Title: Club Descent: Let's Talk
Author: Aeon Cole
Rating: FRM
Genre: AU, angst, hurt/comfort, romance
Warning: Slash
Fandom: CSI Miami
Pairing: Horatio/Speed
Challenge: Lover100
Table: table-c
Prompt: # 36 Slow
Word Count: 1715
Summary: A chance meeting at a club does not work out as he'd hoped.
Disclaimer: These characters do not belong to me and I am making no money from this.
Author's Note: This is NOT part of my H/Speed universe. This is my first AU. I have plans to turn this into a limited series.
Previous Chapters: The Meeting, Regrets, Choices
Horatio walked out of the science lab with his heart pounding and a silly grin on his face. He couldn't quite believe that that had gone as well as it had. He'd been worried that Tim would be mad at him for running away the other night, that he might not want to see him again. He hit the button for the elevator and waited. Seeing Tim again only reinforced the feelings he'd had originally, that there was something there between them. If anyone had asked him a week ago if he believed in love at first sight, he would have said no. But now he wasn't so sure and that idea scared him a bit. He didn't want to rush into anything and, in reality, he really didn't know Tim at all. But somehow that didn't seem to matter to him.
When the elevator arrived he stepped in and leaned up against the back wall. He caught sight of his reflection as the doors closed. He still had a goofy grin on his face and realized that he only had three floors to compose himself before he had to face his team again. He took a couple of deep breaths and, as the elevator arrived on the ground floor, he did his best to put his Lieutenant Caine mask back on. He walked up to the front entrance of the building, donned his sunglasses, and strode out into the quad as if everything were perfectly normal.
Eric immediately walked up to him. "H, everything all right?" he asked, concerned about his bosses quick departure a few minutes ago.
Horatio cocked his head and said, "Yes Eric, everything's fine. What can I do for you?"
Eric paused for a moment and looked at Horatio. His instinct told him that something was up but obviously Horatio wasn't going to talk about it. He glanced back at the taped off area and said, "The uh, the forensic anthropologist has some information. He said, given the condition of the bones, the soil, and the general climate, that the body was buried at least ten years ago, if not longer. He'll know better when he gets the bones back to his lab and can do some chemical tests."
"So," Horatio commented. "We have a cold case." Eric gave a quick nod to confirm. "Okay, Eric, finish collecting whatever you can then head back to the lab. We'll turn everything over to the cold case squad." He turned back to the building and smiled as he glanced up at the open window. "I'm going to head back now, Eric," he said and strode off toward his Hummer. Eric followed Horatio's gaze up the side of the building to the open window on the third floor. In the shadows of the room he could just make out two people talking.
Tim watched from the window as Horatio walked off toward the car. He turned to Jess and asked, "Did I just make a date with him?"
Jess chuckled at the slightly befuddled expression on her friends face. "Sounded like it to me," she said with a smile. "Too bad really," she added.
Tim gave her a puzzled look. "How so?"
"All the cute ones are either taken or gay," she said.
888
Tim arrived at the club early. He wasn't dressed in his usual club clothes and Max almost didn't recognize him. He walked up to the bar and Max stared at him for a moment. Finally Tim said, "What?"
"Nothing," Max replied innocently. Max didn't do innocent very well and Tim chuckled. "So, ah, what's with the…" Max gestured to his face.
"Didn't feel like shaving," he said with a shrug.
"Makes you look older. That and the clothes," Max said. "You trying to make this place respectable?"
Tim was wearing jeans, a white button-down shirt, and a jacket instead of his usual leather and silk. He looked much more like a college professor than a clubber. "I'm meeting someone here in half an hour. I need one of the back tables," he said, ignoring Max's sarcasm.
Max signaled to one of the waiters and asked him to clear a private spot in the back. Then he turned his attention back to Tim. "So, anyone I should look out for?"
"You'll know him when he gets here," Tim replied. "And, by the way," he said leaning in close to the bar. "Keep the kids away from me tonight."
"Whatever you want."
Half an hour later Horatio pulled into the parking lot and pulled his car into a space next to a yellow motorcycle. He took a moment to gather his courage before getting out of the car. He wasn't used to being so unsure of himself and it unnerved him a bit. He knew that he could always resort to hiding his nervousness behind the mask of Lieutenant Caine but he really didn't want to do that. He wanted Tim to see Horatio, who he really was.
Horatio walked into the bar and caught sight of Max. Max saw him and shook his head. 'Only Tim,' he thought. He gestured toward the back. "Back on the left," he said, "He's waiting for you."
Horatio nodded and walked to the back of the bar. He found an area with booths and tables set up like in a restaurant. Tim waved a hand from the far corner and Horatio made his way through the room toward him. The room was dimly lit and he didn't get a good look at Tim until he was close. He was dressed differently than he had been when he'd been here before and he still hadn't shaved. Horatio had been surprised to see him with a beard earlier that morning at the lab but he liked it.
"Hey," Tim said.
Horatio ducked his head and smiled. "Hi," he said.
Tim gestured to the booth and they took a seat opposite each other. A moment of silence passed between them before Tim asked, "You want a drink?"
"Beer's fine," Horatio answered. He wanted to keep his wits about him tonight and didn't want to drink anything stronger. Tim signaled the waiter and he brought over two more beers.
"So," Tim said. "What did you want to talk about?"
Horatio took a swig from his beer and a moment to gather his thoughts. "I don't know how you feel about this," he said, gesturing between the two of them. "But, I feel some sort of connection with you. I can't explain it."
Tim nodded. "Me too," he said.
Horatio felt a wave of relief wash over him at Tim's admission. He wasn't imagining things. "I'm not really sure what to do now," he admitted.
"It's been a long time since I've had any sort of relationship, that lasted more than a couple of days, anyway," Tim said. "And to be honest, I hadn't been looking for one." Noticing the slightly disappointed look on Horatio's face he quickly added, "That's not to say I'm not willing to try."
Horatio smiled. "So what do we do now?"
"Well, I say we take it slow, get to know each other," Tim answered.
"Where do we start?" Horatio asked.
"Tell me about yourself. How did you become a police lieutenant?"
Horatio started talking, telling Tim about joining the police force back in New York, how he came to Miami, joining the bomb squad, and what lead him to become a CSI. He didn't reveal all of the details, not yet. But he told him enough to satisfy his curiosity for the moment. Then he turned the question back on Tim and he listened as Tim told him about Andrew and the accident and how he ended up doing the research he was doing.
They talked for hours and the night seemed to fly by. Before they knew it was three in the morning and they both realized that they would have to be at work in a few hours. Reluctantly they decided it was time to go. They walked out of the club side by side, hands touching, and up to Horatio's car. Tim's bike was parked in the next spot over. Horatio glanced at the yellow motorcycle.
"That's yours?" he asked. Tim nodded. Horatio smirked and asked, "Take me for a ride sometime?"
Tim chuckled at the double entendre and shook his head. "Any time you like," he answered. "What are you doing Saturday?"
"Barring any emergencies," he said. He glanced at the bike again. "Going for a ride?"
Tim's smile broadened and he stepped closer to Horatio almost backing him up against his car. They stared into each other's eyes for a moment before Tim said quietly, "I should get going." But he made no move to leave.
Without breaking the eye contact, Horatio said, "Me too." But he also made no move to leave.
Tim leaned forward and Horatio met him half way. Their lips met, softly at first, then Horatio opened his mouth. Tim brought his hand up to the back of Horatio's neck as he deepened the kiss. Horatio wrapped one arm around Tim's waist and pulled him flush against his body. Tim ran his tongue over every surface of Horatio's mouth. He wanted to learn every crevice, every tooth, every taste. Horatio moaned into the kiss and rested his weight back against his car.
They broke the kiss only when the need for air became too great. Both breathing heavily, they could each feel the other's body responding to the close contact, but, wanting to keep their 'take it slow' pact, Tim took a small step back.
He gave Horatio a shy smile, glad for the cover of the night and the fact that he still hadn't shaved, as a slight blush rose on his neck. "I have to be at work in a few hours," he said reluctantly.
Horatio nodded. It took him a moment to find his voice. Finally he said, "Me too."
He watched as Tim deftly swung one leg over his bike and settled into the seat. He rocked the bike upright and started the engine. Horatio leaned in for one last kiss then said, "Call me Saturday morning."
Tim agreed and, plans made, Horatio watched him speed off into the night.
TBC