<span style="font-size: 15px"><span style="font-family:Open Sans">They decided on a proper story, one that was made up of half-lies which Eivind decided were as good as half-truths. Eivind didn't think sex would have calmed Blue's nerves. He doubted anything would have. They got out of the truck and Blue walked up to the door, Eivind not far behind. Once Blue knocked, they waited, Eivind watching the tight line of his mate's back. When the young lady answered the door she shouted for the others before throwing her arms around Blue. She cried, admitted she'd worried Blue was dead. Eivind hated how close she almost got to being correct. <br/>
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Blue seemed overwhelmed. They all seemed that way initially, and then Blue's other sister was clinging to him as well. It was obvious they'd missed their brother. Blue was apologizing and Eivind wished he didn't have to. His mother was inspecting him next, torn between what he imagined relief, and worry that he wasn't all there. <br/>
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The two girls took notice of Eivind then, though neither seemed to hold any hostility towards him. <br/>
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“Hello,” Eivind said in return, but he didn't want to make a big deal of his presence. He wanted Blue to get his reunion, and for them all to focus on what was important. He'd mostly came because Blue had asked him to, and he could see how the others might feel like he was intruded upon their intimacy. Eivind was a stranger to them. <br/>
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The air changed a little bit when Blue's father entered the equation. He exuded in-control masculinity. Even with their differences, that was plain for Eivind to see. His expression was composed and stern. He and Blue were almost cold to one another in their greeting, and it set Eivind to edge the way he approached Blue. Quiet, hard to read, hiding, but all intimidation. It didn't take long for the attention to shift, and Eivind was almost thankful for it. He didn't know what to expect that man to do. He only knew what wolves did when they stood like that, but humans didn't fight with their fists, Eivind reminded himself. Not usually. They mostly fought with their words. <br/>
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Blue said something that Eivind didn't understand, only recognizing his name and then he drew him closer by the arm. Likely Blue telling him of the nature of their relationship. His father still didn't look pleased, but then he was letting them inside, his actions betraying his expression. They were brought into the living room of the nice family home. Eivind would have preferred to stand given the tension coming from the dominant male of the household, but Blue pulled him down and Eivind tried to settle. He wasn't sure what to expect. Perhaps more doting for Blue from the females, his father's expression softening and for him to admit he was happy Blue was home, alive, well. That didn't happen. The man couldn't seem to transfer his focus off of him back to Blue, where Eivind thought it mattered most. <br/>
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Instead, he shot accusatory questions his way. Blue tried to cut in, but he quieted harshly before he could finish. Eivind was frowning. <br/>
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“I <i>asked</i> Blue what he wanted.” That was.. mostly truth. He'd told Blue he wasn't going to keep him a prisoner. The reason he limited him when he was alone was for his own safety, and it had been Blue who had assumed he wasn't going to see his parents again. Eivind had no intention of keeping him away.. they just had bigger worries at the time. Eivind didn't like that his father had ordered Blue to silence when he'd been trying to explain himself, or the way he used his body to intimidate. Eivind understood a pissing contest when he saw one, but he was trying to avoid one with Blue's father. <br/>
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“I wasn't aware he had an expiration date stamped on him. We were completing a work project together, and that took more time than I imagined. We took to one another during that, and we lost track of time.” More half-truths, but he thought it was easier for him to lie than it was for Blue to lie to his own parents. They knew Blue. They might be able to tell he wasn't saying everything. Eivind was sitting on the edge of the couch, on hand placed on Blue's knee, a natural reaction he didn't really give thought to.</span></span>