(no subject)

[anthony-crowley.livejournal.com]

Date: October 5, 2000
Status: Private - Crowley and John (complete)
Setting: Central Park
Summary: The boys they go a-wilin' among the grass so green...


Three days into their trip found John and Crowley people watching from a bench in Central Park. Crowley suspected that John just didn't want him to be alone so often, but he didn't mind. It was nice to have company, even if that prevented the excesses he might otherwise have gone to, and, in fact, had over the last couple of nights.

The park was busy, full of joggers in matching track suits, bored young mothers pushing prams, and executives in suits on their lunch break busily talking on cell phones or typing on laptop computers. The demon was amused by how peoples' gazes slid away from John, and by extension him, as if they were afraid he was going to ask them for money. And the best part was that it required no expense of power. They did it of their own volition. Because there was clearly no way that a well dressed and handsome young businessman would voluntarily sit next to a scruffy middle-aged man in Central Park and so therefore it didn't happen. They weren't there, which gave them a measure of privacy in this intensely public city.

Comments

[dangeroushabits.livejournal.com]

John nodded somberly, unsurprised by either statement. "Yeah, I figured. Told you once before, he's mad about you," he said, sensing this might be the only time they would broach the subject directly. An unconscious frown creased his forehead, and he cleared his throat uncomfortably, thrusting his hands in his trouser pockets.

"Sometimes that's just not enough," he concluded bleakly.

[anthony-crowley.livejournal.com]

The demon's jaw was tight, though he betrayed no other emotion. He wasn't sure whether to be glad or concerned that John's second sentence seemed to apply equally well to them both. "Apparently not."

[dangeroushabits.livejournal.com]

Awkward silence fell for a few moments, and then John deliberately changed the subject. "Ben's (http://www.bensdeli.net/) isn't too far from here," he offered.

[anthony-crowley.livejournal.com]

"Go on, then," said Crowley stuffing his hands in his pockets before he could do anything embarrassing. "I'm right behind you."

[dangeroushabits.livejournal.com]

John looked at him sidelong for a long moment and then nodded. "Yeah, all right. Don't take too long, or I'll order without you." He smiled slightly and walked on ahead, leaving Crowley to whatever sorting out he needed to do.

[anthony-crowley.livejournal.com]

It was nothing much. Crowley merely turned back to face the park wanting to see its tableaux playing out. Old couples holding hands and strolling slowly, people biking, children playing... it was life. And if there was one thing life did, it was go on. He'd seen it so many times. But humans were resilient. They could handle anything that was thrown at them. They could have their lovers die or leave in thousands of painful ways and still pull the pieces together enough to live fulfilling lives.

He could, too.

Crowley turned away and coolly sauntered toward a faint flash of brown and blond down the street...