Atlas Toren -27-

Atlas POV

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Magnus’s gaze never left me as we ate. Neither did Colten’s. Or Cyrus’s. But I think Cyrus was just embarrassed or confused after this morning. Colten’s eyes kept trying to meet with mine.

Maybe he wanted to talk about why I had woken up.

I didn’t. I didn’t want to relive those nightmares- no.

Memories.

And then there was Magnus. He kept on glancing at my small bites of food, and then up at me. Arlo joined in quickly, and I almost sighed. 

Is it that difficult to leave someone alone? I thought I was eating enough.

Feeling a small kick to my foot, I looked across the table to see Arlo nudging is head in the direction of Magnus.

I scratched the back of my head as I met Magnus’s small glare. This time, his eyes were permanently fixated on mine. “Oh- h- hey Magnus- how… how are you?”

Alright. Maybe my portions weren’t the best. But at least I was trying!

Okay. Maybe I wasn’t really trying.

“Atlas- love- just try to eat a little more?” Magnus pleaded, and his eyes looked sorry.

“I am trying.” My eyes narrowed ever so slightly at him.

Magnus’s eyebrows raised. “So, why is it, that there’s nothing on your plate yet?”

I tilted my head in confusion, before looking down at my plate. 

Right. I had been a little too caught up in not wanting to talk about last night with Colten I may or may not have forgotten to put anything on my plate.

Niko, beside me, must have noticed my realisation, and leant over the table to put some toast onto my plate. “Thanks.” I mumbled, and a small blush spread over Niko’s face. 

Magnus and Arlo chuckled good-naturedly, but their eyes didn’t leave me as I began to properly eat. And shove away the memories.

“So, Atlas”

I froze. Colten. He must have decided that now was the best time to ask me about last night. Sending a warning glance his way, I relaxed my tense position, not wanting to draw attention to myself. 

Too late.

I swear, as I soon as I tense up, everyone’s going crazy, as if I’m about to either burst into tears, or beat someone up.

And maybe those are justified, but still.

“What.” I deadpanned, really hoping Colten wasn’t going to bring it up. “Last night.” He began firmly. Riftyn’s eyebrows raised. “Woah okay. This morning and last night? And you left me out?”

I heard a heavy sigh come from Milo, and he pinched the bridge of his nose. “Just- just shut up Rifyn.” He groaned, and Riftyn pouted a little.

“Atlas here woke me up, panting and sweating- looking like he had just seen a ghost.”

Everyone’s full attention was on me at this point, and I dimmed my eyes a little. “yeah.” I agreed, and Colten’s eyes widened, before turning to Magnus. “I- I think it might have been a nightmare- or memory. He kept clawing at his body, and tears were falling.” He murmured quietly, but we all heard it. 

Did I really?

 Did I really claw at my scars? 

Did I really cry?

Weak.

The small voice in my head was threatening to start making the ever-so familiar remarks. My fingers began to fiddle with each other in my lap, but this time, they were trying to rip the skin around the nail off.

Useless.

“I- I was?”

My voice was barely a whisper, but Niko nudged me with his shoulder, grabbing one of my hands, and putting it in his lap. “You’re okay.” He whispered, and I nodded shakily.

“Atlas… what were your dreams about?”

“They- it was them. And- it was- it was a memory-” I gripped tightly onto Niko’s hand to stop myself from shivering a little. 

“It was- I had lost again- and my father- he- he wasn’t happy- I- he wh- whipped… me. And he- there- blood- he- he- there was a knife-“

I wasn’t going to let the tears that were threatening to fall be released. I sighed a little instead. “They- the memories haven’t been as frequent now though,”

Niko squeezed my hand again. It was then that I realised the room was silent. It had been silent since Niko had grabbed my hand. The words had gone.

But nobody was speaking. Until Magnus broke the silence. I always wondered why it was him that would wrap things up. Speak the last words.

But as he cleared us all from the table, and brought me over to the couch, nestling down with me, I think I found why. 

Magnus always seemed warm. Welcoming. Like he was meant to be there.

 Like he would always be there.

As he pushed my head down into my lap, turned down the lights, and let the rain outside fill my ears, I felt warm. I felt his love. He didn’t need to say anything. He didn’t need to do anything.

Just- just be there. I had never had anyone like that. He sat contentedly while I lay there. Listing to the pattern of his breaths. And the quick breeze outside. 

My breathing slowed as his did, and I felt the couch lower a little as Ever came to sit beside him. I could tell he had lay his head on Magnus’s shoulder. And closed his eyes.

It was warm. And… and I was happy. Magnus was the reason we were all here. Why we could all heal. Why we wouldn’t ever want to leave. Why we loved each other.

“Can… can I call you Mag?”

I felt a low chuckle rumble through his chest before he leant down. My eyes widened slightly as he bent over me, dark hair falling over my head, and pressed soft lips onto my forehead. “Of course you can, love.”

“You know, I really love that blush on you,” He whispered, and a small pink colour flushed my cheeks.

“I agree.” The smooth tone of Riftyn cut the silence. “I can help you keep it there, Mag.” He winked a little, before striding over, and standing over me. 

I glanced up at him as he knelt down, placing his lips on my neck. His tongue glided over my collarbone, and I suppress a small moan as he sucked. I could already tell there would be pink marks dotted over my neck by the end of it, but Riftyn instead let up quickly. 

“See Mag? See the little blush dusting over him?” He grinned and I turned my head away from him, grumbling a little. “Aw, is little kitten angry?”

I narrowed my eyes in frustration, before deciding on my next move. Smirking a little, I sent a full-blown kick towards his crotch, only for Riftyn to jump away, a faked hurt expression on his face. 

“I can’t believe you’d try to hurt me kitten,” He pouted, and I raised my eyebrows.

“Shut up.” I told him, and Mag chuckled a little.

“Aww, and his little blush is all gone too.”

I sighed loudly, before hearing Riftyn’s next words. “That’s okay! Arlo and Colten are here, and we can just continue our conversation from the other day!” he beamed, and I narrowed my eyes a little. “Which… conversation?”

Riftyn smirked down at me, before motioning to Colten and Arlo, who were at the door, to come forward. “Cyr and Niko have left to go shopping.” Colten mentioned, sitting down and tugging on Arlo to sit with him.

 I felt Mag nod a little, and looked up at him, only to see a smirk on his face, as he stared at Riftyn.

Turning to look at Riftyn, I watched him make some crazy as hand signals, and I furrowed my eyebrows. “The fuck? You look like a fucking cat when you put it in water.”

Riftyn glared at me a little, and I turned to see Arlo and Colten sharing playful glances, watching Riftyn make the same hand movements. “Is this still about that conversation you were talking about?”

“He knows?” Arlo asked, eyebrows raised.

Riftyn quickly shook his head. “He chose not to remember it. But that’s okay!” he beamed. “We’ll make him remember.” He declared, and I pushed myself further into Mag’s lap.

I felt Mag shift around a little, and then saw Colten watching him with an amused smirk. “You alright there Mags?”

Magnus must have glared at him, because he quickly dropped the smirk. “Now, why don’t you apologise to Riftyn, like a good boy?”

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