Right Back After This

Episode 33

Riz has to consider if he's got time to try and teach Amello what he likes, but the beeping of his jaw tells him he doesn't. He wants to laugh at Amello, so thoroughly taken apart by a simple handjob, but it was- what, a week ago, when Riz was this desperate for five minutes alone in the shower? Amello probably doesn't break the rules like he does.

"We don't have super long," Riz says as Amello's collecting himself. "I'm sorry it wasn't more."

"What are you talking about?" Amello smiles so softly at him that Riz is sure it has to be fake. "You're telling me it gets better than that?"

Amello's grin suggests he's at least partially joking. Riz kisses him just once, although he lets it linger; even Amello's lips taste like honey. Maybe it's an accident, a coincidence. Maybe they think about the possibility that someone tries to kiss him when they shouldn't. Maybe the caramel has just seeped into his bones.

"We should leave before our mics turn back on." The sweetness has been tainted with the sting of sadness. "Thank you for listening to me. And for helping me. Just get me a way to talk to Sonja, please?"

Amello blinks in slow surprise. Riz is putting his shirt back on, and Amello is watching like he's not sure why he's in such a rush. "Are you going to be okay?"

"I don't have time to be okay." Riz's words make Amello double-take. When the cameras are on, Amello understands him effortlessly. But he doesn't right now. "We'll talk about this if I avoid getting kidnapped. If that's even what Ares wants."

"I'll try to get Sonja to talk to you. Without- without making it too obvious to the fans." That, at least, Amello understands completely. "And failing that I'll just chase you down and make sure he can't take you anywhere."

Amello's fantasy of protection is endearing. How funny it is, to hear people who have never faced a certain kind of danger, talking about what they'd do like it's easy and it's simple and there's no way they could fail. "I appreciate it," he says anyway. "Truly. Thank you."

Amello nods with a sharp certainty that doesn't reflect reality. He slowly begins to dress himself back up, looking around as if missing something, but Riz doesn't have time if he wants to get out of here first. "I'm leaving," he whispers, kissing Amello on the cheek, "see you on the other side."

Amello goes to say something, but he stops as Riz is heading for the door. He glances back with sympathy; this conversation shouldn't be over. There's more to say. There's always more to say.

But the conversation must be over. There is no choice.

He turns the light off, opens the door silently, slinks out behind the bar. Maybe Amello will be more likely to get caught, and that's something Amello will have to live with. Something that's definitely Riz's fault, but not the topmost priority at the moment. Amello can lie. He better.

Riz sits beside the bar for a moment, as if he'd just been chilling out of sight; as far as any cameras are concerned, that's all he's been doing. Maybe he took a nap while Atlantis were definitely naturally and not in any scripted way performing. His mic was silent completely naturally.

He can't see Shia anywhere. Wrenley might actually be asleep, stretched out in one of the deckchairs. Even with mics on, this is one of the rare moments they get where they're supposed to be out of the spotlight, where they can rest. Riz wishes he had the time to sleep. Even the time he's meant to be sleeping he's sneaking off to steal privacy.

Most of the people in the room are still crew, talking quietly amongst themselves; and Riz is able to get up, stretch, and casually stroll over to the table full of food, before anyone starts to look around like they expect something to happen. The crew quiet down as he approaches, and he doesn't take it personally. As far as they're aware, he's not the only person overhearing everything they say. Even though right now, he actually is- the three beeps haven't arrived yet.