman.” He mimicked, putting a rough Kerschnaille accent, “You’ll be the laughing stock of the TA, I’m sure of it.”


The machine suddenly grew silent. The screen pinged up with a pre-written ‘Congratulations!’ message, emitting a tinny jingle as it did so. At the same time, Ade felt the clamp release his hand, and he immediately withdrew it from the hole. From the darkness of the room, all he could see was a black smear on the back of his palm, and he muttered in confusion to his partner who had done the same, “Is this – What is that?...”

 

[chellemrys]

Cas stuck out his tongue, "Well, helmi, Ade- I was bound to you either way. Now it's just formalized." The Lieutenant made a loud 'pfft', and shook his head, "With that imitation of us, you will be the laughing stock of the TA." He felt the pressure lift off his hand, and he drew the appendage out, taking back his own hand to rub his hand, massaging it. "A-zaa, I can't feel a thing. Whatever they used- it's strong."


Cassidy looked up at Adrian's confused face, and drew down his brows, "What is what- oh, that? You didn't know about that?" He began to laugh, "Oh- Adrian... That's your new tattoo. Didn't you see my parent's ones?" Cas held up his tattooed hand, "Look-" He pointed at the back of the palm, then turned his wrist to reveal a big, green and blue blotch that looked like a painting.


The door opened from whence they came, and light filled the tiny cabin, illuminating their hands. The attendant peered in, and asked them to come out. Cas pulled Adrian out, who was observing his hand in surprise and awe. "That is why they numb the hand, you caveman." They exited into the street-light glow of the parking lot, Cas grinning anew in excitement. The agent held up his hand, pointing at it and pronouncing the name on the palm very slowly: "Aderiyaan Mason."

 

[Laine]

What, they do that at the ceremony?! He blinked at Cassidy just as the door opened. He looked down at the tattoo his left hand, now clear as it was bathed in light. A dark, calligraphic alien font swirled beneath his left knuckles, tapering out just above the wrist. Ade had seen it enough to know that it was his partner’s name written in Kerschnaille, and he started at it in awe as Cassidy dragged him outside. “Cassidy. Petar.” He mumbled, pseudo-reading it as he poked it with a finger. The doctor turned over his hand, admiring the portrait of the planet he was standing on.


He stopped for a moment, watching the Lieutenant walk paces ahead of him, dark tufts illuminated as he passed under the streetlamps. Adrian cleared his throat exaggeratedly, folding his arms, “Excuse me, sir. I believe you’re walking away from…” He sauntered towards the other, sliding the numb wrist around his waist, “…your new husband.” Adrian murmured. He tugged him into an embrace on the dimly-lit street, pressing his lips against the other’s tenderly. He shook his head as they parted, pressing his forehead against Cassidy’s. “Sorry. I mean binding partner.”

 

[chellemrys]

Cas stopped, turning and getting caught by Adrian, being pulled into a smooch. He pressed back, grinning into Adrian's lips with a laugh, "Can't believe you got a tattoo?" He whispered, pulling away.


Cassidy guided Adrian towards the car, tugging the door open for him. "Husband?" He snickered even more at the term binding partner. "Oh, helmi, sounds so cheesy. I think you are looking for drahy." The agent purred, letting the doctor slide into the car, before heading round to drive. "Gender neutral terms are used more commonly than what I've noticed in your time."


Cas didn't start the car, but instead stared over at his new partner. "So- before we head back to the sharks- anything you want to do?" He took Adrian's tattooed hand, tugging him gently towards him. "I mean- I bought a bag full of..."

 

[Laine]

“A whole bag full of what, drahy?” He said, butchering the endearing word and stroking the other’s hand. He stretched across the seat, brandishing the bag with curiosity. “I thought all you needed was me and a pair of handcuffs-”


-----


“Are you sure they’re going to be…OK with this…?” Ade winced, turning over his palm once again. He couldn’t stop looking at the new addition to his skin – still slightly bewildered he had gone through with it so readily. He turned to Cassidy as they approached his parent’s door, biting his lip, and shivering in the chill breeze, “I mean – It’s not like we can change our mind…And, I did ask Sabe, but…but that was just…theoretical.” The doctor rambled. Despite being in the wee hours of the morning, the lights were still on upstairs, and Ade tried not to think about what they were up to. Or what it looked like he had been up to, as a matter of fact. He smoothed out his hair with his numb hand, still feeling the buzz from their impromptu engagement. “I can’t believe we-”


He yelped as the door suddenly swung open in front of him. Alecia stood, in her nightwear, folding her arms tightly. She glowered at Adrian, before turning to Cas and yelling at him in Gliesian; “Where have you been, Cassidy Sabe Petar?! I told you I was making dinner for you and Aderiyaan as soon as we got home!”

 

[chellemrys]

"We don't need their permission." He murmured, reassuring Adrian it was fine. They were adults- who needed to have parent allowance to make decisions? Cas peered out from behind Adrian with a nervous smile, "Hey, mom- er-" He hastily switched to Gliesian, "Hey... Mom." He hid his hands behind his back, still peeking around his lover. "We got dinner out..."


Sabe could be seen hovering in the background, arms crossed and a scowl wore into his skin- like it was permanently etched there. Cas pushed at Adrian's back a bit, making him advance into the house. "We just wanted to have-"





Alecia's eyes were huge, staring at her son's wild, untamed mess of hair. She suspiciously let her horrified gaze slip from the floating black tufts, to his swollen bottom lip, and then his absolutely disheveled appearance. "Cassidy Petar-" She began, beginning to straighten out her son's hair, reaching up and pushing it down in an effort to dismantle the evidence. "-D-Did you get into a fight or something?" Now, she knew he had not. But it was sweet to ignore the true meaning, right?


As Sabe watched Adrian approach due to Cas' pushing, he caught sight of the large tattoo, and peered in shock, the impatient tapping of his foot ceasing. He lunged out, and snatched the appendage, pulling the skin taught and reading the text in surprise. His eyes widened, and lifted to meet Adrian's, shaking his head in silence as if to say: Hide.

 

[Laine]

Ade’s hand shot like a bullet, straight back into his pants pocket as Alecia continued fussing over her son. He looked at Sabe desperately, his mouth drying up as the mother suddenly snapped her attention to the pale doctor. Trying to push thoughts over what they had been up to until 3am from her mind, she sidled over to Adrian, cocking an eyebrow, “And you – you look even worse, Aderiyaan.” She scolded in Kerschnaille, “You don’t look like you’ve eaten enough. I will get you some of the leftovers – and an ice pack for your swollen lip as well, Cassidy.” She paused, frowning at the two, before hurrying off in the direction of the kitchen.


Adrian shook his head, taking a step out towards her, “No – no – no, Mrs. Petar, really, there’s no need. I just – we just - wanna go to bed-” He stammered a reply, ignoring a crude poke in the back from his partner. Moments later she reappeared, carrying two generous bowls filled with a stew-like dish, piping hot and topped with dumplings. The doctor politely took one, muttering a tiny “Thank you,” nervously as he looked back at Sabe.


Alecia turned back with a stony no-nonsense face, “It’s no worry, Aderiyaan. Now Cassidy, as for-” She stopped for a moment, breath catching in her throat. Her eyes narrowed a little. “What…what is that…?” She murmured, her voice quickly shifting to worryingly soft and quiet. The confused doctor frowned, looking down at the bowl of soup as if there was something wrong with it. He realised only two late he was using his newly-inked left hand, and he quickly spun to face Cas, laughing nervously as he elbowed the other forward, “Which- which reminds me, you – have something to tell your – parents, Cassidy- Don’t you…?”