![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
asphaltcowgrrlTitle: Cold Coffee Collusions
Fandom: Romani Detective original fiction
Pairing: Andrej Zeklos/Zayne Reyes
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 1,961
Summary: Andrej has always been full of ideas, but this might be his most insane idea yet. Takes place approximately three to four months after Same Old Love ends.
Author’s Note: Written for the Say What? Challenge at 1_million_words. The quote was: "Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people." – Eleanor Roosevelt. I figured Andrej = ideas, Trish and James = events, and Zayne and Hilary = gossip. I might have lost the point of the prompt, but I think it’s fun anyway.
“What are you two talking about,” Reyes asked, pushing between Zek and the ginger so that he could stand between them. “I don’t like it when you huddle together and start whispering like that.”
“Got a complex, cowboy?” James moved to the left, giving Zayne some room to move, bumping his backside against the water cooler in the process. “Things,” he finally said in response to the Texan’s earlier comment. “We were talking about things.”
“Ideas,” Andrej clarified, taking a sip from his coffee mug. “More specifically, we were discussing what to do with my spare room. I already have a bedroom and an office. Four rooms was more than I needed, I think.”
“I told him he should make it into a gym,” James said. “Or a small library. You have enough books, you know.”
Andrej lifted a shoulder in acknowledgement. “I like to read,” he said. “I do not understand why I receive so much harassment over it.”
“Wait,” Trish said, coming out of the break room and inserting herself into the conversation. “Are we talking about the back room that has remained oddly empty all this time?”
“Yes,” Andrej said, smiling at her. “That would be the place.”
“It needs to be made into an entertainment room,” she said. “A big screen television, a comfy couch, maybe a couple chairs and you’d be set.”
“I like the way the girl thinks,” James added. “Add a popcorn machine to the list.”
“And then all we have to do is get him to invite us all over for weekly movie nights,” Trish laughed. “Instant night out.”
“Now there’s an idea,” Zayne agreed. “I can bring the beer.”
“I’ll bring the trashy movies,” Hilary added, a large grin on her face. “I just picked up a couple good ones.”
“Is one of them the movie you were telling me about,” Zayne asked, eyes wide, smirk growing on his face. “With the crazy actress that went psycho on her cast mates?”
“Yes!” Hilary nodded and her grin broadened. “I heard that no one wants to work with her after that fiasco.”
“I’m beginning to understand why they went crazy,” Andrej muttered, looking at his nutty cast mates. Er, co-workers.
“Aw, come on, Andy. You know you want a place where we can all crash and watch movies together.” Hilary should have gone into law with the way she was able to make you agree with her, even when you didn’t at first.
Defeated, Zeklos shook his head. “It isn’t what I was planning, Hilary.”
“You put too much stock in your plans, baby,” Reyes scolded, voice gentle. “You have all these grand ideas and none of them ever see the light of day because you’re too busy organizing to actually do anything. Live a little and take a chance. Kind of like how that Kurt guy did with the actress chick we were just talking about.”
“And you wonder why you couldn’t ever maintain a relationship,” James laughed. Turning to Andrej, he tilted his head to the side and wiggled his eyebrows. “Whatever decision you make, I’ll help you put it into action. Move stuff, hang the big screen.”
“I can pick out the couch for you, too,” Trish suggested. “I’ve been told I have good taste.”
“You do have good taste,” Andrej assured her. “I’ve seen your apartment, it’s very tasteful and bright. But does no one care what I wanted to do with the room, or are you all determined to make it into what you want?”
“I guess that depends,” Zayne said, leaning into Andrej’s side.
“On?” He couldn’t help but be a bit wary of his partner when he got like this. Zayne had sweet talked him into more than a few sketchy things with those big, green eyes.
“On what you’d planned on doing with it,” Zayne chuckled. “Duh, baby.”
Duh, indeed. “Should I tell him, Jay?”
Trish’s phone rang, and then Hilary’s, turning both detectives’ happy moods sour. “Damnit,” Trish swore. “Just when we were about to get Andy to cave.”
“We can work on him later,” Hil said, giving a tug to Trish’s arm. “But right now, we’ve got a case to handle. See you two later.”
“Bye,” Zayne and Andrej said, watching the ladies vacate the breakroom.
James shrugged once they were gone. “That’s up to you. You can tell him or you can go along with this idiotic plot to turn Zayne’s new bedroom into a movie theater.”
Reyes’ brows crinkled. “But I already have a room at Zek’s place, why do I need another?”
James looked at Andrej and winked. Placing a kiss on his boyfriend’s forehead, he looked at Zayne. “Isn’t it kind of… small though?”
“I don’t spend much time in there, just now and then when I’m too tired – or drunk – to drive home.”
“I guess you’re right, he really is oblivious,” James said, squeezing Andrej’s shoulder. “I need to get back downstairs before Jake comes looking for me. Let me know if he ever figures it out.”
Zeklos gave him a sad little smile. “I’m not sure he ever will, especially with those two pushing for a big screen television. You know how much he loves his reality shows. But I’ll keep you informed.”
“I’m holding you to that,” James said, giving the boys a wave as he left for his own floor.
Andrej took another sip of his almost forgotten coffee and made a face. It had gone cold while he’d been listening to his friends determine what he was going to do with his spare room. Hot, the coffee was only just tolerable, but cold? It was disgusting. “Bah,” he spat.
“It got nasty, huh?” Zayne made a face. “You want me to top it off with the fresh stuff in the pot?”
“No,” Andrej sighed. “I want to go and get some real coffee; a cup that tastes like it’s not flavored with motor oil.”
“We can do that,” Reyes said. “I’ll even spring for a cup if you tell me what you and the ginger were gabbing about. What do I need to figure out?”
Setting his coffee mug on the breakroom counter, Andrej used his now free hand to rub the back of his neck. “My initial plan – and what I’d been discussing with Jay – was moving you out of your old room and into the spare.”
“Because it’s larger?” Zayne’s eyes narrowed and it was obvious he still wasn’t getting the hint.
“Yes,” Andrej said, taking a chance and lifting his eyes to meet Zayne’s. Although Zayne had been working through his issues, even going so far as telling his parents he was in a relationship with his partner – Reyes had conveniently left James out of the conversation for now, for obvious reasons – Zeklos was still wary about pushing him. “I figured you’d be more comfortable living out of a larger room. But I could be wrong. Jay said you might say no.” Zeklos stopped rubbing his neck and sighed. “Let’s go procure some coffee, I’m in desperate need of some caffeine right now.” Because drinking alcohol on the job was severely frowned upon, no matter how badly the detective in question might need a nip. Coffee would have to suffice for now.
Andrej was ten feet from the breakroom before he realized his partner wasn’t following. Turning around, he shoved his hands into his pockets and lifted an eyebrow. “Are you coming, Zayne? I remember you promising to pay.” Zeklos’ heart lodged in his throat as he waited for his partner to move, speak, or do something, anything, other than stand where he was, looking confused.
Zayne shook himself out of his stupor and jogged to Zeklos’ side, half smile firmly fitted to his lips. “No, I’m absolutely coming with you. I might be way off base here but…”
“But?” It was hard, but somehow Andrej managed to keep the terror at bay.
“But,” Zayne repeated, “to my addled brain it sounds like you’re asking me to move in with you.”
Andrej allowed the corners of his mouth to turn up the tiniest of bits as relief coursed through him. “Really? Why would I do that?” Other than the fact that he was head over boots for the cowboy, but that went without saying since it was common knowledge at this point.
“Because you told me you loved me,” Zayne replied, sounding unsure of his words.
“I did,” Zeklos agreed. “And I still do.”
Zayne pushed the door open and let the two of them out onto the front steps of the station. “Does that mean I’m not grasping at straws?”
“You’re not grasping at anything but possibly getting out of that tiny apartment you’ve been living in,” Andrej countered, worried that Jay’s offhanded prediction would prove to be true.
Reyes grabbed his arm, stopping Zeklos in his tracks. “So, you really want me to move in?”
“Yes,” Andrej assured him. “Jay and I both want you to move in.”
“Wait,” Zayne said, cocky grin firmly in place. “That narco’s not moving in, too, is he?”
He couldn’t help it, Zeklos had to laugh. Zayne’s face was so earnest and horrified that it was amusing. “No, Zayne, he’s not. Not yet anyway.”
“Why not,” Reyes asked, resuming his forward motion. “I thought he’d move in long before me. Not that I ever thought…”
“I know,” Andrej said, reaching out and touching Zayne’s arm briefly. “But James says you and I have known each other long enough to survive cohabitating. He and I still have a ways to go before we hit that point, but we’re getting closer.”
“He’s okay with us living together, unsupervised?” Reyes gave a little wiggle to his eyebrows to emphasize his meaning.
“Indeed,” Zeklos chuckles. “He said to be prepared for many unannounced visits, however.”
“That dog,” Reyes cackled. “I like his style. When do you want me?”
All the time, he thought. “When is your lease up?”
“Two months,” Reyes answered. “But I can get out of it in six weeks.”
That was actually good news because it gave Zayne time to think about this before making a commitment he might regret. It also gave him time to ease his parents into the idea of their son living with another man. To date, the Reyes’ had been unusually accepting of Zayne’s situation, even though neither quite understood how their son had wound up in such a relationship. They were working on it, with a little help from Trish Rollins. It helped that Trish had a good relationship with her parents, something that neither Zek nor James could claim. She’d made the most progress in helping Zayne’s parents understand that you couldn’t choose who you loved.
“I suppose we ought to start moving you soon,” Zeklos suggested. “Whether your lease is up or not,” he began, unsure if he should really say what was on his mind, “you’re welcome to start staying over anytime you’d like.”
“And if I’d like to move in tonight?”
Andrej’s heart fluttered at the possibility. “I’d suggest you pack a suitcase.”
“Consider it done,” Reyes teased. “And on that note, I’ll buy you a donut to go with that coffee, baby. It’s the least I can do.”
Zayne slung his arm across Zeklos’ shoulders and hugged him in tight. Leaning into the solid warmth that was Reyes’ body, Andrej allowed himself this one moment of PDA on the way to his car. He was two parts afraid and one part excited to see what the future held for them once Zayne was fully living under his roof. Torment and delight all wrapped into one.
He supposed they’d figure it out right about the time James decided he wanted to move in, too.
Fandom: Romani Detective original fiction
Pairing: Andrej Zeklos/Zayne Reyes
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 1,961
Summary: Andrej has always been full of ideas, but this might be his most insane idea yet. Takes place approximately three to four months after Same Old Love ends.
Author’s Note: Written for the Say What? Challenge at 1_million_words. The quote was: "Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people." – Eleanor Roosevelt. I figured Andrej = ideas, Trish and James = events, and Zayne and Hilary = gossip. I might have lost the point of the prompt, but I think it’s fun anyway.
“What are you two talking about,” Reyes asked, pushing between Zek and the ginger so that he could stand between them. “I don’t like it when you huddle together and start whispering like that.”
“Got a complex, cowboy?” James moved to the left, giving Zayne some room to move, bumping his backside against the water cooler in the process. “Things,” he finally said in response to the Texan’s earlier comment. “We were talking about things.”
“Ideas,” Andrej clarified, taking a sip from his coffee mug. “More specifically, we were discussing what to do with my spare room. I already have a bedroom and an office. Four rooms was more than I needed, I think.”
“I told him he should make it into a gym,” James said. “Or a small library. You have enough books, you know.”
Andrej lifted a shoulder in acknowledgement. “I like to read,” he said. “I do not understand why I receive so much harassment over it.”
“Wait,” Trish said, coming out of the break room and inserting herself into the conversation. “Are we talking about the back room that has remained oddly empty all this time?”
“Yes,” Andrej said, smiling at her. “That would be the place.”
“It needs to be made into an entertainment room,” she said. “A big screen television, a comfy couch, maybe a couple chairs and you’d be set.”
“I like the way the girl thinks,” James added. “Add a popcorn machine to the list.”
“And then all we have to do is get him to invite us all over for weekly movie nights,” Trish laughed. “Instant night out.”
“Now there’s an idea,” Zayne agreed. “I can bring the beer.”
“I’ll bring the trashy movies,” Hilary added, a large grin on her face. “I just picked up a couple good ones.”
“Is one of them the movie you were telling me about,” Zayne asked, eyes wide, smirk growing on his face. “With the crazy actress that went psycho on her cast mates?”
“Yes!” Hilary nodded and her grin broadened. “I heard that no one wants to work with her after that fiasco.”
“I’m beginning to understand why they went crazy,” Andrej muttered, looking at his nutty cast mates. Er, co-workers.
“Aw, come on, Andy. You know you want a place where we can all crash and watch movies together.” Hilary should have gone into law with the way she was able to make you agree with her, even when you didn’t at first.
Defeated, Zeklos shook his head. “It isn’t what I was planning, Hilary.”
“You put too much stock in your plans, baby,” Reyes scolded, voice gentle. “You have all these grand ideas and none of them ever see the light of day because you’re too busy organizing to actually do anything. Live a little and take a chance. Kind of like how that Kurt guy did with the actress chick we were just talking about.”
“And you wonder why you couldn’t ever maintain a relationship,” James laughed. Turning to Andrej, he tilted his head to the side and wiggled his eyebrows. “Whatever decision you make, I’ll help you put it into action. Move stuff, hang the big screen.”
“I can pick out the couch for you, too,” Trish suggested. “I’ve been told I have good taste.”
“You do have good taste,” Andrej assured her. “I’ve seen your apartment, it’s very tasteful and bright. But does no one care what I wanted to do with the room, or are you all determined to make it into what you want?”
“I guess that depends,” Zayne said, leaning into Andrej’s side.
“On?” He couldn’t help but be a bit wary of his partner when he got like this. Zayne had sweet talked him into more than a few sketchy things with those big, green eyes.
“On what you’d planned on doing with it,” Zayne chuckled. “Duh, baby.”
Duh, indeed. “Should I tell him, Jay?”
Trish’s phone rang, and then Hilary’s, turning both detectives’ happy moods sour. “Damnit,” Trish swore. “Just when we were about to get Andy to cave.”
“We can work on him later,” Hil said, giving a tug to Trish’s arm. “But right now, we’ve got a case to handle. See you two later.”
“Bye,” Zayne and Andrej said, watching the ladies vacate the breakroom.
James shrugged once they were gone. “That’s up to you. You can tell him or you can go along with this idiotic plot to turn Zayne’s new bedroom into a movie theater.”
Reyes’ brows crinkled. “But I already have a room at Zek’s place, why do I need another?”
James looked at Andrej and winked. Placing a kiss on his boyfriend’s forehead, he looked at Zayne. “Isn’t it kind of… small though?”
“I don’t spend much time in there, just now and then when I’m too tired – or drunk – to drive home.”
“I guess you’re right, he really is oblivious,” James said, squeezing Andrej’s shoulder. “I need to get back downstairs before Jake comes looking for me. Let me know if he ever figures it out.”
Zeklos gave him a sad little smile. “I’m not sure he ever will, especially with those two pushing for a big screen television. You know how much he loves his reality shows. But I’ll keep you informed.”
“I’m holding you to that,” James said, giving the boys a wave as he left for his own floor.
Andrej took another sip of his almost forgotten coffee and made a face. It had gone cold while he’d been listening to his friends determine what he was going to do with his spare room. Hot, the coffee was only just tolerable, but cold? It was disgusting. “Bah,” he spat.
“It got nasty, huh?” Zayne made a face. “You want me to top it off with the fresh stuff in the pot?”
“No,” Andrej sighed. “I want to go and get some real coffee; a cup that tastes like it’s not flavored with motor oil.”
“We can do that,” Reyes said. “I’ll even spring for a cup if you tell me what you and the ginger were gabbing about. What do I need to figure out?”
Setting his coffee mug on the breakroom counter, Andrej used his now free hand to rub the back of his neck. “My initial plan – and what I’d been discussing with Jay – was moving you out of your old room and into the spare.”
“Because it’s larger?” Zayne’s eyes narrowed and it was obvious he still wasn’t getting the hint.
“Yes,” Andrej said, taking a chance and lifting his eyes to meet Zayne’s. Although Zayne had been working through his issues, even going so far as telling his parents he was in a relationship with his partner – Reyes had conveniently left James out of the conversation for now, for obvious reasons – Zeklos was still wary about pushing him. “I figured you’d be more comfortable living out of a larger room. But I could be wrong. Jay said you might say no.” Zeklos stopped rubbing his neck and sighed. “Let’s go procure some coffee, I’m in desperate need of some caffeine right now.” Because drinking alcohol on the job was severely frowned upon, no matter how badly the detective in question might need a nip. Coffee would have to suffice for now.
Andrej was ten feet from the breakroom before he realized his partner wasn’t following. Turning around, he shoved his hands into his pockets and lifted an eyebrow. “Are you coming, Zayne? I remember you promising to pay.” Zeklos’ heart lodged in his throat as he waited for his partner to move, speak, or do something, anything, other than stand where he was, looking confused.
Zayne shook himself out of his stupor and jogged to Zeklos’ side, half smile firmly fitted to his lips. “No, I’m absolutely coming with you. I might be way off base here but…”
“But?” It was hard, but somehow Andrej managed to keep the terror at bay.
“But,” Zayne repeated, “to my addled brain it sounds like you’re asking me to move in with you.”
Andrej allowed the corners of his mouth to turn up the tiniest of bits as relief coursed through him. “Really? Why would I do that?” Other than the fact that he was head over boots for the cowboy, but that went without saying since it was common knowledge at this point.
“Because you told me you loved me,” Zayne replied, sounding unsure of his words.
“I did,” Zeklos agreed. “And I still do.”
Zayne pushed the door open and let the two of them out onto the front steps of the station. “Does that mean I’m not grasping at straws?”
“You’re not grasping at anything but possibly getting out of that tiny apartment you’ve been living in,” Andrej countered, worried that Jay’s offhanded prediction would prove to be true.
Reyes grabbed his arm, stopping Zeklos in his tracks. “So, you really want me to move in?”
“Yes,” Andrej assured him. “Jay and I both want you to move in.”
“Wait,” Zayne said, cocky grin firmly in place. “That narco’s not moving in, too, is he?”
He couldn’t help it, Zeklos had to laugh. Zayne’s face was so earnest and horrified that it was amusing. “No, Zayne, he’s not. Not yet anyway.”
“Why not,” Reyes asked, resuming his forward motion. “I thought he’d move in long before me. Not that I ever thought…”
“I know,” Andrej said, reaching out and touching Zayne’s arm briefly. “But James says you and I have known each other long enough to survive cohabitating. He and I still have a ways to go before we hit that point, but we’re getting closer.”
“He’s okay with us living together, unsupervised?” Reyes gave a little wiggle to his eyebrows to emphasize his meaning.
“Indeed,” Zeklos chuckles. “He said to be prepared for many unannounced visits, however.”
“That dog,” Reyes cackled. “I like his style. When do you want me?”
All the time, he thought. “When is your lease up?”
“Two months,” Reyes answered. “But I can get out of it in six weeks.”
That was actually good news because it gave Zayne time to think about this before making a commitment he might regret. It also gave him time to ease his parents into the idea of their son living with another man. To date, the Reyes’ had been unusually accepting of Zayne’s situation, even though neither quite understood how their son had wound up in such a relationship. They were working on it, with a little help from Trish Rollins. It helped that Trish had a good relationship with her parents, something that neither Zek nor James could claim. She’d made the most progress in helping Zayne’s parents understand that you couldn’t choose who you loved.
“I suppose we ought to start moving you soon,” Zeklos suggested. “Whether your lease is up or not,” he began, unsure if he should really say what was on his mind, “you’re welcome to start staying over anytime you’d like.”
“And if I’d like to move in tonight?”
Andrej’s heart fluttered at the possibility. “I’d suggest you pack a suitcase.”
“Consider it done,” Reyes teased. “And on that note, I’ll buy you a donut to go with that coffee, baby. It’s the least I can do.”
Zayne slung his arm across Zeklos’ shoulders and hugged him in tight. Leaning into the solid warmth that was Reyes’ body, Andrej allowed himself this one moment of PDA on the way to his car. He was two parts afraid and one part excited to see what the future held for them once Zayne was fully living under his roof. Torment and delight all wrapped into one.
He supposed they’d figure it out right about the time James decided he wanted to move in, too.
