Fake Fan Fiction ❯ Jazz & Other Vices ❯ Chapter 2

 

Disclaimer: I don't own Fake.

 

 

Eying his partner with surprise, Dee asked, "Look at me, Ryo." Slowly, as if not wanting to tear his gaze away for even a moment, Ryo turned to him, his brow furrowed in anger. "I know this guy's dirty, but why are you suddenly so pissed?"

 

The dangerous glint in Ryo's eye faded now, replaced by something between confusion and sadness. Then it was quickly veiled. That's right, Ryo thought, I never told Dee that Leo was responsible for my parent's death. Ever since Ryo had discovered the truth, he had vowed revenge on the man. Knowing that he would be taken off the case if he revealed this secret, Ryo had kept it from everyone, even Dee.

 

"It's nothing, people like him just make me sick," Ryo replied, shrugging. Of course, Dee didn't by this excuse for a second. He knew his partner well and it was very uncharacteristic for him to be so vehement about a suspect. Unless the situation dealt with children, which this one didn't. However, Dee knew to leave well enough alone. As much as he wanted to, it wasn't the time or place to push the matter further.

 

Instead, he concentrated on where Leo sat down, how many people were with him, and how difficult it would be to reach the table once the raid began. The detective now wished he hadn't let his partner drink, it had made him moody and would only make the arrest more difficult. And it was important they get it right.

 

It had taken quite some time to figure out the shrewd gangster's movements and Dee had almost thought their information hadn't been accurate when Leo had taken so long to show up. But now they had him.

 

Or that's what he thought until Leo and his men abruptly and unexpectedly stood up from their seats and made a run for the door. Dee swore under his breath; something or someone must have tipped him off. Out of the corner of his eye, Dee saw Ryo rise in his seat and reach for his gun. This wouldn't do at all! He didn't want Leo to get away, but they couldn't open fire in the crowded basement, either.

 

"Ryo, wait!" he yelled, but his own voice was drowned out by a loud CRASH! One of the back doors had been slammed open and a stream of police officers were sweeping inside. Too late. Leo had already made it out the front entrance and now Dee and Ryo were blocked from chasing after him by a room full of drunkards stumbling and shoving each other to avoid arrest.

 

"Damn it!" Dee shouted.

 

"Come on!" called Ryo, already making his way to the back door, now clearing of the other officers. Racing to keep up with him, Dee ran down the alleyway at the back of the building. He caught up with his partner where the alley broke off in two directions. The blond-haired man beside him looked frantic.

 

"Which way is faster to get back to the front?" Ryo murmured.

 

"You know, as much as I'm always ready to rush in, I'm getting a bad feeling about this. I think we should be a little cautious. It's too quiet out here. If Leo was tipped off, he might have the place covered with his men," but Ryo didn't hear him, he was off and running again. As Ryo raced around another corner, Dee lost sight of him and felt his blood run cold as gunshots rang out into the night.

 

"Ryo!" he yelled, and turned the corner to see the man's silhouette against a pair of headlights now rushing toward them. Pumping his legs as fast as he could manage Dee grabbed his partner and threw him into the nearest doorway, covering his body with his own.

 

There was more gunfire as the car flew by and Dee could almost hear the blood pounding in his ears, his heart was racing so fast. For a moment he didn't dare move, was he hurt? Was Ryo hurt? When he felt sure no one else was coming after them Dee tentatively stretched his body. Miraculously, he found he as unharmed. Then he lifted his head and looked at his fair-haired partner pressed beneath him.

 

"Are you all right?" he asked. Ryo's breathing was hard, erratic. "Ryo! Damn it! Tell me if you're ok!!"

 

"I was so close..." he whispered.

 

"What?"

 

"I saw him jump in the car... but I couldn't shoot..." Ryo's voice ground out through clenched teeth.

 

"You're worried that the suspect got away?" Dee asked, disbelief in his voice. As dedicated as the man was to his work, Dee knew there had to be another reason he'd be so angry with himself for not being able to stop the gangster. He needed answers, and for that he needed Ryo calm.

 

"Ryo," he began in a stern voice, reaching a hand under the man's chin. "Look at me," he commanded. "Are you physically hurt?" he repeated. Slowly, Ryo shook his head 'no'.

 

"Good, now," he continued, holding his partner's gaze, "tell me what this is about." For a while, Ryo could only stare up at Dee with a forlorn, hollow look in his eyes. It was so heart-wrenching Dee almost thought he should drop the matter for another time. Almost.

 

Finally, slowly and softly, Ryo began to explain, "I- I didn't tell anyone but... when we started this case... the more we investigated Leo, the more sure I became..." He paused and Dee waited patiently for him to continue. "I was sure that... he was the man responsible for killing my parents."

 

"Ryo..." Dee whispered his name with sympathy and curled his arms about the smaller man, holding him close as the tears spilled over his cheeks.

 

"I thought I could finally get revenge for their deaths, that I could finally give them some peace... but... but I couldn't do it!" he said, his shoulders shaking from the force of his tears.

 

As he held onto him, rocking him like a child, Dee whispered, "That's not who you are, Ryo. You can't kill someone in cold blood like that. No matter how justified you might be."

 

"I- I..." Ryo tried to speak, but he couldn't seem to find the words and he decided to just let Dee hold him, let this man be his support.

 

"It's ok... I'm here, I'll always be here," Dee said reassuringly and they remained there in each other's arms, each finding a kind of strength in the other.

 

 

***If you can't tell, I have a fondness for using similar events from the manga in AU fics, hope you don't mind! The rest of the story is more original, though!

^_^ Reviews always welcome!