After dinner, Scott's sister Elizabeth brought out what she'd been working on all afternoon. Turns out she and her group had finished their game design project last week, and they now had a playable version of the game. Part maze crawler and part scavenger hunt since they'd abandoned the combat idea, you could play with up to four people on a split screen to see who found all the items first. She wanted Ryan to have a chance to play it since he was here, but figured he'd have a hard time with a keyboard, which is what it was programed for. So, she took it upon herself to rewire a gear shift racing game controller to make it more accessible. It had some bugs, but she got it working eventually.
Thus, they had the traditional Kranston House after dinner family video game tournament. Without Scott.
Ryan wouldn't say it was weird hanging out with Scott's family without Scott around, but it was definitely different. It was easy to tell that they were all making the effort to put him at ease. It was touching. That didn't mean he didn't wish that Scott was out here having fun with them.
As things started winding down, Gail went to go set up the spare guest bedroom while Howard offered to help Ryan get ready for bed. For the record, as much as he was trying to avoid it, and it's not like he could have waited much longer but, having your father-in-law help you use the bathroom was a whole new level of embarrassment. Howard shrugged it off, reminding Ryan that he'd helped raise two kids. It was nothing he hadn't had to deal with before. They settled on a baby wipe bathing, getting only the problem areas since Scott's parents didn't have any accessibility equipment for the shower. At least so long as there wasn't any water involved Ryan could manage cleaning his front bits on his own.
Finally, teeth brushed, hair combed, and clad in a pair of his father-in-law's sweatpants, Ryan consented to being put to bed. Gail was meticulous in trying to make sure he was comfortable. Everything was propped up by pillows trying to get things as close to the foam supports he had at Scott's place as possible. There was a television in the room, so she turned it on for him and left the remote within easy reach, reminding him not to hesitate to call out if he needed anything before leaving him with a goodnight kiss on the forehead.
With it all said and done, Ryan wasn't tired. He put on the news out of curiosity, keeping the volume low so as to not disturb the other house's residents who from the sound of things were getting ready for bed themselves. It struck him how lonely he suddenly felt in this unfamiliar room, with this unfamiliar bed. If Scott were with him, it'd be better. Or, maybe if he had his teddy bear…?
The reporter on the TV was going over crime statistics for the day. It was stuff fairly typical for the city, petty theft, drug busts, and other things like that. Then they started talking about omegas, and how there seemed to be an increase of attacks on omegas ever since the Justice For Omegas movement started trending on social media. There were five reported assaults today alone, one involving a knife with the omega in question being rushed to the hospital and expected to make a full recovery. The newscasters were urging omegas not to travel alone if they could help it, or else to forego wearing their collars to avoid identification, noting that the city council was considering a curfew for omega individuals.
Then they claimed to have footage of one of today's attacks, complete with a daring rescue by a bystander. Ryan knew exactly what it was when the shaky cellphone video started, before it was even centered on the action. They'd censored his face, but it was a video of him. He was news b-footage. The newscaster repeated the warning messages to omegas while the video played, but the camera cut away sharply at the part when Scott came to his rescue, catching the assailant flying into the chairs.
Ryan turned off the television. As if life wasn't hard enough. Maybe counting the textured bits on the ceiling would help him fall asleep faster…
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A quick glance on his phone which was placed conveniently nearby told him it was well after midnight. Scott's body was heavy with the aftereffects of the alpha suppressant drug, but it was easy enough to recognize his childhood bedroom. He barely remembered his father coming to their rescue, but this had to mean that Ryan was safe, right? He had to know! He had to know his Ryan was okay!
He nearly jumped out of bed, swaying as his body reminded him of the heavy dose of sedatives he'd gotten. He was forced to take a moment to ground himself. He wasn't going to do anybody any good if he fell flat on his face. He focused on steadying his breathing and stretched, working some feeling into his extremities. Only after he was feeling steady did he try seeking out his fiance.
There were all of two places Ryan could be, the couch in the living room or the guest bedroom. Being that he'd pass the door to the guest bedroom to get out to the living room, it made sense to check there first. Sure enough, when he opened the door and peeked inside, Ryan's wheelchair was in the middle of the floor and something ridiculously bulky was under the sheets.
"Cuddle Bug, is that you?" Ryan's voice called quietly in the darkness.
"Yeah Hot Stuff, it's me. I didn't wake you up, did I?" Scott went in and kneeled beside the bed, stroking Ryan's hair.
"Don't worry, you didn't wake me up. I can't get to sleep. I guess I'm more keyed up than I thought I would be. How are you feeling? Are you okay now? There's dinner leftovers in the fridge if you're hungry. Your dad brought home one of those custard cakes you like so much."
Scott's stomach made it known that it would very much like a piece of custard cake, letting out a greedy gurgling sound.
"Food sounds nice," Scott admitted. "Want to sit up with me for a bit? Keep me company?"
"Yes please."
Scott fished Ryan out from his sea of pillows, taking comfort in the weight of his fiance in his arms. Never mind that with the aftereffects of the drug Ryan felt much heavier than usual, he powered through and carried Ryan to the living room and set him on the couch. He turned on a lamp for some soft lighting before going to the kitchen to raid the fridge. He offered to get Ryan a snack, but was turned down. After microwaving himself some dinner he returned to the living room, wearily flopping down next to Ryan.
"Today really didn't go at all like I planned." Scott sighed, tucking into his food.
Ryan leaned against Scott's shoulder. "Don't worry about it. All things considered it was nice to get out of the apartment. Besides," he chuckled a little at the memory, "it was kind of cool the way you came to my rescue like that."
"Ryan, why didn't you call for help?"
Ryan sobered. "I guess I just kinda… froze? I don't know…" His voice trailed off as he thought. "It was scary… I freeze up when I'm scared, I guess… You're amazing though. I bet you'd never get scared in a situation like that."
"I was scared."
When Ryan looked at him confused, Scott elaborated. "I was scared when I saw those lowlifes assaulting you. I was scared you were going to get hurt again, without me being able to stop it, just like last time."
"Yeah, I can see how having a mate covered in scars would be a bad thing…" Ryan said offhand. "Not only are they ugly, but they probably give people the wrong impression, making them think you're cruel or something."
"You think your scars are ugly?" Scott was so surprised he stopped eating.
"Well of course they are. They're all weird and puckered and even if they fade they don't completely go away. They're always there. A constant reminder of how much life sucked. And I know under these casts I've got even more new scars. I don't know how you can possibly still find me attractive. I'm going to look like a poorly stitched rag doll…"
Scott put down his plate and pulled Ryan into his lap, cradling him close. "Ryan, I love you. Including all your scars. Each one tells the story of how strong you are. They're proof that you've overcome all the horrible things life has thrown at you, and survived."
"But I didn't have any major-life-stuff scars before this?"
"Ryan… I know you don't like to talk about your previous relationship at all but, your whole back is covered in little scars. He did that to you, didn't he?"
"I… I didn't know it left marks…" Ryan's voice dropped as his own view of his worth dropped even lower.
Scott kissed Ryan's cheek and stroked his hair, fingers delicately following the scar tissue that ran down his scalp. "You had those before we even met, and still you're the sexiest person I've ever seen."
"You're just saying that…"
"I'm just telling the truth. You're worried some extra proof of how resilient and strong you are is going to turn me off?" Scott went on, "Don't get me wrong, I hate that you're hurt. I hate that I couldn't prevent it. But, your injuries aren't going to change the way I feel about you."
"But, having a mate covered in scars like this, doesn't it bother you?" Ryan pressed. "Like I said, what if people start talking and bad rumors spread around? What if it effects your job? Those guys… I guess security footage from the shipping company got leaked because it sounded like they recognized me from a video… But even they suggested you did this to me… You've got an important professional reputation, I just don't want to be the one to mess it up."
Scott sighed wearily and kissed his fiance's cheek. "Leaked video is a major concern, and one best left to the lawyers. And the last thing I'm worried about is someone trying to spread rumors that I hurt you."
"Speaking of leaked video, we were kinda on the news tonight. They called you a bystander that came to the rescue though."
Scott sighed wearily again. One more thing for the lawyers to worry about, he reminded himself.
They sat cuddling a few minutes, Ryan soaking in the attention shamelessly. He needed the physical contact and verbal reassurance so badly, but he couldn't let himself be too greedy. Scott still had food left to eat, which he couldn't do given their current position.
Ryan insisted he be put back on the couch so Scott could finish eating, to which Scott grudgingly obliged. Once his food was gone, he disappeared back into the kitchen only to return with a huge slice of cake, paired with an equally huge glass of milk, complete with straw.
"You've got room for that?" Ryan asked surprised.
"No, but I figured I could get some help?"
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Howard was always up at four when he had to open the bakery. He moved quietly through the house, careful not to wake anybody. There was a light on in the living room which he found odd, until he got close enough for a certain scene to come into view.
His son and future son-in-law were laying on the couch. Scott was practically wrapped around his fiance, stroking his hair gently. Scott paused just long enough to put his finger to his lips, indicating the need to be quiet.
"He just got to sleep a little bit ago," Scott whispered. "Would you mind turning the light out when you leave?"