Fake Fan Fiction ❯ Trial By Fire ❯ Chapter Two ( Chapter 2 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

By: Demoness2005

Trial By Fire

Chapter 2

By Gena S. Durrell (aka Demoness)

Disclaimer: I don't own FAKE. Dee, Ryo and the other FAKE characters are the genius of Sanami Matoh.

Warning: Shounen-ai / Yaoi / Strong language, and sexual situations between men. If mano o mano sex is not your thing, go somewhere else to play.

Rating: R (No lemon yet, but a definite taste of lime)

Pairing: Dee x Ryo

Summary: Picking up where volume #7 leaves off, while caught up in the rapture of exploring their new relationship, Ryo is coming to terms with changes in his life now that Dee is his lover. The couple soon discover Ryo is not the only one finding changes and new acceptance as Dee starts to find hidden layers to himself he never knew existed and only Ryo can bring out. After they take on an undercover assignment, something unexpected comes up that Ryo did not consider before concerning his new lover.

Special thanks goes to my awesome beta readers - NeoBritt and Harini.

27th Precinct

Monday late morning

July 15, 1996

Dee entered the hallway of the 4th floor, satisfied that he heard the voices of his colleagues coming from the squad room. It was a good sign that he would not find anyone loitering in the office. Not long before, as he placed the last file in its proper place down in forensics, he had slapped his forehead in dismay, remembering the case file he was supposed to study was still on his desk. Ryo had agreed with Dee that it would be best if they split up and met outside. Then no one would suspect Dee had helped Ryo.

Dee slipped into the office he shared with Ryo and retrieved the file, his eyes checking for any signs of it having been moved. It appeared untouched. On the way out, he came across Ted, who was hovering outside the office.

“Wasting space again?” Dee asked.

“You're not going to use it until tonight,” Ted defended. “By the time you come back, I'll be off duty.”

Dee growled. It was supposed to be his and Ryo's office - only their names were on the door to prove it, but everyone seemed hell-bent to turn it into a common area. Shaking his head at Ted as he walked away, he let out a heavy sigh. He'd let Ryo deal with this problem they've been having lately. Ryo would be really good with laying down the reasons they have their own office, and reciting from the books. Dee would only explain by extracting his fist into his co-worker's jaw. Of course, the way Ryo had been lately, it would be best to be sure it was one of his lover's better days before tasking him.

Dee's thoughts further wandered. If they kept going the way they were in the last week, they'd probably lose the office to another detective team who was determined more reliable in handling the cases of a sensitive nature. That was why they had their own office. Being the top two detectives in their division meant getting sensitive cases to be divulged to others only when the need arose.

Reliable. Dee shook his head. That never did seem to be a word to describe him. He had started to think it was because of Ryo. It took Ryo to explain to him that while for many things he was not the most responsible person on the planet, when it came to a case and getting the job done, he was. Of course, sometimes it took a little creative writing on Ryo's behalf on the reports to keep some discretions out of the light, but the job got done, a criminal was caught and the city was that much safer.

Dee did love the sense of accomplishment when another case was closed with a conviction. He was also the type that when he started something, he saw it through to the finish and as close to perfection as he could. Lately he had been taking on his share of reports. Ryo had also reminded him that he was an honest cop, who would put his life before allowing anyone to corrupt him. Ryo was quick to add that he hoped such a situation would never arise for Dee to prove it true.

Dee hoped so too. Perhaps, despite it all, he was more or less reliable. Together, they had both earned the office and the new nature of assignments.

Dee grasped the folder tighter and left the building.

*** *** * *** ***

Ryo entered the office ten minutes later and glanced at Ted, sitting at his desk and using his computer. “If Dee finds you here, you'll be one with my computer,” he said, making Ted jump guiltily. Ryo made sure there was special emphasis on whose computer it was. He took a step toward Ted. “Get away from my desk,” he shooed Ted, grasping him by his shoulder and pulling up.

“All right, all right!” Ted remarked, scrambling to his feet. At least Ryo's touch was in joke, but he decided he was not going to push it. The way things stood the last week, he had a better chance walking away from calling Dee every curse in the books to his face than slightly annoying Ryo. He made a move to turn off the browser, but Ryo stopped him.

Ryo's mouth hung. “Ted! I'm gonna kill you! You know they track this type of activity on our computers.” He frowned at Ted, who was moving around Ryo's desk. “If they come to me with a complaint about my spending long hours playing online computer games….”

Ted held up his hands. “I'm sorry. But honestly, it's not like Dee hasn't….”

“Dee's not up for debate,” Ryo snapped. “I didn't just find him here. Geez Ted, you're a bigger slob than Dee!” He immediately set to the task of reorganizing his papers and pulling a bottle of cleaner and towel out of a desk drawer to clean off crumbs and wipe down the surface. He was all too aware of it taking more time than he planned before meeting Dee down at the coffee shop on the corner. Still, as much as he wanted to just leave it, he found he could not, and hoped that the others wouldn't make a mess again while he was gone. “Look, I'd prefer if everyone stays out of here unless invited in, but if you have to take over our office while we're gone, use Dee's desk. He won't notice a bigger mess on that disaster area there.”

Ted had positioned himself sitting on Dee's desk, watching in amusement. How did Dee put up with Ryo just as a partner? Despite the talk and his own joking, he shook his head. The more he studied Ryo, the more he convinced himself it was not true. No way could Dee and Ryo be compatible life partners.

Ted glanced down on the piles of papers covering Dee's desk. “You know better than me about this here,” Ted remarked. “You know despite how it looks, Dee has a system and he'll blow a fuse if anyone bothers with it. Meanwhile yours is more organized and we're less likely to move anything you don't want moved. With Dee, he knows what is garbage and what is something he expects to have at his fingertips without looking. Besides, you have the computer on your desk.”

Ryo shook his head and glanced at the clock. He should have been approaching the coffee shop by now, not here defending his and Dee's habits. “That's because Dee's is in the shop. A computer virus infected it and somehow it occurred when Dee was not here. I wonder how that happened?” Ryo flashed an accusing look in Ted's direction.

“Umm, I'm not the only one who uses…” He stopped when Ryo's dark eyes fixed on him in warning.

“I don't know who was responsible and I don't care as long as this stops,” Ryo said quietly. “No one should be in this office unless invited in by me or Dee. If any information that's in here gets leaked out, I swear I'll start up an investigation on the lot of you. Understood? There's a reason we have an office. You're all damned lucky Dee actually sat down and worked on his reports and filed them on a secure drive. If they were still sitting on his hard drive, lots of information would have lost.”

“Shouldn't that be Dee was lucky? That he worked instead of playing online games with Bikky?” Ted asked.

Ryo shook his head. He knew about that. Dee tried to hide it from him, but Ryo found out. Somehow he could not make himself stop Dee from still finding some time to play computer games with Bikky on the nights they worked. Any type of interaction between the two that did not include cussing and name calling Ryo encouraged. Okay, make that not yelling curses and names at each other. While checking the computer at home that Bikky used to make sure the boy was not going to sites or getting involved with things a boy his age should not, he came across one of Bikky's IM's and noticed a conversation with Dee while they were playing games. Lots of colorful name calling and inventive swears. Ryo memorized a few good ones from Dee, planning to use them on his lover one day to throw him off track - and to let him know he knew what was going on without telling him to stop.

“Like I said, Dee's habits are not up for debate. He didn't cause the virus, but someone who was not supposed to be on his computer did. That concerns me.” Ted was spared from further lecturing when Ryo's cell phone started ringing. He noted the number as he answered. “Hey. I just finished, but I need to do some cleaning here. Someone left my desk looking like a pigsty. Don't laugh, you asshole! Yeah, I had to clean it. Sure I can meet you at Ray's. Italian sounds good. Just give me a few to….” Ryo came to a sudden pause and his eyes went up to Ted watching him. He let out a sigh. “Ted will probably make a mess again when I leave, anyway. I'm on my way out now. Later.” He closed his phone.

“Dee?”

“And you want to know why?” Ryo remarked, pulling some files into his briefcase and locking his desk drawers. He saw the way Ted was looking at him. “We do have a case to go over before we come back tonight.” Ryo's eyes flashed up at Ted again. “As if that's any business of yours.”

“Look Ryo, I know people are talking and I know I said some things, but…” He paused, then chuckled. “It sure was worth it to get Dee to blush. I can't stop now. I want to see how much more of a rise I can get out of him. But….”

“What?” Ryo asked, now busy with shuffling through the file cabinet and pulling out some items he wanted to take home with him.

“I just don't see it. I know you and Dee are best friends and that Dee has it bad for you. But he's obviously realized it's not gonna happen and did something about his blue balls syndrome. He finally went out and got laid by some sweet thing. And that's why he gets flustered if we push him the right way. After all this talk for two years and holding out for you, he's ashamed that it's not that way anymore.”

“Yeah,” Ryo said quietly, careful to continue what he was doing and not look at Ted. He knew the truth, but the image of Dee with anyone else caused his blood to boil just a bit. Ted was trying to be nice to him, but if Ryo dared to look at Ted, Ryo felt as if he would rip Ted a new one with his words, then rip his head off with his hands. Suggesting Dee having sex with anyone but him, indeed!

“I'm sorry, Ryo. I know this must be embarrassing. I'm certain you don't want to hear about Dee's sex life. But I just wanted to let you know where I stand. You're cool with me. I'm just sorry that Dee had to set his sights on the impossible for all this time. He'll find someone else or a hundred now that he's faced reality, and one day you'll make someone a really great husband.”

Ryo sighed. He had to get a grip on himself. What Ted was saying should not bother him. After all, it was his suggestion to keep things quiet. By keeping their relationship a secret, he would have to play the role of wanting exactly what Ted was saying - for both himself and for Dee. Of course, Ryo thought tenderly, Dee was showing signs of making a pretty good damn husband himself. For Ryo only, of course.

Ted was a good guy, despite what he had said earlier. Ted and the others could not resist a good dig when opportunity arose, or even when it did not. Just like Dee. It did not stop him from becoming Dee's friend, allowing Dee to become his best friend, or to fall in love with him. Ted was a co-worker and a friend. Still, the things Ted was saying bothered him. It dug into him more than the lewd banter from earlier. It hurt that others were imagining his Dee with anyone else but him. Perhaps he needed to rethink some things himself, before he talked with Dee again.

He closed the file drawer and locked it, then straightened up to stretch. He went back to his desk and placed the items he retrieved into his briefcase, stopping by Dee's desk to make sure his drawers were locked and nothing of a sensitive nature caught Ryo's eyes from the piles on the desk. All looked in order - well, as much as can be on Dee's desk. Ryo was still simmering from Ted's words and did not yet dare face the other. The poor man had no idea that what was supposed to be comforting words had set Ryo's temper on a slow rise. Briefcase in hand, he strode to the door. With his hand on the doorknob, he turned back to Ted, who was still sitting on a corner of Dee's desk. “Between you and me. I find out you said anything to anyone else, I'll be looking for you to use as a sniper practice target.” He watched with satisfaction as Ted nodded carefully. “You're wrong. About Dee. Dee didn't do anything about his blue balls.” He smiled sweetly at Ted. “I did.”

Ted's mouth dropped open as he slid off Dee's desk. “What?” he stammered, barely catching himself from continuing his downslide onto the floor. He gripped the edge of Dee's desk for support, almost knocking over an overflowing precarious stack of folders in a basket that was labeled `IN'.

“My first instinct is to keep it between Dee and I. However, I'm realizing that might be harder to do than we thought. I have to so some more soul searching, I guess. You're the first one to know. And I'd prefer that you leave it up to me and Dee to decide who else to tell.”

Ted nodded his head, gaining his ground. Ryo started to turn the doorknob. “Ryo?”

“Huh?”

“If you want to keep it under wraps, then I suggest you don't punch JJ out anymore.” He grinned at Ryo.

Ryo let out a laugh. “I have to admit after two years, it felt good.”

“Does Dee know you landed that punch to JJ's gut?”

“How do you know?”

“JJ whined to me and Drake.”

“I didn't tell Dee, so unless someone else does….”

“Don't worry. JJ said he won't take it to the Chief, and he's too afraid of you to go near Dee for a while. He said something about you being too good a shot.”

Ryo shook his head. “I get laid by Dee and get a new reputation. Great!” he moaned, suddenly blushing as he realized what just came out of his mouth.

Ted laughed. “I never thought I'd ever hear you saying you got laid by anyone. Not that I don't think you do. You wouldn't talk about it. You're not like the rest of us crude individuals.”

Ryo smiled at Ted. “Or maybe I'm too good at hiding that I am?”

Ted laughed harder. “That's what I've always liked about you, Ryo. When you cut up, you're funny as hell.”

“I better go. For someone who doesn't know how to get anywhere on time, you know how Dee hates waiting.” He grimaced.

“You need anything, Ryo, give me a call. Even if it's support other than from your partner.”

“Thanks, Ted.”

** ** * ** **

Dee and Ryo went back to Dee's apartment. While Ryo grabbed plates and utensils, Dee put on coffee and took their lunch out of the bags. Both noticed they were sneaking glances at the other as they went about their tasks, and finally shared a smile.

Placing the mugs he was reaching for from a shelf down, Dee leaned against the counter, waiting for their coffee to brew. He folded his arms, his intense gaze on Ryo. “We are alone now,” he suggested, green eyes smoldering as he watched his lover turn to face him. His breath caught for a moment. `They don't come as gorgeous as Ryo,' he thought, his smile widening. For most men, there were some words that did not apply. Ryo encompassed them all - handsome, gorgeous, beautiful, sexy, strong, vulnerable, masculine, soft…. Dee knew he could spend some time adding to his list. So many contradictions in his list, yet that was Ryo. He was all of it. And he was everything to Dee.

Ryo studied him a moment and smiled warmly at the love Dee knew was shining in his eyes. Then a little frown came to his sexy brown haired partner, dark eyes shifting to become serious. “We need to concentrate on the case first,” Ryo sighed. It was such an effort to stay focused on what he felt was the right thing to do, and Dee saw the struggle within his partner. His heart quickened as he felt his very soul hum with bliss, because he knew no one could do this to Ryo except him.

Dee had to wonder if perhaps he had been walking around like a total airhead the last couple of weeks, because he felt as if he was walking in the clouds, totally wrapped in bliss, ecstasy and Ryo's love. He let out a chuckle, then fixed Ryo with an innocent gaze. “A kiss, maybe two, and a hug. That's all.” He smiled sweetly at Ryo.

Ryo frowned, averting his eyes so Dee could not see them... “I find that hard to believe.”

“I'll behave until work is done. I promise.”

Ryo dared another look at Dee. Dee almost groaned at the promise that glimmered in the dark, beautiful eyes before him. “I can't,” Ryo moaned.

Dee raised an eyebrow. “You did last night.”

“Not that. But yeah, that is the problem.” Ryo started to blush. “I meant I can't promise you I'll behave.”

Dee's eyes opened wide. “Well, bring it on!” he exclaimed, opening his arms toward Ryo. “C'mere and give me what you want, baby!”

“Dee!” Ryo was blushing more and he turned his head away again, fussing with placing their food on the plates.

“Aw, c'mon Ryo.” He pushed away from the counter and moved over to stand behind his lover. “Were you really expecting me to do all the pushing away?” He let out a snort, shaking his head. “Especially now that I finally have your love? You're crazy.”

“I wasn't expecting anything of the sort from you,” Ryo said softly. “You're the one who decided to….” He suddenly found himself turned to face Dee.

Dee rested his arms around Ryo's neck, holding him but leaving a few inches of space between them. Dee leaned down to softly kiss Ryo's lips, then smiled. “I'll tell you what I'm expecting. And no, you pervert,” he laughed, “it has nothing to do what you're thinking right now.” He dared to touch Ryo's lips again for another brief kiss, while Ryo blushed profusely. The blush did not stop Ryo from gazing up at Dee, licking his lips, wanting more than the chaste kisses Dee was giving him. Dee chuckled in delight. “Just listen for now. Okay?”

“Start talking,” Ryo said, placing a hand on Dee's chest and smiling up at him.

“I figure of all the times one or both of us want to do something when we know we shouldn't be, one out of three, you'll stop it. One of three, I will. Then the third time, we go for it.” He smiled warmly at Ryo, then let out a sigh of contentment as the index finger of the hand resting on his chest lightly stroked the dark tone skin exposed above the collar of his v-neck tee-shirt. “This is called compromise. Something I believe is important in a relationship.” He removed one of his hands from around Ryo's neck to take the hand resting on his chest and squeeze it. “So since last night it was me making the attempt, then right now it's either you stopping this now, or we go for it.”

Ryo groaned. “You had to remind me! We need to definitely talk.”

“We do. But it's up to you when. We're going to be dealing with only Rose and Diana tonight. Think we can hold it together for them?”

Ryo seemed to consider it. He closed the space Dee made sure they had maintained until that moment. Their bodies pressed together, their hands with fingers now entwined trapped between their chests and he leaned in toward Dee's lips. Smiling, Dee bent his head, opening his mouth to meet him halfway.

Their lunch went forgotten as the kiss deepened and Dee moved them, with their lips still locked and hands roaming and removing shirts, to the couch. He gently settled Ryo down and placed a knee on the couch to lean over Ryo. Ryo's arm tightened around his back and Dee found himself falling on Ryo.

*** *** ***

“Well, at least I'm able to concentrate on the case,” Dee said later with a smile. They had reheated their lunch and settled at the table, not trusting themselves to attempt eating and going over the case while leaning against each other on the couch.

Ryo blushed as he picked at his food with his fork. “Me too,” he admitted, then poked a piece of breaded veal parmesan with the fork and lifted it to his mouth. After he swallowed his food and watched Dee take a drink of his coffee, he cleared his throat. “Um, Dee. About that talk?”

Dee lifted his head, his attention on Ryo. “Yeah?”

“I think we should wait until at least later tonight. I really should think more anyway before we do. I don't want us to always have to backtrack because we discussed things from the wrong angle.”

Dee frowned a little. He pulled his cigarettes out of his shirt pocket and taking one out, lit it. Ryo remained quiet watching him smoke, the cigarette dangling from Dee's mouth. Dee ran a hand through his hair in thought. Finally Dee took the cigarette out of his mouth and still holding it asked, “Is this something I should be concerned about?”

Ryo shook his head. “No. Well, depends on how you look at it, now that I think about it. I know you too well.” He let out a chuckle as he watched Dee inhaled again, a confused frown on his face. “You're so adorable when you get that look.”

“Geez, Ryo,” Dee rolled his eyes, flicking his ashes into the nearby ashtray.

Ryo's eyes widened as he suddenly saw the signs. They had never been there before Ryo told Dee he loved him. Now as he thought back over the last two weeks, he realized he saw a pattern. `This could be fun,' he thought. `I was too embarrassed and pissed off to appreciate it when it happened in our office.' But he remembered all too well when it had happened in the chief's office. He watched as Dee studied his cigarette intently. Ryo intensified his study, knowing Dee would feel it. “So damn cute,” he said huskily.

“Ummm….” Dee took another drag from his cigarette, rolling his eyes again.

Ryo smiled. “What an interesting color. Must be that exotic skin tone of yours, beautiful.”

“Ryo!” Dee dropped the cigarette into the ashtray and lifted his coffee mug, placing it so half his face was hidden.

“You never did that before we….” Ryo stopped himself. He knew he was going to stumble or use a euphemism, or even some childish way. If he did, he'd lose what he had accomplished, because he knew Dee would just break out in laughter, and they'd lose the moment. He'd lose one of his greatest conquests. He wanted to succeed, he was almost there. And when he got Dee where he wanted him, he would feel a tingling right down to his very soul as his heart swelled with so much love for his lover. He could not help feel that way because he knew before him, Dee never did that. And now, only because of Ryo he would. It felt so wonderful to Ryo to know he had that much of Dee. It should have scared him of the depth, but now that he had allowed the last of his walls to crumble and had opened himself to Dee, all it did was reaffirm why he had done so in the first place, leaving no doubt in his mind and heart how Dee felt about him. That made him feel so happy he could cry from the intensity.

He shook his head. No, crying would not do either. He glanced over at Dee, realizing he had lost a little of his momentum. Dee was placing his coffee mug down and reaching for his cigarette again, his eyes on Ryo with a smug look on his face.

`Oh no you don't,' Ryo thought. `I'm going to get you.' His smile was almost a leer. He rested his arms on the table and leaned forward. In a husky voice, he said, “I never thought you capable of blushing until we made love. It's adorable.” His smile widened as he got the results he wanted.

Dee sighed as he looked away, almost ready to stand up. “Damn you.” He put out his cigarette and ran that hand through his dark hair, pushing some of the long bangs away from his face. “I mean, holy shit, Ryo. You have no idea of all the emotions I'm dealing with here.” He looked back at Ryo and shook his head again, looking almost shy. “I… I never felt like this for anyone before. And it's so strong, like I'm being pulled along a current. But I don't want it to stop. I'm willingly giving into those currents because I know where it's leading me. Except I'm realizing that I have some things to think about that I've never considered before. I knew what I was feeling when I chased after you, but now having you, knowing you love me too.” He shrugged and gave Ryo a lopsided smile. “There's things I never thought I'd have to consider, that I am. What we have means that much to me.”

Ryo was still leaning forward and reached out to take one of Dee's hands in his. “You mean… are you saying that there's actually a place in that wicked body of yours that can be considered virgin of sorts?”

“Fuck you, Ryo!” Dee growled, but the telling streak across his face belied his words.

Ryo's eyes opened wide in surprise as Dee's entire face flushed. Ryo got more than his tingling sensation as he got more of a reaction from Dee than he expected. He felt a jolt shoot right down to his groin and his pants felt tighter.

“Oh my- Dee! Stop!” he groaned, unable to tear his eyes from his lover's face.

“Then you stop making me.” Dee was pouting now.

Ryo had to laugh at the irony of it. “I'd love to, but I can't.”

“Huh?”

“Because you are so cute and adorable when you do that. And sexy, and…. you make me want to crawl right across this table and have my way with you.”

Dee's eyes popped open wide. “Don't you dare do that to me, Ryo!” he groaned, his eyes darkening with passion.

“What? Have my way with you? Like you would complain.” He laughed again. He was having so much fun.

“I wouldn't,” Dee agreed with a smile. The smile changed, to match the look burning in his eyes. “But if you keep doing that, then I'm gonna get teased from everyone when I suddenly take up blushing all the time.” He winked at Ryo.

Well, Ryo was still enjoying himself, even if he did lose his advantage when his face turned red with a deep blush. He had to laugh along with Dee. “Dee, what time is it?”

Dee frowned a little and looked at his watch, after his eyes glanced at the watch on Ryo's wrist. “It's 12:30,” he replied.

“Good.” Ryo released Dee's hand and stood up, stretching.

Dee watched as his lover walked over to him. He looked up at the man now standing before him with that look in his eyes that he loved. Dee immediately knew what that meant. “Thought you were going to crawl across the table?” he asked, leaning back in his chair, his green eyes smoldering, having an idea of what will happen next.

“Smart ass,” Ryo muttered, sitting in Dee's lap, not disappointing Dee. “Especially since I'm still going to have my way with you.”

“Hot damn! A two-fer! Let's go!” Dee's arms tightened around Ryo as his mouth sought out Ryo's. He smiled as Ryo let out a moan when his mouth opened to allow Dee's probing tongue entrance.

*** *** ***

“Uhhh, Ryo?” Dee asked, picking his head up from his lover's chest. They were stretched out on Dee's couch, still unable to move after the latest round. Ryo was just incredible. What came over him the night before to even insinuate that he had his limits of having Ryo? There was no too much. He traced a lazy finger across Ryo's chin. It was worth two years of no sex. In the last two weeks, he probably had more sex than he had in all the years before. Okay, maybe not, but it felt damn close. He knew he never got it so many times in a day, day after day. His smile grew as his eyes fixed on Ryo's staring deeply into his lover's dark eyes, feeling himself becoming lost in those eyes. It was more than sex. As down and dirty as they sometimes got, there was always love. Dee never experienced this before and it overwhelmed him each time he and Ryo made love.

“Hmmm….” Ryo asked lazily, still half drifting off.

“That was supposed to be your turn to pull away,” Dee pointed out with a smile.

Ryo opened an eye and turned his head to glare at Dee. “So the next two times will be me,” he said.

Dee laughed. He laughed so hard, he started to wipe the tears from his eyes. He laughed so hard he dropped his head on Ryo's chest, enjoying the vibrating feeling from the rumbling caused by Ryo's chuckle. He lifted his head and moved so he was straddling Ryo, leaning down over him. “Okay, so we start working on the 1-out-of-3 rule tomorrow.” He bent his head to take Ryo's mouth in a long, lazy kiss as Ryo placed his hands around Dee's neck. With a sigh, he pulled up and sat back. Ryo's hands moved to his hips and for a few seconds as he gazed up into Dee's eyes, something wicked flickered in the dark orbs below him.

Ryo let out a groan of frustration. “I suppose we should reheat lunch and go over the case,” he said.

Dee nodded. Their eyes met. Ryo shook himself and pushed Dee off him. “C'mon. Damned if we're going to be explaining to Rose and Chief tomorrow that we never showed up because we can't keep our hands off each other.” He got up to his feet and looked down at Dee now on the floor where he landed from the push.

Dee looked up at him with a smile. “Ask me, I'd say that was your two turns.”

“Thought we were starting tomorrow?”

“Just to let you know we're starting even.” He accepted Ryo's hand to get to his feet.

As Dee poured them more coffee while Ryo waited for the rest of their lunch to reheat in the microwave, Ryo looked thoughtful.

“What's on your mind, baby?” Dee asked.

“Oh… ummm…”

“Uh oh…”

“What?”

“Lately when you start off with that, it means we'll end up taking another tumble.”

Ryo shook his head. “Not this time. We really need to use the rest of our time going over that epic folder over there and make sure we're waiting for Rose with some time to spare.”

“I guess. Anyway, I still want to know what you're thinking. Especially if it doesn't have anything to do with sex.”

Ryo blushed, glaring at Dee. “Like you want to know about anything that doesn't have to do with sex.”

“Oh but I do,” Dee said with a wink, then busied himself pouring coffee into their mugs. “I love to hear about anything that has to do with you loving me.” He turned his head back to Ryo and winked again, then blew him a kiss.

“I love you, Dee.”

“Love you too,” Dee replied, placing their coffee on the table sitting down. “So what's on your mind?”

“Well, I guess it has a little to do with that,” Ryo admitted, blushing slightly.

“Loving me?”

“That too,” Ryo agreed with a smile, turning toward the microwave when it beeped. He busied himself taking Dee's plate out and setting it before his lover, then placed his plate in the microwave.

“Oh, I see,” Dee said slowly, smiling with that predatory way of his.

“I have a confession,” Ryo said.

“Really?” Dee raised an eyebrow. “Now I'm really curious. Just don't tell me I wasn't your first and you can confess anything to me.”

Ryo laughed a little. “Don't worry. You were definitely the first man I slept with. You branded me, okay? I might as well get your signature tattooed on my ass, because it belongs only to you.”

Dee's lips curled into a soft, warm smile, deep green eyes sparkling. “Oh yeah? That means I'll have to sign it, huh?” His smile widened. “I love you too, Ryo.”

Ryo blushed again. `What he does to me,' Ryo thought. He was still shocked as he discovered something else of this side of himself that he had kept repressed all these years. It took Dee's love to bring it out. He could see in Dee's eyes, each time he showed it to his lover, it was like a gift. He loved to make Dee smile like that, to make his eyes glimmer. To hear him moan….

Ryo shook his head. He gave Dee a shaky smile. `Get it under control,' he warned himself.

He concentrated on Dee's face. “Well, if you didn't figure it out yet, you will soon enough. Yes, I had to take some time to come to terms on how I felt about you after that first time. It was too overwhelming and I was still a little afraid because I know what I felt in here.” Ryo pointed to his heart. “I wasn't playing chicken, or hiding, Dee. I was preparing myself for what I knew we both wanted. I knew the next time we made love, I was going to tell you that I loved you. We both deserved nothing less.”

“Okay. I understand that now. I'll admit, I wasn't seeing it for those three long weeks. But after that second time, I knew why you waited. I understand even more as the days went by. Geez, Ryo, we've become fuck bunnies.” He chuckled softly, his eyes animated.

Ryo laughed, his face flushing more. “Exactly what I'm getting at. You see, I actually came to terms with everything a week later, but decided to hold off.”

“Hold off? Why?” Dee was frowning.

“Because I had an idea of what we would be like. Well, only an idea. I didn't foresee this. But don't let me get off track here. I knew once I said those words to you, we'd become a couple. I also knew we needed some `us' time for ourselves and not have to worry about Bikky until we spent some time alone. Months ago I signed Bikky up for his annual go away to camp for a month. I knew if I waited another two weeks, we'd have a month with no worrying about Bikky and just concentrating on establishing us. That's why I waited until the day after Bikky left to make my move on you. But now I'm thinking I should have talked you into us taking some time off too.” He smiled shyly at Dee, a slight blush coloring his cheeks.

“Yeah,” Dee said, his eyes fixed on Ryo's face, a lopsided look on his own. “Maybe then we could have made it into work on time by the time we returned.” Dee's eyes widened for a moment as the impact of Ryo's confession hit him. He sat back in his chair as the microwave signified that Ryo's food was ready. He watched Ryo, his mind going back to that day - from the moment Ryo appeared on the roof up until the morning after. “Holy shit!” he laughed. “I wasn't expecting it from you, so I didn't see it until now. You were seducing me that day, you damn rat. Right down to wining and dining me, a romantic stroll and….” Dee laughed again, running his hand through his hair. “Sheesh. All my moves, but I didn't see it coming from you.”

“Well shit, Dee!” Ryo snapped. “If it was your moves, how come we waited until I made them?”

Dee looked down. “Because I was afraid. I figured that if you really wanted more of what we shared that first time, you'd let me know. But you didn't.”

“I never came up to you and rejected you either. In fact there were a few nights where there were some heavy make out sessions. I-I had to stop us the way I did because I knew if I didn't, we'd end up rolling on the bed before I was ready. I tried to tell you then, but I couldn't. So I stopped us to make sure the next time we made love, I was able to tell you I loved you.”

“I know. I figured you needed the time. I was giving it to you. But then after three weeks….” Dee took a ragged breath as the pain of that afternoon came back to him. “I started to think that perhaps you were just being your usual kind, sensitive self. That maybe you didn't want that, but didn't want to end our friendship either, and didn't know how to proceed. So by the time you came up onto the roof, I figured to let you off the hook. That's why I kissed you the way I had. I was going to start trying to give up on you, but willing to take whatever you would give me, meaning your friendship.”

“Idiot!” Ryo laughed, sitting down with his food. He took Dee's hand. “You know what? Despite your tough, hard as nails exterior, you really are a hopeless romantic.”

“Only for you, Ryo. I only realized that about myself after I found myself loving you.” He squeezed the hand holding his, then pulled it away to start eating. “You think we can finish our lunch this time?” he asked. “One more go at the microwave and it'll be rubber.”

Ryo leaned back in his seat and laughed, then started to eat himself. He glanced over at Dee, smiling as he watched his lover eat. “You know why I didn't even kiss you for that last week?” Dee shook his head, his eyes going from his plate to Ryo. “Because I didn't trust myself.”

“So you were hot for me, but couldn't say you loved me?”

“Something like that. Well… now that I can be honest, I have to admit I knew I was hot for you since that night I took care of you when you were sick. A part of me had known since then it was only a matter of time - if I had allowed myself to admit it. Then that first time Leo got to me? I was willing to take advantage of my weakness as much as I thought you would. I'm glad you had the sense to stop us then.” He gave Dee a warm, endearing smile that reached his eyes, so full of love. “Another reason to love you more.”

“I-I couldn't,” Dee said softly, drowning in Ryo's dark orbs. “It just didn't feel right. I'd have hated myself after…” He dropped his eyes to the table. “And maybe hated you too.”

Ryo smiled, his heart swelling as he watched Dee. He reached across the table and took Dee's right hand, which rested alongside his plate. “We finally got it right and there's no going back for me, Dee. No regrets. Only love. I love you, Dee.”

Dee looked up and smiled at him. “Yeah. We finally did, didn't we? And I'm still trying to put into words just how wonderful it makes me feel.”

Ryo studied Dee as his lover's long fingers stroked his hand. “I know, Dee. I can feel it, and see it.” He chuckled. “You're so adorable.”

“Aw geez, not again!” Dee said with a little laugh despite his attempt to sound annoyed.

Ryo laughed with Dee, then they went back to finally finish their stretched out lunch.

*** *** ***

As they did the dishes - at Ryo's insistence, because Dee would have left them for a day or two -- Dee asked, “Still want to look over the case and hold our talk until later?”

“Do you?” Ryo asked seriously.

“Whatever you want,” came Dee's reply.

“I did mean it when I said I had to think some things over. I'm hoping to have them somewhat sorted out by the time we get back later tonight.”

“I hope so too.” Dee's eyes fixed on Ryo's staring into his soul. It was what first scared Ryo about Dee, now he could not imagine never sharing his soul through that look. “It's getting redundant to point out how I feel about everyone knowing about us. But I can't stress enough that I understand how you're feeling. Whatever you want is how it will be. You're calling the shot on this.” He dropped his eyes a moment, then lifted them. “Except….”

Ryo discovered Dee's eyes were a passage to his soul and Ryo now had the strength to look deep into them. They already read each other pretty well and had for years. So as Ryo's eyes met Dee's, he knew what was on his loved one's mind. He nodded. “You want to tell Mother, don't you?”

“I don't like keeping things from her. Especially big things. She knows how badly I had wanted this. She'd be thrilled to know we're finally together.”

Ryo handed Dee the last plate, then moved to stand behind him. He wrapped his arms around his lover from behind. Resting his chin on Dee's shoulder, he turned his head to press his lips softly against Dee's. “Mother and Bikky should be the first two. They need to know no matter what else we decide.”

Dee nodded in agreement, reaching a hand around to run his fingers through Ryo's hair. “I figured that too. Anything else is up to you.” He finished drying the plate and set it down on the shelf on a small stack of mismatched plates.

Ryo frowned and, releasing Dee, walked to stand before the large semi-circular window that was the centerpiece of Dee's apartment. It was the single selling point, Dee had said during one of Ryo's early visits. Ryo understood why. It was a nice apartment and if Dee put some serious effort into it, the apartment could be beautiful, if Ryo could to talk him into it. Dee liked his early American Salvation Army décor. Ryo stood with his arms folded and stared out of the window at the view of some of the other buildings nearby, and of the taller buildings of Midtown Manhattan as they loomed in the near horizon.

“What is it, baby?” Dee asked, sensing the change in his lover. He strode over to Ryo.

“You're going to kill me,” Ryo replied in a low voice. “I did a stupid thing before I left the station.” He slapped his forehead. “What was I thinking?” More like I wasn't thinking, but….” He shook his head as he felt Dee approach him.

Arms coming from behind went around his waist and he was pulled to lean against Dee. Ryo leaned his head back to look at his dark haired lover as Dee rested his head on his shoulder. Ryo took both of Dee's hands in his.

“It can't be so bad,” Dee said softly. “This is you we're talking about.” He chuckled warmly, then pressed his face against the side of Ryo's neck.

“Dee, uh…. oh damn! Ted knows,” Ryo confessed, once again blushing, his entire face red.

“Huh?” Dee lifted his head and gazed at Ryo. “Oh, don't worry about him. They probably all suspect something anyway. I mean they sure talked like they knew what was going on about us. It's all talk, speculation, but nothing concrete. If we pull ourselves together, they'd probably keep on teasing us, but that's all. Just teasing us about something they think didn't happen.”

Ryo shook his head. “There's more.”

Dee sighed and pulled Ryo into a loving hug. “Okay. What happened?”

“I told him, Dee. I wasn't planning on it, but when I came into the office to get ready to leave, he was there. He seemed apologetic to me and started to say that he could not help the teasing, but he honestly saw nothing could be between us. He started to talk about how he thinks you've finally given up and found some sweet thing to lay and now you're going back to your old ways. He was being nice and sincere.” Ryo twisted in Dee's arms. “And unknown to him, he was pissing me off worse than when they were taking cheap digs about our speculated love life.” Ryo's eyes were clenched tight. “Just the thought of you with someone other than me pissed me off so much. I didn't want that image in my head. I didn't want the image of me with some woman. I realized then that I can't handle the idea of either of us with someone other than each other. And then as I started to leave, I realized I couldn't stand the thought of someone else thinking you were with someone else and not with me. I couldn't stop myself, Dee. I didn't even take a moment to think about it. I just blurted out to Ted that it was me who took care of your blue balls and will continue to make sure you never have them again. I'm sorry, Dee.”

Dee held Ryo for a minute, letting him calm down, his hands slowly stroking his lover's back in a comforting touch. When Ryo drew a ragged breath and gained some control, he lifted his head. “Dee? Don't you have anything to say?”

Dee nodded, biting his lip. “Yeah, I do. How could I be mad when you just swelled my heart up again with so much love for you?” He leaned down enough to kiss Ryo's sweet lips, now slightly swollen. Keeping his mouth near Ryo's, his eyes meeting the man he loved so much, he tightened his hold, he added, “I meant it when I said I'll never lose you to another man. I should add not to another woman, either. No one, Ryo. You're to have no one but me, because I swear right here and now I'll never have anyone but you. You're it for me. You're my heart, my soul, my life. I'm never going to leave you.”

It was Ryo's turn to tighten the hold as he heard the sob that broke at the end of Dee's declaration. Ryo's eyes were glistening with tears, but he did not care. He noticed Dee's were as well. Tears of purging past pain and tears of love so deep, Ryo wondered, despite Dee's beautiful words, if they ever could find the right words to correctly sum up what they shared.

He met Dee's lips and breathed into the kiss, “No one else but you, Dee. Ever! I love you. More than anything.”

“I love you too, Ryo. Goddamn, how much I love you,” came the response from the man in his arms.

They settled on the couch again, but only to hold each other and kiss for a while until Dee got up to finally get the folder for them to look over the case.

Dee opened the folder while he started to sit, and ended up falling onto the couch, sucking in a harsh breath of air. “That bastard!” he growled, slamming the file shut. Holding it tightly, he placed his arm around Ryo and stated, “When we go in tonight, we're telling Rose that we're not taking this case.”

“C'mon, Dee. Isn't this unreasonable even for you?” Ryo asked, trying to pull the folder from the tight grip Dee had on it.

“No way! It's not happening, Ryo. If I can't bring myself to do it, there's no way in hell you're going to be able to.”

“What the hell are you babbling about?”

“Rose,” Dee snapped. “He knows about us. And he's trying to destroy us while we're in this stage of our relationship.”

“Dee, calm down,” Ryo warned him. “No one's going to destroy us. Not even us. I won't allow it, and I know you feel the same. So stop it and let's see what Rose has for us. Besides, what makes you think he knows about us?”

“Diana could have told him. The bitch couldn't keep her mouth shut.”

“Dee,” Ryo sighed. “If Diana told him, it was most probably in hopes of him getting his mind off me and more onto her. That wouldn't be a bad thing. You, Diana, and I are on the same side here, in case you never noticed. When Diana once called me a romantic rival, I told her flat out I was rooting for her. Diana wants Rose. You do the math. If you and I help her out on that and we succeed, where does it leave us?”

Dee's grin started slow, but spread, curling up and oddly reminding Ryo of the Grinch when he got an awful idea. “Ya know, I never thought of it that way. Probably because I never let myself get past the fact that she kissed me and I wasn't too happy about that. I was less happy about your reaction.”

Ryo found he could now laugh over the incident. “I don't think she was trying to make me jealous or take you for herself. She never saw JJ as competition. I was the rival because of Rose. And you became her bait that day.” When he saw Dee frown, he touched Dee's shoulder. “Now c'mon. If I can find a blessing in it looking back, I'm sure you can. She was not out to make me jealous. It was all for Rose. But my reaction made me start thinking about things. I just said I did not like the idea of anyone else with you. I'm surprised I didn't take that into account when figuring out how we were going to handle this relationship as far as letting others know. Not wanting anyone else with you, even just kissing you, is not a new emotion for me. It's an old one, Dee. It's been there ever since Diana kissed you.”

“Hmmmm…” Dee looked thoughtful. Still making sure he had a tight grip on the folder, he turned a little in Ryo's embrace. “So is that why you jumped JJ today? I mean, since he just got back from being out of town, this was his first attack on me since `we' became `us'.”

Ryo blushed. “Guess so. I didn't put much thought into it. I tried to tell myself it was what I said why. But you're right. JJ will not be jumping you anymore. He doesn't listen to you when you say no, but he'll listen to me once I'm finished with him.”

“Eep!” Dee relaxed into the hold, sinking further against Ryo and enjoying how it felt. “You are a catty bitch when provoked.”

“It seems easy to provoke me these days too. I mean it, Dee. You tell JJ to stop or I will. Believe it or not, you might be more kind about it.”

Dee closed his eyes. “I love this side of you,” he murmured. He opened his eyes and took Ryo's hand. “I mean, I don't want you to change completely. But to see this side of you every now and then is... well, damn, it turns me on so much.”

Ryo chuckled, his fingers entwining with Dee's. “I know what you mean. I've been seeing an interesting side of you showing up lately that absolutely drives me wild.”

Dee looked up at Ryo innocently. “Instant hard-on wild?”

Ryo blushed, but nodded his head as he leaned in to kiss the side of Dee's mouth. “Yes. Definitely.”

Dee started to smile. “So what you're saying is, if I'm in the mood to make love and you're not, all I have to do is blush a little and we'll be making mad, wild love without abandon?”

“That's why I had trouble believing you last night, Dee. There's no such thing as wearing you out, or you being sated. It will always come back to sex with you.”

“That's not true!” Dee yelped indignantly.

“No?” Ryo challenged.

“No. Maybe before that was true. But it's not just sex anymore. Not with the way I feel when we're together. It's making love, joining our souls…. Ommmph!”

As they broke apart from the kiss, desperately trying to draw a breath, Dee grinned. “Was that a turn on too?”

Ryo chuckled. “No. But I discovered a surefire way to stop your verbal diarrhea that you sometimes have a problem with.”

“Why'd you stop me? I was on a roll!” Dee pouted at Ryo.

“Because you were becoming sappy on me again, which always ends up with it turning me on and then….” He quickly reached across Dee and snatched up the folder that Dee had left on the side and forgotten when Ryo started to kiss him. Jumping up and away from Dee, he started to open the folder. “We'd never get onto this case before going into Rose's office. If we make it there at all.”

“Don't say I didn't warn you,” Dee stated, indicating the folder as he lit a cigarette. “I told you how I feel about it.” Dee sat back, smoking his cigarette as he studied Ryo. He watched as Ryo started to frown as he skimmed the preliminary on the case. “Ryo?”

“Huh?” he asked absently.

“I'm sorry about that comment before.”

“Which one?” Ryo looked up at Dee, confused.

“The one about if you weren't in the mood….” Dee flashed a charming, wicked smile at Ryo. “Because I just realized something.”

“What's that?”

“When aren't you in the mood now that we've started?”

“Dee!” Ryo shook his head, his cheeks turning pink.

“Adorable,” Dee chuckled.

“That's my line, Dee,” Ryo said, trying to sound stern, but missing it completely. He flipped a page and continued scanning.

“I'm impotent as far as having sex with anyone else but you,” Dee was continuing. “Hell, I can't even try.” He watched as Ryo's eyes came from reading to meet his. “I can't do this, Ryo. There's no way in hell I can take this case. And if you decide to go ahead without me, there's no way in hell I'm going to let you.”

Ryo let out a sigh and dropped down on the couch next to Dee. “This is bullshit!” was his only reply.

Dee placed his hand behind Ryo's neck and played with the soft, wavy, chestnut brown hair. Dee noted absently the streaks of gold from the summer sun. “We're not taking it,” he said softly. “It has nothing to do with how much I don't trust Rose, or my mixed feelings about Diana. It has to do with us. I just can't do it.”

“No. We're not. I can't either,” Ryo said, then tossed the folder onto the coffee table to pull Dee into his arms. He took the cigarette, which was almost down to the butt, out of Dee's hand and, reaching over to the coffee table, put it out in the ashtray. He turned his attention back to Dee. “We have another hour and a half until we should be getting ready to tell Rose we're not taking the case.”

Dee smiled at Ryo as he climbed onto his lover, opening his shirt slowly, button by button as his mouth kissed the flesh that was exposed inch by inch. Ryo leaned back, his hands roaming across the cotton material of Dee's tee-shirt. When Ryo's shirt was opened and Dee tugged him forward to remove it, Ryo removed his hands from Dee's back and placed them firmly on his chest. “Dee, stop.”

Dee looked at Ryo wide-eyed. “But you just said…”

“Yes, I did. But I'm getting tired of this.” As he watched Dee frown a little, confusion in his eyes, he let out a soft chuckle and leaned forward to kiss Dee's jaw, then touched his lips to Dee's pouting ones. “Why is it that every time we do this, you always end up overdressed until the last minute?”

Dee's mouth dropped open. “You want my clothes off first this time?”

“For starters, yes.”

Dee leaned the small distance to take Ryo's mouth into a deep, fiery kiss before pulling back and jumping to his feet. “Well, if it's a nekkid Dee you're lusting for, be careful what you wish for.” He grinned as he began to hum a raunchy song, starting to do a slow bump and grind strip for Ryo.

Ryo seemed to sink further into the pillows of the couch, his eyes transfixed on Dee. His dark orbs were glazed and smothering as his breathing quickened. “Oh shit…” Ryo moaned in appreciation. Not exactly what he was planning, but he was far from complaining. He quickly filed the thoughts going through his mind about dealing with Dee somewhere that he would be able to remember them later. Much later. At the moment, thought seemed impossible, except on how sexy and beautiful Dee's body was, noting with pleasure how his muscles rippled in response to his movements, and what that body would be doing to him soon. By the time Dee draped his nude, muscular body over Ryo's, Ryo had lost track of which numbered time this was. Thankfully he did not forget everything, as he lifted his hand toward the end table to fumble around and retrieve the lubrication from earlier before, handing it to Dee.

A/N: Just a few things to know as this story goes on. I'll add more notes as needed.

First off I want to thank the two who actually took the time to give a real review. I don't mind if someone doesn't like what I write, but geez, give constructive reasons - everything else will be ignored. And flames? I'm not afraid of fire. In fact, flames amuse me. So you'll just make me laugh.

TBF Notes:

First FAKE fic, but I'm writing these sexy hunks as I read them. It takes place right after #7, and follows the trials and tribulations that both Ryo and Dee find themselves going through at the first stages of their relationship. Some are expected and they were prepared to handle and some - well, some unexpected issues come up for both to deal with.

Some things I think need mention:

*** SPOILERS! SPOILERS! SPOILERS! ***

Lots of references to things from all 7 volumes. So if you did not finish the series and don't want to know, don't read this fic yet.

1 - I'm going by the English version of the manga, so I'm using the last names spelled as Laytner and MacLean.

2 - This is an AU arc, because the events in “Like, Like Love” will not be in the future of this arc.

3 - Bikky is still away at summer camp as what Ryo mentioned when Dee asked about Bikky and Carol. He'll come back from camp later in the series (do I foresee more problems for Ryo and Dee? Hee hee…)

4 - For some, I realize that Ryo might be slightly OOC, but believe me - I spent lots of time studying facial expressions and body signs in the way Sanami Matoh drew him during certain of the more entertaining panels. The one panel that most stands out in my mind is the one from #5 *spoiler* -- when Dee is pushing Ryo away.

5 - On that note, it's been shown that Dee will push Ryo away when he feels just reason (not too many reasons, but… ).

6 - If I forgot anything, let me know. Okay - that's interpreted as, if you notice something weird or OOC other than what I mentioned above, tell me here or write me privately and let me know.

And most important of all - THANKS for reading this.

Gena