Rin huffed out a frustrated growl as he shot up from the desk. He tossed the tablet he'd been working on roughly against the couch Rory had been silently working on for the past several hours and stormed out of the room.
Dillon blew out a long, exhausted sigh as he pushed up and ambled over. He retrieved the tablet, pretending to examine it for damage as he sat down beside Rory. "How much longer are you going to continue giving him the silent treatment... giving us both the silent treatment? I get it... You don't like the situation... but let's be real, you knew what it was when you stepped in. We've not tried to hide it."
Anger, frustration, despair, and betrayal all battled with the little voice that continued to lull in a sing-song tone in the back of Rory's head on repeat, 'told you so. ' "I'm working..."
"So, fuck off? Yeah, not this time." Dillon replied as he plucked the laptop off Rory's lap.
Rory's anger flared as he turned a heated glare to Dillon. "What are you doing! The benefit is tomorrow, and Rin has shit all to show his dad!"
"Exactly! He has shit all because the two of you have been fighting all goddamn week. Now get over your baby-fied little shitfit already and do your goddamn job. That's all either of us is here for. Rin. That simple, nothing more, nothing less."
Rory lowered his gaze to his lap, forcing his lips into a frown instead of the pout that wanted to overtake his face. "Maybe you are, but-"
"Not you? My fucking ass. That is exactly what you are here for! You sold yourself just like I did to the fucking Perishes. Now, man, the fuck up and decide if you're selling yourself to Rin or Rodric because it can't be both, and each requires something different from you." Dillon snapped.
"And you are part of that if I choose Rin?!" Rory barked back.
"Yes! Yes, I am! So, deal with it!"
"Then maybe I don't want this!" Rory shouted as he tried and failed to spring up from the sofa.
Dillon blew out another irritated breath. "Look at you... You're so fucking..." He stood and gathered the crutches. He raked his hand through his messy hair as he held them down to Rory. "Listen, I've not pushed you too hard. I've tried to let you warm up to me on your own, but I'm tired of waiting. Rin and I... we're a package deal... I'm sorry..."
Rory shook his head. "I'd rather lose Rin at this point than have someone forced on me that don't even really want to be with me. Do you realize how fucked up that is?"
Dillon's eyes widened. "Do you think that's how this is? That I'm not attracted to you? That I've only shown interest in you because of Rin?" Dillon shook his head. "You're wrong." Dillon tossed the crutches onto the couch beside Rory and lowered into a squat in front of him. "Don't get me wrong, what Rin and I have is a weird, fucked up... borderline sick kind of love... but yeah... you could... might call it that..." He ran his hand through his hair thoughtfully before finally shrugging. "I don't know... What I do know is what Rin feels for you now... that's something he's never felt before... What I felt for you when you first came here... that was something different. I didn't help you then to keep Rin to myself. I helped you because I couldn't see someone as cute and fragile get hurt." He clasped his hands over Rory's. "We aren't the best people... We will both accept that fact. We both know we're fucked up individuals." He shrugged. "And I can tell you have some shit you're trying to hide in your closet. Rin knows it too. Let us help you..."
Rory frowned down into the intense emerald eyes that stared back at him expectantly. "I don't know. You're asking a lot of me... You're asking me to accept a great deal... to be ok with... with..."
Dillon nodded. "I know what we're asking for." Dillon shrugged. "I just ask that you think about it... We ask that you think about it."
**
"Here, let me help you. You have to realize, it will be highly suspicious if you're acting this way once we're inside." Rin muttered as he held his hand out for Rory.
Rory frowned as he tried to maneuver himself and the crutches out of the backseat at the same time.
"Leave them. Dillon will get them for you and bring them around." Rin's voice was flat, missing its usual luster.
Rory reluctantly took Rin's hand, eyeing him as he did. "You say I'll be suspicious... what about you?"
Rin shrugged, not bothering to make eye contact with Rory as he helped him out. "Anyone who sees me right now is used to my moodiness, and once I'm in front of the crowd, what can I say? I'm used to acting. My whole fucking life has been an act." He stepped aside as Dillon handed Rory the crutches, finally moving his attention to Rory as he did. His eyes burned into him as he watched Rory accept Dillon's assistance. "But you wouldn't know shit about it because you refuse to have even the most simple of conversations with me..."
Rory frowned. "It's not like that, Rin... I'm... I'm just not ready yet."
Rin turned on him, pinning him between the car and the car door. "Then when will you be?"
Dillon caught Rin's arm and pulled him away, his eyes moving around the crowded parking lot. "Not now. This isn't the place."
"Fuck..." Rin bit back a snarl as he turned and stomped off toward the large auditorium.
"Do you need anything else out of the car?" Dillon asked as he raked his fingers through his hair, his eyes trailing after Rin.
Rory's frown deepened. "The notes for Rin's speech... Do you think he'll need them?"
Dillon shook his head. "No, regardless of how pissed off he is and how much he seems to be slacking right now, he's at least prepared for this." Dillon stepped behind the door and waited for Rory to move out before shutting it. He bent and looked at his reflection in the rearview mirror. "Ha... Do you think I need to pull my hair back? Do I look too shaggy for this event?"
Rory tilted his head as he studied Dillon. He was back to being his usual charming, nice, though somewhat aloof self. Rory shook his head as he turned on the crutches. "Shouldn't you ask Rin that?"
Dillon straightened as he blew out a sigh. "Rin's not here, and I asked you. Your opinion matters as well. So, Mr. Assistant, what do you think? Do I look too ratty to mingle with the cool kids?"
Rory scrunched his brows. "You never struck me as the type who would care about something like that."
Dillon shrugged. "Why do you think I never go with Rin to any of those fancy dinners and shit?" He shoved his hands into the baggy dress pants he was wearing and ambled along slowly beside Rory. "We may have gone to the same fancy boarding school, but that was before shit went sideways for my family... and before I became just another piece of Rodric Perish's ill-gotten property."
Rory stumbled as his brows arched, and his gaze shot to Dillon.
Dillon's surprise quickly morphed into a wolfish grin. "You mean Rin never told you? I'm surprised. I guess there is a lot you've not gotten a chance to talk with him about... no wonder he's so pissy." He shrugged. "Well, it's not entirely my story to tell, now is it..." He walked on past Rory a new cocky strut to his stride.
"Wait! You can't say something like that, then just walk away!" Rory called after him.
Dillon paused, bending dramatically as he called behind him. "I did and I am..." He shot him a wink. "Now, hurry up, hop along. We have work to sleep through..."
Rory felt heavy apprehension settle over him as the auditorium seats continued to fill. Rin and his father were on stage speaking in hushed tones with others from the benefit as they waited for the crowd to gather and settle in. He had a pang of guilt for not being able to be up there beside him, supporting him, but a larger part of him wasn't ready to forgive him either... Not even as employee and employer. Rory's body stiffened as Dillon shifted toward him and slid his arm around the back of his chair.
"You might as well get comfortable. We're going to be here a while." Dillon held out the pamphlet one of the student volunteers had been giving out at the door. "Rin is only one of five guest speakers this evening, and that's not including the foundation heads and school heads that have to have their names known tonight." He nodded toward the press areas.
Rory blew out a sigh as he wiggled against the hard seat and took the paper from Dillon. He was halfway through reading what they had written about Rin when a familiar voice called out from beside them.
"Sorry, I'm late! Traffic was a mess!" Mandy squeezed her way through the bodies of already seated people to take her assigned seat beside Rory. "I see Rin and Rodric are already up there. Bethany called. She'll have to miss it tonight. A shame, I know." She sent them both a wink as she set her large handbag under her seat. She sat back in the seat with a tired sigh. "Did you see how long this was going to be?"
"Yeah, I was just telling Rory." Dillon nodded toward the pamphlet, using the conversation to lean in closer to Rory.
Rory frowned, his gaze shifting from the two beside him to the stage. Angry violet eyes met his, causing him to quickly shift his focus back to the paper in his hand. Once the speakers began to speak, Rory slowly relaxed, but it didn't last long. His body went rigid as Dillon's hand slid from the back of the chair to his shoulders. A knot formed in Rory's throat, and his eyes involuntarily moved to the seats lining the stage as Dillon leaned closer and his hand moved to the pamphlet in his lap.
Dillon pressed his lips close to Rory's ear, letting his warm breath tickle Rory's neck as he whispered. "I'm curious, is this the lineup, or are they placed in here sporadically?"
Rory held Rin's fiery gaze as he murmured. "Sporadically, I believe..."
A grin curved Dillon's lips as he followed Rory's gaze. "Pity. I wanted to slip out for a smoke. Now I'll have to wait until after Rin's turn..." He ran the tip of his finger along the back of Rory's neck. "I'm bored..."
Rory tried to move his neck out of Dillon's reach, but it was no use in such confined spaces. "Then touch yourself and leave me alone."
A wicked smile curved his lips. "As thrilling an idea as that may be with all these people watching, I'd much rather touch you... Or have you touch me..." He slid his fingers just below Rory's shirt collar and began running his fingers along the sensitive skin there. "I told you already, I'm tired of waiting."
Rory shoved Dillon away as he continued to hold Rin's angry gaze. "Look!" He whispered harshly with another shove as Rin stood. Rin's eyes burned into Rory and Dillon the entire time he walked across the stage, but true to his word, the second Rin stood in front of the podium, his usual charming mask slid into place. Rory couldn't help but stare in amazed fascination as Rin delivered his speech. Though he'd heard him rehearse it several times, it was different today. It was always different watching how others reacted to Rin; how they drank him in and seemed naturally drawn to him. No wonder... the way he spoke with such lively animation and enthusiasm. It was captivating... almost enchanting. Anytime you looked at him on stage, it was like being pulled in by a beautiful, ethereal siren. A siren... it was a great description of all that was Rin. Beautiful, draws you in, impossible to pull away from once drawn in, seduces you... Then what? What did he want? Rory clenched the pamphlet in his hands. What did either of them want, really? He risked a glance beside him. Dillon watched the stage with his usual bored stare, but if you looked just past that, you could read admiration... and something else... but what exactly was it? It was almost impossible to read Dillon's dark moods, where Rin's hottie moods may spike at any second. It was always easy to figure out what he was feeling... more or less.
"Ah, finally. You set through the rest of this boring shit, and I'll meet you outside after, yeah?" Dillon leaned over to shake Mandy's hand. "Great seeing you as always." He shot her a wink before landing a kiss on Rory's cheek. "Later, Buttercup."
Mandy didn't bother hiding her surprise as her gaping mouth moved from Dillon's departed back to Rory. "OMG, don't tell me... Dillon too?! He's such a hard nut to crack!" She clasped Rory's hands and wiggled her feet in excitement. "You have to spill after this!"
Rory pulled away in trepidation as his eyes shot back to the stage. Sure enough, both Rin and Rodric were pinning him with glares now. "There's nothing to tell, I assure you. If anything, we're all three getting along worse than ever before right now. And for some reason, Dillon has decided this tactless tactic is the best way of forcing us all to reconcile."
Mandy frowned. "Oh... Well..." She released her hold on his hands and turned back toward the stage; her mood obviously deflated throughout the rest of the speeches.
Rory hugged the wall as he wobbled toward the exit on the crutches. Many people were still inside conversing, but Dillon and Rin were both already outside somewhere. And if they were ready to leave, he was not about to stop them. With exhaustion quickly closing in, Rory blew out a heavy, relieved sigh when he heard Rin's loud shouts coming from a ball court near the back doors he'd just walked out of. Relief flooded him when his eyes landed on an empty bench near the court. Rory let out an audible moan as he settled at the end of the empty bench. He'd just got comfortable and was about to breathe out another sigh of relief when it caught in his throat. His eyes bugged as he took everything in. Shouts and the sound of the ball bouncing against the court. Among the flurry of bodies, two white dress shirts billowing in the breeze as the wearers ran down the court caught and held his attention. He couldn't look away if he had to. His lips parted, and his tongue darted out to moisten his lips as he drank in the sight. Dillon and Rin had both stripped down to their dress shirts; both had the sleeves rolled up, ties off, top buttons undone, and mostly untucked. Several kids from the university filled the court, but Rin and Dillon stood out as they seemed to battle each other on the court.
"You seem very fascinated with basketball... Or perhaps it's something else that has you so distracted?" Rodric asked as he settled on the bench beside Rory.
Rory forced his gaping mouth shut and cleared his throat. "I just didn't realize Rin was so multiskilled... Dillon too. It seems like the two of them seem to have the..." He tilted his head to the side. "Oddest relationship..."
"I'm sure at this point you've seen plenty of their relationship," Rodric said flatly.
Rory shook his head, still staring at them in fascination. He would have never imagined someone like Dillon would be so athletic, but Rin's almost dancer-like fluidity on the court came as no surprise. "I haven't really... though I'll admit what I have seen of them is baffling."
"And is that what I'm seeing now? Are you simply trying to puzzle together some questions? I have to say, Rory, I am beginning to have my own questions."
Rory's gaze snapped over to Rodric. "I assure you, Sir. All that you are seeing is curiosity and admiration. Your son is an amazing person... confusing, moody at times... but amazing, nonetheless. I'm always learning something new and fascinating about him."
Rodric blew out an intentionally long sigh. "I do hope that's all it is, Rory. For the sake of your job."
Rory frowned as his attention moved back to the court as Rin made a shot from nearly half-court. "Do you not find that amazing? Some pro-athletes couldn't shoot half as well."
Rodric clasped Rory's shoulder as he stood. "Perhaps if writing fails, Rin can find a career in the WNBA."
Rory furrowed his brows in complete and total confusion, unable to process Rodric's jab at Rin. He knew Rin's father was a harsh man. Rin had said so plenty of times, but...
Rodric snickered as he squeezed Rory's shoulder. "Well, at least I know you haven't acted on your feelings for Rin... yet. Keep it up and you may still be of some use after all." With that, Rodric began heading toward the rear doors. He paused to nod at another person as they approached.
Rory, still confused, frowned as Amanda slowly walked over.
She blew out a disapproving sigh as she sat down beside him. "I'm sorry about that. I should have gotten here sooner, so he couldn't corner you like that. Just ignore the old bastard." Her eyes moved to the court, and her smile returned. "Rin really is good though, right?"
Rory nodded as his own gaze moved back to the court. "I... don't understand... Why would his dad be such an ass..."
"Right?! Definitely, since he was the one who raised Rin as a boy to begin with! And just for his own benefit. You're not telling me he considered Rin at all, especially when he put poor Rin in an all-boys' boarding school at eleven. Can you imagine going through puberty, getting your first period in an all-boys' school!" She shook her head as her eyes trailed Rin around the court. "But even I'll admit the book series is fucking amazing... They were Rodric's best sellers."
Rory sat frozen in place, his wide eyes couldn't move from Rin's elegant frame as it glided around the court. He studied the face he'd stared at a thousand times over, that he'd thought he'd memorized by now, seeing it as if for the first time. That sharp, smooth jawline he'd wanted to touch so many times now, but still hadn't gotten up enough courage, mocked him. His eyes trailed lower to Rin's neck, absent an Adam's apple... then to his chest as muscles flexed just below the tight material... muscles that were just a little too big to be pecs alone. Rory's heart thudded against his chest painfully. All of Sabastian's snarky remarks now made sense... The color drained from Rory's face, and a ringing, pounding reverberated in his ears, drowning out whatever else Amanda was saying. This was the secret Rin has been hiding... all this time... It's been so obvious... Right in front of me this entire time...