driftfleet | We Lost Our Doctor and All We Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt

[Clay's never been good at reading subtle facial expressions, nor could he pick apart nervous tics like Apollo can. They're opposites that way, Clay not really adept at catching on to tones and inflections while Apollo was good at it. Apollo's neutral expression comes on and Clay can't read it. At least he's not intimidated by the glaring, never has been. But it's a little frustrating, not knowing what the other is thinking.

What he's saying, though... that makes Clay roll his eyes, then hang his head, visor hiding most of his face.]

You're right. You can't come back into my life like it's no big deal. [He lifts his head, a tired smile on his face.] Because you did, and it's a big deal. Astronomically big.

Do you know how much I missed you, man? [He sighs, broad shoulders dropping while he rubs at his upper arm.] I've been writing letters to you since I got here, even though I know they'd never reach you. It... makes me feel better. Makes it not hurt as much. Last time I wrote a letter? Just last week, a day before you got here. I must have... I don't know, a hundred now? All about what's going on here. It'd be like if Mars were taken out of the Milky Way system; sure, the system would find a way to work around it, but nothing would ever work the same way again.

[He looks at Apollo again, shoulders squaring once more.]

It might have been a year and a half for me, but that doesn't mean you're less important to me because of that, okay?

--!

[That's not what he expected at all, somehow. And Clay still managed to fit in a damn pun. His eyes are almost comically wide, blinking in surprise, just trying to picture the ridiculous image of Clay writing letters to no where. There's no postage in space, Clay!! A bout of silence as he matches Clay's stare, then he breaks it off, huffing slightly.]

You. . .you're a big dork you know that? All that paper wasted.

[Damnit, he's going to cry again, he can feel it. Suck it in, Justice!! He swipes his arm across his face to catch it before it gets too bad, and he slumps, sliding a bit down his door. Why does he even bother trying to argue with Clay; the guy's just too straight forward, honest.

Like Apollo just said. . .there's no reason to ever doubt him.]

Fine. Fine! If it were anyone else, I'd wonder if they were just trying to spare my feelings.

Still, best friend or not, you've got an entire crew to look after. I bet they're practically family now--it's just like me and the agency back home. Even if I'm here, your crew, your duties, they should always come first. Alright?

Alright, alright!

[Clay slides down his place on the wall too, drawing his knees up as he sits beside Apollo.]

You're right, the crew's the most important thing to me here. Heck, that's why I haven't moved in with - uh. [Wait. He hasn't even talked about Allen yet. Clay gives a sheepish little laugh as he swipes at the band-aid on his nose.] Why I haven't moved to any other ship! They're the best crew I could ask for!

[It's like back home with him, too. Apollo is and always will be his best friend, but his astronaut duties came first as well. He got extremely busy doing astronaut work in the last year of his - his life, so they couldn't meet in person as much. But still, he did his best to find time for Apollo, because he was also incredibly important to him.]

But that doesn't mean I can't find time for you, you know? If you decide to stay here, I mean.

[Woah son what the heck was that just now. He doesn't need his bracelet to catch it, and it's more than enough to distract him from his own insecurities. He shoots Clay a curious look, eyebrow raised.

It takes him a moment to process what Clay says afterwards--and once again, he's not surprised. Both of them lead busy, hectic lives, and a space opera is bit like some well deserved (but unwanted) downtime. Of course they could make time to hang out if they wanted. Apollo just doesn't want Clay to feel obligated to do so.

Not that Apollo will outright say that. Besides, now, all his mind is set on is figuring out what Clay's trying to brush aside.]

. . .mm. I'll think about it. Thanks, Clay.

But ah, wasn't there something you were itching to tell me? I'm taking a wild guess here, but it sounds like it involves someone else.

[And - oop. Caught. Clay lets out a sheepish laugh as he runs his hand through his hair, a blush creeping up on his cheeks.]

I can't get anything past you, huh?

[Apollo's good at doing this, and it doesn't help that Clay is a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad liar. Keeping secrets? Sure, he's great at that, it's one of the reasons Director Comsos picked him to be involved with the secret mission. But Allen was no secret, and Clay never wanted to treat it as such.]

Well, it's one of the things I want to tell you. [He looks at Apollo then, still blushing a little, but clearly looking pretty happy.] His name's Allen. He's my boyfriend.

. . .

[There is a long, loooong wide eye stare when Clay says that. Apollo's prety good at processing information, but it seems like this is taking a while to settle.]

You. . .

You have a BOYFRIEND? Aaaah--!

Wait, HOLD IT!

[Apollo's on his feet, and practically slams his door open. He then reaches down, eagerly tugging Clay inside.

The room's scarcely furnished, understandable since he hasn't been here that long. Clay's older, tattered jacketed is neatly folded on a corner of the bed, along with some papers. Apollo's already started taking notes on things.

BUT WHO CARES ABOUT THAT.

Apollo closes the door behind them, and looks to Clay with big, serious, inquisitive eyes. With the trainwreck of cases and mysteries, Athena settling into the firm, and Clay being so busy, he hasn't had a chance to gossip and talk about trivial stuff like this in ages. Sure, he and Prosecutor Gavin would hang on the rare occassion, but it was strictly business more often than not. But now, he has a chance to talk! Like a normal person! ABOUT CLAY'S LOVE LIFE OF ALL THINGS! This is true nostalgia, he feels like he's back in high school.

Grinning wide, Apollo backs off, arms crossed, eager for information.]

Okay, start from the top. I have to know how the Captain landed a new first mate!

[You know, at first, Clay was getting a little worried at that long pause. His smile starts to falter a bit as he realizes: the last time he had a boyfriend - or any relationship, really, it went south quickly and badly. Apollo even had to step in to end it. It took a while for Clay to recover from it, and he never had an interest in romance after that. Now here he is again, although this one's going infinitely better. How would Apollo take it...?]

[... VERY WELL, APPARENTLY.

Clay can only let out a yelp of surprise as he's practically yanked into Apollo's room, door shutting behind them to give them some privacy. Before addressing Apollo, Clay looks around at the room - barely furnished, of course, Clay was expecting that. And he's taking notes already - ha, that's his best friend all right. But there's his jacket there... he'd seen Apollo wear it when he first saw him arrive on the Marsiva. And Clay himself is wearing it too, the gift he'd gotten from the Giving Tree back on the hand-holding planet, though it looks much newer and in better shape.

... Though honestly, he's kind of just still recovering that reaction there. Wow.]

[And when he finally does take in Apollo, grinning like that with wide, curious eyes, arms crossed as usual... it makes Clay laugh, the loud and earnest laugh he usually does, hands finding their way to his hips. This right here, this was just like old times! Before their lives became a whirlwind of court cases and astronaut training, when they'd stay up all night and talk about everything and nothing at all and never grew tired of it. And god, has he ever missed it.]

Technically, he's not my first mate! All the ships can have a captain and a first mate, and he's on a different ship, so he can't be mine.

[But the nature of his smile indicates that he's just teasing there. Time to get more serious.]

Would you object if I told you I met him on a blind date?

[Apollo snickers, feeling as if they were both back home, in one or the others apartment chatting up a storm. Even if they're in the void of space, as long as conversations like this can happen. . .you know, he's pretty fine with it. Even with Clay being a smartass.]

Very funny, you know what I meant!

[He brings a hand to his chin, feigning a thoughtful look. A blind date? Now that's adventurous, especially given Clay's past relationship hiccups. He shakes his head.]

. . .It's not that I'd object, but more that I'd yell why would you go on a blind date?! Obviously it worked out for the best, but what even prompted it?

[Clay snickers at that; yeah, he was surprised at himself at the time too, given his past relationships, but Apollo's right, it did work out for the better. He holds the brim of his visor as he glances up, then sways a bit, as if thinking back on that moment.]

Well, you see, I met him before, but only through the comm device. Like how I talked to you when you first showed up! I was talking to his best friend one day, Ino, and she told me he thought he was undateable. [He looks at Apollo then, gesturing with his hand a bit.] I mean, isn't that a really sad way to think? So I decided to prove him wrong and go on a date with him! ... That the best friend set up.

[And his hands go back to his hips while he gives a big smile.] We connected like the Earth and the moon, and we haven't stopped dating since!

..............so you went on a date basically to try and give him some confidence? That is the most you thing I've heard in a long while.

[Of course that's what would get Clay on a blind date, of course. It's so ridiculous it's endearing. Apollo shakes his head with feigned exasperation.]

But it all worked out in the end. Just what is he like to make you bust out the sappy space similes?

We Lost Our Doctor and All We Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt

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