mute_clay | [locked to peter_weps

The fire's established now, providing welcome warmth as the late evening sun begins to go down. The slight breeze, enough to make lighting it a challenge has eased off, and Weps sits on the blanket, sipping on a beer and gazing into the flames. He smiles to himself, rememembering all the times he'd gone down to the beach in the evening over the years. Always up in the dunes a little - like now, sheltered, peaceful. Looking at the ocean had always helped him think, put things in perspective, get his priorities lined up right. It was something about the sheer scale of the ocean he'd guessed - it'd always made his troubles seem small.

Today had been a strange day. His meeting with David had unsettled him, his frank admission that he'd put Jed before anything - anyone - was hardly a surprise, but it'd still sounded strange in his head when he'd said it out loud. Like a decision had already been made. But a decision he hadn't realised he needed to make. And then he'd remembered the number on the piece of paper in his jacket pocket that he'd found the first night he'd arrived here. The number that he didn't recognise or understand but somehow knew he shouldn't throw away. So he hadn't. And today he'd called that number.

Weps sits quietly, watching the fire, lost in thought. He's thinking about the people he's met here. And thinking about some painful times ahead.

Clay sees the light from the fire from a distance. It's up in the dunes and he walks closer. SLowly.

It's Weps. He hasn't noticed Clay, so he whistles softly. To let him know that he is there.

Weps looks a little sad. And Clay isn't certain whether he would want company at all.

Weps hears the whistle and looks around for its source. His eyes quickly find Clay and he smiles a little.

"Hey..." he says softly. "Didn't see you coming. Wanna share the fire for a while?"

Clay sits down, nodding. He puts his hands toward the fire, warming them, staring at the flames.

Weps sits quietly, watching the ocean through the flames of the fire. He remembers Clay's face the last time they'd met, how helpless he'd felt, like he'd let Clay down. He wants to ask how he is, if he's okay, if they're still ok, if... but he doesn't trust his voice at the moment.

Despite Clays' presence, Weps feels quite alone.

Clay can feel Weps sadness and so he moves closer, trying to get a better look at his face in the flickering light.

When he catches Weps' eyes he marks a tear track down his own cheek with a finger before pointing to Weps, leaving his hand hanging between them.

You're upset. What is wrong?

Weps grasps Clay's hand in his. "I was worried about you," he whispers. "The other day, I kinda felt I'd let you down."

Clay looks blankly at him for a second. Then he remembers.
He shakes his head firmly and then smiles at Weps.

No. No no, leaving was good.

"You sure?" Weps watches Clay's nod and smiles, letting go of his hand. "Good," he says softly, "as long as you're okay, then I'm okay."

Weps digs in his rucksack for another bottle of beer and offers it to Clay, his eyes returning to the ocean.

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.

"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.

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.

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?"

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.

"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..."

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?

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..."

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

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.

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.

After a couple of minutes, Weps sighs and lifts his head. He looks at Clay for a long moment and then leans up to kiss him softly on the mouth.

"Sorry," he whispers, his voice hoarse. "And thank you - you're a good friend..."

Weps gently pulls back from Clay, wiping residual tears from his face and throws a handful of sticks onto the fire. He breathes deeply, turning back to Clay with a shiver, and smiles. "You warm enough there?"

Clay shrugs a little. The air has gotten a bit cold.

I'm okay.

Then he reconsiders and moves closer again, holding out a hand.

On the other hand, it is a bit cold.

"Come here," Weps murmurs, grasping Clay's hand and pulling him close, tugging the other blanket around their shoulders. Clay feels good against him and he sighs softly, looking into the flames.

"I'm leaving here, Clay," he whispers into Clay's hair. "I have to go home to my son."

Clay remembers Orlando, trying to go home and not being able to. But then there was David who had no problems at all so he doesn't say anything. He just puts an arm around Weps and hugs him a little.

Weps returns the hug.

"I've found a way... I'm pretty sure I can get home; what I don't know is whether I can get back here - and that's what's worrying me..." He looks at Clay.

"Lie down with me - hold me," he whispers.

[locked to peter_weps_ince]

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