HEAL

19 -- REWRITE THE STARS

Please watch the video.  The lyrics are more than appropriate for their relationship at the moment, and especially in this chapter.  Enjoy ..... 

Warning  --  bxb

Today, Laurent was in a funk.  He didn't know why, well, he did, he just didn't want to admit to it.  He had been seeing Nathan, and everything was going well.  He was sweet, and kind and generous, and all those things in bed too.  He was a thorough lover, rough when Laurent wanted him to be, submissive when Laurent wanted him to be, kinky when .......  He was everything Laurent wanted, and nothing he needed.  Laurent needed a firm hand, someone to tell him home truths, truth to power, and all that.  Someone to challenge him when they thought he was wrong.  Someone to love him through his diva moments, but keep his wayward and self deprecating thoughts at bay.  An anchor, a rock, a safe place.  And Nathan was none of those things. Laurent was so used to being those things for Larry, he had completely lost sight of the fact that he needed those things, that person, too.  And he was starting to drift, just a little.

"Larry, got a minute ?"

"Sure."  Laurent was making lunch, just a sandwich, some chips and soda, Larry's favourite.  Of course.  See, the rock, the stabilizer.  Something constant and steady for Larry to cling to.  Even if it was only his lunch.

"We haven't spent much time together lately, just us.  You've been seeing a lot of Charlie .... "

"Yeah, I know.  Sorry.  Is that a problem ?"  Larry's look and tone was contentious, challenging almost.  

"No, it's not a problem. If you're happy, then I'm ...."

"But you're not, I can tell.  What's up ?"  Larry had most of his faculties about him these days, and Laurent didn't know if that was a good thing or not ..... no, of course it was.  Old Larry was almost back, minus the alcohol, drugs, and hoe's.  And surely, that was a good thing.  Laurent studied his face carefully, wanting to put a proposition to him.

"Wanna spend the day together sometime soon ?  Do what we used to do, just walk, talk, maybe take the coastal path, find a beach for a BBQ, you know.  What do you think ?"  A smile slowly crept across Larry's face. 

"Yeah, good idea !  When ?"

"Weather looks good tomorrow .... "

"Can't.  Charlie's class." 

"Can you not miss her class just once ?"  Laurent tried hard not to sound as snippy as he felt he had reason to be.  Larry just gave him .... the look.  The ---  don't try me  --- look, the --- just be happy with what you get ---  look.  See, the anchor, the stabilizer.  Larry was more Laurent's equal now, probably more than he'd ever been.

"OK, day after ?"  Laurent didn't want to seem like he was begging his brother, but it came out like that anyway.  Larry smiled.

"Day after tomorrow."

" Date, then."

"Date, then,"

==  ==  ==  ==  ==  ==  ==  ==  ==  ==  ==  ==  

"I forgot how gorgeous it is up here."  Larry flung his arms wide as he stood, too close in Laurent's opinion, to the cliff's edge, his face to the sun, the wind playing in his twists and pushing them from his face, making them dance.  It was a good hundred feet to the beach below, but the coastal path between Del Mar and Torrey Pines was old and well worn, and set back from the cliff edge somewhat.  Though Larry wanted to test Laurent's patience and protective brotherly instincts apparently.