Minho (trustyourgut) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2019-06-04 19:53:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, caleb danvers, pogue parry |
Who: Pogue Parry & Caleb Danvers
What: Pogue can't sleep and a discussion in underwear takes place
Where: Caleb's apartment
When: Monday AM
Rating: PG13 for language
Status: Complete
Pogue's body clock was completely and utterly messed up but that was to be expected given that he'd been as far from the States as he could get and timezones were a bitch so when the rest of Los Angeles was sleeping Pogue was wide awake. He was doing his best not to bother Caleb as he knew his friend needed to sleep given that he had an actual job and was doing something with his life whereas Pogue was still trying to figure his shit out. Rationally he knew he shouldn't be as bothered as he was by his father's death given their relationship and the fact he'd emancipated himself when he'd been younger but it had still struck him like a meteorite crashing into him from space.
He blew out a breath as he tossed the blanket off and rose away from the couch that he was currently crashing on, moving into the kitchen where the only light was from the refrigerator as he ducked into it to rummage out some orange juice. Better that than coffee or any other alternative that might keep him awake for longer and now he needed a glass because he wasn't a complete neanderthal.
"Glass, glass, glass," he muttered to himself as he rummaged through the different cupboards.
It still felt surreal to Caleb that Pogue was actually in the same country as him after so many years apart. It was stirring up a lot of feelings that Caleb honestly wasn’t sure what to do about it. They had time though to figure things out and Caleb was just trying to help Pogue get adjusted to being back in one place right now instead of off gallivanting where the wind took him. Having someone else in his place made him a bit of a light sleeper, so when he heard Pogue getting up and wandering about. He gave himself a moment to try to go back to sleep, but it didn’t work, so he threw off the covers.
He was clothed in only his boxer briefs and made his way into the kitchen area with a smirk as he heard Pogue muttering to himself. He came to rest against a wall facing into the kitchen and crossed his arms over his chest. His expression was still a little sleepy and his hair mussed as he called out to him, “Two cabinets to your left.”
Well, shit. In spite of his best intentions he’d waken Caleb up anyways. His head turned to catch a glimpse of his half asleep best friend and there was a definitely a moment where his gaze lingered a little more south than it should before it finally came to rest on his face.
“Thanks, man. Didn’t mean to wake you.” He leaned to the left and reached up to the cabinets in question, securing himself a glass then pouring out a generous amount.
He like Caleb wasn’t exactly dressed for company given the expanse of skin on show but then Pogue had never been exactly shy.
Caleb was used to seeing Pogue in basically nothing, and sometimes in nothing, thanks to their time as roommates at school and being part of the swim team, but it had been years. Years that changed Pogue physically and Caleb couldn’t help but want to stare at his best friend and see the changes that he had missed in person. It was weird when you knew someone for so long, watched them grow up alongside you, and then they disappear and you don’t really know this new person yet. Caleb could see the old Pogue in there, but he also needed to discover the new Pogue.
“It’s totally fine,” Caleb said in a yawn as he reached up to run a hand through his hair and mess it up even further, “I got those new job jitters still. I feel like someone is going to figure out I shouldn’t be an intern and kick me out of the museum.” It was a stupid thing to be nervous about, but Caleb couldn’t help it. He would be fine after a few more weeks, but for now he was constantly on his best behavior at work to prove himself.
What Caleb was thinking and feeling was an exact replica of what Pogue was thinking and feeling. He knew that things weren’t the same as they had been before he’d left but honestly he had really needed to because his dad’s death had totally screwed him up and his mom definitely wasn’t winning any mom of the year awards.
He flicked his tongue over his lower lip and then smirked as he put the glass to one side, closing the distance between him and Caleb before promptly lifting his hand to thread into and smooth down those errant dark locks of his.
“You need to remember that you’re awesome and you’re totally going to kick ass. If they don’t want you then screw them Caleb they don’t know what they’re missing out on but…” he trailed off and gave a confident smile. “That won’t happen because you’re going to kill this internship.”
A heat flashed in Caleb’s eyes when Pogue’s tongue came out and then suddenly he was there in front of him and his hand was fixing his hair. His words made him blush and he definitely felt grateful that Pogue was here to say things like that help boost up his confidence. That was the best part of having friends; people that automatically want to help build you back up and support you in everything you did.
“Back only a few days and telling me to stop freaking out over stupid things. Thanks, Pogue. I think I really needed to hear that and the reminder that you’re secretly,” he reached out to gently tap his fingers on Pogue’s bare chest over his heart, “a person with a heart. Who knew.” He gave him a smirk and a wink.
Pogue drew in a slow calming breath as Caleb reached out to tap his fingers against his chest, grateful that in spite of the electricity which resulted from the touch his skin wasn’t in fact giving him away. There were small mercies in the world after all.
“Oh ha ha real funny, Caleb.” He smirked and lingered for a moment as his gaze caught and held his friend’s though then he caught himself before he went and did something stupid, clearing his throat and moving back to grab his glass of juice.
His shoulders lifted. “I have heart when it matters.”
There was a moment that passed between them and it took a lot of willpower on Caleb’s end to not grab Pogue for a kiss. It was painful, but he wasn’t sure how to approach that right now or if Pogue even wanted anything like that. There had been times in the past, but enough time had passed to prevent Caleb from knowing exactly what to do.
“That is very true. I am seriously glad you’re back,” Caleb moved around Pogue to grab some bread and put it in the toaster and then grab a jar of peanut butter, “We’ve missed having you around to bother. You don’t know how exhausting Reid can be when you’re the only voice of reason.”
Pogue scrubbed his fingers through his hair and turned his head to watch Caleb as he moved around the kitchen. “Oh, I have an idea. Reid’s like the duracell bunny, he just keeps on going.” And he really did, he never really knew when enough was enough and he should just stop. “But I am back so I’ll do some heavy lifting as far as Reid goes.”
“It’s not like I have anything better to be doing with my time at the moment.”
And he really didn’t but he should probably get on to that, figure out what he could do in LA that didn’t involve crashing on Caleb’s couch like the homeless jobless mooch that he was.
“That’s a very accurate description. He doesn’t stop and just wants to keep pushing buttons sometimes,” Caleb gave a nod as he agreed with Pogue. It was probably the best way to accurate describe Reid. He loved his friends, but Reid was the most trying of the group and he continued to be in his dreams, “And thank you. You’re definitely my favorite.”
“Are you wanting to do anything now that you’re back? I mean you don’t have to do anything now, give yourself time to adjust to being back, but you’ll probably get bored. I can always ask Magnus and Alex if they have an opening if you want to work at the club,” it was the least he could do. Pandemonium was a decent place to work and wasn’t too stressful for Pogue, “And if you plan on sticking around for a while we can look for a place with two bedrooms…”
Oh yeah, Reid did love pushing buttons. Caleb’s especially it would seem. Then Caleb had sort of appointed himself the “dad” of the group and Reid didn’t really respond to authority figures very well, never had. Pogue could understand it to some degree given his own issues with guys in positions of power but he was a little less crazy than Reid so that helped. “Your favourite, huh?” He grinned over his glass at Caleb. “I’m gonna tuck that away for a rainy day.”
Honestly he had no clue, he had a bunch of skills and talents, but he literally had no idea about what he wanted to do with his life.
“I mean if you could that would be great, a good place to start and then I can figure out… whatever the hell it is I want to do.” He lifted an eyebrow at the remark about finding a place with two bedrooms and readily nodded his head. “Yeah, that would make sense. I’m not planning on going anywhere.”
“Yeah yeah, don’t let it go to your head,” Caleb rolled his eyes as he pulled the bread out of the toaster, placing it on a plate, and spreading peanut butter on it, “I mean I could pick Tyler as my favorite pretty quickly. He pretty much goes along with things.” He glanced over at Pogue to give him a smile.
“I definitely will. It’s pretty easy work being a bartender, but it at least gives you something to do while you figure it out. And you don’t have to make any decisions right away about things, don’t stress over it,” He wiped the knife off with his finger and placed it in his mouth to lick the peanut butter off. He paused briefly at Pogue’s comment and raised an eyebrow. He removed his finger, “Really?”
“Please,” Pogue returned easily and with a pointed expression. “You’d get bored after a while if there was nobody around to challenge you on things.”
He had been about to comment on the whole not stressing out thing but then Caleb was putting the peanut covered knife in his mouth and licking it off. Honestly something in Pogue’s brain short circuited and it took a blink or two for him to realise that he was staring and not saying anything.
“Yeah, really.” He knocked back the juice and turned away to rinse out the glass. “I’ve done my traveling, worked a lot of shit out of my system, and now I’m back home where I belong.”
“I might,” Caleb commented thoughtfully. He would have to think about that, but Pogue was probably right. He did enjoy being challenged by his friends and it wasn’t the worst thing in the world.
“That’s the best thing I’ve heard all year,” Caleb admitted with an honest smile, “I know you have a lot to still work on, but I think we’re all really glad that you’re here to stay. You do belong here and I think we can all agree that California has better weather than Ipswich.”
Pogue smiled and gave Caleb a nudge in the side. “Well, that’s good. Was worried you might have forgotten all about me.”
“Hell yeah it does.” Pogue was definitely going to enjoy the good weather, maybe hit up the beach and catch some waves. He still had his swimming trunks in his luggage and even if he didn’t he could always go out and get some new ones if he needed to.
“Think I’m gonna hit up the beach soon.”
“No one can forget you, jerk,” Caleb reached over to mess up Pogue’s hair with a laugh.
“Definitely go hit it up today. It should be a nice day out and if you want to try surfing I think there’s usually a surf report online you can check. We’re not too far from the beach,” Caleb went to the beach occasionally, but he usually needed some pushing to get out there. He could be convinced to be more of a beach bum if it involved watching Pogue out on the waves. He lifted a piece of toast to his mouth to take a bite.
“Hey!” Pogue mock protested as Caleb messed up his hair and he quickly slid his fingers into it in a weak attempt at a) getting it back under control but b) and most importantly to dispel the sensation of how it felt to have Caleb’s fingers in his hair.
He stepped away from the kitchen to cross over to where his luggage was, coming down into a crouch beside it easily enough before he rummaged through. “Uh, slight problem. I think I might have left my swim trunks in another country.” Ugh, he was totally going to have to brave the mall. “Guess that means a trip to the mall for me.”
“Well that sucks, but that also means you probably delighted some girl with the skinny dipping move,” Caleb commented with a laugh as he finished up his piece of toast, “There’s a mall not too far from here and a bunch of surf shops closer to the beach. Not sure if you can properly handle the mall just yet.” There was something about southern California and their malls, they were a bit more intense than most places.
Pogue made a mental note of both those things, figuring the sooner he got his trunks the better. More chance of actually getting on this surfing kick and he’d always wanted to be close to the ocean so all in all it worked out quite well.
“I think I’ll hit up the surf shops in that case if the mall is that crazy.”
Maybe he’d drag Tyler and Reid along or maybe he’d go it alone, get a feel for things first.
“Wait until you seen these teenage girls with unlimited credit cards. They are like piranhas in high fashion outfits,” Caleb teased, but it was kind of accurate. They wandered around the mall in packs and came out with their arms covered in bags. Caleb couldn’t believe the kind of spending people did around here even as someone who came from wealth. He never saw the reasoning behind it. He placed the second piece of toast in his mouth as he moved to rinse off his plate and put it in the dishwasher.
“Anything else on your California bucket list?”
Pogue’s facial expression at the thought of that was priceless. It had been bad enough when he’d been dating Kate and she’d insisted on dragging him around the mall at the height of its insanity on a Saturday afternoon. Never again, he’d vowed, never again. “That honestly sounds like the thing of nightmares.”
He came back up onto his feet and rubbed a hand through his hair. “Uh, not sure to be honest. Gonna rely on you and the others to let me know what’s worth doing and seeing here in California.” The nightlife he imagined must be pretty epic and would definitely have a leg over Ipswich. “I mean going out with you guys on the town is definitely gonna be a thing that happens.”
“It totally can be. And alright, sounds like you’re pretty open. I think we can come up with something. Tyler will insist that you get yourself an annual pass to Disneyland though. He’s lowkey obsessed with the place and honestly, it’s kind of fun. You gotta have a dole whip,” Caleb was still chuckling over the first time Tyler showed them that he got an annual pass for Disneyland. Honestly Caleb was still surprised he didn’t try to be a prince at the park, “And don’t worry, we’ll get an awesome bar crawl night figured out for you. We’ll raise holy hell on this place.”
Pogue snorted quietly at the admission that Tyler would insist that he get an annual pass to Disneyland because that did not surprise him in the slightest. “I bet he pretends like he totally didn’t rush to get some of the first ones they released.” But Pogue would do it, grab a pass that was, especially if it meant hanging out with his friends.
He grinned at the mention of a bar crawl night. “I’m definitely going to look forward to that. I mean, what’s a welcome back to the US Pogue without some holy hell?”
“I think he went to go one the moment we landed down in California. I think he secretly wants to play one of the princes,” Caleb could definitely see Tyler being a prince at Disneyland. He had that perfect pretty boy look that would make the girls swoon that came to take pictures.
“Exactly, the OC has no idea what’s about to happen with all of us together,” Caleb finished eating his piece of toast, “I’ll get Tyler and Reid to help me plan something and you can just bring your poor liver along for the ride.”
Pogue chuckled and gave a further grin as he folded his arms across his chest. “Bring it on. Though I am sorry for waking you, wasn't the intention when I went looking for something to drink.”
He was still learning his way around the apartment but once he had the layout down Caleb wouldn’t even know that he was there. He’d gotten pretty good at moving around quietly as he’d worked out a long time ago that if he did that then his dad wouldn’t notice him.
“Oh I know, it’s totally fine. My apartment isn’t that sound proof, so it’s easy to hear what’s going on. At least now you know where the glasses are,” Caleb teased as he made his way into the living room closer to Pogue, “I’ve gotta get going, but I’ll be back in a few hours. Did you wanna meet up and do something after I’m finished?” He was open to planning something tonight and felt kind of guilty that he had to go about his normal life and not just spend all his free time with Pogue.
As if he had psychic powers Pogue shook his head. “Don’t worry about me, Caleb. You have your life here and I didn’t come back to fuck that up or interrupt anything you’ve got going on.” Whatever that might be. Pogue could be mature. Hopefully. Maybe. Maybe not. Only time would tell. “I’ll find something to keep me busy.”
He did nod a moment later.
“But doing something after you’re finished sounds good.”
“Well, I do worry about you. You just got back and I wish I could spend more time with you,” it wasn’t feasible thought because it was so last minute. He knew Pogue was capable of finding something to do, but was definitely going to do something with him later. Reid and Tyler were also available, but Caleb would probably text Pogue every opportunity he could to check up on him. “Perfect, think about what you want to do or else we can meet up for dinner or something.”
He smiled at the admission from Caleb. It was nice, to know that despite the time that had passed he still wanted to hang and worried about him.
Pogue nodded his head. “Will do but I can always go for food, you know that.” His appetite was as voracious as his thirst for life and all its experiences.
Though he should probably try and get some sleep and he jerked his thumb over his shoulder towards the couch. “I should try crashing out again before I loose myself on LA.”
"Oh trust me, I know never to take you to a buffet," they had made that mistake back in high school and got kicked out of a couple buffets because they took forever to eat and ate a lot. It was still a fond memory that made Caleb laugh, "Definitely get some more sleep. Feel free to text me if you get bored." He flashed a smile at his friend as he made his way to his bedroom to get ready.