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Tom takes the lead fairly quickly after they leave the bar. Tom can tell that Ryland is putting on a brave face. It’s obvious that everything is starting to catch up to him. Regardless, Ryland is adamant about getting to set. Tom can't find any reason to argue against it. It's probably their best shot at finding Gail and getting his phone back. She would’ve had to go there to get that deepfake of Colt made. That and hopefully they can find somewhere to take a little reprieve.
At the halfway point Ryland begins to slow significantly. Adrenaline wavers. Injuries start to take their toll. Ryland is running on fumes at this point. Add to that the need to check around corners and proceed with caution and their pace is considerably encumbered. There’s no real way to know if they are still being pursued.
Tom knows this isn’t sustainable. That Ryland needs a break. A tug on his hand as Ryland stumbles the final nail in the coffin. Tom can't let Ryland keep going like this. Tom pulls Ryland off the main road and into an alley. Ryland looks alarmed and tries to survey the area. Looking for threats.
Tom takes off his backpack and holds it out for Ryland, “Put this on.”
Ryland gives him a questioning look, but takes the bag and puts the straps over each shoulder. Tom turns around and crouches slightly.
“Hop up,” he says. When nothing happens he looks over his shoulder at Ryland.
In any other situation the look of confusion would be adorable and funny. With the blood on his face and bruises on his neck it feels more upsetting. Rage comes first at the sight. Someone putting their hands on Ryland in such a way is unforgivable. Guilt eats away at him underneath that. Tom knows it's his fault.
“You.. I… you want to carry me?” Ryland asks in disbelief. He points at his own chest, eyebrows raised slightly.
“You look two seconds from falling over,” Tom responds. “Now come on.”
Ryland still doesn’t move. Tom sighs.
“It's this or bridal style,” Tom says. “You need a break.”
“Fine just for a little bit though,” Ryland rubs his face with one hand before climbing on. He grumbles about it the whole time.
Tom adjusts his grip and stands at full height. Ryland lets out a sharp exhale. Tom feels Ryland bury his face into his neck.
“You okay?” Tom asks, concerned.
He feels Ryland nod, “Just a little tender. It’s fine”
“I’ll try not to jostle you too much,” Tom responds. “Let me know if you want to be let down.”
He starts the remaining walk to set. Tom is more than willing to do this for Ryland. Ryland has had a rough night. He knows that the injuries he’s seen aren’t all that’s there. He has no idea how he is going to react when he finds out just how much damage was done. He knows it won’t be minor.
Before any of that they need to get somewhere safe.
It takes about 20 more minutes before they arrive to set. Going to his own trailer would likely be foolish. They could try one of the other trailers, possibly. If they're lucky someone might've forgotten to lock up. He doesn't have anything readily available to try picking the locks. They just need somewhere safe til morning. Just for a few hours.
He checks back in with Ryland before setting him down. He takes the bag from his back. Their hands join as they wander between equipment and trailers. Tom peeks around every corner before proceeding.
He tries a couple doors on the way. Make-up and props are locked. Stunts is also no good. Wardrobe is where they finally find an unlocked door. Tom ushers Ryland inside ahead of him.
Tom turns on the main lights just to get a better look around. At the back of the trailer there's a rolling costume rack and a sewing machine with a smaller lamp next to it. On the wall above the door is a digital time display. He pulls the rack away from the wall. He directs Ryland behind it. He grabs the lamp and sets it nearby before turning it on and shuts off the overheads. Less conspicuous. He makes his own way to join Ryland in their temporary hiding spot.
Tom pulls off his backpack, removes his jacket and sets them aside as he sits next to Ryland. It's not ideal. Sitting on the floor of the trailer in the dim light. At least they won't be easy to find.
Ryland has his knees pulled up to his chest. His arms are folded atop them. His head nestled upon them. Tom reaches over and cards a hand through his hair. After the second time Ryland stirs. Tom pulls his hand away. Ryland turns to look at Tom without removing his head from it’s place. He looks exhausted in every way possible.
Ryland lifts his head and lets it rest against the trailer wall, looking at the ceiling. He uncurls a little and brings his arms down to wrap around his middle. Giving himself a hug.
Ryland sighs, “Tom, what happened?”
“Where do you want me to start?” Tom asks. It's only been a few days but so much has happened. He intends to tell Ryland everything. He just needs a place to begin
“Henry?” Ryland answers. “You killed him. It looked like an accident but…”
“It was,” Tom confirms. “An accident.”
“So manslaughter. Not murder,” Ryland frowns. “How did we end up here? Why didn't you go to the police?”
“I called Gail,” Tom begins.
Tom holds out his hand in Ryland's periphery. He feels selfish, but he would really love some contact right now. Ryland looks at it then at Tom. Ryland is genuinely thinking about not taking it. It's upsetting, but not undeserved. After a moment Ryland laces their fingers together. Tom rubs his thumb gently against Ryland's hand.
“I wanted to turn myself in, but Gail…” Tom tapers off.
He knows Ryland will somehow blame himself for at least part of the events of the last few days. This was all Tom's fault. It's his fault for letting Gail take advantage of his relationship with Ryland. His fault for getting Ryland mixed up in this mess. His fault that Colt almost died. His fault that Ryland almost died.
His heart clenches. His eyes sting.
He can't comprehend how Ryland can even stand to be around him.
Tom startles when Ryland scoots closer and leans into him, “Take your time. It's okay.”
“It's really not,” Tom takes a deep breath. Tries to stave off his tears. He can't let himself fall into that right now “I don't understand how you can even be anywhere near me right now. You should be angry. You should be upset.”
“I mean I am, but I know I'm missing some key information,” Ryland squeezes his hand. “And I still love you.”
Tom stares at Ryland. What he just said is almost unbelievable. Tom can’t stop a few tears from slipping. Even after all this Ryland still loves him. Ryland reaches over with his available hand. He wipes away a few teartracks with his thumb. Tom leans into the hand holding his face. He’d love to stop here and just be with Ryland for a bit. He can’t though. Ryland deserves an explanation.
“Gail used you as leverage to get me to go along with her plan,” Tom admits. Ryland flinches and pulls his hand away.
“That’s why she had Kietel following me everywhere,” Ryland whispers thoughtfully. He fiddles with the zipper tab on his jacket. He raises his voice slightly. “She was keeping tabs on me. If I hadn't trusted her a lot of this could’ve been avoided.”
Tom shakes his head, “None of this was your fault. You couldn’t have known. The plan wasn’t to kill anyone. At least I thought it was. She lied to me. When I called her out and tried to back out she sent photos of you being tailed by Kietel.”
He can’t tell if it's his hands shaking or if it's Ryland’s. More than likely it’s both.
“Then tonight happened. I tried to get ahead of it and warn you all in the loft. Kevin and Doone were there. I got them out,” Tom continues. “Then Colt appeared. He got knocked out for a bit. Dressler got Gail on the phone. She told me to play my part.”
“Play your part?” Ryland asks brows furrowed.
“The whole villain thing. I tried to drop hints at Colt. Seems like he understood. I also cut the tie that was holding him to that chair. Then they brought you down,” Tom pauses “Fuck I was so angry. When Remar dropped you like that and pulled your hair.”
“That was so scary. I thought you… I thought you were going to kill Colt. It seemed so real. You said to trust you, but Dressler started pouring gas on Colt and… and,” Ryland’s voice cracks. His breath hitches. “It felt like my heart was going to shatter. Seeing you like that. I just… I couldn’t…”
The dam breaks. Ryland sobs. Tom immediately moves so he’s crouched on Ryland’s right side facing him. He reaches out tentatively to give Ryland a chance to stop him if he wants. When no denial comes he closes the distance and wraps his arms around him. Tom can feel his own tears begin to fall. Ryland leans into him. His hand grabs onto the front of Tom’s shirt desperately. Tom rocks him gently.
“I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry.” He whispers. If he tried to speak any louder his voice would probably fail him. “I didn’t want any of this to happen. I wanted you to be safe. I just wanted to protect you.”
It doesn’t feel like enough. Doesn’t feel like it ever will be. His voice wavers here and there, but he keeps going on anyway. Apologizing. Reassuring. Taking the blame.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay.”
“You’re safe.”
“It’s my fault this happened”
The image of Ryland pleading desperately. The sound of him begging Tom to stop. Tom knows he caused Ryland to experience some serious trauma tonight. Those memories are going to stick for a long time. They're going to be something he replays subconsciously forever. Tom will never be able to make up for the betrayal and terror he made Ryland feel.
As Ryland begins to pull away Tom places a kiss on the crown of his head, “I love you so so so much.”
“I love you, too.” Ryland whispers.
Tom backs off first. He knows Ryland is probably wiped out, but there’s still more to be done. He grabs his backpack. He opens it and pulls out the first aid kit as well as the change of clothes he packed for Ryland. He hands the clothes over. It's a pretty basic fit. T-shirt, jeans, hoodie. Ryland sets them aside. Tom grabs the first aid kit and brings it over.
“Can I help?” Tom gestures with the kit. It's not anything extensive but it’ll be enough to clean some scrapes and cuts. Better than nothing. He also can’t deny that he isn’t curious to know just how injured Ryland is. Dressler or Kietel or whoever else might make acquaintance with Tom’s fist or boot at some point tomorrow.
“Ye-yeah, okay, yeah,” Ryland accepts, a nervous undertone to the answer.
“It’d probably be easier to get at your knee without the pants on,” Tom says. Ryland looks at him sheepishly. “It’s not the first time I’m seeing you in your underwear, Ry.”
“I know but that’s at home, we’re in the back of the wardrobe trailer hiding from bad guys,” Ryland huffs. He’s pouting. Ryland is pouting.
Tom can’t help but chuckle.
Damn what a night. The emotional whiplash is truly ridiculous. A moment of levity in an otherwise harrowing and terrifying night.
“Don’t laugh at me,” Ryland gives a half-hearted glare, tone indignant.
Tom smirks at him and raises an eyebrow, “Come on.” He opens the first aid kit. “We’ll do this and then you can have a nap for a couple hours.”
“Fiiiine,” Ryland drags the word out.
He stands for a second and removes his pants, before returning to the floor. His back is against the wall for support. He extends his left leg out while bending his right and holding it with both hands. His fingers fidget and tap lightly on his shin. Tom digs out a disinfecting wipe and some bandages. Ryland’s left knee is a little banged up but the right knee has a pretty nasty scrape. It’s not actively bleeding but it looks raw. Tom tentatively starts cleaning it, pausing briefly when Ryland hisses from the sting of the disinfectant.
“Sorry, sweetheart,” Tom apologizes. He notices when Ryland’s fingers stop moving suddenly. He looks up at him, concerned. “Something wrong?”
“Dressler called me that when they pulled me out of the trunk,” Ryland looks nauseous. Tom can't help but feel sickened at the confession. There’s a lot to unpack there. Tom doesn't just want all the details, he needs them. He needs to know who he needs to hit the hardest. Dressler, Kietel, Remar, Evans or maybe he should go straight to the top and go for Gail. Ryland at least gave him somewhere to start.
“I can call you something else?” Tom offers. It’s unfortunate if that’s what Ryland does decide. Tom really loves that pet name. If it makes Ryland relive tonight's trauma when he uses it though he can choose something else. Fuck Dressler if he ruined it.
“No, I’m not going to let that piece of trash take something that means so much from me,” Ryland meets Tom’s eyes with a determined look. “It might just take me a bit to not associate it with that. It’s still kind of fresh.”
Tom goes back to cleaning up Ryland’s knee. When he feels like he’s done everything he can he grabs a larger bandage and sizes it up. Not a perfect fit, but if he doubles up it should work. Bandages applied he can’t help himself. He places a kiss on the spot.
Ryland’s face tinges pink. Tom moves on as if nothing happened. He crawls up to a position closer to Ryland’s face. Kneeling between his legs.
“Tell me what happened to you tonight?” Tom asks. He looks pointedly at the bruises on Ryland’s neck. Whoever did that should expect hell to pay. Ryland nods. Tom reaches forward and ghosts his fingers over them. He follows up his neck to his jaw. It’s harder to see but there’s a mark there like someone dug in with their nails. Tom narrows his eyes and frowns.
He doesn’t like the parts of this story that he’s seeing. He knows he won’t like what he’s about to hear even less.
Ryland starts describing his night. Tom starts cleaning the blood from his face and dressing the wound by his temple. Once clean he can see the bruising there as well. It’s on the purple side with a bit of yellowing around the edges and in the center. He applies a small bandage. Seals that one with a kiss as well. Ryland pauses for a second. Tom gives him an encouraging look. Keep talking please.
Ryland had gotten out of the loft. He’d been stopped by Gail and Kietel. He was suspicious enough that he tried to run. Tried to fight. He was unsuccessful. Tom keeps his voice calm any time he responds or asks a question. He keeps his movements slow. Ryland has a look of shame at his inability to escape. Tom tells Ryland he’s proud of him for trying. Ryland is distressed but still continues. Tom gives him moments to breathe. Helps him through it when his voice falters. When Ryland doesn’t give details, Tom asks. He needs to know. If for no other reason than to be able to patch Ryland up.
Kietel hit him with his gun. Tied him up. Shoved him in the trunk. He tried to be an inconvenience for Dressler and Remar.
Ryland recounts every detail. Being kicked in the ribs and stomach. Being nearly choked, twice. The ziptie that cut into his wrist. A gun hitting him in the face. Getting yanked by his leg from the SUV when he tried to kick Dressler. The grip on his arms. Dressler’s hand grabbing his chin and patting his face. Mocking him. The punch to the stomach he was rewarded for defying Dressler. Tom catalogues every little thing and every person responsible for them.
Every assault Ryland describes makes Tom feel a mixture of rage, regret and despair.
Rage at those that perpetrated them.
Regret at being the reason that Ryland was in such a situation at all.
Despair at seeing the physical manifestation of the pain caused to Ryland.
When Ryland finishes, Tom asks Ryland to take off his jacket. Ryland does it.
He sees small bruises where his arms had been roughly gripped. Tom can’t stop himself. If he could he'd erase every single mark. He knows thats impossible. He chooses to do what little he can instead. He approaches slowly. He gently takes Ryland’s hand in his own. He kisses his wrist first. Reddened from the zip tie that was fastened just too tightly. Then the small finger shaped bruises on his upper arm. Followed by the mark on his shoulder. Ryland’s skin reacts with goosebumps.
Tom does the same to Ryland’s other arm. Any mark he finds he kisses. Those done, he moves on to Ryland’s neck and jaw line. Ryland grabs onto the side of his shirt with one hand. The other snakes it’s way up to his shoulder blade. He pulls Tom forward, craving comfort. Tom has every intention of providing.
Tom pulls back. Ryland is blushing fiercely. Tom reaches for the hem of Ryland’s shirt.
“Can I?” Tom asks. “Is this okay?”
“It’s okay,” Ryland confirms.
Tom lifts up the hem. It’s awful. Dark purple colors his torso in a few large splotches. Tom pauses. He tries to hide his anger. He feels the temptation to go find Kietel and Dressler. He'd love to snap the fingers on the hands that dared to cause such damage. Beat the shit outta them and possibly leave them lifeless for what they've done. Ryland grabs Tom’s hand and squeezes lightly. Its grounding. Pulls Tom out of his rage spiral. Comforting and placating.
“You’ve been dealing with this the whole time?” Tom meets Ryland’s eyes. It looks so incredibly painful. Tom places a hand on the side of Ryland’s rib cage. He runs a thumb over the bruise near there. Ryland shivers.
“It’s just a little tender,” Ryland responds.
He’s downplaying it. This looks terrible. That sharp exhale from earlier in the night makes a whole lot more sense now.
“Are you sure nothing is broken?” Tom examines the damage.
“I don’t think so,” Ryland responds. “I can’t know for sure, but it doesn’t feel like it. I’ve never broken a bone though, so what do I know.”
Tom nods. He follows the curve of Ryland’s body to a darkly discolored patch further down his stomach. Ryland’s torso is more bruise than not. Tom pulls the hem of his shirt back down. He can’t look at that anymore. It’s too horrific. He loses focus on that as he feels Ryland begin to pull him back in with a hand at the nape of his neck.
Tom lets Ryland guide him. Their lips connect. Ryland isn’t wasting time. He bites Tom’s lip, gently. Tom obliges him with a soft moan, parting his lips. Anything Ryland wants right now Tom is willing to give. He feels Ryland's fingers tangle into his hair. Feels Ryland’s other hand lace together with one of his own. Feels Ryland’s tongue slide against his. Tom would let his hands wander normally, but he doesn’t want to mistakenly hit a sensitive spot. Eventually Ryland’s actions begin to slow. Tom takes that as a queue to pull away for a breath. He puts their foreheads together. Underneath the pink on his cheeks, Ryland looks so incredibly tired. Ryland tries to pull Tom back in. Tom stops him by putting a hand on his jaw line. He brushes his thumb along Ryland's cheek. Tom knows that Ryland will keep trying to push through his fatigue if he doesn't put a stop to this.
“You need rest, Ry,” Tom reminds.
“You’re right,” Ryland releases Tom.
Tom moves over to the corner of the trailer and beckons Ryland over. Ryland stands briefly and puts the jeans Tom brought with on. He also swaps his t-shirt. Tom winces at the sight of Ryland’s torso, even with having already seen it. Tom holds out his arm for Ryland to tuck in under. He uses his jacket as a makeshift blanket. He looks at the display above the door. They have a little over 2 hours till what is usually call time. Ryland falls into a uneasy sleep against his chest. Tom alternates between running a hand through Ryland's hair and caressing his shoulder gently. Tom resolves that he is staying awake all night.