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The warmth lingered, enough to ease the chill, and once Algie's hands fell away he rolled onto his side to face the other. He was quiet again, watching the other, his fingers reaching for the blankets but not pulling them back up.

"... as well as could be expected," a reply as Jeremiah rolled back onto his stomach. It was not so much that it had gone poorly, it was just that Zac had left. The young man was his son, had lived with him for years, and the fact that his house was now empty really, really did not settle well with him.

That it was his own fault did not help either.

"I know, he's eighteen, it was bound to happen ..." Jeremiah had his eyes shut, cheek pressed into the pillow. He cracked one back open when Algie covered him up, tempted to uncover himself again but knew he was just being contrary. "There was already talk about him moving out awhile back I just ..."

It may not even be permanent, the leaving. Zac had not taken his collection of Gaiman novels that Jeremiah had gotten for him (but he would probably have to force that issue) but he had taken his panda and that was telling.

There may have been some grumbling, his head turning into the pillow to mutter something. Something like ******** empty nest and are you serious and a few other phrases. It probably would not have even been a problem if it was not for the fact that he, in the end, was the reason why Zac needed the space.

To sort out his thoughts and calm down.

It was exactly the same as Jeremiah would do and he could not fault him for it.

"Let's not go there," Jeremiah muttered. "What he's into now is simultaneously better and worse." They were, in all honesty, absolutely terrible as teenagers. There were still people that were surprised to find out Jeremiah had become a detective, a police officer, in the first place.

Maybe they shouldn't have ******** called him hoodlum so many times.

When it looked like the other man was moving, Jeremiah shifted and reached out, grabbing for his wrist. He did not even let out the breath of pain that moving that quickly caused, instead just catching Algie again.

Jeremiah's stomach fluttered suddenly, eyes slightly widening because that was not what he was expecting. When Algie's hand turned in his grip he let go so that he could hold it within his own, fingers squeezing lightly.

He tugged, much like he had the previous night, but it was gentle urging for Algie to move to the head of the bed and sit. The detective would even let go of his hand so that he could.

Jeremiah had, over the years, been more mindful of the things he did around Algie. Sometimes he felt they were too telling but the other man never said anything and neither did he and now ...

Now everything had weight to it. Another meaning attached because the door had been opened. There was no closing it, not now, and not that Jeremiah would let it close. He could not quite admit that there had never really been any lying to himself, just telling himself that it would go nowhere. That it would ruin the relationship with the only person who really knew him.

It was ridiculous but Jeremiah had always been good at being ridiculous.

While the other man settled, he shifted once more and moved closer. "Just read a bit more," an arm went across Algie's waist, Jeremiah moving to hide his face against the other's hip, "I'll sleep a little longer. Then food."

A blue-green eye glanced up. "Unless you're hungry now."

The timing for a conversation was not right, not for this moment. Not when his mind was still sorting Zac but maybe with a little more sleep he could.

Jeremiah shifted, tugging the pillow himself, and then letting his eyes close. "I can make curry if you want," a yawn that was smothered into the pillow, "I've got the ingredients. Not spicy, I promise."

He was already half-asleep, the hand in his hair and warm presence of Algie easing some of the chill he could not shake. It did not take long for him to fall asleep at all.