The Rusted Keys

Resting

"Would you have gotten offended if you didn't know?" Skadj asked, a little confused. He did however resume scratching the hybrids ears, feeling the taller man relax back into him and lean his head into his shoulder.

"Yeah. Would've thought you didn't want me around," Apollo mumbled.

"Oh," Skadj said. "I thought that during the summer, bout you I mean. Thought maybe we had done something to piss you off,"

"No, I tried to respond. To you at least. But I couldn't, not when I could barely function," Apollo murmured. "I'm sorry,"

"We don't blame you, at least I don't. I worried, but I wasn't sure you wanted me to come see you,"

"You could've. Only you,"

"I know, Chilled had tried. Said nobody answered,"

"Saw him, panicked. Passed out,"

"Oh, Apollo," Skadj cooed and rubbed the hybrids back. "It's ok, I'm here right now. Just sleep," Skadj whispered, and when silence settled across the room he could tell that Apollo had fallen asleep.

Skadj closed his eyes too, letting sleep take him while he held onto Apollo.

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Steve ended up going upstairs with 5up, the two had been talking for a while. DK had left, saying he was going to bed. Steve hadn't gone with him, but he was going to go check on him. He may not know DK all that well, but he seemed nice.

"I'll come with you," 5up said, vines curling around his arms. They had very quickly learned that the vines were alive, and liked to move accordingly to what was happening.

Steve smiled, finding the room that was labeled Keith Hoffman. He opened the door, expecting to see the man asleep. Instead, the lights were on and the boy was looking through a bookshelf.

"DK?" 5up asked, looking equally confused as Steve felt. DK jumped, turning to look at them. He relaxed seeing that it was just Steve and 5up.

"My goodness, don't fucking scare me like that again," he scolded them a confused expression came across his face. "What the hell are you doing in here?"

"I was coming to make sure you weren't dead," Steve said, acting like he hadn't cared. Like he hadn't noticed the expression on DKs face when he read who came from where.

"I thought you were going to bed?" 5up asked, crossing his arms. DK frowned at him, shifting and crossing his arms.

"What's it to you?" He asked right back, standing like he had every reason to act so cocky.

"You lied," 5up pointed out and DK only let out a harsh scoff.

"I didn't lie. I was going to go to bed, then got distracted," he said, and Steve could almost hear an unfamiliar undertone.

"What were you looking for?" Steve asked, and DK stared at the floor for a few moments in silence.

"A spellbook," he finally said, realizing that they were both waiting for his response. "I was going to see if maybe there was a spellbook," he said with a sigh.

"And?"

"There isn't, clearly," DK said, a little bit of annoyance creeping into his voice. His guard was up, and Steve walked forward.

"What else?" Steve asked as he got closer. DK stepped back until he was against the wall, Steve only a few inches from him. 5up walked up next to Steve, effectively trapping DK.