OOM: one of a number of visits from Sam Linnfer

[isaysimplewords]

When Cal and Sam arrived from Milliways, they lost no time in hitting the shower: sand in the bed isn't much fun for anyone, after all.

So now the bottom of Cal's tub is finely coated with sand, but the bed is comfortably sand-free for post-coital lounging.

Comments

[isaysimplewords]

Cal blinks, refocusing on Sam.

He would, if it were up to him. It would be a relief. But he promised not to bring Bela's name into it, and Sam noticed that Bela didn't seem to like him too much the one time they met. it would be too easy to him to put the pieces together.

"A friend of mine is having some trouble," he says. "That's all I can really say."

[necessary_child]

Sam raises an eyebrow. If he had to guess, he'd guess Bela, but if Cal can't talk about it either way then there's not much point in a stab in the dark.

"Okay."

[isaysimplewords]

Cal shrugs a bit with the shoulder Sam is not resting on.

"I promised," he says.

[necessary_child]

He nods, sliding a hand into Cal's hair. His curiosity will have to be suppressed, for the moment.

"No problem."

[isaysimplewords]

Cal relaxes and smiles a bit, kissing Sam's forehead, then says,

"But let me know if you hear anything about any other worlds, okay?"

[necessary_child]

"Mmm." Sam curls closer. "Yeah."

[isaysimplewords]

Cal tightens his arm around Sam, kissing again.

"Thanks," he says softly.

Why did he put that off so long? That was easy. Not very helpful, unfortunately, but easy.

Of course, a lot has happened since he reacted so badly to Sam's telling him who he really was. Maybe it had to wait this long to be easy.

[necessary_child]

Sam wraps his free arm around Cal in response, wanting to be close.

(Cal might not be there for long, but he's there now. Maybe that's the important thing. Maybe.)

"You're welcome," he says, then, wryly: "Though I'm not too sure that I actually did something."

[isaysimplewords]

Cal responds in kind, pulling Sam closer.

"You did," he says. "And I know you'd do more if you could." That in itself counts for a lot.

[necessary_child]

"Of course." He kisses Cal's neck, breathing in the scent of him.

[isaysimplewords]

Cal closes his eyes, threading his fingers through Sam's hair.

"I would for you, you know," he says. "I mean. With - whatever. If I could."

To his mind, this is a pretty big if. It's not like Sam, what with the magic and immortality and all, doesn't have Cal completely outgunned before they even start.

[necessary_child]

"Mmm." Sam's voice is soft. "I know."

Except for the one thing that matters, and that he knows Cal can't be.

He shuts his eyes. "I know."

[isaysimplewords]

Never say never, where Milliways is involved.

(But Cal would say no, if given the choice.)

Cal continues to stroke Sam's hair, his eyes opening. He glances down at Sam, saying,

"Just thought I'd - say it. Out loud." Since he's not usually very good at that, when it comes to how he feels. And if Sam thinks that was merely an offer of theoretical future help, he wasn't listening closely enough.

[necessary_child]

(Sam wouldn't ask it; he knows better. But it doesn't stop him from wanting.)

Sam opens his eyes, looking up at Cal with a faint smile.

(And yes, he pays attention.)

"Yeah," he says again, "I know."

[isaysimplewords]

Cal smiles, coloring just a little bit.

"Because I don't - think I've said it before," he continues.

[necessary_child]

Sam laughs a little. "No. But you can say it again, if you like."

[isaysimplewords]

Cal knows perfectly well that this is his cue to say something like what Sam said before, but he doesn't know where to start, can't even begin to find the words. Confessing his darkest secrets was a snap in comparison.

So he says,

"I - would do whatever I could," and hopes Sam knows what that means.

[necessary_child]

Sam smiles. "I know," he says, leaning up to kiss Cal again. "Dork."

[isaysimplewords]

Cal smiles, exhaling a relieved little laugh.

"Yeah."

[necessary_child]

"So you admit it?"

AT LAST.

[isaysimplewords]

Cal gently smooths a bit of hair back behind Sam's ear. (It stays for half a second before falling back into its previous untidy position.)

"That depends," he says. "If I am, will you stop saying it?"

[necessary_child]

"...I'll think about it?"

He will, too! He might even stop... but only once he's settled on a replacement name.

[isaysimplewords]

"Yeah, yeah," Cal says. "I'll believe that when I see it."

Hear it. Whatever.

The way he kisses Sam indicates that he might not be too upset, though.

[necessary_child]

Sam is rapidly getting that impression.

He kisses back: Cal has a very useful ability to make him forget what he was angsting about, at least for a while.

[isaysimplewords]

Cal strokes Sam's cheek with the backs of his fingers, kissing him a little more softly than usual.

Which, obviously, is Sam's reward for reconsidering "dork," and nothing more.