Beckett and Castle were calmly walking out of the interrogation room before they both groaned in irritation. A man was murdered in a bar after closing and Thomas Copper - the guy who was sitting in interrogation - was the main suspect. But he hadn't budged in the slightest.
Ryan and Esposito had followed the interview from behind the two way mirror.
"That guy is… Urgh" Beckett said.
"Yeah, I second that." Castle followed.
"Look, I know this is your suspect, but can I try to talk to him?" Esposito asked.
"Why do you think you'll get him to talk when Beckett and I couldn't?" Castle asked.
"Just… Let me try." Esposito answered.
"Okay, go." Beckett said.
Ryan stood up, ready to walk into the interrogation with his partner, but Esposito stopped him.
"I need to do this alone, Ryan."
"But…"
The look on Esposito's face stopped him mid sentence.
"Okay, go." Ryan said. "But I'm watching from the observation room."
XXX
"Javi?" The suspect asked confused, but surprised, eyes wide.
"Thomas." Espo said dryly.
"I wish I'd seen you again in other circumstances." Thomas said with a soft voice.
"I still wish I would've never seen you again." Esposito answered. The coolness in his voice made Ryan shudder. There was a long silence, the room filled with tension.
"How do they know each other?" Castle whispered. He knew Esposito couldn't hear him, but still.
"I have no idea." Ryan said.
"Look, you're a jerk…"
"Gee, thanks." Thomas interrupted Esposito. Esposito just rolled his eyes before continuing.
"You're a jerk, but I don't believe you killed that guy. If you're really innocent, you have to talk here. The only one who can save you from a murder charge is you."
There was only a slight moment of hesitation before Thomas Copper began to tell Esposito everything he knew.
XXX
"Wow, if I'd known you knew the guy, I'd let you inside our interrogation way earlier." Beckett said when Esposito came back in the bullpen. The man shrugged.
"We're back at square one though."
"You said he was a jerk. What did he do to you?" Ryan asked.
"He cheated on me, for a year." Esposito answered casually.
"I'm sorry, what?" Castle asked, not sure if he'd heard it right the first time.
"He's my ex. We dated for 2,5 years. A long time ago." Esposito answered, still casually.
An awkward silence filled the bullpen.
"Maybe it wasn't Thomas Copper! What about the victim's stepmom? We haven't looked into her yet?" Beckett suddenly said.
"Already on it!" Ryan said, glad that the tension was broken and he booted up his computer.
XXX
"So, you and guys?" Ryan asked with a smirk before taking a gulp from his beer.
Esposito groaned.
Esposito was at Ryan's to play Madden, like they did every Friday night.
"So that is exactly why I never said anything."
"Come on. Did you have sex with guys yet?" Ryan asked curiously.
"Yo, I dated Thomas Copper for over two years. You think we only cuddled and held hands?"
"But you've been with women, right?"
"Of course."
"So, what's better?"
Esposito smirked. This was his chance to rile Ryan up.
"Want to find out?"
Esposito wiggled his eyebrows and put his hand high on Ryan's thigh, only inches away from his crotch. Ryan froze and looked from his best friend's hand to his face, his eyes, his lips,... Esposito's smile disappeared and he slowly licked his lips.
Suddenly Ryan launched himself at Esposito, pushing his lips on his best friend's without a second thought. Ryan straddled Esposito's lap and pulled his short hair. Esposito finally answered the kiss and pulled Ryan's shirt out of his trousers to let his hands roam over the bare skin of Ryan's back. Esposito whimpered which gave Ryan the chance to push his tongue in his partner's mouth. The kiss was messy: teeth and noses being in the way. Ryan bit down on Esposito's lip before parting and taking a deep breath.
"Fuck." Ryan whispered. Esposito couldn't believe what he saw. Ryan's pupils were wide, his eyes dark with lust. It didn't seem Ryan was planning on getting out of Esposito's lap and Esposito's dick twitched in his pants.
"Fuck." Esposito answered.
Ryan put his forehead against Espo's which made them pant into each other's mouth.
"Please, Javi, show me what it's like." Ryan said, voice deep and raw. Esposito groaned when Ryan moved his ass along his erection.
"Fuck, Kev." Esposito answered. He took Ryan in his arms and moved him to the bedroom.
XXX
Esposito woke up the next day with a weight on his chest. He was slightly confused, but smiled when he saw Ryan's - Kev's - head on his chest, eyes slightly moving with whatever it was Ryan was dreaming.
"Fuck." Esposito whispered when he suddenly realized what had happened the night before. He shook Ryan's shoulder. Ryan's very white shoulder with a lot of freckles he wanted to kiss. Esposito shook his head.
"Hey, Kev, wake up." Esposito said, shaking Ryan's shoulder once again.
"Mmm, let me sleep." Ryan said before tightening the grip around Esposito's waist.
"Kevin, please, wake up." Esposito said as calmly as possible.
Suddenly, Kevin sat right up and looked at Esposito before looking at himself. But right when Esposito thought Kevin would start to freak out, he looked Esposito in the eyes and smiled.
"Hey."
"Hey?" Esposito asked. He was confused. Didn't Kevin have to avoid his eyes and run away while still putting on clothes?
"What?"
"We need to talk, Kevin." Esposito said and he pushed himself up in his bed, pulling the sheets so both him and his partner would be decent for this talk.
"Are you going to say you regret it?" Ryan asked, the hurt hearable in his voice.
"No, no, I was actually going to ask you the same question." Esposito asked, still confused.
"Javi, I've had this crush on you since the second year of our partnership. I'm sorry I jumped on you the moment I found out you're not straight, I shouldn't have done that." Ryan answered honestly.
"Ryan, I've been in love with you since… Forever." Esposito said, taking Ryan's hand in his. Ryan looked up and smiled. He put a small kiss on Esposito's lips.
"Kevin Ryan, do you want to be my boyfriend?" Esposito asked.
Ryan didn't even take the time to answer before throwing the sheets out of bed, straddling Esposito's hips and kissing him hungrily.
"I'd love to be your boyfriend." Ryan said. "I'm so glad your ex came in yesterday. I wouldn't have taken a chance otherwise."
"Long live the ex?" Esposito asked and Ryan laughed.
"Now, where did we leave the game last night?" Ryan smirked. Esposito threw them over so he was the one straddling Ryan's hips.
"Let me show you." Esposito smirked before kissing Ryan senseless.