Change Cloudie packed the delicate butterfly statuette safely away in a crate before briskly whisking a bright-pink dust cloth over the spot where the ornament had sat. The tinkerer wrinkled her nose at the visible layer of dust covering the rest of the shelf. It'd been longer than she thought since she'd thoroughly cleaned her quarters, but it needed to be done before she could start redecorating. Cloudie glanced around at the riot of different colours clashing on every wall and ceiling and tried not to feel overwhelmed. It was going to be a big job, the walls had to be cleared, then cleaned, then painted over with an undercoat so the patterns wouldn't show through the new paint. Fortunately she'd arranged some time-off to tackle it all, and there was a small army of volunteers poised and ready to help.
Cloudie almost didn't hear the knock on the door over the loud, energising music she had playing.
"Come in!" the tinkerer yelled, simultaneously easing the volume down with her TK.
"Hi, Cloudie."
Cloudie's heart clenched: it was James. She hadn't seen or heard – or *heard* - from the big 'path for days, not since she'd ordered him out of her quarters.
"Hello, James."
He looked good, and the TK was aware of the familiar curl of warm desire starting in her groin. Her old friend and lover seemed fragile, though... vulnerable.
Cloudie scoffed silently. James? Vulnerable?
"This is for you."
She took the small, sky-blue pot he held out to her, smiling wryly at the six-inch tall cactus it contained.
"Dead straight and prickly," Cloudie glanced at him, "appropriate, really."
James relaxed fractionally, smiling a little.
"I don't think I'm ready to forgive you yet." she murmured and his smile faded.
"You'll have plenty of time to consider. I'm going to Europe - indefinitely."
"... Oh." Cloudie's eyes prickled.
James leant forwards to brush a kiss over her forehead.
*'Bye, Goldilocks. Take care of yourself.*
And then he was gone. Cloudie stared at the closed door and let the tears come.By the time the first of her helpers materialised the tinkerer's eyes were dry and she'd cleared all the ornaments from the lounge-room, transferring her turbulent emotions into frenetic activity.
"Hey, Cloudie!" Ernst, dressed in shabby old jeans and top, kissed her cheek. "Ready to go?"
"More or less," Cloudie grinned, covering her curls with a colourful scarf, "Ewan said he'd be here before lunchtime, so did Stephan, and Rowan and one of his friends will join us after school."
"Is that all?" the stocky man's eyebrows shot upwards in mock-surprise.
"Well, Misty threatened to come along and help, and Devon would've liked to but he's allergic to the fresh paint, and Holly said she might be able to tomorrow –"
"Okay, okay!" Ernst laughed, laying a warm hand on her shoulder. "There's no shortage of help then?"
"None whatsoever."
The seeker fell silent, giving Cloudie a look she knew meant he was going to say something about James.
Don't, please don't - she willed him.
There was a pregnant pause then Ernst tutted melodramatically.
"You're not letting Rowan loose with a paintbrush, are you?"
"Why not?" Cloudie's laugh was fuelled by nervous relief. "I thought I might let him and Jem concentrate on Rowan's room. Give them a chance to... express themselves."
Ernst shuddered; the thought of how, exactly, two nine-year old boys might 'express themselves' with paint too horrible to contemplate.
"Oh well, you're the one who has to live with it, I suppose."
Cloudie laughed.
"Do you want a cup of tea before I set you to work washing the walls down?"
"I should think so!" Ernst huffed, "The offer of food and drink was what you used to lure me here..."She and Ernst worked together in companionable silence, Cloudie washing the ceiling and higher parts of the wall the seeker couldn't easily reach. Only part of the tinkerer's mind was focused on the job, however. Cloudie was ridiculously, girlishly looking forward to seeing Ewan even though she'd been with him last night and in fact every night since they first met almost a week ago. She couldn't remember ever being this nervous, this excited about seeing someone again; gods, it felt like the butterflies in her stomach were wearing hobnail boots while they rampaged around! It was definitely different to the start of her relationship with Nick, and different again to what she'd felt with Devon. Not that Cloudie had considered the young TK to be anything more than a friend but there had been that delicious anticipation at spending time with him.
The tinkerer worked the wet cloth assiduously over another spot on the ceiling. She was anticipating Ewan's meeting Devon as well, holding a rather nervous hope in her heart that they'd get on better than James and Devon had. She thought they might, Ewan seemed to have more in common with Dev than Dev had had with James. Cloudie smiled to herself, she was tremendously thankful she and the TK were still friends – losing contact with him had hurt.
As they'd arranged, she'd met him in the park for lunch the day after he'd turned up to apologise. Devon had arrived before her and Cloudie took a little time to drink in the sight of the slender, copper-haired man as he tossed bits of bread to the waiting ducks. Cloudie sighed to herself; he really was gorgeous, Stephan was very lucky.
"Hi, Dev!" the tinkerer kicked off her sandals and padded over the springy turf to the pond.
"Hi, Cloud," Devon unfolded from his cross-legged position in that almost feline way he had, standing up to enfold her in a close hug.
"Mmmm, it's good to see you." Cloudie nuzzled his cheek, happily breathing in the familiar, herby scent of him.
"You too." He held for a moment longer, then pulled back slightly to look into her face. "You OK? You… feel happier…"
Cloudie giggled, breaking into a wide smile.
"I am. The past couple of days have been great." the tinkerer stroked his cheek, her voice soft, "And you? How have you been?"
He smiled, eyes softening.
"Good. Very good. Stephan…" The gravelly voice tailed off, but the smile brightened. The last few days had been very special. But he didn't feel ready to talk about it, not just yet.
"I'm glad," Cloudie dropped a brief kiss on the corner of his mouth, "Mind if we eat? I'm starved!" The tinkerer unslung the bulging shoulder bag as she dropped to the grass and smiled up at the TK. "I've brought enough for two."
He dropped to sit beside her, grinning.
"Good, 'cause I forgot to bring anything…"
"For us, anyway," the woman laughed, glancing at the now empty bag of scrap bread.
He blushed faintly.
"Uh, yeah… sorry 'bout that…"
Cloudie laughed again, wanting to kiss him but not sure if she should, settling instead for stroking his cheek with the back of her fingers.
"It's okay, sweetie, and if Elvis and the rest have already been fed they might not monster us for our lunch."
There was a companionable silence while Cloud unpacked the bag; a container of thick-cut sandwiches - juicy ham and sharp cheese on crusty white bread – two bottles of the light cider she favoured and one bottle of a fruit juice mix she knew Devon liked.
"Can I tell you about my date last night?" Cloudie ventured, glancing shyly at the TK. She didn't think Devon would mind listening to her burble on about Ewan, not if he was happy with Stephan.
Devon nodded, trying not to seem too eager, as he reached for a sandwich and took a small bite. He was very curious to know about Ewan, but still felt a little awkward with Cloud, after screwing things up so very royally over Athena.
"I really like him, Dev," blue-grey eyes shone, "he's so alive – I feel alive when I'm with him. He's playful, he makes me laugh." Cloudie smiled. "He's a 'path too – Agency trained - which cuts out all sorts of problems with security."
The TK nodded understandingly.
"He's good for you, I can see that…" He lowered his eyes for a moment, wondering if he should ask to meet the musician.
"You think so?" Cloudie blushed, inordinately pleased. "I'd really like to introduce you to him," she blurted out, "I think you'd get on." The tinkerer's blush deepened fractionally – she'd just had a delicious mental image of Devon and Ewan 'getting on'. Cloudie suppressed a shiver, dampening her lustful reaction to the thought. Time to think on that later, maybe once she'd subtly quizzed Ewan about it - no sense getting excited if he was going to say no.
"I'd like that." Devon's grin was wider this time. He finished his sandwich and opened the bottles of cider and juice, handing Cloud hers and taking a swig from his own.
"Does he live here?"
She shook her head.
"No, at Neurons - half of the band lives there." Cloudie paused – she'd only just twigged, only the band members who were psionic, or partnered with psis, lived at Neurons. Interesting, but hardly surprising, they were all Agency personnel after all. "Ewan was offered accommodation at the Agency building when he finished training but decided not to."
"Mm. Well, s'not too far away… When're the band playing next?"
"Night after next at Neurons, then they've got several gigs about the place before they take a break." She grinned at him. "Would you like to go and see them? I didn't think Celtic music was your thing."
He frowned pensively, considering. It might be good to meet this Ewan in a neutral setting… then he remembered Stephan had asked him to keep that evening free. He shook his head regretfully.
"Can't make it then - Stephan's got some sort of surprise planned. Maybe next time?"Cloudie dragged her attention back to the present. What with one thing and another she hadn't been able to engineer a meeting between Ewan and Devon until today. The TK couldn't help with the actual decorating but he'd volunteered to organise food for them all – lunch and dinner - up in the park. Cloudie ruefully welcomed the flare of heat in her groin. She'd tentatively approached Ewan about his attitude towards gay sex and his response had been encouraging.
"Have I ever slept with another bloke?" Ewan shrugged, "Sure – it's fun. Not something I'd want to do all the time - " leering, he'd slid his hand between her thighs, tweaking the slender ring threaded there, " – I prefer women. But as a treat every now and again..." the musician grinned broadly. "Why? Do you have someone in mind?"
Cloudie blushed: one day she'd remember he was an empath.
"... maybe."
*Would you want to be there too?* Ewan bit lightly at her throat, sliding over until his slender body was covering her own.
*Of course,* the tinkerer wriggled – Ewan in front, Devon behind, couldn't get much better than that. *That's the whole point!*
*Okay then,* Ewan smiled down, tracing her jaw with a long finger...Okay then...
Cloudie surreptitiously pressed her thighs together as she rinsed the wash cloth out again. She had high hopes for this meeting; Ewan was rapidly becoming the most important person in her life but gods she still wanted Devon. Cloudie sensed her relationship with the TK had changed since the blow-up with James and Athena, but she thought he might still be attracted to her. If he was... and if he liked Ewan... and if Ewan liked Devon... and Stephan didn't object... Cloudie chuckled; she was getting ahead of herself, they had to meet first, which should be in... She frowned at the spot on the wall where her daisy-shaped clock usually hung.
"What time is it, Ernst?"
The stocky man glanced at his watch.
"Just gone 10. Time for a break?"
"Yeah," Cloudie grinned, "I'll put the kettle on..."Stephan had arrived by the time the coffee was made. The Frenchman accepted a cup, managing to look elegant in spite of the casual, lived-in clothes he wore.
"Thanks for coming, Stephan," Cloudie's smile was welcoming if the tiniest bit reserved. To be honest the tinkerer wasn't sure how to behave with the marksman any more, not after he'd torn strips off her about her selfishness over Devon.
Stephan glanced around at the clashing colours, a fine, dark eyebrow angled sardonically.
"It is my pleasure to 'elp, Nuage."Between the three of them the work progressed quickly with two walls and the ceiling being finished by the time Ewan knocked on the door. Cloudie beamed and flung herself into the musician's arms, laughing as she dragged him down to her for a very thorough kiss.
*Mmmm... missed you being there when I woke up.* Ewan grinned, kissing her nose.
*I had to get moving early,* Cloudie nipped at his lower lip, *or I would've got nothing done.* She paused, pressing her hips against his and grinning. *Well, nothing to do with the decorating anyway.*
A very slight shiver coursed through Ewan's lanky frame.
*Later? Promise?*
*I promise.* Cloudie kissed him again, winding her arms about his neck.
"Good morning, Ewan," Ernst said pointedly, his tone amused.
The musician grinned over Cloudie's shoulder at the older man.
"Morning, Ernst," deep-green eyes opened wide as he noticed the other person in the room. "Stephan! Hi!"
The Frenchman half-smiled.
"I 'ad thought the name was familiar."
Cloudie's glance flicked curiously between them.
"You know each other?"
"Stephan was my weapons instructor." Ewan stepped forward, smiling broadly, one arm still wrapped around Cloudie's waist, to shake Stephan's hand.
Stephan contrived to look mournful.
"A pity, Ewan 'ad real potential but 'e was only interested in la musique."
Ewan chuckled, looking down at the woman in his arms with a soft smile.
"'Make music – not war' I always say."
Cloudie held his gaze for a timeless moment... then a damp cloth impacted with the side of the musician's face.
"Plenty of time for that later," Ernst smirked, "let's get on with this..."Cloudie's stomach grumbled loudly. The tinkerer dropped her cloth into the bucket and stretched mightily, grinning at Ewan.
"Is it lunchtime yet?"
She and the musician had spent the last hour washing down the walls in her bedroom, moving around the sheet-covered furniture shoved into the middle of the room, a lovely awareness thrumming between them as they worked. The tall man checked the time, absently tucking behind his ear a tendril of strawberry blonde that had inevitably escaped from its pony-tail.
"Just about. Stephan said his mate would have something ready for us about now."
"Great, I'm famished!" Cloudie grinned, wrapping herself around him, something she'd wanted to do all her life it seemed.
"Let's scoop up the other two - "
"In a minute," the tinkerer smiled, tangling her hands in his hair, putting it into ever further disarray.
*I thought you were hungry?* Ewan's hands slipped over her hips to cup round buttocks.
*That too.* Cloudie *laughed*, kissing him...The tinkerer held Ewan's hand as they – and Ernst and Stephan - made their way up to the park. It was going well; between the four of them they'd managed to wash down all the walls and ceilings before lunchtime, which meant the undercoat could probably be finished today, leaving tomorrow free for the fun part.
Cloudie deeply breathed in the faintly moist park air and smiled, wriggling her bare toes in the grass as she pulled the scarf away and shook free her curls.
"I keep forgetting this place is here," Ewan mused, heeling off his trainers.
"I love it." the tinkerer sighed happily. "This is my favourite place in the whole building." She smiled up into his eyes. "Come and meet Devon."*That's him, isn't it?* Ewan smiled slyly at Cloudie, sensing the change in her emotions as they approached the slender man waiting for them by the pond. *The one you want to share with me.*
*Yes,* she admitted, a blush colouring her cheeks.
Ewan covertly studied their proposed bedmate, gaze roving over his bright copper hair and slim frame concealed behind black jeans and shirt.
*Pretty.*
*He is,* Cloudie squeezed his fingers, *and he's wonderful person.*
The TK scowled at them.
"'bout fucking time you got here," he growled, "I've been fending the fucking ducks off for half an hour!"
Cloudie laughed, hugging the aggrieved TK and kissing his cheek.
"Devon, this is Ewan." She stepped back, smiling. "Ewan, this is Devon."
The musician stuck out his hand, a ready smile on his mobile lips.
"Pleased to meet you, Devon."
Devon grinned and took the hand, shaking briefly and quickly letting go again.
"Cloud's told me about you."
"Hope it was all complimentary," Ewan chuckled wryly, "And that's cliché number one, sorry."
He 'pathed privately to the attentive tinkerer.
*He calls you Cloud. I like that. Can I use it as well?*
*Can't see why not.* Cloudie smiled, unconsciously moving closer to him. She looked down at the abundance of food covering the checked cloth spread out on the grass.
"Looks good, Dev," she grinned at the TK.
He smirked.
"Wish I could take the credit, but Stephan gave me a list and told me where to get everything."
The marksman wrapped an arm around the TK's waist and kissed his cheek.
"An' you 'ave done it parfaitement."
Devon chuckled and kissed Stephan back.
"Yeah, well, you'd never let me forget it if I got anythin' wrong!"
Ewan's pleasant, open expression didn't change.
*Devon's involved with Stephan?*
*Yes, didn't I say?* Cloudie settled herself on the grass, tugging him down beside her. *Is that a problem?*
*No – not exactly.* Ewan, smiling, kissed her nose. *Is Stephan going to be part of the deal?*
*I... don't know.* the tinkerer reached for a sweetly fragranced, out-of-season peach, offering the musician the first bite. *We can ask. Would it worry you if he was?*
*No,* Ewan *smirked* as he kissed her cheek, *I'm a gregarious sort of person.*
Cloudie laughed, twisting her upper body to face him, resting a hand on his shoulder as he held the peach up to her lips. She took a bite of the fruit and smiled into Ewan's forest-green eyes. This was something she really liked about him; he was openly affectionate, in public and private, it was a lovely change to James' reserve.
Stephan had seated himself to the side and slightly behind Devon, hand resting on his thigh. He brushed his lips over the TK's neck, murmuring very quietly,
"Nuage, she is 'happy, is she not?"
"Mmm." Devon twisted to kiss his cheek. "Ewan's good for her. S'nice to see her shining again."
Stephan chuckled.
"C'est vrai… What do you think of Ewan?"
"Dunno. Don't know him yet. Seems OK though."
"'e is a very attractive young man."
Devon's eyes widened as he glanced at Stephan over his shoulder.
"Yeah? How well d'you know him?"
"Not as well as I once 'oped to…"
"But nothin' happened?"
"Non… 'e was young, an' unsure of 'imself. An' although I am sure 'e was interested, 'e didn't 'ave the… 'ow do you say, guts?... to follow through…"They didn't linger long over lunch as Cloudie was determined to get as much done as possible before nightfall, her self-imposed time-limit. Devon waved off the offers to help with the clearing up, saying there'd be plenty of opportunity at dinner if the amount Stephan had quoted was anything to go by. Cloudie gave the TK a quick hug, brushing a kiss over his cheek in thanks then heading back to her quarters, Ewan's arm about her shoulder, hers around his waist. Ernst grinned, flipping a casual wave at Devon before ambling after the pair.
Cloudie, Ewan and Ernst had been back at work for several minutes before a bright-eyed Stephan rejoined them. The tinkerer grinned at him, pleased to receive a small, warm smile in answer. Things might not be the same as they had been but that didn't necessarily mean they were worse. She turned back to the decorating with a light heart."Cloudie? Cloud? Are you all right, love?"
Ewan had had to dive off to answer a call of nature, returning to the main bedroom a few minutes later to find the tinkerer in tears. He enfolded the woman in a tight hug, nuzzling her bright curls.
*What's the matter, lovely?*
*It's nothing,* Cloudie replied with an embarrassed smile, wiping her eyes with the back of a paint-splashed hand. *It's only – * she glanced at the blank white wall she'd just finished painting. * - the patterns have been such an important part of my life - * her lips trembled and she buried her head in his chest, * - I hadn't realised until now, and now they're going.*
Ewan cuddled her.
*You could always re-do them.*
The tinkerer was quiet for a moment, then she shook her head, lifting her face to gaze up at him.
*No. It can be hard letting things go but - it's time for a change.* She wrapped her arms around his waist, hugging tight. *Thank you for being here, Ewan, really appreciate it.*
He nodded, smiling as he brushed errant ringlets away from her eyes.
*My pleasure.*
*I'm not sure I want to stay here tonight.* Cloudie's expression was serious. *I've never been comfortable with blank white walls, they're… intimidating.*
*Could come back to my place.* Ewan offered.
*Or - * the tinkerer grinned, *we could stay in the park? Been ages since I've slept the night there.*
*Might be a bit cold, though,* the musician mused. *It's not exactly balmy outside the dome.*
*At least it won't rain inside!* Cloudie laughed. *And I've got good sleeping bags and mats.*
*Okay then,* Ewan grinned, *let's do that. Will Rowan want to stay as well?*
*Nah, he's already arranged to sleep over with Jem.*
He smirked, pulling the tinkerer close and dropping a nuzzling kiss on her throat.
*Alone in the park, eh?*
*Don't forget the ducks.* Cloudie shivered, tipping her head back with a happy sigh.
*Why? Are they going to want to join in too? Eeuuww!*
The pair burst out laughing and Ernst stuck his head into the room. Grinning, he arched an eyebrow at their close embrace.
"Knew I couldn't trust leaving you two alone."
Cloudie giggled.
"A snog break is very important when working – keeps morale up."
Ernst's second eyebrow joined the first half-way up his forehead.
"Riiiight..." He smiled, "Anyway, can you give us a hand with the ceiling when you're ready?"
"Sure, won't be long." Cloudie glanced critically around the mostly-finished room, "Not a lot left to do here..."*Wow!* Rowan enthused when he and Jem barrelled in a few hours after lunch. *This is amazing!* The boys grinned at each other then sprinted into Rowan's room, Gorey springing at their heels like a hyped-up flea. A further *Wow!* "Wow!" was heard by the bemused adults left standing in the figurative blast from the youngsters' high-velocity passage.
"Where do they get their energy?" Ernst sighed wistfully.
"I have no idea," Cloudie laughed, "but if we could bottle it we'd make a bloody fortune." The next moment she had her arms full of animated little brother.
*It's so… white!* the boy's blue eyes were wide and round. *Can we have something to eat?*
*Cheese and fruit in the fridge, biscuits in the cupboard.*
The boys sprinted the short distance to the kitchen, laughing as they narrowly avoided a collision when they reached the door at the same time.
Ernst gazed after them.
"He misses being able to run, doesn't he?" he murmured quietly to Cloudie, who nodded.
"I think Row misses that more than anything. He says it's just not the same thing, running in the city, there's always something you have to stop for." She looked around at the three men, her expressive face flashing from pensive to bright in a second. "So, time for a break?"Thanks to the thick, good quality paint, all of the tinkerer's walls and ceilings had their undercoat finished before sundown. The boys had made a – messy – start on Rowan's room, gaily slapping the bright-blue paint on the walls, having a wonderful time without thought of even coverage before Cloudie called a halt around 6 p.m.
"Thank you, Ernst - Stephan," she hugged both men in turn, "you've been such a big help."
The seeker smiled.
"At the rate we're going it'll all be finished tomorrow." He kissed Cloudie's cheek. "I'm going to get washed up – see you in the park in half an hour?"
"Moi, aussi," Stephan grimaced at the white splodges on his hand, "a shower will be most welcome. A bientôt!" He and Ernst departed together, leaving Cloudie and Ewan alone in the lounge-room.
*You okay?* Ewan gently stroked the tinkerer's cheek.
*Yeah,* she sighed, looking around at the blank walls, *it's a new start – a good thing.* She cupped his cheek in her hand, stretching up on her toe tips to kiss him. *I - thank you.* Cloudie stated simply.
*Anytime, lovely.* Ewan smiled, then winced at the loud clunk that came from Rowan's room.
The tinkerer chuckled wearily.
"Gods I hope that wasn't the paint being upended on the carpet."
"Don't think about it," the musician grinned, "think only of tonight's meal and then - you and I - alone in the park."
"With the ducks." Cloudie giggled, nimbly dodging the swat. *Rowan!* "Jem! Time for showers..!"
© 2004 January 6th Lutra
Darkside
© 2004 WordWrights