To my reviewers:
XiaolinFireGirl – Thank you! I just think it's a fun story to write, sorry if I'm terrible at writing kissing scenes! You're a great reviewer! 3
Docter of Thugonomics – If you don't like slash stories, don't read it, asswipe. The warning is in the summary, you homophobic scum. Fuck you.
Chapter 7 - The Bailey Ranch
"So, you two kissed in the gazebo and this time you didn't run away?" Kimiko asked Elijah one night in his cubical. They were busy having girl talk and Kimiko was painting Elijah's nails.
"Yeah, it was really romantic!" sighed Elijah happily. He blew on his black nails and smiled at Kimiko again. "So, yeah, tomorrow Dojo's taking us down to see his folks, then we're taking a plane to see mine." It was the 23rd, eight days after Clay had kissed Elijah without Elijah getting seriously injured. They were leaving in the morning on the 24th, staying the night at Clay's house, and then spending the 25th at Elijah's house.
"You two just make the cutest couple!" said Kimiko.
Elijah laughed. "Thanks, cherie!" He kissed her cheek and a southern voice said, "Aw, I thought you were only supposed to do that with me."
Elijah looked up and saw Clay standing there. He'd pulled back the curtain and was grinning at the two of them. Elijah stood up and kissed Clay. "There. Happy?"
"Very," said Clay, placing his hand on Elijah's waist. "I just came to tell y'all that it's pretty late, and as we're leaving tomorrow, we should probably get some shut eye."
"Good idea," said Elijah, turning to Kimiko. "Sorry I gotta kick you out, doll, but Clay's right. We're all going home tomorrow, and we should get some sleep."
"Okay koishii," said Kimiko, rising and stretching before walking back to her own cubical.
Clay hugged Elijah around the waist and Elijah hugged Clay around the chest. "Night, sweetie," Elijah murmured before letting go.
"Night, darlin'," Clay replied, kissing Elijah's cheek before going to his own cubical.
Elijah smiled at Clay's back before lying down on his mat and falling asleep.
"Elijah, darlin', time to get up," said a gentle voice in Elijah's dreams. Elijah opened his eyes groggily and the outline of Clay's face swam into visibility. "Mornin'," he murmured, smiling at Elijah.
Elijah put his glasses on and smiled back at Clay's now clearly defined face. "Hi," he said sleepily. "We leaving?"
"In about half an hour or so," replied Clay, standing up and offering his hand. Elijah stood up and took his hand also. Clay ran his hand through Elijah's hair and kissed him. "Get ready, okay?"
"Mm-kay," said Elijah, smiling in his slightly drunken way.
Clay chuckled. "I'll be back for you soon."
"The Bailey Ranch," said Dojo as they dropped down to the Bailey household. Elijah collected his duffel bag and rolling suitcase and Clay grabbed his big, brown suitcase. They walked up to the main house door and Clay set down his suitcase and looked at Elijah for a moment.
"I can't promise how much my daddy's gonna like you," said Clay carefully. "He probably won't see you for who you are, only what you are."
"Clay," said Elijah, placing a finger over Clay's lips. "Relax. I'll be fine."
Clay did relax a bit and he took Elijah's hand and smiled at him. "I know you will," he said, smiling at Elijah. "I know you will."
Elijah stepped behind Clay and Clay rang the bell. His father answered, a slightly bigger version of Clay with brown hair and a big mustache. "Howdy, Clay!" he said, giving his son a big hug.
"Hi, daddy," said Clay uneasily. His dad stepped back and looked Clay up and down.
"You've gotten taller," he remarked, taking Clay's hat off and ruffling his hair. "Now, let's meet this new lady I've been hearing about!"
"Uh!" said Clay, a large blush appearing across his face. "Uh…daddy, this is Elijah," he said, stepping to the side.
"Uh, hi, Mr. Bailey," said Elijah awkwardly, smiling uncomfortably at him.
"Howdy," said Mr. Bailey gruffly. He turned back to Clay. "I'm glad a friend of yours is helpin' you with bags, but I want to meet your new belle!"
"Uh, Daddy, Elijah is my new belle," said Clay, bringing Elijah forward.
"Hi," Elijah mumbled, looking at his Converse. His face was positively brick red, and his hands were shaking.
Mr. Bailey looked at Elijah stonily for a second, and then said, "Clayton, may I speak to you inside for a moment?"
Clay looked at Elijah and said, "I'll be back out soon, okay?" Elijah nodded and Clay went inside. Elijah took a seat on the porch as he heard the yelling inside. He heard someone clear her throat above him. He looked up and saw a blonde, heavyset girl sticking her head out the window. He smiled slightly at her.
"You the feller what made my brother gay?" she asked.
Elijah turned red again. "I wouldn't put it in that exact terminology," he muttered.
She left the window and in a minute she was on the porch with him. She looked him up and down with a critical eye, and then said, "You seem okay."
"Thanks," said Elijah gratefully. He smiled at her. She smiled back.
"Don't pay attention to Daddy," she said. "He ain't very accepting, he's just Daddy." She sat down next to him. "I'm glad you make Clay happy."
"Thanks," said Elijah. "What's your name?"
"Jessie," she said. "Jessie Bailey. What's yours?"
"Elijah Clark," he said happily. "I'm happy to meet Clay's sister. I've heard tell of you. Now, tell me, why are you here instead of with the Black Vipers Clay's always going on about?"
"I always spend Christmas with my family," she said. They heard a smacking sound and fell quiet. It was not the smack of flesh on flesh, it was a smack of a hand on leather. "Daddy's smackin' the couch," said Jessie. "He only does that when he's real mad."
"Damnit, Clayton, I will not have a fag living in my household!" yelled Mr. Bailey. "I will always love you, but I will not have that in my house! Now you tell him to go back where he came from 'cause he's not gonna be with you!"
There was silence for a moment while Elijah began to cry a bit. Jessie put her arm around him and they heard Clay say, very slowly and very dangerously, "You can just take that back right now, or you ain't gonna have me either. You don't seem to get that I love him no matter what you say. Where he goes, I go. I love him and nothin' you say's gonna change that."
This was too much for Elijah. He stood up and practically flew into the house. He saw Clay standing on the opposite end of the room looking very, very pissed. "Clay," he whimpered, running to him. He felt Clay's arms close around him and Clay rested his cheek on the top of Elijah's head.
"Shh, baby, it'll be okay," Clay murmured as Elijah held on for dear life and cried into Clay's chest. "Shh. We ain't stayin' here. We're goin' someplace else."
"Like hell you are!" said Jessie from the doorway. She stomped up to Mr. Bailey and poked him in the chest. "Now you listen here, Daddy," she said vehemently. "This is a boy who makes my brother, you son, happy. And if Clay had the guts to come up here and introduce him to you, you can at least be polite enough to let them stay one night!"
"Now, Jessie," said Mr. Bailey.
"Don't you 'now, Jessie' me, or I'll get Momma in here!" she screeched.
"Jessica Maybelle Bailey!" said Mr. Bailey. "You stop that right now!"
"MOMMA!" cried Jessie.
"J-aysus, what is all the racket?" said a blonde woman who exited the swinging doors that led to the kitchen. She was pretty and petite, unlike her children, but she had the blonde hair and blue eyes both her children bore. She looked at Elijah and Clay and smiled at Elijah. "Well, howdy, what's your name?" she asked.
"Elijah," he sniffled.
"Well, why're you crying?" she asked.
Elijah hugged Clay tighter and said, "Because your son is the greatest person ever."
She smiled at him. "Well, I already knew that." She turned to Jessie and said, "What did Daddy do this time?"
"He's kickin' his own son out of the house!" said Jessie angrily.
"Ezekiel Jeremiah Bailey!" she said. "Why are you doin' such a thing?!"
"Because he says he's in love with the little fag over there!" he said.
There was a smacking sound and Mr. Bailey raised a hand to his face, astonished that his wife would slap him like that. "Now you listen here!" said Mrs. Bailey, pointing at her husband. "You are hardly one to be judgmental! Now listen, if he makes our son happy, then why're you raisin' such a racket?! His happiness is what's important! They are stayin' here and I don't want to hear another word!" She turned and pointed at Clay. "From any of you!" With a nod, she retreated back into the kitchen. "And if I hear any more yelling, you'll be sorry you were ever born!"
Mr. Bailey rubbed his cheek and stared after his wife. "Well," he said curtly, turning to Elijah and Clay, "you heard the woman." He nodded brusquely at them, and then went out the back door.
Clay turned to Elijah and grinned at him. "Come on, I'll show you my room," he said, taking Elijah's hand and leading him up the stairs. They entered a room that had a bed with a wooden bed frame, a matching nightstand and dresser, and a large Texas flag hanging on the wall.
"Nice," Elijah complemented absentmindedly. Elijah sat down on the bed and Clay joined him, sitting next to him. Clay put his arm around Elijah and tipped his chin up with his finger.
"What's on your mind, darlin'?" he asked.
Elijah fell back onto the bed. "I have the strangest feeling that your dad hates my guts," he said.
"Aw, Elijah," said Clay, lying down next to him. "Don't you worry about that. My momma likes you and so does Jessie, so you ain't got nothin' to worry about."
"There's a moment you know you're fked," sang Elijah softly. He turned onto his side, away from Clay. Clay snuggled in close to Elijah and wrapped his arms around his waist. Elijah smiled at that. "We always pegged you as a snuggler," he said.
"Who?" Clay murmured.
"Me and Kimiko," Elijah said. "We figured Omi would hog all the blankets, Rai would have his back to your back, and you'd be a snuggler." He thought for a moment. "Oh, and Chase would leave at 3 in the morning."
Clay laughed at that and buried his head in Elijah's shoulder blades. Elijah laughed too, and then sighed happily. "How did I get such a great guy?" he mumbled.
Clay chuckled softly. "Just lucky I guess," he murmured.