Dr. Stone Cold's Adventure (18+)(YellowMelon and 3ruri)(Private)

[YellowMelon]

Andrew was slightly relieved to hear Caspian’s younger brother was even younger than him, albeit by only one year. He would have to meet him regardless of his age, but it was comforting to know he wouldn’t be in the presence of two older men. He definitely feared the judgement of an older sibling more than a younger one. From the animated exchange the brothers were having, it was easy to tell they got along well. Caspian seemed to be the caring-yet-annoying type of brother while Cameron was tolerant of his teasing. Thankfully, Cameron didn’t argue about them coming over unexpectedly, although, if he had, Andrew wasn't so sure the driver would have turned their car around, since he was already set on visiting his brother. At least they would have a respectable first meeting instead of one where he and Caspian weren’t wanted. 

With the call now over, Andrew settled the cellular device on his lap and pulled down the sun visor to look into its mirror. “Even though I don’t mind meeting your brother - and I really don’t - I wished the meeting was planned instead of suggested so suddenly. What is your brother going to think of us when we look like this?” He let out a short laugh while looking at his reflection and ran his fingers through his hair in an attempt to fix the messy bed hair. “Perhaps we should have had more self-control during the photo shoot.” He said with a sigh and closed the visor, although there was no indication of regret in his voice. Andrew knew he had been the instigator of their playful behavior, but believed Caspian was equally to blame for their unpresentable appearances now. He was the one who had pushed him to the ground despite their formal attire.

“I don’t think we can do much with your hair.” McCain mentioned whilst he unbuckled his seatbelt. He remained seated as he buttoned his waistcoat, then reached over to help tidy Caspian. “You didn’t even bother to rebutton your clothes. Do you like having your shirt open? Feel the need to show off?” He sounded like a mother scolding her child. Despite his dangerous actions, Andrew was careful not to block the gear shift or Caspian’s vision so he wouldn’t directly interfere with his driving. “Eyes on the road. Don’t pay attention to what I’m doing.” He ordered, as though it was a simple task. However, given that it was nighttime, and he hadn’t turned on any of the interior car lights, Andrew fumbled with buttoning his husband’s shirt. 

While relying on his tactile sense, he first misaligned the buttons and buttonholes, which caused him to grab at Caspian's crotch a few times, searching for a button to pair with an empty buttonhole whose actual pair had been pushed through the previous slit. In his second attempt, he got the job done correctly. It was difficult to maneuver under the seat belt, so the shirt was bunched up in certain places, but all that Andrew cared about was that Caspian was properly covered. “There, now we shouldn’t look like we did something dirty in the car.” He rested back in his seat, content. 

[3ruri]

Caspian didn't really think there was anything wrong with the way they were looking. It wasn't like his brother had never seen him disheveled before. Sometimes after his superhero duty, Caspian would drop by Cameron's place for moral support and he normally looked like he was trapped under the ruined building himself. What's more, they grew up together. However bad Caspian ever looked, Cameron had seen it. They roughhoused a lot growing up, so it was normal looking battered and once they got home, their mother would punish them to face the wall until a little before dinnertime so they could go clean themselves before food is being served at the table. A little exposed chest were nothing to worry about.

It was getting a little difficult to concentrate on driving when Andrew's fingers brushed his crotch. He knew it was accidental, but Caspian was and - well, that explained enough. To avoid themselves crashing into a a tree, Caspian kept silent until Andrew withdrew himself after triumphantly managed to button up his opened shirt. Now he had his opening to tease his husband a little. "What, afraid people would ogle my six-packs?" He grinned smugly. He wasn't normally vain, but Caspian kne whow he looked and he knew Andrew had seen his body. "You were so eager to undress me earlier during the photo shoot, now you want me to button up when meeting my brother?" he added with a little quirk to his eyebrow. "Or was that just an excuse to grope me while I'm unable to anything about it?"

There was no way Cameron would think they had a little session in the car within ten minutes driving. The older Crowe liked to take his time with his partners, and car sex wasn't really favorable to him. If he and Andrew ever ventured to that side, Caspian wouldn't subject him to doing it somewhere uncomfortable such as inside a car. Not like that would ever happen. It was only hypothetical, but Caspian didn't hate the notion. They were adults and if both parties consented to it, then why not. Of course, the professor didn't say it out loud since Andrew thought they were nothing more than acquaintances. Anyway, once they arrived at Cameron's apartment, Caspian turned to his husband after he parked the car and said, "Here we are."

[YellowMelon]

"Yes, here we are." Andrew repeated, then stepped out of the car with the wrapped cake in his hands. After taking a quick glance at the apartment building - not that he could see much except for scattered lights and silhouettes - he followed Caspian to the appropriate room where the family member lived. The short walk to the apartment was quiet, with Andrew no longer in the mood to chit-chat like he had been doing so in the car ride. His attitude toward the situation and to Caspian hadn't changed. He just felt tired.  Joking around with Caspian previously was a means of keeping himself awake, but now he didn't feel comfortable enough to engage in the same manner as they were about to meet the younger Crowe. Not with how suggestive Caspian's humor was getting, even if Cameron wouldn't have been phased by such remarks. The door to the apartment was visibly ajar when they approached their destination. Although unsafe, it was an indication that the resident was listening for the arrival of his visitors. Soon, the entrance was fully accessible and Cameron rushed the two men inside before pushing the door to slam shut. 

"Cas!" The younger brother exclaimed, pulling his sibling into a tight, but brief, hug, then, in a not-so-caring way, pushed him to the side to introduce himself to the mentioned husband. "You must be Andrew." Cameron greeted with his hand out.

"I am. Sorry for the intrusion. It seems like Caspian really wanted to see you." Andrew gave a firm handshake as he looked up at the taller individual. Cameron wasn't as tall as his older brother, but they came close to matching in height. He was shorter by only 1.5 inches exactly, which was something Caspian never let him live down since he had been overly confident as a child that he would become taller than his brother. He had bragged too early and, unfortunately, the extra growth spurt promised by his pediatrician never came. 

"I'm used to my brother showing up at my apartment unannounced, whenever he feels like it, so don't apologize." He glanced at the other Crowe. "I'm certain he doesn't feel sorry about it." Truthfully, Cameron wasn't all that bothered with his random visits, since they happened infrequently and he was his sibling, after all. "Anyway, is that the leftover cake?" He pointed out the obvious. 

"Oh, yes, it is. I almost forgot about it." The brunette peeled back the aluminum foil to show the round cake with a sliver missing from it. There were two layers - chocolate on top of vanilla - separated by a white frosting. The cake itself was covered with white fondant. "Thanks for taking it off our hands."

"Thanks for giving it to me." Cameron responded, appreciatively, as though he had a choice in the matter. He took the cake into his possession and rewrapped it so he could store it in the fridge. Finishing the cake wouldn't be a problem because of his sweet tooth, but he knew not to be too self-indulgent. He had learned the hard way the importance of having to pace himself. "Now, come in and make yourself at home." He motioned for his visitors to follow him further into the room instead of idling at the entranceway. "Given the time constraint, I could only think of serving you guys spaghetti." He stuck the cake into the fridge. "And I have some homemade dinner rolls which I made earlier." It was a very simple dinner, but his second idea had been salad and he really wanted to save those ingredients for himself. Plus, he didn't think it would be as filling as pasta.  "Have a seat at the table. I'll bring everything to you."

"Will do. Thank you." McCain did as instructed and sat at the circular table. Due to the open-concept and U-shaped kitchen, he could watch as Cameron busied himself to serve their meal. 

"So, tell me, how are you liking married life so far?" He called out, directing the question to either husband. "I know you said you've only been married since yesterday, but are there any perks or are you guys already ready for a divorce?"

[3ruri]

Caspian wondered if it was a bad call to take Andrew visiting his younger brother. The other male suddenly went quiet, the funny and chatty guy from before was now gone. He had asked Andrew whether it was okay and he said it was fine, so the older guy though it wasn't a big deal. It was a little late to turn back now, especially when Cameron must have cooked them something, so Caspian guessed that this would be a short visit. When he saw Cameron though, the older Crowe automatically smiled and gave his brother a guy clench, slapping each other's backs. They were close, the two of them, even with four years separating them.

Cameron was a charming guy. That was one of the reasons Caspian didn't mind taking Andrew to see him. He was laid back and pretty observant, so if he sensed that Andrew was uncomfortable, he would definitely direct the conversation another way to make the other person more at ease. He was also a good cook. Caspian thought he wanted to pursue his studies in cooking school, but instead, following after his brother's footsteps, he went into science and now working as a Crime scene technician. His younger brother had his quirks, but behind the surface, he was really a reliable guy and most of the times, Caspian turned to him for a little venting. 

"How come you never get fat from eating all these carbs and binge on desserts?" Caspian asked as he settled down on his chair while Cameron served the food. It smelled delicious, so he guessed his brother had made his own pasta sauce and stored it the fridge. 

Cameron poured some iced tea into their glasses as he sat down as well. "The same way you never get fat after eating the whole content of my fridge. Now, don't dodge the question. Answer me." 

Caspian turned to look at Andrew for any hints, but the younger man didn't seem to be interested to help him out. The professor cleared his throat and picked up his fork. "I kinda liked being married to this guy over here. We're not really husbands, if you want me to tell you the truth, but I'm getting to know Andrew as much as I can. I'm hoping we could at least be friends when we part ways." He gave that much and stuffed his mouth with the food so that he didn't have to say more.

"So does that mean you're into him?" Leave it to Cameron to be blunt. Caspian coughed and reached for the iced tea. Andrew was right net to him. What was his brother thinking asking such a trick question. "Heh, that's a yes." He grinned and turned to his new guest who had been quiet all along. 

[YellowMelon]

Andrew didn’t expect his husband to give such a straightforward answer to the question. He thought Caspian would be more conversational, now that they were with his brother, detailing the events which happened since their marriage. Even though they  were wed only a day ago, there was plenty to talk about. Given how close the siblings were, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Caspian brought up their disputes, although he knew Caspian wouldn’t want to spark an argument in front of his brother. Andrew wasn’t the type to start drama either, or be impolite to someone who was so welcoming. Seeing how cheerful Cameron was to see his sibling, and vice versa, made the brunette happy to have stopped by. It was probably therapeutic for Caspian to be around someone who had nothing to do with the show, and who knew him well before Doctor Stone. 

As soon as the raven-haired man started coughing, Andrew’s green eyes wandered from his plate to Cameron, catching the grin wore. He found it humorous the term “into him” was used, as it sounded a bit childish, but, truthfully, he wasn’t going to make a big deal out of it. The younger Crowe could jump to any conclusion he wanted, but, without a direct answer, Andrew wasn’t going to make any speculations. Plus, if he was into him, wouldn’t he have said he liked their marriage, not just “kinda liked” it? Unless Cameron, of course, meant “into him” in a sexual way. He shouldn't have used such an ambiguous phrase. Regardless of Andrew’s interpretation, it seemed like Caspian knew what his sibling meant and chose to choke on his food instead of answering . “I wouldn’t have been offended if you said no.” He smiled to ease any worries his husband had. 

Now that it was his turn to answer Cameron’s marriage question, Andrew glanced at his tourmaline ring. Caspian was right to say they weren’t really husbands. In fact, he didn’t remember signing a marriage certificate. He knew Samantha could procure one though, if he ever asked, and have their signatures already on it, which she probably obtained through nefarious means. For the purposes of “perks,” they were only husbands on paper, and neither of them had put each other’s names on their wills or opened a joint bank account. Andrew hadn’t even considered changing his surname. The only things they shaped were a house and a car, both of which they had no say in. 

“Caspian gets to be my chauffeur.” He pointed out. That was a perk, right? “Besides that, I like spending time with him. He’s a funny guy.” Although he didn’t say much, he meant what he said. He couldn’t give the same sentiment as wanting to be friends, but he also wanted to know more about his husband throughout their year together.

“Are you-”

“If,” the brunette was quick to interrupt, already knowing the question was going to be a repeat since Cameron had the same grin on his face, “If I was looking for a relationship, and ignored certain preferences of mine, then I would be actively trying to pursue Caspian right now.” Because neither of the two conditions were met, though, he wasn’t all that interested in flirting with or courting the older man. Well, maybe he wouldn’t mind flirting if he was in a playful mood, but he wouldn’t have any sexual intentions behind it. 

“It’s good to know my brother is, at least, somewhat liked.” Cameron let out a light laugh. “Is there anything you’d like to know about him, by the way? I have many stories.” 

Andrew paused to think about what he could, or event want to, ask about his husband that he would evade answering. Nothing immediately came to his mind because he didn’t care much to know anything about Caspian which he wouldn’t reveal himself. He didn’t want to dig up dirt on the professor, not if it would upset the other individual. “What was the worst thing Caspian has ever done to you?” He finally asked, a little excited. 

A mischievous smile appeared on the younger Crowe’s lips. “I can’t recall the worst thing, but I’ve definitely been through some traumatic experiences, thanks to your husband here.” He folded his arms and leaned forward on the table, beginning the story. “When I was four, I believe, or around that age, I had this stuffed bear...or was it a bunny? Either way, it was grey, and I loved it. I was playing with it around Caspian and he got so annoyed that he threw it down the stairs.” He feigned sadness. “Then he pushed me...down the stairs.” He whispered the last part quickly and dramatically, knowing full-well no such thing occurred. What the younger man failed to mention was that he had been assaulting Caspian with the stuffed animal, who had been occupied with studying, which caused the older sibling to throw the animal out of their room. He just threw it so hard that it bounced off the wall and tumbled down the stairs, since their bedroom was located at the top of the staircase. When Cameron went to chase after his beloved animal, he missed a step and slid down only one or two steps. They were steep to Cameron because he was small at the time, so he remembered the event as traumatic. 

“You’re such a brute!” Andrew gasped, looking at Caspian. 

[3ruri]

"Yeah, yeah, side with him. The only reason you think that was because Cam's younger and can cook," Caspian grumbled as he finished half of the ice tea in his glass. Although Cameron was dishing out their past, he was thankful that he changed the topic rather than focusing on the topic of marriage. Caspian wasn't ready to admit that he wanted to try starting a relationship with Andrew, because honestly, he was positive Andrew would turn him down. He only said in too many words that Caspian wasn't his type and he wasn't looking to be with somebody. The older Crowe were not looking forward to be rejected in front of his younger brother. That would give him too much power over his older brother and Caspian didn't need to be at a disadvantage.

Nonetheless, the talking about childhood days was a little too raw, even though they hadn't been children for years. Caspian had it harder than Cameron, but the two of them had decided to talk about it when the topic came up rather than kept it bottled inside. That way the memory was preserved and not forgotten. "That was the same year Casey was born," Caspian pointed out. He was smiling, but there was a hint of sadness showed on hi face. He wondered if he should burden Andrew with the story but Andrew had taken his sudden breakdown so well in the trailer, so Caspian thought he could handle his past too. He wasn't really hoping that his husband would come and give him a hug like before, but if they were going to live under the same roof for at least one year, sooner or later, Andrew would find out anyway. 

"Cassidy's our baby brother," Cameron explained without prompting. Although there was also a trace of sadness on his face, his voice said it like it was a fond memory. "The three of us are four years apart. Mom's good at family planning." The younger Crowe added cheekily. 

Caspian cringed. "Oh god, please don't mention mom and family planning in the same sentence. It's been a while since I had nightmares."

"Well, if you have one tonight, Andrew's there to help you out, won't you Andrew?" Cameron grinned at the green-eyed male. 

"Do you want my husband to divorce me so soon? It hasn't even been three days!"

"I'm surprised he hasn't already. Knowing you, Mr. Know-it-all-and-bossy, it's a miracle that he hasn't even poisoned your food. And obviously you haven't told him about Casey." Cameron sounded a little disappointed that his older brother had not talked about their important family member. He knew it was hard for Caspian, but Andrew was still his husband, whether or not it was only contractual.

Caspian huffed at Cameron's accusation. "I was waiting for the right time. And Andrew knew I have two younger brothers, well, only one left, but it's not exactly a good conversation you'd have when you're trying to get to know someone, is it? I can't just say, oh, by the way, my baby brother died because the tree house fell on him."

"No, that's not it. The tree house fell along with him inside. Come on Caspian, don't change the story just because it will make you sound more like a tortured hero."

"I'm not a fucking hero! If I am one, Casey would've been here, having dinner with us and joining you poking fun of me in front of my husband!" Caspian said indignantly, although his anger wasn't really directed at Cameron. It was a weird them talking about the incident this way like it was nothing, but Caspian spent years of his life being depressed, especially when he discovered his powers two years after Cassidy's death. It was two years too late. He told himself that, so the first few months, he hated his powers, denying it because what good was it when it was non-existent when his beloved baby brother needed his help. 

The professor took a deep breath before turning to face Andrew who had been silent while the two siblings talked. "So, there you go. That's what happened to Casey."

[YellowMelon]

The sudden switch in conversation was a lot to take in, and Andrew felt a little lost at the beginning. They had gone from marriage to being pushed down the stairs, Casey, family planning, and back to Casey again. There was also some bickering between the brothers which made the brunette uncomfortable. In the end though, when Caspian turned to him, Andrew was able to process the tragedy that was told. The first question which crossed his mind was what had caused the treehouse to fall. Was it just unstable? Was there a storm? And, who had witnessed the event? But those were questions he kept to himself, as he could tell Caspian was still kicking himself over the loss of his youngest brother. 

Although Caspian spilt his feelings prior when preparing for the wedding ceremony, and Andrew had effectively comforted him, the brunette didn’t know what to do now because they weren’t alone. While he liked Cameron, the younger brother made a lot of side commentary, and he didn’t think it would help if a third party interrupted him as he tried to console his husband. It was also evident the Crowe siblings had two very different viewpoints on the death. “I..” Andrew first stared at Caspian, then at Cameron, and back at Caspian. “We need to use the bathroom.” He said quickly, grabbing the older man’s hand and pulling him to the mentioned location.

Once inside the room, which was an unexpectedly small, cramped space, Andrew hurriedly closed the door behind them and pushed Caspian to sit on the toilet, after closing the lid. He then knelt on the floor in front of the other man and placed his hands on Caspian’s knees. “I sincerely hope your brother cleans his bathroom.” He gave a forced smile, not daring to look down. Maybe the bathroom wasn’t the best place to have a one-on-one chat, but it was the first place in the apartment that came to mind when he thought of privacy. 

“Alright, I know you said I suck at conversation, but I’ll try my best here,” he began, gripping the man’s knees a little tighter, “First of all, thank you for telling me about Casey It’s apparent you carry a lot of weight on your shoulders because of that incident, and I can understand why. You don’t need to talk about him anymore, unless you want to. I’m not one to pry, so I’ll be content with whatever you decide.” He paused for a moment before continuing. He didn’t want his next words to sound too harsh, but he didn’t want to sugarcoat them either. “Although I haven’t shared the same experiences as you, I think you know as much as I do that blaming yourself is going to get you nowhere. You can feel guilty, let it eat away at you, and you can ponder the what-ifs. No matter the end result, you weren’t the one to cause the treehouse to fall.” Well, Andrew couldn’t know this for sure, but why would Caspian do that to his brother?

The brunette now held Caspian's hands. “You and Cameron might have dealt with Casey’s death differently, but both of you should first share good memories about him before jumping into the topic of his death. That way it’ll ease the burden on you whenever you recall the moment.” Andrew was aware everyone had different coping styles, but it didn’t seem like Caspian had a strategy since he lashed out at Cameron. “Plus, I don’t like seeing you unhappy, or frustrated.” He poked his husband between the eyebrows. “You get some nasty wrinkles.” 

Standing up, the younger man moved to lean himself against the sink counter, crossing his arms. “My preferences aren’t an issue,” he casually mentioned, “Older or younger, beard or no beard, they aren’t deal breakers. I’ll just be moving after all of this, so I haven’t thought about getting into a relationship until after I move. I want someone I can cohabit with and it wouldn't be fair for me to find a partner now, then expect him to move with me.” It was a bit sudden to return to the topic of marriage and relationships, but he felt like he owed Caspian some sort of explanation since his husband was going through so much inner turmoil, and was open about. “I really wouldn’t mind dating you if I was looking for someone. I was honest about that.” He pat Caspian on his head with a smile. “Your brother, on the other hand…” He seductively bit his bottom lip and looked toward the door, as though implying he was attracted to Cameron. “Nah, I’m just joking." He let out a hearty laugh, then briefly paused with consideration. "Or am I?" 

[3ruri]

So Andrew liked a younger version of him? Or was it anyone but him? He said the way Caspian look wasn't a deal breaker and his ambiguous way of hinting that he might find Cameron more preferable than him was really annoying. The younger male said he didn't want to see him upset, but by insinuating the Andrew found Cameron attractive was a blow to Caspian's ego. Personally, he thought he was better looking than his younger brother,  but Cameron had better personality, all sunny and positive and had not been burdened by their little brother's death. No one wanted to deal with someone who dwelled on that shit. Andrew was right that it wasn't Caspian's fault the tree house collapsed, but he wasn't totally faultless either. 

"You don't know the whole story," Caspian said. He was going to tell him earlier, but he wasn't going to do it in the bathroom. "I've dealt with it for a long time, and things are much better now, but that didn't mean I'm not allowed to be sad about it. I was ten at that time, Cameron only six. Of course my feelings about it are more intense than his were. I remember every single bit about it." It had taken place twenty-one years ago, but it was nothing Caspian could forget about. 

Caspian stood up and faced Andrew in the cramped bathroom. "Well, if you want to go for a younger Crowe, we need to set some boundaries. We don't like sloppy seconds," he said, a little arrogantly. If he thought there was going to be anything between him and Andrew, best to kill it now. The thought of Cameron being with someone he had ever been with or vice versa was just disturbing. Not that Andrew ever said that he would go for his younger brother. There was always a possibility and with Caspian and Andrew's marriage being a sham, no one said either of them had to be faithful to one another. "Locking ourselves together in this bathroom would only spur silly thoughts on Cameron's part, so let's not give him any idea."

Caspian reached for the door and pulled it open, only to reveal his nosy younger brother with his ear pressed to the solid wood. At least the younger Crowe had the decency to look bashful at acting so childish. "We were just talking," Caspian told him and walked past the younger male to return to the kitchen. He went to the fridge and took out the leftover cake from earlier, setting it on the counter. Caspian took a knife and cut himself a slice before returning the rest back into the fridge.

"I thought that was all mine?" Cameron asked as he followed his brother. 

Caspian shrugged and took a mouthful of bite from a fork. "It's my wedding cake. Not gonna get married again so I should at least enjoy a slice."

"So mature, Caspian. Why are you suddenly sulking?"

Caspian looked over Cameron's shoulder at Andrew and took another bite of the cake. "Nothing. I'm just trying to get into a better mood. I'm always sulky when we talk about Casey."

"You're so full of crap. We talk about Casey all the time. You know you've move on past the depressing melancholy stage years ago. Don't start now." Cameron pulled out a high chair and sat facing his older brother. He could sense that something had happened between Caspian and his husband, but Caspian was too proud to get it all out. Cameron leaned closer so what he said next could only be heard by the two of them. "You really like him, don't you?"

"No." Caspian said in a close-ended way so Cameron would stop discussing about it. He took the now empty plate and fork to the sink and rinsed it before putting it into the dishwasher. He wondered why he was so affected by Andrew's words. He said he wasn't looking for a relationship and if he did, he wouldn't mind being with Caspian. But it sounded like if he had a choice, he wouldn't really go for the professor. He should get his priorities straight like Andrew did  which was surviving the filming without getting too involved emotionally.

Story of his life - trying to make people like him. That should be the title of the reality show instead of Doctor Stone's Adventure. 

 

[YellowMelon]

Hmph. It seemed like he really was a better listener and should keep his mouth shut every time Caspian was down in the dumps. It’s not as though he could ever fully know what was going on in the raven-haired male’s head unless he was told directly by the person himself, but all he ever seemed to do was wallow in self-pity. Andrew wasn’t bothered over that, but if Caspian was always going to rebut his opinions when attempting to comfort him then he might as well continue to keep everything bottled up inside. It was good he could divorce Caspian after this. While he didn’t have a strong preference for appearances, he certainly wasn’t interested in a husband who would always be standoffish. Then again, he could say that about himself too. Well, either way, he sure wouldn’t comment about Casey if it displeased the other.

Sloppy seconds? Andrew pursed his lips at the term Caspian used. He didn’t appreciate his tone of voice either. He mentioned he was joking about Cameron, so why was Caspian taking his joke so seriously? Okay, maybe the “or am I?” was spoken more seriously, but he really didn’t mean anything by it. Even if he did like the younger Crowe, he wasn’t going to be adulterous, and the fact that Caspian dared to imply that about him made him angry. Andrew let out a long sigh to help keep himself calm. He wasn’t going to start an argument with Caspian now. Not in the bathroom, in someone else’s living space, and with the host being Caspian’s younger brother. Why did it matter what Cameron thought about them anyway? They were the ones who were married. Cameron had nothing to do with the show. 

Andrew followed behind the taller individual when leaving the bathroom. It wasn’t a surprise that Cameron was eavesdropping, but he should work on doing it more discreetly. If they had actually been having a more heart-to-heart talk, the brunette would have scolded him, but since their chat had meant nothing and put them both in a sour mood he didn’t care who had been listening in. There was nothing newsworthy about them disliking each other. He returned to sit alone at the dining table since the brothers were chatting in the kitchen. He couldn’t even spare a glance at Caspian. 

“The reason why he’s sulky is because of me.” The brunette finally spoke after there was a long silence in the room. He brought his empty plate to the sink, rolled up his sleeves, and washed the dinnerware. “Look, Cameron, I’m not sure what you’re imagining about our relationship, but we have not been getting along well. If you think we’re ever going to be a lovey-dovey couple, then you’re fooling yourself.” He placed his plate and utensil in the dishwater, then dried his hands, turning to face the younger Crowe. “So feel free to matchmake him with anyone else. I would prefer if you give him better options after our contract, but if your brother thinks I’m going to cheat during our marriage then he must be okay with doing it himself.” His voice raised slightly at the last statement, but he soon calmed himself back down. “Anyway, thank you for the pasta. It was delicious.” He smiled at  the younger man. 

[3ruri]

Caspian sighed and just shook his head at his brother. "You see what I have to deal with?" He gritted his teeth, knowing what Andrew had said left nothing to be explained to Cameron. The younger Crowe was quite surprised, but only because he knew what Andrew was saying didn't describe his older brother at all. He didn't know what exactly was going on between the two of them, but Caspian's view on their marriage and Andrew's understanding was totally different. Normally Cameron wouldn't interfere with Caspian relationship, but what good was a brother if he couldn't offer some advice.

"I'll wait in the car," Caspian stood up and gave his brother a quick hug and thanked him for the food. "I'll visit again next time. Alone." he said before moving out the door not waiting for his husband. Andrew knew where the car is, so he could look for it on his own.

After Caspian had disappeared out the door Cameron turned to Andrew, stopping him before he could leave. "I really like you Andrew, you seem like a great guy." Cameron didn't mince his words. There was no point in sugar-coating because that would only bring misunderstanding. "But that was really a dick move. I know you don't know my brother well, but cheating wasn't something that he'd do. And I'm sure he didn't mean you're going to cheat too. He likes you, but from what I see you're not interested in him, so that will only make Caspian pull back. He knew not to fall in love with someone only to have them taken away." Cameron knew Caspian could handle things himself, but as a brother he wanted to see his sibling happy. 

"Since Caspian won't tell you the story, then I guess I would. It's my story to tell too." He meant about Casey, their baby brother. He was only six when it happened, but Cameron did remember about it even though Caspian thought a memory of a six year old was not as good as a ten year old. "We were supposed to play together that day, we always do. Caspian loved Casey so much, he doted on him. He still loves him now. Casey was only two at that time, and he wanted to play, but Cas had homework. He climbed on Cas' lap and wiggle around like the baby he was and bug Caspian doing his math homework. So Caspian told me to take Casey out to the tree house first. At first Casey didn't want to, he clung to Caspian so tight, kissing Cas' cheeks and all..." Cameron sighed. "He didn't do that to me, you know. I was so jealous. After a little convincing, finally Casey agreed to go to the tree house with me first and Cas will join later. We climbed the tree house, but when we got on top, it felt a little shakey. I told Casey that we should climb back down. But Casey couldn't do it on his own. Cas always carried him on his back. Casey was crying and I told him to stay put so I could get Caspian." Cameron took a deep breath when he came to the essential part. "Caspian and I was at the back door when we saw Casey trying to climb down by himself. It happened so fast. We saw the tree house tilted. Caspian couldn't get even a word out when the tree house collapsed to the ground along with Casey."

Cameron remembered how stricken Caspian had looked and how he was desperately trying to get his baby brother from under the rubble. "Our parents called the ambulance and rescue. They got Casey out and took him to the hospital. He was in the PICU for two days. When he died, Caspian was inconsolable. He blamed himself for not keeping an eye on Casey. He didn't go to school for a while, he was such a mess for a ten year old kid. Then after a few months, he finally could get a hang of it and everything seemed to return to normal. At least for a while. When he was twelve, Caspian discovered what he could do and he ran to our parents, crying. "I could have saved Casey", he said over and over. That was the worst time ever for him. Imagine a twelve year old boy being in depression over something that he didn't have control over two years before that. But this part, you have to get it out from him yourself. This part isn't my story to tell."

"I'm telling you this not so you could pity him. Far from it. I just wanted you to know that when Caspian loves, he does it with his whole heart. This marriage arrangement may have been forced upon you two, but you're not the only party affected, Andrew. Caspian was as much in it as you do. He may say a lot of things to cover whatever it is in his heart because at the end of the day you're already set to leave him behind. He'd be an asshole, an arrogant prick - whatever he could think of just to be on your bad side. If you're already plan to cut ties with him, then you need to deal with that Caspian. Get the filming done and that's it. Either way, Caspian will have to deal with his heart on his own. Even this show was already taking so much from him."

The younger Crowe walked over to Andrew and patted his shoulder. "You're wearing his ring, aren't you?" Cameron pointed at the tourmaline ring. "I'm guessing he said it didn't mean anything, and yes, that's what he think. But did you know how excited he was when he brought that stone back? Wouldn't even let us touch it, and now it's on your finger. Caspian might not even know it himself, but sometimes, his subconscious mind makes the decision for him. Just like when he decided to take you to meet me." Cameron grinned. He knew he could screw things up for Caspian, but a little push would help put him in the right direction. Of course, the other party - Andrew - had a mind of his own. 

"I shouldn't keep you longer while he stews in the car. Come back anytime, Andrew. I hope the two of you could at least be friends, like Caspian said. I doubt it, but for his sake, I'll play along." He had said a lot for one night, so he'd leave the rest to the two people to decide. Caspian would chew him for saying unnecessary things, but that's what siblings do, they annoy their each other. 

[YellowMelon]

"Gucci," Andrew says, then walks away. End.

Caspian was so infuriating. It hadn’t been the brunette’s suggestion to stop by Cameron's apartment, so he didn’t understand why his husband made it sound like he had wanted to come. He only agreed to it because Caspian was clearly anticipating a "yes." If he had said no, he was positive he would still be sulking, albeit for a different reason. It was too late to turn back time, but it definitely would have been better if Caspian had visited his brother alone while leaving Andrew to wait in the car. The driver would have returned to a sleeping passenger, but they both would have been in a better mood. Now today was no better than yesterday, except their activity had actually been fun instead of burdensome. The pleasant moments they had before, though, didn’t matter with the way they were acting now. 

Andrew was not happy when Cameron blocked his exit. What irked him even more was that he only stopped him and not Caspian. What did he have to say to him? They barely knew each other. All the brunette wanted to do was leave, just like Caspian, get back to the cottage, and sleep. Both he and his husband had a long day, which became longer when they added a pitstop to this apartment. He really had no reason to be angry at Cameron, but he was not in the mood for any more commentary about their relationship. Yet, here they were, with the younger Crowe mentioning that Caspian actually liked him. It certainly would have meant more coming directly from his husband than his brother-in-law. Although it wouldn’t have changed Andrew’s timeline of when he wanted to start a relationship, he was getting used to Caspian opening up to him, and he enjoyed seeing a side of Doctor Stone the public wouldn’t get to know until weeks later when their first episode aired. Additionally, while he may never admit it, he liked their skinship. It was comforting, no matter how spontaneous it may be. 

When Cameron told the full story about Casey, Andrew listened patiently. As he suspected, it hadn’t been Caspian’s fault the treehouse had fallen. What happened was a freak accident, and no one was to blame. He could better understand, now, why Caspian felt responsible. He was the older brother Casey favored, and he failed to protect him. Andrew couldn’t imagine all the different scenarios which played through Caspian’s head as he got older, especially at the time he discovered he had superpowers, where he could have saved the toddler. While he felt sorry for both brothers, and all of the family, for having gone through such a disaster, he struggled to understand the connection between the situation they were in and Caspian’s love for Casey. There was no way Caspian actually liked him that much. If Caspian wanted to build a shield around his heart, that didn’t concern Andrew, but he was not going to just sit back and deal with a shitty husband. Not if they were living together. 

With his brother-in-law finally letting him go, Andrew waved a goodbye and took off to the car. He briefly hesitated before getting in the passenger seat, then remained silent for a portion of the ride. When he started to speak, he spoke firmly, uncaring if Caspian was actually listening to him. “Your brother gave me his speculation on why you’re such an asshole sometimes. Given, he also implied I was a dick, but that’s not the point. I know I’ve misunderstood you a lot, but you haven’t exactly been clear-cut with your feelings.” He turned his head to look at that driver. “For example,” he removed the tourmaline ring from his finger and held it up so Caspian could see it had been taken off, “You never gave me a reason on why you gave me this ring. Just because 'it felt right' doesn’t make sense. There are many people who would accept something like this without question, but that’s not me. I would never throw it out, but if there’s no meaning behind this then I’m not going to wear it.” He placed the ring in his pocket. Hopefully, he wouldn't actually forget about it there.

“Also, Cameron told me you liked me. If it’s true, then you’re certainly not showing it. What happened to being civil?” He huffed. “I did say I wasn’t looking for a relationship,” he returned to the sensitive topic, “But I’m not against considering one if my partner doesn’t mind that I’m moving. I’m set on living in the inner city, and I don’t want someone who would try to convince me otherwise down the road.” Either he’d have a boyfriend who’d want to move with him, one where it was mutually agreed upon that their relationship would end prior to his move, or not date at all. Now that they were pulling into the driveway, Andrew unbuckled his seatbelt, already ready to get out of the car. “Anyway, think about what I said. I’ll gladly date you if you give me a reason to; otherwise, you can keep moping. But don’t expect us to kiss anymore if you keep acting this way. I won’t even do it for the show.”

[3ruri]

The sound of the car door slamming was like being splashed with cold water to Caspian. He knew he was being hot and cold but Andrew was just as much. He said he didn't want a relationship, but he wanted Caspian to say clearly what he felt. What would be the outcome of that? There would be more rejection then more sulking and then they definitely won't be able to work on the show. Not that they were doing that great either, other than the photo shoot earlier. Not wanting to let Andrew have the last word, Caspian got out of the car and followed after him. His husband only made it to the front door when Caspian lifted him up and carried him inside like a sack of potatoes just how Andrew said he preferred the day before instead of a bridal carry. 

Caspian kicked the door close behind them and took Andrew to his bedroom. He never showcased his strength, but yes, he could bench press the younger man, so keeping a struggling Andrew on his shoulder wasn't such a big deal. He dropped his husband, who obviously was fuming on the bed and trapped him there with his arms on either sides of Andrew. If there was anyone who would have the final words that night, it would be him.

"Listen here you little twit," he said, his hazel eyes boring into Andrew's green ones. "You know why I didn't tell you about my feelings? Because you've been tramping all over them the whole two days we were together. First you say you don't want a relationship, then you wanted to know the meaning behind that ring. What were you thinking in that pretty little head of yours?" If Caspian was a wolf, he would have growled by now. He wasn't used to be talking about feelings. Years of therapy after Cassidy's death was enough and he liked to keep it hidden as much as possible if the result was him getting hurt again. And here they were, Andrew affecting him so much that he needed to drill it into his head why it wasn't a good idea to toy with his feelings. 

Roughly, Caspian inserted his hand into the pocket of Andrew's jacket where he put the ring, After a little searching and with Andrew not cooperating, he managed to take it out. "This, " he said, holding the tourmaline gold ring in front of their faces. "is  something I kept for a miracle," he said, not toning down his aggression. "And that miracle is you. So I gave it to you because it felt right. And no, at that time there was no other meaning than that." Instead of returning the ring to Andrew's fingers, he threw it onto the bed. What good would it be if the brunette didn't want it. "Cameron is right. I like you. Stupid of me, but I do like you even though you did nothing but make me angry. You want to know why I have no one special? Because relationship is boring and tedious and I have no time for it. But you... you make me want to work it out, make me want things I shouldn't want and obviously I can't have it because you're you!" 

He wondered if anything he said made sense but to Caspian, Andrew felt unattainable. How can someone so wrong felt so right? Andrew didn't want it, Caspian was used to not have it, so why was it so frustrating when they can't start anything together? And Caspian wanted to keep kissing Andrew, even now, he wanted to kiss him so desperately, but he reined his desires in, hoarding all the pride he had left from his confession. Everyone called him Doctor Stone Cold, so maybe he should start living up to their expectation and keep his heart frozen instead of opening up to someone who didn't care. 

[YellowMelon]

Andrew was having déjà vu when he was suddenly lifted off the ground, although, this time, they hadn’t been in the middle of teasing each other, and, from Caspian’s tight grip, he could tell his husband was seething. He repeatedly hit the superhero’s sides with his firsts. Not enough to bruise him, but he wanted to be dropped. When that didn’t work, he started to wiggle his body. He wasn't moving long before he was placed on the bed, a softer place than the ground but not where he wanted to be. If they hadn’t been on the comforter, he would have hid himself under the sheet until Caspian went away or, since it wasn’t his bedroom, just left him alone. Instead, he was stuck with the professor hovering over him, looking directly into his eyes.

The brunette wavered at holding his gaze, so turned his body to avoid eye contact. He felt like he was being scolded with how harsh Caspian sounded. He begrudgingly listened to the older man and the nonsense he spewed. Yes, nonsense, because he didn’t understand whatever point Caspian was trying to make at first. Was it so bad to want to know his husband’s feelings whether they were actually husbands or just married by a contract? Did Caspian really think that giving him such a precious gift, randomly, wouldn’t be a cause for confusion on his end? When the raven-haired man reached for his pocket, targeting the circular object, he was swift to grab his wrist, but his pulling was easily overcome.

“Don’t break it.” He warned, threateningly. Caspian said it was his, so he really had no right to touch it if Andrew didn’t want him to. Throwing the ring onto the bed was careless, but at least it was undamaged. Although the younger man attempted to grab the object to move it to a safer spot, he was unsuccessful in doing so because the person trapping him wouldn’t ease up. This only made McCain struggle more with visible frustration. He really hadn’t expected Caspian to lash out like this. When his husband was done speaking, Andrew really wanted to just punch the guy. Punch him for keeping him awake and punch some sense into him. His hand balled up into first, but he kept them at his sides. 

“Do you know what a miracle is?” He asked, irritated. “All I am is a winner of a contest! Anyone else could be here right now, instead of me, and you would be saying those same words. ‘Here’s the ring, you’re a miracle.’” Andrew was getting increasingly upset just thinking about it. “You like me after two days, and not even a full two days because it’s not midnight yet! I’m sorry I can’t fall head over heels for someone I just met and someone who wasn’t very welcoming to begin with.” All Caspian grumbled about yesterday was what they should be doing for the show. “Now, get off of me!” He pushed against Caspian with his hand but, again, despite his best efforts, he only exerted wasted energy.

“I hate how you keep saying you don’t want a relationship.” He continued speaking while pushing against the older man. “You’re really a softhearted person, and I think it’d do you well to have someone in your life so you aren’t keeping everything bottled up inside.” He paused to catch his breath. “But I can’t be that person. Not because I don’t like you. We’re just on two different ends of a spectrum. You have to realize that.” While he was speaking calmly, there was still a harshness to his voice. “I keep telling you I want to move to the city, and I can’t see you wanting to live in such a bustling location given the quiet neighborhood you’re residing in now. Also, you’re on your way to becoming much more popular as Doctor Stone, and, as much as I support that, I didn’t sign up for my life to be photographed or filmed forever.” He started once again to push against Caspian. “But, most importantly, let's say I was willing to start a relationship with you. Right here, right now. You don't even know how I am in a relationship! And if you broke if off really fast, I'd never forgive you." At this point, he was honestly ready to demand that Samantha exchange him with someone else, get charged with whatever, and never have to deal with Caspian again. "I don't know why you like me if I've never made you happy, but if you can work out a relationship with me then you could work one out with someone else." He already told the other multiple times he could find someone better, which didn't seem to get through his narrow mind. 

[3ruri]

He heard Andrew when he mentioned about living in the city. Caspian lived in the city before he moved to the cottage, so that wouldn't be a problem. But then, Andrew's words hit him hard, harder than his punches did. No one wanted to deal with a shit tonne of Caspian's mess. The previous people he dated wanted the fame, but didn't like their time being disturbed when Caspian was called away. Then there was the emotional toll that the superhero had to deal with. No one wanted to be part of that. That was why he often ended up at Cameron's place in the middle of the night binge-eating on his food to sate the void of his soul. Andrew didn't want the attention that came with Caspian's secondary job, so it wouldn't work with him either.

The older male snapped out of his outburst and stood straight, eyes still on Andrew. Then, he closed them for a few seconds, willing himself to calm down. "You're right, I'm sorry," he said as he slumped against the bureau close to the bed. "What a mess," he mumbled to no one in particular. He felt like every single step he had taken since agreeing to the show was a wrong one. Now he had involved someone who was unwilling and it felt like he had victimize the younger guy to suit his situation. Andrew said he wondered if he could ever make make Caspian happy, but in truth, he was the one who would fail Andrew all the way. His feelings were just going to burden him in the end. Why would he think someone would want to be with him?

"I'm sorry I ever spring this up on you. You shouldn't have to deal with all this shit." He didn't know what his next step should be, but he understood that he shouldn't be imposing the brunette with unnecessary feelings. He was a professional, he wondered why he even thought about getting personal with his co-star, married or not. It was only for the show. If they keep to the contract, everything would be fine. "Forget everything I've said, about the ring, about liking yo-- about us. I'm a fucking idiot." He raked his hair in frustration. He realized he was forcing his feelings on someone reluctant and he didn't make sense. Just because Andrew was different and he gave him feels, didn't mean they should be together. 

Reaching for one of the pillows on the bed, Caspian moved hastily toward the door. "Sleep in here tonight." He pointed to the bed which Andrew was still sitting in. "Don't worry, I won't come in and attack you. Lock the door if you want to. He had one footstep outside the door when he turned around, about to go back into the bedroom as if he had something else he wanted to say. He changed his mind at the last moment and turned back around, heading toward his office. It appeared their second day was a bust too.

[YellowMelon]

Maybe what Andrew said was too harsh. He had taken a no-nonsense approach to get Caspian to recognize just how different they really were. Sure, they had similarities, but their future goals didn’t align well. He didn’t think Caspian would shut down at his honesty. All he expected was for the superhero to get even angrier and then coop himself in his office like last time. End of conversation, they both get some rest, and start a new day. Instead, he became dejected. He was in an even sorrier state than earlier. While Andrew wasn’t fond of Caspian being angry, he much preferred that to the feeling he gave the older man now. He didn’t even know what he was apologizing for. He wasn’t throwing knives. Nothing he said stuck to Andrew in a way that would hurt him. But to be told to just “forget everything” was not something  the brunette could comply with. He could stop talking, but not forget.

“No!” Andrew burst out as soon as Caspian left the room. His blood was starting to boil from what just happened. Why had he ever tried to comfort his husband if he was just going to end up like this? If they were going to end their night like yesterday? As Caspian said, it was a mess, but neither of them were doing anything to change that. Andrew bolted from the bed and was soon blocking Caspian from entering his office with his body. “We are not doing this.” He snapped. “We are not ending the night feeling like shitty people. We did it yesterday, but not tonight. Every other day is okay, but not two days in a row.” He was not blaming Caspian for anything. They both were at fault for how they acted toward each other. And he hoped he got that point across with the pronoun.

“Now,” he stepped closer to Caspian, ”We are going to sleep together. In your bed.” He didn’t concern himself with the implication he was making. He was so fed up he didn’t care. “I refuse to sleep alone in a bedroom that’s not mine. It doesn’t feel right.” Where could Caspian sleep comfortably, if not his own bed, with his tall stature, anyway? “I am going to shower and prepare for the night. You’re welcome to use the bathroom too, if you want, while I’m showering. By the time I’m done, I expect you to be in your boxers and ready for bed!” He was stern, like a parent yelling at their child who was arguing about their bedtime. “Otherwise, I’m sleeping on the sofa.” He grumbled as he walked past Caspian to get a towel out of his suitcase. 

Once in the bathroom, and dropping his clothes on the floor, he lingered in the shower, letting the warm water calm him down. He, normally, didn’t take long showers, but there were certain days where they were very much needed. Today was one of them. In an hour, Andrew was done in the bathroom and walked out with the towel wrapped around his waist. His old clothes were dropped on his suitcase while he threw on a loose t-shirt, boxers, and a clean pair of socks. He then stood outside of the bedroom, waiting for Caspian to indicate he was ready. 

[3ruri]

The older male didn't expect Andrew to to stop him, but it didn't change anything to them. He complied and went back into the bedroom to put down the pillow he took from the bed. Once his husband disappeared into the bathroom, Caspian went to the one down the hall to brush himself off the grit of the day. He used the spare toothbrush there and looked at himself in the mirror. "You're a mess, Caspian," he said to his own reflection. When he returned to the bedroom, Andrew was still not done, so Caspian took out a pair of sweatpants and an old t-shirt. He wondered why Andrew wanted to be subjected to something as uncomfortable as them sleeping together since he seemed to dislike it, but Caspian was tired arguing about it. The least he could do for Andrew was wear something to bed. 

Not knowing what to do next, the professor pulled the comforter down and picked a side. The bed was a normal-sized double bed, so Caspian normally slept in the middle, but he was prone to stay on the right side since it was closer to the nightstand. Andrew could take the left side. There was enough space for him to get in and out from that side so if he felt cornered, he could leave anytime. Caspian flipped off the main light switch and turned on the bed side lamp instead. It dimmed the room a little but everything could be seen clearly. He wondered what else he should do while waiting for the other guy in the shower. Caspian got back up and went to the hallway closet to take an extra blanket in case Andrew didn't want to share one with him.

When he returned, Andrew was standing outside of the bedroom waiting for him. "Got you an extra blanket," he said, holding up the quilted piece. He walked past Andrew and went back to bed. He placed the folded blanket at the foot of the bed and climbed onto the right side, just like he did earlier. "Goodnight," he said but not really at Andrew since he wasn't looking at him. He wasn't that sleepy yet, but he was emotionally exhausted. His brain kept on thinking on what he should do next about the show but nothing came to a conclusion. He wondered if he should talk to his lawyer in the morning to sort things out. Decided that it was the first course of action he was going for, Caspian closed his eyes, trying to clear his mind and maybe get some rest.

[YellowMelon]

Andrew unfolded the quilt and laid it over the comforter for both of them to use. While doing so, he picked up the tourmaline ring that had been tossed onto the furniture piece earlier and reflexively slipped it on his finger. He didn't know if Caspian provided him with the extra blanket to imply he didn't want them under the same sheets, but if the professor was really bothered by it then he could sleep on top of the blankets himself. The brunette rested on the left side of his husband, not caring if they touched. "Night." He responded, then turned over on his side, facing away from his companion. In less than five minutes he was already in a deep sleep. Unlike yesterday, Andrew didn't stir once to pace during the night. He did open his eyes a few times when he brushed against the figure next to him, forgetting he was sharing the bed, but he didn't shy away. The mattress was extremely comfortable, both the pillow and blankets were soft, and being next to Caspian, even with his back still turned toward him, was much better than sleeping alone.

[9:30 AM]

Andrew was pulled out of his dream by the mattress moving. It felt like someone was jumping on the bed, causing the bed to bounce. All he did was keep his eyes shut, attempting to fall back to sleep. He must be dreaming. Caspian certainly wouldn’t be jumping on the bed like a child and, if he was, the bed would definitely be creaking, threatening to break. The bouncing he felt was light. Green eyes peeked from under his eyelids when he felt someone touch him. A dainty hand was brushing his cheek. Caspian did not have tiny, soft hands. Andrew immediately shot his eyes open and cowered away from the person, holding the blankets closer to him.

“Calm down. It’s just me. Samantha.” She ruffled the brunette’s hair in a cheery mood. She was the one who had been shaking the mattress to alert the sleeping men of her presence. “Now that we finally have both of you awake, let’s get down to business. First of all, here are your pictures from yesterday.” She held out a flash drive. “They came out lovely!” She exclaimed, clearly excited. “Even the raw photos looked amazing on television and they’re being well-received online too.”

“That’s good to hear.” Andrew mumbled, sitting himself up to lean against the bed frame as he rubbed his eyes. 

“It’s exceptional.” The host stood at the end of the bed. “I don’t want to hold you up too long, so let’s get down to business. Here.” She tossed a picture on the covers for either of them look at. Preferably, both. “You’ll be doing a treasure hunt today. That picture has your first location.” She waited a moment for them to process the activity planned for today with the minimal description she gave. She then threw another item at them: a black, drawstring backpack with “DS” in large letters printed on one side. “Collect your items in here. Any questions?” 

 

[3ruri]

Caspian didn't realize what time he fell asleep but he was awake since dawn. It was normal for him to get an early start, go running and have breakfast before going to the university he worked at, but since he was on sabbatical leave, he had to get used to a new routine. And yet, he stayed in bed for a long time, watching his husband sleeping next to him. The first night they slept in the bed yet neither were pleased with the arrangement. He did a lot of thinking since last night but thinking led to more questions and more questions led to assumptions that would only drown them in murky waters. He didn't know whether he should be thankful or annoyed when the bedroom door was opened and Samantha came in. The host saw that he was awake and immediately put a finger to her lips, telling him to stay quiet. She started shaking the bed to wake Andrew up and Caspian was close to stopping her when the brunette was suddenly startled by her presence. 

Caspian caught the flash drive containing their wedding pictures and moved it to the nightstand. Yesterday, he might have been excited to take a look, but it didn't matter anymore to him today. They were just pictures. "The show is family friendly, right? Keep it clean," he said to Samantha. Some of his friends were children, so he didn't want to be a bad role model to then with suggestive pictures. He should have thought about it yesterday, but it had been so much fun spending time with Andrew that he got carried away.

"What is this?" Caspian picked up the picture that Samantha tossed at them. He recognized it immediately, but he wondered what was in stored for them. "How do we know where to find it?" Caspian asked. The picture only gave them the clue on where to find the item, but what item were they going to look for and where? Do they have to dig around? 

"Go there and you'll find out. We start at 10.30." She gave her instruction and walked out the room.

The cameramen came in and started filming. Caspian looked at Andrew and wondered if he had any idea. "Morning," he said to Andrew and climbed out of the bed. He didn't have much to say to the younger man. Last night was enough talking and he wasn't going to say anything  further other than simple salutations. "I'm going to use the bathroom down the hall. You can use this one." He didn't want Andrew to drag his stuff in and out of the room many times. The brunette hadn't even put them back in the closet. Caspian guessed he would never feel comfortable enough living with him, so he wasn't going to comment about that too. The least he could do is let Andrew get used to using the main bathroom, since it was bigger and more personal than the one down the hall. He had left some space for Andrew to arrange his things in, but he wondered if Andrew was gonna ignore that too. 

He spent about twenty minutes to get ready and chose to dress in another comfortable jeans and a long sleeved dark green henley with a simple jacket on top. He had on a pair of ankle boots to complete his assemble and waited for Andrew in the kitchen with a pot of brewed coffee. He forgot if Andrew had said whether he liked coffee or not. They didn't get to eat breakfast the day before, so can't recall. But he boiled some hot water in case his husband would like to brew himself a cup of tea instead.

[YellowMelon]

While objects were thrown, Andrew made no effort to reach for them, letting Caspian do all the work. He was still processing the presence of Samantha and the cameramen in the room. How had they entered so quietly? He yawned when Caspian inquired about the photo. It seemed like Samantha only asked if they had any questions to be polite because she didn’t give a direct answer to either of the questions his husband asked. They were valid questions. What were they actually looking for? “Items” was a vague word. After Samantha left the room, and Caspian soon followed, Andrew collected the picture left behind where the older man once slept. He could clearly see the photograph was of a playground, but he had no idea where that playground was. Did Samantha really expect them to identify a location neither of them were familiar with? In an hour? Since Caspian hadn’t stayed to chat with him about the picture, he wondered if that meant his husband was familiar with the playground or he just wanted to get ready before conversing. The latter seemed like a good idea for Andrew too.

With Caspian giving him permission to use the en suite bathroom, which he would have done anyway because it was closest to him, Andrew carried his luggage from the living room to the bedroom, and neatly arranged his hygienic products in the main bathroom. He appreciated the space he was given, as it certainly made the cottage feel more homey. After throwing on a grey hooded sweatshirt, beige pants, and sneakers, he was welcomed by the scent of coffee emanating from the living room. He wasn’t a coffee snob or anything of the like, so he gladly poured himself a small cup. He didn’t need much to start his day, as he could function very well without a daily dose of caffeine. It was best for him to be fully awake for the treasure hunt though. Today seemed like it was going to be a long day, just like the last two.

Realizing he had left the picture and provided backpack on the bed, Andrew briefly disappeared before returning with the items - the rope straps of the backpack already around his shoulders and the picture in his hand. He waved the picture in front of him while walking toward Caspian. He didn’t know what kind of mood his husband would be in because of yesterday, but Andrew started his morning like any other, unaffected by what had happened between them. “Do you recognize this place?” He stared at the print himself, trying to spark a memory he didn’t have. “I hope it’s not far because we only have thirty minutes to get there.” And no time for breakfast. Neither of them had been eating properly since this show. “But a scavenger hunt sounds fun.” The last time he participated in one was in kindergarten, collecting rocks, leaves, and other objects of nature. Hopefully, they weren’t finding such useless items. 

[3ruri]

"It's the nearby playground," Caspian said, nodding at the picture in Andrew's hand. He finished the coffee in his mug and went to the sink to wash it. The playground wasn't that far, but they might as well get an early start and plan a strategy since they didn't really know what they were really supposed to do. "It's a ten-minute walk from here, you can have something to eat if you want to." He added. There was no time for making omelette, but there are some cereal and Andrew could make some toasts if he preferred. 

When they were ready to go, Caspian let all the crews out so he could lock the door. It wasn't that far, but Caspian anticipated that they were going to move from one place to another, so he decided to take the car. "One cameraman can ride with us in the back," he said to one of the cameraman. He started the engine, waited for Andrew to climb onto the passenger seat next to him and left the driveway once they were all set. They passed all the three neighbors' houses - the Smiths, the Martinez and the Vijays - on the way and after a right turn, they could see the park at the end of the road. Caspian pulled into a parking space and everyone else followed him out. 

There were some kids playing there, Caspian noticed the Martinez children where present as well. He looked at Andrew and took a deep breath. "What do you think we should do next?" he asked his husband. Samantha was not with them, there was no hero mail and the instruction the host had given them that morning was pretty much vague. The only clue they had was the picture of the playground, the same one Caspian had worked on when he first moved into the neighborhood. He wondered if the item they were going to look for was buried somewhere. He didn't want to have to dig up the ground aimlessly just for the sake of completing the quest. 

"Mr. Caspian!" he heard a voice calling out for him. There was a happy shriek then something bumped into his legs. "Mr. Caspian, you're here!" It was the Martinez kid who toasted him at the wedding party yesterday. She was hugging his legs excitedly as if he was the best thing that she had seen all morning.

"Hey there, Carla. Good morning." Caspian greeted her and knelt down so he could be around her height when talking. "Why are you here so early? No school today?"

Carla laughed like Caspian was an idiot. "It's school holiday, Mr. Caspian," she said, as if everyone should have known about it. 

Caspian laughed along, didn't care how silly he looked. "I'm sorry, I forgot. Why don't you run along and go play with your siblings. Once you're done, you should go home and study a little. That sounds fair, right?"

"Okay, but can you push me on the swings first? I can't do it on my own. It won't go up much," she said to Caspian, feeling hopeful. The older male nodded and got up to follow the kids. The cameramen didn't say anything, only followed him around, so Caspian guessed that a little task detour wouldn't be in their way. 

He turned to Andrew for a second, wondering if his husband disapproved. "Give me five minutes," he said. They were still early anyway, so once he was done pushing Carla Martinez on the swing, they could start on the scavenger hunt. Andrew could take a seat along with the parents there or he could start looking around for clues. Either way, Caspian didn't mind. 

 

 

[YellowMelon]

The nearby playground? Oh, that playground! Andrew recalled the story Mr. Vijay shared yesterday about Caspian fixing the structure in his free time. He had expressed interest in wanting to see it, and he still did, especially since Caspian told him the playground and park were not separate locations. He always enjoyed a walk in the park when it was a sunny, cool day out, although this was no time for a pleasant stroll around the neighborhood. He gulped down his cup of coffee before washing the container and heading out the door, dismissing the offer to eat. It wouldn’t kill him to go without breakfast again. With the park being a really short distance from the cottage - even shorter than the brunette expected - McCain was in the mindset that finding their first item would not take long. The playground was tiny. They could easily find whatever they needed to.

That was until Carla, the ten-year-old, approached Caspian. He hadn’t thought fast enough to respond to his husband’s initial question before the interruption. Andrew refrained from showing annoyance, looking down at the kneeling superhero and the child. They were two grown men in the playground with Caspian being a popular person in the neighborhood. What else could Andrew expect? Well, he thought his husband would be able to hold his ground and not get sidetracked, but the superhero was weak-willed against children. “Take your time.” Andrew said, honestly. While Caspian was busy with Carla, he had time to search for the unspecified item they were meant to find. It would certainly take him more than five minutes to do that.

At first glance, the firehouse-shaped structure hid nothing. The surface was bare and, after bending down, there was nothing hidden underneath. He kicked the sand around on the ground. There was no way the object would be buried; otherwise, they would have been provided with a shovel, right? Andrew didn’t ponder that possibility for long before he moved onto the taller playground structure which was clearly built for older kids. He pulled himself up the grey climbing wall, moving slowly because there was a child in front of him. Once he reached the deck which connected the wall to a tunnel, he crouched down to peek through the passage. Nothing. He turned around to go back the way he had come up, but there was now one child climbing up and another who was on the platform with him. He gently ushered the girl to go before him. The boy, however, who had now reached the top, didn’t condone him breaking unwritten playground rules. They were only supposed to go one way.

“Come on, you can go. I need to get down.” Andrew didn’t look at the boy while speaking. Instead, he stared at Caspian, as though asking for the superhero’s help.

“No,” the child stomped his feet. “You’re supposed to go forward. You can’t go backwards. It’s dangerous. My mom said so.” 

“Yes, well, I’m an adult.” He kept his voice low.

“Mom!” 

“Okay, okay, I’ll go.” Andrew disappeared into the tunnel. It wasn’t an extremely tight fit, but the playground hadn't been made for adults who were his height. He crawled on his elbows and knees without lifting himself too high lest he get stuck. 

“Hurry up!” 

The brunette briefly paused when he was yelled at, but was quick to pursue forward when he felt a hand slap his behind. When he finally pulled himself out of the tunnel, he jumped down from the structure, and walked over to the swings to tell Caspian of his findings. “There’s-” 

“You didn’t do the monkey bars.” 

“Yeah, well, I’m too tall.” He looked down at the boy who had followed him. “Why don’t you do them?”

“No.” The child responded while looking at the older girl and giant pushing her, getting an idea in his head. He ran over to the empty swing next to the pair. “Sit.” He ordered, putting a hand on the empty spot.

The brunette stepped back to take in the whole steel swing set. “Why don’t you sit?” He suggested. The displeasure on the boy’s face was evident, and he went over to the man, touching his butt once again - this time pushing on it - to force him on the swing. Andrew complied, although settled himself down lightly at first before adding more of his weight. He didn't doubt that if Caspian fixed the structure, the steel would hold him, but he was concerned about the plastic seat itself. 

“Anyway, there’s nothing.” He turned his head to look at Caspian. “I don’t think I missed any place.” He felt small hands push against his back, but he kept his feet firmly on the ground. “If the object is ant-sized, we’ll be at this one location all day. But I don’t think Samantha is that cruel.”

[3ruri]

While pushing Carla on the swing, Caspian's attention wandered to his husband. Andrew seemed to have decided that he was going to look for the item on his own while Caspian was busy with his little fan's request. He followed Andrew's figure. It was fascinating how a twenty-eight year old adult of Andrew's size could fit through the children's playground structure. Andrew was slim enough, that, Caspian knew, but he was quite tall. He anticipated the younger male to get stuck somewhere and call for his help, but thankfully, that didn't happen. Otherwise, Caspian would bet that the brunette would be in a bad mood all day. He did, however made eye-contact with the professor when a little tyrant was pushing him to finish the course. Caspian acted like he didn't understand, but really, what was he gonna do? tell the kid to play nice with the man-child on the playground? Like that would go well. 

When Andrew managed to escape from the one-way structure - much to Caspian's amazement - Caspian turned his focus to Carla. The girl had been blabbering about this and that, about the nice lady from the party yesterday giving something for her to keep. As Andrew joined him, so did the boy-tyrant who kept touching Andrew's butt. Caspian wondered whether he should be jealous or if he should talk to the boy about molesting people. Anyway, he was conflicted whether he should ask Andrew if he was having fun or what the hell was he doing. Neither would end well, so Caspian didn't say anything in the end. 

Instead of Caspian, it was Carla who replied Andrew. "Miss Samantha is not cruel. She asked me if I can help you and Mr. Caspian today, so I said yes."

Caspian took a few seconds to digest what the little girl was saying, and in the meantime, he forgot that he was supposed to keep pushing the swing. "Mr. Caspian, I'm not done yet, you need to push me higher!" Urged the girl. The perplexed adult snapped out of it and pushed Carla on the swing with a little more force, sending her flying higher on the swing. It seemed like the girl approved from the way she was shrieking happily. 

On the other hand, Caspian looked at Andrew wondering if he understood what Carla was saying. He wanted to stop the swing and shake the answer from the girl, but that wouldn't end well. Caspian wasn't a bully, even if that might help them solve the first task of the seemingly long day. A few more push and the girl looked like she was soaring in the sky. Finally, she told Caspian that she had had enough and for him to let go. It took a few more minutes for the swing to come to a stop and Carla stood up from it. Her legs were a little shaky, but it was clear that she had a lot of fun. 

"Mr. Caspian, that was so much fun! Miss Samantha told me you'd be good at pushing swings and she was right. For that, you deserve to have this!" Carla put her hand in her pocket and took out a carabiner. "Here you go. Also Miss Samantha said the next clue is in the the trees. You and Mr. Andrew need to get it yourselves."

The superhero was a little surprised that Samantha had used the little girl for the show. He hoped she had asked her parents' permission for it. "Thank you Carla. That was nice of you to help me out." Caspian thanked her nonetheless. 

Carla smiled and hugged Caspian again. "I like this playground. Thank you for keeping it safe. Come by again to play with us, Mr. Caspian. And Mr. Andrew too. Although, I don't think you should skip the monkey bars next time." She turned to Andrew and once she said her piece, waved the two adults goodbye and went back to play with her siblings. 

The older man turned to his husband and snorted when he saw Andrew's face. "Yeah, next time, let's leave the course to the children. You didn't even get through the monkey bars. It's kinda disgraceful," he tried to keep the insult on the humor side in case Andrew would find it offensive, but there was no other way around it. He passed the carabiner to Andrew for keeping since he was the one who had the bag from Samantha.

[YellowMelon]

Samantha must have thought involving children with the show was cute, or pushing Carla would make Caspian look like he was father material. Whatever the reason, Andrew was glad the little girl told them her secret now and hadn’t kept it to herself. He didn’t want to have to scour the playground again in case he missed anything. When Carla demanded to be pushed higher by his husband, Andrew watched her swing to and fro. She was getting extremely high and he was getting a little worried. Of course, the brunette trusted Caspian wouldn’t push her too high, but, if an accident were to occur, he was scared the superhero would be blamed. Fortunately, an emergency phone call was not made. Having to satisfy Carla on the swing set was an easier task than the possible alternative of Caspian needing to complete the playground course, so he was grateful Samantha had allowed them to get away with something simple. If the professor had been the one to go through the tube, Andrew was certain he would have needed assistance to speed his exit from the tunnel.

After Carla completed her own mission, the brunette watched as she skipped away. The boy, whom he had, honestly, forgot about, ran after her.  Now that they were absent of kids, Andrew shook his head at himself. “Maybe next time.” He sighed, throwing the metal object in the backpack he wore. “But my monkey bar days have been over for a while now.” He could deal with being a disgrace for the rest of his life. “Alright,” he playfully pushed Caspian’s shoulder, “The hint is ‘in the trees’.” He surveyed the surrounding area from where they stood, squinting, as though he had enhanced vision. “Nope, can’t see anything from here.” The clue would have been more helpful if they were directed to a specific group of trees or a single tree, but, without that being the case, any tree was a viable hiding spot. At least they weren't in a forest. Andrew remained silent and unmoving for several minutes, staring at the tall, evenly spaced, woody plants which outlined the playground area. If the picture they were given applied to this clue, then the tree in question wouldn’t be too far away from their current location.

“Let’s go.” He walked toward the edge of the playground space, expecting his husband to follow. He began to question if what they were doing could really be called a scavenger hunt. Usually, participants would be given a list of items so they weren't completely clueless, but it was no surprise that Samantha liked to watch them struggle.  Since neither of them knew exactly what was hidden, Andrew carefully inspected the first tree standing tall in front of them. He strained his neck looking at its branches and leaves, circled its trunk, and then moved onto a new target when concluding there was nothing special about it. After the sixth tree, the brunette was starting to get lazy with his inspections. He would just stare up at the foliage, then smack the tree trunk a couple of times, as if expecting something to fall down. "Do you see anything?" He asked Caspian, stepping back.

 

 

[3ruri]

While Andrew was inspecting all the trees, Caspian was behind him following his footsteps, but not really participating in the search. Andrew seemed to the the "work hard" type. Caspian on the other hand normally took his his time and weigh his option so that they wouldn't have exert themselves to more work than they should have been. It was only their first item, Who knew how many tasks Samantha planned to subject them too. As Andrew stood back and asked him if he had any clues, Caspian hesitated. He wondered if Andrew would hate him for not mentioning it sooner. "Yeah, I think we should check that out." Caspian pointed at the the tree ahead of them. There was a red and blue kite stuck on it, but the way it was stuck was rather odd, like it was placed there and not some kid got it stuck while playing. 

"I appreciate your hard work. No one ever worked so hard to help me before." Caspian smiled at Andrew. He was obviously enjoying himself. Andrew looked so serious when he was looking for the clues, Caspian wondered if he couldn't wait to get the scavenger hunt done with as soon as possible. So, without delay, Caspian walked up to the tree. The kite was about nine feet up from the ground, so even with his height, Caspian couldn't reach for it. The trunk was pretty much straight, and the branches only came out at the top, so it was difficult to climb it without proper equipment. There was one way he they could get to it quicker, but he didn't think Andrew would agree. 

"Do you think you can climb it?" Caspian turned to his husband. It wasn't what he had in mind, but it was the safest option since he anticipated Andrew to reject his other solution. If Andrew could climb the tree, it would safe them from another awkward situation. "I could give you a little boost from below. That way maybe you could reach the lowest branch?" That sounded better than suggesting Andrew sitting on his shoulders. The crew could love that kind of footage, but Caspian bet Andrew wouldn't. Besides, there could still be a possibility that the kite was not the clue they were looking for. So to go through all of that and find out that it was not what they were expecting would really make it uncomfortable. For Andrew at least. That's was what the professor had been thinking all the time. How to make Andrew less uncomfortable during the whole shooting.

[YellowMelon]

McCain looked in the direction his husband pointed, seeing the kite stuck high in the tree. While he didn’t want to discredit Caspian’s finding, he was suspicion about the handcrafted item being what they needed to discover. Samantha never said their items had to be related to each other, but she did say to collect them in their backpack, and he didn’t know how the kite would fit in there in one piece. However, despite his uncertainty, he kept his mouth shut. Even if the kite wasn’t part of the scavenger hunt, it wouldn’t hurt to release it from its captor. Maybe it belonged to one of the children on the playground and they would end up doing a good deed. “I don’t consider this working hard.” Andrew admitted, shrugging his shoulders. Sure, he was dedicated  to their task, but he was working at his own pace. He was just moving a bit fast because he didn’t want to be outside beyond midnight.

As he approached the next tree with Caspian, he could now see why the superhero suggested the kite as their hidden item. Despite its entrapment, it had no puncture wounds. It was just resting in the branches, unbothered. But, how the heck could they get that? If Caspian couldn’t reach it, there was no way he could either. How terrible would it have been for the person who placed the kite in the tree to leave a ladder behind? “Climb it?!” Andrew was shocked at the idea. He reached his hand out to the lowest branch and did a small hop. He was still too short. Plus, why was he the one climbing it? The brunette then looked at Caspian questionably when he offered to give him a boost up. He took one long look at the kite before his green eyes fell on his husband. Well, it was worth a shot. “We can try.” 

When Caspian clasped his hands together and indicated he was ready, Andrew put a hand on the trunk and hesitantly placed his foot on Caspian’s hands. He knew it wouldn’t take much for his husband to lift him, but he was, very much, scared. Now placing his other hand on Caspian’s shoulder, he didn't get very far off the ground before jumping down from his platform. This happened three times until Andrew decided it was best for them to not try again, as he felt like he was bailing out at a lower height each time. “This isn’t going to work.” He stated the obvious, grabbing Caspian’s hands and brushing them off from any dirt with his own hands. “We have to think of another way.” Would it be okay to toss a child up there? Caspian was definitely strong enough to do that...no, there was too many moral issues with that. 

“Do you think if we beg for a ladder they’d give it to us?” He whispered, glancing at the cameramen around them, still holding Caspian’s hands. He was half-joking, knowing it was unlikely Caspian would agree with such a shameless act. Andrew, on the other hand, wouldn’t mind asking for help or demanding it, even if it wouldn’t make him look so pleasant on camera. “What if I was the one to help you up?” He suddenly said excitedly, not thinking why that, definitely, wouldn’t work.