Notes: Made to order for these two in my verses!
Day 6: Princess Carrying
Radley was very skilled at what he did. He handled his motorcycle expertly and always had perfect posture when walking. He rarely ever stumbled or fell. Of course, even Radley wasn't perfect in everything and he had fallen a couple of times, usually when injured but occasionally when gravity simply felt like trolling him.
Radley was also a very independent sort of person. He tried to do everything himself most of the time. He didn't want to be a burden or an inconvenience to anyone and he didn't want his loved ones to worry about him. But that sometimes resulted in him trying to do too much. He was always there for the others; sometimes they needed to remind him that they were there for him and it was okay not to be strong all the time.
Kalin jumped when he heard the sudden thump. "Radley?!" He set his book down and hurried out of his room. He found Radley kneeling in a sprawled position on the floor, looking very disgruntled and frustrated with himself. "Are you alright?!"
Radley heaved a sigh. "Yeah. Just my pride got crunched." He reached for the arm of the easy chair to start pulling himself up. He swayed and Kalin caught him, holding him close.
"Are you sure being the mayor isn't too much for you?" Kalin frowned. "You've had so much to do."
"It's about the same workload as always." Radley smiled at him. "I'm fine."
Kalin didn't look convinced. "I'm making sure you rest."
"Oh? And how will you do that?" Radley asked.
Kalin lifted Radley into his arms with ease and headed for the couch.
Radley had to laugh in surprise. "Kalin . . . !" But he relaxed and just enjoyed the trip. They were alone and he didn't have to feel embarrassed about his spill with Kalin. And he couldn't deny this was nice. "I still don't know how you do this," he said. "I have the most difficult time lifting you!"
Kalin kissed Radley on the top of his head. "I was always unusually strong."
"So you're a modern Hercules?" Radley smirked.
Kalin set Radley on the couch and sat down next to him. "You're not heavy."
"By that logic, you shouldn't be heavy either," Radley mused. "I just can't lift my own body weight."
"You can if you have to," Kalin said. "I remember you telling me you carried me to bed when I fell in the shower."
"Yes, that's true. That was a special case," Radley said. He moved closer to Kalin and Kalin drew an arm around him and hugged him close.
". . . It hurt you to do that, didn't it?" Kalin frowned. "I remember you rubbing your arms the next several days. You tried not to let me see, but I did a few times."
". . . It . . . was difficult," Radley admitted. "But you needed help. It was worth it."
Kalin gently rubbed one of Radley's arms. ". . . How did you fall?" he quietly asked.
Radley sighed. "My ankle hooked around the table leg," he said. "Nothing like that ever happened to me before. I'm not a klutz." He leaned back against Kalin's arm and shut his eyes.
"No, you're not," Kalin agreed. "You told me when I fell down the stairs that an accident every once in a while is acceptable and doesn't make me a klutz. The same is true for you."
"I still feel like an idiot," Radley mumbled.
"You're not!" Kalin brought his other arm around Radley and hugged him close.
Radley had to smile. "At least nobody saw it happen. Can you imagine what Malcolm's men would have said?"
"I don't want to," Kalin grunted, resting against Radley's hair. "They were cruel and heartless."
"And me being the leader of the opposition . . . yeah. They never would have let that go." Radley snuggled closer against Kalin.
"But they're gone now," Kalin said. "It's just me. And the Bunch."
"Mmm. That's perfect." Radley smiled, looking sleepy now.
"Are you sure you're alright?" Kalin frowned. "Maybe you twisted your ankle."
Radley moved it experimentally. "There's no pain," he insisted. "I'm fine. Really." He sighed. "It was just one of those things."
"Just as long as you're not hurt," Kalin said.
"You make everything better," Radley said.
"That didn't used to be the case," Kalin grunted.
"I only care about now," Radley said. "And the future."
Kalin smiled.
They relaxed like that, soon dozing against the softness of the couch and the peacefulness and complete trust of each other's presence.
