Chapter Text
"You're proving my point." Kro said blandly, though he went where he was dragged.
Callias shut the door behind them with a click and narrowed glowing crimson eyes at him. "Oh, we're not talking about dinner anymore," He said calmly, and reached forward to hook his fingers into Kro's waistband, holding him close and searching his expression. "Why won't you let your brothers help you?"
Kro blinked and then his eyes slid away from Callias', a slow breath leaving his chest as his wings dropped a little. "Callias . . . I'm the oldest. By a margin. It's not their job to help me."
"And when they were kids, I'd agree with you," Callias said patiently, and then added, softer, tilting his head to make sure Kro could still see his face, "But they're not kids anymore, Kro. They're grown. You yourself have lectured your parents about how capable they are in their own lives."
Kro shut his eyes against the censure and scrubbed his face. "I know that," He said reluctantly. "But it's my job to take care of them, not the other way around."
"No," Callias said, firm, and waited until Kro looked at him to continue. "It's not. It was your parents' job, it should never have been yours." He cupped Kro's cheek, gently encouraging the gargoyle to face him again, curling the fingers of his other hand around his hip protectively. His wings flared behind him as well. "And love, the job is done. They're both their own people, grown men who are ready to be there for you. They want to be there for you, if you just let them."
Kro's eyes dropped though he leaned his cheek into Callias' hand, his wings drooping further as well. "They're so young, Callias."
"But they're not kids." Callias reminded him softly. "You know I'm here for you, Kro, but I'm not the only one and it's not right to ask me to be."
Green eyes flashed up at him, the glow flaring. "I'm not asking you to be that," He said quickly. "This is just . . ." He trailed off, sighing. "A common pressure, for gargoyles, and I'm the only one of my friends who wasn't just . . . fine with it."
The words hung in the air for a moment and Callias sighed again. "There's nothing wrong with you for this, Kro."
Kro winced. "Everyone has faults." He said evasively. "I'm . . . a model heir in almost every other way. There had to be something wrong with me."
"There's nothing wrong with you." Callias said again, firmer, the crimson glow of his eyes flaring blood red. "Don't argue with me, treasure. Just because you don't fit the perfect mold of what some tradition wants you to be doesn't mean there's anything wrong with you."
Glowing green eyes softened as Kro looked back down at him, and he let out another slow breath and leaned his head down until his horns brushed his lover's halo. "Thank you, love."
Callias breathed in time with him and brushed a golden thumb over his cheek. "You don't have to let them stand in for you to help you," He murmured. "Just be honest with them. Let them be there for you. They care, Kro. They love you as much as you love them."
Kro's wings shuddered and he nuzzled into the hand on his face. "Okay." He said finally. "I'll. . . I'll try. Twenty-six years of habit doesn't break easily."
"It's a start." Callias squeezed his hip. "So are you going to go back out there and actually tell them how stressed you are about this, and let them at least comfort you?"
Kro winced even at the idea, but he didn't shrink away. "I . . ." That crimson glow flared again and fingernails lengthened into harpy talons on his lower back. ". . . Yes." He said in a small voice, flushing pink at the protective threat.
"Good." Callias tilted his head up and brushed his thumb over Kro's lips in question. Kro bent down in reach and the harpy kissed him. He kept it soft and sweet but Kro melted under the heat radiating from his golden magic, comforted by his warmth, and when they parted he did so more relaxed than before.
He threaded his fingers into Callias' spare hand when his lover went to open the door to return to the common room of Jeb and Todd's dorm. If he had to admit the truth to his brothers he needed to keep that warmth as close as possible.
Honestly, it was worth seeing if he and Callias could snatch the other end of the couch so he could keep his lover's legs across his lap comfortably too.