Gavin sat, waiting, on a bench at the front of the venders mall. He hadn't lasted half way through before he was complaining about sore feet and wobbly legs. "You're worse than Kerry." Ryan had told him, but kissed his forehead. "There's a waiting area at the front with some places for the weak to sit." Gavin took no offense to being called weak by his boyfriend. He was, however, a bit embarrassed when Kerry laughed at him for having to sit down. But he knew the 10 year old meant no harm, so he smiled and laughed along. There was a woman sitting across from him. She was elderly, with a cane. He stole a few glances at her, but other wise kept his sunglasses covered eyes on his phone. Ryan was sending pictures of anything he thought Gavin might find interesting, and Gavin was able to give feedback without endangering his ability to stand and walk straight. 'Are you just going to wait there until we're done?' Ryan asked after a while. Gavin moved his feet around before answering, testing how they felt. 'I don't know. Depends on how long it takes you to get through. My feet feel like they're gonna fall off.' Ryan sent back the eye-roll emoji, followed by a picture of Kerry holding a toucan statue. 'He's looking for your replacement'. Gavin smiled, sent the tongue out emoji, and waited for the next text. He was surprised, to say the least, when a pair of small shoes were suddenly in his vision, toe to toe with him. He looked up to find Kerry, who was smiling and holding a vintage Polaroid. "Look at this old camera!" He said, holding it out for Gavin to see. "I see." Gavin took it in his hands, looking it over. "It's lovely." He decided the right word for it and handed it back just as his phone dinged. 'Kerry ran off' the message said. 'Do you see him?' Gavin smiled and patted the seat beside for Kerry to sit down beside him. Then he raised his phone and took a photo of the two of them and sent it to Ryan. 'Here I was thinking this was a look-a-like' It was only moment later that Ryan joined them, pushing a near-empty cart. Gavin peered into it and saw a few things Kerry had probably picked out, including the toucan, a pair of shoes for Ryan, and some more sunglasses for himself. "I guess we're done, then, if neither of you want to look any more." Ryan said as he approached them. Gavin shrugged and looked to Kerry. "You done buddy?" He asked. Kerry nodded and held up the camera. "Can we get this?" Ryan reached out his hand and took it, looking at the price. "I don't know what you're going to do with it, besides leave it out for me to pick up." He raised an eyebrow, but Gavin already knew the answer would be yes. Ryan liked to play tough-guy but he and Kerry both knew he was a big pushover. "I suppose." Kerry smiled and took the camera back, pulling the strap over his head. The woman sitting across from Gavin judged them quietly. Gavin shot her a smile before standing and kissing Ryan's cheek. After they paid Gavin switched the sunglasses he was wearing for a pair they just bought. "Do I look like a celebrity?" He asked as they walked out of the store, grabbing Kerry's hand while they crossed the crosswalk. "You look like a douchebag who wears sunglasses indoors." Ryan answered, smiling. Gavin rolled his eyes, ignoring the words. "What about you Kerry?" Kerry lifted the camera and took a mock-photo. "That's going on Instagram." He smiled. Gavin nodded. "I knew you'd appreciate them." The ride home was long, but he didn't mind. It would give his legs a chance to rest.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Achievement Hunter RPF
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Words: 10,234
Relationships: Gavin Free/Ryan Haywood
Characters: Gavin Free, Ryan Haywood, Geoff Ramsey, Jack Pattillo, Ray Narvaez Jr., Michael Jones
Additional Tags: Fluff, Fluff and Smut, Fluffy Ending, ALL THE FLUFF, Getting Together, One Night Stands, D/s elements, Blindfolds, Anal Sex, safe sex, Minor Angst elements, Blow Jobs, Frottage, Domestic Fluff, Fake AH Crew, Secret Relationship, fluffy sex, Rough Sex, Porn With Plot, Porn with Feelings
Summary:
Gavin and Ryan meet at a bar long before they join the Fake AH Crew. They have sex.
Everyone is intimidated by the scary Vagabond and tries to keep him far away from Gavin, convinced he'd kill him out of pure annoyance. They continue to have sex.
"Boo!" Gavin shouts as he pounces onto Ryan's back, having been hiding behind a suit of armor near their next class for ages waiting for him to arrive. Ryan wasn't even surprised by the 'attack' and merely chuckles. "Oh no the big bad wolf is going to get me." He jokes and Gavin's eyes widen slightly as he slips off the larger male's back, hitting his chest. "Don't." He hisses and Ryan laughs a bit, "Ok ok, no need to get violent." The two of them enter the classroom and Gavin sits down next to Ryan, scooting his chair a bit closer than usual. After a short lecture from their Professor, Gavin starts talking to Ryan, rambling on about random things, occasionally throwing in different spells and potions he had looked up that he'd know that the Slytherin would like. Ryan nods along to the conversation then suddenly sniffs the air, "Do you smell that?" He asks and Gavin rolls his eyes, "Oh not this again you nob." "No no really it smells like.." Ryan trails off and leans closer to Gavin, causing the blonde male's breath to catch a bit, not that Ryan even noticed, before sniffing again awfully close to his neck, "Wet dog." Ryan starts laughing as Gavin blushes and hits him, "Prick." He mumbles and turns back to his work, but is smiling anyways. - - - "This here, is Amortentia. The strongest love potion in the world." Gavin's head lifts up at Professor Slughorn's words from making small paper cranes underneath the table with his wand, his interest suddenly piqued. "Just the scent of it can attract a person, since It will become the smell of what the person loves most." Gavin spends the rest of the lesson lost in thought about Amortentia. Ryan always did complain about how he smelled like wet dog, and it always prevented Gavin from making a move on him, but if he used that potion as just a type of cologne, maybe he'd finally have a chance. He smiles at the thought, despite the fact that his potion wasn't even close to being prepared correctly. - - - Gavin nearly holds his breath as he slowly eases the door to the Potion's Room open, peeking inside then quickly slipping into the classroom and closing the door behind him, narrowly avoiding a squeal of delight as it closes silently. He pulls the vial from his pocket and opens the lid of the Amortentia, closing his eyes as the scent hits his nose. The potion smelled like fresh, brand new wood and Ryan's cologne. He scoops some of it into the vial and puts the stopper in it. Now, he had to sneak back to his dorm, which would be fun. - - - "Hey Rye-bread." Gavin purrs as he wraps his arms around the male's waist from behind, nuzzling his neck affectionately. "Uh.. h..hey Gavin." Ryan replies, his cheeks flushing a bit as he tries to finish his potions essay. "Do I smell nice?" Gavin asks him and looks at him. Ryan rolls his eyes a bit, "Nice try wolf boy. Did you borrow a chocolate perfume from Lindsey or something?" Gavin blinks, "huh?" He asks, brilliantly. "You still smell like wet dog." Gavin freezes for a moment, then slowly grins before kissing Ryan's cheek, "Sorry Ryan." Ryan shrugs and turns to face his friend, who instantly captures his lips in a soft sweet kiss. "Love you Rye-bread." Gavin mumbles and Ryan stays silent for a moment before smiling. "Love you too wolfy."
Gavin Free was rarely ever nervous. He would usually just suck it up and do whatever it was he wanted to do, and ignore the nerves completely until they went away. But now was not the time for that. Gavin couldn't suppress his nerves even if he wanted to. "Gavin, buddy, you ready to leave?" Geoff asks the Brit, clearly concerned. Gavin was never this quiet. "What? Oh yeah Geoff just.." He trails off as Ryan enters the Achievement Hunter office, "Just gimme a minute..." Geoff gazes oddly at his 'son', then shrugs and walks out of the office. "H-Hey Ryan?" Gavin stammers once the moustached man had left. "Yeah?" Ryan replies as he packs a few games into his bag. "I.. uh.. was.. was wondering if you'd..." Gavin swallows hard as his cheeks turn bright red, the blonde male turning to face him just before he blurts out quickly, his words jumbled together, "WouldYouLikeToGoOnADateWithMe?" Ryan smiles a bit and says, "I'm sorry Gavin I didn't understand a word of that." The Brit fidgets and avoids Ryan's gaze as he mumbles shyly, a lot slower this time, "Would you like to go on a date with me?" Ryan's smile grows and he says, "I'd love to." - - - The date had been wonderful, for both men. Gavin had been nearly shitting himself with nerves beforehand, but during the date he had forgotten all of that, and he and Ryan talked for hours, even after their food was already finished, the check sitting unpaid on their table for quite a while (much to the annoyance of their waiter). After Ryan drove Gavin home, he got out of the car and escorted him to the door like a perfect gentleman. "I had a great time tonight, Gavin." The Brit smiles and looks up at Ryan, "So did I. It was top." Ryan smiles, then places his hand on Gavin's cheek, bringing their lips together in a soft kiss. Both men suddenly gasp as a flurry of images flash past their closed eyelids. "I love you my King." A past Gavin whispered, lying in bed with a past Ryan, the monarch chuckling and returning the affectionate words. "Ryan!" A small, thin child calls, running to his best friend holding onto a beautiful sea shell, "Look what I've found!" The past Ryan turns to the boy, meeting the unmistakable eyes of Gavin, which apparently hadn't changed through all their lives. On and on these images came forth, their relationship different in some, but in most they were deeply in love. The visions pass as Ryan and Gavin both break the kiss, cheeks flushed and breathing a bit heavy. Gavin swallows hard and Ryan captures his lips in another. "I think it's safe now to say that I love you. I always have." He mumbles against the Brit's lips, and Gavin smiles. "I've always loved you too Ryan."
[They're both pretty handsy when they're drunk. Also thank god Geoff has a terrible drunken memory]
[1621]
Drunk Gavin is great. Yeah, he's an obnoxiously loud pain in the ass, but when isn't he? Gavin laughs a lot when he's bevved up. It's tiny things that might be funny, though dumb, that set him off the most. Barb makes one pun and he collapses. An insult from Michael? He'll blow your fucking eardrums out if you're in the same room. He laughs and giggles and basically makes weird noises (accompanied by gestures that look vaguely seal-like) until he can barely breathe.
He has very little filter. Words pop straight into his mind then out of his mouth, no regard to how they affect people. He can out-swear even Michael.
Geoff throws, as he puts it, a "Millie's at her grandmother's house for the weekend let's all get fucking stupid" party. Gavin goes because he lives there and he's always up for getting fucking stupid. Ryan comes because hey why not plus it'll be a treat to see the British man get seriously drunk. He finds it funny.
Ninety percent of the party is just Rooster Teeth employees, plus a couple of Geoff's old friends. For the most part everybody's milling about outside, talking and drinking. The lads are inside on the couch, attempting to play Mario Kart. Ray's winning by a landslide, mostly because he's the only one still sober. Michael's hollering about it being unfair, and Gavin's just giggling away.
He leaves the group when he gets yelled at to "fuck off if you're not gonna fucking help me prove that Ray's a fucking cheater." He finds Ryan in the dining room, studying photos on the wall.
"Oi, Ryan! The fuck're you doin' in here?" His words are slurred, and he's swaying.
"Just, you know. I don't come here a lot." It's true. It'd been over a year since the last time.
"You're bloody fuckin' right you don't! That shit's gotta change." He takes wobbly steps forward, clasps Ryan's shoulder tightly to steady himself.
"Christ, Gavin. How drunk are you?"
He opens his mouth to respond, but doesn't actually say anything. He simply stares at Ryan, as if he's searching for the right thing to say. After a minute, Ryan raises an eyebrow. At this point he doesn't even need an answer because it's clear that he's-
"Very." Gavin says seriously, then bursts into giggles. He starts to stumble backwards, but Ryan catches him easily, hand slipping to his waist.
"Careful." He murmurs, looking down at the younger man. These are dangerous waters, he knows, even worse when his judgement is skewed.
"Ryan." Gavin giggles, and he feels as as if he's missing the joke.
"Hmm?" He hasn't let go, and Gavin has shifted closer so that it's his wrist on Ryan's shoulder.
Gavin opens his mouth again, but still doesn't say anything. There's a moment where they're both just staring at one another, waiting.
Ryan breaks the silence. "How drunk are you?" He asks again.
This time there is no pause, no searching for words. They're clear in his mind one second then slurred from his lips the next. "How drunk do I need to be?"
As it turns out, exactly that amount. For a second all he thinks is holy shit Ryan's kissing me but he doesn't react. He just stands there, more still than he's ever been.
And all Ryan is thinking is oh fuck fuck fuck but then Gavin's hand slips up his neck into his hair, pulling him closer. He thinks maybe he's glad he came to this thing, and boy does he need to come to the Ramsey's more often.
Just as Gavin's tongue runs along his bottom lip, the younger man pushes away, stumbles backwards.
Ryan doesn't catch him this time.
"You just kissed me." Gavin announces, as if this is news. He looks shocked and confused, and Ryan would be lying if he said that didn't hurt him a little. But he plays it off because that's what Ryan always does.
"Yeah, I did." He's got a small smile because maybe he can pretend its a joke.
"You've never done that before." Gavin is just watching him, maybe looking for answer as to why. But Ryan's good at this.
"No, I haven't."
A beat passes in which Ryan swallows, Gavin grins, and the world gets just a little better.
"Well you oughta fuckin' do it again!"
"I-"
But Gavin does it for him.
Somewhere in his mind he's aware of the picture frames digging into his back. He thinks briefly of how weird that is, since the frames contain pictures of the Ramsey family, smiling and happy. Especially considering they can no longer be seen, hidden behind two grown men who appear to be in a contest where the winner is the first one to actually swallow the other's face.
At least, that's what it looks like to Geoff.
"What the fuck?"
To say they 'broke apart' would be inaccurate. Rather, Gavin spins in place, in turn giving Ryan a face full of hair. His back is pressed against Ryan's chest, and he has to lean to see around the Brit.
"Hey, Geoff. What's up?" He's grinning ear to ear, trying desperately not to laugh. This shouldn't be funny, but alcohol will do that to you.
"What the fuck?" He repeats, beer clutched firmly in his hand. For a second Ryan worries he might break it, but then he remembers this isn't his house.
"We could say it's not what it looks like, but would you really believe us?" Gavin asks, a slight giggle in his voice.
"Not now I wouldn't."
"Whoops."
"Seriously though, what the fuck? Since when are you two a...like a..." He gestures around, motioning his hands together, as if to indicate an floating object. "Like a thing?"
"Since we're not." Gavin says, and maybe it makes sense in his mind.
"Yeah Geoff. People do dumb things when they're drunk." He slips a hand around Gavin, coming to rest on his stomach. He's a lot more drunk than he thought he was. "Technically you're the one who got us drunk. This is your fault."
Gavin spins again, and now Ryan's hand is on his back. "Wait, just drunken... What?"
"Relax, it's not like I've done you." He grins. "Yet."
Gavin laughs, starts to pull him down again.
"Oh fuck no, I don't want to see this shit." He puts a hand out and turns his head, as if to shield himself.
Ryan leans to the side, and Gavin whines. "Then you might want to look away." Ryan says, still grinning.
He's just about to kiss Gavin again when he gets pushed to the side, and they half trip over each other.
"You two do whatever the fuck you want, just not against pictures of my family." Geoffs pulling frames off the wall, struggling to do so while still holding his beer. Funny the things you focus on.
"Hey, I'm in some of those pictures!" Gavin says indignantly, turning and wrapping an arm around Ryan's shoulders for support. "It doesn't bother me."
"So am I! Fuckin bothers me! I don't want you two getting it on that close to my face."
"But you are ok with your dining room?"
Geoff pauses for a second, as if he's actually considering it. "Fuckin- no!"
"Is your bedroom open, or..." Ryan's joking. He isn't that dumb. Drunkenly making out is one thing. Any farther is a whole different line, one that is certainly not going to be crossed tonight.
"Fuck off."
"Ryan! C'mon, let's go play Mario Kart." Gavin grabs his hand and pulls him toward the living room. He goes along because it should be fun to see Gavin and Michael get their asses kicked. He knows Ray has been winning by a landslide all night. "Guys!" Gavin yells as they near the lads. "Ryan's gonna play with us!"
There's only one spot open, next to Michael, and Gavin pushes him down. He then proceeds to sit on him, grabbing his controller in the process. For a second Michael, is confused, but he passes it off as drunken shenanigans.
"Gavin, there's only enough controllers for three people. Besides, the screens gonna be too tiny."
"Then he'll fuckin watch for now! I'll have a go then he can have mine."
Ray is the one to notice the wide smiles on their faces, the way Gavin suddenly seems so comfortable with Ryan. He notices Ryan's hand on his waist, how Gavin leans back against them and neither one has an issue with the contact. He sees Ryan's eyes constantly flicking from the screen to Gavin's face, then back again. All he thinks is I'm pretty sure you guys only want to play with each other but he doesn't say it. Now isn't the time.
"Doesn't matter who plays, I'll kick the shit out of any of you."
He's true to his word. Of course, it's only because he's the only sober one, but still. He places first every time, and the best anyone else does is fourth. It's Ryan, naturally. He's the least intoxicated, but still too much to win.
Once Michael stops screaming about how "he's got to be fucking cheating because nobody's that fucking good" Ray hands his controller over to Ryan so they might have a fair chance against each other. Michael wins by placing fifth, which is a testament to how badly the other two sucked.
Ray thinks it's because they're distracted, but he still doesn't say it. Instead he laughs. "We really need to do this more often."
Yeah, Ryan thinks, slipping his hand from Gavin's waist to a more firm hold that's reads a lot like a prolonged hug. I could definitely do this again.
[humanitiesbadhabitrabbits requested a bit about how Gavin thought Ryan hated him. This is mostly my excuse for really adorable Freewood fluff]
It's a Saturday night. Well, technically it's 3o'clock Sunday morning. They were supposed to have gone to sleep hours ago. Instead they've been up talking, the subjects ranging from what to have for dinner tomorrow to work to trying that thing in the shower again (Gavin swears he'll get over the cold of the tile.)
To be fair, conversations can be slow going when almost every sentence is interrupted with a kiss here or there, or fingertips trailing down someone's spine ("That tickles, Ryan!") It's hard resist when you're lying face to face, and your young boyfriend has his leg wrapped around you.
Gavin makes a half-giggle noise, and Ryan has to know.
"You know how sometimes you take something crazy and explain it in a really weird way? But it always kinda makes sense?"
"Uhh, maybe?" He raises an eyebrow, but smiles.
"Then could you explain to me," Ryan's left hand slips under the covers, coming to rest in the small of Gavin's back, "how it's possible for me to love you this much?"
Gavin falls back, laughter pouring from his lips, and Ryan's hand slips to his waist. He laughs too, because part of why he said it was to be funny. The other part, however...
He props himself up on his elbow, just high enough to lean over his boyfriend. "Seriously, tell me. Because it just boggles my mind, and-" he's cut off by Gavin's hands pulling his face down and kissing him hard. He can feel him smiling.
He pulls away. "Is it supposed to be a secret, or-"
"Shut up, you dope!" Gavin's hands tangle in his hair as he brings his lips down again.
Several minutes pass in a blur of lips and skin and giggles. Ryan is the one to stop because he just can't again. Good god would he like to, but he can't.
Gavin rolls into his side and makes a contented noise.
"You know," and Ryan isn't sure where this is going. "Im really glad you don't hate me anymore."
"What?" He doesn't ever remember hating Gavin.
"When we first started working together. You hated me."
The idea is ludicrous. How could he have ever hated him? "No I didn't."
"Yes you did."
It's a really weird conversation to be having while cuddling, yet there they are.
"I absolutely did not hate you. I didn't even know you that well."
"You absolutely did. I think I told Michael about it once." He only half remembers. To be fair, he was very drunk at the time.
"When?" Why is he just now hearing about this?
"Ages ago! Way before you and I got involved, obviously. I think it might actually be recorded somewhere."
"What, like in a video that's been released?"
"Uhh..." He tries to think. When exactly was it? He knows he was drunk. He remembers it being late, and that it was just him and Michael. "A Full Play, maybe?" Yeah, that sounds right.
Without warning, Ryan slides away, out of bed.
"What the bloody fu- Where are you going?" Gavin sits up, watches as his boyfriend leaves the room.
"To get my laptop. I gotta hear this." Ryan calls, voice already coming from halfway down the stairs. Who cares about the neighbors?
"Ryan!" He doesn't understand the man's fascination with something he'd said long ago. Sure, he'd believed it then. But he doesn't now. Isn't that what should matter? That he knows beyond a doubt that Ryan loves him?
And boy does he know. Ryan says it all the damn time. Not in a way that's nauseatingly cute. It's always brief, not a big deal. 'Love you' at the end of phone calls. 'You're lucky I love you' when Gavin acts dumb, or when he asks Ryan to get him something. 'I love you, but-' when it's something really stupid. 'Its only cause I love you' when Ryan teases and tortures him.
Clearly the hate is gone.
But it was there. Gavin believes it, has accepted it. Ryan used to hate him. So what? He doesn't now.
Ryan re-enters the bedroom, laptop balanced on his arm. It's lighting up his face in the dark. He sits on the bed, facing away from his boy friend.
"Why does it matter, Ryan? It's not true now."
"It was never true. Now, you said it was a Full Play?"
Gavin sighs but scoots over until he can rest his chain on Ryan's shoulder. His left hand is on the other. Ryan has the YouTube page open, scrolling through the playlists.
"What game was it?"
"I don't remember, it's been awhile."
"You know Gav, you should really pay more attention to what content you're in. Honestly."
"Sod off. It doesn't matter as long as I'm funny."
Ryan clicks the State Of Decay video, since part 2 promises Gavin. It has to be it. He tries randomly clicking along, hoping to catch something. It's a lot of Michael yelling about the game and Gavin trying to plug his headphones into alcohol. He keeps skipping. Eventually he'll find it.
"...trying to talk about Ryan."
Thirty one minutes in. Finally.
"Come on, why do you even care what I used to think? I was wrong, ok? You never hated me. You've always secretly loved me. Just stop." Gavin really doesn't ant to hear this. He hates listening to himself, and its even worse listening to the drunk version.
"Hush. Im trying to hear."
There's a bit of arguing about the game, how to get to the character they need to help.
"Basically, what we've found out is that Ryan treats work like work."
He laughs. "What the hell does that even mean?"
"See for me, every Monday I'm always excited to go to work."
"Well that's just not true anymore. Although that may have more to do with you not wanting to get out of bed."
"Thought you were trying to hear, not give a bloody running commentary."
"Hush."
Again, there's more dealing with the game. It's all Michael talking, because Gavin drunkenly unplugged his headphones. He can still barely be heard giggling in the background.
"How fuckin drunk were you?"
"Uh, drunk. You heard it, I tried to listen to whiskey."
"Good god."
"Ryan treats work like a Monday. Like he's not excited to see us."
Michael argued with him, saying Ryan always seemed happy to him.
"Did you really go to lunch all the time with him?" To be fair, Gavin does still wonder about it from time to time.
"Back then? I can only think of one time. Sort of. I forgot my lunch and went with him to pick something up."
"I knew he was lying!" Gavin shouts, and Ryan leans away.
"Right in my ear. Thanks."
"Sorry, love."
"Well Ryan already hates me anyway, what have I got to lose?"
It turns into an argument about the coin debates and that's when Ryan pauses the video.
"You really thought I hated you?" Gavin had said it, but it's so much different hearing it this way.
"Well... now I know you don't. I love you and you love me and we're happy. Isn't that what matters?" He doesn't want to talk about this anymore. He just wants to go to bed.
"But I never did! The whole 'treating work like a Monday' thing... Yeah, that was pretty much only with you. Because I thought you didn't really care for me."
"What?"
Ryan laughs, because goddamn were they stupid. "I thought you didn't like me. You didn't joke with me like you did the other guys."
"Because I thought it would make you hate me more!"
He turns to face the Brit, smiling sheepishly. "We were really fucking dumb, huh?"
"Oh my God. Yes! So stupid." Gavin laughs.
Ryan closes the laptop, sets it on the dresser. It'll drain the battery, but it's not like he'll really need it. "So. Sleep?"
"God yes. I'm tired as knobs." Gavin moves away, lies in his spot. As soon as Ryan gets his covers situated, the younger man rolls over, head on his chest. Gavin yawns, and Ryan laughs.
"Hey."
"Hmm?"
"I don't hate you."
Gavin looks up, a smile on his face. "I love you too." He kisses him with a loud "mwah" then let's his head fall back down.
They're both idiots for each think the other hated them, but it's ok. At least they love each other now. And they really, really do.
[I wrote angst earlier and it broke my fucking heart so I had to let Gavin be happy again]
Silence.
"Is it the next one?"
"Umm."
"Gavin!"
In his defence, Ryan should never have put him in charge of directions. He's terrible with them. Maps always confused him, because roads turned and how could you properly see anything in the damn folds? Right, you couldn't. Besides, he'd suggested GPS. Obviously that was the best solution. But no, they had to do this the old fashioned way.
("Really? You're an advocate for traditions?"
"Ooh, advocate. Big word, Gavin. Im proud."
"Seriously. How the hell is this going to be 'old fashioned' when we're literally going on a romantic trip together?"
"Technically it's just a vacation."
"Technically we both know we're not going to leave the hotel for the first two days.")
At this point he had unfolded the map so much it was taking up the majority of the passenger seat.
"Gavin, what the hell are you even doing?" Ryan glances over as a corner pokes him in the cheek.
"I'm trying to fix this damn map!"
"If you could make it tell me what exit number I'm supposed to get off at, that'd be nice."
"Shut up!" He continues wrestling the large sheet. Ryan is almost positive it's doubled in size since they bought it. "I think it's- ow!"
"What'd you do?"
"Goddamn paper cut. I think-"
"Well then by all means, focus on that. I don't need directions or anything." Turns out Ryan gets snippy when he's lost.
"I'm trying to bloody well tell you, if you'd shut up for one goddamn second!" He peeks over the edge of the devil-spawn...er, the map.
"Okay fine, tell me!"
"I think its 293."
As they pass a sign, Ryan checks. "Oh hey, we're almost there. Awesome."
"You're welcome!" Gavin huffs, slightly miffed.
"Yes, Gavin." Ryan says sarcastically, as he pulls onto the exit. "Thank you for your clear and calm directions, given in a very timely manner. They were extremely helpful."
"Oh fuck off, we were fine."
"We almost missed the exit." They're braking, nearing the light. It's red.
"But we didn't." Gavin points out, still struggling to refold the map.
"But- oh for Christ's sake, here." Ryan leans over and expertly shrinks the map back to normal. Less gently, he shoves it in the glove box. "I know where I'm going from here. The website said one mile north of the exit ramp."
"How the hell did you do that?" Gavin is dumbfounded. Also, why hadn't he done that twenty minutes ago?
"It's not rocket science, Gavin." Ryan laughs as he turns left.
"It's worse! At least someone could teach you that. I'm just an idiot who can't work a goddamn map."
"You're not an idiot." He says sharply. He doesn't like it when Gavin is hard on himself.
"Are you sure? Because I think most people can fold a map." He doesn't see himself the way Ryan does.
Ryan knows he's brilliant in his own way. He's creative. He sees things differently than a lot of people. That results in the unique way he perceives and interprets the world. His mind is something that fascinates Ryan.
Without looking, he reaches over and takes his boyfriend's hand. "Yes I'm sure. Most people would never come up with half the ideas you do. You are smart, Gavin. You're just silly a lot of the time."
"Silly?" He laughs, gently squeezing his hand.
"Yes, silly. And I love you for that."
"You're so corny, Ryan. But," He smiles, waits for his boyfriend to look over. When he finally does, he finishes the thought. "I love you for it."
Fine, he did say ‘In sickness and in health’ but he hadn’t quite known how bad the sickness part could be. Not the worrying. No, that was long over. Gavin fever had finally broken a few days ago. Now it was just a general inability to function normally. He simply didn’t have the energy.
Ryan hadn’t minded at first. All he wanted was for Gavin to get better, whatever it took. If that meant bringing up soup only for it to be deemed too hot, fine. Even bringing it back, except now it’s too cold. A third time, and actually, he’s just not hungry. He was Ok with it the first two days. After a week, it’s a bit tiresome.
"Sure thing." He did promise, after all.
He gets the water quickly, hoping that if he goes fast enough, it will speed up Gavin to sleep. He’s not sure what the correlation would be, just crosses his fingers that there could be one.
"Your water."
Gavin takes the glass, but frowns. “Actually, ginger ale sounds better.”
"Im sure it does, but you should really be drinking water. Which you have."
"But Ry-an. I want ginger ale.” If he weren’t sick, Ryan surely would have punched him at this point, husband or not.
“Fine. Ginger ale it is.” He pulls the glass from Gavin’s hands.”But then you need to get some sleep.”
"Uh huh." It’s completely unconvincing, and Ryan knows that when he gets back Gavin’s going to want something else.
On this trip downstairs he takes his time. He’s hoping that if he’s gone just long enough, Gavin will fall asleep on his own. He doubts it greatly, but he still hopes.
He’s wrong to hope. Gavin is still as conscious as he’s gonna get.
"Ginger ale, Gavin?" He holds out the glass, waiting for the seal of approval.
"Thanks. You can just set it on the nightstand."
Of course.
"Ryan, can you get me another blanket? I’m cold."
"Yeah, one second." The extra blankets are in their closet, thankfully. No going all the way downstairs. After a moment, he tosses one over the Brit. "There you go, nice and-"
"It’s too hot!" He complains, kicking off the blanket.
"Gavin, that’s the lightest blanket we own, I swear."
"It’s too hot!" He says again, as if it’s going to help.
"I- here." He rearranges the covers, pooling the blanket at Gavin’s feet but pulling the top sheet up. "Better?"
"Uh huh." This time it’s true.
"Do you need anything else?"
He shakes his head, eyes blinking rapidly. He’s starting to go. He had taken a dose of medication about an hour earlier. It’s finally kicking..
"So you’re ready to go to bed?" It sounds dumb, considering he’s already in bed.
Gavin shakes his head again.
"What do you need now?" What else is there?
Arms up, waiting. Oh. Gently, Ryan leans over and hugs him, rubbing circles onto his back. “Feel better, Gav.”
He just nods in response. He’s almost asleep now, though he’s still fighting it. Ryan pulls back, kisses his forehead. He sits on the edge of the bed, carefully tucking a loose strand of hair behind Gavin’s ear. He doesn’t like it when Gavin is sick.
"Ryan?"
"Yeah?"
A pause, and then, “Thank you.”
"It’s what I’m here for."
It is. Sick Gavin is annoying, needy, and picky. But he loves him anyway.
