[locked to peter_weps_ince]

[mute_clay]

Clay is walking along the shoreline. His jeans are wet from the spray but he doesn’t seem to notice.
He is wearing a jacket for once.

He isn’t looking for Weps.




Exactly.

Comments

[mute-clay.livejournal.com]

Clay accepts the beer, wiggling about a bit to sit comfortably.
He ends up close enough to Weps to feel his body heath but not touching. He takes a sip from his beer and looks to the waves, the constant movement soothing.

[peter-weps-ince.livejournal.com]

"Makes you feel small, doesn't it?" Weps asks, "the ocean, I mean - makes you feel unimportant in the grander scheme of things..."

Weps sighs and leans almost imperceptibly towards Clay so their shoulders touch.

[mute-clay.livejournal.com]

Clay nods, putting his arm behind Weps' back, resting his palm against the sand. Then he realizes that Weps can't see him and uses his other hand to trace the word YES on Weps' thigh.

It does.

[peter-weps-ince.livejournal.com]

Weps smiles at the touch and turns his face to Clay's. His eyes are a little blurry.

"Are we okay?" he whispers. "Still friends?"

[mute-clay.livejournal.com]

Clay looks almost shocked at this and quickly nods, patting Weps' thigh.

Of course we are. Why shouldn't we be?

He is genuinely puzzled.

[peter-weps-ince.livejournal.com]

"Sorry, Clay... I'm just having a shit day - having some doubts about me... who I am, that's all. And I felt bad about leaving you the other day..."

[mute-clay.livejournal.com]

Clay waves a hand dismissively. Don't be.

Then he points to himself and makes a giving motion toward Weps.

Is there anything I can do?

[peter-weps-ince.livejournal.com]

Weps looks at Clay, shaking his head sadly, his eyes filling up. "It's Jed's birthday today," he whispers. "He's nine now - and I wasn't there..."

[mute-clay.livejournal.com]

Clay looks shocked. He puts a hand to his heart and bows his head a little. Then he moves closer and puts both arms around Weps.

I'm sorry

[peter-weps-ince.livejournal.com]

Weps turns his head to Clay's shoulder and lets the tears that have been threatening all day, to fall. He feels a sense of loss unlike anything he's known and the warmth of Clay's embrace breaks through his defences. It's a relief.

[mute-clay.livejournal.com]

Clay holds him, not trying to shush him, just letting him feel.

He rests his chin against Weps's head and closes his eyes.

He can feel Weps' pain in the tears falling on his shoulder and in the hardness of Weps' shoulders.