wetendtotheflame | (no subject)

(no subject)

Barnaby has been spending a lot of time with Greta and Daye. Often they're doing it in the penthouse, but sometimes they go down to their apartment. Sometimes they're just spending time together, but often Greta and Daye are helping him understand what he is now capable of. While they don't carry all of the same abilities, they have a few in common and want to help him understand these new parts of himself.

It's been strange for him if he's honest, but not bad. They've helped in learning how to both shapeshift into human and non-human shapes and that has been a true joy. He's gotten mostly comfortable with the cat shapes he takes on, but they've taught him how to explore other forms, and he enjoys those too. They've also let him explore taking on different human characteristics, mostly by letting him take on theirs as practice. More than once Todd or Mikael has walked in on two people shaped like Greta or Daye.

Today had them working at the apartment. It was a good time, and both of them were always so kind, but he found himself more worn out than usual and finally getting to go back to the penthouse was a relief. They hadn't pushed him any further than he wanted to go, the three of them had Barnaby build a mental connection with them as practice while they worked on the shapeshifting, so they saw when he was starting to get tired.

So, they both gave him kisses and sent him on his way. Greta told him to text them if anyone was interested in having dinner, and he gave both of them hugs and kisses in return before heading back upstairs.

He's listening to see if anyone is around, but he's already heading to Todd's room. He'll pivot if there's someone home though. If he's alone though, all he wants is to go under the bed for a little while and rest. And hey, if he does that, he can practice getting smaller to make that goal easier.

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He rubs Barnaby's sides and nuzzles into his fur. "Should we go see what Todd has been up to?"

He wriggles against him at the suggestion, then gives him a lick against his cheek before getting down and taking on a human shape again. He doesn't bother with clothing for now, knowing it really doesn't matter. Instead, he focuses on offering both hands to his partner to help get him up.

He takes the offered hands and after standing up, draws his partner into an embrace. "I'm glad you're feeling better," he says and gives him a squeeze before letting go to start out into the livingroom.

Out there Todd has arranged pillows and blankets around the square tea table. One side has a larger space for the pillows, probably so people can lounge there away from the table.

Todd is moving quietly around the kitchen where he has set up plates, glasses, and mugs on the island.

Barnaby smiles as he sees Todd and walks up to him for a hug. He lingers there for a little bit, pressing his face into his skin and making a soft pleased sound. Getting to see both his partners feels very good right now, even if he's already feeling so much better.

"Thank you for setting this up," he says, still pressed close.

Todd is dressed, but never cares about the states of undress his partners might show up in. Hugging Barnaby to him he says, "You're welcome. I enjoy setting things up for the people I love."

"I love you too," he says as he nuzzles into Todd's neck. He's a little reluctant to move, but he makes himself step back after a few moments.

"Can we help with anything?"

He keeps his hands on his love, even with the bit of distance between them now. "You can help put dishes on the table, and see if the sitting areas need any adjusting?"

He nods but doesn't start moving away yet. Instead he presses close again, his arms wrapping around him and holding on. He's pretty sure he's going to just be going between Todd and Mikael for the rest of the evening like this, though he's going to try not to.

"I'll get clothes on, then go do that," he says, still not moving just yet.

He pets Barnaby's head, pressing him close. "Would you prefer spending the evening with just the two of us? That would be perfectly fine with all of us."

"I like it when it's all of us," he says, pressing his face into the curve of Todd's shoulder. "I just might stay close to you for a little while. I got to do that with Mikael already and that was good, but I didn't get to do that with you yet." He looks up at him, his expression hesitant. "That's okay, right?"

"It is," he says and strokes Barnaby's cheek.

"I can finish getting things together, if you two want to sit down for a bit while it is just us," Mikael says.

Todd smiles at Barnaby. "We could do that. Do you want to?"

He considers it, then nods. "Yes, please." Then he kisses Todd briefly before moving to do the same to Mikael.

"You're wonderful," he says to him, before moving toward the living room. However, he pauses for a moment then heads for Mikael's room instead, remembering that clothes might be nice, at least for a little while

Mikael makes a pleased sound and gives Barnaby a hug before letting him go.

Clothes can be nice, but Todd removes his coat before laying it over the back of one of the couches. Then undoes a couple buttons on his shirt before sitting down in the pool of pillows and blankets, waiting for his love to join him.

It only takes him a moment before he's back. Even though he had been wearing long sleeves, he had them rolled up for the moment and didn't bother with shoes or socks. Seeing Todd, he closes the distance between them and promptly settles himself in his lap,

Giving him a smile, he starts up a pur as he nuzzles into his hair.

He wraps his arms around Barnaby and tips both of them back so his love can lay on top of him. It is a slow process, at least in the grand scheme of falling. Plenty of time for Barnaby to adjust himself as he needs.

He adjusts so he can tuck his head under his beloved's chin. It's soothing to feel the rise and fall of his chest and Barnaby's purr only gets louder. He knows that if he said something, it could be the three of them, but he adores Greta and Daye so much and it's not that he doesn't want them here. He wants all of them together, he just wants them at home, where he knows it's safe to feel like he doesn't have to do things, or at least try to do them. It's safe here, he's allowed to just exist for a little while.

His thoughts make him press in closer, and he does nothing to hide them from the connection the three of them hold. He wouldn't entirely know how to explain himself in words anyway. This is easier.

Keeping Barnaby safe has been a goal of his for awhile now, and he is glad that the feeling of safety as become a natural part of their home. He strokes his love's hair and the small of his back. Simply enjoying existing together.

Todd has done so much to make him feel safe. For a long time, he didn't know what that felt like, but he showed him that. It was more than he ever thought he would have, and yet here he is.

He nuzzles into his chest, then tips his head enough to kiss his skin.

He continues to run his fingers through his partner's hair and makes a soft sound. "Would you like me to unbutton my shirt more?"

"Yes, pleasr." He sits up enough to kiss him so thr buttons can be undone a bit more. When they have, he presses his cheek againstthe newly exposed skin.

"You feel good," he mumbles into him.

"I'm glad," he says and strokes his hair.

Nearby Mikael sets things up for company, but he takes his time. He doesn't want to disturb his partners' time together. Barnaby can use this time to feel connected to them and this place.

He nuzzles into his partner's hand, then lays against him again. It's easier to relax this way, to let himself quietly exist for a little while and get his bearings. Home is safe, and his partners are home, but so is the penthouse. It's walls are familiar and the spaces he has found to hide in all bring him comfort and reassurance. The only place he might feel safer in is the Void.

"I think I don't want to go out for a while," he says, not quite looking at Todd. "I just want to be here."

Mikael's phone alerts him that he has a text message from Greta. It's primarily letting him know that they can take as much time as they need before she and Daye show up, or that they can meet up another time. She also mentions that if they choose that option, that she'll come up and leave a blanket for Barnaby outside the door. The two of them aren't exactly eavesdropping but they can both feel the emotion coming off of him, and knew how he was when he'd left their apartment.

"We don't have to be anywhere but here," Todd says.

Mikael looks at his phone then his partners. Responding to Greta he says they should come up. Todd can keep soothing Barnaby and the three of them can interact the most with each other. While Barnaby is feeling the need to curl up and rest in his home, having the people he loves near will let him choose how social he wants to be without letting isolation creep in.

Barnaby nods, then presses his cheek against his partner's skin and takes a slow breath. There's a moment of hesitation that he hasn't felt in a while, but he makes himself push through it, anyway. "Will you stay with me?" He can't quite make himself look at Todd when he asks, but he does lift his head a bit.

As they speak, there's a knock at the door. Greta and Daye had considered materializing inside the penthouse instead of knocking but decided against it. Besides, they have good wine and blankets to bring with them.

"I will, and we can stay right here," Todd says.

Mikael is always amused that they prefer to "use" one of the service doors than the elevator. Answering the door he gives each of them a kiss in greeting. Taking the wine bottle he heads to the kitchen to uncork it. "I'm glad we can all be here," he says before he reaches the kitchen proper.