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asphaltcowgrrlTitle: Hors de Combat
Fandom: Romani Detective original fiction
Pairing: Andrej Zeklos/James Rosewood/Zayne Reyes
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1,241
Summary: Zayne and James like to fight. A lot. It’s beginning to make Andrej a little squirrely.
Author’s Notes: Written for the word of the day challenge at![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
1_million_words. Side note: I looked up the definition of ‘squirrely’ just to make sure it was the right word and Urban Dictionary defines it as “mildly insane”. Yeah, that fits. Sorry Andy.
“So, Hil,” Zayne said, parking his rear end on the edge of her desk. “What’s the word of the day?”
She looked up and frowned at him. “I’m beginning to regret I even told you about my new calendar,” she griped. “But today’s word is hors de combat.”
Andrej lifted his head and glanced over at the two of them. “What does that mean, Hilary?” He was always on the lookout for new words to add to his sorely antiquated vocabulary. Something to add that wouldn’t result in him being teased mercilessly by his lover, his boyfriend, and everyone else within hearing range.
“According to my calendar page it means ‘out of the fight; disabled; no longer able to fight.’” She read a sentence using the word in context before setting her day-by-day calendar back into its spot on her desk.
“How disappointing,” Zayne grumbled, sliding off her desk and meandering back to his own. “And here I was hoping it meant ‘tiny bites of battle’. Kind of like hors d'oeuvre, but with arguments.”
“You would,” Trish tossed out as she passed his desk. “But then, what wouldn’t you?”
Zayne lifted his eyebrows and leered at the redhead. “Wouldn’t you like to know, Rollins?”
“Ew,” she said, scrunching up her nose in disgust. “Not on your life, Reyes.”
Andrej shook his head, staying out of their amiable, nibble-sized disagreement. It made sense to him, but then, he lived with Zayne full-time and James part-time. As their neighbors could probably confirm, tiny bites of battle were Zayne and James’ specialty of the house every night.
Check, please!
**
It was too early in the morning to be refereeing quarrels, but there he was, standing in a pair of boxers and a t-shirt that wasn’t his, keeping Zayne from hitting James over the head with a lightsaber. Rubbing the heel of his hand against the side of his face, Andrej sighed. He never should have let Zayne buy those things when he’d seen them.
“Is there a reason behind this or are you fighting for the sake of disturbing my sleep?” Andrej looked from one man to the other and both shrugged.
“I think there was in the beginning,” James said, looking sheepish.
“But we started having too much fun to remember,” Zayne added.
“I am going back to bed,” Andrej stated, turning and heading back towards comfort and silence. “And I am locking the door behind me.”
“Well, that’s rude,” Zayne called after him.
“But maybe a bit deserved,” James finished.
**
“Stop it, narco,” Zayne shouted across the living room, deftly deflecting the projectile that was headed towards his face.
James responded by shooting another rubber band at the cowboy. “Make me.”
“Oh, I’m going to make you all right,” Zayne growled, stomping across the living room and pinning James’ body to the couch with his own.
Returning from the grocery store, Andrej stumbled into the frightening scene. Zayne atop James, his dark fingers against the pale skin of the redhead’s neck. James’ palms were pressed flat against the broad expanse of Zayne’s chest. Rolling his eyes, he walked past the two wrestling detectives. “Do not bruise one another in any place visible at work. You know I am always the one who gets blamed for any marks on ether of you.”
He had to smile at those occasions where sundry bruises and marks had been made by his person. In this case, however, he did not want his entire department believing he tried to strangle either Zayne or James. Not that anyone in either narcotics or homicide would blame him one bit if he had. Once, a detective from missing persons had mentioned his surprise that a folder containing Reyes’ face hadn’t yet landed on his desk.
“What about in places covered by clothing,” Zayne asked, moving his hands from around the ginger’s neck and resting them against his abdomen instead.
“Yeah,” James added. “Can I sock this asshole in the stomach or not?”
Andrej flicked his eyes to the ceiling, silently beseeching the powers that be for patience. “Whatever makes you both happy.”
**
He couldn’t believe how quiet the house was. Since it was mid-week, James had gone home to his own apartment after work. Zayne, on the other hand, had opted to have a couple beers with one of the other homicide detectives. It didn’t happen often, but when Zayne wanted to go party, Andrej let him.
Well, mostly. There were certain restrictions he applied to these requests, but none that he’d ever admit to having. Like, that any man – or woman – requesting his boyfriend’s attention had to be married and/or otherwise spoken for. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Zayne to not cheat, but Andrej wasn’t one to take chances either.
Placing his shoes in the closet, he collapsed into his favorite chair and closed his eyes. Andrej felt himself begin to drift off when he was startled back to wakefulness by the buzzing of his phone. Groaning, he pulled his phone out of his pocket and looked at the screen. A group text to him and James. From Zayne.
“Why me,” he muttered under his breath. Unlocking his phone, he read Zayne’s message.
The damn narco’s here, Zek. Make him go away.
Before he could respond, James put his two cents into the conversation.
So I’m not allowed to visit the same places you do, cowboy? Since when?
Since ever, Zayne replied. I’d like one night away from your pasty ass.
This again. His boyfriends loved to annoy one another nearly as much as they each enjoyed making Andrej happy. However, he had been unable as of yet to convince them that this sort of behavior never made him happy. Exiting the group message, he sent James a private text.
Did you follow Zayne to the bar?
The response was immediate.
Not exactly. Jake wanted one of Roxy’s burgers so I said I’d go with him. We walked in five minutes after the cowboy.
Andrej was tempted to text Jake, but refrained. He had to trust that James was telling the truth. Going back into the group text, he sent them both a warning.
Behave, both of you. Jay did not follow you therefore I cannot make him go away. Jay, do not bother Zayne.
He knew the response was from Zayne without looking.
You need serious texting lessons, baby. No one talks like that.
He does, James replied. But never mind. You win, cowboy. I’ll leave.
About damn time, Zayne retorted.
If you need me, I’ll be keeping your side of Andy’s bed warm.
Ouch. Normally he wouldn’t condone such blatant baiting, but Zayne did ask for it. He couldn’t help adding his own bit of bait to the pond, however.
You had better hurry, Jay. The locksmith I called to rekey all my doors is on his way.
It was mean and awful but it got his point across, too. Exiting out of the messaging app before anyone could respond, Andrej shut off his phone and tossed it onto the table beside him. Let them fume and figure out what it all means when they realize he’s not answering their texts. Smiling, Andrej leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. It wasn’t much of a victory, but he’d take what he could get because god only knew, the minute they both showed up, he’d get no rest. Tomorrow was another day…
Fandom: Romani Detective original fiction
Pairing: Andrej Zeklos/James Rosewood/Zayne Reyes
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1,241
Summary: Zayne and James like to fight. A lot. It’s beginning to make Andrej a little squirrely.
Author’s Notes: Written for the word of the day challenge at
1_million_words. Side note: I looked up the definition of ‘squirrely’ just to make sure it was the right word and Urban Dictionary defines it as “mildly insane”. Yeah, that fits. Sorry Andy.“So, Hil,” Zayne said, parking his rear end on the edge of her desk. “What’s the word of the day?”
She looked up and frowned at him. “I’m beginning to regret I even told you about my new calendar,” she griped. “But today’s word is hors de combat.”
Andrej lifted his head and glanced over at the two of them. “What does that mean, Hilary?” He was always on the lookout for new words to add to his sorely antiquated vocabulary. Something to add that wouldn’t result in him being teased mercilessly by his lover, his boyfriend, and everyone else within hearing range.
“According to my calendar page it means ‘out of the fight; disabled; no longer able to fight.’” She read a sentence using the word in context before setting her day-by-day calendar back into its spot on her desk.
“How disappointing,” Zayne grumbled, sliding off her desk and meandering back to his own. “And here I was hoping it meant ‘tiny bites of battle’. Kind of like hors d'oeuvre, but with arguments.”
“You would,” Trish tossed out as she passed his desk. “But then, what wouldn’t you?”
Zayne lifted his eyebrows and leered at the redhead. “Wouldn’t you like to know, Rollins?”
“Ew,” she said, scrunching up her nose in disgust. “Not on your life, Reyes.”
Andrej shook his head, staying out of their amiable, nibble-sized disagreement. It made sense to him, but then, he lived with Zayne full-time and James part-time. As their neighbors could probably confirm, tiny bites of battle were Zayne and James’ specialty of the house every night.
Check, please!
**
It was too early in the morning to be refereeing quarrels, but there he was, standing in a pair of boxers and a t-shirt that wasn’t his, keeping Zayne from hitting James over the head with a lightsaber. Rubbing the heel of his hand against the side of his face, Andrej sighed. He never should have let Zayne buy those things when he’d seen them.
“Is there a reason behind this or are you fighting for the sake of disturbing my sleep?” Andrej looked from one man to the other and both shrugged.
“I think there was in the beginning,” James said, looking sheepish.
“But we started having too much fun to remember,” Zayne added.
“I am going back to bed,” Andrej stated, turning and heading back towards comfort and silence. “And I am locking the door behind me.”
“Well, that’s rude,” Zayne called after him.
“But maybe a bit deserved,” James finished.
**
“Stop it, narco,” Zayne shouted across the living room, deftly deflecting the projectile that was headed towards his face.
James responded by shooting another rubber band at the cowboy. “Make me.”
“Oh, I’m going to make you all right,” Zayne growled, stomping across the living room and pinning James’ body to the couch with his own.
Returning from the grocery store, Andrej stumbled into the frightening scene. Zayne atop James, his dark fingers against the pale skin of the redhead’s neck. James’ palms were pressed flat against the broad expanse of Zayne’s chest. Rolling his eyes, he walked past the two wrestling detectives. “Do not bruise one another in any place visible at work. You know I am always the one who gets blamed for any marks on ether of you.”
He had to smile at those occasions where sundry bruises and marks had been made by his person. In this case, however, he did not want his entire department believing he tried to strangle either Zayne or James. Not that anyone in either narcotics or homicide would blame him one bit if he had. Once, a detective from missing persons had mentioned his surprise that a folder containing Reyes’ face hadn’t yet landed on his desk.
“What about in places covered by clothing,” Zayne asked, moving his hands from around the ginger’s neck and resting them against his abdomen instead.
“Yeah,” James added. “Can I sock this asshole in the stomach or not?”
Andrej flicked his eyes to the ceiling, silently beseeching the powers that be for patience. “Whatever makes you both happy.”
**
He couldn’t believe how quiet the house was. Since it was mid-week, James had gone home to his own apartment after work. Zayne, on the other hand, had opted to have a couple beers with one of the other homicide detectives. It didn’t happen often, but when Zayne wanted to go party, Andrej let him.
Well, mostly. There were certain restrictions he applied to these requests, but none that he’d ever admit to having. Like, that any man – or woman – requesting his boyfriend’s attention had to be married and/or otherwise spoken for. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Zayne to not cheat, but Andrej wasn’t one to take chances either.
Placing his shoes in the closet, he collapsed into his favorite chair and closed his eyes. Andrej felt himself begin to drift off when he was startled back to wakefulness by the buzzing of his phone. Groaning, he pulled his phone out of his pocket and looked at the screen. A group text to him and James. From Zayne.
“Why me,” he muttered under his breath. Unlocking his phone, he read Zayne’s message.
The damn narco’s here, Zek. Make him go away.
Before he could respond, James put his two cents into the conversation.
So I’m not allowed to visit the same places you do, cowboy? Since when?
Since ever, Zayne replied. I’d like one night away from your pasty ass.
This again. His boyfriends loved to annoy one another nearly as much as they each enjoyed making Andrej happy. However, he had been unable as of yet to convince them that this sort of behavior never made him happy. Exiting the group message, he sent James a private text.
Did you follow Zayne to the bar?
The response was immediate.
Not exactly. Jake wanted one of Roxy’s burgers so I said I’d go with him. We walked in five minutes after the cowboy.
Andrej was tempted to text Jake, but refrained. He had to trust that James was telling the truth. Going back into the group text, he sent them both a warning.
Behave, both of you. Jay did not follow you therefore I cannot make him go away. Jay, do not bother Zayne.
He knew the response was from Zayne without looking.
You need serious texting lessons, baby. No one talks like that.
He does, James replied. But never mind. You win, cowboy. I’ll leave.
About damn time, Zayne retorted.
If you need me, I’ll be keeping your side of Andy’s bed warm.
Ouch. Normally he wouldn’t condone such blatant baiting, but Zayne did ask for it. He couldn’t help adding his own bit of bait to the pond, however.
You had better hurry, Jay. The locksmith I called to rekey all my doors is on his way.
It was mean and awful but it got his point across, too. Exiting out of the messaging app before anyone could respond, Andrej shut off his phone and tossed it onto the table beside him. Let them fume and figure out what it all means when they realize he’s not answering their texts. Smiling, Andrej leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. It wasn’t much of a victory, but he’d take what he could get because god only knew, the minute they both showed up, he’d get no rest. Tomorrow was another day…
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Date: 2017-01-21 02:35 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-01-21 11:09 pm (UTC)Thanks! And I figured it was time he got a little revenge on those two. :)