abrightboy | Happily Ever After AU

abrightboy

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From:

conning

There’s a weird wash of relief that rides along with Neal’s affection when it hits him this time. Like he’s passed a test.

“Well, good. Because I would have found a way to come in after you.”

He frowns. “Look, it has to be possible, all things considered.”

From:

abrightboy

"If anyone could find a way, I'm sure it would be you."

Neal always insisted there had to be another way.

"I don't know what it says about my subconscious that nobody listened to me, including the one person that actually does."

From:

conning

Neal makes a noise that isn’t really amused. “Maybe it’s saying you should talk to them about that when you’re not concussed.”

From:

abrightboy

Malcolm makes a face.

“Do you think there’s a way to do that that they’ll listen to?” he asks.

He sighs heavily.

“Sunshine was a dog.” He might not even be aware that it’s a non sequitur. “I didn’t prefer that. But I guess it was very nuclear of us. Or something.”

From:

conning

A snort.

Then a long pause.

“What if we got one? A dog.”

From:

abrightboy

“It was my therapist’s first suggestion for an emotional support animal. But I didn’t think I was home enough to be fair to one.” He looks at Neal. “If you’d like it, I’m sure I would. As long as we don’t call it ‘Sunshine’.”

From:

conning

He grins. “Oh, Moonbeam, definitely.”

The grin fades to something more thoughtful. “I’ve never had a pet before.”

From:

abrightboy

“Never?” That’s outrageous. “Why not?” he asks.

From:

conning

Neal shrugs, feeling sheepish and awkward suddenly. “It wasn’t a good idea when I was a kid. Then I left home and I never stayed in one place long enough for it to be fair. Or practical. If I suddenly had to leave town in a hurry, a pet would’ve drawn attention and made running clean harder to pull off.”

From:

abrightboy

"...So what you're saying is that you never want to leave," Malcolm surmises, looking over at him slyly.

From:

conning

Neal grins at that, the expression surprised out of him. “Yes. Exactly.”

He kisses Malcolm. “I love this city and I love you.”

Edited Date: 19 Apr 2022 01:36 (UTC)

From:

abrightboy

“I promise I’ll try not to fall three stories anymore,” he says in the wake of the kiss, crossing his heart. “Twice in as many years should be anyone’s limit, right?”

From:

conning

"More than," Neal says dryly. He stays quiet for a moment, not wanting to bring it up. Not wanting to drag that into this right now, when Malcolm is already injured and tired.

"My dad texted me. While we were at the hospital. I didn't look at it then. I didn't want to deal with it."

From:

abrightboy

"Oh. Should we read it now?" Malcolm asks. "What do you think it's about? Do you think he found any real clues?"

From:

conning

Neal shakes his head, not sure about... well, any of those questions, honestly. He rolls over to get his phone, then rolls back, staring at the unlocked home screen for a few long seconds without going to his messages.

From:

abrightboy

“You don’t have to,” Malcolm reminds him. “We’re on… “ What did Gil call it? “Mandatory medical leave.”

From:

conning

Neal makes a softly amused sound. Shakes his head. “No. I need to do this.”

He opens up the messages and his nerves are both rewarded and disappointed at once.

I know who killed her. Not who leaked her location, but I know who pulled the trigger.

He turns it toward Malcolm. “He definitely doesn’t trust me yet.”

From:

abrightboy

“That’s rich considering who broke into the apartment with a story full of inconsistencies,” Malcolm remarks. “Ask him who.”

From:

conning

Neal simply texts "Who"

No punctuation, because for some reason it feels more passive aggressively satisfying that way.

He waits, silent, watching for the little dots of a reply in motion, not thinking about the fact that his dad might not see the message yet.

From:

abrightboy

“If he asks to meet you, are you going to go?” Malcolm whispers, like he’s worried the text message might hear him.

From:

conning

"If you'll come with me."

He's not ready for Peter to meet James yet. Not yet. Malcolm, though, he trusts.

From:

abrightboy

"I'd go anywhere with you," Malcolm tells him. It's matter of fact, like he's reporting something mundane, not making a big romantic declaration. Blame the head injury.

From:

conning

Neal smiles with a softness very few people get to see. "I confess that I love you, I rejoice that I love you. I thank the maker of Heaven and Earth that gave you to me - the exultation floods me. I cannot find my channel - the Creek turns Sea at thought of thee."

Hopefully Dickinson won't mind his playing with the words a little.

From:

abrightboy

Malcolm smiles brightly at him. “You can always think of a poem for the moment you want to make,” he says. He’s about to say something else when Neal’s phone beeps.

From:

conning

Oh right. His dad.

Neal looks at his phone and grimaces. “He wants to meet. I’ll say we can do it in the afternoon.”

He wants to know what James thinks he’s discovered. Desperately wants to know. But he’s not going to drag Malcolm out of bed now that they’re finally settled.