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: So I was thinking, and I asked myself, Why am I writing a Christmas story…in April? And I answered myself (which is the part you've gotta watch, because if you do it in public people think you're nuts…huh, go figure…) that it's because I came up with this idea AFTER Christmas, and if I'd waited a year I'd have forgotten it. It's actually pretty amazing that I managed to answer myself… Thanks for sticking with me while I update (or…don't, as it were…)! Hope you find it worth it!
Chapter 4: Without You By My SideThe next few days went by with little incident, though there was a particularly uncomfortable moment that involved Ryo, the shower, Rick, a toothbrush, and an overly horny Dee.
"God, did you have to hit me that hard?" Dee rubbed his head where Ryo had smashed it against the shower wall in an attempt to keep him quiet while Rick grabbed his toothbrush. He shook his head, sending droplets of water flying.
"You shouldn't have been in here in the first place, you hornball." Ryo threw a towel at his lover, his dark eyes watching the other man dry himself appreciatively. You'd have to blind not to appreciate that, thought Ryo, his eyes trailing over the dark-haired man's finely-muscled chest, down his toned legs and back up, over his cock, which was still half-hard, and back up his chest. And then Dee noticed this silent inspection and sniffed, pulling his towel securely around his waist.
"You bash me into a wall and then expect a free show? I don't think so, dude." He turned his back on the lighter haired man, a shiver running up his spine as strong arms wrapped around his waist from behind.
"You almost blew my cover," Ryo's hot breath circled around Dee's ear. "I think I deserve a free show." His cock twitched beneath the towel as the blonde's tongue ran a hot trail down his neck, his hands pulling at the towel. "Makes it kinda fun, doesn't it?" Ryo whispered, running his hands back up Dee's chest. "Knowing that they're just on the other side of the door…of that wall over there…realizing that…at any…possible…moment…one of them could walk in here…" Ryo grinned as Dee shivered again, and then pulled back. "But I guess it's too big a risk. I'd hate to have Ri-mmmmmmmmm…" he was quickly silenced by his partner's lips.
"I fucking hate you, Ryo. You know that," Dee growled, pushing Ryo against the counter.
"But you don't seem to have a problem with fucking me," replied Ryo cheekily. He gasped softly as Dee pushed him harder against the counter, grinding his hips against Ryo's.
"You're right about that," he growled, leaning down to capture the blonde's lips in another kiss. A loud knock at the door made them both jump. Ryo shoved Dee away from him.
"You almost done, Ryo?" It was Rick.
Damn that man! Damn that man to hell and back! Damn him damn him damn damn damn! Dee could not help glaring at the door.
"E-er yeah, wh-why?" Ryo hastily pulled a towel around himself and opened the door a tiny crack, peering out. "Y-you…need in here?"
Jesus man! Could you be any more obvious? Dee rolled his eyes. Ryo always cracked under pressure.
"No, but your aunt wants to talk to you before we leave. We're going Christmas Shopping." Dee could almost hear Rick roll his eyes. "She wants to ask you something about what to get your…roommate or some such nonsense."
"O-oh! Oh…ok, tell her I'll be right there. I'm just….gonna go get dressed and stuff first."
"All right. Oh, and Ryo….have you thought any about our little….discussion the other night? " Rick lowered his voice confidentially, and Ryo stiffened a little.
"No, I haven't," he said, his voice barely concealing his anger. "And I don't plan to. I already told you, I'm not going to kick him out just because of what you think. Excuse me, please, and tell Aunt Elena that I'll be out in a minute." Ryo shut the door and turned away, not looking at Dee, who was staring at him in astonishment.
"He…he told you to kick me out?" Dee stared at his partner, who didn't respond. "Ryo?"
"He…suggested…that I suggest to you…after Christmas…that…you find a new place to live." Ryo pulled on a pair of boxers, still refusing to look at Dee.
"B-but…Why? I mean… I haven't done anything to him! W-why would he tell you to kick me out!" Dee's voice sounded so lost that Ryo turned to look at him, his dark eyes apologetic.
"He knows, Dee. He knows that you're gay. And…he doesn't like it. I've already told him that I'm not going to kick you out, no matter what he thinks, because you're a great person and you're always there for me and –"
"You just happen to be sleeping with me. And I'm not gay, dammit, I'm bi!"
"And because you're my best friend," Ryo continued as though Dee had not interrupted him. "And that's not going to change."
"And not once in there did I hear the words 'lover' 'love' 'boyfriend' or even significant other.'
"Dee, you know I can't-"
"Ryo you can't hide this from them forever! It'll just be worse for you if you try and you know it! They're your family, Ryo, you shouldn't have to hide your life from them!" Dee seized the blonde man's hand, his voice becoming more passionate. "You should expect them to support you, not shun you, for your life! And you should tell them that! You should tell them that you're gay, and that you want their support, but you're not going to beg for it, and that you're not going to change for them! Tell them that whether or not they accept it, it's still true! And whether or not they like it, it's still you! You're still Ryo, the same Ryo that you've always been! The only difference is who you're sleeping with and that's none of their business anyway! Ryo please I'm begging you to tell them! Even I don't like lying to them like this, and I don't even like them! Well, not Rick anyway but that's beside the point! Ryo if you don't tell them now…are you ever going to tell them? Or…or are you just going to haul this around with you, some deep dark secret, like it's something dirty? Like…like it's wrong?"
"Dee! You know I don't think –"
"That's what this says about you, Ryo! The fact that you won't tell your own family – it practically screams 'I'm ashamed!' It's like…it's like you're ashamed of me, and of our relationship…l-like it's something that you think is wrong…that you have to keep hidden from everybody else, because…because they might think that it's bad, or wrong, or disgusting even…Ryo…" Dee's voice cracked slightly. "I love you. I love you I love you I love you! I love you, dammit, and I want them" he gestured towards the door. "To know that! I want everyone to know that! I just…Ryo…I just want you to…to be comfortable with this…to…to accept this…I mean…God I don't know…" he dropped Ryo's hand and covered his face with his own hands. "I don't know…"
Ryo couldn't remember ever seeing his partner this emotional, except for the night that Ryo admitted that he loved him. It unnerved him, to watch Dee, who was always so sharp-tongued and quick, struggle to find the words to get his feelings across. It also made him feel terribly guilty because he knew, deep down, that everything that Dee had said was true. He knew how it must look to Dee, and he knew how much it must have hurt him, to have his own lover, the one person who was always supposed to be there for him, denying him. Ryo could only shake his head, pulling his shirt on over his head.
"Dee…I know. You're right and I know it, but…I just…I can't…I can't tell them…"
Dee stared at him for a minute, and then sighed. "I know. I know you can't. I just…well, never mind what. So…" Dee looked around the bathroom and then back at Ryo. "How are we going to explain this one?"
"Oh that's simple," Ryo fastened his belt buckle. "I leave, go into my aunt and uncle's room with them, and keep them busy for a minute. After I leave, wait a couple minutes and then open and close the door, like you've just come in here to take a shower." He shrugged. "Simple."
Dee shook his head. "Whatever you say, boss."
"Right. Now get back, so no one sees you."
"What, is he standing guard at the bathroom door now? Afraid I'll molest you in the shower? ……Oh wait, I just did that."
"Now that you say that, maybe I should suggest that to him."
"You wouldn't dare."
"You're right. But I liked the look on your face."
"Get out of here!" Dee snapped his towel at the other man, who opened the door and slipped out, laughing quietly. The dark-haired man waited several minutes, until, when he put his ear to the door, he could hear the quiet murmur of three voices from down the hall. He opened the door quietly, and then slammed it shut loudly. Stepping over to the shower he twisted the water on to hot and stepped in, closing his eyes and wishing that he didn't have to be alone.
XxX"Really, Ryo, I want to get him something. I feel so bad, putting him out like this." Ryo's Aunt Elena sat on the double bed with her nephew, trying to coerce him into telling her something that his roommate Dee would like. "It was awfully sudden of us to just show up like this, and – "
"For God's sake Elena, if he says you don't have to get the guy anything then don't," growled Rick, who was standing by the doorway, his hands folded over his considerable stomach.
Elena shot a withering look at him. "Just because you've got some ridiculous vendetta against the poor boy doesn't mean I can't be nice to him. Besides, it would be mean to get Ryo something and not anything for Dee. It's Christmas, Rick, at least try to pretend to be nice." Rick rolled his eyes and huffed, muttering something about spending money on people who weren't even in the family. Elena waved her hand at him. "Oh be quiet, I like him. He's been nothing but a gentleman; I don't see what you've got against him."
"Elena he's a fag for Christ's sa-"
"Do not use that word in my house ever again!" Without realizing it, Ryo had risen to his feet, and was staring at Rick, his fists clenched, nearly shaking with anger. He'd never liked the word 'fag,' even before he'd met Dee, but now, especially when it was being used to describe his partner, he couldn't stand it. Elena had her mouth open, as though she had been about to admonish her husband for it's use, but Ryo had beaten her to it. Rick simply stared at him, his mouth still halfway through forming the word 'sake,' as though he had gone mad.
"I beg your pardon?" he asked, straightening to his full height. Ryo did not back down.
"You heard me. This is my house, and Dee is my friend, and I will not tolerate someone using such derogatory language to describe him!" Ryo's voice began to rise. Elena put out her hand to pull him back down.
"Ryo, he only-"
At the same time that Rick, now puffed out like an angry bird, said,
"Now listen here, Ryo, I'm still-"
"No! No, you listen! I'm letting you stay in my house. I've let you say whatever you want. I've put up with your "advice" about what to do with him. But I will not let you talk about him like that, especially when you don't even know him! And that word…that word…How would you like it if someone called you fat, or monstrous, instead of using terms like "big boned" and "overweight?" Or told you that the way you lived and ate was disgusting? How would you feel!" Ryo's voice cracked with emotion. He shook his head and pushed past Rick, walking quickly to his room and slamming the door shut.
Rick stared after him, his mouth half open, unsure of what exactly had just happened. At a loss, he turned and looked at his wife, who only shook her head at him.
"Go get your coat, dear. We've got to get out before the crowds." Rick obeyed her wordlessly. When she was sure he was gone, Elena smiled to herself.
"Well now I've definitely got to get him something, don't I?"
XxXRyo paced his room, taking great gulping breaths of air, attempting to calm himself down, and not to cry. He couldn't believe what he'd just done. There were only three days left, two days and they'd be gone. Three more lousy days, and he had almost blown it all sky high. He just…couldn't believe that his uncle would say something like that! He didn't even know Dee! He didn't even…Ryo sighed. It wasn't so hard to believe, after all. His uncle had always been that way, always the first to say, "That's disgusting!" about things he didn't like, and then go home and eat his way through four ham sandwiches, a half a bag of potato chips, and three bottles of Budweiser.
Ryo flopped onto his bed, staring at the ceiling. He only had to make it two more days. Three more days, and Christmas would be over, and they would go home, and everything would be back to normal. December 26th couldn't come fast enough. He heard the door open, and didn't look up as it shut again. He knew that it was Dee.
"Ryo? …You ok? I heard yelling." The bed sank on the end as Dee's weight settled onto it.
"It's nothing. I just…lost my temper over something stu-" No, it wasn't stupid. "Over something."
"Oh…anything I can do to help?"
The blonde sighed and sat up. "No…Yes." He pulled Dee toward him and wrapped the other man's arms around himself securely. "Just…hold me for a while."
"But…" Dee shifted, moving towards the head of the bed to recline on the pillows. "What about your aunt and uncle?"
"They went shopping, they won't be back for a couple hours." Ryo sighed again.
"You sure you ok?" Dee's voice was worried.
"I'm fine."
"All right…well…I have to ask you something. Is there any chance that your aunt and uncle could…y'know…maybe get a hotel room tomorrow night or something?"
Ryo looked up at Dee. "I'm not going to kick them out on Christmas Eve, Dee!"
"But…oh never mind. Well…what if you sent them out to dinner or something? So that…they could have their own little special Christmas Eve dinner or whatever, and then…we could have one, too." Dee leaned down, lowering his voice. "We could go out to your favorite little Italian place...you know…the tiny one, with the corner booth that we always get…and it's not like they'd be missing Christmas with you, because it's only dinner on Christmas Eve…"
"Dee, I don't know…"
"Ryo, please…this is…this is really important to me. It's just dinner, I swear. We'll have dinner, and then we'll come back here and wait for them to get back, and we'll drink eggnog and watch It's A Wonderful Life a thousand times, and-"
"All right! All right, if you promise to stop talking and just sit here with me, I promise I'll talk to them when they get home tonight, ok?"
Dee smiled and leaned down, wordlessly planting a chaste kiss on his lover's lips. Tomorrow was going to be the most important day of their relationship, and he would do whatever he had to to make sure that it went off without a hitch.
A/N: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR STICKING WITH ME! I love you all, I truly truly do. So this ones a bit longer than the others, and I hope you like it, and, believe it or not, this story will, sadly, come to a beautiful close within the next chapter or two. So please read & review, as usual, and just hang in there with me! Oh, and did anyone else think that they were a bit OOC in this chappie? Or is it just my usual paranoid self again? 0o