Chapter Text
Quentin has always had an awkward relationship with affection. With his parents, he hardly got any. Not his dad's fault, he couldn't help not being a hugger. His mom, well - she seemed to not want to touch Quentin much at all. He'd had Julia as a friend most of his life, and she'd probably been the reason he hadn't starved from lack of physical affection. It hadn't helped that when they'd gotten to college that Quentin had feelings for Julia, and touches then became a little more scarce. Over time, Quentin eventually overcame his awkwardness and his crush, and he got his childhood best friend back.
And then he'd gotten into Brakebills. He met Eliot, who was very handsy in a nice and PG13 way. Then there was Penny, his roommate, who liked to tease him and sometimes shove him into walls or trees when his wards would slip. And honestly, he enjoyed the attention from both men. He had had barely any romantic or sexual relationships with - well, anyone , so he was nervous about his growing feelings for the two men. They both seemed so untouchable, but they still opened themselves to Quentin.
Then the night of passion happened, as Eliot so fondly likes to call it -
"Why the fuck would we call the night we first got together the 'Night of Passion? It's so fuckin' cliche."
"You simply don't see the beauty in the classics, William."
"God, I wish I'd never told either of you my first name."
It was funny. Quentin hadn't expected either of them to reciprocate his feelings. It was a very pleasent surprise when both Penny and Eliot had come onto him at the Cottage party, and before long all three of them had tumbled upstairs into Eliot's bed, room warded and locked shut to keep the outside world out. Quentin still thinks fondly of that night, and how it lead to what he has now.
Eliot and Penny, both men draped across Quentin at the latest Cottage party.
Penny and Eliot, surprising Quentin after class with lunch in the city.
Eliot, whose wit and humor always manage to make Quentin smile, even when he's feeling low.
Penny, with his hard demeanor, hiding what is actually a huge softie of a man.
Its only a month into their relationship when things hit a little snag. It's Mentor week, and Eliot and Penny are plying Quentin with wine while Margo and Julia talk rather aggressively about the Welters tournament coming up. The stress of finding a mentor was a little heavy on Quentin, but right now, where he lay curled between his two boyfriends, he felt like he could face anything.
Later, Quentin would regret having that thought.
Alice comes by, with a note for Quentin from the office. She looks nervous; their friendship has been a little rocky since the whole Niffin-Charlie-tried-to-kill-them incident, but they're trying to make things better.
She hands the note to Quentin, and when he opens it, he feels his heart shatter.
"Q?" Eliot gently nudges Quentin, whose been staring horrified at the note for a few seconds too long.
"My dad's sick," He finally chokes out, looking up and meeting Julia wide-eyed gaze. Fuck.
Penny sits up, arms wrapping around him, and Quentin is tugged into a gentle hug.
"I'm so sorry, baby," Penny whispers, and Quentin can't hold back the tears now. He sobs into Penny's chest, shoulders shaking, and Eliot leans over to hug Quentin from behind, rubbing his spine reassuringly.
Later, when Quentin had gotten it together somewhat, he untangles himself from Penny and Eliot, and asks Julia if she could come with him to visit his dad.
His boyfriends both look a little hurt that he wouldn't bring them, but they don't say anything.
Quentin does mention Eliot or Penny during his visit, and he'smeant with joyous positivity. The mood, however, is crushed when he learns his dad won't be seeking treatment. When he gets back to Brakebills, he can't bear to face his boyfriends, so he ends up camping out in Julia's room, practically nesting in her bed. She talks about literally anything else, and he's thankful she knows him well enough to help him get his mind off this boulder on his back. With anyone else, mainly Eliot and Penny, they would try and force him to talk about it, which would make him curl more into himself until he's repressed all his emotions and goes into a dangerously depressive state. With Julia, who knows how he deals with grief and feelings, he feels safer.
When he finally makes it back to the cottage the next day, he almost immediately runs into Eliot. He looks... ragged, and his eyes are dark from lack of sleep.
"Where were you? You said you'd come back after you finished visiting your dad," Eliot says, his tone concerned. Quentin fes his heart sink in his chest.
"Sorry," Quentin mumbles, eyes flickering around, and out of the corner of his eye he sees Penny walking over to them.
"Q, hey," Penny mumbles, still sleepy, and he wraps his arms around Quentin. "You didn't come back last night."
Fuck. Its practically impossible to resist Eliot and Penny, especially when they're being so fucking - nice to him.
"I - " Quentin sighed, breath shuddering a bit. "I just needed some space. Not - not from you guys," Penny and Eliot frown at him, and exchange a look. "Just from - all the social shit. My dad, he - he's not seeking treatment, and he -" Quentin feels himself choking up, but he wills himself forward. "It was just a lot, and I didn't want to worry you guys, so I stayed with Julia so I could - just. Take a breather." Quentin stutters out the last few words, burying his face into Eliot's robed chest. Penny gently rubs his lower back, looking at him in an unbelievably soft and understanding way. Eliot looks a little - well, Quentin isn't sure how to describe it, but he looks sympathetic.
"Lets go to bed," Penny says, definately using his psychic powers to read Quentin's mind. He nods, kissing Eliot's chest softly, before he grabs both their hands and starts tugging them upstairs.
Now, while the three of them do tend to have sex when they go up to bed so early, but Quentin doesn't know if he has it in him. Even though it would be a viable distraction, the news of his father's cancee had drained him. He let himself be manhandled into bed by Penny and Eliot, and buried his face in Penny's chest as the two tall men draped over him, giving him small kisses along his face and neck. Quentin mumbled something about 'sleep', and before he knew it, he was drifting off.
The next morning, Quentin woke to a muffled conversation at the end of the bed. He frowned slightly, and shuffled, but it stopped when he moved. He swallowed, before falling still once again. The conversation continued.
"And did you know that Fogg tried to take Quentin's meds from him?" That was Eliot. "What the fuck do you think would have happened if he hadn't kept them?"
"I dont know, El." Penny. They were talking about... him? "I just - after seeing him so distraught these last two days, I wanna do whatever I can to help him. We shouldn't be thinking about the 'what ifs'. He has his meds. He's taking them regularly. He's got us, and he knows if he needs to he can talk to us."
"Well, of course. I know he trusts us, but... I've never seen him this bad. I don't know what to do. I don't want to lose him, Pen."
"I know. I dont want to either."
Quentin feels his heart swell with love. Fuck. He loved these idiots. He loved them so much, and he didn't care if they fussed over him, because he loved them.
He waited a few more seconds, before he let out a small sigh, and started reaching into the empty space beside him. He made a small noise of want, and soon, Eliot swept in, crawling back into bed.
"Hey, baby," Eliot murmured, kissing him softly, his gaze fond. "How did you sleep?"
From behind, Quentin could feel Penny shuffling back into bed as well, curling an arm around his shoulder and gently pulling him into his large arms. Quentin melted into him, pulling Eliot along with him.
"I slept ok. No dreams. Guess the last few days exhausted me," He murmured softly, blinking his eyes open, turning over so he could look at both Penny and Eliot.
"Do you guys wanna meet my dad?" He blurts it out before he can stop himself, and the surprise in Penny and El's faces make him backtrack. "You guys don't have to, I just - I think he'd like to know I have people looking out for me here, taking care of me. Other than - than Julia of course, and I just -" He cut off, letting out a small, frustrated huff. "Can you guys work with me here, please?"
Eliot smiled warmly at him, leaning down and kissing him sloppily on the corner of his mouth. "I'd love to meet you dad, baby. Does he know you're bi? And does he also know youre... dating two men?"
Quentin nods, nuzzling into Penny's shoulder. "He known I was bi for a while, I think since high school. I - um... I told him about you two. He was surprised, but he'd love to meet you both. Maybe have dinner, or something.." Quentin swallowed, feeling his leg twitch with nerves. He looks over at Penny, who has been silent this whole time.
He looks - surprised, to say the least, but after a momemt he gathers himself and gives Quentin and peck on the cheek. "I'll tag along, if you want me too."
Quentin smiles, eyes shining happily. He pulls Eliot down to him, and their laughter dissolves into kisses and touches.
Quentin can't wait for these men to meet his father. It feels - solidifying. Like maybe theyre really serious. Quentin mulls it over in the aftermath, sprawled over Penny and Eliot's chests, hands entwined. He just wanted his dad to see - he's in good hands.