"I'm beginning to think you actually got laid last night." Ophelia stated, deadpan, as she watched Clark dance his way through the kitchen, occasionally humming to himself. She hadn't noticed, however, the soft smile on Jethro's face as he made his way through a bowl of cereal at the kitchen counter. If she had, it would have been all the proof she believed she needed.

After downing a cup of George's apple juice - he was much too distracted by Clay to notice anyways - that he'd definitely lie about having later on, Clark took a running jump and landed on the bundle of Keres and Ophelia that was situated on the couch. "Why ever would you think that?" He asked over the noise of the two groaning.

Ophelia rolled her eyes and Keres giggled. Clark didn't believe for a moment that Ophelia wasn't glad to see him in such an elated, bubbly state. "Just a hunch." She huffed, shoving at the boy until he wormed his way off of her and between them, wrapping his arms around both of their shoulders instead.

Clark was about to respond to tell them that he didn't, in fact, get laid but that he did get something much much better when he was interrupted by the slam of the door instead. All but two heads snapped to the doorway as they waited for whoever had decided to visit to reveal their identity.

"Uh, Clay?"

Clay glanced over from where he'd been talking quietly with George, hands lazily linked, bodies tilted towards one another, eyes half lidded and smiles warm.

Geo had arrived home from only the lord knows where - in reality, he had left a note saying he'd gone to the café down the road, the others had simply ignored it - looking panicked and disheveled. He glanced back and forth between his phone and a questioning Clay.

"You may want to check twitter."

////:\\\\

@DamienBèste
Thank you for the well wishes. I'm glad to be back working with Clayton, Vincent, Darryl and Zak and look forward to a summer of family fun!
[an image of Dream and his family] [an image of Skeppy, BadBoyHalo and their families] [an image of A6d on video call with his family] [the image of a young Ashton in his mother's arms with Damien at their side]
————————————————
retweets      likes
    |
    |
@DamienBèste
Oops, I meant Dream, A6d, BadBoyHalo and Skeppy, how forgetful of me!
    |
    |
@StanDOTD
OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG
    |
    |
@fleepfloop
Y'all know what to do right? I ain't see s h i t.
         |
         |
     @chiccennuggies
     Suddenly I am unable to perceive anything
     but the block and report buttons.
     ————————————————
     retweets      likes

////:\\\\

"Hey, it's okay, it's going to be okay." George spoke in a soft tone, carefully steering Clay to the couch that the others had quickly vacated and sitting him down, wrapping an arm around his back and using the other to reach and carefully grip his hand. Clay anchored himself to George's hand almost painfully, attempting to blink through a cascade of blurry tears.

George softly shushed him, allowing him to huddle closer exponentially, and rubbed at his back. "Breathe for me, baby." He murmured, pressing Clay's hand over his chest and breathing deeply and slowly to set the rhythm. Clay did as instructed, closing his eyes and focusing on George entirely.

It took a few long moments, the other five working on reaching out to Zak, Darryl, Vincent, Nick and Mrs Bosko, before Clay was able to breathe evenly enough to talk. George still held him close, one hand softly massaging his back.

"Sorry," Clay croaked, beginning to pry his nails from George's hand but still keeping his fingers wrapped loosely. George shushed him again.

"Don't apologise." He reassured carefully. A gentle but unsettled silence seeped in through the walls and surrounded them all, darkly shadowing at the corners of their vision.

"The others asked if they could group here again." Keres broke the silence in a nervous, whispered voice. She was answered by Clay's slow nodding, the air resuming its previous quiet almost immediately. Four of the seven returned to messaging.

Clark watched Clay curled against George's chest through his lashes with a swelling sense of a sickly guilt. It bubbled and burned and filled his lungs from the base up like tar, hot and thick and heavy.

This was essentially his fault, if you thought about it.

He never should have gotten so involved.

Maybe he would have been able to keep Damien's attention away from them had he not made his friendship with them so apparent.

Maybe he would have been able to protect them.

Maybe he still could.

////:\\\\

Ashton
Keep them out of this.
2:32pm

Dickcheese
Just as it was beginning to get interesting.
2:32pm
Where is that fire you had?
2:32pm
That blasé confidence you showed?
2:33pm
It almost made me proud of you.
2:33pm

Ashton
HA!
2:33pm
you think you've done something, don't you?
2:34pm
you think you're so clever
2:34pm
As if I couldn't do just the same to you.
2:35pm

Dickcheese
You wouldn't.
2:35pm
You're all too precious of what you have
2:36pm

Ashton
Oh please
2:36pm
You think you know me so well
2:36pm
What more could you take from me?
2:36pm

Dickcheese
You speak as though you don't already know.
2:38pm

Ashton
OoOoH iM tHe BiG sCaRy AnTaGoNiSt
2:38pm
I pUt YoU oN tHiS eArTh AnD I cOuLd TaKe YoU oFf It
2:39pm
Save the villain speech, Big Lad, I won't read it.
2:39pm
Your problem is with me
2:39pm
keep it that way.
2:39pm

Dickcheese
As if you control an ounce of my life.
2:41pm

Ashton
As if I don't.
2:41pm
The people are on our side now, Damien.
2:47pm
You don't have a chance if you don't leave them out of this and you know it.
2:47pm
So be a good boy and do as you're told.
2:47pm
Seen

////:\\\\

It was a frenzy, now that everyone was under one roof once more, of panicked calls to even more panicked families. The atmosphere was a mess of overlapping voices, Vincent's garbled french sticking out and blending in at the same time.

Jethro caught George by the elbow, effectively stopping his frenzied pacing. He pressed a large hand to George's shoulder and took in a deep, obvious breath. After a moment of confusion, George mirrored the motion. He did so a few more times, closing his eyes, before nodding to Jethro. Jethro dropped his hand from George's shoulder.

"I'm gonna take the Outcasts out, it's not helping t'have so many people, but we won't be far." He informed lowly and George nodded with an equally quiet 'thank you'.

Jethro disappeared into the hustle surprisingly well for his large stature, weaving his way to Keres and Ophelia first. He pressed two fingers to the inside of Ophelia's elbow, effectively catching her attention and keeping her from jumping. It took little more than a nod towards the door for the two to take the message.

He made his way to Clark next, having to search to find the boy tucked small into the corner of the room. He strode over and, after a moment of familiar hesitance, placed a hand on Clark's hip. Once certain he had Clark's attention - he always did, but Clark wouldn't admit to that just yet - he gestured towards the door. The two left, Jethro's arm around Clark protectively, and George was able to reorganise his thoughts.

Zak and Darryl were huddled together, both more than familiar with one another's families, with their phones clutched close. They pressed against one another for comfort, speaking almost shakily down the phone. George didn't need to hear what they were saying to know that they were attempting to reassure and cheer up each other and their families rather than panic.

George had no idea what Vincent was saying. He was certain, however, that most of those words could be used as expletives. Nick was watching him with a pinched, concerned expression.

He looked over to where Clay was hunched over his laptop with tears eyes and felt his heart pull. He had no place in their family conversation though, so he pressed his fingers to his bracelet instead and hoped it'd give Clay some semblance of comfort.

Clay looked up, catching George's gaze with a bittersweet smile. He beckoned him over and George felt his heart turn and thrum. He nervously made his way to Clay's side.

"Not to scare you all but we're pretty sure we just saw Damien's chauffeur drive past." A voice interrupted.

Fuck.

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Yours, Dandelion