OOM: Getting on with it

[latino_menace]

The rest of Random's first day home had been spent with Martin, for the most part. Ramon had avoided any more talking about their time apart as much as he could, because he didn't think Random wanted to talk about it and couldn't think of anything to ask him that wasn't a question. So he'd kept things easy, insisted that Random sleep again last

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[underwater_owl]

He's joined by his lover very quickly, damp from the bath and wrapped up in his old, familiar robe. The one they stole together from the Cayman Islands

Random slips arms around him from behind and kisses his shoulder.

"Lover mine, sweet thing."

The words feel good to say again.

[latino_menace]

'Hey.'

Feels nice to hear them again. He attempts to keep chopping cucumber slices while Random's hanging on to him but frankly, the man's more interesting than the lunch.

'Where's the boy?'

[underwater_owl]

"Putting his kitty to bed."

Right on cue, a kitty-less Martin emerges from his room, because you can't eat with a stuffy, he's been told, and Random pulls away to scoop him up in his arms and spin them into the living room with a laugh.

They talk loudly, animatedly and lovingly to each other eventually settling on the couch for a quick story. From a cookbook, but that's Martin for you.

[latino_menace]

Ramon finishes a salad and shoves the sandwiches on to plates, trying not to listen to Random reading to the boy. He's glad that he doesn't have to do that any more, of course. It was hard, very hard, to try and care for a child when his father is off being unfaithful in order to create him.

But Martin will never know, he assumes. And it's done now and...

'Lunch is ready.'

They just have to get on with things.

[underwater_owl]

Martin shrieks and comes running, and Random follows, crashing straight into Ramon's arms as he comes through the door and kissing him as hard as he can, for a brief, searing second.

Then pulls away, with a gasp and a laugh, and picks up a plate to walk to the table.

"Thank you. Looks wonderful."

[latino_menace]

Ramon blinks in surprise, but isn't complaining.

'I'll be through in a minute.'

He lights a smoke because he's been dying for one for an hour. And he just wants another minute to himself, if he can get one.

[underwater_owl]

He can, yes. Random takes Martin through and doles out samwiches for everyone, though not without glancing worriedly over his shoulder at the door to see if Ramon's following.

"No, thank you, Martin, I don't like pickles very much, You can keep yours."

[latino_menace]

He leans on one of the counters in the kitchen, working slowly through a cigarette. It's just strange to him, after the two months he's been through, to sudden;y be immersed in the ordinary again. He can understand why Random would love it, after five months of living a charade. But he's more used to the alcohol-fuelled frenzy he's been living in, than the days of quiet lunches with your child, so it's a little strange to adjust back to.

But of course, having Random out there waiting...Ramon smiles. Makes it all worth it, to have him home.

So he leaves the kitchen and heads to his chair, stopping on the way to press a kiss to the back of Random's neck.

'Love you.'

And then, sandwiches. They're not bad. Not great.

[underwater_owl]

They're perfect and nothing will convince Random otherwise.

"Martin says you read him Lewis Carrol. Did you get to 'Jabberwock?'"

Because that's one of the best ones.

[latino_menace]

'Did I?'

A glance to the child for confirmation.

'I don't know, I just read what you left.'

He purposefully hadn't read 'Jabberwock' because it reminded him of the bike, and of the day before he went home to jail, when they walked in the snow and Random recited it to him. And also, because he's not talking gibberish for anyone.

'You have strange taste in poetry.'

[underwater_owl]

"I have strange taste in everything."

It's kinda true, he really does.

"He's going down in a few minutes." And then they can talk and be. "After Martin's nap, come frog-hunting with us?"

[latino_menace]

'True, you do.'

Another glance at the boy, who seems to be hopeful for a 'yes' answer to that question. And why rock the boat? He'd rather stay here but he's been stuck with the child for months, another afternoon won't hurt.

'Alright. You missed the frogs in Portugal, didn't you Martin?'

[underwater_owl]

That he did, obviously, given the happy babble. He's louder than normal, probably because Daddy's home, and daddy doesn't mind him being loud.

But eventually, he's scooped up and carried away from the table.

"Be right back," says Random, leading his son off for his nap.

[latino_menace]

The remains of his lunch are pushed away and he has another smoke, just sitting and...well, waiting, he supposes. It's hard, now, to remember what happened during the day when things were just normal.

[underwater_owl]

The minute Martin's down, he's out, and Random finds Ramon as quickly as possible and slides into his lap.

And, of course, steals the cigarette.

[latino_menace]

Well, of course.

It doesn't escape his notice that Random appers to be clad only in a bathrobe. Which prompts the comment,

'Haven't done your laundry after you trip yet?'

He's kidding.