FAKE Ficlet: Still Hiding
Title: Still Hiding
Fandom: FAKE
Author: badly_knitted
Characters: Ryo, OFC, Dee.
Rating: PG
Setting: After Like Like Love.
Summary: A chance meeting brings Ryo’s insecurities back to the surface.
Word Count: 500
Written For: Prompt 622: Return at slashthedrabble.
Disclaimer: I don’t own FAKE, or the characters. They belong to the wonderful Sanami Matoh.
Ryo had thought he’d come to terms with being gay. He hadn’t told the whole world about it, really it was nobody else’s business, but he was okay with it himself, and very happy with Dee. Only now, suddenly all his worries and insecurities about his sexuality had returned with a vengeance, all because of a chance meeting.
Stacey had barely changed at all; Ryo had recognised her immediately, would have known her anywhere even after eight years. There’d been a time when he’d thought maybe they’d have a future together; she was pretty, smart, caring, and he’d know she loved him even if he hadn’t been entirely sure how he’d felt about her. He’d liked her, certainly, and maybe it had even been love, just not the same kind he felt for Dee, but eventually they’d broken up because she’d gotten tired of waiting for him to propose.
Just as Ryo had thought that maybe he could slip away without being noticed, Stacey had spotted him, her face lighting up.
“Randy? Randy Maclean, I thought that was you! It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”
“I guess it has, but you haven’t changed a bit. How are you, Stacey?”
“Single again. My husband of three years ran off with an older woman. Can you believe it?”
“Seriously?”
“Yeah. Grass is always greener, I guess. How about you? I don’t see a wedding band.”
“No, still not married, but… I am living with someone.”
“Wow! All those times I tried to persuade you to move in with me, but you said you needed your own space. She must be pretty special to get you that far, even if she hasn’t managed to drag you to the altar yet.”
“Very special, yes.” Ryo knew he should probably tell her, then she’d understand why they hadn’t worked out, but he couldn’t do it. There was so much homophobia around, and even though they’d dated for two years, he didn’t know how she felt about same sex relationships.
They chatted for a few more minutes, then Ryo made his excuses and left.
By the time he returned home to the apartment he shared with Dee, he felt worse than ever, like he’d somehow betrayed his lover.
Dee came out of the kitchen, where he was preparing dinner, since it had been his day off.
“Hey, babe, what’s up? Bad day?”
Ryo moved straight into his partner’s arms, resting his head on Dee’s shoulder.
“I’m a horrible person, Dee. I’m so sorry.”
“What’re ya talkin’ about? You’re not makin’ any sense.”
“I ran into an ex-girlfriend.”
“You have ex-girlfriends?”
“It’s not funny, Dee! I told her I was living with someone, but I let her think you were a girl. I should’ve told her I’m gay, I just couldn’t!”
“Hey.” Dee hugged him tighter, kissing his hair. “It’s okay. Just ‘cause ya used to date doesn’t mean she gets to know everything.”
“I’m still hiding who I am.”
“Not from me; that’s all that matters.”
The End
Fandom: FAKE
Author: badly_knitted
Characters: Ryo, OFC, Dee.
Rating: PG
Setting: After Like Like Love.
Summary: A chance meeting brings Ryo’s insecurities back to the surface.
Word Count: 500
Written For: Prompt 622: Return at slashthedrabble.
Disclaimer: I don’t own FAKE, or the characters. They belong to the wonderful Sanami Matoh.
Ryo had thought he’d come to terms with being gay. He hadn’t told the whole world about it, really it was nobody else’s business, but he was okay with it himself, and very happy with Dee. Only now, suddenly all his worries and insecurities about his sexuality had returned with a vengeance, all because of a chance meeting.
Stacey had barely changed at all; Ryo had recognised her immediately, would have known her anywhere even after eight years. There’d been a time when he’d thought maybe they’d have a future together; she was pretty, smart, caring, and he’d know she loved him even if he hadn’t been entirely sure how he’d felt about her. He’d liked her, certainly, and maybe it had even been love, just not the same kind he felt for Dee, but eventually they’d broken up because she’d gotten tired of waiting for him to propose.
Just as Ryo had thought that maybe he could slip away without being noticed, Stacey had spotted him, her face lighting up.
“Randy? Randy Maclean, I thought that was you! It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”
“I guess it has, but you haven’t changed a bit. How are you, Stacey?”
“Single again. My husband of three years ran off with an older woman. Can you believe it?”
“Seriously?”
“Yeah. Grass is always greener, I guess. How about you? I don’t see a wedding band.”
“No, still not married, but… I am living with someone.”
“Wow! All those times I tried to persuade you to move in with me, but you said you needed your own space. She must be pretty special to get you that far, even if she hasn’t managed to drag you to the altar yet.”
“Very special, yes.” Ryo knew he should probably tell her, then she’d understand why they hadn’t worked out, but he couldn’t do it. There was so much homophobia around, and even though they’d dated for two years, he didn’t know how she felt about same sex relationships.
They chatted for a few more minutes, then Ryo made his excuses and left.
By the time he returned home to the apartment he shared with Dee, he felt worse than ever, like he’d somehow betrayed his lover.
Dee came out of the kitchen, where he was preparing dinner, since it had been his day off.
“Hey, babe, what’s up? Bad day?”
Ryo moved straight into his partner’s arms, resting his head on Dee’s shoulder.
“I’m a horrible person, Dee. I’m so sorry.”
“What’re ya talkin’ about? You’re not makin’ any sense.”
“I ran into an ex-girlfriend.”
“You have ex-girlfriends?”
“It’s not funny, Dee! I told her I was living with someone, but I let her think you were a girl. I should’ve told her I’m gay, I just couldn’t!”
“Hey.” Dee hugged him tighter, kissing his hair. “It’s okay. Just ‘cause ya used to date doesn’t mean she gets to know everything.”
“I’m still hiding who I am.”
“Not from me; that’s all that matters.”
The End