Eiiri's Prompt Foundry

“I’m off.”

“Wait a second mister!”

Dorian sighed. He liked Dana, he did. She was a topnotch bar tender and was a good kid all and all with all her tattoos and bright blue hair. But she could be a bit…nosy. He turned and found her looking at him with those big curious eyes of hers, the ones that were a non-human looking shade of purple because of the contacts she loved to wear. “What is it?”

Dana grinned as she rested her head in her hands, elbows on the bar. “You going to see Gilby?”

Dorian rolled his eyes. He regretted letting Dana know anything about his personal life. He had maintained a strict division between his professional and private spheres, extending only the slightest courtesy to others. Of course, then he became friendly with Dana and, being the guy, he was, he couldn’t help but give up the information. This of course led to endless teasing and questions from the young bartender, who wanted to know everything.

              “So, are you?”

              “Yeah.”

              “You are going to bring them by sometimes you know!” Dana giggled as she gave Dorian a wink, “I would love to meet them sometime.”

              Dorian cocked an eyebrow. “Why?”

              “Because I’m curious, that’s why! I want to meet the person who has captured our wooden doorman’s heart.”

              Dorian let out a faint snort as he smiled, slipping his jacket on. “I’ll see if they want to,” he said as he walked to the door, “might be a little hard given how busy they are.”

              “Sounds like someone else I know,” Dana said, with a little eye roll. “Night Dorian.”

              Dorian gave her a nod as he slipped out the door. It was very true, Dorian kept a busy schedule, with work. It was funny, most of the other objects had moved on to other things, but Dorian…he couldn’t shake the need to be useful. His work was his life and was that healthy? Maybe not but it was something he couldn’t seem to shake. For a moment he could imagine Keith’s voice, filled with the same knowing smile he had back then:

              “I hope you remember there is more than work my dear.”

              Dorian felt the early morning air on his skin. The gentle warmth of the summer air greeted the early sunrise. Dorian confessed he couldn’t quite remember what the day looked like since most of his work took place in the evening and into the night. Most mornings he would take the long walk home alone. But this morning as he lifted his head, he caught a familiar face.

              Gilby’s eyes looked unsure through those large frames. They smiled as they waved. “Hey,” they said nervously. They held up a grocery bag. “I got ice cream.”

…

              “Black Currant ice cream is kind of hard to find you know.”

              Dorian knew this. American’s hadn’t quiet caught on to the health benefits of the dark berry which was a shame. He fished two bowls from his cupboard and a couple clean spoons from the dish strainer. He couldn’t remember if he had ever invited Gilby to his apartment before. It looked like it was far less lived in than the home he had come from. The most he had lived in the apartment did was coming back to shower and sleep. Sometimes maybe to watch the Graham Norton show if he was lucky.

              Still as they settled in to eat the ice cream, which was not the best breakfast, but Dorian would never tell, they talked about things. Gilby told Dorian about the various things going on with the other objects, what they were up to and the many adventures they were having in the outside world. Dorian didn’t have the heart to tell them that he already knew all these things, having kept tabs on everyone. Old habits died hard he guessed. As he watched Gilby talk he couldn’t help but remember before…

              Gilby determined. Gilby reaching for his handle. Gilby wanting so much to just turn it and then…

              Then Gilby was on the floor in tears, failing once again.

              Dorian feeling glad and yet…

              “You okay Dorian?”

              Dorian snapped from his revelry to find Gilby looking at him, eyebrows knitted together in that puppy dog concern. Dorian smiled a little. “Yeah, just thinkin’.”

              “About?”

              “About you,” Dorian admitted, “about how you’ve gone from tears to a right smart thing. It’s nice.”

              Gilby blushed, looking down at the half-eaten ice cream in their bowl. They set it down on the coffee table before turning to Dorian with those cloudy day eyes. “I still cry sometimes you know,” they told him, as if a confession.

              Dorian nodded.

              “And while I am stronger and can take care of myself most of the time, I do miss…this…Seeing you all the time. I mean I know that you aren’t the kind of person who needs to be in everything and needs to be there to confirm that we are still close, but it would be nice to do this once and a while ya know? If just to catch up and be there, because it’s nice to have that you know?”

              Gods, Dorian couldn’t help it. He lifted their chin with his finger leaning in and capturing their mouth with his. What could he say, he had a thing for the helpless ones. It was in his nature to be protective and if he was honest, he missed it too.

…

              It was about midmorning and Dorian looked at the ceiling as Gilby slept against his chest, one arm around them. He smiled a little as he imagined Keith’s voice again:

              “I don’t know if I can do this.”

              Hector felt Gilby’s hand slip into his. It brought him some comfort as he felt their fingers lace together. He could already hear the paparazzi calling, and the sound of a million camera flashes as people admired the beautiful attendees. Oh gods, why had he agreed to this? He'd conquered his fear of public appearances, but the red carpet was a whole new level of terrifying.

              “Hector, sweetie, look at me.” At first Hector couldn’t bring himself to look, but as his love took his face, he looked at them. Gilby’s face was gentle as always, bright eyes behind frame as they looked at him with love and understanding. They looked stunning that evening, in their tuxedo. Gods, he still couldn’t imagine why someone like them was with him of all people sometimes. “I know that this is scary, but it will be okay. Just breathe in and out.”

              Hector nodded and again felt a bit of comfort. Gilby’s hold was firm, but still Hector couldn’t help but feel the worry that threatened to overwhelm him. There was a part of him that wanted to run, not do this and just go back to his shop where he could hide and make masks for like-minded people. He could just slip out the back.

              “Janoom? Azizam? Is everything all right?”

              Hector sighed. Too late.

              “Hector is just having some pre-carpet jitters,” Gilby explained, giving his hand a squeeze.

Hector felt Amir’s eyes upon him. When talking about another person, he sometimes had a hard time believing loved him. Hector knew the movie star wore the most radiant outfit without looking at him, even though the tall man would have looked fantastic in a paper bag. Hector wasn’t sure what to say, though he didn’t have to say anything as Amir stood before him, the man’s gentle eyes filled with warmth for Hector.

              “My Azizam, you are beautiful,” he said, without a hint of doubt as he touched Hector’s face with one gloved hand. “I am so pleased to have you here by my side on such a wonderful night. Please remember that.” He placed a kiss on Hector’s head before taking Hector’s other hand. “And now let us show the world that beauty.”

              Before Hector could protest further, he was being pulled forward, and the world erupted in light. Hector winced against the brightness of the flashing lights as he had to take a moment to get his bearings. He felt Gilby squeeze as he stiffened, feeling the millions of eyes and cameras upon him. He could not run. They came to a pause in the middle of the carpet where Amir paused a moment, releasing Hector’s hand to step forward and do a few poses. Hector watched as Amir gracefully made all eyes fall upon him, the star of the show. Beside him Hector felt Gilby press in close, holding tight to his hand.

              “Are you doing okay?” they asked, having to get close to his ear in order to be heard.

              Hector nodded. “Yeah,” he said, unsure.

              Gilby squeezed his hand. “It will be over soon. You’re doing great.”

              Hector looked over at them and found them smiling in that oh so comforting way. He felt his heartbeat slowed just enough that it didn’t feel it would beat out of his chest as he smiled a little as well. Honestly, with them by his side, he could do anything, even face this swarm. Then he felt Amir’s hand return, and he looked up to find the movie star smiling at him as well.

              “Ready?”

              Hector nodded, though he wasn’t sure for what. He allowed himself to be ushered forward, putting him and Gilby front and center on the carpet with Amir’s arms wrapped around both of them from behind. The camera flashes were bright, but Hector tried not to focus on them as he felt Gilby’s hold tighten and Amir’s arm hold in a warm but protective way. They were there with him, so he did the only thing he could do. He closed his eyes and smiled.