The morning came and went before either of them cared to notice. Both of them had transitioned into night owls despite Gray's early bird nature. Luckily, missions provided a constant source of adrenaline to keep him going when he would rather be asleep.
He knew John preferred to greet the day in a slow sort of way. Bit by bit accepting the fact he had to be awake. After John finished his first cup of coffee though, Gray sprang into action.
"So," Gray began, missing the smile John gave as he pulled the cup from his lips. "I listened to the recording I got last night and I think we can go ahead and send it today. This and the other bits we've recorded so far."
"Sounds good," John nodded, reaching for one of his treats. A twinge hit Gray's stomach as he realized how angry he had gotten over them. In a rare moment of guilt, he ran over an apology in his head a few times.
"Hey," John broke in, "there is a meeting in 2 weeks they might also want to know about. Maybe we can get ourselves invited?"
"Two weeks?!" Gray exclaimed.
John paused, lowering his hand and food from his mouth, "Yeah... Why?"
"I don't want to be here in two weeks," Gray said, emphasizing each word as he reigned in his voice.
"Since when do you care about getting back to anywhere soon? We've only been here for 5 days. We planned for anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 months."
Groaning, Gray grabbed for his back, already aching again. "I don't think I let this thing fully heal. I just want to get this over with."
"Mhhmm..." John nodded, chewing the last bite.
"You know..." John started as Gray reached for his buzzing phone. It was a text message from Derek.
"I actually wanted to ask you about that." John continued without him.
Derek wanted to meet after dinner.
"What?"
"Your back hurting. I'm not sure it's injury related."
"What?" Gray shook his head, typing out a quick response. Derek responded in excitement before he could even replace his phone in his back pocket.
"Sorry, what?" he repeated.
Across from him, leaning forward on his barstool, John watched him. He didn't look like his normal self, serious, calm, completely focused on a singular item: Gray.
"What?" John asked in turn, drawing out the word. His eyes were still locked on Gray, probably reading his partner as much as he would their opponents.
"Derek invited me out tonight. Sounds like we'll be going to his house."
"Oh, good." John quickly rattled off.
And that was all he said on the matter. No jokes or innuendos. Just good.
"What did you say earlier?"
John started and paused, looking him over. Either he figured Gray's mind would already be on Derek and the end goal, or he didn't want to say it after all.
Eventually, he decided to bring it up again, though it didn't seem to be the same conversation.
"Do you remember the last time we saw Cinderblock?" John paused for barely a second, Gray wouldn't forget a mission, fight, or villain. "I got stunned, fell after shifting back to my human state? Shattered my spine?" He paused the longest after this question, hinting at where he was going.
Gray couldn't follow. Folding his arms, he leaned against the wall and waited.
"I became obsessed with the structure of the spine. How it would need to reform. How it would change as I shifted. How I could possibly get better faster. I mean what else was I going to do in that contraption you put me in." He smirked slightly, but when Gray didn't reciprocate he continued.
"I learned the ins and outs of the human spine."
Again, he paused, and again, Gray couldn't predict what he was going to say. Gritting his teeth, Gray threw his arms out and shrugged.
"Your back feels fine. I was all over it last night. Sure, the muscles were tight as hell. But it didn't seem like an injury..."
"I'm not faking it." Gray cut him off.
"I didn't say that," John shot back, starting to reflect Gray's energy back at him. "What I'm saying is, I think it's stress induced."
"I'm not stressed." John raised a brow. "Not more than normal anyway."
The silence that followed pulled at the nerves in Gray's body. He had to move.
"Well, alright. If you can send off those files, I'll um," he patted down his side pockets, looking down for the bulges. His phone and keys were there. "I'll see you later. I'll be out for a while on a run." Without looking up, he turned to the door.
"I thought your back hurt."
"Running helps," he stepped out the doorway.
"That's because it's stress!" John got his words out before Gray could get the door shut.
He ran for hours, focusing on the city around him. The mother giving her son a doughnut as they step out onto the sidewalk. The two friends taking a selfie with their coffees and green wall of vines. The guy walking Gray's way on his phone, trying to track down his food delivery.
Piece by piece he started to lose himself in the bustle of the city. Forgetting about all those men in his life. His job. His personal thoughts on the matter.
Till his phone went off again. It was Derek, giving pickup instructions for tonight. Immediately, Gray noticed how hard it was to breathe. Once he got it in his head, he couldn't shake it and slowed down to a walk.
Derek had seemed so thrilled to hear Gray could make it. In reality, Derek had invited John as well, but a nagging irritation prevented him from telling John. Gray could be witty and smooth, but John had this natural ease and comfort that pulled in everyone. He knew he would be out shadowed by that. Though it didn't really matter who got into Derek and his father's good graces, Gray wanted it to be him.
By the time he got home, John was gone, with a note that there was dinner in the fridge if he wanted it. At first, he was relieved at the ease with which he could avoid any and all conversations. That is until it was time to leave and John had not returned. His tampered anxiety began to slip back into his gut.
If he left to visit Derek and something had happened to John, he might not know till early morning. His ride was only 5 minutes out. Poking his head out the front door, he kept his demeanor as calm as possible while he peered at the cars below. No John.
It wasn't like whoever texted first lost some bet. Yet Gray felt like he was the loser, one last look out the window and he texted John. He didn't have long before his ride would show up and not enough time to do anything. Except stop worrying. He wouldn't stop though.
A town car rolled up in front of their building.
Patting down his pockets, Gray had no choice but to leave and meet Derek. The smell of his cologne hit him again as he climbed into the back seat of the car. It was far better than the manufactures 'new car' smell that had been pumped into this thing, but probably not good enough to match Derek's taste. He would have a higher standard for sure and Gray hadn't even paid that much attention to these things once he found a suitable one for outings.
The driver acknowledged that she knew Gray and that was about it. She didn't explain where they were going, how long it would take, or who would be expecting him. Though he was sure he could talk to the woman, and even that a few questions would have answers, Gray kept quiet. It was his stubborn attempt to seem constantly nonchalant and at ease.
One by one, he touched his thumb to all his fingers. The first two made contact the easiest, but he had to stretch the ring and pinky finger enough that it would require some attention. To add to the effort, he started counting to 20 before restarting. Eventually, his breathing started to match the bounces. Three seconds to breathe in, three to hold, move fingers, three to breathe out, three to hold, and move fingers again.
Gray's body lurched forward slightly as the car mounted the driveway. When his back thudded into the seat, he was fully aware of his surroundings and ready to absorb everything about this encounter. Derek was stepping outside to greet him. His casual wear suited him well, the long sleeve linen shirt was loose and partly see through. The shorts and bare feet added a relaxing effect, pulling the breath from Gray's chest and allowing him to drop his pinched shoulder blades. If he had thought Derek was attractive in the back of the bar, or side alleyway during an exchange, he was absolutely stunning at this house.
The house hadn't been listed on anything he had found before coming. Any house, work address, or frequent holiday destination was thoroughly mapped out and memorized. This was uncharted. Though, scanning the expanse before him, Gray was slightly joyed he had missed it. A tip-off would have prevented his stomach from flipping as he stepped out of the car. Sure he should be used to luxury from the Wayne lifestyle, but this was different. This secluded landscape came with Derek and no other cars or people in sight. Everything was light and airy, from the tan stucco house to the white stones decorating the entranceway.
A flurry of emotions flushed through Gray as his phone buzzed in his pocket. The only contact he let through on silent was John. So chances are he's alive. Lowering his eyes, he thought about the foolishness of attending an unknown event, at a faraway location, without a vehicle, alone.
Especially when John had actually been invited. The itch grew too intense and Gray slipped the phone out for a quick glance. He was fine, just looking for an inspiration for a new chapter.
"Got some good news?" Derek smiled, extending his arms.
"Oh, it's just John," Gray let himself be brought into a hug, instantly forgetting the part of him that claimed this was a bad idea. Derek wasn't wearing his delicious cologne, instantly adding a layer of dread to Gray's dramatic emotional roller coaster. This wasn't something he normally monitored. Certainly, he would, if a target's lack or presence of cologne meant something about the case. Not if his own lack or presence of it meant how appealing he was to the target.
Derek pulled away first, holding onto Gray's arms as he looked down at him. He was a step higher, closer to the house. The height difference would make it easier for Gray to slip his arms under Derek's and let him pull him in again. Instead, Derek turned to lead Gray inside.
"So sorry he couldn't make it, but I'm so glad you could join me." Derek led them through the open doorway, the hallway was wide and bright. Gray's feet clopped loudly down the pristine hall next to Derek's smooth bare feet. The white walls had a totally different effect than the ones at the rental. Instead of looking plain and boring, these had a sleek minimalistic but classic style.
A man silently appeared to their right holding drinks as they entered the open living room. The living room was a few steps down and the back was a solid wall of glass and sliding doors. Which of course, led out to a beautiful pool and followed by the most beautiful view of the valley behind them. The living room by itself would have made anyone gasp, but the added view made Gray give an audible noise of appreciation. It was such a reaction he hadn't even known it was coming.
"This is my ... little hangout," Derek said, shrugging as he took the glasses and handed one to Gray. Before Gray could ask about it, Derek continued, "I hope you've enjoyed working with us. I know you worked several jobs with Ron before moving out here. He had nothing but good things to say about you."
"I'm glad to hear that." Gray followed Derek as they walked to the bar at the edge of the living room. For the first time, Gray realized they weren't alone. They were still the full room and several yards from the window and backyard, but the new angle showed several people hanging out in the cabanas off to the side. Behind them, the man walked by with several more drinks on a tray.
"My dad has said I have a certain skill. I've always had this ability to read people. To tell if they are going to be a good fit with our little club." Derek grinned a crooked smirk and leaned on the table with his elbow. "And something tells me, you'll be a good fit." Derek's index finger left his glass as the hand moved to point out towards the deck. Gray followed his fingers, swallowing hard. Even realizing people were out there, he hadn't paid them any mind. He hadn't even glanced in that direction again.
The man with the drinks had left the door open and white floor to ceiling curtains billowed into the house. In breaks between the curtains, Gray caught sight of what was really happening. An orgy. And Derek was as casual as he could be, watching from inside as he sipped his cocktail.
"Of course, I'll let you wait until the next job to decide what you want to do. But I think we can... work well together." Derek said, smiling. Gray gave him a small glance, breaking away from the sight for as little as possible. Omar and Hank were among those out there. The smaller man from the bar that Hank had enjoyed. And several other men, some Gray had seen in the bar and some new. Omar was laid out on his stomach as if every muscle in his body had just let go. His face was equally relaxed, yet held a small smile. A type of smile Gray would have never pictured Omar having. Complete relaxation, joy, and immense pleasure. The man above him was somehow even more muscular than him and pinned him down with large hands on his shoulder blades.
No one seemed to be rushing anything. There was the sharing of drinks, massages, and what appeared to be the most amazing sex. The muscles in Gray's body simultaneously relaxed and tightened, depending on their location, as he watched.
Derek interrupted the silence Gray accidentally let build.
"Also, of course, if your lovely partner agrees. He is more than welcome." Derek emphasized John's invitation. "I would hate to come between you two."
Gray cleared his throat, suddenly wishing John had come. It would be so easy to just agree now. Do some sort of blood bond, brotherhood ceremony, whatever it took. Maybe Derek would walk out with him, maybe he just watched, it didn't matter. He wanted whatever was going through Omar's body. They were all as poised during the job as Gray had been, yet out here they could turn off.
"I'm sure he would be sorry to know he missed this." Was all Gray could come up with. Better to pivot around his eager desire to agree to well... anything Derek were to ask.
"Well, we'll have to make it up to him next time." Derek tipped his glass to him before finishing it and standing up.
Gray hadn't even touched his. He looked down to see a drop of condensation fall down the side. Derek had stepped away from the bar and Gray took the signal, taking a least a long swallow of the drink. It hadn't been planned well and he pivoted to the door while his lungs screamed for him to finish swallowing.
Derek fell in step beside him as he managed to swallow the last bit.
"On your way home, do you mind stopping and looking over the schematics for those 3 floors you and Hank were going over? It would be very helpful before our meeting tomorrow afternoon."
"Yeah, yeah of course." Gray was relieved to have something to agree to. Something reasonable anyway.
A/N - this entire story was built around the next chapter. Almost there :)