Fake Fan Fiction ❯ To Die For... ❯ Chapter One ( Chapter 2 )

Dee Laytner glared at the stacks of amber-cream file folders. No matter what he did, the pile just kept growling. No matter how many reports he filled out, there were always more. For every case solved, ten more waited in the goddamned pile. Would the torture ever end? Would he die, crushed beneath a pile of papers? Would-

 

“You're growling,” Dee averted his gaze from the mountain of paper to a sight vastly more pleasing to the eye. Hungry green eyes devoured the studious man across from him. Soft brown blonde hair tumbled into dark, dark eyes as the lean detective bent over his own copious amount of paperwork. The face of an angel, the body of a god, the voice of a-

 

“You're doing it again,” -a nagging hen, at the moment. Dee sighed, running a hand through unruly black locks. “Penny for your thoughts, since neither of us will be getting any work down while you're sulking,” Ryo sighed, unfolding from his prior, diligent posture. “What's wrong?”

 

“Wondering what my eulogy will say,” Dee watched his partner quirk an eyebrow and stretch like a waking feline. “I can see it now,” He continued, switching his gaze form his luscious Ryo to the detested pile of paper. “'He was a good detective, and died bravely in the face of mounds of paper,'”

 

“Suck it up, you wuss,” Ryo replied, glaring at Dee from beneath waves of golden brown. “We're all suffering here, so don't act like you're some martyr. Besides, what do you have to complain about? You pawn all of your work off on me.” Dee physically recoiled from the clipped tones of his half-Japanese partner. “Catty much? What the hell's wrong with you? Wake up on the wrong side of the stick?”

 

“In your dreams,” That said, the blonde bent over his work, black framed glasses perched on his nose. Dee smiled, biting off retorts along the lines of `you know it.' “Dee, do your work,” Dee sighed again, giving up his plan for simply watching Ryo for paperwork. Mounds and mounds of paperwork. There was no end to it. It was-

 

“You're growling again,”

 

 

 

“Chief?” The large man merely waved for the two to take their places. Dee followed Ryo in, promptly dropping into a chair between the blonde and one Drake Parker. The other members of the unit where already in the room. Ted was snoring on the other side of Drake, while JJ - at the opposite end as Ryo - whined like a puppy who'd been kicked one too many times.

 

“I'm sure you're all aware of the rash of accidents and suicides going on, and our subsequent flood of paperwork,” Dee snorted, interrupting a large snore. The chief continued, pointedly ignoring the lack of attention. “And while I was going over some of your reports, I noticed some things with a few of them, and the Commissioner has seconded my findings.”

 

“Is that what they pay you to do? Sit in here on your ass?” Dee cut in, earning a glare from the Chief. “Actually, you dolt, the only reports that are legible come from Randy. I don't know what you would do without him, Laytner.” The chief grunted, turning his glare on everyone save Ryo. “You don't know how many times I've considered signing the lot of you lunkheads up for special training, but I don't know of any courses in filling in the blanks. And wake up, Ted!”

 

Ted snorted himself awake when the chief slammed two tightly fisted hands on the flimsy table. He glared, muttering something along the classical line of “stinking old walrus,” the grumbling being taken up by various parties around the briefing room. “You morons! I'd like to get rid of the lot of you! I'm surprised Internal hasn't started snooping around here. The success rate of this damned precinct is so low it's nearly non-existent! What the hell do we pay you fools for?”

 

“Are you done?” Came Dee's bored inquiry, earning a smoldering glare from the Chief. “Quite. Just keep an eye out for anything suspicious in some of your cases. And learn to write like adults! It's like working with a bunch of toddlers around here!” Dee shot to his feet, palms slapping against the table in the same manner that the chief had just used. “What the hell is that supposed to mean, you stinking badger!”

 

“Dee, calm down,” Ryo tried to settle his partner, but Dee didn't want to be settled. “Stay outta this, you brown-noser!” Now it was Ryo's turn to stand, moving roughly a foot away from his partner to avoid the possibility of flailing arms. “Just because Randy puts you all to shame doesn't mean you should yell at him. Try following his example, Laytner. Now get the hell out of here, the lot of you!”

 

The group vacated the room, grumbling and muttering beneath their breath. The closing of the door cut off the chief's tirade of comparing the intelligence level of his detective with that of primates. “Lousy flea-bitten walrus,” Dee grumbled, striding along side his slightly shorter partner. He wasn't expecting the sharp elbow to his ribs, and gasped at the contact. “You brought it on yourself,” The blonde said, earning a sideways glance from deep jade eyes. “So now you're against me too? Gee, thanks a lot, partner.”

 

“You'll get over it,” Ryo replied absently as they sat down at their desks. “No, I won't” Dee pouted childishly, glaring at Ryo from beneath ebony bangs. “Grow up, Dee,” Ryo tossed a new file across their desks, already searching for his glasses.

 

Dee watched for a moment before abruptly standing. “Screw it, I'm need a smoke,” he grunted when his partner waved a dismissive hand. Cold much? He thought, stalking in the direction of the roof. He reached his destination with a relieved sigh. “Nothing like good old fresh air to ease the mind,” He chuckled, digging through his pockets for his cigarettes.

 

After lighting the white cylinder and taking a lengthy drag, Dee leaned over the partial wall. Smoking and watching the world pass by from this superior height always filled the detective with a sense of peace. This was the place he always came to when work-related stress crossed that thin line to potential dementia.

 

The entire staff was on edge, that much was obvious. Even JJ, who seemed to have the energy of the Energizer Bunny - not to mention the hair to match - seemed listless. And Ryo…If he were a woman, I'd call it P.M.S. Dee thought bitterly, flicking ash over the edge of the building. But he's not a woman. God, is he not a woman. Every glorious inch of him is all man.

 

He kicked the concrete partition, effectively cutting that train of thought off at the station. Despite the fact that they had slept together twice, nothing much had developed from it. Dee knew he wasn't normally a sentimental creature, but everything was different when it concerned Ryo. Sweet, naïve, gentle Ryo, who was acting very much the catty bitch at the moment.

 

“There you are,” Dee turned, watching the blonde who had been occupying his thoughts stride towards him. “I checked the break room, and you weren't there, so….” Dee snorted previous bad mood returning full swing. “Way to go, Captain Obvious,” He flicked more ash over the edge. “Well sorry. I'll leave you alone then. See you tomorrow,” Ryo snarled back, turning on his heel. Dee was startled by the curt manner his partner used, a manner only used when Ryo was very, very pissed. “Ryo? Ryo, wait!” he closed the few paces between the other man and himself at a jog, reaching out to grasp one arm. “Ryo, what the hell's your problem?”

 

The blonde turned sharply, leveling Dee with a glare that could melt asphalt. “That's what I want to know,” Ryo countered, completely baffling Dee. “All day you've complained, moaned, bitched, and caterwauled about the tiniest thing. Never mind the fact that everyone else is doing the exact same amount o work. What makes you so special that simple, menial deskwork is below you?”

 

Ryo paused, inhaling sharply as if to gather the oxygen for another tirade, his expressive black eyes glittering with… tears? Dee instantly wanted to kick himself for being so idiotic. Although Ryo was more prone to crying than Dee, he was by no means a weakling or a `girly man.' A fact well proven by anyone who'd taken him on in mandatory defense lessons and practices. For him to be reduced to this raw an emotional state spoke volumes about the stress he was feeling. “Ryo, I am so sorry,” He pulled the older man to his chest, thankful and anxious at how little the blonde resisted.

 

“I never thought… I'm sorry..” He breathed the words into a soft fall of honey brown hair, clutching Ryo to him. For his part, Ryo buried his face against Dee's neck and shoulder, small tremors wracking his beautiful body. They stayed like that for a long moment, Dee babbling in broken sentences and Ryo simply shaking. “Baby?” Ryo looked up, glistening black eyes slightly red-rimmed with unshed tears that he refused to let fall. Dee sighed, cupping one pale cheek in broad hand. He closed the sparse distance between the two his lips moving gently against Ryo's.

 

A moment later found Ryo pressing into the kiss, lips parting in a silent invitation. Dee took the proffered opportunity, slipping his tongue into the blonde's mouth, and his own version of Heaven. The blonde moaned, pulling Dee's body closer, causing him to smile. How long ago was it that Ryo would freeze at any blatant overture? When he would push Dee away, flushed with that trademark pink that reached all the way to his toes.

 

The slow kiss broke with both men panting for air. “We've come a long way, I've said it before,” Dee whispered, stealing another quick kiss. “How about we rent a movie and get some takeout? I can give Bikky and Carol some money for a movie or something. We could spend a quiet night, just you and me, talking, or I could give you a massage, or…” He dared not offer up any other suggestions, else Ryo deny him. Despite everything, the gorgeous blonde still shied away from intimacy. When was the last time they had made love? Three months ago? And I thought it was hard to get with him before. Oh Ryo, do you know what I would do just to wake up with you beside me every morning? Jesus Dee, you're hooked.

 

“Anything you want, baby,” He finished, hoping his sincerity was heard in the words. Ryo smiled that gentle smile which never failed to make Dee's chest hurt and knees go weak. “I'd like that,” Dark eyes peered into wondrous emerald, partially hidden behind blonde bangs. “God, you're beautiful,” Dee murmured, basking in the flush that coloured Ryo's cheeks with a silly, one-sided grin. That grin widened when Ryo brought their lips together in another lingering kiss. “My place?”

 

Dee nodded, still enjoying the sweetness left on his lips. “Don't be late,” Ryo called over one shoulder, already walking away. Emerald green eyes automatically dropped to Ryo's ass as Dee found himself belatedly replying “I won't, promise.”