Last chapter in the set! I don't know how quickly the next chapters will be out, as this is finals week, but I'll do my best to keep putting out content.
When Louie returned he noticed for the first time that his husband was on the dining room table, partially disassembled. It turned Louie's stomach a little, the bagel he'd choked down with his meds fighting the urge to make a reappearance.
"Hey," Gyro said, taking in Louie's appearance. Louie was wearing a large green hoodie and had half combed his wet hair, "Feeling better?"
"Feeling more awake."
"Good enough."
"What did you want to show me?" Louie asked, trying not to look at his partially disassembled husband.
"I was hoping I would be able to recover his most recent memories to try to identify the Jailbird. I didn't find that, but I found a menagerie of memories you might want to see."
"Isn't… Isn't that invasive?"
Gyro considered it and then shook his head, "You have nothing to worry about. You married him, his memories are your memories. Or like, half of his memories? I don't know how marriage works."
"Yeah, that checks out. But I don't want to see any of the bad stuff. I don't think I could handle Tokyolk again."
"Noted. I think I can pull the good ones. I'll pick from the Louie (Affectionate) folder instead of the Louie (Derogatory) folder." Louie appreciated Gyro's commitment to saying the parenthesis out loud but he also immediately worried about the (Derogatory) folder.
"Is that a thing?"
"Yeah there's like one memory in it and it's when you didn't tell him your last name or birthday."
"Oh fuck, yeah I deserve that."
"But there are a lot of good memories," Gyro said, "We have to work backwards, though. That's how it works."
"You've already watched these?" Louie guessed.
"What? No, of course not." Gyro was a terrible liar.
"How'd you know we were married, then? We were gonna wait to tell people until like, June."
"Fine, I watched a few of them. Congratulations on your secret marriage or whatever."
"Thanks."
"So you want to watch or not?"
Louie hesitated and then nodded, "Yeah, I do, but um, can we watch them in the living room? I don't want to keep looking at… This." Louie gestured at Boyd's frame. Gyro nodded, grabbing his laptop, and they moved to the living room, sitting down on the couch where Louie immediately hugged a throw pillow for comfort.
"The first one is short, so if it makes you feel uncomfortable you can tell me afterwards and we won't continue."
"Okay, thanks, Gyro." Gyro clicked play on the memory and Louie saw things from Boyd's point of view.
It did make him feel uncomfortable, instantly, but not because it felt invasive. It felt really familiar, the weird part was seeing himself. He felt disembodied. Maybe that was how Boyd felt now...
"You ready?" He heard Boyd's voice a little warped, the way your own voice sounds in your head.
"I'm ready. This is the height of romance."
"You know it, babe." He saw himself in one of those cozy blanket hoodies (Boyd's cheesy anniversary gift) curled up on their couch with Mars and a paper plate of taquitos on his lap. Then Boyd sat down, and the perspective shifted, the camera shutting off.
"So that was your anniversary? You just ate taquitos and watched copyright material? I assume it was copyright material, Boyd has an anti-piracy fail-safe, for legal reasons."
"So does Boyd actually remember any of the things we watch?"
"Yes this is just the visual of his memories, he has memory soup like the rest of us."
"Memory soup?" Louie asked.
"You know. The thoughts and feelings surrounding certain memories. That's why this isn't as much of an invasion of privacy as you might think it would be because we don't have access to the soup."
A brilliant scientist, Louie thought, explaining emotions as soup. Actually, that was fair and Louie was going to bring that metaphor into therapy.
"What's next?" Louie asked.
"The wedding. The sound cuts out in between the vows because of copyrighted music, I'm curious what you were playing."
"Oh, we played Don't Stop Believing before and after the wedding."
"Why?"
"It's a fun song," Louie laughed, recalling singing along to it with Boyd in the car. He wondered how Boyd's memory soup felt about that.
"Do you want to watch the vows?" Gyro asked, "We can stop at any time."
"I'd like to watch the vows."
As much as it hurt now, with Boyd in the state he was in, Louie had the fondest memories of their impromptu wedding. They hadn't dressed up much, though they wore the nicest button-ups they'd brought, which was a plain mint green for Louie and a retro floral thing that kind of looked like motel carpeting for Boyd. Louie had also worn a skirt since he wasn't gonna get to wear a wedding dress on the actual big day. They'd looked ridiculous but Louie could feel the love in Boyd's eyes as he saw himself from Boyd's perspective.
When the music stopped Boyd took Louie's hands, both of them already wearing their engagement rings, and made a promise for forever.
"Louie, since the night you came into my life I haven't been able to imagine being with anyone else. You are my sunlight, my joy. I promise that I will stand with you forever, that I will take care of you and work to be better for you. I will never stop trying for you, 'till death do us part."
Sitting next to Gyro, Louie winced a little at that, trying not to think about Boyd's broken-down body now. He turned his focus back to the recording, mouthing along to his own vows.
"Boyd, I never thought I would end up with someone like you. I never thought that a day like this would ever come. I'm so glad we ended up together because there's no one else in the entire world who makes me feel the way you do. If I am your sunlight then you are my entire universe. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for making me better. I hope that one day I am able to give you the best version of myself, until then, know that I will never stop trying either. I love you to the point of goodness, and I will love you for the rest of my life."
They were pronounced Husband and Husband and Boyd pulled Louie in for a kiss, the visuals shutting off as the Journey song began playing again.
Louie had to blink back tears, and when he glanced at Gyro, he noticed his father-in-law was doing the same.
"What's next?" Louie asked, trying not to dwell, trying not to break down.
"This one's dated New Year's Eve," Gyro said.
Louie let out a sigh of relief, remembering the party at Huey's house. That one probably wouldn't be too emotional.
"Alright, sounds good."
It seemed like Boyd's mind had picked the chillest moment from what had been a pretty energetic New Year's Eve party. Louie had taken a moment away from goofing off with the niblings and was sipping some suspicious but alcohol-free and sugar-free punch. That was when Boyd sidled over.
"Hey, Lou, how're you feeling?"
"Good, good. Just wanted a minute to chill."
"How's your arm?" Boyd asked, fingers drifting over Louie's arm, near the wound from two weeks ago.
"It feels fine, I'd let you know if something happened. Don't worry, no one is letting me carry the niblings."
"Good. But if you feel tired, or if it starts hurting or anything you can tell me. We can always head home early."
"And miss ringing in the New Year? No way! We're celebrating this one, baby. It's the first New Year's Eve I've been sober for since high school." Louie remembered Boyd's frown even though he couldn't see it now.
"Louie…"
"I know, damn it, I brought down the mood again…"
"No, no, Louie, no, I'm proud of you. I'm glad that I get to spend this New Year's with you."
Louie wrapped his good arm around Boyd and suddenly their faces were close, "You know, Boyd, I think I'll make you my New Year's resolution."
"Mm, yeah?"
"Yeah. Because I know I'm gonna keep you." The memory ended with a kiss and the next one began almost automatically.
Louie didn't know how to feel when the day, early in December but after Raph's birthday, popped up in Boyd's fond memories. He was ashamed of that day, of the hiccups in his recovery. How he hadn't been able to get out of bed in the morning, exhausted from nightmares and anxiety, how he had tried to get up for therapy but had only been able to wander listlessly around the house. He didn't want to watch but he wanted to know what Boyd saw in the memory that Louie didn't. What was going on in that soup of his?
Louie was on the couch, Mars asleep at his feet, mindlessly knitting Yuri's Christmas scarf when Boyd came home and the memory started.
"Hey, handsome, how're you doing? Feeling better?" Louie saw for the first time how his face shifted when Boyd asked him that, how pathetic he looked, how tired and sad he seemed. No wonder Boyd had flown to his side immediately. Louie looked terrible. He wanted to look away but he couldn't.
"Louie, did something happen?" Boyd asked, sounding worried.
"I'm sorry," Tears sprang to past Louie's eyes, "I'm sorry, I tried to go to therapy but I was just so tired…" Boyd reached out, his hand rubbing Louie's shoulder. Present Louie ached for the touch.
"Shh, it's alright, love, it's alright. There's no shame in having a hard day. There's no shame in feeling tired. Let's see... I know you took your meds this morning, have you eaten since breakfast?"
Louie watched himself look away and he felt his stomach churn in the present. Why did Boyd like this memory? Why wasn't Boyd disappointed in him?
"You need to eat, Louie," Boyd's voice was so gentle, "But I understand how hard it is for you to do that sometimes. I'll make us some dinner," Boyd pressed a kiss to Louie's forehead so that all Louie and Gyro could see was hair.
"I love you, Louie. I'm proud of you for trying even when it's hard." And then the memory ended.
"I don't know why he likes that one," Louie muttered.
"Mm. Me neither. But the wedding vows make me think he likes taking care of you."
"Well," Louie said, sitting up, "Now it's my turn to take care of him."
"No, that's my job. Your job is to take care of yourself. Want to watch the next one?"
"When's it from?"
"July 24th, 2038."
"Oh, the mall trip. Sure. I'll watch that."
At first, Louie was really confused as to why this memory was connected to him. It was just Boyd gathering his pretty outfit with Emerald, Azure, and Mikey. And then Azure dragged Boyd into a jewelry store and things started to make sense. While Emerald and Azure searched for the perfect necklace, Boyd wandered over to the ring section and Louie spotted a different kind of emerald among the selection.
"What the fuck," Louie said when the memory stopped, "Boyd's had my engagement ring since July?"
Gyro shrugged, not knowing why that was significant to Louie.
"I'm going to have to ask him about that when he wakes up," Louie said, humming to himself, curiosity simmering in his soup.
"There are a few more in this queue, probably not the only happy memories he has with you, the rest are most likely filed separately. Do you want to watch the rest?"
"Yeah, I think I do."
"This next one is also from July."
"Hm, I wonder what it is-" Louie started, and then he realized he recognized the scene, in their kitchen at the breakfast nook. He wasn't all too familiar with his own look of guilt but he knew the words that were coming next.
"Hey, Boyd, I need to tell you something."
"Alright, what's up? Is something wrong?"
"Uh, kind of. You know how I went out with my brothers last night? After I talked to Scrooge? Well, I was talking to them and I think… I think we cracked the case on why my antidepressants aren't working."
"Yeah?" Louie remembered how concerned Boyd had looked.
"Well, apparently you're not supposed to combine self-medicating with regular medicating? So all the smoking and drinking? I really shouldn't have been doing any of that. Gods, I feel so stupid…" Boyd reached over and tilted Louie's head up.
"Well, now that we know the problem we can fix it. I know that this is gonna be a big change but we're gonna get through this together. The most important thing is that you're happy and healthy."
Louie's face changed into a look of shock and awe, "How do you always say the right things?"
"Hm… Maybe I was built for you," Boyd said, leaning over and kissing him.
"Second to last memory," Gyro announced while Louie was still savoring the memory of the kiss.
"Oh, okay."
"Looks like a short one." They'd all felt short, quick snippets of his and Boyd's life together, sweet for a moment and then gone before Louie could get lost in remembering.
"...Okay."
"This one's from May," Gyro added before pressing play.
Short and sweet, as Gyro had said, simply Boyd carrying Louie into their already fully furnished beach house, kissing all over his face and whispering, "Welcome home, baby, welcome home."
It should have been a nice memory, but it just made the air in the living room feel colder.
"What's the last one?" Louie asked to distract himself from the emptiness in his chest.
"Oh, February 17th. Isn't that the day you met?"
Louie nodded, nervous about the final memory. Frankly, he knew Boyd remembered it better than he did. Still, he took a deep breath, shoved his hands into his hoodie pocket, and watched.
"Let me call you a cab," Boyd said, looking at Louie who looked completely wasted. If Louie had looked terrible in December, medicated and comfortable, he looked even worse in February while self-medicating to the point of- oh gosh, why had he let it ever get that bad?
"No, no, I'm fine… I don't wanna go home- I'm 'kay, I'll go home with someone else…" Louie looked around, probably searching for someone to go home with. Present Louie glanced away in shame until Boyd spoke again.
"Let me walk you home, then."
"Are you flirting with me?" Louie watched his drunk self grab a fistful of Boyd's shirt and he felt mortified.
"Mm, sure."
"You're cute enough to fuck with me tonight," Louie slurred, wobbling as they walked out, Boyd glancing over and putting a steady hand on Louie's back.
"Let's maybe wait a bit for that. I'm just gonna get you home safe, alright?"
"What's the point of going home if it's not with you?" Louie whined.
"I just think we should wait until you're sober," Boyd suggested, sounding flustered.
"So true, bestie." Louie wrapped an arm around Boyd, "Can I call you my Boy Toyd… No, that's not… Boyd Toy? Toy Boy… Boy Toy! Can I call you my Boyd Toyd?"
Boyd's laugh was clear as day, "Sure, if you remember me enough in the morning."
"You should spend the night," Louie said, sounding insistent.
"I don't think that's a good idea."
"Please?! My place has power," Louie whined, "And you're so warm…"
"You like me 'cause I'm warm?" Boyd laughed again.
"You're the only warm thing on this frozen planet," Louie said, craning to look up at Boyd and nearly losing his balance. Boyd caught him and held him a bit closer.
"Easy, tiger."
"You're so fucking hot."
"I know, but let's focus on finding your apartment before you pass out."
"Okee doke, artichoke," Louie mumbled, "Oh look, my apartment!"
Boyd let out a sigh of relief, "Let's get you inside. Maybe it'll be warmer in there."
"Warmer with you," Louie said, tugging at Boyd's buttons unsuccessfully.
Boyd laughed, "Hey, hey, if I stay here for the night will you please drink some water and get some rest?"
"Will you let me spoon you?" Louie asked.
"Yes, but that's as far as we'll go," Boyd said firmly.
"Mmkay. Handsome robot little spoon," Louie passed Boyd his keys, repeating that string of words until they were safely inside. And then the memory ended and Louie was stunned.
"That's so embarrassing," Louie muttered, burying his face in a throw pillow.
"Why? It worked. That was the start of Boyd falling for you," Gyro said, "And it's hardly the most embarrassing thing that's happened since you started dating my son. At least you were wearing clothes."
"I don't remember any of that," Louie said, "I thought we hooked up that night- that means, oh gods…"
"At the risk of regretting it, what exactly does that mean?" Gyro was morbidly curious.
Keeping his face buried in the pillow Louie answered, "That means the first time we hooked up was on 4/20."
Gyro burst out laughing, "Of course you would. Degenerate." He said the word affectionately, the same way he referred to Boyd as a war criminal, and Louie felt dizzy from all the different emotions in his soup.
"I think… I think I need to sit outside for a moment," Louie said, "but, really, thank you for showing me all of this."
"You're welcome," Gyro said, "Don't mention it."
Louie stood and went out onto the front porch, sitting on the porch swing while memories swirled in his head. Without thinking he reached into his hoodie pocket, retrieved a cigarette, and lit it, puffing on it as he thought about the last year. Boyd loved him so much- he loved Boyd so much. The world was cruel and unfair for hurting them like this. The world was cruel and unfair.
His phone rang before he could completely spiral, and he picked up when he saw that it was Scarlett. He had ignored several calls from his family since yesterday so he really hoped that this was actually his niece and not Huey using his daughter's phone to trick him.
It was, in fact, Scarlett, who was sobbing on the other end.
"Scar? Are you okay, Pumpkin? What's wrong?" Louie was immediately on the alert.
"Uncle Louie, did you hurt Uncle Boyd?" Scarlett asked, her voice thick with tears.
"What? Of course not."
"But the… But the guy who attacked Uncle Boyd-" The pieces clicked together in Louie's mind.
"That wasn't me," Louie promised, "That was someone dressed like me. It's complicated, Pumpkin. But I would never hurt Boyd. I promise."
"I was really scared," Scarlett said, "I don't want either of you getting hurt."
"I know, Scar. Don't worry about it, Uncle Boyd is going to be okay in a week. Everything is going to be alright." But a scheme of revenge was already forming in his mind.