Flynn and Quinn Awww they rhyme...:| (Quinn, Spectre, Flynn, Abby?)

[quinntaessentia.livejournal.com]

Quinn felt like he was going to vomit. Except that he probably wouldn't. Hopefully. If he did that would be damn embarrassing. He'd seen 'Flynn's' picture on Spectre's LJ and it looked so much like Mal. Like his Mal. And after speaking to Deirdre, and hearing that 'Flynn' said he was from Whitehead, which was where Quinn was from...it was far too much evidence to be a coincidence. Flynn had to be Mal. So Quinn took himself to Flynn's house, shaking all the while, and he raised a hand to knock on the door. Once he'd accomplished that, he mentally willed himself not to vomit or run away. At least not until he knew if it really was Mal or not. God, if it wasn't he was going to feel like a right knob.

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[in-spectre-mors.livejournal.com]

Spectre was busying himself with packing, no small feat when you needed outfits for a good month and a half, so he almost didn't hear the knock on the door. His reaction, as it was, was a little delayed, and he clattered down the stairs in a hurry once the sound penetrated his mental checklist. When he opened the door, he found an unfamiliar young man on the other side. "Oh, hello... may I help you?"

[quinntaessentia.livejournal.com]

Quinn nodded, and then he hesitated, and then he realised that this man might need more information than that. So a veritable waterfall of words spilled forth, and Quinn was unable to hide the slight Irish lilt to his accent. "Uh...hi. You're Spectre. You know that. Uhm....I'm Quinn. Deirdre said you might be weirded out because you don't know me and she said someone did mean things so she says you can ring her if you want because she knows me. And I won't do mean things. Did I say I was Quinn? Yes. I didn't say what I wanted, did I? Erm...is Mal here? I know him. Oh right! Flynn. Apparently." Quinn cleared his throat and then he made quite a miserable face and he over at Spectre as if pleading for help.

[in-spectre-mors.livejournal.com]

It could have been a bluff, the thing about calling Deirdre. Spectre had never seen this man before, but he seemed to know the right things to say. And he knew Flynn's real name. To know both those things was incredibly odd, but it seemed to indicate that he was on the level. Besides, whether this Quinn knew it or not, he wasn't alone this time. He did have the very capable Quinn with him, and Abby as well. This young man didn't seem to be a threat, so Spectre stepped back from the door. "I get the feeling I can trust you. Please, come in, sit down." He gestured through to the living room, then went to call up the stairs, rather than let Quinn out of his sight for too long. "Flynn? There's a young man here to see you. Name of Quinn?"

[myeyesarehollow.livejournal.com]

Quinn sat down on the sofa and he started fiddling with his pullover nervously. He didn't even realise that he should probably tell Spectre to say it was Ardal and not Quinn. He hadn't gone by Ardal in six years.

Flynn poked his head out of his room. He had been packing too, but he was having the opposite problem Spectre had. Abby had given him a suitcase and it looked quite sad and empty, lying there open with three shirts and some trousers in it. Distractions from the state of his possessions were good. Except 'Quinn' wasn't ringing any bells. He took a few steps out of his room and he hovered there at the top of the stairs, looking down at Spectre. "Er...who?"

[in-spectre-mors.livejournal.com]

Spectre glanced back towards the very nervous-looking Quinn, and decided it was probably okay to take a few steps away from him. He ascended the stairs part of the way, so as not to be talking about Quinn right in front of him. "He said his name was Quinn. He sounds Irish, and he knew your real name. He seems terribly nervous. Of course, if you think this is something untoward... I could tell him you're not in."

[myeyesarehollow.livejournal.com]

Flynn stiffened. Irish. Knew his real name? Bad bad bad. "No!" Flynn said firmly, not willing to let Spectre go back down there with someone who might want to hurt him. How the hell had they found him here, anyway. Flynn ran down the rest of the stairs but he skidded to a stop at the bottom when he saw Quinn. "Oh."

Quinn looked up at Flynn and he flushed instantly. "Hi?"

Flynn looked up at Spectre who was only a few feet away from him, and then back at Quinn. Of course. Ardal Quinn. But how the hell had he found him here. "Ardal?" Flynn finally asked softly, though he stayed right where he was.

[in-spectre-mors.livejournal.com]

"Ardal?" Spectre repeated dumbly, then followed Flynn down the stairs. What did Flynn's old lover have to do with... oh. "Ardal," Spectre said again, this time in realisation. "Oh goodness me. Um..." This was new, very new. Certainly not an experience Spectre had something to compare with in order to know what was best. He only had his angelic intuition and his manners to go on. "Shall I fix a pot of tea, then?"

[myeyesarehollow.livejournal.com]

Flynn glanced sideways at Spectre with a look that said 'please don't leave yet' and then back at Quinn who stood, looking both pleased that he was right about Flynn being Mal, and more nervous because now he didn't know what to do with that information. "Haven't been called 'Ardal' in a long time." Quinn said softly. "Jesus, Mal. You...you look good."

Flynn flushed almost furiously at that. "Er...I didn't. I didn't used to." He pointed at Spectre and then he put his hand down quickly because that was rude. "Spectre helped me. He's the best friend I've ever had."

[in-spectre-mors.livejournal.com]

That brought a light blush to Spectre's features as well, and he stepped forward to place a supportive hand on Flynn's shoulder. "Flynn's been a very good friend to me, as well. I'm not sure if you've heard, but our band embarks on a European tour tomorrow." He understood that Flynn didn't want him to leave, so carrying on the conversation instead seemed like the best course of action.

[myeyesarehollow.livejournal.com]

Quinn nodded. "I heard. That how...Deirdre linked it in her journal. I saw the picture and I...couldn't quite believe it." Quinn finally smiled then. "Mal...I was so worried." He kept edging ever closer, though he did so carefully.

Flynn swallowed and he bit his lip. "About...me?"

Quinn gave Flynn a look that said he was really quite silly if that wasn't obvious. "Of course about you! I never should have let you send me away. Even though...I'm very aware now that you saved my life that day. Even if I was petrified that I, in turn, had consigned you to death."

And there was his Ardal, saying things like 'consigned you to death'. Which brought a huge smile to Flynn's face without him even realising it. "I did okay." He said with a shrug.

"Okay actually okay, or okay you're lying to make me feel better okay?"

"Sort of...both." Flynn ran his hands through his hair and all at once Quinn was right in front of him. And then he was in Quinn's embrace. Flynn stiffened and then he relaxed a little, allowing himself to hug Quinn back. It felt good. He felt good.

When Quinn released Flynn, he turned to Spectre. "So you knew who I was?"

[in-spectre-mors.livejournal.com]

Spectre had taken half a step back so as not to interfere with the men's embrace, and he turned back to Quinn when he addressed him. "Well, I knew you by the name Ardal. I certainly didn't know your face. But Flynn has told me all about what you went through. I'm so sorry for that. It was an absolute tragedy, I know."

[myeyesarehollow.livejournal.com]

Quinn nodded and he looked back at Flynn. "Less so for me than for Mal." He reached out and he took Flynn's hand in his. "Do you want to sit down?"

"Why are you in London?" Flynn blurted out, ignoring the whole sitting down thing.

"I go to the Uni here."

"But...why are you going by your surname?" It was all very weird. And Flynn was beyond happy to see Ardal, but it weirded him out too. He was stalling having to deal with it, by asking questions.

"After I got back to Whitehead, my parents wouldn't let me out of their sight. Kept worrying I'd run off again, which...I might have... And then I got threatened. Your brother's friends." Quinn said that like it was a curseword. "So they sent me to live with my Aunt and Uncle. In the country here. I looked for you. All over Dublin, because my parents wouldn't have let you stay, but my Aunt and Uncle have always been better people. They said if I could find you, you could come live with us. But I never could."

"I was..here mostly." Flynn said softly. "Maybe...tea's good now." He said to Spectre.

[in-spectre-mors.livejournal.com]

"Coming right up," Spectre said. He gave Quinn a companionable pat on the shoulder, just to show the young man that he didn't begrudge his unexpected presence here at all. The angel smiled at them both, then headed into the kitchen to make the tea. Hopefully, a few moments alone would do the two men a lot of good. Of course, Spectre was willing to give them as long as they needed, especially since Flynn wasn't going to be here much longer.

[myeyesarehollow.livejournal.com]

Then Flynn led Quinn back to the sofa, glancing over to the kitchen to make sure Spectre was still in view. The kitchen wasn't closed off, so he knew that Spectre would be able to hear everything unless they whispered. "So you...you liked living with your Aunt and Uncle?"

Quinn nodded. "I call them Mum and Dad now. I haven't spoken to my real parents in...years actually. They never could handle the whole...sometimes I sleep with men thing."

"Yeah. Been there." Flynn cleared his throat. "And you're studying at university?"

Quinn nodded. "Philosophy. It's the only thing I can do, I'm useless at everything else."

"And you uhm...do you...have anyone?"

Quinn sort made a non-committal shoulder shrug. "That's...hard to know. There was a girl I liked, but I think she's more interested in being friends. Which is fine with me. Her name is Jade and she's really nice. But no...I don't really have anyone. You?"

"Heh...haven't exactly had a chance for that." Flynn mumbled. "Sort of just...came here about a month and a half ago."

Quinn paled. "Mal...you...you weren't uhm...out there since I left were you?"

Flynn looked over at the kitchen towards Spectre. "Not always." He whispered.

[in-spectre-mors.livejournal.com]

Spectre returned with the pot of tea, along with a number of cups on the tray. There was a spare one for Abby, should she choose to join them at some point. "We've all been through hard times," Spectre said, "though Flynn has been through harder than many others. I've encountered something of the nomadic life myself. I understood where he was coming from. It made it easy to bond."

[myeyesarehollow.livejournal.com]

Flynn smiled easily at Spectre then and, with his friend back in the room with him, he felt more courageous. He turned to Quinn and he put his hand on Quinn's shoulder. "I had places I stayed. Not ever for long. I was back on the streets between them. But the last place I stayed was the bar Spectre's boyfriend saw me in. He brought Spectre to see me play and then I auditioned for him. And now I live here. I live here!" Flynn's voice was very excited now. "And I'm going on tour tomorrow!"

Quinn grinned. "I'm very proud of you. I knew your music would lead you to great places."

Flynn flushed. "Heh."

"And Spectre...thank you. For taking care of him. I tried, but he was always better at taking care of me..."

[in-spectre-mors.livejournal.com]

"You're very welcome. We all need people to take care of us sometimes. Flynn has done some rather impressive taking care of me himself," Spectre said as he poured the tea. He lowered the pot and smiled. "He saved my life. He's a very brave man."

[myeyesarehollow.livejournal.com]

Flynn turned even more red at that and he sort of hid his face in his hands.

Quinn smiled at Spectre and he accepted a cup of tea with a nod of thanks. "Well, it seems he hasn't changed then. Except his name. Why Flynn?"

Flynn pulled his hands away and he bit his lip. "My mum." He said softly. "Was her maiden name. After you were gone, I used the money to change it. Didn't want to be Mal O'Reilly anymore."

"I loved Mal O'Reilly, you know." Quinn grinned and then it faded to a frown. "Wait..you used the...the money. The money I gave you?!"

"Yes?"

"Mal! You were supposed to get a place to stay with that! Or something to eat! Jesus!"

"Well...I have a place now.." Flynn said meekly, his expression quite hangdog.

Quinn sighed. "That you do. A very lovely place. I'm still going to spank you for that."

Flynn looked terribly interested all of a sudden.

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"Goodness gracious me!" Spectre exclaimed, though his expression was taken over by a grin. "Well, that's one disciplinary action I probably ought not to be present for..."

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Quinn laughed. "Probably not."

Flynn shifted in his seat, a tad uncomfortable. "Ard..Quinn? Uhm...so you're not...angry with me? For sendin' you away? I know you...you were at the time. I always thought you'd hate me for that."

Quinn shook his head and he leaned forward. "No, Mal. I don't hate you. I'm not angry. I understand. I hated thinking of you alone, but I know what you did was best. And...you're okay now. You're safe. Which makes me beyond happy."

Flynn finally relaxed completely and he let out a sigh of relief. "I've been...I worried about that for a lot of years. Do you want to go up to my room after tea? Oh..." Flynn covered his mouth with his hand, looking utterly shocked. "I didn't mean to sound slutty!"

Quinn snorted and nearly doubled over laughing at that. "As if I'd ever mind!"

[in-spectre-mors.livejournal.com]

"Well, I think you're both adorable," Spectre declared. "I'm so glad you made it here today, Quinn. You've made this a very happy day." He gave the young man's hand a friendly squeeze.

[myeyesarehollow.livejournal.com]

"I wish I'd known sooner. Before you were about to leave." Quinn looked over at Flynn and he reached for the man's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "I'll still be here though. When you get back. Starting a new semester, but I'll be here. And you should come see me on campus. You can meet Booster! He's my alleycat."

Flynn smiled. "I had a cat. He died. But I like cats. I'd love to meet Booster."

"I'm sorry about your cat..." Quinn frowned.

Flynn sighed and he was about to say something else when Abby walked in to the room. "Goodness...it's like...a convention. Hello?" She said to Quinn.

"This is ..Quinn." Flynn said softly to Abby. "He and I..he was...I..."

"I was his boyfriend." Quinn said for him.

Abby raised her eyebrows and she grinned cutely. "Awesome!"

[in-spectre-mors.livejournal.com]

"Isn't it just?" Spectre agreed. He rose, and wrapped his arm around Abby's waist. "Quinn, this is Abby Littleton, a very dear friend of mine. She lives here as well." He smiled adoringly at Abby, most pleased that she was here to share in this happy event.

[myeyesarehollow.livejournal.com]

"Hi!" Quinn said, wiggling his fingers at her.

"Hello!" Abby kissed Spectre's forehead and she leaned against him quite happily.

"He found me on the internet." Flynn said, sounding confused about the whole thing. He didn't get the internet. "Saw my picture on a thing."

Quinn smiled at Flynn and then back up to Abby. "I've been wondering where he was for a good six years..."

"Fuck." Abby said, and then she blushed. "Oh, sorry!"

[in-spectre-mors.livejournal.com]

Spectre laughed. "Oh, I'm sure these young men have heard worse. No need to stand on ceremony. Speaking of which though, won't you join us for some tea? We've just been acquainting ourselves with each other's lives."