A Little More Poetry

Series: A Little More Poetry (4/?)
Pairing: Craig Parker/Adam Levine (Singer/Songwriter, Maroon 5) Also some Orlijah
Rating: PG13
Feedback: Always very much appreciated.
Disclaimer: Not true. Not claiming it to be anything but lies.
Summary: Some old faces start showing up.
Note: Short chappy this time.


SHARE SOME SKIN


Craig watches the lights, waiting for them to change to green. He can't help his impatience, knowing that Adam is probably still in bed, sleeping. He jumps when there's a knock on his window, is about to tell whoever it is to get lost when he looks around and..

"Elijah?"

The boy laughs, making motions with his hand for Craig to wind down the window. Craig leans across and opens the passenger door instead. Elijah climbs in, one big grin.

"Hi."

"Hi.. I.. What are you doing here?"

"Working, what else?"

The light changes, Craig starts driving again. "I was headed home, you?"

"Nowhere in particular. I just thought I'd check out some of the old haunts. Early, while nobody's around. And then I saw you, and I thought woah shit! That's Craig! So here I am. How's things, man?"

"Good. Really good. How come you're on your own?"

"Ugh. I'm bunking up with Sean and Dom. Have you seen those two in the morning? They are so not morning people."

"And you are?" Craig teases.

"Hey! I got better at it." Elijah grins, turning in his seat to face Craig. "Come on, there must be more to say than you're 'really good'. You must be wrapped up in something big if you didn't know we were back in town."

"Well, I.. Yeah, youldould say that. I have a houseguest."

"Uh huh." Elijah's grin widens. "Tell me about him. Tall? Dark? Handsome?"

Craig's fingers slip a bit on the wheel. "What?"

"Your houseguest. Is he-"

"I heard. Who said it was a he?"

Elijah bites his lip, frowning for a second. Only a second though, then it's gone. "Oh. I get it. You don't want to tell me, huh? I'll get all the details from Orli, and you know it."

"What's Orli got to do with it?"

"It's not Orlando?"

"No, it's not Orlando."

"Oh. Hey, drop me at the end of this street. I'll be okay to walk from there. We should get together sometime, hang out, yeah?"

Craig pulls over, thoroughly confused. "Sure. You know where to find me. Say hi to the others for me?"

Elijah jumps out, calls "yeah" back as he closes his door.

=/=

Craig forgets to wonder what the hell that was all about as soon as he gets inside the house. There's something more important on his mind. Like waking Adam up.

He kicks off his boots in the hallway before climbing the stairs. He has to stop in the doorway to his bedroom. Adam's stretched out along the bed, feet sticking out from the sheets, hair a messy shock of darkness against the pillow. Mouth slightly open, lips trembling with each breath exhaled. And there, on one cheek, the slightly pinkish stain to skin that's tightened beneath dried tears.

Craig goes to set settles beside him, body turned towards his lover. "Adam," he whispers. Leans closer to kiss the tear track. "Adam, wake up."

His eyes open a crack, hardly at all. "Hmm?"

"You've been crying again," Craig says softly, combing his fingers through Adam's hair in a futile attempt to straighten it up a bit.

"Mm.." Adam forces his eyes open properly, has to blink a few times before things come into focus. "What?" he croaks, reaching to touch Craig.

"What made you cry?"

"Oh, Craig," Adam says quietly, letting his fingertips rest on Craig's cheek. "It's alright. I'm alright."

"You said you weren't here to lie to me, Adam. Please, just tell me what's wrong."

"I felt you were gone. I.." Adam sighs, looking away from Craig's eyes. "I don't like being alone, don't like the thought of being alone."

"Adam." Craig stops stroking his lover's hair. "I didn't know."

"Well, there it is. Makes me sound needy, doesn't it?"

"Just makes you human. Somebody once said that we can't really exist if we're alone."

"Named after the first man on earth here," Adam says with a faint smile.

Craig kisses his cheek again, then his lips.

=/=

Craig uncurls from Adam's side, straightens his jeans back up and gets off the bed. Adam murmurs at the movement, the loss of warmth.

"That was the door. I'll try not to be long."

Adam slides his hand to cover the warmth Craig left on the pillow, smiles. "Okay," he says sleepily.

Somehow, Craig knows who's at the door. He isn't disappointed when he opens it and is confronted by wide brown eyes, laughter and a sudden wrapping of arms, a claiming of personal space.

"Craig," Orlando says quietly. "I missed you."

"It's good to see you," Craig replies. He pulls back, smiling, eyes drawn curiously to what Orlando's holding. His gaze is followed, recaptured as Orlando looks up.

"Is it okay? I mean, I was stuck in a hotel rall all by myself, y'know, and then I thought to myself that I should come visit my old pal and fellow elf. Um.. I really was lonely in that place, so.. is it alright if I crash here for a few nights? If it's not, I can always go to, I don't know, Karl or someone."

"Orlando, this is just a bit.." Craig relents, seeing the beginnings of a full-on Orlando Bloom facefall. "Unexpected. But, okay. I ought to-"

He doesn't get to finish before he's enveloped in another bear hug, Orlando bounding past him and up the stairs. "Great! I'll dump my stuff and-"

Craig heads up the stairs slowly. Finds Orlando stood in the hallway, staring. "I have a guest," Craig says, reaching past Orlando to pull his bedroom door closed.

"A naked guest."

"Yeah. Here, you can have this room."

"Who is he?"

"His name's Adam."

Oro goo goes into the room across the hall, dumps his bag. "Listen, I can go somewhere else if it's going to be a hassle."

"It won't be. Why should it be?"

Orlando sits on the bed, chews on his lip. "Is he.. like, your boyfriend or something?"

"Well.. Yeah. He is."

"How long for?"

"I don't know. A good while, hopefully."

"No, I mean.. How long have you been with him?" Orlando fiddles with one of his thumb rings, not looking at Craig.

"A bit." Craig sighs, sits down on the bed beside Orlando. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Tell you what?"

"That you wanted.." Craig doesn't know what else to say. "What's wrong?"

"I just thought. Maybe." Orlando shrugs. "I guess not, though."

"Orlando, you never said anything."

"I know. I know it's my fault, Craig. I was.. I should have done, well, something."

"You know, I get the impression that Elijah's carrying a torch for you," Craig says, trying to lighten the mood.

It doesn't work. Orlando only sighs and says, "I'm going to take a nap. I aciatciate this, Craig. But I think I'll find somewhere else tomorrow."

"If that's what you want to do. I'll give you a yell when I've got some dinner ready, okay?"

"Craig?"

"Yeah?"

Orlando looks at him for a moment then shakes his head. "Nothing."

=/=

"Who was that?"

Craig climbs back into bed, crawls to kneel beside Adam. "A friend. He's staying tonight. You don't mind, do you?"

"It's your house, Craig. Why would I mind?" Adam pulls himself back, sits up against the pillows. "Unless there's something else."

"I think he has.. Had a crush on me." Craig blushes, skin prickling with heat where Adam touches.

"Will it be okay?"

"I think so. He's not the kind who'd take it personally. Anyway, he's sleeping right now."

"What time is it?"

Craig checks the clock on his side of the bed. "Almost half eleven. We slept most of the morning away."

"Are you sad? Do you miss it?" Adam teases.

"Miss it? Maybe. Only because I spent it with you."

"Sap."

Craig laughs, attacking Adam's throat with his tongue.

=/=


~tbc