Gift for sadisticred
Author: stareyednight
Recipient: sadisticred
Title: ...Where the Heart Is
Pairing(s): Chad/Ryan
Summary: The realtor, a well groomed redhead in her thirties, kept shooting him glances, like she couldn't believe this college student could afford a broom closet in this building, let alone an apartment.
Rating: PG
Warning(s): None
Word Count: 1874
Disclaimer: All High School Musical characters herein are the property of Disney. No copyright infringement is intended.
Author's Notes: Thank you to my lovely beta, A. You're fabulous and amazing.
Chad was starting to get nervous. He stood in the lobby, tapping one scuffed sneaker against the shiny tiled floor, hoping he didn't look as out of place as he felt. The realtor, a well groomed redhead in her thirties, kept shooting him glances, like she couldn't believe this twenty year old college student could afford a broom closet in this building, let alone an apartment. He checked his watch again. And his phone. Again. He debated sending one more text message and was just about to compose it when Ryan blew in the brass and glass doors, bringing a blast of wintery New York air.
He barely even noticed the realtor and before Chad could even get out a word, Ryan was practically in his arms.
“I did it!” he exclaimed, vibrating in his boyfriend's grip. His hat was askew, his cheeks were flushed and there was an air about him that Chad recognized, though multiplied by a thousand. Chad mentally scrolled through his rolodex of Ryan-related stuff going on right now, but he was too slow.
“I got the part in Wicked! Ensemble dancer! I'm going to be on Broadway!”
“No way!” Chad threw his arms the rest of the way around Ryan and hugged him before kissing him solidly. Ryan clutched him and kissed back, ignoring the bulky winter jackets they both wore. When they parted, Chad leaned his forehead down to Ryan's. “Congrats, Ry. I am so proud of you.”
Ryan beamed up at him, that smile that was like pure sunshine. “Thanks, babe. Couldn't have done it without you.”
There was the sound of a throat being cleared behind them and both boys turned to look at the realtor, still standing there with her folder.
“Ah, yes, Ms O'Donnell.” Ryan turned to her, extending his hand, which she shook. She and Chad had already introduced themselves when he'd arrived. “Ryan Evans, sorry I'm late.” Chad had always marveled at how easily Ryan could switch gears, but he supposed that was all part of being an actor.
“Not a worry, Mr Evans. Seems like there was good reason, congratulations.” She smiled and opened her folder, pulling out a few sheets. “I had these apartments selected for you, but I see you'll be wanting a one bedroom,” she said with a small smile.
Chad smiled back, some of the animosity he'd felt towards her melting away.
“Actually,” Ryan said, “we will probably want a two bedroom. We like our space and money won't be a big factor,” he said matter-of-factly, shrugging.
“Well, then I've still got one to show you in this building and another a few blocks down, plus two more.”
“Great,” Ryan said, taking Chad's hand. “Let's get started.”
Chad turned in a full circle in the living room of the apartment. “Well, there's some space,” he commented unnecessarily, looking up at the vaulted ceilings and floor to ceiling windows. Ms O'Donnell gave him a small smile from where she stood in the hallway. Her attitude had softened when she knew that Chad wasn't some joker taking the tour just for fun. Privately, Chad couldn't imagine anyone looking at apartments for fun, but it seemed like Ryan was enjoying himself to the hilt.
“Oh, no,” Ryan said decisively, returning from his inspection of the bedrooms. “There is absolutely no room here.”
Chad and Ms O'Donnell turned to look at him as one. Her face was politely masked surprise and Chad's was incredulous. Ryan took a second look at the living room and windows and blinked once before returning to the matter at hand.
“Well, clearly there is in here, but the closets are a disgrace, especially with the space in here. I know we don't have a ton of clothes now,” he said, foretelling Chad's next remark, “but with your soon-to-be-burgeoning career and my soon-to-be-nowish rise through the ranks, we're going to be acquiring stuff. We'll need the room and once we have a place we like, I don't want to have to move because we don't have enough space.”
Chad grinned at him. “Sounds practical. I'm not sure such big windows are us anyway.” Ryan laughed, linking his fingers through Chad's, and Ms O'Donnell gestured to the door.
“No.”
“But, look at the balcony. It's got a great view.”
“Ry, it's got purple walls.”
“Really, I think it's mauve. Maybe lilac...”
“Ry, it's purple.”
“We can paint it?”
“When? I've got school and games and work. You've got a new show. We'll never get it done and we'll be living in an apartment with purple walls.”
“... You are so right. This is why I love you. Next!”
Chad exited the home office and cut through the kitchen. He was starting to get into this a bit now, trying to picture him and Ryan doing normal stuff in this apartment: cooking, watching TV, making out, and more, against every hard or flat surface in the house... Chad shivered pleasantly and headed for Ryan.
Ryan stood in the hallway between the two bedrooms, looking pensive and tapping his finger against his lips.
“What's up?”
“I'm not sure...”
“Not sure what you're thinking about?” Chad stepped in close behind him so that his chest pressed into Ryan's shoulder blade. Ryan leaned his head back to rest against Chad's cheek.
“Not sure about this place. It's really nice, and I like the flow of space, but something about it doesn't quite do it for me.”
“There's lots of closet space, though.” Ryan smiled at him and Chad kissed his cheek. “Yeah, I know what you mean. It's just not quite right. Not... us.”
“Yeah, exactly. Plus, there's no ensuite bathroom and not enough counter space.”
Chad chuckled and they separated to tell Nancy, as they had been told to call her, to try again.
They followed Nancy out of the building to get a cab to the last apartment for the night. Ryan was biting his lip and looking pensive and Chad took his hand as Nancy looked for a taxi.
“What if we don't find anything?” Ryan asked suddenly, softly. There were tiny snowflakes settling on his emerald green hat as he turned his eyes up to meet Chad's.
“We will, babe. We've only seen three places. Some people look for weeks, just ask Nancy.” He squeezed his boyfriend's hand. “It'll be okay, we'll find something.”
“I don't want to just find something,” Ryan said. “I want to find our home,” he said with previously hidden feeling, then coloured, looking down and kicking at the snow peppering the sidewalk. “I mean, I just want to find a place that's just for us,” he said quietly. “We're starting something big here, and I want it to be perfect. Because, you're perfect for me and I want us to be together. Forever.” Ryan ducked his head again, but Chad ducked his head down to peek under the brim.
“Me too,” he said and as Ryan's smile bloomed, he kissed him, sweet and slow and warm. The sharp whistle of Nancy finally getting a cab's attention made them part, but Ryan squeezed his hand tightly as they piled into the cab and Nancy gave the address to the driver.
When they entered the lobby, Ryan drew in a breath. “I... like this,” he said carefully, as if trying not to overcommit. “It's... clean, right? Not fancy like that other one, with the chrome and the black and the 'art'. It's nice.”
They rode up the elevator with Nancy giving them the sheets about the amenities, like before. Chad had to admit he liked the look of the pool and fitness room, but like Ryan he was trying not to get too excited.
When Nancy let them in, Chad knew. And by the way Ryan gripped his hand, vibrating already, he knew, too.
Still, they followed Nancy through the foyer into the living room, and then to the bedrooms, where she left them to talk.
“I love it,” Ryan gushed. “I'm trying to be calm and objective and I'm failing miserably. I love the look and the building and the bathrooms and oh, god, the closet space is almost orgasmic. Did you see the closets?” His eyes were bright and his cheeks were flushed and Chad was so in love right now.
He laughed. “I love you,” he said and Ryan's manic excitement changed to that look so full of love Chad thought he'd drown in it.
“I love you,” Ryan said and drew Chad to him to kiss him thoroughly, arms wrapped under Chad's jacket to hold his as close as possible. Chad held him back, his hands tracing Ryan's spine and feeling exactly, perfectly right.
“Oh, I'm sorry!” A startled Nancy held her sheaf of papers up in front of her face, embarrassed as she backed out of the master bedroom.
Ryan just looked at her and smiled. “We'll take it.”
Six weeks later...
“Dude, I still can't believe that show. That was amazing. You were amazing.”
“I still can't believe you cried.” Ryan put his keys down on the counter and his hat soon after. Chad had asked for a no-hats-in-the-house rule and Ryan was more than happy to comply, especially as it meant his hats weren't getting quite as crushed as they used to.
“I didn't cry. I was moved.” Chad set the program down on the kitchen counter and opened the fridge. He passed Ryan the bottle of water and found two glasses in the cupboard. Ryan poured, still grinning.
“I think it's sweet,” he said, smiling up at his boyfriend and receiving a kiss as Chad passed by on his way to the pantry.
“It's just sort of bittersweet, right?” Chad said, opening the bag of chips. “I mean, Elphaba has to leave and Glinda thinks she's dead and even though Elphaba got her man, they have to leave everything they know and he's a scarecrow and it's sort of not fair.” He crammed a handful in his mouth and Ryan cracked up. Chad raised an eyebrow at him, his mouth full.
“You're discussing theatre, that made you cry, in our stylish apartment, and cramming your mouth full of potato chips. God, I love you.”
“Loff oo twoo,” Chad managed and Ryan kissed him again, licking the salt off his lips when they parted. Chad swallowed heavily. The look in his eyes changed to the desire Ryan was almost starting to get used to and he smiled.
Ryan finished his water and picked up his hat. “If you hurry up, you can get in the shower with me. I'm terribly sweaty and still wearing eyeliner.”
Chad had noticed and he drained his glass, feeling the tingle up his spine he got when Ryan looked at him like that. Especially when Ryan looked at him like that while wearing eyeliner. He was about to leave the bag of chips on the counter and follow, but he stopped and put it back in the pantry. He paused a second to look at the kitchen, their kitchen, and nodded, smiling, before he headed for the shower and Ryan. He loved being home.
Recipient: sadisticred
Title: ...Where the Heart Is
Pairing(s): Chad/Ryan
Summary: The realtor, a well groomed redhead in her thirties, kept shooting him glances, like she couldn't believe this college student could afford a broom closet in this building, let alone an apartment.
Rating: PG
Warning(s): None
Word Count: 1874
Disclaimer: All High School Musical characters herein are the property of Disney. No copyright infringement is intended.
Author's Notes: Thank you to my lovely beta, A. You're fabulous and amazing.
Chad was starting to get nervous. He stood in the lobby, tapping one scuffed sneaker against the shiny tiled floor, hoping he didn't look as out of place as he felt. The realtor, a well groomed redhead in her thirties, kept shooting him glances, like she couldn't believe this twenty year old college student could afford a broom closet in this building, let alone an apartment. He checked his watch again. And his phone. Again. He debated sending one more text message and was just about to compose it when Ryan blew in the brass and glass doors, bringing a blast of wintery New York air.
He barely even noticed the realtor and before Chad could even get out a word, Ryan was practically in his arms.
“I did it!” he exclaimed, vibrating in his boyfriend's grip. His hat was askew, his cheeks were flushed and there was an air about him that Chad recognized, though multiplied by a thousand. Chad mentally scrolled through his rolodex of Ryan-related stuff going on right now, but he was too slow.
“I got the part in Wicked! Ensemble dancer! I'm going to be on Broadway!”
“No way!” Chad threw his arms the rest of the way around Ryan and hugged him before kissing him solidly. Ryan clutched him and kissed back, ignoring the bulky winter jackets they both wore. When they parted, Chad leaned his forehead down to Ryan's. “Congrats, Ry. I am so proud of you.”
Ryan beamed up at him, that smile that was like pure sunshine. “Thanks, babe. Couldn't have done it without you.”
There was the sound of a throat being cleared behind them and both boys turned to look at the realtor, still standing there with her folder.
“Ah, yes, Ms O'Donnell.” Ryan turned to her, extending his hand, which she shook. She and Chad had already introduced themselves when he'd arrived. “Ryan Evans, sorry I'm late.” Chad had always marveled at how easily Ryan could switch gears, but he supposed that was all part of being an actor.
“Not a worry, Mr Evans. Seems like there was good reason, congratulations.” She smiled and opened her folder, pulling out a few sheets. “I had these apartments selected for you, but I see you'll be wanting a one bedroom,” she said with a small smile.
Chad smiled back, some of the animosity he'd felt towards her melting away.
“Actually,” Ryan said, “we will probably want a two bedroom. We like our space and money won't be a big factor,” he said matter-of-factly, shrugging.
“Well, then I've still got one to show you in this building and another a few blocks down, plus two more.”
“Great,” Ryan said, taking Chad's hand. “Let's get started.”
Chad turned in a full circle in the living room of the apartment. “Well, there's some space,” he commented unnecessarily, looking up at the vaulted ceilings and floor to ceiling windows. Ms O'Donnell gave him a small smile from where she stood in the hallway. Her attitude had softened when she knew that Chad wasn't some joker taking the tour just for fun. Privately, Chad couldn't imagine anyone looking at apartments for fun, but it seemed like Ryan was enjoying himself to the hilt.
“Oh, no,” Ryan said decisively, returning from his inspection of the bedrooms. “There is absolutely no room here.”
Chad and Ms O'Donnell turned to look at him as one. Her face was politely masked surprise and Chad's was incredulous. Ryan took a second look at the living room and windows and blinked once before returning to the matter at hand.
“Well, clearly there is in here, but the closets are a disgrace, especially with the space in here. I know we don't have a ton of clothes now,” he said, foretelling Chad's next remark, “but with your soon-to-be-burgeoning career and my soon-to-be-nowish rise through the ranks, we're going to be acquiring stuff. We'll need the room and once we have a place we like, I don't want to have to move because we don't have enough space.”
Chad grinned at him. “Sounds practical. I'm not sure such big windows are us anyway.” Ryan laughed, linking his fingers through Chad's, and Ms O'Donnell gestured to the door.
“No.”
“But, look at the balcony. It's got a great view.”
“Ry, it's got purple walls.”
“Really, I think it's mauve. Maybe lilac...”
“Ry, it's purple.”
“We can paint it?”
“When? I've got school and games and work. You've got a new show. We'll never get it done and we'll be living in an apartment with purple walls.”
“... You are so right. This is why I love you. Next!”
Chad exited the home office and cut through the kitchen. He was starting to get into this a bit now, trying to picture him and Ryan doing normal stuff in this apartment: cooking, watching TV, making out, and more, against every hard or flat surface in the house... Chad shivered pleasantly and headed for Ryan.
Ryan stood in the hallway between the two bedrooms, looking pensive and tapping his finger against his lips.
“What's up?”
“I'm not sure...”
“Not sure what you're thinking about?” Chad stepped in close behind him so that his chest pressed into Ryan's shoulder blade. Ryan leaned his head back to rest against Chad's cheek.
“Not sure about this place. It's really nice, and I like the flow of space, but something about it doesn't quite do it for me.”
“There's lots of closet space, though.” Ryan smiled at him and Chad kissed his cheek. “Yeah, I know what you mean. It's just not quite right. Not... us.”
“Yeah, exactly. Plus, there's no ensuite bathroom and not enough counter space.”
Chad chuckled and they separated to tell Nancy, as they had been told to call her, to try again.
They followed Nancy out of the building to get a cab to the last apartment for the night. Ryan was biting his lip and looking pensive and Chad took his hand as Nancy looked for a taxi.
“What if we don't find anything?” Ryan asked suddenly, softly. There were tiny snowflakes settling on his emerald green hat as he turned his eyes up to meet Chad's.
“We will, babe. We've only seen three places. Some people look for weeks, just ask Nancy.” He squeezed his boyfriend's hand. “It'll be okay, we'll find something.”
“I don't want to just find something,” Ryan said. “I want to find our home,” he said with previously hidden feeling, then coloured, looking down and kicking at the snow peppering the sidewalk. “I mean, I just want to find a place that's just for us,” he said quietly. “We're starting something big here, and I want it to be perfect. Because, you're perfect for me and I want us to be together. Forever.” Ryan ducked his head again, but Chad ducked his head down to peek under the brim.
“Me too,” he said and as Ryan's smile bloomed, he kissed him, sweet and slow and warm. The sharp whistle of Nancy finally getting a cab's attention made them part, but Ryan squeezed his hand tightly as they piled into the cab and Nancy gave the address to the driver.
When they entered the lobby, Ryan drew in a breath. “I... like this,” he said carefully, as if trying not to overcommit. “It's... clean, right? Not fancy like that other one, with the chrome and the black and the 'art'. It's nice.”
They rode up the elevator with Nancy giving them the sheets about the amenities, like before. Chad had to admit he liked the look of the pool and fitness room, but like Ryan he was trying not to get too excited.
When Nancy let them in, Chad knew. And by the way Ryan gripped his hand, vibrating already, he knew, too.
Still, they followed Nancy through the foyer into the living room, and then to the bedrooms, where she left them to talk.
“I love it,” Ryan gushed. “I'm trying to be calm and objective and I'm failing miserably. I love the look and the building and the bathrooms and oh, god, the closet space is almost orgasmic. Did you see the closets?” His eyes were bright and his cheeks were flushed and Chad was so in love right now.
He laughed. “I love you,” he said and Ryan's manic excitement changed to that look so full of love Chad thought he'd drown in it.
“I love you,” Ryan said and drew Chad to him to kiss him thoroughly, arms wrapped under Chad's jacket to hold his as close as possible. Chad held him back, his hands tracing Ryan's spine and feeling exactly, perfectly right.
“Oh, I'm sorry!” A startled Nancy held her sheaf of papers up in front of her face, embarrassed as she backed out of the master bedroom.
Ryan just looked at her and smiled. “We'll take it.”
Six weeks later...
“Dude, I still can't believe that show. That was amazing. You were amazing.”
“I still can't believe you cried.” Ryan put his keys down on the counter and his hat soon after. Chad had asked for a no-hats-in-the-house rule and Ryan was more than happy to comply, especially as it meant his hats weren't getting quite as crushed as they used to.
“I didn't cry. I was moved.” Chad set the program down on the kitchen counter and opened the fridge. He passed Ryan the bottle of water and found two glasses in the cupboard. Ryan poured, still grinning.
“I think it's sweet,” he said, smiling up at his boyfriend and receiving a kiss as Chad passed by on his way to the pantry.
“It's just sort of bittersweet, right?” Chad said, opening the bag of chips. “I mean, Elphaba has to leave and Glinda thinks she's dead and even though Elphaba got her man, they have to leave everything they know and he's a scarecrow and it's sort of not fair.” He crammed a handful in his mouth and Ryan cracked up. Chad raised an eyebrow at him, his mouth full.
“You're discussing theatre, that made you cry, in our stylish apartment, and cramming your mouth full of potato chips. God, I love you.”
“Loff oo twoo,” Chad managed and Ryan kissed him again, licking the salt off his lips when they parted. Chad swallowed heavily. The look in his eyes changed to the desire Ryan was almost starting to get used to and he smiled.
Ryan finished his water and picked up his hat. “If you hurry up, you can get in the shower with me. I'm terribly sweaty and still wearing eyeliner.”
Chad had noticed and he drained his glass, feeling the tingle up his spine he got when Ryan looked at him like that. Especially when Ryan looked at him like that while wearing eyeliner. He was about to leave the bag of chips on the counter and follow, but he stopped and put it back in the pantry. He paused a second to look at the kitchen, their kitchen, and nodded, smiling, before he headed for the shower and Ryan. He loved being home.