Huge thanks to red2013 for the review and to everyone else who alerted this.
Two weeks later Esposito walked through the now familiar door and over to the bar, a small frown covering his face when he didn't see any patrons or even Ryan. A laugh from the back caught his attention and he watched as Ryan and a short blonde stumbled out of a door giggling, the woman fixing her crooked skirt while a mussed Ryan peppered her neck with kisses. The scene made his gut clench for reasons he didn't want to think about and he grabbed his phone out of his pocket for something to look at so he didn't have to watch the pair that were now heatedly making out, Ryan's hands completely under her shirt as she giggled at whatever he was whispering into her ear. Finally the girl pulled away and with a wink to the bartender exited the bar.
Ryan began to make his way over and startled at the sight of Esposito at the bar. "Detective, didn't hear ya come in. I was er… occupied."
He forced a grin, "Yeah I see that." Esposito frowned at what he saw when Ryan finally got over to him, a jaundice yellow and sickly green black eye and a healing cut on his cheekbone. "Whoa, rough couple weeks?"
"Something like that," he answered vaguely before pointing to the tap with a questioning quirk to his brow.
"Something harder tonight but not the acid you gave me before." He watched the other man throw some ice in a tumbler and pour bourbon over the cubes before sliding it over. "I never said I was a detective," he said casually as Ryan grabbed another glass and poured a finger for himself before downing it easily.
The Irishman swallowed down another shot before replacing the bottle to the shelf, "If you're only concerned about bodies you work in homicide and if you work in homicide you're a detective. Based on the fact I've never seen you before yet you worked a case close by I'm guessing this is the end of your jurisdiction which puts you at the 12th precinct. Also because of how you don't compensate your weight for the piece on your hip shows you've done this a while, confidence seen in your gait indicates at least five years."
"You notice a lot more than I give you credit for," he said, clearly impressed and a little unnerved that the bartender noticed so much while he was just sitting here relaxing.
Ryan's eyes twinkled as his grin widened, "In life you can either be big and stupid or small and smart. I think it's obvious which one I am."
Esposito laughed and nodded, "I like that, I'll have to tell Castle that one." Seeing the other man's cocked eyebrow he continued, "Rick Castle, he's shadowing my partner."
"Castle… Castle…" he repeated quietly before suddenly snapping his fingers. "The writer? He's following your partner? Why?"
"Research for his books but I'm thinking it's less about research now and more about my partner," he answered with a smile.
Ryan refilled his empty glass and set down the bottle on the bar, "You cool with that?"
Esposito instantly nodded, "Wasn't sure about him at first but he's a good guy, if my partner can ever realize she likes him I'd be fine with it."
"You got a picture of your partner? I like faces to go with names." He took the other man's phone when it was offered and whistled, "I'd be hanging around too. Don't think I've ever met a cop that looked like that before." Both men laughed and the two continued talking lightly as the hours flew by until a large yawn escaped Ryan, "Last call man, I'm beat."
Esposito looked at his watch and whistled, "Wow didn't realize how late it was." He threw down a few bills on the counter and stood as he stretched and slid on his jacket, his eyes watching the other man flitter around switching off lights and slipping on a brown leather jacket. "What about the till? Break in's are pretty common."
Something about that statement must have been funny because Ryan began to laugh, "Don't have to worry about anybody breaking in here."
"Your girlfriend going to be pissed you stayed out so late?"
Ryan frowned in confusion, "You talking about the girl from earlier?" At his nod he shook his head, "Saoirse's got a great mouth on her," he began with a lecherous grin, "but as soon as she uses it to talk I'm reminded of why funding for public schools is so important. I need somebody that keeps me on my toes, not someone who just smiles and nods when I speak about anything that's more complicated than the colors of the rainbow. So to answer your question, no, no one will be pissed I stayed out late. Only thing waiting for me is a comfy couch and warm bed. What about you?"
Esposito shook his head as he exited the bar followed by the shorter man who locked the door and pocketed his key ring. "Got out of a relationship a couple months ago, just starting to get over it."
"What happened?"
Esposito kept his eyes trained on Ryan as he answered, "I came home to him with somebody else." Ryan froze for a second and looked away from Esposito as a frown covered his face. "Something wrong Catholic boy?" he asked with a hard tone.
He shook his head quickly and looked up, embarrassment coloring his cheeks. "No! No, you just didn't strike me as…"
"Gay," Esposito finished.
Ryan was blushing furiously as he walked towards the end of the building, hands stuffed into his pockets. "I don't judge bro, I take the love from where I can get it if ya catch my drift. You just didn't seem the type, caught me off guard."
Taking the apology at face value the detective smiled, "Sorry about going on the defense, I take enough crap from people now I just react."
"No worries have a good night."
Esposito waved to the other man and watched as he continued walking down the block whistling an Irish tune until he turned a corner and disappeared. This little friendship he had fell upon was giving him something to look forward to, a familiar face that didn't judge him and would listen quietly to anything he wanted to say. He enjoyed talking to Ryan, enjoyed staring into his beautiful blue eyes as they conversed about whatever they felt like that day. It was exciting that maybe one day it could be more but for the time being he was happy to just have someone to go to after work.
It was a Tuesday afternoon and he was grabbing a late lunch after taking a break from paperwork when he looked across the street and noticed a familiar face talking to a large man with red hair. The two seemed to be in a heated discussion and Esposito watched as they walked around the corner of the building and into the alleyway. Knowing he shouldn't but finding he couldn't help it he threw away the rest of his food and jogged across the street to try to listen to the conversation. Ryan knew a little about him from his ramblings but he knew absolutely nothing about Ryan. He hadn't noticed it until recently but when they spoke the bartender only answered in vague statements or questions that redirected focus away from himself. All he really knew was he was a bartender, had a sister, and was bi. Not very much compared to everything he had spoken about, it was alarming how easy it was to share with someone he knew nothing about. Arriving at the entryway of the alley he stood off to the side and tried to hear what was being said.
"You best do what you're told, he don't like repeatin' 'imself."
Ryan's familiar voice spoke next, his tone angry. "If he had something to say he'd say it to my face ya fuckin' prick. Now why don't you quit acting the maggot and go fuck yourself?"
"You think you're so tough ya little gobshite? I could break ya in half!" The sounds of a scuffle met his ears and he carefully peered around the corner where the man was slamming Ryan against the side of the building a full foot off the ground. The red head's large hands were clenched in Ryan's jacket and he almost intervened but stayed back when Ryan pulled a pistol out of his jacket and pressed it to the other man's gut.
"Put me down or I'll make you Danny Boy." Apparently the threat was real enough that Danny dropped him and stepped back a hair. Once his feet were back on the pavement he shook his head, "Now stop making a scene before somebody notices. You know this is why I'm in charge of it and not you even though you're head's so far up his ass you can't see daylight. I always do as I'm told, I gave him the orders and the cash will be there tonight. I'm not new at this you fuckhead and you best remember that or ya might be missing a kneecap soon."
Both men glared at each other until Danny began to turn and Ryan stuck his weapon back in his jacket. Esposito pulled back barely in time and took a few steps away.
The large man suddenly appeared with an angry expression and stormed down the sidewalk shoving people out of the way. A moment later Ryan appeared with a cocky look only to have it morph into a true grin when he spotted Esposito. "Detective! Fancy seeing you here."
He couldn't help but smile back at the familiar smirk but his mind was still on everything he had heard. What was Ryan in to? "Just grabbing some lunch. How's it going?"
Ryan shrugged, "Good, just wandering about a bit on this fine day. Working a case?"
"Nah, just paperwork man. They don't tell you about all the paperwork when you become a cop." Esposito's phone began to ring and with a sigh he pulled it out. "Esposito… on my way."
"Duty calls," Ryan exclaimed with a hint of sadness in his voice.
He slid his phone back in his pocket, "Never lets up. Hey uh… I have to see how this body plays out but if you're not busy maybe we can hang out later. Pizza, beer, and a game?" He watched as the blue eyes that had been worming their way into his dreams narrowed. Time seemed to stand still and he was sure he was going to say no. Maybe he was being too forward, maybe he had misread the entire situation because Ryan seemed to be eyeing him like this was all an elaborate scheme to an uncertain end.
"As long as it's not the crap beer you drink I'm in," he finally replied.
Esposito laughed, "Done. Give me your number and I'll give you a call once I know what's going on with the case."
Ryan nodded and read off his number before waving goodbye to the detective who was already backing away with a smile.
Esposito's smile fell as soon as he turned, what was he even doing? There was obviously something illegal going on with Ryan and he had just threatened someone with a deadly weapon. He should be arresting him not inviting him to his place but there was just something about him that he couldn't ignore, couldn't deny. All he could do was pray that whatever was going on they both wouldn't be destroyed by it.