Truth and Lies (Common Law Fic)
Jan. 27th, 2015 01:50 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
asphaltcowgrrlTitle: Truth and Lies
Fandom: Common Law
Pairing: Travis Marks/Wes Mitchell (pre-slash)
Rating: PG-13 for some language
Word Count: 2,207
Summary: They are not required to have therapy anymore, but Travis has some weird feelings for his partner he wants to talk over with Dr. Ryan.
Author’s Note: The summary was also the prompt from Comment Fic (link). Travis has a bit of a Dean Winchester moment here, but it’s all good. I know Dean would share.
xx
She was carrying two folding chairs back to their spots when he poked his head into the room. It was familiar and yet oddly strange, even though it had only been a matter of weeks since he’d last set foot inside. The comforting presence of Dr. Ryan was what drew him inside in the end.
“Travis?” She looked up from the stack of metal chairs, surprise on her face. “What are you doing here? You and Wes are no longer required to attend these meetings.”
That he was late, whether he had to be there or not, was left unspoken. It was kind of a moot point anyway because, when left to his own devices, Travis Marks was almost always late. He wanted to blame it on his nature, or traffic, or any number of things, but he knew the truth was that when it came to things that he didn’t want to do, he drug his feet.
“Dr. Ryan,” he said, traces of that trademark grin crossing his mouth. “I’m having some trouble and I thought maybe you would help me out.”
Shoving the last folding chair into the holder, she rubbed her hands together, thinking. “Are you and Wes fighting again?”
Her question startled him. “No. No we’re…” He was at a loss. Just what were they anyway? In the six weeks since they’d gotten justice for Paekman and cleared their own smudged records, things had changed. But how much? Things were good, but that didn’t feel like the right word to use. Fine felt the same way, like it fell just short of actually being accurate. Travis decided that honesty was the best route here, like it or not. “To tell the truth, I don’t know how we are.”
“The yoga group is coming in a few minutes,” she said, looking towards the door. “How about I meet you at the café on the corner in ten minutes??”
Travis thought that was a terrible idea, but he agreed to it all the same. He’d arrived when he had so that Dr. Ryan would only have a limited amount of time to pick his brain over this whole partner issue thing he was dealing with. Going for coffee was only going to complicate things. She might even make him confess to things he wasn’t sure he was ready to admit – or commit – to yet. On the other hand, if he didn’t figure this mess out soon, he and Wes would be back in therapy because he was four seconds from strangling his partner.
After parking his motorcycle, he’d gone inside and secured them a table near one of the large picture windows. The view wasn’t anything much – just the typical L. A. street view of cars, shops, and assorted riffraff – but the sun streaming in was calling his name. Seating himself on the side facing the entrance, he ordered a cup of coffee and a piece of apple pie. He could picture Wes’ frown as he asked for vanilla ice cream along with his dessert, and it made him smile.
“Whatever you’re thinking about, it must be a happy thought.”
Dr. Ryan took a seat across the table from him, beaming with something he couldn’t place. “I was thinking about how much crap Wes would’ve given me for ordering pie and ice cream when I haven’t even had breakfast yet.” The smile returned, and it confused him. Why should he be happy knowing his choice would have annoyed his partner? “I was going to get you a cup of tea, but figured it’d be better to wait and ask.”
“Always a smart choice.” Flagging down the waitress, she ordered tea and a muffin. “Now talk to me, Travis. What’s going on that you need my advice?”
The waitress returned with a pot of tea, a carafe of coffee, and his pie a la mode. Picking up his fork, he chipped at the streusel topping attempting to gather his thoughts. “I’m not sure. And I know that’s not like me, usually I know what’s really goin’ on.”
But not now. Why not now? He’d give anything to understand just what the heck was happening to him.
“Okay. So, let’s start here. How is Wes?” She’d folded her hands and placed them on the Formica top in front of her.
Another grin threatened to break his face in two and he only barely managed to keep it in check, holding it at a wistful smile rather than an all-out toothy explosion. “Wes, man, he’s doing good. Really good.” It was true, too. He’d started looking for houses, even though Travis had suggested he start with a nice, upscale apartment complex. Wes wasn’t having any of that though, no, he wanted a lawn, for the love of god. Something to care for. And – shit. And what? His mind always froze up at that point, thinking about Wes with his precious damn lawn. “He’s thinking about buying a house. Has narrowed it down to two, actually. One’s in a nicer neighborhood, but the other has more grass.”
At this, Dr. Ryan smiled broadly. “He’s moving on finally, that’s wonderful.” She removed the tea bag from her cup and sipped at the steaming liquid. “And what about you? Are you making any progress in your personal life?”
He stuck his fork into the ice cream and lifted a bite to his mouth. Sweetness coated his tongue as it melted and he instantly regretted having gone a la mode. Next time he’d stick with the whipped cream, or maybe even take the pie au naturel, since it seemed anything creamy and vanilla made him think of Wes. “I’m good too,” he lied.
“Are you seeing anyone? Steadily, I mean.”
Now there was a question he could answer honestly. “Nope, not seeing anyone at all.”
“No one?” Dr. Ryan leaned forward, her curiosity – and frank disbelief – obvious. “Why not? I’ve never known you to be alone for long.”
And that was the question, wasn’t it? He looked down at his pie for a long moment, stalling by scooping a bite of ice cream, followed by a chunk of pie, onto his fork. Shoving it into his mouth, Travis savored the taste and feel of it on his tongue, against his teeth. The sweet vanilla melded with the tart apples, cinnamon adding a late punch, and he found himself allowing it to evoke a memory he’d nearly forgotten.
They’d stopped for breakfast one morning at a place a lot like this café. When Travis had ordered pie – it was chocolate silk that day – the blond had let him have it. It was too early, you need a good meal to start the day, blah blah blah. It hadn’t kept him from ordering it anyway. And it hadn’t kept Wes from stealing as many bites as he could, either. Somehow blondie had managed to eat nearly half of Travis’ pie in between bites from his own bowl of oatmeal.
“You’re smiling again.”
Her softly accented voice pulled him out of his reverie. “Sorry. Thinking about a time when Wes harassed me for ordering pie and then proceeded to eat most of it.”
Now she was smiling at him. “I think I know what you wanted to talk about,” she said, sipping her tea. “Even if you won’t admit to it, it’s Wes, isn’t it? His life changes are affecting you and you don’t understand why.”
Was that what was really bothering him? Causing all this chaos in his gut all day long? His thoughts drifted back to Wes’ house choices and all the hullabaloo over the lawn. “I don’t know what it is, Dr. Ryan, but he keeps obsessing over the lawn this one place has. He talks about planting flowers on the north side, but vegetables and herbs on the east. But you’re right, it does bother me. It bothers me a lot.”
“Do you think it has anything do with the fact that he didn’t take your suggestion and move into an apartment?”
“No,” he said, honest with himself for the first time all morning. “I didn’t think he would. Wes is a house kind of guy. Taking care of the lawn, the plumbing, the –” Taking care of what? And why did he keep stumbling over this? “Taking care of everything. Like always.”
“I see,” she said, pouring more hot water into her cup. “And it bothers you that he’s found something else to take care of?”
A heavy feeling weighed on him as he considered her words. Something in them was hitting a little too close to home, but it was eluding his grasp at every turn. Taking care of something new… taking care of everything, just like always.
Except it wasn’t the same at all, nothing was like it had been before. Sure, the playful banter persisted, as well as his partner’s never-ending lectures whenever he screwed something up, but the fact remained: things had changed. Mainly in that Wes trusted him more. He let him do his job and didn’t question every move he made, giving him the freedom to be the best detective that he could be.
And that’s what was freaking bothering him, damnit!
“You’ve had an epiphany, haven’t you?”
He lifted his blue eyes and met her concerned gaze head on. “Yeah, I think I have.”
“What was it, Travis?”
He’d always thought her voice had a soothing tone, even more so when she went into therapist mode and talked to him in that manner you used with kids and stray dogs. Today it seemed to carry a tranquil quality, lulling him into a false sense of security. Encouraging him to open his mouth and spill his stupid guts.
“He has something else to take care of.” It came out as a whisper, and he couldn’t even believe he’d made the connection, finally, after all of these weeks. “Something that’s no longer me.”
“And there we have our answer.” She leaned back against the booth and smiled at him. “Have you talked with Wes about your feelings?”
How the hell could he have discussed this with Wes when he hadn’t even known he’d had feelings for his partner until this very moment? Asking her that question would be idiotic, however, because she’d insist he’d known all along and had refused to acknowledge it. If he were willing to delve in to that black hole of his own emotions, he could maybe admit that she might even be right about that.
Hell, who was he kidding? He knew she was right about it, he’d had feelings for Wes for a very long time, but he’d kept them buried under layers and layers of hostility. It became more and more obvious the longer he sat here with her eyes boring into the top of his skull.
“I haven’t talked to him yet.”
“Why not?”
Because he was chicken? “I didn’t understand until now how much these changes were bugging me. His desire to move out of the hotel after what, two years now? And buying a house and starting a life. It’s too much.”
“Did you ever think that it might be too much for him as well?” Her question tugged at him, drawing his focus outward towards her. “He could use a friend right now to help ease the transition.”
“Yeah,” he said, nodding. “Yeah, you’re right, Dr. Ryan. If anyone’s helping him ease into anything, it should be me.” Something in that sentence made him pause, but he wasn’t sure what it was. He could analyze that later, when his head was clear again.
“So why are you still sitting here? Shouldn’t you be going to find your partner?”
At long last, he allowed the full force of his million-watt smile grace his face. “Yeah, I should be. Thanks, Dr. Ryan.” He dug into his pocket and pulled out his wallet. Setting some money onto the table – he hoped it was enough for both their food and a decent tip – he waved his goodbye.
Outside, he straddled his bike before dialing his cell phone.
“Mitchell,” the annoyed voice said.
“I’m on my way back to the station, baby. You need anything?”
A sigh, soft and long-suffering, hit his ear like a spring breeze. “Just my partner back at his damn desk so we could maybe get some work done today. Nothing too impossible.”
“I’m on my way,” he said. “Oh, and by the way, Dr. Ryan said to tell you hello.”
“Dr. Ryan?” Wes’ voice was confused and that made Travis giddy. He loved keeping the blond off balance. “What are you talk –”
He ended the call midsentence. Even though he’d figured a few things out for himself, he still wasn’t one hundred percent ready to let Wes in on it all. Not yet, but soon. Until then, the boy could wait. Kick-starting his bike to life, he stuffed his head into his helmet and pulled into the street. He’d give it a few days and maybe one night next week, he’d take Wes out and confess. If he got the blond full of enough Scotch, he might not even yell.
It wasn’t much of a plan, but it was good enough for now.
Story continues here.
Fandom: Common Law
Pairing: Travis Marks/Wes Mitchell (pre-slash)
Rating: PG-13 for some language
Word Count: 2,207
Summary: They are not required to have therapy anymore, but Travis has some weird feelings for his partner he wants to talk over with Dr. Ryan.
Author’s Note: The summary was also the prompt from Comment Fic (link). Travis has a bit of a Dean Winchester moment here, but it’s all good. I know Dean would share.
xx
She was carrying two folding chairs back to their spots when he poked his head into the room. It was familiar and yet oddly strange, even though it had only been a matter of weeks since he’d last set foot inside. The comforting presence of Dr. Ryan was what drew him inside in the end.
“Travis?” She looked up from the stack of metal chairs, surprise on her face. “What are you doing here? You and Wes are no longer required to attend these meetings.”
That he was late, whether he had to be there or not, was left unspoken. It was kind of a moot point anyway because, when left to his own devices, Travis Marks was almost always late. He wanted to blame it on his nature, or traffic, or any number of things, but he knew the truth was that when it came to things that he didn’t want to do, he drug his feet.
“Dr. Ryan,” he said, traces of that trademark grin crossing his mouth. “I’m having some trouble and I thought maybe you would help me out.”
Shoving the last folding chair into the holder, she rubbed her hands together, thinking. “Are you and Wes fighting again?”
Her question startled him. “No. No we’re…” He was at a loss. Just what were they anyway? In the six weeks since they’d gotten justice for Paekman and cleared their own smudged records, things had changed. But how much? Things were good, but that didn’t feel like the right word to use. Fine felt the same way, like it fell just short of actually being accurate. Travis decided that honesty was the best route here, like it or not. “To tell the truth, I don’t know how we are.”
“The yoga group is coming in a few minutes,” she said, looking towards the door. “How about I meet you at the café on the corner in ten minutes??”
Travis thought that was a terrible idea, but he agreed to it all the same. He’d arrived when he had so that Dr. Ryan would only have a limited amount of time to pick his brain over this whole partner issue thing he was dealing with. Going for coffee was only going to complicate things. She might even make him confess to things he wasn’t sure he was ready to admit – or commit – to yet. On the other hand, if he didn’t figure this mess out soon, he and Wes would be back in therapy because he was four seconds from strangling his partner.
After parking his motorcycle, he’d gone inside and secured them a table near one of the large picture windows. The view wasn’t anything much – just the typical L. A. street view of cars, shops, and assorted riffraff – but the sun streaming in was calling his name. Seating himself on the side facing the entrance, he ordered a cup of coffee and a piece of apple pie. He could picture Wes’ frown as he asked for vanilla ice cream along with his dessert, and it made him smile.
“Whatever you’re thinking about, it must be a happy thought.”
Dr. Ryan took a seat across the table from him, beaming with something he couldn’t place. “I was thinking about how much crap Wes would’ve given me for ordering pie and ice cream when I haven’t even had breakfast yet.” The smile returned, and it confused him. Why should he be happy knowing his choice would have annoyed his partner? “I was going to get you a cup of tea, but figured it’d be better to wait and ask.”
“Always a smart choice.” Flagging down the waitress, she ordered tea and a muffin. “Now talk to me, Travis. What’s going on that you need my advice?”
The waitress returned with a pot of tea, a carafe of coffee, and his pie a la mode. Picking up his fork, he chipped at the streusel topping attempting to gather his thoughts. “I’m not sure. And I know that’s not like me, usually I know what’s really goin’ on.”
But not now. Why not now? He’d give anything to understand just what the heck was happening to him.
“Okay. So, let’s start here. How is Wes?” She’d folded her hands and placed them on the Formica top in front of her.
Another grin threatened to break his face in two and he only barely managed to keep it in check, holding it at a wistful smile rather than an all-out toothy explosion. “Wes, man, he’s doing good. Really good.” It was true, too. He’d started looking for houses, even though Travis had suggested he start with a nice, upscale apartment complex. Wes wasn’t having any of that though, no, he wanted a lawn, for the love of god. Something to care for. And – shit. And what? His mind always froze up at that point, thinking about Wes with his precious damn lawn. “He’s thinking about buying a house. Has narrowed it down to two, actually. One’s in a nicer neighborhood, but the other has more grass.”
At this, Dr. Ryan smiled broadly. “He’s moving on finally, that’s wonderful.” She removed the tea bag from her cup and sipped at the steaming liquid. “And what about you? Are you making any progress in your personal life?”
He stuck his fork into the ice cream and lifted a bite to his mouth. Sweetness coated his tongue as it melted and he instantly regretted having gone a la mode. Next time he’d stick with the whipped cream, or maybe even take the pie au naturel, since it seemed anything creamy and vanilla made him think of Wes. “I’m good too,” he lied.
“Are you seeing anyone? Steadily, I mean.”
Now there was a question he could answer honestly. “Nope, not seeing anyone at all.”
“No one?” Dr. Ryan leaned forward, her curiosity – and frank disbelief – obvious. “Why not? I’ve never known you to be alone for long.”
And that was the question, wasn’t it? He looked down at his pie for a long moment, stalling by scooping a bite of ice cream, followed by a chunk of pie, onto his fork. Shoving it into his mouth, Travis savored the taste and feel of it on his tongue, against his teeth. The sweet vanilla melded with the tart apples, cinnamon adding a late punch, and he found himself allowing it to evoke a memory he’d nearly forgotten.
They’d stopped for breakfast one morning at a place a lot like this café. When Travis had ordered pie – it was chocolate silk that day – the blond had let him have it. It was too early, you need a good meal to start the day, blah blah blah. It hadn’t kept him from ordering it anyway. And it hadn’t kept Wes from stealing as many bites as he could, either. Somehow blondie had managed to eat nearly half of Travis’ pie in between bites from his own bowl of oatmeal.
“You’re smiling again.”
Her softly accented voice pulled him out of his reverie. “Sorry. Thinking about a time when Wes harassed me for ordering pie and then proceeded to eat most of it.”
Now she was smiling at him. “I think I know what you wanted to talk about,” she said, sipping her tea. “Even if you won’t admit to it, it’s Wes, isn’t it? His life changes are affecting you and you don’t understand why.”
Was that what was really bothering him? Causing all this chaos in his gut all day long? His thoughts drifted back to Wes’ house choices and all the hullabaloo over the lawn. “I don’t know what it is, Dr. Ryan, but he keeps obsessing over the lawn this one place has. He talks about planting flowers on the north side, but vegetables and herbs on the east. But you’re right, it does bother me. It bothers me a lot.”
“Do you think it has anything do with the fact that he didn’t take your suggestion and move into an apartment?”
“No,” he said, honest with himself for the first time all morning. “I didn’t think he would. Wes is a house kind of guy. Taking care of the lawn, the plumbing, the –” Taking care of what? And why did he keep stumbling over this? “Taking care of everything. Like always.”
“I see,” she said, pouring more hot water into her cup. “And it bothers you that he’s found something else to take care of?”
A heavy feeling weighed on him as he considered her words. Something in them was hitting a little too close to home, but it was eluding his grasp at every turn. Taking care of something new… taking care of everything, just like always.
Except it wasn’t the same at all, nothing was like it had been before. Sure, the playful banter persisted, as well as his partner’s never-ending lectures whenever he screwed something up, but the fact remained: things had changed. Mainly in that Wes trusted him more. He let him do his job and didn’t question every move he made, giving him the freedom to be the best detective that he could be.
And that’s what was freaking bothering him, damnit!
“You’ve had an epiphany, haven’t you?”
He lifted his blue eyes and met her concerned gaze head on. “Yeah, I think I have.”
“What was it, Travis?”
He’d always thought her voice had a soothing tone, even more so when she went into therapist mode and talked to him in that manner you used with kids and stray dogs. Today it seemed to carry a tranquil quality, lulling him into a false sense of security. Encouraging him to open his mouth and spill his stupid guts.
“He has something else to take care of.” It came out as a whisper, and he couldn’t even believe he’d made the connection, finally, after all of these weeks. “Something that’s no longer me.”
“And there we have our answer.” She leaned back against the booth and smiled at him. “Have you talked with Wes about your feelings?”
How the hell could he have discussed this with Wes when he hadn’t even known he’d had feelings for his partner until this very moment? Asking her that question would be idiotic, however, because she’d insist he’d known all along and had refused to acknowledge it. If he were willing to delve in to that black hole of his own emotions, he could maybe admit that she might even be right about that.
Hell, who was he kidding? He knew she was right about it, he’d had feelings for Wes for a very long time, but he’d kept them buried under layers and layers of hostility. It became more and more obvious the longer he sat here with her eyes boring into the top of his skull.
“I haven’t talked to him yet.”
“Why not?”
Because he was chicken? “I didn’t understand until now how much these changes were bugging me. His desire to move out of the hotel after what, two years now? And buying a house and starting a life. It’s too much.”
“Did you ever think that it might be too much for him as well?” Her question tugged at him, drawing his focus outward towards her. “He could use a friend right now to help ease the transition.”
“Yeah,” he said, nodding. “Yeah, you’re right, Dr. Ryan. If anyone’s helping him ease into anything, it should be me.” Something in that sentence made him pause, but he wasn’t sure what it was. He could analyze that later, when his head was clear again.
“So why are you still sitting here? Shouldn’t you be going to find your partner?”
At long last, he allowed the full force of his million-watt smile grace his face. “Yeah, I should be. Thanks, Dr. Ryan.” He dug into his pocket and pulled out his wallet. Setting some money onto the table – he hoped it was enough for both their food and a decent tip – he waved his goodbye.
Outside, he straddled his bike before dialing his cell phone.
“Mitchell,” the annoyed voice said.
“I’m on my way back to the station, baby. You need anything?”
A sigh, soft and long-suffering, hit his ear like a spring breeze. “Just my partner back at his damn desk so we could maybe get some work done today. Nothing too impossible.”
“I’m on my way,” he said. “Oh, and by the way, Dr. Ryan said to tell you hello.”
“Dr. Ryan?” Wes’ voice was confused and that made Travis giddy. He loved keeping the blond off balance. “What are you talk –”
He ended the call midsentence. Even though he’d figured a few things out for himself, he still wasn’t one hundred percent ready to let Wes in on it all. Not yet, but soon. Until then, the boy could wait. Kick-starting his bike to life, he stuffed his head into his helmet and pulled into the street. He’d give it a few days and maybe one night next week, he’d take Wes out and confess. If he got the blond full of enough Scotch, he might not even yell.
It wasn’t much of a plan, but it was good enough for now.
Story continues here.
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no subject
Date: 2015-01-27 10:38 pm (UTC)THANK YOU!
That was pure perfection.
And I loved it.
And I think it's awesome!
You did an awesome job with my prompt! ♥ God, how I miss them :)
no subject
Date: 2015-01-27 10:43 pm (UTC)Thank you so much - I get worried filling other people's prompts because you never really know what they're hoping for.
I'm telling you - this show made me so happy at a time when I was really, really down - so much real life crap going on back then. I'd have sold my husband to get a second season. I'd love to see them wind up on another show together sometime.
Again - thank you for the prompt and I've held onto the other two (and that last Travis getting caught prompt made me cackle with glee), so keep an eye out.
no subject
Date: 2015-01-27 10:54 pm (UTC)I've seen Common Law like 3 times or such and I bought the DVDs as soon as they came out here in Austria. Michael and Warren are so awesome and I'd love for them to work together again :D
And yeah, I'm looking forward to it. If you fill another prompt, I'll definitely read it :D
no subject
Date: 2015-01-27 11:09 pm (UTC)I can see where you'd be inspired by The Following though. It's a really intense show with so many dynamics. And so many possibilities.
I bought the DVDs too and I agree. They have great chemistry together.
Yay! Always good to know I'll have an audience! Just don't tell anyone that I've started working on another one already. :)
no subject
Date: 2015-01-27 11:14 pm (UTC)I'm loyal to "Hardston", though... Aka Mike and Ryan. They inspire me the most... and seriously, their relationship... the whole "You and me, we're gonna have a life" conversation brought me to tears, so beautiful. But yeah, the show is great :D
I love to watch the show over and over again and even obsess friends with it. I just borroed the DVDs to a friend and she loves the guys :D
I'm not telling anyone, I should probablgo to bed now anyway... but thanks again for filling that prompt and probably some others :D
no subject
Date: 2015-01-29 11:37 pm (UTC)Yes - I love Ryan and Mike's relationship. I stopped watching early in season 2, so I think I need to use Netflix and catch up before season 3 starts.
Hahaha! I have so few friends who obsess over the same things I do. It's sad. :)
You are so welcome! And you'll be happy to know that someone on AO3 poked me to write more, so you get a second chapter to your fill! I hope to fill the others before too long.
no subject
Date: 2015-01-30 09:03 am (UTC)But Mike and Ryan inspired me literally EVERY episode. They were just so fucking adorable and I loved them and still do and I can't wait to have them back.
I agree, I have very few friends who are as crazy as me with tv-shows and the like as well, but sometimes it happens that some end up liking the same tv-shows I do.
And yay, that sounds awesome, thanks already, will read it later when I get back, have to go to the city with my dad.
no subject
Date: 2015-01-30 06:33 pm (UTC)I totally agree. It's so wonderful when two characters can connect and have that kind of relationship that works so well.
Of the few friends I have that like the same shows, none of them go to the level of fangirl I do. So, it can get lonely here in the corner. Hah.
You are very welcome and I hope you had a lovely trip with your dad. :)
no subject
Date: 2015-01-30 06:36 pm (UTC)I definitely love the relationship between Ryan and Mike. It's like one of my favourite tv-show relationships because of how it started and how far they've come :)
The trip was pretty exhausting. We had to do some grocery shopping and were gone for like 5 hours, so I'm pretty tired, but it was okay and needed to be done :D
no subject
Date: 2015-02-05 11:00 pm (UTC)I agree. They've come a long way and they're so darn cute together, too. And it works, which is important.
Wow, I'd be tired too after all of that. :)
no subject
Date: 2015-02-05 11:54 pm (UTC):)
no subject
Date: 2015-02-06 05:19 pm (UTC)