Choices at Midnight Highway: Transatlantic Flight Path 3.1
Title: Choices at Midnight
Fandom: RPS
Story: Highway: Transatlantic Flight Path 3.1
Characters: Alan Davies and Robert Sean Leonard
Authors:
michelleann68+
evila_elf=
evila_ann
Prompt: 39 Choice coclaim100
Word Count: 2,614
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Alan takes a chance with a New Year's gift to Robert. Alan does not get the response that he had hoped for.
Author's Notes:
This is there it all began:
Big table of prompts is here:
Order of the story is here:
2.6 Take a chance
Alan looked at his watch. It was 11:45, he had just made it! He climbed out of the cab and shivered in the cold December air as he looked up at Robert’s building and fished his phone out of his pocket. Pressing the speed dial, he waited for the pick up.
“Hello?” Robert’s tentative voice answered the phone.
“Hey stranger, guess who?”
“Al...Alan? Hey, it’s almost midnight, how are you?”
Alan chuckled softly. “I’m fine, can you let me in?” His finger pressed the buzzer at the intercom.
“Can I what?” Robert sounded confused. “Can you hang on, someone is buzzing me.”
Alan laughed and waited until he heard the crackling voice belonging to Robert greet him over the intercom. Alan bit his tongue before he called Robert daft. “Robert, it’s me, can you let me in? I’m freezing my bollocks off out here.”
“Alan, you’re here? In New York?”
“Surprise.” Alan was getting nervous. This was not what he had expected. His fantasy of Robert’s overwhelming joy was quickly fading, being replaced by something that wasn’t settling quite right.
“But, why, how?” Robert’s voice could be heard in both the intercom and the phone.
“Let me in and we can discuss all this.” Alan spoke slowly, starting to feel cold. “403, fourth floor?”
“Wha… oh .. Yeah.”
The buzzer rang, and Alan walked into the building.
Robert felt like he had been hit by a train. His cell phone bounced against the couch cushions and he dropped down beside it, pressing a hand against his mouth. Over and over again he kept repeating: “Alan, is here, in New York,” hoping that the repetition would sink it in make him believe it.
There were parts of Robert that were overwhelmed and happy, but a larger part of him was just plain scared. What did this all mean; why would he come all this way; what did he expect? Could I go through with it all? He closed his eyes to gather his courage. This was a good thing, he reminded himself, and he needed to prepare, to not disappoint Alan. He honestly wanted to see where things were heading; his timeline was a just little slower than the one that Alan seemed to be following.
Alan hit the top of the first landing, then stopped. He was beginning to doubt that this was a good idea. It sounded good in his head and, up to 5 minutes ago, he was positive that things would be all rosy. He took a few deep breaths and tried to settle himself. He really wanted Robert to be happy to see him, embrace him and kiss him, but now he was not sure how that would go. Robert sounded gob smacked on the phone. Alan thought that maybe it was just the shock talking. Maybe Robert is happy. At that point, Alan decided to put what he wanted on the back burner and let Robert set the pace. No moves, no advances, let Robert decide how this was going to go. He could do that, he reassured himself. Everything would be fine.
He bounded the next few stairs until the pain of doubt gutted him again. Alan had only heard disappointment in Robert’s voice, questioning as to why he was here, as though they had not spent the last six months getting closer and closer despite the ocean between them. He braced himself on the next landing and laughed at himself. He was acting like a twelve year old with a school boy crush! But it had to be more than that. He had thought this through, and Robert had given him every indication that they were becoming closer than just friends.
He turned to go up the third flight, but thought better of it, hopping in the elevator instead. Leaning against the back, he closed his eyes and tried to work out what was going to happen next. He needed Robert to let him in, he needed that more then he wanted to admit. The door slid open and he stepped out onto the landing, looking around, trying to find Robert’s door.
Robert pressed his head against his door and listened. He heard the bell of the elevator and gripped the doorknob tightly, then he closed his eyes. He could do this, get past the fear that he felt welling up inside himself. Robert turned the knob, taking a deep breath, steeling himself. He could let someone into his life, into his apartment, he could do this.
Robert opened the door and looked out. He was dressed casually, in a track pants and a baggy t-shirt. He straightened his glasses, crooked from leaning against the door, and poked his head out further. He saw Alan get out of the elevator and smiled. “Alan,” he called out, his voice cracking a little.
Alan turned and Robert stood frozen, not sure what to do next. He watched Alan walk towards him, a sly smile on his face. Alan stopped at the door in front of him and placed a hand on Robert’s hip, leaning in, pressing a soft kiss of greeting to both of his cheeks. “Happy New Year. And surprise!!” Alan tried to hide the fear in his voice. He looked at Robert, trying to judge what he was thinking.
“Hi, Happy New Year. Please come on in.” Robert stepped aside and let Alan walk ahead of him into the small apartment.
Alan stopped just inside and looked around, taking in all of the little things that made up Robert: Books, posters of Broadway shows on several of the walls, small keepsakes…all neatly arranged in the tidy flat. He felt Robert remove the case from his hand.
Robert set the case down by the door and walked over to the couch. He sat down and looked over at Alan surveying the layout. He tucked himself into the couch and grabbed a pillow holding it across his chest.
Alan walked over and sat down on the opposite end of the couch, turning to face towards Robert. “Surprised?”
“A little…when did you plan this?”
“Just before Christmas.”
Robert nodded, swallowing before continuing. “Have a good flight?”
“Yeah, not many travelers on New Year’s Eve.” He looked down, nervously tracing the seam on his pant leg.
In the background the radio played and they could hear the announcer start the thirty second countdown to the new year.
“How long are you visiting for?”
Alan looked up, still trying to get a read on what Robert was thinking. He wanted to be glib and say, ‘I’ll stay as long as you want me to,’ but thought the better of that. He hadn’t had the warmest of receptions, and he couldn’t tell why Robert was being so stand-offish. He gave a small smile and pushed a curl of hair behind one ear. “Four days.” Alan rubbed his face and tried to hold back a yawn. As the countdown ended, Alan recalled something that he had heard a long time ago, about how the first person you are with in the new year would be the one person that you will spend the rest of your life with. Alan turned his head to look over at Robert, who was shifting uncomfortably at the other end of the couch and received a small smile in return, perhaps a spark of hope.
Auld Lang Sing started to play on the radio and all Robert wanted to do was slide over to the other side of the couch and touch Alan, give him a small kiss to let him know that things would be fine. He looked tired and like someone had stolen his favorite toy. It hurt to think that he was responsible for that look. “Want a cup of tea, or something to drink, eat?” Robert asked.
“No, I’m fine. Really. Happy New Year, Robert, I hope it will be a bang up year for you.”
“You too, Alan.” Robert excused himself and went into his small kitchen, trying to convince himself that he was not escaping from the awkward silence.
Alan banged his head against the back of the couch a few times. Things were too awkward. It would be best, he decided, to just leave and get a hotel room someplace. Start fresh tomorrow. Maybe they could have dinner or something and work past these uncomfortable feelings. He didn’t want to, but he didn’t know how much he would be able to take. He stood and made his way to the kitchen. “Well, I guess I will head to the hotel. Maybe dinner or tea tomorrow? If you’re not busy?”
Robert looked up from where he was resting against the sink. He started to nod, then mentally kicked himself, hard. He was being idiotic, and stupid, and now he was chasing Alan off. “No, stay here. Please?” Robert fiddled with the hem on his shirt as he waited for Alan’s reaction. Would he want to stay?
“The couch looks comfortable,” Alan quickly said. “I’m sure once we both get some sleep we both will feel more conversational.”
Robert swallowed hard and walked over, placing his hand on Alan’s arm and adding softly, “I really am happy to see you.” He walked out into the living room, trying to calm his heart that was racing. Robert switched off a few lights and looked up to make sure Alan had followed. “It’s late and you have had a long day, let me get the bedding.”
Alan watched Robert’s retreating form and felt a little hope that he had not felt since he arrived. When Robert had touched him, he felt the spark that he remembered, he just needed to be patient and not push him, give Robert time to digest this all. He let go of the breath he was holding since he had walked in the door, and thought maybe now he could get some rest.
Robert hurried off, happy to have a task to do. Opening the small linen closet, he was hit with the nearly-forgotten scent of Gabby, her smell still lingering on the pillow covers and spare summer sheets. Oh how quickly one forgets, as the big things in one’s life gets pushed to the side, confined to a small space-not unlike a linen closet-and forgotten. Robert stepped forward again, trying to push past the memories. He gently fingered the soft sheets, remembering the time they were bought several years ago during happier times. Annoyed at himself for the unwanted stroll down memory lane, he grabbed a pair of them, then reached for a pillow. He stopped, fingers lingering, remembering her dark hair splayed across it as they had lain together last year. Lowering his hand, he closed the closet on the memories and went into his room and grabbed a pillow from his bed, then went back into the living room.
Alan stood when Robert reentered the room, unloading his arms with the blankets and together they made up the couch.
“Well, I will see you in the morning. Have everything?” Robert asked, taking a few steps back.
“Yes. Everything is fine.” He smiled, trying to put the other man at ease. “In the morning,” he reminded, starting to remove his shirt and get ready for bed. He caught Robert watching, shifting uncomfortably, looking nervous. “Sleep well, Robert. Happy New Year,” he added softly.
“Good night.” He hoped the dim lighting hid his flush as he quickly went into the bedroom.
“Night, Love,” Alan whispered to Robert’s retreating back.
Robert closed the bedroom door, then softly banged his head against it. Why was he acting like some blushing adolescent? He sighed and changed for bed, slipping beneath the cool sheets and tossing his glasses on the nightstand. It was after one in the morning and he should be exhausted, yet every time he closed his eyes, they would pop back open shortly after, staring up into the darkness. “I’m an idiot,” he whispered to the hidden ceiling.
Alan took a deep breath. His pillow smelled of Robert. A comforting smell it was, but also distracting enough that it was making it impossible to sleep. The small light coming in the window from the lamp post outside seemed to shine only on Robert’s closed door, also making it hard to focus on sleep. He hadn’t slept in over a day at least, and was surprised to not be as tired as he should. Seeing Robert again had been like a shot of caffeine, and he fidgeted with the coverings as he stared up at the ceiling, trying to ignore the halo around the bedroom door and the scent under his head that seemed to wrap around him, tighter than any blanket could.
His throat was dry, and Robert swallowed, resisting the urge to go into the kitchen for a drink. The urge outlasted the resistance and he sat up, switching on a light and fumbling for his glasses. He paused at the door, hand resting on the knob. Alan had made the choice for them, now was Robert ready to accept it? He closed his eyes, knowing that this was a seminal moment in his life. Robert took a deep breath and made a choice of his own.
Robert slowed as he neared the couch before stopping altogether, drawing up alongside Alan. His skin looked soft and the body peaceful in the light from the window coupled with that of the one in his room. Was it as soft as it looked? His hand had reached the point of no return before he could think to call it back. He brushed the back of his fingers across Alan’s cheek, a gentle caress. He didn’t want to pull back, leaving his fingers to linger.
The feeling that he wasn’t alone was confirmed when Alan felt warm fingers brushing over his cheek. When they didn’t pull away or move, he leaned into them and opened his eyes to find a soft pair staring back at him. He raised his own hand up, covering Robert’s hand with his own, all the while not able to break away from the eyes that held his.
“Hi,” Robert said, offering his first relaxed smile.
Alan returned the smile, pleased with this turn of events. His hand curled around Robert’s and he moved the hand to press Robert’s fingers against his lips. Slowly he kissed the tips of each finger, giving the last one a small nip and caressing it with his tongue. He gave the palm a soft kiss before entwining his fingers with Robert’s and giving a light squeeze. And he waited, trying not to hold his breath because he wasn’t sure if he would be able to start breathing again if Robert pulled away.
Robert caught the unease in Alan’s eyes and gave him a reassuring smile and the hand a quick squeeze. He leaned down, placing his free hand on the back of the couch, and brushed his lips against Alan’s once, twice, thrice before pulling away and waiting for Alan to open his eyes. “I want you near me,” he said, their eyes firmly locked again. “Tonight. And tomorrow. I’m so sorry.”
“You have nothing to be sorry for,” Alan said, once he had found his voice, and let himself be pulled to his feet.
Robert didn’t release Alan’s hand as they slid in under the covers, Robert laying on his back and pulling Alan to him, giving him another kiss on the lips. “Goodnight.”
Alan happily rested his head against Robert’s chest as blankets were pulled up around them and a comforting hand was laid against his neck. “Goodnight, Love.”
3.2 Good Morning
Fandom: RPS
Story: Highway: Transatlantic Flight Path 3.1
Characters: Alan Davies and Robert Sean Leonard
Authors:
michelleann68+
evila_elf=
evila_ann
Prompt: 39 Choice coclaim100
Word Count: 2,614
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Alan takes a chance with a New Year's gift to Robert. Alan does not get the response that he had hoped for.
Author's Notes:
This is there it all began:
Big table of prompts is here:
Order of the story is here:
2.6 Take a chance
Alan looked at his watch. It was 11:45, he had just made it! He climbed out of the cab and shivered in the cold December air as he looked up at Robert’s building and fished his phone out of his pocket. Pressing the speed dial, he waited for the pick up.
“Hello?” Robert’s tentative voice answered the phone.
“Hey stranger, guess who?”
“Al...Alan? Hey, it’s almost midnight, how are you?”
Alan chuckled softly. “I’m fine, can you let me in?” His finger pressed the buzzer at the intercom.
“Can I what?” Robert sounded confused. “Can you hang on, someone is buzzing me.”
Alan laughed and waited until he heard the crackling voice belonging to Robert greet him over the intercom. Alan bit his tongue before he called Robert daft. “Robert, it’s me, can you let me in? I’m freezing my bollocks off out here.”
“Alan, you’re here? In New York?”
“Surprise.” Alan was getting nervous. This was not what he had expected. His fantasy of Robert’s overwhelming joy was quickly fading, being replaced by something that wasn’t settling quite right.
“But, why, how?” Robert’s voice could be heard in both the intercom and the phone.
“Let me in and we can discuss all this.” Alan spoke slowly, starting to feel cold. “403, fourth floor?”
“Wha… oh .. Yeah.”
The buzzer rang, and Alan walked into the building.
Robert felt like he had been hit by a train. His cell phone bounced against the couch cushions and he dropped down beside it, pressing a hand against his mouth. Over and over again he kept repeating: “Alan, is here, in New York,” hoping that the repetition would sink it in make him believe it.
There were parts of Robert that were overwhelmed and happy, but a larger part of him was just plain scared. What did this all mean; why would he come all this way; what did he expect? Could I go through with it all? He closed his eyes to gather his courage. This was a good thing, he reminded himself, and he needed to prepare, to not disappoint Alan. He honestly wanted to see where things were heading; his timeline was a just little slower than the one that Alan seemed to be following.
Alan hit the top of the first landing, then stopped. He was beginning to doubt that this was a good idea. It sounded good in his head and, up to 5 minutes ago, he was positive that things would be all rosy. He took a few deep breaths and tried to settle himself. He really wanted Robert to be happy to see him, embrace him and kiss him, but now he was not sure how that would go. Robert sounded gob smacked on the phone. Alan thought that maybe it was just the shock talking. Maybe Robert is happy. At that point, Alan decided to put what he wanted on the back burner and let Robert set the pace. No moves, no advances, let Robert decide how this was going to go. He could do that, he reassured himself. Everything would be fine.
He bounded the next few stairs until the pain of doubt gutted him again. Alan had only heard disappointment in Robert’s voice, questioning as to why he was here, as though they had not spent the last six months getting closer and closer despite the ocean between them. He braced himself on the next landing and laughed at himself. He was acting like a twelve year old with a school boy crush! But it had to be more than that. He had thought this through, and Robert had given him every indication that they were becoming closer than just friends.
He turned to go up the third flight, but thought better of it, hopping in the elevator instead. Leaning against the back, he closed his eyes and tried to work out what was going to happen next. He needed Robert to let him in, he needed that more then he wanted to admit. The door slid open and he stepped out onto the landing, looking around, trying to find Robert’s door.
Robert pressed his head against his door and listened. He heard the bell of the elevator and gripped the doorknob tightly, then he closed his eyes. He could do this, get past the fear that he felt welling up inside himself. Robert turned the knob, taking a deep breath, steeling himself. He could let someone into his life, into his apartment, he could do this.
Robert opened the door and looked out. He was dressed casually, in a track pants and a baggy t-shirt. He straightened his glasses, crooked from leaning against the door, and poked his head out further. He saw Alan get out of the elevator and smiled. “Alan,” he called out, his voice cracking a little.
Alan turned and Robert stood frozen, not sure what to do next. He watched Alan walk towards him, a sly smile on his face. Alan stopped at the door in front of him and placed a hand on Robert’s hip, leaning in, pressing a soft kiss of greeting to both of his cheeks. “Happy New Year. And surprise!!” Alan tried to hide the fear in his voice. He looked at Robert, trying to judge what he was thinking.
“Hi, Happy New Year. Please come on in.” Robert stepped aside and let Alan walk ahead of him into the small apartment.
Alan stopped just inside and looked around, taking in all of the little things that made up Robert: Books, posters of Broadway shows on several of the walls, small keepsakes…all neatly arranged in the tidy flat. He felt Robert remove the case from his hand.
Robert set the case down by the door and walked over to the couch. He sat down and looked over at Alan surveying the layout. He tucked himself into the couch and grabbed a pillow holding it across his chest.
Alan walked over and sat down on the opposite end of the couch, turning to face towards Robert. “Surprised?”
“A little…when did you plan this?”
“Just before Christmas.”
Robert nodded, swallowing before continuing. “Have a good flight?”
“Yeah, not many travelers on New Year’s Eve.” He looked down, nervously tracing the seam on his pant leg.
In the background the radio played and they could hear the announcer start the thirty second countdown to the new year.
“How long are you visiting for?”
Alan looked up, still trying to get a read on what Robert was thinking. He wanted to be glib and say, ‘I’ll stay as long as you want me to,’ but thought the better of that. He hadn’t had the warmest of receptions, and he couldn’t tell why Robert was being so stand-offish. He gave a small smile and pushed a curl of hair behind one ear. “Four days.” Alan rubbed his face and tried to hold back a yawn. As the countdown ended, Alan recalled something that he had heard a long time ago, about how the first person you are with in the new year would be the one person that you will spend the rest of your life with. Alan turned his head to look over at Robert, who was shifting uncomfortably at the other end of the couch and received a small smile in return, perhaps a spark of hope.
Auld Lang Sing started to play on the radio and all Robert wanted to do was slide over to the other side of the couch and touch Alan, give him a small kiss to let him know that things would be fine. He looked tired and like someone had stolen his favorite toy. It hurt to think that he was responsible for that look. “Want a cup of tea, or something to drink, eat?” Robert asked.
“No, I’m fine. Really. Happy New Year, Robert, I hope it will be a bang up year for you.”
“You too, Alan.” Robert excused himself and went into his small kitchen, trying to convince himself that he was not escaping from the awkward silence.
Alan banged his head against the back of the couch a few times. Things were too awkward. It would be best, he decided, to just leave and get a hotel room someplace. Start fresh tomorrow. Maybe they could have dinner or something and work past these uncomfortable feelings. He didn’t want to, but he didn’t know how much he would be able to take. He stood and made his way to the kitchen. “Well, I guess I will head to the hotel. Maybe dinner or tea tomorrow? If you’re not busy?”
Robert looked up from where he was resting against the sink. He started to nod, then mentally kicked himself, hard. He was being idiotic, and stupid, and now he was chasing Alan off. “No, stay here. Please?” Robert fiddled with the hem on his shirt as he waited for Alan’s reaction. Would he want to stay?
“The couch looks comfortable,” Alan quickly said. “I’m sure once we both get some sleep we both will feel more conversational.”
Robert swallowed hard and walked over, placing his hand on Alan’s arm and adding softly, “I really am happy to see you.” He walked out into the living room, trying to calm his heart that was racing. Robert switched off a few lights and looked up to make sure Alan had followed. “It’s late and you have had a long day, let me get the bedding.”
Alan watched Robert’s retreating form and felt a little hope that he had not felt since he arrived. When Robert had touched him, he felt the spark that he remembered, he just needed to be patient and not push him, give Robert time to digest this all. He let go of the breath he was holding since he had walked in the door, and thought maybe now he could get some rest.
Robert hurried off, happy to have a task to do. Opening the small linen closet, he was hit with the nearly-forgotten scent of Gabby, her smell still lingering on the pillow covers and spare summer sheets. Oh how quickly one forgets, as the big things in one’s life gets pushed to the side, confined to a small space-not unlike a linen closet-and forgotten. Robert stepped forward again, trying to push past the memories. He gently fingered the soft sheets, remembering the time they were bought several years ago during happier times. Annoyed at himself for the unwanted stroll down memory lane, he grabbed a pair of them, then reached for a pillow. He stopped, fingers lingering, remembering her dark hair splayed across it as they had lain together last year. Lowering his hand, he closed the closet on the memories and went into his room and grabbed a pillow from his bed, then went back into the living room.
Alan stood when Robert reentered the room, unloading his arms with the blankets and together they made up the couch.
“Well, I will see you in the morning. Have everything?” Robert asked, taking a few steps back.
“Yes. Everything is fine.” He smiled, trying to put the other man at ease. “In the morning,” he reminded, starting to remove his shirt and get ready for bed. He caught Robert watching, shifting uncomfortably, looking nervous. “Sleep well, Robert. Happy New Year,” he added softly.
“Good night.” He hoped the dim lighting hid his flush as he quickly went into the bedroom.
“Night, Love,” Alan whispered to Robert’s retreating back.
Robert closed the bedroom door, then softly banged his head against it. Why was he acting like some blushing adolescent? He sighed and changed for bed, slipping beneath the cool sheets and tossing his glasses on the nightstand. It was after one in the morning and he should be exhausted, yet every time he closed his eyes, they would pop back open shortly after, staring up into the darkness. “I’m an idiot,” he whispered to the hidden ceiling.
Alan took a deep breath. His pillow smelled of Robert. A comforting smell it was, but also distracting enough that it was making it impossible to sleep. The small light coming in the window from the lamp post outside seemed to shine only on Robert’s closed door, also making it hard to focus on sleep. He hadn’t slept in over a day at least, and was surprised to not be as tired as he should. Seeing Robert again had been like a shot of caffeine, and he fidgeted with the coverings as he stared up at the ceiling, trying to ignore the halo around the bedroom door and the scent under his head that seemed to wrap around him, tighter than any blanket could.
His throat was dry, and Robert swallowed, resisting the urge to go into the kitchen for a drink. The urge outlasted the resistance and he sat up, switching on a light and fumbling for his glasses. He paused at the door, hand resting on the knob. Alan had made the choice for them, now was Robert ready to accept it? He closed his eyes, knowing that this was a seminal moment in his life. Robert took a deep breath and made a choice of his own.
Robert slowed as he neared the couch before stopping altogether, drawing up alongside Alan. His skin looked soft and the body peaceful in the light from the window coupled with that of the one in his room. Was it as soft as it looked? His hand had reached the point of no return before he could think to call it back. He brushed the back of his fingers across Alan’s cheek, a gentle caress. He didn’t want to pull back, leaving his fingers to linger.
The feeling that he wasn’t alone was confirmed when Alan felt warm fingers brushing over his cheek. When they didn’t pull away or move, he leaned into them and opened his eyes to find a soft pair staring back at him. He raised his own hand up, covering Robert’s hand with his own, all the while not able to break away from the eyes that held his.
“Hi,” Robert said, offering his first relaxed smile.
Alan returned the smile, pleased with this turn of events. His hand curled around Robert’s and he moved the hand to press Robert’s fingers against his lips. Slowly he kissed the tips of each finger, giving the last one a small nip and caressing it with his tongue. He gave the palm a soft kiss before entwining his fingers with Robert’s and giving a light squeeze. And he waited, trying not to hold his breath because he wasn’t sure if he would be able to start breathing again if Robert pulled away.
Robert caught the unease in Alan’s eyes and gave him a reassuring smile and the hand a quick squeeze. He leaned down, placing his free hand on the back of the couch, and brushed his lips against Alan’s once, twice, thrice before pulling away and waiting for Alan to open his eyes. “I want you near me,” he said, their eyes firmly locked again. “Tonight. And tomorrow. I’m so sorry.”
“You have nothing to be sorry for,” Alan said, once he had found his voice, and let himself be pulled to his feet.
Robert didn’t release Alan’s hand as they slid in under the covers, Robert laying on his back and pulling Alan to him, giving him another kiss on the lips. “Goodnight.”
Alan happily rested his head against Robert’s chest as blankets were pulled up around them and a comforting hand was laid against his neck. “Goodnight, Love.”
3.2 Good Morning