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Author: The Empress of All
Pairing: Ryan/Colin
Rating: PG-13?
Summary: Ryan tries his best to convince Colin he has done everything to get him onto the US cast.
Disclaimer: I just get happy lil twinges of creativity at times...must listen to the voices in my head...must do what they tell me. (Ach...do you wanna get sued? Just use that "shin" of yours and I'll come a runin')
Ryan approached the green room carefully and cautiously. He heard his footsteps as they echoed in the long dark corridor leading up to the door. He hesitantly put his hand on the knob and slowly turned. He knew who would be waiting inside, and he knew he would not be happy. The anticipation hung in the air like a thick cloud of smoke, swirling around his head. He would so rather be anywhere else but here at the moment. He didn't want to have to face the man whom he'd put everything on the line for and had come up with nothing.
He opened the door slowly and poked his head inside. The room was dimly lit and very drafty. The only occupant there had his back facing the door, the days' newspaper in hand, held at an odd angle to provide a better view.
Ryan came into the room and stood a couple of feet behind him. He was a little timid to go any further. It was so quiet in the room. He could hear the sound of his own breathing, so loud it seemed as if it were amplified by the studio microphones. The man in front of him never turned around. He simply folded his paper and said "Good evening, Ryan."
The dulcet tones sent so many shivers and tingles up Ryan's spine. He trembled slightly and stepped closer. "I thought you might like to talk over about what happened today...at the meeting."
"How very thoughtful." he said acidly. "Or did Dan Patterson send you in for one last wheedle, before you both send me on my merry way."
"No, I came because I wanted to." Ryan said a little hurt at the implication. He came around the service table and approached the pale, eerily quiet form in the recliner.
The form in the chair expelled the tiniest notion of breath, which Ryan picked up upon and knew it was amused laughter. Colin swiveled the chair agonizingly slow. Ryan could see the dark circles, the lines of worry drawn into his long-time friend's face. Colin started his slow trek up Ryan's long, lean body, his dark brown iris' finally settling on Ryan's deep emeralds. "People will say we're in love."
Ryan couldn't meet Colin's eyes for long. He looked about the room, anywhere but at the accusing, predatory look he was receiving now..."Tsk Tsk Tsk Tsk...dying my hair red...that was an especially nice touch Ryan, yours?" Colin laced his long tapered fingers together.
"Yes," Ryan replied almost inaudibly. He laughed nervously and ran a shaky hand through his hair.
"Yeeesssss" Colin drawed out, his sensuous lips curling. "That was good...pity about the show though, tick tock tick tock tick tock."
Ryan finally had enough "Why don't we cut the bullshit, Colin, you know I did everything I could to get you here. I was in there fighting with Dan for hours. You know he's the only one that doesn't think you're good enough, Everyone else loves you!" Ryan said with implied meaning.
"Oh Ryan, your problem is you need to get more fun out of life." The mocking, patronizing tone continued. Colin was borderline losing his patience, but not before he baited his mouse a little further.
"You were telling me the truth back in the UK, Colin, please continue now." Ryan dropped down beside him, perching on the arm rest.
"Well I've told you everything, I need to Ryan, have you?" Colin said searching Ryan's face, his piercing eyes coming to fine glinting points. "Everything you need to know about me is right here in front of you."
"Then tell me now." Ryan said, tired of the mind game that Colin was playing with him. Ryan needed to shake him up, make him lose this frozen-ice exterior, make him feel, make him tell him how much he valued his place on the show, how much it meant to him, how much he meant to him.
"First principles, Ryan...simplicity." Colin refused to break. He became more harsh and calculating. "Read Marcus Orelius, of each particular thing ask what is it in itself? What is it's nature? What does he do, this man you seek?" Colin stood and went to the other side of the room his back to Ryan.
"He makes people laugh." Ryan exhales, he just wishes Colin would look at him, with the eyes of a friend once more. He wanted Colin to see that he made him laugh as well.
"No...that is incidental." Colin said to the wall. "What is the first and principle thing he does. What needs does he serve by making people laugh."
"Happiness...uhm...social acceptance, and uh...sexual frustration." Ryan was grasping for straws.
"NO..." Colin whirled to face him, crossing the distance between them to stand in front of his friend and stare him down. "He covets. That is his nature. And how do we begin to covet, Ryan? Do we seek out things to covet? Make an effort to answer now." Colin dropped his voice low and seductive.
Ryan backed up, only to be met with the couch behind him, he landed on it and pushed himself into the cushions. "No, we just..."
"No...we begin by coveting what we see everyday." Colin came closer, bringing his face close Ryan's, his lips so very close to Ryan's own, his eyes looking longingly at Ryan's parted, expectant mouth. "Don't you feel eyes moving over your body, Ryan? And don't your eyes seek out the things you want?"
"Allright yes, but please tell me how.." Ryan said, his breathing becoming erratic, a few millimeters closer and he would taste the soft, sweet skin of his best friend.
"No...it's your turn to tell me, Ryan." Colin eased off of Ryan and crossed his arms. "You don't have any more perks to offer. Why did you bring me here if you didn't think I'd make it?"
"Colin, we don't have any time for this right now." Ryan said growing frantic. "But we don't reckon time the same way do we, Ryan. This is all the time you'll ever have."
"Later now, please listen to me we only got five..." Ryan pushed up from the couch and was immediately halted. "NO!...I will listen now." Colin pushed him down hard. Pinning his arms back, holding him still.
"Then listen to this," Ryan said, resolved. "I brought you here because I have very strong feelings for you." *That was an understatement* "I don't think I can do the show without you. I need you here, with me. I fought for you, and I don't want you to blame me for not trying hard enough." Ryan reached up and traced his fingers down the smooth, satiny skin of Colin's cheek. He smoothed out the worry lines, the firm down turned corners of his mouth, and eased his hands off of his shoulder's. Colin was beginning to relax into the touch, his eyes finally losing their edge, becoming friendly, kind, affectionate. How could he stay mad at his best friend for long? He gave Ryan's shoulder a pat and sat down beside him on the couch. He put his head on Ryan's shoulder and snuggled into it, finally giving up his anger. Ryan placed a gentle kiss on Colin's forehead, happy that the sinister conversation had passed.
Just then Greg burst through the door. He was looking disheveled, tired and relieved. He took in the scene before him and smirked. "Hey guys...I'm so glad I found you here." I just heard from Drew that you finally got through to Dan and he's gonna let Col stay on the show." Greg said coming over to clap Ryan on the back. He turned and left smiling and laughing.
Ryan looked down at his friend. A small smile playing on his lips. Colin looked up into his eyes. "Thank you, Ryan..." he said as he brushed his finger alongside Ryan's letting him know just how he felt, not with words, but with a single touch.