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asphaltcowgrrlTitle: Dust and Water
Fandom: Romani Detective Original Fiction
Pairing: Andrej Zeklos/Zayne Reyes
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 1,299
Summary: While out searching for a piece of evidence during the height of a drought, Zayne and Andrej are caught in a sudden monsoon.
Author’s Note: Written for the Rainy Days and Mondays challenge at 1_million_words. As someone who has been caught out in many a monsoon, this is partly personal.
“Damn, it’s hot,” Zayne said, wiping a hand across his forehead. “How do you even have the motivation to kill someone in this heat?”
Andrej raised an eyebrow at him. “Our tempers have much more delicate triggers in the heat,” he told his partner.
Zayne grimaced, reminded of the argument they’d had last night for that very reason. “Okay, you’ve got a point.” He swiped at his forehead again, eyes catching on his immaculately dressed partner. “I don’t know how you’re doing this in a fucking suit though.”
“It is not comfortable,” he admitted, adjusting his tie. “However, it is how I dress every day.” He looked down at himself in slacks and a dress shirt, the suit jacket abandoned in the car as soon as they’d gotten out. Glancing back up at Zayne, he shrugged. “I do not know how else to dress.”
A smile curled one side of Zayne’s mouth. “Can’t lie, you look pretty sexy without that jacket. You should roll your shirtsleeves up because that would be…” Zayne put his fingers to his lips and made a kissing sound. “Perfection.”
“It would not be professional, no matter how good it makes me feel to hear those words.”
Laughing, Zayne kissed Andrej’s cheek, tasting the salty sweat he was battling himself. “How many days are we into this drought again?”
“One hundred and eighty-six,” Andrej said, sounding as defeated as Zayne felt.
“And no rain in the forecast?”
Andrej shook his head.
“Something had better change and soon,” he said darkly. “If it gets any hotter or drier I might spontaneously combust, Zek.”
“Jay has always said you were hot enough to do exactly that,” Andrej teased.
Zayne laughed. “Come on, let’s see if we can find the spot where this idiot supposedly ditched the murder weapon.”
With a sigh, Andrej followed Zayne into the long stretch of desert.
--
“How long have we been at this,” Zayne asked, bent over with his hands on his knees.
“Nearly two hours,” Andrej said, stopping beside his partner. “I am not one to give up, but maybe we need to call in the –”
A cloud moved across the sun, a shadow catching Zayne’s attention. “Wait, I think I see something.”
Andrej put his hands on his hips and waited until Zayne turned and excitedly waved him over. “Did you find it,” he asked, jogging over to where Zayne had stopped.
“I think so,” he said, pointing at the handle of a knife sticking out from under a rock. “Just how he said he left it.”
“Thank god,” Andrej said. “I was not sure I could do this much longer. My body was not built for this kind of heat.”
Zayne let out a dirty sounding chuckle. “We can debate that later. Right now, we need to collect this evidence.”
With a shake of his head, Andrej pulled an evidence bag out of his pocket and bent to retrieve the knife.
“Did I embarrass you or are you sunburned,” Zayne asked.
Turning towards his partner, Andrej frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Your cheeks are red,” Zayne said, circling one of his cheeks with a finger. “Yeah, you’re definitely sunburned. We’re going to need one hell of a cold shower when we get home.”
“Yours aren’t any better,” Andrej said, blinking suddenly. “What –”
Zayne brushed his fingers across Andrej’s cheek. “Am I dripping sweat on you?”
Andrej looked up, a smile spreading across his usually stoic face. Zayne glanced in the direction Andrej was looking when a loud rumble rattled their bones.
“Oh shit,” Zayne crowed. “I think we’re about to get our wish.”
“Monsoon?”
“A big fucking one from the sounds of it. You got that thing sealed?”
“I do,” Andrej confirmed, lifting up the evidence bag.
“Great.” Zayne held his hand out, grasping Andrej’s in his own and pulling his lover to his feet.
Andrej stumbled, falling into Zayne as the clouds let loose, drenching them in much needed rain. They lifted their faces to the sky, laughing at the relief they felt as the ice-cold droplets soaked their skin, their clothes, the parched earth under their feet. Zayne threaded his fingers through Andrej’s wet hair, pulling him close, pressing their mouths together.
Another rumble of thunder and a bright flash of lightning sent them running for the car. They fell into their seats, laughing and dripping water everywhere. Zayne tried to wipe a puddle of water off the dash and only making it worse by dripping more water onto it.
“I’m sorry,” he said, dissolving into laughter yet again. “I’m just soaking your entire car and I can’t stop.”
Andrej spluttered. “I am doing the same, Zayne.” He reached across the console and squeezed Zayne’s wrist. “I will have it cleaned and detailed this weekend.”
“Give the bill to the department,” Zayne suggested. He shook his head and watched the storm rage around them. “Damn, that came out of nowhere.”
“They always do,” Andrej said, reaching into the back seat and grabbing a duffel bag. “I brought towels since I knew we’d be out here in the dirt today.”
“Too bad it isn’t the dirt causing the problems,” Zayne said, taking the thick, fluffy towel Andrej offered him.
“I rather prefer the rain to the dirt,” Andrej muttered. He rubbed the towel over his head and leaned against Zayne.
“Me, too,” Zayne agreed. “The longer I live here, the more I look forward to it.” He draped his towel over the two of them. Despite the triple digit weather outside, even with the rain, he was starting to shiver.
“There is a blanket in that bag as well,” Andrej said, reading Zayne’s mind. “I was not sure why I grabbed it this morning, but thought maybe we might have to get on our hands and knees in the dirt? Whatever the reason, I did not want to ruin my suit.” He let out a strangled laugh. “I guess it was going to get ruined no matter what.”
“Maybe we can save it later,” Zayne said. He shifted and grabbed hold of the bag, dragging the blanket out and into the front seat. “Storm ought to blow through pretty soon, but we might as well warm up a bit while we wait.”
Zayne draped the blanket over them, and Andrej reclaimed his spot on Zayne’s shoulder. He thought about another time they’d been caught in a storm like this and his partner’s suggestions weren’t nearly as innocent. Secretly, he hoped the storm raged for a bit longer. They never got quiet time like this any longer. It was nice, peaceful, comfortable.
Tugging the blanket closer, Andrej sighed.
“That good, eh,” Zayne teased. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes, arms wrapped protectively around his lover.
“Yes,” Andrej said, laughing at his own willingness to do nothing while officially on the clock. In his defense, there wasn’t any way he could safely drive in this downpour either. “This – it is the best thing I have experienced in many weeks.”
Zayne dipped his head lower and whispered a promise. “We’ll have to make more time for cuddling then. In bed, on the couch, just no more of this in the middle of nowhere bullshit, okay baby?”
“I would like that very much,” he said. “Just you and me.”
“No narco?”
“Not unless you want Jay there,” Andrej confirmed.
“Well,” Zayne said, brushing a damp lock of hair off Andrej’s face. “Maybe if he’s behaving himself.”
Andrej laughed. “I will remind you of this later.”
“I hope you do, baby,” he teased. “I hope you do.”
Zayne rested his head on top of Andrej’s and watched the rain fall, pounding against the glass, the hood, and the desert foliage surrounding them. He’d never been more at peace.
Fandom: Romani Detective Original Fiction
Pairing: Andrej Zeklos/Zayne Reyes
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 1,299
Summary: While out searching for a piece of evidence during the height of a drought, Zayne and Andrej are caught in a sudden monsoon.
Author’s Note: Written for the Rainy Days and Mondays challenge at 1_million_words. As someone who has been caught out in many a monsoon, this is partly personal.
“Damn, it’s hot,” Zayne said, wiping a hand across his forehead. “How do you even have the motivation to kill someone in this heat?”
Andrej raised an eyebrow at him. “Our tempers have much more delicate triggers in the heat,” he told his partner.
Zayne grimaced, reminded of the argument they’d had last night for that very reason. “Okay, you’ve got a point.” He swiped at his forehead again, eyes catching on his immaculately dressed partner. “I don’t know how you’re doing this in a fucking suit though.”
“It is not comfortable,” he admitted, adjusting his tie. “However, it is how I dress every day.” He looked down at himself in slacks and a dress shirt, the suit jacket abandoned in the car as soon as they’d gotten out. Glancing back up at Zayne, he shrugged. “I do not know how else to dress.”
A smile curled one side of Zayne’s mouth. “Can’t lie, you look pretty sexy without that jacket. You should roll your shirtsleeves up because that would be…” Zayne put his fingers to his lips and made a kissing sound. “Perfection.”
“It would not be professional, no matter how good it makes me feel to hear those words.”
Laughing, Zayne kissed Andrej’s cheek, tasting the salty sweat he was battling himself. “How many days are we into this drought again?”
“One hundred and eighty-six,” Andrej said, sounding as defeated as Zayne felt.
“And no rain in the forecast?”
Andrej shook his head.
“Something had better change and soon,” he said darkly. “If it gets any hotter or drier I might spontaneously combust, Zek.”
“Jay has always said you were hot enough to do exactly that,” Andrej teased.
Zayne laughed. “Come on, let’s see if we can find the spot where this idiot supposedly ditched the murder weapon.”
With a sigh, Andrej followed Zayne into the long stretch of desert.
--
“How long have we been at this,” Zayne asked, bent over with his hands on his knees.
“Nearly two hours,” Andrej said, stopping beside his partner. “I am not one to give up, but maybe we need to call in the –”
A cloud moved across the sun, a shadow catching Zayne’s attention. “Wait, I think I see something.”
Andrej put his hands on his hips and waited until Zayne turned and excitedly waved him over. “Did you find it,” he asked, jogging over to where Zayne had stopped.
“I think so,” he said, pointing at the handle of a knife sticking out from under a rock. “Just how he said he left it.”
“Thank god,” Andrej said. “I was not sure I could do this much longer. My body was not built for this kind of heat.”
Zayne let out a dirty sounding chuckle. “We can debate that later. Right now, we need to collect this evidence.”
With a shake of his head, Andrej pulled an evidence bag out of his pocket and bent to retrieve the knife.
“Did I embarrass you or are you sunburned,” Zayne asked.
Turning towards his partner, Andrej frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Your cheeks are red,” Zayne said, circling one of his cheeks with a finger. “Yeah, you’re definitely sunburned. We’re going to need one hell of a cold shower when we get home.”
“Yours aren’t any better,” Andrej said, blinking suddenly. “What –”
Zayne brushed his fingers across Andrej’s cheek. “Am I dripping sweat on you?”
Andrej looked up, a smile spreading across his usually stoic face. Zayne glanced in the direction Andrej was looking when a loud rumble rattled their bones.
“Oh shit,” Zayne crowed. “I think we’re about to get our wish.”
“Monsoon?”
“A big fucking one from the sounds of it. You got that thing sealed?”
“I do,” Andrej confirmed, lifting up the evidence bag.
“Great.” Zayne held his hand out, grasping Andrej’s in his own and pulling his lover to his feet.
Andrej stumbled, falling into Zayne as the clouds let loose, drenching them in much needed rain. They lifted their faces to the sky, laughing at the relief they felt as the ice-cold droplets soaked their skin, their clothes, the parched earth under their feet. Zayne threaded his fingers through Andrej’s wet hair, pulling him close, pressing their mouths together.
Another rumble of thunder and a bright flash of lightning sent them running for the car. They fell into their seats, laughing and dripping water everywhere. Zayne tried to wipe a puddle of water off the dash and only making it worse by dripping more water onto it.
“I’m sorry,” he said, dissolving into laughter yet again. “I’m just soaking your entire car and I can’t stop.”
Andrej spluttered. “I am doing the same, Zayne.” He reached across the console and squeezed Zayne’s wrist. “I will have it cleaned and detailed this weekend.”
“Give the bill to the department,” Zayne suggested. He shook his head and watched the storm rage around them. “Damn, that came out of nowhere.”
“They always do,” Andrej said, reaching into the back seat and grabbing a duffel bag. “I brought towels since I knew we’d be out here in the dirt today.”
“Too bad it isn’t the dirt causing the problems,” Zayne said, taking the thick, fluffy towel Andrej offered him.
“I rather prefer the rain to the dirt,” Andrej muttered. He rubbed the towel over his head and leaned against Zayne.
“Me, too,” Zayne agreed. “The longer I live here, the more I look forward to it.” He draped his towel over the two of them. Despite the triple digit weather outside, even with the rain, he was starting to shiver.
“There is a blanket in that bag as well,” Andrej said, reading Zayne’s mind. “I was not sure why I grabbed it this morning, but thought maybe we might have to get on our hands and knees in the dirt? Whatever the reason, I did not want to ruin my suit.” He let out a strangled laugh. “I guess it was going to get ruined no matter what.”
“Maybe we can save it later,” Zayne said. He shifted and grabbed hold of the bag, dragging the blanket out and into the front seat. “Storm ought to blow through pretty soon, but we might as well warm up a bit while we wait.”
Zayne draped the blanket over them, and Andrej reclaimed his spot on Zayne’s shoulder. He thought about another time they’d been caught in a storm like this and his partner’s suggestions weren’t nearly as innocent. Secretly, he hoped the storm raged for a bit longer. They never got quiet time like this any longer. It was nice, peaceful, comfortable.
Tugging the blanket closer, Andrej sighed.
“That good, eh,” Zayne teased. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes, arms wrapped protectively around his lover.
“Yes,” Andrej said, laughing at his own willingness to do nothing while officially on the clock. In his defense, there wasn’t any way he could safely drive in this downpour either. “This – it is the best thing I have experienced in many weeks.”
Zayne dipped his head lower and whispered a promise. “We’ll have to make more time for cuddling then. In bed, on the couch, just no more of this in the middle of nowhere bullshit, okay baby?”
“I would like that very much,” he said. “Just you and me.”
“No narco?”
“Not unless you want Jay there,” Andrej confirmed.
“Well,” Zayne said, brushing a damp lock of hair off Andrej’s face. “Maybe if he’s behaving himself.”
Andrej laughed. “I will remind you of this later.”
“I hope you do, baby,” he teased. “I hope you do.”
Zayne rested his head on top of Andrej’s and watched the rain fall, pounding against the glass, the hood, and the desert foliage surrounding them. He’d never been more at peace.
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no subject
Date: 2022-05-04 12:44 am (UTC)I know all about getting caught in an unexpected downpour and how cold you can get once it's over.
no subject
Date: 2022-05-04 12:56 am (UTC)It's insane. It can literally be 115 and the rain stats and those droplets are like ice.
no subject
Date: 2022-05-04 02:56 am (UTC)I have never gotten caught in the rain in a really warm place- won't count Hawaii 'cause it's pretty temperate. I can't imagine getting chilly from it, but then we did walk home with icicles in our hair after swim class as kids, lol. It's all relative.
no subject
Date: 2022-05-04 08:16 pm (UTC)Come visit me in July or August and you'll understand. It's so hot and humid (for here) and then the rain feels so icy cold. OH MY GOD NO THANK YOU. I'd die. LOL