Title: A Long Way To Run
Fandom: FAKE
Author: badly_knitted
Characters: Dee, Ryo.
Rating: PG
Setting: After the manga.
Summary: Ryo takes part in the New York Marathon.
Word Count: 699
Content Notes: None needed.
Written For: Challenge 417: Amnesty 69, using Challenge 416: Marathon.
Disclaimer: I don’t own FAKE, or the characters. They belong to the wonderful Sanami Matoh.



“You do know you’re crazy, right?” Dee stood beside Ryo near the starting line, taking the light jacket his lover had been wearing over his shorts and t-shirt and draping it over his arm before making sure Ryo’s number was securely attached, front and back.

Ryo laughed. “I’ve been training for this for almost a year; it’s not like I just woke up this morning and decided to run a marathon.”

“I know, but still, we’re talkin’ runnin’ a little over twenty-six miles. However ya look at it, that’s a helluva long way.”

“I am aware of that, which is why I’ve been training. I’m not saying it’ll be easy, and I won’t be anywhere near the front runners, but I’m determined to finish, even if I have to walk the last few miles. I’m hoping it won’t come to that though, I’m aiming for a time of around five hours.”

“Rather you than me. Poundin’ the sidewalks chasin’ a suspect for a few miles is one thing; we get paid for that. This…” Dee shook his head. “Certifiable.”

“It’s for a good cause. Think of all the money I’m raising for Mother’s orphanage.” Practically everyone at the two-seven, plus a lot of regulars at McGinty’s bar, neighbours, and friends, were sponsoring Ryo’s attempt. If he completed the course, he’d be raking in a couple of thousand dollars, and even if he didn’t finish, he’d still be raising a tidy sum. With so many kids to care for, Mother needed every penny she could get.

“Just don’t push yourself too hard, okay? Yeah, Mother can use the money, but she wouldn’t want ya killin’ yourself in the process.”

“I’ll be fine.” Ryo leaned in for a quick kiss. “I have to go.”

“Pace yourself.” Dee shoved a water bottle into Ryo’s hand. “I know ya don’t need it right now, but ya will.”

“You know there are stations along the way handing out water?”

“Course I do. Where d’ya think I got that?”

“I’ll see you at the finish line?”

“Count on it. Good luck!” Dee added as Ryo headed off into the crowds waiting to start.

Once the race was underway, Dee followed the course on his motorcycle, stopping every so often to watch among the crowds of spectators, even catching sight of his lover a few times, Ryo’s long legs eating up the ground in a steady stride. He looked to be going well at the halfway point, but after that the crowds were so deep that Dee couldn’t get close enough to see more than the top of an occasional head bobbing past, so he made straight for the finish line to wait.

He checked his watch yet again; the race had been going for more than four and a half hours, and the professional runners had long since completed the course, along with a lot of other people. Using his badge to clear the way, he made it through to the front of the crowd, looking back along the final stretch, eyes searching for Ryo’s familiar figure.

Four hours and forty minutes, and was that Ryo in the distance? Dee wished he’d bought binoculars, he couldn’t be sure from this far away, but as the small knot of runners grew closer, one began to pull away, lengthening his stride, and Dee started to cheer.

Ryo crossed the finish line in a final burst of speed for a time of just over four hours and forty-seven minutes. He was breathing hard, but grinning in triumph as Dee approached him with a towel and more water.

“Damn, baby, that was amazin’!”

“Exhausting, more like,” Ryo panted, pouring half the water over his head and mopping up with the towel. “I was running out of steam, but then I saw you at the finish line, and I knew I was going to make it.”

“I’m proud of you.”

“I know you are. So, are you going to run with me next year?” Ryo wiped wet hair from his eyes.

“I’m proud, not crazy.” Dee gave a grin. “Think they’d just let me walk it?”

“You could just do the half marathon.”

“Maybe. We can talk about it later.”


The End