Fic: (RPS, George/Eric, PG)
Every once in awhile artistic_sillie mentions a leather wristband that George has been wearing all season. I have no first-hand knowledge of this wristband (therefore its description is vague), but she mentioned it again the other day and ever since then this scene has been rattling around in my head.
It wasn't much. Eric was pretty sure most people hadn't even noticed -- wardrobe, maybe, but their directors changed often enough that either they hadn't noticed or didn't care. Well. He was pretty sure Bill had noticed, but Eric knew he wouldn't make a big deal out of it.
Still, it was something, and apparently it was enough for Eric. Maybe that made him easy, or maybe it just made him pathetic, but he'd given up worrying about that after the third -- or was it fourth? -- time he'd taken George back. And maybe it was just because he was tired of having the same argument over and over, but if this was the best George could do...well, at least it was something.
The truth was, he understood where George was coming from. He'd heard all the arguments about being discreet and protecting their careers, keeping a low profile for the sake of the show and if it was good enough for Clooney, it should be fine for them. And yeah, Eric knew what the suits at CBS were like, knew why George was so skittish -- they had almost fired him, after all -- and he wanted to be more understanding. He wanted to be cool with all this, because he wanted George a lot more than he'd ever expected to.
But he wanted to be himself, too, and he didn't mind giving up a few jobs in order to be true to himself. Didn't really care what the suits or anyone else thought, and he was pretty sure his career could handle the world knowing that he was in love with his costar. And the thing was, neither of them were George Clooney and they were never going to be, so Eric was pretty sure his George was worrying over nothing.
The last time they broke up he'd said as much, asked George if it really would have been the end of the world if he hadn't gotten to play Evel Knievel. It was the wrong thing to say, as it turned out, but at the time he wasn't sorry. He still wasn't, not really, but he'd apologized anyway the last time they got back together. Because he respected George as an actor, but he wanted to be able to respect them both as people too, and that was pretty hard when they spent so much time pretending they were just friends.
But something he'd said must have sunk in, because this time things between them had been different. It was a subtle difference, sure, but George was touching him more in public again, and in a way it almost felt like the beginning, back before the studio noticed them and started breathing down George's neck. And it wasn't just the occasional hand on Eric's back or smile when they were on set. George spent more time in Eric's trailer than he ever had before, and even though they weren't doing anything but playing video games, it was kind of nice that George wasn't worried about what people thought they were doing.
And then there was this. Eric ran his fingers over the bracelet strapped around George's wrist, tracing the thin strip of leather that he'd given George as sort of a joke. Or maybe it was a test; either way, George hadn't taken it off since, not even when they were on set, and Eric knew what that meant.
Strong fingers closed around his and Eric glanced over to find George watching him, mouth turned up in a smile. "What?"
"Nothing," Eric answered, leaning in to kiss George so he wouldn't ask any more questions. Because he didn't really want to talk about it; they'd both said everything there was to say, and talking was how they always got themselves into trouble. George must have thought the same thing, because he let Eric kiss him, his other arm sliding around Eric's back to drag him down onto the couch.
It wasn't much; just a plain piece of leather, but Eric knew what it meant, and it was enough to keep him coming back for more.
~
This is about the most productive thing I've done with my work day. I am so ready to go home I can't even tell you. Only one more hour to go.
It wasn't much. Eric was pretty sure most people hadn't even noticed -- wardrobe, maybe, but their directors changed often enough that either they hadn't noticed or didn't care. Well. He was pretty sure Bill had noticed, but Eric knew he wouldn't make a big deal out of it.
Still, it was something, and apparently it was enough for Eric. Maybe that made him easy, or maybe it just made him pathetic, but he'd given up worrying about that after the third -- or was it fourth? -- time he'd taken George back. And maybe it was just because he was tired of having the same argument over and over, but if this was the best George could do...well, at least it was something.
The truth was, he understood where George was coming from. He'd heard all the arguments about being discreet and protecting their careers, keeping a low profile for the sake of the show and if it was good enough for Clooney, it should be fine for them. And yeah, Eric knew what the suits at CBS were like, knew why George was so skittish -- they had almost fired him, after all -- and he wanted to be more understanding. He wanted to be cool with all this, because he wanted George a lot more than he'd ever expected to.
But he wanted to be himself, too, and he didn't mind giving up a few jobs in order to be true to himself. Didn't really care what the suits or anyone else thought, and he was pretty sure his career could handle the world knowing that he was in love with his costar. And the thing was, neither of them were George Clooney and they were never going to be, so Eric was pretty sure his George was worrying over nothing.
The last time they broke up he'd said as much, asked George if it really would have been the end of the world if he hadn't gotten to play Evel Knievel. It was the wrong thing to say, as it turned out, but at the time he wasn't sorry. He still wasn't, not really, but he'd apologized anyway the last time they got back together. Because he respected George as an actor, but he wanted to be able to respect them both as people too, and that was pretty hard when they spent so much time pretending they were just friends.
But something he'd said must have sunk in, because this time things between them had been different. It was a subtle difference, sure, but George was touching him more in public again, and in a way it almost felt like the beginning, back before the studio noticed them and started breathing down George's neck. And it wasn't just the occasional hand on Eric's back or smile when they were on set. George spent more time in Eric's trailer than he ever had before, and even though they weren't doing anything but playing video games, it was kind of nice that George wasn't worried about what people thought they were doing.
And then there was this. Eric ran his fingers over the bracelet strapped around George's wrist, tracing the thin strip of leather that he'd given George as sort of a joke. Or maybe it was a test; either way, George hadn't taken it off since, not even when they were on set, and Eric knew what that meant.
Strong fingers closed around his and Eric glanced over to find George watching him, mouth turned up in a smile. "What?"
"Nothing," Eric answered, leaning in to kiss George so he wouldn't ask any more questions. Because he didn't really want to talk about it; they'd both said everything there was to say, and talking was how they always got themselves into trouble. George must have thought the same thing, because he let Eric kiss him, his other arm sliding around Eric's back to drag him down onto the couch.
It wasn't much; just a plain piece of leather, but Eric knew what it meant, and it was enough to keep him coming back for more.
~
This is about the most productive thing I've done with my work day. I am so ready to go home I can't even tell you. Only one more hour to go.