Chapter Text
The theater was dark, save for the ghost light casting a long lonely shadow across the stage. Rome sat in the front row, his jacket still smelling faintly of Raffy's cologne from earlier that afternoon. They had spent the day together a "friends with benefits" hangout that Rome had desperately tried to make feel like a date.
But Raffy wasn't looking at Rome. Raffy was standing in the wings, his eyes locked on Jack, who was pacing the stage and shouting orders at the lighting crew.
"He's a genius, isn't he?" Raffy whispered, the awe evident in his voice.
Rome felt the familiar, sharp twist in his gut. "He's my brother, Raffy. He's just a guy who likes the sound of his own voice."
Raffy shook his head dismissing Rome's words as sibling rivalry. "No, Rome. Look at him. The way he commands the room... he sees me. He really sees me."
Rome bit his tongue. He wanted to scream 'He doesn't see you. He sees a prop'. He wanted to tell Raffy that for the last month, Jack had been complaining about the production's budget and Raffy's "usefulness" in securing investors because Raffy's mother is a very famous character in the industry. Jack had laughed about it over dinner last week telling Rome "Keep your boy happy. If he thinks I like him, he'll get the funding we need. It's just directing, little brother. I'm directing him off stage, too."
But Rome couldn't say that. If he did, Raffy would hate him for delivering the truth. And Rome couldn't risk losing the scraps of affection Raffy threw his way.
"Come on" Rome said, standing up, his voice tired. "Let's go. Jack's going to be here all night."
"You go" Raffy said not taking his eyes off Jack. "Jack asked me to stay back. He wants to... discuss my role in the next act."
Rome froze. He knew exactly what Jack wanted to discuss. He wanted Raffy to convince a wealthy patron to attend opening night. It was transaction. But Raffy was looking at the stage with the hopeful, terrified expression of a man in love.
"Raffy" Rome started, stepping closer. "You don't have to do everything he says. You know that right?"
Raffy finally looked at Rome, a flash of annoyance crossing his face. "Why are you being like this? You're just my sex friend, Rome. You don't get to be jealous."
The words stung like a slap. They were a reminder of the boundaries Raffy had set, the boundaries that trapped Rome. 'Just sex. Just friends.'
"I'm not jealous" Rome lied, his voice cracking. "I just don't want to see you get hurt."
"I won't" Raffy said turning back toward the light. "Jack cares about me. He told me I inspire him."
Rome watched Raffy walk toward the stage, toward his brother. He watched Jack look up, a calculated smile spreading across his face, a smile Rome had seen a thousand times, usually right before Jack took something that wasn't his.
Jack caught Rome's eye in the darkness of the audience. He didn't look guilty. He didn't look like a brother. He gave Rome a small, shrugging nod, as if to say, 'You had your fun with him. Now he's useful to me.'
Rome turned and walked out of the theater, leaving the man he loved in the arms of the man using him knowing that when Raffy finally broke, he would be the one expected to pick up the pieces.