(Untitled)

[little_moons]

It was a good day. Busy and hectic and humiliatingly domestic, but a good day. By some fuckin' miracle, the girls slept 'til seven, and Mike and I were heading out the door to open up the restaurant while Tom was getting them up and dressed for the day. I spent the morning there, sitting behind the bar with an open textbook, then I made the walk up

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[out_of_realm]

Tom Hobbes was tired. He didn't have much reason to be, it wasn't a longer day than any other. The girls, ITF, a few minor projects around the house. Not anything unusual, but there was a tingle in his shoulderblades that told him pain would come with morning. He grimaced. He was getting to the age where it was a choice between giving up beer and being more diligent about running, and sometimes when it rained his right hip shot hot little slivers of pain through his thigh. That was Sarajevo, just saying hello across the years.

He was getting older. He guessed it had to happen sometime.

"You know," he said, dropping down into a low crouch by the edge of the pool and watching Neil with a slow smile. "I think I've seen you naked here more times than I have in our bedroom."

[little_moons]

Blinking water from my eyes and turning toward the voice, I break out in a playful grin, treading low in the water and drifting closer.

"You're a liar. We're not that much like an old married couple. Not yet."

[out_of_realm]

"Routine," Tom sighed, grinning and darting looks at the ghostly shimmer of Neil's legs beneath the water.

"I mean, it's a good routine," he added, falling back onto his ass to untie his shoes. "It usually involves you. Naked."

[little_moons]

"Routine," I say, barking out a laugh and arching a brow at him, "Seriously, are you trying to insult me?"

[m_pinocchio]

For a few minutes he just watches, the graceful curve of a back in the water, the angle of a shoulderblade, wet, dark hair. This is very familiar. Some kind of insanity had put them both right here what feels like forever ago, naked and swimming and trying to pretend to themselves and each other that they didn't both want the exact same thing.

And now no one has to pretend a thing.

He sits down on the bank, slips his bare feet into the water. "Always thought that was a good look for you."

[little_moons]

My lips quirk into a crooked grin before I turn to look at him, treading closer in the water but stopping when my feet graze the bottom.

"I dunno, I think it's my best look."

[m_pinocchio]

"Naked and wet? I don't think I disagree." He lifts one dripping foot and points with it, flashing a grin in the dimness.

"What's the occasion? Or did you just feel like looking your best?"

[little_moons]

"I dunno. I been here four years, today. I just felt like goin' for a swim," I shrug, "This used to feel like my waterfall, you know? I always came here when I wanted to think or whatever."

Swimming backward in the water, I motion for him with one hand and say, "You gonna get in or what?"

[the_beta]

Things are significantly better now than they were when he wandered out to the beach in the darkest part of the night--new house, fewer wayward friends to worry about--but Remus doesn't need nightmares or a debris-scattered hut to make him restless

[little_moons]

Halfway through pushing my jeans down, I let out a short burst of laughter, kicking them off the rest of the way and walking toward the water's edge.

"I know it's not the only dick you've ever seen, man. You don't gotta avert your eyes," I say, loud enough to be heard over the crash of the water fall, my own eyes rolling openly.

[the_beta]

"And yet, I would prefer to," he calls back, lowering his hand but not looking over until he sees Neil slip into the water from the corner of his eye. Once he deems it safe for his exasperated sensibilities, he wanders back over, standing next to the pile of clothes. "Are you often found stripping out of doors," he asks, caught between wry humor and the very serious need to make a mental note about straying off the path if Neil says yes.

[little_moons]

"I like swimming here," I mutter, rolling my eyes and drifting away from him in the water, "It feels good. You oughta try it sometime."

I can't really decide if I think this whole thing is funny or irritating. Mostly, I can't help but wonder how the fuck he survives, being that much of a prude, with somebody like Sirius Black around. Or maybe it's just my dick he finds offensive. Whatever.

[jdick]

"You ever wear clothes out here?" Joe asked as he caught sight of Neil swimming, pretty sure this wasn't the first time he'd come across this scene and probably wouldn't be the last. Joe wandered closer, Ozzy wagging her tail as she padded toward the pool and leaned in, whining as she tried to get Neil to pay attention to her. "'Cause eventually those girls are gonna get old enough to think it's kinda fucked," he added, grinning.

[little_moons]

"I forgot my bathing suit," I say, rolling my eyes and swimming a little closer, still submerged enough in the murky water that I'm not like, indecent or anything.

"Maybe they'll just grow up thinkin' it's normal. The only reason anybody freaks out 'bout nudity is 'cause they're taught to, right?"

[jdick]

"Yeah, I guess you got a fucking point there," Joe agreed with a laugh as Ozzy tried to lick Neil's wet hair. "But if everyone thinks it's normal, it's not fun to expose yourself anymore, because no one gets all up in fucking arms."

Christ, he'd loved doing that on stage.

[little_moons]

"I'm actually not tryin' to shock you, Joe, but that's sweet of you to think so," I laugh, rolling my eyes when my head gets knocked to the side by a forceful swipe of Ozzy's tongue. Reaching up to scratch behind her ears, I laugh when she dips one foot curiously into the water.

"I just don't like swimmin' in my jeans."

[gonewiththereap]

"Well, now," Daisy muses as she comes to rest at the edge of the rocks, peering without any shame at Neil as he enjoys himself. "Not a sight for children to see, but not exactly anything I'm too upset about glimpsing." She waves at Neil, a broad grin on her face at finding him in such a position. "How's the water?"

[little_moons]

"It's late. The little one's oughta all be in bed, shouldn't they?" I say, tipping my head back to look at her, treading lazily in the water and flashing her a grin.

"It's great. It's pretty much always great, isn't it?"

[gonewiththereap]

"I never know around here," Daisy says as she slips off her shoes and sits on the edge of the rocks to dangle her toes in. "Honestly. It's like they're little creatures of the night, shuffling around and surprising you out of nowhere, just like a horror film." She wrinkles her nose as her shoulders shudder. "Kids."

[little_moons]

"Yeah, Mack and Flo are so fuckin' blond, they do get this Children of the Damned look, every once and a while," I agree with her, grinning, mostly 'cause the idea of her being scared of kids isn't really surprising, but it is pretty goddamn funny.

"We at least keep ours on a pretty short leash. I think you're safe."