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asphaltcowgrrl ([personal profile] asphaltcowgrrl) wrote2018-12-11 02:57 pm

Rumor Chapter 2 (Romani Detective Original Fiction)

Title: Rumor Chapter 2
Fandom: Romani Detective Original Fiction
Pairing: Gen with a hint of Andrej/Zayne (‘cause Andy wishes)
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 2,045
Summary: Andrej overthinks their day and indulges in more ways that one.
Author’s Note: Um, it’s only been a month between chapters. Sorry?

Continued from here.

Andrej dropped his work bag on the couch before heading into the kitchen. Normally, alcohol wasn’t part of his evening routine but after the day he’d had, he was in desperate need of something to take the edge off. And since what he wanted wasn’t available to him, a shot of the plum brandy he had imported from his homeland would have to suffice.

“Noroc,” he muttered automatically before knocking back the strong liquor. Zayne called it Romanian moonshine but since he’d never had any kind of moonshine before, Andrej had nothing to compare it with. What he did know, however, is that it did the trick.

He poured himself a second shot and left it sitting on the kitchen counter while he changed out of his suit. Tossing his jacket and pants into the dry clean basket, he hung his tie with the others on the rack made for that purpose. Unbuttoning his shirt, he caught his reflection in the mirror and sighed. Ever since his captain had told him another department was after him, he hadn’t been sleeping well. While he’d always wanted to be the best detective he could be, Andrej truly didn’t want to leave homicide. Not only was he good at this kind of investigation, he’d miss Zayne and the girls, as well as the little family they’d formed over the years.

Andrej wasn’t sure if he had it in him to rebuild all of this in another department.

With a groan, he tossed his shirt and underwear into the laundry basket. He wandered into his bedroom naked, grabbing pajama pants and an old t-shirt. Andrej smiled when he realized the shirt he’d taken out of his dresser was one of Zayne’s.

“You do not belong in here,” he told the worn piece of cotton as he pulled it over his head. “You belong in Zayne’s room. I will be sure to return you when I do laundry this weekend.”

Andrej returned to the kitchen, barefoot, and picked up his glass, taking care to sip this second serving. He wasn’t sure what was going on with him, he’d had long days before today. Why was it weighing so heavily on him now?

“You know why,” he scolded himself.

And it was true. He knew his feelings for his partner were making everything more difficult to deal with. Everything except the case, that is, because the case had nothing to do with the two of them. But his possible transfer coupled with the inane rumor that they were dating did.

It was all his fault, too. Had he never kissed Zayne, had he been more observant and not gotten drugged…

“Enough,” he said, knocking back the rest of the liquor in his glass.

Nothing was going to change by berating himself. He hadn’t had any reason to suspect the food and drink were spiked that night. Even if he had, how could he have known he’d tell Zayne he loved him? A smile crept onto Andrej’s face. Not that Zayne had had any idea what he’d said that night, but even so, Andrej had confessed his greatest sin under the influence of whatever he’d ingested.

What he didn’t understand was how the entire station seemed to know his feelings. Trish had suggested that they were making inferences based on how close he and Zayne were. She was likely right, but it still made Andrej uneasy to think that someone he didn’t know very well knew the truth.

Andrej rose to serve himself an unprecedented third glass of alcohol when there was a knock on his door. Sighing, he looked through the peephole and found his partner on the porch. Zayne was half turned towards the street, watching a car move down the road, his detective’s instincts never resting.

His fingers moved towards the doorknob, but hesitated. There was something so alluring about Zayne when he was alone like this. Not putting on a show, not trying to be anything but the man that he was. It was what first drew Andrej to him, long before he got to know the sometimes arrogant, always endearing cowboy. Andrej hated to end the moment, but the wind that had kicked up during the afternoon continued to blow relentlessly.

“Zayne,” he said, opening the door to allow his partner inside. “I was not expecting you.”

“I hadn’t planned on coming over,” Zayne said, coming inside and removing his boots. A smile turned his lips upwards, sending Andrej’s heart into overdrive. “Nice jammies,” he said, tugging at the pajama pants decorated with penguins in board shorts. “And I think this shirt might be mine. It’s a little big for your scrawny frame.”

Andrej’s fingers flew to the collar of the t-shirt he was wearing, embarrassed to be caught wearing Zayne’s clothes, even if he had been the one to wash them. “I did not realize it was yours until I was wearing it,” he lied.

Zayne chuckled as he walked into the living room. “I don’t care,” he said. “I must have left it here the last time I stayed over. Guess that makes it fair game.”

Watching as Zayne made himself at home in his favorite spot, Andrej tried not to be too obvious. Everything about Zayne made him want to stare, from his handsome face to his lean, muscular form. Suddenly, Andrej needed that shot of courage. “Can I get you a drink?”

“Are you okay, Zek?” Zayne tilted his head upwards, studying Andrej. “You look a little unsteady.”

“I am fine.”

“Holy shit,” Zayne said, as realization dawned. “You’re drunk, aren’t you?”

He wasn’t even close. Although he generally refrained from drinking at all, when he chose to indulge, he found he had a much higher tolerance than most people he knew. Aside from his own brothers, that was. “I am not. I have had a couple drinks but I am far from drunk, Zayne.”

However, he was pleasantly buzzed and feeling things he knew he couldn’t make good on, either.

“Would you like something to drink,” he repeated.

“Sure,” Zayne said. “Hit me with whatever you’re drinking. This ought to be fun.”

Andrej hesitated. While Zayne’s poison of choice, tequila, could be quite potent, it wasn’t half as strong as the țuică he’d been drinking. He’d never served it to Zayne or anyone before and was wary of doing so now. “Are you positive? It can be quite strong if you are not used to it.”

“Can’t possibly be any wore than the lighter fluid my brother used to sneak out and buy.” Zayne grinned. “My dad kept the good shit under lock and key because of Robbie. I think my dad was hoping he would get tired of the cheap shit and give it up completely. Never happened.”

“It never does,” Andrej agreed. “Okay, I will be right back. If you need to crash after, you are welcome to use your room like usual.”

“Thanks,” Zayne said. “But one little drink isn’t going to put me under the table.”

They’d see about that, he supposed. He refilled his glass and poured a fresh one for Zayne and brought both into the living room.

Zayne took the glass from Andrej and held it under his nose. “Damn, that even smells strong.”

Andrej smiled. “Wait until you taste it.” He held his glass out and repeated his toast from earlier. “Noroc.”

“Cheers, baby,” Zayne said, lifting his glass and then bringing it to his lips. He took a long swallow and immediately started to cough.

“I warned you,” Andrej muttered, getting up and smacking Zayne on the back a couple times.

“Holy guacamole,” he laughed. “I thought you were exaggerating. Man.”

Andrej finished his own off in one long swallow. He knew better than to have any more, but something was pushing him to tempt fate. “Would you like another?”

Zayne looked down at the glass and laughed. “Why the hell not? You only live once, right? And this shit might just kill us both.”

“Promise me you won’t be angry if you wake up in my bed in the morning,” he joked, halfway to the kitchen.

“I’ve woken up in worse places,” Zayne sighed. “At least you’d feed me breakfast after taking advantage of me.”

That stopped Andrej in his tracks. “I would never take advantage of you.”

“Too much more of that shit and I might take advantage of you,” Zayne said.

“You want me to bring out the bottle,” Andrej said and immediately regretted it. “I’m sorry. I –”

“Stop,” Zayne said, waving an unconcerned hand at Andrej. “The last thing that would ever upset me is a little good-natured flirting, even from another man.” He gave his partner a critical once over. “And shit, you’re at least good looking. Unlike that asshole Ramos.”

“He is ugly inside and out,” Andrej agreed. “I will be right back.”

He returned a moment later with another round and a box of cookies from a local bakery. “It is probably too late to stop the absorption of alcohol into our systems,” he said by way of explanation, “but I’ve always liked something sweet with my țuică.”

Zayne took an oatmeal walnut cookie out of the box and took a bite, washing it down with a delicate sip of the brandy. “Mmm, I can see why. Nice.” He set the glass down beside him and closed his eyes. “This is some strong ass stuff, baby. How do you drink it?”

“It is served at mealtimes back home. And you always offer a drink to guests. I guess you get used to it.” Andrej rubbed his eyes. The alcohol was beginning to do its number on him, but he knew he couldn’t let Zayne drive home after what he’d had either.

“You’ve never offered it to me before,” Zayne said sleepily.

“It is expensive to have it brought into the US,” he explained, trying not to yawn himself. “I try to save it for special occasions.”

“Today was special?”

“No, today was simply difficult.”

“Today was a bitch,” Zayne agreed. He picked the glass back up and drained the contents. “That was probably a bad idea, but I couldn’t let it go to waste.”

“You will regret it in the morning,” Andrej confirmed. He rose to take their glasses into the kitchen. “Until then, you can go sleep in your room.”

Zayne looked at him with heavy lidded eyes. “You don’t want to share your bed with me anymore?”

Andrej wasn’t sure how to respond to that. “With everything that is being said at the office, do you think it is a good idea to share a bed in the state we’re in?”

“Have I ever had a good idea?”

“You have had a few.”

“This is probably not one of them though,” Zayne said, rising from the chair and stopping in front of Andrej. “But I can’t stop thinking about what it’d be like to kiss you again. No false pretenses, no pent-up secrets.”

Before Andrej could protest, Zayne grabbed him by the t-shirt and pulled him close, locking his mouth over Andrej’s. He was just drunk enough to not fight it, although somewhere deep down he knew that he should. Instead, he gave in to desire and wrapped his arms around Zayne’s neck. Zayne’s fingers released their grip on the t-shirt and worked their way around Andrej’s back, settling into place at the curve of Andrej’s hips.

Too soon, Zayne broke the kiss and looked at Andrej, breathing hard. “You make me wish I was at least bi, honey. If you kiss like that, I can’t even imagine what you’re like in bed.”

Embarrassed, Andrej pulled out of Zayne’s embrace. “Go sleep in your room. I’ll wake you in the morning.”

Zayne licked his lips and allowed his fingers to linger on Andrej’s arms. “Good night.”

“Good night, Zayne,” he said, heading towards the kitchen with their glasses. Which is what he should have done in the first place. Maybe, if he was lucky, neither of them would remember any of this in the morning. Because if anyone at the station got wind of them sharing yet another kiss, they’d never be able to dispel the rumors. Hell, it’d only fuel the flames.

Will continue here.

[identity profile] sharpiesgal.livejournal.com 2018-12-12 03:44 am (UTC)(link)
Hmmmm.....

Zayne needs to stop lying to himself. He is bi....lol

They both are gonna feel like shit in the morning.

[identity profile] asphaltcowgrrl.livejournal.com 2018-12-12 03:57 am (UTC)(link)
I think he's the only one who doesn't know. :)

Oh you have no idea. That stuff's like 65% alcohol. Makes tequila look tame. :D

(It's probably a good thing Jay's not in the picture yet or there'd be true hell to pay.)