Sequel

I wrote this after the chapter I'm about to put up for Partners. I really needed it. This comes before the Partner's chapter in the timeline though.

Read, Review and Enjoy.





The next morning Ashun picked Rel up. Rel was sore all over. But it was a good sort of sore. Perhaps that third time hadn’t been such a good idea. Rel shuddered at the memory, the good kind that was followed by a lovely little shiver. He didn’t bother putting on his shirt, knowing that he would be going right into a shower. He felt sticky and sweaty. Not the way he wanted to start his day.

When the elevator doors opened and Rel and Ashun stepped off of it, into Rel’s apartment, they found Muan in the center of the floor. Arms and legs outspread, mouth open and passed out. The Sidhe was laying in the middle of some sort of crafting explosion. Several half burnt, and empty, ice cream containers sat beside a pot that was filled with ashes. A bag of apples tucked right against one side, a bag of carrots under his head for a pillow.

Rel blinked at the mess and approached Muan. The Sidhe was usually up with the sun, and there it was, midmorning, and Muan was still out like a light. Obviously Muan had tried to keep himself busy with the crafts and the food and the fire. The television remote was in Muan’s still curled fingers.

For a moment Rel panicked, Muan wasn’t breathing. Then the Sidhe’s chest did a funny little puff upward. The way Rel’s did when he took a sighing breath after crying himself to sleep. Lovely.

Rel poked Muan’s arm with his toe and peered down at the male. Muan groaned and muttered something in Sidhe. Rel was fairly certain it was a name, not his name, and something about just a little more time. So Rel jabbed Muan’s arm in the same spot, not happy that the Sidhe was muttering someone else’s name in his half sleep state.

“Mnnnn,” in a whiny voice.

Mn? Like Muan had been Mm? Sister, mother… Rel jabbed Muan again and portrayed an angry female. Why female? Because he got the feeling it was a female that used to poke Muan awake.

Muan sat up, remote in hand as if he was going to use it as a weapon. The Sidhe locked eyes with Rel and looked around at the mess he had made and then back at Rel. Muan seemed dazed. A glance at the window and then back at Rel, as if trying to recall something.

“Muan.” Rel crossed his arms and gave the Sidhe a look.

Muan’s lip curled up in a snarl. The Sidhe thought for a moment, “sparkling shine shall be achieved!”

A commercial. For a cleaning product. Rel could even sing the jingle that went along with the commercial. Most children couldn’t list all six of the gods, couldn’t recognise the image of a god, but they knew the damned jingle to that cleaning commercial. Muan had really kept himself busy. Learning the language, crafting, burning things and gorging on fruits.

“Uhhuh. When?”

Muan looked puzzled, “we’ll be back after these messages?”

Rel stared at Muan for a long moment, not understanding what he meant. The Sidhe sighed, rubbed his face and pointed at Rel, then to the bathroom. Rel followed the pointing finger with his eyes and then growled at Muan.

“I do not smell that bad,” Rel snapped.

“Kind of do. Like sex and sweat,” Ashun muttered, poking Muan’s fire pot with her toe, “not just sex, but sex with someone besides him. Go wash. By the time you’re done, we’ll have this mess cleaned up.”

Rel sighed but collected a set of clothing and went to the shower. He washed everything twice, scrubbing at his skin as he muttered about damnable Sidhe and their stupid noses. Once dressed, he looked himself over in the mirror. A bit scruffy, but he didn’t really feel like shaving. Brushed his teeth, combed his hair and walked back to the living area.

The spot on the floor where Muan had been was clean. Everything was put away and Muan was sitting on the couch, cradling the bag of apples, watching the television. Sitcoms were not a good way to learn the language. Especially the commercial heavy ones that didn’t make sense to someone who actually spoke the language.

Rel took the remote from Muan and flicked to the movie channels. He clicked through until he found one that he liked, that happened to be intelligent and well worded, and then handed the remote back to Muan.

“Can I have an apple?” Rel asked as his stomach growled.

Muan shook his head, not looking away from the television set. Rel huffed out, then a thought occurred to him.

“Is Muan upset with me?” Another shake of the head, “so. Why not share the apples?”

“Mmmmine.” Muan muttered tightening his arms around them.

“Are you going to eat them?” Muan shook his head at Rel’s question, “because your teeth are sore?” A nod, “would you like me to make you an apple pie?” swirled eyes turned to Rel, curiosity and hunger wove around Muan, through the air and barely met Rel, “pie… eh. Crust and filling of apples and sweet stuff and-”

Muan shoved the bag of apples into Rel’s hands and stood eagerly, grinning as the elevator dinged and Raoh and Osht stepped off. A very dreamy looking Nave stepped off behind them, hand entangled with Uhwan’s hair as the male seemed to boast his abilities. Whatever that meant. Uhwan wasn’t broadcasting a specific boast, just a general, look at me, look what I have, pride and ego.

Back to routine. Parents all together once more, it was actually comforting to have the parents back after his night with Mik and Paw. As if the parents were a buffer and a barrier.

Or…

Because he and Muan could be together when the parents were around?

Dismissing the idea, Rel turned his attention back to Muan and shifted the apples from one arm to the other, considering when and how to make the pie. But the logic of it all said dessert, that a baked good was made for dessert. Like the cookies that first night, that had stretched over three days. Thus, the pie would be the same.

“For dessert,” Rel murmured, taking the bag towards the kitchen, “come on, back to routine for us.”


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