Shattered Dreams: Jealous Hearts
Title: Shattered Dreams: Jealous Hearts
Fandom: Whose Line UK
Pairings: Josie/Tony, unrequited Greg/Tony, hints at Ryan/Colin
Rating: PG
Summary: Tony's on the mend, but Greg can't hide his jealousy.
Disclaimer: This fic is in no way intended to portray a true representation of the people involved. As far as I know, this never happened.
Note: Part three of the Shattered Dreams series ( If Only // She)
Cross-posted to britline, whoselineslash and wl_fanfiction. Submitted to fanfic100 for prompt 086 - Choices.
Shattered Dreams: Jealous Hearts
A month had passed since The Incident. Tony had hoped that his life would be returning to some semblance of normality by now - after all, he was alive, he knew what the root of the problem was and he was working to fix it.
He and Josie were also working to fix their relationship, and on the whole it was going well. He found himself wanting to be with her again, a feeling he had lost while he had been going through his personal Hell, and letting her help him appeared to stop any need for her to become overprotective of him. She'd even stopped trying to get him to give up smoking, now that it had turned out to be the one habit that helped him.
His return to work had been mercifully easy - further than seeking assurance that he was okay now, nobody brought up his foolish actions and, crucially, nobody treated him any differently for it. Well, almost...
As he walked into the studio, he nodded in greeting to Dan. "Morning. Who's up today?"
Dan glanced down at his clipboard. "It's...yourself, Ryan, Greg and Chip. You remember Chip, don't you?"
"I most certainly do." Tony made what appeared to be a casual sweep of the room. "Am I the first to arrive?"
"Chip got here a little while ago; Greg and Ryan are on their way." Dan smiled. "It's good to see you in control of things again."
"It feels even better," Tony replied. "Oh, and Josie's coming to the set later as well."
"That's okay, I know I can trust her to behave." Dan was about to continue when he heard the studio door open. Moving past Tony, he called out, "Morning, both. Traffic not too terrible this morning?"
Tony turned round and forced himself not to visibly react as he saw Greg and Ryan walk in. He left Dan to greet them, turning to walk away in a bid to find Chip. Yes, that was it. It had been a long time since he'd seen the young American, and it would be good to catch up with him.
"Hey, Tony."
Tony sighed to himself. Apparently, he hadn't been quick enough. Turning to face the speaker, he offered, "Ryan, hi. And how are we this morning?"
"Well, you know. Usual story, pretty good but wish I were back in bed." Ryan smiled a little.
Tony nodded. "I know that feeling. Will he be gracing us with his company later?"
"He hadn't decided when I left, but I imagine so." Ryan looked up, grinning as he spotted the fourth performer for the night. "Chip!"
"Ryan!" Chip ran down from where he had been helping with setting up the performers' seats. "Good to see you. And Tony, long time no see. You haven't changed a bit."
"Oh, I don't know about that." Tony smirked a little. "Anyway, it's good to see you're as energetic as ever."
"Hey, Chip. How are you?"
Tony had to look away to disguise how hurt he felt at Greg's greeting. This was becoming all too typical of Greg's behaviour over the past month - he went out of his way to avoid Tony, and if he couldn't avoid, he ignored.
As the three Americans chatted, something snapped within Tony. Determinedly, he interrupted, "Greg, can I have a word?"
The three Americans looked up as one. Ryan noted the look on Tony's face and led Chip away, leaving Greg to face the Brit alone. Studiously avoiding Tony's gaze, Greg asked, "What is it?"
Tony looked down, trying to avoid his usual trick of speaking without thinking. Carefully, he began, "Well, the thing is..."
"Oh come on, Tony, spit it out," Greg couldn't help but snap at the other man. "Or has she gotten you so subdued?"
Tony scowled, all thoughts of being tactful gone. "Greg, I'm trying to sort this out in an adult manner, since that's supposedly what we both are. But if you're going to keep behaving so childishly, -"
"I'm childish?" Greg shot back. "At least I don't hide behind my improv and my 'perfect' relationship."
"For God's sake, Greg, what is wrong with you?" Tony demanded. "What, are you upset that I'm still here? Would you rather I'd died, is that it?"
Greg choked back the retort he'd had ready to shoot back, the words dying in his throat as he registered the expression on Tony's face. "Tony, no, I'd never want you to think that. Of course I don't want you dead."
"Then what, Greg?" Tony's voice caught slightly, but he was determined to continue the confrontation. "Ever since it happened you've been acting like I don't exist, if you haven't been avoiding me. I thought we were friends."
"We are." Greg stepped closer to Tony, only for the Brit to back away. Sighing, he offered, "It's not to do with you. It's to do with her."
"Really? And what exactly have I done, Greg?"
Tony looked up, taking Josie's offered hand. "Please, darling. Let me handle this."
Greg let out a snort of disgust, causing Tony and Josie both to glare at him. He met Josie's gaze, as though daring her to comment, but she simply turned back to Tony and said, "I'm sorry, darling. I wasn't trying to interfere."
"Of course you weren't." Greg's voice was drenched with sarcasm. "You never are, but you seem to manage it anyway."
"That's enough, Greg." Tony moved forward a little, as though to shield Josie. "Now, I don't know what your problem with Josie is, but let me make this clear. Neither of us are perfect, we've both made mistakes, and we are working to fix those mistakes. She is a part of my life, and as my friend you should be prepared to accept that."
"But he doesn't. He resents me." Josie looked directly at Greg, her tone matter-of-fact. "I couldn't begin to guess why, but I've seen it often enough. Still, that's no excuse for you to take it out on Tony. I thought you were at least better than that."
"What happened to not interfering?" Greg wasn't about to admit that she was right. "You just can't help yourself, can you?"
"She's allowed to defend herself, for heaven's sake!" Tony turned to Josie. "Darling, Ryan and Chip are off-set somewhere. I'll come and find you when I've got to the bottom of this."
Josie nodded. "Alright. Just be mindful of your temper."
Greg watched her leave, not hiding his disgust even as he turned back to face Tony. "Why do you put up with her, Tony? You should be with someone who'll make you happy."
"She does. She's only trying to look out for me..." Tony trailed off, his expression shifting as a new thought entered his mind. "Greg, tell me it's not the case. Tell me you're not jealous of her."
"Well alright, but I'd be lying." Greg sighed. "I can't help it, Tony. You're such a wonderful guy, and she doesn't seem to appreciate that."
"And what evidence do you have of that, exactly? What evidence do you have that I haven't been just as dismissive of her? Because I can tell you that she has put up with a hell of a lot to stay with me." Tony paced slightly, trying to keep his thoughts under control. "You've been a good friend to me, Greg, and I am extremely grateful for all you did before she came home. But even if I was of a persuasion to be attracted to you...I've made my choice to stay with her, Greg. And however much you don't like that, I'm not going to change my mind."
Greg looked down, turning away slightly. "So that's it?"
"That's it." Tony took a step closer. "So, now you have to make your choice. You can keep making life difficult for everyone, or you can accept what I'm saying and move on. You deserve so much better anyway, Greg. You only think I'm wonderful because you haven't seen the worse sides of me. Josie has, and she loves me anyway."
"I'd love you just as much." Greg swallowed gently. "But hey, I can't force you to want me."
"I want us to still be friends." Tony placed a gentle hand on Greg's arm. "If you want to keep avoiding me, I'll try to understand. But I'd rather I didn't lose you."
Greg refused to look up. If he answered now, he knew he'd regret it. He needed the time to calm down and think.
Tony sighed. "I'm going to see what monstrosity wardrobe has in store for me. I'll see you when Dan wants to start."
As Tony walked away, Greg let out a heavy sigh. How had things come to this? How had he become so selfish, so consumed by his want for Tony that he hadn't stopped to think about whether Tony wanted the same thing?
"I tried to warn you."
Greg looked up with a start, poised to defend himself. He watched as Colin came closer to him. "How long have you been here?"
"Long enough." Colin sighed as he stopped just in front of Greg. "You can't take it personally, Greg. And you can't make him return your feelings."
Greg sighed. "So what can I do?"
Colin shrugged. "Exactly what he's asked. You make your choice, as he's made his. And I just hope your pride doesn't get in the way."
Fandom: Whose Line UK
Pairings: Josie/Tony, unrequited Greg/Tony, hints at Ryan/Colin
Rating: PG
Summary: Tony's on the mend, but Greg can't hide his jealousy.
Disclaimer: This fic is in no way intended to portray a true representation of the people involved. As far as I know, this never happened.
Note: Part three of the Shattered Dreams series ( If Only // She)
Cross-posted to britline, whoselineslash and wl_fanfiction. Submitted to fanfic100 for prompt 086 - Choices.
Shattered Dreams: Jealous Hearts
A month had passed since The Incident. Tony had hoped that his life would be returning to some semblance of normality by now - after all, he was alive, he knew what the root of the problem was and he was working to fix it.
He and Josie were also working to fix their relationship, and on the whole it was going well. He found himself wanting to be with her again, a feeling he had lost while he had been going through his personal Hell, and letting her help him appeared to stop any need for her to become overprotective of him. She'd even stopped trying to get him to give up smoking, now that it had turned out to be the one habit that helped him.
His return to work had been mercifully easy - further than seeking assurance that he was okay now, nobody brought up his foolish actions and, crucially, nobody treated him any differently for it. Well, almost...
As he walked into the studio, he nodded in greeting to Dan. "Morning. Who's up today?"
Dan glanced down at his clipboard. "It's...yourself, Ryan, Greg and Chip. You remember Chip, don't you?"
"I most certainly do." Tony made what appeared to be a casual sweep of the room. "Am I the first to arrive?"
"Chip got here a little while ago; Greg and Ryan are on their way." Dan smiled. "It's good to see you in control of things again."
"It feels even better," Tony replied. "Oh, and Josie's coming to the set later as well."
"That's okay, I know I can trust her to behave." Dan was about to continue when he heard the studio door open. Moving past Tony, he called out, "Morning, both. Traffic not too terrible this morning?"
Tony turned round and forced himself not to visibly react as he saw Greg and Ryan walk in. He left Dan to greet them, turning to walk away in a bid to find Chip. Yes, that was it. It had been a long time since he'd seen the young American, and it would be good to catch up with him.
"Hey, Tony."
Tony sighed to himself. Apparently, he hadn't been quick enough. Turning to face the speaker, he offered, "Ryan, hi. And how are we this morning?"
"Well, you know. Usual story, pretty good but wish I were back in bed." Ryan smiled a little.
Tony nodded. "I know that feeling. Will he be gracing us with his company later?"
"He hadn't decided when I left, but I imagine so." Ryan looked up, grinning as he spotted the fourth performer for the night. "Chip!"
"Ryan!" Chip ran down from where he had been helping with setting up the performers' seats. "Good to see you. And Tony, long time no see. You haven't changed a bit."
"Oh, I don't know about that." Tony smirked a little. "Anyway, it's good to see you're as energetic as ever."
"Hey, Chip. How are you?"
Tony had to look away to disguise how hurt he felt at Greg's greeting. This was becoming all too typical of Greg's behaviour over the past month - he went out of his way to avoid Tony, and if he couldn't avoid, he ignored.
As the three Americans chatted, something snapped within Tony. Determinedly, he interrupted, "Greg, can I have a word?"
The three Americans looked up as one. Ryan noted the look on Tony's face and led Chip away, leaving Greg to face the Brit alone. Studiously avoiding Tony's gaze, Greg asked, "What is it?"
Tony looked down, trying to avoid his usual trick of speaking without thinking. Carefully, he began, "Well, the thing is..."
"Oh come on, Tony, spit it out," Greg couldn't help but snap at the other man. "Or has she gotten you so subdued?"
Tony scowled, all thoughts of being tactful gone. "Greg, I'm trying to sort this out in an adult manner, since that's supposedly what we both are. But if you're going to keep behaving so childishly, -"
"I'm childish?" Greg shot back. "At least I don't hide behind my improv and my 'perfect' relationship."
"For God's sake, Greg, what is wrong with you?" Tony demanded. "What, are you upset that I'm still here? Would you rather I'd died, is that it?"
Greg choked back the retort he'd had ready to shoot back, the words dying in his throat as he registered the expression on Tony's face. "Tony, no, I'd never want you to think that. Of course I don't want you dead."
"Then what, Greg?" Tony's voice caught slightly, but he was determined to continue the confrontation. "Ever since it happened you've been acting like I don't exist, if you haven't been avoiding me. I thought we were friends."
"We are." Greg stepped closer to Tony, only for the Brit to back away. Sighing, he offered, "It's not to do with you. It's to do with her."
"Really? And what exactly have I done, Greg?"
Tony looked up, taking Josie's offered hand. "Please, darling. Let me handle this."
Greg let out a snort of disgust, causing Tony and Josie both to glare at him. He met Josie's gaze, as though daring her to comment, but she simply turned back to Tony and said, "I'm sorry, darling. I wasn't trying to interfere."
"Of course you weren't." Greg's voice was drenched with sarcasm. "You never are, but you seem to manage it anyway."
"That's enough, Greg." Tony moved forward a little, as though to shield Josie. "Now, I don't know what your problem with Josie is, but let me make this clear. Neither of us are perfect, we've both made mistakes, and we are working to fix those mistakes. She is a part of my life, and as my friend you should be prepared to accept that."
"But he doesn't. He resents me." Josie looked directly at Greg, her tone matter-of-fact. "I couldn't begin to guess why, but I've seen it often enough. Still, that's no excuse for you to take it out on Tony. I thought you were at least better than that."
"What happened to not interfering?" Greg wasn't about to admit that she was right. "You just can't help yourself, can you?"
"She's allowed to defend herself, for heaven's sake!" Tony turned to Josie. "Darling, Ryan and Chip are off-set somewhere. I'll come and find you when I've got to the bottom of this."
Josie nodded. "Alright. Just be mindful of your temper."
Greg watched her leave, not hiding his disgust even as he turned back to face Tony. "Why do you put up with her, Tony? You should be with someone who'll make you happy."
"She does. She's only trying to look out for me..." Tony trailed off, his expression shifting as a new thought entered his mind. "Greg, tell me it's not the case. Tell me you're not jealous of her."
"Well alright, but I'd be lying." Greg sighed. "I can't help it, Tony. You're such a wonderful guy, and she doesn't seem to appreciate that."
"And what evidence do you have of that, exactly? What evidence do you have that I haven't been just as dismissive of her? Because I can tell you that she has put up with a hell of a lot to stay with me." Tony paced slightly, trying to keep his thoughts under control. "You've been a good friend to me, Greg, and I am extremely grateful for all you did before she came home. But even if I was of a persuasion to be attracted to you...I've made my choice to stay with her, Greg. And however much you don't like that, I'm not going to change my mind."
Greg looked down, turning away slightly. "So that's it?"
"That's it." Tony took a step closer. "So, now you have to make your choice. You can keep making life difficult for everyone, or you can accept what I'm saying and move on. You deserve so much better anyway, Greg. You only think I'm wonderful because you haven't seen the worse sides of me. Josie has, and she loves me anyway."
"I'd love you just as much." Greg swallowed gently. "But hey, I can't force you to want me."
"I want us to still be friends." Tony placed a gentle hand on Greg's arm. "If you want to keep avoiding me, I'll try to understand. But I'd rather I didn't lose you."
Greg refused to look up. If he answered now, he knew he'd regret it. He needed the time to calm down and think.
Tony sighed. "I'm going to see what monstrosity wardrobe has in store for me. I'll see you when Dan wants to start."
As Tony walked away, Greg let out a heavy sigh. How had things come to this? How had he become so selfish, so consumed by his want for Tony that he hadn't stopped to think about whether Tony wanted the same thing?
"I tried to warn you."
Greg looked up with a start, poised to defend himself. He watched as Colin came closer to him. "How long have you been here?"
"Long enough." Colin sighed as he stopped just in front of Greg. "You can't take it personally, Greg. And you can't make him return your feelings."
Greg sighed. "So what can I do?"
Colin shrugged. "Exactly what he's asked. You make your choice, as he's made his. And I just hope your pride doesn't get in the way."