Dreaming in Color
Title: Dreaming in Color
Author: Me!
Archive:...sure?
Fandom: MLB, New York Mets
Pairing: John Maine/Mike Pelfrey
Rating: Um. PG-13
Disclaimer: I do not in any way shape or form own these people, nor do I know them. To my knowledge, none of this ever happened. Also, I do not own the song. Dreaming in Color- Black Lab
Summary: There were nights I swear we flew...
Notes: This is set in spring training of this year. :)
Kiss me once, just once
Do you think it's love or something close?
Do you recall?
You say I was sleeping
But I know what I saw
He wondered if Pelfrey noticed. How close he would stand, close enough to almost invade personal space, and wondered if he noticed him staring when everyone’s eyes were elsewhere.
‘Nice move, John. Obsess over your teammate. Not like that’s creepy,’ he thought sarcastically.
He'd decided weeks ago that he would avoid Pelfrey; just completely avoid him until this fascination faded. It looked for awhile that Pelfrey hadn't even noticed, but lately he was vying for his attention more often, and it was getting harder for him to completely ignore him.
“Hey John,” Pelfrey’s voice came from behind him. He jumped a little, not expecting a voice.
“Hey,” he replied, raising his eyes to meet his teammate’s and squinting against the sun. “What’s up?”
“Nothing. I was just…thinking. You want to grab something to eat after we‘re done with drills and strength and conditioning?”
“I--I can’t. Maybe some other time, okay?”
Pelfrey‘s face fell. “Yeah, sure. Okay.”
Maine watched him walk away, forcing his eyes away out of habit. He felt ridiculous. Twenty-five was too old to have a crush.. He did his work and the day was over faster then he thought. Pelfrey didn’t speak to him the rest of the day.
He went back to his apartment, rented while spring training went on. He flopped on the bed, falling asleep instantly. He was unusually tired. And it was so fucking hot.
He woke up a few hours later, and it was dark out now. He checked the clock. Almost two. He sat up and back against the headboard. The wooden beams dug into his back, but he really didn’t feel like moving. The heat was sweltering, even in his air-conditioned room and his shirt clung uncomfortably to the skin of his lower back, where the sweat was pooling.
Maine sighed, his mind felt fogged with distraction. He tried, to no avail, to focus on anything that wasn’t Michael Alan Pelfrey. His wife, today’s game, his crossword puzzle from earlier, anything. Nothing worked.
Ever since the beginning of spring training, his thoughts had been clouded with Pelfrey. He also missed him when he wasn’t around. He never missed anybody.
‘It is completely ridiculous for me to miss Pelf’s presence,’ he thought. ‘Especially since you’re the one avoiding him, dumbass.’
Knock, Knock
His eyes flickered to the door, willing the person behind it to go away. He didn’t feel like getting up, or talking. It was most likely David. Maybe he got sick of pestering Glavine. He liked the guy, but god he could be so annoyingly overwhelming. I mean did he ever shut up?
Knock, Knock
Finally, He decided that the incessant knocking was much too annoying to continue to ignore. He got up, his body protesting. He wondered if he’d been laying there longer than he thought. He lingered on the edge of the bed. The knocking had stopped.
He flopped back on to the bed, staring at the ceiling and counting the spots where paint had chipped. He wondered, stupidly if someone had thrown a ball against the ceiling making the paint chip.
Mentally, he rolled his eyes at himself. ‘Why the fuck am I thinking about how the paint chipped?’ he thought. 'You know why,’ the voice in his head replied.
“Fuck you,” he said aloud, addressing the voice, wondering if acknowledging the voice made him less sane then anyone else.
Then came a tentative voice, from beyond the door, “John?”
Pelfrey.
Shit.
“John? It’s Mike.”
‘Like I don’t know that,’ He thought bitterly.
“John?” Pelfrey was starting to sound a bit dejected. He struggled to ignore the feeling in his stomach. He didn’t care that Pelfrey’s face was probably stuck with a frown, his eyes dull, wondering why Maine was avoiding him like he was some sort of plague. Or at least that’s what he tried to convince himself, as he reluctantly tugged open the door, forgetting he wasn’t wearing pants.
Pelfrey was pacing in the hallway, muttering to himself. His head jerked up, when Maine cleared his throat.
“J-John!” Pelfrey exclaimed, his eyes shot down, then back up, blushing.
“Were you expecting someone else?” He asked, smirking. He gave himself a mental pat on the back for his composure.
Pelfrey blushed deeper. “No, no.”
‘Since when did you become such a bumbling fool?’ Maine wanted to ask. He figured that might be rude though, and since he’d gotten up he might as well hear what Pelfrey wanted.
“Well?” He said coldly, when all Pelfrey managed to do was stare back at Maine.
“I--Um. I-- Hi.”
Maine laughed, unable to hold it in. “You know you sound like a moron, right?”
Pelfrey nodded, still blushing but a grin spreading across his face. Maine was acting normal.
Maine smiled too. ‘See this isn’t so hard.’
“You wanted something? Or are you just knocking at all the guy’s doors at 2 am?”
“Yes-- I. Well, I just--.”
Maine smirked. Pelfrey’s discomfort amused him. As well as worked to his advantage. At least he seemed like the calm, comfortable one.
“Okay, so I--”
Maine leaned up suddenly, awkwardly pressing his lips to the side of Pelfrey’s mouth, lingering. He wanted to know what it felt like. He pulled back, rocking on his heels, waiting for a reaction.
Pelfrey looked a little shocked, but not angry. He looked around the hallway. It was deserted. He pushed his lips against Maine’s backing him against the door frame. Maine let out a small gasp of surprise.
Pelfrey’s lips stumble against Maine’s. His hands moved, resting on the wall and doorframe behind Maine’s head. Maine pressed up, the length of his body pressing to Pelfrey’s, more pressure adding to their lips.
Pelfrey pulled away this time, a bit dazed. He searched the hallway again. Still no one. Maine looked a little wide-eyed. His chest was moving a bit more rapidly then when he’d first stepped out into the hallway. He stepped through the threshold of Maine’s hotel room, tugging a slightly shocked Maine with him.
He pushed the door closed with his foot, and shoved Maine tumbling back into it, connecting their lips again before he could blink. Maine’s hands gripped Pelfrey’s shoulders, seemingly trying to crush themselves even closer.
Pelfrey grasped the hem of Maine’s shirt, tugging it upward. Maine arched his back off the door, to help. His hands immediately went to Pelf’s jeans, working on the button and zipping, hastily shoving them down so he could step out of them.
He pushed his weight off the door, backpedaling them to the bed. He jerked off Pelfrey’s shirt, throwing it carelessly behind him.
“Your wife,” Pelfrey gasped suddenly, jerking his mouth away, breathing heavily.
“I--I--It’s okay,” Maine stuttered. He should care, but he just couldn’t bring himself to. His chest was rising and falling rapidly, pupils widened, skin flushed.
No second thoughts.
~*~
Pelfrey traced the outline of one of Maine’s tattoo, seemingly uncaring of Maine’s squirming. His stomach was sticking to Maine’s side. The room seemed hotter than before. Finally, Maine took hold of his hand, taking it away from his arm, but not letting go.
Pelfrey flexed his hand in Maine’s grasp, curling his fingers back around it and squeezing lightly.
“Mike?” Maine asked suddenly.
“Yeah?” Pelfrey mumbled against Maine’s shoulder.
“This is alright, right?” His voice sounded small, unsure. His lack of confidence in anything was startling.
Pelfrey nodded, the beginnings of sleep starting to over take him. His hair tickled Maine’s throat.
Maine was satisfied with that. He brushed back Pelfrey‘s hair affectionately, wondering if maybe this was some sort of very elaborate dream.
“Okay,” he mumbled, closing his eyes and sleeping, still not convinced his alarm wouldn’t shock him awake any minute.
~*~
Sun streamed brightly through the window, waking Maine up. He reached out, looking for Pelfrey. He came up empty.
Sitting up quickly and ignoring the spinning in his head, he looked around the room. There was no trace of Pelfrey. His clothes were gone and the bed was cold. Maine flopped back against the pillows. He looked at the clock blearily. Six am. Too early to be up. Too early to piece anything together.
If he’d been more awake, he’d have heard the shower shut off, and the door creak open.
“Smith called. Said something about a bunch of the guys going out tonight and inviting us. I told him you’d call later.”
Maine cracked open an eye. Pelfrey, towel hung low on his hips was toweling off his hair.
Maine said the first thing he thought of. “You answered my phone?”
Pelfrey turned his way. “Yeah. You know your ring tone sucks, right?”
Maine smirked, calm. “Metallica doesn’t suck.”
“Try hearing the chorus to “Seek and Destroy” every ten minutes for an hour and you’d think it sucks too. “
“Please tell me Smith didn’t call that many times.”
Pelfrey grimaced. “I wish I could.”
“I guess he’s a little over eager,” he said, laughing.
“Apparently."
"He didn't say anything about you answering my phone before 6 am?” Maine asked, not really caring.
He felt the mattress dip with weight. Pelfrey’s lips met the corner of his mouth, mimicking how he kissed him less than four hours ago. “I say we blow him off, and stay here,” Pelfrey murmured, lips on his neck now, nipping at his pulse point.
Maine groaned pleasantly. “Well, I was thinking about golfing later…but I guess I could stay here with you.”
Pelfrey bit down.
Maine chuckled breathlessly. “Easy tiger, how am I suppose to explain all the bruises and markings I have to Willie?”
“Tell him you fell off the bed.”
“And hit my neck…in multiple places?”
Pelfrey moved farther down, to his collarbone. “It will probably stop his questions.”
“You never know, he might grill me. Force it out of me. Your reputation will be sullied.”
“Fuck my reputation.”
Maine rolled them over, pinning Pelf’s hands.
“Gladly.”
~*~
Maine stared over at him, through the sea of pitchers and position players. He was playing catch with Glavine, getting tips from the looks of it. Wright was lurking near by, more than likely waiting to bug Glav. Jose came over, distracting him.
A voice came from behind. “Into a table, eh?”
Maine laughed with surprise. “Yeah. Must have been in my sleep.”
“So, I guess Mike fell into a table too?” Smith asked, voice full of mirth.
“Must have,” Maine replied, trying to keep from smiling too much.
“I can’t believe Willie just took that story.”
“Neither could Mike. Figures Willie‘s biding his time.”
“He’s not paranoid or anything is he?”
“Mike? Not at all.”
“I have to take ground balls, I’ll see you later, alright?”
“Yeah, okay,” Maine said, eyes going back to Pelf.
Maybe twenty five wasn’t too old for a crush.
There were nights I swear we flew
Dreaming in color
I was dreaming beside you
Now the sky has gone to gray
The colors have bled in this picture we made
I was dreaming in color
There were nights I swear we flew
I was dreaming in color
There were nights I swear we flew
I was dreaming in color