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asphaltcowgrrlTitle: One Part Roses, Two Parts Thorns
Fandom: Romani Detective Original Fiction
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 1,667
Summary: Zayne discovers something that ticks him off and decides to rectify it on his own.
Author’s Note: Written for the weekend challenge at 1_million_words. My prompt was roses. This is kinda lame, but my creative side has taken off to Mexico again.
Andrej glanced down at his phone and immediately walked into something both solid and warm. Taking a step back, he glared at his partner’s back. “Zayne,” he grunted, “what have I said about abruptly stopping in front of me?”
“Sorry,” Zayne said, grinning as he turned to make sure Andrej was okay. “You didn’t hurt your face, did you?”
He frowned at Zayne. “My face is just fine.”
“It’s perfect, actually,” Zayne cooed, pinching a cheek.
Andrej swatted Zayne’s hand away. “Why did you stop so suddenly?”
“Oh,” Zayne said, face falling for a second. “I smelled roses.”
“And that is enough to make you stop in your tracks?” There were many, many things that he did not understand about America or her inhabitants, but Zayne particularly confused him. “You are never bothered by the ones in my yard.”
“Oh, no, roses in their natural habitat don’t bother me,” Zayne said, leading the way to where their desks sat, head-to-head. “They only bug me when they’ve been hacked off their stems, shoved into a vase, and presented as a way to flatter or impress someone.”
Now he was really confused. “You have given flowers to women before,” Andrej pointed out. “I have even helped you pick them out in the past.”
“Right,” Zayne said, striding over to where Trish and Hilary’s desks sat. “But do you ever remember me buying roses?”
Andrej’s face scrunched up a touch while he thought about that. He could remember daisies, some carnations, and even a bird of paradise once, but his mind went blank whenever he tried to conjure a memory of Zayne buying roses. “Hmm…”
“That’s what I thought,” Zayne grumbled. “I hate roses. They stink.” He shot a look at Andrej, grimacing. “But outside, on a bush, they’re not so bad because…” He shrugged and waved a hand.
He got it, so he nodded. “Who are the flowers for,” Andrej asked, zeroing in on the large vase that sat in the middle between the girls’ desks. Leaning in to check for a card, Andrej saw a flash of white between Zayne’s fingers.
“Looks like they’re for Hil,” he said. The envelope containing the card was pinched between Zayne’s thumb and first finger.
“You must put that back,” Andrej said, motioning towards the flowers. “It is not your business who they are from.”
“Oh, I know,” he said, glaring at the entrance to the homicide squad room. Lifting the vase off the desk, he started for the exit.
“Where are you going,” Andrej asked, hearing a note of panic in his voice.
“To return these awful things to their sender,” he called back, turning towards the stairs as soon as he hit the hallway.
Andrej hesitated, unsure if he ought to follow Zayne or if it’d be more prudent to text James and warn him that there was an incoming irate cowboy. Deciding to call and chase, he hit the speed dial for James and rushed after his partner.
**
“What the hell were you thinking, Hansen?” Andrej was just outside the narcotics squad room, his partner’s voice louder and clearer than it should have been.
“What’s your problem, Reyes,” Jake asked. “You told me you were over her and that you had no issues with me dating Maxwell.”
Oh, Zayne still had plenty of hang-ups about Jake dating Hilary, but to his credit, Zayne was trying to be the bigger man and not let it get to him. Even if that meant he voiced his disapproval to Andrej late at night when no one else could hear.
“That’s not what my issue is, Hansen,” Zayne shot back. Andrej hurried inside, hearing the edge creeping into Zayne’s tone and not liking it one bit.
“Then what the hell is your problem, cowboy,” James asked. “They’re lovely flowers. I doubt you ever sent her anything half as nice.”
“What’s going on,” Trish whispered from behind Andrej. “Hansen texted Maxwell saying that her insane ex was down here starting shit.”
“I do not honestly know,” Andrej said, giving both girls a look that said he’d tried to contain the cowboy. “He saw the flowers on Hilary’s desk and got angry.”
Hilary put a hand on Andrej’s shoulder, using his solid body to balance herself while she rose onto tiptoe. “Oh shit, Jake sent roses.”
“That’s Reyes’ trigger,” Trish asked, snorting softly. “Figures.”
Hilary sighed. “There’s a story there, but I’ll let him tell you if we can get him out of here.”
“Let me try,” Andrej said, patting the hand that still rested on his shoulder. “Zayne,” he called. “Stop this.”
“One minute,” Zayne said, holding his hand out, palm towards Andrej. He still held the flowers in his other hand, causing worry to stir in Andrej’s chest. “Like I was saying, Hansen, her favorite flowers are lilies, not fucking roses.”
“Oh no,” Hilary whispered in the second before Zayne upended the vase on Jake’s head.
The water in the vase had to have been cold, considering the temp in the building was around sixty-five degrees, even in the winter. Jake sat back in his chair, flowers hanging from his hair and collar of his shirt. Thorns embedded themselves in the material, clinging for dear life. Standing, Jake shook water from his hands. Stifling a laugh, James moved in, picking long stemmed red roses off his partner.
Zayne set the empty vase on Jake’s desk. “And if you have to give a girl roses, Hansen, use a little creativity, would you? Red is so overdone. No wonder you’re single.” With a shake of his head, Zayne stormed out of the squad room.
“As if he hasn’t spent the majority of his adult life single,” James laughed.
“More like between partners,” Trish laughed. “Because there was always another waiting in the wings.”
Hilary rolled her eyes and fixed her gaze on Jake. “You okay?”
“Yeah,” he said, grinning. “That man is a maniac, but I’ll take having a vase of flowers dumped on my head than the beating he’s likely to give me one of these days.”
“He will not,” Andrej insisted. “And if he does, he will answer to me for it. I am sorry he lost control, Jake.”
Hansen shrugged. “It’s fine. He caught me off guard, but he’s not totally wrong. Hil has told me that her favorite flowers are lilies. I just blanked on it when I was at the florist.”
Hilary smiled warmly at him. “If there is one thing I learned from being involved with him,” she shot her eyes upward towards where the homicide room was, “it’s that the thought counts more than the actual act, so you’re forgiven.”
“And next time, send the flowers to her apartment,” Trish added.
“Noted,” Jake said, peeling a rouge rose petal off his forehead.
“I am going to go speak with Zayne,” Andrej said, feeling like he could strangle the handsome detective with his own hands.
“Go easy on him, Zeklos,” Jake said. “I’m not mad now that I know he’s not going to kick my ass for sending his girl flowers.”
Andrej shook his head. “It was not right, what he did. However, if you are not angry, I cannot be either.” He looked at Trish. “Are you coming back with me?”
She looked between Andrej and Hilary, shrugging. “Sure. The scene in homicide will certainly be more amusing than the one here.”
“Rollins,” Hilary said, catching the redhead’s attention. She mimed taking video and Trish laughed, giving her a thumbs up.
**
“Zayne,” Andrej called, entering the squad room and heading towards their desks. “We need to have a discussion.”
“Nope,” Zayne said, stopping him before he could get started. “Not discussing anything with anyone.”
“Not even the baby narco,” Trish teased.
Zayne flipped her off.
“Zayne,” Andrej repeated.
Zayne held up a hand, cutting him off. “Look, it was childish, I get it, but the fucking flowers triggered something in me, okay? It’s not rational and no, I don’t want to talk about it. I never want to talk about it. But I’m aware of how I acted.”
“Are you going to apologize to Hilary,” Andrej asked, seeing the detective slip into the squad room.
“Or Hansen,” Trish added, earning her a nasty look from Zayne.
“I’ve already texted him,” Zayne said. “And apologized.”
“And sent him flowers, I hear,” Hilary said, coming to a stop beside her partner.
“Yeah, yeah,” Zayne said, waving it off. “But no roses, Maxwell.”
“He said something about daisies?” She shook her head. “I don’t honestly even want to know, Reyes.”
“Probably better that you don’t,” he muttered. “So. Cases. We have two.”
Andrej’s lips pressed into a thin line. He wanted to push this further but decided to cut his losses. Jake wasn’t angry, so he had no reason to further interrogate Zayne. However, he was quite curious about the fact he’d sent flowers to Jake and had warned him ahead of time. Mentally shrugging it off, he reminded himself he’d get the complete low down on it all from Hilary later.
“Yes, there are two. One a possible suicide, the other quite obviously murder. Which do you prefer?”
Zayne watched him for a moment, as if wondering when the lecture was coming. When it didn’t materialize, Zayne shrugged. “Rock, paper, scissors?”
Andrej closed his eyes and slowly shook his head. “No,” he said, chuckling. “Let’s start with the obvious homicide and go from there.”
“Works for me,” Zayne said, standing and grabbing his jacket.
He gave the girls a helpless look as he followed Zayne out of the squad room. What could he say? Sometimes it was best to let things go. Besides, he knew that Zayne would eventually come clean. Most likely during dinner or, if it was especially embarrassing and/or traumatic, in bed after they’d cuddled up for the night. Either way, he’d find out eventually what had sparked this bit of insanity out of his already nutty partner. Some days, it paid to have patience.
Fandom: Romani Detective Original Fiction
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 1,667
Summary: Zayne discovers something that ticks him off and decides to rectify it on his own.
Author’s Note: Written for the weekend challenge at 1_million_words. My prompt was roses. This is kinda lame, but my creative side has taken off to Mexico again.
Andrej glanced down at his phone and immediately walked into something both solid and warm. Taking a step back, he glared at his partner’s back. “Zayne,” he grunted, “what have I said about abruptly stopping in front of me?”
“Sorry,” Zayne said, grinning as he turned to make sure Andrej was okay. “You didn’t hurt your face, did you?”
He frowned at Zayne. “My face is just fine.”
“It’s perfect, actually,” Zayne cooed, pinching a cheek.
Andrej swatted Zayne’s hand away. “Why did you stop so suddenly?”
“Oh,” Zayne said, face falling for a second. “I smelled roses.”
“And that is enough to make you stop in your tracks?” There were many, many things that he did not understand about America or her inhabitants, but Zayne particularly confused him. “You are never bothered by the ones in my yard.”
“Oh, no, roses in their natural habitat don’t bother me,” Zayne said, leading the way to where their desks sat, head-to-head. “They only bug me when they’ve been hacked off their stems, shoved into a vase, and presented as a way to flatter or impress someone.”
Now he was really confused. “You have given flowers to women before,” Andrej pointed out. “I have even helped you pick them out in the past.”
“Right,” Zayne said, striding over to where Trish and Hilary’s desks sat. “But do you ever remember me buying roses?”
Andrej’s face scrunched up a touch while he thought about that. He could remember daisies, some carnations, and even a bird of paradise once, but his mind went blank whenever he tried to conjure a memory of Zayne buying roses. “Hmm…”
“That’s what I thought,” Zayne grumbled. “I hate roses. They stink.” He shot a look at Andrej, grimacing. “But outside, on a bush, they’re not so bad because…” He shrugged and waved a hand.
He got it, so he nodded. “Who are the flowers for,” Andrej asked, zeroing in on the large vase that sat in the middle between the girls’ desks. Leaning in to check for a card, Andrej saw a flash of white between Zayne’s fingers.
“Looks like they’re for Hil,” he said. The envelope containing the card was pinched between Zayne’s thumb and first finger.
“You must put that back,” Andrej said, motioning towards the flowers. “It is not your business who they are from.”
“Oh, I know,” he said, glaring at the entrance to the homicide squad room. Lifting the vase off the desk, he started for the exit.
“Where are you going,” Andrej asked, hearing a note of panic in his voice.
“To return these awful things to their sender,” he called back, turning towards the stairs as soon as he hit the hallway.
Andrej hesitated, unsure if he ought to follow Zayne or if it’d be more prudent to text James and warn him that there was an incoming irate cowboy. Deciding to call and chase, he hit the speed dial for James and rushed after his partner.
**
“What the hell were you thinking, Hansen?” Andrej was just outside the narcotics squad room, his partner’s voice louder and clearer than it should have been.
“What’s your problem, Reyes,” Jake asked. “You told me you were over her and that you had no issues with me dating Maxwell.”
Oh, Zayne still had plenty of hang-ups about Jake dating Hilary, but to his credit, Zayne was trying to be the bigger man and not let it get to him. Even if that meant he voiced his disapproval to Andrej late at night when no one else could hear.
“That’s not what my issue is, Hansen,” Zayne shot back. Andrej hurried inside, hearing the edge creeping into Zayne’s tone and not liking it one bit.
“Then what the hell is your problem, cowboy,” James asked. “They’re lovely flowers. I doubt you ever sent her anything half as nice.”
“What’s going on,” Trish whispered from behind Andrej. “Hansen texted Maxwell saying that her insane ex was down here starting shit.”
“I do not honestly know,” Andrej said, giving both girls a look that said he’d tried to contain the cowboy. “He saw the flowers on Hilary’s desk and got angry.”
Hilary put a hand on Andrej’s shoulder, using his solid body to balance herself while she rose onto tiptoe. “Oh shit, Jake sent roses.”
“That’s Reyes’ trigger,” Trish asked, snorting softly. “Figures.”
Hilary sighed. “There’s a story there, but I’ll let him tell you if we can get him out of here.”
“Let me try,” Andrej said, patting the hand that still rested on his shoulder. “Zayne,” he called. “Stop this.”
“One minute,” Zayne said, holding his hand out, palm towards Andrej. He still held the flowers in his other hand, causing worry to stir in Andrej’s chest. “Like I was saying, Hansen, her favorite flowers are lilies, not fucking roses.”
“Oh no,” Hilary whispered in the second before Zayne upended the vase on Jake’s head.
The water in the vase had to have been cold, considering the temp in the building was around sixty-five degrees, even in the winter. Jake sat back in his chair, flowers hanging from his hair and collar of his shirt. Thorns embedded themselves in the material, clinging for dear life. Standing, Jake shook water from his hands. Stifling a laugh, James moved in, picking long stemmed red roses off his partner.
Zayne set the empty vase on Jake’s desk. “And if you have to give a girl roses, Hansen, use a little creativity, would you? Red is so overdone. No wonder you’re single.” With a shake of his head, Zayne stormed out of the squad room.
“As if he hasn’t spent the majority of his adult life single,” James laughed.
“More like between partners,” Trish laughed. “Because there was always another waiting in the wings.”
Hilary rolled her eyes and fixed her gaze on Jake. “You okay?”
“Yeah,” he said, grinning. “That man is a maniac, but I’ll take having a vase of flowers dumped on my head than the beating he’s likely to give me one of these days.”
“He will not,” Andrej insisted. “And if he does, he will answer to me for it. I am sorry he lost control, Jake.”
Hansen shrugged. “It’s fine. He caught me off guard, but he’s not totally wrong. Hil has told me that her favorite flowers are lilies. I just blanked on it when I was at the florist.”
Hilary smiled warmly at him. “If there is one thing I learned from being involved with him,” she shot her eyes upward towards where the homicide room was, “it’s that the thought counts more than the actual act, so you’re forgiven.”
“And next time, send the flowers to her apartment,” Trish added.
“Noted,” Jake said, peeling a rouge rose petal off his forehead.
“I am going to go speak with Zayne,” Andrej said, feeling like he could strangle the handsome detective with his own hands.
“Go easy on him, Zeklos,” Jake said. “I’m not mad now that I know he’s not going to kick my ass for sending his girl flowers.”
Andrej shook his head. “It was not right, what he did. However, if you are not angry, I cannot be either.” He looked at Trish. “Are you coming back with me?”
She looked between Andrej and Hilary, shrugging. “Sure. The scene in homicide will certainly be more amusing than the one here.”
“Rollins,” Hilary said, catching the redhead’s attention. She mimed taking video and Trish laughed, giving her a thumbs up.
**
“Zayne,” Andrej called, entering the squad room and heading towards their desks. “We need to have a discussion.”
“Nope,” Zayne said, stopping him before he could get started. “Not discussing anything with anyone.”
“Not even the baby narco,” Trish teased.
Zayne flipped her off.
“Zayne,” Andrej repeated.
Zayne held up a hand, cutting him off. “Look, it was childish, I get it, but the fucking flowers triggered something in me, okay? It’s not rational and no, I don’t want to talk about it. I never want to talk about it. But I’m aware of how I acted.”
“Are you going to apologize to Hilary,” Andrej asked, seeing the detective slip into the squad room.
“Or Hansen,” Trish added, earning her a nasty look from Zayne.
“I’ve already texted him,” Zayne said. “And apologized.”
“And sent him flowers, I hear,” Hilary said, coming to a stop beside her partner.
“Yeah, yeah,” Zayne said, waving it off. “But no roses, Maxwell.”
“He said something about daisies?” She shook her head. “I don’t honestly even want to know, Reyes.”
“Probably better that you don’t,” he muttered. “So. Cases. We have two.”
Andrej’s lips pressed into a thin line. He wanted to push this further but decided to cut his losses. Jake wasn’t angry, so he had no reason to further interrogate Zayne. However, he was quite curious about the fact he’d sent flowers to Jake and had warned him ahead of time. Mentally shrugging it off, he reminded himself he’d get the complete low down on it all from Hilary later.
“Yes, there are two. One a possible suicide, the other quite obviously murder. Which do you prefer?”
Zayne watched him for a moment, as if wondering when the lecture was coming. When it didn’t materialize, Zayne shrugged. “Rock, paper, scissors?”
Andrej closed his eyes and slowly shook his head. “No,” he said, chuckling. “Let’s start with the obvious homicide and go from there.”
“Works for me,” Zayne said, standing and grabbing his jacket.
He gave the girls a helpless look as he followed Zayne out of the squad room. What could he say? Sometimes it was best to let things go. Besides, he knew that Zayne would eventually come clean. Most likely during dinner or, if it was especially embarrassing and/or traumatic, in bed after they’d cuddled up for the night. Either way, he’d find out eventually what had sparked this bit of insanity out of his already nutty partner. Some days, it paid to have patience.
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no subject
Date: 2022-12-20 01:09 am (UTC)Cute story.
no subject
Date: 2022-12-20 02:29 pm (UTC)I actually had an idea for a good reason for his actions, but ran out of brain power to actually write it. LOL
Thanks. :D
no subject
Date: 2022-12-20 11:45 am (UTC)Oh Zayne. I feel like I say that a lot. I'm with Andrej here. I don't know whether to smack Zayne or hug him. Poor baby has some deep tramua. I guess at least he didn't hit Jake over the head with the vase. But now I'M curious what his dislike of roses is.
no subject
Date: 2022-12-20 05:59 pm (UTC)This says to me that he's finally becoming a real boy and not just an aggravating womanizer. :D He does, and it seems like he's somewhat trying to work through it, too. If I ever find the mental capacity to put it together, I'll let you know. :)
no subject
Date: 2022-12-22 03:50 am (UTC)It does really say that. Aaaaw I feel that.
no subject
Date: 2022-12-22 05:49 pm (UTC)Character growth. Who knew Zayne had it in him? :D Yeah, I've managed about 3500 words all month and... every one of them was a trial. :D
no subject
Date: 2022-12-29 09:24 pm (UTC)It's awesome that Zayne has character growth! Aaaww yeah I feel that. I just checked and I have just shy of 6K for the month. That is like... 4K more than I thought I had. And yes, so much trial.
no subject
Date: 2022-12-30 05:37 pm (UTC)It is. He might become a real boy someday.
That's awesome, congrats on the words!
no subject
Date: 2022-12-31 12:38 am (UTC)He might! Yay for him!
Thank you. I'm trying to decide how I'm counting tomorrow's words... since I'm planning to write in the New Year (which means I start around 11:30). Normally my "day" ends whenever I go to bed, but I kinda wanna count the words for the 1st to start my year off right.
no subject
Date: 2023-01-05 11:36 pm (UTC)LOL
How'd you end up doing?
no subject
Date: 2023-01-07 04:56 pm (UTC)I ended up going to a Zoom party because all the other writers bailed on me and didn't write at all.
no subject
Date: 2023-01-09 10:20 pm (UTC)Well that bites, I'm sorry.
no subject
Date: 2023-02-09 02:39 pm (UTC)It did but *shrugs* it is what it is. I had a good time at the party.
no subject
Date: 2023-02-09 04:55 pm (UTC)Hey, glad that you had fun at the party!