[CLOSED] the ghost of what we used to be.

[ryan leonardo matson]

Ryan sighed, staring down at his lap. He curled up quietly on one side of the loveseat, yawned a bit. He cracked his neck, closing his eyes and running his figers absently over a scarred wrist before it fell still. He was trying to decide.

[thomas 'clae' claeton booker]

The house was dead silent until Paislee screamed.

"Paislee! Stop that!" Clae exclaimed, and she pointed to a black splotch on the counter. She scrambled off the stool, running over to Ryan. She scrambled into his lap, wrapping her arms tight around his neck.

"Bug.." She cried, and Clae held up a raisin.

"No. Raisin, you messy eater." He said, and threw it at her. She flinched, holding on tighter to Ryan.

"No, bug." She told him.

[ryan leonardo matson]

Ryan jumped, glancing at Dyson when he cried out, cringing at the sound, but didn't wake. Ryan hugged her tight. "It's okay baby..." He murmured softly, rubbing her back. "It's not a bug." He patted her head, kissed her forehead gently. "And even if it was, daddy saved you," He teased, tickling her sides gently.

[thomas 'clae' claeton booker]

She giggled, trying to push his hands away. Clae walked back to the couch, tugging on one of her curls. She wrinkled her nose, laying her head on Ryan's chest. He shook his head, resting his hand on Ryan's leg as he flipped through the channels. He reached up occasionally, pinching Paislee. She would squeak and swat at his hand, and he would drop t back to Ryan's leg.

[ryan leonardo matson]

Ryan smiled, huffing at the touch and biting his lip sheepishly. After awhile he stretched out, rolling onto his back and hugging Paislee against his chest, head in Clae's lap. He tilted it, watching the TV.

[thomas 'clae' claeton booker]

Clae smiled down at him, running his fingers through his hair. "You promised you'd paint her nails." He reminded him, and Paislee nodded, but curled up on his chest.

"I hear you heart." She said, listening intently. Clae had lost interest in the TV, though, and was looking down at Ryan curiously. He traced his fingers along his jaw, chewing on his lip.

"You don't have to try and die anymore.." He said quietly.

[ryan leonardo matson]

Ryan smiled as Paislee spoke. But he drew in a sharo breath at Clae's words, gazed up at him brokenly in response. He swallowed, closing his eyes as a gentle tear rolled down his cheek. He reached up and brushed it away, only shrugged in silence.

[thomas 'clae' claeton booker]

Clae decided to just drop the subject. He turned back to the TV, running his hand up and down his leg. He rested his other hand on Ryan's shoulder, running it across his shirt occasionally. Paislee got up after awhile and walked to the book shelf. She picked out a book, and sat down with it upside down, pretending to read.

"What are you reading?" He asked her.

"The three wolves and the pig." She said and he snorted, shaking his head.

[ryan leonardo matson]

Ryan curled up closer in response, smiled as Paislee picked up the book. He watched her, still only half awake, finally rolled over. He buried his face against Clae's stomach, breaths slow, but carefully controlled. He wrapped his arms around himself and was soon asleep again, dozing lightly. He would twitch occasionally, grimace. His sleep wasn't dreamless.

[thomas 'clae' claeton booker]

Clae blushed a bit at the feeling of Ryan's breath against his bare stomach. But he didn't move him. He just ran his fingers through his hair, watching the TV with little interest. He found a show he was moderately interested in, and stayed on that channel, slowly rubbing Ryan's side.