Lincoln living in student accommodation during the academic year.
Lincoln needing to pack his things up every summer. Usually he crashes out in motels and youth shelters. Sometimes he’ll couch surf with kind enough unempowered strangers. More than once, he’s slept in his car. Anything’s better than going ‘home’. Even nothing is better than that.
The MAAM Gang find out about that. They tell Lincoln that he can go to them anytime. Lincoln tells them it’s kind of them, and he’ll think about it. He doesn’t bring it up again, certain they’ll forget about it – about him – before long.
Corvus invites him to another amusement park, just the four of them. Lincoln agrees, because how could he not? Theo picks up Lincoln first, letting him hide his bag in the back without a word about it. Dreamer gets in, and they head out. Corvus is going to meet them there.
They have a good time. They always do.
Soon, the day ends. They all head back to McKinley after the sun has already set. Even Corvus gets in the car.
Theo doesn’t drop Dreamer off. And he doesn’t take Lincoln to the motel either. Instead, he just drives straight back to his place.
Before he can ask questions, Dreamer’s grabbing his hidden bag and hauling it out the car with them.
“Get a move on, Lincoln!” they say with their signature grin. “Day’s still young.”
Theo is unlocking his door, smirking. Corvus is staring unabashedly. They all know Lincoln, and knew he found it hardest to say no to Dreamer.
Next thing he knew, he was waking up well past noon on Theo’s couch after the impromptu sleepover (that the Gang would never tell him was planned from before the beginning).
By the time Theo had to take Dreamer back home, it was dark again. Lincoln tagged along. He’d try the motel again, see if they had a room spare again.
But Dreamer invited him in. Their sister was going to come over the next day, and they needed all the help they could get, getting the place ready and the food cooked.
Next thing he knew, it was 2am and he was being ushered into Dreamer’s spare room as they insisted it was no trouble at all. It was the least they could do for all his help getting it tidy.
He was almost certain that Dreamer would want him out of the way when their sister came over. He’d met her a few times, but barely enough time to hold half a conversation.
Dreamer told him not to start being stupid now, and that they had already gotten the green light that Lincoln could join the siblings for a dinner. It was the least they could do after all his help cooking half of it.
Next thing he knew, he was waking up on day four of staying at Dreamer’s place. He’d have to leave soon though. They wouldn’t want him in their space for long.
And then Theo called. He’d never been good at the back-end production side of the SMC, and he was having some issues with the new software Kayla wanted to introduce next year. Lincoln didn’t know how much help he could be, but Theo asked for it, so he’d try his best.
Next thing he knew, it was well after dark, and Theo was offering to let him stay the night, maybe even give his clothes a wash. Lincoln didn’t want to intrude. Theo insisted, especially since he’d already snuck Lincoln’s clothes out of his bag and into the washing machine. Sneaky bird.
Next thing he knew, applications were open for next year’s student accommodation. And because he hadn’t spent every penny he’d saved on motels, he could actually afford a decent one. One that didn’t kick him out every summer.
Next thing he knew, Dreamer, Theo and Corvus were helping him move in to the flat, after months of not having his own place.
But somehow he didn’t crave the solitude he used to.
They celebrated with another of the now-frequent MAAM Gang Sleepovers. And Lincoln could finally be the host.
