FIC: Dirty Little Secret (Part 8)
Title: Dirty Little Secret (Part 8)
Rating: PG
Pairing: Ryan/Colin
Summary: He'd known Colin was in love with him, even as he'd wrapped his arms around him, from behind, after the show. Colin had been half-way through a story - he still doesn't know what it was about; he wasn't even pretending to listen to him - when Ryan had reached out and wrapped his arms around Colin's shoulders and across his chest. Colin's voice had wavered; he'd paused, mid-sentence, for a fraction of a second, before he'd cleared his throat and continued.
Author's Notes: Another kind of small update. I'm hoping Ryan's coming off a little confused, still. Or, if not ... hot/cold. Something. But anyway, as always, comments make me smile. =)
Part Eight: These sleeping dogs won't lie
He'd known Colin was in love with him when Ryan had sat up, suddenly, and declared that he wanted to watch TV. Colin had watched him, amused, as he'd perched at the foot of the bed and reached out to flick the television on. He'd leant forward, turned the volume down a little, and he'd shot a look over his shoulder at Colin.
His friend had rested his elbow on the pillow, and propped his head up as he'd studied Ryan. He'd smiled slightly at the older man, who'd rolled over and gently kicked him. "Night," Colin had murmured, as his head dropped back to the pillow. "Night," Ryan had replied, distantly, as he'd turned to stare at the screen again.
He'd known Colin was in love with him when he'd purposely avoided sitting next to him the next day; he'd entered the room, backstage, and had paused. Wayne and Colin had been sitting on one couch, with an empty seat next to Col; Greg had been sitting opposite them, by himself, so Ryan had joined him. Colin had stared at him until he'd met his eyes, and he'd expected the other man to simply look away, but Colin had just looked, levelly, at him until he'd turned his head.
When they'd been told it was time to go on, Ryan had hung back a little, and waited for Colin to pass. He'd leant forward, as they'd started walking, and had hissed, "I didn't want to be rude."
Colin had ignored him.
He'd known Colin was in love with him, even as he'd wrapped his arms around him, from behind, after the show. Colin had been half-way through a story - he still doesn't know what it was about; he wasn't even pretending to listen to him - when Ryan had reached out and wrapped his arms around Colin's shoulders and across his chest. Colin's voice had wavered; he'd paused, mid-sentence, for a fraction of a second, before he'd cleared his throat and continued. Greg had watched them, smirking a little, and Ryan had leant down and pressed a quick kiss to the side of Colin's neck - partly because he knew he simply could; Greg had turned his head and laughed, then; Colin had flushed slightly, and Ryan had tried not to smirk.
A little tentatively, Colin had reached up to clutch at Ryan's forearms - and, sensing his hesitance, Ryan had made a gentle hum in the back of his throat.
He'd known Colin was in love with him the first time he'd deliberately set out to mark him; he'd sucked at the hollow where his friend's neck met his left shoulder, and Colin had closed his eyes. He'd paused, to take a breath, before redoubling his efforts; he'd scraped his teeth against the apparently over-sensitised skin there, and Colin had pushed up against him.
He'd checked, the next day, to see if he could see the mark; Colin's high-collared shirt had made it nearly impossible to see, from his seat, but when they rose to move down to the stage, he'd leant over - not really subtly - and peered at his friend's neck, and under the fluorescent lights of the studio, the concealer hadn't hidden much.
He'd smirked, to himself.
He'd known Colin was in love with him the first time his friend had blushed when Drew had joked about them; it wasn't the first time Drew had joked about them, by far, but it had been the first time Colin had actually blushed.
He can't even remember what was said, exactly; he knows Drew had laughed as he'd teased them; he knows the host had had to take a moment before reading the next card, and he knows that Greg had doubled over, he'd been laughing so hard.
He also remembers that Colin had only stared back at Drew, and his face had turned a light shade of pink, and Wayne had made a sympathetic, "Aw!" and frowned.
Ryan had only shaken his head and looked away, his elbows digging almost painfully into his thighs.