by Macx and Lara Bee
R-rated version (for FFNet specifically)
all NC17-material has been cut down.
ATTN: FAKE is a shonen-ai/yaoi manga, therefor I do not cut the scene right before the kiss. These guys do kiss and I do NOT believe a kiss between men is NC-17! If anyone has a problem with the men touching and kissing (aka lime....), please let me know before flaming the heck out of me. I will take the story down the moment someone objects to the scenes in here.
The full version will eventually be hosted on my site. Check teh profile for the link.
Thank you.
Macx
DISCLAIMER: FAKE belongs to Sanami Matoh and whoever else claims them. We don't. We just play with them a little. No money made, honestly!
Author's Voice of Warning (aka Author's Note):
English is not our first language; it's German. This is the best we can do. Any mistakes you find in here, collect them and you might win a prize g> The spell-checker said everything's okay, but you know how trustworthy those thingies are.....
WARNINGS:
#1 tiny little crossover with another AU of ours called Denuo (it's a The Magnificent 7 AU). Two characters appear, but you don't have to know them to enjoy the story. They're there to help explain #2
#2 the story deals with the paranormal
#3 we ignore the events of Volume 7 completely!!! This AU starts BEFORE they get together.
#4 Berkely Rose was translated as Ross Barclay in the German version of Fake and we like the name a lot better, so we go with it. Sorry to you all, but you have to live with that ;)
#5 there will be more in this universe (which we call Veritas, if anyone's interested) g>
TYPE: yaoi
RATING: NC-17
PAIRING: Dee/Ryo
STATUS: done, chapters posted as beta progresses
FEEDBACK: empty inbox seeks emails g>
Part I – True Lies
It was one of those days.
Get up, shower, shave, wonder about breakfast, then go and buy something
at the deli on the way to work. Three coffees later you're still not awake,
but you really need to open your eyes and make that sludge you call a brain
work.
Dee Latener hated stake-outs with a vengeance. Usually they were boring,
a waste of time, and company was dreadful. Well, this time company had
been more than wonderful. A stake-out with his partner Ryo McLane had some
good points. While keeping an eye on the building they had been observing,
Dee had also observed the handsome man sharing the non-descript car with
him. Despite the cool weather, Dee had felt warm and his body had reacted
with little thrills, his fingers itching to touch the other man. He wanted
to kiss him, warm his cool lips, hold him, run his hands along those slender
limbs and the smooth skin.
All that was impossible on a serious stake-out and despite his sometimes
flippant attitude, Dee knew this was important. They had been after a wanted
murderer for weeks now and an informant had told them he usually hung out
here. Usually hadn't included last night. It had truly been a waste of
time, but luckily no new body had been found that bore his signature.
Still, having Ryo so close, the object of his affection, his obsession
and his love, had made him want to break the rules and just kiss him into
a puddle. And he knew he could do it. Ryo's reaction to his kisses was
mind-blowing. Dee loved kissing his partner, loved the way the lithe body
stiffened, then relaxed into the contact, until Ryo kissed him back, fingers
clutching and holding him.
Shit, he had it bad for him. So bad that he had been chasing after
the man for close to two years by now. Ryo was always pushing him away
and Dee had no idea why. Sure, the other man was a virgin when it came
to male love, but he wasn't averse to it. He had kissed him in turn, he
had touched him, had sought his presence, but there had never been anything
else.
Running a hand through his unruly, black hair, Latener trudged through
the precinct, wondering as always what it was that held his partner back.
Ryo wanted him. He really did. He had felt the evidence of his desire,
but why didn't he just let himself fall? What was he afraid of?
Dee heard a small gasp, followed by an exclamation of surprise, and
turned his head to see what had caused the little ruckus. The tall, dark
haired guy that had entered the office and was currently speaking to Halliwell
couldn't be the reason, so what … ?
The next second Dee knew just what was going on as yellow, canine eyes
regarded him warily, and this time he gasped.
"Detective McLane is not available at the moment, sir, but you could
talk to his partner, Detective Latener," Dee heard Halliwell say and looked
up slowly, carefully as not to alert the large gray dog…? More of a wolf
it was, though the animal was wearing a red collar.
"Detective Latener? Dee Latener?"
He knew that voice …
"Buck? Buck Wilmington?" he blurted, eyes wide as he took in the tall,
dark-haired man.
"The one and only."
Of course he was the one and only. There was no one like Buck Wilmington
anywhere. No one who could get close. Six feet, broad shoulders, narrow
waist and long legs made up the man who he hadn't seen in years. The dark
brown hair showed no signs of graying, though Buck had to be in his forties
by now. His face was sun tanned, dimples showing as he grinned, teeth flashing.
He was dressed in jeans and a long-sleeve t-shirt, a leather jacket completing
the casual outfit.
"Shit, man!" Dee exclaimed. "Where did you come from?"
Buck laughed and Dee found himself embraced in one of Buck's famous
bear hugs he knew from long ago.
"Latener, you old hound dog!"
The dog woofed slightly, and he let go of the other man immediately.
"It's okay," Buck said quietly, "he's a friend."
The dog tilted his head, ears flicking, and Dee found himself the center
of the large canine's attention, being sniffed thoroughly.
"That looks a lot like a wolf," he said, feeling a bit nervous.
"Half. The wolf genes are dominant. He's tame and trained, and
I have permission. Wanna see, Detective?"
Dee shook his head, smiling, and dared to let his fingers wander behind
the dog's ears, starting to scratch after he had been thoroughly sniffed.
He was rewarded with a snort of pure pleasure.
"No, I believe you. He's beautiful."
"That he is. Hey, you've already won his heart."
"What's his name?"
The dog sneezed and Buck scratched his head. "Not that he listens to
it, but the fur ball's called Blue."
"Blue?"
Buck shrugged. "Don't ask me. He came with the name when I got him."
The dog woofed softly, shooting Buck a look as if he was scolding him.
Dee smiled. "So, what are you doing here, Buck?"
"Me and my pal here came to talk to Detective McLane. It's a case."
He shrugged. "Something he worked on a while back."
"Uh, Ryo's already in, as far as I know. He's upstairs."
He jerked a thumb toward the stairs leading to the fourth floor that
was home to their office.
"I'll show you."
Buck nodded. "'S appreciated. So, how are you doing? Last I heard you
transferred to New York. Lost track of you since."
Dee smiled. "I could say the same."
The dog trotted up ahead of them, earning curious looks as they made
their way to the fourth floor.
"Well, I ended up in criminalistics."
Dee stared at him. "Buck Wilmington? One of the nerd squad?"
Wilmington chuckled. "Yes, believe it or not. Hey, I can put my college
degree to use. Finally."
"Blowing up some stuff?" Dee teased.
Wilmington had a degree in chemistry and he had been an explosive expert
ever since Dee could remember.
Almost ten years, he mused. Ten years since he had last seen the man.
"Naw. Sometimes, yes, but mostly it's lab work. I know you'd hate it."
"To each his own. So when did you leave the force and become a science
geek?"
Buck smiled. "Back in '95. You remember Chris Larabee?" At Dee's nod
he continued. "Chris was the first to accept a position with the CSI. He
asked me a year later if I'd be interested. Well, took me a few weeks to
think about it, but then I said yes. Best decision I ever made, Dee." Buck's
voice had grown more serious.
"So, where are you now?"
"Salt Lake City."
"The Beehive State?"
Buck grinned. "Yep. Chris is actually my boss now. We work the graveyard
shift."
"Man, things I never considered possible." Dee shook his head with
mock horror. "So, you guys are working a case that's got something to do
with Ryo's?"
"Apparently. His name came up and Chris asked me to come here and talk
to the detective in person. So here I am."
"Here you are indeed." Dee smiled, happy to have his old friend and
colleague in the precinct, even if he had brought a big dog along that
looked like a wolf. "Here we are."
He opened the door to the shared office and found Ryo just like predicted.
His partner looked slightly tired, but a lot more awake than Dee had felt
until a few minutes ago. The dog bounded in and over to Ryo, giving him
a curious sniff. Ryo's eyebrows rose as he took in the canine and their
visitor.
"Morning, Ryo. Someone here to talk to you about an old case. Buck
Wilmington, that's my partner, Randy McLane. Ryo, an old friend of mine
from way back when."
Buck stretched out his hand and Ryo shook it. "Buck Wilmington, CSI
Salt Lake."
McLane nodded. "You called," he said, shaking the outstretched hand.
"I collected my case notes. They're in the evidence room."
Dee settled back, watching the two men. The dog was simply looking
around, sniffing places, coming back to Ryo to nudge his hand. Ryo immediately
scratched his head. Dee smiled.
"How about you get your stuff and we meet for dinner tonight?" Latener
asked. "Or are you leaving today?"
Buck smiled. "No, actually we're staying. Do you mind if I bring someone
along?"
Dee's brows climbed. "Blue?"
"Nope, colleague of mine. Name's Vin Tanner."
At the name, Blue started to wag his tail as if he knew exactly who
Buck was talking about. He probably was. Dee shrugged.
"Sure."
"Okay. Detective McLane and I'll see about the case notes and the evidence
first. What time tonight?"
"Seven?"
"Great. Detective?" Buck looked at the other man.
"Yes?" Ryo blinked, slightly flustered.
"The evidence room?"
"Basement."
Buck groaned theatrically. "I knew it was wrong to go all the way up
here."
"That way you keep in shape," Dee teased.
Buck flipped him the bird as he followed Ryo out the door. Dee just
laughed and settled back into his chair. Well, the day had just gotten
better. Now he just had to convince Ryo to come along tonight to make it
a date.
Dee grinned slyly.
Date.
Yep, that sounded just fine.
The rest of the day proceeded as always. Dee tried to make a dent in
his paperwork, called some people, received more calls, had to go out and
meet a contact, and finally closed two cases that had been driving them
mad for a month now. Ryo had spent a lot of time with Buck, but Dee hadn't
really inquired into what case his old friend had wanted to discuss. He
knew that some cases were sensitive and for Wilmington to come to New York,
this one had been such a case.
"How about you join us tonight?" he asked his partner as they had their
coffee break, Dee perching on the other man's table.
Ryo glanced at him from over his glasses. Latener had to swallow a
grin. Ryo looked adorable with his glasses, which he only wore for computer
work, and he wanted nothing more than to push them back onto his nose,
then kiss him. He refrained from doing both.
"He's your friend, Dee. I don't think it's okay to just barge in."
"You're not barging and he's got his partner along, too. I think it'll
be fun. C'mon, Ryo…"
Ryo leaned back and took off the glasses, the brown eyes thoughtful.
"Are you sure I'm not interrupting? You two haven't seen each other in
ages. You've got some catching up to do."
"Positive."
Another long look and Dee felt a bit antsy now.
"What?"
"How close were you back then?"
Latener stared at him, surprised by the question. "He was my first
partner when I got out of the Academy. I was a rookie, he was already on
the force…"
"Were you lovers?"
Dee's eyes widened, his eyebrows shot up, and he spluttered. "What?!"
"Buck mentioned something like it. Not the very words, but he implied
it." Ryo's voice was very calm and there wasn't even a hint of a blush.
"Ryo, I…" Dee hung his head and chuckled ruefully. Buck had never been
able to keep his big mouth shut. "Yes, we were together. He was my first,
if ya haveta know. It was… nothing serious. We had some fun, but that was
it. We parted as good friends and I got transferred to a new precinct."
Ryo's expression hadn't changed and Dee felt desperation rise inside
him.
"Ryo, it's not like he came here for that, okay? I didn't even know
he would come. I was just as surprised as the next person. He was here
because of your case, not me personally. And it's over. It's been over
for nearly ten years!"
He slid off the table and leaned over his partner, gazing intently
into the handsome face.
"I'm only interested in one person," he whispered.
Ryo's eyes softened, as they usually did, the liquid chocolate brown
drawing him in, devouring him without physical contact. Dee touched one
smooth cheek, running a thumb over his partner's lips; lips he had kissed
so many times before.
Lips he intended to kiss again.
Lips he now touched with his own.
The contact was tentative until Ryo opened up without Dee having to
coax him the slightest bit. Their tongues met in an affectionate dance
until Dee felt the other man pull back, so he let him go. Still, the flushed
skin told him just what effect he had had.
"Just you," he murmured.
Ryo reached up and touched the hand still cupping his face, never breaking
eye contact.
"Come with me tonight?" Dee murmured, pleading.
"Okay," was the soft reply.
Dee smiled. "Thanks."