at Kirk and raced back across the parking lot before Kirk could do or say much of anything else.
As for Kirk? He remained where he was, frozen to the spot as he stared after Clarise. He was now certain she had done something with that vase. Maybe she stole it. Maybe she hired others to do the job for her. Kirk wasn’t sure which, but it didn’t really matter. There was little he could do to prove this theory, and less he could do to reverse it.
As of this moment in time, Kirk’s job, his life and just about everything he lived for was officially over. What on earth was he going to do?
***
Kirk was well and truly in a mood that afternoon. It was one of those moods where he was too depressed to even bother getting changed into his comfy clothes, or to so much as remove his shoes. Rather, the moment he stumbled into his apartment, he fell onto the couch and remained there until the end of time... or until Lance turned up a couple of hours later.
Lance didn’t have a key to the apartment yet, so Kirk was forced to lift himself from the couch, stumble toward the door and buzz him in. Then he was quick back on the couch, back to his position of surrender moments before Lance danced into the apartment. Literally, he danced!
“Hey, hot stuff!” Lance did a bastardized version of the rumba; shaking his hips and moving his arms as he made for the couch. “You look cozy.”
Kirk lay on his back, staring at the ceiling. His mood was clashing heavily with Lance’s, and he didn’t much feel like competing to see who’s was more dominant. Instead he said nothing, hoping for perhaps the first time ever that Lance didn’t chose to hang around. For the first time ever, Kirk didn’t want to see Lance; that was how bad he felt.
“The strong silent type, hey.” Lance fell in beside Kirk. He then used his superior physical strength to lift Kirk up so that he could actually sit down properly. Kirk was a dead weight the whole time, barely bothering with so much as a groan as he was shuffled up the couch like a rag doll. “I guess that makes me the smart, sassy one?”
“I guess.” Kirk muttered, barely audible. He wasn’t mad at Lance, so he tried his best to not direct his anger toward him. But dammit it was hard.
“So. Guess what? I have some good news.” Lance clapped his hands together and jumped to his feet. He was positively bursting with energy. “Want to guess what it is – go on. I’ll give you three guesses.”
“You found a new scalp wax that you like?” Kirk sighed. It was a joke, and the fact he was even able to make one was shocking enough.
“Close, but no. Go again.”
“I don’t really... I’m not sure.”
“Come on,” Lance pressed. “Guess.”
“I have no – can you just tell me?” Kirk bit his tongue to stop himself from snapping. Again, this wasn’t Lance’s fault, so there was no use getting angry at him.
The one saving grace was that Lance was far too happy right now to notice how salty Kirk was acting. He laughed at Kirk’s attitude, as if it were just so darn cute, before exclaiming, “I got the loan! Do you believe it!”
Kirk blinked. “Huh?”
“The loan. The bank called back earlier and said they’d changed their minds – seriously! I cannot... do you believe it! It’s happening, Kirk! Holy shit I am excited!” He did a spin on the spot and then tried a flying kick.
“No... I don’t believe it – really?” For a moment, Kirk forgot all about his own current problem. “The same bank? Did they give you a reason?”
Lance shrugged. “Just that they had reviewed the case and changed their minds. To be honest, I didn’t press them. Once you get that yes, you take it – but seriously!” Lance grabbed Kirk by the hands and pulled him to his feet and then into a hug. “It’s happening, Kirk. Holy shit it is happening!”
“I’m... I mean, great.” Kirk shut his eyes and held onto Lance. The feeling of his boyfriend, held close against his body, was actually a small relief, one he didn’t much feel like losing right now. “I’m really happy for you.”
“For us, you mean.” Lance hugged him one last time. He then let go and hurried across the apartment toward the kitchen. “This is all