Force of nature

by M. F. Luder (mfluder@ec-red.com)

Title: Force of nature
Author: M. F. Luder
Email: mfluder@ec-red.com
Pairing: Ryan/Seth
Category: Romance
Summary: Because Seth can't fight Ryan anymore
Author's note: Spur of the moment kinda thing. *shrugs*

He's lying on the grass, looking up at the sky.

Everyone is out at the moment.

His mom is at work, as his dad. They are going out to dinner afterwards.

Ryan is out... somewhere.

Seth has no idea where to. Ryan doesn't tell him, and he feels slightly awkward asking, not that it has stopped him before, but it does now.

He doesn't want to ask because, well, certainly, he's not Ryan's keeper. Not that he wants to. Naha. Nope. Doesn't want to.

Seth snorts.

Really, he doesn't ask because he has no right to do so. It would look weird, and he doesn't want to look weird. He's got enough with being weird nine times out of ten.

So, no, thank you, he doesn't ask.

He wishes he could, though.

He wishes he could reach out and touch Ryan's forehead, a strand of his hair that tends to fall forward with that unkept kinda look he seems to sport. It only makes him look cuter.

He wishes he could touch Ryan's arm, his fingers lingering, maybe even moving under the soft fabric of Ryan's shirt. So very soft, the few times Seth has manage to come up with an excuse to touch it, and Seth wonders if maybe Rosa puts a different fabric softener in Ryan's laundry, because his clothes sure as hell aren't that soft.

He wishes he had a right to ask Ryan.

But he doesn't. So he keeps his lips press together and doesn't ask a word.

Ryan could be out with Marissa... or Theresa, or Maria... or Laura or any other female name in existence.

Seth groans, hiding his face in his hand.

Any other girl, actually, because he has to accept it, there is an animal, raw... thing that seems to linger in Ryan, around him, that is a calling for the female population.

And some of the male, if Seth has to accept it.

Ryan could have anyone... but he seems to choose no one -- at the moment.

Seth sighs, closing his eyes shut.

Great.

*****

They are sitting in front of the TV having pizza because, really, Seth wasn't going to cook.

Ryan offered, which really didn't surprise Seth in the slightest -- there is something about Ryan that oozes cooking -- but Seth figured that pizza wouldn't kill them.

Ryan reaches for another slice, hand moving slowly, elegantly, and Seth can only watch.

His hand pauses for a moment, tip almost reaching thin pink lips as something on the screen catches Ryan's eyes.

Seth holds his breath.

A second later, lips part and Ryan closes his eyes in delight at the taste and Seth has to bite down his lip not to whimper.

Great. Now not only he wants Ryan, but he can't even be sly about it. Or stealth, or anything really, as long as Ryan doesn't realize it.

By the time Ryan has finished that slice, Seth wants to die.

It's just not fair to put so much beauty in one package alone.

Those blue eyes that reflect the ocean, white skin that just calls out for touching, long eyelashes that beg to be kissed, and perfect smile that seems to be answer for everything.

Not fair. Nope. So very not fair.

God.

"Seth?"

Seth looks up from the floor and into Ryan's confused face, head tilted. One eyebrow raises slowly.

How can Ryan say so much with no words, when Seth sometimes can't find enough words in his vocabulary to convey what he feels?

Maybe that's the Atwood charm, because Cohens sure as hell don't have it.

Well, maybe his dad. He is a lawyer after all.

So it just might come from the Nichol in him.

Seth rolls his eyes.

"Aren't you hungry?"

Seth's eyes follow Ryan's gaze and falls onto his half eaten first slice.

Apparently, gazing at Ryan does take all his attention. Not that it is much of a surprise actually, but still.

"Hmm... no, thanks."

Ryan frowns. "You sure? You wanted pizza but we can ask something else. There's a twenty on the cupboard."

The change from the pizza. Seth shakes his head. He doesn't want anything at the moment, not really. Well, not to eat. Well, yeah, but not food.

Seth bites back the groan.

"Nah, dude, thanks."

The eyebrow raises another notch, and Ryan is waiting for him.

God, two whole sentences with only silence.

Is there a way Seth can learn that?

"Ryan, dude, really. I'm fine."

More silence.

Damn, that was impressive. Seth can only blink at Ryan. So very impressive.

"Ryan..."

Ryan squints.

"Damn, could you like... stop inquiring? It doesn't suit you, you know? It's so very not you. Like... totally not you. Like... you're another person to me right now."

Seth nods rapidly; Ryan only looks more confused.

Seth groans.

"Crap, Ryan, really. Please... just..."

Ryan frowns.

"It's like... I can't help it. I really can. Like... you're it, you know? It's funny, but at the same time it totally isn't funny, but it is. There's this thing..."

Seth rolls his eyes.

"So, maybe not a thing, but a thing. There's this thing... it just pulls me to you. I try to pretend I don't see it, like it isn't there, but it is. It is, I can't keep pretending for much longer. I really, really, like, dude, I can't." A pause. "It's there."

He stares down at his hands, fingers pulling a hem of his Dude, I'm cool! shirt.

"It's like... it's like you're this force of nature, and I just can't fight it. It pulls me to you, you know? It just draws me to you. You're like the ocean for me. Yeah, the ocean, and I can only let myself go because I can't fight it. Maybe it's because I'm too weak, and, well, wouldn't that be a surprise? But you are... and I am..." Seth's hand waves in between them. "And I just can't..."

"Seth?"

Seth looks up, eyes blinking, brain filled with fog and dust and a million things that don't let him think properly. "Huh?"

Ryan grins, then leans over and kisses him.

Ryan tastes like pepperoni, and coke, and just a hint of the cigarette he wasn't supposed to have been smoking an hour ago.

When Seth pulls back, he looks at Ryan.

Ryan's grinning. "It's okay."

Seth frowns. "Like, really?"

"Yeah, it's okay."

"You sure?"

Ryan chuckles. "Yeah, I'm sure."

"Because, dude, you're a force of nature."

A roll of blue eyes, and after a pause, a smile. "Am I?"

Seth nods hastily and emphatically. "Totally. Like... totally. Yeah, totally. Dude, you're El Niño."

Another chuckle and a raised eyebrow.

Seth gets it, loud and clear, and does just that. Seth's brain really can't function, not that he is complaining.

I love you, the kiss seems to whisper.

"I love you too," Seth answers in between kisses.

The shinning blue eyes and blinding smile that is rarely seen is more than enough response.

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