Disclaimer: If I said that the only things I own are some fictional characters, does that make me a fictional slave-holder?
Anniversary
Chapter Two: Ryan
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"Okay, who's next?" As soon as she said this five pairs of eyes turned to Jason. Keeping calm on the outside, but laughing on the inside, Jason took his time to savor the moment before responding. "Guys, I know I am as handsome as they come, but getting stared at by guys is pretty creepy." Silence for a moment, and then Lucy burst into laughter at the look of horror that came upon Tom's face at what had been implied, while Ryan and Fisk quickly discovered how interesting the tabletop was.
Eyes tearing up from laughing so hard, Lucy wiped a hand across her face. "Oh jeez Jason, warn me next time before you do that!" Poking Tom in the face she continued "I think you broke him." Joining in on the poking, Angela commented "Wow, you need to teach me a few tricks of yours for the next time I go on a mission."
"I'd be delighted to," Jason said. "But first you guys need to decide who sings next. I said I would sing if the rest of you did, so I'm not goin' until everyone else has." This broke Tom out of his stupor. "I'm not singing next, I still need to get my wits back. Besides, I need to use the restroom." Angela glared at him. "That really didn't need to be said. And I'm not gonna sing next, it be a waste to have both women sing in a row." This left just two possibilities. Slowly Fisk and Ryan turned their heads until their eyes were locked, conveying little of the battle of wills taking place to the outside world; and then they began an ancient and sacred choosing ritual, one that has existed in one form or another since the dawn of time, progressing and being refined through the generations!
"Rock!"
"Paper!"
"Dangit!" Ryan proclaimed, as paper beats rock. "One of these days Fisk, I will beat you at rock-paper-scissors, you hear me!" Fisk waved him off. "Yeah, and on that day Jason will get killed by a cyborg; get on up there."
Ryan frowned, took a last drink from his glass and began moving for the stage. As he got on stage and Tom left for the bathroom, Jason turned to Fisk and asked "Why did you have to involve me? I don't want to get killed by a cyborg!" Smirking, Fisk replied "Payback."
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"What the hell am I even doing here; I've never even done Karaoke before!"
This is what went through Ryan's head as he flipped through the song list. "Maybe if I can find a song with loud enough instruments, they won't notice whether or not I can sing." Meanwhile, Lucy leaned over and asked Fisk "Hey Fisk, have you ever heard Ryan sing?" He shook his head. "No, I don't even know what kind of music he likes."
Back on the stage, Ryan had just found something. "That'll do nicely, very nicely." Stepping to the center of the stage, he cleared his throat and hit play. Immediately a bitter-sweet rock tune began to play, with a strong emphasis on drums. Ryan let it play for several seconds, waiting for the right moment, and then began.
Well I took a walk around the world
To ease my troubled mind.
I left my body lying somewhere
In the sands of time.
But I watched the world float
To the dark side of the moon.
I feel there's nothing I can do, yeah
Lucy turned to Fisk again. "And now you do know what he likes."
I watched the world float
To the dark side of the moon.
After all I knew it had to be
Something to do with you.
I really don't mind what happens now and then
As long as you'll be my friend at the end.
If I go crazy then will you still
Call me Superman.
If I'm alive and well, will you be
There a-holding my hand.
I'll keep you by my side
With my superhuman might, kryptonite
You called me strong, you called me weak,
But still your secrets I will keep.
You took for granted all the times
I never let you down. You stumbled
in and bumped your head, and if not
for me THEN you'd be dead.
I picked you up and put you back
On solid ground.
If I go crazy then will you still
Call me Superman.
If I'm alive and well,
Will you be there a-holding my hand.
I'll keep you by my side
With my superhuman might, kryptonite
If I go crazy then will you still
Call me Superman.
If I'm alive and well, will you be there
Holding my hand.
I'll keep you by my side
With my superhuman might, kryptonite
Yeah!
If I go crazy then will you still
Call me Superman.
If I'm alive and well,
Will you be there a-holding my hand.
I'll keep you by my side
With my superhuman might, kryptonite
Woahawoahawoahhhhhhhhhhh
Woahawoahawoahhhhhhhhhhh
Woahawoahawoahhhhhhhhhhh
Slowly the music faded away. A round of applause filled the area, though one not quite as loud as the one Lucy enjoyed. Smiling, Ryan stepped off the stage and went back to his seat, where he was greeted in a most peculiar way. Fisk clapped his hands together and said "I have to say that that kind of music fits your voice, dude, and I think that's, like, exactly the kind of stuff the record companies like. It wasn't a stellar performance or anything like that; I mean, you rushed the music a bit at times, but I think it was all right, dawg."
Angela spoke next. "What's great about you is that you're consistent, you know? You are who you are, and you put your heart and your soul into it, and you seem to connect on an emotional level with the song you picked. I think that that is what record companies want; so you are excellent, and wonderful, and I loved listening to you."
When she finished they all turned to Jason, who was sitting there with his arms crossed. "Actually, I think I'll have to totally disagree with Angela, because the thing that seemed to be lacking from you 'performance', was emotion. Also, listening to you was like getting shot in the face with a bazooka; only the bazooka was loaded with the worst vocal performance ever; and the face was not actually my whole face, just my ears. And anyone who disagrees with me is an idiot."
When he finished the three stared at Ryan for a moment, and then burst into laughter. Ryan just stared at them for a moment, eyebrow raised, and then looked to Lucy for an answer, only to see her barely stifling her own laughter. Sitting down, he asked "Okay, whose idea was it?" Wiping away his tears, Jason grinned and said "It was mine, all mine. Although, they came up with their lines. Speaking of which," he turned to Fisk. "There's something just wrong about you talking like that." Fisk shrugged "Hey, had to give it a try."
Suddenly "Hey, what'd I miss?"
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A man who devotes himself to protecting what is precious to him, but knows it will never be appreciated.
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A/N: And there we go, chapter two! It's always difficult writing anything Ryan-related, because he has such a small role in Better Days. The other characters are easier because their personalities and ways of interacting are already firmly established. And original characters are also easier, because with them you don't have to worry about messing up someone else's ideas. Anyway, the song Ryan sang is Kryptonite, by 3 Doors Down, in case any of you didn't know.
