Detour 12.20
Title: Detour
Fandom: RPS
Story: Highway: Press Run 12.20
Characters: Alan Davies and Robert Sean Leonard
Authors: michelleann68 + evila_elf = evila_ann
Prompt: none
Word Count: 1837
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Robert runs into a familiar face.
Authors’ Notes: Feel free to friend us if you want to read a day ahead of the communities.
Where it all began:
Big table of prompts is here:
Order of the story is here:
Previous story:
Old Friend
As much as Robert had wanted to fly straight to London, he still had a few unfinished things to take care of in New York. The red-eye landed and Robert drug his exhausted body home. He walked into his apartment and collapsed in bed He drifted off, trying to count how many real hours of sleep he had found in the last few months. He hadn’t been sleeping well lately and the wrap party coupled with the flight temporarily put his anxiety on hold and he slept for a few peaceful hours.
He woke at eleven in the morning and was disoriented for a few minutes, and then he crashed back into reality and bolted out of bed, headed for a quick shower, and mentally planned out the morning. Robert really missed the heartbeat of the city, it was something LA never offered and it rejuvenated him. Robert decided to grab a book and head to his favorite coffee shop around the corner. One of his side stops was to see his parents. He didn’t want to show too early or too late, so he still had a few hours to kill, and the less he thought about that at the moment, the better.
Slipping into a pair of Levis, Robert walked over to his dresser and opened one of the drawers, looking to grab a t-shirt. He froze for a second as he reached in. He had forgotten that he had left one of Alan’s t-shirts here. Pulling it out of the drawer, he shook it to unfold it and was reminded how much he missed Alan. Robert slipped the shirt on and smoothed it over his body, then took a quick look in the mirror, grabbed a book, and headed out to the coffee shop.
Robert was deep in thought. He had a lot to tell his parents today and he still had no idea how he was going to tell them. He tried rehearsing a speech but every time it came out sounding wrong. He wished for a script writer. It would make this so much easier to rely on the crutch of someone else’s thoughts to put his own in order.
He turned the corner, lost in thought. He thought he heard his name being called and slowed, debating if he should duck into a nearby store to avoid some eager fan. But the voice sounded familiar, so he stopped and looked around. It took him a moment to locate the owner of the voice, but a waving hand guided his eyes…to Gabby. She was across the street and hurried over at the next red light. She was just as beautiful as he had remembered. “Gabby, nice to see you.” He stood awkwardly for a few moments until she leaned in, giving him a quick embrace.
“Bobby, I didn’t know you were in town.”
“And I didn’t know you were in the States. I thought you were still in Israel. It’s good to see you! Would you like to join me for coffee?” He had no idea where the invitation came from, but it seemed like the right thing to do.
“Sounds great. Your coffee shop?”
Robert laughed. When they were together and Gabby couldn’t find him, she generally located him at the small coffee shop, knowing how much he liked to tuck into a book and get lost in the pages.
Reaching the front door, he opened it and let her in, for the first time realizing he felt nothing but a warm friendship for her. He had no desire for anything but that. He was struck for a second that the paparazzi might pop up again. He had been trying to lay low ever since The Kat Incident.
Gabby made her way over to his favorite table and looked back, waiting for him to join her. When he asked what she wanted, she laughed. “You know what I like.”
Robert blushed and went up to the counter and ordered her drink, and extra dry cap, and he ordered his drink, an Americano with cream. Balancing the two cups and his book, he walked across the small coffee shop and slid into the seat across from her, scooting the drink over to her.
“Thank you.” She picked up the delicate cup and took a sip, peering over the rim.
“So are you just visiting from Israel?”
“Yeah, just here a week or so, then I head back. But how are you? I see you changed your drink… new girlfriend?”
Robert chocked, closed his eyes to regain his composure, forgetting that he had started to add cream when he and Alan began to date. Alan, of course, always poured in a ton of sugar as well. ‘No, no. She made all that up.”
“Who made what up?” Gabby set down her cup and looked at Robert. Things were off, she decided. He looked good, a bit thinner, but there was something out of place and she could not quite put her finger on it.
“The tabloid…everyone seems to be talking about it. The girl…Kat, she thought we had a relationship, but I only saw her twice. It had just messed up some things that are--were--real, and I am trying to figure out how to fix things.” Gabby reached out her hand and touched his. He started to pull away, but stopped. He closed his eyes, and tried to calm down.
“You know I don’t follow tabloids. I’m surprised you would be in one. Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I am...well I was, and hopefully I will be again. I met someone that I really like, and things were fine, better then fine, when this young woman took things too far with me out in public. The press was all over it, and she told them we were dating. The person I care for saw it all...and, well, I am trying to fix things.”
“Robert, if she can not accept your explanation, then may she is not all that you think she is.”
He closed his eyes, once again wishing for a handy script writer. How much could he tell her? He could not hide behind lies and deny what he has with Alan for the rest of his life.
“That was not the problem, Gabby. I hesitated. I had what I always wanted in a relationship, more, and I took my time, I did not tell him how I felt. He thought I was getting cold feet and running away, but I,” he paused to swallow, “I’m holding things in, and not being honest with the people I care about. It was not fair to him or to anyone else. Honestly, I don’t blame him, I needed to tell him. I tried to, but the words just got lost.”
Gabby took another sip to process what he just said. Who knew a pronoun could make such a difference. She was surprised, to say the least, but it was something he obviously had struggled with. She squeezed his hand and tried not to ask the approximately three thousand selfish questions she had at the moment. They had had their problems in the past, but they both still cared for each other, and this was not the time or place to try to figure out when he decided he liked men, or actually got involved with one. “Bobby, I’m sure you guys can talk this out. But you know...”
“Talking has never been my strong point.”
She gave a small laugh, breaking the tension, “No, I was going to say decisiveness is not your strong suit.”
He returned the smile, relief surging over him. “This whole thing is just one big mess.”
“What are you planning?”
“Well, I am starting by telling my parents. They keep hoping that we will get back together, so I am telling them tonight, once and for all that we are not…”
“You can tell them I am engaged. Get you off the hook.”
“Really? That is wonderful! You deserve to be happy.”
“So, do you, Bobby. Really if this person makes you happy, that is all I ever wanted.”
“Thanks, I know, you were always patient.”
“Until I wasn’t.”
“You needed to move on, and I was holding you back. So training is good, still competing?”
“Yes, I love Israel. It is beautiful, the people the culture. I really feel at home there, more then any other place, then I met Chris and everything fell into place.”
Robert narrowed his eyes and tilted his head to the side.
“Chris is a he,” she clarified, smacking him on the arm.
Robert grinned, pleased to see that she had really moved past what they had had. His own life was in a shambles and he hoped he could find his own happiness again. He ached for Alan and it felt like the time was running short.
Gabby watched his face darken and knew he was thinking about his own troubles. She wanted him happy. They had shared too much for her to wish for anything else. “Bobby, just be honest. Get him,” she stumbled on the word, it felt bizarre to say, “to listen to you, tell him exactly how you feel, put your heart out there.” She smiled a little wickedly. “Carpe diem. I think you are familiar with the phrase.”
Robert laughed. “Yes, I am, and thanks.” He took a sip and looked at her as she glanced at her watch. “Need to leave?”
“Yes, I’m sorry. Chris and I are meeting with a wedding planner today. I will send you an invite. Hopefully you will have a date to take to it.”
“Thanks for the support. I am surprised, but happy. Really thanks, I appreciate it.” He stood up as she did and they met in a quick embrace.
Gabby pulled back, giving him a quick peck, before whispering in his ear, “I want to hear all about this mystery man sometime.”
Robert blushed deeply. "Bye and good luck," the words poured from his lips quickly.
“Goodbye, Bobby,” she said brightly as she walked out of the café.
Robert pulled out his book and opened it, he looked over at the half drunk coffee and smiled inside. He had told someone and the world did not open up and swallow him. Maybe he could get through this, telling his parents, but he thought they would be a little tougher on him then Gabby was. She had moved on and was happy. He knew that his mom was a tougher sell. She still held out hope that someday he would marry a nice young girl and they would give her more grandchildren to spoil.
Robert was finding it hard to read. Hard to concentrate. He was ready. Glancing up at the clock on the wall, he told himself now was as good a time as ever. He stood up and bused the two coffee cups and headed for the subway, slowly working his way to New Jersey.
12.21 Blackberry Pear Muffins
Fandom: RPS
Story: Highway: Press Run 12.20
Characters: Alan Davies and Robert Sean Leonard
Authors: michelleann68 + evila_elf = evila_ann
Prompt: none
Word Count: 1837
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Robert runs into a familiar face.
Authors’ Notes: Feel free to friend us if you want to read a day ahead of the communities.
Where it all began:
Big table of prompts is here:
Order of the story is here:
Previous story:
Old Friend
As much as Robert had wanted to fly straight to London, he still had a few unfinished things to take care of in New York. The red-eye landed and Robert drug his exhausted body home. He walked into his apartment and collapsed in bed He drifted off, trying to count how many real hours of sleep he had found in the last few months. He hadn’t been sleeping well lately and the wrap party coupled with the flight temporarily put his anxiety on hold and he slept for a few peaceful hours.
He woke at eleven in the morning and was disoriented for a few minutes, and then he crashed back into reality and bolted out of bed, headed for a quick shower, and mentally planned out the morning. Robert really missed the heartbeat of the city, it was something LA never offered and it rejuvenated him. Robert decided to grab a book and head to his favorite coffee shop around the corner. One of his side stops was to see his parents. He didn’t want to show too early or too late, so he still had a few hours to kill, and the less he thought about that at the moment, the better.
Slipping into a pair of Levis, Robert walked over to his dresser and opened one of the drawers, looking to grab a t-shirt. He froze for a second as he reached in. He had forgotten that he had left one of Alan’s t-shirts here. Pulling it out of the drawer, he shook it to unfold it and was reminded how much he missed Alan. Robert slipped the shirt on and smoothed it over his body, then took a quick look in the mirror, grabbed a book, and headed out to the coffee shop.
Robert was deep in thought. He had a lot to tell his parents today and he still had no idea how he was going to tell them. He tried rehearsing a speech but every time it came out sounding wrong. He wished for a script writer. It would make this so much easier to rely on the crutch of someone else’s thoughts to put his own in order.
He turned the corner, lost in thought. He thought he heard his name being called and slowed, debating if he should duck into a nearby store to avoid some eager fan. But the voice sounded familiar, so he stopped and looked around. It took him a moment to locate the owner of the voice, but a waving hand guided his eyes…to Gabby. She was across the street and hurried over at the next red light. She was just as beautiful as he had remembered. “Gabby, nice to see you.” He stood awkwardly for a few moments until she leaned in, giving him a quick embrace.
“Bobby, I didn’t know you were in town.”
“And I didn’t know you were in the States. I thought you were still in Israel. It’s good to see you! Would you like to join me for coffee?” He had no idea where the invitation came from, but it seemed like the right thing to do.
“Sounds great. Your coffee shop?”
Robert laughed. When they were together and Gabby couldn’t find him, she generally located him at the small coffee shop, knowing how much he liked to tuck into a book and get lost in the pages.
Reaching the front door, he opened it and let her in, for the first time realizing he felt nothing but a warm friendship for her. He had no desire for anything but that. He was struck for a second that the paparazzi might pop up again. He had been trying to lay low ever since The Kat Incident.
Gabby made her way over to his favorite table and looked back, waiting for him to join her. When he asked what she wanted, she laughed. “You know what I like.”
Robert blushed and went up to the counter and ordered her drink, and extra dry cap, and he ordered his drink, an Americano with cream. Balancing the two cups and his book, he walked across the small coffee shop and slid into the seat across from her, scooting the drink over to her.
“Thank you.” She picked up the delicate cup and took a sip, peering over the rim.
“So are you just visiting from Israel?”
“Yeah, just here a week or so, then I head back. But how are you? I see you changed your drink… new girlfriend?”
Robert chocked, closed his eyes to regain his composure, forgetting that he had started to add cream when he and Alan began to date. Alan, of course, always poured in a ton of sugar as well. ‘No, no. She made all that up.”
“Who made what up?” Gabby set down her cup and looked at Robert. Things were off, she decided. He looked good, a bit thinner, but there was something out of place and she could not quite put her finger on it.
“The tabloid…everyone seems to be talking about it. The girl…Kat, she thought we had a relationship, but I only saw her twice. It had just messed up some things that are--were--real, and I am trying to figure out how to fix things.” Gabby reached out her hand and touched his. He started to pull away, but stopped. He closed his eyes, and tried to calm down.
“You know I don’t follow tabloids. I’m surprised you would be in one. Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I am...well I was, and hopefully I will be again. I met someone that I really like, and things were fine, better then fine, when this young woman took things too far with me out in public. The press was all over it, and she told them we were dating. The person I care for saw it all...and, well, I am trying to fix things.”
“Robert, if she can not accept your explanation, then may she is not all that you think she is.”
He closed his eyes, once again wishing for a handy script writer. How much could he tell her? He could not hide behind lies and deny what he has with Alan for the rest of his life.
“That was not the problem, Gabby. I hesitated. I had what I always wanted in a relationship, more, and I took my time, I did not tell him how I felt. He thought I was getting cold feet and running away, but I,” he paused to swallow, “I’m holding things in, and not being honest with the people I care about. It was not fair to him or to anyone else. Honestly, I don’t blame him, I needed to tell him. I tried to, but the words just got lost.”
Gabby took another sip to process what he just said. Who knew a pronoun could make such a difference. She was surprised, to say the least, but it was something he obviously had struggled with. She squeezed his hand and tried not to ask the approximately three thousand selfish questions she had at the moment. They had had their problems in the past, but they both still cared for each other, and this was not the time or place to try to figure out when he decided he liked men, or actually got involved with one. “Bobby, I’m sure you guys can talk this out. But you know...”
“Talking has never been my strong point.”
She gave a small laugh, breaking the tension, “No, I was going to say decisiveness is not your strong suit.”
He returned the smile, relief surging over him. “This whole thing is just one big mess.”
“What are you planning?”
“Well, I am starting by telling my parents. They keep hoping that we will get back together, so I am telling them tonight, once and for all that we are not…”
“You can tell them I am engaged. Get you off the hook.”
“Really? That is wonderful! You deserve to be happy.”
“So, do you, Bobby. Really if this person makes you happy, that is all I ever wanted.”
“Thanks, I know, you were always patient.”
“Until I wasn’t.”
“You needed to move on, and I was holding you back. So training is good, still competing?”
“Yes, I love Israel. It is beautiful, the people the culture. I really feel at home there, more then any other place, then I met Chris and everything fell into place.”
Robert narrowed his eyes and tilted his head to the side.
“Chris is a he,” she clarified, smacking him on the arm.
Robert grinned, pleased to see that she had really moved past what they had had. His own life was in a shambles and he hoped he could find his own happiness again. He ached for Alan and it felt like the time was running short.
Gabby watched his face darken and knew he was thinking about his own troubles. She wanted him happy. They had shared too much for her to wish for anything else. “Bobby, just be honest. Get him,” she stumbled on the word, it felt bizarre to say, “to listen to you, tell him exactly how you feel, put your heart out there.” She smiled a little wickedly. “Carpe diem. I think you are familiar with the phrase.”
Robert laughed. “Yes, I am, and thanks.” He took a sip and looked at her as she glanced at her watch. “Need to leave?”
“Yes, I’m sorry. Chris and I are meeting with a wedding planner today. I will send you an invite. Hopefully you will have a date to take to it.”
“Thanks for the support. I am surprised, but happy. Really thanks, I appreciate it.” He stood up as she did and they met in a quick embrace.
Gabby pulled back, giving him a quick peck, before whispering in his ear, “I want to hear all about this mystery man sometime.”
Robert blushed deeply. "Bye and good luck," the words poured from his lips quickly.
“Goodbye, Bobby,” she said brightly as she walked out of the café.
Robert pulled out his book and opened it, he looked over at the half drunk coffee and smiled inside. He had told someone and the world did not open up and swallow him. Maybe he could get through this, telling his parents, but he thought they would be a little tougher on him then Gabby was. She had moved on and was happy. He knew that his mom was a tougher sell. She still held out hope that someday he would marry a nice young girl and they would give her more grandchildren to spoil.
Robert was finding it hard to read. Hard to concentrate. He was ready. Glancing up at the clock on the wall, he told himself now was as good a time as ever. He stood up and bused the two coffee cups and headed for the subway, slowly working his way to New Jersey.
12.21 Blackberry Pear Muffins