Ficlet: Envy
Title: Envy
Series: TDS & TCR
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: The television shows, movies, books, etc. in this story are not owned by me. The people and/or characters are also not owned by me. No money is being made from this venture.
Summary: A little fic written for today's open thread's Jealousy challenge.
Word Count: 486
"Hello?"
"Hey, Jon! Wasn't sure if I'd catch you before you went home."
Jon let the baseball cap he was about to flip onto his head hang limply in his hand. His other hand held his office phone to his ear. "Well, you did."
Stephen chuckled in that practiced, good-natured way. "Ready to go home? Help the wifey tuck the kids in, maybe sit with the family dog and watch a little TV, then slip into bed with the little lady for a li'l somethin' somethin'?"
Jon could just picture Stephen waggling his eyebrows. "... Yeah. Something."
"Yup." Stephen's voice was strained, like he was stretching out. "I know exactly what that's like. Especially the wife bit. Prrreeow."
Jon glanced at the clock on the wall. "Stephen, I'm tired. What do you want?"
The other man let out a heavy, pitying sigh. "I just want you to know that it's going to be okay."
"What... What's going to be okay?"
"Everything."
O...kay? Whatever. "That's great, Stephen. Exactly what I needed to hear. Have a good--"
"I understand if you're a little angry."
Jon rolled his eyes, but he took the bait. "Angry about what?"
Another sigh. "Come on, Jon. I can only imagine it, really, but being relegated to the sidelines when someone else is in the spotlight? Can't be fun. Forced to watch every night for months as the crowd hangs on his each and every word. Gazing on in envy as he mesmerizes them in his clean, pressed suits, the dignified king of his castle. Then the crowd laughs and you laugh too, but that only makes it worse! Why can't you captivate them the way he does? Why won't anyone give you a chance?" Stephen's voice rose and became less controlled. "He isn't any better than you! Why should he be the host? You've been there longer; you've kissed ass for too long to be shown up by some Jersey boy who everyone thinks is so great and so funny!" Stephen stopped, coughed. "You know... for... example."
Jon grinned, shaking his head. "Good night, Stephen."
"Tracey and the kids, they love you. That's what's important."
"And I'm sure your family loves you," Jon replied, putting on his hat.
"You're damn right they do!" Stephen exclaimed, suddenly defensive. "What, are you insinuating something?!"
Jon felt frozen by the sudden aggression, hand stuck on the bill of his cap. "Wh-what? I was just saying--"
"I know what you're saying and I don't appreciate it! This is just like you, Stewart! Petty and inconsiderate!"
"I didn't mean--"
"I'm ending this conversation." Stephen's voice was cold.
Why did half their conversations turn out like this? "Fine," Jon said, giving up. "End it."
"I am!" Stephen snapped. Another pause, and then his voice was suddenly chipper. "Talk to you tomorrow!" Click.
Jon hung up the phone. So tired.
Series: TDS & TCR
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: The television shows, movies, books, etc. in this story are not owned by me. The people and/or characters are also not owned by me. No money is being made from this venture.
Summary: A little fic written for today's open thread's Jealousy challenge.
Word Count: 486
"Hello?"
"Hey, Jon! Wasn't sure if I'd catch you before you went home."
Jon let the baseball cap he was about to flip onto his head hang limply in his hand. His other hand held his office phone to his ear. "Well, you did."
Stephen chuckled in that practiced, good-natured way. "Ready to go home? Help the wifey tuck the kids in, maybe sit with the family dog and watch a little TV, then slip into bed with the little lady for a li'l somethin' somethin'?"
Jon could just picture Stephen waggling his eyebrows. "... Yeah. Something."
"Yup." Stephen's voice was strained, like he was stretching out. "I know exactly what that's like. Especially the wife bit. Prrreeow."
Jon glanced at the clock on the wall. "Stephen, I'm tired. What do you want?"
The other man let out a heavy, pitying sigh. "I just want you to know that it's going to be okay."
"What... What's going to be okay?"
"Everything."
O...kay? Whatever. "That's great, Stephen. Exactly what I needed to hear. Have a good--"
"I understand if you're a little angry."
Jon rolled his eyes, but he took the bait. "Angry about what?"
Another sigh. "Come on, Jon. I can only imagine it, really, but being relegated to the sidelines when someone else is in the spotlight? Can't be fun. Forced to watch every night for months as the crowd hangs on his each and every word. Gazing on in envy as he mesmerizes them in his clean, pressed suits, the dignified king of his castle. Then the crowd laughs and you laugh too, but that only makes it worse! Why can't you captivate them the way he does? Why won't anyone give you a chance?" Stephen's voice rose and became less controlled. "He isn't any better than you! Why should he be the host? You've been there longer; you've kissed ass for too long to be shown up by some Jersey boy who everyone thinks is so great and so funny!" Stephen stopped, coughed. "You know... for... example."
Jon grinned, shaking his head. "Good night, Stephen."
"Tracey and the kids, they love you. That's what's important."
"And I'm sure your family loves you," Jon replied, putting on his hat.
"You're damn right they do!" Stephen exclaimed, suddenly defensive. "What, are you insinuating something?!"
Jon felt frozen by the sudden aggression, hand stuck on the bill of his cap. "Wh-what? I was just saying--"
"I know what you're saying and I don't appreciate it! This is just like you, Stewart! Petty and inconsiderate!"
"I didn't mean--"
"I'm ending this conversation." Stephen's voice was cold.
Why did half their conversations turn out like this? "Fine," Jon said, giving up. "End it."
"I am!" Stephen snapped. Another pause, and then his voice was suddenly chipper. "Talk to you tomorrow!" Click.
Jon hung up the phone. So tired.