misunderstanding | (no subject)

(no subject)

[ it's maybe ten PM at the latest, and most bars in NYC are barely just starting to get crowded - but, in ryo's defense, he doesn't typically spend a lot of time in that scene.

so he'll text, which is maybe slightly anachronistic, but shhh. ]

Hey

[ which is maybe the only text he's ever sent without punctuation, but hey, cut him some slack here. he's trying Really Hard. ]

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Ooh, I love pasta.

[They are talking dinner and a movie, how is this such a nerve-racking affair for Ryo? Not that Dee is surprised any more. He knows him, so he just smiles.]

Relax, yeah?

[ it's the implications - expectations? - that make this so difficult for him. he's nervous, which is why he'll sigh: ]

Easy for you to say.

Yeah? Why's that? Cause from where I'm standing, I'm the one likely to strike out.

I've never- with a guy...

[ he rubs his hand against his face, groaning quietly into it. ]

It's kind of a lot to come to terms with, okay?

You don't have to. Though it's normal to be worried.

But if you're thinking I'd pressure you when you look like you're afraid, we got bigger problems.

[ he shakes his head, holding his hand up as if to silence dee. ] No- I just- I mean- I'm going to prove that I want this, too.

[ not easy for him to say, but he's doing his best. ]

...I just meant dating, Ryo. So dinner and movie's fine.

[How.]

[ because ryo has a very special way of making literally everything involving his own personal life way more complicated than it needs to be. ]

You were just telling me that it's not enough, that you don't believe that I want you--

[ he's flustered, hungover, and scrambling for purchase on the situation there. and then, just because he doesn't know what else to do, he abruptly pushes his chair back and stands, striding over to dee's desk, and -before he loses every ounce of nerve he has - he leans down and kisses him right there, in the middle of the station. ]

I want to believe that you want to--

[Before Dee can explain, he gets kissed. No, he hasn't been expecting this and his eyes are wide. He sinks into it pretty quickly though and when he reaches out to cup the back of Ryo's head, it's not because he wants to make a show of it, it's because he's not really thinking, he just wants to kiss Ryo and he wants to run his fingers through his hair.]

[ ryo hesitates for just a second when he feels the fingers in his hair, before he pulls back fast, his face scarlet. the station is silent, which wouldn't be so bad if it hadn't been kind of loud beforehand.

the quiet is broken by what he's sure is jj whimpering. ]

So.

[ his voice is tight. breathing is not easy. ]

Dinner?

Yes. Yes! Dinner, yes!

[Very eloquent, but at least the enthusiasm is obvious, while Dee's brain only slowly catches on to the situation at hand.]

...we should probably work first.

[ ryo is just going to. sink into his seat and try to melt into it. he isn't sure if everyone's eyes are on him or not, but it definitely feels like it.

eventually, he'll pipe up: ]

You don't think we're gonna get written up for that, do you?

Nah. Just Drake might be mad at you because you lost him a bet.

[It's true enough. Drake's grumbling could be heard even over JJ's whimpering and Ted's smugness was silent, but obvious.]

I'm transferring districts.

[ it's not a legitimate or earnest complaint, but just one born of pure embarrassment as he sinks a little further into his seat. ]

People need to learn to mind their own business...

[ but he's keeping an eye on dee now, for once. things had felt - dire, almost. like they were building to a conclusion, one way or another. for a few minutes there, he'd been consumed with the actual worry that he was going to lose dee for good.

he shakes his head after another few moments, standing up. ]

I'm gonna take a half-day. I'll see you after work?

[ it's not like he isn't swimming in sick and vacation time at this point, and he's got a hell of a hangover to nurse into submission before their date that evening. ]

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