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wolfanficsTitle: Three Strikes And You’re Out
Author: Sashataakheru
Fandom: The Chaser
Starring: Chris Taylor, Andrew Hansen, Craig Reucassel
Pairings: Chris/Andrew, Craig/Andrew, Chris/Craig
Prompt: ‘mixed messages’ from dailyprompt@dreamwidth
Word Count: 2,058
Warnings: …angst?
Rating: FRM
Disclaimer: I don’t know them, not associated with them, just a slashy fangirl admirer with a very active imagination.
Author’s Notes: Continues on from There's A First Time For Everything and Some Things Bear Repeating, with 18 year old Craig, 19 year old Andrew and 21 year old Chris.
Summary: Chris wishes he was braver as home becomes a prison he can’t stand to live in any longer. Lost for other options, he turns to Andrew and Craig for help.
Three Strikes And You’re Out
Chris didn’t see Andrew and Craig for another three weeks. He had spent the time torn inside. Hiding his sexuality was clearly not bringing him any happiness, and he came so close to telling his parents so many times, but the words just never came out. It was bad enough he had declined to study law, unlike everyone else in his family. He didn’t need to add being gay to that list of disappointments.
It was a night like most others that was the trigger. He’d come home from the pub with a girl he wasn’t exactly enthusiastic about sleeping with. Standing on the curb, Chris was faced with the girl who was eyeing him with drunken lust. Chris hit his limit when she leaned in to kiss him and promptly fell forwards as she threw up on the footpath. Chris cleverly sidestepped her to avoid being sicked up on.
Their sex arrangement cancelled, Chris helped her inside and called her a taxi. He was nothing if not a gentleman. Once he’d sent her on her way, something inside him snapped. The endless cycle of bringing drunk girls home to try and sleep with them was too tiring and painful to continue. Feeling far too stifled at home, Chris quietly packed a bag and left, driving to the only place he knew he’d be welcome: Andrew and Craig’s house.
By sheer dumb luck, Craig had stayed home from the pub that night because he’d been feeling unwell, so he was left to stagger to the door wrapped in a blanket to find a very sheepish looking Chris standing there in tears.
“Jesus Christ. Come in, Taylor. You’ll freeze your arse off out there and Andrew won’t like that,” Craig said, gesturing him inside.
“Thanks. Sorry for the intrusion. I didn’t know where else to go,” Chris said.
“Don’t worry about it. Andrew’s out with the others. You’re stuck nursing me, I’m afraid,” Craig said as they headed into the lounge room.
“It’s better than being at home. I can deal,” Chris said.
“Go on, siddown, I’ll go put the kettle on,” Craig said, wandering into the kitchen. “Take a seat, love.”
Chris sat on the couch and waited for him. The TV was showing informercials, though the volume was thankfully turned down. Craig had clearly decided to camp out in the lounge while the others were out. Craig wandered back soon enough with half a reheated pizza and two cups of tea.
“Thought you needed a feed,” Craig said as he sat down, setting the tray down on the coffee table.
“Thanks. Sorry for intruding, I just-”
“It got too much? Yeah, I figured as much. Haven’t seen you in a while. Figured things weren’t so good. Trouble at home?” Craig said, handing him some pizza.
“Thanks,” Chris said, taking a slice. “Not really trouble, just- I felt so trapped. I wanted so much to tell them I was gay, but the words just wouldn’t come out. I’d just disappoint them again, and I couldn’t do it. The rest of the time was spent questioning if I really was gay or not. Slept with a few girls. It didn’t make me happier. All I wanted was to forget about being gay, but I didn’t get my wish,” he said.
“So are we gay then? Cos it helps to know for sure, you know,” Craig said, leaning back in the sofa as he looked at him.
“I-I just don’t-” Chris tried to speak but there was too much emotion around and he buried his head in his arms as he cried.
Craig was by his side immediately, wrapping an arm around him as he held him close. “Hey, it’s okay. You’re amongst friends. We’re not going to kick you out or bash you or whatever. I know it’s fucking hard, but it helps to say it. Otherwise it’ll bury itself inside you and that never ends well,” he said softly.
“I just can’t get rid of the shame. I’ve been bashed for it, you know,” Chris whispered.
“I know, I could see the bruises,” Craig said.
“I can’t tell. I just… can’t. It’s not the sort of thing you do,” Chris said.
“How is that doing you any good? You’ve just run away. Clearly it doesn’t want to be hidden anymore,” Craig said.
“I wish I was braver,” Chris said.
It was all he would say until Andrew came home with the others. Seeing Chris curled in Craig’s arms, drying his eyes, was enough of a hint for their housemates to leave them be and they disappeared to their rooms, leaving Andrew to sink into the couch beside them, wondering what on earth was going on.
“Chrissy! What a nice surprise. I didn’t expect to see you here,” Andrew said.
“He’s run away,” Craig explained.
“Oh, right. That’s probably the bravest thing he’s done since I’ve known him. I keep telling you to get out of there. It’s not a good environment for you,” Andrew said, brushing Chris’ hair out of his eyes.
“I’m scared they’ll find me. What if they find me? I don’t want to go back there,” Chris said.
“Figured he could take the couch til Denny leaves next week. We’ve been looking for a new tenant. I’m sure he’d do,” Craig said.
“Got a job, Taylor?” Andrew said.
“Yeah, part time, in between classes. Why?” Chris said, looking up at him.
“Wanna room? It’s kinda small and pokey, and it still kinda stinks of weed, but it’s yours for a share in the rent and such,” Andrew said.
“That would be nice. I can’t stomach the thought of going back home again,” Chris said.
“Then it’s yours. Bout time you moved out anyway,” Craig said.
“Yeah, of course, I was thinking about it, but couldn’t find anywhere to go,” Chris said.
“Don’t worry, we’ll be your knights in shining armour,” Andrew said. “Sorry we can only offer the couch for now, but I hope it’ll be okay til the room’s free.”
“It’ll do,” Chris said.
“Okay, now cheer up. You’ve got nothing to cry about,” Andrew said, leaning over to wipe his tears away.
Chris managed a smile. Andrew kissed him gently. Chris was grateful for their kindness. For once, things were starting to look up.
Lying on the couch in the dark, Chris tried to sleep. It wasn’t that he felt uncomfortable there. He could just picture his mother’s reaction the next morning when she discovered he wasn’t there. He remembered he’d left a note, so at least she wouldn’t panic and report him missing, but in his drunken panic, he couldn’t remember what he’d written on it. It troubled him that he couldn’t remember. He figured he’d call them when he woke, at least to tell them he was okay, just staying somewhere else. Whether he would have the courage to tell them the real reason he’d left he didn’t know.
He slept fitfully. His dreams weren’t kind to him, and he woke often. In his waking moments, he considered fleeing back home again and the possibility of getting back in bed before they even knew he’d been gone. But every time he thought about it, it seemed akin to voluntarily entering prison. He would be trapped in their upper class world, forced into a life of normalcy he hated. Living with Craig and Andrew at least gave him a chance at freedom. He didn’t have to lie to them. He wouldn’t have to pretend to be something he wasn’t, and that was a chance he would not give up lightly.
The morning came and had almost gone by the time anyone woke. Chris had finally fallen asleep just before dawn and refused to wake until after midday. The house was quiet. He figured everyone else was asleep still. Feeling like shit, he wandered off to the bathroom to shower.
When he emerged, Andrew was in the kitchen, making coffee. He smiled as Chris approached, leaning against the bench wearily.
“Sleep okay?” Andrew said.
“Not really, but I can deal with it,” Chris said.
“Go call your parents. At least give them the decency of knowing where you are. I’ll make us some brekky,” Andrew said.
“Okay, thanks,” Chris said.
“Phone’s through the hall in the study,” Andrew said.
With a nod, Chris set off to find the study. It was where Andrew had said it would be. He shut the door to give some semblance of privacy and dialled the number. He almost hung up when his mother answered.
“Mum? It’s me, Chris,” he said.
“Chris? Where are you? Why didn’t you come home last night?”
“I’m not coming home. I’ve… I’ve found somewhere to live. I’m not coming back,” Chris said.
“There are ways to move out, Chris, and disappearing in the middle of the night isn’t one of them.”
Chris winced. He could hear his mother’s displeasure and concern. “Sorry, it was sort of unplanned…” He trailed off, unsure what to tell her.
“Is something wrong, Chris? You don’t sound yourself. Where are you anyway?”
“At a friend’s place. I-I’m fine, mum, really,” Chris said.
“Did you mean what you said in that note?”
“What note?” Chris pretended he didn’t know what she meant to disguise the fact he couldn’t remember what he’d written.
“I haven’t shown your father, I wanted to hear from you first.”
“What note, mum? I don’t- remember what it said. I’d had a few drinks,” Chris confessed.
“You left it for us. You said you were ‘gay’,” she said the word in a whisper, as if afraid she might be overheard, “and couldn’t stand to stay here in this prison of society. Is everything okay? Is there something we need to discuss?”
“I’m not gay, mum. I didn’t mean it, I-”
“Because if you’re going to go around, doing that, then quite frankly we need to have a talk, young man.”
Chris swallowed. He understood perfectly what his mother was saying. “I’m not gay, mum, I promise. I just need my own place, that’s all.”
But she could not be persuaded otherwise in spite of Chris’ protestations. Chris hadn’t come out to her, but the call had left him drained and upset, both at himself and at his mother. Chris was happy he had refused to tell her where he was. The last thing he needed was his father coming to talk to him. That would not go down well. Setting the receiver back in the cradle, he returned to Andrew and slumped down onto the sofa.
“I’m assuming that went well,” Andrew said as he set breakfast out on the dining table. “Come and eat, tell me all about it.”
Chris sighed as he got up. He was glad for the distraction. Andrew wasn’t a bad cook either.
“I left a note before I left home last night. I couldn’t remember what it said, but apparently I outed myself. She refused to believe I wasn’t gay. This is a total cock-up,” Chris said, prodding his breakfast miserably.
“I thought you were gay,” Andrew said.
“I am, but I wasn’t going to come out to her, not now,” Chris said.
“Shit. You gonna be okay?” Andrew said.
“As long as they don’t know where I am, sure. She’ll tell dad, and Nick. I can’t go back now,” Chris said.
“Well, you’re welcome to stay as long as you like. You’ll always have a bed here if you need it,” Andrew said.
“Thanks. That’s good to know. Some of my other friends wouldn’t be that accommodating,” Chris said.
“Stick with us. You’ll be fine,” Andrew said.
“I’ll hold you to that,” Chris said.
Hiding back in the doorway, Craig watched them together. He’d maybe perhaps eavesdropped on Chris’ phone call and did somewhat feel sorry for him. He was in a difficult place and clearly needed time to sort himself out. Then again, Craig was one to talk. He’d left his mother in Bowral when he’d moved to Sydney for uni and hadn’t quite got around to telling her he was fucking boys now. He felt it wasn’t really important. Though he decided he was better at lying about it than Chris was. He’d have to give him some pointers. Deciding not to intrude on their conversation, he went to shower. He’d talk to them later.
Author: Sashataakheru
Fandom: The Chaser
Starring: Chris Taylor, Andrew Hansen, Craig Reucassel
Pairings: Chris/Andrew, Craig/Andrew, Chris/Craig
Prompt: ‘mixed messages’ from dailyprompt@dreamwidth
Word Count: 2,058
Warnings: …angst?
Rating: FRM
Disclaimer: I don’t know them, not associated with them, just a slashy fangirl admirer with a very active imagination.
Author’s Notes: Continues on from There's A First Time For Everything and Some Things Bear Repeating, with 18 year old Craig, 19 year old Andrew and 21 year old Chris.
Summary: Chris wishes he was braver as home becomes a prison he can’t stand to live in any longer. Lost for other options, he turns to Andrew and Craig for help.
Three Strikes And You’re Out
Chris didn’t see Andrew and Craig for another three weeks. He had spent the time torn inside. Hiding his sexuality was clearly not bringing him any happiness, and he came so close to telling his parents so many times, but the words just never came out. It was bad enough he had declined to study law, unlike everyone else in his family. He didn’t need to add being gay to that list of disappointments.
It was a night like most others that was the trigger. He’d come home from the pub with a girl he wasn’t exactly enthusiastic about sleeping with. Standing on the curb, Chris was faced with the girl who was eyeing him with drunken lust. Chris hit his limit when she leaned in to kiss him and promptly fell forwards as she threw up on the footpath. Chris cleverly sidestepped her to avoid being sicked up on.
Their sex arrangement cancelled, Chris helped her inside and called her a taxi. He was nothing if not a gentleman. Once he’d sent her on her way, something inside him snapped. The endless cycle of bringing drunk girls home to try and sleep with them was too tiring and painful to continue. Feeling far too stifled at home, Chris quietly packed a bag and left, driving to the only place he knew he’d be welcome: Andrew and Craig’s house.
By sheer dumb luck, Craig had stayed home from the pub that night because he’d been feeling unwell, so he was left to stagger to the door wrapped in a blanket to find a very sheepish looking Chris standing there in tears.
“Jesus Christ. Come in, Taylor. You’ll freeze your arse off out there and Andrew won’t like that,” Craig said, gesturing him inside.
“Thanks. Sorry for the intrusion. I didn’t know where else to go,” Chris said.
“Don’t worry about it. Andrew’s out with the others. You’re stuck nursing me, I’m afraid,” Craig said as they headed into the lounge room.
“It’s better than being at home. I can deal,” Chris said.
“Go on, siddown, I’ll go put the kettle on,” Craig said, wandering into the kitchen. “Take a seat, love.”
Chris sat on the couch and waited for him. The TV was showing informercials, though the volume was thankfully turned down. Craig had clearly decided to camp out in the lounge while the others were out. Craig wandered back soon enough with half a reheated pizza and two cups of tea.
“Thought you needed a feed,” Craig said as he sat down, setting the tray down on the coffee table.
“Thanks. Sorry for intruding, I just-”
“It got too much? Yeah, I figured as much. Haven’t seen you in a while. Figured things weren’t so good. Trouble at home?” Craig said, handing him some pizza.
“Thanks,” Chris said, taking a slice. “Not really trouble, just- I felt so trapped. I wanted so much to tell them I was gay, but the words just wouldn’t come out. I’d just disappoint them again, and I couldn’t do it. The rest of the time was spent questioning if I really was gay or not. Slept with a few girls. It didn’t make me happier. All I wanted was to forget about being gay, but I didn’t get my wish,” he said.
“So are we gay then? Cos it helps to know for sure, you know,” Craig said, leaning back in the sofa as he looked at him.
“I-I just don’t-” Chris tried to speak but there was too much emotion around and he buried his head in his arms as he cried.
Craig was by his side immediately, wrapping an arm around him as he held him close. “Hey, it’s okay. You’re amongst friends. We’re not going to kick you out or bash you or whatever. I know it’s fucking hard, but it helps to say it. Otherwise it’ll bury itself inside you and that never ends well,” he said softly.
“I just can’t get rid of the shame. I’ve been bashed for it, you know,” Chris whispered.
“I know, I could see the bruises,” Craig said.
“I can’t tell. I just… can’t. It’s not the sort of thing you do,” Chris said.
“How is that doing you any good? You’ve just run away. Clearly it doesn’t want to be hidden anymore,” Craig said.
“I wish I was braver,” Chris said.
It was all he would say until Andrew came home with the others. Seeing Chris curled in Craig’s arms, drying his eyes, was enough of a hint for their housemates to leave them be and they disappeared to their rooms, leaving Andrew to sink into the couch beside them, wondering what on earth was going on.
“Chrissy! What a nice surprise. I didn’t expect to see you here,” Andrew said.
“He’s run away,” Craig explained.
“Oh, right. That’s probably the bravest thing he’s done since I’ve known him. I keep telling you to get out of there. It’s not a good environment for you,” Andrew said, brushing Chris’ hair out of his eyes.
“I’m scared they’ll find me. What if they find me? I don’t want to go back there,” Chris said.
“Figured he could take the couch til Denny leaves next week. We’ve been looking for a new tenant. I’m sure he’d do,” Craig said.
“Got a job, Taylor?” Andrew said.
“Yeah, part time, in between classes. Why?” Chris said, looking up at him.
“Wanna room? It’s kinda small and pokey, and it still kinda stinks of weed, but it’s yours for a share in the rent and such,” Andrew said.
“That would be nice. I can’t stomach the thought of going back home again,” Chris said.
“Then it’s yours. Bout time you moved out anyway,” Craig said.
“Yeah, of course, I was thinking about it, but couldn’t find anywhere to go,” Chris said.
“Don’t worry, we’ll be your knights in shining armour,” Andrew said. “Sorry we can only offer the couch for now, but I hope it’ll be okay til the room’s free.”
“It’ll do,” Chris said.
“Okay, now cheer up. You’ve got nothing to cry about,” Andrew said, leaning over to wipe his tears away.
Chris managed a smile. Andrew kissed him gently. Chris was grateful for their kindness. For once, things were starting to look up.
Lying on the couch in the dark, Chris tried to sleep. It wasn’t that he felt uncomfortable there. He could just picture his mother’s reaction the next morning when she discovered he wasn’t there. He remembered he’d left a note, so at least she wouldn’t panic and report him missing, but in his drunken panic, he couldn’t remember what he’d written on it. It troubled him that he couldn’t remember. He figured he’d call them when he woke, at least to tell them he was okay, just staying somewhere else. Whether he would have the courage to tell them the real reason he’d left he didn’t know.
He slept fitfully. His dreams weren’t kind to him, and he woke often. In his waking moments, he considered fleeing back home again and the possibility of getting back in bed before they even knew he’d been gone. But every time he thought about it, it seemed akin to voluntarily entering prison. He would be trapped in their upper class world, forced into a life of normalcy he hated. Living with Craig and Andrew at least gave him a chance at freedom. He didn’t have to lie to them. He wouldn’t have to pretend to be something he wasn’t, and that was a chance he would not give up lightly.
The morning came and had almost gone by the time anyone woke. Chris had finally fallen asleep just before dawn and refused to wake until after midday. The house was quiet. He figured everyone else was asleep still. Feeling like shit, he wandered off to the bathroom to shower.
When he emerged, Andrew was in the kitchen, making coffee. He smiled as Chris approached, leaning against the bench wearily.
“Sleep okay?” Andrew said.
“Not really, but I can deal with it,” Chris said.
“Go call your parents. At least give them the decency of knowing where you are. I’ll make us some brekky,” Andrew said.
“Okay, thanks,” Chris said.
“Phone’s through the hall in the study,” Andrew said.
With a nod, Chris set off to find the study. It was where Andrew had said it would be. He shut the door to give some semblance of privacy and dialled the number. He almost hung up when his mother answered.
“Mum? It’s me, Chris,” he said.
“Chris? Where are you? Why didn’t you come home last night?”
“I’m not coming home. I’ve… I’ve found somewhere to live. I’m not coming back,” Chris said.
“There are ways to move out, Chris, and disappearing in the middle of the night isn’t one of them.”
Chris winced. He could hear his mother’s displeasure and concern. “Sorry, it was sort of unplanned…” He trailed off, unsure what to tell her.
“Is something wrong, Chris? You don’t sound yourself. Where are you anyway?”
“At a friend’s place. I-I’m fine, mum, really,” Chris said.
“Did you mean what you said in that note?”
“What note?” Chris pretended he didn’t know what she meant to disguise the fact he couldn’t remember what he’d written.
“I haven’t shown your father, I wanted to hear from you first.”
“What note, mum? I don’t- remember what it said. I’d had a few drinks,” Chris confessed.
“You left it for us. You said you were ‘gay’,” she said the word in a whisper, as if afraid she might be overheard, “and couldn’t stand to stay here in this prison of society. Is everything okay? Is there something we need to discuss?”
“I’m not gay, mum. I didn’t mean it, I-”
“Because if you’re going to go around, doing that, then quite frankly we need to have a talk, young man.”
Chris swallowed. He understood perfectly what his mother was saying. “I’m not gay, mum, I promise. I just need my own place, that’s all.”
But she could not be persuaded otherwise in spite of Chris’ protestations. Chris hadn’t come out to her, but the call had left him drained and upset, both at himself and at his mother. Chris was happy he had refused to tell her where he was. The last thing he needed was his father coming to talk to him. That would not go down well. Setting the receiver back in the cradle, he returned to Andrew and slumped down onto the sofa.
“I’m assuming that went well,” Andrew said as he set breakfast out on the dining table. “Come and eat, tell me all about it.”
Chris sighed as he got up. He was glad for the distraction. Andrew wasn’t a bad cook either.
“I left a note before I left home last night. I couldn’t remember what it said, but apparently I outed myself. She refused to believe I wasn’t gay. This is a total cock-up,” Chris said, prodding his breakfast miserably.
“I thought you were gay,” Andrew said.
“I am, but I wasn’t going to come out to her, not now,” Chris said.
“Shit. You gonna be okay?” Andrew said.
“As long as they don’t know where I am, sure. She’ll tell dad, and Nick. I can’t go back now,” Chris said.
“Well, you’re welcome to stay as long as you like. You’ll always have a bed here if you need it,” Andrew said.
“Thanks. That’s good to know. Some of my other friends wouldn’t be that accommodating,” Chris said.
“Stick with us. You’ll be fine,” Andrew said.
“I’ll hold you to that,” Chris said.
Hiding back in the doorway, Craig watched them together. He’d maybe perhaps eavesdropped on Chris’ phone call and did somewhat feel sorry for him. He was in a difficult place and clearly needed time to sort himself out. Then again, Craig was one to talk. He’d left his mother in Bowral when he’d moved to Sydney for uni and hadn’t quite got around to telling her he was fucking boys now. He felt it wasn’t really important. Though he decided he was better at lying about it than Chris was. He’d have to give him some pointers. Deciding not to intrude on their conversation, he went to shower. He’d talk to them later.