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"Jared... There's someone I want you to meet."
Richard and Jared were standing in the entryway of the incubator. The house was unusually quiet, the usual bustle of the other residents absent.
Richard was grateful for their solitude, even more so than usual. It wasn't just for the peace and quiet. Yes, he was nervous, but he also knew that having anyone else around to witness what was about to unfold would be too much to bear.
Well, it was a little more complex than just nervousness, but Richard's mind was currently operating at a suboptimal processing speed. There was little room to identify the nuances in his emotions right now.
In summary, the scene was set with Richard; all heart palpitations and clammy palms, and Jared; all soft apprehension and condescending reverie. The pine-panelled hallway seemed to close them in.
"Oh, Richard, have you made a friend?" Jared's tone was one of excitement, as if Richard had brought a stray cat home.
"Well, uhm, kind of, I guess," Richard started.
He wasn't quite sure how to go about explaining this, and his words failed him.
Actions were the only way forward, he decided.
"Uh, just, um, look, don't freak out," Richard stuttered.
He was still holding back the full gravity of what was about to transpire.
Jared's brow furrowed, and his expression morphed from glee to confusion.
Now or never, Richard took a deep breath, and made for the front door, reaching a sweaty hand out towards the doorknob.
He turned it, and pulled the door towards him.
Standing on the other side, hands casually tucked into soft cardigan pockets, was a figure that immediately made Jared's shoulders tense, and his expression grow cold and guarded.
Gavin Belson, former tormentor and now president of Hooli, was standing on their doorstep looking as smug and collected as ever.
The only indication that this meeting was anything more than a coincidence, was the small smirk tugging at the corner of Gavin's mouth.
"Richard, you look well," Gavin's eyes were immediately drawn to the shorter man, his voice full of uncharacteristic warmth.
Jared looked to Richard, his brow furrowing, and the corners of his mouth turning down.
"Hello, Gavin. This is Jared, the friend I was telling you about," Richard motioned between them, trying his best to sound nonchalant, despite the anxiety creeping up his chest.
"Pleasure to meet you, Jared. Richard told me a lot about you," Gavin was now staring Jared down, his tone laced with saccharin.
Jared opened his mouth, but closed it again when no words were located. Is he supposed to be... playing along? Did Richard hit his head when Jared wasn't looking?
"Um," was all Jared's brain offered.
Gavin let out a low chuckle, clearly amused by the situation.
"Don't worry, I'm not going to bite."
Gavin took a step forwards, and Jared automatically moved aside, allowing him entrance.
Jared watched as Gavin made to stand next to Richard, far too close to his personal space for Jared's peace of mind. Richard's comfort is Jared's comfort, after all.
He was about to protest and politely ask that he take a step back, when his eyes caught movement.
He couldn't mask the look of horror on his face as he realised Gavin had slipped his arm around Richard's waist, and was resting one large hand on his delicate hip.
Jared's mouth opened, then shut once again. He blinked several times, trying to clear his vision. He was hallucinating, that was the only explanation.
But no, there they were, Gavin's fingertips idly tugging at the hem of Richard's shirt.
Jared felt nauseous.
For a few long, dizzying seconds he thought he might actually need to excuse himself to the bathroom.
Richard was worrying his bottom lip between his teeth, and he gripped onto Gavin's bicep for some extra reassurance.
"Jared, are you okay?" Richard asked, concerned.
"Yes, of course, Richard." Jared replied immediately on instinct.
Then he hesitated and shook his head, "No. No, Richard, not really."
Jared tried to reason with himself. Maybe I've just got the wrong end of the stick? Maybe everything is fine. This is Richard. We trust Richard. Just talk this out, Richard will explain everything, and everything will be fine.
Jared took a deep breath.
"Richard can we... Can I talk to you? In private?" He chanced a glance at Gavin as he spoke.
"We're already in private. I'm his boyfriend, that means no secrets. Anything said in front of him, can be said in front of me," Gavin spoke up before Richard had the chance.
Boyfriend. Jared felt the bile rise in his throat once again, along with a surge of anger he'd worked very hard the last few years to keep in check.
"Richard doesn't have a boyfriend," Jared stated, as calmly as he could manage. "He would've told me if he was seeing someone."
Gavin let out a humourless laugh, and Richard just stood there, looking mortified.
"Well, evidently, he didn't. I guess Richard just wasn't comfortable sharing his personal life with you. I'm beginning to see why." Gavin spoke with such confidence, Jared wanted to punch the self-satisfied grin off his face. His fists clenched at his sides.
Richard knew he was losing control of the situation, if he even had it to begin with.
"Gavin, don't, please. Look- just," With an exasperated sigh he untangled himself from Gavin. "Both of you, stop it."
Sheepishness was a good look on Gavin, Jared will admit.
"Jared, let's talk in my room. Alone."
Gavin straightened his back and stretched out the tension in his neck. "Fine." He held a hand out in front of him, indicating for them to proceed. "Go ahead."
Always has to be in control, Jared thought, sardonically.
Upon entering Richard's bedroom and shutting the door behind them, Jared couldn't prevent his emotions boiling over.
"What the hell is going on, Richard? Is he making you do this?" He was trying to keep his voice down, but his tone was frantic.
Richard had been preparing himself for this conversation, but that didn't make it any easier.
"No, no. It's not like that. We're together, Jared. Like, together, together. I didn't mean to keep it from you but- but I knew you'd react like- well, like this!" Richard's voice rose with frustration as he gestured wildly with his hands.
Jared shook his head. "You can't be serious, Richard. This isn't- this can't- this isn't real, he's manipulating you!"
Richard was beginning to feel defensive.
"Gavin's not a monster, Jared! And you don't- you don't have to always try and protect me. He's different now, he's nice to me. You don't know him like I do."
Jared was taken aback, hurt.
"Richard, I know Gavin, and he doesn't change. I don't know what he and his mercenaries are planning, but whatever it is, Richard, please don't get involved. You know I never want to see you get hurt."
Richard sighed. "Jared, I know you're just trying to help, but I'm not some- some damsel in distress who always needs saving. Gavin and I are together, and if you really are my friend, you'll accept that."
The air in the room seemed to grow thinner.
Jared felt the floor underneath him shift as his head started to spin. He dropped down into Richard's computer chair; the nearest soft surface, for safety.
His eyes stung, and he could feel tears threatening to spill.
"Richard, you know that's not what this is. You know you're important to me." His voice was quiet and strained.
"I'm sorry, Jared, but you have to respect my choices, and if- if you can't, maybe it's best if we... spend some time apart."
Richard's words were like a knife twisting into his heart.
Jared took a deep, shuddering breath, and looked up into Richard's eyes, searching for something, anything.
All he saw was the finality in his gaze.
The words were ripped from deep within Jared's chest before he could stop them.
"I love you, Richard." An earnest admission.
Richard's heart shattered. He couldn't find it within himself to reciprocate, and the silence spoke volumes.
Jared swallowed around the lump in his throat, and nodded, resigned.
He stood up from the chair and brushed himself off, as if wiping away the emotional weight of the encounter.
He walked deliberately and carefully towards the door.
Before turning the handle, he stopped and turned his head slightly, not quite looking back.
"Please, Richard. Please, be careful."
And then he was alone.
-
It wasn't until his Chevy Volt was safely parked up in its spot outside his condo, that Jared allowed himself to fall apart.