inviting the fire, new g/r wip: prologue

[wouldbedorothy]

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Title: Inviting The Fire: Prologue
Author: wouldbedorothy  (AHS)
Pairing: Gale/Randy, OFC/G/R
Rating: PGish prologue, but the fic will be very NC-17
Series/Sequel: my guess is prologue, eleven chapters, epilogue... but subject to change
Summary: How do I summarize this story??... You can't invite the fire and then blame the burn... AU where G/R meet in 2000 but in a different place, different way... Setting probably seems arbitrary but will have purpose later... There is no QAF... Features a (non-Simon) third party... and should be fairly kinky, at least for me, lol.
Prologue is only 950 words.
Author's Notes: I'm excited about this story.  Been planning it for a while.  I'm not sure how intriguing the prologue is, but it should get more interesting quickly.  I wrote this today on an airplane and what the heck, I'm posting!

Disclaimer: I don't know G or R, and obviously this didn't happen, because there definitely *was* a QAF.  Dylan's my character so I don't have to apologize for her, lol.

Inviting The Fire
by AHS

Prologue:
(early June 2000; Ithaca, NY)

“Gale, have you seen my emerald green pumps? The four-inch heels? The ones I wore to Serendipity’s fundraiser last week?”

“Yeah.”

“Where?”

“On your feet. Last week. At the fundraiser.”

Gale Harold heard his girlfriend’s frustration in the form of an overdramatic… she was an actress, after all… sigh. Well? he thought, She asked. He finished brushing his teeth and spit a mouthful of minty foam into the sink, the sounds of items being flung about their closet filling the house. He leaned in the doorway to the bedroom, watching curiously.

“Dylan, why do you need those particular shoes for your audition? Do green four-inch heels define the character somehow?” he asked, only somewhat sarcastically.

“Not really. I just like them. And they’re lucky. If you’ll remember, I was wearing them the day I met you.” Dylan Walker stopped digging for a moment and turned to face Gale. “Hmm…”

“Hmm what?”

“That was almost a year ago. I think I either need new shoes or a new man, because one of you must be horribly out of style… Oh! Found them!” She held up the pumps in triumph.

“I take it you’re keeping those, so does that mean you’re getting rid of me?”

Slipping into her shoes, she sauntered up to him. Even elevated up to about 5’10”, she still had to look up. She gave him a deep, lingering kiss, grinning wickedly when she pulled back. “No. I’m not done playing with you yet… Mmm, peppermint.”

Gale laughed low in his throat. She really was like a cat playing with her dinner sometimes. “Down, girl. Let me get dressed and I’ll drive you. Ten minutes.”

*******

Gale’s truck pulled up outside the Serendipity Theatre. Dylan acted in all their shows, and he did a lot of carpentry and tech work. Auditions were being held that afternoon for their next play, Dangerous Angels.

“Here we are. Break a leg. Just don’t scuff up the stage too much in those shoes, please.”

“No, park and come in with me.”

“Why? You never want me to watch you audition.”

“I still don’t. But, last time, I gave my best audition yet. And I was wearing these shoes, and you came in for a minute to ask Marty a question.”

Gale found himself parking, shaking his head all the while. “I don’t know what the fuck bullshit question I’m gonna ask Marty, but fine.”

He didn’t know why she was so superstitious. She was considered one of the theatre’s stars. Whatever part she wanted, she would get.

“Thank you. I‘m going to walk to the shops afterward, I think, so I’ll call when I’m done, okay?”

“Sure. I have to go take a look at that guy’s bike, anyway.”

Once they were inside, Gale gave Dylan a little squeeze and watched as she disappeared into the small crowd of twenty or so people. He then headed to the back to ask the stage manager how his kids were doing, feeling only slightly like an idiot. His assignment completed, he made his way back down the aisle that led into the theatre, stopping for a second right in front of the door. He waved in Dylan’s direction, though she was too busy concentrating on her script to notice, and felt that little twinge he always did at these, the one that made him think maybe he should be auditioning, too. But it was momentary, and he was just turning to leave, when…

:::WHAM:::

Someone came in from outside and crashed right into him. Gale reached out and ended up grabbing the smaller person by the waist to steady them.

“I am so sorry! I just burst in here like a crazy…”

The apology died on the young man’s lips as he raised his head and their eyes met. He watched the boy, who couldn’t have been more than about twenty, take him in with the clearest, gentlest blue eyes he’d ever seen… same shade as Dylan’s, but not… and his generously drawn mouth hang open. Something unfurled in Gale’s stomach and he felt a bit dizzy, though he knew he hadn’t hit his head.

“It’s okay,” he managed to say, clearing his throat. “It was a stupid place to stand.” Gale realized he was still gripping the boy’s waist and suddenly dropped his hands, taking a long step back. “You all right?”

“Yeah, I… I’m fine. Thank you,” he said, pulling his backpack higher on his shoulder.

“No problem.”

“Am I late for the…?”

“No, you’re right on time. Break a leg, huh?” Gale maneuvered past this energetic body, putting a hand on the door.

“You’re not staying?” The boy ran a nervous hand through his short, dark blond hair and tugged at his T-shirt… which read “Will Work For Books.”

“Nah. But if you’re gonna be spending any time at this theatre, you’ll see me.”

The formerly disappointed face lit up with the most brilliant smile. “Good. I hope so. Later.”

“Later.”

As Gale pushed through the door and walked away, he wondered why he was feeling a strange warmth in his chest, like he’d just swallowed some potent liquor. Then he thought some actual liquor didn’t sound like a bad idea.

As the young man made his way towards the stage, somehow less nervous about his purpose, he knew exactly why he was feeling warm. He had just met the most beautiful man ever created. He had a new crush.

He couldn’t stop grinning as he pulled his headshot and resume out of his bag and handed them to a lady with a clipboard.

“Randy Harrison. I’m here for the audition.”