19 - More potassium than DMil's banana
*waves to everyone who is still around*
It's great to still see people prompting and writing :) We may have lost a few people on the way but we also had some new intake. Thanks for keeping this place alive!
Let's hope that conference season and the next election will help to pick up the pace a bit.
The ususal stuff:
1) All fills for prompts of ( Read more... )
It's great to still see people prompting and writing :) We may have lost a few people on the way but we also had some new intake. Thanks for keeping this place alive!
Let's hope that conference season and the next election will help to pick up the pace a bit.
The ususal stuff:
1) All fills for prompts of ( Read more... )
Andy sat down on the edge of the bed, groaning internally, and kicked off his shoes. “I’m impressed you remember that.”
Knowing that he shouldn’t (but alcohol never did his willpower much good), Andy allowed himself a long look at Ed, framed by the tiny hallway that lead from the door. He hadn’t replaced his suits since he’d been running, and they all fell baggy around the shoulders and stomach now. Andy found it strangely attractive, strangely curious to think of Ed gradually changing shape underneath his own clothes.
“I’m not sure I remember everything,” Ed said. “Do you want to snuggle again to see if anything comes back to me?”
Andy blushed, despite himself. “We weren’t snuggling,” he said. “You pulled me on top of you. Now, did you follow me in here to ask me something or to proposition me?”
“You’re not married,” Ed said, and sat down right next to Andy. Andy could feel Ed’s thigh pressing into his.
Andy looked at him, the suddenness of it startling him. “That was a statement, not a question. And a personal one at that.”
“I mean,” Ed clasped his hands together in front of him and shifted uncomfortably, “why aren’t you married?”
“Any number of reasons,” Andy replied, waving a hand dismissively. “I haven’t had time. I’m a politician, it’s not fair. And you’re not married either. So what?”
Perhaps it was unusual. They were both getting… old. (Andy didn’t feel it, except when he played football. He still felt twenty five years old, until he looked in a mirror.) Ed’s hair was greying madly, something he’d complained about the entirety of the time they’d spent changing for the match yesterday, when Andy had self-righteously averted his eyes from the sight his best friend stripping off his trousers. Andy had told him it made him look distinguished, something Sadiq and Steve had both laughed at. He never said he really thought, which was that it distinctly suited him.
“Look, just let me get this out before the Dutch courage wears off,” Ed said. “You’ve always said you don’t have enough time for a family.”
“Yes,” Andy said cautiously, really looking at Ed this time. Had he drank more than Andy had thought?
“I mean,” Ed looked away, then back, his expression tinged with fear. It was something Andy had rarely seen in Ed. “You’re attracted to women, right?”
“Ed,” Andy said, matter-of-factly, “I’ve had enough girlfriends for you to know I’m attracted to women.”
“Right,” Ed replied, shifting again on the edge of the bed, his thigh pressing more firmly into Andy’s. “Look, and you know I’m attracted to women too.”
“I remember you dating Yvette,” Andy said, more than slightly exasperated, more than half wondering where Ed was going with the whole conversation.
“But I’m not just attracted to women,” Ed finished.
Andy’s first reaction was to admire the way he had said it. It wasn’t blurted out like some seedy secret, but stated directly, Ed’s eyes locked on his.
Andy’s second reaction was to wonder what it meant for him and Ed. His third was to kick himself. This was his best friend opening up to him, something Ed Balls just didn’t do (unless it was about X Factor or Norwich, and they didn’t count). He could at least focus on Ed and what Ed was saying.
His mouth going dry, Andy searched for words. “That’s - well - good for you, mate,” Andy said. “I’m glad you could tell me.”
Then Andy waited for Ed to get up because, surely, there was nothing else to say. And despite the perfect timing, and the guilt in the pit of his stomach, Andy didn’t add anything that - well. It definitely wasn’t appropriate. He wouldn’t want to steal Ed’s limelight.
Ed was still looking at him, and Andy wondered if he was being insensitive. No one had ever came out to him before, not exactly. Was he suppose to give more praise? Was - oh Christ, was Ed going to say he was dating another man who wasn’t him?
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