A Special Occasion, for eriel_prime
This is written for eriel_prime, and for a meme I recently participated in. ^_^
I hope you like it, hun.
A Special Occasion
Casey is not freaking out.
This is for the very good reason that there is absolutely nothing going on around him that is worthy of a freak out.
Candlelight? Soft, gentle, calming... nothing scary. Possible fire hazard, but nothing he can't handle.
Dinner? Well, it's the thought that counts, right? And takeout isn't really takeout if you get it out of the carton and on to real plates, anyway.
The others? Gone, thank every deity that has ever existed. All gone for hours at a page-to-screen filmfest two towns over, thank you Dominic, you mastermind. Fran had been in a tizzy for almost the entire two weeks since Dom had dropped a mention of seeing an advert in the paper. The insanity had spread to Lily, and between the three of them, they'd managed to cajole Theo out the door and into the jeep.
Casey glances upwards and mutters another soft "thank you" to whomever might be listening, and a plea for the rest of the night to go as well.
Which is why he is not freaking out. Everything is set, privacy, time, food, ambiance, it's all here except the guest of honor...
A door closes downstairs with a soft thud, and Casey lets out a breath. Think of the devil. Footsteps move towards the stairs in the kitchen, and a voice calls out.
"Anybody here?"
Casey tries to speak, but it comes out harsh and high. Which is ridiculous, because he is totally not. freaking. out. He swallows, takes a breath, and tries again. "Up here."
The steps are quick and sure up the stairs. R.J. crests the landing, and comes to a stop. He looks around the kitchen which is thrown into shadow by the two or three dozen candles, at the dinner lay out and ready on the table, and at Casey who is now feeling a little freaked out. This thing between them is still so young, so new, he's suddenly not at all certain that this is right.
R.J. keeps staring, and Casey feels is breath catch itself in his throat.
R.J. smiles.
Casey starts to breathe again.
"Happy Birthday."
I hope you like it, hun.
A Special Occasion
Casey is not freaking out.
This is for the very good reason that there is absolutely nothing going on around him that is worthy of a freak out.
Candlelight? Soft, gentle, calming... nothing scary. Possible fire hazard, but nothing he can't handle.
Dinner? Well, it's the thought that counts, right? And takeout isn't really takeout if you get it out of the carton and on to real plates, anyway.
The others? Gone, thank every deity that has ever existed. All gone for hours at a page-to-screen filmfest two towns over, thank you Dominic, you mastermind. Fran had been in a tizzy for almost the entire two weeks since Dom had dropped a mention of seeing an advert in the paper. The insanity had spread to Lily, and between the three of them, they'd managed to cajole Theo out the door and into the jeep.
Casey glances upwards and mutters another soft "thank you" to whomever might be listening, and a plea for the rest of the night to go as well.
Which is why he is not freaking out. Everything is set, privacy, time, food, ambiance, it's all here except the guest of honor...
A door closes downstairs with a soft thud, and Casey lets out a breath. Think of the devil. Footsteps move towards the stairs in the kitchen, and a voice calls out.
"Anybody here?"
Casey tries to speak, but it comes out harsh and high. Which is ridiculous, because he is totally not. freaking. out. He swallows, takes a breath, and tries again. "Up here."
The steps are quick and sure up the stairs. R.J. crests the landing, and comes to a stop. He looks around the kitchen which is thrown into shadow by the two or three dozen candles, at the dinner lay out and ready on the table, and at Casey who is now feeling a little freaked out. This thing between them is still so young, so new, he's suddenly not at all certain that this is right.
R.J. keeps staring, and Casey feels is breath catch itself in his throat.
R.J. smiles.
Casey starts to breathe again.
"Happy Birthday."