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Dorian sat there, arms around his boyfriend, rubbing his back as he felt his chest rapidly rise and fall with screams, tears, and  sobs. He stayed quiet through it all, letting Percy get it all out. He was so used to seeing him bottle everything in, store it into a cancerous aggression that he'd use in a fight or training, that when Percy broke as they entered the Astral it had caught him by surprise. He heard what he'd said, heard the final three words that pained Dorian so. Not because he'd liked another, no Dorian had had plenty of crushes before Percy and he was certain Percy had done the same. No it was the fact that someone he liked had hurt him so deeply, Dorian couldn't imagine that sort of pain. 

Percy didn’t know how long he cried into Dorian for - how long his body was wracked with almost primal sobs. Chase’s sudden appearance had pushed him over the edge, yes, but it wasn’t the source of all the pain that filled him - all the pain he couldn’t keep inside any longer. It was Dorian merging into the Entity with Billy, it was all of the cameras and the lights of the contest, it was the interviewers pestering him with questions, it was the hour long photo shoot following their victory, it was his fear that Dorian’s family didn’t approve of him, it was every gentle touch that felt like an attack, it was the want to drink that was rapidly developing into a need, it was their near deaths at the hands of Arcade, it was his loneliness as despite being surrounded by his peers, he couldn’t count any of them as friends. He sobbed for all of that and more, even if he didn’t realize it. But eventually, even as the hurt remained, he ran out of tears to shed. 

When the sobs finally softened, turning more into sniffles as energy was spent, Dorian pressed a gently kiss atop Percy's head. [Color=CC99FF]”You wanna talk about what ‘appened back t'ere?”[/color] He didn't force him to meet his eyes, made no attempt to alter his face or form, he wanted to let Percy be in which ever state he needed for now.

Percy was effectively curled into a ball up against Dorian’s chest, trusting in his boyfriend to keep him from falling - although he wasn’t quite sure how gravity worked in the astral plane anyway. He had his arms on him in a bit of a death grip, trusting but simultaneously unconsciously fearing that his boyfriend would vanish into air and leave him here alone. His eyes were still closed. [color=ed1c24]“Okay,”[/color] he mumbled into Dorian’s chest. He didn’t know what to say - he didn’t even know where to start. 

[Color=CC99FF]”Oook…we can start wit’ somet'in small, like who was t'at guy? Or if you're up for it…t'e bullyin’ you mentioned…maybe why you vanished at dinner earlier today after t'e press? I know it's been a long day, especially for you, and I really do appreciate t'e effort you made to come out ‘ere for t'e victory party. You deserve as much as t'e next member. You ‘epled so much and kept all of us up and goin’. A true ‘ero.”[/color]

He shook his head at that. Percy didn’t feel like a hero. He hadn’t done any of it to be a hero. He’d done it because it was important to Dorian and he hated losing. He wasn’t like the rest of them - he wasn’t at Margaret Carter because he wanted to help people. He was there selfishly. He wanted to be an adventurer, with all the glory that came with that - heroism had never factored into it. 

[color=ed1c24]“You don’t need to lie. I’m not a good person,”[/color] Percy said quietly. [color=ed1c24]“His name is Chase O’Brien. He was two grades above me at Gates Academy.”[/color] 

[Color=CC99FF]”T'at was t'e school before ‘ere right? Before your powers?”[/color] Dorian wasn't going to touch on the first subject, knowing already it would be an uphill battle on a NASCAR track.

Percy nodded. He could answer that much, at least. [color=ed1c24]“I only got my powers in eighth grade. The language came first. Teleporting came in the spring.”[/color] 

[Color=CC99FF]”And Chase was…your boyfriend? Or just a crush?”[/color] 

[color=ed1c24]“… You’re my first and only boyfriend, Dorian.”[/color] He lifted his head up slightly. 

Dorian pressed another kiss, this time on Percy's forehead as he looked at him. [Color=CC99FF]”T'en let me in Perce. I can't ‘elp you if I don't know what's ‘appenin’. Why did t'is Chase, who by t'e way looks like a walkin' ad for sleep aids, ‘ave you so startled.”[/color]

Percy looked away again, his entire body shuddering as he remembered. He couldn’t talk about what had happened without the images and scenes flashing through his head, of a healthier looking Chase hunting him down in the halls of the school, shoving him and throwing him into any crevice he and the others suspected Percy might fit inside. He clutched Dorian a little tighter, his arms trembling from the extent his muscles were contracting. [color=ed1c24]“He… he… He was physical. I couldn’t hide. He’d always find me. The words, the insults, they hurt. But the bruises hurt more… he made it into a sport, shoving me into lockers and seeing if they would close, tossing me into trash cans like I was a basketball…”[/color] his voice was thin, fragile - on the edge of breaking down once more. 

Dorian's grip on Percy tightened. One part protective, wanting to hold him closer to make sure he understood he was there to shield him from harm. The other part was darker, hearing how someone treated him, how they could treat anybody, it was just like a Flatscan to target other people and it made Dorian's stomach churn. In the back of his mind he thought of ways to get back at him, to use him the way he used Percy and show him how it felt to be treated as lesser. But those thoughts quickly washed away as he could feel himself think ‘That's not what Heroes do. Everyone deserves a chance to change.’ 

[Color=CC99FF]”Perce I'm so sorry, I…’ad we been t'ere, ‘ad any of us known…I just…why didn't any of your friends ‘elp you?”[/color] Concern coated every word, but each syllable was laced with anger and hatred. 

[color=ed1c24]“I didn’t have any,”[/color] he mumbled. 

All the anger that had been ebbing inside of, threatening a tsunami of pain later, dissipated with those four simple words. Dorian's heart broke,  a sharp gasp leaving him as his grip on Percy loosened ever so slightly and his body ran cold. [i]He didn't have any friends[/i] Dorian held Percy tight, pulling him in deeper as he squeezed him, tears falling onto Percy's head. [Color=CC99FF]”I– I didn't, Perce…”[/color] He squeezed him once more, as if trying to make up for every hug, every kiss, every embrace he missed out on back at that horrid school. 

Percy shook his head slightly, his chin wobbling as a fresh wave of tears hit him. He couldn’t see his boyfriend crying, but he had felt it, and it was enough to push him back over the edge again. [color=ed1c24]“Not your fault,”[/color] he choked out. [color=ed1c24]“I’m - I’m not - I’m not likable.”[/color] The pressure was helping, but it wasn’t enough at the same time. He wanted to be held so tightly he wouldn’t be able to breathe - that the thin barrier between where he ended and Dorian began would melt away. [color=ed1c24]“That’s why… He… I-it’s why I can’t handle touch from people. I-I used to be able to… used to be able t-to h-h-hug my moms… b-but now it feels like I’m being electrocuted.”[/color]

Dorian pulled back as Percy said he wasn't likeable, holding him within his hands on his biceps and staring straight at him. [Color=CC99FF]”Percy Novikov, you are extremely likeable! A bit abrasive at times sure but you're still likeable. T'ere's a whole room of people back t'ere t'at like you.”[/color] It was then the other words struck Dorian's mind, his hands letting go slightly as they hovered just outside of touch from Percy's arms, barely able to feel the fuzz off the fibers of his shirt. [Color=CC99FF]”I…oh, Should I stop t'en? I t'ought you were fine wit' me touchin’ you but if you want me to stop… Perce I don't want tl ‘urt you”[/color]

The anguish shot back up within him as Dorian pulled away. Percy shook his head quickly, as he practically dove back into clinging to his boyfriend. [color=ed1c24]“Doesn’t hurt when it’s you. Please don’t stop…”[/color] he bit his lip. Dorian had asked for him to let him in. [color=ed1c24]“C-can you be as strong and tight as you can? F-firm touch is best.”[/color] 

Dorian smiled. [Color=CC99FF]”Typically t'ose are called bear ‘ugs. But I can give it my best shot as a twink”[/color] He joked before pulling Percy in to the tightest possible hug he could manage. One usually reserved for when he saw Danni or his parents after coming home from a long stint at Xaviers. [Color=CC99FF]”Where do we go from ‘ere? We can't ‘ide away from t'e party forever. But I don't want to make you go back if you don't want to…t'ough it may be good for you if you did. We ‘ave a whole room of t'e mightiest Champions AA ‘as ever seen, t'e four strongest mutants in New Orleans, a whole Underground of Mutants support, and if t'ats not enough an endless buffet of seafood boil you could toss at ‘im.”[/color]

He sniffled, but his breathing gradually steadied out again as he was trapped in Dorian’s grip. He nodded a bit as Dorian walked him through all the safeguards with Chase. He forced his eyes back open, already red and puffy - or at least, they were for his astral self. And then he swallowed, the nerves spiking again. [color=ed1c24]“C-could you do the thing where your telekinesis wraps around me, when we go back?”[/color] he asked softly. 

But Chase hadn’t been the only thing Dorian had asked him about here - not the only thing that had driven him to cry. His body tensed up again, as Percy forced the words out. [color=ed1c24]“I-I don’t do well w-with having my picture taken - o-or with blinding lights or l-loud sounds… Th-that’s why I hid away earlier, that a-and… I was jealous of you and Billy.”[/color]

[Color=CC99FF]”Well we may ‘ave to do more photos for my family and Danni. No avoidin’ t'at. But as long as we pose well and quickly it'll be over soon. But, why on eart’ were you jealous of me and Billy? ‘E's wit’ Teddy.”[/color]

Percy’s face flushed, and he hid again in Dorian’s chest. [color=ed1c24]“I-I know you really liked him a-and… you two merged on a fundamental level. We’ve never been that close,”[/color] he mumbled. [color=ed1c24]“It’s dumb. I’m sorry.”[/color]

[Color=CC99FF]”We merged because I was about to lose and as a stupid ‘ail Mary i decided to try and possess ‘im. Turns out, possessin' someone's Astral Self while your yourself are also Astral can ‘ave some weird consequences. Probably didn't ‘elp t'at t'ere was some…ot'er force t'at was a part of ‘im. Yeah, I crushed on Billy Maximoff, but ‘e's got not'in’ on you chère.”[/color]

He lifted his head off of Dorian’s chest again. [color=ed1c24]“Vraiment?”[/color]

[Color=CC99FF]”Oui mon cœur, toi et moi contre le monde.”[/color] 

He sniffled again. [color=ed1c24]“Je t’aime toujours.”[/color]

[Color=CC99FF]”Et moi toi. Now, let's ‘eat back to t'e party and get ourselves some beignets. I t'ink we've earned at least 100.”[/color]

Percy nodded slightly. He was starving. But not entirely just for beignets. He moved his hands from Dorian’s back, instead placing them on his chest, and he pressed his lips to his, initiating a tender kiss that grew a little greedier with each passing second. 

As the couple kissed, Dorian pulled them back down, moving from the Astral Plane into their own and then finally in their bodies. Dorian was sat next to Percy, but his legs were over Percy's lap, his arm around his waist, and the other behind Percy's head as he continued to kiss him for what felt like the first time today. 

Percy wanted Dorian closer - no, he [i]needed[/i] Dorian closer. He was so wrapped up in the kiss he hadn’t noticed them return to their bodies, hadn’t seen the change in scenery. He pulled on Dorian’s waist, repositioning his boyfriend so that he was straddling him - and with each kiss, his tongue grew a little more forceful, his teeth grazing Dorian’s lip before even that wasn’t quite enough, and he started to suck on it, and…

Ben cleared his throat awkwardly. [color=silver]“Boys.”[/color]

Dorian jumped. The table pushed back, the silverware chattered atop it, and for a moment he'd gone astral again. Phasing through the table and onto the floor to the other side of it, looking towards Percy, and Appa sat right there. [Color=CC99FF]”Hehe…Uh, did you save me any beignets?”[/color] He asked his father with a smile.