Title: Kept Hanging
Fandom: FAKE
Author: badly_knitted
Characters: Ryo, Dee.
Rating: PG
Setting: Vol. 7, Acts 19 and 20.
Summary: Ryo feels guilty for keeping Dee hanging for so long.
Word Count: 535
Content Notes: None needed.
Written For: Challenge 303: Amnesty, using Challenge 49: Dangling.
Disclaimer: I don’t own FAKE, or the characters. They belong to the wonderful Sanami Matoh.



‘Diana’s right,’ Ryo thought gloomily. ‘It’s not fair of me to keep Dee dangling the way I have, blowing hot and cold, giving him a bit of hope and then taking it away. What am I waiting for anyway? I’m an adult, not some timid teenager. Okay, so it’ll be scary having to face up to everything about myself that I’ve spent years trying to deny, but fear isn’t a good enough reason to sit back and do nothing, so the next time we’re alone together…’

Making the decision wound up being easier than Ryo had expected, and giving in to Dee’s advances introduced him to pleasures that he’d never truly imagined. That night together at Dee’s place was amazing, one he was sure he’d never forget, and it erased most of Ryo’s doubts, but he still needed some time afterwards to process everything that had happened, and get used to the changes becoming a couple would inevitably make to their relationship.

Taking a bit of time was fine, but once again he found himself dragging it out for too long. It seemed he hadn’t yet learned the lesson Diana had tried to drum into him.

Three weeks was probably two weeks too long to keep Dee hanging, and Ryo felt bad about that, but figured maybe he could make up for it by taking his partner out to dinner. Asking him out felt a little awkward, but the meal was excellent and afterwards, taking a walk across the bridge in the darkness to look at the lights like a couple of tourists, it had seemed the perfect setting for clearing the air between them, along with any misunderstandings.

Later, lying with Dee in his own bed, Ryo could barely remember how they’d gotten back there. A taxi had been involved, he was sure of that much, but the only clear memory he had of the journey was of Dee’s lips on his, endless kisses stoking the fires between them, and leading to another encounter even more passionate than the first.

“I’m sorry,” he murmured sleepily against Dee’s chest.

“How many times do I gotta tell ya there’s nothin’ to be sorry about? We got our wires a bit crossed but we’re fine now.” Dee’s arm tightened around him.

“No, that’s not…” Ryo sighed. “I’m sorry I kept you dangling for so long. I mean I know I was confused but that’s no excuse, so I’m sorry. It wasn’t fair of me.”

“It wasn’t, but I get it; sometimes feelings take a while to sort out. Not sayin’ the wait was easy, but you’re worth it.”

“I’m glad you didn’t give up on me.”

“Yeah, so am I. There was a time or two I wondered if you’d ever figure yourself out enough for us to be together, but in the end, givin’ up wasn’t an option; I’d have waited forever. I guess that’s love. You were it, the one I’d been waitin’ my whole life for; I knew I didn’t want anyone else. Still don’t, and I never will.”

“Good, because there’s no one else I want to be with either. It’s you and only you, forever.”

Dee smiled. “That suits me just fine.”


The End