freakykat: (galerandy)
[personal profile] freakykat
title or description
banner made by [livejournal.com profile] furriboots

Disclaimer: I neither know nor own Gale or Randy. Nor any of the other peoples. This is NOT real. It is fiction based on an overactive imagination and lots of QAF viewing. None of the events in this story have happened. Thank you for your time!

Title: Say It Right (7/12)
Author: [livejournal.com profile] freakykat
Pairing: Gale/Randy...in the end
Rating: PG-14
Series/Sequel: Part 7
Summary: Sometimes saying the right words is the hardest thing to do.
Warnings: m/m sex, if you don't like that kind of thing, away with you. If you do, enjoy! Tons of language, slight angst, illness, but much humor in between.
Author's Notes: Deepest thanks to [livejournal.com profile] plumduff for beta'ing and her encouragement! Thank you dearest! The story seems to be moving along. Feedback loved, nurtured and petted!

Parts: |1|2|3|4|5|6|

Note: It's been so long that's it's probably a good idea to re-read at least the last chapter before this one, in case you need a refresher. K. Read on!




Say It Right (7/12)


These are the times
I wanna crawl in a hole

And these are the rhymes
that try to soothe my soul

But your grace is the drug
that makes the pain worthwhile

And your face shows the love
that reminds me how to smile

These are the days
that just won’t let me win

These are the ways
I swore I’d never feel again

But yours is the voice
That says my world will be all right ~ AHS




“Have you lost your fucking mind?”

Gale paused, fork halfway to his mouth, glancing at Neil and tilting his head as he thought, then shaking it slowly. “No. I seem to have total use of all faculties.” He grinned before stuffing his mouth and chewing away happily.

“Yeah. Well, you won’t for long if you do this.”

“Do what?” Peter strolled up to the table, clad in a leather jacket that Gale immediately coveted, a white muscle shirt and jeans so tight that it was impressive the guy could walk at all. Neil’s face lit up completely, and not for the first time, Gale felt that little stab of envy in his stomach. It wasn’t that he was jealous of either Neil or Peter. They were his friends, more than that - now they were his family.

The problem was that he was envious of Neil and Peter. Of the ease and freedom they had in expressing what they felt without caring who the hell saw. Of them having this unspoken agreement with each other, this commitment to one another that had somehow started with taking care of Gale, and was now something so much more.

It was what he had always wanted with Randy.

What he knew he couldn’t have now that Randy was back in the life to which he belonged.

Peter took the seat between Gale and Neil, leaning over to kiss Gale’s cheek, and then turning to give Neil some attention as well. When they parted lips and hands, Neil pointed at Gale and said, “This one is doing an interview.”

Peter glanced at Gale then back at Neil, blinking. “Okay.”

“Tell him what you told me.”

Gale rolled his eyes, taking another forkful of food and chewing slowly while he kept them waiting. Swallowing, he sighed and waved his fork at Neil. “You’re queening out over nothing, Neil.” He ignored the undignified snort from his friend and looked at Peter. “I’m just planning on being honest, that’s all.”

“Meaning?” Peter’s eyebrow drew up, head canted to one side.

“Meaning he is going to tell the world he is in love with Randy Harrison.”

Peter gasped, staring bug-eyed at Gale. ”Say what?!

“I never said that!” Gale argued, furrowing his brow, shaking his head as he concentrated on his food. “All I said was if they asked me about my love life, I would be honest.” He stabbed at the wilting lettuce, losing his appetite as he heard himself.

Peter smacked his arm, frowning. “Meaning you’re going to tell the world you’re in love with Randy!”

“See.” Neil flapped one hand at Gale, looking around them quickly to make sure no reporters were hovering close by. “Peter thinks it’s a bad idea, too.”

Peter shrugged, brushing one hand over his head while extending the other to Neil, their fingers folding together perfectly. “I think it’s a bad idea to say anything to the public before you actually, you know, tell Randy.”

“Randy knows.”

Neil and Peter stared at him.

“He does.”

More staring.

“Guys, I told him how I felt.”

Neil rubbed his free hand over his face, nodding. “Yes, when you went to see him to tell him you were also possibly dying of cancer. Gale, really. Anything you said to him during that time, he would have chalked up to you being afraid and sick.”

Peter nodded his agreement. “I think Neil is right.”

Gale smirked at him. “Of course you do. You two are sickening, I swear. Fucking adorable and everything I wish I could be and have but sickening.” He dropped some money on the table, kissing Peter and then Neil. “Don’t worry, guys. It’ll be fine.”



###



“What time is this interview?” Peter stretched his long, lean legs across the couch, leaning back into the soft cushions. Half naked and sated, he was feeling a little more generous with his opinion about Gale’s interview than earlier. “You know, it could be a good thing.”

Neil paused on his way to reach for the remote, raising an eyebrow in silent disagreement.

Peter conceded. “Okay, maybe not exactly good.” He waited until Neil settled next to him, and laid his head on Neil’s lap. “But it doesn’t necessarily spell disaster.”

“I don’t know about that, babe.”

Neil found the channel, Gale’s face bright on the screen, and they both turned to look at him. Gale had refused to tell them exactly what he had said at the interview, just saying it was fine and not to worry so goddamn much. It actually scared Neil that Gale seemed proud of whatever had happened.

Neil turned the volume up, his hand letting go of the remote and threading through Peter’s hair.

He prayed to any gods listening and paid attention to the television and Gale.

“Any interesting projects on the horizon?”

“I’m looking at a part in a play now. Broadway, again.”


Neil had to smile at the grin that took over Gale’s face. He truly loved live theater and despite what some thought, Gale was damn good at it.

“Totally different than Suddenly Last Summer, I hear.”

“Yes, it is. A revival of ‘The Philadelphia Story’ which is one of my favorites.”

“That sounds pretty great!”

“It is.”

“What part will you playing?”

“Ah…well…”

“Let me guess….C. K. Dexter?”


Gale’s laugh was loud and real, which surprised Neil because Gale wasn’t exactly known for relaxing when he was being probed. It amazed him how much the cancer had changed Gale. Given him this new outlook on life and his place in it. It was subtle, the transformation, but Neil saw it, knew it was there.

“So this new movie, Gale, will be the first time you play another gay character since Brian Kinney?”

“That’s right.”


Peter tensed on his lap, and Neil felt his own shoulders straighten a bit more. It bothered Peter that the world assumed they had hated their time on the show. Or resented it now. The reporter hadn’t actually said it that but his tone implied it.

“You’ve never seemed to like to play the same character twice, why now?”

Peter straightened from his position, raising an eyebrow at the television. “What the fuck?”

Neil shook his head, rubbing Peter’s shoulder’s. “It’s just a question, babe. It’s okay.” He watched Gale’s face, the way he took his time with his answer.

“I don’t see how I am doing that now. Yes, Mark is a gay character. But other than the fact that they like to sleep with men, Mark and Brian have nothing in common.”

“Younger men.”


Gale laughed again and Neil smiled, despite the knot that had formed in his stomach at the direction the questions seemed to be veering towards.

Okay, two things in common. Look, Mark is nothing like Brian. He’s a repressed, closet case that falls in love and destroys everything because of it. Brian was anything but repressed. At least not when it came to who he was.”

Peter grinned and glanced at Neil. “He really did love that character.”


Neil nodded. It was obvious that the affection with which Gale spoke about Brian Kinney that he had really enjoyed that character. That was a good thing. Playing Brian had defined a big chunk of Gale’s life, and to know that he didn’t regret it, that he actually appreciated it…that made a lot of people happy.

“….similar to Randy?”

Neil brought all his attention back to the television. What the hell?

“Well, aside from looks, light hair, young…no I don’t really think that Randy and Van have a lot in common. They’re both excellent actors, a pleasure to work with but their styles are very different.”

“So, you don’t think that the producers purposely made the choice to cast someone that looked like your co-star from your most successful show?”

“That’s not what I’m saying.”
Gale paused a moment, took a drink of water and looked straight at the interviewer. “It’s just…it wouldn’t work. You can’t recreate what Randy and I had as co-stars. Trying would make it more obvious that it wasn‘t right. They chose Van because he is a wonderful actor and he worked his character to the max. I had a great time filming.”

“Okay. I’ll take that. Do you still stay in contact with Randy or your other cast mates?”

“I talk to everyone as often as possible.”


“Nice dodge.”

“Yes it was.”

“More so now after your health issues?”

“Yes. I mean, we always kept in touch but…something like that pulls people together. And they - they were my family, not just co-stars.”

“I heard that Randy took care of you when you were sick?”

“Randy was…Randy was Randy. He put everything into helping me get better. That’s the way he is. It’s why I love him.”


“Did he just…?”

“He did.”

“Peter and our friend, Neil, also came to stay with me during the treatments. Like I said, they’re more than just former cast mates, they’re family.”

“Speaking of family…”


Gale laughed a little and shook his head. “No comment.”

Oh, come on. Fine. Are you…involved?”

Neil held his breath, felt Peter do the same at his side and stared at the television, sending mental messages to Gale on the screen. Not that it would work since it had already been filmed but it didn’t hurt to try.

“I’m always involved.”

“Nice try. But seriously, anybody special in your life?”


Gale paused, taking a deep breath as he nodded. “I’ve always had someone special in my life.”

“I wasn’t aware of that. You’ve always declared yourself single.”

“Doesn’t mean I didn’t have anyone special. You can be in love and still be single, in my opinion. It just depends on the other person.”


Neil hid his face behind shaking hands. Oh dear god.

“So, are you telling us you’re in love, Mr. Harold?”

“Did I say that?”
Gale laughed, waving a hand out to the camera.

“You kinda did.”

“Well, then, maybe I kinda am.”


Peter whimpered something between a stunned, happy yelp and a restrained angry growl.

Neil totally understood.

He couldn’t decide whether to hug Gale or kill him.

“That’s great to know. Anyone we know?”

“No comment.”

“That means yes!”

“That means no comment.”

“A hint? Girl? Woman? Man?”

“Animal? Vegetable?”
Gale joked, rolling his eyes slightly. “What does that matter, anyway?”

“It does to some.”


Gale shook his head. “And I’ll never understand that. It doesn’t matter if I just met a woman two days ago and fell head over heels, or I’ve been in love with the same man for so long that I can’t remember a time I didn’t love him. Love is love is love. Period.”

Neil gaped at the television.

Holy shit. Gale had just declared his love for Randy Harrison on national television. Maybe not in all those words but anyone that knew them…He heard Peter get up, and craned his head up to watch him go to the desk in the corner and flip open the laptop. “What are you doing, babe?”

“I’m going online. The fucking reactions from the fans are going to be awesome.”

Neil let out a small laugh but it petered away when he realized that in all possibility there would be one person that wouldn’t be happy about what had just happened.

“Fuck.”


###


“Rita…Rita, calm down.” Gale rubbed his nose hard, taking another deep breath to keep from yelling back at his manager. “I know that. I know. Well, whether or not I’m gay, bi or straight shouldn’t make a difference. Rita, take a fucking pill and calm down. I think it came out fine. Yes. I’ll come by in the morning. Yes. Good night, Rita.” Gale resisted the urge to slam the phone down and unplug it from the wall.

It had been constantly ringing since the early morning. Apparently, he hadn’t been as subtle as he had thought in his interview.

He’d received three invitations for more television interviews, two magazines wanted to do an article and Peter kept sending him emails with all the reactions and theories from fans. He highlighted the ones that believed he was talking about Neil. He found that funny. Gale deleted them all. It wasn’t how he meant for it to come out. He had a plan. He was going to be careful. If they had asked a direct question, he hadn’t planned on saying anything other than he had someone in his life.

The phone rang once more and Gale leaned his head back against his couch cushions, closing his eyes, determined to ignore it. When it stopped after the fourth ring, he breathed a sigh of relief.

Until it started again.

Reporters weren’t this annoying. If they couldn’t find you, they’d leave a voicemail, that had always been his experience.

It stopped abruptly after the fourth ring once more, going to his answering service.

He was up and halfway to the kitchen when it blared again.

He had to know.

Grabbing the cordless in the hallway, he spoke curtly, “Hello?”

“Gale?”

His eyebrows rose in recognition of the voice. “Simon?”

“Oh, thank god, you picked up. Are you at home? You need to go. Out. Like now.

Gale blinked a few times, not quite following Simon’s train of thought. “Was that you that kept calling, Simon? Of course I’m home! That’s where you called…like ten times. And why do you want me to go outside?”

“Of course you’re at home. I wasn’t sure what number this was. Listen, that interview, man, you know what, good for you. I always hated those questions they would ask you guys. However, some people don’t feel the same way so you, um, you need to go to Peter’s or…you know what? Come to my house! He won’t even think of looking for you here.”

Gale leaned against the wall, closing his eyes to ward off the pounding. This was making things worse. “What the fuck are you talking about, Simon?”

“Randy, you dumbass!”

That got his attention and the panic in Simon’s voice had sent a fear into Gale. Had someone hurt Randy because of what Gale had said or not said? He couldn’t imagine any of his fans - their fans - reacting that way. No. This was something else. “Simon…”

“He is as pissed off as I have ever seen him, Gale. And I’ve seen that man pissed off, believe me.”

Shit. Shit. Shit.

“The interview I take it?”

“Well, yeah! Gale, man, seriously. On national television?”

“I never said it was him.”

Simon snorted. “Of course you didn’t but it doesn’t take a genius to know who you were talking about. He was furious when he called me to ask that I use my journalistic prowess to find your new address.”

“You gave it to him?”

“No! He was angry. I know…look, Gale. I’m happy. I’ve met someone who loves me and you’ve always been, if not nice, then at least not bitter about what Randy and I had. It takes something special to be able to do that. So, you know. I’ve liked you. Despite everything. So I didn’t want to subject you to Randy when he’s not thinking clearly and going by emotions. That’s when things can be said that we can’t take back.”

He remembered that moment that felt like an eternity ago now, when he had told Randy he loved him and that he was sick. The things Randy had said. How he had reacted. Gale’s own reactions back.

Some things you couldn’t take back.

“I hear you.”

“So, no, I didn’t. But either Hal, or Scotty, or Peter did, cause he called back to tell me he had the information.”

“Peter wouldn’t have.” That was all Gale could think because right now, somewhere in the city, Randy Harrison was making his way to see him. Six months from when Gale had walked away. Something Simon said registered.

“Wait a minute. Simon, did you say you met someone? But you and Rand…”

“Are over. For a while now, Gale. Longer than I think even you realize. Some of what I wanted he doesn’t.” Simon muttered a curse under his breath. “Forget all that. Just go. Get out. Wait for a couple of days and go find him. He’ll have calmed down a little by then.”

The sudden knock on the door sounded loud in the quiet of his apartment and Gale froze, eyes falling on the entry door. He heard Simon breathe quietly in his ear, his soft “Tell me that wasn’t what I think it was.”

“Someone’s at the door.”

“Fuck.”

Gale forced his feet to make the short walk to the door, listening intently. “Maybe it’s someone else.” He was afraid to look into the keyhole, to confirm his suspicions. Even with the knowledge that Randy was angry, that he might have screwed everything up irrevocably, his heart was beating so fast he could hear its rhythm pound against his chest.

Randy.

“It’s him.” Simon’s voice sounded far away and Gale remembered he still had the phone to his ear.

“I’m going to open the door, Simon.”

There was a short pause, a long sigh and then Simon’s quiet, “Good luck, man” before there was a click and the line went dead.

Gale didn’t bother to look through the keyhole. At this point, he knew it was Randy. He could sense it somehow. He stared at the door. There was another knock and then Randy’s voice, tight and strained through the wood. “Gale, open the door.”

Taking a minute to compose himself, Gale closed his eyes, took a deep breath, adjusted his shirt and ran a hand through his hair, before opening his eyes and staring at the door again. Another second and he reached for the knob, twisting it and feeling his insides do the same.

He looked straight into Randy’s blue gaze, all heat and anger directed at him.

“Hello, Randy.”


|Part 8|


###


Let's not look this gift horse in the mouth of me writing so much lately and let's just enjoy...cause lord knows how long it will last! *gg*

###
This account has disabled anonymous posting.
If you don't have an account you can create one now.
HTML doesn't work in the subject.
More info about formatting

Profile

freakykat: (Default)
Katicus

August 2020

S M T W T F S
      1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23 24 2526272829
3031     

Most Popular Tags

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags
Page generated Jul. 9th, 2025 08:56 am
Powered by Dreamwidth Studios