Disclaimer: I do not own FAKE. I lay claim to the compilation of the words that comprise this story.
Author's Note: Once again, not sure how I feel about this chapter. I realize that this piece has been moving a little slowly, but, things will definitely pick up, in the next chapter. I will not tell you how, but, just know that things will be moving a bit faster. Oh, and a huge "Thank You" to all who have reviewed! Thank you, guys, so much! You are awesome! As you should know, by now, this one is for you! Enjoy!
Ryo usually awoke to silence. It was something that he was becoming more and more accustomed to, as of late. Upon awakening, this time, Ryo was surprised to hear the faint sounds of someone breathing, rather close to his ear. Opening his eyes, he came face to face with J.J., who was still sound asleep. The brunette smiled, as he brushed a stray piece of hair from the other man's face. He placed a gentle kiss to J.J.'s forehead, before propping his head up on his left hand, supported by his elbow. Ryo began to think, as he simply watched the younger man in front of him.
He looks so peaceful, Ryo thought. I hate to move him, but, he can't be comfortable on this couch. Even if he is asleep, now, he will be sore, when he wakes up. As he finished this thought, the brunette attempted to work his way from his current position. Somehow, he and J.J. had managed to lay down on the small couch, and, at some point, they had fallen asleep. Ryo smiled, once more, remembering the way that J.J. had tucked himself into his arms. It seemed as though J.J. felt safe with Ryo. Could that be possible? he wondered, looking over the sharpshooter's sleeping face. Could he really feel comfortable with me?
Finally able to get off of the couch, Ryo shoved his thoughts aside, for a moment. He stood, and stretched, to find that each and every muscle that he could still feel groaned, in deep protest. He consoled himself to think that, at the very least, his neck had not cracked. If nothing else, the one thing in the world that irritated Ryo was the cracking of a neck.
That, and inconsiderate assholes. He smirked, a bit, before another memory from just hours previous came back to him. Inconsiderate… Ryo stopped, and looked down at J.J., suddenly remembering what had thrown the younger man into his latest fit of hysterics. Anger rose in him, faster than he could ever remember, and he subconsciously clenched his hands into tight fists. Someone hurt him. Those marks on his arms… I know that he didn't do them, himself. Ryo sighed, in frustration. I can't just ask him, at least, not right now. He looked around, noting how dark it had become inside of the apartment. Taking one final glance at J.J., Ryo decided to make his way to his bedroom.
As he began to strip the sheets from the bed, a realization dawned on upon Ryo. He came to me. J.J. needed someone, and he came to me… He considered this, for a moment. I wonder why… Ryo made a mental note to ask why, as soon as J.J. woke up, in the morning. He walked over to the closet, and grabbed a clean set of sheets from the top shelf. Sliding the last pillowcase into place, Ryo stood back, and allowed himself a moment to admire his meticulous work. He smirked, as he did every time that he caught himself basking in the glow of a job well accomplished, turned around, and walked back to the living room.
"Come on, J.J." Ryo whispered, as he bent down, slightly. "Time for bed." Lifting the younger man into his arms, Ryo proceeded to carry the smaller form to the freshly prepared bed. Ryo was trying desperately not to wake J.J., and he hissed, a bit, when he felt the other man's arm brush up against the door casing of the bedroom door. He kicked himself, mentally, as J.J. began to stir.
"…Ryo…?" J.J. began, his eyes still half closed. "What're you doing…?" He looked around, a bit, before looking back at Ryo.
Ryo smiled down at J.J. "Hey, I'm sorry that I woke you up," he whispered. "I was just moving you to a more comfortable spot."
J.J. blinked, half in confusion, half trying to keep his eyes open. He felt himself being lowered onto a soft surface, and quickly noted that he was on a bed. Ryo's bed, J.J. thought. Never thought I'd be here… He laughed at himself, a bit, noting how ridiculous he sounded, when he was tired.
As he placed J.J. on the bed, Ryo reached for the various blankets that he had previously pushed aside. Pulling the covers over the other man, Ryo made sure that he was comfortable, before bending down, and kissing him on the forehead, one last time. He smiled, as he noticed something. "Hey, your fever's gone," he whispered, as he gazed into J.J.'s eyes.
J.J. smiled, tiredly. "Good," he replied, with a yawn. "I hate being sick. Besides, I can get out of your hair faster…" He paused, considering his words. I like being here. I wish that I hadn't gotten better, so fast. Now, I'll have to go back to… He paused, and held back a shudder. There were some things that he simply did not want to think about, right now. That particular subject was one of them.
Ryo simply smiled, as he brushed back J.J.'s hair with his fingertips. "We'll see," he replied, as he pulled his hand back. He smiled, once more, and turned to leave the room. Before he could even say good night, he felt a slight tug at his shirt. Turning back around, he looked down at his sleeve, to find that J.J. had grabbed onto it. Ryo looked up into the other man's eyes, in question. "What is it?" he whispered, stepping closer to J.J., feeling the grip on his sleeve tighten, considerably. "J.J.?"
"Stay?" J.J. pleaded, quietly.
A frown covered Ryo's face, momentarily, before it was replaced with a soft, gentle smile. He felt the grip on his sleeve loosen, considerably, as the man on the bed seemed to relax, as well. Walking around to the other side of the bed, Ryo slid under the covers, and relaxed himself against one of the pillows. In a matter of seconds, he felt J.J. curl up against his body, and he sighed, contentedly. It's been a long time, since someone has been in here, with me, he thought, sadly. But, this is different. He needs this, now. This has nothing to do with sharing a bed. This is about me being here, for him, when he needs me. At least, I think that it is me that he needs…
"Ryo?" came the soft sounds of J.J.'s voice.
Ryo looked down at the man curled against him. "Yeah?" he whispered, softly.
J.J. struggled with his words, before looking up, and into the eyes of the other man. "…Thank you, Ryo," he said, quietly. "It's been a long time since anyone has bothered…" He paused, and looked away, falling silent.
"What do you mean?" Ryo asked, after a moment. He felt J.J. shrug, a little.
"Nothing," J.J. replied, quickly. "Good night, Ryo."
Ryo was not about to let the conversation go, so easily. He sat up, in the bed, pulling J.J. with him. Looking the sharpshooter in the eyes, Ryo asked his question, once more. "J.J., what do you mean? It's been a long time since anyone has bothered to do what?" He was met with several moments of silence, upon which he sighed. "Fine, don't tell me. Good night." With that, he slid back under the covers, still turned to face J.J., and closed his eyes.
J.J. was shocked, momentarily, before he slid back down, and rested himself against Ryo's chest. It was not long, before he lifted his head, once more, and looked at Ryo's face. As he looked away, once more, he decided to let Ryo know what he had wanted to say. "It's been a while, since anyone has bothered to care about me," he whispered, looking back up at Ryo. The brunette opened his eyes, once more, and looked into J.J.'s eyes. "I mean, I'm not trying to put a guilt trip on you, or anything! It's just…" He paused, once more, before looking back up, into expectant eyes. He blushed, as he finished his sentence. "It just feels nice."
Ryo smiled, at hearing J.J.'s words. "I'm glad to hear that," he said, placing a kiss on the top of the other man's head. Wrapping his arms around the smaller form, Ryo felt him move, a bit. He felt the younger man tuck his head under the safely against his chest, and he could not help but smile. Ryo held J.J. close to his body, and inhaled the scent of his hair, noticing for the first time that it smelled of coconut and vanilla. An interesting combination, he thought to himself. It smells so sweet… Ryo could not help himself, as he took another long breath. He was startled, as he heard J.J. giggle. Looking down, he nuzzled the other man's hair. "What's so funny?" he asked, slightly amused.
J.J. giggles, once more. "Are you sniffing my hair?"
"Uh," Ryo replied, slightly embarrassed. "Uh, yeah, I am. Sorry."
"Don't be sorry," J.J. replied, with a yawn. "It's actually kinda' cute." He froze, fearing that Ryo would be upset by his words. Instead, he felt the arms encircling his body tighten, a bit, and he settled back against the older man's chest, sighing, contentedly. "Ryo? Can I ask you one more thing? Please?"
Ryo chuckled. "Of course." He propped himself up, on his right elbow, placed his head against his hand, and waited.
J.J. blushed, a bit, before looking into Ryo's eyes. He took a deep breath. "You never answered my question, earlier," he replied, softly. "Why are you doing this for me?"
With a sigh, Ryo considered his answer, for a moment. In truth, he had no idea as to why he had suddenly become this way. There was no real answer to J.J.'s question, except that, as time passed, he had become protective of the younger man. Yeah, how do I tell him that? He'd probably take off, running, screaming into the night. He smiled, and, remembering that he was supposed to be answering J.J.'s question, he looked back down. What do I say? I can't tell him the truth! For once, I don't want him out of my life. I… he trailed, considering his thoughts. He was shocked. I… I want him in my life, don't I? Since when? Why do I suddenly feel the need to have him here? Comfort? God knows it's not out of pity… But, then, what is it?
Noticing the sudden, conflicted look that covered Ryo's face, J.J. grew concerned. "Ryo?" He received no response. Fearing the he had upset the older man, again, the sharpshooter turned around in the bed, his back turned to Ryo. Feeling tears coming to his eyes, J.J. shut his eyes, tightly, waiting for either Ryo to get up, and leave, or for the older man to tell him to get out. It surprised him, a great deal, to feel and arm wrap around his waist. He let out a little shout.
Ryo, who had been broken from his thoughts by J.J.'s movements, decided that it was either tell the younger man the truth, or risk hurting him, further. He wrapped his left arm around J.J.'s waist, and smiled, as the man let out a small shout. "Shhh, it's okay," he whispered. Resting his head against J.J.'s arm, Ryo opened his mouth, to speak. "The reason," he began, softly, "That I am doing this, is that, over the past few months, well, really, over the last few years, you've become a big part of my life." He paused, and took a deep breath. "When I saw that you were hurting, I guess that I started to hurt, too."
"You were already hurting, Ryo," J.J. pointed out, quietly.
Ryo nodded. "I know that, but, seeing you every day, looking so upset…" He trailed off, still not completely sure of what he wanted to say. "I guess that, over the last few months, I've become…" He paused, and smiled down at J.J.
The younger man looked up, a worried expression crossing his face. "You've become what, Ryo?"
"Attached," the brunette concluded. "To you… Almost protective, I guess."
J.J. furrowed his eyebrows. "Why?"
Ryo laughed, and shrugged. "I have no idea why. I guess that it just happened." He sighed, frustrated with himself. "I'm sorry that I can't give you a better answer, J.J. That's all I've got, right now." Ryo was at a loss. What should he do? Stay here? Sleep on the couch? He had no idea if the other man was angry, or if he was just thinking about the response. Ryo decided to wait, a moment, before making a decision.
The answer came, as Ryo felt the man in his arms begin to move. As J.J. turned to face him, Ryo felt his heart jump, a little. Closing his eyes, he fought the feeling back, but, it found its way to the surface, once more. Swallowing, hard, Ryo felt a shudder course through his body, as he felt J.J.'s hands begin to caress his face. Before he could say a word, he felt something brush against his cheek, lightly. He opened his eyes, to find J.J. staring back at him, and Ryo could not help but blush, a little.
J.J. smiled. "It's a good enough answer, for me, right now." He looked at Ryo for a moment longer, before once again snuggling against the brunette's chest, and resting his head against the other man's chest. Taking a deep breath, the sharpshooter yawned, a little, before whispering his last words, for the night. "Good night, Ryo." With that, he slowly slipped into a quiet sleep.
Ryo looked down at J.J., for a long time after the younger man had fallen asleep. He was stunned. He had never, in four years, expected to be in this situation with J.J. Adams. I'm too tired to think about this, now, he told himself. I'll just work everything out, in the morning. Wrapping his arms tighter around the man in his arms, Ryo settled back against the pillows, and closed his eyes. Just as he finally allowed sleep to overcome him, Ryo had a final thought. God, it's good to have him, here…