Chapter Text
“So what's this all about, anyways?” Avery asked, shrugging his sweatshirt on. He grabbed onto the empty sleeve, trying to tie it into a knot close to his.. nub.. He was never going to get used to this. Derek noticed his struggle and tied up the sleeve “Thanks.”
“No problem, and nothing, just wanted to go out for lunch and thought ‘Huh, Avery got home a couple days ago, let's bring him with us.” Derek slipped his hands into his pockets as they walked, a faint February flurry falling around them.
“Well, I'm glad you did. Hospital food is a nightmare.”
“Oh?”
“Yes! It was so.. bland! And there was nothing to do, or watch, I just walked around half the time. It was horrible, I don't think I've ever experienced something so hellish!” Derek shot him a glance at his comment, Avery let out a faint snicker and elbowed him. “You know what I mean.”
“I doubt it’s as bad as all the makeup work you have.”
“Surprisingly it's not as much.” Derek hummed and the two of them fell silent, weaving through the crowds in the street while trying not to slip on the slick concrete. “..So, how've things been with you guys?”
“Pretty good. Finally have the apartment cleaned up.. hopefully I have no reason to trash it again.” Derek chuckled, but Avery.. didn't get the humor here. Must've been some inside joke between him and the King.. that reminded him..
“Did you two.. y'know.." it'd been a couple weeks since they'd returned, and as far as he knew they were still.. connected? He didn't know how to phrase it..
Avery still wasn't sure how he felt about this whole “bound to the King” thing.. a distant part of him still worried this was the King controlling Derek all along, just messing with him before.. before what?
He had countless chances to harm both Derek and Avery.. and yet He didn't, even going out to help them. That was apparently worth something, and Derek's trust. But it also didn't change the fact that everything that's happened to them from New Years Eve to the Dream..place, was because of Him.
“Oh, we're here.” Derek suddenly stopped, they were at the small diner they'd first met up. Derek scanned around the outside, almost.. scared? That was until he peered through the window and sighed a breath of relief. “C'mon.”
Avery eyed the paper hearts cut out and plastered on the walls, even though Valentine's day had already passed. He didn't pay much mind to it as a man suddenly stood in front of them. Avery looked up at the man slowly, he was a few inches taller than Derek and despite his imposing stature he seemed somewhat.. nervous.
“I thought you were going to wait outside?”
“It is freezing outside, the two of you were taking too long.”
“It's like 32 out, that's not cold.” Derek laughed and elbowed him before the man turned to Avery, his golden eyes piercing into him.
“Avery. I'm glad I can formally introduce myself..” The man put a hand out, “It is nice to meet you, I'm-”
“..Kingston.”
“Yes.” Avery slowly took His hand and shook it, pulling away fast. The three awkwardly stood for a minute before Derek chimed in.
“I'm hungry, should we sit?”
“Yes, let's.”
Avery watched the two from across the table, muttering to each other about the menu. It was weird to see, to anybody else they would look normal. A group of people who were getting lunch, but Avery knew what this man was. It made him uneasy, anxious.
He tried to look down at the menu in hand but he just couldn't focus on it, his mind could only keep wandering back to the man across from him. Aside from the strange hue of His eyes, He looked.. normal. A perfect disguise. Avery shook his head and looked back down as the two whispered to each other.
“..I don't think that's what you think it is, Kingston.”
“Well, then-”
“So, how have things been guys?” Avery suddenly chimed in, giving up and setting the menu down. Derek opened his mouth to talk, but Avery cut him off and turned to the King “Y'know- being uh.. corporeal now must be hard right, Kingston?”
“It has certainly been a challenge. I am thankful for Derek's help.“
“After everything that's happened, it's the least I can do for him.”
“Uh huh, can't help but think about what's next now that You have your Vessel.”
“What?”
“No, nothing, just- After Derek shows You the ropes of humanity and all, what then?” Avery leaned against the table, the two men looked at each other with a flash of confusion.
“..I'm not sure.. We haven't truly discussed it.”
“We've got time to figure all that out. It's not like I'm kicking him out or something.” What? Wasn't that a plan? They would separate, and he meant truly separate, and then Derek could get back to his life. Why is he not rushing to get as far away from the King as possible?
“Derek, can I talk to you for a second?” He sprung up, standing at the edge of the table waiting for Derek to get up as well.
“Sure.. We'll be back in a second.” Before Derek could get a response, Avery grabbed onto him and dragged him outside. A chill ran up his spine at the sudden change in temperature, but there was too much on his mind to care. “What's this about?”
“What are you doing?!” Avery shouted as he whipped around, lowering his voice when passersby turned their attention towards them. “Why are you helping Him?”
“What do you mean?”
“After everything that's happened, why is the King still here? I understand being on His good side when He's stuck in your head, but you guys are apart, you're free of Him!”
“Avery- I can't just leave him, Kingston doesn't know what he's doing. He's powerless, and confused and I'm- we're the only people who can help him. Cause the truth is I don't think I can do this on my own.”
“I don't want-.. I don't know how you can trust Him. He spends a month sucking up to you and you just give Him what He needed to.. I don't know-”
“You really think that this whole thing has been some kind of elaborate scheme for him to take over the world?”
“I don't know, maybe!” Avery watched the diner door open, the King slowly emerged and looked to them, Avery promptly started walking further down the street with Derek following suit “All I know is that things were finally starting to become normal- I was able to feel safe after everything. And now- now He's-”
He didn't know, he couldn't find the words but all he knew was that being around Him felt like sitting next to both a bomb, and a constant reminder of the worst days of his life. Avery pinched the bridge of his nose. “Just- I'm sorry, Derek. I have to go.”
“Avery!” Derek was about to chase after him before he felt a hand grab onto his arm, holding him back. He turned back to see Kingston.
“Derek, what is the matter? I look like a fool sitting at that table by myself, refusing to speak with the staff.”
“I don't know- Avery's all freaked out.”
“Is it about me?”
“Yeah..” Derek looked out at the street, Avery wasn't anywhere to be seen. He couldn't have gotten far. “I should go talk with him.”
“Let me go. Find him, I mean.” He shot Kingston a surprised glance,
“Are you sure?”
“Truthfully, no. But if his problem is with me, then he will discuss it with me.”
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Avery buried his head in his hand, what was wrong with him? He just needed to calm down, focus on the cool breeze. He let out a sigh when he heard someone sit down on the bench beside him, “What are You doing here?” Even with his eyes closed Avery could tell who it was.
“I came to talk with you, that should be obvious. Plus, Derek was concerned.”
“Well..” Avery sat up, turning with an uninterested expression. “What is it? Is this going to be some.. ‘You've misunderstood me’ speech?”
“No. No. I could sit here and say such emotional drivel but.. I assume you would rather I speak truthfully.” The King paused, letting out a sigh and looking out at the frozen pond in front of them. “When I was trapped, I gave little to no thought about your kind, insignificant. I cared not who suffered as long as I was freed from my prison.”
“But my time with Derek, my time with you, it opened my eyes to what there was, the beauty that humankind can hold. The ability to change and grow, the freedom of creativity and the chance to be all your own.”
“..You've really got a lot to learn.” Avery huffed, but that got him thinking. He looked to his benchmate with a look of confusion. “..You're the all knowing- shouldn't You know all of this?”
“No. The human mind cannot withstand the knowledge I once had, I expelled it before it could incapacitate me, much like.. er.. as it once did to Derek. I.. unfortunately do not hold the power I once did..” He sounded disappointed at that fact.
“You're no different than me or Derek?”
“Not quite.. But, mostly, yes.” The King finally turned to face him, “Avery, the two of you have been through a lot. And I know I am at fault for.. all of it. I cannot change the past, and I am well aware words will not magically fix things. But I am sorry.”
“I can't just automatically start trusting You like Derek did.” At that He let out a laugh
“It certainly wasn't automatic.. but I understand your intention. I am not asking for that, I just want you to understand that I don't wish to.. cause either of you harm.” He suddenly dug into his pocket and deposited something into Avery’s hand. “In fact, I've brought you an olive branch of sorts.”
“..Sugar packets?”
“From the diner. I understand humans enjoy sweet things in times of crisis, and I distinctly remember you putting quite a few in your coffee when the two of you formally met.” Avery couldn't help but laugh at the sight.
“..Are You serious?” A God, or- He would be an ex-God, wouldn't He? Was that a thing? Who cared.. Avery was being bribed with stolen diner sugar packets.. and a single salt packet. It felt unreal.
“..Somewhat.” He admitted, “If I had time I would have provided something else, something more personal.”
“Well.. it's the thought that counts right?” Avery stashed the packets and stood. “..Should probably go find Derek, huh.”
“He returned to the diner, I promised him I would return with you. If you would like to.”
“I didn't exactly get to eat, so sure. Let this be a lesson, You never turn down free food.” Avery explained as they started to walk, he kept a distance from Him as they walked down the pathway out of the park. He still felt.. uncomfortable, but, and assuming the King wasn't lying, he felt slightly at ease that He wasn't holding some terrible world destroying power.
Maybe He was just some guy now. Some guy who.. seemed to really despise this sweater. He continuously adjusted the sweater, then he'd reach down and adjust the pants before returning to the sweater. “Are you.. good?”
“I am at war with Derek's wardrobe. Everything he owns feels like millions of miniature spears forcing their way into my skin.” At that, Avery reached over to feel the arm of his shirt. The texture alone was almost painful, he whipped his hand back.
“Oh gross! Why does Derek even have that thing?!”
“I do not know. He has a horrendous sense of fashion.”
“Ha!”
============
Derek drummed his hands against the table, diligently watching out the window. This was a bad idea, Kingston didn't know the city well, and seeing how Avery's first instinct was to get as far away as possible, of course he would continue to run.
“Can I get you something to drink while you wait, sir?” A waitress walked up and ask, Derek glanced at her nervously and stood.
“I'm sorry- I think I might just-” the door's bell suddenly chimed, two familiar figures walking in and approaching “..Oh.. There you two are. I didn't think you were coming back, Avery.”
“Me neither.. but, Kingston's paying me in sugar packets.”
“Huh?” They didn't explain the joke, if there actually was a joke to explain. They simply sat down and acted as if nothing had happened. Derek eventually sat down too, despite his confusion. “So did you two make up?”
“I.. believe so..” Kingston and Avery looked at each other before the young man shrugged with a smile, a playful tone in his voice when he spoke.
“Eh.. jury's still out.”