Rory tangled his fingers into the sheets and bit his teeth into his lower lip as he forced himself to remain calm and quiet. Hushed bickering aroused him from sleep, but when he realized it was just Rin and Dillon, he'd been quick to relax... until he'd caught what they were discussing.
Rin's hushed voice echoed through the quiet room. "Shut the fuck up! Of fucking course I didn't show him shit! But now I see where the fuck he got the idea to look! You asshole!"
Rory watched with wide-eyed fascination as Dillon's body quaked with laughter under the press of Rin's, who was practically straddling his lap at the moment. Alone, it was hard to ever see Rin as anything more than a masculine, dominant male who strictly topped... but with Dillon... Rory had to wonder, especially the way Dillon's slightly larger hands snaked around Rin's waist with familiarity. His gaze shifted to the usually melancholy, heavily tattooed, heavily pierced man, relaxed and grinning under Rin. They were so different when they thought no one else was watching. A bond that spoke of much more than the shallow fuck buddies they hint at when asked.
Rory had to fight back the urge to blow out a relieved sigh when Rin finally released Dillon, sat back down in his seat, and crossed his arms in frustration. "Why the fuck would you do that?"
Rory buried his face under the covers more as a smile curved his lips when Dillon mirrored Rin's actions, crossing his own arms.
"Because he asked... because you really like him, but you're never going to tell him... and you're going to use it as an excuse to not get too close... Which means you'll both end up hurt in the end... he'll quit or be fired... you'll be back to your usual dickhead, man whore ways, and I'm tired of the cycle of destruction."
Fired?! Rory's smile faded. His hands fisted into the sheets as he listened more intently.
"So what? You're playing matchmaker instead?" Rin growled. "Why? What's in it for you?"
Dillon shrugged. "Who knows... maybe nothing... maybe everything. I love you and want to see you happy. I'll always be by your side in one capacity or another."
A shocked gasp slipped past Rory's lips, but he quickly masked it as he rolled over in bed, forging a sleeping moan. He could feel Dillon's eyes on him as he squirmed around in the bed again, forging restlessness... Nothing too uncommon for him. Once he settled back down, Dillon continued to speak. "It would be a lie if I said I haven't gotten... attached to him as well..." Rory's Heart slammed into his chest, threatening to stop. It was a good thing he'd stopped moving because those words would have caused him to stop dead in his tracks.
"Attached?" Rory couldn't tell if Rin was upset or honestly curious.
"I like him..." Rory forced his eyes to remain shut, feeling the heat of Dillon's eyes on him. His body ached with the need to move, to escape the hot gaze upon it.
Rin tilted his head. "Well enough to fuck him?" Rory had to actively force his body from reacting, his eyes from popping open. His fingers ached with the pressure he exerted on the sheets he gripped now, but at least the hot gaze he'd felt on him was gone.
There was no answer. The long silence in the room was driving Rory crazy. He wanted nothing more than to spring up and yell at them both. To force them to acknowledge him as an active participant in this conversation, but no... he wanted to know their true answers too much to interrupt now.
"Well enough to be in a relationship with him?" Rin's words were a low, hushed tone that Rory had never heard from him before. Did that mean Dillon had somehow said yes?
"Aren't we already?" Dillon's voice reverberated through the room, a mix of melancholy and desire... A truly painful combination. "This fucked up thing your father forces on us all... It's all it's ever been for us. A fucked inescapable relationship of sorts."
"True enough..." Rin's voice didn't seem any less tortured. What had the two of them gone through? What were they being forced to undergo still? Would either ever tell him? Rory's ponderings came to a halt as Rin added. "So... If you're with me forever... and I choose to be with him and him with me..." Rory prayed that the gasp he swallowed down was silent. Was Rin seriously considering being... His thoughts were cut off once again.
Dillon's low voice broke the silence. "Then I guess I'm with both of you forever... if you'll both have me..."
Both?! Rory peeked out from one eye just in time to see Rin wrap his arms around Dillon. "You know... I think I needed to hear that... I think it was less about how he was going to take my news... and more about what it would mean for you and me if he actually accepted me..."
Dillon pulled Rin into his arms as he placed a kiss on the top of his head. "Like I said the first time you asked... I will always be by your side... my heart will always belong to you... in whatever capacity you need me, in whatever way you want me."
Rory watched in silence while seconds turned to minutes and minutes seemed to drag on into an eternity as the two of them held each other. Feeling moisture gather around his eyes, Rory forced his eyes closed again. He didn't open them again until the alarm sounded from the nightstand. He frowned when his hand glided over the cold sheets beside him. He lifted and watched as Rin turned the alarm off from the other bed.
Rin smiled over at him. "Sleep well, little prince?"
Rory's eyes moved around the room. Dillon was still in front of the laptop, clicking away at some work. His brows scrunched, but before he could ask, Rin supplied an answer. "He's still working on the edits. I managed to catch a few hours of sleep. He'll crash out for a few as soon as that's done. All we have to do is run down and get the prints in a bit."
"The orders have already been sent out. Says they'll be ready by noon." Dillon murmured from the desk as he stretched.
Rory's frown deepened as he slid out from under the sheets. "So, you haven't been to sleep at all yet?"
Dillon leaned back in his seat and sent him a sleepy grin. "Not unless I dozed off here and didn't realize... Why? You suddenly worried, Buttercup? If so, you're more than welcome to finish this up for me."
Rory hesitated momentarily before walking over to the desk. "Wha...what is it? If it's something that I can do..."
Dillon chuckled. "No worries. I'm almost finished anyway. You two need to get cleaned up and ready. You have a brunch this morning at 9, then the first panel is at 10:30."
Rory glanced at the clock on the nightstand. That gave them a little over an hour to get ready. His eyes shifted over to Rin. There were faint dark circles under his eyes. His clothes were crumpled, but his messy hair still looked sexy... even now. Rory frowned. "What am I supposed to do..."
Dillon arched a pierced brow. "After you get dressed, it probably wouldn't hurt to review the notes Rin fixed up for you last night. The panel will go over the idea he cooked up last night with those fans."
Rory furrowed his brow in confusion. "What? I wasn't... never mind... Thanks, I will..." Rory was so distracted while he got ready, he didn't realize until hands were already encircling his body that Rin was pressed up behind him. His eyes found Rin's grinning face in the mirror, but he couldn't mask the confusion plaguing his mind. Rin's chuckle rumbled against him, rattling his entire body.
"Your tie is crooked," Rin whispered against Rory's soft hair as he adjusted the perfect garment.
Rory clasped Rin's forearms and felt the muscles ripple beneath his hands. His brows furrowed as he leaned back against Rin's hard chest and shifted his gaze from the mirror to the man above. Shimmering, violet eyes held his, a note of amusement lingering in the hungry depth. It was obvious Rin was interested in him, but after what he'd heard... what he'd watched last night... He turned his attention back to the mirror and their reflection there. Rin was now straightening the already smooth front of Rory's dress shirt. He couldn't deny he loved the feel of Rin's hands along his body, but...
Rin rested his chin on Rory's shoulder. "Are you sure you have to put that baggy sweater over this. It seems like such a shame." Rin clasped both hands around Rory's narrow waist and pressed his lips against the tiny bit of skin peeking out from above the collar of the shirt.
Rory averted his gaze, not wanting Rin to read the discomfort and hurt his actions were causing this morning, when his eyes landed on the chest piece. This is my chance... Rory gripped Rin's forearms with opposite hands and pressed more firmly against him. He rubbed his forehead against Rin's cheek as he coaxed him to open his body up more. "Naughty fox, are you still trying to find a prince in a frog?"
Rin chuckled as he took a step back and gently tugged his arms free. "You're getting better with this. That's good. We should consider it practice, especially today... for meeting your parents. You know, it will be like an interview with them as well. The less we have to pretend, the better..."
"Humm... yeah... Pretend... you're right..." Rory mumbled.
Dillon arched his brow, a half grin spreading across his lips as he watched the interaction from the desk. "You two have fun with that. Don't do anything I wouldn't." Dillon gave Rin a wink as he slapped his ass.
Rin flashed him a glare. "Want a black eye?"
Dillon shrugged with a chuckle. "Why not? It'll match the bags I'm sure are left there from being up all night."
Rin shoved Dillon's head roughly as he snagged his suit jacket from the bed and pulled it on.
"You're not wearing that today?" Rory asked, pointing to the chest piece.
Rin shook his head. "Nah. You know I only wear it if I'll have to show my bare chest. Hurry up, I'd like to drop by the booth before we head over to brunch." Rin purposely redirected the conversation. "Don't forget the note cards I made for you last night, too. Rin glared at Dillon as he shook his head.
***
Cheering erupted around them as the audience stood from their seats. Rory's heart thudded against his chest with the rush of adrenaline. His eyes moved just below the edge of the table to his lower thigh. Rin's hand squeezed his leg reassuringly. Rory's wide eyes moved back to Rin, but his focus was on the line that was beginning to form around the table. They'd spent the better part of two hours talking about the book, the writing process, Rory's contributions on the final draft, the video releases of them working through scenes, and the changes to the current life performances. They had even done a brief Q&A where the fans had asked questions ranging from things about the current book, new book ideas, to personal questions about Rin's involvement with Rory. Those questions had made Rory feel so many different emotions at once that he still couldn't tell which was the most predominant emotion. As the tight knot that seemed to be tied around his lungs began to loosen and finally allow him to draw in a full, even breath, he moved his gaze from Rin's profile to the massive crowd, back to the hand that still rested on his thigh. This simple gesture... it brought him so much comfort... but... Rory frowned as he moved his hands to Rin's. He traced the length of each long, slender finger before tangling his into Rin's. Movement beside him drew his attention back to his surroundings.
Dillon leaned down between Rin and Rory before whispering. "We have a problem. I need to talk to you guys the second you're done here." He nodded toward the back door that led to the hallway for event staff only.
Rin sent the crowd a charming smile as he released his hold on Rory and pushed up from the chair. "I apologize but something seems to have come up." He glanced down at his watch. "We'll be setting up in about thirty minutes to begin the performance for those of you who wish to watch. New merch will be available at the booth after." His smile widened as he held his hand out for Rory and pulled him to his feet beside him. "We worked throughout the night last night in order to bring you something special. I do hope you like it." Rin smiled brightly at Rory as the crowd went wild with the information. He turned and gave the crowd a slight bow before apologizing again.
Rin blew out a sigh as he stepped out into the hallway and looked around for Dillon.
Dillon waved him over to another door leading outside. "Come out here. This news requires a smoke." He said, pressing a cigarette between his lips and flicking a lighter before even making it all the way out the door.
"That bad? How many hours of sleep have you had?" Rory asked as he watched Dillon take a long drag from the cigarette and hold it in for an unusually long time. "Is... is everything ok?"
Dillon shook his head as he answered. "That bad would be an understatement, little to none... and ok... ha... we're all three fucked..."
"Well fuck... spit it out already then..." Rin barked as he walked over and snatched the cigarette from Dillon and took a drag from it himself. He leaned against the wall and pressed one foot against it for balance as he crossed his arms over his chest in exasperation. "Is it the pictures from the shoot? Some fucked news get released? What?"
Dillon shook his head as he tapped another cigarette from the pack before holding the pack out toward Rory, offering him one as well. When Rory shook his head, Dillon shrugged and shoved the pack back into his deep pockets. He leaned in and lit his cigarette off the cherry of the one Rin was smoking. "I wish... Might be easier to deal with..." He took another long drag. "Sabastian called earlier..."
"You tell him we didn't fucking need him?" Rin snapped as he flicked the cigarette to the ground and stomped on it aggressively.
Dillon nodded. "He's pretty pissed off about that fact..." Dillon's gaze shifted to Rory.
Rin didn't bother hiding his distaste. "And you think he's going to turn up here?"
Dillon took another long drag before flicking his own cigarette to the ground and grinding it into the pavement. "I know he is... he's in the lobby now."
"Fuck... gahhh, Goddamnit!" Rin turned and drew back, about to punch the side of the brick building, but Dillon lunged forward and caught his arm.
"We'll deal with it... We always deal with it." Dillon tried to sound soothing, but sounded exhausted instead.
Rin frowned. "What does he want?"
Dillon shifted his gaze to Rory, who stood frozen by the door. "What do you think?"
Rin shook his head. "No. Fuck no! The fans love Rory. They're not going to want Sabastian in this part. He can't do it half as well. Fuck, we went through all that work last night to make this a thing! I'm not turning back now."
"It's... ok... I don't mind..." Rory tried to supply.
Rin's blazing eyes shot up to Rory's stopping any further debate. "You don't mind? Who the fuck are you to say either way? You're my assistant, yeah? You're here to assist me. I need you in this. I say you're the best person for the part. I fucking built this part for you! You, not him! Are you seriously backing out?" Rin stomped toward Rory, anger obvious in every rigid cord of his body.
"No, it's just..." Tears began to burn Rory's eyes as he held up his hands and shook his head. "Please stop and listen..." Rory pleaded as he watched Rin advance on him, but it was no use. It was obvious Rin wasn't hearing a thing. He was too overtaken by rage. Rory couldn't take it anymore. He squeezed his eyes tightly closed as his quaking legs gave out beneath him. He cradled his arms over his head, waiting for fists to smash into him at any second, but they never came.
"Fuck..." Rin muttered, gripping his head in both hands.
Dillon cautiously walked over and dropped into a crouch beside Rory. He tugged Rory's arms away from his head and gently tugged his face up to meet his. "You're alright. No one here is going to hurt you. Understand?"
Rory flinched as Rin hastily closed the distance between them and lowered to a crouch as well. Reading the apprehension still reverberating through Rory's body, Rin didn't try to touch him but apologized instead. "I'm sorry... I didn't mean any of that. Of course, I want you to be the one on stage with me. I want you beside me with all this. This is our baby we made together. I didn't mean to get so angry." Rin brushed the blonde hair out of Rory's face. "Forgive me?"
Rory swallowed hard before nodding.
Rin sent him a wide smile. "Good." He stood. "Alright then... How about you go back to the room with Dillon and get cleaned up, and I'll go to the lobby and deal with Sabastian?"