Differing Tastes

A Word: And I'm realizing with this AU I can write Laura. I am no longer guilty about anything at all that I write here now.

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Ruben forgets about the detectives after ordering the needed copies with his TA who has changed his hair color yet again. How the boy thinks he can get a steady job anywhere in the medical field with chameleon hair is beyond Ruben. The exams he proctors are low level, basic courses. The rooms he enters are still filled with that special scent of dread, stress, and students who've studied so much they've forgotten how to properly use a shower.

It's always a special kind of torture that's fascinating to watch. Over the years Ruben's been able to identify six common kinds of coping behavior that only seems to exist the last few weeks of each semester. If it didn't involve following students back to whatever hole they call home, Ruben would have written a few papers about it already.

He's finished with the last test of the day and takes a well deserved break in his office. Immersing himself in his research and drafting up a series of sham research proposals to get shot down mercilessly by Marcelo hard enough that his true proposal will squeak by with more pity than anything else. It's a delicate balance that he has down to a precise formula by now.

"'scuse me," the words come with a sharp rap on the side of the open office door that pulls Ruben out of some vague thoughts of wondering if he can fly a proposal to study how Marcelo's spine can bend so naturally to allow his head to fit up his ass. He looks away from his computer and the half written proposal to find the rougher detective lurking in the door.

"Detective," Ruben drawls out slowly and looks back at his screen for the time. It tends to fly when Ruben's immersed in the necessary bullshit to continue his research. He's not surprised to see how many hours have passed or note that the desk his TA uses is empty. What he is surprised at is the detective's presence in the school. "I'm fairly sure the doors are locked at this hour."

"I'm a cop," Sebastian offers like that's an answer. He hooks the chair from the spare desk and pulls it up to sit in front of Ruben. "It's about time for you to leave anyway isn't it?"

Beyond time actually. "I stay late when needed. Did my TA not take care of the papers you needed?"

No. Ruben can see that now because there's a packet of paper ready in the tray on the other desk. The familiar scrawl of Valerio's notation on the cover sheet enough for Ruben to identify it.

"Busy day," Sebastian, Ruben dredges the name up, says with a grin. "I tried coming in earlier but something always seems to come up when I have other shit to do. Bobby said you tended to stay late though."

Bobby? Ruben frowns a moment before remembering that is in fact his TA's name. He normally doesn't bother himself with anything beyond hey-you with them. They don't tend to last long enough around him to make the effort worth it.

"I see," Ruben doesn't really and takes the time to log off and shut down his computer before unhooking the external hard drive he stores everything in. He puts it away in his briefcase before standing up. One stolen project has been more than enough to make him paranoid about his data. "This should have everything you need to- Detective?"

Ruben turns back with the report to find the man leaning over his desk and looking intently at the small framed photo next to his screen. The one he only keeps there because Laura likes to drop in at random and will take it upon herself to leave far more embarrassing photographs out if that one isn't there. It's a picture of them both the day Ruben turned eighteen and they were both legally free of their parents.

"Huh," Sebastian says and his face is a little strange when he straightens up. His voice is very even though. "Girlfriend?"

"Sister," Ruben says and narrows his eyes at the man. He holds the report out and places himself between the rest of his things and the man. "Have a good night, detective."

"Thanks, I will," he takes the report with a lopsided grin. Snapping the paper he leaves with more cheer than Ruben thinks anyone should have for such a simple chore.

Ruben watches him leave before looking over his desk suspiciously. Nothing looks disturbed aside from a stapler near the edge. Nothing really important is visible immediately and there wasn't enough time for the cop to dig deeper. The picture seems to have been his sole objective. The question as to Ruben's relationship with his sister pressing enough to get a reaction out of him.

It makes no sense though. The detective had seemed happy when Ruben answered, and from his behavior the other day it would make sense that he would be happier if Ruben had said she was a lover and not his sister.

He's putting too much thought into a brief interaction. Ruben snorts and dismisses it all from his mind. His part in interacting with the police is done now, and his role in the entire affair will be over once he adds the data of this event to his growing paper. Then he can move on to something more relevant hopefully.

Ruben continues to pack up and lock down. His train of thought has been interrupted and he's as likely to pick it back up at home as he is in the office. The difference is he will be far more comfortable at his apartment than in the office he isn't due back into until noon.

The halls are still lit, but silent. Even the night crew of janitors and repairmen absent from this building as Ruben lets himself out through the door closest to the faculty parking lot. The night is crisp and cold, and scented with the smell of smoke.

"Not too bad for December," Sebastian flicks his butt into a potted plant that's used by nearly everyone despite the school having a strict no smoking policy in place. "Used to be everything would be covered in layers of snow by now. Can't say I don't mind the snow not lasting as long anymore."

Ruben frowns and pulls the soft ends of his scarf up higher because it's still awfully cold. "I suppose."

He steps away from the door and is dismayed when Sebastian falls into step with him. He wonders if this is some sort of game. A cop game, and that there's something more about Smith than he'd thought. He's ready to believe it when he sees the only other car in the lot is right next to his. A nondescript car that seems to scream 'official use only'. Ruben ignores it and his shadow as he heads straight for his car. Unlocking it with a press of the keyfob in his hand, but a hand on his arm stops him from opening the driver's door.

The detective backs off when he knows he's got Ruben's attention. He smiles and it looks like it's supposed to be a charming smile. "What's your opinion on Italian food?"

"Why?" Ruben asks and doesn't bother hiding any of his suspicion at all. He's coming to the conclusion that he's read things wrong again somehow, somewhere, and that he's going to need to throw out all of his suppositions to start over again.

"Well, it'd kinda suck if I asked you out to dinner and it turned out you hated cannoli or something," Sebastian says and his charming grin turns playful. "Since the best place I know to impress you is an Italian place down on Lewen."

Ruben actually knows the place he's talking about, and it is a good place to eat at. Laura loves the cannoli there actually and forces him to treat her there once a month. That information is irrelevant though as he rips away everything he's thought was happening and replaces it with the fact that he's being asked out.

It doesn't make sense or compute with anything he's observed, but it's clear he's misconstrued things. It's best for him to start with the solid facts now and work his way out to the why and how. Two things that Ruben finds he surprisingly wants to learn now.

"I know the place," Ruben reaches for the door again and isn't stopped from opening it and carefully placing his briefcase between the two front seats. He slides into the driver's sear and looks up at Sebastian before closing the door. "If you're offering to pay I wouldn't say no to meeting you there for a good dinner."

Sebastian's smile grows into a grin that's all pleased as Ruben shuts the door and pulls away.

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