His Two Leading Men

by Aidan Wayne

  By the time he actually reached Brent’s door and let himself in, he couldn’t think of much else to do but take off his shoes, put his bag next to the coffee table, and gingerly sit down on the couch before pulling his phone out of his pocket.

  Hey, he texted Russell, I’m sorry I wasn’t up to spending time with you today.

  It’s okay! Are you feeling any better?

  Yeah.

  He took a breath, then also sent: Brent asked me to come over for dinner, so I said okay. I’m sorry.

  What are you sorry for?

  That I didn’t hang out with you too.

  His phone rang. Skye jumped and answered Russell’s call. “Skye,” Russell said, “You know that’s not how it works.”

  “I know. I’m still sorry.”

  “Are you sure you’re okay?”

  “I’m fine.”

  “You don’t really… sound fine.”

  That’s because he mostly felt tired. “Sorry,” he said again, covering his eyes with his free hand. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.” I don’t know why I can’t be good enough for you.

  “Well you better tell Brent to give you a little extra love tonight. Okay?”

  God, Skye didn’t deserve him. “I…”

  “Yeah?”

  “I love you. And–tomorrow? I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “Of course. And I love you too.”

  Russell hung up. Skye clutched his phone and bowed his head over it, startling upright when he heard the front door open.

  Brent came into the living room carrying his satchel over one shoulder and holding a bag of take-out. He was smiling, but the smile slide off his face when he saw Skye. He hurried over and set the bags down on the coffee table. “What’s wrong?”

  Skye swallowed. He wasn’t supposed to make Brent try to comfort him. “Nothing,” he said brightly, trying to smile. “Welcome home.”

  Brent only frowned. “Don’t do that.”

  Shit shit shit “Don’t do what?”

  “That–you–Skye, what’s the matter?”

  “Nothing! Really. I’m fine. I just–I wanted to have a nice night with you.”

  “Okay,” Brent said after a minute. He sat down next to Skye, moved to put an arm around him.

  Skye froze. Couldn’t help it–he tried to stop his muscles locking up but they didn’t listen to him. “Sorry! Sorry, I’m fine, really, I’m–” but Brent was already shifting away, putting distance between them.

  “What happened?” he asked quietly. “Something happened. Please tell me what.”

  Skye stared at the floor. Squeezed his eyes shut. “I’m sorry. I really didn’t–it’s fine.”

  “Skye, please.”

  “Just–Fischer came by the studio today. We um.” He swallowed. “We talked. He left. That’s it. I didn’t–I didn’t mean to make it a big dramatic thing–”

  “Skye, can I touch you?”

  Skye nodded, and Brent reached forward to take his hands. “Whatever he said hurt you. That’s all I care about. You’re not being dramatic, you’re hurting.”

  “I don’t want to tell you what he said,” Skye said, voice cracking.

  “That’s okay. You don’t have to.” Brent gave his hands a squeeze. “If you want to talk, I’m here. If you don’t want to talk, I’ll still be here.” He took a deep breath. “I… I love you.”

  That brought Skye up cold. “What?” he whispered.

  “I love you,” Brent said in a rush. “I love you so much. And–and it’s so easy to love you. I don’t know what happened with you and him, but he’s wrong. Whatever it is, he’s wrong.” He reached forward to cup Skye’s cheek, and Skye breathed out and let him. “I love you, Skye. And there’s so much about you to love.”

  Skye reached for him, desperate, and Brent opened up to the kiss, smiled into it before he wound his arms around Skye, slid a hand into his hair. Skye fisted his own hands into the fabric of Brent’s shirt and held on.

  ***

  “You look goofier than usual,” Linda said with a grin. “Anything interesting happen?”

  Skye beamed. “Brent said he loved me yesterday.”

  “Really!” Linda clapped him on the shoulder. “Hey, awesome. Also I absolutely told you so, and Michael now owes me twenty bucks.”

  Skye stared at her. “You bet on whether or not he loved me?”

  “Oh my god no, don’t be an idiot. We bet on how long it’d take for him to be able to say it. Michael was gunning for Valentine’s Day. I said no way, he’ll definitely manage it before then.”

  “Oh.” That mollified Skye slightly. And honestly, he was too happy to care all that much.

  “Have you told Russell yet?”

  “No, I wanted to wait to see him in person.”

  “I actually haven’t seen him around today. Maybe he’s still in costuming?”

  Skye nodded. “I’ll go check.”

  He made his way down the hall to the costume room and ducked inside. Vivian looked up from what she was doing, but she was the only one in the room. “Hi, Skye.”

  “Hey Vivian. Have you seen Russell yet today?”

  She shook her head. “Not yet. I think Jan was going to give him a call. He’s not usually late, and when he’s going to be, he always lets us know.”

  “Okay, thanks.” Skye turned around and immediately pulled out his phone. He didn’t have any missed calls or new texts. The last one he’d exchanged with Russell was from a few hours ago, right before Russell went to drop a commission off with a client.

  “Hi Russell,” Skye said, after calling him and getting voicemail, “It’s me, Skye. Just wanted to know where you are, since you know, um, you’re not at the theatre. Give me a call or text me when you get this? Thanks. I love you.”

  He went back to the dressing room to go put on his makeup. His phone didn’t go off. He sent Russell a text too, once he was done, and went to go warm up.

  His phone didn’t interrupt his music with an incoming text or anything, all through warm-up.

  “Hi Russell, it’s Skye again. Just wanted to make sure you’re okay. Call me? Or text. Just let me know you’re okay?”

  Nothing.

  And nothing.

  And nothing.

  “Call! Curtain in five!”

  “Thank you, five,” Skye whispered, staring at his phone.

  “Skye?”

  Skye put his phone down and turned around to look at Jan. “Yes?”

  “Have you heard from Russell? I haven’t been able to reach him at all. Do you know if he’s okay?”

  Skye shook his head. “I haven’t heard from him,” he managed.

  Jan nodded, serious. “Okay. We’ll keep trying to contact him. It’s not like him not to show up. When was the last time you heard from him?”

  “Around two. He was going to drop a commission off at a client’s place.”

  “Okay.” She raked a hand through her short hair. “Okay. Hopefully he just fell asleep or something.”

  Right. Hopefully.

  ***

  Linda pulled him into a hug right before it was time for the opening act. “It’ll be okay, Skye,” she whispered.

  He hugged back, but it wasn’t Russell’s ‘break a leg.’

  ***

  Skye scrambled backstage during the intermission to check his phone for messages. The only new one was from Brent, hoping that he was having a good show.

  Do you know where Russell might be? Skye texted him. He didn’t show up for work today.

  His phone buzzed as he was capping his water bottle. I haven’t heard from him. You don’t know where he is?

  No. Skye swallowed, long past panic. No one does.

  Okay. It’ll be okay, Skye. I’m pretty much done at work anyway. I’ll swing by his place and see if I can’t find him. Okay?

  Oh my god, thank you so much.

  Of course. I want to make sure he’s alright just as much as you do. I’ll head out now and text you as soon as I get there.<
br />
  Skye bit his lip. I’ll be onstage. Into act two, with Vivian acting as his quick-changer today. She was great, but she wasn’t Russell.

  Then you’ll know what’s going on as soon as you’re done, because I’ll text you everything. Okay?

  Okay. Thank you. I love you.

  I love you too.

  Skye stared at the text until intermission was over. He held the words close, trying to let them be a comfort while Russell was missing.

  ***

  He made it through his quick change with Vivian helping. Managed to bring up his energy for his solo song and dance. Got through the rest of the show, going through the motions.

  As soon as bows were done, he bolted to the dressing room and grabbed his phone. He had a text from Brent, and a voicemail from him.

  He opened the text. Found Russell. Everything’s fine. Going to call you with the story. Don’t worry, okay? I’m with him.

  Hands shaking, Skye keyed in his password for his voicemail. “Hey Skye, it’s Brent. I’m with Russell right now. He started feeling sick on his way home and went to bed. Slept right through his alarm. He’s still pretty out of it. But everything is fine. I’m going to stay with him. Call me when you can. I love you.”

  Russell was okay. He was safe, and Brent was with him. The sooner Skye got out of his costume, the sooner he could go over and see him for himself.

  It was this thought in mind that Skye hurriedly changed and removed his makeup. He made a quick detour to tell Jan what he knew, and then rushed out of the theatre, phone pressed to his ear.

  Brent picked up on the first ring. “Hey there.”

  “He’s really okay?”

  “A little sicker than he’d like to be, but yes. He woke up when I came to check on him and I made him drink something, but he fell back asleep almost immediately.”

  “I’m heading over there right now,” Skye said, before realizing, “Have you eaten yet?”

  There was a slight pause. “Well no,” Brent admitted. “But–”

  “I’ll pick something up. I should anyway; I haven’t eaten either. What would you like?”

  “Whatever you pass that’s open this late. Call me with the menu and I’ll pick something.”

  “Okay, I can do that. He’s really just sleeping?”

  “He’s fine, Skye. But you’ll see for yourself when you get here.”

  “Okay.”

  ***

  Skye used his key to open the door, shifting the bag he was carrying from the delicatessen. He made a quick detour to set things down in the kitchen, and then hurried over to Russell’s room. Brent was sitting next to the bed, Russell’s desk chair pulled over, typing something out on his phone. He looked up and smiled when he caught sight of Skye.

  “Hey,” he said quietly. “How’re you doing?”

  “Better,” Skye sighed, going over to kiss him hello. “Thank you again so much for checking on him.”

  “Of course.” Brent tilted his head in Russell’s direction, and Skye took in the lump of blankets. “It was no trouble.”

  “Figures this would happen while Aditya is traveling in India,” Skye said, looking down at Russell. Aditya, Russell’s roommate, was a doctor. And even if he weren’t, it would have meant Russell wouldn’t have been alone. Well. He and Brent were here now. “I brought dinner,” he added. “Come on. We should probably eat.”

  Brent followed Skye to the kitchen, and they made quick work of the sandwiches Skye had picked up. The chicken soup Skye stored in the fridge for whenever Russell woke up.

  “I guess I’ll sleep over tonight,” Skye said. “Make sure he’s drinking and stuff.” Russell’s couch was pretty comfortable, and, while he spent more time at his own place or at Brent’s (in part because of Aditya), Skye still had enough things at Russell’s that he was set for the night.

  “Of course. You’ll keep me updated?”

  Skye nodded. “Yeah.”

  Brent opened his mouth, then closed it again. “Let me know if he’s feeling any better tomorrow. And if he isn’t, I’ll come over when you have to leave for your show.”

  Skye closed his eyes. How was Brent so fantastic. “Okay. Okay. Get home safe. Text me?”

  Brent kissed him. “Of course,” he murmured against Skye’s lips. “You have a good night.”

  “You too.”

  Brent left, quietly locking the door behind him, and Skye went back to Russell’s room, planning to just sit by his bed for a little bit and unwind before he turned in.

  Russell was sitting up, covers pooled around his waist. “Skye,” he said, obviously confused. “What are you doing here?”

  “You’re sick. I came to see how you were doing.”

  “Was…” Russell squinted. “Was Brent here?”

  “Yeah, earlier. He just left.”

  “Oh. I… I don’t feel so great.”

  Skye smiled. “I know. You’re sick. Are you hungry at all? I have soup.”

  “No, I… no. I think... I think I’m gonna lie back down.”

  “Here,” Skye said, grabbing a bottle of water that Brent must have left on Russell’s nightstand. “Drink something first.”

  “Okay.”

  Russell managed a few sips and then his eyes started drooping. “Think ‘m gonna lie down,” he mumbled.

  “You do that.” Skye stroked his back. “Go to sleep.”

  “‘Kay.”

  Russell buried himself back underneath the covers and Skye tucked him in. He sat up with him for another hour, and then went to the couch to turn in himself.

  ***

  Russell was worse the next day, shaking with chills and fever, and Skye was so worried about him that he wondered if he shouldn’t call off work to stay with him. As it was, he did the best he could, tried to keep him hydrated, get him to eat, and watched, worried, as Russell groaned and shifted under his blankets. Brent called to check how things were going on, and when Skye told him, he offered to sit up with Russell while Skye went to the theatre.

  “I’ll just bring my laptop and files with me and work from Russell’s place.”

  “Okay,” Skye said, relieved. “Thank you.”

  “Of course. We’ll both be waiting for you when you’re done.”

  Loath to leave Russell, Skye waited until the very last minute before he had to go. He was a little upset he’d miss seeing Brent before he left, but Brent was right; they’d both be right there when he was done.

  After the show though, Skye checked his phone to see a message from Brent. Call me when you can? Want to give you an update. We’re not at Russell’s place anymore.

  What? Why not?

  “Hey, Skye.” Brent’s voice sounded shaky. Oh no. Oh no.

  “Brent, what’s going on?”

  “We’re at the Medrite Urgent care center. Russell’s fever got really high and he wasn’t keeping anything down and I got–I got worried so I took him in. He’s getting an IV now, to help with the dehydration but he’s… he’s not lucid. The doctor said he’ll be fine, it’s just the flu or something but I–he’s going to be fine,” Brent said again. Like he was trying to reassure himself.

  “If the doctor said he’ll be fine, he’ll be fine,” Skye said. “I’ll come to you. Where did you say you were?”

  Brent gave him the address. Skye plugged it into his phone to get directions and he headed over. When he was shown to where Russell was, it was to seeing him on a bed with an IV drip and Brent sitting next to him, head in his hands.

  Brent looked up when Skye walked forward and he tried for a smile that looked all wrong.

  “Hey,” Skye said, coming up to him and taking his hands. He was worried about Russell, of course he was, but Brent really looked like he needed some comfort. “You okay?”

  “I–yeah. Yeah, of course. Sorry. He just–it was… scary.”

  Skye pulled him into a hug. Brent looked so rattled. Skye needed to be the calm one. “It’ll be okay. What’d the doctor say?”

  Brent raked a
hand through his hair. “Just that he was really dehydrated, which exacerbated the symptoms. The IV should help. Once it’s done, they suggested taking him back home, using cold compresses, maybe a cool bath to help bring his fever down, and try to get him to drink. If he’s still not keeping anything down by tonight or his fever gets worse, they said we’d–we’d have to check him into a hospital.”

  “Alright. Alright, that’s something we can do.”

  “Right. Yeah.”

  Skye turned to Russell, going over to take his hand and give it a squeeze. “How long has he been out?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe an hour? We got here a couple hours ago. He–he was hallucinating, I think. Or bad dreams? I don’t know.”

  Skye held out his free hand and Brent rushed forward, grabbing it. Skye took a breath. He was scared, but he could handle it. Russell and Brent both needed him. That’s what he needed to focus on. “It’ll be great if we can take him back home today, and I’ll just stay with him. Call in an understudy tomorrow if he’s not any better. And with Aditya not home, that makes it easier to–”

  “No! No, um…”

  Skye frowned. “No?”

  “We’ll take him to my place,” Brent said, glancing at Russell.

  “What?”

  “My place,” Brent said again. He sounded desperate. “There’s more space, and I’ve got a large tub for him, and then we’d both be able to be around. I could work from home even, help keep an eye on him.”

  “Oh,” Skye said. “Okay. Yeah, of course. “

  “Okay.” Brent sighed. “Okay, good.”

  ***

  It was near ten and the facility was almost closed when the doctor said that Russell was safe to go home. His fever hadn’t broken, but it’d gone down enough that he wasn’t in the danger zone anymore. They were given strict instructions to monitor his fever through the night and keep up his fluid intake, preferably with something with electrolytes, and then Brent was calling a cab to take the three of them back to his apartment.

  They practically had to carry Russell inside, to the elevator, and down the hall, and Skye breathed a sigh of relief once he was situated in Brent’s guest bed.