Chapter Text
On the day of graduation, he wears his best suit. His grandmother was there to help him with picking it and it fits him perfectly. He would prefer his usual sweater and jeans but at least no one has made him comb his hair in the same style most of his male classmates are sporting.
He stands in the back, ready to finally receive his diploma. He feels bare without the fog there to accompany him or a book to distract him from all of the people around him. He starts counting the tiles on the ceiling of the hall.
He wishes it would make him less aware of the sweat running down the throat of the girl in front of him. Or the press of the warm body of some stranger from behind. His throat is dry as a desert. He starts counting backward in his head. It keeps him grounded enough until he has to walk to the center of the stage. He doesn’t smile or wave at anyone. He shakes the hand of the principal and tries no to run out of the stage. Once he is done he doesn’t feel like staying for any minute longer. His grandmother catches him outside. It is one of those rare days when she is wearing something colorful. She even looks proud.
“You okay, Jon?”
He doesn’t have the heart to tell her that the gentle breeze and the welcoming feeling of fog against his hand are the only things keeping him alive.
“Yes, everything is fine.”
“Don’t you want to stay longer? Maybe say goodbye to some teachers?”
“No, no. We have spent enough time on farewells yesterday.”
She nods with understanding. He hasn’t said goodbye to anyone.
“If you don’t want to stay with your schoolmates we can do it back home. There’s a cake waiting for you.”
“You made a cake?”
“Of course. It is not often that my grandson graduates.”
They are both quiet on their way home. Jon doesn’t weaver in his decision. The tightness of his throat is just a sign of excitement. He looks out at the fields. It will feel strange to never see them again. A part of him is glad though. Being able to abandon this town takes his breath away. There aren’t things he will miss that he can’t find anywhere else. And London seems to have enough of everything. Even kind ladies in libraries.
“So where are you sending your papers?” His grandma parks the car easily in front of the house.
He already misses the silence. “I haven’t thought about it yet.”
“Do you have enough time to think about it now?”
“I think so.”
She sighs. She has never been good at talking to teenagers.
“Come on.” She gets out of the car.
They end up sitting at the kitchen table. The cake isn’t anything fancy, just an old recipe she’s had for a long time. Jon takes a bite and smiles. His face lights up beautifully. It’s a pity he does it so rarely.
“I hope you will remember to write home. Or maybe call home at this day and age.”
“I will.”
She doesn't really believe him. And she can’t even blame him. Not when a very large part of her is glad he will be moving out soon.
“What about the field of your studies? You must have thought about that.”
“Literature.”
“I could have guessed.” She shakes her head. “After the fuss, you kept on making about the books. Nowadays it would be even harder to find you without one.”
She can tell he isn’t listening to her. His eyes look at her, but his mind is occupied with something else.
They finish their pieces in silence. He starts looking around the kitchen like he needs something but he doesn’t get up. He just sits in front of her, his gaze mapping the whole room.
“So feel free to tell me when you find any University that interests you.” She gets up and takes the plates with her.
Jon makes a sound of affirmation. The chair scratches against the floor when he gets up. For a long minute, there is no other sound. She feels his gaze on her neck. After a long, tense moment he leaves without saying anything more.
He waits for a few hours before leaving. He has enough time to get to the station before the train to London leaves. He has gathered all that he needs in his bag. A few clothes, his notebooks, and the Guest for Mr. Spider . He wonders if he should take something to remind him of his parents or grandmother but he can’t say he cares about them enough to be weighed down by any reminders. He passes by the couch on which his grandmother is watching TV when he leaves. She doesn’t raise her head and he doesn’t stop. He wants their last memory to be of a sunlight kitchen and a cake. Not a dark living room lit up by the TV screen and her voice telling him not to come back too late.
Outside the steps into the fog. He calls to it and it answers more readily than ever before. It feels heavier, starts to press against him. He takes a deep breath and feels it filling his lungs like cigarette smoke. He doesn’t choke. With a breath out he lets his wish be heard. He asks and breaths in again. He doesn’t feel anything has changed. Or at least he hasn’t changed. He hasn’t felt any pinpricks of pain and he didn’t start to fade like a ghost. He is still there, surrendered by fog. His hands are the same color they were minutes ago. He looks back at the house. He doesn’t want to check if it did work. For him, it is a point of no return.
He pulls his jacket tighter around himself and starts a slow trek to the train station.
London proves to be incredibly loud. He tries traveling with other passengers but the amount of people pressing against him, shouting over him, pulling at his clothes makes him pull back. He spends most of his time in the bleak world behind the fog where he can breathe easily. He steps out of it to buy a map and something to eat before pulling at the fog again. The unchanging quiet feels like home. On his journey to the Institute, he feels the excitement growing. He hopes he will be able to get inside without getting outside of the fog. The rides exhausted him too much to keep a polite conversation.
The building of the Institute isn’t as impressive as he has hoped it would be. He knows it isn’t the building itself that interests him but what is inside yet he feels like a child denied a toy.
He goes in without a hitch. The signs informing which parts of the library are open and where they store different topics look washed out but he can read them without a problem. He thanks any god watching that the doors to the parts of the library designated for those with various permits stand open in his world. There he pulls against the fog and soon enough finds himself surrendered by books. He trails his fingers against their backs and takes in a deep breath. The smell of old paper and ink feels like coming home after a long journey. He picks one book at random. Then he selects a few different ones. Armed with a stack of books he pulls the fog towards him.
Once he is alone he feels the lack of a strange feeling at the back of his neck. He looks around but the fog is there like always. It isn’t it that made him feel that way. It was the Institute itself. He frowns.
The feeling reminds him of the few times he has found something strange in his books, came across an idea hidden behind strange wording and metaphors. He hasn’t felt it in his local library.
It doesn’t feel like jumping to conclusions to think the Insitute belongs to one of the powers. The one connected to knowledge. The cliche of a library being a stronghold of an all-knowing entity makes him smile. He would hate it if he read it somewhere, even though it makes perfect sense.
He looks around for a good spot to sit down and read. He pulls out a chair from a nearby table and starts devouring the first book.
He has never stayed long enough in the fog to notice how there is no hunger or thirst there. He only needs to sleep from time to time and besides that, he can continue his reading. He starts filling up his notebook which is the only thing that prompts him to leave. He has exchanged the books stacked on his desk several times and never came across any free notebook.
He decides to search the working area of the Insitute employees. He would give a lot to just find a blank set of pages, just ready for him to use. He feels like leaving the Institue means never coming back. The dark walls already feel to him like somewhere he belongs. Or maybe the books do. He could read them anywhere as long as there would be fog to keep him safe. He passes by a set of desks and quickly turns his steps there.
Bare wood greats him. He scowls. There are no office supplies, nothing personal on any of them. It could be a room in any office in the world. He doesn’t want to risk going back into the world to be caught stealing. There is a chance though he won’t be. He looks at his watch. It is late in the evening if he is to believe it. With a deep breath, he lets the fog disperse.
The world around him is dark. There are no lights on and it seems everyone has left for the night. He looks down at the desk he has been looking through before. His eyes need time to get used to the dark but once they do he can see the outline of a set of papers. He tries checking if anything is written on them but no matter how close to his face he holds them he can’t be sure. With a shrug, he picks them up. He carefully walks around the office, trying not to bump into desks or chairs. He gets as much paper as he can get and asks the fog to take him back. The feeling of being watched doesn’t disappear completely this time. He feels it is only fair. He is on its territory. He goes back to his favorite spot among the books and continues to write down his findings.
He is woken up by someone speaking. For a few minutes, his confused mind doesn’t make much of it. Maybe the TV in the living room is too loud. It has happened.
Then the thought of his town disappears and he is very much aware he isn’t in his bed. He is sleeping on the floor in the Magnus Institute. And he is supposed to be alone among the fog.
“Truly Peter. He has been scaring my employees for the last few months. Missing pens are one thing. He has stolen printed files and secure information about the inner workings of the Institute.” A cold voice speaks from somewhere not too far away.
“So they should have put them in a more secure location.” A man closer to him argues. His tone is light and joking. “And all the kid did with them is make a diary. It’s not company espionage.”
A hand touches his forehead. Rough fingers move away some of his hair. The heat radiating from them feels like too much. Jon jerks back, his eyes wide open.
The man closer to him smirks. His warm coat doesn’t hide how broad his shoulders are and Jon is sure he would catch him if he tried to run. A part of him is scared. He looks at the man standing further away. Cold, gray eyes observe his every move and the feeling they leave behind isn’t that much different from the one left by the Insitute’s god. It feels stronger though, more invasive.
“Look who is awake.” The one closer to him speaks. “So tell us, lad, have you been spying on the Insitute?”
“That’s absurd.” Jon croaks. His throat is dry.
The fact he doesn’t remember the last time he spoke to anyone also doesn’t help.
“What are you doing here then?” The one in the suit asks.
“Reading.”
It earns him a prolonged laugh and a sigh.
“Let me ask differently then: why are you here?”
“The Magnus Institute has the biggest library about the paranormal.”
“And you need it because?”
“Don’t torture the kid, Elias.” The man closer interjects. “He has been living in the Lonely out of his own will. Of course, he wants to know more about it.”
“It’s not so obvious. Your patron doesn’t entertain curiosity.”
“Ahh. We have only met him and you are already trying to stake the claim? Not fair.”
“I need it to know what it is.” Jon moves quickly, partially scared they are going to make a decision about him without his permission.
He jerks his bag open. It makes the fog hiding in the corners dance. He pulls the book about Mr. Spider out. With a quick glance at the bookshelves, his fears are proved true. They are still in the fog. Those two have found him where no one else ever did.
He tries to swallow enough of his own spit to make his throat work. He presents the book to them.
“Would you look at that…” The one called Peter looks back at the other man. “Seems our boy is truly something else.”
Elias keeps glancing between Jon and the book in his hands.
“How long have you had it?”
“Ten years.”
Peter whistles. “A decade with a spider.”
“I kept it under the floorboards of my room.”
That earns him a raised eyebrow from Elias. “Why didn’t you get rid of it?”
Jon moves in place awkwardly. “It is mine. It has found me. And I wanted to learn more about it.”
The older men exchange looks. Elias looks very much pleased with his answer.
“Indeed. What have you found out?”
Jon is much more reluctant to share his findings. A quick glance towards a stack of notebooks and papers lying next to his bag.
“Would you look at that?” Peter hums under his breath. “How long exactly have you been here, lad?”
“Depends on the current date.”
“Fith of January.”
“What year?”
“Two thousand and eight.”
“Half a year then.”
Peter whistles again. “I must say I am impressed.”
It causes a warm feeling in Jon’s chest. He stomps down on it. These two strangers pose threat to his research. He wants to stay in his corner of the library. The routine of looking through books to find the truth and noting down his findings has brought him more pleasure than anything else he has ever done.
“Do not worry. Your work here is rather impressive. I wouldn't want to keep you from researching.”
Jon looks up so fast Peter is half-convinced the kid will get whiplash. His 'deer caught in the headlight's' expression does make him chuckle though.
“Eh, he does that a lot. The biggest voyer I know.” He tells Jon like it is a secret and winks.
The kid mulls over the new information. He doesn’t ask stupid questions about thought reading and whatnot.
“You belong to the Watcher. And you” He looks at Peter. “You belong to the fog. To the Lonely.”
“The fog. It is a good description of it.” Peter stands up from his crouching position.
He extends his hand to Jon. “Come on, lad. We can move this somewhere more comfortable.”
“I like it here.” At Peter’s raised eyebrow he feels compelled to explain. “It is quiet here. Not too many people.”
“I would worry if there was too many of them in the Lonely.”
“You are here.”
Peter laughs a deep, belly laugh. “Oh, he bites.” He doesn’t lower his hand. “Come on. Your notes are safe here, pinky swear. We will get them on a shelf or something.”
Jon looks between him and Elias. The other man is also observing him closely. He doesn’t protest at the invitation. Neither does he speak up. He looks more content to see what Jon will do.
Jon takes a deep breath in. There is no way for him to run. He accepts the hand.
Peter’s strength surprises him. He stumbles forward and is caught by the other man.
“So eager, eh?”
Jon colors red. He glances up but the smirk seemingly attached to Peter’s face makes his gaze dropdown.
“I am certainly not.”
“Whatever you say.”
“Don’t antagonize him, Peter.” Elias finally interjects. “Come now. Let’s move it to my office.”
Jon extracts himself from Peter’s grasp. He quickly walks towards Elias. He expects the other man to show him the way. An arm gently linking with his makes him freeze. The warmth he has felt coming from Peter is nothing compared to the blazing heat he feels emanating from Elias. He wonders how the skin on skin touch would feel.
Suddenly he is reminded that he is standing in front of a mind reader. He knows his face must be beetroot red.
“And who is antagonizing him now?” Peter gets close
“Still you.” Jon quips back.
He feels Elias chuckle. “The boy has said it himself.”
“I am not a boy. I’m twenty.”
“Would you look at that? A real adult.” Peter opens the door leading out of the library.
Elias leads Jon through the halls. He knows his way and Jon suddenly realizes he has no idea what position the older man holds in the Insitute. He only knows their names.
The office they arrive at is situated at the heart of the Institute. Jon tenses when they get closer to the door leading inside. They pass by the assistant’s desk, empty like all others. Only when they get inside the fog starts to thin. Jon looks back at Peter. The other man winks at him as he pulls them back to the real world.
At the hesitation visible on Jon’s face he chuckles.
“Don’t worry. No one bothers the Head unless they want to be scolded.”
“Is this why you show up unannounced so often?” Elias raises his eyebrow.
“Shhh. Don’t go sharing my secrets.”
Jon looks around. Being in a fully colored office feels weird. He has gotten used to the bleak colors and coldness. The air feels too warm, bringing the memories of summers and sunshine.
“Have a seat.” Elias gently nudges Jon towards the sofa.
He sinks down into the soft plush. He runs his fingers down the material. It has been so long since he has felt something other than paper. The pleasure he feels runs down his arm and pools in his stomach.
“The Lonely can do that to you.” Peter settles next to him. He points towards his moving arm with a smirk. His eyes look gentler than before. “You get used to nothingness and once you are out everything feels even stronger.”
“The Lonely…” Jon pauses tasting the world. It feels feating. “It is better. Sometimes. It is quieter.”
“That for sure.” Peter nods. “But it is easy to get lost there.”
“I just followed the path.” Jon tries to make the other man understand. “I know that if I took a wrong turn I would be lost. But there has always been away from where I entered the palace I wanted to arrive.”
“Curious.” Peter rubs his beard. Even though everything else has regained color his pale skin and light red hair remain unchanged. He is the only thing in the room that doesn’t hurt Jon’s eyes. “What about calling on it on your own? Or when you sent someone there?”
A clinic of glass is laid on the table breaks their conversation. Elias leaves a glass full of water for Jon and passes one filled with scotch to Peter. He takes a sit in the chair next to the sofa.
“I just pulled on it. I can always feel it lurking in the corners. It answers when I want it to take me back.” Jon weights his next words carefully. “It has saved me, I think. From Mr. Spider.”
“The Web’s book, yes?” Peter nods. “Alright, so you have been marked by the Lonely before.”
“Marked isn’t the right word.” Elias rebuts him. “Jon here isn’t a prey.”
“How did you?” Jon catches his eye. He gets a feeling that even though his face remains placid Elias’s eyes laugh at him.
“I can connect the person borrowing books through their local library with a boy hiding amongst my bookcases”
“And he can read thoughts.” Peter adds at the same time Jon grumbles “Not a boy” under his breath.
“So since I don’t have such amazing powers” The irony is so strong Jon actually smiles. “I would prefer for us to make it official. Peter Lukas, at your service.”
“Elias Bouchard.”
“Jonathan Sims. But Jon is fine.”
“Alright, Jon. So how do you hunt?”
“Excuse me?”
“I mean how do you send people to the Lonely. Use them as the sacrifice to the god you have been researching.” Peter makes a vague gesture.
“I don’t… From what I have gathered I do not send people to the Lonely. I just…” He looks between them with hesitation written all over his face. “The time the fog saved me it didn’t save another boy. He was devoured by Mr. Spider. And I made a wish. He was wiped out of existence. I gathered that officially he has died in infancy.”
“Now that’s something.” Peter sounds impressed. “So you just made him disappear.”
“Not really. I just asked the fog to make it as he has never really been there.”
“Asked? Literally said it to it?”
“More like the thought at it. If it makes sense.”
“Yes, it does,” Elias informs him. He has a calculating look in his eyes. “You didn’t only use the Lonely, did you? The knowledge isn’t a part of it.”
“I don’t know?”
“Are you trying to bring him to your side?” Peter’s brow furrows.
“Of course not. What I am proposing is different. A middle ground of sort: he is an Avatar of both the Lonely and the Eye. Our Archivist.”
“And you name him the Archivist? You are becoming too eager, dear.”
Jon listens to Elias carefully. “You are telling the truth.” At a raised eyebrow he continues. “Objectively. I just know the truth from falsehood. And what you’ve just said: it rings true.”
“Would you look at that?” Peter smiles fondly. “So you really have both powers under you. Amazing, truly.”
“Jon has been blessed by them. He has no power over them.” Elias seems to wait for an ensurement that he is speaking the truth.
He doesn’t get any which makes both him and Peter look back at Jon. He is nursing his water in silence his eyes closed. “I don’t know.” He tells them when he notices them watching. “I am not good with half-truths.”
“Huh. So I am not completely wrong.” It is enough to make Peter sound smug.
Jon shrugs. His boney shoulders move rapidly. He becomes to feel the stress he has associated with the company of others. It has been so long since he has spoken to anyone. Even longer since he has held such a long conversation.
“I have a proposition for you, Jon.” Elias quickly picks on his changing mood. “A place to stay and an opportunity to continue your research about the Powers.”
“Hey.” Peter moves to interject, but Elias quiets him down with a look.
“I would like you to officially work here at the Institute. You would be given a place to stay outside, in London. You would also be given an opportunity to find more books that haven’t been discovered yet. Those that are not a part of the library.” At Jon’s surprised look Elias elaborates. “I am well aware that a constant company of others is against your nature.” He shoots a quick look at Peter. “So I would recommend you spend some time with Peter on his boat. You would be able to look to read in peace, acquire new knowledge while paying your tribute to your other god.”
“Why shouldn't I just stay here? Within the fog?” Jon’s voice is weak.
Something deep inside him, something that has yearned for attention since he was a little boy screams at him to stop asking questions. To just say yes. But he knows there will be work to do if he does. Things that will be annoying and stressful.
“The question is: do you want to? It’s not like we can stop you from running.” Peter leans closer. Jon can feel his heat again.
A broad hand finds its place on his shoulder. It weighs him down. He cannot keep himself from leaning against it. That yearning part of him doesn’t care that he must look stupid, arching like a cat looking for pets.
“I accept.” He answers. He doesn’t sound sure.
“Good.” Elias looks pleased. Peter just smirks.
The prospect of a new life doesn't come without some hiccups.
The first one comes during the transportation of his things to, what he later finds out, Elias nad Peter’s house. He doesn’t like the idea of letting The tale for Mr. Spider stay behind in the Insitute. Even Elias's confirmation that it is safe in the Artifact Storage doesn’t feel like enough.
“I am not scared of it.” Jon tries to explain. “I just…”
“Don’t want to lose the knowledge embodiment in it.” Elias nods in what Jon reads as condensation. “It will be here when we arrive tomorrow. Trust me.”
There is nothing that proves Elias is worth his trust. Besides being one of two people who seem to understand Jon. The younger man curses under his breath but relents. He is sure Elias has heard him and tries not to care.
“Is this all?” Peter calls from the door. He has been the one picking up the notebooks and with Jon’s bag thrown over his shoulders, he looks ready to move.
“Yes. I preferred keeping it in one place.”
“Good. What kind of system did you use to keep your notes organized?” Elias offers a distraction as they walk to his car.
Just like he expected it is a topic Jon has thought a lot about. He tells them all about his failures and victories of a comprehensive system. He talks about his notes but soon moves into the fears.
Peter tries to interject, to say that do already have a way of distinguishing all of Powers apart.
A look from Elias stops him.
Damn, he shoudn't let the other man lead so easily. But he can agree there is some pleasure in watching someone so young and passionate talking about their secrets. Green eyes keep moving around and each time Peter looks at the back seat they catch his gaze. Kid colors redder and redder. It is a wonder he hasn’t burst into flames. Elias sighs beside him which means he has heard the thought loud and clear.
“Am I right?” Jon’s voice brings him out of his thoughts.
He has such a nice voice. Peter wonders how will he sound in the bedroom. Will his voice go even deeper or maybe higher in whimpers. It is a nice thought. Elias doesn’t even oppose it.
“Mostly. Let us get to our house and once you are settled we will talk this over.”
“Your house?” Jon’s voice goes high.
Peter decides he likes it that way. “Well, I need to stay somewhere when I’m on land.”
“I understand that. But I think it would be better if I rented a flat.” Jon hesitates. “Or you rented one for me.”
“Nonsens. We have a spare room. And it will be easier if we travel together to and from work. You won’t have to use the Underground.”
It settles any argument Jon could have had. “Fine.”
They travel in silence. London is a blur behind the car’s windows. Jon doesn’t even try guessing where they are going. He knows it will be luxurious.
The only thing he is looking forward to are hot showers. The feeling of water beating against his skin has always brought him comfort. He’s never gotten dirty inside the fog, but it isn’t the feeling of cleanness he is missing.
Under the shower, he could just exist, without care about the world outside. Even his thirst for knowledge went dormant. He could just be. Hours spend over books fed his god but he could feel the same weariness in his bones that hasn’t left it since he was a child.
“Here we are,” Elias informs him. He parks in front of a big house. Jon waits until he turns off the engine and quickly gets out of the car.
“Don’t tease him,” Elias warns Peter.
“From where did you get the idea I would?” The sailor tries to sound innocent.
Elias huffs and exits the car. He opens the door to his house and accompanies Jon inside leaving Peter to carry all of Jon’s baggage.
“‘Settle down Peter.’ he said. ‘Married life is going to help you.’” Peter grumbles under his breath. “What did even tempt me to marry him? I should have gotten someone that would appreciate me.”
He takes the bag and the notebooks inside. He knows where the guest bedroom is and just like he thought he finds Elias and Jon there.
“Feel free to use the towels in the bathroom. We need to buy you additional clothes and toiletries.” Elias looks Jon up and down. “You can borrow something from my wardrobe until then. I am closer to your size than Peter.”
“Oversized sweaters are in style. You could use one.” Peter smirks at Jon.
The way the colors are never going to get old.
“Thank you.” The boy looks between them. “Really. I don’t know why you are doing this but just thank you.”
“Curiosity.” Elias answers for both of them. “You are something special, Jon. And now we can help you become what you are supposed to be.”
“What is that?”
“An Archivist.”
“Not only that,” Peter interjects. “We don’t have fancy names but the way you are connected to the Lonely is unique. We should treat the Archivist job as part-time since you will be spending time on the Forsaken with me.”
“So I am supposed to connect the Lonely and the Eye.”
“Yes.”
Jon’s brows furrow. “But I already do.”
It causes the other men to laugh. He would feel left out if not for the crinkle in Elias’s eyes when he looks at him. “You do. But you are going to be so much more.”
Jon steps from one foot to another, unsure of what he is supposed to do.
“We will leave you to settle in. The bathroom on this floor is all yours. I will leave new clothing inside.” Elias informs him.
He clasps his hand on Peter’s arm to walk him out of the guestroom before the other man can speak up. Unfortunately, he isn’t fast enough.
“If you need any help with showering feel free to call us.”
Jon squeaks and turns away to look at the room instead of the laughing face of one of his benefactors. The tops of his ears are red.
Elias has to drag Peter behind himself for a moment. He curses the thinner build of his current body. James at least was the same height as Peter. He lets out a breath of annoyance when the other man turns around and links their arms together as if nothing happened.
“I told you not to tease him.” He reminds him.
“Oh, don’t be like that. The kid can use some teasing. Or just talking to. He looks so hungry for other people…” Peter’s tone turns serious at the end of the sentence.
He waits until they reach their bedroom. Elias goes to look through his wardrobe to find something for Jon to sleep in. Peter doesn’t stop him, but he picks up his own shirt from a pile and makes it clear he won’t back down on giving the younger man something of his own.
Elias doesn’t call him out on being the one staking claim. His look says it for him.
“I wasn’t lying before. The way the kid took to the Lonely? Hell, he may not be a part of my family but they wouldn't notice if I smuggled him for the next meet-up. Even better, they would celebrate him.”
“I didn’t know you threw celebrations.” Elias chooses a pair of comfortable pants that he got from Peter for the winter nights he spends alone in their bed.
He has been monitoring Jon’s thoughts closely and his focus on warmth has been worrying.
“I am one hundred percent sure you have been invited to one. The one happening a hundred years ago? Give or take.”
“Possible.”
“Don’t be like that. We both know how livid great-grandma was at you for refusing.”
“I haven’t noticed.”
“Yhm.” Peter chuckles. “The money did stop coming so you must have noticed at some point.”
Elias catches his eye and smiles. “It came back once she died.”
“Talking about killing my ancestors as foreplay? Why you spoil me.”
Peter pulls the other man closer. He ends up leaning across the wardrobe door with Elias standing between his legs. They kiss slowly. Peter isn’t above using each dirty trick he has learned during the past three decades. Elias lets him take control of the kiss. They both know he is only humoring Peter. A broad hand finds its place on his face. It is cool, just like the rest of Peter’s body. It is always satisfying to find a new way to bring warmth to it.
“Excuse me.” Jon’s voice makes them pull apart.
He stands unsure in the entrance to the room. He tries to look everywhere but at them, yet his gaze seems to be pulled to their embrace.
“You’ve changed your mind about needing help in the shower so quickly?”
“Yes. I want Elias to help me.”
At Peter’s gawking face Jon smiles. His lips are unused to making such a gesture so it comes off a little bit weird. Yet it does make his eyes shine and crow feet appear around them.
Peter can feel Elias shaking against him with laughter.
“You are joking.” He sighs. “I mean, I would have been hear-broken if you chose only him, but what can I say. I would live with the knowledge you were in good hands.”
“Now, now Peter. Paying me compliments doesn’t suit you.” Elias steps back from him. “Here are the clothes I promised.”
He doesn’t go to Jon. Instead, he waits, knowing that the younger man will feel compelled to enter their bedroom.
“Thank you.” Jon’s smile turns bashful. “I didn’t think about getting clothes when I went away.”
Elias hums. “It must be quite a tale. I would be glad to hear it over a meal later.”
Jon stands close enough to them he only has to reach out to take the clothes. He doesn’t expect a hand to catch his wrist and gently tug him forward.
A part of him is glad that Peter doesn’t outright kiss him. Another is slightly disappointed. To have a first kiss stolen by someone that actually understands him and he finds pleasing to look at has never even been an option before.
Peter is warm against him. A pair of strong arms circle him and comes to rest around his waist. He lets himself rest for a second.
“Now then. I feel like I can forgive you that little lie of yours.” He feels Peter’s voice more than hears it.
The beard moves against his hair when Peter nuzzles against his head. Jon’s heart picks up. He hears his blood thumping in his ears and suddenly he is at arms’ length from Peter.
“Easy there, lad. Getting used to other people's touch is going to take a while.”
“It would be easier if they didn’t attack me out of nowhere.”
“My bad.” He doesn’t sound apologetic at all.
He squeezes Jon’s arm and lets him go. “Be on your way then. If you don’t want to be tackled next of course.”
“No thank you.” Jon shakes his head. He takes the clothes still held by Elias. The other man looks wholly amused by the whole situation. “I came here for a reason. I just wanted to ask if you have any spare toothbrush and a comb.”
“We should. You will find it under the sink.”
“Thank you.” Jon turns back and quickly walks out of the room.
He can still feel the imprint of heat around his back. The smell of Peter's cologne lingers around him.
“You are helpless.” Elias sends Peter a disapproving look.
He starts to undress from his usual attire and looks for something more comfortable.
“We both know he is cold. Colder than me even and that’s saying something.” Peter shrugs.
He observes his partner, smiling at the sight of bare skin. It still feels like a privilege to see the great Jonah Magnus naked.
“And there are ways much more efficient to bring him back from the Lonely than tackling.”
“I haven’t gotten that far. Yet.”
Elias looks over his shoulder. He tries to look bemused but his eyes betray him. The way they soften when he looks at Peter makes the other man almost believe he is loved.
“The Lonely is still my domain. I will leave his voyeuristic tendencies to you.”
“We will have to find the middle ground at some point. He is after all tying our Patrons together.”
Once Peter is sure the show is over since Elias is fully clothed he starts looking for a change of clothing as well.
“Isn’t it just too perfect?” He chooses a t-shirt he is sure Elias hates because of how often he finds it at the bottom of the shelf. “He drops into our laps just like that.”
“If you have an idea you should speak up.”
“Because… you can’t read minds?”
“And you still see yourself as a funny man. How tragic.”
“You should speak to my husband. He thinks I’m hilarious.” Peter folds his clothes the way he knows is expected of him. One of their compromises. “I have my doubts about someone so strongly bonded with the fog and apparently the Eye just arriving somewhere at random.”
“A gift then. To us from our gods?”
“Maybe.”
They look at each other. Silent communication doesn’t consist of words but of feelings.
Peter projects his worry and excitement while Elias responds with curiosity and eagerness. They leave their bedroom and walk towards the kitchen. Inside they take their usual roles, Elias cooks while Peter watches with a drink in hand.
A few years of marriage turned out to be enough for them to learn their strengths.
“What do you think?” Peter takes a sip of his scotch.
“About what?”
“The weather. About our lovely Jon.”
Elias starts adding the ingredients into the pan. “He has great potential. And his arrival is rather surprising. But there is one thing that I have noticed.” He looks up, his eyes cold and judging.
Peter sits up straight. In times like this, he can feel the age behind those eyes. His worth as a companion is being judged and he doesn’t even know what counts in his favor.
“He hasn’t aged.” Elias finally looks away. “His hair is the same length. I have monitored how much food has been stolen from the cafeteria and it hasn’t been enough for him to survive for half a year.”
“The Lonely changes how you perceive time.” Peter agrees.
“It’s not that.” Elias clicks his tongue. “He has stopped aging, not thought the time went faster than it really did. Although it begs the question of how long did he think he was there.”
Peter takes his time with his drink.
“You want to use him for your immortality project, don’t you?” He concludes.
“I like to keep my options open.”
Peter snorts. “So yes.” He shakes his head. “I really don’t get it. You are already immortal. Hell, you will probably change a body in a decade or two just because you find something better.”
“I like to think I will choose something that will fit both of our preferences.”
Peter doesn’t blush often. He tries to hide his flaming cheeks behind the glass.
“Sure. Still, don’t go scaring the kid just because you want to stay in one body for longer than fifty years. I get a feeling he might be worth a lot more.”
“Should I be jealous?”
“Only if I can be jealous of the way you look at him.”
They smile at each other. They may have had different opinions about many different topics, but on this, they had an agreement. They were going to keep Jon as theirs.