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treasure_geeks2008-06-05 09:57 am
strifechaos.livejournal.com) wrote in treasure_geeks2008-06-05 09:57 am
Fic: By My Side, Ben/Riley
Title: By My Side
Rating: FRT / PG-13
Fandom(s): National Treasure
Pairing(s): Ben/Riley, Riley/Sadusky*(sorta, trust me)
Spoilers: Both movies.
Warnings: slash
Challenge: "A gets a boyfriend. Up until then, B hadn't realized A swung that way. Or: A gets a boyfriend to make B jealous."for the Kink/Cliche Challenge
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, but I really wish I did. ;)
Word count: 3,505
Summary: Riley spends Thanksgiving with Sadusky, which leads to Ben putting a stop to his computer expert not being glued to his hip. Abby has a slight obession with eBay. Not as cracked out as it sounds.
ETA: Edited 6/9/08
Author Note: Written for the Kink/Cliche Challenge . Originally it was meant to be Tin Man fic, but Ambrose’s third husband just wasn’t willing to further the plot beyond Cain’s jaw dropping and much flailing on our Tin Man’s part. So National Treasure fun took over, because Riley was just begging for some attention after second movie. Somehow Thanksgiving became the holiday of choice for this, I’ve no idea how. *shrugs*
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When F.B.I. Special Agent Peter Sadusky had popped up in the middle of Ben and Riley’s lunch, requesting a word, Ben had been sure that the older man had wanted to speak to him. He’d been a little surprised that Sadusky had been able to pinpoint where he’d been having lunch with Riley, but shrugged it off. Mentioning something like that to Riley would be like waving a red flag in front of a bull, and he’d hear nothing else for the rest of the afternoon but conspiracies about Big Brother.
Ignoring how the agent had found them, Ben had assumed the man was here about something about the treasures. Maybe along the lines of a loose end that needed tied up or some quote for a report; Ben hadn’t been expecting Sadusky to politely point out that he’d meant he wished to speak with Riley.
About his book.
Ben jerked in the direction of his best friend when he agrees, sure that he’s heard wrong, but Riley’s giving the agent a shy smile and a faint blush is filling his cheeks as he plans to meet tomorrow to talk about his book.
Ben was beyond puzzled.
Riley? Peter Sadusky of the F.B.I. wanted to speak about Riley’s book?
Ben couldn’t have been more flabbergasted if the agent had told announced he’d had a deep desire to be a ballet dancer as a child.
Sadusky settled a time to meet for dinner, to talk over some of the finer points of Riley’s book, Ben was struck with the realization that the older man had already read Riley’s book.
Which, he knew was a bit slow of him, as the other man had even had a copy of it in his office; referencing it last time Ben had been there. It was more that even as Riley's best friend he had yet to do more than skim, and even then that had only been in an effort to appease the younger man.
And Sadusky wanted to discuss the finer points of it.
In that moment Ben was consumed with the possessive urge to decline the invitation for his friend, and to demand that Sadusky leave and not bother Riley.
The only thing that held him back was that the attention wasn't bothering Riley.
He’s agreed to have dinner with another man. One that wasn’t Ben. And he was smiling and happy about it.
Ben tamped down on his possessive streak, unsure of what it meant and not comfortable analyzing his feelings. Riley seemed happier than he had in a while, so it couldn't be that bad of a thing.
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Ben was sure that after the lunch Riley would be extra hyper about conspiracies for a while but it would eventually tamper down. As much as Riley ever did about conspiracies. Except, it wasn't just a lunch, it became lunches, and Ben found that F.B.I. Special Agent Peter Sadusky seemed bound and determined to pop up in Riley, and through connection, Ben's life. Changing their relationship.
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“What do you mean you aren’t coming?” Ben gave Riley a perturbed look, almost getting a kink in his neck at the speed he’d jolted around to gape at the younger man.
“I, uh well…I have other plans for Thanksgiving this year,” Riley explained haltingly, fidgeting with his wrist and avoiding everyone’s gaze, staring determinedly at the early eighteen-century rug Abigail had won on an eBay auction.
“That’s great, Riley!” Abby cheered, smiling widely at the younger man. He looked up at her and seeing that she was serious, returned her broad smile with a bashful one of his own.
Ben unable to hold back the annoyance stirring within him burst. “But you always spend Thanksgiving with me and dad!”
He pointed an accusing finger at Riley, “You have since we’ve known each other!”
Riley bit his bottom lip, and Ben could see him resist the urge to fiddle with his glasses, a move Ben knew he only did when he was unsure of himself, and Ben felt like kicking himself for making his friend feel intimidated. He moved forward, placing a hand on Riley’s shoulder, squeezing gently to get the younger man to look up at him.
“I, uh, sorry, Riley. “ Dipping his head, he shrugged, and tried to muster up a smile, “That’s great news, I’m glad you have someplace to spend Thanksgiving at, I’ll uh we’ll miss you this year.”
And even though Ben felt like he’d been pulling teeth to get the words out, the smile that Riley gave him more than made up for the effort it took to say the words. Despite how much saying it wasn't true.
“Great! See, I wasn’t sure how you’d take it and I told Peter that I couldn’t really promise to go with him for Thanksgiving dinner, not until I’d mentioned it to you.” Riley’s almost tripping over himself to get the words out but he lights up, as he describes his dilemma.
Ben doesn’t grimace at the mention of Peter, but it’s only through sheer herculean effort that he holds it back, his teeth grind together painfully.
“Why would you go have Thanksgiving with his family and not mine?” The words are out before Ben can bite his tongue, and if the look Abby throws him is anything to go by, he should have tried harder; and Riley seems to shrink in on himself, looking a little taken aback at Ben’s comment.
“Are you sure you’re ok with this, Ben?” And Ben feels like a heel for guilting his friend like that for actually having a life outside him. “I could call Peter and tell him this time isn’t a good--”
Before the computer expert can finish, his phone starts bleating our a computer generated version of Just Got Started Loving You, and Riley dives to answer it before any more of the song can be heard, color rushing to his face as he turns around to answer the call.
“Hey, Pete.” ((pause))“Yeah I missed having lunch this week too, but I guess catching bad guys in Pittsburg was more pressing.” ((pause)) “The disadvantage of having a standing lunch date with upholders and future upholders of the law, I suppose. Why don’t we make it up over Thanksgiving?”
Ben walks away. Quickly.
He knows, without looking that Riley is grinning and happy, and for reasons Ben doesn’t want to contemplate his stomach twists painfully at the conformation he just received about Riley’s dating status.
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The whole evening had felt off. Ben hadn’t been able to put his finger on it, occupied with missing Riley, wishing he’d been here to get to know his mother, instead of filling in the stifling silences that always came when Gates men were together. It was more than the other man’s offbeat wit that he missed though.
Ben realizes he’s been spending a good portion of the evening talking about his friend when his parents exchange an exasperated and knowing look.
“That son is a lesson I learned long ago. You can’t let the one that means the most to you get away, no matter what’s currently stopping you.” Patrick takes Emily’s hand within his own, bringing her knuckles to his lips, brushing a soft kiss across them. She breaks into a smile at the gesture, and for a beat Ben feels out of place and awkward sitting there around the dinner table with his parents.
He feels a stinging envy of their relationship, and wishes now more than ever Riley was at his side.
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“Riley? You’ve been subdued all evening, what’s the wrong?” Peter moved to his young friend. Riley fidgeted, fiddling with his glasses and biting his bottom lip. Peter drops his hand to Riley’s shoulder, the muscles tense under his hand and the agent’s concern ratchets up another notch.
Since they’d arrived, Riley had been quiet and jumpy, squirming uncomfortably in his seat and frequently checking his wristwatch. When dinner had finally ended he’d all but bolted out of his chair, sprinting to the other room, thanking Peter for having him over.
The alarm bells that had been ringing in his mind all evening had finally lead the agent to excusing himself from the table, and catching the younger man before he could leave.
“It’s nothing; I had a great time with your family. Sorry things didn’t work out how you uh wanted. Although, I’m sure Stephen is happy you joined PFLAG.”
Peter gives him a no nonsense look and Riley caves.
“I just….normally I spend the holidays with Ben and his dad, and now this year there’s no one there to stop them from killing each other but his mom.”
Peter chuckled, smiling at Riley, relieved that his concerns hadn’t been warranted. “I’m sure Dr. Chase is more than up to the challenge of keeping the Gates in their place.”
“Abby? Her family is flying in to do a Turkey Day meet and greet with Connor’s family.”
“Isn’t her family German?” Peter asked, confused.
“That’s what I said!”
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Riley didn’t want to answer his door, Peter had just dropped him off twenty minutes ago, and after the awkward evening of Stephen, Peter’s son, pointing out that while he thought Riley was cool, he didn’t need his dad to set him up, he wanted nothing more than to crawl under his covers and not wake up for another eight hours, more if possible. It was bad enough that their lunches had apparently been more than Riley being a source for Stephan's thesis, but Sadusky's attempt to set them up and let his son know he was ok with him being gay. Riley was pretty sure he'd never felt more mortified in his life.
Hence the overpowering desire to crawl under the covers and ignore the knocking at his door.
Still, if he didn’t answer it soon his neighbors would take it upon themselves to call the cops and if Riley doesn’t want to answer his door, he really doesn’t want to deal with the cops.
He barely has the door unlocked and opened before Ben is plowing pass him, stalking around with hurried strides that make Riley dizzy as he tries to follow the movements with his eyes.
“Good evening to you as well, Ben, so kind of you to ask how my evening went. I had a fantastic day, how was yours?”
Ben stops his pacing, jolted out of his mind; he stares at his friend, like he doesn't know how he got there. He’s rewarded with the sight of scruffy-Riley. Simple pajama pants and smart ass t-shirt, that look like they’d be soft to the touch, rumbled. Hair sticking up funny in tuffs. It’s the most enticing sight that Ben’s seen in a while, and he knows that he has to say what he’s been feeling ever since Sadusky asked Riley on the first date before it progesses further.
He can't stand the thought of losing Riley to someone else, and it couldn't have been driven home any harder that he needs Riley in his life than it has in the past few months with the younger man dropping out of it more and more.
“I don’t like seeing you with him.”
Riley’s face scrunches up cutely when he’s confused Ben realizes, it could explain why he enjoys sprinkling their conversations with so many obscure facts.
“'Him?' Ben, what are you talking about? Maybe you should sit down.” His tone is worried, and he’s trying to guide Ben to the couch, but the taller man just shrugs off his hands, adamant about explaining before he loses his nerve.
“No, I need to say my piece. I don’t want you seeing Agent Sadusky anymore.” How is it he can stand up to the President of the free world, but talking to one computer geek has his knees feeling weak and like he’s about to throw up a lung.
Riley blinks. Unfortunately this doesn’t clear up his confusion on why Peter has anything to do with what Ben’s doing in his apartment.
“Uh, what are you talking about? Are you drunk? Did you and your dad get in a fight over dinner?”
“We didn’t get into a fight, Riley!”
There’s an awkward pause, neither sure of what to say. Ben is aware that he could walk out of Riley’s apartment right now, pretend none of this happened. It’s tempting, just to call Riley tomorrow, to sweep it all under the rug.
But then there’s the hanging dread that, even if Riley hadn’t been dating Sadusky, that he could. Not necessarily the F.B.I. agent, but someone else, a random guy that wouldn’t be nearly good enough for his best friend.
And with a chilly certainty Ben can feel it in his bones, he knows sitting idly by as Riley fell in love with anyone other them him, would kill him.
It’s a rare moment of clarity for Ben, to have the puzzle pieces finally snap into place, understanding why it drives him crazy whenever Riley cancels plans to spend time with someone else, or how Ben can’t stand to see those crazy groupies fan around the younger man, especially at the book signings. Why out of the most significant moments in his life, Riley’s been by his side, there to support him in everything.
Even if it is breaking into his ex-girlfriend’s, or stealing the Declaration of Independence, running from the police (internationally), breaking into the Queen’s palace, even going to the middle of nowhere frozen tundra and searching for a legendary ship.
He’s in love with his best friend.
It's a jolting relaization, and Ben wants to think that such a leap is ridiculous but it explains so much. The reason behind his constant protectiveness crashes down on him less like a wave and more like a tsunami; and he has to stop it. Now. Make sure that no other man makes Riley his own.
Steeling himself, Ben steps towards the computer’s expert, looking into his eyes and expressing his intentions as best as he can.
“Ry, I don’t want to spend any more holidays without you by my side.”
The befuddled look on Riley’s face was adorable, and Ben knew he was lost because he really just wants to wrap his arms around the younger man and hold on tight.
“Don’t you think you’re overreacting a bit? I mean, I know you don’t like your dad, Ben, but he’s not that bad.” Riley crosses his arms over his chest, leaning back against the wall and watching his best friend.
“No, you don’t get it.” Ben sighs heavily, pacing again, waving his arms to help stress is point, “I want you with me, where ever I go not just because you’re a good buffer between dad and me.”
“Are you,” He has to clear his oddly suddenly dry throat, “in a completely corny and unclear way, implying what I think you’re implying.”
Ben nods and offers Riley a smile, rubbing his sweaty palms against his dress pants, “I think so.”
Riley can’t breathe, elation and doubt war within his mind and he wants desperately to believe that Ben is serious, that he wants to be with Riley, but he can remember, too clearly, how happy the older man had seemed with Abigail for those few months they’d managed to get along.
“Are you trying to woo me, Benjamin Gates?” The younger man teases, trying to break the tension in the air, smirking at his friend, trying to give him an out, but Ben isn’t letting him out that easily.
“Riley Poole, will you allow me the honor of courting you?” Ben’s voice is completely serious and it knocks the teasing smile off Riley’s face, returning the reality of what they’re saying to crash into both of them.
“Y-you really mean it?” At Ben’s nod, Riley can’t hold back the smile that takes over half his face. Ben takes several steps to reach Riley’s side, sweeping the shorter man into the tight hug he’d wanted, slowly pulling back after the hug had stretched over into a few minutes. Just enough so that he could angle his head and lean back down and slowly pressing his lips to Riley’s.
Riley isn’t able to resist the taunt, “You know, people don’t talk like that anymore, not really.” His eyes are sparkling and his smile is blinding.
Ben chuckles, ducking his head, “Yeah, but that’s how they feel.” He pauses, leaning in to kiss Riley again, lingering barely a breath from the younger man, “It’s how I feel about you.”
Riley looks at Ben, struck with an impulsive jolt of uncertainty. “Are you really sure this is something you want to pursue, I mean, this isn’t some stunt to piss off your dad or—or something else?”
“No.”
Riley’s breath catches in his throat, and he can feel a pressure building in his eyes that he’ll never admit means he’s about twenty seconds away from crying, the unfairness of it all; having his desire returned only to find out it was a misunderstanding. Before he can compose a reply, Ben is tightening his old on the younger man.
“Riley, no, this isn’t some juvenile prank on my father, and I know this won’t exactly make my job easier,” Ben clarifies, running a soothing hand up and down Riley’s back, attempting to ease the doubt from the tense younger man.
“I’m sensing a ‘but’ coming,” Riley points out, wishing for once that he wasn’t so cynical.
“Nothing so tragic, Riley, I can’t just sit back and watch you date other men because it means my life would be easier.” His lips quirk up, “Haven’t you learned anything about us Gates’ men in the years you’ve known me? We don’t do anything the easy way. Especially not winning the hearts of the people we love.”
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Epilogue
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“And then he cried, it was all very touching and I’m sure he’ll perform a reenactment of it for you, if you ask very nicely, Abs.” Riley grinned.
The blonde giggled, more at the pained look on Ben’s face than Riley’s goofy tale of how he ‘finally knocked some sense into his man’.
“So I take it Agent Sadusky isn’t attempting to hook you up with his son anymore? No more weekly lunches between the three of you?”
Ben tightens the arm he has wrapped around the smaller man’s shoulder at the mention of the agent, pulling him closer to his chest.
Riley shakes his head, “Naw, I haven’t heard much from him since the disaster that was Thanksgiving dinner. Apparently, Stephen didn’t take too kindly to his old man trying to push him into dating someone. Besides, I finished helping him with his citations for his conspiracy paper for his criminology course online, so we don’t need to meet up for lunches.”
“That still doesn’t explain why Peter had the ‘special’ ringtone…” Abigail prodded, tucking her feet up under her as they sat around the family room of Ben and Abigail’s house.
This time Riley really does blush, “Oh that, well that’s actually a long story, and I wouldn’t want to bore you with the details.” He waves his hand, dismissing the topic.
Ben grins, “Oh I don’t know Ry, I’m sure Abigail would love to hear how you pissed the Verizon tech support girl off, and I kno—“ Riley leaned forward, sealing his mouth over Ben’s, effectively stopping his revelation about Riley’s constant string of embarrassing ringtones.
“What did I do without you?” Ben breathlessly asks once they part.
Riley smirks, “Abigail.”
Abigail squawks, “Riley!” She swats at him with one of the couch pillows, it’s from the 1940’s and she’s just won them off of an auction the other month. They’re surprisingly durable, and Riley finally wiggles off of Ben’s lap, dodging her attacks.
“Hey, be careful of the Riley, I’d hate to have to sic my boyfriend on you!” Riley warns, arming himself with an old pillow of his own.
Abby scoffs, “Ha! Benjamin would never hit a laAAH!” She frowns at the taller man, unsuccessfully trying to appear innocent and hide the pillow behind his back at the same time.
She scowls. “Oh, this gentlemen, means war!”
The battle commences and continues until Connor walks in, intent on collecting Abigail for their date that night.
Puzzled he asks, “What exactly is going on here?”
Ben and Riley freeze, pillows mid-swing, unfortunately this doesn’t stop Abigail, who’d wound up to smack Riley with the pillow, and at the question jerks around and accidently wallops the president’s aide in the face.
His fall is rather comically, and Riley can’t without a snort of amusement. Abby glares at him and goes over to her boyfriend.
“Oh! Connor, I am so sorry, I didn’t mean to hit you.” She drops the pillow to the ground next to him, and crouches over the fallen man.
“Was that one of those pillows you won off eBay?”
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The End
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Rating: FRT / PG-13
Fandom(s): National Treasure
Pairing(s): Ben/Riley, Riley/Sadusky*(sorta, trust me)
Spoilers: Both movies.
Warnings: slash
Challenge: "A gets a boyfriend. Up until then, B hadn't realized A swung that way. Or: A gets a boyfriend to make B jealous."for the Kink/Cliche Challenge
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, but I really wish I did. ;)
Word count: 3,505
Summary: Riley spends Thanksgiving with Sadusky, which leads to Ben putting a stop to his computer expert not being glued to his hip. Abby has a slight obession with eBay. Not as cracked out as it sounds.
ETA: Edited 6/9/08
Author Note: Written for the Kink/Cliche Challenge . Originally it was meant to be Tin Man fic, but Ambrose’s third husband just wasn’t willing to further the plot beyond Cain’s jaw dropping and much flailing on our Tin Man’s part. So National Treasure fun took over, because Riley was just begging for some attention after second movie. Somehow Thanksgiving became the holiday of choice for this, I’ve no idea how. *shrugs*
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When F.B.I. Special Agent Peter Sadusky had popped up in the middle of Ben and Riley’s lunch, requesting a word, Ben had been sure that the older man had wanted to speak to him. He’d been a little surprised that Sadusky had been able to pinpoint where he’d been having lunch with Riley, but shrugged it off. Mentioning something like that to Riley would be like waving a red flag in front of a bull, and he’d hear nothing else for the rest of the afternoon but conspiracies about Big Brother.
Ignoring how the agent had found them, Ben had assumed the man was here about something about the treasures. Maybe along the lines of a loose end that needed tied up or some quote for a report; Ben hadn’t been expecting Sadusky to politely point out that he’d meant he wished to speak with Riley.
About his book.
Ben jerked in the direction of his best friend when he agrees, sure that he’s heard wrong, but Riley’s giving the agent a shy smile and a faint blush is filling his cheeks as he plans to meet tomorrow to talk about his book.
Ben was beyond puzzled.
Riley? Peter Sadusky of the F.B.I. wanted to speak about Riley’s book?
Ben couldn’t have been more flabbergasted if the agent had told announced he’d had a deep desire to be a ballet dancer as a child.
Sadusky settled a time to meet for dinner, to talk over some of the finer points of Riley’s book, Ben was struck with the realization that the older man had already read Riley’s book.
Which, he knew was a bit slow of him, as the other man had even had a copy of it in his office; referencing it last time Ben had been there. It was more that even as Riley's best friend he had yet to do more than skim, and even then that had only been in an effort to appease the younger man.
And Sadusky wanted to discuss the finer points of it.
In that moment Ben was consumed with the possessive urge to decline the invitation for his friend, and to demand that Sadusky leave and not bother Riley.
The only thing that held him back was that the attention wasn't bothering Riley.
He’s agreed to have dinner with another man. One that wasn’t Ben. And he was smiling and happy about it.
Ben tamped down on his possessive streak, unsure of what it meant and not comfortable analyzing his feelings. Riley seemed happier than he had in a while, so it couldn't be that bad of a thing.
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Ben was sure that after the lunch Riley would be extra hyper about conspiracies for a while but it would eventually tamper down. As much as Riley ever did about conspiracies. Except, it wasn't just a lunch, it became lunches, and Ben found that F.B.I. Special Agent Peter Sadusky seemed bound and determined to pop up in Riley, and through connection, Ben's life. Changing their relationship.
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“What do you mean you aren’t coming?” Ben gave Riley a perturbed look, almost getting a kink in his neck at the speed he’d jolted around to gape at the younger man.
“I, uh well…I have other plans for Thanksgiving this year,” Riley explained haltingly, fidgeting with his wrist and avoiding everyone’s gaze, staring determinedly at the early eighteen-century rug Abigail had won on an eBay auction.
“That’s great, Riley!” Abby cheered, smiling widely at the younger man. He looked up at her and seeing that she was serious, returned her broad smile with a bashful one of his own.
Ben unable to hold back the annoyance stirring within him burst. “But you always spend Thanksgiving with me and dad!”
He pointed an accusing finger at Riley, “You have since we’ve known each other!”
Riley bit his bottom lip, and Ben could see him resist the urge to fiddle with his glasses, a move Ben knew he only did when he was unsure of himself, and Ben felt like kicking himself for making his friend feel intimidated. He moved forward, placing a hand on Riley’s shoulder, squeezing gently to get the younger man to look up at him.
“I, uh, sorry, Riley. “ Dipping his head, he shrugged, and tried to muster up a smile, “That’s great news, I’m glad you have someplace to spend Thanksgiving at, I’ll uh we’ll miss you this year.”
And even though Ben felt like he’d been pulling teeth to get the words out, the smile that Riley gave him more than made up for the effort it took to say the words. Despite how much saying it wasn't true.
“Great! See, I wasn’t sure how you’d take it and I told Peter that I couldn’t really promise to go with him for Thanksgiving dinner, not until I’d mentioned it to you.” Riley’s almost tripping over himself to get the words out but he lights up, as he describes his dilemma.
Ben doesn’t grimace at the mention of Peter, but it’s only through sheer herculean effort that he holds it back, his teeth grind together painfully.
“Why would you go have Thanksgiving with his family and not mine?” The words are out before Ben can bite his tongue, and if the look Abby throws him is anything to go by, he should have tried harder; and Riley seems to shrink in on himself, looking a little taken aback at Ben’s comment.
“Are you sure you’re ok with this, Ben?” And Ben feels like a heel for guilting his friend like that for actually having a life outside him. “I could call Peter and tell him this time isn’t a good--”
Before the computer expert can finish, his phone starts bleating our a computer generated version of Just Got Started Loving You, and Riley dives to answer it before any more of the song can be heard, color rushing to his face as he turns around to answer the call.
“Hey, Pete.” ((pause))“Yeah I missed having lunch this week too, but I guess catching bad guys in Pittsburg was more pressing.” ((pause)) “The disadvantage of having a standing lunch date with upholders and future upholders of the law, I suppose. Why don’t we make it up over Thanksgiving?”
Ben walks away. Quickly.
He knows, without looking that Riley is grinning and happy, and for reasons Ben doesn’t want to contemplate his stomach twists painfully at the conformation he just received about Riley’s dating status.
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The whole evening had felt off. Ben hadn’t been able to put his finger on it, occupied with missing Riley, wishing he’d been here to get to know his mother, instead of filling in the stifling silences that always came when Gates men were together. It was more than the other man’s offbeat wit that he missed though.
Ben realizes he’s been spending a good portion of the evening talking about his friend when his parents exchange an exasperated and knowing look.
“That son is a lesson I learned long ago. You can’t let the one that means the most to you get away, no matter what’s currently stopping you.” Patrick takes Emily’s hand within his own, bringing her knuckles to his lips, brushing a soft kiss across them. She breaks into a smile at the gesture, and for a beat Ben feels out of place and awkward sitting there around the dinner table with his parents.
He feels a stinging envy of their relationship, and wishes now more than ever Riley was at his side.
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“Riley? You’ve been subdued all evening, what’s the wrong?” Peter moved to his young friend. Riley fidgeted, fiddling with his glasses and biting his bottom lip. Peter drops his hand to Riley’s shoulder, the muscles tense under his hand and the agent’s concern ratchets up another notch.
Since they’d arrived, Riley had been quiet and jumpy, squirming uncomfortably in his seat and frequently checking his wristwatch. When dinner had finally ended he’d all but bolted out of his chair, sprinting to the other room, thanking Peter for having him over.
The alarm bells that had been ringing in his mind all evening had finally lead the agent to excusing himself from the table, and catching the younger man before he could leave.
“It’s nothing; I had a great time with your family. Sorry things didn’t work out how you uh wanted. Although, I’m sure Stephen is happy you joined PFLAG.”
Peter gives him a no nonsense look and Riley caves.
“I just….normally I spend the holidays with Ben and his dad, and now this year there’s no one there to stop them from killing each other but his mom.”
Peter chuckled, smiling at Riley, relieved that his concerns hadn’t been warranted. “I’m sure Dr. Chase is more than up to the challenge of keeping the Gates in their place.”
“Abby? Her family is flying in to do a Turkey Day meet and greet with Connor’s family.”
“Isn’t her family German?” Peter asked, confused.
“That’s what I said!”
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Riley didn’t want to answer his door, Peter had just dropped him off twenty minutes ago, and after the awkward evening of Stephen, Peter’s son, pointing out that while he thought Riley was cool, he didn’t need his dad to set him up, he wanted nothing more than to crawl under his covers and not wake up for another eight hours, more if possible. It was bad enough that their lunches had apparently been more than Riley being a source for Stephan's thesis, but Sadusky's attempt to set them up and let his son know he was ok with him being gay. Riley was pretty sure he'd never felt more mortified in his life.
Hence the overpowering desire to crawl under the covers and ignore the knocking at his door.
Still, if he didn’t answer it soon his neighbors would take it upon themselves to call the cops and if Riley doesn’t want to answer his door, he really doesn’t want to deal with the cops.
He barely has the door unlocked and opened before Ben is plowing pass him, stalking around with hurried strides that make Riley dizzy as he tries to follow the movements with his eyes.
“Good evening to you as well, Ben, so kind of you to ask how my evening went. I had a fantastic day, how was yours?”
Ben stops his pacing, jolted out of his mind; he stares at his friend, like he doesn't know how he got there. He’s rewarded with the sight of scruffy-Riley. Simple pajama pants and smart ass t-shirt, that look like they’d be soft to the touch, rumbled. Hair sticking up funny in tuffs. It’s the most enticing sight that Ben’s seen in a while, and he knows that he has to say what he’s been feeling ever since Sadusky asked Riley on the first date before it progesses further.
He can't stand the thought of losing Riley to someone else, and it couldn't have been driven home any harder that he needs Riley in his life than it has in the past few months with the younger man dropping out of it more and more.
“I don’t like seeing you with him.”
Riley’s face scrunches up cutely when he’s confused Ben realizes, it could explain why he enjoys sprinkling their conversations with so many obscure facts.
“'Him?' Ben, what are you talking about? Maybe you should sit down.” His tone is worried, and he’s trying to guide Ben to the couch, but the taller man just shrugs off his hands, adamant about explaining before he loses his nerve.
“No, I need to say my piece. I don’t want you seeing Agent Sadusky anymore.” How is it he can stand up to the President of the free world, but talking to one computer geek has his knees feeling weak and like he’s about to throw up a lung.
Riley blinks. Unfortunately this doesn’t clear up his confusion on why Peter has anything to do with what Ben’s doing in his apartment.
“Uh, what are you talking about? Are you drunk? Did you and your dad get in a fight over dinner?”
“We didn’t get into a fight, Riley!”
There’s an awkward pause, neither sure of what to say. Ben is aware that he could walk out of Riley’s apartment right now, pretend none of this happened. It’s tempting, just to call Riley tomorrow, to sweep it all under the rug.
But then there’s the hanging dread that, even if Riley hadn’t been dating Sadusky, that he could. Not necessarily the F.B.I. agent, but someone else, a random guy that wouldn’t be nearly good enough for his best friend.
And with a chilly certainty Ben can feel it in his bones, he knows sitting idly by as Riley fell in love with anyone other them him, would kill him.
It’s a rare moment of clarity for Ben, to have the puzzle pieces finally snap into place, understanding why it drives him crazy whenever Riley cancels plans to spend time with someone else, or how Ben can’t stand to see those crazy groupies fan around the younger man, especially at the book signings. Why out of the most significant moments in his life, Riley’s been by his side, there to support him in everything.
Even if it is breaking into his ex-girlfriend’s, or stealing the Declaration of Independence, running from the police (internationally), breaking into the Queen’s palace, even going to the middle of nowhere frozen tundra and searching for a legendary ship.
He’s in love with his best friend.
It's a jolting relaization, and Ben wants to think that such a leap is ridiculous but it explains so much. The reason behind his constant protectiveness crashes down on him less like a wave and more like a tsunami; and he has to stop it. Now. Make sure that no other man makes Riley his own.
Steeling himself, Ben steps towards the computer’s expert, looking into his eyes and expressing his intentions as best as he can.
“Ry, I don’t want to spend any more holidays without you by my side.”
The befuddled look on Riley’s face was adorable, and Ben knew he was lost because he really just wants to wrap his arms around the younger man and hold on tight.
“Don’t you think you’re overreacting a bit? I mean, I know you don’t like your dad, Ben, but he’s not that bad.” Riley crosses his arms over his chest, leaning back against the wall and watching his best friend.
“No, you don’t get it.” Ben sighs heavily, pacing again, waving his arms to help stress is point, “I want you with me, where ever I go not just because you’re a good buffer between dad and me.”
“Are you,” He has to clear his oddly suddenly dry throat, “in a completely corny and unclear way, implying what I think you’re implying.”
Ben nods and offers Riley a smile, rubbing his sweaty palms against his dress pants, “I think so.”
Riley can’t breathe, elation and doubt war within his mind and he wants desperately to believe that Ben is serious, that he wants to be with Riley, but he can remember, too clearly, how happy the older man had seemed with Abigail for those few months they’d managed to get along.
“Are you trying to woo me, Benjamin Gates?” The younger man teases, trying to break the tension in the air, smirking at his friend, trying to give him an out, but Ben isn’t letting him out that easily.
“Riley Poole, will you allow me the honor of courting you?” Ben’s voice is completely serious and it knocks the teasing smile off Riley’s face, returning the reality of what they’re saying to crash into both of them.
“Y-you really mean it?” At Ben’s nod, Riley can’t hold back the smile that takes over half his face. Ben takes several steps to reach Riley’s side, sweeping the shorter man into the tight hug he’d wanted, slowly pulling back after the hug had stretched over into a few minutes. Just enough so that he could angle his head and lean back down and slowly pressing his lips to Riley’s.
Riley isn’t able to resist the taunt, “You know, people don’t talk like that anymore, not really.” His eyes are sparkling and his smile is blinding.
Ben chuckles, ducking his head, “Yeah, but that’s how they feel.” He pauses, leaning in to kiss Riley again, lingering barely a breath from the younger man, “It’s how I feel about you.”
Riley looks at Ben, struck with an impulsive jolt of uncertainty. “Are you really sure this is something you want to pursue, I mean, this isn’t some stunt to piss off your dad or—or something else?”
“No.”
Riley’s breath catches in his throat, and he can feel a pressure building in his eyes that he’ll never admit means he’s about twenty seconds away from crying, the unfairness of it all; having his desire returned only to find out it was a misunderstanding. Before he can compose a reply, Ben is tightening his old on the younger man.
“Riley, no, this isn’t some juvenile prank on my father, and I know this won’t exactly make my job easier,” Ben clarifies, running a soothing hand up and down Riley’s back, attempting to ease the doubt from the tense younger man.
“I’m sensing a ‘but’ coming,” Riley points out, wishing for once that he wasn’t so cynical.
“Nothing so tragic, Riley, I can’t just sit back and watch you date other men because it means my life would be easier.” His lips quirk up, “Haven’t you learned anything about us Gates’ men in the years you’ve known me? We don’t do anything the easy way. Especially not winning the hearts of the people we love.”
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Epilogue
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“And then he cried, it was all very touching and I’m sure he’ll perform a reenactment of it for you, if you ask very nicely, Abs.” Riley grinned.
The blonde giggled, more at the pained look on Ben’s face than Riley’s goofy tale of how he ‘finally knocked some sense into his man’.
“So I take it Agent Sadusky isn’t attempting to hook you up with his son anymore? No more weekly lunches between the three of you?”
Ben tightens the arm he has wrapped around the smaller man’s shoulder at the mention of the agent, pulling him closer to his chest.
Riley shakes his head, “Naw, I haven’t heard much from him since the disaster that was Thanksgiving dinner. Apparently, Stephen didn’t take too kindly to his old man trying to push him into dating someone. Besides, I finished helping him with his citations for his conspiracy paper for his criminology course online, so we don’t need to meet up for lunches.”
“That still doesn’t explain why Peter had the ‘special’ ringtone…” Abigail prodded, tucking her feet up under her as they sat around the family room of Ben and Abigail’s house.
This time Riley really does blush, “Oh that, well that’s actually a long story, and I wouldn’t want to bore you with the details.” He waves his hand, dismissing the topic.
Ben grins, “Oh I don’t know Ry, I’m sure Abigail would love to hear how you pissed the Verizon tech support girl off, and I kno—“ Riley leaned forward, sealing his mouth over Ben’s, effectively stopping his revelation about Riley’s constant string of embarrassing ringtones.
“What did I do without you?” Ben breathlessly asks once they part.
Riley smirks, “Abigail.”
Abigail squawks, “Riley!” She swats at him with one of the couch pillows, it’s from the 1940’s and she’s just won them off of an auction the other month. They’re surprisingly durable, and Riley finally wiggles off of Ben’s lap, dodging her attacks.
“Hey, be careful of the Riley, I’d hate to have to sic my boyfriend on you!” Riley warns, arming himself with an old pillow of his own.
Abby scoffs, “Ha! Benjamin would never hit a laAAH!” She frowns at the taller man, unsuccessfully trying to appear innocent and hide the pillow behind his back at the same time.
She scowls. “Oh, this gentlemen, means war!”
The battle commences and continues until Connor walks in, intent on collecting Abigail for their date that night.
Puzzled he asks, “What exactly is going on here?”
Ben and Riley freeze, pillows mid-swing, unfortunately this doesn’t stop Abigail, who’d wound up to smack Riley with the pillow, and at the question jerks around and accidently wallops the president’s aide in the face.
His fall is rather comically, and Riley can’t without a snort of amusement. Abby glares at him and goes over to her boyfriend.
“Oh! Connor, I am so sorry, I didn’t mean to hit you.” She drops the pillow to the ground next to him, and crouches over the fallen man.
“Was that one of those pillows you won off eBay?”
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The End
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...That's really all I can think to say. This was great.
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Such a sweet pairing:)
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I'm psyched you liked the story, thanks for letting me know. :)
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This pairing is one of the cutest ever:)
I even prompet´ed them at
I really hope someone claims it:)
*evil grin*
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I totally love you BTW for writing this :)
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Abigail is difficult to use in a story I think because you don't want to bastardize her character but I know that when I'm trying to get our boys together having her there makes it a bit of a task. Still, I try not to make her an evil troll and I'm really glad that you liked my version of her in this story. I couldn't resist the eBay addiction, after that scene where she was all about those Boston Tea Party tables. *snerk*
And I totally love you for the feedback, it makes my day.
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Yeah, I like Abigail in the movies, and when people write about her being a bitch, I always feel kinda bad for her, BUT if it helps our boys get together, then I'm okay with it ;)
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This was great ^-^
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Abby and the eBay addiction I love, it was really one of my favorite parts to write. I didn't want her to be to crackafied but with the Boston Tea Party table scenes in the movie I could just see her surfing the internet looking for deals on little pieces of history. ;)
Thanks so much for the feedback, it really makes my day to see that people like what I write. ^___^