~*~

“Stop avoiding me.”

Randy halfheartedly glanced up into the mirror at Gale’s reflection behind him, finished washing his hands and reached for a paper towel.  They hadn’t spoken in two hours.  By the time Gale returned to the hall, Randy had switched seats with Hal and was greeting fans and taking pictures from the opposite end of the table.

“You followed me into the bathroom to tell me to stop avoiding you?”

“Well I couldn’t get your attention any other way.  You’ve made sure of that.”

Randy shrugged, tossed the wet towel into the garbage and grabbed the handle of the door.  Before he could open it, Gale’s hand was on his shoulder, lightly trying to pull him back.

“Please.”

He stopped, hesitated for a moment and then finally turned back around.  “What do you want me to say, Gale?”

Gale pulled his arm back, suddenly feeling awkward about touching him the wrong way.  That was what got them into this weird sort of awkwardness to begin with.  

“I’m not expecting anything.  I just don’t want you to be mad at me.”  His eyes drifted downward as his hands slid inside his pockets.  

Randy blinked and Gale could tell he was trying to control his facial expressions.  He was usually so open, so animated... But right now, Gale had no idea what was going on inside his head.  The only thing he <I>did</I> know, was that an apology was in order.   “I fucked up.  I’m sorry.”

With a shake of his head, Randy surprised him.  “I’m not mad at you so don’t worry about it, okay?”

Gale didn’t answer; instead, he stood staring, not convinced.

“Okay?” Randy repeated.

“Then why…?”

“Because this feels weird.  I should have stopped it.”  He hesitated and then added, “I should have, but I didn’t.”

“Look, it doesn’t have to be anything…  it’s not like we haven’t kissed before.”

“We haven’t... not like that.”

And Gale couldn’t argue because he knew Randy was right.  This wasn’t a simple peck on the cheek like friends or acquaintances.  This was more, and they both knew it.  Something like this could either make or break a friendship, even one as close as theirs had been.  

Making the decision for both of them, Gale decided enough was enough.  It was time to lighten the fucking mood and that was exactly what he intended to do.  “Sure we have.  Five years of hot, horny, fuck me kisses.” 

He moved in quickly, pushing his body against Randy’s, shoving him hard against the edge of the counter.  He gave a deadly grin and locked onto Randy’s lips, sliding his tongue against the top one and then deeper inside, licking at the taste that was so familiar.  He pulled away just as quick and raised his eyebrow, staring directly into crystal blue eyes.  “See?   Just a kiss, nothing to it.”

Randy let out a breath, stared shell-shocked for just a moment and Gale could see the exact moment when Randy figured out what he was trying to do.  When he realized things didn’t have to be as serious as they were making it out to be.  His lips slowly slid into a smile.  “You’re such a weirdo.”

“And I need a drink.  What do you say we go make our presence known?”

Randy chuckled, nodded and followed Gale out of the bathroom.  Just as quickly as it started, the awkwardness was over.  

~*~

Closing down a local pub for their private use, they’d planned an evening for just the cast, their family and a select group of friends.  If this was truly their last hoorah, they were dead set on making it a memorable one.  

Gale and Randy joined the others after making a quick detour to the bar, and sat down with their drinks to watch Peter and Michelle on the dance floor doing their own saucy rendition of Dirty Dancing.  Three hours later, they were still drinking and everyone else was taking bets on who could out drink the other.   No one would actually win of course, because there wasn’t a sober person in the place to keep track of the count.  

Before long, everyone was on the dance floor with the exception of the two of them.  Sitting side by side in a long booth that took up the entire back wall, Randy was leaning against Gale, his head resting against Gale’s arm as they laughed at the rest of their friends.  This was normal.  Comfortable.  Back to the way things should have been.  They’d been talking about everything and nothing, catching up on the year that had passed them by.  They agreed to never lose touch like that again and pinky swore with a toast to seal it.  Gale was listening to Randy talk about the theater, some role that he was dying to land when suddenly, without warning, he felt a warm breath against his ear.   

“Where’s your stash?”

Not at all what he was expecting, he laughed at the blatant display when Randy’s hand began probing his shirt, patting him down.   He made it as far as the right front pocket of Gale’s jeans before Gale grabbed his wrist, diverting an embarrassing scene for both of them.  They may have been playing as friends all night, but Randy’s hands being anywhere in the proximity of Gale’s crotch was putting them in dangerous territory.

He fumbled in the pocket of his coat, which was lying next to him in the booth and pulled out the shiny, silver object.  “I stole this from the set.  Didn’t think anyone would mind.”

Randy recognized it immediately.  With a smile, he grabbed it and playfully held it up.  “I mind!  What if I wanted it?  Besides, if you’re not careful, people will start believing all the rumors about you.” 

Gale grabbed the case back, pulling out a joint and holding it to his lips.  “And what rumors would that be?”

Randy laughed again.  “That you’re a stoner.”

Gale smiled and lit up, inhaling deeply and passed it to Randy.  “There’s nothing wrong with indulging in the occasional recreational drug.”

Randy took a hit and exhaled slowly.  “Spoken like the Brian Kinney we all know and love.”

They both smiled and he took another drag before handing it back to Gale.  Feeling comfortable and completely at ease for the first time since he’d arrived, Randy scooted down the booth, lying down on his back with his knees raised and rested his head on Gale’s thigh.

“You know, you really shouldn’t believe everything you read.”

Randy didn’t say anything.  He knew that given enough time… and weed…

“I was never really with Kim.”

Randy’s head tilted to look upside down at Gale’s face, causing the entire room to rotate.  “What?”

“Kim… or anyone else... at least, not seriously.”

“But I thought…”

“She was just a friend willing to help me out.  Give the press something to talk about.”

Randy thought about it silently for a few seconds and then finally replied, “Wow.”  He reached his hand up for the joint, but Gale swatted it away.  

“Close your eyes.”

He stared up at the other man in confusion, but closed his eyes anyway when Gale nodded at him.  He was waiting patiently when he felt fingers curling through his hair and felt Gale shift under him slightly.  Even with his lids tightly squeezed together, he sensed the presence close to his face and then...  Warmth against him, the taste of liquor as Gale’s tongue ran between his lips, trying to force its way inside.  Just the feel alone was enough to make him comply and he slowly opened his mouth to the invasion of the smoke Gale had been holding.   He let it fill him completely until he felt Gale pull away and then he breathed deep, taking it into his lungs.  He couldn’t help the small moan and opened his eyes to see Gale staring down at him, a glazed over, wanton look on his face.  He knew that look, that dangerous predatory stare which he was positive matched his own.  He knew better than to get stoned with Gale.

“Well don’t the two of you look cozy?”

They both jumped at the sound of Peter’s voice and then broke out into a fit of giggles, Randy sitting up as fast as his head would allow him.  

“Just a little pick-me-up,” Gale snorted, showing Peter the finished roach as he tossed it into the ashtray in front of him.

“Good!  Now maybe we can get you on the dance floor where you belong!  Your presence is being requested.”

Randy laughed and moved away, making room for Gale to slide around him.

“Oh no, Mr. Harrison.  You don’t get off the hook that easy.”  Peter was grinning ear to ear, which was never a good sign.  It usually meant he was going to get them <I>all</I> into a lot of trouble.  Usually something embarrassing that would be talked about for weeks.  “Since this is a last of our ride down memory lane, we’ve all voted and agreed unanimously.”

Gale’s brow furrowed as his head tilted in an effort to understand.  “What the fuck are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about the two of you getting your hot little asses out here for a little of that Brian and Justin scorching chemistry.  Time to shake your booties, boys!”  He held out his hand and Randy shook his head with a smile, gripping tightly so Peter could pull him up.

Gale decided he was crazy, or completely stoned, the latter being the more reasonable explanation when he found himself following the other two men onto the dance floor.

~*~

The music was thumping; a beat that would undoubtedly put Babylon to shame, and Gale quickly reminded himself that there was no such thing as Babylon.  Or Brian.  Or Justin.  But when they were like this, with Randy’s hands wrapped around his neck, and his resting around Randy’s hips, it was hard to tell whether this was really them, or just the characters they’d portrayed for so many years.

Gale decided his earlier assumption was exactly right.  They were both too fucking stoned.  It was the only way that would explain how they’d slipped right back into the comfort zone without so much as a care or concern after what had happened between them earlier.  Their friends, the people responsible for this outlandish act, were cheering them on, whistles and catcalls all around.

Randy grinned at him and without words it was decided.  If everyone wanted a fucking show, they were going to get one.  They’d been doing this for five years.  The way their bodies moved against each other was almost as familiar as breathing.  Randy’s head dipped backward, exposing his neck for Gale’s lips to slide along the stretched column of muscle.  Gale felt the goose bumps as his tongue tickled the soft flesh, knowing it was one of Randy’s erogenous zones he was toying with and smiled against Randy’s chest, moving his hands to cup the globes of his ass.  He pulled him forward, grinding his knee between Randy’s legs, hearing the small whimper escaping Randy’s throat.  

He was riding an incredible high, the weed and whiskey mixing to a perfect blend of bliss, topped only by the feel of Randy in his arms, pressed against every inch of his body.  He caught a glimpse, just a small portion of the infamous Sunshine smile before he was smothered by wet, warm lips rubbing against his.  He could feel the electricity between them and by the desperation in the kiss, he knew Randy felt it too.  Their movements had slowed, still pulsing to the beat of the music, but on a much lesser scale, instead, they began grinding against each other slowly while their hands gripped and pulled at each other fiercely.  

This wasn’t a show.  It wasn’t an act to satisfy the nostalgic needs of their friends and colleagues.  This was five years of pent up desire, begging to finally be unleashed.  Gale closed his eyes and worked his lips along Randy’s jaw line, stopping when he reached his ear.  He allowed a subtle moan to escape, letting Randy know exactly what effect he was having on him.  In a low, raspy voice, he breathed out, “God, I want you.”

Blue eyes turned suddenly, trained on his and Randy stared as if he was silently begging Gale to talk him into it.  He didn’t have to say anything.  Gale was more than ready to beg.

“Come back to my room.  Stay with me tonight.”

Randy closed his eyes, leaning his head against Gale’s shoulder.  “You know I can’t.”

“But you want to.”

Randy sighed.  “It doesn’t matter what I want.”  He looked up, and Gale saw the warring confusion in his eyes.  “I love Simon.”

Gale’s eyes narrowed as he sucked his bottom lip in.  “I know.”

“Then why ask me…?”

“Because I fucking want you.  I can’t pretend anymore that I don’t want this,” he whispered, biting the lobe of Randy’s ear between his teeth, tugging gently.  “I want to feel you under me, above me…riding me…” he slid his hand down, rubbing it against the outside of Randy’s thigh, “I want to know what it feels like to be inside of you.”  He kissed the side of Randy’s neck, just beneath his ear, and whispered his final request.  “I want to watch you when you come… see the expression on your face when it’s actually real and it’s for me.  I want to remember <I>you</I>… not Justin.”

“God, Gale.  Why couldn’t this have happened four years ago?  Before I was happy… before I’d… before I’d given up on you.”

Gale’s eyes widened as he pulled away slightly, just enough to be able to stare directly into Randy’s.  “Because I was an idiot.  Because I didn’t realize then that I’d never meet anyone else like you.”  He smiled, knowing he was slowly breaking down Randy’s barriers.  “Because I didn’t know someone like Simon would waltz in and sweep you off your feet when I wasn’t looking.”

“I was in love with you,” Randy confessed, “for a long time.  Now, things are…”

Gale leaned in, taking Randy’s lips, holding onto the kiss for as long as he could and then finally said, “I’m not asking for anything permanent.  I’m not asking you to forget Simon, or to change your life.  All I want is just one night.  One night to have you all to myself.”  He took a long, steady breath.  “I didn’t want to leave here without letting you know…”

A finger placed gently against his lips stopped him and just like that, Randy nodded his head. 

"Yes."