Adriel belongs to me. Thomas belongs to a friend.
Summery: Adriel has a bad day and Thomas helps talk him through it.
Adriel was expected home hours ago, before the sun had even set. Now he stands frozen like a statue outside his shared apartment door, the midnight sky at his back. After such a long day, Adriel couldn’t force himself to come home. He had witnessed a woman lose her life and he blame himself for not being fast enough. He tried to save her. He put all he had into his speed and tried hard to catch her before it was too late. But he failed. He is no Hawks.
Adriel cried in the office, safe away from all the cameras and reporters. Endeavor even helped him fill out paperwork so he might could go home early and decompress.
“It happens Adriel.” Endeavor speaks with a cool voice filled with years of wisdom and experience.
“I know. But I was so close.” Adriel hiccups and cries fresh tears for the life he could not save.
Standing in front of his apartment, eyes wet, red, and puffy, Adriel thinks to himself, wonders what he is going to say to his partner. He wasn’t out drinking or dabbling in drugs. Instead, he had gone to a park and practiced his flying again and again until a park ranger told him he had to leave for causing a disturbance. His wings are now sore, tender around the base, his back on fire from exertion.
Before Adriel can muster the strength to open the door, it opens for him.
Thomas opens the door, dressed in his coat with a scarf around his neck. He looks snugged and warm. Not like Adriel who only wore the bare minimum of his uniform.
“Adriel, it is so late! I was just coming to find you, hurry now, come inside.” Thomas reaches for Adriel and coaxes his inside like he was a shy cat.
“I am so sorry.” Adriel bows his head and the flood gates open. He has enough sense to step into the doorway before collapsing to his knees. “A woman is dead because of me. I wasn’t fast enough Thomas. I couldn’t save her. I watched as she died. I couldn’t, but I wanted to. Thomas, there is blood on my hands!”
Thomas scoops Adriel up in his arms. Adriel might be taller but thanks to his hollow bones, he weighs nearly half of what he looks like he should.
“Hush now darling.” Thomas coos and pets Adriel’s hair. “There is no blood on your hands, they are clean. Accidents happen. Weren’t you the one who told me ‘you can’t save them all’?”
“Okay then. Mourn the loss of an innocent life, but do not let it destroy you.” Thomas knows the work Adriel does is hard and harder on his soul, leaving him drained and colorless after long hard shifts. “You are resilient. Feel the emotions you need to feel, but do not let them drown you.”
Thomas kisses Adriel’s forehead and encourages him to stands before adding, “I am always here to support you. Don’t you forget about that. I love you more than words can explain.”
