I'm sure this is really sloppy, I kind of have an idea of where I want it to go, (SMUT!) but I'm having a difficult time with rhetoric and transitioning. Anyone wanting to give ideas/beta would be appreciated.
"Even after four years he still makes me nervous. Why? Why? Because he finishes my thoughts for me? Because I can't hide anything from him? Because in every inflection of my facial movements he see's my feelings before even I can work them out? I hate this.
Why is he standing here in my kitchen at midnight? Looking at me this way. I need to look away. Look away, Emily, look away because he's reading you right now. Fuck!" Em thought desperately
"I'm hungry." David Rossi announced. "and now he's ravaging my refrigerator? Always, like he owns the place. With that rebellious, so-sue-me demeanor."
"Um. Help yourself?" I sound... unsure?
"Panini's? I make a fabulous panini. Italian's, we are great cooks." Rossi started pulling ingredients from Emily's fridge.
"Emily," "God the way he says that...my name.. the hint of worry." She acknowledged him calmly with a nod. "You should keep fresh tomatoes, you can't make any good Italian food without fresh tomatoes." "He's edging around something. Well of course, why else would he be here at midnight if it weren't something?" Her skin was tingling, calm and frantic all at once.
"So I've been told." by my boyfriend who really doesn't need to drive by and see your car here, "um. Ross, what's..." I can't bring myself to ask what this is about.. Pull it together, Em. Offer to help. Be normal.
He stopped and looked at Emily, smiling only slightly at the use of her nickname for him, and hiding it quickly. "What's what?" he boldly asks, staring in her eyes, daring her to lie. "Of course I have a nickname for him.. David isn't a proper name for him. David is so ordinary. There are millions of Davids, but only one Ross. Didn't his mother know that?"
"Nothing... Here let me help." breathe, turn on the oven. Emily felt like she was starting to boil on the inside... slow rolling…
"Just a hint of that cologne. Just a hint of it. It drives me crazy. What the hell is he edging around about? Oh shit, where is that box? In the drawer where I keep the spare keys and superglue... Shit did I just look at the drawer? Did he see? Does he know? No he doesn't know... How could he know? Ty and Ross don't speak... But then Ross always knows everything. Fuck, he probably knows. If he knows I can't... I simply cannot speak to him about it. Not Ross. Oh god... Breathe. help slice the old tomatoes" . Rolling, on the inside, bubbling, like water on the stove.
Rossi walked into the living room and grabbed the remote control for the whole-house surround-sound music player and turned on her Etta James Pandora channel, then came back with a slight dance in his step.
"Are you drunk?" Em asked as she realized in mild shock that this was not Rossi. "Maybe."
I wanna make your bread
To make sure you're well fed
I don't want you sad and blue
I just wanna make love to you..
The jazz trumpet seemed to fill every empty space in the house and suffocate the awkward silences.
Emily couldn't help but giggle a little at him. Dancing and cooking in my kitchen, drunk at midnight. What the hell is happening? I don't care. Stop over thinking it, Em. Just go with it. But I can't! She argued with herself. I need to know why he is here! I want him here.. I think? I just don't know.. I don't know… Where is that box? I can't think like this…
Rossi put the sandwiches in the oven, then quickly scanned the counter tops until he found the wine. "Merlot? I would have guessed you as a Cabernet drinker." He started rummaging through the drawers for a cork screw.
"I am. I drank it all before bed 5 hours ago." She smiled and shook her head. Of course he'd guess my drink.
"Cabernet. Yes. Bitter and biting, like you take everything else. Can't even enjoy a sweet drink. It's the job. Everything is the job.
Wears flannel pants and her academy tshirt to bed? That little snake doesn't come over during the week I guess. Good. Fuck him."Rossi thoughts were racing.
He's been taking an inventory of every detail he can rake in, foggy mind or not. Training dictates his mind doesn't rest.
"She works 90 hour work weeks but the house is pristinely clean. She has insomnia. That's why she drinks before bed. Or it's to ward off some demon.
There isn't much food in the refrigerator. She doesn't keep up on outside tasks like grocery shopping. Work and home, work and home."Rossi smiled to himself as he played with pleasure at the idea of Tyler not coming over during the week.
"What's so funny?" Em had been studying him.
"Your academy shirt." He grinned bigger. "I've never looked at your dossier. I didn't know you started as a shield. But it makes sense."
She looked self consciously down at the emblem of the police academy she had trained in as a 17 year old. "Don't profile ME."
"You say it like I have a choice." He handed her a glass of merlot.
She gave him a weary acknowledging headshake. "The damn job."
He raised his glass "The damn job."
"So tell me about it. What made you decide to join the force?"
"No David Rossi. No. You cannot just ask me stuff like that." She didn't realize she was shaking her head.
"I see. Your father. And maybe your mother a little bit too."
She let out a shocked breath with a low "Shit!" and was staring at him disbelievingly and he was chuckling, his low, guttural laugh.
"He's messing with me and he knows it. Arrogant son of a..."
"Alright. Alright. Go ahead. Tell me why, oh great profiler." She crossed her arms and glared.
"Catholic upbringing, alcoholic father, your hard, stubborn and closed off personality equals some kind of abuse – maybe neglect? - and mother who did nothing about it or was too busy politicking to notice. You consciously became the opposite of everything you were raised to be. A servant of the law, not the seated and served." Un-phased, without emotion in his face, Rossi took a long sip of his Merlot and watched her face turn over his words through memories.
"Why can't I see you the way you see me, Ross?" She was struggling to keep her face straight. She stared, debating on how to react.
"You're pretty good." Just drink. You'll never beat him as his own game. Merlot.
That taunting chuckle again. "You already knew that." The oven dinged.
Emily decided to let him finish making the meal, biting back much sarcasm, and sat down at her little kitchen table. She was looking at the thing in mild surprise, as if she'd never seen it before. "You've never sat down at that thing, have you?" Rossi brought her a plate. "I honestly cannot remember if I have." She shook her head. When he sat down next to her, the boiling seemed to kick into high gear. Her skin felt electric…hot… the rolling intensifying… reaching full boil..
"So you drink Cabernet by yourself and go to bed early on a Friday night?" He sat down next to her.
What are you edging around! Why are you here? "Tonight I did." Stubbornly answering, she cut a piece of the hot sandwich with the edge of her fork.
Always with the manners. An ambassador's daughter indeed. Rossi smiled. "What a close ended answer."
"What a open ended question." She defiantly looked him in the eyes. The blood in her veins seemed to be pulsing so loudly she could almost hear nothing else.
"You want to know why I'm here." He finished her thoughts
"It is kind of late." Play it cool, he might get to the point yet.
"You're my friend. It's Friday night. I wanted some company." He drained his glass and started to eat. Her tummy seemed to do a somersault at the words You're my friend. Was that all, though? But the way "You're my…" sounded on his lips.. God those lips, so full and soft looking. She stopped herself short before a quick visual of his lips on hers could be stopped.
"Ookayyy…." She slowly nodded her head, not buying it, and trying to empty the picture in her minds eye. "You've never done this before."
"First time for everything."
Giving up for the moment trying to figure out why he was really in her apartment, she concentrated on her wine and forgetting the image… But she couldn't.. She was looking into the deep crimson liquid but really all she saw was their faces pressed together. He didn't notice. He was busy looking around…
After a few minutes of silence she noticed, with great annoyance, that he was scanning and cataloguing everything his eyes could see about her apartment. Everything is beige or white or brown. Except the dishes, they aren't even of the same set. They look Moroccan and Indian. From travels, maybe? No lace or flowers in the whole place except on a bright orange pitcher on the counter. From Mexico, I think. Of course she would have traveled a lot with the ambassador…
"Rossi. I swear to God, stop profiling me."
"Ouch, back to Rossi, am I?" his lips turned up into that irresistible crooked smile. How could she be mad when he smiled like that? That mischievous, boyish smile that made her ache a little bit in the middle of her chest. She lost herself a for a moment, staring at his mouth. "Em?"
Shaking herself back to reality, she realized the heat on her cheeks. Standing and grabbing her plate to dispose of it, she desperately reached for the bottle on the counter. I can't do this. He makes me crazy enough at work… What if Ty… Ty won't drive by. He is probably still awake with his frat boys at the casino…
"I'm a little drunk still I think." She lied.
"Me too. I spent the evening in McBrady's pub down on West St. It's really lonely in there, with the lighting. Makes a man think too much." His eyes were dark and it piqued her curiosity. So, he's fighting some kind of bad memories tonight. Makes a little more sense. Her heart fell a little. What had she been hoping for? Of course. It's about the job.. He just wants to talk probably… Nothing more. Of course it's nothing more…
"Wanna talk about it?" Irritation gone, only sincerity in her voice. And maybe, did he hear, a little sadness?
Don't look at me like that, I don't want pity… "Not particularly." Shit! The look on her face… "But if I did you'd be the person I'd want to talk to." She nodded.
"So. I have to ask. Will my presence be a problem? I don't want to impose." He was looking at her seriously, darkly. She knew he meant Ty.
Impose! NOW you don't want to impose? You didn't mind a half hour ago stumbling in here helping yourself to my kitchen and music…
"No, Ross." She sighed. "It will not be a problem. Ty is out celebrating with his friends tonight at the Eagle Eye Casino." Shit, why did I give him so much information right now! Now he is going to want to know what he is celebrating… What do I say!
"Celebrating?" Rossi tried to look casual as he took a long sip from his glass.
"He got a promotion at the firm. He's made partner." Emily couldn't make eye contact with him. She doesn't look so impressed by her own news… I wonder if it caused a fight… Partner in a fancy law firm. Means he'll never have enough time for her. But maybe with her at the BAU all the time that's how it works for them… the thoughts of Tyler Warren and his relationship with Emily made him sick.
"Good, 'Cause I don't wanna have to kick a sniveling lawyers ass tonight. Come on, Prentiss, show me your movie collection." He dumped the leftovers of his plate in the trash and refilled his glass. He was now standing so close to her she could feel the heat of him.
Wordlessly Emily led him to the cabinet under the T.V., a mild look of shock on her face. I love when your eyes get big like that. Mentally, Rossi chuckled to himself.