InsaneJournal

Who: Renly Baratheon & Zevran Arainai
What: Catching Up
When: Backdated: Sunday, April 13th. Afternoon
Where: Renly's Beach House
Rating: Family Friendly
Status: Complete

Renly had been back in Orange County for three days now and had yet to start really unpacking. He hadn’t thought that being back in the beach house would be so bad, but it just reminded him of the fact that the last time he’d been there, it had been his and Loras’ and now Loras wasn’t there. Renly knew that he was also back in Orange County, but as much as he wanted to contact him, he knew he needed to give Loras his space and time. He held out hope that this break would be short lived, but he was going to respect Loras’ needs, which at the moment were to see if there was anything else out there for him.

Renly may not have started unpacking just yet, but he had started reaching out to his friends who were still in Orange County, starting with Zevran. Renly and Zevran had kept in touch after Renly and Loras had left and he’d let the elf know that he was coming back, but hadn’t told him about his and Loras’ break yet. He hadn’t told anyone about that. He’d texted Zevran that morning to make plans to get together so now he was currently waiting for his friend to come over.

Zevran was excited to talk with Renly about his life. His boyfriend was wonderful, his writing and directing career was taking off, and he’d helped save his friend’s life by impregnating her.

... okay, so life was good, but kind of messed up too.

He looked like the quintessential California beach bum when he rang Renly’s doorbell, wearing shorts and a button-down shirt with the buttons undone.

Hearing the doorbell, Renly answered, barefoot in jeans and a t-shirt, smiling when he saw Zevran, “Hey. Come on in.” He moved aside to let his friend in then closed the door behind him. It was nice to see him again and helped Renly to not feel quite so alone as he had the last two days since coming back, “You look good. I guess retirement looks good on you.” He still couldn’t quite believe that Zevran had retired from acting in porn.

“I am still working! Simply not the same sort of work.” Zev reached out to hug his friend, clapping him lightly on the back.

Renly hugged him back, chuckling, “Everyone must be so upset that they don’t get to see you naked on a regular basis anymore.” Still smiling, Renly pulled back. He had missed Zevran and was glad that he was still in Orange County, “Want something to drink?”

“I would, actually. You do not look as happy as you usually do,” Zev commented. “Are you all right?”

Was it really that noticeable? Sighing, Renly ran a hand through his hair then gestured for Zevran to follow him into the kitchen where he got two beers out of the fridge and handed one over to his friend, “Loras and I are on a break,” He fished a bottle opener out of the drawer, the kitchen being one of the only rooms he’d actually unpacked so far, then handed it over to Zevran as well before taking a swig of his drink.

Taking his beer, Zev shook his head. “Sometimes there is a need for this. It is better to be on a break than together and upset, no? See it as you are on vacation by yourself. If he returns to you, that is better than you two being together, resentful.” Because it was kind of obvious to Zev that Renly didn’t want to be on the break.

Renly sighed and leaned back against the counter, “I mean, I understand why he wanted this. We’re young; he’s only twenty now and he needs to make sure this is real. That it’s not just a result of the dreams.” As far as Renly was concerned, Loras was the only one for him, “And I don’t blame him for that either.”

“If it is, then he will return.” Zev smiled and shrugged. He half expected Alistair to have the same feelings eventually. “I hope my beau does not do the same.”

“I hope so too. On both counts.” Renly took another swig of his beer, “I just hope this doesn’t last long. I hate knowing that he’s here and not being able to just go see him.” Renly had missed Loras almost the moment the Knight of Flowers had confided in him that he wanted a break and he’d missed him every day since, “So, I still can’t quite believe that you’ve got a serious boyfriend. How’s it going with you two?”

“Between us? Well. Someone who is my fan is not pleased, they keep vandalizing his home and sending him threats.” Normally Zev managed to keep his voice very even and easy, managed to sound like he was going to crack a joke any moment. But at that moment, he sounded angry, and more than a little upset.

Renly’s brows rose as Zevran spoke then furrowed, “That’s horrible. Is your boyfriend alright?” Renly had been lucky, none of Loras’ fans had never done anything to him or them, but Loras and Zevran were in two very different professions, “Are there any leads on who it might be?”

“He is staying with me for the time being,” Zev sighed. He groused a little over his beer. “He does not deserve this. Also, his father is terrible and I wish to hit him. So that is ... the relationship is going well, but now it is awkward for a few reasons.”

Renly shook his head, “That’s awful. I hope they catch the person soon so that he doesn’t have to worry about that sort of thing.” Renly wasn’t sure exactly what he’d do if he had someone stalking him, but he sure as hell wouldn’t let it go on for an extended period of time without doing something about it, “What about it is awkward? Is it the living together part?” Renly knew how adjusting to living with another person could be a little awkward at first.

“His father is ... well. Not approving of his life,” Zev scowled. He tried not to speak too ill of the man that his boyfriend loved, but at the same time, Zev wanted to say that he was a homophobic asshole.

Renly nodded, “I know how that goes. I never actually came out to my father, because I knew he’d never accept me.” Renly was certain that Steffon either would have forced him to marry some daughter of one of his business partners or disown him and Renly hadn’t wanted either option, “Has he come out to his father?”

“Not at all. He moved here to get away from his father. From my understanding, he was the sort of man who would have planned Alistair’s entire life if Alistair had let him.” Zevran sometimes was glad that his father didn’t care about him.

“Sounds almost exactly like my situation with my father. I ran away the first time to get out of a situation like that.” Renly took a swig of his beer then gestured for Zevran to follow him outside to the deck, which overlooked the beach as well as the war tent that was still there. Renly had taken the important things that had come with the tent; the books and maps and other things from Westeros, when they moved, but now everything was back where it belonged inside the large tent, which he had shown Zevran not long after it had shown up last summer, “I take it, he’s happier away from his father?”

“Very much,” Zev beamed. “That is a situation I understand as well.” He wouldn’t have known his father if the man had stood in front of him in a lineup, but Zev knew he was happier without the man.

“He’s lucky to have you then,” Renly smiled and leaned on the railing of the porch, “Sounds like the three of us have something in common. Of course, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t regret seeing my father before he died.” Steffon had been in the hospital when he left England for California the first time and had died while Renly was in Orange County. “I’m sure having to deal with Robert and Stannis those last few months wasn’t the best way to spend them.”

“I do not know how my father fares,” Zev murmured. “He’s made it... very clear that he does not wish for me to know.” Sometimes, Zev wished he’d known his mother, but never his father.

Renly was silent for a moment then reached over and placed a hand on Zevran’s shoulder, squeezing reassuringly and deciding that it might be good to change the subject for a little while, “Hey, you realize that we met our here just over a year ago?” It had been about a month or so after Renly had gotten out of the hospital after the blue flu epidemic and he’d been running along the beach, trying to get his strength back up when he’d run past Zevran and having seen quite a few of his movies at the time, had recognized him practically right away.

“That is so!” Zev smiled brightly, shaking off the sadness as quickly as he’d acquired it. “How time flies. I am glad that you’ve returned. Truly.”

Renly smiled and nodded, “I’m glad I’m back too.” Now all he had to do was wait out this break with Loras and once the Knight of Flowers returned to him everything would be as it should be.