inviting the fire, chapter nine

[wouldbedorothy]

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Title: Inviting The Fire: Chapter Nine
Author: wouldbedorothy (AHS)
Pairing: Gale/Randy, OFC/G/R
Rating:  PG-13ish chapter, NC-17 fic
Series/Sequel: my guess is still prologue, eleven chapters, epilogue
Summary: courtesy of we_dreamerz... "Gale on the fence... Randy pushing him off" lol... In this chapter, Gale responds to Dylan's decision with one of his own.  2430 words.
Author's Notes: Ugh, I've been staring at this one too long, lol.  Took too long to write it.  Maybe I'm subconsciously slowing down because the fic's nearing the end?  Chapter contains lines from Dangerous Angels by Scott C. Sickles.

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 (or do I? lol).  Also, the play Dangerous Angels is not mine.

Inviting The Fire
by AHS

Chapter Nine
 

“I don’t think we need him anymore.”

Those seven words kept echoing in Gale’s head, growing louder with every reverberation. They had haunted him the rest of the day and kept him awake most of the night. Mostly thinking the same thing over and over.

Fucking speak for yourself, Dylan.

Then feeling guilty again.

Gale should have known this was coming. The three of them were not a “couple.” Randy had been brought in for some fun, something different. To spice things up, but they’d gotten a little too… spicy.

It was time to stop, anyway. Now he and Dylan could get back to their normal life. That’s what he’d tried to tell himself after she made that declaration, and once or twice he had almost thought he was sold.

Except that, thirty-one hours later, he still felt like he wanted to punch something when he thought of not having Randy anymore.

He sat in the truck and curled his fingers around his souvenir… the birthday candle, which still smelled of chocolate. Still represented something he couldn’t let go of. Seeing Dylan approaching in the side mirror, he quickly hid it in the glove compartment, tucked underneath the new road map, and relaxed back in his seat.

*****

“I can’t believe the play’s next week,” she said excitedly, when they were almost to the theatre.

“Everything’s running pretty smoothly, even with Holly out.” The lighting chief was pissed to be missing the show, but she was a day from getting her labor induced, so she didn’t really have a choice. “And you guys are ready to go on. You and…” Gale hesitated to bring up the name. “You and Randy have a real good rapport onstage.”

She laughed low, just once, like she had a scratch in the back of her throat, and bit back the comment she wanted to make. “I guess I’ll have a talk with him after rehearsal’s over.”

Gale’s eyes flicked to Dylan and back to the road, asking with sarcasm, “What, you’re gonna break up with him?”

“Something like that. I thought about waiting until the play’s done, but I’d rather get it out of the way now.”

“But… there’s nothing to end, Dylan. You honestly think he has expectations of more from us?”

“Not us,” she said under her breath, and then to Gale… “Can you honestly tell me he doesn’t?”

He was quiet. “Just… let me do it. Let me talk to him.”

He was protecting Randy again. Gale barely knew the guy, really, yet it seemed compulsive with him. Dylan didn’t like it, but she also didn’t want to piss Gale off now that they were getting along so well. “Fine,” she sighed, “do it your way.”

Gale pulled into the parking lot, thinking that this was not his way. He didn’t know what the fuck he was going to say to Randy, and he didn’t really want to figure it out.

*****

“God damn it! This must be the work of his God. Nothing else could be this cruel.”

“What is it? What’s wrong?”

“I try to salvage one moment - one, single fucking moment! - and those angels rise from the ice and take it back!”

They were rehearsing the scene towards the end of the play where Karen realizes that the one nice memory she had of her dead father… wasn’t.

“It wasn’t him! It wasn’t even…”

As Carolyn, the actress playing Karen’s mother, began her lines, Randy embraced Dylan as she broke down and escorted her offstage.

“Stop!” shouted Travis. “Sorry, Carolyn. Stop for a second. Dylan, Randy… what was that?”

While Dylan shook off her character’s tears, Randy responded. “What’s wrong? I thought that was good.”

“The lines were good. Dylan, you were amazing. But, the holding each other at the end was too stiff and cold. You looked like you’d rather be anywhere else. You’ve read the script, right? ‘This should be done lovingly, giving the impression of two people who know one another’s emotions intimately.’

“Oh, I know his emotions intimately. Not as intimately as some, but much more than I care to.”

Randy stared at Dylan in disbelief at what she was alluding to. Here. During rehearsal. Everyone was staring at her, actually, though more mildly confused than shocked. Randy’s eyes darted to the light booth, knowing Gale was seeing and hearing, though he couldn’t see him.

“Dylan?” the director prompted, seeking clarification.

“Nothing, Travis. Let’s just do it again. We’ll do it better. Won’t we, Randy?”

“Yeah. No problem.”

“Okay. Dylan, honey, I know it’s draining for you. Go back as far as you need to get to that emotional place again. Just remember, I need to see comfort and deep love. You’re each other’s best friend in the world.”

They ran the scene once more, Randy and Dylan using all their talent to be completely in the minds and bodies of their characters. By the time Carolyn had finished her big closing monologue, the actors were exhausted, but Travis was happy.

“Great job, everyone! Dylan…” He had joined them on the stage and gone up to his star actress, doing that double cheek-kiss thing. “You’re beautiful.”

Randy was bending down to get his bag when he noticed… Travis was totally groping Dylan’s ass.

They weren’t otherwise behaving unlike they frequently did… standing close, talking in low voices… but this couldn’t be normal, could it? He looked around. The others had left. Even if Gale was watching, he couldn’t see what Travis’ hands were up to from his angle. And Randy couldn’t see Dylan’s reaction.

But then Travis was walking away, and Randy wondered briefly if he’d imagined it.

“Randy, could we talk for a minute?”

“Sure, Dylan.” He didn’t like how nervous he got when she said that. Anything Dylan wanted to talk to him about would either have to do with the play or Gale. As actors, even though she’d been with the theatre longer, he felt they were equals. In terms of Gale, she held way too much power.

She tucked her dark hair behind her ear and smiled. “I wanted to thank you for helping Gale celebrate his birthday. That was really adorable of you.”

Randy ignored her patronizing tone and was just… relieved, he supposed… that she didn’t seem to know all the ways in which they’d celebrated. “It was important.”

Dylan, in turn, ignored the way he pointed his words to dig at her forgetting of the day. “Gale and I both just want to thank you for everything. You know… our association after hours, away from the theatre. It was mutually beneficial for a while, but we don’t think we’ll be needing to get together with you again.”

Her voice was soft but as business-like as her words. It chilled Randy. She had hired him, and now she was firing him from his role as her boyfriend’s lover… perhaps, for playing the part too well.

“Oh… okay.” He felt sick and stupid, but what else was there he could say?

“Good. I’m glad it’s understood.”

“Wait, so… this is what Gale wants?”

“Of course it is. I’m still amazed I managed to persuade him to start this in the first place. He was extremely reluctant, even after the first time. But, he’ll do anything for me. And now, we’re in a better place than ever.”

“You are?”

“Oh, yes. Not only sexually, but… definitely that. Yesterday…” Dylan’s face took on an obscenely dreamy quality, remembering. “I think I’m still coming.”

Just when Randy thought he was about to throw up, he saw Gale over Dylan’s shoulder, walking up to them. “I have to go… I’m late for work,” he mumbled and ran for the side exit.

“Oh, sorry. Bye, Randy.” She forced a smile she didn’t quite feel as she watched him make his escape, then turned at the tap of a hand on her back. “Hey, babe!”

“Dylan, what the fuck was that?” Gale had heard everything she’d said to Randy, and he was pissed.

“What was what?”

She was a good actress, but he wasn’t buying the innocent act. “Why were you saying that shit to Randy?”

“It was just the truth.”

“You were supposed to let me talk to him!”

“What difference does it make? I knew you didn’t really want to deal with it. I thought I’d save you the trouble.”

“You were deliberately trying to hurt him!”

“I was incredibly nice!” She really was a good actress. She even convinced herself of what she was saying. “Why are you so fucking concerned with Randy’s possible hurt feelings, anyway? He’s a kid with a crush on you, Gale! The best thing we can do for him is hurt him so he can stop fooling himself and it can be over!”

Her words carried, filling the space, loud and ugly and wrong. “No,” he said. That was all he could think. “No.” He looked past her, to the door Randy had just disappeared through, and ran in his footsteps, praying he could still catch him.

*****

“Rand, stop…”

It had been a late evening rehearsal, and Gale was grateful for the lack of light that made Randy have trouble finding his keys in his bookbag.

“Don’t say my name like that,” Randy softly begged, leaning against his car. He didn’t want to hear Gale affirm what he’d just heard from Dylan.

“You told me always to…”

They saw the memory of two nights prior flash hotly in each other’s eyes. Randy looked away first. You can’t invoke that with one breath and say goodbye with the next, Gale.

“Look, I’m sorry Dylan acted like that.” Gale’s hands sunk deep into his pockets, unsure what to say now that Randy was right in front of him. “But… you knew we couldn’t keep on like we were forever, didn’t you?”

“Believe me, I knew that. I didn’t want to keep on like we were. I wanted…”

“I know,” Gale whispered. “I think I know. But, how was that ever gonna happen? I’m with Dylan, and… I’m not even…”

“I know! I fucking get it, okay?” You love fucking me, but that’s just the exception that proves your straight rule. He turned around, determinedly digging for his car key now and speaking to the door. “I got used to it, and I shouldn’t have. But I’m not going to follow you around, and I’ll try not to gaze at you adoringly anymore. You can relax. Outside of the play, I’m out of your life.”

“Rand, that’s not what I want.” Gale’s hand fled his pocket and reached, finding Randy’s arm and pulling him back around. Long fingers moved to cradle Randy’s cheek, to make him listen, make him see. “Please let me try to explain…”

Gale was so beautiful and clueless. His eyes so sad, so desperate. Hand so warm. Lips so plum and full and… there. So denied last time.

Randy kissed him. Hard. Grabbed Gale’s shoulders before he could stumble back, and pulled his weight into him, crashing them against the car. The element of surprise left Gale’s lips pliant, but they opened willingly before Randy’s tongue even swept inside.

The two men surrendered, finally, to whatever this was. Tasting, touching possibilities that had never been allowed.

Until Randy somehow broke away, nipping Gale’s bottom lip with his teeth, and taking the hand that had fallen from his face and pressing it to Gale’s chest.

“Explain that, Gale.”

Gale was breathing heavily. Heartbeat pounding so fast and hard, Randy could feel it through his hand.

“Explain to yourself how you’re feeling right now. And then explain to us both why you’re still with her.”

Having made his point, and not having the strength to be so close any longer, Randy tried again to leave. But he had trapped himself between Gale and the car, and Gale wasn’t going anywhere.

“Were you up on your toes? That’s so fucking cute.”

Randy rolled his eyes, so frustrated by this man and his weirdly inappropriate grin. Gale had kissed him back, hadn’t pushed him away, but now he was making fun of him. “Fuck off, Gale. And let me go.”

Gale just rested his forehead on Randy’s, hands on the car on either side of him, and said, “You’re… late for work?”

“No,” he admitted. “I just said that to get away.” He managed a look at his watch. “The shop closed fifteen minutes ago.”

“So, where are you going now?”

“Just… home.”

“Can I go with you?”

Randy had to take a second to make sure he’d heard that correctly, then another to find his voice. “You want to come home with me?” He searched Gale’s eyes for anything untrue and couldn’t even find confusion.

Gale answered by kissing him. Lips touched down lightly, but with promise. “Stop holding your breath, Rand. Yes.”

Randy breathed, laughed, his face lit with joy and disbelief… until he caught a movement out of the corner of his eye. Gale followed his line of sight to the brick building behind them. Standing in the doorway, hand to her mouth, was Dylan. There was no surprise on her face, but she had the look of a lost little girl.

“Are you sure?” Randy whispered, now fully expecting him to run to her and start explaining how it wasn’t what it looked like. But Gale squeezed his hand instead, and he was reminded that this man didn’t bullshit like that.

Gale let go, but he didn’t walk to Dylan. He walked to his truck, pulled his keys out of his pocket, and stuck one in the lock, providing her with a ride. Then he looked at her and hurt for the tears in her eyes, sparkling under moonlight. Despite her ability to cry on cue, he knew these were real, and he knew how rarely she cried in real life. But he felt like he knew very little else about her anymore.

“You were wrong, Dylan,” he called sadly, making his way back to Randy’s car and joining him inside. He was a lot more than a kid with a crush. That was what Randy made him feel like, actually. But Gale was learning courage to bet… they were both more. He needed to let himself find out.

Randy turned the key… that his shaking hands had dropped twice before he’d gotten the car unlocked… in the ignition. “Gale, do you know what you’re doing?”

“I hope I’m about to make love with you, Rand.”