Work Text:
"Who're you texting?" Ryland asked, falling into his spot next to Francis on the sofa.
They were a couple months into dating and it was going great. Other than the drama that had exploded over Francis being a contracted killer and Tom's constant attempts at breaking them up and the drama that Francis kept causing at Ryland's work.
When he was home, things were nice and simple. They cuddled and watched TV, went out on dates and made out… a lot. Everything almost felt ordinary.
He didn't really think much about the question, until Francis was turning his phone off and replying, "No one."
It had very clearly been someone.
Most likely, it was just something to do with his job, Ryland decided. Even though Ryland knew what he did, Francis refused to talk much about it to avoid worrying him. Ryland didn't like what he did, not because he killed people—he knew Francis wasn't a bad guy despite his job—but instead because his life was constantly on the line. Constantly, Francis would come home with some new injury or scar and Grace would frown and complain and nothing would change.
"Alright," he snuggled into Francis' strong arms. Just work, he concluded. Yet, a small nagging worry persisted in the back of his head.
It only grew stronger each time it happened. Francis was texting someone. Regularly.
He could only assume it was work so many times. No one texted about their job that often, especially not Francis. It wasn't every day, but it was often enough that he noticed the change.
Now, Ryland Grace wasn't the type to get jealous. Unlike Francis, who blew up whenever he saw someone even look at Ryland in a way he deemed 'too flirtatious'.
Not that Grace actually had much relationship experience to know… and his last relationship had ended with his girlfriend leaving him for another man, so maybe he had a little reason for the anxiety. If he thought about it a bit more, it possibly did leave him with some issues afterwards and he struggled getting into a relationship for a while.
That was in the past though. Ryland trusted Francis. It was just a bit difficult to relax when he asked who he was texting and he responded with, "No one," every time.
The thing was it wasn't like he was looking at these texts and giggling or even smiling, actually each time Francis looked angry or frustrated. He would roll his eyes and huff and type furiously that left a lot to be imagined.
With Francis that kind of reaction could mean anything.
Ryland would never cross the boundary of snooping through someone's phone, no matter how bone achingly curious he got. However… if he just so happened to get a peak when sitting next to him or walking past… Who could blame him? It was natural. An accident really. Happened all the time.
The problem was that Francis had the reflexes of a cat and the senses of one too. The second Ryland got close he could easily just switch to something else, his thumb swift and fluid.
Surely, if he had nothing to hide he wouldn't switch tabs so quickly. Yet, every time he did it.
It gnawed away at Ryland. Incessantly stuck in the forefront of his brain. Even when things were good between them, and Francis was all sweet and cuddled up to him on the sofa or gave him gifts and teased him. His heart swelled but all his mind could think was "Who was it?" over and over and over again.
In a moment of weakness, he went to message Tom Ryder to see if he knew.
Ryder
ryry!!!
have you finally come to your senses??
wanna switch to the better twin ;)))
i can treat you waaay better than that loser
and im 1000x more better looking
hello?
ryry?
you there?
…
please dont tell fran i called him a loser
Almost instantly Grace regretted reaching out to him. As his phone started blowing up with messages, he blocked Ryder's number completely.
When Ryland saw Colt next, he could instantly tell that something was the matter with him. It took him a but before he managed to drag a confession out of him. Ryland was hesitant, from the start, Colt had been against Ryland's relationship to him, so he assumed he would just tell him to break up with him again.
However, rather than offering his usual 'advice' for them to break up (and that Ryland should find a better man who 1. Didn't look like Tom Ryder, and 2. Wasn't a hitman), he tried to comfort him and actually offered him real advice.
"You should sit him down and force him to tell you," he said, a hint of rage behind his voice.
"How?" Ryland asked, exasperated. "He just avoids the question."
"Tell him it's that or you break up."
The thought made Ryland nauseous, but he knew that Colt was right. Ryland needed to face it head on. Even if he felt like his heart was trying to run away from him and all his worst fears came true.
"Francis," he stood in front of him with his arms crossed, trying to put on a stronger facade than he had.
"Hello, darling," Tangerine smiled Ryland from his spot on the sofa, his arm draped across the side inviting him to cuddle into him.
Usually, he would. Not today. "We need to talk."
His smile faltered, "Don't go giving me a heart attack. What is it?"
"Who are you texting?"
"Oh," he let out a relieved breath, "No one important, love."
"I don't believe you." He kept it brief and concise and clear, hoping his voice didn't waiver.
Francis' eyebrows knitted together, as if he were confused where this was coming from. "What's going on?"
"If this is going to work between us, you need to be honest." Ryland fidgeted with his arms, rubbing the fabric of his cardigan. "Is there someone else? Are you hiding something from me?"
Francis sighed, his head flopping down and then back up to look at him properly, "It's not like all that, love."
"Then, what is it?" Grace's voice deepened, stern and serious.
"Fuck, you're hot when you get like this."
"Francis," Ryland scolded, humourlessly.
"Alright, alright," he relented, itching his moustache, "It's just a tad embarrassing really."
"You're going to have to deal with it."
"I'm not exactly the best at all this…" he gestured as he spoke, "relationship stuff. So, I, you know, thought I'd get a second opinion."
Grace stared at him in silence for a second, "What?"
"I don't know what the fuck I'm doing," his shoulders tightened, "But I really didn't wanna muck this up so I reached out to someone for advice and shit."
Ryland softened slightly, a small bit of guilt creeping in at the fact he thought Francis would betray him in any way. "Why hide it?"
"Didn't wanna make a whole thing of it just 'cause we're exes and all that."
His face dropped. "You're what?"
"We didn't really date per say, just an odd shag really."
He had the smother the rage that threatened to show on his face, "And you still talk?"
"This guy, Ladybug, he reached out to make amends for almost killing me," He rubbed his neck awkwardly, "He's on this whole self-discovery journey or summat where he lets go of all resentments to find 'inner peace'. It's a whole thing; not important."
"Sounds pretty fucking important, Francis," Ryland's teeth were so tightly wound that it was nearly a struggle to talk, "What do you mean he almost killed you and you're what? Friends?"
"Fuck no. He's more like… You know those accounts that post those cliche inspirational quotes? He's that," he clarified, and quickly added, "And I tried to kill him first. It's a whole bloody thing."
"And there's nothing there anymore?"
"Ugh, no, he's on some hippie shit now and dating his handler," his expression contorted into one of utter disgust. "Minging, seriously."
Ryland huffed and sat down on the coffee table in front of Francis, his anger and frustration had mostly washed away. Though, he wasn't happy with the man either. "Why him of all people?"
"Dunno many people that've done therapy," he shrugged, "Seemed to work out for him."
"Oh…" Ryland's eyebrows furrowed, realising just how much he got it wrong.
"Yeah… I wanna be less fucked up in the head I guess," he shrugged, "For you."
"I'm sorry I-"
"No, I was being shady as fuck," he quickly interjected, refusing to let Ryland apologise, "I don't blame you. I'm sorry for putting you through this shit."
"It's alright," Ryland smiled, leaned forward, pressing their lips together softy, and straddled Francis' lap. Francis' hands gripped onto his waist to keep him steady and secure. The kiss was short and sweet and like a breath of relief. Finally, Ryland could kiss him again without his mind running wild trying to ruin it for him. "I love you."
"I've gotta make you jealous more often…" Francis smirked once he pulled away.
"Don't you dare."
Francis let out a short laugh, "I love you too."
When Francis ended up showing Grace the messages with Ladybug, without him even asking for him to, he was amused to find that Francis had been entirely accurate in his description—Ladybug genuinely did speak like a cliche.
"What the fuck does he mean 'anger is a punishment'? What is he on?"
Ryland huffed a laugh while watching Francis type out a frustrated reply to Ladybug about how stupid what he was saying was. He couldn't help but admire the way his forehead wrinkled and his eyes narrowed when he got annoyed—if anger was a punishment, it wasn't for Grace.
He really couldn't tell if messaging Ladybug helped him at all work through any of his issues, but Ryland found it fun to watch.