Chapter Text
Kinich kept watch as Lyney slept, running the events over in his mind...
It wasn’t a surprise that Lyney had some…less than desirable fans.
But he still hadn’t expected it.
Lyney seemed to love his audience. If Kinich were to experience something like that, he wouldn't have ever taken the stage again.
Kinich paused, as a new train of thought found its way to the forefront of his mind.
...Had he scared Lyney when he tried to talk to him a month or two ago?
Is that why he kept running?
Was Lyney…scared of him? Was that why he had looked at him with such fear when he had grabbed him?
…did he hurt him?
Kinich held Lyney closer to his chest at the thoughts that followed.
If this person came near Lyney, what would he do? What should he do? He looked at the man in his arms for answers he could not give.
If this person tried to harm the one who seeks safety in his arms…
...He wouldn't be opposed to staining his arms to protect that safety.
But that was a…dangerous path to go down…Lyney hadn't asked him to do anything. But would Lyney ask him?
He doesn't even know what that person looks like. …and if what he has heard and seen is any sign, Lyney won’t be telling him more. At least not with his words.
Kinich sighed, trying and failing to shake the thoughts from his head.
All of his friends would tell him about their concerns or problems without hesitation–Mualani about her family business, Kachina about her ancient name, Ororon about his garden–but Lyney.
Lyney doesn’t speak about his problems unless prompted.
And Kinich didn’t know when to push or when to back off, one mistake and he could lose him.
He brought a hand to run through Lyney’s hair…and decided to look around the room to keep his thoughts from spiraling.
From his spot on the bed, he could see some cards, a few books scattered across the dresser, and Lyney’s hat…that was moving?
“Rosseland?”
A cat popped out, meowing to its heart's content regardless of the late hour,
“Shhhhh!” Kinich patted the bedside as quietly as he could, trying to catch the Roseland's attention. “Do not wake him up.”
The cat stared back at him, twitching its ears,
“Rosseland…”
Kinich swears he saw the cat wink at him before howling like a banshee.
“Rosseland!” Kinich lightly hit the side of the bed and pointed at the cat, groaning in defeat as he felt the man on top of him stir from his short rest.
Lyney blinked at him wearily, then at the cat, then him again, squinting his eyes in question, “...which of you was howling…”
Kinich does not howl.
But he does shove Lyney's head back down into his chest, ignoring the yelp that followed, “Rosseland. Now go back to bed.” Kinich looked toward the window that had curtains covering it.
The smallest part of it exposed the sun setting, making him hum in thought as he resumed his earlier motion of running his fingers through Lyney’s hair…
They can discuss everything tomorrow, when everyone is well rested.
He called Rosseland to the bed, pulling the cat to rest beside Lyney once it was in reach. He let his mind wander until it slowed to a stop, and he fell asleep, with purple eyes closing not long after…
…
Kinich thanks Celestia that he is a light sleeper–as he easily wakes up to the sound of shuffling, and opens his eyes to the sight of Lyney, trying to escape through the window, who seemingly had not noticed him yet,
“I don’t think second time’s the charm.” Kinich sat up and got out from the bed, noting how Rosseland was trying to drag the man back from the window–this is giving him deja vu.
“Lyney, come back inside.” Kinich crossed his arms the moment he was in arm's reach, his earlier thoughts stopping him from grabbing him, but still staying nearby in case he fell… again.
“I heard a noise.” Lyney looked at him with the eyes of someone who hadn’t gotten a good night's rest, “Then we can go and see what it was together. And by walking out the door.”
Kinich stood there, waiting patiently as Lyney climbed back inside–not that he got far out at all, only a leg over. “Good, now, let’s go see?” Kinich held out his hand, letting Lyney come back to him, and allowing him to take the lead, just barely pulling Lyney back to remind him to put his shoes on before he followed him outside.
Kinich waited patiently every time Lyney paused or faltered in his steps, holding the door open when Lyney went to check behind it, never once letting go of his hand first.
They walked around the front yard, hand in hand, checking the nearby paths and circling back around the house, stopping at seemingly random bushes while Lyney searched them.
Only after they had searched nearly everywhere did Kinich break the silence with his thoughts, “I think it was an animal.”
He squeezed Lyney’s hand before moving to stand in front of him, tilting his head to the side to catch sight of Lyney’s face, trying to gauge his reaction… if he had calmed down.
But he refused to look at him…
Kinich let out a defeated sigh, backing away slowly. “It’s late, we should head back inside.” Lyney nodded, but the on-edge look in his eyes didn’t lessen, darting back and forth from the ground to a bush to the open plain; he looked exhausted.
“Did you have a bad dream?” Kinich asked, as he gave Lyney’s hand another light squeeze and guided him back to the house, “...you could say that.” Lyney mumbled, pressing himself as close to him as possible,
“I didn’t mean to wake you…” He slumped against Kinich while they walked, resting his head on his shoulder, “I know you didn’t, but I would prefer you did.” He opened the front door and let Lyney in first, closing it behind them and locking it.
He felt the way Lyney seemed to grow antsy behind him, “...could we… barricade the door?” Lyney shifted on his feet, dropping Kinich’s hand and holding his own arms, running his hands over them in a self-soothing motion..
Archons, he must sound like an insane man.
A frightened child.
A tired soldier.
Kinich didn’t respond, and why would he?
It was an absurd request as they had found nothing out there–He slowly stepped back and turned into a full sprint, shutting the bedroom door behind him, letting the sound echo through the house.
He truly was a fool.
Tearing up like a child who was afraid of what was under their bed.
Lyney dove under his covers, kicking off his shoes as he was followed by his cat, “You get me, don’t you, Rosseland?” He pet his loyal companion, who seemed to have endless energy.
Rosseland never judged him.
Except for that one time–and a few more times after that.
He supposed Rosseland never left him would be a more accurate statement.
Except for— Rosseland meowed as it tucked itself under his arm, purring contentedly and successfully putting a pause on his thoughts.
“Heh, such an easy life you have, huh?” Lyney held Rosseland close to his chest; the blankets covering them let him forget about the outside…
It kind of reminds him of home.
When he had made blanket forts with his siblings–always finding Freminet hiding there with a book, or he’d join Lynette, who had hosted tea parties with her cats there.
He had never really used that fort for anything–at least, not when anyone was awake.
In the depths of the night, where the moon would remind him of days spent hungry, and nights grown cold, he would tiptoe his way past his brother’s and sister’s beds, with nothing but a blanket that ‘father’ had shielded him with when she took them in, protecting him from the prying eyes that he was not yet ready to face.
And he would sit in the poorly made fort–sometimes playing with the toys left behind by his siblings, sometimes talking to himself, or reading.
But he always left before anyone noticed. It would have been selfish… and childish to invade a space for children after all.
The door creaked open, and Lyney held his breath, holding Rosseland closer to him–A weight on the bed.
“...I barricaded the door with the dining chairs.” Kinich’s voice rang out, and Lyney poked his head out of the covers, coming face to face with the man he thought would ignore him.
“Are you okay? You ran off in a hurry.” Kinich tilted his head, trying to get a better look at him, “What can I say? I was looking forward to lying in my bed.” Lyney could see that his words were as empty to Kinich as they were to him.
But before the man had an opportunity to say anything–Rosseland jumped out of Lyney’s arms and at him, clinging to his shirt while he scrambled to hold them in place–a few seconds of scrambling before he had settled Rosseland in his arms, “I’ll leave you to your rest then…”
Leave…him?
Lyney dove out from his covers, abandoning his blankets and landing ungracefully across Kinich’s lap, “Hah…maybe stay? I haven’t been able to uhm…set your room up…”
Lyney looked up at him, hoping that he’d see something in him that he himself couldn't see.
Something genuine.
“...I’m sure Rosseland would appreciate the company?” Kinich huffed, but wasn’t necessarily bothered by the excuse.
Friends–companions–traveler partners, they all share beds, as they have been for a while now.
“I’ll need you to move so I can lie down.” He doesn’t think he has seen Lyney move so fast–as the man had practically teleported to the other side of the bed.
Kinich moved to lift the covers, allowing Rosseland to duck below them while he situated himself.
He laid on his back, and out of habit, extended an arm toward Lyney, letting him come barreling onto him. Rosseland emerged from the blankets, right between him and Lyney.
He hopes there will be no more trouble tonight.
…
He waits for the jinx to come…
And finds none.