Chapter Text
Willie's PoV
Alex walked over to Reggie and let the red water sit in his stomach. Before our eyes, Reggie’s organs, then skin stitched themselves together. Alex shuddered but didn’t stop until the color had returned to Reggie’s face. Reggie shot up and looked around bewildered before his eyes landed on Alex and smashed a kiss to his lips.
Reggie all but glared at me and Luke. “I’m literally about to make him incapable of thought so you guys can leave or you can join.”
I raised an eyebrow at Reggie. “I thought we said he couldn’t keep usingー”
“Oh no,” Reggie interrupted. “This is for me if Alex is okay with it.”
Alex pulled Reggie to the bed and whispered an “always” when I figured it was time to take my leave.
I yanked Luke to his own room and hugged him tightly. “I know,” I said. “We have to talk about Alex but right now, I’m so happy. Reggie is okayー we’re dating now, by the wayー and Alex waterbent for the first time since the incident and I guess he can fix holes in peopleー”
“While having his destroyed,” Luke quipped.
“ーand apparently his hair colors morph or something? How cool is that?” The rumbling of the hotel stopped, implying that Alex had restored it to its previous state.
Luke smiled. “Yeah, it was a ride but I’m so relieved. Hopefully, he can sleep this off.”
I pouted. “Now the serious stuff?”
Luke agreed, “Now the serious stuff. I know it’s hard. He accidentally killed Caleb and accidentally hurt Reggie just now. We can’t fault him entirely. But he has to get his emotions under control.”
I chewed my lip. “Easier said than done. Waterbenders, in general, are more emotional than others, much less Alex, our wonderful anxious boyfriend.”
Luke twirled his hands in his hair and started tugging. I shook my head and he let it go. “I don’t know,” he whispered. “I just want to be able to help him but this is unprecedented. And Reggie can read minds? Life was so simple before this stupid ass mission.”
I held my arms out and Luke climbed inside. Soon enough, he was snoring softly. I heard my bed creaking and let it lull me to sleep.
Alex’s PoV
I pulled Reggie to the bed and just barely registered Willie and Luke leaving. Reggie rested his hands on my hips and spoke from above me.
“This will be your third time today. Are you fully aware of and okay with that?” he asked.
“Spirits, yes, Reggie. I will never do something I don’t want to, okay?”
“Okay,” Reggie finished with a smile. He pushed a kiss against my neck that sent shocks down my spine.
“R-reg. Reggie!”
“Hm, yes, Lexi?” Reggie purred in response.
“Don’t stop, please.”
“Of course.”
Purple spots had already covered most of my body and Reggie wanted to make it his personal mission to add more. He quite literally ripped my shirt off, latching his mouth to my ribs immediately.
“Reggie!”
“Hm?”
“IーfuckーI love you!”
“I love you too, Alex.”
...
Reggie had finished showering and he laid down next to me.
“Hey, Lexi?”
“Yeah, Reg.”
“I love you, okay? I promise I’ll never give up on you.” I stayed silent. “Alex, you still up?”
“Yeah, I’m just processing is all. I don’t understand.”
“Don’t understand what? Rapidfire, go.”
“I don’t understand why Caleb blew up or how you can read minds or why I’m suddenly so powerful or why you love me so much, especially since you don’t love yourself, no offense. I love you so much but then you don’t get why so why should I accept your love? I’m not any better than you.”
Reggie took a second to think, then turned to kiss the side of my head. “I’ll answer as best I can. Caleb blew up because you were desperate and waterbending gets more powerful when you’re emotional, you said it yourself. Now you’re even more powerful because somehow you fused with Tui and La. I don’t know why I can read minds, but I’ll never go in your head unless it’s necessary or you want me to. I love you so much because you’re silly and keep me calm. You have beautiful lips and an amazing body. You’re romantic and make me blush. You were my best friend turned boyfriend, how awesome is that? You’re always comfortable to cuddle with, you let me wear your clothes. You’re just… perfect. I know I’m bad at accepting affection but that’s because I’m scared. I’m scared of being too affectionate and losing you and after my parents, I worry. For a long time, I thought fighting was a sign of love. Then I met you and Luke and I learned what love really is. You introduced me to Willie and now I have three boyfriends. So I’m by no means perfect but I’m doing my best to get better. I just don’t see the good qualities in myself so it’s hard.”
My lip trembled and suddenly I was crying. Reggie pulled me on top of him. “Oh, ‘Lex, I love you so much. You’re great. Let it all out.”
“I’m s-so s-s-s-sorry, I d-didn’t mean to cry.”
“Hey, look at me.” I looked up to see Reggie crying too. “I’m not above you. We’re allowed to cry.”
I sniffled. “We probably want to get dressed, huh?”
Reggie ran his hands through my hair. “I just want to lay here with you for a while. I’m so in love with you, you’re amazing.”
“Can we kiss?”
“Always.” He leaned up to capture my lips in another mind-melting kiss. The kiss wasn’t like any others I’d had that day. It was soft and full of pure love.
I rested on top of Reggie once more and started to doze off. He kissed the top of my head and suddenly I was in darkness.
...
I woke up and Reggie was sleeping beside me. Normally he would’ve left to go talk to Willie and Luke. I could see the razor poking out of Willie’s bag. The pull was nearly magnetic. I moved from Reggie and limped to Willie’s toiletries. I grabbed the razor and looked at my arm. I pushed it against my wrist, already feeling a small sting.
“I just want to lay here with you for a while. I’m so in love with you, you’re amazing.”
I looked back over to Reggie’s sleeping form. His hair was tousled and his breathing was steady. Sighing, I dropped the razor back in the bag and went back to bed, admiring my boyfriend until he started to wake.
“Good evening,” I cooed while he rubbed his eyes.
“G’mrnin”
“Sleep well?”
Instead of replying, Reggie wrapped his arms around me. “I’m still sleepy,” he whined.
“I think our other boyfriends might be sick of waiting.”
“Five more minutes.”
“If you get up now you can wear my special pink hoodie.”
Reggie rocketed out of bed, immediately shoving underwear up his legs.
“They’re backward,” I called. Reggie flipped the underwear and threw on a t-shirt and his ripped black jeans.
“Done! Now where’s the hoodie?” he asked. I gestured to the closet while I stood up to get dressed. Reggie fumbled into the hoodie, the sleeves a little too long for him.
I walked over to Reggie, still shirtless, and grabbed the ends of the sleeves which slightly covered his hands. I pushed a kiss to his lips.
“You look adorable,” I whispered.
Reggie faked a pout. “No, I’m strong and sexy.”
“And adorable.” I grabbed his hand and dragged him to his own room where Willie and Luke slept in each other’s arms. I held a finger to my lips before jumping on top of the bed with all of my weight. Luke and Willie jumped apart.
“How’d you sleep, himbos?” Reggie joked.
Luke yawned. “Shush, I’m not the himbo. Have you seen your arms?”
Reggie shrugged. “Fair.”
Willie put his hands in my hair and kissed my cheek. “How do you feel?”
I looked to Reggie. “We talked. I’m doing better but I don’t think I’ll ever be how I was before. I’m sorry.”
Luke slid down beside me. “It’s okay. We still love you so much. You might be traumatized. Okay, you’re totally traumatized, but you’re still Alexander Mercer. Our kind, very pretty boyfriend.”
I sniffled. “I love you guys so much.”
“We love you too.”