It seemed crime had frozen up just like most of the streets. There was hardly a new case coming in and both Ryo and Dee were thankful for it. As it was they still had a lot of current cases to complete, as well as some old ones to file, and it was a welcome respite that nothing new was added.
The office was heated, the heating system running on full steam, and everyone was simply glad that the boilers showed no signs of blowing up.
Ryo gazed out of the window of their shared office, a cup of steaming tea in his hands, watching the snow fall. Below on the streets life hurried past. People were wrapped up in thick jackets, caps, shawls, boots and gloves, barely recognizable. Cars crawled through the choked streets. From inside here, it looked like a completely different world. He could enjoy the weather because he didn't have to fight his way through it.
"Whatcha thinking of?"
The soft question, the mouth so close to his ear, startled him a little. Ryo turned his head and nearly collided with Dee's. Green eyes glowed softly, watching him with an intensity that shot through Ryo like a lightning strike.
"It's like it's another world out there," Ryo answered truthfully.
"As long as we don't have to wade through the cold and interview unreliable witnesses, yeah."
"Winter is a beautiful time. The snow is wonderful."
Dee shot him critical look. "Wonderful? It's cold and the snow usually turns to some black slush by the end of the day."
Ryo shrugged, not to be discouraged. "I like wintertime."
An arm slipped around his waist, pulling him against the other man. Ryo let him, even when Dee kissed the nape of his neck.
"I like summer. A lot less clothes," Dee breathed.
"Dee…" the other warned.
A chuckle answered him. "What?"
Ryo pulled away, putting the mug onto his desk, scowling. "We're still working and Barclay called a team meeting this afternoon," he tried to distract his partner from whatever romantic overtures he was about to launch into.
"So? Barclay's an asshole who loves bureaucracy. We don't need this meeting."
"We do. Especially with the planned budget cuts to the precincts. Barclay just wants to keep the lab and some of the other amenities."
Dee snorted in disgust, muttering, 'what amenities?', but he slumped back into his chair. Ryo mused that his partner had been rather well-behaved lately. Ever since Buck and Vin's visit, the dark-haired man had cut back on his approaches, had been almost civil at times, and he actually asked when he wanted to kiss Ryo. It was amazing. Like a new Dee. Ryo enjoyed the changes, even if he had to get used to them. He was too accustomed to Dee pouncing him in the oddest places to let his guard down already.
Then again, that had lessened and turned into loving caresses even before the visit from Wilmington.
'Love is give and take,' Vin had said almost philosophically when they had talked over pool.
Yes, and Dee was ready to give, but he also took a lot. That had changed. The hot looks were still there, the eyes that burned into his soul and ate Ryo alive. The eyes that seemed to strip him down to the soul and see his very core. But Dee no longer fell over him like a swarm of locust onto a field of grain.
Like just now. A gentle embrace, a little kiss. The remark had been pure Dee, but there had been no pushing Ryo against the wall and devouring him.
Ryo returned to his work, smiling to himself. He was aware of Dee's eyes on him, but he refused to fall for the bait. Dee was behaving, and if he ever said that out loud, his partner would probably deny everything.
It had taken him another week of agonizing over the decision, a few
calls, a few kicks from a good friend Dee knew nothing of, and finally
Ryo had made up his mind.
He would take the leap.
He would tell the truth.
-- and I'll probably regret it, he thought darkly.
He pushed the thoughts away and gathered all his courage for the next
words.
"Dee, would you like to get a drink with me after work?"
Latener's eyes widened. He had clearly no expected the invitation,
though they had gone out for lunch or dinner before, even take-out that
had been eaten at either place. It surely wasn't new, but the way Ryo was
fidgeting probably was.
"Uh, sure. The Hoop?"
"Ah, no. There's a place… well, I've been there before and it's quite
nice…"
Dee shrugged. "Sure."
Ryo sighed silently in relief. He had managed the first hurdle. Now
on with the race.
It was a nice club, Dee noted, his eyes sweeping over the gleaming,
chrome metal counter, the clean, black floor and the multitude of occupied
tables and booths that lined the wall and far end of the room. Everything
else was the dance floor and it was frequented quite well.
"What are we doing here again?" he wanted to know. I thought we had
a date, he groused silently to himself. This surely wasn't the plan.
And it wasn't really a place he saw Ryo going to more than once – and
only when his duty as a cop forced him to.
"I'd like to introduce you to someone."
"Uh-huh…"
Introduce me to someone? What's going on?
"There he is," Ryo said and pushed him to one of the many wall tables.
Dee followed his partner's lead, still a bit bemused about the choice
of meeting place for this so-called contact, but he didn't protest. They
headed toward table in the farthest most corner of the room, shielded from
almost all prying eyes, and out of the throng of dancers. A middle-aged,
black haired man with clear Spanish influence sat in the booth, nursing
a cocktail. He was dressed in washed-out blue jeans, a plain black t-shirt
and a leather jacket. His hair was long and had been collected in a pony
tail, and dark eyes looked at them as the two police officers came closer.
"Hey, Randy, bonito," the man greeted Ryo, grinning at him.
"Hey, Nacho."
Dee counted five hoops piercing one ear, another three gleaming in
the other one. The smile showed a row of even, white teeth. Sunglasses
perched on top of the slick, black hair.
"And that must be your partner. Detective Latener, right?"
Dee just nodded, sliding into the booth. Who was that guy? Why were
they here? His police instincts were set on high and something was curled
tighter than a spring at the moment. Something was going on here and whatever
it was, Ryo was more than nervous about it.
"Looking good, Randy. Haven't seen you around these parts in a long
time."
"I was busy and nothing had come up to warrant a visit."
"Up until now?" Nacho chuckled. "Missed me finally?"
Dee didn't like the look in the other man's eyes one bit. It was too
intense, too hot. He was clearly checking Ryo out.
"You wish."
"Oh please, Randy. Don't tell me you didn't think of me just once."
"Sorry," Ryo laughed. "No."
"I'm crushed."
"As if."
"So, what brings you here then, if not my sexy body?"
Dee clenched his teeth to stop from lunging over the table and throttling
the guy.
"You know I've been trying to make a decision for close to a year now,
right?"
Nacho's eyes raked over Dee. "Sure. I nearly had an ulcer just watching
you tear yourself up over the gorgeous guy here. So you finally decided
it's worth it?"
Ryo nodded, face serious.
"And I'm the object of demonstration?"
"If you would…?"
Dee had no idea what was going on. "Ryo, why are we here, who is this
guy and what is going on?" he demanded.
Nacho shot Ryo a look, shrugging. "Now or never, love."
Ryo bit his lower lip and finally looked up into the green eyes of
his partner.
"Dee, I've been hiding something from you."
Dee's brows rose.
"Aside from being a police officer, I have another job. It's not really
a job… more of a… calling. I'm what's called an ally and have been ever
since the death of my parents."
Dee blinked. "Ally?"
"This will sound rather... fantastic," Ryo told him, voice firm, but
his eyes were relaying his inner turmoil, "but please bear with me. I'm
not making this up." He waited for the nod, then continued. "The world
you know isn't the only one that exists. There is another one, one that
harbors what societies and cultures throughout the world have only seen
as myths and fairy tales. There are people out there, Dee, that are more
than you or me. They're called paranormals…"
Another blink, then Latener shook his head. "Wow, now just a minute!
Paranormals? Are we talking Ghostbusters here?"
"No. They're magic users, magically talented people like psychics or
clairvoyants, werewolves or vampires…"
"Is there a camera somewhere? Is this a joke?" Dee interrupted angrily.
"Because if it is, it isn't funny!"
"It's not a joke, Dee. I'm serious," Ryo said softly. "The paranormal
element exists and my job is to make sure it remains hidden from the world
as we know it."
The anger doubled inside the other man and he pushed back. "Who set
this up?"
Nacho leaned forward, dark eyes intense. "No one, Dee. Ryo is telling
the truth. Now sit back and listen."
Dee's brain registered the words, the last order, and where he had
been about to leave just a second ago, he suddenly sat back down. He stared
at the stranger, stunned. Part of him yelled at him that he hadn't intended
to sit down, but another part had simply obeyed like a good dog.
"Most humans carry special genes, genes that are as old as the Neanderthal.
It's rare that they become dominant, but when they do the person in question
develops certain abilities. Not all of them are strong, but some individuals
harness an incredible talent," Ryo rallied to explain.
Dee was drawn between laughter and downright fury. He looked at the
two men, took in their serious expressions, the way Ryo's eyes were filled
with a kind of hope and the need for him to understand, and he started
to wonder.
Paranormals... People with powers... out of the ordinary powers. It
sounded like a movie or a comic book.
"You're crazy," he finally declared, reaching desperately.
This had to be a bad joke! Please!
"I wish I was, Dee. Look, it's a long story, and I totally understand
that you can't believe in it at the moment."
He gave a snort of laughter. "Right." But something inside Dee was
curious. "So why are you here?" he wanted to know, looking at Nacho.
"Because I'm paranormal, my friend. I'm a vampire."
Dee's mouth dropped open.
"I don't burn when liberally sprinkled with holy water, nor do get
blisters from crosses. And the fangs are a hoax, too. But I am near immortal,
I drink blood, and I have a sun allergy. Doesn't immediately turn me into
dust, but it leeches on my energy," Nacho continued non-chalantly.
"Ryo…" Dee started, then almost cried out in surprise when the dark
brown eyes started to glow a golden amber. "Shit…" Dee he, feeling a shiver
race down his spine.
From one second to the next he was picking up dangerous vibes from
the Spaniard. It was like facing a barely controlled predator. The golden
glow continued, but finally it abated and Nacho took a sip from his cocktail.
"Vampires don't prey on humans to kill them," the other man – vampire,
as he claimed he was – explained calmly, as if talking about the weather.
"They drink blood because they have to, be it human or animal, but nature
has given us a skill that makes it easier for both parties. Pleasurable,
even."
"Huh, right. You can say all you want, but only 'cause your eyes glow,
you aren't a vampire."
"You want me to demonstrate?"
Dee looked challengingly at him.
"Nacho…" Ryo started, sounding worried.
"Don't worry, bonito. It's just a little demonstration."
Dee scoffed. Vampires… paranormals… right! He glared at Ryo, who seemed
to shrink back while also trying to meet his eyes.
"This is not funny, Ryo! Not at all. I don't know where you found that
clown with the magical contact lenses…"
A hand like a vice closed around his wrist, stopping his words. Dee
winced at the incredibly strong grip, then his eyes were glued to the golden
glow that seemed to come from deep within the formerly brown eyes of the
Spaniard.
"No one's joking, Latener."
"Let go of me," he whispered hoarsely, fear creeping down his spine.
Dee had no idea why, but he felt like facing a wild creature, something
dangerous, something untamed, something about to pounce him.
"Nacho, let him go," Ryo said softly.
The Spaniard glanced at the other man, disdain in his eyes. "Ryo…"
"You're hurting him!" Now the voice was harder and there was an expression
in those eyes to match it.
Nacho snorted and freed Dee's wrist, who immediately pushed away from
the table, breathing hard. His wrist hurt, it felt like his bones had creaked
under the pressure, and something about Nacho was severely freaking him
out. Wide-eyed, he looked at his partner, then at the so-called vampire.
"Dee…" Ryo started.
"Leave me alone!" Latener snapped, then turned on his heels and walked
off.
"Dee!" Ryo hurried after him, only able to catch up outside the club.
"Dee, wait!"
"I said leave me alone!"
He was close to hysterics. He didn't seem to be able to calm down.
His pulse was racing along with his heart, his head was aching, and Dee
felt like cold sweat was breaking out all over his body.
"Dee…" McLane sounded lost, apologetic… and he almost reacted, but
then he steeled himself.
Whatever this joke should have been, he didn't think it was funny!
Dee kept his back to Ryo as he stalked off, hands deep in his pockets
to hide how they were shaking. He was almost five blocks down from the
club when someone stepped out of the shadows. He gasped as he recognized
Nacho.
How the fuck had the man been able to get here so quickly?
"You're making a mistake running away from him now," Nacho said without
a greeting.
"Piss off."
"Ryo told you his secrets because he wants to trust you with a large
part of his life."
"You mean that bull about paranormals?"
"That 'bull' is true. I am a vampire, Latener."
"Yeah, right." Dee tried to push away, but the vice grip from before
held him tight, and suddenly he was pressed against the wall.
-- and up.
Dee gave a yelp as he was suddenly held up several inches from the
pavement, steel-like fingers digging into his clothes. Golden eyes glowed
at him.
"This is the truth, Latener. Accept it or not. If you accept it, accept
Ryo. If you don't, let him go! He's suffering enough already as it is!"
And then he was unceremoniously dumped onto the ground.
Dee felt his body react with tremors, and he clutched at his rumpled
clothed.
Oh gawd… ohgawd ohgawd ohgawd…
He had no idea how he managed to get home.
He had no idea how long it took until he finally stopped shaking.
But it was right around 8 a.m. that he called in with a request of
personal leave.