Empire Boys 3/3
Previous
That Tuesday, Gerard approaches Frank with the aim of going over some more arrangements for the Lingerie Show - the flowers and model bookings in particular.
Stood in a back corridor that no-one walks through, talking to Brendon, Frank is leaned up against the wall with his head falling back. Gerard feels his stomach tighten and a small buzz in there. He has no idea why.
On approaching the two, Brendon notices him first and they both straighten up to let him walk past but soon realise he’s headed to them.
“Um, good morning, Brendon,” he nods, “Frank.”
Frank nods in return and looks down at his shoes.
“Maybe we could go through some stuff together - the arrangements I mean. You could come - uh I mean, we’ll go to the break room at lunch, maybe...” Gerard drifts off mumbling part of the sentence and avoiding all eye contact.
Frank nods, “Yeah, yeah that’s a uh... good idea.”
Brendon chuckles and playfully slaps Frank’s shoulder. “This is so awkward. It’s as if you two fucked and then see each other afterwards full of guilt and confusion!”
Gerard’s eyes, wide and shocked, jump up and catch Brendon’s before immediately falling down. Neither of the two boys say anything and their eyes run around everywhere apart from into each other’s. Brendon’s mouth falls open and he stutters in speaking.
“Y-you what? Seriously? Damn! Damn, I’m good. Frank I thought-”
Frank’s hand clamps over Brendon’s and he rises up to threaten “It was a one time thing, and it won’t happen again. Tell anyone, and I will maim you, I fucking swear it.” Brendon pretends he doesn’t see a flash of disappointment cross Gerard’s face.
Brendon’s shoulders leap and he sticks his pinky finger out, which Frank loops on to and squeezes.
*
In the staff room, Gerard asks Frank to pass him some sugar for his coffee.
“Oh he’ll give you some sugar, alright!” yells a recognisable voice from the other side of the room.
Frank and Gerard look bewildered and play up the shrugs to their confused co-workers.
*
“So you want to have the male models first?” asks Gerard, pretending to sift through his papers to avoid eye contact.
“Whatever you want,” replies Frank, mirroring Gerard’s actions.
“Please, what would you like?” Gerard says earnestly, finally looking up.
Frank’s eyes rise and meet Gerard’s. “Just choose what you want,” he snaps.
Gerard, taken aback, replies, “Yeah, okay.” Is this guy bipolar or something?
*
“Should I wear jeans or slacks? How formal is this thing?” Brendon asks, coming out of his bedroom in his underwear, holding both pants up for William to survey.
“You should know, it’s your store. Anyway, it really doesn’t matter, can you hurry up?” William says, sighing as Brendon just turns back into his bedroom muttering about the importance of his appearance, which William doesn’t get, obviously. William flicks through the television channels impatiently as he waits. He’s not sure why Gabe invited him to something where he can’t get him drunk and hit on him and what’s confusing him even more is how oddly nervous he feels about going. Did Gabe invite a lot of people, or did he only choose William? He could have really cleared this up when he asked, and spared William a lot of bother. He’s just glad that Brendon was going anyway so he doesn’t have to risk spending the night alone.
When Brendon finally announces he’s ready and comes out wearing black slacks, canvas shoes and a casual white dress shirt (which shouldn’t work but somehow Brendon makes it work), they finally leave for the show.
“You do know it’s still the middle of winter?” William says when they get in the elevator, looking sceptically down at Brendon thin, flimsy shoes. Brendon looks down too for a moment and then just shrugs, grinning.
They hail a cab pretty quickly and spend the 20 minute cab ride discussing possible scenarios.
“Well, maybe he looks so shocklingly bad in whatever he’s wearing that you decide there it’s not gonna work,” Brendon suggests.
“Ha, doubtful. Plus, is he even...doing that? I don’t even know what he’s doing,”
“Oh, he’s definitely modelling. They had this big meeting with everyone and told us to represent the company and show respect to all of the ‘special guests’. Woah, it feels really weird coming here at night,” Brendon says as they pull up to the store that moment and they hop out, the icy air immediately seeking their bare skin.
When they get in, Brendon has even more reason to be surprised. William hasn’t been to the store for a couple of months but he’s pretty sure the large coral banners and flocks of uniformed staff aren’t normal. Behind them, William sees a long black runway and behind that, black curtains marking the backstage area. Overall, it’s pretty well done considering it’s still a department store and there are some permanent fixtures they couldn’t move.
“Okay, well, I’m gonna go look for Gabe. You’re good?” William asks, peering over the crowd.
“Of course,” Brendon says, grinning and following when a waitress with a tray of champagne walks past.
William moves through the crowd, noticing some of the more recognizable New York faces amidst the many unknown. He’s about to give up when he spots Gabe in a small group near the bar (duh, of course he should’ve looked there first). As he approaches, he watches Gabe see him, say gooodbyes to the people he’s with and moves forward to meet William.
“Hey,” Gabe grins and they kiss politely on the cheeks before Gabe grabs two champagne flutes off the bar and offers one to William, who accepts it eagerly.
“So...You never actually told me what you’re doing here,” William starts, loving the way Gabe’s eyes can’t help but flicker down to his lip when he bites it.
“Can’t you guess? What do I do best?” Gabe asks, leaning against the bar.
“Hmm, I don’t know...Hit on poor, unsuspecting writers?” William says, poking Gabe in the chest and smirking.
“No,” Gabe laughs. “Looking pretty,” he answers with a big shit-eating grin. “I’m one of the models,”
“Looking pretty, eh? I thought that was my speciality,” William replies.
“Oh, come on, can’t we both be pretty?” Gabe says, running a hand coolly through his hair. Williams about to reply when a very flushed woman taps Gabe on the shoulder and whispers something to him before standing a few steps back, obviously waiting.
“Well, duty calls. You came pretty late, yknow?” Gabe says before downing the rest of his champagne swiftly. “I’ll see you after,” he winks before disappearing with the short woman who starts gesturing wildly as soon as they’re out of earshot.
William goes back to where he left Brendon and finds him talking to a girl he recognizes, but can’t remember the name of. He spends the next 15 minutes talking to Brendon and the girl (he felt too rude asking her what her name was and Brendon never said it) before everyone started moving closer to the runway, filling the neat rows of seats. It’s when everyone condensed to the stage that William noticed more of the decorations, the large centrepieces full of exotic fruit and flowers and the crystal tables of canapes. He takes his seat in the third row next to Brendon and they both shut up talking when they lights dim and a short man walks out on the runway.
*
For the special annual event, Pete decides it’s best the store has an early shut on Friday to prepare for the night. Around 7.30PM, the guests begin to arrive. Frank and Gerard are rushing around like headless chickens to sort out last minute preparations and run down when a more important guest arrives to greet them.
Inside, the store is transformed. Permanent fixtures covered up with decorations, subtle influences of the coral theme. Banners line the walls and spotlights light up the black runway. Waitresses all in formal attire offering champagne and canapés later on in the evening. Large centrepieces draw eyes in, full of light arrangements and flowers that work together beautifully.
Frank and Gerard get to sigh in relief. Everything’s almost done. That is, until Pete calls Gerard over.
“Great job, great job, really,” he pats Gerard on the back and whips a glass of champagne as a waitress walks past them. “Can you do one more thing for me?”
Gerard thanks him and agrees, “Of course, what, sir?”
“I’d like you to do the make-up of one of our special guests - Gabe Saporta,” he says, taking a bite out of a canapé and looking surprised. “These are very good.”
“That’d be an honour sir, of course. And thank you, enjoy the evening.” He rushes over to the backstage area to check on the preparations. The models are arriving soon, and oh God, Gerard’s going to fuck this up.
*
Frank runs through the ‘backstage’ area, a walkie-talkie in hand. The night so far had been going swimmingly. In fact, too much so. And now, now Frank felt like it would come crashing down at any moment. Just minutes ago they found out, half way through one girl’s face that they’d used up the first pots of foundation and the second ones provided had been an entirely different shade.
“Gerard, I don’t know, okay? I could have sworn it was the same make-up when I checked! I’m sorry, I’ll get some more. Yes now! I’m going!”
Frank rushes through the crowds, excusing himself profoundly every second. Brendon catches his eye and calls him over.
Bouncing from one leg to the other he greets Brendon and his friend, “Hey there, I’m Frank.”
“Nice to meet you, I’m William,” replies the slim man.
“I really got to run, huge mishap behind the scenes. Enjoy the night!” He rushes away and smiles apologetically.
Frank bursts into the stockroom, full of products for the counters. Fuck he’s never going to find this. The whole evening is going to be a disaster because of him. Fuck, fuck, fuck! Out of the corner of his eye he spots a box similar to the correct one. Digging through the the piles, he wrestles it out and cheers in success before running out back to the dressing room.
His walkie-talkie starts beeping. He lifts it up to his ear only to hear a panic-stricken Gerard.
“Frank, Frank. They mixed up the underwear! Some of it has been sent up stairs. Mikey’s on a mission to hunt it down. Fuck, we’re not gunna make it...”
Frank is forced to whisper calming words as he tries to balance the make up and run through crowds.
When Frank vaults into the corridor toward the backstage room, Gerard lets out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. The older man was stood alone waiting for the return of Frank and Mikey.
“So what happened with the underwear?” Frank demands as soon as he catches his breath.
Gerard launches into a recount of the incident, earnestly describing what went on, his hands waving about and he even went as far as putting on voices for different people.
Frank eyes follow him, and a small smile plants itself on his lips. Only minutes later, Mikey walks through the door and throws the missing clothes at them before trudging out the door proclaiming ‘I need more food.’
Frank and Gerard lock eyes and grin.
“We’re not gonna get fired! This is going to work!” Frank shouts excitedly, raising his hands in the air.
Gerard stumbles and before Frank can register it, Gerard’s leaning in and kissing him. His lips warm but chapped against his own; he reaches up to cup Gerard’s jaw.
Gerard pulls away and all Frank can do is stare at his hazel eyes. Okay, well that was sober and unexpected. The thing that happened has been on Frank’s mind constantly over the last few days. He’ll wake up and think that what happened wasn’t a one time thing, and maybe he and Gerard should give it a go. Then the next, he hates his guts all over again. He really needs a therapist.
“I-I have to get this to them,” Frank mutters, his gaze dropping down to Gerard’s lips.
“Ye- yeah, of course. I have to um- have to find - find someone. Out there.”
They smile forcefully and quickly part, both charging away in opposite directions to the other.
*
Of course, William’s looking ridiculously hot that night when Gabe glances at him one last time as he’s dragged to hair and make-up. Gabe swears the guy shrinks all his clothes because there’s no way the slacks and shirt he’s wearing can be made so small.
He still can’t get his mind off William when he gets taken to a chair in front of a well-lit mirror and an array of make-up pots and gels covering the tabletop. William seemed awfully friendly and responsive a minute ago, and he’s usually met with scoffing from the biggest fucking tease in Manhattan. God, Gabe just does not get this boy.
A minute later, a very flustered-looking guy with a shock of bright red hair turns up and tells him he’s here to do his makeup. As the guy takes out a set of tubes and picks one of the darkest shades to test on the skin of Gabe’s jaw, Gabe can’t help but sighing. The guy notices and pauses for a second.
“Is everything alright?” he asks, Gabe taking in his pale skin and pointed nose. He’s about to just brush the question off and leave his troubles as his concern but then he thinks, fuck it, and just groans slightly.
“Just, yknow...guys. I do not get some of us,” Gabe says, closing his mouth again as the guy squeezes out some of the liquid in the tube onto the back of his hand and starts applying it on Gabe’s face.
“Huh, you’re telling me about it,” he agrees and gives Gabe a look to continue.
“Like...Everything’s so all over the place. One minute he’s like this and saying this and then the next minute he’s totally different and saying the opposite and it’s just giving me fucking headache trying to figure it out,”
“Yes!” the guy replies and now switches to a big brush and a pot of dark powder. “I mean, like, can’t you make up your goddamn mind and just send the proper signals?”
“Exactly!” Gabe replies, feeling less stupid for dumping his problems on the make-up artist. “God, I thought women would be bad, but this guy is the biggest headfuck I’ve ever met,”
“Yeah, well, at least you don’t work with him- it’s a fucking nightmare,”
“Oh, is he here? Can I see him?” Gabe says immediately, craning around to look for a guy he thinks the redhead would go for.
“No, no, don’t look!” the guys says, turning Gabe back to the mirror quickly, although Gabe’s still checking out all the employees in the reflection. He’s about to ask if it’s the short, equally flustered guy with the clipboard but then red hair guy just announces his makeup is done and calls over a tall, blonde woman to do his hair.
Now interested, Gabe watches all of the staff in the mirror, watching out for any signs of red hair guy’s lover. But before he gets it, clipboard guy comes over and hands Gabe a small box, telling him to get changed and let the crew do one final touch-up.
*
It turns out the short, beaming guy on stage is Brendon’s boss, some kind of manager of the store, William finds out as he claps along with the crowd at the end of his short speech. As soon as he walk off stage, a loud beat pumps through the speakers and a very tall, very skinny female model struts down the runway wearing some very skimpy navy underwear.
“I didn’t know this was a lingerie show!” William hisses to Brendon.
“How did you not know? It’s everywhere,” he whispers back, pointing to a banner welcoming everyone to the lingerie show. This certainly changes things, William thinks.
For the next several minutes, William watches a variety of models saunter down the runway with the occasional comment from Brendon about the stitching. But when it gets to the male section of the show, he feels himself become more aware that Gabe should be up very soon. After quite a few male models took their turn on the runway (during which the contents of Brendon’s comments changed from the design to the model’s abs), William was starting to question when Gabe would show, when a loud voice booms over the music.
“And now, our special guest Gabe Saporta!”
William almost doesn’t feel Brendon slap him on the knee. Gabe walks into the bright lights, his entire body on show as he steps forward wearing nothing more than a pair of tight, red briefs. William’s eyes scrape over his brown, perfectly toned body and marvels as Brendon hisses a ‘damn!’ in his ear. Gabe’s grinning cockily as he struts down the runway to the applause of the crowd and jesus christ, William didn’t know he looked this fucking hot. It’s all over too quickly William thinks as Gabe disappears behind the stage when all the models return for a final walk and the same guy from earlier comes back to speak again.
The lights turn up and the audience get up to mingle again. William quickly asks Brendon if he knows which exit will be the most deserted and then suggests to take a cab home alone, earning him a wink and howl from Brendon. He goes back to the place at the bar where Gabe left him and sure enough, Gabe comes out of the backstage area and pretty much comes over to William straight away.
“Hey, so what did you thi-” he starts to say, grinning, but William doesn’t have the time.
“Come with me,” he smirks and takes Gabe’s wrist, leading him the quietest way to get out of the building.
“William, what are you-” Gabe begins to say, but this time is cut of by William pressing him up against the wall and kissing him quickly. Gabe’s happy enough to oblige and deepens the kiss, hands taking a firm hold of William’s hips and pulling him closer. He’s really getting into it when William breaks apart and goes to the curb, leading Gabe by his wrist again. He sticks his hand out for a cab but Gabe just pulls his arm down.
“Look, I’ve got the car with me, I’ll take you home,” Gabe says and pulls out his phone, tapping something out quickly before shoving it back in his pocket. William notices neither of them have their coats and they’ve both started to shiver.
“Home? Oh no, no,” he says, stepping closer and slipping his hands around Gabe’s neck, his breath curling up into the freezing, black night. “Not unless you’re coming with me.”
“What?” Gabe says, not ready for more mind games and he sees his town car pull up to the curb. William leans up and kisses Gabe again, moaning slightly into his mouth and biting Gabe’s bottom lip gently as he pulls away.
“What I meant was,” he says, eyes glistening, a smirk on his lips. “Your place or mine?”
*
Not too long after, Gerard’s pulled away to do Gabe Saporta’s make-up. Gerard’s obviously heard of the guy - he does know about these things - but half way through a rant about men, Gerard’s only just realising what he’s doing. Who would’ve thought he’s not the only man here getting completely mixed signals?
He’s finished with Gabe fast enough and calls hair over to him. Peering out from backstage, the crowd seem to be enjoying themselves as the night almost draws to an end. They’d done it, somehow. Him and Frank. Fuck, he’s so screwed. A week ago, he thought he hated him. Now, he... he can’t think about this right now.
He watches the final walk with all the models, Gabe in the lead and Gerard feels relaxed for the first time this whole day.
A man calls them over and with few rushed explanations pushes him and seconds later Frank out onto the main area where several unknown faces congratulate them on the excellent evening and event. Gerard decides that he can have a glass of champagne now, or a few.
*
The door to Gabe’s apartment bangs open and Gabe and William slam into it, glued together and kissing wildly. Gabe’s hands are roaming furiously over William’s tall frame, crawling under his shirt and twisting into his hair. Always having liked the occasional hair tug, William moans and grinds his crotch into Gabe’s, making him moan in response.
“You looked so-” William pants between little moans, “fucking hot up there. I wanted to rip those little briefs off you and fuck you on the stage.”
Gabe laughs out of breath and snakes his arms around William’s waist whilst they continue to devour each other, guiding him slowly from the entrance of the apartment to his bedroom, getting distracted on the way by discovering William’s fondness of being pushed against walls.
When they get there, Gabe throws William on the bed, climbing quickly on top of him, desperate to feel William’s hot skin. He’s been waiting for this far too long and he can’t believe it’s finally happening. He ducks his head and starts slowly sucking on William’s neck, leaving a trail of small bruises from his jaw to his collarbone. William moans in response and tears Gabe’s jacket and shirt off him, his hands settling in Gabe’s hair as Gabe moves back to fervently kissing William’s mouth again. Gabe breaks the kiss to rip William’s shirt and trousers off, kicking his own away too, leaving them flushed against one another, clad only in their underwear.
Still desperately kissing, when William snakes his hand down to cup Gabe’s crotch, making him pant against William’s lips. Not being able to wait anymore, Gabe rolls around and reaches over to his nightstand drawer (but not before William can climb on his back and kiss the back of his neck desperately) and grabs some condoms and lube.
Gabe pushes William back onto the soft bed and moves in between his legs, kissing him as he blindly opens the lube and quirts some onto his fingers. Feeling enough of the cool liquid on his skin, Gabe feels down William legs and parts them with one hand and presses a finger against William entrance with the other. He honestly doesn’t think he’s felt more hungry for someone before and the throbbing in his dick tells him to hurry up.
As he pushes a finger in, he watches William bite his lip and hum in delight, only turning Gabe on even more. After several slow thrusts he adds in a second finger and then a third, William taking it all with increasing moans.
Gabe rips his fingers out when he’s considering it sufficient enough and grabs the condom, rolling it down on his cock as quickly as possible and moving between William’s legs, fucking on his neck. He’s about to push in when he feels William’s hands press against his biceps and he stops, looking up at William.
“What’re you doing?” William asks incredulously.
“What?” Gabe asks, confused and too horny for any more games.
“Move,” William says and he moves out under Gabe’s arms and pushes him back on the bed, instead settling on Gabe’s lap.
“Why do you get to go on top?” Gabe asks as William aligns himself with Gabe’s cock.
“Because I’m in charge,” he grins in reply and sinks down onto Gabe’s dick, making both of them moan loudly. He leans down to kiss Gabe deeply as he begins to bob up and down, creating a steady rhythm. Gabe hands travel up and down William’s back as he continues moaning with William’s bouncing.
Usually, there’s no way he’d let someone take charge when it comes to sex but it seems William’s become an exception in many ways.
Gabe’s hand eventually settle on William’s cock and he begins to pump up and down as William’s rhythm increases and he threads his fingers in Gabe’s hair, tugging slightly as he bounces up and down. Their movements become sloppier and more hurried and they’re both panting as they move closer to climax, sweat building on both of their chests. Gabe quickly increases his wrist movements and feels pleasure shoot up his spine when William comes, tightening around Gabe’s cock. It’s only moments after when Gabe joins him, and he moans out loudly, gripping William’s hips tightly.
After several seconds of heavy breathing and bathing in that certain orgasmic feeling, William rolls over by Gabe’s side, cleaning them both up.
They settle under Gabe’s covers with them resting against each other, another unusual act for Gabe, who usually tries to get whoever he’s just slept with out of his bed as soon as humanly possibly. Maybe William’s different, he thinks lazily as he drifts off to sleep.
*
When William wakes up the next morning, he’s surprised for a moment to feel someone pressed against his back. Soon enough, the memories come flooding back to him and turns to face Gabe, snuggling closer to him for warmth because they didn’t turn the heater on.
When Gabe wakes up after a while they indulge in some light-hearted pillow talk before lazily exchanging kisses (which then turned into heated kisses, which turned to groping, which just lead back to sex again). They go out to a small French cafe for breakfast after they’ve shared a shower and spend the rest of the day back in bed, talking about anything.
*
“So, I was wondering something,” Gabes voices says down the phone. William had just got in from work and was starting to fall asleep on the couch when his cell rang loudly.
“Mmm?” William replies, hoping Gabe’s about to invite him to stay over that night.
“Are you busy this Wednesday night?”
“No, I don’t think so,” William replies, remembering his plans with Hugo and Vivienne were cancelled for some reason or another.
“Well, there’s a studio party at the Ritz and how’d you like to be my date?”
William pauses for a second and considers what this involves. Would he go with Gabe, meet him there? Would Gabe even stay with him or just circle the room like usual?
“Sure,” William says sceptically after a pause.
*
Three sharps knocks on the door of William’s apartment announces Gabe’s presence. William quickly bundles up his coat and keys and rushes to the door, opening it to find a smirking Gabe leaning against the frame.
“You finally ready, dollface?” Gabe grins and William takes it as a cue to punch him in the arm before shutting the door and walking down the small hallway.
“Don’t call me dollface,” he mockingly scowls.
William’s only a little pleased when he sees Gabe’s big, black town car waiting outside (it means they can fool around on the way there) and hops in, relishing the warm, heated air. Seriously, he loves New York, but the freezing winter is a giant pain in the ass.
When Gabe slided in next to him and slams the door shut, William can’t help but scooting over and kissing him deeply. Gabe hums against William’s lips and his hands slowly travel up and down William’s sides. William’s about to straddle Gabe but Gabe breaks away, pecking William’s lips before clearing his throat.
“God, as much as I want to right now, it’s probably not the best time,” he smiles.
William sighs and tells him he’s right.
“That doesn’t mean I can’t get you excited for later,” William adds flirtatiously and bites his lip innocently. Gabe just laughs and slaps him playfully on the thigh.
They drive up a large, posh hotel several minutes after and William quizzically watches Gabe quickly skim a hand through his hair, straighten his blazer and check his reflection in the tinted window. His confusion is explained when the car door swings open and he’s almost blinded by flashing. Climbing out, a row of paparazzi are photographing the various famous guests, the bright lights blaring in the dark night.
Gabe reaches to take William’s hand, but William withdraws it and starts moving away.
“I’ll just go in alone,” William says and practically runs away, leaving a disappointed Gabe staring after him.
*
The next day at work, William can feel everyone’s eyes on him as soon as he reaches his floor. He thinks he must just be paranoid right now, but when he reaches his desk, a daily copy of a Manhattan tabloid is opened on page 6. Almost immediately, William spots the photo of him and Gabe walking out the hotel last night in the bottom right hand corner of the page. Snatching it, he reads the caption which actually names him. He rips the page out and screws it up, throwing it in the bin.
He met up with Gabe just inside the entrance after practically running away from him last night. He couldn’t stand the alien look on Gabe’s face, a serious one not even close to his usual smirk or grin. William told him that night that he just can’t handle that kind of invasion of privacy and he doesn’t want to be involved that way at all. Gabe had simply gotten him a drink, kissed him in a dark corner, and told him that everything would be fine.
Well, it certainly isn’t now, William thinks bitterly.
“Okay, you might want to stay away from the cafeteria today,” Viv says from behind William as she walks over and sits on his desk. Hugo’s a few steps behind and he just grabs a chair and sits opposite William, looking ruffled.
“Why now?” William asks, holding his face glumly in his hands as he looks down at the ripped paper.
“Well,” she starts and then falters, looking to Hugo for reassurance. “Well, some of the staff think you’re a...hypocrite for going out with Saporta,” she finishes, looking overly worried. “Don’t listen to them, though. They’re just jealous bitches,” she adds and William wants to hug for being so sweet and concerned.
“Yeah, who could resist the allure of dating a celebrity?” Hugo says, trying a grin.
*
Later that day, William’s sitting in a deli a block south with Vivienne when Gabe calls him, inviting him to his close friend’s bar opening. William’s not sure if he wants to go out at all tonight, but he thinks he wants to talk to Gabe about...well, everything, so he agrees and tries to finish the conversation as quickly as possible.
*
When Gabe knocks on William’s apartment door that night he announces that they’ll be walking to the bar because it’s pretty close to William’s place. Walking down the flight of stairs in silence (the elevator’s on the fritz again), William considers all the things he wants to say.
“Gabe, I’ve been thinking, and...I need to say something okay?” William finally says when they walk out into the chilled, still air. It’s rained recently and he finds it comforting to breath in the familiar smell. Gabe gives a silent nod of approval for William to carry on.
“Look, I know it’s totally not your fault or anything but...seeing my picture on page 6 really wasn’t something I wanted. And thinking about, how I am meant to avoid if you keep taking me all these places? Can’t we just do something normal, private for once, and not go to the fucking hottest bar in Manhattan or this glamorous party or that famous party? And I just can’t stand being so fucking fake to all of the same people over and over again, they’re just so...so-”
“So what?” Gabe interrupts and William looks over from where he’s been keeping his eyes glued to his shoes as they walked. Gabe looks slightly confused, quite bitter but mostly, pissed off.
“So what?” he repeats, eyes glinting with a badly-concealed emotion. “So fucking boring and useless and dumb and everything I am right?”
William tries to stop him but Gabe carries on, shoving his hands in his pockets.
“You never fucking said anything and now all of a sudden, you hate everything I’m about?”
William snaps and grabs Gabe’s arm, stopping him in the middle of the pathway.
“It’s not sudden and if you’d bothered asking what I wa-”
“Yeah, it’s not fucking sudden, God, I’m so retarded, I just forgot what you wrote about me, right? Well, then I just deserve this don’t I?” Gabe hisses and marches on ahead, William involuntarily following.
“I apologized for it! And all I fucking meant in the first place was that I don’t want to be all over the papers with you as a goddamn fuck buddy!” William half-shouts, earning a few odd glances from passer-bys.
“Fine!” Gabe says, turning around to face William. “I won’t want to harm your golden reputation so don’t worry about being seen with me again!”
Gabe turns suddenly into the building they’re standing in front of and William takes in the sign and balloons, noticing this is the bar. He follows Gabe after a few seconds and pushes his way to the bar angrily. After downing a shot of vodka he secretively looks around for Gabe but doesn’t see him anywhere. A moment later, several loud cheers steal his attention and he looks at the booth in the corner, where he sees Gabe laughing obnoxiously.
“Fucking asshole,” William mutters under his breath and nurses the martini he’s ordered.
“Gabe?” some guy next to him murmers, swaying as he holds on the bar for balance. William nods quietly, surveying the state of the guy. He’s obviously wasted, the thin guy in some band t-shirt.
“He is a bit of an ass,” the guy says, hiccuping loudly and trying to gain the attention of the bartender by waving a wrist half-hearted.
“You ca-can’t tell this to anyone.” the guy starts, turning back to William. “But you know what he d-did?” he says before a silent laugh racks his body. “His friend..his-his friend bet him 100 he couldn’t get some guy in bed...a g-guy that hated him and f-fucking did some shit or-or whatever but...anyway, he had like four weeks to-to do it, and he fucking did it!” the guy says, laughing again as his eyelids flutter shut.
“What an a-ass, right?” he hiccups, smiling lazily at William.
William doesn’t even reply to the guy as he feels a blinding white rage fuel him away from the bar, in Gabe’s direction. His nails dig into his skin as his fists ball up, hiding any signs of the betrayal and disbelief he also feels coursing through him. He barely notices the bodies he’s pushing out of his way and he doesn’t even stop as he breaks through the small group encircling Gabe. Gabe’s barely noticed William when he swings his fist out punches Gabe in the mouth, the momentum sending Gabe into the wall. He’s vaguely aware of the pain shooting up his arm as he looks over Gabe slouched against the wall.
“Fucking asshole,” he hisses and turns away, fighting his way to the exit.
However, he’s barely made it out on the street when a hand grabs his arm and forces him to turn around.
“What the fuck was that?” Gabe bellows furiously, blood ebbing from his bust lip.
“A bet?” William says through gritted teeth. “That’s all I was to you, you fucking asshole,”
Gabe face changes immediately, a look of fear replacing the one of fury.
“I should’ve known, why the fuck would you chase me all of a sudden!” William shouts and feels the strong temptation to punch Gabe again.
“Bill, please, can I just explain-” Gabe starts guility, but he’s cut off.
“What, how you can explain this? I can’t fucking believe you,” William spits and looks around quickly before choosing to kick the nearest trashcan with the sole of his foot. He doesn’t even know why he’s still there so he just shoots Gabe a last venomous look and sets off, now noticing the several people stood outside of the bar watching them cautiously.
“William, wait!” Gabe says behind him and tries to grab his arm, but William shakes him off. However, he stops when he hears Gabe curse under his breath and turn the opposite direction.
As soon as Gabe heard the familiar clicking sound from across the street, he couldn’t fucking believe it. And there he is, a goddamn paparazzi photographing them arguing behind a parked car. Gabe isn’t really thinking about it when he strides across the street, approaches the guy, (who stumbles backwards fiddling with his camera), and hits him straight in the face. The guy falls to the ground, cursing and William, watching from the other side of the street, storms over.
“What the fuck did you just do?” he cries, gesturing wildly.
“Well, I know how much you just love your privacy,” Gabe snaps back, shaking his wrist and watching the limp man on the floor attempt to get up.
“You know you can get arrested for that,” William says, folding his arms over his chest.
“I’m not gonna get arrested for that,” Gabe scoffs.
*
William’s not sure how, but Gabe somehow convinced him to bail him out when he was getting in the back of the cops’ car. William called Brendon to go down with him to the 59th precinct, and when they sit down in the dingy waiting room next to a questionable-looking man, William’s not in the mood to tell Brendon what happened.
“Bail for Saporta, Gabriel?” the woman behind the counter says nasally.
“Okay, I’ve got to go, but you’ll be okay, right?” William asks Brendon, getting up.
“Dude, of course I will,” Brendon replies, watching William disappear behind a small frosted door. Well, any door looks small compared to William.
Flicking through a trashy magazine, Brendon becomes aware of the young man next to him staring at him obviously. The guy looks about 20-something, but he’s got dark bags under his eyes and his hair is sticking out wildly. Dressed in a leather jacket and dusty skinny jeans, Brendon pretty sure he should be hanging around a dark alley right now.
“Drugs?” the guy suddenly asks him, his blank face watching Brendon.
“No thank you, I’m alright,” Brendon replies, shuffling away slightly in his seat and blatantly looking down at the magazine.
“I meant, are you in here for drugs?” the guy says, and God, he just won’t stop will he?
“Why are you here?” Brendon retorts, quirking an eyebrow.
“Drugs.”
*
William watches Gabe get let out a single, lonely cell as he pays his bond. When Gabe’s officially released he follows William to the quietest corner of the room. William notices the dark, dried blood scattered on his lip.
“Why didn’t you get someone else to bail you out,” William says, feigning indifference. As far as he’s concerned, he’s only doing this because someone has to and afterwards, he’s not going to see Gabe again.
“How else could I get you to talk to me,” Gabe says, surprisingly quietly. He reaches out to stroke William’s tensed arm, but he shakes him away. “Look, I know you have no reason to believe me right now, but please, Bill, just listen to me.”
William doesn’t want to at all but the pleading look Gabe’s giving him looks too sincere and desperate to be part of the same joke. William nods for him to continue.
“Look, I’ll admit it; there was at one point... a bet. But, trust me, it didn’t mean anything and I wanted to go out with you anyway. When I met you, God, I’d never met anyone like that before. And I liked you so much, I felt like such a jackass for doing that. I tried to forget about, and I thought I did till- wait, how did you find out anyway? No, no, that doesn’t matter. Anyway, all I want to say is sorry for being such a jerk and I honestly never meant to hurt you. I’m so, so sorry Bill,” Gabe finishes with a puff of breath and looks at William earnestly.
“I...” William starts but finding words proves difficult. “I-okay. But, I just need to think about it. About everything,”
“Sure, of course,” Gabe says, glad he’s not being hit again.
William certainly isn’t expecting the sight he’s met with when he walks back into the waiting area. Brendon’s full-on kissing the creepy drug dude sat next to him.
“Brendon!” he cries and Brendon snaps his head up, looking slightly embarrassed with himself.
“Brendon, eh? That’s a pretty name. I’m Ryan” the guy smirks, his arm staying behind Brendon’s back. Much to William’s surprise, Brendon giggles and grins at the guy before getting up to leave with William.
“You’ve got my number, right?” Brendon asks and the guy just grins and nods.
“What the hell were you doing?” William hisses when they walk out into the street. Brendon just shrugs, a sickening happy look on his face.
“I don’t know. He was just so....charming,” he smiles, sighing slightly.
William offers a quick goodbye to Gabe after that and takes Brendon home, wondering what the hell’s happened to him.
*
On a Thursday, Frank has made up his mind.
Walking into the staff room, he enters with one purpose and a coffee in hand. And that purpose is sitting on the sofa reading a tattered book. Frank sits down in the empty space next to the man and fiddles about before he gets comfortable.
The man’s gaze had followed him since he entered the room and it doesn’t leave him now.
“Good morning, Gerard,” begins Frank. “Coffee? It’s not decaf.”
Gerard, having grown careful of Frank’s recent mood swings, looks more surprised than usual.
“Yes, thank you,” he smiles and accepts the cup.
Frank smiles in return and looks away, tapping a small rhythm on his knees. “What are you reading?”
*
William didn’t call Gabe when he got home last night. He wanted to, or at least he thought he did. Gabe seemed so genuinely apologetic and if it was all just a bet, why would he have gone out with him after they’d slept together?
Shaking his head in an attempt to get the thoughts out, William bundles up the copies he was making into his arms and heads out. He slows to a halt when he sees none other than Gabe standing by his desk, looking around awkwardly.
“Hi,” William says when he gets to his desk.
“Hey,” Gabe says, fidgeting with something in his hands.
“Um, what are you doing here?” he says, placing the papers down on his desk slowly.
“Oh,” Gabe says, remembering suddenly why he’s here and offering the small navy bundle he’s holding to William. “You forgot your sweater at my apartment. I thought you’d want it back,”
“Oh...Thanks,” William says, accepting it.
They stand there awkwardly looking at each other for a moment before Gabe realises he has nothing else to do here.
“So, well, I’m gonna get going. I’ll see you around,” he smiles before turning away to the elevators.
“Gabe!” William finds himself calling after several seconds, hoping he won’t regret it.
“Yeah?” Gabe says, turning back to William, his hands buried deep in his coat pockets.
“I’ve thought about it,” he smiles and Gabe does the same. When Gabe doesn’t move forward, William mutters a ‘for God’s sake’ and grabs his wrists, pulling him back to the desk and kissing him. William’s pretty sure he hears Hugo cheer and applaud from the other side of the office.
“You want to go out for lunch?” Gabe grins when they break apart.
“Sure. In fact, I can go now,” William replies, checking his watch quickly.
As they walk out of the office, the backs of their hands brushing occasionally, they both can’t help but grin.
*
Frank hears a knock on his door. He really has no idea who it is, there are only so many people who know his address and few would come knocking late on a Friday evening.
He runs out and without looking, opens the door.
Stood outside is Gerard, drenched to the bone.
“Hi, it’s uh- raining outside,” he begins, then looks away quickly.
Frank nods sheepishly, “What are you doing here?”
“Oh! Well um, when we were uh planning the event, you left this at my house,” he abruptly holds up a pen, “I thought you might like it back.”
Frank giggles and shakes his head. Gerard returns the smile and Frank grabs him by the jacket and hauls him inside, pushing him up against the door.
“Yeah, I’d like that,” he smiles and kisses Gerard.
Masterpost
Bonus Content