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Heavy steps led a heavy heart right into the doorstep of the Holdens. While Tala's bright grin and Cove's sweet smile did wonders to ease the ache in Baxter's chest, it did not stop ease the iron-clad grip he had on his phone nor the did it ease the tightness around his plastic smile.
"Jusko, Baxter! You look like... um, like you lost sleep. Come in for some tea, yeah?" Tala led him over to the couch, calloused hands taking his free hand. As soon as Baxter was seated, Cove gently pried the phone from his grip and replaced it with his own warm hand.
"One of those days, huh?" Not much more needed to be said. While he didn't know the exact details of Baxter's situation, Cove was no stranger to arguments with his parents, though those were more frequent in his younger years. A calm comfort was what he offered, thumb tracing circles at the back of Baxter's palm.
Meanwhile, their other partner was kind of all over the place. "Do you want tea now or later? Do you want to talk about it? Do you want--"
"I... I think I just need you two." Baxter's voice came out a little hoarse, unsteady. As Cove and Tala shared a concerned glance, Baxter tightened his grip on them. For however long he's meant to be in their lives, for however long they'll let him be here, Baxter wanted to bask in their warmth instead of the coldness he's grown up with. Though smaller than the Ward mansion, the Holdens' household was much cozier, much more comfortable, especially when Tala's splindly arms wrapped around Baxter's torso and Cove's warm ones wrapped around Baxter's shoulders.
Stay with me, please, were the unspoken words lingering in the air. "For just a while longer..."
(Little did Baxter know that both Cove and Tala would give him forever if they could, if he wanted.)