I like you // Ryllon texting au

twelve

The hospital isn't too far from the hotel. Dallon knows that, as he took a walk last night when he couldn't get Ryan out of his head. He tried taking a shower, falling asleep, watching a movie, even playing games on his phone, but he just couldn't stop.

Dallon tries to relax as he walks quickly, remembering Sarah's kind voice, but all that's crowding his mind is how Ryan is coming out of the hospital.

Dallon eventually sees Ryan walk outside and stands on the sidewalk, so Dallon hurries his pace. Ryan looks down at his phone, looking for a new text, but there isn't any. He's wearing a t-shirt and his arms are covered in bandages; it's obvious what he tried to do. Dallon jumps in front of him and hands him the hoodie. Ryan flinches, tenses upon realizing, then hesitantly takes the hoodie and puts it on.

"What are you doing here?" Ryan asks quietly. "I mean, I just—"

Dallon cuts him off by pulling him into a tight hug.

"I'm so glad you're alright," Dallon says quietly. "I got so worried."

"How did you know I was here?"

"Your friend told me. He... He knew I was worried about you and I wanted to know updates if you ever texted back. I'm—"

Ryan shakily hugs him back. Dallon takes a deep breath. Ryan Ross means everything to him and he doesn't know what he would do if he were to lose him. The thought of Ryan trying to kill himself is beyond painful and so insanely heartbreaking.

Dallon pulls away. "Go on tour with us."

Ryan looks at him, shocked.

"Wh... What?"

"Go on tour with us. I... I don't wanna leave you alone, and we have to leave in a few hours. You wouldn't be a bother or anything, and if... if you did? You- You could be... I don't know, you could be, like, a helper, I don't know. Tune our guitars and basses, if you feel like just being there will be too much trouble, which it isn't, and of course you don't have to. I don't wanna force you to do work, and I don't want you to feel bad for being there in general, but I just-" Dallon stops to take a breath as Ryan processes his rambles. "I just want you to be with me."

Ryan thinks. Yeah, I'll go with you, I'll stay with you, I'll go on tour with you.

"Will the other guys be okay with it? I mean, I don't wanna annoy them or be a bother."

"Hey, no, you could never bother us. And even if they for some rare reason get annoyed or tired of you, I would never. I think you're absolutely wonderful and needed and... I need you."

Ryan feels his body heat up as Dallon's hands land on Ryan's arms and travel around to his waist and shoulders and hips and hands, making the younger boy feel mildly claimed.

Dallon waits for a response. Yeah, the guys will be shocked, manager may be a little pissed about having to arrange last minute things so Ryan can stay by Dallon's side, but it'll be okay. It'll work out and Dallon doesn't have to worry about Ryan staying with abusive boyfriend. He could hospitalize and/or rape Ryan any day, any time, and it would kill Dallon if it were to happen while he is on tour and Ryan is all alone.

"Okay," Ryan breathes out. They're scared of the same thing: Shane beating and raping Ryan. "Okay, yeah."

Dallon smiles at him sadly, trying to get him to feel a bit better. A small, brief tug at the left corner of Ryan's lips is the best he will get right now. Dallon kisses his forehead and Ryan relaxes, but immediately tenses as a girl gasps. They pull away and turn to a small group of girls come rushing up. One of them has their band t-shirt and they all have their phones in hand.