Fake Fan Fiction ❯ Into the Woods ❯ Chapter 7

This ending is actually the second, revised version, but its an improvement, trust me! Enjoy!

 

Disclaimer: I don't own Fake.

 

When Dee arrived at work the next day, he was informed that Ryo wouldn't be coming in. In fact, the blond man had asked for an entire week off. It was an unexpected turn of events, but perhaps it would be good. After all, a week away from the man might be just the time Dee needed to readjust and get him out of his system. Although it wasn't likely.

 

Work was slow and dull without him, though, and Dee really didn't know how things would be when his partner returned. The game of wait-and-see didn't bode well with the dark-haired man's inherent impatience, but he wasn't given much of a choice. When he spotted Lizzy on the street one day, he decided he was curious enough for information on Ryo to face her.

 

“Oh hi, Dee,” she said her voice sounding tired.

 

“Hey, I don't mean to bother you, but I wondered if you could fill me in on what's going on with Ryo,” he felt like an idiot for having to ask, but he was desperate.

 

The girl's face fell a bit before she answered, “I really couldn't say... we had a long talk a few days ago and he... well, I ended up asking him to move out.”

 

Dee tried to hide his surprise as he asked, “What happened? If you don't mind me asking-?”

 

She sighed, saying, “No, I don't mind talking about it, maybe that would actually make me feel a little better but, not out here. Is there anywhere to sit down around here that's quiet?”

 

Since Dee's own apartment was nearby, he suggested they walk over. Lizzy nodded and in a few minutes they were seated at Dee's small kitchen table as he poured her tea.

 

It was a bit awkward, but Dee did his best to be hospitable.

 

“Things never really were right between us,” Lizzy said. “I wanted it to be, I thought it eventually would be, but...” her voice trailed off.

 

Dee decided to wait and let her continue at her own pace.

 

“Randy was everything I wanted in a guy. He was perfect. Hardworking, stable, gorgeous! And my whole family loved him,” she sighed. “I wanted it to work so badly, but... when we talked the other night, I knew that it would be wrong to try and force things to fit like that.”

 

Staring down at the table, Dee merely continued to listen, not sure what he could say at this point.

 

“I knew Ryo would probably never break it off; he'd be too afraid of hurting me. So I finally told him he'd have to move out and move on,” she paused. “I did the right thing, didn't I, Dee?” she asked.

 

Looking over at her, Dee nodded, but he wasn't sure it was his place to offer condolences. After all, he had wanted Ryo for himself. And now, through her actions, Ryo was finally free.

 

So why didn't he feel better?

 

It wasn't too long until Lizzy rose and left, thanking Dee first for lending an ear. It left Dee alone to mull over his conflicting emotions. There was one thought he couldn't get out of his mind: Ryo hadn't been the one to make the decision to leave. Which meant that, even if he wasn't with Lizzy, it didn't mean he'd be willing to openly date men either. If he couldn't have his perfect, traditional life with her, he might just seek out someone else. Someone who was a woman.

 

Rubbing his forehead, Dee leaned his head to rest on the back of the couch and sighed. With all that had happened between him and Ryo, could they even start fresh now? And is that really what he wanted?

 

Yes, he wanted Ryo.

 

But the man was going to have to do quite a bit to prove himself first.

 

The rest of the week dragged on, and somehow Dee was able to keep his mind occupied. Ryo, uncharacteristically, extended his leave, so Dee was temporarily teamed up with Drake and JJ. Which meant he was too busy dodging JJ's advances to spend much time moping over Ryo. He found himself in a new routine, but it lacked any spark or energy for him.

 

One night he found himself alone, arguing with his oven, which had just burnt his sad attempt at dinner, when a knock sounded on his door. He didn't hurry to answer, as JJ had been coming around `to keep him company' lately.

 

The knock repeated and Dee yelled, “I'm comin', I'm comin'!”

 

His scowl changed to a look of shock when he opened his door.

 

There was Ryo, standing before him, duffel bags at his feet, looking like an embarrassed child returning home after running away.

 

"H-hi, Dee," he said, his eyes averted.

 

"Ryo," stammered Dee, not sure what to say or why Ryo had appeared on his doorstep.

 

"I just got back... I wasn't sure where to go since I haven't had time to look for an apartment of my own yet..." his words trailed off.

 

“Where have you been?” Dee asked, trying not to sound too much like a stubborn parent.

 

“My Aunt Elena's... I needed time to think... ” said Ryo, shuffling his weight from foot to foot as he tried to work up the nerve to ask Dee for what he needed. "Umm, I know it might be an inconvenience, but do you think I could stay-"

 

"HEY! I'm starving!! Where's dinner, ya lazy bum?!" came a high voice yelling from within the apartment behind Dee.

 

The dark-haired man turned around impatiently and screamed back, "Bikky! Can ya give me a SECOND, ya little impatient BRAT?!!" Looking back at Ryo, Dee saw his face frozen with surprise.

 

"A lot's happened since you've been gone!" Dee said with a smirk in response to the other man's look. "Why don't you come in," he said, stepping aside for the blond man to carry in his bags.

 

Dee helped Ryo set his luggage in the living room and told him, "If you need to crash here, you're welcome to, but it'll be a bit cramped."

 

"Uh, who's your other house guest?" Ryo asked with some hesitation, glancing at the boy parked in front of the TV, his back to them. His mind recalled all the gossip he'd heard about Dee's various affairs in the past and he wondered if the child could possibly be a long-lost son. It was hard to imagine Dee with a kid, but Ryo couldn't come up with any other likely reason there would be a child in his house.

 

"He's not mine, if that's what you're thinking," Dee said with a grin, making Ryo flush with embarrassment that the man had been able to read his thoughts so quickly and for jumping to conclusions. As Dee walked with him over toward the living room, he explained, "The kid came in for questioning on a case involving the death of his only parent and didn't have any place to go; no relations, no one who could help out. I tried talking to the penguin about getting him into the orphanage, but they were really pushed to their limits there, so well... I took him in."

 

"TEMPORARILY," Dee added as he leaned over the boy to get his attention away from the video game he was concentrating so intently on.

 

Although he didn't turn around to acknowledge the two men, the boy said, "Like I really want to be stuck with YOU either! Ya moron!"

 

"HEY! Be a little grateful! You could be out on the streets right now!" Dee yelled.

 

"I'd probably be safer out there than here anyway! Bet you'll blow the whole place up trying to make dinner tonight!" the boy replied, finally turning his face toward them.

 

"Why you little-!" Dee ground out.

 

Ryo looked between the two and smiled. Despite their words, there was obviously a strong attachment between them. Although, he noted, it was more like that of two siblings than father and son.

 

"I didn't catch your name, I'm Ryo," he said, holding out his hand to the boy and ignoring the staring match going on between him and Dee.

 

"I didn't tell you!" the boy retorted folding his arms over his chest.

 

Dee gave him a smack on the head, saying, "Don't be so rude!" Then he turned to Ryo and told him, "This rugrat is Bikky; Bikky, this is Ryo."

 

"Ryo? What kind of name is that?" Bikky said with a snort.

 

"It's Japanese," Ryo explained with polite patience, "But you can call me by my American name, Randy, if you like."

 

Dee, however, didn't show such restraint. "Look who's talking!" he said with a laugh, "What the hell kinda name is Bikky?!"

 

"Shut up, ya bastard!" Bikky yelled, his hair bristling as he suddenly stood up, fists clenched.

 

"Dee, weren't you making dinner or something?" Ryo offered, trying to steer the conversation into safer waters as the two people before him glared at each other.

 

"Huh? Oh, yeah," Dee replied, lowing his own clenched fists and turning toward the kitchen. However, before he left, he told Bikky, "You better eat it this time!"

 

"I'll eat it if it's EATABLE!" the child taunted.

 

Before Dee could reply, Ryo shoved him toward the kitchen and said to the boy, "Nice to meet you Bikky, we'll let you know when dinner's ready!"

 

"Don't be too easy on that kid!" Dee said after they were out of earshot.

 

"He seems like a handful, but I think he's a good kid," said Ryo. He added with a knowing grin, "He kinda reminds me of someone I know."

 

"Oh yeah?" Dee replied, only half-listening as he looked through his cabinets. "Who's that?" he asked.

 

Unable to contain a snicker, Ryo said, "You."

 

"WHAT?" cried Dee. "Yeah, right..." he grumbled still searching his cabinets for something to cook. "Damn it! There's nothing here to make! I think I'll just order out again."

 

"Again? How often do you actually cook?" Ryo remarked.

 

With a thoughtful look, Dee responded vaguely, "Um... not often."

 

Stopping Dee's hand as he reached for the phone, Ryo said, "I'll make something, ok? I think it'll be healthier for both you and Bikky!"

 

Shrugging, Dee acquiesced, "If you can find anything, be my guest!"

 

For the next hour, Ryo sorted through Dee's kitchen. He managed to find a few items that actually hadn't expired and cooked up a decent dinner. The blond man was grateful to have a task to keep him busy and keep his mind off Dee. Being around his partner again was both unsettling and comforting at the same time.

 

As Dee watched Ryo working, the man's nervousness didn't escape his critical gaze. Although he'd gone through many ups and downs during Ryo's absence, now that he was back, and so near to him, his determination to win the man renewed with vigor.

 

"Ok, it's ready!" Ryo said cheerfully, setting down various small dishes onto the table and nodding for Dee to sit down.

 

Ryo winced as Dee sat and yelled, "Hey, rugrat! Dinner's done, get your butt over here!"

 

Looking over his shoulder, Bikky screamed back, "I don't trust your cooking you-" he paused and sniffed the air. It didn't smell burned or rotten so he got up to walk over to the table. "It actually looks good," he said in amazement.

 

"Ryo made it," Dee explained.

 

Still skeptical, Bikky dipped his finger into one of the sauces and licked. His face lit up, "Wow! That's great!" Hopping into his seat he looked up at Ryo with a wide grin. "That's a thousand times better than what THAT lughead tried to make last night!" Bikky exclaimed, pointing to Dee.

 

"Hey! Watch it! At least I TRIED! I'd like to see YOU whip something up!" Dee complained as he heaped the food onto his plate.

 

"Dee, he's just a kid," Ryo chided.

 

"Um nod ah kid!" Bikky protested as he stuffed his face.

 

Silence soon followed, with everyone too busy eating to argue. As Ryo watched both Dee and Bikky, he noted that they really must've been living on junk food if they were eating the simple meal so ravenously.

 

After filling himself to the gills, Bikky leaned back contentedly, rubbed his stomach and belched.

 

"Bikky, that's not very polite!" Ryo told him, slipping automatically into the parental role. But another belch soon followed.

 

"Dee!" Ryo said in an exhausted tone, "What kind of example is that?"

 

"Take it as a compliment!" the raven-haired man said with a grin. Ryo frowned.

 

"Hey, thanks for dinner, Ryo!" Bikky said. "I think you need to teach this guy a thing or two," he said pointing his thumb at Dee. "Although I don't know if his brain has the capacity to LEARN anything," he added with a chuckle.

 

"You little brat!" Dee yelled.

 

"Am NOT!" Bikky cried.

 

"Are too!"

 

"I am NOT!" he yelled again. "You're a pain in the ass to live with, Dee!" he continued, crossing his arms, "I think Ryo would do a much better job!"

 

"Oh, really?" smirked Dee.

 

"Yeah, I want to live with HIM!" Bikky said defiantly, thinking his words would enrage Dee further.

 

But the man simply leaned back, saying with a smile, "Go right ahead!"

 

"Fine! I will!" Bikky shouted. Not even bothering to turn to Ryo, he said, "Come on, let's go, Ryo!"

 

Bikky took the man's hand and prepared to make a scene by charging out then and there, but Ryo held him back.

 

"Well, actually..." said the blond man hesitantly.

 

"Go ahead, Bikky," Dee said, "walk all the way over- to the couch, cuz that's where you'll be stayin'!" Dee said with a grin.

 

"Wha-?" Bikky began, glancing up at Ryo.

 

"Well, I was hoping to stay here too.... for a while, so I guess we'll be living together after all!" he explained with a weak smile.

 

"Mmmm," Bikky mulled over this turn of events. "Ok, I won't get outta HERE, but at least I'll have someone more responsible around than DEE is!" he said, sticking his tongue out at the man.

 

Ryo sighed as the two began yet another round of bickering and took the opportunity to clear the dishes from the table. It was another two hours before Bikky finally crashed in Dee's large bed and left the two men relatively alone. However, they still had to keep their voices low, considering Dee's apartment was a studio and, therefore, they were basically all in the same room.

 

"You're too hard on him, Dee; I bet you were even worse at that age!" Ryo said as he took a seat on the couch.

 

"Hey, it's /because/ I was so bad that I know you need a firm hand with punks like him!" Dee retorted, deliberately sitting right next to Ryo. He watched the man squirm a bit, but he didn't get up. "I'm glad you're back, Ryo," Dee said in a softer tone, swaying just slightly toward the other man.

 

"M-me too," Ryo admitted, staring down at his lap and blushing.

 

"Ryo, I-" Dee began.

 

"No, Dee! Let me say some thing first," Ryo interrupted, his tone serious. "I- I've done a lot of thinking and, well, I don't know if you still even feel the same way about me, but I've realized something..." he paused and turned to look up at Dee with his intense, onyx eyes.

 

"I love you."

 

There, he'd said it.

 

"I know all I've ever done is run away from my feelings, but I'm facing them now! I've always loved you!" Ryo said in earnest, his face so pained it nearly broke Dee's heart. "I know you might have already moved on and I know I have no right to-"

 

"Shhhh," Dee hushed him with a finger to his lips and a smile. "I love you back, dummy!" he said with a laugh. "It's always been you... only you," he breathed softly, caressing one of Ryo's cheeks as a stray tear tumbled along it.

 

Then, with deliberate slowness, Dee snaked an arm around Ryo's slim waist and pulled him flush against him as his head dipped toward Ryo's lips. Dee realized that this would be the first time he had kissed this man in over four years. WAY overdue, Dee thought, bringing his mouth down.

 

As the soft, yielding pressure of Dee's lips finally met his own, Ryo let out a sigh that soon turned into a moan of pure pleasure. It was as if a great weight lifted from him and he was able to exhale with true relief for the first time since he had left this man so many years before.

 

Ever since he had met the striking, raven-haired man again, he'd secretly played this moment in his mind. And just as often he had remembered and relived their short time together. That wonderful, innocent excitement he'd first experienced with Dee came back now as the man worked his mouth over his own, sweeping a tongue out to glide over his bottom lip in an unspoken request to slip inside.

 

And Ryo was more than willing now to yield to Dee's demands. With a whimper, he opened his mouth to Dee's seeking tongue and the man pillaged the cavern of his mouth again and again in rhythmic succession. Almost everything else was driven from Ryo's mind other than the feel and taste of Dee touching and tasting him in return.

 

"PERVERT!!" cried Bikky, nailing Dee in the head with a pillow launched from across the room. "Get OFF him!" he yelled, jumping off the bed to rescue Ryo.

 

"Damn you Bikky!! Why the hell aren't you still sleep?!" Dee growled.

 

"Like I could stay asleep when you moaning like that and groping poor Ryo!" Bikky said defiantly.

 

"Bikky, really it's alri-" Ryo tried to say, his face crimson that the boy had heard his gasping.

 

But Bikky was already pulling him off the couch. "Come on, Ryo, you came sleep over in the bed with me- Dee can stay on the COUCH!" Bikky shouted, glaring daggers at the dark-haired man.

 

Dee started to argue, but Ryo shook his head to silence him. "Bikky, it's ok," he said, looking down at the youth. "I don't think we need to make Dee sleep on that sofa, why don't we all just try and get some rest in the bed, ok? We can all fit easily enough," Ryo's calm, level voice pacified the boy, and he grudgingly nodded in agreement.

 

"If you say so, Ryo," he said. Then, with a look of warning back at Dee told him, "But I'M sleeping in the middle!"

 

Grinding his teeth, Dee somehow managed to keep quiet as they all slipped under the covers. Within minutes Bikky's snoring resonated through the small space and Ryo gave a sweet smile over the boy's head toward Dee, who lay far from sleep on the other side of the bed.

 

"Don't worry, Dee," Ryo whispered softly, slipping a hand behind the pillows to find Dee's arm and then twine their fingers together. "As long as you want me around, I'm not going anywhere."

 

The simple statement penetrated deep into Dee's heart, squeezing it with hope and happiness. Ryo could never know just how much those words meant to him. In the faint moonlight, he watched the blond man long after he had nodded off to sleep and his breath had fallen into a steady rhythm. It was hard to express how beautiful Ryo looked in his sleep, and how peaceful. Just how he had looked that night, Dee thought.

 

But this time, when he awoke, it wouldn't be to an empty bed. No, Dee thought with a chuckle, just the opposite! But the idea warmed him. He'd never had a family and he was well on his way to his own odd little home.

 

Sighing with contentment, he allowed his eyelids to flutter shut, secure that when he opened them, it would be to a morning bright with promise.

 

And love.

 

 

******I gotta say, I really am much more satisfied with THIS ending than the previous. Either way, time to move on and start a new fic, but...

Reviews welcome and if you'd like to be notified of when I update my current fics, feel free to e-mail me with your address to: mizu@goddessmail.com or visit me at http://www.myspace.com/mizu_goddess