at Orlando's house

[mute_clay]

Clay let himself in and let out a whistle. Julie knew who he was now and had decided that he was acceptable company. Clay changed the water in her bowl and measured up food for her. Then he showed her that he had remembered to bring a piece of string. He'd gotten the silent treatment the night before. No string.

Julie happily pounced the string and Clay sat down on a kitchen chair, preparing himself to play with her till she got tired of it. This would happen much more quickly with her than with Darth Maul who believed that no string should be left alive.

Comments

[mute-clay.livejournal.com]

Hey you.

Clay manages to stay on his feet, hugging Orlando, grinning at him.

He is smiling so things must be looking up.

[orlandomuse.livejournal.com]

"God, it's good to see you!" Orlando gives him a big smacking kiss, then sits down in the chair across from his. "How are you? How's everything?"

[mute-clay.livejournal.com]

Clay shrugs. I'm okay. How's Jimmy doing?

[orlandomuse.livejournal.com]

Orlando smiles. "Better. He's still got a week or so in hospital, but then he should come home. When he comes home, I'll introduce you again. I've told him about you, but he doesn't remember." Orlando looks a little apologetic.

[mute-clay.livejournal.com]

Poor kid. Clay looks worried. It used to make Callie so sad sometimes, that she couldn't remember what her life had been before. Must be hard.

[orlandomuse.livejournal.com]

Orlando looks surprised. "Callie can't remember? I didn't know that."

[mute-clay.livejournal.com]

No. Clay shook his head. All she remembers is after my Pa found her. In the forest. She only knew her name then.

[orlandomuse.livejournal.com]

Orlando frowns. "I'm sorry to hear that." He reaches over and takes Clay's hand. "How are things with you?"

[mute-clay.livejournal.com]

Clay wrinkles his nose and looks away. Then he shrugs. They are - as they are. She made me curtains. And might come to stay for a bit.

[orlandomuse.livejournal.com]

Orlando nods. "I only want you to be happy, Clay. You deserve it."

[mute-clay.livejournal.com]

Clay shrugs again. He's not certain of that.

How are you doing? Apart from the thing with Jimmy?

[orlandomuse.livejournal.com]

Orlando shrugs. "Well, the spa's going well. I don't really have anything else going on." He thinks for a minute. "My love life is still weird." He chuckles.

[mute-clay.livejournal.com]

Clay smiles at him. That's good. Apart from the love life bit. Unless it is good weird of course.

[orlandomuse.livejournal.com]

Orlando shrugs. "Jimmy's in love with me, and I love him, but I suspect on his part it's just that he needs me right now. He didn't act like he gave a tinker's damn about me before his accident. Johnny and I have been on a date, and we slept together for the first time the other night, but I don't know if that has a future either. The one I feel closest to right now is Will, and he's 16 years old."

He reaches down and wiggles his fingers at Julie until she pounces. "I think I need to face the fact that I'm a failure at this stuff."

[mute-clay.livejournal.com]

Clay shakes his head at him. You're not a failure Orlando. Love just isn't easy is all.

[orlandomuse.livejournal.com]

"That's the truth, isn't it?"

[mute-clay.livejournal.com]

Clay grins a little. The whole and nothing but.

He stretches a little.

[orlandomuse.livejournal.com]

"Working a lot?"

It feels so odd to be sitting here with the man he once felt such overwhelming passion for, talking about the most mundane things. There'd been a time when they'd have been making love by now.

[mute-clay.livejournal.com]

Clay nods and scratches his chin.

Yeah. And it's dull most of the time. Besides, it doesn't really sit well with me to have a boss.

He shrugs.

But I manage.

[orlandomuse.livejournal.com]

"I wish I had something for you to do here. I kinda miss having you around."

[mute-clay.livejournal.com]

Clay grins at him. And here I was enjoying to sit quietly with my feet up.

He winks to show that he is joking.

[orlandomuse.livejournal.com]

Orlando laughs. "Hey, I'm a pretty good boss! How many other bosses like sleeping with you? Wait, don't answer that." He's grinning.

[mute-clay.livejournal.com]

My current one isn't.

Clay's eyes are twinkling. He stretches again.

I miss you sometimes. Got used to company from staying here.

[orlandomuse.livejournal.com]

"You know you're welcome here, anytime. I've changed the sheets on your bed, but otherwise, it's still your room. I don't think I'm going to have anyone else move in." Orlando picks at the seam of his jeans.

[mute-clay.livejournal.com]

Clay frowns a little and gets up from his chair to go and crouch down next to Orlando.

What is it?