condescend to calm this riot in your mind

[unknowable]

[The last month or so has not been easy. First the zombies, and everything that entailed - what he made Ronan do, Ronan's guilt, all the pain afterward. And then, in the midst of that, Gansey disappearing. They weathered it better than Adam would once have expected, better than he even really expected at the time. He always plans for the worst, but Ronan is better than that. He always has been.

They made it out the other side, still alive, still intact, still together. Adam does not know how to put into words how grateful he is for that, how incredible it is that their connection is as strong as ever. Ronan makes being in Hadriel less of a torture and more of - well, a vacation, maybe, a temporary removal from Henrietta and Aglionby and Adam's oncoming future. Here, they have each other, and a few friends, and they don't need much else.

Adam keeps himself busy, though. He doesn't know how to do anything else, even though he's slowly growing fond of lazy mornings in bed with Ronan, hours spent doing nothing in particular but talking and kissing and touching. He can't do it forever, though, Adam is the sort of creature who needs to keep himself busy and useful. He finds something around the house to take care of, takes Aspen for a walk, goes to the orchard to pull weeds. Most regularly, he goes to the clinic.

He's spent half the day there, organizing and helping out, and when he steps out of the repurposed house he's not overly surprised to see Ronan lingering nearby. It's not so strange to see him at the clinic at all, and certainly not when Adam is there. Adam smiles, a quick but genuinely pleased thing, and walks over.]

Hey.

Comments

[greywaren]

[It's difficult to watch Adam leave for the clinic the first time after everything. He'd gotten his arm back, healed up okay, became more responsive, but still. Ronan's protective nature made it difficult for him to let Adam out of his sight for longer than a few minutes, let alone an entire shift. He'd gone with him the first few times, and the next time or two after that, until someone politely informed him that there were too many people loitering around and the workers needed some space.

So he'd sulked, but picked up Adam at the end of it, the two of them had walked home together, changed out of work clothes, slept together, and stayed together as mutual lifelines in the wake of losing limbs and important members of their friend group (which felt sort of similar to the limb removal, not that Ronan really had the experience to make that comparison).

But they'd gotten through it, and they'd gotten through everything since then, and things became more normal. Just like after Adam was buried alive, they began to learn how to give one another space again, but still stay close.

This is one of those days when closeness is preferred. Ronan is waiting outside the clinic near when Adam's shift lets up- he's never been a timely person, but being late usually just means that Adam heads home without him, which is always a little awkward when Ronan tries to catch up with him before he gets home. He's there on time today- or rather, a few minutes early- and waits around, leaning against the wall of a decrepit building and watching as Chainsaw stretches her wings overhead.

He's preoccupied enough to not notice the moment that Adam leaves the clinic and is a little surprised by his sudden appearance, though he hides it well.]

Hey.

[Ronan lifts an eyebrow.]

I was in the neighborhood. Thought I'd walk you home.