[#027] Needing A Hand (FAKE)

[badly_knitted]

Theme Prompt: #027 – Double Trouble
Title: Needing A Hand
Fandom: FAKE
Rating/Warnings: PG
Bonus: Yes
Word Count: 994
Summary: Ryo is so used to taking care of himself, it’s sometimes hard for him to admit he needs help.



Ryo liked to believe that he didn’t really need anyone to look after him. He was thirty, a mature adult, and he’d pretty much taken care of himself since he’d lost both of his parents in a tragic case of mistaken identity when he was eighteen. Over the last ten or eleven years, since he’d moved out of his aunt’s place, he’d lived alone, and he’d managed perfectly well, even going so far as to become a single father when he’d impulsively decided to foster an orphaned ten-year-old boy a few years back.

Of course Bikky wasn’t home right now, he was at school, and as it was one of the basketball team’s training days he wouldn’t be home until evening, which left Ryo in a bit of a predicament. He couldn’t even phone anyone for help because his phone was out of reach in his bedroom. So now what was he going to do?

He was still trying to figure out what to try next when he heard something. Was that the front door opening?

“Ryo? Hey, where are ya, babe?”

What was Dee doing here? The thought flashed through Ryo’s mind. Shouldn’t he be at work? On second thoughts, it didn’t matter; help was at hand.

“HELP! I’M STUCK!”

It was a good thing he’d left the bathroom door ajar, otherwise knowing Dee he probably would’ve kicked it clear off its hinges coming to the rescue.

The expression of frantic worry on Dee’s face as he burst into the bathroom would have almost been funny if not for Ryo’s predicament. The only good thing about his situation was that he hadn’t turned the shower on yet otherwise he might have accidentally drowned himself in the tub. That would’ve been an ignominious end for a police detective.

“What the hell happened to you?”

Ryo peered up at his partner from the bottom of the bathtub where he lay, hopelessly tangled in the shower curtain, one leg twisted painfully beneath him, he other sticking up in the air.

“I wanted to take a shower.” That should have been obvious to anyone.

“I thought the doc told ya to keep your cast dry!”

“He did, but I thought if I stood on my good leg with the other one over the side of the bath I could manage well enough and still keep my cast from getting wet, only…”

“What?”

“The bath was still wet from Bikky’s shower this morning and when I stepped in my foot slipped. I grabbed for something to keep from falling but I pulled the shower curtain down as well, and now… I can’t get up and I think I might have sprained my ankle…” Ryo could feel his face heating up with embarrassment. Dee already thought he was an airhead and a bit of a klutz; what would he think now?

“Y’know, I was right; you should stay at my place until you’re outta the cast, then I’d be there to give ya a hand whenever ya need it.” Dee leaned over and started untangling the shower curtain. The rail had come down as well; looked like it might have conked Ryo on the head in the process, he had a bruise on his forehead.

“I can’t stay at your place; what about Bikky? It’s the middle of term!” Dee’s apartment was too far from Bikky’s school.

Dee tossed the shower curtain aside, put one foot in the bathtub, and got Ryo’s arm around his shoulders, hoisting his lover up to sit on the side of the bath, one foot and lower leg in plaster, the other ankle bruised and swollen.

“Fine, so I’ll stay here ‘cause someone’s gotta keep ya from causin’ even more damage to yourself. That ankle needs ice to bring the swellin’ down, and then a bandage; you’re not gonna have an easy time gettin’ around.”

“I’m sorry; you must think I’m such a nuisance.” Ryo couldn’t look at his partner.

“Don’t be a dope! I like takin’ care of ya, don’t get to do it nearly enough. Sometimes I think you don’t need me at all, you’re always so organised, everything under control.”

“Not today I’m not.”

“You’re just havin’ a bad day. Takes a while to get used to bein’ in a cast; I should know.” Dee had done the leg in a cast thing himself and was well aware of how awkward it made the simplest things. “Now, why don’t I run ya a bath so ya can clean up, just a shallow one, then you can get dressed and put both feet up while I fix the shower rail.” There wasn’t much Dee couldn’t fix when he set his mind to it.

“Thanks, Dee. And for the record, I do need you; not just as my work partner, and not just to sort me out when I get myself into a mess. Maybe I can take care of myself most of the time, but that doesn’t mean I always want to. I’m always going to need you. Everything’s better when you have someone special to share it with.”

“Does that mean I get to share the bath with ya?” Dee grinned.

Ryo gave him a shocked look. “You’re unbelievable, I’m injured!”

“It’s your foot that’s broken, not your…” Ryo’s glare silenced Dee, but the grin remained, completely unrepentant. “Just sayin’, I could make ya forget all about your injuries. You know it’s true.”

Ryo didn’t deny it, but still… “And exactly how would I keep my cast dry?”

“Okay, point taken. Want me to wash your back?”

“Yes, please.” Because why not?

Maybe at his age Ryo was perfectly capable of taking care of himself and his foster son, but now he had Dee in his life was it so wrong to sit back and let his lover take care of him once in a while? Ryo didn’t think so; in fact, he was pretty sure he might even enjoy it.


The End



 

Comments

[mxcatmoon]

I can identify with that. When my foot was in a cast a friend came to stay with me and help out, but I still ended up doing more than I should. LOL. I love helping others, but it's really hard to be on the other end.

[badly_knitted]

Some people find it easier to give help than to receive, independence I guess. I'm like that myself, although I will accept help with things I just can't manage, once I've found out for myself that I really need help.

Dee will stay with Ryo until he's mobile again.

Thank you!

[autobotscoutriella]

Definitely not easy to ask for help! Poor Ryo--but at least he's got Dee there to look out for him.

[badly_knitted]

And now Dee will definitely be moving in until Ryo is mobile again. Any excuse to share Ryo's bed ;)

Thank you!

[luminouswater]

I'm not familiar with the characters, but this was so sweet! Well, not the poor soul stuck in the bath obviously, but the end :)

[badly_knitted]

Thank you!

I love these two, and Ryo really is a very competent detective, but he can be an airhead. That's why I sent Dee to check up on him ;)

[luminouswater]

Well it's lucky for Ryo that you did! :D

[badly_knitted]

I keep damaging them so it's only fair I make sure they have help when the need it ;)

[m_findlow]

It was a good thing he’d left the bathroom door ajar, otherwise knowing Dee he probably would’ve kicked it clear off its hinges coming to the rescue.
LOL, Dee would do that!

[badly_knitted]

He really would he'd never think to try it first and see if it was locked or not; his baby needed help, he had to get to Ryo right away!

Thank you!

[pipisafoat]

So cute! I had just a huge grin pretty much the whole time.

[badly_knitted]

*grins* Thank you, so pleased you liked it!

[quicksilverfox3]

This was a really good read! I think you wrote them both really well and I love their interactions (it's been such a long time since I thought about FAKE omg).

[badly_knitted]

Thank you so much!

I can't seem to go five minutes without thinking about FAKE. I love these boys, but I keep damaging them so they can look after each other ;)