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[metowardmyself.livejournal.com]

Title: City Lights
Author: metowardmyself
Pairings: Ryan/Colin (mentioned vaguely)
Rating: PG
Summary: Colin is let down.
Word Count: 471
Author's Note: I haven't written anything for this community in a long time, but this idea came to me today and I couldn't let it go.

He leaned against the balcony with his forearms, letting the cigarette dangle between the fingers of his left hand. The night sky was peppered with stars, he was sure of it, but Los Angeles was not known for its stargazing. He sighed and slumped forward, letting his forehead rest on his arms, not hearing the slight swish of the sliding glass door behind him. A hand was on his left shoulder, the thumb rubbing soft circles through his leather jacket.

 

“I thought you quit smoking.”

 

Colin chuckled and craned his head up, still not facing the other man. “I did. I also quit having sex and eating.”

 

“Come on, Col…”

 

He snapped up, pushing the other man away with a finger. “Don’t. Don’t fucking patronize me. I’m fine.”

 

The other man rolled his eyes, which just angered Colin more. “I’m not patronizing you. And you’re not fine. What I’m doing here is called ‘caring’ and ‘friendship’, Col. I know this is hard for you. I’m just trying to, you know, be here for you. Because I’m your friend. And I’m his friend. And I love you both, and I certainly as fuck don’t want you ruining the best relationship either of you have ever had over something this stupid.”

 

“It’s not stupid. This meant a lot to me,” Colin replied, fighting the urge to punch something. “He deliberately…”

 

“Colin. Listen to yourself. He forgot. He honestly made a scheduling error. How often does that man get to see his children?”

 

Colin shook his head and took a long drag of the cigarette. He considered blowing the smoke in the other man’s face for a snide moment, but decided against it. He exhaled slowly and said, “He shouldn’t have forgotten.”

 

“But he did,” the other man replied, placing a hand on Colin’s shoulder again. “That doesn’t make him a horrible person. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t love you.”

 

Colin mumbled and faced the city again. The tall buildings, which looked so majestic and welcoming in the daylight, now looked cold and menacing. “I know. I know he loves me. But I just…okay, okay it’s not exactly a ten-year anniversary or anything. I know that. But this was…”

 

“The day you guys first said ‘I love you.’” Colin looked shocked but the other man just laughed. “I pay attention more than you think I do.”

 

Colin closed the gap between them and wrapped his arms around his friend. “Thank you. I needed some sense knocked into me.” He sighed into his friend’s shoulder. “I’m an idiot, aren’t I?”

 

The other man gently pushed Colin away, but held onto his arms, smiling. “No, you’re not an idiot. At least not this time. You are, however, not that smart for standing outside in this cold weather. Let’s go inside. You need to make a phone call.”