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asphaltcowgrrlTitle: The Hand You’re Dealt Chapter 4
Fandom: Romani Detective Original Fiction
Pairing: Andrej Zeklos/James Rosewood/Zayne Reyes
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 2,323
Summary: Andrej has a meltdown that gets him nowhere.
Author’s Note: Written for the September bingo challenge at 1_million_words. I used a bunch of squares for this chapter, albeit loosely: luxurious shower or bath (likely to come back at the end), splurging on something, and intense workout.
“Okay you little bastards,” he muttered in Romanian, “what do you have to tell me now? It had better not be more bad news.
While he knew that demanding anything of the cards wasn’t a good idea, he was fed up with the stress he was feeling. Jay had been hurt physically, Zayne had been hurt emotionally, and he was stuck in the middle. It was enough to make even him swear a bit.
Shuffling the cards, he thought about everything that had happened since he first opened the box. Was he reading too much into this or was there something bigger at work that he was missing? There wasn’t anything all that sinister in James getting hurt, it was part of the job. He and Zayne had both been injured too many times to count while working a case.
“What do you really want to know,” he asked himself.
An image of his grandmother popped into his head, startling him. Not a vision, but a fond memory this time. It brought him a small measure of comfort and helped to focus his mind.
“Has the worst passed,” he asked, shuffling then dealing.
Not what he had hoped for, but not as bad as the last draw had been.
“Hmm,” he murmured, thinking. “Is it someone close to me like Zayne or Jay?”
He reshuffled, redealt, frowned. Ten of pentacles. A well-established relationship. That didn’t help at all because that could be James or it could be Trish. Different type of relationship, but both well-established. Andrej turned over another card: chariot reversed.
“Fuck,” he muttered, cringing as he did so. “I am sorry,” he muttered into the empty room. Swearing wasn’t his thing, but sometimes Zayne’s bad influence snuck out.
Looking at the card again, he sighed. Two head-strong people going at one another could be literally anyone in his inner circle. Frustrated, Andrej wrapped the deck back in their silk and retrieved the other deck, the one that had been his for longer than he could remember.
Andrej could feel the difference before he ever picked up the second deck. He knew these cards and, in return, they knew him as well. It wasn’t something he could explain, but he knew it was true. Zayne would laugh if he knew and Jay would be concerned, so he kept them hidden away and only took them out when he knew he wouldn’t be observed.
Shuffling the cards, he asked again, “Has the worst passed?”
He dealt and sighed. It was only going to get worse, it seemed.
“That is not what I wanted to hear,” he told both decks. “But I believe you. The calm before the storm, they say. Now it is my duty to figure out what the storm is and prevent it before it happens or, if nothing else, to divert it so it does not hit our little family quite so hard.”
He tucked both decks safely away for the time being, he would give it a day or so before he tried again. In the meantime, he needed to get some sleep. Rolling his desk chair back, a thought occurred to him. He flipped open his laptop and opened his browser. Scratching at the stubble growing along his jawline, he typed in a few words and hit enter.
“Ah,” he said, smiling. “This is what I need.”
Andrej added two handmade sage scented candles to his basket. He hated the smell of burning herbs, so a true smudging was out of the question. Never mind the face that he’d never in a million years be able to explain why to his boys. He was having a hard enough time reconciling the urge to buy candles with himself, he’d never convince anyone else that this was normal. Well, if he were honest, in another lifetime all this would have been perfectly acceptable.
“But not here,” he said. “Not now.”
On a whim, he added a lime scented candle to the virtual cart as well. With the way things were going, he couldn’t have enough calmness or tranquility in his life. That it was also supposed to promote a strengthening of love didn’t hurt.
To try and cover his irrationality, he added some cocoa butter body wash and a tub of avocado based body butter to the cart, laughing at the description of the latter. A thick, rich body butter that encourages love, lust, and beauty.
“Zayne will steal this,” he laughed as he clicked on the button for checkout. “He does not know it, but his instincts for this kind of thing are strong.”
Shaking his head at his ridiculous splurge, he entered his debit card information and checked out. He was pretty certain that by the time any of these items arrived, their problems will have been solved. But, having a few nice candles, a soothing body wash, and a lotion that might make his partner into an even more sex-crazed maniac could be enjoyable. All in all, he thought it was worth it.
It had been so long since he’d spent a night alone that Andrej found himself tossing and turning half the night. Usually, when he was anxious or worried about a case, he’d thump into a warm body that would instantly bring him some peace. But not tonight, not with Jay and Zayne both in their own rooms. Groaning, he looked at the alarm clock and decided to just get out of bed. Neither of his boys would be up for a good hour so he decided some yoga was in order. It’d help calm his mind and find his focus again.
Dragging himself out of bed, he slipped into a t-shirt and a pair of running shorts, getting into the most comfortable clothes he could find. He spread his mat out on the floor and flexed his toes, hearing the joints pop.
“You are getting old, Drej,” he said in the early morning quiet.
He gave his arms a good stretch before placing his hands together in front of his heart, palms together, and closing his eyes. Andrej took a few, slow, deep breaths to center himself before moving into his first asana. It took a bit to feel comfortable since he hadn’t practiced in some time, but eventually the transitions began to flow more easily, his breath connecting with his body, his body with the earth.
Relaxed, he sat on the mat and stretched his sore muscles, reveling in the feel of peace humming through his body. Andrej wiped the sweat out of his eyes and looked at his watch. He had enough time to shower and get dressed before either Zayne or James started stirring for the day. Getting to his feet, he hustled towards his bedroom.
“Damn,” Zayne grunted as Andrej’s body collided with his own. “You’re nasty, Zek. What the hell have you and the narco been doing.”
“I have not been with Jay,” he said.
“Uh-huh,” Zayne said, reaching out and tugging on a damp curl of dark hair. “Why are you drenched in sweat then?” He leaned in closer and took a long, deep breath. “Although, you don’t smell like him either.”
Andrej swatted at the hand still tugging on his hair. Zayne released his grip and took a step backwards.
“I was doing yoga,” he said, bracing for the usual jokes that followed that statement.
“What the hell kind of yoga makes you sweat like this,” Zayne asked, following Andrej into his bedroom. “I thought it was supposed to be this gentle form of meditation or something.”
“It can be,” Andrej agreed, pulling his shirt over his head and tossing it into the laundry basket. “If you do it correctly.”
“Sounds like sex,” Zayne laughed.
“Doesn’t everything sound like sex to you, cowboy?”
Andrej turned around at the sound of James’ voice.
“Hmm,” the redhead murmured.
“It is not what you think,” Andrej said, pushing his shorts to the floor and hooking them on one foot. Picking them off his toes, he tossed them in with the other dirty clothes.
“Right,” Zayne said, batting his eyelashes at James. “He was doing yoga.”
“And I’m supposed to believe that shit,” he half asked.
“I think I forgot to roll my mat up,” Andrej said, reaching into the shower to turn the water on. “You can go look if you’d like.”
“Nah,” James said, shaking his head. “You were mostly dressed when I got in here which means Reyes didn’t get his hands on you.”
“And how the hell do you know that, narco,” Zayne teased.
“Because if you have half a brain you’d have had him naked,” James said, leaning against the wall. “I know I would have.”
“Good point,” Zayne said.
“If you two do not mind, I am going to get into the shower.”
“Don’t let us stop you,” Zayne said, grinning.
“Yeah,” James agreed. “What he said, although I am pissed I can’t get in there with you.”
“You will be good as new before you know it,” Andrej said. “How are you feeling, Jay?”
He shrugged. “Better than last night, thankfully. I’m sorry if I was an asshole, I don’t know what was wrong with me.”
“You’re a redhead,” Zayne pointed out.
“Zayne, behave,” Andrej said. “You were tired and in a lot of pain last night. Possibly hungry as well. It is only natural to be grumpy at a time like that.”
“Grumpy,” Zayne snorted. “That’s a stretch.”
“Stuff it up your ass, cowboy,” James grunted. “But if you’re feeling generous, Zayne, I could use your help getting dressed.”
“Sure,” Zayne said, leaning over and giving Andrej a kiss. “I’ll help you out.”
“Thank you, Zayne,” Andrej said. “Be careful, Jay.”
James blew him a kiss and left the bathroom with Zayne. When they were gone, he stepped under the hot spray of water, letting it hit his skin and praying it washed away all the bad luck he’d been accumulating lately. He never dreamed it’d be such a indulgence to simply wash his hair but for that moment, it was the most luxurious thing he’d ever experienced. The only thing that was missing was his boys. With James injured and Zayne a blabbermouth, it was best that he showered alone.
It took him less than twenty minutes to shower, dry his hair, and get dressed and in those twenty minutes, catastrophe had struck. Again. Entering the kitchen, he saw James bent over Zayne, neither making a sound.
“Oh no,” he whispered. “Jay, what has happened? Are you both okay?”
James looked back and Andrej and shook his head. “We’re okay, but the cowboy cut himself. He’s bleeding but not badly.”
Cursing his choice of a crisp, white shirt for the day, Andrej knelt beside Zayne and took his hand from James. “There is a first aid kit in the hall bathroom,” he said. “Will you please get it for me.”
“Yeah, sure,” James said, sounding relieved to have a job to do.
“Your handy dandy first aid kit,” Zayne chuckled. “That damn thing has seen a lot of action.”
“Mostly because of you,” Andrej sighed.
“Yeah, but I’m not the one that got a beer bottle bounded off his forehead either.”
“Who got a beer bottle bounced off his forehead,” James asked, returning to the kitchen with Andrej’s battered first aid kit.
“I did,” he said. “A very long time ago.” He smiled because it was the night Zayne admitted to having set aside a drawer in his apartment ‘just in case’ – just in case Andrej got knocked upside the head again. Accidents like that happened much too often in those days.
“We’ve gotten older and wiser since then though,” Zayne said, blood trickling slowly from the cut stretching across the palm of his outstretched hand.
“Older maybe,” Andrej muttered.
He cleaned the wound and pressed a piece of wadded gauze against it. After winding some wrap around the wound, Andrej looked up at Zayne. “You might want to visit Dr. Mulholland when we get to the station.”
“Hell no,” Zayne laughed. “She threatened us the last time we asked for her help.”
Andrej’s smile returned. “That was a different situation,” he said. “I was bleeding and in need of stitches. This time, you are only looking for a second opinion. She will not be angry about that.”
“From your ears,” Zayne grunted.
“So, wait… the fucking medical examiner stitched you up?” James’ eyes were wide with surprise. “Why?”
“He hates hospitals,” Zayne said. “Wouldn’t let me take him.”
“You can be such a dunderhead sometimes,” James said, an odd sort of fondness coloring his words.
“Okay,” Andrej said, rising to his feet and making sure he hadn’t gotten any of Zayne’s blood on his shirt or tie. “I believe we are ready to go to work. Jay, do you need a ride?”
He shook his head. “Hansen’s coming to get me but thanks.”
“We will see you at the station then,” Andrej said, kissing James lightly on the mouth. “Be safe.”
“I think you’re the one who needs to be careful,” James said. “You’re the only one of us who hasn’t gotten hurt yet.”
Andrej muttered a curse in French. “Please, whether you believe in this kind of thing or not, do not put that out into the universe.”
Zayne chuckled. “No shit. With the way our luck’s been going, why tempt fate, narco?”
“Good goddamned point, Reyes,” James said. He lifted his head to the sky and said, “I take it back. I’m sorry!”
“And you two think that I am the odd one with my cards and superstitions.” He rolled his eyes. “Come along, Zayne, we are going to be late.”
“Right,” Zayne said, giving James a quick kiss before following Andrej out of the kitchen. “Hey, you think I could drive. Yanno, just in case?”
Glaring, Andrej handed over his keys. Like Zayne had said, why tempt fate?
Fandom: Romani Detective Original Fiction
Pairing: Andrej Zeklos/James Rosewood/Zayne Reyes
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 2,323
Summary: Andrej has a meltdown that gets him nowhere.
Author’s Note: Written for the September bingo challenge at 1_million_words. I used a bunch of squares for this chapter, albeit loosely: luxurious shower or bath (likely to come back at the end), splurging on something, and intense workout.
“Okay you little bastards,” he muttered in Romanian, “what do you have to tell me now? It had better not be more bad news.
While he knew that demanding anything of the cards wasn’t a good idea, he was fed up with the stress he was feeling. Jay had been hurt physically, Zayne had been hurt emotionally, and he was stuck in the middle. It was enough to make even him swear a bit.
Shuffling the cards, he thought about everything that had happened since he first opened the box. Was he reading too much into this or was there something bigger at work that he was missing? There wasn’t anything all that sinister in James getting hurt, it was part of the job. He and Zayne had both been injured too many times to count while working a case.
“What do you really want to know,” he asked himself.
An image of his grandmother popped into his head, startling him. Not a vision, but a fond memory this time. It brought him a small measure of comfort and helped to focus his mind.
“Has the worst passed,” he asked, shuffling then dealing.
Not what he had hoped for, but not as bad as the last draw had been.
“Hmm,” he murmured, thinking. “Is it someone close to me like Zayne or Jay?”
He reshuffled, redealt, frowned. Ten of pentacles. A well-established relationship. That didn’t help at all because that could be James or it could be Trish. Different type of relationship, but both well-established. Andrej turned over another card: chariot reversed.
“Fuck,” he muttered, cringing as he did so. “I am sorry,” he muttered into the empty room. Swearing wasn’t his thing, but sometimes Zayne’s bad influence snuck out.
Looking at the card again, he sighed. Two head-strong people going at one another could be literally anyone in his inner circle. Frustrated, Andrej wrapped the deck back in their silk and retrieved the other deck, the one that had been his for longer than he could remember.
Andrej could feel the difference before he ever picked up the second deck. He knew these cards and, in return, they knew him as well. It wasn’t something he could explain, but he knew it was true. Zayne would laugh if he knew and Jay would be concerned, so he kept them hidden away and only took them out when he knew he wouldn’t be observed.
Shuffling the cards, he asked again, “Has the worst passed?”
He dealt and sighed. It was only going to get worse, it seemed.
“That is not what I wanted to hear,” he told both decks. “But I believe you. The calm before the storm, they say. Now it is my duty to figure out what the storm is and prevent it before it happens or, if nothing else, to divert it so it does not hit our little family quite so hard.”
He tucked both decks safely away for the time being, he would give it a day or so before he tried again. In the meantime, he needed to get some sleep. Rolling his desk chair back, a thought occurred to him. He flipped open his laptop and opened his browser. Scratching at the stubble growing along his jawline, he typed in a few words and hit enter.
“Ah,” he said, smiling. “This is what I need.”
Andrej added two handmade sage scented candles to his basket. He hated the smell of burning herbs, so a true smudging was out of the question. Never mind the face that he’d never in a million years be able to explain why to his boys. He was having a hard enough time reconciling the urge to buy candles with himself, he’d never convince anyone else that this was normal. Well, if he were honest, in another lifetime all this would have been perfectly acceptable.
“But not here,” he said. “Not now.”
On a whim, he added a lime scented candle to the virtual cart as well. With the way things were going, he couldn’t have enough calmness or tranquility in his life. That it was also supposed to promote a strengthening of love didn’t hurt.
To try and cover his irrationality, he added some cocoa butter body wash and a tub of avocado based body butter to the cart, laughing at the description of the latter. A thick, rich body butter that encourages love, lust, and beauty.
“Zayne will steal this,” he laughed as he clicked on the button for checkout. “He does not know it, but his instincts for this kind of thing are strong.”
Shaking his head at his ridiculous splurge, he entered his debit card information and checked out. He was pretty certain that by the time any of these items arrived, their problems will have been solved. But, having a few nice candles, a soothing body wash, and a lotion that might make his partner into an even more sex-crazed maniac could be enjoyable. All in all, he thought it was worth it.
It had been so long since he’d spent a night alone that Andrej found himself tossing and turning half the night. Usually, when he was anxious or worried about a case, he’d thump into a warm body that would instantly bring him some peace. But not tonight, not with Jay and Zayne both in their own rooms. Groaning, he looked at the alarm clock and decided to just get out of bed. Neither of his boys would be up for a good hour so he decided some yoga was in order. It’d help calm his mind and find his focus again.
Dragging himself out of bed, he slipped into a t-shirt and a pair of running shorts, getting into the most comfortable clothes he could find. He spread his mat out on the floor and flexed his toes, hearing the joints pop.
“You are getting old, Drej,” he said in the early morning quiet.
He gave his arms a good stretch before placing his hands together in front of his heart, palms together, and closing his eyes. Andrej took a few, slow, deep breaths to center himself before moving into his first asana. It took a bit to feel comfortable since he hadn’t practiced in some time, but eventually the transitions began to flow more easily, his breath connecting with his body, his body with the earth.
Relaxed, he sat on the mat and stretched his sore muscles, reveling in the feel of peace humming through his body. Andrej wiped the sweat out of his eyes and looked at his watch. He had enough time to shower and get dressed before either Zayne or James started stirring for the day. Getting to his feet, he hustled towards his bedroom.
“Damn,” Zayne grunted as Andrej’s body collided with his own. “You’re nasty, Zek. What the hell have you and the narco been doing.”
“I have not been with Jay,” he said.
“Uh-huh,” Zayne said, reaching out and tugging on a damp curl of dark hair. “Why are you drenched in sweat then?” He leaned in closer and took a long, deep breath. “Although, you don’t smell like him either.”
Andrej swatted at the hand still tugging on his hair. Zayne released his grip and took a step backwards.
“I was doing yoga,” he said, bracing for the usual jokes that followed that statement.
“What the hell kind of yoga makes you sweat like this,” Zayne asked, following Andrej into his bedroom. “I thought it was supposed to be this gentle form of meditation or something.”
“It can be,” Andrej agreed, pulling his shirt over his head and tossing it into the laundry basket. “If you do it correctly.”
“Sounds like sex,” Zayne laughed.
“Doesn’t everything sound like sex to you, cowboy?”
Andrej turned around at the sound of James’ voice.
“Hmm,” the redhead murmured.
“It is not what you think,” Andrej said, pushing his shorts to the floor and hooking them on one foot. Picking them off his toes, he tossed them in with the other dirty clothes.
“Right,” Zayne said, batting his eyelashes at James. “He was doing yoga.”
“And I’m supposed to believe that shit,” he half asked.
“I think I forgot to roll my mat up,” Andrej said, reaching into the shower to turn the water on. “You can go look if you’d like.”
“Nah,” James said, shaking his head. “You were mostly dressed when I got in here which means Reyes didn’t get his hands on you.”
“And how the hell do you know that, narco,” Zayne teased.
“Because if you have half a brain you’d have had him naked,” James said, leaning against the wall. “I know I would have.”
“Good point,” Zayne said.
“If you two do not mind, I am going to get into the shower.”
“Don’t let us stop you,” Zayne said, grinning.
“Yeah,” James agreed. “What he said, although I am pissed I can’t get in there with you.”
“You will be good as new before you know it,” Andrej said. “How are you feeling, Jay?”
He shrugged. “Better than last night, thankfully. I’m sorry if I was an asshole, I don’t know what was wrong with me.”
“You’re a redhead,” Zayne pointed out.
“Zayne, behave,” Andrej said. “You were tired and in a lot of pain last night. Possibly hungry as well. It is only natural to be grumpy at a time like that.”
“Grumpy,” Zayne snorted. “That’s a stretch.”
“Stuff it up your ass, cowboy,” James grunted. “But if you’re feeling generous, Zayne, I could use your help getting dressed.”
“Sure,” Zayne said, leaning over and giving Andrej a kiss. “I’ll help you out.”
“Thank you, Zayne,” Andrej said. “Be careful, Jay.”
James blew him a kiss and left the bathroom with Zayne. When they were gone, he stepped under the hot spray of water, letting it hit his skin and praying it washed away all the bad luck he’d been accumulating lately. He never dreamed it’d be such a indulgence to simply wash his hair but for that moment, it was the most luxurious thing he’d ever experienced. The only thing that was missing was his boys. With James injured and Zayne a blabbermouth, it was best that he showered alone.
It took him less than twenty minutes to shower, dry his hair, and get dressed and in those twenty minutes, catastrophe had struck. Again. Entering the kitchen, he saw James bent over Zayne, neither making a sound.
“Oh no,” he whispered. “Jay, what has happened? Are you both okay?”
James looked back and Andrej and shook his head. “We’re okay, but the cowboy cut himself. He’s bleeding but not badly.”
Cursing his choice of a crisp, white shirt for the day, Andrej knelt beside Zayne and took his hand from James. “There is a first aid kit in the hall bathroom,” he said. “Will you please get it for me.”
“Yeah, sure,” James said, sounding relieved to have a job to do.
“Your handy dandy first aid kit,” Zayne chuckled. “That damn thing has seen a lot of action.”
“Mostly because of you,” Andrej sighed.
“Yeah, but I’m not the one that got a beer bottle bounded off his forehead either.”
“Who got a beer bottle bounced off his forehead,” James asked, returning to the kitchen with Andrej’s battered first aid kit.
“I did,” he said. “A very long time ago.” He smiled because it was the night Zayne admitted to having set aside a drawer in his apartment ‘just in case’ – just in case Andrej got knocked upside the head again. Accidents like that happened much too often in those days.
“We’ve gotten older and wiser since then though,” Zayne said, blood trickling slowly from the cut stretching across the palm of his outstretched hand.
“Older maybe,” Andrej muttered.
He cleaned the wound and pressed a piece of wadded gauze against it. After winding some wrap around the wound, Andrej looked up at Zayne. “You might want to visit Dr. Mulholland when we get to the station.”
“Hell no,” Zayne laughed. “She threatened us the last time we asked for her help.”
Andrej’s smile returned. “That was a different situation,” he said. “I was bleeding and in need of stitches. This time, you are only looking for a second opinion. She will not be angry about that.”
“From your ears,” Zayne grunted.
“So, wait… the fucking medical examiner stitched you up?” James’ eyes were wide with surprise. “Why?”
“He hates hospitals,” Zayne said. “Wouldn’t let me take him.”
“You can be such a dunderhead sometimes,” James said, an odd sort of fondness coloring his words.
“Okay,” Andrej said, rising to his feet and making sure he hadn’t gotten any of Zayne’s blood on his shirt or tie. “I believe we are ready to go to work. Jay, do you need a ride?”
He shook his head. “Hansen’s coming to get me but thanks.”
“We will see you at the station then,” Andrej said, kissing James lightly on the mouth. “Be safe.”
“I think you’re the one who needs to be careful,” James said. “You’re the only one of us who hasn’t gotten hurt yet.”
Andrej muttered a curse in French. “Please, whether you believe in this kind of thing or not, do not put that out into the universe.”
Zayne chuckled. “No shit. With the way our luck’s been going, why tempt fate, narco?”
“Good goddamned point, Reyes,” James said. He lifted his head to the sky and said, “I take it back. I’m sorry!”
“And you two think that I am the odd one with my cards and superstitions.” He rolled his eyes. “Come along, Zayne, we are going to be late.”
“Right,” Zayne said, giving James a quick kiss before following Andrej out of the kitchen. “Hey, you think I could drive. Yanno, just in case?”
Glaring, Andrej handed over his keys. Like Zayne had said, why tempt fate?
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no subject
Date: 2018-09-20 11:47 pm (UTC)Hopefully, karma will leave them alone for awhile.
I'd pay to be the fly on the wall when Zayne gets his hands on that body butter. ;)
no subject
Date: 2018-09-21 12:25 am (UTC)You and me both, but I doubt that's going to happen. *whistles and walks away*
Hahaha... I can see him grabbing the package, opening, and saying, "What's body butter? Oh, it's lotion? So why does it say it's good for... wait, never mind. Zek? Narco? Someone come here for a minute. I need help with something!" And like idiots, they'd both come to his aid.
no subject
Date: 2018-09-21 01:05 am (UTC)*eyes halo hanging off a horn*
That's the plan, Stan. ;)
no subject
Date: 2018-09-21 05:37 pm (UTC)Yeah, now to get to a point where it's a relevant plot point. Hahaha.