Take Care of Yourself (A Rory Flanagan/Glee fan fiction)

Four.

“Ew…” I shake my hand, trying to rid the sticky substance from the subway pole. Rory just laughs, then hands me a napkin from his pocket. “Will this do any good for you?” I take the napkin out of his hands gingerly and smile. “It’s good for now I guess.” We both softly giggle and look at each other.

“So how much farther is it?” I ask, wiping my hand with the napkin and taking a seat by the train car door. “Just a few more stops. I’ll know when I see it.” He says, leaning against one of the more clean-looking poles.

I let out a breath slowly, and look around at different people and ads along the top of the train car. I sit there quietly, not knowing what to do or say, so the only option I have left is to twiddle by thumbs.

I eventually look up to see Rory’s eyes meeting mine, but we both look away quickly and awkwardly.

“Excuse me?” I hear from beside me. I turn to see an older fellow smiling at me, looking up at Rory, and back to me. “I’ll be off the train soon, so if you’d like, I can get up now so your boyfriend can sit down next to you. I blushed and Rory couldn’t contain his laughter. He tried to hold it in, but looked back to the man. “Oh, sir, it’s fine. And...I’m not, I mean – we’re not… together.” He points back and forth between the two of us.

“Oh, pardon me then, I apologize. I just assumed… since you two were so friendly with each other. Always lookin’ to each other.” I blushed in embarrassment. “No, no worries. You didn’t know.”

The man smirked a little at one side of his mouth, looked between the two of us, and proceeded to get up. “Sir, what are you-“ Rory started, but the man held up his hand, and took in a breath. “I’m leaving soon enough, just sit.” Rory didn’t want to argue. “This is much appreciated. Thank you, sir.” He winked at Rory and patted him on the back, then whispered something to him.

Rory sat down beside me just as the train pulled to a stop, and the man walked off onto the platform.

“What was that about?” I ask him. “Not too sure.” Rory replies. “What do you mean you’re not sure? He literally just whispered clearly to you.” Rory nods, but not looking at me. “Indeed, he did. But it was too loud to possibly hear any word that came out of his mouth.” I don’t add anything after that. I look all around me, trying to find something else to focus on.

“Here we are.” Rory stand up, offering out his hand to assist me with getting out of my seat. I raise my hand, passing – implying that I can do it independently.

We walk to the platform, and stop to look up at the signs. “Which way?” I ask, skimming through the directions.

“Believe it’s the north steps.” He points to the stairs to the left of us and starts to walk in that direction.

He gets to the top of the steps and exits the train station with me following close behind, trying not to get lost. “Here we are,” he looks past the traffic lights. “Just down the road, over on that corner.” He points across the street to a quaint little restaurant and bar.

We walk down the street and I look up at all the signs and different buildings. We don’t speak for most of the walk other than him telling me where we’re headed. When we finally arrive, he opens the door for us and we both take off our jackets and take a seat.

I check my phone. It’s 12:34pm. “Pretty good timing for lunch, huh?” I say, breaking our silence.

Rory looks up at me.

I wait for a response.

But he says nothing.

“…Right?” I ask again, clearing my throat.

“Um, yes. Right. Yeah, it’s perfect.” He says, shaking his head and whatever thoughts he had. I pretend it didn’t happen, and move on. “So, what are you going to order?” I say, looking through the pages of the menu that had been recently dropped off by a waiter. “Not sure,” he says. “I’ll have what you have I suppose.” So I nod, and continue reading.

But soon enough the music coming from the speakers around us flood my ears. “Ah, I love this.” I mumble. Rory looks up at me. “Love what?” I squint my eyes and smile. “I don’t know. The atmosphere. This day. This song.” Rory takes a minute to tune in. Then he smiles softly, looking back at me. “Me too. This song amazes me.” I smile back and continue to look at different foods on the menu.

Until I hear something.

Not the music, not the people talking around us.

Not the traffic from outside the windows or the cluttering of dishes in the kitchen.

The soft lull of a familiar voice. A voice in front of me. It was quiet, but beautiful.

“Some days, feel my soul has left my body; feel I’m floating high above me, like I’m looking down upon me…” I look up and watch Rory softly sing the words to himself as he gazed out the window. “Start sinking, every time I get to thinking, it’s easier to keep on moving; never stop to let the truth in…”

 

“Sometimes I feel like it’s all been done…” Rory hears me join in as I continue K’naan’s part of the song. He looks up and smiles, then starts to nod his head up and down to the beat. “Sometimes I feel like I’m the only one, sometimes I want to change everything I’ve ever done; too tired to fight and yet too scared to run…”

“AND IF I STOP FOR A MINUTE!” Rory joins in enthusiastically and we get increasingly louder together, both laughing between the words. “I THINK ABOUT THINGS I REALLY DON’T WANNA KNOW! AND I’M THE FIRST TO ADMIT IT! WITHOUT YOU I’M A LINER STRANDED IN AN ICE FLOE!”

“I feel, like a thief who has no faith-“ I stop mid-lyric because I see Rory’s horrified face. “What? What is it?” He stays quiet, but starts to collect his things and stand up. “Wha-“ I go to repeat, but turn around to see a man with a stern face glaring down at me.

“You’re causing a ruckus to other customers. Both of you: out of my restaurant. Now.” I gulp down my anxiety and along with it – my pride. “Yes, sir. I’m sorry, sir.” I pick up my bag and rush out of the doors, Rory holding them open and motioning for us to leave.

“Guess he’s not a big fan of Keane.” Rory says, his laughter breaking the tension. I start to laugh, and can’t stop; and don’t know why. “I’m sorry, Rory. I truly am.” I say, wiping my eyes, still struggling to contain giggles. He smiles and pulls me in by the shoulders, both of us still trying to calm our laughter. “It’s fine, it’s fine. No worries,” he smiles and stops walking. “It was my fault. Guess we’re never going to try that food. What a shame.”

I smirk and loop my arm through his. “We’ll find something else.” I say. “Cheer up, ol’ chap!” Rory cracks up, but tries not to burst out with complete laughter. “Don’t ever say that again!” he says to me.