title: Just When.....(part 2)
author: Enjeru Kurayamino
Disclaimer: Same as part 1. None of it's mine.
Notes: Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed part 1! If you hadn't been asking for more I defiantly would have left this as it was! ^_^ Also, someone mentioned to me that Ryo's hair is light brown, not blond. Well, I've done a lot of looking (both before and since starting this story) and I've found pictures of him both ways. For this story, he's blond. He may well have brown hair in my next one! ^_^V
This part picks up back in New York and (as expected) completely disregards everything that happens in the manga after the end of act 5. It's more Ryo-centric in this part and words in italics are Ryo's thoughts.
"Finally home," Ryo sighed, flopping across the sofa. His luggage lay, forgotten, just inside the door with Bikky's and Dee's.
"Ah, yes, home sweet home," Dee settled beside him. Looping his arms around him and nuzzling at his neck, Dee continued, "What do you say we head for that wonderful big bed of yours and-"
Ryo glared at him, "Is that *all* you ever think about?"
"No. If you'd let me *finish*, I was *going* to say we should head for your bed and get some sleep! I'm just as exhausted as you are," his voice dropped to a level barely audible, "and I was looking foreword to spending the rest of the afternoon using you as a teddy bear."
"Sorry, Dee....that actually sounds pretty good...." Ryo took Dee's hand and lead him to the bedroom. Within minutes Dee was sound asleep with his head pillowed against Ryo's chest and arms tightly around his waist. And true to his word, he bore quite a resemblance to a small boy clinging to his favorite teddy bear. Ryo smiled down at him, gently running his fingers through Dee's dark hair.
What am I going to do, Dee? I do care for you- so much it hurts, sometimes, but, ah, I don't know....every damn time I try to let you know, I just freeze. I *try* not to worry about what everyone else'll think, but I can't help it. I *know* they don't matter, but still.....I think I've just heard too many horror stories about guys being beaten to death or loosing everything because someone found out that they were gay. Gay like you......Like me....Ryo was staring blankly at the plaster ceiling above the bed. His fingers still absently stroked through Dee's hair. He'd finally managed to admit what he'd been denying to himself for so long. At some level he'd known for years, but until Dee came along he'd had no hope of ever accepting it. Ryo didn't understand what was happening, but he did know that as the days passed it became more and more unthinkable for Dee not to be with him forever.
You've changed me, Dee. And I think it was for the better. I've never been as happy as I am when it's just the two of us. Well, maybe happy isn't the best word for it....I think it's more "content" than "happy". Like when you're there, there's a piece of me there that I never even realized I was missing.....sigh I can't say it yet....and I don't know when I will be able to, but....I'm well on my way to falling for you completely, Dee. I....I love you.....
It was several hours later and the room had grown dark when Dee stirred. "Ryo?" he murmured, not quite awake, "You awake?"
"Yeah."
"Um....you wanna get up?"
"Not really. This is comfortable."
"Ok....how long have you been awake, anyway?"
Ryo shrugged, "I dunno....a while, I guess."
"Oh. What have you been doing? I know you wouldn't have just been staring at the ceiling or anything like that."
"Just thinking."
"What about?" Dee propped his chin up on Ryo's chest so he could see hi face. His eyes locked on the dim light from the city outside reflected in Ryo's dark eyes.
"This and that. "
"Anything specific?"
"Not intentionally."
"What do you mean?" Dee reached up to brush Ryo's hair away from his eyes.
"Well....I've got to get groceries tomorrow. Bikky needs cloths washed. Us...."
"Us?"
"Yeah...."
"I'm going to have to drag this out of you, aren't I?"
"Baka...."Ryo chuckled softly, still toying with Dee's hair, "You won't give up until I tell you, will you?"
"Probably not. So what were you thinking about us?"
Ryo shrugged, "Nothing in particular, really. Just what's happened so far...."
"And?"
"Where we're going, I guess...."
"What did you come up with?" Dee asked gently.
"I really don't know, Dee," Ryo sighed, "You mean a lot to me, but...."
"You're still not sure if you're ready for a relationship with a guy."
"Well, yeah, but that's not it, you know? What will the chief say? What about JJ and Rose and Penguin? Bikky and Carol?"
"Penguin has known I'm gay as long as I have. She'd be happy with whoever I end up with as long as he's not wanted for murder or something like that! You know Carol has been trying to get us together," he paused at the astonished look Ryo was giving him, "Don't tell me you didn't notice! She's been trying to play match-maker since you got her father out! Bikky....well, he'd never admit it , but he doesn't hate the idea of us together. He and I had a talk before we left for England. He told me himself he just want you happy, Ryo. And who cares what JJ and Rose and the chief say? We're not talking about their lives!"
"I know, Dee...it's just...oh, I don't know." Ryo had gotten to his feet by this point, and was standing at the window with his back to where Dee still sat on the bed watching him.
"C'mere," Dee whispered, holding his arms out to Ryo. The blond stared at him for a moment before returning to the bed and folding himself into Dee's strong arms, face buried in the juncture of neck and shoulder. "We'll get it figured out, Ryo. Eventually....."
