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Ringo let's out a scream as he slams the front door shut. Slumping down onto the floor and burying his face in his hands letting out muffled whimpers and sobs. It's been a week since they returned from pepperland and you'd suspect things to have changed but not really no. Well not to him.
Letting out a muffled hiccup wiping his nose while tears pour down his face, "W-...Why?" ...he murmurs to himself in a hoarse voice as he slumps back against the wall and raises his knees to his chest staring blankly at the floor, but then he stiffens hearing a voice and footsteps "Why what?" ... Ringo's eyes widen looking at a pair of black trousers, as he slowly looks up he notices it's George that's looking down at him. SUDDENLY feeling extremely uncomfortable he sniffles before shrugging and burying his face in his arms. "nuthin'" ... Ringo mumbles in a muffled voice but George obviously doesn't get the memo and slumps down beside him.
"...What happened?" George asks as he gives a slight glance over to Ringo as he rubs his messy beard. When Ringo doesn't answer he slowly raises a hand up before slowly and gently placing it on Ringo's back and rubbing in soft circles. "Y'know, you were very strong, you went through a lot and didn't budge. I think that's something to be proud of, hm?" Ringo slowly raises his head to look at the colourful hallway in front of him. He wipes his tears and nose with a handkerchief he pulled out of his pocket. From George's perspective, Ringo looks EXHAUSTED. Dark circles under his dark eyes, hair disheveled and cheeks damp and sticky with tears, it makes him feel quite worried for his... "friend"...
"I-..." Ringo stammers out before swallowing hard, he shrugs again before wrapping his arms around himself in a makeshift embrace, "I don't...I don't feel proud. It just it feels like I was just a. a..a... replacement...a fraud...a..a..um...a-" Ringo stutters as his eyebrows furrow, slowly shaking his head struggling to find the words to express his thoughts. George sighs before tying his hair up in a ponytail and then grabbing Ringo by the chin and turning him so they're looking face to face. George's eyebrows furrow as he sighs again, but then he does something unexpected.
Ringo's eyes widen as George shuts his eyes and softly kisses Ringo's forehead before pulling back and whispering "You are special, and you did all you could. You made them happy and you are an incredible person, okay? You're so much more than you think. Never doubt yourself, you're not alone. You weren't a replacement to ANYBODY. They needed us and so we helped. YOU helped." Ringo just sits there stunned soaking up George's words as they stare into each other's eyes.
Ringo doesn't understand why he deserves this, perhaps George is pitying him. Looking down at him. Ringo's eyebrows furrow as he grips his chest tightly and looks away feeling anything BUT comforted as his lips quiver. He doesn't mean that, he's lying to make him feel better. Ringo shuts his eyes feeling himself spiraling again as tears start welling up in his eyes again.
George seeing this and instantly knowing what's going on in his mind without hesitation wraps his arms around Ringo and places his head on top of Ringo's "It's okay. It's going to be okay, Richard. I'm sorry, la." He mumbles as he starts stroking Ringo's jet-black hair. Ringo raises his trembling hands to claw and George's back as he mumbles "Don't apologise please, George it was all me. I wasted all your time and ruined everything."
George only inhales deeply getting quite agitated with Ringo's negativity and he grabs both of Ringo's cheeks between his hands before staring into his soul "Listen to me real close, son. You're a good lad, you didn't fuck anything up. You played your part and you helped us the most. You were incredible out there! I have NEVER seen you so out there and I think that's definitely an achievement. I mean you've got a real heart of gold, la and you're definitely more intelligent than we all thought you were. We couldn't have done it without you." And in an instant before Ringo can say anything or even breathe George pulls him in and gives him a rough kiss on the lips which lasts a good 10 seconds before pulling away panting before any of them can process what happened.
Ringo just sits there in shock, mouth agaped and eyes wide opened as he stares at George. "I-..." George quickly stands up and pats Ringo on the head "Easy, luv. Don't say a word to anyone. You know how people get about this. Just NEVER doubt yourself, I love you and I believe in you." And with that and one last smile George quickly walks away red in the face.
Ringo doesn't move, he can't move as his cheeks burn with embarrassment. Cautiously raising a hand up he places a finger on his lips feeling the lingering feeling of George's. What... Ringo can only let out a confused and nervous laugh as he stumbles up to his feet completely forgetting why he was even upset, now everything is replaced with confusion, awe, and a bunch of butterflies swirling in his stomach.
Maybe he did belong somewhere. Maybe he is loved and deserves to be loved.