Title: Serious Question
Fandom: FAKE
Author: badly_knitted
Characters: Ryo, Dee.
Rating: PG-13
Setting: After the manga.
Summary: Ryo can’t help wondering whether he should have given in to Dee’s advances sooner than he did.
Word Count: 890
Content Notes: Nada.
Written For: Challenge 381: Amnesty 63, using Challenge 7: Do-Over.
Disclaimer: I don’t own FAKE, or the characters. They belong to the wonderful Sanami Matoh.



“Do you ever wish you could turn back time and do things differently, maybe fix something you got wrong first time around?” Ryo asked, sprawled bonelessly beside Dee on his lover’s bed.

“Why? You havin’ second thoughts about us?” Dee was suddenly worried that he’d pushed Ryo too hard and too fast, that he’d won his prize only to lose him again. He hated how insecure he sometimes felt, but he couldn’t help himself. What had he ever done to deserve someone as amazing as Ryo Maclean?

Bedside him, Ryo stirred, rolling halfway onto his side, frowning. “What? No, of course not; I’m right where I want to be, I just… Well, it took me an awfully long time to figure that out, and honestly, I’m not sure why you waited so long for me to come to my senses. If only I’d… I don’t know, not been so scared, I guess. If I’d had more courage, if I hadn’t been so deep in denial and so determined to convince myself I was straight when I knew deep down it was a lie…” Ryo trailed off, shaking his head. “I kept you at arm’s length for so long, and now that we’re together it’s really hard to remember what I was so worried about in the first place.”

Dee relaxed, letting his own fears melt away, and moved closer to the man he loved, propping himself on his elbow and running one finger over the jut of his partner’s hipbone as he gave the question some serious thought. He knew Ryo’s moods and could tell his partner wouldn’t accept a frivolous answer; he genuinely wanted to know.

“I’ve made my share of mistakes so I guess there are a few things in my life I wouldn’t mind takin’ another shot at, but when it comes to you and me… Nope, I don’t think I would. If time got rewound, I’d do everything exactly the same way, wouldn’t change a thing.” He paused, looking thoughtful. “Okay, maybe I wouldn’t drink that whole damned bottle of wine on an empty stomach and pass out on the hotel balcony, but other than that…” He gave a half shrug.

“Seriously?” Ryo rolled onto his back again to look up at Dee. “Despite everything I put you through?”

“Since we’re bein’ all honest here, truth is if we’d gotten together right at the start, I’m not sure we would’a lasted. We barely knew each other, and back at the beginnin’, all I wanted was to get you in bed. I’m shallow, I admit it.” Dee smiled wryly. “I was back then anyway, but you’ve changed me, for the better.”

“Dee…”

“I mean it. The more I got to know you, the more I respected and admired you. Still wanted you like crazy, can’t see that ever changin’, but over time I realised I wanted more than just a few nights of passion before movin’ on to someone new. I wanted somethin’ that would last, someone who’d stay by my side no matter what, and I wanted that someone to be you.”

“You really think we wouldn’t have worked out if we’d gotten together sooner?”

“I don’t know, maybe it would’a worked out anyway, maybe us bein’ together is fate, or destiny. What I do know is, what we have now is built on a solid foundation, the kind that’ll withstand whatever life throws at us, ‘cause there’s a whole lot more to it than physical attraction. We got friendship, respect, and trust as well as love. A lot of relationships, I reckon they fail ‘cause they’ve got the love but they’re missin’ the other things, but we got the lot, and then some.”

Ryo nodded slowly. “You’re right, we have. I’d never considered that turning back time and starting over might take away from what we’ve got, I was only thinking of all the time I wasted.”

“It wasn’t wasted, don’t ever think that; the best things in life take time to develop, you can’t rush ‘em. Like bakin’ a cake; you take it outta the oven too soon it’ll just collapse.”

Ryo snickered at the analogy. “Well, you’d know about that.” Dee’s first attempt at baking a cake had been a bit of a disaster.

“Exactly. I had to work to win you, and that was a first. Always before, I had a pretty easy time of gettin’ whoever I wanted into bed, so I never really appreciated what I had, but you… Whatever the price I had to pay to get you here, with me, you were worth it a thousand times over. Love you, baby; that’s never gonna change.”

“I love you too, Dee.”

“’Course, if you’ve really got your heart set on havin’ a do-over…” Dee gave a wicked grin as he rolled on top of his lover. “I’m pretty sure I can oblige ya. Whaddaya say?” He ground his hips against Ryo’s, drawing forth a moan of pleasure.

“You’re such a hornball!” Ryo didn’t push Dee away though.

“Hey, it was your idea, but if you’ve changed your mind…” Dee started to pull away.

“I didn’t say that. I mean, you’re already here.” Ryo bit his lip

Dee leaned in for a kiss. “Was hopin’ you’d feel that way. This is the kind of do-over I’m never gonna turn down.”


The End