(for Davin - backdated to Tuesday - Trigger Warnings)

[jamesthorn]

Trigger Warnings: discussion of violence, injuries, homophobia, and slurs 

James hears about the attack like everyone else at the station. He comes in that morning, steaming cup of coffee in one hand, and it's the first thing someone says to him. A young male was attacked and bad enough to need to go to the hospital, and there are rumors swirling that it was more than just an attack. At first James misunderstands. He thinks it's a something, not a someone. Because this is Siren Cove. Witches and sirens live in this town, and people get hurt. 

But this isn't what that is, James realizes as the conversation swirls through the station that morning. It isn't until around nine-thirty when one of the officers on duty last night comes in and says, "Well, I think I woulda rather had some of our regular hocus pocus. You know? Hate crime." The officer shakes his head. "Kid was gay, and they beat him up. Cracked ribs, bruises, bad sight." James is at his desk inputing ticket violations from last week, and he immediately freezes in the middle of typing. He looks up and calls over to him, "You said it was a kid?" The officer shrugs. "White male, early twenties. Kid didn't even want to press charged. Can you believe it?" 

He sighs because he hadn't needed to ask to know the guy was talking about Davin, and there is a heavy pit in his stomach. That day he had taken his car to be fixed, he had noticed those two guys working with him weren't very...happy to have him for a boss. Before James gives it a second thought, he gathers his coat and drives straight across town. He remembers Davin mentioning he lived about a bakery. The station picked up donuts there sometimes, so he knows the one. 

After he parks along the curb, he heads into the bakery and is directed to Davin's door upstairs by the elderly lady running the register. He isn't sure what he is about to find, but he prepares for the worst. James knocks three times on the door hard. "Hello? Davin, it is James," he announces. 

Comments

[davin]

"Be sure an' give me your schedule. An' I'll check the mail in my undies, just for you." He laughs and presses their shoulders together as he scrolls through the DVR. "We'll go with A Christmas Story then. It's a classic."

He presses play and then takes a long sip of his cocoa before looking over at James. He's sitting up stiffly, elbows on his knees, and Davin rolls his eyes as he plants a hand in the center of James' chest. "Relax, man. That's the theme for today."

When James doesn't immediately push him away, Davin presses lightly until James falls back into the soft corner of the overstuffed sofa. "There, isn't that better? Now kick your feet up on the table an' just take it easy."

[jamesthorn]

James looks at the coffee table skeptically then shakes his head. "I'm not putting my feet on your furniture, he says, shaking his head. He settles back against the couch cushion, which is easy as Davin's hand presses against his chest. "Look I'm relaxed. Just start the movie."

[davin]

"It's okay. You're new t'the laziness thing. We'll get there." He starts the movie and sets the remote on the table, finishing off his cocoa and looking back at James thoughtfully. He has his arm up on the back of the couch and Davin bites his lip, hesitating for a moment before carefully stretching out along James' side. His uninjured side is pressed against the sofa, and against James, and he rests his cheek on James' shoulder. "This is part of it. Relaxin', cuddlin' up with someone. It's good, right?"

[jamesthorn]

"You know I do own a couch? I'm not a complete idiot," James says, but he is clearly joking because he smiles a little. Ordinarily James isn't someone that is overly touchy-feely, but when Davin curls up against him, resting his cheek against his shoulder, he tries not to mind. He knows that Davin's been through probably a tough, emotionally devestating event. Sometimes you just need to feel like someone is here with you, and James understands. He doesn't comment on the cuddling, and instead puts one hand around Davin's shoulder. "I do know how to relax."

[davin]

"Yes, but do ya use it for its true purpose?" Davin teases back. He relaxes when James doesn't seem to mind Davin sprawling across him and he lets out a soft sigh, wrapping an arm around James's middle and keeping his eyes on the TV. "Good. Then show me how it's done."

The movie starts and Davin watches intently, mouthing along with some of the lines, and feels comforted by James' solid warmth underneath him, pulse beating steadily against his cheek.