Title Clubbing Part Three ‘What happened to David?’ Josh pulled the refrigerator open and dropped the milk carton in the door. ‘He told you about Hoynes, didn’t he.’ The rhetorical question left Josh nowhere to go. He nodded. ‘Yeah. You said he didn’t know.’ ‘Josh, I don’t want you listening to gossip, okay?’ Feeling suddenly bold, Josh said quickly: ‘He said you and Catherine run things in Washington.’ Leo quickly hid his surprise at Josh’s statement. ‘What else did David say?’ ‘That there was a queue of people wanting to take my place if I turned you down.’ ‘Anything else?’ ‘That he’d climb over me to get to you if he didn’t have Edward.’ Leo smiled slightly. ‘Edward responds to flattery.’ ‘And you don’t?’ ‘No.’ ‘What do you respond to?’ Josh wasn’t sure he wasn’t overstepping some boundary he didn’t as yet understand, but Leo didn’t seem too cross at the question. Leo thought for a moment. ‘Respect, honesty, obedience.’ ‘I respect you. I think I’m always honest. But the last one…’ Leo finished Josh’s thought for him. ‘You don’t think you’d like being told what to do.’ ‘Yuh.’ ‘But in the office, you don’t seem to have a problem.’ ‘That’s different.’ ‘How?’ ‘You’re my boss.’ ‘Which is what I would be. Only twenty-four hours a day instead of twelve.’ ‘When did we last work a twelve hour day?’ Leo laughed. ‘Well, eighteen then.’ Josh flopped down onto the couch next to Leo. ‘Leo, I’m flattered, but surely there’s someone better than me?’ ‘Isn’t that for me to decide?’ Leo responded gently. ‘David says Edward makes every decision about their lives.’ ‘Yes.’ ‘What if I disagreed with your decisions?’ ‘Tough.’ ‘David says Edward hits him.’ ‘David said that?’ Leo frowned, concerned. ‘Actually, he used the word ‘punish’ but it’s the same thing, right?’ ‘Not at all. Punishment can mean many things.’ ‘Yeah, but they all hurt.’ ‘Not always. Some people use writing lines, others use social isolation or withdrawal of privileges. A good master finds out early on what pushes his sub’s buttons.’ ‘Can I think about it?’ ‘Have you done anything else all week?’ ‘No.’ Josh admitted. ‘Do you want more time?’ ‘No.’ ‘So?’ ‘How do we separate work and home?’ Josh had found the preceding week extremely difficult to get through. Leo had been understanding, Josh noticed. But he was glad when it was over and he could leave late Saturday afternoon. He was mentally more tired than he could ever remember being. ‘It wouldn’t be that different in our case. I’d make the decisions. In the office, here. Where is not important.’ ‘Where would I sleep?’ ‘In the broom cupboard.’ Josh looked across and realised Leo was joking. ‘It’s a two-bedroom apartment Josh. You’d have your own room.’ ‘Would I ever go back to my place?’ ‘If you had guests, yeah. Your mother visiting, that kind of thing. Otherwise, no.’ ‘How would I keep the apartment?’ ‘I’d let one of my friends stay in it.’ ‘Someone from the club?’ Leo nodded. ‘They’d make sure the place was clean, the fridge stocked.’ Josh got up and began to circle the room. ‘Can we get a pet?’ Leo didn’t have to think about that particular question. ‘No.’ ‘Nothing big, some fish, maybe?’ ‘We’ll see. You haven’t actually moved in yet Josh.’ Josh stared at the floor, aware of Leo’s scrutiny. ‘I’d like to.’ ‘Josh, this isn’t a game. You have to understand that.’ ‘I do.’ Josh said forcefully. Leo sighed. ‘Look, how about we give it a go for a month. If at the end of it, you don’t wanna stay, you can walk away. If you decide to stay, you stay.’ Josh’s voice faltered. ‘For…forever?’ ‘Yeah, Josh. Forever.’ ‘When I was coming over, I was going to say no.’ Leo watched Josh pace about the room, clearly agitated. ‘Josh, come and sit down.’ He patted the couch next to where he sat. Josh dropped onto the couch, his breath coming in short heaving gasps. ‘I wasn’t this scared when I was shot.’ He kept his eyes fixed on a spot on the floor. ‘I know.’ Leo’s voice was deliberately calm and soft. ‘Why don’t you have a look in your room.’ Josh looked up suddenly. ‘My room?’ Leo smiled. ‘Yeah kid. Go on.’ Josh got up quickly and walked to the door, opening it slowly. The room was bright and painted with warm colours. The bedcover was printed with an old-fashioned map of the United States and the light from the large window in the wall opposite the door reflected off the pale pine furniture. Pulling the sliding closet door across, Josh guessed Leo was using it as a store for his clothes. But it took him no time at all to realise that the clothes hanging and folded on the shelves were not Leo’s. Neither were they his clothes from his apartment. They were all new, mostly still in their plastic covers, all with the label tags still attached. Expensive designer labels. And all with his initials sewn on them somewhere. He turned at the sound of Leo’s voice in the doorway. ‘Well?’ ‘How did you know I’d say yes?’ Leo smiled, walking towards Josh. ‘I didn’t.’ ‘What would you have done with all this stuff?’ Josh gestured at the packed closet. ‘Taken it back. The shop owner is a good friend.’ ‘Is he like us?’ Leo noticed, but made no comment, that Josh used the word ‘us’ not ‘you’. ‘Yes.’ ‘Does he know you bought this stuff for me?’ Apparently Josh was not as comfortable with people knowing about their arrangement as Leo had thought he was. ‘No. Change your clothes. Put the stuff you’re wearing in a bag. You can take it with you when you leave.’ ‘Leave?’ Josh began to panic, his breathing becoming ragged again. Leo put a reassuring hand on Josh’s arm. ‘You need to go back to your apartment and tidy up. I don’t want the new tenant to have to tidy your mess. Leave some notes as to where everything is and how everything works, and anything else you think they might need to know.’ ‘Okay.’ Leo pulled a dark brown shirt and pale chinos out of the closet. ‘Here. Change while I start lunch.’ Alone, Josh sat on the bed, staring at the clothes Leo had picked out. But his mind was turning over the enormity of what he was about to do. The thought terrified him and he didn’t realise he wasn’t alone until a handkerchief came into his blurred vision. ‘Here.’ ‘Leo…’ Josh wiped his eyes, wondering how to express his feelings. ‘You’re gonna have to trust me Josh.’ Josh looked up. Leo seemed different somehow. Reassured by Leo’s words and his demeanour, he pulled himself up from the bed. ‘What’re we having to eat?’ Leo looked pointedly at the clothes which were still laying on the bed, ten minutes after he’d dropped them there. ‘Get changed. Then come and see.’ **************** ‘This is for you. Don’t take it off, unless I tell you to.’ Josh took the small box Leo handed him. Lifting the hinged lid he stared for a moment at the gold signet ring. The flat black onyx inset was inscribed with his initials. He pushed it onto his index finger and looked down at it. Leo’s voice jerked him out of his reverie. ‘Convenient, you having the same initials as our names.’ Josh stared at the ring. Not Joshua Lyman, as he’d imagined. Josh and Leo. And it was on all his clothes too. The thought made him flush uncomfortably as he realised even the pair of blue silk boxers he was now wearing was monogrammed. ************** ‘It’s been a long day Josh. Go to bed.’ ‘Leo, it’s nine o’clock.’ ‘Josh, bed. Now.’ Reluctantly Josh pulled himself to his feet. ‘Are you always gonna be like this?’ ‘Are you always gonna argue with me?’ Unable to think of a suitable response, Josh walked to his room, closing the door behind him. Moments later the door opened. ‘If my door is closed, you knock. Your door stays open.’ Josh wasn’t sure if he was dreaming or not. But he definitely heard Leo’s voice. ‘Goodnight kid.’ And he definitely felt his hair being ruffled. Deciding it was probably a dream, he turned onto his side and concentrated on getting back to sleep. ************ Josh turned over sleepily. The alarm clock sounded strange, and he blinked several times before working out where he was. The sound of the shower and the TV told him Leo was already up. Pulling on his towelling robe, he walked to the door and looked across to the kitchen. The remains of Leo’s breakfast were scattered across the countertop. He pushed a slice of bread into the toaster and poured himself a mug of coffee while he waited to it to brown. ************* If the previous week had been difficult, the first week after Josh moved into Leo’s apartment was horrible. He was much more aware of Leo’s scrutiny of everything he did, and he had to stop himself from staring into every mirror and piece of glass he passed, still amazed at the difference a new suit and the ring made. It took him a couple of days to realise that there was more to it than how he looked. He felt different. And he knew it showed. Donna and Cathy had already talked about it, he was sure. CJ had remarked on it. They had been in Leo’s office for the usual weekly staff meeting. Josh was held up with a phone call and was the last to arrive. ‘Josh, nice suit.’ Forcing himself not to look at Leo, Josh smiled. ‘Thanks.’ ‘I told him the pipes in his apartment needed fixing. That’s what you get when pipes leak Josh. New clothes.’ Josh was grateful for Leo’s swift invention, for he had been at a loss to explain his expensive new suit. ‘Yeah. Leo helped me pick stuff out yesterday.’ CJ laughed. ‘Yeah, you can tell you didn’t choose that suit. It’s way nicer than anything you would’ve ever chosen.’ ‘Ceej!’ Josh began to protest, then caught Leo’s eye. The slight shake of the head was enough. Josh fell silent and waited for Leo to move the meeting on, which he did almost immediately. ************** ‘You okay kid?’ Leo had already made sure they were alone in the bathroom. ‘Yeah. You?’ Leo laughed. ‘Hey, I’ve been credited with having good taste in clothes. I’m fine.’ ‘CJ was mean.’ Josh whined. ‘No, Josh, she was honest. Your clothes always looked a little…well, crumpled.’ Josh opened his mouth to protest, realised he was alone, then dried his hands and walked out, seeing Leo just disappearing around the corner ahead of him as he emerged from the bathroom. On to the next part Home Send me feedback on this fic Return to the X-Files Fic Index Return to the West Wing Fic Index