While the City Sleeps (We Rule the Streets) Part One
Master post with all the warnings, a/n and such
While the City Sleeps (We Rule The Streets)
Ryan's cell phone rings, blaring My Chemical Romance throughout the empty house. A towel is wrapped loosely around his waist, only barely being held up by his hand. He rushes into his bedroom and rummages around until he finds it buried under a pile of dirty clothes. Ryan gives the caller ID a puzzled look, not recognizing the number.
“Hello?” he answers.
“Hey, is this Ryan Ross?” an unfamiliar voice asks him.
“Uh, yeah, this is Ryan. Who's this?” Ryan questions as he holds the phone to his ear with his shoulder. Ryan begins looking through his closet trying to find the right pair of jeans he wants to wear when he nearly drops his phone due to the unknown callers reply. “Repeat that back for me, please?” Ryan asks.
“Spencer is, uh, he's a vampire. He's dead, Ryan,” the guy tells him. Well Jon as the guy so nicely introduced himself before delivering bad news. The Jon Walker Spencer went to stay with. “Something happened, okay? He. He fell into this really horrible group of vampires, and he got turned.”
“The fuck?” Ryan yanks a pair of dark blue skinny jeans off of its hanger and throws them onto his bed. “He's a fucking vampire now? What the hell?”
Jon's amused laugh filters out through the phone. “You sound and act so much like him.”
“Shut the fuck up,” Ryan says angrily, and thankfully Jon actually shuts up. “I am going to kick Spencer's ass.”
The line goes silent for a few minutes, stretching out into somewhat awkwardness. Ryan almost decides to hang up but Jon finally speaks up.
“You know, it'd be kind of hard to kick Spencer's ass seeing as he's a vampire with strength you don't possess.”
“Are you implying that I'm weak?” Ryan holds firm to his phone, cocking his hip out and putting on the bitchiest bitch face he can possibly muster. Although Jon can't actually see him right now he's hoping the bitchiness in his tone conveys just how unamused he is right now.
“I'm implying it wouldn't be a good idea,” Jon corrects.
Ryan sighs, switching the phone to his other ear. “Alright, so I won't just fly to Chicago and kick his vampire ass,” Ryan concedes. He doesn't really want to kick Spencer's ass anyway; he's just pissed off. Really, the least Spencer could've done was give Ryan a call and tell him he's now a member of the undead and sucking people's blood. That's what best friends are supposed to do, at least, when they've turned into vampires. If Ryan was turned into a vampire he'd give Spencer a call and say, hey I sleep in the day and drink people's blood by night.
“You can still come to Chicago, though.” Ryan can hear the small smile in Jon's voice. "You know, if you want to."
Ryan takes a deep breath as he finds his pink Fall Out Boy shirt and his studded belt. "I'll think about it," Ryan says, then adds, "Thanks for calling, Jon. Even though this news totally sucks ass, I'm glad someone told me."
"You're welcome, Ryan."
"Anyway, as much as this conversation is kickass and fucking great; I need to go out somewhere. I got a date and I really don't want to ruin my chances of getting laid," Ryan says. "So, I'll talk to you later."
"Yeah, okay. Bye, I'll talk--"
"Bye." Ryan clicks end with an audible sigh and throws his phone onto his bed, then grabbing the discarded jeans. Ryan shimmies into his tight jeans, buttoning them up and putting on his belt. Ryan looks into his long mirror, at a picture of him and Spencer pinned to it. Spencer's smiling face is looking right at him and Ryan hasn't missed him as badly as he does right now. Ryan doesn't get how Spencer could agree to just abandon him like that, especially when Ryan always needs him. Ryan touches the picture, smiling sadly, and goes back to getting dressed.
~
Ryan turns the idea over and over again in his head. The idea of going to Chicago and maybe running into Spencer is high on Ryan's priority list and also a main reason that might actually get Ryan to go to Chicago. He's also been talking to Jon a lot lately, and even though he hasn't technically met him yet, he feels close to him like he's known him his whole life. The more Ryan talks to him the more Ryan realizes how right Spencer was that Jon pretty much wins at life. Jon is this really awesome guy who makes him smile like an idiot most of the time. Jon is also friends with Fall Out Boy, which makes Ryan's inner fan boy run around screaming.
"What did Pete do now?" Ryan giggles, his hand coming up to try and hold the sound back.
"Okay, well he came to my work yesterday and he wasn't paying attention because he was too busy talking and flirting with this chick." Jon pauses to laugh, which only makes Ryan smile like a complete fool. "And Andy comes up behind him and pulls his pants down, underwear included."
"What did the girl do?" Ryan asks.
"She looked at him, every inch, and cracked the fuck up laughing."
"Seriously?" Hearing this story Ryan is kind of wishing he was there to witness it.
"She was all 'wow', her eyes were wide and mocking," Jon says, "and his face was beet red, dude. He looked like he wanted to just die."
"Oh, my god." Ryan bites his lip, his hand messing with a loose thread in his jeans, as he holds back another fit of laughter. "Oh my god. She didn't like what she saw?"
Jon laughs. "Apparently not."
Ryan clutches his chest as he's unable to contain his laughter any longer. It soon gets to the point he can't breathe and he tries to regain his composure. "That's hilarious. Poor Pete. But that's still hilarious."
"Yeah," Jon says softly, and Ryan can hear the smile in Jon's voice. It kind of makes Ryan's insides jump around happily, like a cage of butterflies were let loose. After a moment of silence Jon says, “So, when are you coming to Chicago? I'd love to see you.”
Ryan winces as he hears a beer bottle crash in the kitchen. "Shit," Ryan swears in a soft whisper. "Shit, hey, I'm sorry to have to get off the phone but I have something I need to tend to."
"Oh, hey, that's fine, really,” Jon says and Ryan winces again as he hears someone thud against a wall. He tries to focus on Jon's calm, soothing voice instead of what's happening in the other room. "Call me later, okay?"
"I'll call you later," Ryan promises. "Bye." Ryan closes his phone and reluctantly leaves the comfort of his bed, heading cautiously out of his room and into the living room where he sees his dad lying on the floor passed out. His dad's beer bottle is laying broken beside him; something that Ryan's going to have to spend a lot of time cleaning up, attempting to get the tiny shards out of the carpet. He sighs, bending down beside his father and whispering, "Dad, I wish you'd get help. I love you, but I hate who you are like this." His dad doesn't even open his eyes; too much alcohol coursing through his veins. Ryan knows he'll be passed out for a long time.
Ryan grabs his father's hands, beginning the long haul to his father's bedroom. He's way too heavy for him to carry so Ryan has to pull him instead.
"You're such a mess," Ryan mutters.
His father's bedroom is at the very end of the hallway, and by the time Ryan gets his father there his arms are aching. He manages to get his father onto the bed, and decides just to leave him like that, not bothering to tuck him in. As long as his father is in his room all is well.
"And now I need to get the hell out of this house," Ryan tells himself. Ryan goes to his room and gets dressed, collecting his keys from his dresser and leaves for the club on the strip he always goes to.
~
Maybe this makes him as a slut, going to clubs and flirting with guys until he can manage to get one to sleep with him. He doesn't really care though, whether or not someone calls him one, it's just what he prefers. Ryan actually hasn't had a boyfriend since high school, having given up on the whole thing when the guy he dated cheated on him. Relationships are a big no-no in Ryan's book. And hey, this way he's getting laid more than he did when he was in a relationship. It’s totally a bigger win.
Ryan never has a problem, either. Someone always hits on him, and they flirt back and forth like they're both two lame teenagers. Which is true, really, for the most part. A lot of time he hooks up with guys in their early twenties, only rarely meeting someone who's his own age.
"Can I buy you a drink?"
Ryan looks to his left to see a tall guy around his age. He assumes the guy has to be no more than a year or two older. And the guy is cute, in a blonde emo sort of way.
"Sure." Ryan smiles.
The guy buys him a coke and introduces himself. He says his name is Brian and that he's on vacation in Las Vegas. Ryan puts on his charm as he learns more about him. Brian plays guitar and is in a band. The band hasn't gotten anywhere yet but they're going to be putting out an EP soon and hopefully touring. As he finishes his sentence, Ryan puts his hand on the guy's thigh and leans in close, telling him how great that is.
"Want to get out of here?" Ryan asks, smirking. He sees Brian swallow hard and nod. "Awesome."
Brian takes his cell phone out and texts someone. Ryan can only assume it's the friend Brian showed up with. He then takes Ryan's hand, telling him they can go back to his hotel room. Ryan loves the idea of that.
The hotel room is nice with a full size bed. Somehow there aren't clothes strewn everywhere. After taking a quick look around, Ryan wastes no time in putting a hand on Brian's chest and backing him up until his knees hit the bed.
Ryan straddles his hips and bends down, whispering, "I'll give you the time of your life."
~
"So, I'm coming to Chicago," Ryan says conversationally two days later.
"Really?" Jon asks, and Ryan doesn't miss the full force of the grin that comes through in Jon's voice. "That's great!"
Ryan leans back against his kitchen counter. "Yeah," Ryan smiles, not being able to hold it back. Jon makes him do stuff like that; smile over the littlest of things. It's kind of amazing.
"When's your flight?" Jon asks.
"Next week. Wednesday, actually." Ryan bought the tickets last night on a whim and hasn't regretted it yet. It took all the money in his bank and his recent paycheck but it was worth it. Especially hearing how happy Jon sounds right now.
"Email me all the flight details. I'll pick you up," Jon tells him.
"'Kay," Ryan agrees, still smiling. "I'll do that tonight."
"Ryan! Get your ass over here, boy!" Ryan hears his father yell. He freezes on the spot, thinking, not right now, please not now. It's only around ten at night and yet his father is already drunk. It's nothing new, though. His father is always drunk, and always the worst person ever.
"Fuck," Ryan whispers into the phone.
"What's going on?" Jon asks.
"Remember when I said I wasn't too fond of my dad?" Ryan asks, and Jon hums his response. "Well, he's an alcoholic. Who sometimes picks fights with me because I'm just a stupid faggot son."
"Does he...hit you?" Jon asks uneasily. It's a touchy subject, and Jon's the first person he's told other than Spencer. But Jon sounds like he's almost afraid to ask and Jon hasn't given Ryan any reason to not share stuff. And it's not like at this point Ryan has anyone else to talk to.
"Yeah," Ryan says, his eyes closing as he hears his father yell at him again. "Quite regularly, actually."
"Oh Ryan. I'm so so--"
"No saying I'm sorry, please?" Ryan pleads, cutting Jon off. "I don't like it when people feel sorry for me..."
"Okay, okay, but be careful, alright?" Jon asks. "I don't like knowing that someone hurts you, Ryan. You can't tell me to not worry."
A smile crosses his face, just a tiny one. "I know. And thank you, for you know, being kind of awesome."
"Just kind of?" Jon asks. Ryan seriously isn't stupid, he can tell Jon is flirting. Ryan's maybe completely okay with that.
"Mmhmm," Ryan says. "You got to work up to completely awesome."
Jon laughs, but it's a little different than some of his laughs. It's softer, fonder, and Ryan likes it a lot. "I like challenges, Ross."
"I like giving challenges, Walker," Ryan shoots back. His father is still yelling, but Ryan is trying his hardest to ignore him. If this means getting hit, then so be it. Ryan really doesn't want to stop talking to Jon.
"Oh? Really? Then it'll be fun when you get here."
"Ryan!" comes his father's drunken, angry voice.
Ryan sighs, face palming. "Dude, my dad. I hate him. And I should go tend to his drunken ass now before something shitty and horrible happens."
"Call me later. To let me know you're okay. Please?" Jon sounds on the cusp of begging and Ryan's heart clenches in his chest. Jon actually cares. Someone else whose name isn't Spencer Smith cares. Ryan isn't used to this at all. It's like the single greatest thing right now; but still, Ryan isn't used to this.
"I will," Ryan says, then adds, "I promise."
Jon sighs with relief and Ryan smiles bigger. "Thank you."
"Welcome. Bye."
"Bye, Ry."
Ryan shuts his Sidekick, pocketing it with a happy sigh, his head currently in a good head space. Well, right up until the moment his father yells, "You stupid fag, when I call you to come the fuck in here you do!"
"What do ya want dad?" Ryan yells back, looking out into the living room.
"Gimme some food. Be a good little boy and cook me some dinner. 'M hungry," his dad slurs. His dad is wavering on his feet a bit with a bottle of Jack Daniel's clutched tightly in his right hand. Ryan rolls his eyes. They currently have no food because his dad doesn't go shopping because he spends all his money on alcohol and Ryan is fucking broke. How can he possibly cook him food?
Ryan takes a deep breath and walks out into the living room to face his dad. There's absolutely no telling what his dad will do, although Ryan has can guess what he will do. "We're out of food!"
"Then go out and get some fucking food!"
"It's late as fuck! There's nothing open, and nothing I can do. I can't cook food I can't buy right now."
The fist comes at his face so fast Ryan doesn't really register it until he's down on the floor, clutching his bleeding mouth. He looks up just as a foot connects with his side, and immediately curls in a tiny ball, tears threatening to come out.
"You're such a fucking pussy," Ryan hears his dad spit out. "Are you crying? You fucking crying? Get your sorry ass up and go to a drive thru or something."
"Fuck you," Ryan manages out through gritted teeth, and he knows, he just knows that it's a bad idea to say that. But it's already out of his mouth, fuel to his dad's drunken anger.
Ryan cries out when he feels another kick to his ribs. It hurts and stings in the worst possible ways, bruising him all over again. More bruises he has to hide from the world. Bruises he has to hide from Jon.
Ryan shuts his eyes, wishing for someone to save him, to get him out of here. Ryan hears his dad walk away only to hear him return and be thrown keys at his head. "Get out and get some fucking food before I kick your ass again."
Ryan gets up, wincing, and makes his way painfully out of the house. Once he's in his car he just breaks down, choked sobs wracking his body. "Ow," Ryan groans, clutching his ribs. His crying only hurts his bruised ribs more, the pain shooting through his body. "God I hate him," Ryan whispers out in the darkness.
Ryan turns his car on, putting in a CD and turning it up before pulling out of his driveway.
~
By the time Monday hits Ryan is already wishing time would just go faster. It's going at some lame snail pace that shouldn't ever be legal for the whole time shit. Time should just go at a faster pace, so Ryan can be on a damn plane already and leaving Las Vegas for what he likes to call a vacation. Time away from home, to relax and have a good time. He also hopes he will run into his vampire best friend.
Sometimes, when Ryan is lying awake on his bed thinking, his thoughts running through his head faster than usual because it's so quiet. Sometimes, he wishes he went with Spencer when he left to Chicago. It would've been a better car ride for Spencer, he figures, at least. He knows Spencer probably hated being all alone in the car for that long of a drive, but it's too late; you can't turn back time and fix everything. Everything is as it's supposed to be. Though Ryan would never have guessed Spencer would be a vampire; it's just not something you figure would ever happen.
"Ross, stop daydreaming! We have customers! Jesus kid," his boss yells at him. Ryan snaps out of his daydream, looking around until his sights set on a group of guys with tattoos, their faces looking not the least bit friendly. Ryan just hopes these guys aren't the kind who are rude, obnoxious, and mean. He's had problems with people in the past calling him names and making him look like a total ass as he tries to help them.
"Hi," Ryan greets them, with a friendly smile that doesn't really belong on his face. Fake niceness is rule number one for working with the public when you really don't feel like smiling. Ryan's become a pro at it. "Can I help you?" Ryan asks.
"Yeah," the one on the right says. "I was wondering; how much does this Gibson Les Paul cost? It says it's on sale, but doesn't show the sale price."
"Oh, I can look that up for you. Someone must have forgotten to put the sale price on it. Give me just one second, please," Ryan tells him. Ryan takes the guitar from the guy's hands and hurries over to the register, price checking the guitar for them. "It was $832 and now is $600."
"Six hundred, man, that's about as cheap as you'll get it, I think," the guy's friend says.
"I agree," Ryan speaks up, inputting his own opinion. "Most stores around here will charge you full price or jack the price up a few notches."
"You play?" the guy asks, his eyebrows raised in surprise.
"Yeah, I got a Les Paul, an acoustic and a Fender Telecaster. And when I was shopping around for a Les Paul it took me some time to find one with a reasonable price. I actually bought it here."
The guy looks to his friend and shrugs. "Alright," he says. "I'll buy it. I really need one, anyway."
"In a band?" Ryan asks as he rings it up.
"Yep. And I totally killed my guitar like an idiot," the guys laughs, ducking his head. "I bashed it against shit too much and then one day the neck just broke right off. I don't really want to spend the money on fixing it right now."
Ryan laughs, "Nice going."
"Hey! It was on stage, which was kind of embarrassing." The guy's cheeks pink a little bit and Ryan thinks, aww he's blushing. The guy leans in a bit over the counter, and says, "How would you feel if that happened to you on stage, huh?"
Ryan leans forward a little, too, and says, "I'd rock out, make the best of it. Grab a spare guitar off on the side. You know, be totally awesome."
The guy's friend grabs him by the shirt, muttering, "Stop flirting, Jake."
Ryan raises an eyebrow in silent question at Jake. Ryan likes that name; it's short and easy to say. He grabs a sticky note and quickly writes his number down, then grabs the receipt, handing both pieces of paper out to Jake.
"Call me," Ryan says, smiling.
Jake looks down at the number and smiles. "Sure thing."
"I'm leaving in a few days, though, so call me tonight or tomorrow."
Jake nods. "Tonight. I'll call you tonight. We can go out and do something."
"I'd like that," Ryan says. Jake is the exact reason why you don't judge a book by its cover. He looks mean on the outside, someone who'd probably make fun of Ryan, but he's not one of those people. Which is kind of awesome, in Ryan's opinion.
"Bye," Jake says with a little wave. Jake's friend rolls his eyes and pulls him out of the store.
Ryan leans back against the counter, still smiling. So he's going to get laid before he leaves. This is awesome.
~
Jake picks him up and takes him to this club that plays really horrible music. Ryan ends up accepting drink after drink until eventually Ryan's tipsy and leaning against him. Everything feels so fuzzy around the edges, and wonderful. Ryan has never been drunk before, and he figured it'd happen one of these days, but he didn't think it'd happen so soon.
"I'm drunk," Ryan states the obvious as he buries his face against his date's shirt.
"You are," Jake confirms with a nod. "And so am I."
Ryan lets out a few giggles and wraps his arms around Jake's neck.
“Mmm,” Ryan hums, nuzzling against his neck. Ryan leaves open mouthed kisses on his neck, lightly letting his teeth graze along smooth skin and tries to press his body all along Jake's.
Jake asks a little breathless,"You want to get out of here?"
Ryan nods, leaning up until he's kissing him. It's kind of uncoordinated, and Ryan knows he's a better kisser than this, but right now he doesn't care. His hands find their way up the back Jake's shirt, running up slightly sweaty skin.
Jake breaks it, grabbing Ryan's hand and pulling him out of the club. Jake directs Ryan to a car, opening up the passenger side door for him. Ryan knows that Jake shouldn't be driving but he's kind of too drunk to want to say anything about it. So Ryan just sits there, his head lying against the cool glass of the window as his date gets into the car and starts driving them to somewhere.
~
Ryan finishes packing the next night. He makes sure he has everything he needs; all his jeans, band shirts, v-necks, his make-up, hair straightener, everything. Ryan makes sure to pack a few of his pictures of him and Spencer. There's no way in hell he's going to leave them behind.
Ryan grabs the picture on his mirror and the pictures on his dresser and puts them on top of all his clothes in his suitcase. His fingers linger on one; Spencer lying on Ryan's bed, head tipped back and laughing, his arms wrapped around his stomach.
“I miss you,” Ryan whispers. “So, so much.”
Ryan zips up his suitcase, finding his plane ticket on his night stand and setting it on his suitcase. Everything is ready for tomorrow. He even has the clothes picked out that he wants to wear. He's completely ready to head to Chicago.
hey. so I have my shit packed. see you tomorrow. :)
Ryan pockets his cell phone in his back pocket and heads out to the kitchen for a snack. Luckily his last night at home for awhile is spent without the presence of his alcoholic father. So he has all the freedom in the world right now. And peace and quiet. Ryan smiles, looking around the quiet empty house and opening his can of soda.
Movie, Ryan decides on.
A few minutes later his phone rings with a new text. Ryan takes his phone out and checks it, his smile widening as he reads the text.
can't wait to see you! :)
Ryan thinks, can't wait to see you, too. And ends up texting it to Jon.
~
Ryan's flight is at 2pm, and he ends up short on time. He catches a cab and barely makes the flight. He sighs with relief when he gets to his seat. Ryan looks out the window as his plane takes off, taking in Las Vegas and saying his silent goodbye. Vacation in Chicago here he comes. And with the hope that he sees Spencer.
~
The thing is: Ryan doesn't know what Jon looks like. Spencer has never shown Ryan a picture of him and so Ryan has had to imagine the possibilities of what Jon looks like. For some reason he figures Jon is probably hot because to him he sounds hot. So if Jon sounds hot then he must be, right?
Ryan goes to baggage claim, picking up all his suitcases and wheeling them towards the front to try and find Jon. Ryan spots a guy wearing a jacket and wait. Is he wearing flip flops? Ryan's eyes grow wide.
“Jon Walker?” Ryan asks, still a little wide eyed. Wow, it's like forty degrees and yet he's wearing flips flops.
“Yep, that's me,” Jon says and grins. And damn, his smile has even more of an effect on Ryan than it did over the phone.
“Dude, you're wearing flips flops. What the hell,” Ryan says, motioning down at his shoes. “Who does that?”
“Me?” Jon shrugs, laughing a little. “I dunno. It doesn't bother me much.”
And wow Jon is hot, Ryan thinks as he takes Jon in some more. Jon is like hotter than what Ryan imagined.
“And you are just wow,” Ryan bites his lip, allowing Jon to grab some of his suitcases.
“Uh, thanks?” Jon laughs nervously, then hesitates before leaning forward and kissing Ryan right there in the middle of the airport. It's just a quick peck on the lips, but it's a kiss nonetheless and it leaves Ryan smiling like a complete idiot and wishing Jon would kiss him again. “Sorry,” Jon says. “I've just been wanting to kiss you for days now.”
“It's fine. I've kind of been wanting to kiss you for days now, too,” Ryan reassures him, then grabs a fist full of Jon's shirt and pulls him in for a real kiss, his tongue darting in through Jon's surprised lips and kissing him until they both need to break for air. “You make me smile, Jon Walker. I like you a lot,” Ryan says as he pulls away, grinning and resting his forehead against Jon's. He gets a fit of butterflies in his stomach when Jon grins right back.
So Ryan kind of likes Jon a whole hell of a lot.
~
Ryan takes Jon's guest bedroom even though he kind of really wants to crawl into Jon's bed. Ryan sits on his bed, a book lying out in front of him. He looks around the quiet room and thinks, fuck it. He really doesn't want to sleep in this bed alone. Hopefully Jon will be okay with Ryan wanting to curl into bed with him.
Ryan walks to Jon's bedroom and opens the door. Jon is fast asleep, stretched out and snoring softly. Ryan leans against the door frame and smiles fondly at him. Jon looks so cute like that. It'd be a shame to wake him up. Jon's door creaks though and wakes Jon up. Jon picks his tired head up and blinks sleepily at Ryan.
“Ryan?” Jon asks sleepily, his one hand coming up to rub at an eye.
Ryan asks, “Can I sleep with you?”
Jon pats the space next him, a sleepy smile on his face. “Sure, Ryan.”
Ryan pushes off the door and crawls into bed with him, snuggling close. Jon's arms wrap around his waist when he finally settles. He has his head on Jon's chest and an arm thrown over Jon's middle. And he feels so comfortable and so happy right here next to him.
“G'night babe,” Jon mumbles.
“Babe?” Ryan smiles, looking curiously up at Jon.
“Yes,” Jon cracks an eye open. “I'll take you on a date tomorrow night. Make things official.”
“I'd really, really like that, Jon,” Ryan says, leaning up to kiss Jon before snuggling back against him. “G'night.”
~
Jon takes him the next night to this little, fancy Italian restaurant. It looks like it's come right out of a movie or something and Ryan can't keep his eyes off of even the littlest details of the place. The table cloths are red and white checkered and there's a candle in the middle burning brightly in the pale dim light of the place.
“Wow,” Ryan breathes out as Jon pulls the chair out for him. “You really know how to make the first date amazing.”
“Why thank you,” Jon says with a small bow. “I try my best.”
Ryan puts his napkin on his lap and looks around the restaurant some more. Ryan's grin is so big it's kind of hurting his face.
“I love it,” Ryan confesses, and feeling like a complete girl afterward for the way he sounded. He ducks his head, blushing like mad. Ryan feels a hand on his chin moments later, and he lifts his head up to look Jon in the eyes.
Jon leans forward over the table and gives Ryan a quick peck on the lips, murmuring, “I'm glad.”
~
Ryan and Jon walk hand in hand down the street, occasionally swapping stories of high school and their friends. Although, Ryan only has, like, two friends to speak of; Spencer and Brent. Ryan ends up telling Jon about how he was in a band for a short time with Spencer and Brent, playing Blink 182 covers and calling themselves Pet Salamander. Jon has of course heard all about it, except for some stories Spencer forgot to mention. So Jon gets a kick out of them.
“I'm not really friends with Brent anymore,” Ryan finds himself saying eventually. “He just like, drifted away and stopped talking to me.”
“Do you know why?” Jon asks.
Ryan shrugs. Spencer doesn't even know or understand what happened either. Spencer was still talking to Brent on occasion but to Ryan's knowledge Brent never gave Spencer an explanation about it at all. Ryan isn't going to dwell on it or anything. It's not like Ryan cares. Brent can go die in a fire.
“He's just an asshole now, you know,” Ryan says. “He thinks he's all high and mighty. I miss his old self. The more carefree, nice guy he was when we were in middle school. High school...changed him.”
Jon lets go of Ryan's hand, instead settling on wrapping an arm around Ryan's waist and pulling him a little closer. Ryan smiles, wrapping his arm around Jon's waist as well.
“People shouldn't be mean to you. You're really great, Ryan,” Jon says softly, and leans in, giving Ryan a quick kiss to his neck.
Ryan's bottom lip goes between his teeth nervously, and he looks over at Jon and smiles a little bigger than he was when Jon wrapped an arm around him.
“It's okay. I don't care, Jon,” Ryan tells him. “And besides; I'm with a great guy right now in a beautiful city and I just went on an amazing date. Life is great.”
Jon says, “That's good,” and leans back in, his lips lingering near Ryan's. Ryan's eyes drop to Jon's lips and he decides to take the initiative, leaning in the rest of the way and coaxing Jon into a kiss. They stop walking, getting caught up in one another, Ryan's arms coming up to go around Jon's neck as they stand in the middle of the sidewalk kissing the night away. Ryan groans into the kiss when Jon's hands grab his ass. It catches him by surprise, but he isn't complaining.
“Let's get back to your house,” Ryan says, grabbing a hold of Jon's hand. Ryan is eager to get back and be able to have Jon all alone without any prying eyes. Even if all they do is make out, cuddle and watch television.
“Mmm,” Jon hums. “Yeah.”
Ryan goes to turn back around so they can continue down the sidewalk to Jon's house but something or someone lurking in the shadows stops him. Ryan sees the person step out enough for him to see them, and his eyes grow a little wide with shock. He blinks his eyes, rubbing them with his free hand, and totally ignoring Jon's questions on what's wrong.
“What?” Ryan whispers.
Spencer, Ryan thinks, disbelieving completely that he's nearby, in reach yet not in reach. Jon separating them from being able to talk. If only Jon didn't despise Spencer now or fear him.
“Ryan, hey,” Jon waves a hand in his face until Ryan snaps out of his stare at Spencer.
Spencer smirks and waves Ryan a goodbye before disappearing back in the shadows. Ryan wishes Spencer would stay and talk. Ryan knows right now Spencer can't and he hates that more than ever.
“Nothing,” Ryan says, lying so hard right now it's not even funny. “Thought I saw something, like a cat hurt. But it was nothing at all.”
“Okay then,” Jon says slowly, then tugs at Ryan's hand. “Let's get back to my place. It's way too late right now to be out.”
“Alright,” Ryan agrees, and lets Jon direct him back to the apartment. Ryan looks back, though, one last time as they walk away; hoping he can catch one last glimpse of Spencer.
~
The next night Ryan takes a walk to the park just before sunset with a pen and his notebook. He tells Jon he just wants to be alone and write. Which is true. Ryan usually writes best when he's alone and relaxed. When Ryan and Spencer were in Vegas, still friends and hanging out, every time Ryan went to write Spencer would clear out of the room and let him be.
“Be safe?” Jon has his bottom lip sticking out in a pout and Ryan can't help but lean forward and kiss that pout right off his face.
“Don't worry, 'kay? I'll be right back in an hour. And I'm not going far, so if you feel I'm in danger or gone too long then come get me.” Ryan rests his forehead against Jon's and thinks, how are you so amazing?
Ryan breaks away from Jon's arms, the feeling of being safe and loved, and bundles up in his coat. He gives Jon one last kiss before leaving the apartment and beginning his walk down to the little park nearby. He looks around constantly, keeping an eye out the best he can for Spencer.
“Spencer, c'mon,” Ryan mutters. “Show yourself.”
Ryan can't help but feel disappointed he's not spotting Spencer anywhere. He wants at least a tiny glimpse of him, to know he's nearby and knows he's here.
“Jesus,” Ryan says as a shiver runs down his spine when he sits on the swing set. Chicago is freezing and Ryan is far from being used to it. “The temperature is dropping like mad.” Ryan hugs his arms to his chest, his teeth beginning to chatter, and decides not to stay out much longer. Twenty minutes tops seems like the best choice.
The sun has already set and the only thing giving light is the street lamps. Ryan looks around, startling when the wind blows. When he turns back around he sees him, standing up against a tree. Ryan's breath catches in his throat and he can't help but feel a swell of nerves in the pit of his stomach.
Spencer grins; bright and happy. Spencer doesn't walk over to him, though, and Ryan doesn't gather enough guts to get up and go to him. Ryan just sits there mesmerized and shocked. I miss you, Ryan thinks, and wishing he could gather the courage to get up and tell Spencer that himself.
“I miss you,” Ryan whispers out just as Spencer starts to walk away. Spencer looks back right before disappearing yet again in the shadows and the sad smile that graces his pale features tells Ryan everything. Spencer heard him. Ryan smiles, something small and sad, and buries his face in his legs.
~
Ryan takes it as a personal achievement that he's been dating Jon for almost a week now and they haven't had sex yet. And maybe it's because Ryan thinks Jon is pretty much the greatest ever and feels that they should just take their time. But, even if he thinks that it's not saying he hasn't thought about it endlessly.
“Jon! Shut up, oh my god,” Ryan shoves at Jon playfully, giggling.
“Hey, hey,” Jon says, shoving Ryan back a little bit. “That so happened. I'm not lying!”
“Right,” Ryan says slowly. “Right okay.” When Jon smiles Ryan can't help but smile back, his fingers hooking in Jon's belt loops and his bottom lip going between his teeth.
Jon starts leading him backwards until Ryan's back hits the door, and Ryan doesn't miss the wanting, lusting look in Jon's eyes. Ryan turns his head to the side when Jon nuzzles the crook of his neck and moans when Jon's hips meet his, feeling Jon hard against him.
Jon fumbles for his keys, finally finding them and unlocking the door. Ryan grabs a fist full of Jon's shirt and tugs him inside.
“Bedroom,” Jon says, voice low and hot, something Ryan hasn't heard yet. Ryan smirks and starts walking backwards, the only thing helping him go the right way being Jon's hands on his hips guiding him.
Ryan takes off his jacket, throwing it to the side then taking his shirt off. Making a slow, sexy show of it and never taking his eyes off of Jon. Jon unbuttons his jeans, hopping around to try and take them off, and almost falling into Ryan. Ryan's back hits Jon's bedroom door and Jon's hands inch their way slowly down Ryan's chest to the zipper of his jeans.
“I've been wanting this since I first laid eyes on you,” Jon whispers hot in Ryan's ear as he slowly unzips Ryan's tight jeans. He gasps a little when he feels Jon's fingers brush across his erection. The main thing running through his head right now is, want this so bad. He has never wanted someone this bad before.
Jon pulls Ryan's jeans down, along with Ryan's underwear, leaving Ryan completely bare before him. Jon smiles as he looks Ryan up and down with hungry eyes.
Ryan opens the bedroom door, putting a hand under Jon's chin, getting Jon to follow him inside then kicking the door shut. Jon drops his boxers to the floor finally and grabs Ryan by the waist and pulls him close. Their mouths mash together, too hard and quick, teeth clanging together, but Ryan doesn't pull away. He just coaxes Jon into a slower kiss, a sweeter kiss, something that conveys everything he is feeling right now; beautiful.
The back of Ryan's knees hit the bed and he falls backwards, keeping himself propped up by his elbows, and looks up at Jon through his bangs.
“I'm counting myself really, really lucky right now,” Jon tells him.
“Why?” Ryan asks.
“Because you are so gorgeous,” Jon replies.
Ryan crawls up the bed, taking Jon with him, and shakes his head when Jon mutters, “and way too good for me.”
“No,” Ryan disagrees. “You're wrong.”
Jon ignores him though and rummages in the night stand for a condom and some lube.
“You think so highly of me, don't you?” Ryan asks, curious. Ryan's never had someone feel like Ryan's this great, amazing person before. It's really great to be able to feel like this, to feel so-“You love me, Jon?”
“I started falling for you the more I talked to you on the phone,” Jon says, and Ryan smiles. “So, yeah, Ryan. I'm crazy about you.”
Ryan's eyes flutter close when he feels Jon's lips and tongue start to trail down his chest until Ryan can feel Jon's breath ghosting over his dick. Ryan cracks an eye open to see Jon with his mouth a little open and his eyes dark.
Ryan has to gather all the will power he has to not buck up into Jon's mouth when Jon finally takes him into his mouth. Ryan's head falls back, his hand finding its way to Jon's hair and holding tightly. Moans spill from Ryan's mouth and he knows he's being loud, but Jon is blowing him. Jon's free hand moves to trail up Ryan's thigh, his fingers then teasing at Ryan's entrance. Ryan thinks, please c'mon, and Jon finally sticks one finger in.
“Fuck,” Ryan breathes out, pushing down onto Jon's hand, only to want to rock up into the wet heat of Jon's mouth. Jon adds a second finger, crooking them a little and brushes that spot that sends sparks up Ryan's spine.
“Jon, Jon, Jon,” Ryan mutters, his voice coming out a little broken at the end. Ryan's hand clenches in Jon's hair, warningly, trying to tell Jon what he can't seem to get out of his mouth. Ryan is close and if Jon plans on fucking him he better do it pretty fucking soon. Jon adds a third finger, though, and this is torture. Torture, because Ryan needs to come, needs the release but he can't because Ryan doesn't want it to all be over right now. Ryan wants Jon in him, fucking him, making him feel full and complete and even more loved. And somehow Ryan knows Jon isn't going to be fast and rough like he is used to. He knows Jon is going to fuck him slow, maybe agonizingly slow, and he won't ever forget it.
Jon pulls off Ryan's cock with a wet pop and meets Ryan's eyes.
“Please, please, please,” Ryan finds himself begging. Ryan never begs, never has the need to. But Jon has gotten him into a begging mess and Jon hasn't even really done much.
Jon pulls his fingers out, Ryan whimpering at the loss of contact, and Ryan hears the tear of a condom wrapper and he thinks, finally. Jon grabs Ryan by his ankles, pulling him closer, wrapping Ryan's legs around his waist and finally, finally pushing his way in. Ryan arches when Jon pulls out then thrusts into him in one quick movement.
“God Ryan,” Jon groans, resting his forehead on Ryan's. “You're so beautiful likes this, you have no idea.”
Ryan cracks his eyes open to meet Jon's. His hands rake down Jon's back slowly, his hips rolling up into Jon's and urging him to just move already. When Jon finally starts to really move, Ryan tosses his head back and moans.
~
Jon sometimes leaves for a few hours, going to those vampire hunting meetings he always talks about, and sometimes Ryan has the urge to want to go with. Ryan hasn't even met the guys of Fall Out Boy yet and he's got no idea when he will. Jon has never said anything about it at all. Nor has Jon asked if Ryan wanted to tag along.
When Jon is gone at night, Ryan goes for long walks. He always has one goal in mind: Run into Spencer. He hasn't lately, though. Except he's always felt like someone is watching him and the only one he assumes it is, is Spencer. But maybe that's just wishful thinking.
Ryan's cell phone rings, startling him. It's dark and so quiet out and he's alone; stuff scares him a hell of a lot easier. He digs it out of his back pocket to see unknown flashing. He answers it despite not knowing who it is. The only thing he knows is it's a Las Vegas number, if the 702 area code is any indication.
“Hello?” Ryan answers.
“Hello, Ryan Ross? This is the Las Vegas Memorial Hospital calling. I'm afraid we have some bad news to tell you, son.”
“Yeah?” Ryan's not gonna lie; he's kind of afraid of what she's going to tell him.
“I'm sorry, hon, but your father passed away this evening,” the lady tells him.
Ryan nearly drops his phone onto the cold cement. He can't believe what he's hearing. His body feels kind of numb. This all can't be happening. He knew his father would pass away, maybe even knew he would shortly, but not this soon.
“He went to a bar and drank too much. He ended up hospitalized where he passed away. I'm really sorry to have to tell you this,” she continues and Ryan can't stop shaking his head, muttering “no, no, no” over and over again under his breath. Bad dream, this has to be a bad dream. His father was horrible, he was the worst ever most of the time, but he was still his father.
“I-I'm currently out of town,” Ryan manages to say. “I'm not sure when I can get back into town, ma'am. I'm in Chicago visiting my boyfriend.” Ryan smiles vaguely at being able to say boyfriend but it quickly leaves his face. “When do I need to be back?”
“I'd say very soon. Sometime next week but no later than that,” she says, and that's doable. Ryan will call Jon, work things out. Maybe Jon can go with him. Ryan can't go alone, especially when Spencer isn't there to be with him and keep him sane, keep him okay.
“Okay.” Ryan nods even though she can't see him. “Okay, I'll see about getting a plane ticket.”
Ryan hangs up after getting some more information then opts to going to the little park. Taking a spot on the swing, and swing life away. Ryan laughs wetly, brushing away the tears that fall with his hoodie. Maybe he'll listen to some Rise Against while he's at it since their song is now stuck in his head.
Right now Ryan doesn't really feel like talking on the phone, or really talking for that matter so he texts Jon instead.
need you. dad passed away. feel like shit.
Ryan's not really surprised to see a reply back from Jon really quickly. And he's not surprised it reads, I'll be right over.
Ryan texts Jon, at the park, and then looks up at the night sky. Ryan kind of really loves Jon but he kind of really wants Spencer, and Spencer's awesome hugs, and Spencer's comfort. It's like second nature to Spencer when it comes to Ryan, something Spencer has grown quite used to growing up with him. Always being automatically available at four in the morning when Ryan would crawl through his bedroom window and crawl into bed with him with a black eye or something bleeding. Spencer knows exactly what to do and how to react. Ryan hugs his chest and wishes Spencer was here.
Ryan hears a crinkle of leaves and turns around, expecting Jon, but sees the one person he's thinking of; Spencer. Spencer's dressed sharply in a black suit, a bowler hat sitting atop his head and looking more amazing than ever. Spencer is standing up against the same tree Ryan saw him last time.
Another figure emerges from behind the tree, wrapping their arms around Spencer's middle and resting their head on Spencer's shoulder. Ryan wonders if this is the guy who turned Spencer, the one Jon speaks about. The guy is dressed similar to Spencer; just as sharp and impressive.
Ryan sniffles, rubbing at his face again with the sleeves of his hoodie.
“Hi,” Ryan says with a small wave.
“Hi,” Spencer says.
Ryan goes to open his mouth to say more but Spencer and his friend are backing away, disappearing back in the shadows of the night. Not long after that Ryan hears the familiar sound of Jon's keys rattling and thinks, so that's why they disappeared so quickly.
Ryan forces a smile on his face when Jon walks over to him. And melts into Jon when Jon pulls him up from the swing and hugs him. Ryan's arms come up to go around Jon's neck and he holds tightly, but not as tightly as Jon is holding onto him. It's almost like Jon is afraid Ryan will break if he let go. Ryan's still wondering how Jon is so amazing.
“I'm so sorry, Ryan,” Jon whispers into Ryan's hair.
“It was bound to happen one day, right?” Ryan says. “I just wasn't ready yet, I guess.”
“He wasn't the greatest father in the world but you're gonna miss him, yeah?” Jon asks.
“Yeah, but mainly I just wish I could have fixed things. Made things better, you know,” Ryan answers. “Wish we actually had a real father son relationship. I wish I was able to finally get the bastard help. I don't know. I wished for a lot of things, actually.”
Ryan leans into the touch as Jon's hand runs through his hair. His eyes closing and his body relaxing just a tad bit more. Jon kisses his hair then tilts Ryan's head up to kiss him on the mouth. Ryan knows Jon just wanted to give him a little kiss, nothing more than lips on lips, but Ryan kisses Jon harder.
“Ryan,” Jon starts but Ryan interrupts him, licking into Jon's mouth and silencing him completely. Jon caves almost immediately.
Onward to part two
While the City Sleeps (We Rule The Streets)
Ryan's cell phone rings, blaring My Chemical Romance throughout the empty house. A towel is wrapped loosely around his waist, only barely being held up by his hand. He rushes into his bedroom and rummages around until he finds it buried under a pile of dirty clothes. Ryan gives the caller ID a puzzled look, not recognizing the number.
“Hello?” he answers.
“Hey, is this Ryan Ross?” an unfamiliar voice asks him.
“Uh, yeah, this is Ryan. Who's this?” Ryan questions as he holds the phone to his ear with his shoulder. Ryan begins looking through his closet trying to find the right pair of jeans he wants to wear when he nearly drops his phone due to the unknown callers reply. “Repeat that back for me, please?” Ryan asks.
“Spencer is, uh, he's a vampire. He's dead, Ryan,” the guy tells him. Well Jon as the guy so nicely introduced himself before delivering bad news. The Jon Walker Spencer went to stay with. “Something happened, okay? He. He fell into this really horrible group of vampires, and he got turned.”
“The fuck?” Ryan yanks a pair of dark blue skinny jeans off of its hanger and throws them onto his bed. “He's a fucking vampire now? What the hell?”
Jon's amused laugh filters out through the phone. “You sound and act so much like him.”
“Shut the fuck up,” Ryan says angrily, and thankfully Jon actually shuts up. “I am going to kick Spencer's ass.”
The line goes silent for a few minutes, stretching out into somewhat awkwardness. Ryan almost decides to hang up but Jon finally speaks up.
“You know, it'd be kind of hard to kick Spencer's ass seeing as he's a vampire with strength you don't possess.”
“Are you implying that I'm weak?” Ryan holds firm to his phone, cocking his hip out and putting on the bitchiest bitch face he can possibly muster. Although Jon can't actually see him right now he's hoping the bitchiness in his tone conveys just how unamused he is right now.
“I'm implying it wouldn't be a good idea,” Jon corrects.
Ryan sighs, switching the phone to his other ear. “Alright, so I won't just fly to Chicago and kick his vampire ass,” Ryan concedes. He doesn't really want to kick Spencer's ass anyway; he's just pissed off. Really, the least Spencer could've done was give Ryan a call and tell him he's now a member of the undead and sucking people's blood. That's what best friends are supposed to do, at least, when they've turned into vampires. If Ryan was turned into a vampire he'd give Spencer a call and say, hey I sleep in the day and drink people's blood by night.
“You can still come to Chicago, though.” Ryan can hear the small smile in Jon's voice. "You know, if you want to."
Ryan takes a deep breath as he finds his pink Fall Out Boy shirt and his studded belt. "I'll think about it," Ryan says, then adds, "Thanks for calling, Jon. Even though this news totally sucks ass, I'm glad someone told me."
"You're welcome, Ryan."
"Anyway, as much as this conversation is kickass and fucking great; I need to go out somewhere. I got a date and I really don't want to ruin my chances of getting laid," Ryan says. "So, I'll talk to you later."
"Yeah, okay. Bye, I'll talk--"
"Bye." Ryan clicks end with an audible sigh and throws his phone onto his bed, then grabbing the discarded jeans. Ryan shimmies into his tight jeans, buttoning them up and putting on his belt. Ryan looks into his long mirror, at a picture of him and Spencer pinned to it. Spencer's smiling face is looking right at him and Ryan hasn't missed him as badly as he does right now. Ryan doesn't get how Spencer could agree to just abandon him like that, especially when Ryan always needs him. Ryan touches the picture, smiling sadly, and goes back to getting dressed.
~
Ryan turns the idea over and over again in his head. The idea of going to Chicago and maybe running into Spencer is high on Ryan's priority list and also a main reason that might actually get Ryan to go to Chicago. He's also been talking to Jon a lot lately, and even though he hasn't technically met him yet, he feels close to him like he's known him his whole life. The more Ryan talks to him the more Ryan realizes how right Spencer was that Jon pretty much wins at life. Jon is this really awesome guy who makes him smile like an idiot most of the time. Jon is also friends with Fall Out Boy, which makes Ryan's inner fan boy run around screaming.
"What did Pete do now?" Ryan giggles, his hand coming up to try and hold the sound back.
"Okay, well he came to my work yesterday and he wasn't paying attention because he was too busy talking and flirting with this chick." Jon pauses to laugh, which only makes Ryan smile like a complete fool. "And Andy comes up behind him and pulls his pants down, underwear included."
"What did the girl do?" Ryan asks.
"She looked at him, every inch, and cracked the fuck up laughing."
"Seriously?" Hearing this story Ryan is kind of wishing he was there to witness it.
"She was all 'wow', her eyes were wide and mocking," Jon says, "and his face was beet red, dude. He looked like he wanted to just die."
"Oh, my god." Ryan bites his lip, his hand messing with a loose thread in his jeans, as he holds back another fit of laughter. "Oh my god. She didn't like what she saw?"
Jon laughs. "Apparently not."
Ryan clutches his chest as he's unable to contain his laughter any longer. It soon gets to the point he can't breathe and he tries to regain his composure. "That's hilarious. Poor Pete. But that's still hilarious."
"Yeah," Jon says softly, and Ryan can hear the smile in Jon's voice. It kind of makes Ryan's insides jump around happily, like a cage of butterflies were let loose. After a moment of silence Jon says, “So, when are you coming to Chicago? I'd love to see you.”
Ryan winces as he hears a beer bottle crash in the kitchen. "Shit," Ryan swears in a soft whisper. "Shit, hey, I'm sorry to have to get off the phone but I have something I need to tend to."
"Oh, hey, that's fine, really,” Jon says and Ryan winces again as he hears someone thud against a wall. He tries to focus on Jon's calm, soothing voice instead of what's happening in the other room. "Call me later, okay?"
"I'll call you later," Ryan promises. "Bye." Ryan closes his phone and reluctantly leaves the comfort of his bed, heading cautiously out of his room and into the living room where he sees his dad lying on the floor passed out. His dad's beer bottle is laying broken beside him; something that Ryan's going to have to spend a lot of time cleaning up, attempting to get the tiny shards out of the carpet. He sighs, bending down beside his father and whispering, "Dad, I wish you'd get help. I love you, but I hate who you are like this." His dad doesn't even open his eyes; too much alcohol coursing through his veins. Ryan knows he'll be passed out for a long time.
Ryan grabs his father's hands, beginning the long haul to his father's bedroom. He's way too heavy for him to carry so Ryan has to pull him instead.
"You're such a mess," Ryan mutters.
His father's bedroom is at the very end of the hallway, and by the time Ryan gets his father there his arms are aching. He manages to get his father onto the bed, and decides just to leave him like that, not bothering to tuck him in. As long as his father is in his room all is well.
"And now I need to get the hell out of this house," Ryan tells himself. Ryan goes to his room and gets dressed, collecting his keys from his dresser and leaves for the club on the strip he always goes to.
~
Maybe this makes him as a slut, going to clubs and flirting with guys until he can manage to get one to sleep with him. He doesn't really care though, whether or not someone calls him one, it's just what he prefers. Ryan actually hasn't had a boyfriend since high school, having given up on the whole thing when the guy he dated cheated on him. Relationships are a big no-no in Ryan's book. And hey, this way he's getting laid more than he did when he was in a relationship. It’s totally a bigger win.
Ryan never has a problem, either. Someone always hits on him, and they flirt back and forth like they're both two lame teenagers. Which is true, really, for the most part. A lot of time he hooks up with guys in their early twenties, only rarely meeting someone who's his own age.
"Can I buy you a drink?"
Ryan looks to his left to see a tall guy around his age. He assumes the guy has to be no more than a year or two older. And the guy is cute, in a blonde emo sort of way.
"Sure." Ryan smiles.
The guy buys him a coke and introduces himself. He says his name is Brian and that he's on vacation in Las Vegas. Ryan puts on his charm as he learns more about him. Brian plays guitar and is in a band. The band hasn't gotten anywhere yet but they're going to be putting out an EP soon and hopefully touring. As he finishes his sentence, Ryan puts his hand on the guy's thigh and leans in close, telling him how great that is.
"Want to get out of here?" Ryan asks, smirking. He sees Brian swallow hard and nod. "Awesome."
Brian takes his cell phone out and texts someone. Ryan can only assume it's the friend Brian showed up with. He then takes Ryan's hand, telling him they can go back to his hotel room. Ryan loves the idea of that.
The hotel room is nice with a full size bed. Somehow there aren't clothes strewn everywhere. After taking a quick look around, Ryan wastes no time in putting a hand on Brian's chest and backing him up until his knees hit the bed.
Ryan straddles his hips and bends down, whispering, "I'll give you the time of your life."
~
"So, I'm coming to Chicago," Ryan says conversationally two days later.
"Really?" Jon asks, and Ryan doesn't miss the full force of the grin that comes through in Jon's voice. "That's great!"
Ryan leans back against his kitchen counter. "Yeah," Ryan smiles, not being able to hold it back. Jon makes him do stuff like that; smile over the littlest of things. It's kind of amazing.
"When's your flight?" Jon asks.
"Next week. Wednesday, actually." Ryan bought the tickets last night on a whim and hasn't regretted it yet. It took all the money in his bank and his recent paycheck but it was worth it. Especially hearing how happy Jon sounds right now.
"Email me all the flight details. I'll pick you up," Jon tells him.
"'Kay," Ryan agrees, still smiling. "I'll do that tonight."
"Ryan! Get your ass over here, boy!" Ryan hears his father yell. He freezes on the spot, thinking, not right now, please not now. It's only around ten at night and yet his father is already drunk. It's nothing new, though. His father is always drunk, and always the worst person ever.
"Fuck," Ryan whispers into the phone.
"What's going on?" Jon asks.
"Remember when I said I wasn't too fond of my dad?" Ryan asks, and Jon hums his response. "Well, he's an alcoholic. Who sometimes picks fights with me because I'm just a stupid faggot son."
"Does he...hit you?" Jon asks uneasily. It's a touchy subject, and Jon's the first person he's told other than Spencer. But Jon sounds like he's almost afraid to ask and Jon hasn't given Ryan any reason to not share stuff. And it's not like at this point Ryan has anyone else to talk to.
"Yeah," Ryan says, his eyes closing as he hears his father yell at him again. "Quite regularly, actually."
"Oh Ryan. I'm so so--"
"No saying I'm sorry, please?" Ryan pleads, cutting Jon off. "I don't like it when people feel sorry for me..."
"Okay, okay, but be careful, alright?" Jon asks. "I don't like knowing that someone hurts you, Ryan. You can't tell me to not worry."
A smile crosses his face, just a tiny one. "I know. And thank you, for you know, being kind of awesome."
"Just kind of?" Jon asks. Ryan seriously isn't stupid, he can tell Jon is flirting. Ryan's maybe completely okay with that.
"Mmhmm," Ryan says. "You got to work up to completely awesome."
Jon laughs, but it's a little different than some of his laughs. It's softer, fonder, and Ryan likes it a lot. "I like challenges, Ross."
"I like giving challenges, Walker," Ryan shoots back. His father is still yelling, but Ryan is trying his hardest to ignore him. If this means getting hit, then so be it. Ryan really doesn't want to stop talking to Jon.
"Oh? Really? Then it'll be fun when you get here."
"Ryan!" comes his father's drunken, angry voice.
Ryan sighs, face palming. "Dude, my dad. I hate him. And I should go tend to his drunken ass now before something shitty and horrible happens."
"Call me later. To let me know you're okay. Please?" Jon sounds on the cusp of begging and Ryan's heart clenches in his chest. Jon actually cares. Someone else whose name isn't Spencer Smith cares. Ryan isn't used to this at all. It's like the single greatest thing right now; but still, Ryan isn't used to this.
"I will," Ryan says, then adds, "I promise."
Jon sighs with relief and Ryan smiles bigger. "Thank you."
"Welcome. Bye."
"Bye, Ry."
Ryan shuts his Sidekick, pocketing it with a happy sigh, his head currently in a good head space. Well, right up until the moment his father yells, "You stupid fag, when I call you to come the fuck in here you do!"
"What do ya want dad?" Ryan yells back, looking out into the living room.
"Gimme some food. Be a good little boy and cook me some dinner. 'M hungry," his dad slurs. His dad is wavering on his feet a bit with a bottle of Jack Daniel's clutched tightly in his right hand. Ryan rolls his eyes. They currently have no food because his dad doesn't go shopping because he spends all his money on alcohol and Ryan is fucking broke. How can he possibly cook him food?
Ryan takes a deep breath and walks out into the living room to face his dad. There's absolutely no telling what his dad will do, although Ryan has can guess what he will do. "We're out of food!"
"Then go out and get some fucking food!"
"It's late as fuck! There's nothing open, and nothing I can do. I can't cook food I can't buy right now."
The fist comes at his face so fast Ryan doesn't really register it until he's down on the floor, clutching his bleeding mouth. He looks up just as a foot connects with his side, and immediately curls in a tiny ball, tears threatening to come out.
"You're such a fucking pussy," Ryan hears his dad spit out. "Are you crying? You fucking crying? Get your sorry ass up and go to a drive thru or something."
"Fuck you," Ryan manages out through gritted teeth, and he knows, he just knows that it's a bad idea to say that. But it's already out of his mouth, fuel to his dad's drunken anger.
Ryan cries out when he feels another kick to his ribs. It hurts and stings in the worst possible ways, bruising him all over again. More bruises he has to hide from the world. Bruises he has to hide from Jon.
Ryan shuts his eyes, wishing for someone to save him, to get him out of here. Ryan hears his dad walk away only to hear him return and be thrown keys at his head. "Get out and get some fucking food before I kick your ass again."
Ryan gets up, wincing, and makes his way painfully out of the house. Once he's in his car he just breaks down, choked sobs wracking his body. "Ow," Ryan groans, clutching his ribs. His crying only hurts his bruised ribs more, the pain shooting through his body. "God I hate him," Ryan whispers out in the darkness.
Ryan turns his car on, putting in a CD and turning it up before pulling out of his driveway.
~
By the time Monday hits Ryan is already wishing time would just go faster. It's going at some lame snail pace that shouldn't ever be legal for the whole time shit. Time should just go at a faster pace, so Ryan can be on a damn plane already and leaving Las Vegas for what he likes to call a vacation. Time away from home, to relax and have a good time. He also hopes he will run into his vampire best friend.
Sometimes, when Ryan is lying awake on his bed thinking, his thoughts running through his head faster than usual because it's so quiet. Sometimes, he wishes he went with Spencer when he left to Chicago. It would've been a better car ride for Spencer, he figures, at least. He knows Spencer probably hated being all alone in the car for that long of a drive, but it's too late; you can't turn back time and fix everything. Everything is as it's supposed to be. Though Ryan would never have guessed Spencer would be a vampire; it's just not something you figure would ever happen.
"Ross, stop daydreaming! We have customers! Jesus kid," his boss yells at him. Ryan snaps out of his daydream, looking around until his sights set on a group of guys with tattoos, their faces looking not the least bit friendly. Ryan just hopes these guys aren't the kind who are rude, obnoxious, and mean. He's had problems with people in the past calling him names and making him look like a total ass as he tries to help them.
"Hi," Ryan greets them, with a friendly smile that doesn't really belong on his face. Fake niceness is rule number one for working with the public when you really don't feel like smiling. Ryan's become a pro at it. "Can I help you?" Ryan asks.
"Yeah," the one on the right says. "I was wondering; how much does this Gibson Les Paul cost? It says it's on sale, but doesn't show the sale price."
"Oh, I can look that up for you. Someone must have forgotten to put the sale price on it. Give me just one second, please," Ryan tells him. Ryan takes the guitar from the guy's hands and hurries over to the register, price checking the guitar for them. "It was $832 and now is $600."
"Six hundred, man, that's about as cheap as you'll get it, I think," the guy's friend says.
"I agree," Ryan speaks up, inputting his own opinion. "Most stores around here will charge you full price or jack the price up a few notches."
"You play?" the guy asks, his eyebrows raised in surprise.
"Yeah, I got a Les Paul, an acoustic and a Fender Telecaster. And when I was shopping around for a Les Paul it took me some time to find one with a reasonable price. I actually bought it here."
The guy looks to his friend and shrugs. "Alright," he says. "I'll buy it. I really need one, anyway."
"In a band?" Ryan asks as he rings it up.
"Yep. And I totally killed my guitar like an idiot," the guys laughs, ducking his head. "I bashed it against shit too much and then one day the neck just broke right off. I don't really want to spend the money on fixing it right now."
Ryan laughs, "Nice going."
"Hey! It was on stage, which was kind of embarrassing." The guy's cheeks pink a little bit and Ryan thinks, aww he's blushing. The guy leans in a bit over the counter, and says, "How would you feel if that happened to you on stage, huh?"
Ryan leans forward a little, too, and says, "I'd rock out, make the best of it. Grab a spare guitar off on the side. You know, be totally awesome."
The guy's friend grabs him by the shirt, muttering, "Stop flirting, Jake."
Ryan raises an eyebrow in silent question at Jake. Ryan likes that name; it's short and easy to say. He grabs a sticky note and quickly writes his number down, then grabs the receipt, handing both pieces of paper out to Jake.
"Call me," Ryan says, smiling.
Jake looks down at the number and smiles. "Sure thing."
"I'm leaving in a few days, though, so call me tonight or tomorrow."
Jake nods. "Tonight. I'll call you tonight. We can go out and do something."
"I'd like that," Ryan says. Jake is the exact reason why you don't judge a book by its cover. He looks mean on the outside, someone who'd probably make fun of Ryan, but he's not one of those people. Which is kind of awesome, in Ryan's opinion.
"Bye," Jake says with a little wave. Jake's friend rolls his eyes and pulls him out of the store.
Ryan leans back against the counter, still smiling. So he's going to get laid before he leaves. This is awesome.
~
Jake picks him up and takes him to this club that plays really horrible music. Ryan ends up accepting drink after drink until eventually Ryan's tipsy and leaning against him. Everything feels so fuzzy around the edges, and wonderful. Ryan has never been drunk before, and he figured it'd happen one of these days, but he didn't think it'd happen so soon.
"I'm drunk," Ryan states the obvious as he buries his face against his date's shirt.
"You are," Jake confirms with a nod. "And so am I."
Ryan lets out a few giggles and wraps his arms around Jake's neck.
“Mmm,” Ryan hums, nuzzling against his neck. Ryan leaves open mouthed kisses on his neck, lightly letting his teeth graze along smooth skin and tries to press his body all along Jake's.
Jake asks a little breathless,"You want to get out of here?"
Ryan nods, leaning up until he's kissing him. It's kind of uncoordinated, and Ryan knows he's a better kisser than this, but right now he doesn't care. His hands find their way up the back Jake's shirt, running up slightly sweaty skin.
Jake breaks it, grabbing Ryan's hand and pulling him out of the club. Jake directs Ryan to a car, opening up the passenger side door for him. Ryan knows that Jake shouldn't be driving but he's kind of too drunk to want to say anything about it. So Ryan just sits there, his head lying against the cool glass of the window as his date gets into the car and starts driving them to somewhere.
~
Ryan finishes packing the next night. He makes sure he has everything he needs; all his jeans, band shirts, v-necks, his make-up, hair straightener, everything. Ryan makes sure to pack a few of his pictures of him and Spencer. There's no way in hell he's going to leave them behind.
Ryan grabs the picture on his mirror and the pictures on his dresser and puts them on top of all his clothes in his suitcase. His fingers linger on one; Spencer lying on Ryan's bed, head tipped back and laughing, his arms wrapped around his stomach.
“I miss you,” Ryan whispers. “So, so much.”
Ryan zips up his suitcase, finding his plane ticket on his night stand and setting it on his suitcase. Everything is ready for tomorrow. He even has the clothes picked out that he wants to wear. He's completely ready to head to Chicago.
hey. so I have my shit packed. see you tomorrow. :)
Ryan pockets his cell phone in his back pocket and heads out to the kitchen for a snack. Luckily his last night at home for awhile is spent without the presence of his alcoholic father. So he has all the freedom in the world right now. And peace and quiet. Ryan smiles, looking around the quiet empty house and opening his can of soda.
Movie, Ryan decides on.
A few minutes later his phone rings with a new text. Ryan takes his phone out and checks it, his smile widening as he reads the text.
can't wait to see you! :)
Ryan thinks, can't wait to see you, too. And ends up texting it to Jon.
~
Ryan's flight is at 2pm, and he ends up short on time. He catches a cab and barely makes the flight. He sighs with relief when he gets to his seat. Ryan looks out the window as his plane takes off, taking in Las Vegas and saying his silent goodbye. Vacation in Chicago here he comes. And with the hope that he sees Spencer.
~
The thing is: Ryan doesn't know what Jon looks like. Spencer has never shown Ryan a picture of him and so Ryan has had to imagine the possibilities of what Jon looks like. For some reason he figures Jon is probably hot because to him he sounds hot. So if Jon sounds hot then he must be, right?
Ryan goes to baggage claim, picking up all his suitcases and wheeling them towards the front to try and find Jon. Ryan spots a guy wearing a jacket and wait. Is he wearing flip flops? Ryan's eyes grow wide.
“Jon Walker?” Ryan asks, still a little wide eyed. Wow, it's like forty degrees and yet he's wearing flips flops.
“Yep, that's me,” Jon says and grins. And damn, his smile has even more of an effect on Ryan than it did over the phone.
“Dude, you're wearing flips flops. What the hell,” Ryan says, motioning down at his shoes. “Who does that?”
“Me?” Jon shrugs, laughing a little. “I dunno. It doesn't bother me much.”
And wow Jon is hot, Ryan thinks as he takes Jon in some more. Jon is like hotter than what Ryan imagined.
“And you are just wow,” Ryan bites his lip, allowing Jon to grab some of his suitcases.
“Uh, thanks?” Jon laughs nervously, then hesitates before leaning forward and kissing Ryan right there in the middle of the airport. It's just a quick peck on the lips, but it's a kiss nonetheless and it leaves Ryan smiling like a complete idiot and wishing Jon would kiss him again. “Sorry,” Jon says. “I've just been wanting to kiss you for days now.”
“It's fine. I've kind of been wanting to kiss you for days now, too,” Ryan reassures him, then grabs a fist full of Jon's shirt and pulls him in for a real kiss, his tongue darting in through Jon's surprised lips and kissing him until they both need to break for air. “You make me smile, Jon Walker. I like you a lot,” Ryan says as he pulls away, grinning and resting his forehead against Jon's. He gets a fit of butterflies in his stomach when Jon grins right back.
So Ryan kind of likes Jon a whole hell of a lot.
~
Ryan takes Jon's guest bedroom even though he kind of really wants to crawl into Jon's bed. Ryan sits on his bed, a book lying out in front of him. He looks around the quiet room and thinks, fuck it. He really doesn't want to sleep in this bed alone. Hopefully Jon will be okay with Ryan wanting to curl into bed with him.
Ryan walks to Jon's bedroom and opens the door. Jon is fast asleep, stretched out and snoring softly. Ryan leans against the door frame and smiles fondly at him. Jon looks so cute like that. It'd be a shame to wake him up. Jon's door creaks though and wakes Jon up. Jon picks his tired head up and blinks sleepily at Ryan.
“Ryan?” Jon asks sleepily, his one hand coming up to rub at an eye.
Ryan asks, “Can I sleep with you?”
Jon pats the space next him, a sleepy smile on his face. “Sure, Ryan.”
Ryan pushes off the door and crawls into bed with him, snuggling close. Jon's arms wrap around his waist when he finally settles. He has his head on Jon's chest and an arm thrown over Jon's middle. And he feels so comfortable and so happy right here next to him.
“G'night babe,” Jon mumbles.
“Babe?” Ryan smiles, looking curiously up at Jon.
“Yes,” Jon cracks an eye open. “I'll take you on a date tomorrow night. Make things official.”
“I'd really, really like that, Jon,” Ryan says, leaning up to kiss Jon before snuggling back against him. “G'night.”
~
Jon takes him the next night to this little, fancy Italian restaurant. It looks like it's come right out of a movie or something and Ryan can't keep his eyes off of even the littlest details of the place. The table cloths are red and white checkered and there's a candle in the middle burning brightly in the pale dim light of the place.
“Wow,” Ryan breathes out as Jon pulls the chair out for him. “You really know how to make the first date amazing.”
“Why thank you,” Jon says with a small bow. “I try my best.”
Ryan puts his napkin on his lap and looks around the restaurant some more. Ryan's grin is so big it's kind of hurting his face.
“I love it,” Ryan confesses, and feeling like a complete girl afterward for the way he sounded. He ducks his head, blushing like mad. Ryan feels a hand on his chin moments later, and he lifts his head up to look Jon in the eyes.
Jon leans forward over the table and gives Ryan a quick peck on the lips, murmuring, “I'm glad.”
~
Ryan and Jon walk hand in hand down the street, occasionally swapping stories of high school and their friends. Although, Ryan only has, like, two friends to speak of; Spencer and Brent. Ryan ends up telling Jon about how he was in a band for a short time with Spencer and Brent, playing Blink 182 covers and calling themselves Pet Salamander. Jon has of course heard all about it, except for some stories Spencer forgot to mention. So Jon gets a kick out of them.
“I'm not really friends with Brent anymore,” Ryan finds himself saying eventually. “He just like, drifted away and stopped talking to me.”
“Do you know why?” Jon asks.
Ryan shrugs. Spencer doesn't even know or understand what happened either. Spencer was still talking to Brent on occasion but to Ryan's knowledge Brent never gave Spencer an explanation about it at all. Ryan isn't going to dwell on it or anything. It's not like Ryan cares. Brent can go die in a fire.
“He's just an asshole now, you know,” Ryan says. “He thinks he's all high and mighty. I miss his old self. The more carefree, nice guy he was when we were in middle school. High school...changed him.”
Jon lets go of Ryan's hand, instead settling on wrapping an arm around Ryan's waist and pulling him a little closer. Ryan smiles, wrapping his arm around Jon's waist as well.
“People shouldn't be mean to you. You're really great, Ryan,” Jon says softly, and leans in, giving Ryan a quick kiss to his neck.
Ryan's bottom lip goes between his teeth nervously, and he looks over at Jon and smiles a little bigger than he was when Jon wrapped an arm around him.
“It's okay. I don't care, Jon,” Ryan tells him. “And besides; I'm with a great guy right now in a beautiful city and I just went on an amazing date. Life is great.”
Jon says, “That's good,” and leans back in, his lips lingering near Ryan's. Ryan's eyes drop to Jon's lips and he decides to take the initiative, leaning in the rest of the way and coaxing Jon into a kiss. They stop walking, getting caught up in one another, Ryan's arms coming up to go around Jon's neck as they stand in the middle of the sidewalk kissing the night away. Ryan groans into the kiss when Jon's hands grab his ass. It catches him by surprise, but he isn't complaining.
“Let's get back to your house,” Ryan says, grabbing a hold of Jon's hand. Ryan is eager to get back and be able to have Jon all alone without any prying eyes. Even if all they do is make out, cuddle and watch television.
“Mmm,” Jon hums. “Yeah.”
Ryan goes to turn back around so they can continue down the sidewalk to Jon's house but something or someone lurking in the shadows stops him. Ryan sees the person step out enough for him to see them, and his eyes grow a little wide with shock. He blinks his eyes, rubbing them with his free hand, and totally ignoring Jon's questions on what's wrong.
“What?” Ryan whispers.
Spencer, Ryan thinks, disbelieving completely that he's nearby, in reach yet not in reach. Jon separating them from being able to talk. If only Jon didn't despise Spencer now or fear him.
“Ryan, hey,” Jon waves a hand in his face until Ryan snaps out of his stare at Spencer.
Spencer smirks and waves Ryan a goodbye before disappearing back in the shadows. Ryan wishes Spencer would stay and talk. Ryan knows right now Spencer can't and he hates that more than ever.
“Nothing,” Ryan says, lying so hard right now it's not even funny. “Thought I saw something, like a cat hurt. But it was nothing at all.”
“Okay then,” Jon says slowly, then tugs at Ryan's hand. “Let's get back to my place. It's way too late right now to be out.”
“Alright,” Ryan agrees, and lets Jon direct him back to the apartment. Ryan looks back, though, one last time as they walk away; hoping he can catch one last glimpse of Spencer.
~
The next night Ryan takes a walk to the park just before sunset with a pen and his notebook. He tells Jon he just wants to be alone and write. Which is true. Ryan usually writes best when he's alone and relaxed. When Ryan and Spencer were in Vegas, still friends and hanging out, every time Ryan went to write Spencer would clear out of the room and let him be.
“Be safe?” Jon has his bottom lip sticking out in a pout and Ryan can't help but lean forward and kiss that pout right off his face.
“Don't worry, 'kay? I'll be right back in an hour. And I'm not going far, so if you feel I'm in danger or gone too long then come get me.” Ryan rests his forehead against Jon's and thinks, how are you so amazing?
Ryan breaks away from Jon's arms, the feeling of being safe and loved, and bundles up in his coat. He gives Jon one last kiss before leaving the apartment and beginning his walk down to the little park nearby. He looks around constantly, keeping an eye out the best he can for Spencer.
“Spencer, c'mon,” Ryan mutters. “Show yourself.”
Ryan can't help but feel disappointed he's not spotting Spencer anywhere. He wants at least a tiny glimpse of him, to know he's nearby and knows he's here.
“Jesus,” Ryan says as a shiver runs down his spine when he sits on the swing set. Chicago is freezing and Ryan is far from being used to it. “The temperature is dropping like mad.” Ryan hugs his arms to his chest, his teeth beginning to chatter, and decides not to stay out much longer. Twenty minutes tops seems like the best choice.
The sun has already set and the only thing giving light is the street lamps. Ryan looks around, startling when the wind blows. When he turns back around he sees him, standing up against a tree. Ryan's breath catches in his throat and he can't help but feel a swell of nerves in the pit of his stomach.
Spencer grins; bright and happy. Spencer doesn't walk over to him, though, and Ryan doesn't gather enough guts to get up and go to him. Ryan just sits there mesmerized and shocked. I miss you, Ryan thinks, and wishing he could gather the courage to get up and tell Spencer that himself.
“I miss you,” Ryan whispers out just as Spencer starts to walk away. Spencer looks back right before disappearing yet again in the shadows and the sad smile that graces his pale features tells Ryan everything. Spencer heard him. Ryan smiles, something small and sad, and buries his face in his legs.
~
Ryan takes it as a personal achievement that he's been dating Jon for almost a week now and they haven't had sex yet. And maybe it's because Ryan thinks Jon is pretty much the greatest ever and feels that they should just take their time. But, even if he thinks that it's not saying he hasn't thought about it endlessly.
“Jon! Shut up, oh my god,” Ryan shoves at Jon playfully, giggling.
“Hey, hey,” Jon says, shoving Ryan back a little bit. “That so happened. I'm not lying!”
“Right,” Ryan says slowly. “Right okay.” When Jon smiles Ryan can't help but smile back, his fingers hooking in Jon's belt loops and his bottom lip going between his teeth.
Jon starts leading him backwards until Ryan's back hits the door, and Ryan doesn't miss the wanting, lusting look in Jon's eyes. Ryan turns his head to the side when Jon nuzzles the crook of his neck and moans when Jon's hips meet his, feeling Jon hard against him.
Jon fumbles for his keys, finally finding them and unlocking the door. Ryan grabs a fist full of Jon's shirt and tugs him inside.
“Bedroom,” Jon says, voice low and hot, something Ryan hasn't heard yet. Ryan smirks and starts walking backwards, the only thing helping him go the right way being Jon's hands on his hips guiding him.
Ryan takes off his jacket, throwing it to the side then taking his shirt off. Making a slow, sexy show of it and never taking his eyes off of Jon. Jon unbuttons his jeans, hopping around to try and take them off, and almost falling into Ryan. Ryan's back hits Jon's bedroom door and Jon's hands inch their way slowly down Ryan's chest to the zipper of his jeans.
“I've been wanting this since I first laid eyes on you,” Jon whispers hot in Ryan's ear as he slowly unzips Ryan's tight jeans. He gasps a little when he feels Jon's fingers brush across his erection. The main thing running through his head right now is, want this so bad. He has never wanted someone this bad before.
Jon pulls Ryan's jeans down, along with Ryan's underwear, leaving Ryan completely bare before him. Jon smiles as he looks Ryan up and down with hungry eyes.
Ryan opens the bedroom door, putting a hand under Jon's chin, getting Jon to follow him inside then kicking the door shut. Jon drops his boxers to the floor finally and grabs Ryan by the waist and pulls him close. Their mouths mash together, too hard and quick, teeth clanging together, but Ryan doesn't pull away. He just coaxes Jon into a slower kiss, a sweeter kiss, something that conveys everything he is feeling right now; beautiful.
The back of Ryan's knees hit the bed and he falls backwards, keeping himself propped up by his elbows, and looks up at Jon through his bangs.
“I'm counting myself really, really lucky right now,” Jon tells him.
“Why?” Ryan asks.
“Because you are so gorgeous,” Jon replies.
Ryan crawls up the bed, taking Jon with him, and shakes his head when Jon mutters, “and way too good for me.”
“No,” Ryan disagrees. “You're wrong.”
Jon ignores him though and rummages in the night stand for a condom and some lube.
“You think so highly of me, don't you?” Ryan asks, curious. Ryan's never had someone feel like Ryan's this great, amazing person before. It's really great to be able to feel like this, to feel so-“You love me, Jon?”
“I started falling for you the more I talked to you on the phone,” Jon says, and Ryan smiles. “So, yeah, Ryan. I'm crazy about you.”
Ryan's eyes flutter close when he feels Jon's lips and tongue start to trail down his chest until Ryan can feel Jon's breath ghosting over his dick. Ryan cracks an eye open to see Jon with his mouth a little open and his eyes dark.
Ryan has to gather all the will power he has to not buck up into Jon's mouth when Jon finally takes him into his mouth. Ryan's head falls back, his hand finding its way to Jon's hair and holding tightly. Moans spill from Ryan's mouth and he knows he's being loud, but Jon is blowing him. Jon's free hand moves to trail up Ryan's thigh, his fingers then teasing at Ryan's entrance. Ryan thinks, please c'mon, and Jon finally sticks one finger in.
“Fuck,” Ryan breathes out, pushing down onto Jon's hand, only to want to rock up into the wet heat of Jon's mouth. Jon adds a second finger, crooking them a little and brushes that spot that sends sparks up Ryan's spine.
“Jon, Jon, Jon,” Ryan mutters, his voice coming out a little broken at the end. Ryan's hand clenches in Jon's hair, warningly, trying to tell Jon what he can't seem to get out of his mouth. Ryan is close and if Jon plans on fucking him he better do it pretty fucking soon. Jon adds a third finger, though, and this is torture. Torture, because Ryan needs to come, needs the release but he can't because Ryan doesn't want it to all be over right now. Ryan wants Jon in him, fucking him, making him feel full and complete and even more loved. And somehow Ryan knows Jon isn't going to be fast and rough like he is used to. He knows Jon is going to fuck him slow, maybe agonizingly slow, and he won't ever forget it.
Jon pulls off Ryan's cock with a wet pop and meets Ryan's eyes.
“Please, please, please,” Ryan finds himself begging. Ryan never begs, never has the need to. But Jon has gotten him into a begging mess and Jon hasn't even really done much.
Jon pulls his fingers out, Ryan whimpering at the loss of contact, and Ryan hears the tear of a condom wrapper and he thinks, finally. Jon grabs Ryan by his ankles, pulling him closer, wrapping Ryan's legs around his waist and finally, finally pushing his way in. Ryan arches when Jon pulls out then thrusts into him in one quick movement.
“God Ryan,” Jon groans, resting his forehead on Ryan's. “You're so beautiful likes this, you have no idea.”
Ryan cracks his eyes open to meet Jon's. His hands rake down Jon's back slowly, his hips rolling up into Jon's and urging him to just move already. When Jon finally starts to really move, Ryan tosses his head back and moans.
~
Jon sometimes leaves for a few hours, going to those vampire hunting meetings he always talks about, and sometimes Ryan has the urge to want to go with. Ryan hasn't even met the guys of Fall Out Boy yet and he's got no idea when he will. Jon has never said anything about it at all. Nor has Jon asked if Ryan wanted to tag along.
When Jon is gone at night, Ryan goes for long walks. He always has one goal in mind: Run into Spencer. He hasn't lately, though. Except he's always felt like someone is watching him and the only one he assumes it is, is Spencer. But maybe that's just wishful thinking.
Ryan's cell phone rings, startling him. It's dark and so quiet out and he's alone; stuff scares him a hell of a lot easier. He digs it out of his back pocket to see unknown flashing. He answers it despite not knowing who it is. The only thing he knows is it's a Las Vegas number, if the 702 area code is any indication.
“Hello?” Ryan answers.
“Hello, Ryan Ross? This is the Las Vegas Memorial Hospital calling. I'm afraid we have some bad news to tell you, son.”
“Yeah?” Ryan's not gonna lie; he's kind of afraid of what she's going to tell him.
“I'm sorry, hon, but your father passed away this evening,” the lady tells him.
Ryan nearly drops his phone onto the cold cement. He can't believe what he's hearing. His body feels kind of numb. This all can't be happening. He knew his father would pass away, maybe even knew he would shortly, but not this soon.
“He went to a bar and drank too much. He ended up hospitalized where he passed away. I'm really sorry to have to tell you this,” she continues and Ryan can't stop shaking his head, muttering “no, no, no” over and over again under his breath. Bad dream, this has to be a bad dream. His father was horrible, he was the worst ever most of the time, but he was still his father.
“I-I'm currently out of town,” Ryan manages to say. “I'm not sure when I can get back into town, ma'am. I'm in Chicago visiting my boyfriend.” Ryan smiles vaguely at being able to say boyfriend but it quickly leaves his face. “When do I need to be back?”
“I'd say very soon. Sometime next week but no later than that,” she says, and that's doable. Ryan will call Jon, work things out. Maybe Jon can go with him. Ryan can't go alone, especially when Spencer isn't there to be with him and keep him sane, keep him okay.
“Okay.” Ryan nods even though she can't see him. “Okay, I'll see about getting a plane ticket.”
Ryan hangs up after getting some more information then opts to going to the little park. Taking a spot on the swing, and swing life away. Ryan laughs wetly, brushing away the tears that fall with his hoodie. Maybe he'll listen to some Rise Against while he's at it since their song is now stuck in his head.
Right now Ryan doesn't really feel like talking on the phone, or really talking for that matter so he texts Jon instead.
need you. dad passed away. feel like shit.
Ryan's not really surprised to see a reply back from Jon really quickly. And he's not surprised it reads, I'll be right over.
Ryan texts Jon, at the park, and then looks up at the night sky. Ryan kind of really loves Jon but he kind of really wants Spencer, and Spencer's awesome hugs, and Spencer's comfort. It's like second nature to Spencer when it comes to Ryan, something Spencer has grown quite used to growing up with him. Always being automatically available at four in the morning when Ryan would crawl through his bedroom window and crawl into bed with him with a black eye or something bleeding. Spencer knows exactly what to do and how to react. Ryan hugs his chest and wishes Spencer was here.
Ryan hears a crinkle of leaves and turns around, expecting Jon, but sees the one person he's thinking of; Spencer. Spencer's dressed sharply in a black suit, a bowler hat sitting atop his head and looking more amazing than ever. Spencer is standing up against the same tree Ryan saw him last time.
Another figure emerges from behind the tree, wrapping their arms around Spencer's middle and resting their head on Spencer's shoulder. Ryan wonders if this is the guy who turned Spencer, the one Jon speaks about. The guy is dressed similar to Spencer; just as sharp and impressive.
Ryan sniffles, rubbing at his face again with the sleeves of his hoodie.
“Hi,” Ryan says with a small wave.
“Hi,” Spencer says.
Ryan goes to open his mouth to say more but Spencer and his friend are backing away, disappearing back in the shadows of the night. Not long after that Ryan hears the familiar sound of Jon's keys rattling and thinks, so that's why they disappeared so quickly.
Ryan forces a smile on his face when Jon walks over to him. And melts into Jon when Jon pulls him up from the swing and hugs him. Ryan's arms come up to go around Jon's neck and he holds tightly, but not as tightly as Jon is holding onto him. It's almost like Jon is afraid Ryan will break if he let go. Ryan's still wondering how Jon is so amazing.
“I'm so sorry, Ryan,” Jon whispers into Ryan's hair.
“It was bound to happen one day, right?” Ryan says. “I just wasn't ready yet, I guess.”
“He wasn't the greatest father in the world but you're gonna miss him, yeah?” Jon asks.
“Yeah, but mainly I just wish I could have fixed things. Made things better, you know,” Ryan answers. “Wish we actually had a real father son relationship. I wish I was able to finally get the bastard help. I don't know. I wished for a lot of things, actually.”
Ryan leans into the touch as Jon's hand runs through his hair. His eyes closing and his body relaxing just a tad bit more. Jon kisses his hair then tilts Ryan's head up to kiss him on the mouth. Ryan knows Jon just wanted to give him a little kiss, nothing more than lips on lips, but Ryan kisses Jon harder.
“Ryan,” Jon starts but Ryan interrupts him, licking into Jon's mouth and silencing him completely. Jon caves almost immediately.
Onward to part two