Warnings: This fic will contain scenes of violence and scenes of sex. This means lemon, ppl! So now you're fore-warned. Enjoy! ^_^
Love Under Fire
By Dementia_12 & Shara
An old ragged man with grizzled grey hair and steely eyes, leaned up against the wall of a small but busy bar. Near his feet lay a rumpled old hat. The mournful sounds of his harmonica drifted through the stale night air. A small crowd had gathered nearby to listen to the soulful songs.
Two men walked side by side down the litter-covered street. As they approached the bar one of the two drifted over to the crowd. He had shoulder length chestnut hair. His wide eyes looked dark in the odd colored light from the neon sign hanging in the bar window. A faint smile touched his weary face as he watched the elderly musician play. When the song ended he turned to the man he had been walking with. "Wasn't that lovely?" He asked pulling out some change from his pockets.
The musician never stopped playing he simply nodded his thanks to Ryo, the barest of smiles visible in his eyes. Ryo's companion bobbed his head in agreement. With a final smile for the harmonica player Ryo followed his handsome dark-haired friend into the bar.
Dance music thrummed through the air as Ryo let his friend Dee led him through the throng. Small though it was, the bar was packed with people. Lights spun and shimmered over the dancers as the two cops pushed their way through to a relatively quiet booth in the back of the bar.
They had barely settled into the red plush vinyl when a waitress approached them with a sultry smile. "Hi, my name's Sheila and I'll be your waitress for this evening. What can I get you, gentlemen?"
Ryo picked up the menu and began to scan it while Dee grinned at the waitress and leaned towards her. "I'll have an Asahi beer. It's number #1 in all Japan, you know."
Sheila's smile widened. She didn't normally encourage guys when she worked, but this was by far the most handsome man she had met thus far! "Yes, I know, sir."
"You can call me Dee, Sheila." He winked at her while Ryo was still pouring over his choices. She couldn't help but let out a giggle and agree, practically purring his name now.
Ryo heard the high-pitched laugh and raised his head from his menu with suspicion. He sighed as he saw Dee effortlessly charm the waitress with a flirtatious smile. He couldn't take Dee anywhere. He saw Dee looking at him, as if in wait. "Nani?"
"Man, are you going to keep poor Sheila, whose been working all day," he gestured towards her with a wave of his hand in her direction, "waiting, or are you going to order?"
"Oh! Well, I...Gomen.." Ryo stumbled over his words but Dee just shook his head at him and smiled. Turning towards their waitress, he ordered Ryo a beer and Sheila left with a nod and a smile.
There was a moment of quiet between them as Dee stretched his arms high above him, causing a snapping sound of bones popping back into place. He groaned and then rested them on the back of the booth.
"I didn't want a beer, you know.", Ryo murmured as he gazed at the gyrating dancers on the rotating silver dance floor.
"Ne, Ryo. You never know what you want."
"Nani?!" Ryo blinked in surprise at the serious tone and looked at Dee.
"And you were taking too long! Sheila would've been waiting forever while you wondered if you want a Sprite or Coca-Cola. And don't forget the bendy straw!"
Ryo's eyebrows lowered in anger. "What are you mocking me for?"
Dee leaned towards his partner and looked at him straight in the eye. "I'm not mocking you. It's the truth."
"What the hell --" Ryo started but Dee moved his whole body in closer, resting a hand on Ryo's leg.
"You need to live a little.", he whispered confidently into Ryo's ear before catching Ryo's soft lips with his own.
It was very tempting to lean into that kiss. But Ryo forced himself not to respond. He was tired, upset, and more than a little confused. Pushing Dee away far enough to look into his friend's eyes, Ryo vibrated with frustration. "Why do you always have to push me? Have you ever considered, that I might want to make my own choices?"
Dee sighed and settled back into the seat. Shaking his head Dee gave Ryo a long look. His face was set with grim determination. Painful as this topic was, they had to talk about this if they were ever going to become something more than they currently were. "I can't wait forever while you are trying to make up your mind, Ryo."
"Nani?! You can't wait forever? Don't make me laugh." Ryo made a strangled noise. His face and voice held a note of bitterness. Inside his chest it felt like his heart was about to pound itself to pieces. Tears stung at his eyes. He closed them tight so that Dee wouldn't see how confused and hurt he felt. "You've never waited. Nor have you given me the chance to choose for myself. "
Inside Ryo was seething. Dee's points had come too close to the truth. Damn, why did that man have to be right. "I have to get away from here and go somewhere I can think about all of this." He thought to himself as he stood and pushed the table forward just enough so that he could slip past Dee. As he came face to face with his friend, he sighed. "You should have let me chose. My choice might have surprised you."
Instinctively Dee grabbed Ryo's arms and pulled his partner into an embrace. He felt Ryo's whole body stiffen at the touch. He might as well have been holding wood. Ryo's eyes had a touch of wildness in them. Dee closed his eyes against the look in those beautiful orbs. He hadn't meant for it to come to this. He just needed Ryo so much. "Please don't leave. Not yet."
Someone was walking past the booth they were in. Whatever Ryo was going to say was lost as the man's expressive eyes went wide. "Shanglar." He whispered in a soft voice as his eyes followed the path that the stranger took. "Dee, isn't that the chief suspect of the Lang case? They've been looking all over for that man."
Turning his head slowly so it wouldn't be too obvious, Dee looked over at the person in question. Dee took in his appearance quickly.
A Caucasian man, about 5'9, in an expensive navy blue business suit walked passed them and stood a moment to talk to the bartender. Short brown hair and blue eyes, he looked like a typical Wall Street kid and preppy as hell. He also looked physically fit, but slim. Shanglar seemed like the ideal Mister Nice Guy and Dee wondered if he could take him one-on-one. He finally turned his head back and nodded to Ryo.
"That's our boy, alright."