Class Assignment: Basic Biology
Evening ladies, since my last entry for this particular class was a bit out of the blue, I went for Biology again (not that I don´t plan to join several more classes). The fic came out completely different than first planned but I´m actually happy about it since I think this concept is much better than the original.
Title: The Windows To Their Souls
Author: zuzivlas
Pairings: Colin/Jeff by the end but there are appearances by Ryan, Greg, Dan, Clive, Tony, Paul, Richard, Chip and Drew
Words: 1500 - I´m a sucker for even numbers and just can´t help it!
Notes: The fic is about Colin´s eyes but is actually a character study of all the others... I know this makes very little sense but should be clear from the fic :P
Warnings: nothing graphic though it has an angsty feel
“He has the most beautiful dove eyes...“
Those were always the words of any fan you ever asked about Colin´s eyes. Beautiful dove eyes, so cute and so sincere. How little they really knew of the man.
If you were to ask the guys that regularly performed with him and called him friend, the answers would not be as clean cut. Colin´s eyes were mysterious. Often friendly and deep, sometimes sad, occasionally mischievous and on several memorable instances angry and cold. At times it seemed like Colin´s eyes were the exact opposite of the well known saying “the eyes are the windows to the soul” since more often than not, they showed the soul of the person looking at Colin. It was one of the reasons many of the guys were often unsettled by the man when they got to know him better.
Ryan had never had a problem with Colin´s eyes since their relationship was based on no nonsense speak-your-damn-mind type of communication. Colin´s mouth had no problem telling Ryan when he was out of line and to see it in his eyes before his friend even opened his mouth served Ryan well. Strangers always marvelled at how the pair could communicate just with looks but that wasn´t true. If they locked eyes for longer than was comfortable, it was never a conversation between Ryan and Colin, it was a debate Ryan had with himself in Colin´s eyes. It was a bit eerie.
Greg had made it his quest to make the friendly man Ryan was great buddies with relax from day one, always making sure he was happy and well cared for. When asked why he did it, he would just shake his shoulders and reply that he never wanted to see the spark leave Colin´s eyes because the world seemed so much darker when it did. It took Greg a few years to realize the truth that he wasn´t protecting the man the eyes belonged to but his own reflection. That every time the spark was fading, it wasn´t because Colin had a bad day but because Greg was losing himself in all the things around him. Colin of course knew what was happening and let Greg do it since he noticed it helped the other man.
When Dan first looked into the eyes of the Canadian, he saw worry. Naturally he assumed it meant the comedian wasn´t sure of himself and could potentially make mistakes on stage. But he promised Ryan to give the guy a chance and he would keep that promise. Worst case scenario, Colin wouldn´t make the cut and become just another forgotten comedian. Colin tanked that day but it wasn´t because of the worry. What Dan hadn´t realized was that the worry wasn´t Colin´s about the performance, it was Dan´s own. The show was still young and in many ways a risk, and Dan didn´t feel comfortable agreeing to people only based on good word of others. Even if they were possibly the greatest comedian of the century named Ryan Stiles. It was the same reason Dan saw worry in Colin´s eyes before his second chance even though Colin himself was relaxed with Ryan by his side.
Clive had made it a hobby to try and crack the others like a puzzle. Most of his co-workers were easy to understand but there was one he just couldn´t get to reveal his secrets to him. Colin intrigued him because whenever he looked into his eyes, it was as if the windows closed and put on protective shutters. It drove him insane. 3 seasons was what it took for Clive to finally solve the mystery. Colin´s eyes didn´t shut because Colin was hiding, it was Clive himself who hid from the world.
As years passed, it got progressively harder for Tony to look into Colin´s eyes. When they first met all Tony saw was an abundance of mischief he felt attracted to. Colin was a potential partner in crime that Tony just couldn´t let escape. The friendship flourished but with passing time got strained. Tony saw things in Colin´s eyes he wasn´t prepared to understand or accept. He ran. He ran from the reminder of what was happening, the big fat warning in glowing red letters. He saw insanity and despair, loss and betrayal. He saw himself. Tony ran when he could no longer hold Colin´s penetrating gaze.
Paul was the prototype of a sad comedian; it was a rare occurrence to see him smile let alone laugh no matter the joke. It was surprising however to see the same ache and bone deep sadness in the seemingly happy Canadian. It felt wrong somehow but no matter what he did, the look in Colin´s eyes never changed. It only took one season for Paul to understand the implications. At first he thought that he might have just been projecting but the truth was ruthless... Colin was happy, it was Paul that was sad. In all their years on the show, Paul never managed to bring those eyes fully alive.
Richard rarely got to hang out with the guys after performing since he was a bit of an outsider. Close enough to seemingly blend in but not truly one of them. He was hesitant to join for other reasons as well. Colin had arrived only a few months ago but has since proven himself a great performer. However there was something about his eyes... it was hard to place but eventually, Richard figured it out. Jealousy. Whenever Colin looked at him, all he could see was jealousy. With time anger joined in as well since Richard had no idea what Colin could be jealous of. Yeah sure, he had mad talent with musical instruments but all it got him was a seat behind the piano while all the others could play. No, there was no reason for Colin to feel the same as Richard.
Chip joined the show in a rush of boundless and slightly manic energy. He was a force of nature that provided great counterbalance to the measured performances of the others and gave new life to the gig. He was the one jumping around but it were Colin´s eyes that danced whenever Chip looked into them. Ageless eyes, wise but vital, glowing with energy that almost made them burst. But no matter how often Chip invited, Colin never joined him to monkey around on the stage. As lively as his eyes were, the body was laid back. Eventually Chip gave up but would always use the eyes as his source of more energy that could never truly run out.
Drew was instantly impressed with Colin the first day he saw him live and knew he had to get him for the American version of the show. He and Ryan were an unbeatable pair. There was also another reason why he agreed right away. When he met the man, there was something in his eyes that Drew felt drawn to. A hunger, a strong need to prove himself to the others although concealed. In that moment, Drew felt a connection to the other man through what he presumed were similar feelings. Drew never fully understood that Colin didn´t feel the need to prove anything.
Jeff was the last to join the group and while he clicked with some like Greg instantly, he had a harder time to find his way to Colin. The older man unnerved him. Jeff knew it were Colin´s eyes that gave him the creeps. Seemingly friendly and open, there was an indescribable darkness looming behind; one that threatened to consume all the light one day. Jeff kept his distance afraid that the darkness would strike sooner rather than later and catch him too. It was on his worst day that Jeff realized the error of his assumption. The darkness he saw in the eyes was not Colin´s, it was his own. Oddly enough, it was Colin´s number he dialled out of memory, barely conscious enough to do so.
When Colin arrived, Jeff refused to look him in the eyes scared of what he would see. It was only after he left the counselling he finally dared to look up. He saw hope. Hope and a hint of content that could one day blossom, a promise of a better tomorrow no longer stained by yesterday. He fell in love with Colin´s eyes because he finally understood that they wouldn´t show him what he wanted to see but what he need to see. Making the first important decision after his recovery, he asked Colin out on a date. For the first time, Colin didn´t see fear or mere understanding when somebody looked into his eyes but acceptance. Jeff accepted his gift and loved him for it. When he looked into Jeff´s eyes, Colin saw love. It wasn´t just what Jeff felt or just a reflexion of what he felt. It was what burned inside them both. The windows to their souls.
The end
Title: The Windows To Their Souls
Author: zuzivlas
Pairings: Colin/Jeff by the end but there are appearances by Ryan, Greg, Dan, Clive, Tony, Paul, Richard, Chip and Drew
Words: 1500 - I´m a sucker for even numbers and just can´t help it!
Notes: The fic is about Colin´s eyes but is actually a character study of all the others... I know this makes very little sense but should be clear from the fic :P
Warnings: nothing graphic though it has an angsty feel
“He has the most beautiful dove eyes...“
Those were always the words of any fan you ever asked about Colin´s eyes. Beautiful dove eyes, so cute and so sincere. How little they really knew of the man.
If you were to ask the guys that regularly performed with him and called him friend, the answers would not be as clean cut. Colin´s eyes were mysterious. Often friendly and deep, sometimes sad, occasionally mischievous and on several memorable instances angry and cold. At times it seemed like Colin´s eyes were the exact opposite of the well known saying “the eyes are the windows to the soul” since more often than not, they showed the soul of the person looking at Colin. It was one of the reasons many of the guys were often unsettled by the man when they got to know him better.
Ryan had never had a problem with Colin´s eyes since their relationship was based on no nonsense speak-your-damn-mind type of communication. Colin´s mouth had no problem telling Ryan when he was out of line and to see it in his eyes before his friend even opened his mouth served Ryan well. Strangers always marvelled at how the pair could communicate just with looks but that wasn´t true. If they locked eyes for longer than was comfortable, it was never a conversation between Ryan and Colin, it was a debate Ryan had with himself in Colin´s eyes. It was a bit eerie.
Greg had made it his quest to make the friendly man Ryan was great buddies with relax from day one, always making sure he was happy and well cared for. When asked why he did it, he would just shake his shoulders and reply that he never wanted to see the spark leave Colin´s eyes because the world seemed so much darker when it did. It took Greg a few years to realize the truth that he wasn´t protecting the man the eyes belonged to but his own reflection. That every time the spark was fading, it wasn´t because Colin had a bad day but because Greg was losing himself in all the things around him. Colin of course knew what was happening and let Greg do it since he noticed it helped the other man.
When Dan first looked into the eyes of the Canadian, he saw worry. Naturally he assumed it meant the comedian wasn´t sure of himself and could potentially make mistakes on stage. But he promised Ryan to give the guy a chance and he would keep that promise. Worst case scenario, Colin wouldn´t make the cut and become just another forgotten comedian. Colin tanked that day but it wasn´t because of the worry. What Dan hadn´t realized was that the worry wasn´t Colin´s about the performance, it was Dan´s own. The show was still young and in many ways a risk, and Dan didn´t feel comfortable agreeing to people only based on good word of others. Even if they were possibly the greatest comedian of the century named Ryan Stiles. It was the same reason Dan saw worry in Colin´s eyes before his second chance even though Colin himself was relaxed with Ryan by his side.
Clive had made it a hobby to try and crack the others like a puzzle. Most of his co-workers were easy to understand but there was one he just couldn´t get to reveal his secrets to him. Colin intrigued him because whenever he looked into his eyes, it was as if the windows closed and put on protective shutters. It drove him insane. 3 seasons was what it took for Clive to finally solve the mystery. Colin´s eyes didn´t shut because Colin was hiding, it was Clive himself who hid from the world.
As years passed, it got progressively harder for Tony to look into Colin´s eyes. When they first met all Tony saw was an abundance of mischief he felt attracted to. Colin was a potential partner in crime that Tony just couldn´t let escape. The friendship flourished but with passing time got strained. Tony saw things in Colin´s eyes he wasn´t prepared to understand or accept. He ran. He ran from the reminder of what was happening, the big fat warning in glowing red letters. He saw insanity and despair, loss and betrayal. He saw himself. Tony ran when he could no longer hold Colin´s penetrating gaze.
Paul was the prototype of a sad comedian; it was a rare occurrence to see him smile let alone laugh no matter the joke. It was surprising however to see the same ache and bone deep sadness in the seemingly happy Canadian. It felt wrong somehow but no matter what he did, the look in Colin´s eyes never changed. It only took one season for Paul to understand the implications. At first he thought that he might have just been projecting but the truth was ruthless... Colin was happy, it was Paul that was sad. In all their years on the show, Paul never managed to bring those eyes fully alive.
Richard rarely got to hang out with the guys after performing since he was a bit of an outsider. Close enough to seemingly blend in but not truly one of them. He was hesitant to join for other reasons as well. Colin had arrived only a few months ago but has since proven himself a great performer. However there was something about his eyes... it was hard to place but eventually, Richard figured it out. Jealousy. Whenever Colin looked at him, all he could see was jealousy. With time anger joined in as well since Richard had no idea what Colin could be jealous of. Yeah sure, he had mad talent with musical instruments but all it got him was a seat behind the piano while all the others could play. No, there was no reason for Colin to feel the same as Richard.
Chip joined the show in a rush of boundless and slightly manic energy. He was a force of nature that provided great counterbalance to the measured performances of the others and gave new life to the gig. He was the one jumping around but it were Colin´s eyes that danced whenever Chip looked into them. Ageless eyes, wise but vital, glowing with energy that almost made them burst. But no matter how often Chip invited, Colin never joined him to monkey around on the stage. As lively as his eyes were, the body was laid back. Eventually Chip gave up but would always use the eyes as his source of more energy that could never truly run out.
Drew was instantly impressed with Colin the first day he saw him live and knew he had to get him for the American version of the show. He and Ryan were an unbeatable pair. There was also another reason why he agreed right away. When he met the man, there was something in his eyes that Drew felt drawn to. A hunger, a strong need to prove himself to the others although concealed. In that moment, Drew felt a connection to the other man through what he presumed were similar feelings. Drew never fully understood that Colin didn´t feel the need to prove anything.
Jeff was the last to join the group and while he clicked with some like Greg instantly, he had a harder time to find his way to Colin. The older man unnerved him. Jeff knew it were Colin´s eyes that gave him the creeps. Seemingly friendly and open, there was an indescribable darkness looming behind; one that threatened to consume all the light one day. Jeff kept his distance afraid that the darkness would strike sooner rather than later and catch him too. It was on his worst day that Jeff realized the error of his assumption. The darkness he saw in the eyes was not Colin´s, it was his own. Oddly enough, it was Colin´s number he dialled out of memory, barely conscious enough to do so.
When Colin arrived, Jeff refused to look him in the eyes scared of what he would see. It was only after he left the counselling he finally dared to look up. He saw hope. Hope and a hint of content that could one day blossom, a promise of a better tomorrow no longer stained by yesterday. He fell in love with Colin´s eyes because he finally understood that they wouldn´t show him what he wanted to see but what he need to see. Making the first important decision after his recovery, he asked Colin out on a date. For the first time, Colin didn´t see fear or mere understanding when somebody looked into his eyes but acceptance. Jeff accepted his gift and loved him for it. When he looked into Jeff´s eyes, Colin saw love. It wasn´t just what Jeff felt or just a reflexion of what he felt. It was what burned inside them both. The windows to their souls.
The end