Rin risked a glance across the dark car at Rory. He blew out a shaky breath. "I'm sorry about all this. I realize I've put you through a lot, and on top of that, I've not been very supportive of you lately either." He ran a hand through his slicked-back hair, messing it up. "Like Dillon said, I've been too focused on other things… I've probably seemed too much like my father to you as well…" He sent Rory a pleading glance before returning his gaze to the road. "But if it makes a difference, it was all for you… in its own fucked up way. I know it's hard to see, and looking back I can't even make sense of my own actions… but I swear to you at the time I thought I was doing what was in your best interest… That has to count for something, right?"
Rory frowned as he turned his focus out the side window. He couldn't mask his hurt and irritation toward Rin and his words. He couldn't pretend what he was saying now was ok or would make up for the past several weeks… "Rin… I don't know what you expect me to say. That I forgive you? That it's fine, and we can go back to the way things were before?"
Rin reached across the car hesitantly for Rory's hand. "I'm not asking to go back to the way it was before. To be honest, thinking back now… I don't want it to be like it was before. I wasn't the best to you then either." He laced his fingers into Rory's. "I'm not saying we should start over, but please… give me a chance to do better."
Rory huffed out a sigh. "You say that like we've split up or something. I've not gone anywhere, Rin. I've been right here… It's you who has been absent from our relationship the past month this time. Not me…"
Rin squeezed Rory's hand tighter and brought it to his lips. He pressed a tender kiss to the back of his hand. "I'm sorry, Rory. I honestly didn't know how to be what you needed… to be there for you like you needed. So, I thought if I couldn't be there emotionally, I could do something to ease your burden. I could help find this creep and get him out of your life. I thought by luring him out and helping get the fucker caught and put an end to all this, that would help more than anything." Rin rubbed his cheek against the back of Rory's hand as he focused on the road. "I've spent every waking hour that I haven't been working trying to track down the bastard. I've thought of nothing but you every second of every day and night the entire time… When you first arrived, as we got closer, before you left, when you left, while we were at your mom's, after we returned home… you're all that is ever on my mind. I'm not lying when I tell you I love you."
Rory finally turned his attention fully to Rin. "And only me?"
Rin frowned. "That is a complicated, weighted question, and you know it. I love you in a way I will never and have never loved anyone else… Dillon included." Rin's frown deepened, and his expression grew darker. "Let me ask you… You've spent a great deal of time with Dillon now… Have your feelings toward him not changed at all?"
Rory swallowed hard, and he quickly turned back toward the side window.
Rin arched a brow. "Should I take that as a yes?" He snorted out a sarcastic laugh. "See, it's easy to have feelings for more than one person at a time, isn't it? I don't necessarily find that to be a bad thing, especially in our situation. I actually encourage it… Though I wish it had come about in a less traumatic way."
It was Rory's turn to snort indignantly. "Was it your intent then to force me to rely on him? The house emotion support fuck buddy, is he?"
Rin choked out a laugh. "Though I'm sure he'd find that both amusing and insulting all at the same time, no. I'd like us all to be equally close and reliant on one another. I realize my own shortcomings and acknowledge his strong points. He can provide you with things I can't, and vice versa."
Rory arched a brow. "So, what you're saying is when combined, I could have the perfect man?" He shook his head. "It doesn't work that way, Rin… It's not supposed to work like that."
"And why not? Why not take advantage of perfection when it's offered to you?" Rin slowed as he pulled into the drive. "Just think about it. We both love you and want you to be happy. Hell, I'd say at this point Sabastian has even grown attached to you in his own way… not to say I'm trying to bring him into the mix now too…"
Rory shook his head as he removed his seat belt, ready to spring from the car the second the wheels stopped moving. He was finished with this ride, this conversation. He needed space, time to think over the insane proposal Rin was once again offering. Crazy part… I'm actually considering it this time… He praised the dark shadows of the night that hid the crimson of his cheeks as his thoughts tormented him. His hand was already on the door latch when Rin caught his arm. He turned to face him.
"Rory… Please… Don't just run off and hide in the house. Let's actually talk this out this time. I love you. I want to be with you. I want all the things that you want… I just want them in a bit of a different way…" He didn't wait for Rory's answer as he cupped his face and pulled him into a passionate kiss. "Let me take you inside and show you how much I love you, how much I want you… How much I need you, Rory."
Rory pulled as far away from Rin as the interior of the car would allow. His expression twisted in turbulence as he struggled to find the words to refuse what his body had so desperately craved during the long, dark nights of the past several weeks. "Rin… you… you can't fix everything with sex… This… us… it can't, won't be fixed that easily…"
Rin stroked Rory's cheeks, not trying to forcefully pull him closer but instead trying to coax him with soothing caresses. He forced a gentle smile. "I know, and I'm trying, Rory. Let me show you that I can be what you need, what you deserve."
Rory rested his head against Rin's hand. "I've waited and waited, yet every time I get my hopes up that you've changed, you seem to have reservations that hold you back from being the person I need… How much longer do I need to wait?" Rory's eyes searched Rin in the darkness, but when Rin remained silent, a deep frown creased Rory's lips. He pulled away from Rin's touch and shoved the door open. He moved quickly so that Rin couldn't tug him back inside. He forced his feet to pick up pace when he heard the other car door open and close behind him.
"Rory, come on… Don't run away like this…"
Rory clenched his fists at his side as he hurried up the steps. "I'm not running… I just don't feel like standing outside…" Rory made his way through the scantily lit house to his bedroom with Rin hot on his heels.
"I thought you said you weren't running away?"
Rory frowned as he grasped the doorknob in his hand. "It's been a long ride and an even longer day… I'd like a shower… You should probably take one too."
Rin moved closer, not missing the way Rory stiffened as he closed the distance between them as he sliding his hand over Rory's. "Then why don't we take one together?"
Rory blew out a heavy sigh as he rested his forehead against the door. "Because you'll want more and I'm not in the mood… You always want more… more than anyone is ever willing to give."
Rin slid his arm around Rory's waist. "You're wrong. I'll not ask for more than what you're willing to give this time."
Rory turned on him, his face contorted into stubborn determination. "Then you'll go to your own room and use your own bathroom. Because that's all I'm willing to give right now, Rin." He pressed his hands against Rin's solid stomach but didn't push. He let his head fall against Rin's chest, unable to bring himself to look into those pleading, turbulent violet eyes any longer. "In return, as soon as I'm finished, I'll come to your room." He felt Rin's arms instantly tighten around him. His head snapped up to meet Rin's hungry gaze. "To sleep and nothing more! I've missed being beside you… in your arms… That doesn't mean I've forgiven you."
Rin swallowed past the lump of disappointment building in his throat as he nodded his understanding. "I'll take what I can get." Rin's face lit in a warm smile as he moved a hand to Rory's face. He brushed away the unruly locks that hung in Rory's eyes. "I've missed having you in my arms." He bent and placed a kiss on the center of Rory's forehead. "I love you. I'll see you in a few… Don't leave me waiting too long."
**
Rory had just finished rinsing the last of the lavender soap from his body when he heard the faint sound of a door and then movement from his room. He scrunched his brows as he shut off the water and quickly dried himself off. "Rin?" What is he doing out there? Typically, he would have just come straight into the bathroom after me. He quickly dried and pulled on the thick robe as he stepped out of the shower. The tiny hair on the back of his neck rose as he slowly made his way toward the door. Something seemed off, but he couldn't place what exactly. Surely it was all his imagination, this was Rin on the other side of the door… If so… then why am I hesitating so much to open it? His eyes moved from the door down to his trembling hand that rested on the knob. He forced himself to turn it, making the movement as silent as possible. He inched the door open and peered through a tiny crack, but couldn't see anyone. The flutter of paper came from the corner where his desk was. Is Rin looking for something? Is he just bored and waiting for me? Rory pushed the door open farther as he willed his feet to move. His voice trembled as he whimpered Rin's name once again. No answer. Rory's entire body began to tremble as an ominous feeling began to creep up his spine. His eyes moved to the vanity, but he realized he hadn't brought his phone into the bathroom with him. Where was it? Just as he turned back toward the bedroom, a hand whipped out and caught his arm and pulled him into the room.
"You've become more cautious. Do you know what a pain in the ass it's been for me this time?"
The cold, taunting voice engulfed Rory's senses, gripping him tighter than the hold on his wrist. His heart pounded against his chest, nearly bursting free of its fleshy confines. He struggled to breathe against the gasps of the onset of hyperventilation that seeing the face before him was causing.
Thin lips curved up into a wide grin. A rough, nasty scar cut through one side, giving the already wicked smile an even more sinister glint. "I actually had to have a little help this time. Can you believe that?"
Rory's heart nearly stopped beating altogether when his phone was raised in front of him. An active location pin was displayed in the unknown DM chat. "The… the officer?!"
"That's right. It's a damn good thing none of you were smart enough to check after my pal tampered with your phone. Who knew it would be that easy, huh? Of course, I already knew the general area. It was just making sure to set up enough of a diversion to ensure you'd be here with as few people as possible." His deviant grin widened in triumph. "And to find you alone… I may not even need this." He lifted the hem of his black zip-up hoodie to reveal a gun tucked into the waistband of his black jeans. "You'll come along quietly, right? Wouldn't want to see anyone else hurt, right?"
"No, wait!" Rory whimpered as he was pulled toward the bedroom door.
He arched a brow as he dug his fingers more painfully into Rory's wrist. "You're really going to fight me, here, now?"
"Clothes… I need clothes…" Rory cried out in gasped sobs. Rory squeezed his eyes closed tightly as he felt the familiar, sickening gaze roam over his body. Rory prayed he'd agree that he'd release him… because in that second, he would run!
"No… no clothes means less chance you try to bolt once we leave this house, right? You think I'm stupid? I've had to chase your ass down far too many times to get played so easily."
Tears streamed down Rory's cheeks. He knew there was no breaking free of the tight grip around his wrist or fighting against the hulking man dragging him from the room. All he could do now was pray Rin stayed out of sight and safe. Rory stifled a whimper as he stumbled down the hallway, unable to keep up with the massive strides leading him forward.
The hulking man paused at the front door. "You're being surprisingly cooperative… It makes me wonder…" But before he could say another word, Rin's bedroom door opened. His damp hair dripped onto the white tank top he wore, making it translucent along the shoulders and upper chest.
"I heard you come out… I know it's not my place… please don't leave again… not tonight…" Rin's words died off, and his eyes went wide as realization set in.
Rory's heart sank as he felt the grip on his wrist tighten as his assailant got his first good look at Rin. Rory's eyes shot to the heavily shadowed face hidden by the hood, and all the blood drained from his face. A crazed smile curved the already manic face.
"Rory, you didn't tell me your new little boy toy wasn't a boy at all. This is going to be fun."
Crazed eyes met Rory's freezing him in place. He knew that look, exactly what it meant. He'd seen it plenty of times before. "N…no please…" Rory stammered, trying his best to force the words past his trembling lips, but it was too late. Rory was already getting hurled toward the corner of the room before he even realized what was happening. His eyes widened in sheer terror as he shrieked, watching the massive, hooded figure stalk toward Rin. "No! Leave him alone!" His eyes moved frantically toward Rin. "Rin! Don't just stand there! Run!"
Rin's gaze moved in confusion between the crazed man and Rory. "Fuck that, I can take this asshole…"
"No, you can't! Run!" Rory screamed over the manic laughter filling the room. He forced his body to move as he darted toward the man's legs and lunged for them, wrapping himself around them as best as he could. "Leave him alone! You got what you wanted! I'll leave with you! Just don't touch him!"
Rory gasped for air as a boot made contact with his ribs. He didn't let it stop him, however. The second he could move, he flung himself forward once again. "Mike! Stop!"