AU week

[runningred]

{from here}

Jay's room hasn't changed much. Even if it is a little tidier than usual. Blame it on the fact he hasn't been around much lately. Workbenches, gear lockers, couches, TV, bed. The bar has kindly added a private gym with some serious equipment in a room off to one side.

He reaches under a bench and clears out a couple of cardboard boxes for Rocky to play in. He finds a small greenish ovaloid hiding under one. "I thought you lot had grown out of camping in here?" He blows on the thing and it lights up, glittering like a giggle in lights. "Make yourself useful and keep an eye on the cat please? His name is Rocky."

The thing squeaks a sound almost like Rocky and buzzes over to investigate the cat.

Jay chuckles and unpacks the picnic, looking for his corkscrew. "That's a Hive Drone. In fact, that's one of the juveniles - George. He'll keep Rocky company." He gestures to the couch, "Make yourself at home."

Comments

[runningred]

"Shit, sorry darling." Jay tightens his arm around Emcee's waist.

[i_am_your_host]

He shrugs.

"It is what it is. I don't blame him. And I don't dwell on it. But if you do see him some time, tell him I said hello."

[runningred]

Jay shakes his head and give Emcee a little squeeze. It makes him furious but he can't do anything about it.

He covers his anger by helping himself to a bite from the plate. "Well, I'm glad to see you." Even if Eric is a dick.

[i_am_your_host]

"I know," he says softly, his smile faint but sincere, as he rubs the back of Jay's neck. He felt the twinge of indignation on his behalf, and it's sweet of him to feel that way.

Still, Emcee bears no ill will toward Eric. Life is too short for that.

"Come to bed with me?"

[runningred]

"Gladly." Jay smiles, giving Emcee a little hug before getting up. He packs the last of the nibbles away so Rocky doesn't make himself sick eating all the cheese.

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee gets up as well, sets his folded glasses on the bedside table, and settles down on the mattress with an inadvertent yawn. Wine goes to his head much quicker these days, and if he's not in party-throwing mode he succumbs to the only other alternative. Sleep.

He yawns again as he stretches out.

"Oof. Forgive me, darling, but that was very good wine."

And he'd had quite a bit of it.

[runningred]

"Only the best for you." Jay smiles, getting ready for bed himself. "There's a spare toothbrush by the sink for you. Do you want something to sleep in?"

[i_am_your_host]

He shrugs as he gets up and makes his way to the bathroom.

"It doesn't matter," he says, keeping the door open.

"Unless you have a pair of shorts or pajamas or something."

[runningred]

"I'm pretty sure I can find something that'll fit you." He calls back, fishing a pair of shorts that should stay on Emcee's narrow hips.

He turns down the bed and sprawls, waiting for Emcee to join him.

[i_am_your_host]

After a while, Emcee emerges from the bathroom having brushed his teeth and washed his face and pulled himself together. Like he always does.

He can't help a smile because oh he's definitely missed seeing Jay sprawled out on a bed.

He changes out of his jeans into the shorts. They're a bit loose, but he's not concerned, as he lays down beside Jay and bodily rolls over into his sprawl.

[runningred]

Jay huffs and laugh as Emcee lands against him. "Hello you." He steals a slow, soft kiss.

[i_am_your_host]

He smiles against Jay's lips.

"Hallo yourself," he murmurs, as he settles in beside him.

"I've missed this. I've missed you."

A pause.

"Except now you make me feel like a dirty old man," he adds with a smirk.

[runningred]

Jay chuckles and kisses him again, settling with his arms loose around Emcee and the blankets pulled up. "How about I promise not to call you Daddy?"

[i_am_your_host]

He barks a short laugh. "That's a good deal," he says, giving his arm a squeeze.

"And I promise not to call you my boytoy. You always meant more to me than that. I hope you know that, darling, don't you?"

[runningred]

"I know, love. Always have. Even when you were in a headspace to say it."

Jay chuckles and nuzzles Emcee's throat. "Doesn't mean I'm not happy to be your toyboy."

[i_am_your_host]

"Life is too short to not say what you mean, when you mean to say it," he sighs, closing his eyes with a faint smile.

At least that's what age has taught him. And surviving almost certain death.

[runningred]

Jay nods and strokes Emcee's back in silence for a moment. "I love you. Always have, always will. I know you know that but... I never said it enough. Given how much it use to freak you out."

[i_am_your_host]

He blinks open his eyes, a faint but thoughtful furrow to his brow, before he touches his forehead to Jay's and reaches up to cup his cheek.

"I love you, too, darling. Don't doubt it for a second."

He sighs, stroking his thumb back and forth over Jay's cheek.

"I think I was just-- afraid of the permanence of it, once it was said aloud. Like goodbyes. I hated saying goodbye, still do. Love and goodbyes are supposed to be forever, and I was never much good with keeping promises on that level. Now I've come to terms with the realization that-- well, it's all right if I can't."

[runningred]

"I understand." Jay turns to press a kiss to the pad of Emcee's thumb. "That's why I've never pushed it with the younger you. I haven't been very good at dealing with those sort of things myself at times." Before his death, certainly. Or more before his time with the All Caste.

[i_am_your_host]

"The younger me," he repeats with a chuckle and a sigh. "Was there ever a time when I was such a thing? It feels like so long ago yet sometimes, oddly enough, just yesterday. The years play tricks with me and make me wish I were still young and pretty and foolish. --Well, I still am an old fool, but I've earned the right to be," he adds with a smirk.

[runningred]

"You're still very pretty." Jay teases, kissing a line down Emcee's neck.

[i_am_your_host]

He snorts a giggle that still sounds very much like the laugh of his youth.

"Oh, I don't know about that," he says modestly, as he runs his fingers through Jay's hair.

[runningred]

"Well, I do." He grins, kissing the hollow of Emcee's throat in a playfully undemanding way. "You're beautiful."

[i_am_your_host]

"And you," he says, with a kiss to Jay's forehead, "are very kind."

He must admit, the touch of Jay's lips on his skin rouses something deep within him that he's never forgotten. But time has changed him. And he wants Jay to remember him the way he used to be.

[runningred]

Jay takes that as a polite dismissal and settles back to cuddle comfortingly with his arms around Emcee. "I'm a terrible scoundrel."