Title: Family Ties

Author: Vicious Question Mark

Rating: M

Summary: Dee may have dragged Ryo out of the closet at work, but as far as Ryo's family's concerned, he's still straight as a board. When an unexpected visit from Ryo's Aunt Elena interrupts Dee's Christmas plans, Ryo may find himself in over his head. DLxRM. Yaoi.

Disclaimer: I, sadly, do not own FAKE or any of the related characters or their personalities. I just like to manipulate them for my own twisted amusement (with my deepest apologies to Sanami Matoh for brutalizing and mutilating her beloved characters)

A/N: Wee! Thanks for all the reviews, guys! Sorry it's taken me forever to update this. But, here it is, the much anticipated (well, I like to think that it's much anticipated) next chapter! Carry on!

Chapter 3: Did You Know…?

Later that night, as Ryo was getting changed for bed, a knock on his bedroom door surprised him. He sighed and went to open the door, fully expecting to find Dee giving him the big puppy eyes that he did so well, and begging to sleep in the room with him, complaining about the couch. Therefore, he was surprised when he came face-to-chest with Rick.

"O-oh! Uncle Rick…Do you need something? There's extra blankets in the closet, and pillows are - "

Rick shook his head, cutting Ryo off. "No no, that's all fine. I…" He looked around furtively, as though expecting the walls to sprout ears. "I need to talk to you about something… important. Can I come in?"

"Oh…um, of course…" Ryo stepped aside and let his uncle in, then closed the door and looked at him questioningly. "What is it?

"Have a seat, Ryo…" Rick began to pace, making Ryo nervous. He couldn't remember ever seeing Rick so agitated and serious. The last time Rick had been so serious, he'd been about to give Ryo "the talk," and Ryo hoped that this wasn't going to turn into a repeat of that experience. It had been remarkably uncomfortable.

"Uncle Rick, what's wrong? Is… it something with you and Aunt Elena? Is something wrong?" Ryo really hoped there wasn't. It had been hard enough to squeeze them into the same room together. He didn't know what he'd do if it turned out that they suddenly hated each other.

"No, no, nothing like that…" Rick stopped his movement in front of Ryo and turned to look at him. "I have to tell you something. You probably won't like it." He started pacing again, doing nothing to relieve Ryo's worries. "It's about your…friend. Dee."

"…A-about Dee?" Oh shit. Oh, shit oh shit oh shit oh shit…there was no way…He couldn't know? It was impossible…they hadn't even spent an entire day together! Ryo held his breath, hoping he wasn't about to be interrogated about his sex life.

"You might think that this is none of my business, or that it's none of yours, but as your uncle, I think that it's my responsibility to tell you…your roommate is…gay" he whispered this last word, as though afraid that the mere mention of it would bring about the end of the world. Rick watched Ryo carefully for a reaction.

"I…" the blonde couldn't think of what to say to that, so he settled for a stunned silence. He was, after all, truly stunned. Was it really that obvious? How had his uncle picked up on it? Dee wasn't exactly Carson Kressley from that Queer Eye show. It wasn't like he ran around yelling at people for their shoes not matching their eyes or something. Rick seemed to think that this was an appropriate response, and pushed on.

"I know, it must be a shock. After all, you're sharing a house with this man! Now, don't freak out on me, Ryo, but I think that this guy's got a homo-crush on you. I was watching him today, and he looks at you like a starving cat looks at a fish market. I know that you're an adult and a cop and all, and that you can take care of yourself, but these characters…they're tricky. And he must be really tricky, if he's managed to hide it from you this long. You want my advice, you'll get him out of here as soon as possible, before he tries anything funny."

Ryo looked down, away from his uncle, trying to hide his anger at his uncle for speaking about Dee that way. He didn't even know him! Rick mistook this for embarrassment and grabbed hold of Ryo's shoulders, turning his nephew to look at him.

"He hasn't tried anything funny, has he Ryo?" he shook the blonde a little. Ryo looked up, not sure what his expression was. He shook his head mutely, and Rick let go of his shoulders. "Good," he said gruffly. "Now, I know it's almost Christmas, and gay or not, no one deserves to be kicked out on Christmas, but I think that maybe you should just pull him aside and have a private chat with him, and tell him that after the new year, he'd best just pack his things and find a new place to stay. Or, if you don't want to, I can do it for –"

"I'm not going to kick him out."

Rick looked startled for a moment, and then looked at Ryo suspiciously. "Why not?" he growled.

"Because," said Ryo, looking his uncle full in the face. "Dee is my friend, and he's been nothing but nice to me. I can't tell you the number of times he's saved my ass out on the field. Whether he's gay or not is his business, not anyone else's. Being gay doesn't automatically make him a pervert, and besides, he knows I'm st-straight." Ryo cursed himself silently for stumbling over that last word. It had taken him so long to finally admit to being gay that he found he now had a hard time lying about it. He stared defiantly at his uncle, unsure of what would happen if his own sexuality were called into question. He let out his breath as, after a moment, Rick shook his head.

"Your parents raised you too well," he said, a touch of pride in his voice. "Sticking by your friend even though…well…that takes guts, I guess. So…all right. Whatever you think is best, Ryo." Rick smiled. "I trust your judgment."

Ryo wanted to sink through the bed. They said goodnight, and Rick left Ryo to himself and his thoughts, most of which centered around Dee. It was the first night since…Ryo really couldn't even remember the last time they'd slept apart. Sure they'd only been formally living together a year, but before that almost every night was spent together at either Dee's or his own house. Ryo decided that he didn't like sleeping alone.

XxX

"Ryo…?"

Ryo groaned and looked at the clock. 2 a..m.

"Ryo, are you awake?" Dee's voice was a hoarse whisper from the doorway. "Can I come in?"

"I'm awake now, and you might as well," the blonde grumbled, even though he was privately glad that his partner had come to him. He felt Dee's weight settle onto the bed, and he shifted towards it, seeking the warmth of another body. He came into contact with Dee's leg, and sleepily dropped his head into the other man's lap. "What do you want?" he asked.

Dee brought his hand up, stroking Ryo's hair tenderly. "I couldn't sleep, koi," he said, his voice a whisper. He was afraid to talk any louder, lest he wake the bear in the next room. "I missed you. I don't like sleeping without you."

Ryo sighed. "I know," he said. He reached up and grabbed hold of Dee's hand, running his thumb across the soft flesh. "Neither do I. But it's only for a little while more, I promise. After they leave, everything will be back to normal."

Dee perked up. "You mean after they leave you'll let me do all sorts of unspeakable things to you again?" he asked hopefully. Ryo chuckled a little.

"I might even let you talk me into some of that role-playing stuff you're always going on about. How about I be a fish, and you be a cat?"

A/N: It's official. Technology is conspiring against me! My computer won't let me burn my Gravitation songs onto a CD. These appliances, they're plotting I tell you…Anywho, was this chapter short or are all my chapters like this? I don't know, honestly. So, you know the drill – please review!