The Aercrobat - chapter 9

[jawyer-4eva.livejournal.com]

Title - The Aercrobat - chapitre neuf
Author - Jawyer_4eva
Rating - PG-13
Main Character(s) and/or pairings - Colin/Ryan
Summary - Colin had only ever wanted a simple life, but thats not what he would get.
Feedback - makes me feel like i'm tucked up warm in bed when its raining outside <3
A/N - it's been quite a while, but its xmas, and i'm a big geek so i've been playing cataclysm for the last 2 weeks alot :P mind you if my plane is cancelled on the 23rd then i'll have a lot of time to write :'(




It was a week before Colin decided to go back to Ryan’s house. He just didn’t know what to say to that question. Should he deny his feelings towards him, or should he tell him the truth? Not that he needed to with how obvious his body language had been.

He was worried about where the question might lead, if he answered it truthfully. Would he go on ask him who he is? Could he guess for himself?

One thing was for sure, if he wanted to know he would be sorely disappointed by the answer, so Colin decided it was even more important now not to reveal his true self.

He mentally sighed as he bolted down the street that led to the back entrance of his best friend’s house. Why couldn’t he just let himself go out with a friend?

He landed on the roof as quietly as he could and remarked that the window was closed. They had agreed the he would keep the window slightly open for Aero to be able to pull it out all the way so that he could come in quickly so no one would see him.

It was possible that Ryan thought he’d made the robbery up and didn’t want to see him again, but it was also possible that he thought Aero didn’t want to see him again hat with the week’s wait between visits this time.

He knocked, and waited… and waited.

He knocked louder and pricked his ear against the window; he couldn’t hear anything inside.

“Ryan!” he called loudly, slamming the side of his fist against the glass. “If you’re angry at me you could at least let me in to talk about it!”

He was being too loud and he didn’t care. Ryan was being unreasonable!

After a few minutes of almost continuous knocking, he tried calling again. “There really was a robbery you know; you can look it up in the paper if you want!”

Suddenly the blinds raised and the windows opened. There stood Ryan standing dripping wet, dressed only in a towel, with a surprised, questioning look on his face.

A sudden wave of realisation, embarrassment and slight arousal flowed through him. He couldn’t hear because of the shower!

He climbed in quickly and shut the window behind him, trying to avoid gawping at the way the droplets of water were slowly gliding down Ryan’s bare chest, before being stopped by the towel slung low around his hips. Now would not be a good time to be turned on; he wasn’t too sure his costume would hide him very well.

“I know,” he remarked with an amused, knowing look to replace the questioning one.

“Sorry,” Colin replied lamely, trying to think of anything but the near nakedness of the gorgeous man in front of him. “I thought you were ignoring me”

“No, I was just in the shower,” Ryan needlessly explained.

“So I see,” he remarked. “Do you want me to wait outside for a couple of minutes?”

“If you wouldn’t mind,” he smiled. “Make yourself at home.”

Taking Ryan’s offer of hospitality, he made his way downstairs and lounged on the couch to wait, thinking of baseball or anything that would calm him. Five minutes later he heard footsteps behind him. He turned around in his chair to see a now fully dressed Ryan with still damp hair.

“Hi,” Colin started, as if they’d just met.

“Hey,” he replied cheerfully. “How’re you?”

“Good, thanks, you?”

“Yeah, not too bad. Saved anyone’s life recently?” he asked, as if it were an everyday occurrence, whilst making his way towards him.

“Well, no one got hurt in that robbery, and the criminals are safely behind bars, so I’d like to think so,” he replied.

Ryan chuckled. “Good! So, what we going to do then?” he asked, plonking himself down beside him. “Watch another film?”

“Yeah, go on then.”

“Any preference?”

“No, you can pick this time.”

“Brokeback Mountain?” he suggested with a wink.

“Seen it.”

“Watcha think?”

“It was sad. But I’m glad things aren’t that way anymore.”

Ryan nodded in response.

He ended up regretting telling Ryan to choose, because what he chose was the most boring film ever, in his humble opinion; there was too much action, too much gore, and hardly any plot. So instead he busied himself with playing with Ryan’s hair as he rested his head on his lap again, but this time he worked his way along the base of his neck and his back.

The first few times when his fingertips brushed a particular spot on the back of Ryan’s neck he shivered, much to Colin’s delight, making him spent the best part of the next hour trying to find the same spot that had made him shudder so sweetly.

He was surprised when the end credits rolled onto the screen and Ryan moved to get up, that he couldn’t remember what the film had been about. He must have not watched any of it!

Ryan plonked back into the same position after switching the TV off without bothering to take out the DVD.

“Did you like the film?” he asked.

“Yeah, it was ok,” Colin lied.

“You don’t sound convinced,” he chuckled in response.

“I didn’t really like the violence.”

“Yet you beat people up every day?”

“You make it sound like I’m the bad guy!” he said feigning outrage, and slapping the other man’s arm.

Ryan chuckled, “I didn’t mean it like that.” He looked up at him from his place in his lap to repose the question, silently.

Colin shrugged, “It needs to be done sometimes, though I do try to sort it out without violence first if nobody’s in immediate danger.”

Ryan hummed in agreement. “So, been up to anything exciting?” he joked.

“Just the usual: saving peoples lives, rescuing crying children’s pets from trees, being admired by millions-”

Ryan scoffed, interrupting his list.

“What?” he asked innocently, with a look that meant he knew exactly what.

“Oh, nothing, nothing.” He said in a honey like voice. “I’m sure you’re adored by millions.”

“And fancied.”

Ryan laughed in response, “I’m sure.”

“Have you been up to much then?” he asked Ryan.

“Not as much as you, but I’ve been to a few whose line meetings and things.”

“Anything interesting?”

“We’re gunna fire Colin.”

“What?” Colin asked shocked.

“Well, I couldn’t have him on carry on working if you like him more than me, could I?” he joked.

Colin guffawed. “You had me worried then!”

“You were worried?” he teased.

Colin’s heart sank; he forgot he wasn’t Colin for a second there. But by the sounds of it he hadn’t given himself away.

“Yeah, it would be rubbish without him. He’s the only good thing about the show!” He teased back.

“Ha!” Ryan snorted. “I beg to differ, and I’ll sack him for real if you don’t shut up.”

“You don’t have the power to sack him alone, and even if you did, you wouldn’t.”

Ryan regarded him seriously for a moment then cracked, chuckling. “Yeah, I suppose you’re right.”

Colin shot him a sweet smile, before he realised he was still in his mask. “Besides, you’re not too bad yourself,” He admitted, stroking his shoulder.

“Thanks,” Ryan beamed, taking the complement. “The meeting wasn’t anything exciting, just game orders and things like that.”

“I didn’t think you normally went to them.”

“Well, I did this week just to prove I’m well enough to go ahead with the next taping.” He explained.

“Oh right. The show must go on, eh?”

“Something like that, so we’ll be back filming next week.”

“Great!” Colin smiled. “Just don’t get into anymore trouble until then.”

“Ha ha,” he replied sarcastically, closing his eyes in relaxation. “I’m not that accident prone!”

“If you say so.”

Ryan smiled, keeping his eyes closed. He didn’t respond, so Colin busied himself again with his hair. Ryan sighed contently. The hair was now soft and untangled due to his playing, making it easy for him to run his fingers though.

They stayed there for a few minutes until Ryan opened his eyes and spoke again. “Are you ever going to answer my question?”

Colin immediately knew what he was talking about and sighed. “There isn’t much point. You already know the answer.”

Ryan rose from his spot in Colin’s lap so they were face to face. His eyes wandered over the contours of his face, as if trying to judge what his face would look like through the mask.

Colin felt the sudden urge to get up, and away from him, but with Ryan leaning over him so much it would be impossible to do without knocking him onto the floor.

“Can I kiss you?” Ryan asked suddenly.

Colin was speechless. On one hand he wanted to kiss him more than anything, but he knew that he was only asking because he didn’t know who he really was.

“No, sorry.” He said awkwardly.

“Why?”

Colin sighed again, yet another question he didn’t know how to answer, and he was getting bored of having to make things up, or not saying anything at all. “Because if you knew who I was, you wouldn’t let me.” He muttered sadly.

“How do you know?”

“You said so.”

“I told you I don’t want to kiss you?”

“In a way.”

“So I know you in real life?”

Oops. “Yes, Ryan” he whispered.

“Oh,” he said, looking puzzled. “So why wouldn’t I kiss you?”

Colin contemplated his answer, vaguely replying, “It’s one of your morals.”

“What moral?” he asked confused.

Colin bit his lip. How many people had Ryan told he wouldn’t date friends? What if it was only him? He braced himself for the worst as the words flowed out of his mouth. “You won’t date friends.”

Ryan blinked at him. “You’re one of my friends?”

Damn, he was in trouble now! He couldn’t say anything more or risk Ryan getting too close to discovering who he was.

“Oops!” he cursed.

Ryan gawped at him, and then narrowed his eyes at him, as if trying to work out his identity. “Who?”

Colin shook his head. “You know I can’t tell you that Ryan,” he said sadly. “Especially now.”

“Well, I was lying. I’d date a friend, please let me kiss you; I’d only have to roll your mask up a little.” He begged, holding a hand next to his face with a forefinger and thumb a centimetre apart.

Colin couldn’t tell if he was joking or not, but if he wasn’t and he would indeed date a friend, then it must be something to do with him personally, and if he wanted to kiss Aero, who had the same personality as Colin, then it must be his looks that made Ryan not want him.

He looked at the adorable man in front of him, and felt like crying. He couldn’t imagine that Ryan was the type of person to judge a book by its cover. Of all the reasons he had thought of, he didn’t think the only reason would be that; he thought Ryan was above that sort of thing.

“No,” he snapped irritably.

“Ok, ok,” he said, backing down. “No need to shout!”

“Sorry,” he replied reflexively, without realising the word came out of his mouth until after he’d spoken.

Ryan smiled softly at him. “No I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.” He apologised. “And it’s true that friendships can get messy in relationships, though I should have said I prefer not dating friends, not that I wouldn’t ever, if I thought it could be permanent.”

“And you think it would work out with me?” he asked doubtfully.

“Well,” he said contemplating his answer. “I don’t know who you are, but I am fond of the ‘Aero’ you.” He smiled softly.

He was trying to reassure him, but this only made him feel worse. He knew what Ryan had told him when he asked; he couldn’t be certain, but he still thought it was something to do with the real him. “You’d still find out who I am.” He insisted.

“You have a recognisable mouth?” he teased.

The ‘I know your lips’ episode of Whose Line came into his mind, lightening his mood. “Maybe,” he replied.

Ryan smiled at him once more, this time with a sparkle in his eyes. While Colin was trying to work out what it was for he suddenly lent forward and pressed his lips against his still masked cheek.

“That’s the least you get for saving my life.”

Colin felt himself redden as Ryan ran his fingertips over the side of his face that he’d just kissed. “You’re welcome,” he replied lamely, struggling to restart his brain.

“Think about it, ok?” he pleaded.

“OK,” Colin lied. “I’d better go; I haven’t eaten yet”

“Oh, right ok,” he replied checking his watch.

Colin readjusted Ryan’s position as he got up from the sofa. “I’ll see myself out.”

“Sure,” Ryan said, from his comfortable spot on the sofa, “Bye,” he called.

“See ya later, Ry!”