Laric looked around the living area after he traveled by Storm to their home. He did not see Harry or Fionn. He knew the Fae had another teaching session with Rialyn today, but as far as he knew Harry should have returned from Ash's house by now.
His thoughts were still whirling from the shock and hope of Gideon's confession. He had never expected his friend to return his feelings. After all these years, and after he had finally moved on enough to Court and enter a mateship with his two new loves... He felt like he was dreaming, and did not know if he wanted to wake up or not.
He moved through the house as his thoughts continued to chase each other in his mind, ending up in front of the bedroom that used to be his alone, and now was shared with Harry and Fionn. As he reached to open the door, he heard an odd noise. Not quite a sniffle or a cry, but definitely a noise of distress. Quickly pushing open the door he took swift steps into the room, only to see Harry curled up alone in the center of the bed. He was clutching a pillow so tightly it looked in danger of exploding, and his eyes were staring unseeing into space.
"Harry?" Laric had no memory of crossing the space between the doorway and the bed, he was just suddenly standing next to it and reaching out for his dark haired mate.
Harry's eyes snapped up at the sound of Laric's voice, his expression one of fear and confusion. His fingers gripped the pillow tighter.
"Harry," Laric repeated, softer this time. He perched on the edge of the bed, keeping his movements slow and cautious so as not to startle Harry any further.
"Laric," Harry breathed out, almost as if he didn't believe that it was real. His gaze remained locked on Laric, wide eyed and somewhat wild. Then he collapsed forward, discarding the pillow and burying his face in Laric's chest. For a long moment, Harry said nothing. But then, his voice came out muffled against Laric's shirt.
"Something's wrong with me."
Laric immediately wrapped his arms around Harry, holding him tightly to his chest. "Talk to me, Harry," Laric urged softly. "Tell me what happened."
"I... I think I must be going crazy. Ever since the Courting bond faded, I've been feeling emotions that aren't mine. I think I must have been feeling them all along, and just thought they were you or Fionn. But they didn't go away when the bond did. I can't feel you or Fionn, but I can still feel these emotions that don't fit what I'm doing." He took a few rapid breaths and looked up into ice blue eyes. "I swear I haven't started Courting anyone that I know of. No one has asked me since you, and I haven't asked or accepted anyone!"
Laric was silent for a moment, processing Harry's confession. He gently ran his fingers through Harry's dark hair, trying to offer some comfort despite the confusion swirling in his own mind. He pressed a soft kiss to the top of Harry's head as he considered the possible reasons for the emotions Harry was feeling.
"You are not going crazy. I do not know why you are feeling these emotions, but we will figure them out together." He held Harry a little tighter, trying to instill some of his own calm into him.
"But how can you be sure?"
"I would have noticed it during the Courtship. I did not notice any emotions that did not belong to you or Fionn then, and I do not feel them now. But that does not mean you are crazy, or that anything is wrong with you. You had your Demon magics bound, as well as that evil brand, and the truly spectacular explosion of your magic when it was finally unbound. Who is to say other talents were not hidden that are only now coming to light? Perhaps you have a gift for Empathy?"
Harry had snuggled closer to Laric while his older mate was speaking. Something about feeling the words rumbling in his chest was just as soothing as the strong arms the held him close. Now he pulled back just enough to look up at Laric and shook his head.
"I don't think it's Empathy. I feel things when I'm alone, with other people, or just with one person. And the emotions only sometimes fit with what I'm doing. Before you came in here, I could feel tiredness, but I was also feeling something like sadness and anger."
Laric blinked, his mind working quickly to piece it all together. The Storm Demon studied Harry's face, witnessing the fear and confusion still playing in his green eyes. Laric didn't like seeing Harry this way; he wanted to dispel his fears, offer him solace, reassure him that everything would be alright.
"Harry," he began slowly, "remember how you said these feelings do not fit with what you are doing? It could still be that you are picking up on someone else's emotions. Have you noticed a pattern? Do they suddenly appear when certain people are around? Even if they are in another room or part of the house?"
Harry frowned, searching his memory. "I... I don't know. Sometimes maybe. But then other times... Like just a bit ago, there was no one here. You were with Gideon and Fionn with Rialyn. No one else was in our home but me." He sighed in frustration. "It doesn't make sense."
With a soft touch of reassurance to Harry's cheek, Laric spoke again, his voice calmer and more composed than before. "Easy. We will figure it out. Even if we must take you back to the Healing Quarter and have them run tests." He pulled Harry closer, until the Fire Demon was in his lap. Black and white wings came up to cocoon them both, the smooth leather of Laric's bat-like wings warm and comforting to Harry.
Laric stroked Harry's back underneath his charcoal and red wings, the repetitive motion intended to ground him. They sat in silence for a while, the somber atmosphere only broken by the intermittent chirping of a bird from outside their window. Harry's breathing eventually evened out, and his fingers gradually loosened their death grip on Laric's shirt.
"We will figure this out together, Harry," Laric repeated into Harry's dark hair, pressing another kiss on top of his head. His thoughts were racing, intermingling with the residual shock from Gideon's confession and concern for Harry's current state. Still, he remained focused and calm on the outside; he needed to be there for Harry.
Harry buried his face into Laric's neck, his breath warm on the Storm Demon's skin. He didn't say anything for a long time and Laric allowed him the silence, knowing that pressuring Harry would do no good.
Finally, when Harry spoke again, his voice echoed with desperation. "What if... what if it isn't something that can be fixed?" He asked, voice barely above a whisper. "What if this is just... me?"
"Then we will adapt," Laric said without hesitation. "But it is unlikely to be permanent, whatever it is."
"I don't want to talk about this anymore right now. I know we will need to, but I want to think of something else, please." Harry didn't move his face from the crook of Laric's neck, lips whispering softly against pale skin as he begged for a subject change. "Tell me what you did while you were out?"
Laric closed his eyes, not that Harry could see him, and forced himself not to stiffen. He kept stroking the skin of Harry's back soothingly as he thought how to tell him what had happened with Gideon. Was this even the right time to tell him?
Laric knew he needed to tread carefully, considering how precarious Harry's mental state was at the moment. However, he knew keeping secrets was not the solution either.
"Gideon and I went to see Lord Damien, because Gideon wished his Uncle to take back some of his duties." He could feel the smile that crept across Harry's face, and heard a soft laugh.
"I imagine that did not work well. How many extra duties was he given, or did his Uncle decide to throw another party?"
"Well... It seems that Gideon has finally decided he wishes to Court. And his Uncle was so delighted, he agreed to take back some of the duties. Which ones? He has not decided yet."
"Gideon is Courting someone? Do we or you know them? Are they nice?"
Laric felt a small pang of hesitation, but he knew he had to tell Harry the truth. "It is... surprising, to say the least. Gideon has expressed interest in Courting...us."
There was a momentary silence before Harry pulled back from Laric's neck, his green eyes wide and filled with shock. "Us? He wants to Court us?"
"Indeed," Laric said gently, holding Harry's gaze steadily. His ice blue eyes held a swirl of emotions - surprise, confusion, and a touch of curiosity. "Gideon has...developed feelings for us. It came as a surprise to me as well." He knew this revelation was a lot to process, especially after the emotional turmoil Harry had just been through. Yet, the honesty between them was not something Laric intended to compromise.
"But...why?" Harry asked after a moment, his voice tinged with incredulity. "I mean, I can understand why he would want you. You've been friends forever and you're amazing. But I'm just... me. I attract trouble and chaos, and I still don't understand why you and Fionn wanted to be stuck with me. And he's nice, but I don't really know him well enough for him to be interested in me?" The last was more a question than a statement, Harry still looking utterly confused that Gideon could be interested in more than just Laric.
"I believe that is why he wishes to Court us," Laric replied softly. Ignoring, for now, the rest of Harry's ramble. He was still trying to show Harry that he was more than worthy of love, but now was not the time. He was already taking a chance of things spiraling after the state he had found him in, and now the Courtship request.
"He feels a connection with us, and he desires to explore it further. I have already told him if he truly wishes this, he must ask all three of us. Or we will not accept his Courtship request. And, that I would discuss it with you and Fionn before then. As if you two do not wish him as a potential mate, I will tell him not to ask us at all."
Harry stared at him, unblinking. This was not just an unexpected revelation but also a drastic shift from the conversation they were previously having. It left Harry somewhat stunned and bewildered. He was silent for a full minute, his eyes distant as he stared at nothing in particular. Laric could practically see the gears turning in his head as he mulled over the unexpected revelation. When Harry finally spoke, his voice was almost too soft to hear.
"You're asking me to decide?" Harry's voice was soft, unsure. "On Gideon's Courtship?"
Laric nodded, his gaze steady on Harry. "Yes," he affirmed. "This is a decision that we all three must make together. If you do not want Gideon, or are sure you will never see him that way, it all stops. The same if Fionn does not want him. We are a mateship, all of us must agree before we add anyone. If we add anyone at all."
Harry took a deep breath and leaned back against Laric's chest, looking out at the window with a thoughtful expression in his eyes.
"I... don't know. I mean. I like Gideon. He can keep up with Fred and George, and he's smart. But he's also strong and nice..."
"Nice?" The hint of laughter was evident in Laric's voice.
"I don't know! He's nice, ok?" Harry flushed deeply. "I guess I don't mind if he Courts us. I just never thought about him that way. But if you think this is something we should consider, there must be merit to it."
Laric nodded, appreciating Harry's trust in him. He gently traced a thumb over Harry's cheek, providing what comfort he could with the simple gesture. "I understand your doubts, Harry," he said softly. "This is new and unexpected for all of us. But remember, no decision has been made yet. We will discuss this more thoroughly once Fionn gets home, and decide together. Until then, I think a nap is in order. You have had a stressful day, and I would enjoy cuddling with you some more."
Harry blushed again, but stretched up to kiss Laric softly before they both stretched out on the bed. Harry cuddled up against the Storm Demon's chest as Laric played with his hair, soothing him to sleep.