Day of Silence Cubed or Berkley's Confusion


Berkley was enjoying a quiet Wednesday afternoon. Technically, he was still on duty but was taking a long lunch break and with good reason. With Spring there had also come a surge of new cases and several new nutjobs out there creating them. If things didn't slow down soon he wondered how long it was going to take before he was driven completely mad.

To top it off his best officers were taking the day off. Randy McClain and Dee Laytner are the best in the precinct, at least when McClain is able to keep his partner focused and out of trouble. The pair has solved more cases for their precinct than Berkley could count. Sometimes it still irks him that Ryo (as he loves to call the man) is in a stable relationship with Laytner, but he knows better than to dwell on it. When Ryo and Dee are together sometimes they really can be…precious.

Precious. The word choked out of Berkley, almost making him stumble, but he did indeed have to think it. By chance he had come across the pair right when he was thinking of them. While taking a leisurely stroll through Central Park on his way back to the station he discovered the partners in question. They appeared to be having a picnic, complete with squabbling children—and for once Berkley did not mean Dee.

He has briefly met the children with Ryo and Dee before, for both have stopped by the station occasionally. The young boy with darker skin and blonde hair was Bikky, he recalled, and the slightly older girl was Carol. Neither are Ryo nor Dee's child but the four of them appeared very much like a family with how they were spread about the ground, sharing a large blanket. There was quite the spread in front of them too.

Berkley ducked behind a tree, not wanting to be caught spying. He wasn't spying after all, he was merely curious. He was close enough to listen in, on that point he was certain, and yet not a single sound echoed from the 'family' as he waited there. It disturbed him for he had always known the group to be very rowdy and loud, in every good sense of the terms. He couldn't imagine what could be so wrong that they would not be speaking to one another.

Securing his position behind the tree, Berkley started to peer around to see if he could get a better view of the group, when a voice definitely not coming from the other side of the tree snapped him to attention.

"Berky!"

Berkley jumped. The voice had been so loud surely the group around the tree had heard it. Without thinking he reached over to the owner of the voice and wrapped his hands around her mouth, inadvertently pulling her against him. "Quiet, Diana." He warned, in a tense whisper.

"Oh, Berky," Diana giggled from under his hand, thinking this all very silly. She wiggled her way free of his hold but remained closely pressed against him. "Mmm…you could almost call this romantic, pressed back against a tree like this…together." She said with a wink. "Why don't we spend the afternoon being more productive instead of spying on all the other cute couples in the world?"

Scowling, it was clear Berkley did not find Diana's suggestion worthy of comment. "Both of us need to be getting back to the station. That is if you want to continue receiving help on that case of yours, despite being overburdened with all the other cases pouring in."

It took all of two seconds for Diana to form a pout. "Oh, Berky, you're such a meanie. You sneak out on me for lunch, stay away from the station forever, and now you'd rather ogle Ryo and Dee rather than grab a quickie with me. Am I really that awful?" Diana accompanied her question with a dramatic batting of her prettily painted eyes.

As always, Berkley crumbled in her wake, but only partially. "No, Diana, not at all." He said, sighing at length. "And I'm not ogling. It was chance that I came upon McClain and Laytner, and I…I was just wondering why they were acting so strange, that's all. They are sitting over there with those children and I haven't heard a single word leave any of them since I found them. Wouldn't you call that strange behavior worth investigating?"

"Normally…yes." Diana admitted. "But not when I know what day it is today. Why do you think those two asked for the day off?"

"What? What are you talking about? There's nothing special about today, is there?"

Diana playfully punched Berkley in the shoulder. "You. Honestly, you should know. It's the Day of Silence today. I actually talk to Ryo and Dee when I keep in touch. They told me all about it."

"Day of Silence?" Berkley was still at a loss. Perhaps the name sounded vaguely familiar but he was certain he had no idea what Diana was talking about or what any of it had to do with Ryo and Dee.

Pointing her finger to the sky with an air of authority, Diana cleared her throat and recited, "The Day of Silence has become the largest single student-led action towards creating safer schools for all, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression." She added a quick wink and lowered her hand. "Basically, you stay quiet all day to stand up against the oppression students receive who are gay, lesbian, bi, or whatever else. It's great on the non-violent protest front. I'm sure Ghandi would approve."

Berkley rolled his eyes. "And behind this tree, those two and their child companions are doing this despite McClain and Laytner being well out of school?"

"Yep. Ain't it nifty, Berky?"

"Adorable. Now would you keep it down and come with me. I'd rather not be labeled a stalker if they catch me back here." With that said Berkley took hold of Diana's hand and started to march her in the opposite direction. Part of him wondered if Ryo and Dee had spotted them anyway, but he decided not to think about it.

Diana, happy to hang on to Berkley's hand until he registers that he is still holders hers, merely enjoyed the moment. "Maybe we could do the Day of Silence with them next year, hmm? Even if there isn't a case, I'd love to have a reason to come visit. And you know…there's so many other things to do besides talk."

Fully aware that he has yet to release the woman's hand, Berkley shook his head at her comment but had to hold back a smile anyway. He has never been one to fancy labels, but if someone out there is trying to fight the oppression school-aged people face simply because they find another person in the world attractive…well, that is admirable enough for him to honestly debate taking Diana up on her offer.

At least the Day of Silence part. The rest she'll have to work for.

"So, Berky?"

"Quiet, Diana."

"Well, it is the Day of Silence, but you're going to have to do more to shut me up than just order me around."

Amazingly, Berkley decided to take her up on that offer too.

A/N: HAPPY DAY OF SILENCE. Well, not so happy for Crimson. I am sick, very sick, and since I had to be able to speak to a nurse, I couldn't actually do the Day of Silence today. Gasp. I know, it hurts me deeply, but it certainly wasn't going to keep me from posting another part to this. I would like to do another, either an addition to the Gravitation one or one for Fruits Basket if I feel like it. Either way, it would involve more actual yaoi than this did. I mean really, how did I end up writing het for day of silence? Well, one must remember us bisexuals too. The Day of Silence covers us all. Yay for Berky! Hope you enjoyed. Don't forget to do your part, everyone, because all around the world, every bit helps. Thanks for reading and see ya next ficcie!

Crimson