"Damn this stupid coffee machine.." Ted mumbled scratching the back of his flame colored- head. Hehit thebrokendevice with the back of his handand gave up paying attention to the meeting.He raised hishead, very interested,at the next question however.
"So do we get off?!??" Dee asked hoping with all his might. The chief momentarily glared at the dark haired officer and sighed with a roll of the eyes.
"Yea looks like it," The chief said. "OK boys, take the rest off. Thanks to Randy for solving the case."
"WHA?!" Dee growled. "Ryo AND Dee you old walrus!" He made sure to emphasize his own name, the whole point of this 215236534th argument.
"Who're you calling a walrus you good for nothing asshole?"
"Who else in this room looks like one besides you."
"Do you want the day off or no dickhead?"
"Yea actually I do,"
"Then shut the hell up and get outta here!" As Dee looked around the room for a brief second, he noticed that everyone -- even Ryo had left the room. Drake, JJ, Marty, everyone.. why the hell was HE still there arguing with the chief when he could be on his way to do something else that was more important than this? I'm an idiot.. He thought.
"Sheesh all right.." Dee grabbed his coat with a smirk and popped his head into the doorway before heading out and quickly said, "Ryo and DEE." He entered his office to see the man that made his dreams come true collecting papers and dumping them into the garbage can before grabbing his cell phone and coat also.
"Hey Dee," Ryo nudged the taller man. "You busy tonight?" Instead of answering Ryo with a usual 'no, wanna go out somewhere,' Dee tossed him a single sheet of notebook paper, grabbed his phone, and grinned before leaving the room hastily. He had to hurry up and pick up some essentials if he wanted everything to go right. He stopped by the local flower shop, the bakery, and even the bookstore–All for Ryo. I better make it in time.. And thank you badger for actually paying me.... lucky day! Dee thought.
Ryo sauntered into his apartment in a confused but excited daze. Plopping down on the couch after throwing down his jacket in the corner of the closet, he reread the note with Dee's handwriting on the paper. It was written in neat print for once, unlike the messy scribbles he called letters.
"What has he got planned..." Ryo wondered out loud. "Ryo, meet me at my apartment at 8:30. Take your time, OK? Love you – Dee. Love you..." Ryo's slim finger traced over the ink and sighed, feeling his heart constrict in an instant. It even smells like him. He glanced over at the clock – 6:59 PM. Ryo threw off his clothes and took a long shower, the note going through his head over and over again.
"Nothing too fancy...?" He muttered. Rummaging through his variety of dress shirts and pants for work, he settled down with a nice black top with regular jean pants. 8:00... why am I starting to feel all weird? God... what's wrong with me... He drove rather leisurely, just like Dee had said to do. Ryo sat there in silence for about 5 minutes outside the complex since he head arrived a bit early and took the time to actually be thankful that Bikky was over at Carol's night for the house for much needed help in his math class. He smirked at the quick image of Bikky trying to half pull half kick Ryo back into his own apartment to keep him away from the pervert. Ryo shook his head and sighed, his eyes wondering over to the green digits in the middle of his car. "8:28..." Turning off the engine, he made his way up the stairs feeling more faint with each step he took up the concrete staircase up to the third level. Ryo knocked on the freshly painted door with a trembling hand after shoving every incoherent thought out of his head, promising himself that he would only concentrate on Dee. He smiled reminiscing the time when he came over to help Dee paint the dark green door on a hot summer afternoon. Of course, Dee took the time as a special opportunity like every other to mesmerize him. It didn't really take much either.
"You're right on time," A cheerful Dee opened the door. Ryo gulped and nodded. Dee was dressed in a simple black and white pinstriped dress shirt and jeans also. Even in a dress suit, Dee had a way to make himself stand out, keeping his appearance as roguish as ever, one of the reasons why Ryo thought he was so attractive. There was a faint song playing in the background– England & John Ford Coley's- "I'd Really Love to See You Tonight". It switched to Barry Manilo's- "Can't smile without You" one of Ryo's favorites as they entered the foyer to the kitchen. Ryo gasped quietly at the breath-taking sight that enfolded before him in Dee's kitchen. Amongst the rose petals scattered all over the pristine black table, two white jasmine scented candles flickered to reveal more petals around the dimly lit room. Dee smiled and set food on the table, pulling out a chair for Ryo to sit in. Smiling back light-heartedly, Ryo thanked him and sat down shocked at the fact that he just thought of Dee's usual pigsty as a romantic sweet getaway.
"Eat up. Don't worry. I didn't create any chemicals or anything.. I don't think," Dee laughed as he retreated to the seat opposite of the man he clearly loved.
"Oh! So I won't be going home with food poisoning?" Ryo asked.
"Hm.. Who said you were going home?" Dee grinned knowing Ryo's reaction immediately. From the candlelight directly shining in Ryo's face, he could see a blush spread across his cheeks in an instant, but he was still smiling.
"Heh. Cheers to... Uh... our meeting two years ago." Dee held up his wine glass.
"Cheers." Their glasses clinked to produce a soft ring just as the track changed, a light melodic tune filling the warm cozy apartment.
"You're so sappy, Dee!" Ryo laughed. Dee grinned and continued eating his noodles.
"So, Ryo..." Dee cleared his throat. They were deep in conversation by now, laughing one minute and sitting in silence taking in each other's presence the next or even coming across personal topics.
"Yes?" He asked looking up from his wine glass. Dee swallowed with difficulty at the glow that seemed to engulf Ryo's graceful frame.
"I have something else planned... something a little... well, different,"
"Really...?" Ryo raised an eyebrow. He knew by now that 'different' in Dee's terms almost always had to do with a ploy to seduce him, and the 'different' ideas always worked no matter what the circumstance.
"You know how they say each color for a rose represents something?" Dee asked.
"Um, yea I guess. White is for purity and charm I think, pink is for happiness, yellow is for friendship, and red means," Ryo's thoughts were cut off by Dee's right hand clasping over Ryo's left in a tender swift motion. In between upright palms was a single red rose almost in full bloom, its deep vivid color attracting Ryo's attention.
"I Love You," Dee said. "Red means I love you."
"Dee..." Ryo whispered.
"We've known each other for a really long time, no?" Dee asked but Ryo just stared at him, his heart furiously pumping in his chest. Dee cleared his throat again taking his time to say what he needed to say without messing up his only chance.
"I wanted you to come here tonight to sort out your feelings. I know I promised to wait. But maybe this will make you more... I don't know.. Confident. I have to step out for a few minutes. I'm gonna turn on the lights before I leave," Dee said. "But it'll be only for about 5." He quickly added at the slight change of expression on his lover's face. "Let your feet guide you, Ryo." Dee placed a chaste kiss on Ryo's hand where the rose was held tightly in each man's grasp before giving a small peck on Ryo's right cheek.
"5 minutes. Maybe 10. Just...., please." Dee grabbed his jacket before flicking on the switch of the living room and closed the door behind him. Ryo was briefly blinded by the sudden luminescence, but adjusted quickly enough to remember to blow out the candles if he didn't want the apartment to burn down on such a perfect evening for him... at least before this difficult twist that Dee added. Ryo swallowed the lump in his throat and stood up. His heart skipped a beat, however, for there were two perfectly aligned trails of rose petals that he hadn't noticed when he walked in earlier. They were leading to two different rooms; one path that led to Dee's bedroom had red and white petals but the other path that led to the guest bedroom on the other hand only consisted of yellow. Let your feet guide you... Dee's voice echoed throughout his head. With the red rose still in hand, Ryo walked down the middle of both trails until he reached the wall. Ryo's eyes wondered aimlessly at the two doors. Exactly like a nervous wreck, he held in his last breath and raised his left arm to turn the doorknob, hoping to find the answer that he knew he would be 100 sure of.
