[CHALLENGE FIC] Fifth Wheel

[sungreen70.livejournal.com]

This is in response to Cae's fic challenge based on her awesome manips! The story is based on the pic of Ryan. 

Title: Fifth Wheel
Author: Sun Green
Pairing: Ryan/Colin/Greg (yup, it's a threesome!)
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 1136
Disclaimer: Please, if I DID own them, do you think I'd have all this time to spend writing fics about 'em? 

It had been his idea to begin with – he couldn’t escape that fact. Glancing out the window for the tenth time in an hour, Ryan replayed his initial conversation with Colin in his head.

 

“It’ll be fun,” he’d cajoled. “Spice things up a little.”

 

Colin had looked at him with raised eyebrows, not quite able to disguise his hurt. “I wasn’t aware that we needed spicing up.”

 

He’d taken Colin’s hand. “Come on, that’s not what I mean. I just think it’d be exciting. Different. Greg’s up for it. Don’t you ever think about doing something wild?”

 

In the end Colin had agreed, although Ryan could see he still had reservations. He’d ignored them, selfishly, and had gleefully extended the invitation to their best friend to join them in their bed.

 

The first time had been as hot as he’d imagined, and Ryan had been delighted when Colin quickly cast off his inhibitions and enjoyed it as thoroughly as he and Greg. Enough so that Ryan had proposed doing it again, and both men had eagerly agreed. The second time led to a third, then a fourth, and within a matter of weeks, Greg was practically living with them.

 

But over the course of that time, something had changed. Ryan couldn’t quite put his finger on when it had started. When Colin began touching Greg more often than he touched Ryan. When Colin and Greg began exchanging those looks that seemed to speak volumes – volumes that Ryan couldn’t read. When Ryan had begun participating less in the bedroom, at times reduced to simply watching while the two of them made love to each other, appearing oblivious to his presence. When he’d begun to feel like a fifth wheel, and wishing he’d never started this in the first place.

 

Sighing, he looked out the window again, seeing only empty driveway. It had been more than an hour since Greg, snuggled against Colin on the other end of the couch, had announced that he wanted ice cream. Colin had laughed, gazing at Greg affectionately. “It’s after ten,” he’d pointed out. “Nothing’s open.”

 

“That place on Grove Street is,” Greg had insisted, standing up and tugging at Colin. “Come on, Col…”

 

Grinning, Colin had let himself be pulled up. It wasn’t until they were at the door that he turned to look at Ryan. “Coming?”

 

Swallowing a sudden lump in his throat, Ryan kept his eyes on the TV screen. “No thanks.” Neither of them had tried to persuade him, and went cheerfully on their way.

 

The glow of headlights as Colin’s car pulled into the drive caught Ryan’s eye. He restrained himself from jumping up to open the door. The sound of voices at the back steps told him that Greg had come back with Colin. Of course.

 

They entered the living room hand in hand, chuckling over some private joke. Greg tore his gaze from Colin long enough to look at Ryan. “Ready for bed?” he asked, one eyebrow quirked meaningfully.

 

At least he was being included. “Sure,” he replied after a second. Colin smiled at him as he joined them, a familiar smile that filled his heart with longing. How long had it been since that smile had been for Ryan, and Ryan alone? But now Colin was looking at Greg, directing the smile at him as they headed toward the stairs, Ryan following behind.

 

In the bedroom, Ryan slowly removed his jeans and T-shirt, listening to the other two giggling in the bathroom as they brushed their teeth. Opening the dresser drawer, he reached for a pair of flannel pajama bottoms, hesitating as he noticed another pair folded underneath. Zebra striped silk, not very practical. They’d been a joke gift from Colin on their last anniversary. He remembered how Colin had laughed delightedly when he’d modeled them, then with a wicked gleam in his eye, lunged at him across the bed and torn them off. He couldn’t recall if he’d ever worn them again.

 

With a glance towards the bathroom, he dropped the flannels and reached for the zebra stripes. Slipping them on, he leaned against the dresser to await Colin’s arrival.

 

Emerging from the bathroom with Greg in tow, Colin smiled at him but gave no indication that he recognized the pajama bottoms. Climbing into bed with Greg, he beckoned Ryan over with a jerk of his head, before turning to gently remove Greg’s glasses and then kiss him hungrily. Ryan bit his lip but got into the bed – which really wasn’t big enough for three people – and waited.

 

Coming up for air, Colin turned his attention to Ryan and caressed his cheek before kissing him tenderly, as Ryan closed his eyes and pretended they were alone. The illusion lasted only a few seconds before Greg reached over and began massaging Colin’s shoulders. Colin removed one hand from Ryan’s face and took Greg’s hand, bringing it to his lips as he took them away from Ryan’s.

 

Ryan resisted the urge to grab Colin back when Greg tugged at him, and watched helplessly as Colin rolled over and covered Greg’s body with his. One of his hands lingered on Ryan’s arm for a second or two longer before he let it slide off and brought it down to help Greg, who was struggling to remove his pajamas. In the ensuing movement, Colin accidentally kicked Ryan in the shin, but appeared not to notice. Freed from his clothes, Colin grabbed Greg and began kissing the length of his body, sliding his mouth down the other man’s lips, jaw and neck, working his way to his chest, stomach, and beyond, with a feather-light touch. The way he’d always kissed Ryan.

 

Greg stroked Colin’s body, making him groan ecstatically. As he moved over Greg, Colin bumped hard into Ryan’s side once again. Ryan shifted on the edge of the bed to get out of range. As he did so, the slippery fabric of his ridiculous pajamas lost their purchase on the sheets and he slid off the bed, tumbling to the floor with a crash. “Fuck!”

 

Neither Colin nor Greg looked up as they rocked together on the bed, groaning in rhythm with the creaking springs. Glowering, Ryan sat up and rubbed at his back where it had struck the floor. Suddenly, his head came up with a jerk and he stared incredulously at the bed, not wanting to believe his ears. But there was no denying what he’d heard – Greg’s voice, surprisingly distinct through the noise of the bedsprings and Colin’s contented moans and sighs.

 

“I love you, Colin.”

 

Still sitting on the floor, the chill of the hard wood seeping through the thin silk of his zebra striped pajama bottoms, Ryan’s soul seemed to shatter as he listened to Colin’s reply.

 

“I love you too, Greg.”

 

 

Comments

[clayangel.livejournal.com]

Aw. *pets Ryan* Sucks to be him. ^_^ Which is not funny, but made me laugh because...because that's exactly what went through my head and yeah...that's really constructive, I know. :P Luckily, both Colin and Greg seem far too sensitive to let that happen, but I liked it. Sad and very real and painful.

[sungreen70.livejournal.com]

lol. "sucks to be him" is pretty good feedback. Let's face it... it does suck to be Ryan here ;) Thanks Clay! Glad you liked.

[makingamochrie.livejournal.com]

Very nice! This has my OTP (Ry/Col) my OT3 (Ry/Col/Greg) AND my O2P (Colin/Greg) all in one story! Fabulous! And it is a wonderful description of Cae's gorgeous manip!

Thanks so much for sharing!!

[sungreen70.livejournal.com]

lol, I thought of you with the Colin/Greg thing, since I kinda bummed you out by breaking up Greg/Clive in my other story :D Glad this one worked out better for ya! lol :)

[makingamochrie.livejournal.com]

Nah, you didn't bum me. I love Greg/Clive and we have it too underrepresented here (and that's my fault since it's my O2/3P), but I'm coming to really enjoy Greg/Jeff as well, if not in the same way.

As with all the pairings I enjoy (Colin/Ryan, Colin/Greg, Greg/Ryan, Greg/Clive, Greg/Jeff...hmm, why am I, a Colin groupie, so obsessed with the Proopdog in my pairings? *G*) have all different things to recommend them. I like em for different reasons.

I like the Greg/Clive for the same reason that if I enjoyed hetsex, I'd adore a Greg/Anne Robinson pairing. It's stimulating to me to watch and imagine two scathing wordsmiths sharpening their tongues on one another. Intelligence is a huge turn on for me.

Ya done good! Real good!

[sungreen70.livejournal.com]

All the pairings have their appeal... I may not be into all of them, but I can see and appreciate how people are. Yeah, that's what attracts me to Greg/Clive, which is a very recent thing fo me - the intellect and wit. Actually, I imagine that with Greg/Jeff too. I think Jeff is also pretty sharp.

Thanks again for reading, and your feedback! :D

[makingamochrie.livejournal.com]

Oh he is...I'm not saying that Jeff isn't smart. Nope, he is most definitely. But he's kinder about showing it, if that makes sense. His barbs, when thrown, are usually becuase they're in the scene. Clive throws barbs to cut Greg. Greg throws barbs to cut Clive. They sharpen their claws on one another. It's the same reason that I, as a Xena fan and dedicated Xena/Gabrielle shipper was at first and am still a devoted Xena/Callisto shipper...because sometimes a good fight is as good as a good f*ck. ;)

MORE! MORE! MORE!

[sungreen70.livejournal.com]

Oh, I didn't think you were saying that ;) It's definitely a different kind of wit, not as sharp edged as Greg/Clive, but I could see him holding his own with either Greg or... Clive... which would mean... a Clive/Jeff pairing...? *thinks about that* hmmm...

sometimes a good fight is as good as a good f*ck. ;)

Ha! Hell yeah!

[ohbrie.livejournal.com]

That's quite a life lesson for Ryan there.
And even though the story focuses on Ryan, I thought I could hear Colin's heart break when Ryan first mentioned his idea.

This is a frighteningly realistic and very effective piece of writing. The kind that compels you to have a little think after reading. I love that in a story.

[sungreen70.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Yeah... Ryan shouldn't have messed with what he had. Though if he's going to lose Colin to Greg, maybe they weren't meant to be. (Hey, it's fiction - in real life, they are totally made for each other, as we all know! lol)Thanks much for your comments!

[caelith.livejournal.com]

:( I've had a lousy day and I've been feeling a tad emotional. Probably should have read this tomorrow lol.

*Hugs poor Ryan* I know its his own silly daft fault but *hugs him*.

Wonderful, painful and real.

Now I seriously need to go read something with a happy ending.

[sungreen70.livejournal.com]

Awww *hugs Cae* Damn, the one time I write Ry/Col and it DOESN'T end all fuzzy bunnies and sunshine, it had to be when you're having a crap day :(

Thanks for the inspiration with that manip! I hope you feel better *hugs*

[mizzmeow.livejournal.com]

Awwz, sad ending. T_T Lovely and melancholy.

I feel bad for Ryan, but he should not have pushed Colin into something he was uncomfortable with. Ended up shooting himself in the foot with his own idea there.

(Good thing that would never happen in real life;))

[sungreen70.livejournal.com]

Thank you, Meow! And of course it wouldn't happen in real life... in real life, they are living happily ever after in loooooove and having hot mansex all day long! ;)

[zombie-kitty666.livejournal.com]

I love Ry/Col/Greg so much lol - I've given up with OTP1's and stuff - I just love Ry/Greg, Col/Greg, Greg/Jeff, Greg/Clive all as fav OTPs - and some others like Col/Wayne, Brad/Ry of course - and Col/Ry's good of course, but I always love them as a friendship best - Except when in an OT3 with Greg, even if unless in crack/AU fics I find the situations sometimes hard to believe...But I think that's partly *why* I like them - Because it's almost like a challenge when reading them in a normal Whose Line verse to see how much I believe in them from the writer's mastery...If that makes sense...Probably not...Either way I did like this fic - Goes really cutely with Cae's manip, and the pair combined just brings up such detailed images in my head of the events and Col&Greg and heart broken Ry...God I do ramble on lol

[sungreen70.livejournal.com]

Thanks! That's the great thing about this fandom... sooooo many great pairings. You don't have to pick just one! :)

That sucks rocks

[pdglyph.livejournal.com]

*pouts* poor Ry-bear! He needs some healthy luvin' from Jeff AND Brad

Re: That sucks rocks

[sungreen70.livejournal.com]

lol! Well, that'd be one way to mend his broken heart ;)

[bookstorequeer.livejournal.com]

Le sigh. Sad but nicely done.

[sungreen70.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :)

[box-dweller.livejournal.com]

Awww...

Nooo! That's not very nice, you're mean! Fantastic story, wonderfully written and well done.

[sungreen70.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I was mean to poor Ryan, huh? *pats Ryan* That's okay, I'll make it up to him... *scurries back to fic in progress*

[indybaggins.livejournal.com]

Hey! You wrote a threesome and I somehow didn't notice? *scolds self and goes to read*

When Colin and Greg began exchanging those looks that seemed to speak volumes – volumes that Ryan couldn’t read. Hmmm... I adore that about Greg/Colin. They have a real connection, outside of Ryan.

listening to the other two giggling in the bathroom as they brushed their teeth. I love this moment.

Ryan bit his lip but got into the bed – which really wasn’t big enough for three people Aw!!! You know I believe in beds that are big enough for three people, always... *pouts a little* But it's good to see the other side of this too.

[sungreen70.livejournal.com]

Well, I guess the bed is big enough for three if they're all active participants... just not when one is left huddled on the edge, cold and alone... *sniffs*

Thanks Indy! Great feedback from you as always.

Well here's another one...

[the-empressar.livejournal.com]

Sunny girl you make me smile in a bittersweet sort of way (in this particular story)....

I smile because again, I felt it, it was real. I felt so sorry for Ryan, even though, yes it was his fault and I agree with OhBrie and Meow...I think Col's heart was broken first. But I don't think he had a relationship with Greg out of spite for Ryan, it just sort of developed. I was torn with the pairings here. My O3P is Col/Greg but my OTP is Ry/Col. And I was trying my best not to be upset with Greg, but I guess my feelings did lean more Ry/Col and I did resent Greg a smidge....(oh well...goes back and sits in mixed emotion land....) Thanks:P GREAT WORK par usual:)

Re: Well here's another one...

[sungreen70.livejournal.com]

Thank you once again, my dear Empress... your feedback, as always, makes my day!

No, my intention wasn't to have Colin turn to Greg out of spite for Ryan. Like you said, it just kinda happened. No malice on Greg's part either... that was just how it worked out. Much to Ryan's dismay!

Oh, my OTP is TOTALLY, forever, Ryan/Colin. I often have a hard time with Ryan/someone else or Colin/someone else when I read it in other fics (tho I can understand the appeal it has for others) - it makes my heart hurt a little, lol. It hurt a little writing this too - but it was a stretch for me creatively, so that can only be a good thing.

Of course, I immediately had to follow this up with a Ry/Col fluff-fest of a fic to make myself feel better ;)