[After Seven Years...] (
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trueriverRalph/Laurie, Laurie/Andrew.
Captures Renault's style perfectly.
‘You’re late, aren’t you, Spud?’ He sounded off-hand, but spoke easily, even lightly. Laurie shrugged as he stood up, his face twisting as a sudden pain shot up his leg, but what he felt most was a low despair.
‘What’s wrong?’ Had Ralph spoken in the tone Laurie had become accustomed to and learned to dread, he would have answered briefly and in the negative. But there was something in it that reminded Laurie achingly of the past, a note that Ralph still cared about him.
Laurie came up to Ralph silently and slid his arms around his waist, expecting indifference, but needing the feel of him even so. He rested his head against Ralph’s neck and closed his eyes. Ralph held him for a moment without speaking.
‘Come and sit down, Spud. Tell me what’s going on.’ It was the tone Laurie remembered; gentle, caring, and it was real.