riker ++ ross only
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Riker:
You are desperately trying to keep a straight face as Ross is sat beside you and doing everything he can to crack you. "I swear to God, if you don't stop that-" You start to threaten him.
"You'll what?" He asks you teasingly and you don't respond for a moment, waiting to catch him unaware before you start tickling him. He giggles and wiggles under your touch and you smirk as you watch him, weak in your hands. You're both too distracted to hear the front door close and Riker enter the room.
"What's going on here?" He asks and you stop tickling Ross and smile up at him.
"I'm just tickling Ross to death." You giggle.
"Oh, no you don't." Ross smirks and suddenly he starts tickling you back.
"Oh, no you don't!" Riker shouts over the sound of you both giggling. "Get off my girlfriend!" He says and you can hear the jealousy dripping off his tongue. "What are you even doing here anyway?" He snaps at Ross. Sorry. I just came over to see you and Y/N said you weren't around. She asked if I wanted to wait and we were just-" Ross starts to explain, realising how serious Riker is being.
"I can see for myself what you were just doing!" Riker says.
"You're overreacting, Riker!" You say, not taking his annoyance too seriously.
"I think I should go." Ross says quietly and he backs away from the situation slowly as if hoping to go unnoticed.
"No! You're staying, Ross. Riker is being ridiculous." You snap and Ross tries to avoid looking at you or Riker. "You're really embarrassing yourself, Riker. Just drop this stupid jealous act already." You tell him, feeling annoyed by his behaviour.
"You forget that I know him as well as you!" He practically growls towards Ross. "I know what he's capable of." He spits out.
"Riker,I am not gonna touch your girl." Ross tries to defend himself, holding his hands up to protest his innocence.
"Looks like it's a bit late for that. You already looked pretty cozy to me!" Riker barks back at him. You quickly place yourself between the two of them as Riker moves towards Ross. They look ridiculous, squaring up to each other over something so silly.
"Will you just cut it out?" You half command and half plead, but Riker's eyes are full of rage. You can see him balling his fists, ready to fight. "Riker, baby. You're scaring me now." You whisper.
"Get out of my way, Y/N. I need to teach him a lesson." Riker says, not taking his eyes from Ross'.
"Come on then, Riker. Give me your best shot." Ross says, mockingly, and before you know what's happening Riker swings a punch that hits Ross square on the nose. "You little piece of shit!" Ross cusses as he takes a few disorientated steps back, clutching his face.
"You want another?!" Riker retorts venomously. Suddenly you start to feel afraid of this person standing in front of you, he isn't the boyfriend that you know and love. You start to back away from him and move closer to Ross. Riker suddenly flips his attention to you and as he reads the fear in your eyes, he is shaken from his momentary madness.
"Baby? Are you okay?" He asks you, his voice gentle. You just shake your head and he starts to approach. You hold a hand out to stop him. "Baby, I'm sorry. I... I didn't mean to get angry like that." He says, looking at you with pleading eyes.
"What got into you, Riker? That's not the man I love." You whisper and you watch as he frowns sadly.
"I-I'm just insecure about being with you, babe." He confesses. "I-I was only telling him just the other day. I don't think I'm good enough for you. I thought he was taking advantage and..." Riker trails off and he looks ashamed. "I'm sorry, Y/N. It won't happen again." He promises.
"It's not me you need to apologise to." You reply flatly, although his confession has softened you.
"Ross?" Riker says, looking at his brother tentatively. "I'm so sorry. I was an idiot." He mumbles and Ross doesn't say anything but holds out his hand.
"Thanks. I owe you a pint of something." Riker grins, shaking the hand and you marvel at how quickly men can make up with each other. "Better?" He asks and you nod. You feel Riker wrap his arms around you and the familiarity is reassuring. "I promise to always trust you in future." He whispers and you nod softly.
"You better." You warn him and he places a firm kiss to your forehead.
Ross:
"Love, they're just stupid rumours spread about by the media because it's been awhile since they got to print pictures of Ross in their stupid magazines." Riker assures you, over the phone, and you do feel reassured. Riker always knew the right thing to say in these situations. He was your best friend, aside from Ross himself. "If you're that worried, talk to him. You know what he's like. He goes off into his own little world when stuff like this happens, but he isn't trying to avoid talking about it." He carries on reassuring you and you couldn't be more grateful.
"Yeah, you're right. You're always right." You tell him, sighing.
"Tell me something I don't already know." He says sassily and you giggle. "Well go talk to him then. I'll probably speak to you tomorrow, babe. Ross loves you, and so do I!" He reminds you and you smile happily.
"Love you too,, Riker Bye." You grin, as you hang up. You head downstairs to where Ross is sprawled out on the sofa in his workout clothes.
"Good run?" You ask him and he just nods. You go and sit down on the edge of the sofa next to him and brush some of the long, slightly sweaty, hair from his face. "You know I don't believe the crap they're coming out with, don't you?" You ask him.
"Yeah, I know." He says a little flatly and you can't help but feel like you've done something wrong.
"Are you upset with me?" You ask, a little nervous as to what he might say. He just huffs loudly.
"Why are you making this about you?" He snaps and you feel so taken aback at the bitterness in his voice that hear yourself let out an audible gasp.
"Excuse me?" You say, breathlessly.
"You heard me. You always have to make this shit about you." He snaps again. "Why, for once, can't this be about me? I'm the one that they're telling lies about. I'm the one that has to face all the backlash on Twitter and in interviews. I'm the one that, week in and week out, has to put up with all of this trash and yet it's always you that acts like the victim. It always has to be made about you. I'm so sick of it." He rants and you feel your heart race at his hurtful words.
"Ross, that's really not what I was trying to-" You start to try and defend yourself, but suddenly, from what feels like, out of nowhere, Ross picks up the glass of water he had on the coffee table and throws it across the room. You quickly stand up and back away from him, your breathing now erratic as you feel scared of the man in front of you. Ross is usually the gentlest of people you know, to see him throwing stuff around is frightening. You watch from a distance as he breathes heavily, throwing his head into his hands. You watch as he knots his fingers into his hair and tugs on it. You don't say another word and so there is silence for some time.
"What have I done?" He suddenly whispers. He looks up at you standing scared in the corner. "I'm sorry." He says, biting on his bottom lip. "I'm so sorry. Did I scare you?" He asks gently and you can see that he is restraining himself from walking over to you. You can tell that he probably just wants to pull you in to a hug, but knows that the seriousness of what he's just done means he can't. He needs to give you space. His hand grips onto a cushion tightly, in anger, but you know that he's only mad at himself.
"It-It's okay." You tell him, speaking timidly. "I get that you're angry and you needed to get it out somehow. I was just s-surprised." You tell him, looking in to his eyes.
"I know. I feel so dumb. I wasn't trying to take it out on you, Y/N." He replies and he stands from his place on the sofa.
"I know." You assure him, and you do know. You trust Ross, you always have. The pressure that all these rumours put on him was unfair, and you understood him losing his rag. You know that he didn't mean to snap at you and you know that he didn't mean to throw the glass. "I know you couldn't hurt me." You reassure him and you see his body relax slightly.
"Come here, doll." He says, beckoning you towards him. You walk over and slot yourself into his arms that wrap around you comfortably. "I love you, Y/N." He whispers. "I love you too, Ross." You whisper back, before he presses his lips to yours.
