One on One
Ryan/Esposito fluff
By Pendragon
Basketball. The perfect stress reliever, and something Ryan and Esposito loved to play on warm days after work. It was on one such day that they kissed for the fist time. The game had started out normally, one on one, Esposito guarding Ryan as he went up for a slam dunk. Ryan missed the shot, cursed good naturedly and wiped his face on his already sweat stained grey tee shirt, grinning happily. This little flash of pale skin made Esposito's heart beat faster, and he had to take a few deep breaths before Ryan noticed his flustered state. "Hey, Javi…you ready?" Ryan's words snapped Esposito back to reality and he hid his nerves behind a cocky grin. Esposito spun the ball on his finger, mocking his friend. "Right back at you, Bro!" They tussled for a few seconds before Esposito broke away, taking a shot from the top of the key and sinking it. "And the crowd goes wild!!!" The triumphant man pumped his fists in the air, eliciting a smile from Ryan. They played a few more rounds before deciding to take a short water break in the grass next to the court. The two cops sat in silence for a few minutes, savoring the warm air and fresh, late spring grass tickling their legs. Talk turned to past games they had played, and soon, they were playfully trying to one-up one another. At one point, Esposito punctuated his insults with a soft shove to Ryan's shoulder, sending the giggling detective sprawling in the grass, shirt rucked up around his torso. Esposito's breath caught in his throat and before he knew it, he was supporting himself on one hand, the other holding Ryan's head up so that their lips could meet. The kiss only lasted a few seconds, and when they parted, Esposito stared into his friend's piercing blue eyes, seeking approval. It came a second later when Ryan roughly pulled the other man back down, hands combing through Esposito's short hair. When next they broke for air, Esposito sat up, resting one hand on his knee and one on Ryan's. A happy feeling coursed through him, intensified when Ryan sat up as well and rested his head on Esposito's shoulder. They sat together like that for awhile before a small breeze whipped up. Wordlessly, Esposito stood up and gathered their gear up before offering his hand to Ryan. He took it, pulling himself up off the grass, and letting his fingers linger on Esposito's for a few seconds longer than necessary as he did. They set off together, shoulder to shoulder, towards the parking lot, hands brushing occasionally, but neither man was brave enough to take hold and intertwine their fingers together just yet.
