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 Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2026 6:26 pm
Takes place Feb 18, 2026 following College Letters
The kitchen lights were on. He could hear movement before he stepped fully into the room. The faint clink of dishes, the scrape of something heavy being shifted across the counter. Low, familiar voices. Maybe some quiet bickering tied in.
Riker hovered in the doorway for a moment before stepping in. He grimaced at the sight of Zac having to help Evan finish cleaning up before he could get dinner prepared, immediately feeling guilty for leaving the sink half full.
"Sorry," he said automatically, reaching for a towel to help. He took over drying whatever large pot had been abandoned on the counter, more to give himself something to do with his hands than because it needed drying. He tried focusing on wiping the droplets of water off, but his heart was beating a little faster than it should have been.
It was stupid. He'd faced worse things than telling people he got into college.
But Evan and Zac weren't just people.
He set the pot down carefully, dried his hands, and cleared his throat.
"Uh," he started, then stopped and tried again. "While you're both here." No, that sounded too formal.
He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, then pulled the folded letter from his hoodie pocket, holding it loosely between his fingers.
"I got this in the mail." No, that sounded too ominous. He huffed softly at himself.
"Just… here."
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Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2026 6:27 pm
“What are you apologizing for?” Evan asked. “You’re not the one who keeps putting things on the top shelves where you know I can’t reach.”
“And you’re not the one who keeps refusing to get a stepping stool even though you are not growing anymore,” Zac huffed, just as he lowered a box with strange looking kitchen utensils.
Evan looked like he wanted to push Zac over but instead he went to Riker’s side, immediately worried about whatever had Riker so tongue-tied.
“What is it?” Evan asked, taking the letter. “It’s not some kidnapping letter, is it?”
“Evan, that does not happen,” Zac exhaled, but he was obviously interested in the professional, neatly printed letter–with DCU’s logo in the top corner.
“It happens,” Evan snapped, “Shut up, I’m trying to read.”
“Well read, what does it say?”
Evan was quiet. He looked from the paper up to Riker, and then back at the paper. “Hold on.”
Zac rolled his eyes and nearly snatched the paper, but Evan handed it over and waited, so Zac read it. “Oh. Why are you both acting weird? Congratulations, Riker.”
With Zac’s confirmation that this was something worth celebrating, a grin split across his face and he wrapped his arms around Riker tightly, squeezing him. “Riker! Congratulations! I mean–I knew you’d get in, but congratulations!”
And, with strength that betrayed his short stature and slight build, he picked Riker up–not much, just a few inches, and hugged him before dropping him down. He kept his arms loosely around Riker and leaned back to meet his gaze. “I’m so proud of you.”
Zac was still reading the page, but even he absentmindedly clapped Riker on the back.
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Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2026 6:27 pm
Riker barely had time to brace before his feet left the floor.
"—Hey—!" he gasped with a sound that was somewhere between a yelp and startled laugh. His hands immediately flew to grab onto Evan's shoulders so neither of them tipped backwards.
"Okay— okay— put me down, you're going to throw out your back or something," he muttered with flustered, giddy embarrassment as his feet touched the ground again.
But he didn't step away. He stayed right there, arms still wrapped around Evan's shoulders to hug him tight in return. His ears and face felt hot. He could feel the grin trying to tug at his lips. He bit down on it, but it crept through anyway.
"It's not that big a deal," he insisted as nonchalantly as possible, which only made it worse because he absolutely looked like he was trying very hard not to beam with delight.
"It's just… yeah, I got in," he said with a shrug, like DCU was sending out acceptance letters to whoever asked.
Zac's clap on his back nearly knocked the breath out of him a second time. Not because the gesture had been harsh, but because the weight of acknowledgement was that of which he was still getting used to. He huffed out an awkward laugh in response.
"I'll look into scholarships," he added quickly, the practical part of his brain kicking in to save him from too much attention. "And financial aid stuff. I already checked the tuition. It's manageable. I don't—" He paused and glanced between them. "I don't want it to be a thing you need to worry about. Or anything Soleiyu has to mess with. I can cover what I need to. I'll pick up extra hours this summer. Or less hours during the semester, whatever makes more sense."
He kept his arms around Evan's shoulders, although he was trying hard not to fidget.
"Thanks," he said quieter, voice clear with sincerity. "I just… wanted you to know. Oh, uh… Julian got in too." It wasn't that Julian getting in was less important, he just hoped they knew Julian preferred to avoid the spotlight.
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Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2026 6:27 pm
“What do you mean it’s not a big deal! It’s a huge deal, Riker! And–my back is fine! I’m allowed to pick you up. But it would be easier if you didn’t grow so fast!” Evan said, but knew better than to try and lift Riker up again. He wasn’t done hugging him though, so he leaned in for one more squeeze.
“Julian got in too?” Zac asked, eyes lifting from the page briefly. He exhaled, and a weight had obviously lifted from his shoulder. “Good. Good, I’m proud of you both.”
“Do you want a party?” Evan asked, stepping back again slightly, like he couldn’t make up his mind if he wanted to hug him or look at him. “Dinner, of course–whatever you want. If you want something special tonight to celebrate, I’ll make anything. Zac can go to the store.”
Zac squinted at Evan but didn’t argue. He lowered the acceptance letter but didn’t put it down. They’d already applied for FAFSA back in October, but Riker was still working so hard, obviously trying to lessen whatever burden he thought he was. “Why are you thinking so much about money? I don’t think that’s a thing you need to worry about. You’re supposed to focus on going to school and getting good grades.”
He gestured to the page as if it proved his point. “If you want to pay for it, why don’t you go bother your friend’s rich dad?”
“Shut up Zac, that’s so rude.”
“Okay, let me rephrase. Why don’t you go ask Evan’s rich boyfriend.”
“Zac!” Evan half-heartedly tried to kick him but couldn’t stretch past Riker and wasn’t willing to let him go. “You’re so ******** annoying.”
Zac snickered and took a step back, but Evan perked up quickly. “Riker–let Soleiyu help some,” Evan insisted. “I’m sure he’s got some algorithm or something that can find scholarships so you don’t have to dig. You can still apply, but I don’t want you spending all your free time working. You’re still a kid, I want you to be having fun. Go the to movies or the arcade or–”
“Evan, you’re like forty years too late. Kids don’t even do that anymore.”
“Oh my God, Riker–kick him for me.” Evan tried again, but the effort was short-lived. “He’s being so annoying today. And he keeps putting things on the top shelf where he knows I can’t reach.” Hugging Riker was more important than kicking Zac so he tried to refocus. “Anyway, I was saying–just make time to have fun. If you want to work extra hours with me over the summer, you are more than welcome to. You know I love having you drive me around. My work days go by so much faster when you’re there. And if you want less hours during the semester–of course, please. School is your priority. I’ve never been, I don’t know what it’s going to be like. We’ll play it by ear. Are you–did you want to go to the dorms? Are you staying here?” he asked hopefully.
If Evan had any hope to hide how much he obviously wanted Riker to stay here, he failed miserable. His fingers curled into the fabric of Riker’s shirt, not enough to bruise, but enough to make sure he could pull him back for another hug.
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Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2026 6:27 pm
When Evan hugged him again, Riker hugged him right back. "I can't help that you keep feeding me," he muttered into Evan's shoulder when he commented on him growing. His grin was back.
When Evan asked about a party, Riker immediately grimaced. "No party," he said quickly. "Absolutely not." Dinner though…
Evan offering to make anything made him hesitate. He glanced over at Zac, then back to Evan, then shrugged in an attempt to be casual about it.
"I mean… if you'd make anything," he started, as though testing the waters, unable to keep the grin from pulling at his lips again. "Steak?"
He held Zac's gaze for half a second, silently daring, teasing —
Then his grin faltered just a bit and he cleared his throat.
"Or… not. That's expensive. We don't need to— whatever's already here is fine. Pasta's fine. Or burgers. Or— literally anything."
He didn't miss Zac's question about money. Riker's shoulders tightened a little.
"Habit," he answered honestly, even if he tried to keep his voice light. "I'm used to it being my problem."
For a long time, it had been his problem. College was just a theoretical future. Survival had been more immediate. Just trying to figure out how to get through the week was all he could manage sometimes.
Not that he would say any of that, although he could only assume that Evan and Zac already knew. Or at least suspected.
Riker shrugged. "I don't wanna be a freeloader," he added quietly. "I can handle it. I've been handling stuff for a while."
Evan's fingers curling into his shirt didn't go unnoticed. When the dorm question came, Riker's expression softened.
"I was planning on staying," he admitted. "If that's still okay. Julian too. We talked about it."
He glanced between them, unable to keep the fond expression off his face. He didn't need dorms when he had everything there. The kitchen, the arguing, the stupid jokes, the food truck, the room upstairs that felt safe, the people who looked at him like he was worth keeping around. He wasn't sure if he'd ever want to leave what he had with them.
Which was why he was definitely not going to be kicking Zac.
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Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2026 6:28 pm
“Oh,” Evan breathed a sigh of relief and melted against him, “Thank goodness. I’m not ready to have empty-nest syndrome. Stay as long as you want. Stay forever! You and Julian, both of you. I’m glad you two talked already.”
Zac nodded, because it was another weight off his shoulders if the boys already knew they could stay, and more than that, had admitted–at least to each other–that they wanted to. He must have agreed with Evan, or at least not cared to remind him that it was still Zac’s house.
“Steak sounds good.” Zac pulled out his phone, looked at the time, and debated for only a second. “I’ll have to leave soon to go pick it up so it can dry out a little. What do I care if it’s expensive? You got accepted into college. You worked hard, we’ll have steak. And Julian–whenever I see him again–I’ll tell him he can pick…No, Riker. You ask him, he’s more honest with you. Ask him what he’d have for a celebratory dinner or something and let me know. If you get it out of him before I leave the store, we’ll do that too. If it’s tomorrow,” he shrugged. If Julian needed more time, they’d make more time. He didn’t do so well when put on the spot anyway.
And Zac could never say no to good food, especially when Evan was in the kitchen. Or, where steaks were involved.
He squeezed Riker’s shoulder lightly. “Don’t worry so much about money. We can just rob a bank if we need to. Who’s going to stop us?”
“Zac,” Evan whined, but he’d already pulled Riker close. “Riker, don’t listen to him. And you’re not a freeloader. I promise. You’re a kid. Even if you are growing up so quickly. You’re not supposed to worry about money or ‘handling stuff’.”
Of course he knew why Riker was going to, why he felt like he had to.
Evan wasn’t going to fight him on it; security was safety, and even if this was home, Riker was always going to feel a little better knowing he had some control over things. So the best they could do was help–not take it from him, but support him.
“Besides, you do so much around the house,” Evan continued. “You’re a very important part of our ecosystem, you know. Things wouldn’t be the same without you, you help balance all of this out. Oh–and Zac probably would have had a heart attack already if he didn’t have you helping.”
Though Zac sneered, he didn’t argue; he was grabbing his keys like he was ready to leave for the store now. If Riker wanted steaks, they were having steaks.
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Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2026 6:28 pm
Riker rolled his eyes when the talk of finances immediately escalated to robbery, but there was a flicker of something pleased in his expression. The idea of being included in Zac's ridiculous hypotheticals? It warmed something in his chest that he couldn't quite place into words.
When Zac said steak sounded good without hesitation, Riker stared, not having expected to be taken seriously.
"You don't have to—" he started, but then stopped himself. Zac was already reaching for his keys. Arguing would just make it weird.
"...Thanks," he said instead.
At the instruction to ask Julian, he pressed his lips together thoughtfully. "Yeah, I can ask him," he nodded. Definitely not what do you want right now, unless he wanted Julian to start spiraling again. Maybe more are you craving anything specific, or what's your favorite dinner.
It was a little manipulative…
He didn't care. Julian hid too much. Sometimes a different approach made things easier for everyone, Julian included.
"I'll text you before you check out if I can get anything out of him," he added to Zac.
Evan's words about not being a freeloader made Riker let out a small sigh. A reflex more than in disagreement.
"I don't mind doing stuff," he said. "There's stuff to do." There always had been. For a long time, doing things felt like it was the easiest way to earn his place there. He knew that wasn't the case, but thoughts like that were deeply ingrained.
He gave Evan another tight hug. It was nice to feel accepted and wanted and loved.
"What do you need?" he asked Evan. "Potatoes? Carrots? I can peel." He shifted a little, not to escape the hug, just to make sure he was being useful. He reached for where the cutting boards were kept, ready to help.
He didn't feel like a kid.
He didn't feel like a freeloader.
He felt like… he was part of a family.
As Zac headed for the door, Riker glanced over. "Drive safe," he called. "Don't actually rob anything. Or do anything I wouldn't do." Just to be obnoxious.
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Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2026 6:28 pm
Zac knew he didn’t have to do anything but he didn’t sour the moment by announcing this. He squinted at Riker, because neither of them were the paradigm of responsibility. “We’ll see,” he hummed, and clapped Riker lightly on the shoulder once more.
“Good job, Riker. I’m proud of you. Don’t freak out too much about figuring things out. Let’s set aside some time this weekend to go over things.”
He didn’t wait, maybe suspecting that Riker didn’t want too much attention right now. Especially when Evan still hadn’t let go.
Zac raised a hand to wave goodbye and then headed towards the front door, whistling to himself.
“What do you want with dinner? It’s for you, anything you want. If that means carrots and potatoes, we’ll make them, however you like.” Reluctantly, finally, Evan released him from the hug, but stayed close, not the least bit because he was trying to hide the way he rubbed his sleeve across his eyes quickly.
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Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2026 6:28 pm
Riker almost missed it. The I'm proud of you. It was like it took a moment for his brain to catch up and process it properly. It wasn't the first time either Zac or Evan said they were proud of him, but coming from Zac, who seemed to be particular about when he wanted to say something, well…
He nodded at Zac's suggestion about the weekend, swallowing to try and loosen his suddenly tight throat.
"Yeah," he said, hoping his voice didn't sound as choked up as he thought it might. "Okay, that works."
He watched Zac go for a second longer than necessary, the weight of that pride seeming to settle deep in his chest. Sure, it hadn't been loud or dramatic, but… for Riker, it felt like everything. He'd spent most of his life just trying to survive. Now he was… making people proud. And making Zac proud, who seemed to like keeping people at a distance, felt like it was an accomplishment.
It felt bigger than the acceptance letter.
When Evan finally started to pull away, Riker didn't let him get far. He hooked an arm around him again and tugged him back in.
"Hey," he muttered, squeezing him tighter as he pressed his forehead to Evan's shoulder. "Just another minute, please." It was easier now. With Zac gone, the kitchen felt quieter.
"I'm impressed," he added after a moment, voice light. "You didn't even cry that much." He leaned back just enough to look at him, clicking his tongue dramatically. "Julian owes me five bucks," he huffed. But after a moment he couldn't keep a straight face.
"Just kidding." Mostly. "Thanks," he said again. "For… everything."
For choosing him and letting him stay. For being there when Riker needed him. For giving him a chance.
He cleared his throat before it got too thick again.
"As for dinner," he shifted back to something easier, "potatoes sound good. However you make them, I'll help. And when Zac comes back, uh… I want to learn how to cook steak right."
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Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2026 6:28 pm
“Zac can teach you ‘the right way to cook steak’ when he gets back, he’ll be so proud of himself. Oh, but I’m so glad he’s gone,” Evan said, glad to have another hug.”He’d have made fun of me if he saw, I needed him to leave. But now he’es gone, I can cry as much as I want. Do you want me to soak your shirt? How much before Julian coughs up?”
His eyes were wet, not full-on tears, but now that adrenaline had passed, Evan was just left with raw pride.
“Oh, I’ll give you twenty if you don’t tell Zac. I’m so proud of you, Riker. I mean really, really proud. I knew you’d get in, I swear. There was never a doubt in my mind. But I just–you’ve come so far. Are you still young enough that you don’t look back at your life and think ‘wow, I did that’? Or are you old enough that you can say, ‘holy s**t, I’m amazing’? Because you should be. I hope you look in the mirror and think ‘I’m ******** awesome’ because you are, Riker.”
And if he wasn’t afraid of actually throwing out his back, he would have picked him up again. Instead, he just squeezed tightly.
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Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2026 6:28 pm
Riker huffed a quiet laugh and shook his head. "Absolutely not," he muttered. "You don't need to soak my shirt." But he didn't let go. If anything, his arms tightened again. Evan being shorter made the hug slightly awkward, and after a second he adjusted himself without thinking. Just as he had with Julian, Riker leaned down to hook one arm around Evan's back and the other under his legs, lifting him up to hold against him properly.
"Okay," he said matter-of-factly, like it was just practical. "That's better."
He held him there against his chest, letting Evan hold him properly in return. There was nothing dramatic about it, just a change for a hug without having to get up on tip toes or lean down. Besides, he had an athlete's strength so he kind of liked showing off once in a while.
Evan's words about being amazing made something twist in his chest. Riker didn't look away, but his grin faded into something much quieter.
"I don't know," he admitted. "I don't really think about it like that." Looking back meant looking at everything. And not all of it was something he wanted to hold up and admire. "I just think about what's next," he said after a second. "And how not to screw it up."
Every new opportunity felt like that. Like something fragile he could break if he wasn't careful enough. Getting into DCU was good and exciting, but it was also another chance to fail.
He shrugged lightly, not wanting to make it into a big deal.
"I mean, yeah, some mistakes are normal. I get that. I just don't want to make the kind you can't fix," he quietly explained. He'd already done enough of that. He didn't really want to do it anymore.
"But I like making you proud," he added, quieter. "You and Zac. It makes it feel like I'm doing something right." He gave Evan another squeeze.
"I don't think I'm amazing. But, I think I'm… okay."
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Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2026 6:29 pm
Evan laughed as he was lifted, but it made it quite a bit harder to hide the wetness in his eyes.
He couldn’t complain so much about Riker’s height when he didn’t have to stretch to reach him.
“Well, don’t worry about screwing up too much, Riker. You can’t make a mistake that will ever make me stop loving you. If you have a problem with anything, we’ll work it out together. There’s no mistake we can’t fix. Well–that’s not true, I’ve seen what you can do to frozen patties. That’s–that’s the type of mistake we can’t fix.”
Thank goodness there was always plenty of something in the freezer.
“You make Zac and I so proud. You’re doing so much right. And if you don’t think you're amazing–well, okay is a good start. I’ll just louder and more obnoxious about how amazing you are. I’ll probably cry more. We’d better get you some more shirts so you’ll have something dry to wear.”
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Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2026 6:29 pm
Riker immediately made a face when Evan said he'd probably cry more.
"Please don't," he said quickly and awkwardly, the way he often got around tears that he didn't know how to handle. He shifted Evan slightly in his arms so he could rub his hand slowly up and down his back, protective without even realizing it.
"I didn't know there would be that much smoke," he defended with a grimace. "I thought it was just… sizzling dramatically. Not, like, fire alarm worthy." His ears burned at the memory. He had no idea something could go from frozen to charcoal that fast.
"I'm glad there's no mistake I can make that'll make you stop loving me," he said, quieter now. "I just don't want to make your life harder."
He loved Evan in that uncomplicated way a child would love their parent, even if he didn't always let himself think of it like that. He wanted to protect him, make him proud. Make things easier, not harder.
"You don't have to be louder about it," he said after a moment, glancing down at him as he let out a breath of a sigh. "Don't worry, I hear you." Every time Evan said he was proud, it weighed deep in Riker's heart. Even if Riker pretended like it was nothing.
"And I'm not amazing," he added stubbornly, but softer now. "But… I'm trying."
He adjusted his grip again, holding Evan securely but not showing off anymore. He just let Evan keep his arms around him, and Riker held him close.
"I love you," he added, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. And with Evan, he knew he didn't have to wonder when his heart would be broken.
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Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2026 6:29 pm
“I love you too, Riker. You’re such a good kid. I mean, you still have things to learn, but thank goodness I’m here to teach you. If I say you’re amazing, you’re supposed to trust me. You can say, ‘Thanks mom, you’re amazing too.’ You don’t have to be so humble.”
Even if he was showing off by holding Evan so easily. He hadn’t even broken a sweat. Evan wasn’t going to complain or wriggle; he liked being so effortlessly tall.
And Zac wasn’t here to tease him so he was going to soak up all the attention.
For Riker, he didn’t cry. Not dramatically, at least. His face was a little red, and his eyes were watery, but it was nothing his sleeve couldn’t handle. He mopped at his face.
“I mean it, though. I’m not teasing you when I said I’m so proud of you. I’m so excited for you. I’m going to have to go make more friends so I can brag to them about you.”
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Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2026 6:29 pm
Riker let out a quiet breath of a laugh.
"Thanks, mom," he said, rolling his eyes in feigned exasperation. "You're amazing too."
Even though he tried making it sound nonchalant, it was clear he didn't say it as a joke. He shifted Evan in his arms again, holding him steady and comfortably, rubbing his back once more in an absent, protective way.
"You don't have to brag about me," he added, voice softer. "I just… want you to be proud." A pause, then he continued with a grimace. "And Zac," he muttered under his breath. "But don't tell him that."
He adjusted his grip once more before gently setting Evan back down on his feet.
"I'm trying," he repeated quietly. "That's what I can promise." He reached up to wipe at Evan's cheek with his thumb before he could think better of it, awkward but sincere.
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