Chapter Text
It was regular a saturday afternoon, Avery was playing with his cat, he’d adopted her shortly after the new year, well, he says adopted, but it’s more like she just walked in and decided this was her new home.
It was nice, having another living thing to keep him company, Avery decided to name her Tuna, which just so happened to be her favorite food.
…And she also stopped him from rotting in his bed, after he read Derek’s goodbye, it became harder to get out of bed in the mornings. he was surprised by the wight of the grief that hit him, it wasn’t like he even knew the guy that well, but still, he felt the loss.
And then one morning the gray kitty came along, and helped him get out of that growing pit.
Sometimes he thinks that the universe saw him and sent him this cat out of pity, but he didn’t mind.
Anyway, he was playing with his cat when there was a knock at the door, he got up and gave Tuna a quick head pat, “I’ll be back in a sec,”
When he opened the door he was greeted with a tired looking man, he had dark skin, and black hair that reached to his shoulders, his eyes brightened, “Avery.” He said.
He nearly collapsed, that voice… no, there’s no way, he chided himself, “Um, I’m sorry, d-do I know you?” He stuttered.
The man’s bright expression dimmed, “Ah, right.” He looked almost embarrassed, “Of course he wouldn’t recognize you…” he said to himself before clearing his throat, “Hi I’m Derek, I saved your life…? Please tell me you remember.”
He immediately tackled Derek in a hug, nearly tipping him over, “How on earth could I forget?” He said, tears already forming.
The man hesitated, but reciprocated the hug.
A million deferent thoughts and questions raced through Avery’s head, but first…
He unwrapped his arms around Derek and pointed inside, “Now, are you just going to stand there, or are you coming in?” He asked.
He walked in and sat down on the couch, his eyes landing on Tuna, “you have a cat.” He noted.
Avery sat back on the ground next to Tuna, she watched the new visitor with wide eyes, “Yup,” he said.
They sat in awkward silence for a few minutes, before Avery asked, “How are you even alive?”
Derek sighed like he was expecting the question, “Jumping right into questions I see.” He adjusted his posture, straightening in his back, “Well, when I woke up I was in the hospital, apparently my landlord found me and brought me in, they kept me for a few weeks, then they discharged me with a prescription for some headache medication and blood thinners to prevent another ‘stroke’.” He said it all like he’d been rehearsing it for weeks, for all Avery knew, he had been, “…and then I came here.” He finished.
Avery blinked a few times, trying to process all that, “Ok…how did you know where I lived?” He asked.
Derek chuckled, “infinite knowledge, remember?” He said taping the side of his head.
“Right,” he said, of course, “Uh, not that I’m complaining, but why did you come here?” He asked.
“Had to make sure you knew I was ok,” he said with a small smile. “I’m sorry for letting you think I was dead. I hope I didn’t scare you too bad.”
Avery remember crying himself to sleep after reading his letter, “You didn’t scare me.” he said, more, left me feeling hollow.
“And um…” he tapped his fingers against his knee, “I kinda, lost my apartment…” he said, “and thought maybe…”
Avery realized where this was going, “You need a place to stay.” He finished.
He nodded, “I don’t really have anyone who’d be willing to take me in, but I totally understand if you’re not comfortable with me—“
“You can.” He said.
Derek froze, “what?”
“You can stay,” he repeated, “I’m not just going to let you be homeless.”
Derek sighed, “thank you, I promise as soon as I get back on my feet I’ll find my own place.”
Avery smiled, he didn’t mind, if anything this will give him a chance to get to know Derek better, something he would’ve killed for a few months ago.
The rest of the day was spent figuring out how this living situation will work, Derek didn’t really have any belongings to move in, other than some clothes. They agreed that the couch would work as a bed in the meantime, and Derek spent the first of many nights in Avery’s house.
Avery woke to a scratchy tong licking his face, “ok, ok, I’ll get you some food.” He muttered.
He walked out into the living room, Tuna close behind, and saw Derek looking through his small selection of books, “Morning.” Derek said without looking up.
It was weird waking up and having somebody else already there, “Good morning, are you looking for anything in particular?”
“Hmm?” He glanced at Avery, “Oh, no. Just, looking for something to keep my mind busy.”
Avery was about to question, but then he felt a claw at the back of his lag, “Ow! Ok, jeez, I’ll get your breakfast.” He opened open a can of Tuna’s favorite, and plopped it into a bowl.
She immediately chowed down when the he placed down the bowl.
“She was sleeping on you most of the night.” Derek said off handedly, he’d found a book on different plant species, and was flipping through it.
Avery sat down beside him, “Yeah she does that—“ he paused, “Were you watching me?” He asked.
His face colored slightly, “Not, intentionally… I can see into your room from the couch.”
“Ok then.” Avery made a mental note to close the door a little more, “Uh, is that interesting?” He pointed to the book in his hands.
“Eh, this mostly just so my brain has something to direct its knowledge at, other than…” he trailed off.
“Other than what?” He prompted.
Derek cleared his throat, “It’s just to keep my brain from wondering too far.” He said.
“What would happen if your brain did wonder too far?” He asked, genuinely curious.
“Usually an awful headache,” He said. “I have passed out once.”
Avery nodded. “you, uh, want some breakfast?” He asked.
“Sure.”
Avery headed to the kitchen and began pulling ingredients off the shelves, “how do you feel about French toast?” He asked from the kitchen.
“Sounds good.” Derek replied.
He continued preparing breakfast, heating up the pan, and mixing up the batter.
And before they knew it, they were sat at the dining table eating breakfast together, mostly in silence.
Avery pushed his food around, “hey, Derek?”
He looked up at Avery, and— Jeez, did he always have that intense stare? “Yeah?”
“Thank you.”
He blinked, “For..?”
“Everything. For surviving, and coming here.” He lowered his voice, “I wasn’t doing to well after…losing you.”
His expression softened, “I’m sorry that I left like that, but I just couldn’t let the king get to you, if he did I—I don’t think I’d ever forgive myself.”
“Speaking of, him, he’s gone, right?”
“I haven’t heard him in my head, and the word is still intact, so I think so. I swear to god, if I went through all that for him still be alive…” he said the last part to himself, though Avery could still hear him.
“Good, just checking.” He took a bite, “Anyway, let’s talk about something less heavy, how’d you sleep last night? The couch treat you well?”
Derek chuckled quietly, “If I’m being honest that was the first good night of sleep I’ve had in months, something about hospitals just keeps me on edge. Hard to get comfortable enough to sleep.”
“And I heard you had a good view, I’m sure that helped.” He joked.
A flush creeped up his neck, “I wasn’t watching you that closely, I just noticed your cat on you for a while. I wasn’t being creepy.” He defended.
“Uh huh, you’re blushing by the way.” He teased.
“You’re an ass.” He said with a grin.
Avery laughed, “I’m just teasing you.”
He rolled his eyes, but was still smiling. “Doesn’t change anything.”
Avery huffed. They finished their meal and went about their day as normal, well, as normally as they could.