Disclaimer: I own nothing.
A/N: I've noticed that in a lot of Ryan/Eric stories, Eric makes the first move. This story explores the idea that Ryan made the first move.
Also: Thanks to Shadowfax27 for the beta!

Persuasion

Eric closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against his locker, muttering a "thank god" for the feeling of the cold metal against his skin. He couldn't deal with it, everything. His sister was marrying his boss, and she didn't tell his family, and then Boa Vista butting in. Eric couldn't help but wish his coworkers would just mind their own business.

"Hey, you all right?" Eric jumped at the voice and turned sharply towards its source. He stared into Ryan's eyes, searching for some semblance of the mocking confusion, wondering why Eric wasn't going to the ceremony.

"Go ahead, ask it!" Eric snapped. Ryan cocked an eyebrow and Eric began to question his tactic. Maybe Ryan didn't want to know, maybe he was just going to leave it.

"Tell your sister congratulations for me, you'll see her sooner than I will." Ryan opened his locker and Eric stood still, staring at the other man.

"Is that it?" Ryan was putting his jacket on, but he stopped and turned. His eyes were filled with concern, real concern.

"What else would there be?"

"No, it's nothing."

"Eric." Ryan's voice was calm. He took a step closer to Eric and placed a hand on the man's shoulder. "What's wrong?"

Eric pulled away from Ryan, grabbed his bag and tried to push past Ryan to leave. It was the look in Ryan's eyes that made him stop. A mixture of compassion and hurt. Eric dropped his bag and leaned against the locker behind him. He needed the support.

"Everyone seems to know that I'm not going to the ceremony," he braced himself for the question, the 'why not' that he feared Ryan would say.

"It's hard to keep a secret in a building with glass walls," Ryan said. There was a hint of laughter in his voice and Eric couldn't help but feel grateful for the attempt of a joke. Ryan put his hand on Eric's shoulder again.

"Here it comes" Eric thought.

"Do you mind telling me why you're not going?" Eric stared into the other man's eyes. He felt vulnerable under that gaze. He didn't mind.

"I'm just. She doesn't know him. She didn't tell our parents. And...," he trailed off. It had sounded like reasonable excuse when he had explained it to Boa Vista, but under Ryan's gaze it seemed so trivial. So selfish. Ryan didn't say anything for what seemed like forever, and Eric felt his heart beating in his throat as he waited. Finally, Ryan took a deep breath and spoke.

"Is she happy?" a simple question, Eric nodded. "And you want her to be happy?" Again, Eric nodded. "Then go."

"Ryan I-" Ryan held up a hand, cutting Eric off.

"Go. For Marisol."

"But-"

"Go for H."

"Will you just-" Eric stopped. Ryan had taken a tentative step towards him and placed a hand on the locker by Eric's head. Eric opened his mouth to speak, and, in his mind, he heard himself asking "What are you doing?" but something inside of him made him stop, made his voice catch in his throat. He closed his mouth.

Ryan leaned forward slowly and kissed Eric.

Eric's eyes widened as their lips touched, but then he let them close. He had never expected it, but he couldn't find it in him to resist. He tried to deepen the kiss, to prolong it so he wouldn't have to think any more, but Ryan pulled back.

"Go for yourself." It wasn't what Eric had expected, but he hadn't expected any of the events that had just taken place either. He closed his eyes again, trying to hold onto the feeling of Ryan's lips against his but it slipped beyond his grasp.

"Why?"

"Go, or you'll regret it."

Eric opened his eyes, but Ryan was gone. All that was left was the memory. Eric grabbed his bag and ran out of the locker room. He had to get home. To change.