Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The bell chimed as he stepped through the door. Most of his siblings were already there, preparing the shop for the day. He had unfortunately overslept, as usual. Running a hand through his hair tiredly, the first thing Morpheus does was set the animal carrier down onto the floor, opening the door to let his ravens hop out.

Already familiar with their own routine, Matthew and Jessamy take flight to their usual perches above the coffee shop's bookcases. With that finished, he closed the cage back up to head into the back, where the kitchen laid in waiting.

Already knowing his own sleep schedule, Morpheus had done most of the prep of today last night, always the last to close up. At one of the prep tables, his sister Dolores was in the process of making up their usual fruit smoothies.

As he took off his trench coat, hanging it up along with all the other black coats, Morpheus asked his sister, “How are you this morning, Lo? Sleep well?”

With a small shrug and an even smaller voice, his younger sister replied, “Not bad. Not low today, though.”

Pushing up his sleeves, Morpheus came up next to her, “But not high either?”

Shaking her head, he noted her hair was down, and tsked gently. A hair band on his wrist for this purpose, he began to softly braid it back, murmuring, “Let us know if you need a break.”

A loud clattering behind them signaled the entrance of the last sibling to arrive, Cori. With their usual platform heels, blonde hair sleek and polished, they sneered, “Don't treat her like she's fragile, Murphy. She's stronger than you.”

Tying off the braid, Morpheus sent them a glare, “If I have to call you by your chosen name, you have to do the same, Coriander.”

At the sound of their birth name, Cori made a face as they tied on their apron, “Fuck off, Morpheus.”

“Honestly, you two.” Came the exasperated voice of their eldest sister, stepping up beside Cori in the door way between the kitchen and front of the shop. With arms crossed, her waist apron already on and hair tied back, Didi scolded them, “Can we please not start the day with an argument, again?”

Cori rolled their eyes, “We're not arguing, Di. It's called a friendly debate.”

“Is that what we're calling it?” Morpheus muttered under his breath, only 'Lo to hear, who softly giggled. Shooting her a smile in response, he pecked a kiss to her temple before getting on with his work.

The familiar humming of Joy as she clipped butterfly clips into her hair and Dustin's typing in the office were soothing for Morpheus as he went about taking out the prepared cookie dough from the night before.

As she twirled past the ovens, Joy turned on the heat for him. Fondly smiling at her, Morpheus complimented their youngest sibling, “Good choice of shoes, Joy.”

Pausing in her dancing, Joy showed them off to him with a wide grin. One a red converse, the other a yellow. Beside her rainbow dyed hair, that was the only colour about her. Morpheus sometimes wondered if favouring black was a genetic trait coded in all his siblings DNA. The only one he knew that didn't have such a proclivity for dark colours was Ollie. And even then he preferred horrendous plaid shirts. Though they don't get along, at least Cori stuck with their family aesthetic.

Maybe that was why Ollie went AWOL. Couldn't stand a family of goths.

Turning his thoughts away from the heavy topic of their wayward brother, Morpheus began to run through the motions of the morning.

Endless Coffee & Books was their family ran business, where none of them really knew what to do with themselves when their parent up and left them, leaving only behind a massive chunk of money. Dustin, as the eldest and at the time their legal guardian, decided that the money would not last long, especially with seven of them to feed. He and Didi opened up a tiny coffee shop; its main attraction being the large collection of books to entice customers in.

Before they were selling baked goods and more elaborate drinks, they catered simple coffee, teas, and the occasional hot chocolate. Because of the lack of selection, it didn't draw a large clientele, but it was enough to keep them afloat. However, as Dolores developed severe depression, and Joy with her psychosis, bills began to stack up, they had to soon expand the café. Morpheus dropped out of university, barely a year into his courses in order to help run the place full time instead of part time.

After a week of working the front, it was obvious he was not made for customer service, and was shoved off into the kitchen, away from people. From there, he started to get into baking, feedback from customers filtered through from Dustin and Didi, helping him adjust recipes. His younger siblings, settled around some counters in the back after school and working on homework, would happily taste test for him. Despite how hard it was, working late and up early, they were some of the best memories Morpheus had with his family.

Then Ollie left. And it rattled the already fragile foundations of their family hard.

A pan loudly hit the counter, making him jump. Scowling over at Cori, the sibling only gave him a sly smile, “Day dreaming, Murphy?” They had their hand gripped around an empty pot, having decided to be a dick and purposefully startle him.

Exhaling hard through his nose, Morpheus tried to draw on his endless amount of patience, and gritted out, “Don't you have people to serve?”

Shrugging with disinterest, “It's not busy right now.” They then hopped up on the counter, which made him mutter his typically ignored 'get off'. In their hand was a small amount of skittles. In a surprising turn of events, Cori offered some to him. Eyeing the hand, and then the person attached to said hand, Morpheus took the risk. However, seeing as his own hands were messy from now working some fresh croissants dough, he opened his mouth, a silent request. With barely a pause they closed one eye, aimed, and tossed.

He caught it with a surprised hum, his sibling lighting up and fist pumping the air. “Again!” They cheered, already preparing the next one. Forgetting about what he was working on, Morpheus turned his entire attention to them.

Five more successful catches and on their way to a sixth later, Didi came to into the kitchen, hands on her hips. “Cori! We have customers to serve!” She admonished before spinning back around to the front counter.

With an exaggerated huff, Cori hopped off the counter. “I'm coming. Keep your hair on...”

Fun over with Morpheus turned back to his dough, but paused when Cori lightly punched his arm and murmured, “Stay in the moment, Morphy.”

Astonished at the rare amount of care in their tone of voice, usually reserved for 'Lo and Joy, he gaped at their retreating back. Fucking Cori and their bullshit people detecting skills, he grumbled to himself, even with a tiny smile quirking at his lips.

When his break came about, Morpheus tugged his apron over his head, setting it onto the counter with a tired sigh. He had an hour to catch up with his assigned reading for his online course and scarf down a sandwich. Maybe he could ask Joy to make him one of those caffeinated, sugary monstrosities she enjoyed concocting. Those got him through the rest of the day without falling asleep on his feet.

As he rummaged through his bag, panic began to set in, unable to find his book. After taking a moment to pause, think, and then curse, Morpheus recalled setting it on the bedside table before sleeping last night. Grabbing his sandwich, he ducked into the front of the store, noting that the lunch rush had died down as usual, seeing as he took his break an hour after. Morpheus then caught the attention of his eldest sister, who raised a brow at his surprising presence in the front of the shop.

“Do we have a philosophy section? I left my book at home and I need to finish it tonight.”

Didi hummed in amusement as she crossed her arms. “How do you not know our book selections?”

He huffed, “You're the one who shoved me into the kitchen. When do I have time to peruse the shelves?”

With a fond roll of her eyes, Didi gestured to the back corner nook, “They'll be over there somewhere.”

“Thanks.” Morpheus grunted, mind beginning to trail over to where he left off last night. Already shoving some of the sandwich into his mouth, he made his way to the book case. The interior of the shop was as if an old Gothic library decided to spawn a modern day coffee shop tumor into the middle of it. Dark tones, warm lighting, and definitely skimping out on dusting – though that was Cori's job so no wonder it needed a good cleaning – it set a great atmosphere for the nearby university students and Instagramers. They had a mismatched collection of chairs and sofas, some leather, some fabric, but all comfortable enough for some of the students to take naps in between studying and convincing themselves not to drop their classes.

Finding the shelf with a label that said 'Philosophy and Psychology', Morpheus was halfway through his sandwich when he approached it. It was in a little secluded corner, away from sight. And, there was someone occupying one of the wing-backed arm chairs in this area. They were hunched over the table in front of them, papers already graded and to be graded spread out on the surface. With glasses perched on his nose and long hair tied back into a half messy up do, Morpheus concluded they were either a young professor or a TA. And deep into their work at that. So instead of politely making his presence known, he instead focused on searching for his book.

Finger hovering over the spines, he mouthed the title over and over until he caught sight of it, Discourse on the Method by Descartes. He can't say European Philosophy was his favoured subject, Creative Writing taking first place for him, but it certainly got him thinking and his mind off certain topics he would prefer to avoid.

Pulling the book out, he turned to head back to the stool perch he typically took in the back room for his break, only to pause at the man in the chair watching him, a little wide eyed. They stare for a long moment, and Morpheus could feel his shoulder inching up to his ears, the awkwardness rising. Until the man cleared his throat, “Philosophy major?”

Slowly, he shook his head. “Minor.” A pause. Then Morpheus found his rusty communication and small talk skills and used them to add, “I major in Creative Writing.”

The other smiled, encouragingly, “Going to be a writer?”

Shrugging stiltedly, he replied, “Maybe? The course makes me write about traumatic realism.”

Making a face, the man asked, “Not your thing?”

“I prefer horror and fantasy.” Morpheus muttered, looking away and over to where he knew the kitchen was. He would love to be there right now.

“I'm a History major, minor in English Literature.” The man then took off his glasses to rub at his eyes, “And I'm a TA, helps with my credit score. Plus, I want to be a teacher myself, sooo it's useful, I guess.” He then finished with a shrug that said 'what can you do about it'. Morpheus despaired over how people could just talk without over thinking every single word.

“There you are!” A voice crowed, and both men whipped their heads over to where Joy was peeking out around a shelf into their little alcove. “I got your drink ready for you, Morphy!”

Nearly wanting to fall to his knees in gratitude at his sister cutting through this horrible interaction, Morpheus offered a stilted nod at the man as a good bye before fleeing.

Snatching his drink in its disposable cup – a bunch of butterflies and a large smiley face drawn onto it signified it was his – from the counter, Morpheus secluded himself into the sanctuary of the back room. Which was also where Dustin did his work.

As their book keeper and general man for running the accounts and other business side of things, he certainly did not look like it. In a massive black snuggie that he kept within the office because it got pretty cold and a pair of sweatpants, the eldest of his siblings looked up through the shadow of his hood. “You're late.” Then, he checked his watch. “By nearly five minutes.”

It was the curt way his brother went about asking if everything was okay. Helplessly shrugging, Morpheus offered, “I was looking for a book.” And rose said book up as evidence. After a second of scrutinising him and the offending book, Dustin nodded shortly and turned back to his work.

The old radio in the corner crackled with equally old songs. Dustin specifically tuned into the channel that played nothing newer past the 60s. Right now, the peppy chords of Mr Sandman were playing. Making a face at the song choice, Morpheus took up the stool that was now His, and cracked open his book.

So immersed into the near incomprehensible writing and trying to push through it so he could complete his assignment by the end of the week, Dustin had to chuck a pen at his head to get him back to work, his break over, the hour having flown by.

Grumbling and rubbing at his head, Morpheus set the book down on the counter near his station as he headed back into the kitchen – but far enough to not get dirty – so he could remember to put it back when closing came. He really didn't want to go back out there, already figuring the man would still be there as university students tend to find a spot and nest for a minimum of five hours. He did not want to make the man anymore uncomfortable with his terrible talking skills, inevitably driving away a customer. And that was not dramatic of him to say, as he had done so at least three times in the past, which was why he was placed in the kitchens. Apparently, he came off as an unfeeling asshole. That seemed like a them problem, but it became a family problem if they lost money.

Closing time proceeded as usual. Tables wiped down, chairs turned up, floor swept and mopped, and money cashed up. Morpheus and Dolores had their tasks in the kitchen to complete, mainly rinsing and stacking dishes into the washing machine and preparing tomorrow's batches of dough, batter, and icings. However, as he would always do, he would nudge Dolores out with Cori, everyone clocking out at different times despite all living in the same house.

And when Dustin turned his office lights off, the second last to leave, they traded mumbled 'see you later's and then Morpheus was alone in the kitchen. He found this solitude peaceful, with his ravens flapping about in the front café and all his work being the only sound needed.

They close at six, with clean up taking up to an hour if all of them focused and didn't get distracted and talk. By the time Morpheus locked up, it would be nearly ten, so immersed in all his work, and then having to clean up after himself.

As he wiped down the last of the flour coating the surfaces, his eye caught onto the book. And with it, his short conversation with the man. He was friendly enough, had a kind smile, and perhaps was feeling sympathetic to Morpheus dithering words. Maybe he was used to people taking a while to find the right things to say, being a TA and all. It was nice, the patience he had shown in that short exchange.

No one outside his family was ever really patient with him.

Closing up, Morpheus drifted over to the book case in the back, eyes falling onto the empty chair, as if expecting the man to still be there. But all trace of him was wiped away clean. Book back in its place, Morpheus called his ravens back into their carrier and locked up.

He had one more chapter to read tonight and then the book would be done. Afterwards, he could focus writing the short assessment on their own opinions and takes on the book. He dreaded it, thinking over the creative writing piece he had already completed early this week. That was an interesting exercise on merging two very different genres in a way that was cohesive. Far more exciting to write than this other assignment.

Home was a large townhouse, having been in the family for a couple of generations. With three floors and a loft filled with decades worth of junk, it was a place of warmth. Even more so after their parents left, though it certainly took them time to realise with how shocking it was their disappearance. It had grown cold, that first year Ollie had left, but they found their footing again, and his room was still made up, currently used for more frequently used storage. All they had to do was take out the objects and boxes, and Ollie would have his room once more.

That's if he ever came back. Didi was still hopeful, along with Joy and sometimes Morpheus was too. But the rest of them weren't, Cori the more cynical and Dustin too reticent to even mention Ollie. 'Lo kept her own opinions close, but Morpheus knew she adored him.

However, despite the sad, complicated history, home was safety. And the second he stepped in, dinner's smell still lingered in the air even with his late return. It mixed with the familiarity of the place: the smell of peaches Cori always ate, the rustling of the pet rats that 'Lo kept in the living room, dust of the many books from their small library that Dustin practically lived in that permanently floated around the house, the sight of the many jackets hung by the front door that were owned by Joy, and the floral apple perfume that Didi wore.

Breathing and taking it all in, Morpheus felt all the tension of the day melt away as he toed off his Doc Martins. After he placed his trench coat on the large coat rack, the black blending in with the black, Didi came tramping down the stairs. “You're back! I'll heat up your dinner. It's lasagna.”

Trailing after her bounding into the kitchen, Morpheus passed by frames of family pictures. All with their parents in were taken down three months into their departure, none of them really wishing to think of them and their abandonment.

Their kitchen was large, with an island counter and an arched entryway into the dining room to the right. The long table had seven seats, the two that were once at the head of the table now used in the library to stack books.

As Didi piled some food onto his plate, Morpheus went about releasing his ravens and taking a seat at the island. The table was only ever used for family dinners, when all were there. Matthew flew to hop along the counter top, and eating the proffered carrot that he took from his plate. Jessamy landed on Morpheus' shoulder, playing with some strands of hair.

Watching fondly, his sister stated, “Someone asked after you today.”

Looking up, mouth full from the food, he could only offer a baffled expression in response. After all, no one asked after him. Or well, no one that his family wouldn't have chased away. Didi carried on, “A man from the shop. Said you two talked a little. Apparently he never got your name.” She then wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.

He grimaced, swallowing. “He never asked. And whatever you're thinking, don't.”

Leaning on the counter space across from him, the woman teased, “And what am I thinking about, little brother?”

An arm then snaked its way over his shoulder, the smell of peaches telling him who it was before they slyly added, “Maybe about how dreadfully single you are, Murphy.”

Hunching over, Morpheus shoved more food into his mouth so as to have an excuse to not respond. Already used to such a tactic, his siblings continued on over him. “He's not bad to look at. Too masculine for me however.” Cori decided to opinion, despite no one having to ask.

However, Didi joined in anyways, amused as she recounted. “I think he was cute enough. And he's always polite to us.” They talked about the man as if familiar, and concluded that he must've been a regular.

He was going to have a stomach ache later with how fast he scarfed down his dinner. Shoving sharply away from the counter, the stool screeching and Cori quickly moving out of the way as he got up, Morpheus diligently kept his eyes from meeting theirs. It would only egg them on. Dishes placed into the dishwasher, Morpheus retreated from the kitchen with a parting, “You're both horrible people.” Their laughter followed him to the stairs.

Instead of heading to his room, with his ravens hopping behind him, he went to Joy's room. Girl in red was playing and 'Lo was there, both sisters laying on the bed and staring up at the ceiling vacantly. That was exactly the kind of vibe he wanted before heading to bed, deciding he could finish the book tomorrow.

Flopping onto the bed, mattress creaking and bouncing with his added weight, Morpheus drawled, “What we having a crisis over this time, girls?”

Joy sighed mournfully, “Saw a pretty girl today.”

'Lo irritably huffed, “A character from my book died.”

“Ah,” Morpheus hummed in understanding, “Both horrible things. I couldn't speak to a person today.” He added.

They hummed in that same solemn, understanding tone, before falling into silence. Dead girl in the pool soon faded away and turned to Nobody by Mitski. They all laid in silence, basking in the music that resonated with all of them in some way.

'I just need someone to kiss' She crooned from Joy's phone speaker.

His mind trailed over to the man at the shop, with kind brown eyes and warm smile against his will. Sighing loudly, and willing the image to banish itself, Morpheus was echoed by his sisters. He fell asleep to the repeated word 'nobody'.

Chapter Text

The next week carried on like all the others would, and though it could be monotonous, Morpheus did not mind the routine. The repetition kept his anxiety from rocketing, and the slight moments of unexpected to break the monotony up kept him on his toes. It helped him adjust to change in a kinder way. Morpheus struggled with change.

The one change in his typical day was his siblings – mainly Didi and Cori – teasing him about the customer he had talked to. The man mainly came in on Tuesdays and Thursdays to spend around four hours grading papers or doing other work on his computer. The other days were between five to thirty minutes, enough to grab a drink and maybe relax.

And it gave him enough time to ask his siblings about Morpheus. If he didn't know that they would've chased the man out if he was a creep, he would be worried about the man's constant curiosity of him. None of the siblings gave out Morpheus' name, more because they wanted him to make the first move if he was interested. And in turn, they never mentioned the man's name, as they already knew and were being absolute dick heads, forcing him to ask if he was desperate enough to know.

However, though he didn't make the first move in the typical sense, Morpheus had still ended up unwittingly talking to the man without any mental pre-planning before hand. Which led to him walking to the corner to find where Joy was happily chattering to the man, cross-legged on a stool, and freezing. His ravens were eagerly taking her offerings of raisins from where they perched on her knees.

Cori had sent him around the corner, and Morpheus should've known it wasn't just for him to drag Joy back to her job. He was the best at bringing her back to the moment so it made sense up until he saw the familiar man and his stupid smile.

Joy was in the middle of talking about the flowers they grew in their backyard, and all the butterflies they attracted in the spring and summer time, when Morpheus cleared his throat. “Joy.” He stated curtly, ”You're needed at the front.”

As she tilted backwards to look at him upside down, the man startled at Morpheus appearance. Inwardly grimacing at his too silent footsteps, he approached Joy so she could lean back on his legs and not topple over. His ravens cawed and Jessamy flew to his shoulder, her favourite perch.

Stroking her white breast, Morpheus smiled slightly.

“They're yours?” The man asked. Glancing over at him, and noting that his ears were red – it was quite hot in the shop at times – Morpheus nodded. “Jessamy and Matthew.”

“This is Hob!” Joy announced, pointing at said man. Well then, it seemed that though the others could keep mum, Joy was never able to keep a secret to save her life. Clucking his tongue at the rude gesture, the brother replied, “Go help Cori, Joy. You can talk on your break.”

Though she pouted mulishly, the youngest of the siblings got up and left, Matthew hopping a few steps after her, as if hoping for another raisin. “Don't be greedy.” He chided the bird, who cawed at him in defiance before flying to a perch somewhere on the other side of the café. Moments later, Jessamy joined him.

Sighing, exasperated, Morpheus turned back to the man. “Thank you for indulging my sister.”

He waved him off. “No big deal. She's hilarious.”

Eyeing the man for a long moment, searching for any darker intentions in talking to his sister, Morpheus relaxed some at the open earnest expression. “Thank you, either way.”

As he went to leave though, the man shot out of his chair, “I'm Hob, by the way.” Morpheus blinked at him slowly, surprised by the sudden introduction despite having already known that, seeing as Joy told him just seconds ago

The man – Hob – appeared frazzled as he realised that too, continuing on, “Well, actually, I'm Robert Gadling, but my friends call me Hob.”

“Ah.” Morpheus blankly nodded. A moment of silence drew on, Hob looking expectantly. Then, a voice that suspiciously sounded like Cori in his head hissed, 'Your name, idiot!'

“Morpheus.” He replied stiltedly. “I'm Morpheus.”

Hob brightened. “Nice name.”

The man's good mood was infectious, his own lip twitching in response. “Thank you, I picked it myself.”

“Oh.” Hob's eyes widened, “Are you...”

Cocking his head to the side, Morpheus watched, amused, as Hob searched for the right word. Having an idea of what he's trying to say, Morpheus helpfully stated, “No, I'm not trans. I just don't like my given name.” And at the time, Cori had come out as gender neutral and stating their preferred name. They were ten to Morpheus' fourteen, and he had demanded, 'You could do that!?' And decided right then and there his new name.

Cori was furious at him taking away their big moment. They got over it. Eventually. And perhaps not fully but enough to stop being a massive asshole all the time.

Hob nodded in understanding. “Robert is an old man's name, and Rob somehow became Hob when I was a kid. I think my school mates just heard it wrong, but it stuck.”

Morpheus hummed in interest. Then, he decided the conversation was over with. “I have work to do. Bye.” And he turned on his heel, walking away from Hob.

Shooting a withering glare at a smug Cori at the register, Morpheus stalked back into the kitchen, his sanctuary away from meddling siblings and handsome men. Even if he was interested in pursuing a new relationship, he had far too much baggage for one to stay with him.

“I still have no idea on how you're not forever single.”

At Cori's snide words, Morpheus looked up from the family switch. His Animal Crossing character got bitten by a spider in that distracted moment, leading him to scowl. Tugging the spoon in his mouth out, bite of ice cream fully melted and consume, he stuck it back into the tub to pull out more. “I don't know what you're talking about.”

Where they were leant against his bedroom door frame, they sighed loudly, aggravated. “That man is into with you, God knows why. And you pretend not to notice.”

Morpheus blinked, baffled. “He's not into me.”

“Once again,” They deadpanned, “I'm wondering how you managed to date in the past.” Cori then walked into his room, sitting down on the edge of his bed to give him an unimpressed expression.

Turning back to the game, he muttered, “I'm not that bad.”

There was a pause, and from the corner of his eyes he noted the rolling of Cori's eyes. “Look,” They began. “I don't mean to be bitchy-”

“Aren't you always.”

“Fuck off, Murphy.” They snapped. “Anyways, that guy seems to really likes you. Why don't you go for it? It's been nearly two years since Thessaly.”

“Yes, and that relationship ended badly, as we all know.” Morpheus drawled with frustration. “So, you must understand my lack of desire to date again.” There was also the two relationship before that, that also crashed and burnt.

“But, you-”

“Cori.” Morpheus sharply cut them off. Setting the game aside to give them a stern look. “Though I'm flattered by your interest in my love life, I need you to stop. You have to know exactly how I feel about potentially dating again.”

The blond went to protest, only for Didi – who peeked into his room – to admonish them. “Leave Morpheus alone, Cori. Don't pressure him into this.” Smiling at his eldest sister's help, it soon dropped when she smirked and added, “Let their romance happen naturally.”

Groaning he flopped back onto his bed, one hand managing to stabilise his ice cream before it could topple off the bed. “You two are worst. Go bother Dustin about his lack of love life.”

Passing by to head downstairs, said brother drawled, “Still aro-ace.”

Then the youngest peeked in, “Are we talking about Hob? I like him! He thought my garden was pretty!” From Joy that was a resounding compliment.

Crowding into the door way, Dolores then joined, “He's nice.” She softly added her own unwanted two cents. “He was patient with me when I had to work the till that one time.”

“Enough!” Morpheus snapped, taking his spoon and throwing at his sisters. “Get out of my room!”

“We're not in your room.” Joy stuck her tongue out at him in defiance.

Kicking a sniggering Cori off his bed, because they certainly were, he growled, “You're in my door way, which is my room. So get out.”

Taking pity on him, Didi ushered them all out, though Lo stole his spoon like the secret bitch she was, and soon his door clicked shut. Even with the barrier he could hear their faint laughter. Left alone with half melted ice cream, no spoon, and the happy tune of Animal Crossing playing in the dim light, Morpheus sighed. His siblings were the worst.

As he worked the sour dough bread, Morpheus contemplated his siblings' words. It would be a lie to say that he didn't want a partner. He missed that connection, even if all those relationship ended badly one way or another. And because that seed was planted in his mind, he found his thoughts drifting off to Hob. Such a weird nickname, but it suited him well enough as any name could. From the few short interactions, Morpheus got the idea that the man was good with people, something he himself wasn't.

He was too curt, sometimes too blunt and cold with his words. He never intentionally went out of his way to be like that, it just happened. It made making friends hard, which then had him pausing in his thoughts. Morpheus didn't actually have any friends, outside of his ravens. But as Dustin has told him, ravens didn't count, which was utter bullshit.

The people he interacted outside of his family were the neighbors next door – a massive amount of females all in one building that he was sure were a witch coven – and the librarian of the downtown library he infrequently visited. However, they mainly talked about books and nothing personal, so maybe Lucienne was just an acquaintance. And the witches were...alright. One was his ex so that made some interactions awkward. Wanda was friendly enough, so was Rose and Barbara, but the others kept him at a distance though he always tried to be polite when passing them by.

Maybe all the black he wore turned people away. Or maybe he didn't smile enough. Thessaly said he was always so moody and angry looking.

He found himself staring into a reflection of himself on the metal counter top, trying to smile- which, God no, he looked frightening. Yes, perhaps he should stay unsmiling. Alianora said he had a horrible smile.

Morpheus barely had time to dwell in his plummeting mood as he caught onto raised voices up front.

Peeking over his shoulder, mindlessly wiping his hands on his apron, he caught sight of the back of Cori's head and an angry woman on the other side of the counter. About to turn away, as Cori could handle upset customers, he caught a spat of a slur, and whirled around.

Stalking up behind his sibling, Morpheus coldly demanded, “What did you say?”

The woman instantly looked his way, “Are you the manager? Because she got my order wrong and refuses to give me a new one!” And a stubby finger was pointed at Lo, who curled into herself. Didi and Dustin had to run to the bank, and as their elder brother also sucked at talking to people, it fell on their older sister to help things run smoothly. That meant that Dolores was up front making drinks in order to help with the work flow.

Turning to his sister, he wordlessly held out his hand, where she gave him the drink that was 'wrong'. Sharply removing the lid, he asked before taking a sip, “What was the drink order?”

“I ordered a caramel latte with soy milk, no cream, and a pump of vanilla.” The woman stated imperiously, though now becoming offended as he drank her drink, staring directly at her, unblinkingly.

Swallowing the sip, Morpheus was silent as he took in all the flavours. Then, with a slow arch of his brow, he stated. “This is correct. There has been no mistake.”

She spluttered, “You can't just drink-”

“Yes, I can.” Morpheus cut in, staring the woman down with a harsh glare. “I've had almost every iteration of drinks in this shop, so when I tell you this order was correct, then I'm right. You, on the other hand, decided to come in here, obviously having a shitty day, to take it out on customer service workers just doing their job.”

The rage continued to well up in his chest, voice dropping into that low tone when he got truly angry. Morpheus was already a quiet person, he hated to raise his voice, and he had found over the years that people listened better to your anger when it was softer. The woman faltered as she picked up his softened, menacing tone. “If you were politer,” He continued, “We would have made you a new drink, even though there is nothing wrong with this one. However, you yelled at my younger siblings, called one of them a slur, and decided that you had any right to demand something from us.”

“I could have you fired for talking to me like this!”

There was a mocking smile twitching at his cheek, brow raising in disbelief. “Oh, you could?”

“Yes! I know the boss!” The woman lied triumphantly.

Slowly, Morpheus rose his second brow. “Strange. My brother never mentioned a bitch like you.”

“Excuse me!?”

He was tiring of this, upper lip curling in disgust. “Get out.”

“Wha-”

“Get out. You're not welcome here.”

She began to purple with rage as she screamed, “You've just lost yourself a customer!”

“Good. We don't want your fucking money, cunt.” Cori finally snapped. Being hit with both the furious glare in his sibling's eyes, as well as his own freezing one, the woman finally turned and stormed out.

There was utter silence, and Morpheus felt any energy he had when coming into work to day flee his system. Turning to go back to his kitchen, Morpheus glanced at each of his siblings, checking in with them. Joy gave him a tiny smile, Cori nodded shortly, and Lo retreated into the kitchen with only a flicker of gratitude on her face.

Glancing at the drink, he heard Joy ask, “Do you want me to toss that?”

“No.” Morpheus replied shortly, grabbing a new lid, “Why waste a perfectly decent drink?” He added with a scoff, finally stalking back into the kitchen. Fucking customers.

Chugging the sugary monstrosity, Morpheus glanced around and caught sight of Lo tucked onto his designated stool in the office. Setting the empty cup on a counter as he made his way to her, he softly smiled on his approach. He may have a terrible smile but Dolores always appreciated it when he turned it her way.

She had her sleeves pulled over her mouth, silencing her sobs, and her shoulders trembling hard by the force of her emotions. Crouching down in front of her, he rubbed one of her knees in comfort. “You did nothing wrong.” He immediately affirmed. “That woman was just horrible and wanted to take out on anyone she could.”

“I-I know.” Lo wetly replied through her hands, “But she-she called me u-useless. And I-”

“You're not useless.” Morpheus cut off sharply, “You make amazing pies and is the only one that can get Cori to behave like a decent person.” That triggered a weak laugh from his sister, and Morpheus warmed at the sound of it.

Reaching up, he gently pried her hands off her face, using the edge of his apron, a clean part of it, to wipe away her tears. The fabric ran across her cheeks, across the deep self-inflicted scars, as he softly continued, “I know it's hard sometimes to accept, but you're not useless. Nor are you a burden.” He added, already knowing that was something she struggled to acknowledge as well.

Silent, Dolores nodded. And he knew then that nothing more would be said from her to him. “Do you want to phone your therapist?” He quietly asked. And once more, she nodded. Staying where he was crouched to offer some support, Morpheus watched as she shakily tugged out her phone, finding the right contact.

And when she murmured a quiet, “Thanks, Morpheus.” He knew that she was alright to be left alone. Patting her knee, he leant up press a kiss to the crown of her head before leaving her to her call.

Closing the office door to give Lo some privacy, he ducked back to the front again. Morpheus knew there was another sibling that needed to be checked. Cori was leant against the counter, facing the kitchen door way and pretending to disinterestedly exam their nails. They tend to fake not caring, but Dolores was their twin, and nothing made them more obvious in their concern than when she was upset. When he arrived they straightened up, false disinterest disappearing within an instant. “She alright?”

He nodded. “Calling her therapist now.”

Shoulder slumping, his sibling muttered, “What a bitch. Did you hear what she said to her?”

“No.” Morpheus replied, pointedly adding, “But I did hear what she said to you.”

Despite the way their shoulder rolled back, as if they weren't affected, Morpheus noted the flash of hurt in their eyes. “It's nothing I haven't heard before.”

Conceding to that, he hummed lightly, “True. But doesn't mean it doesn't hurt any less.”

Rolling their eyes, Cori reached up to ruffle his already messy hair. Some bits of flour came dusting out into the air. “Go and talk to your future boyfriend. He looked ready to keel over with you being my knight in black apron.”

Batting their hand away, Morpheus growled, “He's not my boyfriend.”

“Not yet.” They added cheekily, before shoving him around the counter, “Now go. We're having a slow moment and there's nothing to be done.”

Though trying to protest that, actually, he has some sour dough that's waiting for him, Morpheus knew it was a lost cause. Huffing, and ignoring some of the amused looks tossed his way by the customers, he made his way over to the corner where Hob was.

Joy was kind enough to press a plate with a muffin on it into his hands as he walked past the counter. Glancing down at it, he noted it was a lemon one.

Before he rounded the corner, Morpheus peeked around first. The man appeared to be day dreaming, more papers spread out in front of him as he lightly played with his pen in his mouth. Unbidden, Morpheus' eyes strayed to his mouth before he shook himself out of his gaze, fully steeping into the nook.

Hob's eyes snapped back to focus and over to him at the movement, before widening and the pen toppling from his mouth as he blurted out. “Uh- Morpheus!” A frazzled greeting following afterwards, “Hey, erm, is everything okay...”

Nodding, Morpheus took the seat across from him, placing the muffin on top of a closed book on the table. “My sister is upset, but we have sorted it out.”

Lips quirking into a relieved smile, the man replied, “Good. That woman was horrible.”

“Mh.” Morpheus hummed, “Yes. It would not be the first time we've dealt with such customers.”

“But that's the first time I've seen you come out to deal with one.” Hob countered with a point of his pen in Morpheus' direction.

Scratching at his neck, Morpheus shrugged awkwardly, “Normally, Didi or Cori can deal with them well enough. However, I was not pleased with what they called my sibling. And as their older brother it's my job to defend them.”

Hob whistled low, “Big brother instincts, huh? How many are there of you anyways?”

“Seven.” Morpheus replied promptly. “I'm the third eldest, Dustin and Didi being first and second. Then there is Cori and Dolores, the twins, and Joy. We have another brother but he is...around. Somewhere.” He then finished stiltedly, eyes trailing away from Hob's curious expression. He seemed genuinely interested in whatever mundane thing Morpheus had to say. Strange man.

“And so you're working and going to university at the same time?”

At Hob's question, he shook his head. “I had to drop out first year to help run the café. All my courses are strictly online, making it more flexible for me.”

Watching the man's reaction intently, Morpheus noted the way his eyes softened as he leant back in his seat. Resting his chin on his propped up hand, Hob murmured, “That's amazing, y'know that? It's rare to see that kind of...devotion, to family these days.”

Shoulders slowly rising to his ears, uncomfortable at the compliment, he replied curtly, “They're all I have.” Because at the end of the day, their family was the one thing that kept them all going. Parents gone, brother a run away, and with a family history of mental illnesses, they couldn't bear to abandon one another, a possibility of death weighing heavily over them at the very thought.

Scratching at his arm, a nervous gesture that he found hard to kill, Morpheus took his leave once more. “I have dough that needs kneading.”

Hob startled out of whatever thoughts he had fallen into, “Right. Of course! Great talking to you, Morpheus.” And gave him a warm smile, as if he was genuinely enjoying their conversation. It set his heart racing.

He liked how his name sounded on Hob's tongue, and hoped he wasn't blushing. With how pale he was, any hint of redness was obvious to the eye. Smiling weakly, Morpheus nodded, “You too.” And fled again.

This man was not good for his heart.

Didi and Dustin were rightly furious when Joy informed them of the horrible customer, Dustin's more of a quiet anger as he slipped to the back room to check on Lo. Didi surveyed each of them, patting them all down as if they got into some gun fight than just a verbal altercation.

The concern was exasperating, but they weathered through it with dignity. Easier to let her just go through the motions than protest. Once that was all said and done, they got back to work.

Around closing time, Cori stalked into the kitchen, distracting him from his cleaning. “I need you to pick me up tomorrow from uni.”

At the demand, Morpheus narrowed his eyes. “Why?”

Leaning against the counter, Cori rolled their eyes, arms crossing across their chest. “I have to bring home a mannequin for a project, and Didi is taking Joy to the doctor's tomorrow.”

“What about Dustin?” He argued. Morpheus had plans on working on a new recipe and seeing if he could train his ravens to pick a lock. He probably won't be successful in that endeavor but it was something to do on their day off. And Cori knew he had nothing to do, nothing really important that was, which was why they came to him.

Nonetheless, Cori answered blandly, “A new book in Dustin's current series obsession came out today, so he's going to read that tomorrow. Do you want to get in between Dustin and his books?”

Morpheus grimaced. No. That was not a good idea if he didn't want to be miserable the rest of the month, because a vindictive Dustin was a chilling thing to be subjected to. Crossing his own arms, more petulantly than Cori's smug pose, Morpheus glared at them. “I hate you.” It wasn't a yes, but it was a surrender to their whims.

Triumphantly, Cori, gave him a sharp smile. “Thanks, big bro. Come at one, and don't be late!” They sang mockingly, striding back to the front of the shop. They were in large heels and Morpheus couldn't help but call after them, “How do you even walk in those!?”

“It's called practice and painkillers, darling!” Was their response.

He didn't know how long he stood there, scowling at nothing, but it was long enough for Joy to pop into the kitchen. “What do you call a person who never laughs?”

The frown deepened as he replied curtly, “An agelast.”

She giggled as she disappeared again and Morpheus got back to cleaning again. It seemed his ravens wouldn't be learning a new trick tomorrow. This was why Cori needed to learn how to drive, but they liked bullying the rest of them – mainly him though – into driving them around.

Chapter Text

Pulling up in the university parking lot, Morpheus sighed heavily. It was getting deeper into autumn now, the chill creeping in along with pumpkin spice flavoured everything. He wanted to be bundled up back in his bed, Jessamy laying down pressed to his shoulder whilst Matthew fluttered in and out of the open window, dragging in twigs and stolen jewelry. Instead, he had to get up, dress enough to be decent for public, and pick up his most irritating sibling. It didn't help that he hadn't slept well last night, so his mood was worsened by having to come pick up Cori against his will.

Taking a moment to rest his head against the steering wheel, debating on whether to just be an ass and go back home, Morpheus fortified himself and got out of the car. Scrubbing at his face, he locked up and began to walk through the campus. He knew which building was the fashion and design one, and gave a short prayer in gratitude that it was close to the parking lot.

Students milled about him, and Morpheus hunched into himself, recalling when he was like them. It wasn't for even a year, but in university, studying with people who shared the same interest as him, he never felt happier. Maybe that was because he never got to Hell Week, as Cori endlessly bemoaned about, but Morpheus wished he had at least the chance to experience it himself.

Shoving his darkening mood to the side as he reached the building, Morpheus settled his expression into something bland as he tugged the door open. Down a hallway, and through the third door on the right, the man entered the studio. Fabrics were haphazardly folded or rolled, or sometimes straight up balled and stuffed into some shelf. There was a chaos to the organization, and anyone who studied this topic knew this bizarre system, leaving the rest in permanent befuddlement.

Cori was in a group of other fashionably dressed people, and Morpheus forced himself to not feel ashamed of his own state of dress when they turned his way at his entrance. Black sweats, a grey shirt with a fading print of a grinning Totoro, and a purple over sized cardigan that he stole from Didi a few years back. Morpheus was comfortable and wanted to show just how exactly he didn't want to be here.

But by the amused smirk creeping up Cori's lips, that message backfired.

“Let's go.” Morpheus snapped before they could open their mouth.

There was a shared grin passed around the group, which he very much did not linger his anxious thoughts on, before Cori got moving. Luckily, their bag of supplies was already packed, which they dumped into his arms. Huffing under it's weight, the older of the two swung it over his shoulder as Cori picked up the dress form mannequin by it's pole so that it balanced against their own shoulder.

Holding it with one hand, Cori picked up a smaller bag. “Bye losers!” They tossed behind them as they left, Morpheus sulkily trailing after them.

Making their way across the campus grounds again, Cori chattered about their project. Apparently the teacher wanted them specifically to work with colours that aren't dark, red, or black. Which Cori hated but they never backed down from a challenge. As he listened with half an ear, the other half caught the sound of someone calling his name.

Both siblings paused in confusion to turn around to be greeted with the sight of Hob, bag over his shoulder and glasses propped on his nose. Morpheus' mind when quiet except for wordless, panicky gibbering. Cori replied for them, “Hey, Hob. Just finished class?”

The man ran a hand through his loose hair, sleeves rolled up and forearms on display. Morpheus became suddenly very aware of what he was wearing and wanted to melt into the ground. He hadn't even brushed his hair before leaving the house this morning. Turning his eyes to the grass in shame, he balked. He had stolen Lo's crocs too!

God, when will his suffering end?

“Yeah,” Hob replied, eyes flicking over to Morpheus – and he could swear that gaze took in everything that he was wearing – then back to Cori with a smile. “Last class of the day in fact, but I have a study session I'm helping some first years with.”

“Aren't you a sweetheart.” Cori cooed, which gave Morpheus a cause to become a person again and not a puddle of shame. Kicking at his younger sibling's shin, Cori shot him a glare as Morpheus gritted out, “Time to go.”

With a mean look in their eye, Cori responded, “So you don't want to say hi to your boy-”

He struck them harder in the shins, garnering a yelp, “Do you want a ride or not?” He growled before whirling around to stalk off to the car. He didn't make the most menacing of figures with how he was dressed today, but the irritation that rolled off him in waves was enough for people to part for him.

Throwing the bag into the back seat, ignoring Cori's indignant 'Hey!', Morpheus hopped into the car, slamming the door behind him.

By the time his sibling slipped in, his anger was near causing him to tremble. The second he noticed their mouth opening, Morpheus snapped, “Don't. Don't ever do something like that ever again. Do you understand, Coriander? That was humiliating.”

His ice cold tone had Cori silenced, slightly wilting into the car seat. With that settled, he turned back to the front, starting the engine and getting them away from this place.

It was a tense drive back, neither of them willing to be the first to break it nor ease it. They were equally stubborn and resolute on their opinions, so by the time they made it back to the house, they were both practically vibrating with irritation.

Slamming the front door behind them, Cori carelessly threw the dress form into the living room as Morpheus dropped the bag to the ground with a heavy thump. “Fuck, Murphy!” Cori cried out, “Can you not be a miserable prick for like, five minutes?”

“I have told you,” Morpheus rumbled, whirling around on them, “I have told you time and again to stop meddling with my love life. And you never listen.”

They rolled their eyes, sarcasm dripping from their words. “Well, I'm so sorry for being concerned and want my brother to not be a moody loner for the rest of his pathetic life.”

He stepped closer, near nose to nose as he hissed, “You know exactly why I'm not searching for another relationship, and yet you still insist on embarrassing me! Forcing me to interact with others when I don't want to!”

“Just get over yourself, Murphy!”

“Get over myself?” A scoff of a laugh escaped him.

Cori threw their arms up, exclaiming, “Yes! So they broke up with you, boo hoo. Everyone has break ups, you're no different-”

“Watch your tongue, Coriander. You have no idea what you're talking about-”

“That's because you're a complete idiot! You never talk to us, so how are we meant to know-”

“-My personal life is none of your business-”

“-You're my brother, you stupid fuck! Of course I'm meant to-”

“-Don't call me stupid, Coriander. And I don't butt into your affairs-”

“-I can call you whatever I want, and you never butt into our affairs because you stupidly refuse to talk to us unless forced -”

“-That's not true-”

“-Yes! It's is you, stupid-”

Morpheus snapped.

“-STOP CALLING ME STUPID, ALIANORA!” He finally yelled. It echoed through the house, and all that was left was his uneven breathing. Cori stared, dumbfounded, and Morpheus heard a breath hitch above him. Both siblings turned to see the rest of their family by the first floor banister, looking down at them. There was varying degrees of shock and sadness written on their faces, even Dustin was looking worried.

His hands trembled. The insult continued to ring in his head the longer the silence dragged.

'That was stupid of you.'

'How could you be so stupid, Morpheus?'

'Don't be so stupid.'

It was such a childish insult, but Morpheus always prided himself in his mind and intellect. To have had it so demeaned in the past...He had thought he had moved past it, but apparently not.

Clenching his jaw, Morpheus stalked past Cori, up the stairs and past his other siblings. He heard as Didi called after him, but he was not in the mood. Up the next flight of stairs and he was finally slamming into his room.

His ravens squawked at his sudden arrival, and both flew to the window sill, nervous as he closed his door and slid down to the floor against it.

Pressing his trembling hands to his mouth, he bit on the skin hard, refusing to let out any sounds of distress. The last time he had a break down, a loud one, Joy had gone into her own fit. Morpheus was fifteen at the time, Joy nine, and it was a year before their parents left them. Already, they were growing distant with their children, so it was left to Dustin and Didi to calm their younger siblings down.

Now, he was alone and hopefully unable to upset his siblings with his own emotions. His cries were muffled and distorted through the teeth and flesh, and Morpheus wanted to scream.

There was caw, a fluttering of wings, and when Morpheus looked through wet lashes, he saw his two ravens standing before him. Matthew lightly tugged at his sweatpants, whilst Jessamy mimicked the words, “Alright. Okay.”

Breathing erratic, Morpheus uncurled enough to allow Matthew to hop into his lap, Jessamy doing to same a moment after. Holding them close, Morpheus listened as they warbled for him to breathe, that he was safe. His fingers trailed across their glossy feathers, and it helped him focus in the moment.

He got both of them a few months after his break up with Alianora, when reading an article on birds as emotional support animals. He had always preferred birds to other animals, and when he found two abandoned raven eggs, his heart latched onto them. Now, after extensive training and certification, they were everything he needed to calm down.

This was why he hated people. People were complicated, messy. They hurt you and left you. Animals were far more straight forward than humans. Shuddering out a breath, Morpheus tried his best to banish the painful word from his mind. Alianora, even after these years, still haunted him. And curse him for still loving her despite it all.

Squeezing his eyes closed, his chest burning as he forced back hard sobs, Morpheus held his ravens closer.

Morpheus couldn't say how long he sat there for, curled up and struggling to breath and collect himself again. However, he was drawn from it with a knock at his door, making him tense.

“Morpheus?” It was Dustin.

With a shaking exhale, Morpheus thumped his head back against his door. “What?” His voice was hoarse and still thick with tears. That had him wiping the back of the cardigan sleeve against his face, drying the tear tracks and his dribbling nose.

There was a dull thump, as if someone was leant against his door, before a low sliding noise. When Dustin spoke again, it was next to his head. “Wanna tell me what that was all about?”

“No.” Was his stubborn response.

A sigh. “Morpheus. You just insinuated something about your relationship with Alianora, and I want you to clear something up for me.”

Matthew and Jessamy hopped from his lap as he curled his legs tightly to his chest. Instead, they picked at his sweatpants. Long fingers twisting his sleeves into knots, Morpheus muttered, “What?”

“How often did she call you stupid, and did she call you anything else?”

He refused to speak. But that appeared to be an answer for Dustin, because he heard a faint growl of, “I'm going to fucking kill her.”

That snapped him into motion, stumbling into a kneel to swing the door open, Dustin just managing to stop himself from tumbling to the ground with the lack of support. “Don't hurt her! It's not her fault.” He rushed out.

Glaring at him, his elder brother snapped, “Not her fault? Not her fault!? Morpheus, I didn't see everything, but I knew that she treated you like shit. I thought because she wasn't getting violent, that I didn't need to step in. That you could handle it and know when to break it off. Now I see what a fucking mistake that was.”

“I'm not a good boyfriend, we all know that.” Morpheus pointed out, “It's not a surprise she broke up with me, or-or said some things. I should've been less stu-”

“Don't.” Dustin rumbled, “Don't you fucking dare call yourself stupid, when I know that you know you're not. You've never been stupid, unless it's with your heart.”

Morpheus scowled, “If you're trying to make me feel better, Dustin, you're doing a shitty job of it.”

The older man lashed out, and Morpheus reacted on instinct, falling back with a sharp breath, trying to crawl away. Dustin stilled. His hand was out, not to strike, maybe to hold. But it was frozen in the air, his eyes wide, until they darkened. “So, she hit you too.”

“No! I-Maybe?” And that wasn't a good response, because if he thought his brother was furious, he went deadly. Morpheus hastily covered it up, “It-it was only playful, the punches. Like, friendly. And-and it wasn't often.”

“There is no excuse for hitting your partner.”

“But I-” 'I deserved it.' Morpheus nearly said, snapping his mouth close and nearly choking on the words. Alianora wasn't violent. Not in the typical sense. Sometimes she would hit his shoulder if he did or said something she didn't like. Sometimes, if he was people watching and happened lingered on a person for too long, she would dig her finger nails into his arm, dragging him away. She would accuse him of wanting to cheat on her, when really he was just observing someone. Morpheus would never, but that never convinced her. Alianora would berate him time and again, then turn around and give him beautiful smiles and tell him she loved him.

But if she loved him, why did she leave? Why did she end it? Was he not interesting enough? Too dull and boring. “She said she loved me.” Morpheus whispered, heart breaking all over again.

Dustin sighed tiredly, his anger dimming as he gathered the younger male close into a warm embrace. This time, Morpheus didn't flinch away, willingly falling into it instead. “Oh, Morphy.” He murmured, running a hand through his hair. “Alianora never loved you. Neither did Thessaly, for that matter. She too was a bitch.” It was a harsh truth, but Dustin wasn't doing it to hurt.

Curling his fingers tight into Dustin's shirt, Morpheus' voice wavered as he asked, “Am I truly so unlovable, brother?”

The arms around him tightened, near suffocating as Dustin firmly refuted that question. “Absolutely not. They were just horrible people, who didn't deserve your devotion. You are not unlovable. You've never been, Morpheus.”

Helplessly, Morpheus shook his head in disbelief. He couldn't believe Dustin's words. If he did, that made everything worse. It was easier to blame himself than others. That it was his fault. That he could change himself to be better, have control over his actions and careless words.

“We love you.” Dustin argued back lightly, still running a calming hand through his hair, now rubbing a soothing circle on his back with the other one. “I love you so much, Morpheus. So does Didi, and Cori, and all the others. We argue but that doesn't take away how important you are in this family.”

He choked out a sob, and burrowed deeper into Dustin's arms. If nothing else felt right or safe in the world, at least his big brother's embrace was.

The next day was a tense one. Morpheus insisted they open up shop, despite all of them protesting. He knew Dustin must have said something to the rest, because though they walked around him on tip toes, they had a light of understanding in their eyes. He could see how they've reevaluated everything he's said and done since breaking up with Alianora, and then Thessaly. Morpheus hated it.

Hiding in the kitchen never felt better. He worked any frustration out on some fresh bread, even though it wasn't entirely needed. It helped. And when his break came around, Morpheus slunk into Dustin's office and tugged the stool to sit beside the older man. There, he laid his head on his brother's lap, who continued to work but pet his hair for the entire hour. It helped silence the thoughts in his head.

Morpheus was exhausted. Maybe he shouldn't have pushed himself to work today, but he didn't want the family to lose money just because he had to go and have a break down.

“Maybe you should take your own advice.” Dolores quietly said from the office door, her two older brothers looking over at. She fiddled with her fingers even with her gaze steady.

“What advice?” Morpheus whispered. Her figure was blurry.

Lo held her chin up high, firmly stating, “That it's not your fault. That you're not a burden.” Then, she turned around, heading back into the kitchen.

Throat growing thick, Morpheus turned his head into Dustin's lap, pressing firmly to stave off the tears that wanted to fall. He missed being okay. It's been a long time, but sometimes, if he thought hard enough, he could remember being happy.

Chapter Text

A week passed in the same haze of punching dough and finding even the smallest of inconveniences enough of a cause to cry. After the first couple of days, his siblings relaxed, and went back to treating him like usual after it appeared that he wouldn't be yelling at any of them again. Morpheus wasn't prone to yelling, so he could understand their shock. But it all fell back to relative normalcy. He could tell Didi wanted to get him to talk about everything with her, but Morpheus wasn't ready. He didn't know if he would ever be.

Cori had not apologised, but that was to be expected from them. Instead, they just gave him space and toned down all teasing until Morpheus appeared less likely to break down into tears.

On his next day off, Morpheus locked himself in his room, listening loudly to his music. Cori called it emo bullshit. Didi would delicately argue and say it was emotionally cathartic. Morpheus would tell them to leave him alone. After an entire week struggling to contain his emotions, he really needed an entire day to himself, and luckily, his siblings granted him that respite.

With music dulling out all other sounds – and his ravens having fled out the open window – Morpheus dragged out one of his blank canvas and painted. He was lucky in the fact that he had a job at the shop, because after dropping out, Morpheus didn't have much to his name. More creative and chaotically inclined, he would not fit in with the general capitalistic generated job opportunities. He wanted to be a writer, an artist, even a musician at one point. He had a guitar growing dusty in a corner with his electric key board. Downstairs in the living room there was an old antique piano he used to play a lot as a teenager, when he got into music.

Playing music hurt too much however, made him miss Calliope even now. In this case, Morpheus knew it was his fault they fell apart. He didn't try enough, wasn't open enough for her. He loved her dearly, and knew for a fact she did as well. Sometimes he would sit down on the floor and strum his guitar strings, fingers curling around them familiarly. But that was only when he was more nostalgic than sad. It was years ago since they broke up, you would think he would get over it. However, Didi always said he loved too strongly to forget or truly move on.

So, he painted and sketched the entire day. Writing felt lack luster lately, even with his course giving him prompts. But all the assignments and analysis sucked the fun out of writing. Art it was. Letting his hand and drifting thoughts choose shapes and colours to block out with first on the canvas, Morpheus' mind spiraled for long enough to paint out a face. It was only the base layer, but even then, he could see that it was Alianora he was painting. He spent their whole relationship sketching her form, her face. She loved that.

But he didn't want to paint her. Grabbing a couple tubes of paint, he mixed the skin colour to a different tone, not so delicately pink and pale, but tan, weathered. The jaw line changed, and for a short moment, Morpheus wondered if he was beginning to paint one of his brothers, or his father, as the only men he really knew.

However, his hand had a mind of it's own, and once the hair was added in, long but pulled back. Morpheus had to suck in a shuddering breath.

Cori was going to laugh so hard if she ever saw this piece.

Dropping the paint brush, hand trembling too much now, Morpheus quickly packed away his supplies, leaving the piece unfinished. He had only talked to Hob a handful of times, it was inappropriate to start painting him.

He should eat.

Turning off the music, Morpheus trudged down the stairs just as there was a knock at the front door. Pausing on the last step, he tilted his head to the side, waiting to see if maybe one of the others would answer it.

However, when no footsteps approached, Morpheus sighed and prepared himself for interaction. Hopefully it was just the girls next door, maybe wanting to borrow something or other.

Unfortunately, it wasn't.

Standing on his door step, was Hob fucking Gadling. Morpheus became suddenly very aware of not only the half finished portrait in his bedroom, but the fact that he was in ratty and paint speckled pair of sweatpants and a crop-top he must have stolen from Cori, seeing as it had Rocky Horror Picture Show on it.

Face hot, Morpheus steeled himself under the surprise gaze of Hob. “How do you know where we live?” He narrowed his eyes, fitting well with the accusatory tone and crossed arms.

The other man winced, quickly explaining, “Right, yeah this looks weird. Okay, so Joy told me where you guys lived like a few days ago offhandedly.”

Taking a deep breath and closing his eyes for a moment, Morpheus searched for patience. He was going to have to sit Joy down again so they can talk about oversharing and what NOT to say.

“And I also sorta know what your guys cars look like, and fuck this really isn't making me sound less creepy and stalker-ish.”

The fumbling of words and genuine terror that Morpheus was going to call the police on him was amusing, and listening as the man continued with his messy explanation, he leant against the door frame.

“-and look, this was a round about way of me asking if I did something wrong?”

Blinking, Morpheus tilted his head to the side. “Did you do something wrong?” Trying to recall their last interaction, if anything it was him who could have caused a problem. Hob looked completely lost and confused. “But-You...I've said hello to you on four separate occasions this entire week and you've completely ignored me.”

Morpheus slowly blinked. “What?”

Scratching at his head, Hob waved his hand in a helpless gesture. “I passed you on the street two days ago. There was also twice at the coffee shop when you came out to restock the cookies and shit. I said hi but you didn't even look up. And there was that time at Uni with your sibling last week...”

Suppressing a groan, Morpheus closed his eyes, pained. “Apologies. I...haven't been in the best frame of mind lately.”

Rushed, Hob amended, “That's fine! I was just worried I upset you.”

“So you came all this way,” Morpheus began slowly, a little astonished, “To say your sorry?”

“Yeah?” Hob shrugged uncertainly, more a question than an answer.

Pressing a hand over his mouth to hide his smile, Morpheus took a moment to take the man in. In leather coat with a hoodie underneath, he was dressed casual and warm. Jeans faded a little at the knees and long hair messy around his face. Though Morpheus could look at a person a say they were conventionally attractive, looks were never really something that drove him to a person.

Kindness was the first thing he really noted about Hob before the image expanded and Morpheus could see the warm brown eyes and lovely smile completely now along with Hob's full image. He was just a few inches taller, and certainly bulkier than him, but Morpheus had to admit he liked that.

Resting his head against the door frame, he murmured, “You're a considerate person, aren't you, Hob?”

The man's skin went dark with a flush, rubbing at his ear. “I guess? At least I try to be.”

“Well,” Morpheus replied calmly, “You'll be relieved to know that I'm not upset with you. As I've said, this week has not been a good one, so I'm sorry for how I've ignored you. To be honest,” And he paused, ashamed, “I haven't notice your greetings. So stuck in my mind.”

Observing him, Hob's eyes softened. “I get it. Life can be pretty shitty sometimes.”

Morpheus huffed a laugh.

On the pavement outside, Wanda and Barbara walked past, the red head whistling low and teasing, “Looking good, Morpheus.”

Recalling exactly what he was wearing once more, Morpheus gritted his teeth as he waved at the two women, “Come inside please.”

Hob chuckled, stepping past Morpheus when he moved to the side. With curiosity, the man looked around the front hallway with blatant interest, taking in all the shoes tossed about and overflowing from the shoe rack to the bags hanging off the stair banister. There was even still red tinsel from two Christmas' ago weaved through the railings that none of them could be bothered to unwind.

Morpheus wondered what their home looked like from the very first glance. He didn't think much of it besides lived in. To the left, by the entrance of the library, Hob was staring at the growth chart scratched into the wall. He wondered if the man had any siblings as well.

“Well,” Cori purred from the living room across the way, “This is a surprise.” They had a sly look in their eye, pointed in Morpheus' direction. With how hard he clenched his jaw, he knew he would have dental problems in the future. Why couldn't they have answered the door?

“We're talking in the library.” Was his muttered response, shoving the man into said room, sliding the folding doors closed, relieved the glass was blurred.

When he glanced over at Hob, who took the manhandling with amusement, Morpheus was hit with the horror of being alone with this man, who was now the current holder of his possibly budding affections. However, the man only gave Morpheus a passing glance as he stared at all the books within. It stirred indignation and relief in his stomach, feeling like nausea.

“Fucking hell.” Hob whispered in awe, turning in a slow circle in the middle of the room. “You guys own all these?” And the man fixed that sparkling gaze to Morpheus again. Breathless, he nodded. “Most of us are book lovers. Mainly Dustin though.”

Wandering over to one of the towering bookcases, Hob trailed a finger in the air, hovering over the spines as if afraid to dirty them with just one touch. The courtesy showed warmed Morpheus as he trailed behind the other man, eyes fixed on Hob than the books he was already familiar with.

He liked the way Hob's face was lit up with delight and wonder, the child-like glee in his brown eyes. In the dull autumnal light filtering through the dusty windows, Morpheus thought him captivating. He then startled back when the taller man whirled around after a few moments of perusing. “What's your favourite book?” Hob demanded.

Morpheus replied instantly. “The Tales of Despereaux.”

Hob stared. Then snorted. “I really didn't expect that.”

Morpheus folded his arms defensively, sniffing and tilting his chin up. “I happen to enjoy the message of courage and hope, thank you very much.”

Waving his hands if he intended to wave away any offense, Hob assured him, “No! I'm not making fun of you, I just was surprised.”

Raising a brow, Morpheus asked, “What's yours then?”

From his back pocket, Hob tugged out a battered paperback. Morpheus recognised the title even as the other man replied sheepishly. “Good Omens. Have you read it? I was going to give this to you as an apology gift but...”

Morpheus had in fact read the book. A dozen times by now and had his own well thumbed copy in his room. However, the earnest expression in Hob's face had him lying. “No, I've not. I have heard good things about it though.”

Eagerly, Hob stepped closer to press the book in the Morpheus' hands, who took a silent, sharp inhale at the sudden proximity. He picked up the scent of sharp citrus softened with something leafy. If he had more time, Morpheus would've been able to put the right name to the smell, but instead he was caught up in the way Hob smiled as he described the plot.

Dazed, Morpheus didn't catch a word of what he said, only having half a mind to hum with acknowledgment and interest. Instead, he noted the rough stubble on his face, the crinkles beside his eyes, and the faint dimple on his cheek. Gently curling a firmer grip around the book, Morpheus interrupted the man softly, “This is your own copy, and so obviously well loved. And you intended to give it to me, even if you never saw it again?” He traced a finger along the wrinkles on the cover before glancing back up at Hob.

When he met his eyes, the taller man flicked his eyes off to the side, nervously playing with his ear. “It's not a big deal, I just-I wanted to do something nice. And I can always buy a new one.”

Morpheus hummed thoughtfully as he held the book close to his chest. “I will read this, and get it back to you. As a book lover myself, I couldn't bear to part with some of my own. You-” His last words faltered, thinking them too much. However, they forced themselves out with a soft whisper, “You are astonishing, Hob Gadling.”

And the man flushed hard. Ducking his head down, Hob scratched at his neck, “You're too much, Morpheus.”

The warmth in his chest died, faint smile dimming. 'Ah. I made him uncomfortable.' Morpheus swallowed thickly, stepping back. “Sorry. I didn't mean to-”

“I'm not upset.” Hob cut him off, tone open and honest. Hesitantly, Morpheus turned his gaze back up to see the genuine smile creeping up his lips, emphasising the man's cleft chin. Hob continued, “You have such a particular way of talking, that it kind of reminds me of all the old works. It's brilliant, really. So, I'm not upset.”

The warm smile turns teasing, “Call me astonishing all you want, Morpheus. Let me bask in praises and adoration.”

Morpheus scoffed, both relieved and disbelieving at the nerve of this man. “You're completely shameless.” He huffed, throwing out synonyms off the top of his head, “Absolutely unprincipled, knavish, dastardly-”

“Dastardly!?” Hob laughed, incredulously. He shifted closer to Morpheus, “I'll have you I'm very noble.”

He rolled his eyes, despite the way his heart suddenly quickened at their proximity. “Of course. Forgive me, Hob.”

Said man's grin softened, “Forgiven.” There was something unreadable about his warm gaze, how it washed over Morpheus like a soft blanket. Fondness, perhaps?

Pursing his lips to fight back his own smile, Morpheus murmured, “I'm sure you have much to do today.” He needed time to think over this interaction, and the longer the other man stayed, the more confounding it all became.

Hob jolted, taking a step back. “Oh shit, yeah! Sorry for taking up your time.”

Leading him to the library door, Morpheus shook his head. “No, I did not have much planned today, so your visit was a welcome one.”

As he slid the accordion door open, he heard first the scrambling before catching sight of his siblings quickly backing up from the now opened door. Didi stood back, a tiny smile on her face despite trying to appear innocent. Dolores had no hint of shame, same with Cori, but the older twin had a sly grin on her face. Joy bounced with glee and-

“Dustin?” Morpheus voiced, betrayed. His elder brother was discreetly by the living room entryway, who glanced away nonchalantly, staying silent.

Behind him, Hob snorted, muffling a laugh behind his hand, and at least he wasn't embarrassed as much as Morpheus was by his siblings behaviour. Clearing his throat, glaring pointedly at where Joy and Cori stood in their way, he gritted out. “Hob needs to leave. Either move yourselves or I will do it for you.”

Dolores luckily tugged those two out of the way so the men could get past, Morpheus making sure to go behind Hob so he was in between the man and the threat that was his siblings. He wouldn't put it past them to drag him deeper into the house for dinner. Morpheus' heart was not ready for that ordeal.

As Hob stepped outside into the early autumn evening, Morpheus followed him out, leaving the front door open a crack. Crossing his arms because it was cold and he was still stupidly wearing the crop top, Morpheus gave him a short nod, “Thank you for the book and your apology, though it wasn't needed.”

Smiling softly, Hob replied, “No problem, Morpheus. See you around?”

“Yeah,” Morpheus replied slowly, coming around to the idea at the same time he spoke, “I would like that.”

Beaming, Hob waved good bye as he took the steps and headed down the street to a...motorcycle!? He could feel the heat creeping up his cheeks at the sight of Hob throwing one leg over the bike, easily straddling it as he pulled his helmet on.

The rumbling purr of the engine was close enough that Morpheus could almost feel it reverberate through his bones, staring with mouth slightly agape as the man gave one last wave before driving off. He blinked a couple of times. Then a chilled wind hit him and he rushed back into the warmth.

Stumbling back into the house to slam the door close, Morpheus leant a little weak-kneed against it and stared, dazed, at his siblings.

“He drives a motorcycle.” He whispered, and flushed heavily under Cori's wolf-whistling and Didi's suggestive 'oooo', along with a wiggle of her brows.

Ducking his head into his hands, Morpheus let out an agonised groan.

Two days later found Morpheus on one side of the cake display as Hob chatted to him on the other. The man was just topping up his coffee when Morpheus came out with some freshly baked cookies, and immediately started up a conversation. As he stocked the front back up, Morpheus listened to the near on rant Hob was having.

“-and look, his work is great. I can't hate that, but it's so fucking frustrating when you're constantly taught all that Shakespeare bollocks, when you want to be reading other poems or plays not written by this man, who probably had dysentery! And I bet his teeth were rotting out of his skull during the writing of all his shit! So he changed the English language and introduced new words and phrases. Big deal. Christopher Marlowe was a better fucking writer, not fucking Shakespeare.”

Morpheus rested his chin on his arms, braced on top of the display case, and was enraptured with every nonsensical word coming from his mouth. “I'm obsessed with your mind.” He drawled, and Hob cracked a grin, leaning his own arm on the case. “I've got plenty of wild thoughts. I could ramble all day, love.” It came out like a purr, especially the term of endearment, and Morpheus' face started to feel hot despite just how ridiculous Hob's words were.

“Great!” Didi then interrupted, appearing so suddenly next to him that he jumped. “But unfortunately, Morpheus has a job to do. So talk later, hm?” His elder sister lightly shoved him back towards the kitchen, to which he glared at her for. Didi, however, only gave him a beatific smile in return, and whispering a parting, “Talk to your boyfriend later, alright?”

“He's not my boyfriend.” Was his grumbled response as he sulked back into the kitchen. She was right, however. Didi usually was. He had work to do, but it was a nice interaction while it lasted. Hob, it appeared, can talk forever, and that suited quiet and introverted Morpheus just fine. He liked the way the man's voice sounded, the low murmur before Didi interrupted rang in his head. Though what Hob said was mainly just him being funny, but...

There was a sudden relisation that shocked Morpheus system, to the point he dumped a scoop of flour too abruptly into a bowl, making it all poof up over his chest and face. Had Hob been flirting with him!?

Chapter Text

Hob was worried. He had student papers to grade, his own test to study for, and a friend to find. And he was worried. Rachel was a decent enough gal, though she went a little bit down the drain after her break up, and Hob did what he could to keep her afloat. Made sure to visit a couple times a week, help her stay fed and clean, and just generally alive really.

However, she was not in her flat, and Hob had no idea where she could be, before he then caught sight of a tiny bag of pills on her bed side table and knew exactly where she was. Fucking Tony. Making sure to flush the pills down the loo first, Hob locked up and started at a run.

Tony was Rachel's dealer, and maybe boyfriend? Hob wasn't too sure, because sometimes Rachel told him that they fucked, and then other times she told him about the fights they got in. She was real chatty when on mushrooms.

Not for the first time, Hob cursed the ex that dumped Rachel so harshly. Who ever they were – because Rachel never mentioned them besides calling them Jo, but that was a pretty gender neutral name – he was going to kill them.

The set of apartments were a few streets down, getting a little rougher as they went, but not as bad as it could be. He took the front steps up two at a time before slamming into the flat foyer. Tony's place was on the second floor, and barely losing his momentum, he raced upwards.

Four doors down, there was the door. It stank of weed, the entire hallway that was, and rage continued to flare in his chest. He had no issues with weed, having partaken it at times when he was younger, but weed made Rachel more susceptible to sexual advances.

Banging on the door, Hob yelled, “Rachel! Rachel open the door!” No answer. Growling, Hob kicked at the door, “Tony! Open up, you fucking prick!” H continued to bang his fist on the door, yelling curses and demands. The neighbours no doubt would be taking a gander out their door to see the cuase of the disturbance anytime now.

“Hob?”

Pausing at the call of his name, a tad bit out of breath now, the man looked over to see Joy from the Endless Coffee & Books shop. She was in the typical siblings' black fashion, hands in leather jacket, blonde hair with rainbow streaks, and looking too sweet to be seen in such a shitty place.

Concern welling up, already high strung from his worry over Rachel, he demanded, “What are you doing here? Do your family know-”

“Pshh,” Joy waved him off dismissively, “I'm fine. Sometimes I come around here to talk to random people. It's fun!”

“It's dangerous,” He countered, “You shouldn't be in a place like this.”

However, she wasn't even acknowledging his words, turning to focus on the door they stood in front of. “Why are you yelling for Tony?”

Anger came back in full swing. “The dickhead is a friend of mine's dealer. But I'm trying to get her off the drugs.”

Cocking her head to the side, Joy asked guilelessly, “Why not break down the door?”

Hob scoffed, “It's not as easy as the films make it.”

Joy shrugged, “Sure it is.”

Agitated, Hob stepped back with a performative bow and wave of his hands, “Then be my guest.” It came out a little condescending but he was not in the mood for Joy's wild imagination.

He would just let her get it out of her system, then he was going to find another way to break in. Maybe even call the police. At least then Tony would be raided for drugs or some shit and Hob could get Rachel out. However, what he was not expecting was for Joy to take a step back, hands still in her jacket, and with a surprising amount of force, slam her foot just above the door handle.

These flat doors were already pretty shitty, but it still had him stunned as the wood cracked open, banging into the wall as it flew open. Awed, he turned his gaping expression towards Joy, who shrugged again. “All of us know how to break into doors.”

“All of you?” He breathed, mind going to Morpheus, and picturing exactly what that would look like. It was a hot image, especially with the last time he saw him, a week ago, dressed in a crop top.

Joy's attention however was in a different place now, looking into Tony's place, which drew him back to reality. Hurrying in, Hob ignored all the over flowing dishes, the stench of weeks old rubbish, and the dust floating about. He spotted a figure stumbling out of a room, and it was Tony. Hob was quick to grab him, slamming him into the wall as he demanded, “Where's Rachel!?”

High off his ass, Tony slurred, “Easy mate, she's in there.” And limply pointed to the room he just came from. Shoving the man to the side, Tony toppling to the floor, Hob burst into the room. It stank heavily of alcohol, drugs, and sex.

Curled up in just her underwear, Rachel was sprawled over the stained bed sheets. The curtain was halfway closed, only allowing a little bit of light to come in, but enough that he could see the hickies on her neck and the track marks on her arm.

Gritting his teeth, he stripped off his jacket – the autumn chill really taking over the London scene now – and bundled her up into his arms. Rachel moaned lightly, whether from pain or exhaustion he didn't know, and Hob was hit with wave a sadness. “Oh, Rachel...” He whispered.

Blearily, the woman opened her eyes at the sound of his name, voice hoarse as she croaked, “Hob?” But that was all, falling unconscious and completely limp in his arms.

Terror flooded him. “Rachel?” No response. He needed to get her to the hospital. Maybe she overdosed or something. Stomping out of the room, noting Tony was passed out on the ground still, Hob didn't bother with him besides kicking him into a vague recovery position. Joy still stood by the front door, her careless interest now furrowed with worry.

“Is she okay?”

Hob shook his head helplessly, “I don't know, but I need to get her to the hospital.”

Within seconds, Joy was whipping out her phone and calling someone. After a few seconds, where they began to make their way down the stairs, someone answered. From the one sided conversation, it went like this.

“Hey! Can you come pick me up?”

…

“No, I'm fine. But we have a possible overdosed lady here that needs the hospital.”

…

“Ambulance takes too long, bruh.”

…

“I said I'm fine!” She then rattled off an address before hanging up, not giving the other a chance to respond.

“Uh,” Hob asked, clueless, “Who did you call?”

“Morpheus!” Joy informed him cheerfully, “And he'll come faster if I don't give him information!”

That entire fucking family, honestly.

Hob had been going to Endless Coffee for near on three years, and not once had he seen the existence of Morpheus until just over a month ago at the beginning of the new term, when he came out to find a book. How they managed to hide away such a beautiful human was impressive. But in between the time of finding a place that fueled his caffeine addiction and meeting the love of his life, Hob got to know this bizarre family.

There was Didi, who seemed the most normal of the lot of them. She was friendly and knew exactly how to comfort a poor student on the brink of a breakdown. She greeted everyone with a warm smile, and Hob wondered if she was an angel sometimes. Especially when he needed a new coffee but was too deep in his manic work to ask, so she would pop by his table and give him a free refill.

Cori was the next one he interacted with with the same amount of frequency. It took him a moment or two to learn that the reason he was so confused on what gender they were, was because they conformed to none of it. Granted, he had to ask what to address them as, with Didi interrupting, “A problem.”

It got a startled laugh out of him, as Cori rolled their eyes and added, “Your Majesty, I would prefer.”

Hob – twenty-three, newly realising he likes guys and girls and not wanting to offend plus genuinely still figuring out the queer alphabet – actually did that. Until the eldest of the lot, Dustin, had blandly corrected him a week later. “Cori uses they/them pronouns. We have a couple of books on the topic. But please stop fueling their ego.”

He consumed said books, researched the fuck out of it like all university students were forced to learn to survive or drown under uni work load, and came back with a clearer understanding of the LGBT+ community, and it's history accidentally. Hob liked to think he gained some respect from the family for that. But he was a friendly guy, and never actually went out of his way to be a dick.

Joy was a menace, and he had seen her fluttering in and out of the cafe for a few years before she began to work, doing homework off to the side of the counter, and chatting with anyone willing to indulge in her enchanting nonsense. One time, he had asked if she had read Alice in Wonderland, to which surprisingly she said no to. The next day he brought his own copy with him, and gave it to her.

Two days later she came back quoting half of the book to him. That was the main trigger to him wanting to be a teacher, watching in delight as she spouted all sorts of things she noted, unintentionally analysing the book. Joy was a delight and he could listen to her rambling for hours.

Dustin was not one he saw much of, besides that first interaction. He stayed in the back, but sometimes came out to talk with his siblings. He was a quiet, serious man, but always gave Hob a nod in greeting if they passed one another in the shop. Hob got the feeling that he shouldered a lot of responsibilities as the apparent eldest of the family and boss of the shop, so he tried not to bother the man too much.

Dolores was quiet, mostly in the kitchen, but sometimes working the machines, making up orders. He knew how to spot a skittish person on first glance, and made sure to always talk to her kindly. A welcoming smile and words of gratitude anytime she handed him his order. If she had made a mistake, Hob wouldn't say anything and just drink his incorrect order. They did not speak besides those interactions, but that was fine.

He thought that was all of them, and then maybe a hired worker or two in the kitchen.

So when a man in black passed by to the book case near him, Hob was caught off guard. Tall, pale, and with a face genuinely confounding. Hob couldn't decide if he had sharp or soft features, a blend of the two that was eye-catching. The way his lips pursed and moved with every silent word as he searched for a book, had Hob captivated.

Caught staring when the man found his book, Hob tried to cover it with a conversation of uni subjects, as most people who frequented the cafe were students. During their initial conversation, Hob thought the man cold and disinterested, though that did not kill his interest at all. Instead, it drew him in deeper. Until the man gave him a flat out no or a stronger sign of disinterest, then Hob was going to try and shoot his shot.

He had asked the siblings about the man, wondering if he was a regular customer that he just passed by somehow, and Cori was the one who grinned and replied, “That's out brother, the third eldest.” And that was it. No name, nothing. Hob had a feeling it was a family project to mess with Hob, how they went out of their way not to tell him anything of their elusive third sibling.

Sat outside of the flat now and waiting, still cradling Rachel in his arms as she shivered, Hob sighed heavily. His fingers were pressed to her wrist, feeling the slow but still present heart beat. It kept his worry at a low simmer, knowing she was still alive.

Next to him, Joy stayed standing, rocking back and forth on her heels, though her normally jovial expression was pulled taut, every now and then looking over at Rachel.

Hob wondered if this was the first time she had ever seen someone in a state like this, and grimaced. “Sorry if you're uncomfortable, I'm sure this isn't a pleasant thing to experience.” Even Hob was still caught off guard with drug users and the way it fucked them up.

Pausing in her rocking, Joy stared at him with that hetrochromatic gaze that seemed to penetrate into his deepest thoughts. Crouching down next to him, the young woman gently brushed a stray curl from Rachel's face. A tender gesture that appeared familiar for Joy to do.

“Our family has a history of mental illnesses. My sister has major depression. My brother has anxiety and probably some of trauma from what we've recently learnt of his past relationships. I have bipolar psychosis. I'm sure the other three would be found to have some kind of issue if they went in for a diagnosis.”

She said all this softly, not meeting his eyes, gaze fixed on the unconscious woman instead. Hob was frozen, having not expected a bunch of deeply personal information from a person he wouldn't have considered himself friends with exactly. Friendly acquaintances, maybe, but that was all.

However, Hob softened as Joy continued, “I've seen Dolores in the hospital a lot. And it's...”

“Scary.” Hob finished for her, and here, she looked back up at him. Though not crying, her eyes were rimmed red, like she was close to it.

With one hand, the other still wrapped around Rachel and holding her wrist, Hob lightly ruffled that messy rainbow hair. “She'll be alright. And your family are a tough bunch.”

Joy's response was a wide grin. “I like you, Hob. I can't wait until you're my brother in law.”

“What-”

“Joy!” A car pulled up, the driver calling out the window with loud concern. Both whipped their heads up, catching sight of Morpheus as he quickly put the car into park and jump out in a rush. Within seconds the man was kneeling beside them. He took a quick assessment of his sister's state before settling those light blue eyes back onto Hob.

Forcing his heart to not race at the proximity and gaze, Hob explained hurriedly as he stood up with a limp Rachel. “My friend, I think she might have overdosed or something. I need to get her to the hospital.”

Morpheus didn't pause, only blinked, offered a curt nod, and followed after him, pulling the back door open for him to gently set Rachel down. She was so skinny, so small that she barely took up two seats. Joy clambered in after her before Hob could, buckling herself in and settling Rachel's head onto her lap.

That silently decided for them, Hob gave her an imploring look, asking Joy to take good care of his friend. To which Joy nodded solemnly before pulling the back door close.

Hob jumped into the passenger side, Morpheus already buckling his seat belt and pulling back onto the street. With Rachel no longer in his arms, unable to keep track of her heart beat, Hob kept turning around to check up on her. The siblings said nothing, allowing him this reassurance. Joy even went so far as to press her fingers to Rachel's neck, monitoring the pulse.

On one of his many turns back to facing the front, Hob scrubbing his hand down his face, the weight of exhaustion settling over him like a boulder.

“She'll be alright, Hob.” Morpheus spoke up in that low roll tone that would normally excite him, but Hob only sighed heavily, thumping his head back against the seat. “Fucking hope so.” It was all he could murmur. All he could do in that moment. Hope.

London had shit traffic, but they managed to get to the hospital in relatively good time, pulling up to the emergency doors. Before Morpheus even had the chance to put them into park, Hob was unbuckling and jumping out. As he gathered Rachel back in his arms, he heard Morpheus state, “I'll find a place to park and meet you in there.”

Hob only grunted in response, already racing through the doors.

After explaining the situation to the first nurse he could find, Rachel was soon taken away, and Hob was left standing there, breathing heavily. He wasn't the woman's family, and he was sure she had none, so hopefully they would tell him any news they had.

With nothing left to do, he found an empty chair against a wall and slumped into the uncomfortable plastic. Minutes slowly ticked by, and Hob's hands were shaking. The come down from adrenaline, he concluded, but maybe it was also the fear for Rachel's health that kept them trembling even after the siblings came in, settling down on either side of him.

They stayed silent, Morpheus tapping fast on his phone. Hob took a quick peek over and nearly burst into hysterics at the very old Nokia model. It still had a key pad! The man's brows were furrowed with concentration at whomever he was texting.

Not wanting to be rude, Hob turned away and took in Joy. The girl had a magazine in hand, listlessly flipping through it. They had settled themselves down with him without a second thought, like they would be staying the entire time and needed no discussion to make that decision. Like it was expected of them. Something thick formed in his throat, and Hob tried to clear it away as he muttered, “You don't have to stay. The ride was more than enough.”

Joy scoffed and Morpheus shot him an unimpressed glance. “We're not leaving you here alone.”

The youngest chimed in, matter of fact, “Yeah. We're here until you get the news.”

Gnawing at the inside of his cheek, Hob glanced down at his hands – still shaking – and was overwhelmed with their kindness. Breath hitching, Hob hid behind his hands as tears began to form. He couldn't verbalise the sheer amount of gratitude he had for them and it hit him hard, along with all the terror for Rachel and this entire situation. Curling into his knees as two hands settled on him, Hob silently cried. One hand had a comforting hold on his shoulder, the other rubbing soothing circles on his back.

He hadn't put the jacket back on that was wrapped around Rachel, it was crumpled up at his feet, stinking of the flat he found the woman in, probably near embedded into her skin at this point. So when they rested their hands on him, Hob felt their heat through his thin shirt. The bigger hand on his shoulder – Morpheus – was slightly colder to Joy's warm ones. But both were reassuring nonetheless.

It took awhile for him to calm down, and when he did, Joy immediately launched into some chatter of the newest book she was reading. Apparently, it was lesbian necromancers in space. It was interesting enough, able to distract Hob from what fate laid ahead for Rachel.

As the tension left him, Hob found his mind turning back over the events to how he got here – squished between two almost strangers on horrible chairs – and had to blurt out, “Wait. How do you all know how to kick a door open?”

He whirled around on Morpheus, pointing a thumb back at Joy, “She kicked a door open in one go! Can you do that!?”

Lips curling in faint amusement, Morpheus replied, “Yes. We all can.”

“Why!?” Hob was gaping, that image of Morpheus kicking a door open earlier coming back with vengeance. Though the man went to answer, Joy got there first. “Because, one time Lo was locked in the bathroom trying to commit suicide, and-”

“Joy!” Morpheus snapped. His eyes that were once crinkled in humour became steely, flicking over to Hob. The man appeared mortified at what his sibling revealed, and even he himself winced. The youngest clicked her mouth shut, looking confused. “What?”

“You can't just go around telling people about our private business.” The brother hissed. Hob was wishing he wasn't caught literally between them.

Joy pouted, “Hob's family though.”

The man in question winced, touched but needing to correct her. “I'm really not, kid. I'm flattered but your brother's right. That's quite personal for your sister, and I'm sure she wouldn't like you going around telling people about it.”

However, Joy wasn't apologetic, only huffing, blowing hair from her face as she stood up. “I'm going to go find something to eat.” Before flouncing off.

Both men stared after her. “I'm so sorry for her.” Morpheus uttered. Looking back at the man, he was rubbing at his temple.

Huffing with faint laughter, Hob bumped his shoulder against his. “Don't worry about it. I'm not going to go around telling anyone.”

After a long moment of scrutinising him, and Hob felt like he was a bug under a microscope at that expression, Morpheus then softened. “Thank you. She doesn't have much of a filter, nor does she care if what she says makes people uncomfortable.”

Hob snorted. “Yeah. She told me about how you all have a genetic history of mental illness.”

Morpheus face shuttered. “I'm going to kill her.”

“It's alright!” Hob quick reassured. “My own family has a huge history with alcoholism. It's why I don't drink. Or if I do, I make sure I'm with someone who I can trust to monitor me.”

Though in the past, when he told anyone about that, his stomach would churn with shame. But with Morpheus – hell with his entire family really – he knew there would come no judgment from them. From the get go, Hob noticed a large lack of judgment from all of the siblings. Hob wondered if that was due to the possible heaps of problems they have or if they were just generally like that. He had a feeling he was only brushing the surface when it came to them all.

And there it was, open acceptance in Morpheus's eyes as he nodded. “Thank you telling me.”

As the dark haired man looked away, Hob figured he was done with talking, and turned away too. Hob was relieved that Morpheus was back to his typical black shirt, trousers, and coat attire. The sight of his stomach and hips was certainly jarring and made his focus stray the entire time they talked in the family's library. They had conversed from time to time after that, only short talks when Morpheus was up front and Hob nearby to catch his eye. Mainly, they discussed mundane things, primarily Hob doing the talking with Morpheus listening intently, but it was conversation nonetheless. It gave him hope for a closer relationship in the future, if he ever managed to catch the other man when he wasn't busy.

Hob turned his thoughts elsewhere, and started to stare mindlessly at all the comings and goings within the waiting room, but was jarred out of that by Morpheus quietly stating, “Dolores has nearly died three separate times. All by her own hand.”

Silently, Hob looked at the man, who took a deep breath and met his gaze. There was an old sadness in them. “Joy tripped down the stairs when she was eleven. She smacked her head against the banister and was out cold. Dustin and Didi were both out getting shopping done. I had to call the ambulance. She had traumatic brain injury, which intensified her bipolar. Of course, at the time we didn't know she had it, but as we went to appointments, it became noticeable.”

“Where were your parents?” Hob had to ask, horror rising at the thought of child Morpheus having to call 999. The other scoffed, leaning back to rest his head against the wall. Closing his eyes, the man replied coldly, “They ditched us the moment Dustin was twenty and old enough to look after us. No idea where they went, nor do we know where they are now. They're gone.”

It was instinct that had him reaching out to take Morpheus' hand. Holding it tight, the other squeezed back, head lolling against the wall to look at Hob. “I have no idea why I'm telling you all this.”

Smiling wryly, Hob joked, “Don't you know? People with fucked up families and pasts are more likely to trauma dump at the first opportunity.”

Morpheus snorted. “You're not wrong.”

Humour dimming then, Hob promised, “I know we don't know each other that well, but I would like us to.”

Morpheus eyed him for a long moment, before bluntly stating, “You're interested in me, aren't you.”

His face went hot. Was he really that obvious? “That-Okay, you didn't need to just-”

Over his stuttering, the raven haired man gave a tiny smile. “Don't feel embarrassed, Hob. I think I am too. About you, I mean.” And though his voice was calm, Hob caught that little correction, the way a faint redness brightened the typical paleness of his cheek bones. Morpheus was nervous as well, just hid it better.

Hob softened, even as he breathed out, astonished. “Oh.”

God, how did he go from searching for his missing friend to a confession in the middle of a fucking hospital waiting room? What was his fucking life. Well, he wasn't upset that's for sure, thumb rubbing softly over Morpheus' knuckles. Would it be too much to bringing up to this lips to kiss?

“Good Lord, just kiss.” A voice interrupted their soft exchange of smiles. Jerking his head around, Hob saw Joy standing before them, a cup of something in her hand and an armful of Haribo Gummy Bears. Tossing a few packets at them, one smacking hard into Morpheus' chest, Joy sat back down in her seat with a huff. “Just say, 'Hob, would you like to go on a date?' And then you say, 'Of course, Murphy.' Then figure it out from there.”

Using her teeth, Joy ripped open a bag and shoved a handful of sweets into her face, looking away from them and back at her magazine.

With a raised brow, Hob turned back to Morpheus. There was redness high on his cheeks. “Murphy?” Hob asked curiously, a smile crawling up his lips. The glare he got in return was cold enough to freeze hell. “If you ever want to date me, don't call me that.”

Hands held up in surrender, Hob replied, “No worries, love. Just tell me where and when for our date.”

The term of endearment at the blush deepening, even as Morpheus replied calmly, “Dinner tomorrow night?”

Hob squeezed his hand where they were still inked after all this time. “Six good?”

Morpheus squeezed back. “Six works.”

Chapter Text

Rachel would recover. It took some convincing to get the doctor to let Hob know what was going on, seeing as he wasn't family or partner. But she would be alright. They were flushing the drugs from her system now, and were keeping her monitored.

However, she would need a place to stay that people could keep an eye on. Hob was about ready to clear off his couch and sleep there, offering his own room for his friend, however Joy had piped up, “What about the witches?”

At Hob's bewildered expression, Morpheus had jumped into to explain with mild exasperation at his sister's suggestion, “Our next door neighbours. A house of females only, but a coven as well.” He then paused eyes looking to the side in suspicious contemplation. “We think.” He had no issue with any of the women baring one, but it was still a bit rude of Joy to offer up the witches place without even talking to them. He had sent a withering glare in Joy's direction, and in turn she had stuck her tongue out at him.

Forcing back a laugh, Hob asked incredulously, “Seriously? You guys live next to witches?”

Both siblings shrugged, Joy adding, “Better than the last resident. Some insane old man who was convinced he could raise the dead and become immortal. He too had a bunch of magic stuff going on. So this lot is helluva lot better.”

Morpheus made a face, but had nodded in agreement. Sure, they were a lot better than Roderick Burgess – who had a weird fixation on Didi, and then him – but he would have to talk to his ex if he wanted Rachel to have a place to crash as she healed. Hob told them he was going to find her some help, counseling and whatnot. But if they really wanted her on the path to recovery, it would be best away from all temptations. And Morpheus knew that the ladies next door were good people. Perhaps Thessaly wasn't the kindest, but she wasn't the worst person. Plus, she generally hated men more than she hated women, so Rachel should be alright.

After they parted ways, with Hob insisting he could take the tube back home, Joy proceeded to shriek once they stepped into their home, “MURPHY HAS A DATE WITH HOB!”

That had footsteps thundering down stairs and out of the crevices of the house within seconds to barrel and barrage Morpheus with demands and yells of 'Thank God!' and 'About time!'. Overwhelmed and irritated, he let Joy blabber about the events that occurred earlier, seeing as he too was a bit lost about how it all happened.

Morpheus wasn't an idiot. He had seen the look of interest on Hob's face when they talked in the library, and at first he thought perhaps it was due to lust and that's it. However, after some more casual conversations and deep thinking on his part, and then at the hospital, it was becoming clearer that there was more to his heavy gazes. And perhaps Morpheus wanted to stop denying himself this want for Hob. Dates were about getting to know a possible partner, and there was no harm in that. Hopefully, if things did not work out, they could leave on good terms. After all, Hob was liked by his siblings and he didn't want to ruin that for them.

The next day after they closed up the shop early, he let Cori and Didi choose his outfit, with his only stipulation being that they were black. Cori rolled their eyes, and though Didi tried to wheedle him into wearing something less dark, they agreed. Really, it wasn't that far from his usual outfits, with black jeans and Doc Martins. The top, however, was more up Cori's alley. It was black, with faint glimmering of silver stars and constellations. Buttoned up and tucked into his jeans, but at Didi's insistence at leaving a the top few undone, it wasn't a bad look. They then instructed Morpheus to roll up his sleeves and keep them that way, to which he conceded with a roll of his eyes. He knew how to dress himself and how to look good, despite their assumptions. However, it was easier to just let them get on with it and not put up a fight.

Then Didi threw one of her necklaces at his head, a simple thin silver chain. Morpheus huffed as he put it on, giving them a mocking turn, “Good enough for you lot?”

Joy barged in, waving a multicoloured scarf, before chucking it at his face, “It's cold wear this!” Dolores followed behind with a dark blue beanie, giving a shy smile. Morpheus was weak to his younger sisters, and with a tired sigh, he wore the offered accessories.

Which was how he found himself walking over to the neighbours house, dressed for a date with a horrendously bright scarf. It was a miracle that Lo was feeling kind enough to give him a toned down beanie, as he knew she could be a vindictive bitch when she wanted to.

It was under an hour until he met up with Hob, the man was coming to pick him up. He told him to dress warmly, wear some leather jacket of some kind, and that was it. It didn't explain at all where they were going, and the unknown had Morpheus nervous. But they had swapped numbers, and Hob promised they would take everything slowly. He obviously picked up on Morpheus' anxiety over dating, and he was relieved. He didn't want to go into a relationship again as fast as he did with the previous ones. That led to him not seeing the warning signs until he was in too deep with his affections.

As he came to next door's steps, Morpheus paused. Barbara was sat on them, phone clutched in hand and sniffling. Tears were already drying, so she must have been there for awhile, but it was plainly obvious that something was wrong. She had a thick blanket with Cinderella's face printed on the horribly bright pink background wrapped tightly around her body, fending off the cold.

Now, see, it took some lectures and disappointed sighs from Didi on how to comfort someone without coming off as an unfeeling dick. But he still felt like he would make everything worse with his reassuring words. It was a miracle that he managed to comfort Hob yesterday, so that could have been a fluke.

Still, Barbara was a nice girl, never cruel to anyone, and her and Joy got along well. He caught them painting their faces sometimes, weird and strange patterns that made them giggle and light up. Anyone kind to his baby sister was someone deserving of his attention.

Settling down next to her, Morpheus stated, “You're crying.” Then winced. That was not his best work. The woman sniffled, warbling, “No shit.”

Ruffling his hair and feeling uncomfortable, knocking his hat off in the process, he tried again, “What's wrong?”

Wiping her eyes, Barbara turned to him, cheeks blotchy and wet. “My stupid ex. We only just broke up but a friend of mine texted a picture of him making out with some lady.” And here, she unlocked her phone to show him a picture. He didn't ask, but with comforting people, Morpheus learnt that you kind of just let them go through the motions. Just like with his siblings and their antics.

Obligingly, Morpheus peered at the picture and yep, that was Ken, that absolute bell-end of a man. If there was one thing him and Thessaly could agree on, it was the Ken was a dick and a moron. In the picture he was kissing some brunette in Boots. Not the most romantic place but what did Morpheus know.

Recalling what he had seen in TV shows, Morpheus soothed, “He didn't deserve you.” He paused, glancing at the side, to then admit, “And he kind of looked like a muppet.”

The woman let out a choked, wet laugh, “He kind of did, didn't he?” Then, Barbara hide her face in her arms and the brief laughter turned into a bit more weeping and mutters of hatred for her ex.

Patting Barbara's shoulder as she cursed Ken's existence, Morpheus wondered when it would be a good time to ask her to move so he could knock on the door and talk to Thessaly. Then again, he was in no rush to talk to his ex.

However, he had no choice in that decision, as the door then opened, making the two of them turn around. It was Wanda, the tall red head catching sight of Barbara and instantly stooping down to wrap her into a hug. “Oh, Barbie, love. Come on, lets get you inside and with some tea.”

Gently, she guided the tiny blonde up to her feet and through the front door. Over her shoulder, Barabra threw him a quick 'thanks', and a tiny smile as they disappeared into the house. That was when Thessaly stepped around them. The woman scowled at him through her round glasses. “What do you want?”

Hands clenching, Morpheus replied curtly, “Do you have a room free?”

“Why?” She snapped, folding her arms and giving him a suspicious look, “We don't want you here.”

Morpheus used all his strength to not roll his eyes. “It's for a friend's friend. Her name is Rachel and she needs a place to recover.” It felt strange to call the man he was going on a date with a friend, but it was close enough at this uncertain stage of their relationship.

“From what? Dating you?” She mocked.

Exhaling heavily through his nose, Morpheus forged on. “From a drug overdose. She needs somewhere that people can keep an eye on her and not relapse.”

That had the woman straightening up. She may genuinely hate people, but she had a some what heart of gold when it came to helping other women. Feminism or something, Morpheus concluded wryly. “How would she pay for rent?” Thessaly pointed out, and there he faltered.

Rose then poked her head over Thessaly's shoulder. “I could fund her.” At their questioning glance, the dark skinned woman shrugged, “That huge inheritance from our great-grandma is currently not doing anything but gathering dust and interest. Might as well as help.”

Smiling softly, Morpheus replied, “Thank you, Rose. I'll let her and her friend know.” The wild thing about this entire situation, was that Rose was their cousin. Their mothers were sisters despite looking completely different, Morpheus' mum taking after her father, so she was white, with Rose's mum being black. But it was a great explanation on how Didi was the only black sibling out of all of them. However, great-grandma favoured Rose and her brother Jed way more than Morpheus and his siblings, which was why she got the inheritance. Not that any of them really were upset about that, seeing as their cousins certainly needed it far more than they did. The thing was, they didn't grow up knowing one another, their mothers not getting along. Which, if you knew Morpheus' mum, that was completely understandable.

With her own smile in return, Rose stated, “Just text us when she's ready to move in.” And then left him alone with Thessaly again.

There was a drawn out silence, and Morpheus was about ready to leave until Thessaly asked, “Why do you care?”

He arched a bemused brow. “About what?”

She gave a careless wave, “About Barbie, that woman recovering, pick either. Did you finally grow a heart since we broke up?”

Sighing again, this topic was something that had been beaten to death in his opinion through most of his life, and Morpheus stuffed his hands into his jacket pockets as he quietly corrected her. “I was never heartless, Thessaly.”

Raising an unimpressed brow, the woman snidely retorted, “Sure didn't act like it.”

Thessaly came half a year after Alianora, a mistake made in a desperate need for some kind of comfort and connection. She was so different from Alianora, no sugar coating her words, and Morpheus thought he needed that, someone who didn't lie. And fuck knows she never lied about anything that came to her mind. She was cruelly blunt with her words, wanting them to hurt. Striking like a knife to his heart, it injured him in ways that Alianora never did, but it didn't hurt any less.

He tried to cover up his pain with coldness to protect himself, and Thessaly took that as indifference and lacking in emotion. When she decided they should break up, numb, Morpheus only responded with a blank, 'Okay.' And she took that as an insult and confirmation of her accusations. Never mind the fact he cried himself to sleep for an entire week and couldn't stop fucking up in the kitchen for a long while after.

However, observing this woman, someone he had broken up with two years ago, he suddenly saw her as small minded and quick to judge. Someone that had no right judging him because she never even tried to understand him. And a part of him pitied her for that. Despite how vulnerable he was, going from Alianora to her, she was never able to see through his aloof exterior, despite her belief in being able to read people well. He needed someone who could, and it was not her. Dustin was right.

Lips quirking in exhausted amusement, an old knot unraveling a little in his stomach, Morpheus calmly stated, “I've never been unfeeling, like how you believed. I show emotion and hold compassion. It's not my fault you can't seem to comprehend that.” Her expression of rage filled indignation was delightful to behold.

The approach of a motor cycle came down the street then, making them look in that direction, their road typically quiet. Morpheus noted the familiar brown leather jacket after a few moments and he smiled wide. Without a glance back, he made his way back down the front steps, Thessaly calling out, “And where the hell are you going? We're still talking, idiot!” The insult for once didn't cause him to flinch or wilt. Instead, it had him rolling his shoulders back, standing tall as he walked away. It may take some more time with Alianora, but perhaps Morpheus was starting to move on from Thessaly finally.

Hob pulled up to the curb a little bit down the street at his approach, taking off his helmet. His hair was messy but Morpheus was charmed by the dishevelment. Glancing over his shoulder as he approached Hob, Morpheus replied to the woman, “A date, Thessaly. Have a good evening.” And completely wiped her existence from his mind as his heart and feet brought him towards Hob.

The man cocked a brow in curiosity, “A friend?”

He snorted, stuffing Lo's hat into his pocket, “Absolutely not. But she is in charge of that building and Rachel would be alright to stay there.”

Hob perked up, “Really?”

Nodding, Morpheus ran a hand through his hair, back still turned to Thessaly as he quietly asked, a horrible little idea coming to mind. “She still looking?”

Hob's eyes darted quickly over his shoulder before giving a tiny nod. Embolden and a bit spiteful, Morpheus leant in. “May I?”

Hob, with a grin, murmured, “Abso-fucking-lutely, love.” And met him in the middle. They shared a short but sweet press of a kiss. Nothing more for the beginning of a first date, but it certainly sent a warmth into Morpheus' chest at the touch. As he pulled away, Hob whispered against his lips, “And ex, I'm guessing.”

Morpheus replied, “A terrible one. Lets get out of here.”

He had never been on a motorcycle, and was grateful for Hob's warning to wear leather and something warm as he held the man close, the cold air freezing. Hob had brought a spare helmet for him to wear, and the heavy thing did only a little to muffle the rumble and roar of the vehicle. It took him a second at first to lose his hesitation about winding his arms around the man, but when the bike kicked forward into motion, he locked them around Hob's waist and had not let go the entire time they rode.

There were layers in the way, but Morpheus could make out a general shape of the man's torso, and he concluded the man was no gym rat, not that he appeared to be one from the past interactions. But there was an underlying strength to his soft thickness, and Morpheus was glad his flush was hidden under the helmet.

Hob was an expert at winding through traffic, and after his heart slowed it's hammering, Morpheus glanced up at the city passing them by. The street lights were on, orange glows making the wet pavement from last night's rain shine. The trees were yellow and browns, and Morpheus enjoyed the autumn scenery. It was always his favourite season.

When Hob slowed down, Morpheus noted they were parked in front of a pub that looked, using Cori's crude phrasing, 'Old as shit'. Because there, above the door way, was the date 1327.

Blinking, a bit dumbfounded at such an old building in the middle of London, Morpheus tugged the helmet off as Hob turned the bike off. Once his own helmet was off, he gave Morpheus a sheepish look, smoothing back his hair, “I know a pub isn't the best place for a first date, but it's got amazing food and the owners are kind people. Plus, it's a near park that we could walk through afterwards.”

Morpheus refrained from pointing out that it would be very dark by then. Instead, he gave a nod, “It's not a bad idea.”

Hob smiled at his response, then got off the bike with expert ease to offer a hand to Morpheus, “Shall we?”

When he climbed off, it was with a bit of a stumble, having to quickly stablising himself on Hob's forearm. Flushing in mild embarrassment, the man only gave him an amused smile without a hint of mockery. “You good?” He asked after Morpheus straightened up. With a silent nod in response, the other man stepped back, taking the extra helmet from him.

After Hob secured the head gear into the back compartment just behind the back seat, Hob casually took Morpheus' hand to begin leading him into the White Horse. There was no nerves, just simple confidence, and Morpheus could feel the lack of grip, knowing that Hob was giving him the ability to let go. There were callouses on his hand, thicker and far warmer than Morpheus' own chilled hands. He liked it and tightened his hold after a pause.

The pub was filled with chatter, the scent of alcohol, and warm food. Not his first choice of places to go, as in the past he would take his dates to places more intimate or formal, Morpheus decided it could be a lot worse too. But the change of environment from his usual haunts meant there was no bad memories, and for that he was grateful.

Hob found them a back corner booth, a little away from the crowds and dimly lit. At first, Morpheus thought maybe he should sit opposite the man, but decided the thought of his back to the door and the other patrons unnerved him, and instead sat himself diagonally to Hob at the circular table. Their knees brushed under the table.

There was a silence that settled over them comfortably as they went about deciding on what to eat first, Hob giving small suggestions of what he's had in the past. When the waitress came by, they placed their food orders and Hob asked for a lemonade while Morpheus decided on just a simple water. They were here to eat, not drink. Plus, Hob was driving and Morpheus inwardly added another point in favour of dating him. Not only kind and loyal to his friends, but responsible too.

As soon as the waitress left, Hob easily started up the conversation with, “So, I read The Tale of Despereaux. And I got to say, I really wanted soup after I finished it.”

And the breath left Morpheus' lungs, caught off guard at the man having read a book he only mentioned once. Blinking quickly a couple of times, gathering himself, Morpheus asked hesitantly, “So, I gather you liked it?”

“Loved it.” Hob replied with smile, “And you? Have you read Good Omens yet?”

The lie on his tongue settled easily, but Morpheus instead paused. A little sheepish, he ducked his head and admitted, “I've already read the book, but I didn't want to embarrass you, especially when you went out of your way.”

Hob laughed incredulously, “Seriously?”

Scratching at the table, Morpheus gave a half-hearted shrug. Perhaps the lie would have been better.

“That's sweet of you, Morpheus.” Hob's voice had softened, and when Morpheus met his gaze, it was warm. Then, it narrowed teasingly, “So, you stole my book then.”

Leaning his head on his palm, shuffling in the booth to face the other man a bit more, he gave a sly smirk, “You gave it to me.” Morpheus pointed out. “It's mine now.”

Aghast, Hob clutched at his chest as the arm closest to Morpheus lifted to rest on the back of the booth. His hand was just past his head, and if Morpheus leant back he could press up against Hob's arm. He refrained.

“You scallywag!” And Morpheus let out a short, surprised laugh at the old insult. “How could you do this to me, taking my favourite book.”

Humming in amusement, he added, “I did thumb through it, and the comments you wrote were certainly humouring.”

Brown eyes crinkling, Hob opined, “Though I respect the authors, I would have loved to see them kiss at the end.”

“That ruins the whole point of their relationship.” Morpheus immediately argued, “It's meant to be vague and leave the reader drawing their own ideas on their relationship. It opens the story up to a wider audience, especially ones who are against homosexuals.” Morpheus over emphasised the last word. It came out before he could stop it, an instinct, as it was something of a joke within his family. A few times in the past, their coffee shop had been called a 'breeding ground of fornication and homosexuals', because they were all openly chill with the LGBT community, never minding the fact that all of them were part of the community themselves. But the over the top, dramatic and scandalised way these people said homosexuals just stuck whenever the word was spoken between the family.

Hob snorted, falling into a chuckle. “Why did you say it like that? Homosexuals.” He mimicked, going even further to limp his wrist, and Morpheus pushed a hand against his mouth to stifle his laughter.

The evening went smoothly, Hob doing well in keeping the conversation going, prompting Morpheus to state an opinion or thought on whatever topic they were on. The man was a talker to begin with, it appeared, and had no issue with Morpheus being on the quieter side. When food had arrived, they went silent for some minutes, enjoying their meals until conversation picked back up. It flowed so easily, that Morpheus hadn't noticed how quickly time was passing until it hit sometime near ten.

Hob tried to insist on paying the bill when dinner came to an end, but Morpheus was firm on not allowing him. They split the bill in the end and headed out of the loud and stifling heat of the pub.

The second he stepped outside, Morpheus let out a sigh, tension falling once the cool air hit. “Hated that, didn't you?” Hob voiced, stepping up beside him. It sounded as if he tried to go for a joking tone, but missed the mark.

Glancing up at him, at the badly hidden defeat on his face, Morpheus thought about it, before shaking his head. “No, I just didn't like all the noise. But I enjoyed everything else.” And, to add to the reassurance, Morpheus tentatively took his hand, giving it a squeeze.

Smiling, Hob suggested, “You can choose next time.”

Hope flared in his chest, giving the other a small smile. There would be a next time.

Quietly, they strolled through the park Hob had suggested. Under boots the leaves crunched and with every exhale a cold fog drifted from their mouths. With one hand stuffed into a pocket, they stayed connected with the other. Morpheus could feel faint callous again and he had a rising desire to trace each one, learn where they came from.

The silence that surrounded them was comfortable, and neither felt the need to fill at as they enjoyed the night.

Until Hob stated with an easy tone, “I have a son.”

Morpheus paused in his step, facing the other man with surprise. “A son?”

There was a fond expression on his face as he tugged out his phone, pulling up a picture. In it, was Hob holding a boy that looked around four or five, grinning ear to ear and with the same shade of dark hair as his father. “What's his name?” He asked politely, ignoring the slow churning sensation in his stomach.

“Robin.” Hob replied, “His mum and I share custody, moreso her than me. But we make it work.”

The mother was still in the picture, and Morpheus wondered what Hob was doing with him. Glancing up from the picture, the smile from before dropped as Hob took in whatever panicked expression must have been on Morpheus' face.

“We're not together.” Hob quickly elaborated. “We had him during our first year of uni, and it was like, a year later that we decided to be friends instead. We mainly parted on such good terms for Robin, so I'm not cheating on her or anything.”

Morpheus found his breath again. “So, you're not...” He couldn't find the right word in that instance.

Hob however got the gist of it, slipping his phone into his pocket to take Morpheus' other hand. Giving them both a tight squeeze, Hob assured him seriously, “Eleanor and I are not romantically involved, as I'm sure her fiancee would have something to say about that.”

The panic disappeared completely, breathing it out, Morpheus leveled the man with a scowl. “You should have started with that.”

Giving a sheepish look, Hob replied, “Probably, yeah. But I wanted to tell you about my son, cause in the past relationships I've tried to start, they're all uncomfortable and back out. So, if you're not okay with me having a son-”

“I like children.” Morpheus blurted out, wanting to reassure the man. Heat then crept up his cheeks as he ducked his head down, realsing how weird that must have sounded. Staring at his feet, Morpheus continued, “I'm-I'm alright with you having a son, Hob. I've got no problem.”

Looking back up at him, he finished, “Thank you, for telling me.”

Hob's shoulders slumped, relief palpable around him as he sighed, “Thank fuck. Cause, honestly? I'm really starting to like you and I think I would've just given up on love if this didn't work out.”

Morpheus let out a soft huff of laughter, turning to carry on with their walk, still keeping one hand interlocked with Hob's. “I actually have debated writing stories for children in the past. Along with books for adult readers. I was going to make the illustrations too.”

This confession came tumbling out like it was nothing. Like all the past doubt he had had on this dream for the future melted away. It helped that Hob listened with such genuine interest, giving him an encouraging nod as he continued, “I had a story of two old ladies, going on holiday with a ferret.”

Hob snorted, “And I'm assuming the ferret would get into plenty of mischief.”

He tilted his chin loftily, even as a smile played on his lips. “Of course.”

The panic was finally eased away, and Morpheus listened to Hob ramble about one of his past flatmates owning a ferret, and all the things it got into. It was certainly good inspiration. After moving past the shock of Hob having a son, as well as still having contact with the mother, Morpheus considered the man beside him and came to the conclusion that he had to be a good dad.

From their few interactions, it was obvious the man held plenty of kindness and compassion. Hob was gentle with Joy, and never got frustrated with her endless rambling and bizarre conversation topics. He was patient, and from helping raise the twins and Joy, Morpheus knew patience was a major skill needed to raising children.

Morpheus admired Hob.

When the night came to an end, Hob walked him to the front door. Fumbling for the keys in his pocket, Morpheus turned to say good bye, only the still. The other man, one step below him, didn't look up at him with an expectant gaze, but certainly a hopeful one, and Morpheus swallowed hard.

“Good night.” Hob murmured, voice that slow, soft roll that sent a faint tremble through his skin. Slowly stepping closer, feeling his chest flutter with excitement and nerves, Morpheus leant in, repeating the words against Hob's lips before fully pressing them together.

The other man sucked in a sharp, surprised breath through his nose, one of his hands coming up the cup the back of Morpheus' neck, as he deepened the kiss within seconds. A hum rattled through his chest as he curled his fingers into the lapels of Hob's jacket, tugging the man closer until their chests lightly brushed. Now back on even ground, the closeness bad it prominent just how wider Hob's shoulders were, and though he did not loom, Morpheus felt completely surrounded by the man.

Their lips moved together until the need of air became too much, both parting with soft gasps. But now that Morpheus fully tasted him, he was desperate for more, diving in again. Hob eagerly responded, soon licking into his mouth that had Morpheus letting out a soft sigh in pleasure.

Hob then retreated, only to begin trailing his lips down Morpheus' neck, his stubble scratching sensitive skin and sending shivers down in spine. Automatically tilting his head to the side to give him better access, Morpheus wound a hand through those long dark strands, giving them a light tug. Hob responded by lightly biting as Morpheus' throat, causing a low moan to rip from it.

That seemed to shock them both out of their kissing, and Morpheus realised he had dragged Hob closer to him to the point he was pressed up against his front door. The other man had a hand wrapped around his waist, and a knee beginning to press between his thighs. What was meant to be a short parting kiss, became something far more passionate than he intended.

Panting hard, Morpheus couldn't stop the breathy laugh as he thunked his head against the door, exhilarated for the first time in years. “Though, I'm enjoying myself,” Morpheus began with a smile, peering through his lashes at where Hob was still standing so close with his own tentative grin and flushed cheeks, “I think this is too soon.”

“Right.” Hob cleared his throat, extracting himself from Morpheus. Though he mourned the loss of his warmth and touch, he was grateful. Morpheus wanted this new relationship to go smoothly. And for it to do so, it had to go slow. His past relationships crashed and burnt because they went too fast. But not this time. Morpheus refused to let it go sour.

There was a downtrodden expression on Hob's face, one that reminded him of their talk in the library. Guilt.

That wouldn't do.

Swaying forward, Morpheus pressed a softer, a far more innocent kiss, to his lips, making sure it did not linger for long. Hob's lashes fluttered closed for only a short second, and when they opened, that guilt was wiped completely off of his face, a dopey smile taking it's place. “I'll text you.” The man promised.

Morpheus smiled, “Have a safe ride home, Hob.”

In a surprising turn of events, none of his siblings had stayed up, ready to interrogate him on how the night went. Perhaps they were waiting for tomorrow, when all would be awake and could trap him like some feral raccoon into a corner to demand a play-by-play of the date. That left him to head upstairs unhindered.

Back in his room, shrugging off his clothes until he was in a loose sleeping shirt and boxers, Morpheus felt too wired to go to bed, despite it being past eleven. Instead, he took out his paints and that unfinished portrait and got to work.

With longer time spent around Hob, Morpheus could picture his features far better, as well as choose the best lighting and colour scheme. The pub lighting, warm and dim filtered through his mind, as well as that tiny, private smile they shared after the kiss, and he found himself humming as he painted.

It was at the point where he was letting a third layer dry, using a palette knife to add autumnal tones for an abstract background, when there was a knock at his bedroom door. Everyone should've been asleep or have retreated to their own room, so when Morpheus glanced up in surprise, he called out in confusion, “Come in?”

Perhaps it was Didi wanting to know how the date went, but instead it was Cori. But there was no teasing smile, nor mischief in their eyes. Instead, they stood in the door way, swallowed up by an over-sized jumper, and looking unsure.

Furrowing his brow, Morpheus set his tool aside and turned where he sat on the floor, opening an arm out. Immediately, their sibling fell to the floor to tuck themselves into his side. Though unsure with why his typically exuberant and self-confident sibling was acting this way, he knew what to do. Morpheus was terrible with comforting people, but when it came to his siblings, that was a whole different matter.

When their parents left, the twins were twelve and so lost by their sudden disappearance. They all were, but as the three eldest, Dustin, Didi, and Morpheus couldn't allow their panic and fear to show. Didi had rushed through her last year of A levels as Dustin already began the process of finding a job, and with a bit of help from their paternal grand dad before he passed, they got the coffee shop. It had needed a lot of renovations, but it was worth it in the end.

However, during all of that, Morpheus was at home to most that first year, taking care of the younger ones at sixteen. Which meant he learnt all the ways to comfort, calm, and redirect each of them in a way that worked. With Cori, they needed a lot of contact. They needed someone who didn't try to solve their problems nor offer any suggestions. Just wanted a security they had lacked the second they all woke up to find just a note as a replacement for their parents presence.

Cori trembled in his arms, not quite crying, but that kind of fearful sadness that came with some kind of world shaking realisation. There was something weighing heavily on their mind, and Morpheus would wait until they were ready to speak.

“You're painting him.” Was their first soft, trembling words.

Looking back over at the drying canvas, Morpheus nodded, chin brushing the top of Cori's hair. “I am.”

Their hand curled tightly into his shirt but stayed silent for a little more after that. Shifting them around until he was back to facing the painting, Cori curled into his side, Morpheus began to paint again, giving them time.

Minutes ticked by, and just when Morpheus was convinced that Cori had fallen asleep, his sibling spoke up once more. “I'm sorry for Alianora.”

His hand froze.

At his silence, they continued. “If I never introduced you to her, you wouldn't be like this.”

Their voice shook, tiny and dripping with regret. Letting out a small breath, Morpheus began to pack up his painting, knowing he wouldn't get any more finished tonight. As he cleaned his brush in the pot of water, he replied shortly, “What happened between us was not your fault.”

That got Cori moving from his side, sitting back to glare through their red-rimmed eyes. They hadn't cried yet, but they were close to it. “But it is!” They protested, “If I hadn't forced you to talk to her-”

“You didn't force me to do anything. I wanted to talk to her.” Morpheus corrected her sternly as he snapped the lid of his supplies close. He had paint on his thigh but decided it was dry enough to sleep with, he would shower tomorrow morning.

Glancing at Cori, he noted their pursed lips and anger. Not at him, but at themselves, and sighed once more.

Dragging them into another hug, Morpheus murmured into their hair, “Alianora has definitely messed me up, that I'm starting to accept, but it will never be your fault. You may have introduced us, but it was our choice to fall into a relationship.”

“But what if Hob is going to be just like her?” Cori asked.

Now, the fear was fully in their voice, and Morpheus pulled back, confused. “Why are you so scared, Cori?”

“Because I was so convinced that when Alianora broke up with you, that you were going to kill yourself!” They exclaimed, and Morpheus went cold. Staring wide eyed, they could only listen as Cori started to babble frantically.

“You just stopped talking to all of us! Locking yourself in your room, and it was like with Lo, and all those times we had to kick the door in because she was carving herself up! And I thought I was going to lose you like we almost lost her, and I couldn't-I can't imagine a life without you, Morpheus.”

Tears were coming down their cheeks fast and thick, voice warbling. “You're my big brother and basically raised us after mum and dad ran off. And when it all began to fall apart after Ollie disappeared I just, I just can't think of what would have happened to us if you left us too.”

“Oh, Cori.” He whispered, reaching up to brush some of the tears off their face, tucking a stray hair behind their ear in the process. Sniffling, Cori glared through their tears, batting his hand aside. “Don't give me that look.”

Morpheus frowned. “I'm not giving you any look-”

A long, slim finger jabbed close to his face. “You're looking at me like I'm stupid for worrying!”

This time, he was the one to smack the hand away, Morpheus scolding, “Don't call yourself stupid, Cori.” He then gave them a grateful smile, grabbing their hand then, holding it as he added, “And I'm looking at you like I'm so lucky to have siblings who are so much about me.”

“I know-” Morpheus tried to say, words catching and he had to swallow around the thickness. Glancing down at the paint on his leg, he tried once more. “I know that I was hard to deal with, when Alianora left me. It was a good thing she did, but I wasn't in the best place to recognise that, and I'm sorry for worrying all of you. But, with Hob, I think it can be better this time. We're not going into this fast, we're taking our time.”

Glancing back up, he gave their hand a reassuring squeeze, wanting to convey his hope.

“You're painting them.” Cori pointed out, accusatory.

Hanging his head with an exasperated sigh, Morpheus muttered, “This is why none of you are allowed to see me paint.”

Huffing, Cori folded their arms, waiting impatiently for an explanation. Weakly, Morpheus offered, “He's good inspiration?”

“Don't give me that bullshit, Murphy. You're half-way in love with him, aren't you?”

“No.” Morpheus replied, and it rang true. “I'm not in love with him. But I do like him, and I think if given enough time, it could become more. But like I said, we're going slow, and being honest with one another. So, we'll just take it step by step.”

Cori eyed him for a long moment, then nodded curtly. “Good. Because I like the man but if he fucks this up I'mma kill him.”

That startled a laugh from Morpheus, who then leant forward to rest his head against Cori's shoulder. “Thanks. I'll be sure to pass the message onto him.”

His sibling huffed, but began to run a hand through his permanent bedhead. In comfortable silence, the exhaustion was starting to hit, just as Cori demanded, “You need to be a model for my fashion assignment.”

Sitting up sharply, nearly smacking his head on Cori's chin, Morpheus spluttered, “Absolutely not! You know I hate-”

Already standing up, Cori dismissed his protests, “Thanks big brother! Sleep well.” And swanned out his room.

Gaping, the complete one-eighty of behaviour was jarring, Morpheus then groaned, flopping to the ground. Running his hands down his face, he could only imagine the torture that would occur when Cori dragged him to the uni campus again.

Glancing back at the door, Morpheus let the baffled irritation fade away and leave behind concern. He had already dropped university, working in the shop part time when he met Alianora at twenty one. She was a year older and seemed to have everything in her life together, where he was floundering under the grief of Ollie having left them, having to stop his future in it's tracks, and just the general worry of having to care for the younger siblings when the oldest two worked longer hours so they could all stay afloat.

So when this calm and collected woman was introduced into his life, it was like the sunlight parting the forever grey clouds. She pushed him to continue with his art, to do more, to be more, until he was practically living with her by the middle of the second year.

It was when Joy had a manic episode that Morpheus had realised that he hadn't seen his siblings in near on a month, so wrapped up with Alianora.

And as he tried to bring his focus back to them, to be with them more, it was then that Alianora suddenly became worse. Little comments became daily words of judgment, made to wound. As that spiraled, so did Dolores, and Morpheus was suddenly pulled between two places.

Alianora decided for him in the end, citing that he didn't care anymore. That he was cold and no longer loved her.

She couldn't have been more wrong, but in those following weeks, Morpheus felt nothing but guilt over everything that had occurred in the last two years.

But he hadn't realised that darkness that pervaded his mind had been so bad, that Cori was brought to tears over it even now.

Morpheus tried to recall what happened during those weeks – which was really a whole month by the time he was able to get some of his shit together – but it was mainly just an empty blip in his memories.

Turning his head to the ceiling, Morpheus prayed that if Hob and him fell out, that he wouldn't become that wreck again. If for no other reason than making sure that Cori wouldn't cry again. They were made of sterner stuff, they all had to be after Dustin got full custody, but Cori most of all.

Morpheus didn't really know what made them become full of sharp edges and harsh words, or maybe he did, if he tried to think deeply about it. But if he went down that road Morpheus was sure to find those pivotal moments, which would lead to his own guilt at not doing better in protecting them from the world that saw fit to judge what was not in their right.

So, instead, Morpheus finished packing up and decided that for all the tears and worry he had caused Cori, dressing up in the clothes they made for their assignment was the least he could do in compensation.

Chapter Text

This was the worst.

Morpheus was on his precious day off and was being dressed up in clothes and made up like a painted whore. Apparently, according to Hal – one of Cori's friends who was putting the make up on his face – Morpheus had excellent bone structure and a permanent pout. His response of confused response of 'I already know I'm hot, why are you telling me?' made most of the room crack up, much to his added bafflement.

The only thing he could be grateful for, was that most of the clothes were in black or dark shades, only brief hints of red or blue to add some kind of striking contrast, so the fashion students had murmured. It was not his area of expertise and instead sulked as they prepared him for the photo shoot.

And it was not just Cori's clothes that he had to pose for, but a few other students creations too. His bastard of a sibling gave them his measurements.

That had him shooting Cori a withering glare and snidely stating, “This is why you're adopted.”

In response Cori barked a singular 'HA!' and sneered, “Please. Mum was a bitch, and you and I both got that trait.”

“So did Lo.” Morpheus immediately replied, before scowling at the underhanded insult. “I'm not a bitch.”

Cooing, Cori pet his hair, “You are such a little bitch, don't lie to yourself. It's unbecoming of one from our family.”

“Because we never lie to ourselves.” Morpheus' sarcastic drawl was met with a sharp grin from his younger sibling.

What proceeded was both the worst and most enlightening experience of his life so far. At twenty-six, you would think one would have a good idea on their own appearance and facial expressions, but as people demanded he give them a smoldering look, only for Cori to translate it to, 'When the muffins don't rise.' made him rethink all his past reactions to even the smallest of things.

The doubt must have shown through, but others saw it as, 'Oh, nice teary glare!' and snapped a picture. Cori, completely unhelpful, was texting something on their phone before pocketing it. All business suddenly, they declared, “Lets get him into that suit and skirt combo.”

Morpheus blinked, “How short is the skirt?” As this would not be the first time one of his siblings had forced him into one of some kind. Even Dustin had helped Didi, when they were much younger, had dressed up little Morpheus in her clothes. Apparently, even now, Morpheus had such a slight figure that he could make it work.

Whether that made him feel flattered or confused, Morpheus didn't know. But at this point in his life, he was used to walking in dresses and skirts.

Behind the changing screen, Morpheus zipped the back of the skirt up, which was just tulle in massive puff cloud of layers that was thankfully short at the front, trailing long at the back. It looked as if someone managed to capture a nebula of stars and make into a piece of clothing. The black tulle had little layers in between of purples, pinks, and some glitter speckled fabrics which created that affect. As a joke, Morpheus called out dry as a desert, “Can I keep this? I feel pretty.”

Over the sound of some good humoured whistles and laughter, a door opening and closing, and people moving about. He thought nothing of it.

The top however, a crop top suit jacket, had too many fiddly buttons to work with, along with the back being just a sheer layer of lace. It was certainly a piece of art, but an annoyance which he needed help with, especially with it's long and draping sleeves of lace getting in the way of his failed efforts.

At this point, all of them had seen him topless, so he thought nothing of it when he stepped out from behind the screen requesting for help. Hal hurried over as he stepped close to the photo shooting area, tugging the top up as it slowly slid down his shoulders. It really was a soft and slippery material.

A coughing fit had him glancing up from where Hal was muttering insults at his own creation, and freezing. “Hob?” It came out strangled as heat flushed up his cheeks. Why was he always dressed terribly when an unplanned meeting came around?

Said man was stunned and hiding the bottom half of his face behind a hand. “H-hey, Morpheus.” He wheezed in return.

Darting his eyes around, face no doubt red, Morpheus landed on a smirking Cori, and deadpanned, “You're dead to me.”

This was embarrassing. He suddenly became aware of his exposed legs, the front hem stopped mid thigh. The exposed mid-drift had already flashed itself to Hob like a whore, so Morpheus could deal with that. Still, they were meant to be taking it slow, and here he was, dressed somewhat provocative. Morpheus really was going to kill Cori.

However, it would be over quicker if he just got on with it. Hal finished helping him into the top and directed him back to the little photo shoot station, where he had to drape himself over an old chaise lounge. According to one of the other fashion students, they stole it from the theater rooms. Along with a few other props.

Reclined across the chair on his stomach, so that the lace backing could be seen as one of the other students directed, Morpheus rested his head on his arms on the singular arm of the chair. Facing the camera, the bland focus from before had become nerves with Hob now in the room. Suddenly, it was no longer a favour for his sibling, but something else entirely. One he could not put a name to either.

As Cori crouched to fluff the skirts so that they spread and spilled out and over the chair in some dramatic fashion, Morpheus hissed, “Why the hell is he here?”

Under their lashes, Cori teased, “Don't you think he should see you at your most prettiest.”

“You're the absolute worst. I'm telling Didi.”

Cori scoffed, “Like Didi wouldn't agree with me.”

Fidgeting, Morpheus gave a quick glance over to Hob, who was listening to one of the students talk, and met his eyes. There was wonder in them, and something heated underneath. Morpheus recalled their date a week ago, and the kiss at the night's end. They hadn't seen one another except in passing at the shop, mainly texting back and forth, so it was jarring to see the man outside of the warm and familiar surrounding of books and coffee. He felt more real. Like he wasn't just another passing face of his job.

Something permanent.

Fully resting his chin on his arms, wanting to get comfortable, Morpheus kept his gaze on Hob, even as he noted the flash of the camera. There was want in Hob's expression, but it was just a distant emotion compared to that wide eyed awe.

Then, Hob smiled at him, and gave him an encouraging thumbs up.

His stomach fluttered, and Morpheus finally dragged his eyes away, suddenly bashful. He may have joked about knowing he was a good looking person – but in that moment, he felt it properly under Hob's stare.

Directed into different positions, Cori still giving him translations of the facial expressions they wanted, Morpheus did his best to not focus so much on Hob, knowing that his blush would still be noticed under the make up. He really was going to kill his sibling by the end of this. That outfit was the last of the shoot luckily, and as the bright spot lights turned off, the room's actual lighting being flicked back on and killing the atmosphere, Hob wandered over to him. Stretching out stiff muscles on chair, Morpheus slumped back and greeted Hob with a disgruntled expression, “I'm going to be charged for fratricide.”

Hob snorted, crouching down before him. “Cori isn't a man.”

“No.” Morpheus conceded, “But the idea is still the same. I'm finally going to be a murderer.”

“I believe in you, love.” Hob encouraged with amusement. Normally, Morpheus wouldn't be swept up in terms of endearment, but the softness in which Hob curled his voice around the word made his heart skip.

Leaning forward, Morpheus rested his chin on his hand, elbow braced on his thigh so that his face was inches away from Hob's. “You stared for a long time.” He murmured lowly. And Hob's tongue peeked out to wet his lips. “I did.”

Raising a brow, Morpheus asked, feeling coy, “And how do I look?”

Hob let out a trembling breath, one hand reaching out to hold the wrist of his other hand, thumbing over Morpheus's pulse. “Fucking bewitching.”

Heart now hammering, Morpheus blushed furiously once again, gaze dropping. “Thank you, Hob.”

“Can I kiss you again?” Hob then whispered, and his eyes startled back up. Dumbly, Morpheus nodded and was soon swept away by the warm press of Hob's lips. Hob kissed him with a surprising ferocity, burying a large hand into his hair, the other one slipping from Morpheus' wrist to instead settle on his thigh. Morpheus took a sharp breath in, pressing back as he tilted his head to the side for a better angle. The heat of Hob's hand, the callouses rough on his bare skin, was exhilarating and a ragged breath tumbled from his mouth when Hob pulled back. Brown eyes blown wide, Morpheus had a stray thought of pushing Hob's hand further up the skirt-

“OI!”

They jumped apart, whipping their heads around to see the fashion teacher glaring at them, hands on her hips. “Absolutely not! You want to do that, do it out of this room.”

Mortified, Dream buried his face in his hands as Cori cackled from somewhere.

He heard Hob let out a sheepish chuckle, and the warmth of his hand retreated from Morpheus' thighs. When he glanced up, the other man was giving his legs a curious look, head tilting to the side. “Did you shave?”

Morpheus hummed lightly, racing heart starting to calm, “This is not the first time Cori has had me do this for them. And apparently my 'disgustingly masculine legs' are off putting.” When he used the air quotes, Hob stifled a grin, before standing up and offering his hands to Morpheus.

Taking them, he was once more back on his feet, Hob easily pulling his weight up like it was nothing. Smoothing down the skirt and stepping around Hob to give them space so as not to jump the poor man, Morpheus cast his gaze around for his wayward sibling. Cori was in the middle of a conversation with their teacher, so he decided they were safe from a scolding for now.

“Let me change.”

Hob nodded, “Yeah, no problem. I've got nothing else on today, if you want to head out for some lunch.”

He said it with such a casual ease, that it took Morpheus a second to register that it was an offer for a second date. Blinking, Morpheus slowly nodded, “That sounds good. I know a cafe.”

The teasing smirk in response had Morpheus preparing for the expected joke. “A coffee shop, perhaps?”

Rolling his eyes, Morpheus spun around to the changing screen. “You're not as funny as you think you are.”

“I'm hilarious, babe!” Hob called, and thank god he was safely ducked behind the screen because the pet name had his growing hot. The splattering of giggles from the other students made the blush worse. Covering his face, Morpheus debated just jumping out the window and running for freedom.

Taking deep breaths to fortify himself, he began to flap about with the trailing sleeves of lace, maneuvering them out of the way so he could get to the hidden clasps and buttons of the suit top. Honestly, though lovely to look at, this was a monstrosity to get in and out of.

After a few minutes of struggling he wrangled the piece off, holding back the urge to just drop it on the ground in a fit of vengeance, instead tossing it to hang over the changing screen.

Next, the skirt. The zipper was at the back and hidden under a layer of tulle. Fumbling his fingers back there, he latched onto the metal, only for it to not pull down. Tugging a few times, Morpheus let out a low groan of frustration, a curse or two slipping out.

“Alright back there?” Hob asked, and Morpheus jolted. How long had he been waiting on the other side.

Clearing his throat, Morpheus replied, “Fine. Zipper is stuck.”

A pause. “Do...you want some help?”

Freezing at the question, Morpheus' breath hitched, and closing his eyes, he could imagine those hands trailing across his lower back, maybe his waist. The phantom heat of Hob's hands on his thighs came to mind. A shiver erupted across his skin at the thought.

However, this was not the place nor time. Plus, Morpheus needed them to go slow, he valiantly reminded himself.

“Could you send Cori back, please.” He quietly asked, nervous on Hob's reaction.

“Of course.” Hob replied easily, a softness to his voice. Understanding.

“Sorry.” He then blurted out, unable to hold back.

At that point, Hob poked his head around the side. Noting the way the brown eyes flickered over his torso, he didn't linger long on Morpheus exposed body however after the brief once over. Instead, he met his gaze and smiled reassuringly, “It's alright, Morpheus. We're going slow after all.”

Then he disappeared again. Cori came striding back after a few seconds that Morpheus spent contemplating on whether he should've taken that opportunity. His sibling gave him a disappointed tsk, “You had the chance, big brother.”

Morpheus gritted out as they started on the zipper, “You're the absolute worst. I'm never doing anything for you ever again.”

“Keep telling yourself that, Murphy.”

Aggravated sigh escaping him, Morpheus tilted his head up, looking at the metal beams above them, crossing across the ceiling. “We're going slow, like I said. I wanted to but...”

As he trailed off, Cori hummed, understanding. “I got you, Morpheus. Was just teasing. Wanted to see if he had enough respect for you to hold back and wait until you're ready.”

Casting a glance back at his younger sibling, Morpheus couldn't help his exasperated but fond smile, irritation fading, “You and your fucking schemes.”

Smirking, Cori got the zipper unstuck and planted a kiss on his cheek. He was sure they had left behind a red lipstick mark as they flounced off.

When he stepped out, dressed once more in his comfortable jean and long sleeve shirt, Morpheus bee-lined for his socks and shoes that were off to the side. As he tugged them on, Hob sidled up, “So...”

Morpheus, as he laced up his boots, raised a brow despite keeping his eyes on the lacing, “So?”

“Do you always look so good in a skirt?”

Snorting, Morpheus drawled, “Don't get your hopes up in seeing me like that again. It's only on a rare occasion.”

Hob pouted playfully, “Not even for me?”

“I usually wait until the sixth date to pull out the dresses.” He deadpanned, and Hob cracked a grin. “You're adorable.”

Straightening up, lightly pleased with the compliment, Morpheus snatched his coat up and called out to Cori, “Leaving now! Don't talk to me ever again.”

Wiggling their fingers back at him, Cori snarked, “See you at dinner, Murphy.”

As they left the building, Hob placed his arm around his shoulders, making him falter for a second. “This alright?” The man asked, and Morpheus thought about it before giving a nod, leaning into Hob's warmth and wrapping an arm around his back.

It was what he had done to his past partners, so he wasn't surprised by the closeness. It was more that he had never been with a man before, never had that arm around him, to feel a strange wash of protected and secure. Should he be upset or uncomfortable with that change in dynamics? He wasn't that much shorter and could easily do the same in return. Perhaps an experiment to try another day. After all, they may be taking things slow, but that didn't mean that Morpheus was refusing such casual and intimate contact, greedy for it despite never the one to seek it out. For now, he enjoyed it, listening as Hob began to rant about his professor, as well as sprinkling in a few stories of what Robin had done recently.

Calliope ducked into the first busy shop she saw, not thinking of it's wares or content, only a public place that was out of the cold and safe. She let out a relieved sigh at the warmth of the interior, before taking it all in. A coffee shop. With a terribly familiar face at the cash register.

Said person blinked in surprise. “Calliope?”

Relief flooded her, and she hurried over to the counter. “Didi, thank god.” She rushed out. “I know it's been years but I'm being followed by a man.”

Those typically warm brown eyes hardened. “Of course.” Then she pointed to Calliope's left, “There's a little nook that way, behind the shelves. You can't be seen from the windows there.”

Shoulders dropping, Calliope could nearly sob. “Thank you so much, Didi.” However, her steps then faltered, turning back to the older woman, “Listen, about Morpheus and I-”

Didi held up a hand, “No worries. Trust me when I say, you are his best ex, so go on and head back. I'll get you some tea.”

Giving her a grateful smile, Calliope did as instructed, scurrying into said nook.

It was currently preoccupied with a man, and she tensed. The man glanced up at her arrival, glasses perched on his nose and startled. “Alright there?”

Holding the strap of her bag tightly, Calliope gave a singular curt nod. “May I sit here?”

Blinking, the man jerked into action, hurrying to clean up where his books and work had spilled over the table and second seat, offering quick apologies, “Of course! Sorry, I normally take over this area today.”

“It's fine.” Calliope assured him, “I'm just um, being followed.” She softly explained.

He paused, narrowing his eyes. “Need someone to be hit for you?”

Calliope let out a shocked laugh, taking the newly cleaned seat with a soft sigh. “I'm okay for now. But I'll keep that offer in mind.”

The man gave a wide smile, “Of course.” His eyes then flicked over and brightened, “Hey, love.”

Following his gaze, Calliope stilled. “Morpheus.”

Said man was hurrying over to her side, a cup of tea in hand. A strange, barely contained frantic expression on his face as he quickly set a mug of tea down for her, Morpheus rushed out. “Calliope, are you alright? Didi said something about a stalker?”

Calliope felt the nerves of today unravel at seeing Morpheus again for the first time in years. The familiar face set her at ease. Gently, she reached out to place her hand on his arm. “I'm alright, Morpheus. Thank you.”

Frowning doubtfully, he glanced her over, no doubt searching for any injuries, to which she laughed his concern off. “Stop, Morpheus. The creep hadn't touched me.”

Scowling, Morpheus muttered something unkind under his breath, and Calliope was flooded with nostalgia. It was like those last few rocky months of their relationship disappeared, revealing the boy she knew before all the tragedy.

A throat clearing itself brought her back to the other occupant of the nook, who also knew Morpheus. Her ex boyfriend jerked his head around, glancing at the man wide eyed.

Then, something...strange happened. Morpheus had always been small with his reactions, sharing them only in private and to those he loved deeply. But when he turned to the man, the smile that broke his face was as bright as when they were just starting their relationship, so full of happiness without a hint of sadness from a struggling home life.

“Hello Hob.” And Morpheus left her side to approach the man's – Hob – and gently brushed the long brown hair behind his ear. “How has your morning been?”

Hob's eyes darted towards her with some confusion, but when they rested their full focus on Morpheus, they softened with affection. “Good. Busy. And yours?”

Morpheus gave a half shrug, “Typical.”

Calliope then caught the sight of Hob's hand resting lightly on Morpheus' waist, and realisation washed over her.

Delighted, Calliope asked, “Morpheus? Is this your boyfriend?”

As if they were in their own world, both men snapped back to her startled, the pale man flushing. “We're dating, yes.”

“That's wonderful.” She replied, turning to Hob. “I'm Calliope. Morpheus and I had dated back in school, haven't seen him in, what?” She glanced to Morpheus, “A decade?”

“Round about, yes.” Morpheus confirmed.

And there, a split second of fragility on Hob's eyes, and Calliope was flooded with guilt. Perhaps...she shouldn't have worded their connection like that. However, what sounded like Cori called out from somewhere in the building, “Murphy! You're fucking scones are burning!”

The man was gone with but a haphazard kiss to Hob's lips, sprinting back to the kitchen. Calliope blinked, astonished. “I don't think I've ever seen him run so fast before.”

Hob breathed out a laugh, “He loves his baking.” Then fell silent.

Calliope watched as he fiddled with his papers, looking busy but she could tell he wasn't. Not knowing how long she was going to be hiding back here, Calliope didn't want to sit in awkwardness, and began to clear the air.

“I'm not going to steal him from you.”

His head snapped up. “I didn't think you would!” Hob assured her, but Calliope waved her hand, “It's okay, Hob. We broke up when we were sixteen on bad terms, and I'm no home wreck.” She joked at the end.

Rubbing at his ear, Hob cleared his throat awkwardly. “Sorry. I didn't mean to come off as...possessive or-”

“No,” Calliope gently interrupted, smiling softly, “You didn't. But I know what it's like, to suddenly have someone take his attention away from you.”

At his curious look, she took a sip of her tea, the warm liquid soothing her still present nerves and making the lingering cold disappear. “There were a few boys and girls in our school that liked him. He would never cheat,” Calliope added firmly, “But if you brought up the right topic, he would give his undivided attention to that person. So, I was a little jealous at times, when it wasn't necessary.”

Hob nodded slowly, taking a sip of his own mug. It fogged up his glasses but he didn't seem to care. “At first, when I met him the first couple of times, I thought he was cold. Rude.”

Calliope smiled at the memories that flooded her, “Yeah. He's does seem like it.”

And Hob nodded earnestly, “But he isn't! He's just so fucking awkward.”

A burst of laughter erupted from her chest. “Isn't he just? When he first asked me out, it was stated so blandly.” Rolling her shoulders back, she set her face into an old expression she would use to mimic Morpheus' blank one. “'I like you. Date?'”

Snorting, the man stated dryly, “He told me, straight face, that he knew I was interested in him. Nearly had a heart attack, I was not prepared for my crush to just be aired out so bluntly.”

Sighing softly in reminiscence, Calliope relaxed back in the chair, curling up as she sipped her tea. “He's sweet, under that hardened exterior. He was a lot more open before his parents...” She stopped herself, giving a glance to Hob, who nodded, “I know, don't worry.”

Relieved she didn't reveal anything she shouldn't have Calliope continued, “He closed off after they left, and I knew it was a way to protect himself from hurt and, I guess the betrayal he felt at their sudden abandonment, but I was his girlfriend. He knew I cared and wouldn't judge him for his perceived weakness. But he wasn't open to anyone, barely even to his siblings. At the time, at sixteen, I was too young and immature to try and stay with him during that hard time. Too focused on my own hurt feelings.”

“So you broke up.” Hob concluded, without a hint of judgment. Sadly, Calliope nodded. “Now, I do regret the horrible words I said to him that night.”

“Why not talk to him?” Hob suggested earnestly, “Clear the air. I'm sure he would be happy to.”

Calliope sat with that, mulling of his suggestion over as she drank her tea. Outside, she heard the pattering of rain, and was relieved she remembered to bring an umbrella with her today.

“So, how did you two meet?” Calliope had to ask after a minute or so of peaceful silence.

Hob's face split into a grin, “You know, I've been coming to this place for three years and never saw hide nor hair of Morpheus until September when he came out for a book.”

Snuggling into the chair, Calliope moved all her focus on Hob as he wove the budding love story between him and her ex. She was happy for Morpheus. He deserved something good in his life.

Some time later, Morpheus came back out, checking on her and Hob. There was a hum of nervousness under his skin as he approached them, blue eyes flicking between the pair of them.

“How are you feeling now, Calliope?” He asked softly, and he really had grown into his voice, deeper and no longer cracking as a teenage boy was wont to do. Same with his features, loosing that lingering baby fat and growing into them.

Smiling, she replied, “I'm well enough. Once the rain stops I think I'll head out after checking he's gone.”

There was a faint curl of his upper lip, disgust and contained anger. “What does he look at?”

Resting her chin on her hand, Calliope teased, “Coming to my defense, Morpheus?”

Said man sniffed derisively, “You might recall Roderick Burgess. I'm not one adverse to putting men like him in his place.”

Her mind flashed over to the siblings' previous neighbours and the old man's strange obsession with Didi and Morpheus. Grimacing, Calliope nodded in acknowledgment. “Still, it's not necessary. I've texted my sisters and they'll meet me here.” And here, she waved her phone as emphasis.

Though Morpheus nodded, he still didn't look happy. Then, turning his focus to Hob, his eyes softened, “Sorry for not greeting you properly, Hob.”

After her reassurance, Hob had appeared to relax far more, waving off Morpheus' apologies. “Not necessary, love. Calliope's safety is a bit more important than if I get a kiss or not.”

Nonetheless, despite Hob's casual words, Morpheus still sat himself on the arm of the chair to give the other man a kiss. One that was not as fleeting as it was earlier when he had to head back to the kitchen.

It wasn't jealously that churned in her stomach, perhaps a soft sadness. A longing from before, when she was the focus of his love and devotion. She hadn't lied, when she told Hob that being under Morpheus attention was dizzying and wondrous. He made you feel special. Important.

It was time to go.

Gathering her bag, Calliope stood up, which led to the two men parting. “I'm going to head out early, I think. Thank you though, for all your help.”

Morpheus broke away from Hob, with a gentle stroke across his shoulders, “Let me walk you to the door at least.”

Perhaps she was still a bit weak to those earnest blue eyes, and Calliope nodded. Waving at Hob, she said with complete sincerity, “It was wonderful to meet you, Hob. And remember what I told you.”

The man gave her a sloppy salute. “Take care of yourself, Calliope.”

Morpheus used to place a hand on her lower back when they walked together. The man did not touch her now, and a tiny part of her craved that touch again. But it was nostalgia talking once more, and she was pleased that he didn't. He had someone new now. And Hob seemed good for him. He was open, so obvious with his emotions and thoughts. Morpheus needed that.

It had been ten years, and she didn't know what may have occurred in his life, but Morpheus still held that closed off nature that had led to their break up. However, with Hob, he wasn't so much. Not like with her. If anything, it was maybe pain of losing his parents having dulled over time that could have led to that return of lowered barriers.

At the door, Calliope took a quick peek around, and once no sight of that old man was seen, Calliope sent a thumbs up at Didi, who smiled and offered one in return. Then, she faced Morpheus.

“Will you be alright?” He asked once more.

Softening, Calliope gave his arm a reassuring squeeze. “Yes, Morpheus. Don't worry too much.”

He grumbled, tugging the door open for her. Stepping through, Calliope took in Morpheus fully in a way she hadn't before. He was taller, hair just as dark and disastrous. She could see the faint darkness where he was clean shaving his face and it hit her, that he was a man now. They were both twenty-six, both adults. Ten years without seeing one another, and though they had changed there were still things that were the same.

Like how he clenched his jaw when unsure.

Opening up her umbrella, Calliope advised him kindly, “Hob is a good man. I think you'll be good for one another. Don't be afraid to tell him what's going on in your life, Morpheus.”

He sucked in a sharp breath, eyes faintly watery, no doubt recalling their break up. She softened further. He took everything to heart, felt so strongly about things and people. She had no doubt he still cared deeply for her, just as she did for him. Hopefully, past hurt would not get in the way of his future relationship.

She waved, stepping out onto the pavement, “Good bye, Oneiros.” Unable to stop herself, speaking that old nickname.

A smile twitched at his lips, fond. “Good bye, Muse.”

Calliope turned and walked away.

Her eyes burnt, and sniffling, Calliope wiped away the tears that threatened to fall. It wasn't a painful hurt in her chest, but it ached nonetheless. Calliope truly did love Morpheus, and regretted how they parted as teens.

However, this was a closure she needed. Unlocking her phone, she pulled up a contact and pressed call. It rang for a few beats, before it answered, “Hey Calliope!”

The ache faded, turning into warmth as she murmured, “Hello, Nuala my love. Are we still on for dinner and a film tonight?”

As the last one to leave again, Morpheus wrapped up tight in his scarf and jacket as he locked the door. Didi had been kind enough to take the ravens home, as Hob was leant against the outside windows, waiting for him.

Jamming his hands into his pockets, Hob meandered his way over to Morpheus, having stayed all day so that they could head to his place for the night. Only a month into their tentative dating, the middle of November and hitting them with a strong cold and wet weather, they decided it would be a good time to spend the night together for the first time.

Morpheus iterated not wanting to get physical, and as always, Hob was agreeable with his boundaries.

The taller man wrapped that heavy and safe arm over his shoulder, and Morpheus leant into it with an exhausted sigh. Seeing Calliope again today was a surprise, especially given the circumstances of her being followed and meeting Hob. Luckily, they managed to get on well enough while he was stuck in the kitchen, fretting over what they could be possibly talking about.

Him no doubt. He had a short fear that Calliope was warning Hob away from him, but had to scold himself for thinking such a disservice of her person. Calliope was always unfailingly kind, baring their break up. But that was her lashing out, hurt because of his own reluctance in talking to her instead of shutting her out.

Her advice would be taken seriously. Morpheus cared deeply for Hob, he was discovering, and did not want to ruin this good thing they had.

“Thank you for being so understanding with Calliope.” Morpheus reiterated.

Hob hummed lightly, “Of course.”

That was it. Morpheus' nerves spiked, having expected more questioning, recalling when he talked to an old classmate after having dropped university, and Alianora spotted it. She had practically interrogated him on what they talked about, and was prepared for the same with Hob.

Unable to help himself, always a glutton for punishment, Morpheus asked, “Are you upset with me?”

The other man stopped in his tracks, glancing down at him, bewildered. “Why would I be mad?”

“Because I talked to my ex.”

“Morpheus,” Hob began, “You can talk to who ever you want. And I'll admit I was a bit jealous. But that was mainly my own insecurity. You wouldn't be the first person to drop me for someone prettier.”

The self-deprecating chuckle that followed made Morpheus frown, turning to face Hob directly. He did what he would do to his younger siblings when they would doubt themselves, giving that same laugh that Hob did.

Tugging his hands from his pockets, Morpheus clapped them onto either side of the Hob's face, squishing his cheeks in. Hob made a garbled sound of surprise as Morpheus tugged his head close, so they were nose to nose.

“Listen to me, Hob Gadling, when I say that you are beautiful. I could write poetry about your eyes and smile. Do not doubt yourself, especially when standing next to me.”

“You're so vain.” Hob mumbled, his eyes crinkling with amusement. Morpheus rolled his own. “I know how attractive I am.” He stated frankly, “But that doesn't mean you are beneath me in looks. You're gorgeous and we are an attractive pair. So pull yourself together, Hob. I will not leave you for someone else unless you do something radically stupid. And even then, it would take my siblings coaching for me to leave. Once I give someone my full attention, they will hold it.”

As he retracted his hands, Hob reached up to cup them between his larger ones. The man stared at them, brushing his thumb across the backs of Morpheus' hands, a furrow of uncertainty on his brow. “What about when I don't hold your attention anymore?”

Glancing up at him, Hob's brown eyes shone amber in the street lights, looking so terribly sad. “What if I'm no longer interesting? Will you leave me? After all, we're not serious.”

Heart clawing at his throat, Morpheus blinked furiously through burning eyes. “How could you say that? Have I not-”

“No,” Hob cut in, “You haven't said anything, and I know it's because you want to go slow.” He took a deep breath, bowing his head over their joined hands. “I'm not condemning you for wanting that, but fuck, Morpheus. I know you've had some bad relationships, but I promise that if we become official, I'll give you all that I can.”

Hob the met his eyes with a strength of a thousand burning suns, “Will you be my boyfriend, Morpheus Ende?”

Breath catching and eyes wide, Morpheus' chest stuttered, and it took him a second to push out the stunned, “Yes.” Blinking rapidly, he dove forward to seal their lips together, tugging his hands away from Hob's to instead throw them around his shoulders.

Snaking his arms around Morpheus' waist, Hob pulled him close against his chest, holding him tight as they kissed.

Recalling Calliope's words, Morpheus broke their contact to breath out in a rush, “If I'm being a retentive dickhead just tell me. I get too lost in my head.”

Hob's face broke into a grin, “I promise. And let me know when you need space, cause I can be a pushy bastard.”

“Of course.” Morpheus spoke against his lips before leaning back in for more.

Hob's place was a small flat. A tiny kitchen, a living room that was also the dining area, one bedroom, and a bathroom squeezed in. But the second one stepped in, the welcoming atmosphere instantly soaked you. Morpheus glanced around with curiosity, seeing all the pictures on the wall, not framed but stuck by blue-tack. There were fairy lights trailing across the ceiling in nearly every part of the flat. And when Hob flicked those on instead of the proper light switches, it cast a delightfully warm glow. Hob decorated with earthy tones, it was homey, and Morpheus loved it.

After placing his bag and jacket next to the small couch, Hob offered him some tea as he gathered plates for their take out. It was too late really for dinner to be made from scratch, and both were not in the mood for any cooking to begin with.

Instead, they ate and chatted, and soon changed into their pajamas and fell into bed, exhausted. For a few seconds it was a little awkward, not knowing how to position themselves around one another, but after some shifting about they managed to settle down comfortably.

Resting his head on Hob's chest, the man's arm around his waist and holding him close, Morpheus looked up at him and gave a tiny, content smile. “I really like you, Hob.” His stomach felt fluttery as he said this, but pushed through it, because he wanted Hob to know that he cared for him, even if they weren't say the 'L' word.

Hob brushed hair from off his face, curling his finger around Morpheus' ear as he murmured back, “I really like you too, love.” There was a lazy smile on Hob's face, no doubt from the long day, but that did not lessen the affection in his eyes as he looked down at him

Warm and safe, Morpheus found it easier than he expected to fall asleep next to Hob.

Humming, Didi padded into the kitchen, morning sunlight streaming in. She was just popping the kettle on after filling it up when the phone rang. Confused, she glanced at the clock, reading sometime past nine, and couldn't possibly imagine who it would be.

All of her siblings barring Morpheus was counted for, who had stayed the night at Hob's place. If anything had happened, she was sure Hob would've called. Unless something had happened to him too.

Worry squirming in her stomach, Didi hurried to the phone as it continued to ring, picking up with a bit too much force for the old thing. “Ende residence?”

A moments silence. A deep breath. “Hey, Didi.”

Everything stopped. The world, the stars, time, her breath, and her capacity to think.

“Ollie!?” She exclaimed.

Chapter Text

Sleep warm and comfortable, Morpheus felt the edges of his dream fade as sunlight streamed across his face. Opening his eyes, he shut them once more, grimacing at the brightness, and turned to snuggle deeper into Hob's side. They hadn't closed the curtains last night. The man's chest shook with laughter, thick from sleep and it made something curl in his stomach at the sound of it.

“Morning, love.” Hob whispered, a hand running through Morpheus' hair. With a pleased groan, he stretched out before pushing himself up to lounge across Hob's chest.

“Morning.” He replied, a sleepy smile on his lips. Hob grinned in response.

“Good dreams, Mr God of Dreams?”

At the teasing, Morpheus rolled his bleary eyes, “Cause that's original.”

Hob smacked a kiss to his nose. “You're adorable when annoyed.” Morpheus scrunched his nose, raising a fist to rub at his eyes. Opening his mouth to respond, Morpheus was cut off by his phone going off. Frowning, he rolled off Hob to reach for it, noting that it was his eldest sister. Answering, Morpheus asked, “Didi? What's going on?”

“It's Ollie!”

He shot up. “What?”

On the other end, Morpheus picked up faint chatter of his other siblings as Didi rushed out, “I got a call from him a few minutes ago. He's in police hold up in bloody Roydon, of all places!”

Morpheus was at loss for words. “I-what? Why is he in fucking Roydon!?”

“That's what you're focusing on!? Not that he's in been taken in by the police!?”

Running a hand roughly though his hair, Morpheus exhaled heavily, “Listen if it wasn't Cori in jail, it would be Ollie.”

“That's not the damn point, Murphy!” Didi nearly shrieked, “Ollie needs us to pick him up!”

That kicked his sleepy brain into gear, tugging the sheets off of his legs, “Right. Of course. I'm on my way.”

“Good.” Didi breathed. “We're taking the family van, so it will fit all eight of us.”

Morpheus paused in the middle of getting off of the bed. “Eight of us?” He echoed.

“Yeah. Hob's coming, right?”

“Uh.” Morpheus blinked, turning to glance at Hob, who was now also sat up and watching him with worry. “Let me get back to you on that. But I'll be there soon.”

“Alright. See you soon.” Didi hung up.

Letting out a shuddering breath, Morpheus dropped the phone into his lap as he dropped his head into his hands. A hand tentatively settled between his shoulder blades, rubbing gently. “Alright, love?”

His hands were shaking. Morpheus squeezed his eyes closed, forcing out, “My brother. The one who ran off. He's called and apparently in police lock up. We need to get him.”

“Fuck.” Hob hissed out.

Morpheus flopped back onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling. He should be feeling something, but right now, he was just numb. In shock.

“Fuck.” He echoed in agreement.

Hob came with him the second Morpheus tentatively offered. Dressed, teeth brushed, and shoes tugged on in under ten minutes, they were out of the door heading to Hob's bike. Morpheus was jittery, and it took all his strength to force it down during the ride, not wanting to jar Hob and get them into a crash.

Weaving through London traffic, it gave Morpheus sometime to think over the phone call and everything that will follow.

Ollie left them when he was eighteen, citing wanting to search for their parents. But it was Dolores who accused of him running from them, not wanting to deal with their family anymore. Ollie was the most out spoken of them, most adventurous. If any of them was going to go and explore the world, it would be Ollie.

They just hadn't expected him to leave and never keep contact.

It was four years after their parents disappeared, and the wounds they caused with that were only just healing when Ollie carved them open once more. Packed his bags in the night like their parents did, left a note like their parents did, and lost all contact like they did. He was so similar to their father in appearance, but far more warm and gentle with Joy. It was unthinkable of him being so careless with their feelings.

Turned out he must have been more like their parents than they thought. It was Dustin, Morpheus, and Cori that were the most like their parents in personality; cold, words harsh, and distant. Didi always refuted that when one of them brought it up, but in many ways, it was true.

But that was beside the point, as Ollie was never meant to be like their parents. Never meant to run off for six years, never even sending a letter, or a fucking text. Morpheus buried his head into Hob's back as much as he could with the helmet in the way, tightening his hold.

Entering the house, Morpheus was not surprised by the heavy silence that met them around the dining table. Hob murmured to him, giving him a brief, one arm hug, “I'll wait in the library, love.”

Squeezing his arm in gratitude, Morpheus gave him a quick peck on the lips, “Thank you, Hob.”

They were a day in to being official boyfriends, and now Hob got to witness the shit show that was their family drama. If this didn't scare him away, nothing would.

Settling down on the creaking chair that was his usual place around the table, Morpheus assessed his siblings with a concerned eye. Dustin was dead silent at the head of the table, hands tightly clasped on top of wood. A steaming cup of tea was ignored in front of him.

Didi sat to his right, her own hands wrapped around her mug. She was watching him with near tearing eyes, giving him a watery smile. “Hey, Morpheus.”

He nodded silently, glancing to his right. Joy had her knees tucked under her chin, eyes staring at nothing, also ignoring her tea. Lo and Cori were leaning against one another, fingers tangled together.

All here now, Didi cleared her throat. “Ollie, from what I gathered, had been picked up for disturbing the peace and drunken disorderly. The police tried to reason with him, but he decided to put up a fight.”

“And now we have to bail him out.” Lo grunted out, a flicker of confused anger over her face. She, as well as Joy, were the closest with Ollie, and took his departure hard. Where Joy just missed him, Lo was furious. Morpheus couldn't blame her. He was too.

Then, Dustin was brought back into motion, snatching his tea to toss it all back in one go, slamming it onto the table – startling Joy back to the present – and shoving his chair back. “Right.” He snapped, “Let's get going. We've got over an hour's drive, and London traffic to get through. Pile into the van.”

The authority of the eldest got them moving like trained men, more chairs screeching in their standing, mugs left behind on the table, no doubt for one of the eldest to clean up later.

Morpheus would make sure it would be him, and not Didi to do so. She would have enough on her plate in comforting a lost Joy, who wouldn't meet anyone's eyes as they filed out.

Dustin snatched up the keys from the dish by the door, and gave a curt nod to Hob. “Gadling. Are you sure you want to come?”

Hob met his gaze solemnly, “If you're okay with it.”

The eldest didn't reply, only strode out of the front door. Morpheus fell in beside Hob, watching his siblings head one by one out the door, worried. He hadn't ever seen Dustin this furious in a long time. When he was given custody of them, he was silently raging for weeks, before it calmed down. Maybe Ollie's disappearance hit him harder than their parents did.

Reaching out, Morpheus took Hob's hand, giving it a squeeze. “You'll sit with me, in the back.” He stated, lightly tugging him along and shutting the front door.

As they piled into the van, Morpheus leant his head against Hob's shoulder, lacing their fingers together. Joy was in the middle seats in front of them, between Lo and Cori. As Didi buckled herself into the passenger seat, she glanced back at all of them, giving them a reassuring smile. It was a weak one, and didn't do much to comfort.

“Everyone ready?”

When no one spoke up, she pursed her lips and turned back around. Address punched into her phone, Dustin reversed from the drive way, and they were off.

No one talked the entire drive. It took two hours to get to the police station, and not a single word was spoken beside Didi murmuring directions to Dustin. Even Joy, typically so chatty, especially when nervous, was dead quiet. She didn't even hum to herself.

Beside him, Hob kept the quiet too, and Morpheus wondered how agonising it was for him. To be dragged along for the family drama, stuck in all this tension and history. However, he kept his hand laced into Morpheus' and watched the world pass by out the window calmly.

Morpheus had no idea how he managed to find such a selfless man.

When they parked outside of the station, they sat for a long moment in more silence. Then, Cori broke it. “We're dragging him back to the house, yeah?”

From the front, Dustin gritted out, “You're absolutely fucking right we are.” And then harshly unbuckled himself, flinging open his door.

'Ah.' Morpheus thought wryly, 'The drive did nothing to calm his anger.'

They clambered out, quick to follow behind Dustin as he practically barged into the station. The officer at the desk glanced up sharply, “Sir-”

“Dustin Ende. Here for the release of Oliver Ende.”

The officer stuttered to a halt, taking in the seven people amassing in front of him. Morpheus cast a discreet glance around, and concluded that yes, all of them were certainly an intimidating bunch, seeing that even Hob was dressed all in black. It looked more like they were going to a particularly casual and punkish funeral, than picking up their brother.

Clearing his throat, the officer spoke, “Wait one moment please.” Before hurrying to the back.

There was a pause, before Didi softly chided Dustin, “Tone down the agro, Dusty. You're scaring the pigs off.”

Joy snorted softly beside Morpheus, and he caught Hob hiding a grin. Within seconds, the tension from the past few hours lessened.

The door swung open from the back offices moments later, the front desk man and another came through, the new comer taking a look at them all. “I didn't know a party was needed for a bail.”

Cori crossed their arms, drawling, “Forgive us, officer. This is also a family reunion.”

As they said this, the door opened again, and out came Ollie. As one, the siblings took a sharp breath in at the sight of him.

He looked exactly like their father, hair burnt red and beard scraggly but trimmed neatly. Clothes askew and rumbled from a night in the slammer, they were still the usual plaid shirt and jean pairing that he tend to wear before he left.

“Hey, guys. Missed me?” Ollie greeted them, a crooked smile on his face and way too casual for Morpheus' liking.

'Would you miss me if I disappeared?'

Morpheus rolled over on his bed, looking tiredly over to where Ollie sat on his own, mindlessly flicking through a book.

'What are you talking about?' He grumbled.

Ollie shrugged halfheartedly. 'If I left like mum and dad, would you miss me?'

Sitting up slowly, Morpheus frowned, 'Of course I would. You're my brother. I'd miss all of you.'

And his little brother grinned, 'Aw. Didn't know you cared big bro.'

At the teasing, Morpheus rolled his eyes, grabbing a pillow to toss at Ollie's head. 'Fuck off and sleep, dickhead.'

Next morning, the bed was neatly made in a way Ollie never would have it, and a letter was sat on his pillow. He was gone.

He couldn't breathe. He couldn't stand to look at the smile like it hadn't been six years of nothing. Whirling around, Morpheus stalked out of the building, slamming through the doors and heading back to the van. He couldn't make sense on why. Why did Ollie leave? Why did he just cut all contact? Was it Morpheus' fault? Should he have said something instead of thinking his brother to be messing about?

Shuddering to suck in a breath, Morpheus' back hit the side of the van, sinking to the pavement and pushing his hands against his face. Fingers finding a tight grip in his hair, Morpheus couldn't think. He just kept seeing that grin of eighteen year old Ollie, and now this new face laying over it. That young man they had in pictures and memories gone, replaced by a stranger that was so fucking familiar.

Why did he leave?

Why didn't he do anything?

It was his fault, he should've stopped him. Should've heard him leaving. He should've-

“Morpheus.”

A voice quietly broke through his spiraling, and when he dragged his hands from his face, his sight was blurry with tears. Trembling hands reached out and gripped the person in front of him. Arms wrapped around him within seconds and that voice softly soothed the mess of his mind, “Breathe love. It's alright, just breathe. In time with me, come on.”

A heart beat under his ear, and closing his eyes Morpheus, sucked in a gasping, relieving breath of air. Almost immediately the dizziness he hadn't noted before started to fade away with every panted breath.

“I-it's-it's-” Morpheus stuttered out, trying to speak, only for Hob to shush him softly.

“Don't speak, love. Just focus on breathing first.”

Whining, he shoved his face deeper into Hob's chest, clenching tight at his sweater, seeking purchase. Some kind of anchor to this fucking storm he was drowning in. A dark part of him hissed how he wished Ollie never called, never to ruin this good thing. It was like his life was just managing to get itself back on track, only for the world to throw something new at him, making him fall again.

But the rest of him was just hurting. He never stopped missing Ollie. Only repressed that grief because what else was he meant to do with all of the emotions he had? It was too much sometimes and now it was just spilling out, and Morpheus couldn't get a grasp on it again.

Shuddering out a breath, Morpheus tugged himself away from Hob, straightening up where he sat on the ground. Hob pulled his sleeves over his hands and began to wipe away Morpheus' tears, giving him a tiny, sad smile. “Family fucking sucks sometimes, huh?”

Weakly laughing, more surprised than amused, Morpheus nodded. “I'm going to kill him if Dustin doesn't get to him first.”

Hob glanced back over at the station doors, that were just opening to let his family out and back into the sunlight. Joy was chattering non-stop to an indulgent Ollie, Dolores hanging back as well, listening intently to every response their brother had. Cori on the other hand was not looking once at him, instead making a bee-line to where the pair of them sat on the ground.

Dustin followed close behind, mutinous. And Didi was blank faced, he couldn't make out heads or tails on what she was thinking.

Crouching down next to them, Cori muttered, “I'm sitting in the back with you two. I can't stand to look at him after his casual fucking greeting. 'Miss me', he fucking says, I'm going to drown him.” His siblings trailed off into more detailed plans of fratricide. Their hand however was gently wrapping around his coat.

He recalled vividly when they were younger, and how Cori did that exact same gesture when they were out in public and feeling overwhelmed by all the crowds. A security for them. To not get lost and separated.

Standing up shakily, Hob bracing him, Morpheus leant forward to tap his forehead against Cori's. Their hazel eyes were bright with fury and pain, contained barring the faint trembling of their bottom lip. They pressed into the contact for a brief moment, then pulled back.

Nearly ripping open the van door, Cori climbed into the back seat without a backwards glance. Morpheus peered over at Ollie and their eyes met.

The man grimaced, a little wave sent his way. “Hey, Morphy.”

Clenching his jaw, Morpheus looked away, following in after Cori, Hob blocking them in. A delirious part of him thought his boyfriend as a wall, a barrier between him and this stranger of a brother. With Hob here, then the man couldn't hurt him with nostalgia and memories.

Exhaustion hit him like a tidal wave, and with a sigh, Morpheus rested his head against Hob's shoulder. On his other side, Cori did the same onto him, their warmth leaking through his jacket. Then, his sibling locked their hands together. They were cold and shook just as much as his were.

Closing his eyes, the van started up soon enough once everyone was in, rumbling and shaking with movement. Morpheus fell asleep as Hob pressed a gentle kiss to his brow.

They reached home again around noon, however Morpheus wasn't keeping track of the time really. But it was mid day and he just wanted to go back to the morning, curled up with Hob and at peace.

Stepping through the door, he was hit was the thought of what the place must look like to Ollie now, six years later. Would he think it familiar? Would he look around and note the changes? Changes like the new and larger shoe rack, or the red tinsel on the banister that was hung up two years after he left. Would he even care?

Shaking his head, Morpheus toed off his shoes and headed into the kitchen, Didi heading directly to the kettle. Turning into the dining room, Morpheus silently collected the mugs for her. She gave him a tiny smile when he placed them on the counter. “How're you holding up?” She quietly asked him.

Staring at the tea stain at the bottom of one of the mugs, Morpheus gave a helpless shrug as an answer. He was holding himself together at the seams it felt, feeling too much to comprehend, let alone verbalise. Running a comforting hand down his back, Didi suggested, “Why not go to the living room? Sit down?” It was implied that that was were all of them were going to congregate.

That was the last thing he wanted to do. “I'm going upstairs.” He muttered instead.

Turning around, he pushed past where Ollie was coming down the hall way to the kitchen, ignoring the call of his name as he bound up the stairs to his room. He needed some time alone.

Instead, he found that his feet had taken him somewhere else, now standing in Ollie and his old room, just Ollie's now really. There were storage boxes and a couple of old lamps stacked to the side, as well as some old holiday decoration boxes too. The bed was still made up and untouched as the day that he left. Glancing around, Morpheus stared at the empty corner where his own bed was, that last conversation still ringing in his mind, and he pursed his lips hard, willing himself to not cry again.

After Ollie left, Morpheus was only able to stay an entire week alone in this room, not hearing the familiar sounds of his brother breathing, only his own and the emptiness of his departure. After having to roll over and stare at the empty bed one too many times, he went up the their parent's room and cleared it out. It was easier to live in that room, it holding no fond nor painful memories like his childhood bedroom. Instead, it was a new space that no sadness lingered in the corners and floorboards. No faded glowing stars on the ceiling or dulled paint, darker in squares dotted about the walls where there used to be posters. Instead, it smelt of dust and faint roses, his mother's perfume. But that was aired out easily.

Here, standing in this room, Morpheus remembered the week of loneliness every time he stepped through the door.

A creak of the floorboards, and Morpheus heard Ollie say, “Hey.”

Glancing over his shoulder, Morpheus glared, “I hate you.”

Wincing, Ollie nodded, stepping further into the room and looking around with the heaviness of melancholy. “That's fair.”

“Why did you call?” He whispered. “Why did you just shove your way back into our lives like it was nothing?”

With a one shoulder shrug, Ollie explained, “I had no one else to bail me out. Otherwise-”

He cut himself off, as if holding back what was not meant to be said. But Morpheus heard it, and finished it for him with a hiss, “Otherwise you never would've called.”

Frowning, Ollie looked away, stuffing his hands deep into his pockets. It was telling enough.

A horrible, weighted silence reigned and Morpheus found the ability to choke out, “God, do you really hate us all that much? That we really were last resort for you?”

“It's not about you guys-”

“-No. It's about you.” He snarled, stalking forward to get into Ollie's face, “It's always about how you couldn't stand this family. How we were embarrassments, holding you back. You couldn't stand the sight of all of us falling apart, that you just fucking took off!”

“That's not it!” Ollie bellowed, taking a step forward. “I had my reasons!”

“THEY WEREN'T GOOD ENOUGH!” Morpheus cried. “You left us! You held us all together because fuck knows Didi was already crumbling under the pressure of keeping us fed while Dustin made sure we had a roof over our head.”

“At least I was one less mouth to feed!”

“That's not the fucking point!” He spat, “We lost our parents, they fucking left us because they didn't want to be parents anymore. They didn't want to be our parents anymore! And you left just the same way.”

He was shaking. He was boiling with so much fucking rage. So much restrained pain unleashing. “We were falling apart, but at least we had each other. And then you just fucking left like we didn't even matter. Left because, what, you wanted to travel the world? Making something of yourself? You could've done so and still kept in contact with us! A fucking postcard! And then!” Morpheus let out a near hysterical laugh, running a rough hand through his disheveled hair, “Six bloody years later, where we managed to just about pick up the pieces of losing you, because God knows losing you was far worse than losing mum and dad, and you are in fucking Roydon! Well congratulations, Ollie! You made it! You traveled the world! A whole two hours away from home!”

Getting right up into his face again, Morpheus hissed, “Tell me, little brother. How does it feel to be just as fucked up as the rest of the family that you were trying to escape?”

With a roar, Ollie tackled him to the ground.

The breath was taken from him as his back hit the floor. Morpheus scrambled to catch the fists that Ollie threw at him. “YOU THINK I WANTED TO LEAVE!?”

His cheek flared with pain when a hit landed, but Morpheus managed to jab his elbow into Ollie's side, squirming out of his hold. The other man snagged his waist, trying to pin him as he yelled, “YOU THINK IT DIDN'T KILL ME EVERYDAY TO LEAVE YOU ALL BEHIND!?”

Morpheus got his leg up between them, kicking his brother in the chest, hard. The younger man tumbled back but rolled up into a crouch, recovering from the blow quickly.

Holding his cheek, half sitting up and trying to catch his breath, Morpheus exhaled hard. “If is killed you so much, why didn't you come back? Or better yet, why didn't you just fucking die from that pain of being away from us.”

Ollie snarled, “I wanted them back.”

Morpheus stilled. Eyes widening, he tossed his head back, laugh cold and lacking any actual amusement, “You wanted them back?” Curling over his stomach, he continued to laugh, just about managing to wheeze out, “They don't give two shits about us, why the hell did you want them back?”

Faltering, Ollie pressed his lips tight together, glancing away. “Didn't we all want them back? To have that safety net?”

Straightening up, Morpheus gave him a cruel smile. “Haven't you learnt nothing, Ollie? Even when they were here, they never really were present. They never fucking cared about us.”

Ollie's jaw clenched. There was a myriad of emotions flicking about his face, until he muttered, “Maybe. But I found them in the end.”

Morpheus went cold.

A gasp.

Looking at the door, their siblings were gathered, and Didi's hands were clapped to her mouth, wide eyed and shocked.

Huffing, Ollie sat back hard on his ass, rubbing at his face exhaustively. “I'm not stupid to think they care anymore. Coming back just didn't feel like a possibility after I left. But yeah,” He confirmed, dragging his hand from his face. “I found them.”

Chapter Text

Holding a frozen pack of pineapple pieces to his cheek, Morpheus slouched mutinously into one of the sofas, Hob next to him and an arm tossed over his shoulder. It was very comforting, as it usually was. And, he was sure it was because Didi didn't want him and Ollie getting into another fight, Hob ready to hold him back if he decided to lunge for his younger brother and finally commit a murder.

Said younger brother was stood up, leant against the family piano as his siblings sat on varying chairs and sofas, listening as he told them about finding their parents.

“I headed north, wanting to go up to Scotland. Dad always talked about his home, he loved it.” They all nodded in agreement. “So I thought that would be the best place to look first. He was actually the easiest to find.” Ollie admitted, scratching at his beard. Dad used to do the exact same thing.

“I went from villages to towns, no where big because he hated people. And I guess one person thought I was him from the back, and called out his name. From there, they pointed me in the right direction and I found him. Pure luck, really.”

“And?” Lo asked softly, cuddling her rats close in her arms. Morpheus was doing the same with Jessamy and Matthew, the birds huddling up on his lap and shoulder.

Ollie sighed. It was a despondent sound. “I asked him why he left. And dad said, he thought we were old enough to live without the need for a parent. Thought Didi and Dustin were old enough to handle that responsibility.” A tension rippled through the air, the younger siblings all turning to the two eldest.

The arm of the chair Dustin was sitting on creaked from how tightly the eldest gripped it. Other than that, he was still as stone, face just as carved of marble. The quiet fury of their mother.

Didi on the other hand stood up, walking over to the living room window to look out of it. Her arms were folded tightly across her chest, shoulders taut as a bowstring.

Ollie flicked his gaze from the two of them, looking uncertain with continuing. Cori barked out sharply, “And mother?”

A dark expression flashed over his brother's face, something haunted and pained. After another long second, Ollie continued hoarsely. “Dad pointed me in the vague direction of where she was. But I didn't find her for another year and a half. She was in Greece.”

A suspended silence.

“She's remarried.”

“What?” Joy wavered in a tiny voice as Cori demanded, jumping up from their seat, “You're joking!? You're fucking joking, right?”

Ollie shook his head, unable to meet any of their eyes, staring at the carpet instead. “I found mum, and when she introduced me to her new wife, she said, 'This is a distant family member of mine. Don't know him that much, though.'”

Beside him, Morpheus heard Hob suck in a sharp breath, and mutter too soft for anyone but him to hear, “What a bitch.”

Morpheus agreed completely. If he thought his parents leaving was painful, hearing their reasons and lack of genuine care was agony

“When I got to talk to her alone,” Ollie then continued softly, “I asked her why she left. I told her about what happened to all of us after they left.”

“What did she say?” Dustin whispered. They all both did and didn't want to know her reply, not able to decide which would be worse. But Ollie told them.

“She said, 'Why should I care?'”

At the window, Didi muffled a sob, hand pressed to her mouth. And if the strongest of all of them was breaking down, you knew that the rest would follow in one way or another.

The sun was setting by the time Morpheus walked Hob to the door. Eyes sore and smile weak, Morpheus murmured, “I'm sorry for all of this.”

Hob waved aside his concern with a tight smile. “Trust me, I've got some family drama too. Remind me to tell you later, when you're not as...” He made a vague hand gesture and Morpheus gave a tired smirk, “Fucked up?”

“I was thinking of emotionally vulnerable?” Hob offered with a shrug, “But sure. Fucked up works too.”

Stepping close, Morpheus leant in to wrap his arms around Hob, burrowing into his neck. “Thank you, Hob. Thank you for being here for me.”

Returning the embrace, Hob gently rocked them side to side. “Anytime, Morpheus.”

It was astonishing, Hob's earnest tone. He really meant anytime. Closing his eyes, Morpheus breathed out, “Never let anyone tell you that you aren't wonderful. Because you are, truly.” His arms tightened around Morpheus' waist, Hob pressing a kiss to his temple in gratitude.

Waving Hob off after they finished their goodbyes, Morpheus stepped back inside, shutting the door softly with a click.

“How long have you two been together?” Ollie quietly asked in the dark front entrance. Glancing up with a scowl, he noted his younger brother sat on the stairs, hands clasped and tense.

“Not that it's any of your business,” Morpheus began curtly, “But it's been a month. Yesterday we decided to be official.”

With a low whistle, Ollie replied, “I'm impressed. If he managed to stay through all this shit, he's a keeper.”

Scowl turning into a glare, Morpheus sneered, “I don't need you to tell me that.” He ignored the flicker of hurt on his younger brother's face as he shoved past his brother, storming upstairs. This time, his feet taking him to his own room, and not the old one. It's been a long day, and Ollie would be staying the night. Whether he would be there in the morning was up for debate. Morpheus doubted it. But he just wanted to lie down and sleep.

And once curled up under his blankets, cocooned in pillows, Morpheus regretted having ushered Hob home. Closing his eyes, he recalled the weight of the man's arm around his waist, holding him close as they slept last night. That kind of comfort would've been perfect right about now. But it was selfish to demand more from him, already knowing he must've been exhausted with the drama of today.

There was a knock at his bedroom door then, just as he was dozing off. Glancing over his shoulder as it creaked open, he was not expecting Dustin in the door way.

“Hey.” The older man said.

Bewildered, Morpheus sat up slowly. “Hey?”

He grew increasingly baffled as he watched Dustin step in, close the door, and make his way through the mess covered floor of his bedroom with ease to clamber into Morpheus' bed. The man was tall and slim, not taking up much space.

“Umm.” Morpheus helplessly hummed.

“Sleep.” Dustin rumbled.

And though stunned, Morpheus could get on board with that command, and snuggled back down into his blankets, facing his brother. Hazel eyes were dark with just the moonlight shining through his bedroom window. But it was enough light to see how upset his brother was. His typically smoothed over and blank face was wrought with tight frown lines and old pain hidden in the crevices.

Reaching out, Morpheus placed his hand between them. An offering. Dustin took it immediately, holding it loosely, but present.

“I've missed him.” Morpheus admitted begrudgingly. His cheek still throbbed from the punch and hoped he left a bruise on Ollie's stomach.

Dusting huffed. “Me too. Still want to toss him out the window.”

Cracking a grin, he offered, “I could burn his food tomorrow.”

“Good plan.” The eldest hummed and shut his eyes, ending their conversation.

Morpheus followed after him, falling asleep within minutes.

To their surprise, Ollie was there in the morning. And failing to cook them all breakfast. Thundering of foot steps woke Morpheus up, jolting him out of bed when his bedroom door flew up.

“Ollie's going to burn the house down!” Cori exclaimed before racing down the stairs.

Morpheus burst into motion, Dustin quick behind him and the three raced downstairs and into the kitchen. Didi was in the process of shoving a burning skillet of charred something into the sink as Joy and Lo went about tossing open the windows and the back door. Ollie stood off the the side, sheepish.

Leaning against the door frame, catching their breath, Cori deadpanned, “Get the fuck out of the kitchen, Ollie. That rule still hasn't changed.”

With a frantic nod, Ollie shuffled into the dining room as the actual cooks in the family got to work on making breakfast. It had to be a quick one, as they still had work. Money and bills waited for no one. Not even a reappearance of a family member.

In the coffee shop kitchen, Morpheus stirred up the mix for the cupcake frosting. The pumpkin spice haze was starting to fade, and he was working on a new recipe for peppermint cupcakes. It would be a peaceful late morning, if not for Ollie perching himself on one of the clean counter spaces, legs swinging gently as he observed Morpheus.

Lo was at the dishwasher, silently filling it up with dirty cups to be cleaned and ready for the afternoon rush. Every now and then, she would cast furtive glances their way, expecting another fist fight to break out, or some kind of argument. However, Morpheus was refusing to acknowledge his brother's presence, still hurt and furious. Cori was kind enough to use some make up to cover up the bruising.

After Lo clattered out of the kitchen to the front, carrying a tray of new mugs, Ollie spoke up. “So, what happened to Alianora?”

He paused for a short moment in whisking in the peppermint essence to take a steadying breath in before coolly replying, “We broke up.”

Ollie snorted, “No shit, mate. But why? I could've sworn you were so fucking in love with her.”

“Yes, well, not all things were made to last.” He said briskly, setting the finished frosting aside to tug on some oven mitts. The cupcakes should be finishing right about now.

He felt Ollie's eyes on him like a weight as he went over to the oven, tugging the door open to check. By the time he took them out, set them aside to cool off, his brother found something else to say. “So what, did she find the porn you drew or...”

Exhaling hard through his nose, Morpheus sent him a withering glare. “It was still life drawing, not porn. And no. She broke up with me because I was putting the family first.”

Head jerking back and scrunching his nose into a confused expression, Ollie questioned, “But weren't you the one living with her?”

“Yes.” Morpheus gritted out. “But after Joy had a manic episode, and Lo was hospitalised some days after, I moved back in to help take care of things. Alianora did not like that I was focusing more on them than her.”

“Woah.” His brows flew up, stunned. “I didn't take her for a complete bitch. I mean, I knew she was a bit high maintenance, but that's just fucked up.” Ollie carried on blithely as Morpheus felt his rage continue to bubble up in his stomach. He was about ready to stab him with the icing knife by the time his brother then asked, “So Hob is a lot better then?”

Anger coming up short, Morpheus blinked a few times as the irritation faded, before slowly nodding. “Hob is wonderful.”

“So was Alianora.” Ollie pointed out skeptically.

Morpheus elaborated, “He's honest, unlike Alianora. But he doesn't speak the truth to hurt, like Thessaly did.”

When it looked like Ollie was about to ask, Morpheus shortly added, “My ex after Alianora. But that's besides the point.”

“Wait,” Ollie laughed in disbelief, “You dated one of the witches next door?”

“Fuck off, Ollie.” Morpheus grunted, as he moved the cupcakes into the fridge to cool.

“Come on.” The younger man cajoled, “Tell me more about Hob. How good is he in bed?”

Shooting his brother a disgusted look at the wiggling suggestive brows that went with the question, Morpheus sniffed primly, “We haven't had sex. We're going slow.” He went back to his station.

Ollie squinted suspiciously, “You sure you're bi?”

The bowl he was holding slammed hard onto the table as he glared at Ollie. “My last two relationships went too fast and I'm still recovering from the state it left me, so you'll excuse me for wanting not to ruin this one. And yes, I'm quite sure I'm bi, as I frequently contemplate letting Hob fuck me up against a wall.”

Ollie gagged, “Gross, I did not need to know that, mate.”

Staring down his nose at his brother haughtily, Morpheus sniped, “You asked.”

“Okay, so maybe I don't want to know that. But what's he like?” The open expression of honest interest reminded Morpheus of when they shared a room, when Ollie would ask him about his crush on Calliope before they dated. How he had helped coach Morpheus on how to ask her out, which ended up with him forgetting all the practice and blurting out something nonsensical that somehow worked. Ollie had laughed at him the day he staggered back home, dazed at somehow succeeding in his failed endeavor.

Glancing away, Morpheus turned to lean back against the counter, arms folding as he thought about Hob. Smiling unbidden, he began, “I always feel safe with him. He listens and doesn't judge me about my past or our family issues. He actually tells me what he's feeling instead of pretending like he's fine, like Alianora and Thessaly did. In some ways, he's like being with Calliope, but not. There's trust, and we enjoy being with one another, even if we're just sitting in silence reading.”

“We do that a lot,” He added after a pause. “Just share space together. And we debate and argue books or news or films, or anything really. But it's fun, just trading opinions, even if we don't agree.”

Ollie gave a nod of encouragement when Morpheus started to hesitate, so he softly continued, “Hob never makes me feel small. Or stupid.”

“And the last two did.” His brother concluded with narrowed eyes. Morpheus gave a tiny nod in response.

“Then I'm really happy for you, Morpheus.” And Ollie beamed, a proud glint in his eyes, “I really am. I'm glad you found someone who compliments you. Hob seems like a really grounded person, something your daydreaming addled brain needs.”

Rolling his eyes at the teasing, Morpheus lightly smacked Ollie's shoulder, turning around to get back to work. “And you?” He asked. “What have you been up to?”

Nonchalantly, Ollie shrugged. “Doing construction work. Mainly demolitions and shit. Got a dog. My neighbour, I had to text him before being locked up, is currently looking after him until I get back home.”

“You're leaving us then.” Morpheus stated quietly, locking eyes with Ollie. His brother gave a sad smile, “Yeah, I am. I got a life there, and I enjoy it. I'm painting too, you know.”

A laugh of disbelief ripped from him. “You? Painting? I don't believe it.”

Grinning, Ollie nodded, “I'm completely shit too. But I like it anyways. Good therapy, though probably a hell of a lot cheaper than real therapy.”

Then, his smile died, serious. “I am.” Morpheus gave him a confused glance, to which he expanded, “Leaving, that is. Tomorrow morning, I think.”

Expression going blank, Morpheus looked back at piping bags he was filling with icing. “I see. And do the rest know this?”

“Yeah. Talked to Didi and Dustin this morning. They said they would drag me by my toes to the house if I didn't keep in contact.”

Head whipping around, Morpheus couldn't keep the hope from his voice. “You'll keep in contact?”

Ollie's eyes softened, a trace of guilt from past lack of contact. “Yeah, Morpheus. We'll have a group chat and everything.”

Shoulders slumping, relieved, he murmured, “Good. Because you would make Joy cry for days if you left again. Without contact. Again.”

Scratching at his beard with a wince, Ollie offered, “Sorry?”

“It'll take a few years of Christmas dinners to make up for your disappearing act.” Morpheus mentioned with a sharp smile, making his little brother wilt and nod, truly contrite.

Ollie had gone off to bother someone else when his lunch break rolled around. Peeking around the bookcase, hopeful, Morpheus brightened as he caught sight of his boyfriend. With his reading glasses on, nose buried in a book, Hob looked the pinnacle of a studious university student.

Glancing up at feeling the weight of Morpheus' gaze, Hob broke into his own smile at the sight of him, closing his book as the baker made his way over. Feeling bold, he plopped himself down into Hob's lap, the other man letting out a surprise 'oof', but his arms wrapped around him easily. Morpheus sank into his warmth.

“Hello there, darling.” Hob greeted, leaning up to press a kiss to Morpheus' lips.

Humming into it, he pulled back to state, “I would really love to stay at your place again soon.”

“Oh?” Hob questioned, a joking smirk on his face. “Am I that good in bed then?”

His mind flashed over to the conversation with Ollie and panicked that Hob had over heard it somehow. Then he found logic and reasoned, that no, Hob couldn't have. Still, it had him flushing as he muttered, “Shut up. I just want to get away from my siblings for a bit. Ollie leaves tomorrow morning.”

Hob's smile faded, turning to worry. “Are you alright with that?”

With a little helpless shrug, Morpheus replied, “Can't really stop him. And this time apparently he'll keep in contact. So that's better, I guess.”

Hob pulled him closer, snuggling his head into Morpheus' chest, looking up at him as he said, “I'm here when you need me.”

Wrapping an arm around his shoulder, the other hand playing with Hob's long hair, Morpheus gave him a shy smile, “And I you. If you have need of me, to talk, to listen, or to vent. Anything.”

“Except if your siblings need you, of course.” Hob corrected, a knowing look on his face.

Morpheus nodded, adding his own correction, “And you must put your son first too. I'm sure he would be very upset with his father's new partner getting in the way.”

Chest rumbling with suppressed laughter, Hob forced down a smile as he nodded seriously. “Of course. Play time is a very serious matter.”

Placing a kiss on Hob's head, he changed the subject. “What are you reading today, my dear?”

“Ah.” Hob cracked open the book again. “Bloody Shakespeare. I lost a bet, so now I have to read at least five of his works before the end of this year. I'm about ready to gouge out my eyes with the amount of tragedy and stupid decisions these characters are making.”

“Macbeth not to your liking?” Morpheus chuckled, plucking the book from his hands to flip to the page Hob was at.

Clearing his throat, Morpheus began to recite:

Was the hope drunk
Wherein you dress’d yourself? hath it slept since?
And wakes it now, to look so green and pale
At what it did so freely? From this time
Such I account thy love. Art thou afeard
To be the same in thine own act and valour
As thou art in desire? Wouldst thou have that
Which thou esteem’st the ornament of life,
And live a coward in thine own esteem,
Letting ‘I dare not’ wait upon ‘I would,’
Like the poor cat i’ the adage?…

For the remaining hour, Hob giving him his bottle of water to take periodic sips from, Morpheus read out Macbeth for his boyfriend. He himself enjoyed the Bard, which irked Hob to no end. However, Hob put up no argument nor protest as Morpheus read. Instead, his head lulled against Morpheus chest, quietly listening as he gently caressed a circle on one of Morpheus' knees.

When his lunch came to an end, Hob pulled him into a slow kiss, sending electricity down his spine as the man's hand cupped his neck to tilt his head fitting their lips together perfectly, a bit of tongue teasing him. When they broke apart after some moments, Hob stared up at him with eyes half-lid and warm.

“I love your voice.” He murmured, voice dripping with affection.

Pleased and heart fluttering, Morpheus snapped the book closed, “I'll make a note to read to you more in the future then.” And pulled him into another kiss, far more searing than the previous. He always liked getting compliments from people closest to him.

Joy cried hard into Ollie's shoulder, and even Cori deigned to shed a few tears for their brother's departure. Morpheus was just relieved he didn't fuck off again in the night, or else that would be a far bigger mess to deal with, seeing as they knew exactly where he lived. Turned out Didi wrung the officers at the station of all his details. If he had scampered in the night, they would've all come for his head.

When the overgrown lump turned his way, Morpheus closed his eyes, praying for strength as he was advanced upon, Ollie grinning wide through his bushy beard.

He did not even try to fight the hug that Ollie forced upon him, though it was certainly familiar in the way it squeezed the air from his lungs. “Take care of yourself, Morphy.” Ollie had said in his ear, before finally releasing him.

Taking a deep breath, subtly of course, Morpheus gave him a short nod in return, “Same for yourself.”

Finishing up his rounds, he stopped in front of Dustin, who watched on passively, arms crossed. Ollie had grown taller in the time apart, but Dustin still managed to have an inch or two above him, making it easy for him to stare their youngest brother down.

“Try to remember to text. I heard it's all the rage these days with the younger generation.” Dustin drawled, dry as a bone.

Ollie chuckled at the sarcasm, dragging him into one of his back breaking embraces. Dustin grimaced, giving a few pats in return. Even in a family moment such as this, the eldest sibling still managed to be unenthusiastic in receiving any affection. “I'll send a letter. It'll be by carrier pigeon.”

Dustin only just about managed to refrain from rolling his eyes at Ollie's quip as he managed to escape the tight hug. “Whatever gets us word that you're not dead in a ditch.”

“I'll make sure to haunt you if that does happen.” Ollie promised solemnly though his lips twitched in a suppressed smile, “Wouldn't want to worry you.”

“You're a complete dick head.” Dustin deadpanned. “I really do hope you die on the side of the road.”

It was safe to say that as they waved Ollie good bye, him climbing into a cab that would take him to wherever he needed, it was the best departure the Ende family had in years.

Chapter Text

With an over night bag slung over his shoulder, Morpheus came into the kitchen announcing, “I'm heading to Hob's again for the night.”

Where she was leant against the counter Didi rose a brow over her mug of tea, “Oh?”

Setting the bag to the ground, he rummaged through the fruit bowl for an orange, nodding, “Yeah. Could you make sure to feed the ravens for me?”

The mug clinked gently on the counter as his sister set it aside, fixing him with an unreadable look. “And how are you and Hob doing lately?”

Peeling the orange, Morpheus felt a private smile reach the corner of his lips. “We're good.”

“Just good?” Didi teased.

“We're official now.”

She exclaimed, a broad smile stretching her face, “Really!?”

“Didn't get to say, with Ollie and all.” Morpheus explained, and nodded, “But yeah, he asked me to be his boyfriend the night before you got the call.”

With a sympathetic frown, Didi said, “Sorry for interrupting.”

Carelessly waving his hand, Morpheus assured her, “Not your fault. Besides, I think it was a good introduction to the actual train wreck that is our family drama. Hell, he hasn't even met our cousins yet, and they live right next door.”

Didi's eyes then widened in horror, “Oh shit, we never told them about Ollie.”

Freezing in his chewing, Morpheus met her gaze with one of equal realisation. “Not it.”

Sending hims a disapproving look, Didi picked up her tea again, “Well, no use getting worked up now. I'll pop over today, talk to Rose. It's not like we're close but we are cousins, so she should know nonetheless.”

Morpheus wholeheartedly agreed, adding, “Ask her how Rachel is settling in.”

“Why not ask Hob?”

Pausing for a moment to swallow, he said slowly with uncertainty, “I think him and Rachel are having some issues. She's probably upset with him making this decision for her and all that. Unless he brings it up, I'm not going to bother him with it.”

Didi flashed him an amused smile, “Well aren't you a courteous one, brother.”

He only rolled his eyes on response, finishing up his last slice of orange. Honestly, he just didn't want make the situation worse. And Hob had been getting progressively more stressed as winter break came closer. With January exams two months away, the coffee shop was full of studying students, all looking more panicky by the day, and Hob was just the same. Plus, the teacher he was TA for was adding more pressure onto him, making him do markings for other classes' assignments.

Morpheus wasn't one to kill, but he might just do some heavy maiming of said professor. Cori would join in. They were always down for a little violence.

“So,” Didi broke through his murderous thoughts to say, “I've been wanting to mention something to you.”

He gave her his full attention, observing as she sucked on her lip for a second. She was nervous. “Have you thought about going to therapy.”

With narrowed eyes, Morpheus bit out, “Excuse me?”

Didi sent him a scowl, “Don't take that tone with me. You know none of us would judge each other for therapy, unless you want to upset Lo and Joy with their scheduled meetings. Hell, I've been myself.”

That had his building indignation snuff out in surprise. “You've been to therapy?”

His sister rolled her eyes, unimpressed. “Yes, Morpheus. I've been to therapy. No surprise with the amount of anxiety and self-inflicted shouldering of all the family's issues that I carry. I was close to a nervous break down by the time a year rolled around after mum and dad left. So yes, I've been to therapy, and it's done me a world of good. And I think it would for you too.”

“I don't need therapy.” He snapped.

Didi sighed, that sad and disappointed sound that worked far better than any of the ones mum would do. It had his hackles rising further as he defended himself, “I'm doing perfectly fine! The ravens help and so does Hob.”

“Hob,” Didi began with a stern look, “Is your boyfriend. He is not a therapist and it's unfair of you to push your problems onto him. There is being a supporting partner and listening to what's on your mind, and then there is carrying the load of your issues. Hob doesn't deserve that.”

Morpheus glanced away mutinously, hating how right she was. “Still.” He muttered, “I don't want-”

“Why?” She pushed, stepping away from the counter to come to his side. With a hand settling on his upper arm, Didi implored, “Morpheus, you have so much going on in your mind, and barely share it with any of us. It's only when you have some break down that you do, and that's not the most healthy way of dealing with your emotions.”

Picking at the orange peel, Morpheus quietly pointed out, “We don't have the funds to pay for more therapy sessions.”

“I can't believe you!” Didi cried, throwing her hands up in the are. She then snatched a small roll from the bread bin to toss at his head. Yelping, Morpheus scrambled back wide eyed. “Listen to me, Morpheus, because I'm only going to say this once.”

Didi took a deep breath before laying into him. “You are, the most selfishly selfless person I've ever met. You take on so much for us, but then fall under the pressure silently like some fucking martyr. I'm not trying to say that all you've sacrificed for the family is not appreciated and we are grateful that you dropped uni to help out. But Jesus Christ, you can't just fucking wallow in your self pity, and not allow anyone to actually offer you any help! Fuck funds, we're family and we'll find a way around it just so that you can fucking heal!”

“I didn't think-”

“No!” She agreed with a glare, “You don't think sometimes! Didn't you ever think about how much we worry about you? We love you, and you've been drowning for ten years, under all this weight you're carrying. It's time to get some help so that you can finally set that shit sorted out and learn how to move on.”

Wordlessly, Morpheus pursed his lips, unable to find a good response. Didi's shoulders slumped, tone becoming gentler. “Listen. I'm not forcing you to go. But I'm giving you the suggestion to think about. There's nothing wrong with admitting that you need help. We all do in the world. It's why we have friends and family and loved ones.”

Then, Didi wrapped her arms around him, pressing a kiss to the top of his head. Closing his eyes, Morpheus let out a heavy exhale, leaning into the embrace. She always gave good hugs. Their parents never did, but Didi made up for that lack of affection in abundance. They all knew she had dreams of working in health care, always knowing how to offer a kind hand and word to those struggling. Like most things in their lives, she had to put it aside for the sake of the family. But he had never known just how hard she had struggled with it, because she refused to let the younger ones see. If they knew she was not coping well with basically becoming their parent alongside Dustin, then he was sure they would have doubted any of her decisions.

Didi was the strongest of them all. And Morpheus knew when to concede to her logic. “I will think about it.” Morpheus decided. She gave him a firmer squeeze. “That's all I ask, Morpheus.”

December began to frost the edges of November, though it being England, they mainly just had a crap tone of rain or bitter chill with no snow in sight. They still had a couple of weeks until the last month but the Christmas haze was already starting. It was a blessing it didn't snow however, as not a single person could even drive in an inch of snow with out losing their minds in a panic.

Most of his assignments for his courses were done, and Morpheus debated staying as late as he usually would to prepare for the next day for the shop. However, as he helped Lo finishing clean up the kitchen, and the rest of them were getting ready to leave, he decided the he really didn't want to stay behind later that night.

Tugging on his coat and winding a scarf around his neck, Morpheus picked up his bag and followed after them into the cold air. It was due to rain tonight, and he didn't particularly wish to drive in that. Though his siblings glanced at him in surprise at leaving with them, they didn't really mention it. Except for Cori patting his face with suspicion, “Who are you? Why did you clone yourself to be my brother? You could've picked someone far more interesting than him.”

Lo muttered with a curl of her lips, “Why would you submit yourself to such suffering?”

Dustin coughed, disguising what they all knew to be a laugh and Morpheus batted Cori's hand away when they began to poke harshly at his cheek. “You're all terrible.”

When home again, Didi and him began to warm up the last few nights left overs, setting out plates and utensils for the rest to just grab and serve themselves once things were hot enough.

Mid meal, there was a heavy knock at the door. Lo, in the middle of telling them about what her rats did recently and unbeknownst to her that Joy was stealing one of her fish fingers off her plate when Lo wasn't looking, stalls her sentence.

All of them are silent, Didi whispering to them, “You didn't invite anyone over, right?”

There were shared shakes of heads, and Morpheus, closest to the door, got up silently, through the kitchen, he paused to grab a frying pan before heading towards the door.

Cori peeked out from the dining room, “Grab a knife, you dumbass!” Their hissed whisper was silenced by Dustin shoving them back into the room and following after Morpheus as back up.

However, as Morpheus peeked through the eye hole, he dropped his shoulders with relief. Handing the pan to Dustin he called, “All clear. It's Hob.”

There were grumbles of varying versions. Some annoyed, having wanted violence, others relieved at no intruder.

Turning the lock and tugging it open, the first sight he was hit with was the pouring rain. It must have started while they were preoccupied eating and chatting. It was coming down hard. The next sight, was a drenched Hob.

“Shit.” Morpheus cursed, grabbing Hob's shoulder to tug him inside. “Get some towels!” He instructed to which ever sibling was listening. There was movement behind him as Hob shut the front door listlessly.

Frowning at the strange behaviour, Morpheus cupped his wet cheeks, “Hob? Love, what's wrong?”

The man shivered, muttering, “Bad day.”

If there was one thing the Ende siblings knew, it was a bad day. Already his mind was running through all the different strategies to deal with a bad day as he began to lightly tug at Hob's sopping jacket, “Get this off, love. You're going to get sick wearing it.”

Hob nodded with a sniffle, and when Morpheus peered at his face again, he noticed the red-rimmed eyes, and a sharp heat flared in his chest. If someone had done something to Hob, he was not going to be held responsible for his following actions.

“Here.” Didi said behind them, and in her arms were a bundle of towels.

Nodding in thanks, Morpheus took the top one and tossed it over Hob's head, ruffling it about to dry his dripping hair. Hob huffed in response, “'M fine, Morpheus.”

“Yes, and in this household we all know that fine doesn't stand for shit.” Was his quick response.

Pushing the towel back to reveal Hob's after deeming his hair dried enough, Morpheus caught sight of the other man's expression. It was twisted in a valiant attempt to not cry again. Heart clenching, Morpheus glanced back at Didi, who pressed the rest of the towels into his arms. “Go on up stairs, okay?”

Pausing for Hob to toe off his shoes, they took to the stairs, water making a trail behind them.

“Sorry.” Hob murmured, shoulders curled inward and looking smaller than Morpheus had ever seen him.

Waving him off, Morpheus reassured, “It's just water, easy to clean up.”

With Lo, making sure she knew they weren't upset with her or blaming anything on her when she was in a very low state was important. Morpheus fell into that easily.

As they approached his room, Morpheus ushered Hob in, “Strip.” He commanded as he went about finding some clothes that would fit his boyfriend. The fact that Hob didn't reply with any kind of teasing or sly word had his gut churning.

Tugging out a pair of basket ball shorts – that Morpheus was sure were Ollie's from when he was seventeen and had no idea how they wound up in his wardrobe – and one of his many over sized shirts for painting, he turned around to present his finding to Hob.

However, he froze at the amount of exposed skin before him. Warm, sun touched skin which was dotted about with freckles like constellations. Peering up at him through his wet hair, Hob gave him a wry smirk, weakly teasing, “Eyes up here, Morpheus.”

Cheeks hot, Morpheus shoved the clothes into his arms. “Get changed.”

Hob complied with a snort, unbuckling his belt and that was when Morpheus spun around, arms crossed and willing his blush down. It's not like hadn't seen Hob shirtless before, but in his own room it felt different. But now was not the time.

When Hob finished dressing, scrubbing at his still damp locks, Morpheus directed him over to his bed, “Go ahead and lay down, love.”

However, the man paused. Instead, Hob was taking in Morpheus' room with wide eyes, slowly turning in place. Rubbing at his arm awkwardly, Morpheus wondered what he saw, recognising this was the first time his boyfriend had been in his room.

His room consisted of many shiny and glass trinkets, due to the ravens stealing them from where ever they went when flying about outside. Most were dangling from the ceiling and if it was day time, there would no doubt be rainbow refraction cast about his walls. There was sketches and small paintings stuck to the wall above his desk, along with pictures of him and his family. Paint splattered the floor, his easel shoved between the wall and his wardrobe, and there were messily filled shelves of art supplies, books, more trinkets. His guitar and electric piano were still in their place against a wall, gathering dust.

Morpheus saw his safe haven, but knew it was chaotic, clothes littering the floor along with crumbled up balls of paper.

“Damn, Morpheus,” Hob whistled, “Your room just screams you.” He turned to the other man, “Is this what the inside of your head looks like, love?” And the earlier upset lightened with the teasing. Morpheus flushed, rubbing at his arm, “I know where everything is, so a mess doesn't bother me.”

“At least tell me you clean up sometimes.”

Morpheus darted his gaze to the stack of plates and cups on his desk behind Hob's back that were at least a few days old, before giving a false smile to Hob, “Of course.”

The other man quirked a brow, obviously not believing him, but didn't say anything. Instead, he finally did as Morpheus instructed and flopped onto the bed. There was a canopy of sheets and blankets hung over the bed, and if Morpheus so desired, he could pull them closed, with only the small fairy lights illuminating the comfortable space.

And Morpheus decided to do just that. Clambering onto the bed after Hob, he tugged the thick curtained blankets shut. Then, shuffling around to the plug-in on the wall, he flicked the lights on, a warm glow basked over the dark space.

It was intimate. That was the only word for it, as the pair laid down on their sides, facing once another. In the faint light, Morpheus watched as that sadness from before came back. So he shuffled closer, a tentative offer for physical comfort. Hob took it, bowing his head to tuck it under Morpheus' chin, arms wrapping around his torso firmly. Running his fingers through damp hair, Morpheus asked softly, “What's wrong, Hob?”

“I dunno. Stress. School work. Family. Job. Take you pick, it's all too much right now.”

Overwhelmed then, Morpheus concluded, though he had suspicions of there being more to have caused him to come here in the rain. Humming thoughtfully in response, Morpheus held back on saying anything. Hob was pretty open with talking about what was on his mind, just needed some time to find the right words.

And just as he expected, it all came rushing out in stilted pauses and hitched breaths. And Morpheus listened to it all. His son was sick two weeks ago, and Hob had to take care of him, Eleanor having been picking up shifts at the hospital at the time. So that meant he had TA work to catch up with because the professor did not care about overworking him. On top of that, at his job a few people were out sick or on holiday, so he was working over time. Everything apparently just managed to finally settle down when a call from Rachel pushed him over the ledge.

The two were still having issues, and it was a bad day for the woman, and she took out on him. And Hob had to bear the brunt of it because he was that kind of person.

Which left Morpheus to give him a safe place to fully break down and put himself back together again.

Sighing a little, saddened by what was happening to Hob, Morpheus said, “First, I think your professor is abusing his position of power. If you need help with taking this to the Dean, talk to Dustin. My brother went to that university and the Dean liked him, for some reason.” Morpheus couldn't help but mutter, making his boyfriend chuckle wetly into his chest.

Relaxing a little at the lightening atmosphere, the man continued to say, “Next, you can stay here for as long as you need. You picked the best place, really. If there is one thing this family can do, it's handle breakdowns.”

“And make good coffee.”

Morpheus snorted in agreement. “And make good coffee.”

A comfortable silence fell over them. Morpheus buried his nose into Hob's hair, picking up traces of the man's scent under the rain water that covered it. A soothing and slowly familiar smell.

“I love you.”

Morpheus felt the world grow still.

When the words registered, he leant back to be able to look at Hob, the other man frighteningly vulnerable in his expression. His brown eyes were wide with trepidation and a small flicker of hope.

Blinking a few seconds, Morpheus' breath caught in his lungs, unable to find the words. He had used them so freely in the past with Alianora, and to say them would feel like ash in his mouth. He tried to articulate this to Hob, who deserved to know he was loved back, even if Morpheus couldn't say it.

“I-” He found his breath, “I feel like, those words are over used, for me.”

Hob's face shuttered. He began to pull away.

However, Morpheus held on tight. He's lost many things over the years, Hob will not be one of them.

“No, wait.” Morpheus took another breath, feeling more settled even with his heart pounding away in his chest. “I feel the same, I do.” He earnestly said, “But I've used those words up on someone who did not deserve them, so they just feel...hollow. To me. For me, to say. But I do. I promise you, Hob. I do return that affection. If I could go back, and change things in my life, I would do so much. But meeting you, would not be one of them.” A humourless chuckle left him. “I fear that if we were not to work out I would cease to care for anyone so strongly ever again. I fear that too much, really.”

A heavy quiet fell upon them before Hob let out a shaky exhale, “Fuck, you scared me there, love. Don't do that to me again.”

Weakly smiling, Morpheus nodded, “Sorry.”

Hob's hand came to cup his cheek, pulling him into a soft kiss. His eyes fluttered shut at the warm touch, a panicked weight lifting from his chest. Then, he felt the other man tap three times on his cheek bone. Pulling back, Morpheus gave him a confused expression.

“I have these friends, and one is mute. What he does to tell his partner that he loves them is to tap three times. Or squeeze their hand three times.”

“Oh.” Morpheus breathed out, astonished.

Reaching out, he pressed his hand to Hob's chest, lifted his finger, and tapped three times. The smile that bloomed across Hob's face was everything.

A bug must be going around, because Cori was currently home sick and curled up in bed whilst Morpheus had to man the front counter. It was the end of the month and the two eldest siblings went off to the bank during lunch. Which meant Lo in the back making bread for sandwiches and him suffering as Joy hummed Christmas songs a touch to loudly. It was only a day away from December and Morpheus was only too happy to bar his littlest sibling from any music rights. He had one day left before those annoying earworms would be played and he wanted to enjoy his peace as must as he could.

Weather still shit meant that business could swing two ways: stupidly hectic or boring. Today somehow managed to be in a comfortable middle, with Joy happily ringing up customers as Morpheus had the less social job of making drinks.

He knew that currently Hob was in class, but the man said he would swing by later in the day to say hi. His boyfriend might even stay the night, it really depended on how they felt. It still made something giddy burst in Morpheus' chest, at being in a relationship with him. At finding this balance. He was having more high and low moods lately, and was ready to use that as a reason to not need therapy.

The bell above the door rang, announcing a new customer. Where he was currently crouched and rearranging the muffins and cakes in the display case, Morpheus paid it no mind. However, when he didn't hear Joy excitedly greet the customer, he glanced to the side at her.

From this awkward angle, he couldn't see her expression, but he saw the tautness in her shoulders, and immediately stood up, forgetting his task. With a better view, Morpheus took in the wide eyes and finally turned his gaze to what had shocked her.

His insides froze.

It's been nearly three years, but Morpheus never could forget the honey gold blonde hair that framed that beautiful round face. A face that haunted his nightmares.

She herself looked surprised to see them, before striding to the counter like she hadn't completely broke his heart. “Morpheus, Joy!” The woman greeted, a smile that looked to sharp. And that voice, fuck that voice echoed in his mind on the worst of days, tearing apart every mistake he made.

“Alianora.” Morpheus returned in a blank tone.

She stepped closer to the counter, and every instinct within him screamed at the proximity, wanting to step back and retreat into the kitchen. But he was locked in place as she came to the register. “Still working here, I see.” She commented with a teasing tone that verged on mocking, delicately hidden behind a smile. “No time to go back and complete your degree?”

His jaw clenched as he gritted out, “I'm taking online courses.” He had no idea why he was responding to her, it would just feed into her desire to mess with his head. Morpheus felt a hand slip into his, Joy dragging him back as the normally bright young woman hissed, “Get out.”

The faint smirk on Alianora's lips died, turning her gaze to Joy with a glare. His protective instincts began to rear up as the woman sneered, “I'm a customer here.”

“We don't serve people like you.” Joy snapped back. Morpheus was suddenly hyperaware that they were drawing attention from the other patrons, but he couldn't focus anywhere but on Alianora. He wanted to use the grip Joy had on him and tug her back, not wanting her close to this horrible woman, but it was like everything inside of him wasn't working anymore. Was he even alive? He could feel the rapid pounding of his heart, but his lungs were burning. Oh, he needed to breathe.

He sucked in a silent breath in as Alianora tossed her hair over her shoulder, “People like me? Do you mean your betters? You're already so far low to the ground I would be surprised you would have anyone underneath you besides the rodents and insects.”

A snarl ripped from Joy's throat and Morpheus had half a second to panic before lunging for his sister. Two things happened then in quick succession. One, Morpheus stepped back with his arms locked around a flailing and angry Joy, just as Alianora reared back in shock, her face sneering with disgust. And two, Lo had stepped out from the kitchen door way and threw something thick and heavy at the unwanted woman.

There was a wet thwap and a startled shriek that filled the shop. Morpheus couldn't help but gape at the sight of bread dough sticking to Alianora before slowly falling to the ground, the woman frozen in horror.

“Abusers.” Lo coldly stated. “We don't serve abusers here. Now get the fuck out of our shop.” The woman stepped up to stand shoulder to shoulder with Morpheus, holding up a knife, “Or I'll be throwing this next.

“You freaks!” Alianora screamed. “You're all insane!”

“Then you better run, bitch!” Joy growled from his arms, still struggling for release so she could no doubt claw at the woman's face, “Haven't you heard? Insanity is contagious!”

In any other circumstance he might have laughed at that wild statement, however Morpheus could only turn his blank expression to one that was thunderous as he lowly rumbled to Alianora, “I have nothing to say to you. Now leave.”

Face red with indignation, the woman huffed and stormed out of the shop, trying to slam it close on her way out, but it was too heavy, leaving it to slowly creak shut, bell tinkling cheerfully. A deep, relieved sigh whooshed out of him, slumping with Joy still in his arms, legs dangling a half-foot off the ground.

There was dead silence, and Morpheus made no eye contact as he brought both his sisters into the kitchen. Lo's eyes were still narrowed in quiet fury, even as she apologised, “Sorry about your bread, Morpheus.”

A slightly unhinged laugh escaped him as he released Joy, who turned and hugged him. “It was fucking brilliant, Lo. I hope we have that on camera.”

The littlest of his sisters giggled into his chest, “It smacked her right in the face.”

Pressing a hand to his mouth to stifle his laughs, Morpheus couldn't respond, finding it harder to breathe the more the laughs continued to rip out of him. To the point he realised he was actually beginning to cry and another set of arms wrapped around him. Morpheus fell apart.

The clock in the waiting room was a quiet sound, but it seemed to blast through his ears, leg bouncing as he tried to contain his nerves as best as possible. It would be worse if he was here alone, but fortunately – or unfortunately for the amount of seats that were taken up – his family was there. All of them. Even Ollie. He had drove down for the weekend, bring his dog who Joy loved instantly. It was probably too much, but for Morpheus, their enthusiastic support was everything.

“Murphy Ende?” Someone called out. With a grimace, and shooting a glare at a sniggering Cori, Morpheus stood up. The woman was dark skinned, long dreads pulled back into a thick tail. She smiled, darting an amused and observational glance at the family before looking back at him and offering a hand. “Hi, I'm Hope, we spoke on the phone?”

He shook it. “I prefer Morpheus.”

Nodding in acknowledgment, “Morpheus. Now, would you like any thing to drink? Tea? Coffee?” She asked, guiding him into her office.

“Tea.” He replied politely, door closing behind him. His lips quirked as she made it for him, thanking her once it was finished and in his hands.

“Now,” Hope began, sitting down in a comfy chair, him doing the same on the couch across from her. “When we talked over the phone, you gave me a brief overview of what was going on for you. It sounded like you were struggling to find the right words, so have you given a thought over what you want from these sessions?”

Morpheus glanced at his tea silently. He had given a lot of thought over why he decided to go through with therapy. He wanted to stop worrying his family. He wanted to not feel so overwhelmed but hollow at the same time. He wanted-

“I want to stop ignoring my problems.” He admitted softly. “I want to find a way to heal and move past them.”

Looking back up at the woman, she was giving him an encouraging nod. “Well, I'm sure you've heard this before, but acceptance of help is one of the first steps of recovery.”

Morpheus gave a tentative smile in return. “So my sister tells me.”

“Were they all your family out there?”

“Yes. My siblings and boyfriend.”

“It looks like you have a good support system already.”

Love bloomed in his chest as he thought of the encouraging smiles sent by Didi. Of the silent support from Dustin. The loud affection from the twins and Joy. And Ollie, late to the party but now here to stay again, hesitant but present. And Hob, feeling like the sun after a long ten years of darkness. “Yes.” He murmured, “They're everything to me.”