Day of Silence--Revisited


As Bikky made his way to the breakfast table, having pulled a clean-enough sweatshirt and pair of jeans on, he noticed immediately that something was wrong. Dee and Ryo were both in the kitchen, Ryo busying himself as he cooked up his Wednesday special of eggs with cheese, a good many links of sausage, and some of the best hash browns Bikky had ever tasted, and Dee was sitting at the table with a cup of coffee, reading the paper. These actions in themselves were very normal, but the fact that neither detective was saying a word…was not.

"Ryo, can you pick me up after school?" the boy asked, reaching for the carton of milk (and nearly drinking straight from the carton before deciding against getting a morning lecture). "I'd walk, but…I'm s'posed to meet Carol at the dentist office when she's done and it's in that part of town I'm 'not allowed to go to alone,' so…" The boy trailed off pointedly and looked to Ryo for a response.

Turning back from his work on the stove, Ryo smiled and gave a small nod, but not an explanation.

Bikky was getting fidgety. He was hungry, yes, but…unnerved, too. At the very least he expected Dee to be talking, possibly even teasing him or yelling at him about…well there were so many things really that it seemed silly for the brunette to be just sitting there.

Possible realization struck him. "Did you two have a fight?"

Despite Bikky's insistence that Dee is an utter pervert and he does NOT like that the man has gotten his way and is in a relationship with Ryo, Bikky's voice sounded very small as he said this.

Ryo nearly laughed, though silently, and shook his head. Dee looked up from his paper and rolled his eyes. But still…no words.

Bikky was getting anxious now. He didn't like silence on principle and the two men who most resembled fathers in his life--regardless of any protests he might make in relation to Dee--were acting strange, too strange for his tastes.

"Are you mad at me?" he asked then, suddenly holding his hands up in defense. "Coz whatever it is, I didn't do it."

A firm 'whack' sounded as Dee quickly folded his paper and whapped it atop the small blonde's head. Bikky scowled, but seeing as how both Ryo and Dee were smiling still, he didn't know what to make of the situation. They aren't mad at each other or him, so…why the hell are they being so damn quiet?

As if in answer to the boy's silent question, the silent Ryo placed a small card in front of Bikky alongside a filled plate of food. Bikky eyed the food ravenously, but chose to read the note card first. In neatly printed writing it said this:

Please understand my reasons for not speaking today. I am participating in the Day of Silence, a national youth movement protesting the silence faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people, and their allies. My deliberate silence echoes that silence, which is caused by harassment, prejudice and discrimination. I believe that ending the silence is the first step toward fighting these injustices. Think about the voices you are not hearing today. What are you going to do to end the silence?

As Bikky finished reading the note card, a very thoughtful look appeared on his face. After Dee and Ryo had begun a real relationship, he had come to terms with his foster-father being gay, and had always marginally accepted Dee's bisexuality, especially since it exuded from the man in semi-sensual waves every hour of the day. But…Bikky had never really given the situation much thought. If they loved each other, that was their deal, and he didn't think it was his place to feel it was wrong. Now, having the truth of what is faced by many homosexuals, bisexuals, and even their allies, put right in front of him, Bikky felt a small twinge of regret for so often referring to Dee in such derogatory terms.

Not that he was about to admit that, or that he was about to stop, at least not as long as Dee kept pestering him about so many things. But he would never look down on the couple, and never look down on those others in the world that only wanted the freedom to love the person they loved.

I mean really, what wrong could anyone possibly see in that?

Bikky looked up from the card and saw that Dee had one, too, stuck to the lapel of his suit jacket. The men both had duty today, but had arranged to do deskwork for once, and were planning to display their silence proudly.

"You know…" Bikky began, after handing Ryo back his note card. "…this is cool and all, but…it says it's a national youth movement. What's a couple of old guys like you doing it for?"

Ryo raised an eyebrow, but before Bikky could make any other comments, he suddenly felt a strong arm wrap around his neck as Dee pulled him into a fierce--though honestly playful--headlock.

"You…queer!" Bikky gasped, struggling wildly. "Lemme go!"

With a stern look from Ryo, Dee eventually complied, and while Bikky snickered and ate his breakfast merrily, Dee continued to cast him glares--along with a few very well concealed smiles.

A few minutes passed in silence before Bikky began to feel unnerved again.

Now, the young blonde couldn't see what was going on under the table, but after a while he started to get a pretty good idea. Though he had been innocently eating his breakfast with the two men, he began to notice that they--being seated across from one another--were involved in something not at all innocent. Bikky knew without question that Dee was the instigator, and though Ryo could not vocally protest whatever Dee's foot was doing to him beneath the table, dark eyes repeatedly glared in warning.

Soon enough, Dee was smirking and Bikky was feeling sick to his stomach. Ryo, for all his attempts to remain composed, was shifting in his seat as his breathing became more and more labored. When at last an unbidden moan slipped from Ryo's otherwise silent lips, Bikky knew it was time to head to the bus.

"Don't be late for work just coz ya can't keep it in yer pants!" he called, sticking out his tongue as he snatched his backpack from near the door and sprinted into the hallway. "And don't forget to pick me up, Ryo!"

The look on Ryo's face as the boy disappeared was quite scandalized, but the teasing motion of Dee's foot, which was prodding in just the right spot at--as always--the most inappropriate of times, helped him forget very quickly that the boy had even been there.

Dee's eyes practically spoke for him. 'Quick screw before work, partner?'

Ryo's dark, and now very hazy eyes answered him. 'Dee…you are positively shameful.' they spoke. 'And hell yes, you hornball, so get your ass over here already!'

tbc...next year!

A/N: Yes, folks, it is once again the Day of Silence, and faithful Crimson has once again not spoken a word all day. In honor of the incredible repsonse I got on this fic last year, I decided that this year I would add another chapter, and do so for as many years as seems appropriate. I am also planning to write a short Gravitation fic today, so please also look at that, which will also focus on the Day of Silence. I figured a new fic, and a new chapter on an old one was the least I could do. I hope there are many of you out there being silent with me, and if not, please join in next year. :-) Thank you, and PLEASE REVIEW to add to the voices heard by those of us still silenced.

Crimson