Time Capsule, Part 6 "Hollywood Nocturne"
Title: "Hollywood Nocturne"
Series: Time Capsule
Fandoms: Castle
Rating: PG-13 ish
Genre: Romance, Gay Sex, Mystery etc.
Warnings: Slash, AU, unbeta'd,
Characters/Pairings: Javier Esposito/Kevin Ryan.
Wordcount: 2850 ish
Summary: Ryan felt the same thing he felt every time they entered a crime scene; nervous and important and scared all at the same time. He kept his gaze steely and followed Esposito like a shadow.
Details: Written as a continuation for
ryanandesposito's Valentine's Day Mini Ficathon.
"Speaking of Ryan, guess who got a dozen roses delivered a few minutes ago?" Castle grinned. "Do you know how rare it is for guys to get flowers delivered to them even in Manhattan? Even *I* haven't gotten that from most women. Someone's got a new honey."
This story is a complete work of fiction and all characters are copyrighted to ABC, Beacon Pictures, Andrew Marlowe, etc. This is in no way a real representation of the actors or the characters. It's fun to play with them just the same.
Author's note: This is about Detectives Kevin Ryan and Javier Esposito but will involve several other characters from the show. I'm not sure exactly where this is going to go (aside from the obvious, a romance between Esposito and Ryan). I may jump around in time somewhat (e.g., flashbacks), and I'll try to stick more or less to the themes of the series and reference a few episodes, but no promises... it's obviously a parallel reality, though even on the show they're very friendly.
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Hollywood Nocturne
(We continue to flashback to when Javier Esposito and Kevin Ryan's relationship was just beginning; about a year before the start of the first story in this series.)
##
Monday morning did indeed arrive, and the bright sun came streaming in through a crack between the blind and window frame of Javier Esposito's bedroom.
"Wake up, sunshine!" Javier caressed Kevin Ryan's cheek. "Wow, you don't have much of a beard do you?"
"No, thanks for noticing." Kevin growled.
"Someone is NOT a morning person! I like your pretty-boy face. You know we're back to our normal crazy this week."
"I know." Ryan opened his eyes slowly. "And that reminds me, I wanted to talk to you about something."
"What is it bro?" Esposito ran his had down over Kevin's naked flank under the covers.
"Well, it's probably really premature, and presumptuous of me to even hope that..." The Irishman paused.
"Bro... it's fine whatever you want to say."
"I mean, I just had this amazing weekend with you, and in a way I wish it would never end, but we have work, and you have a routine, and I wouldn't want to... you know..." Ryan blurted it all out very fast, then looked away.
"Kev, spit it out."
The Irishman sighed. "I don't want you to ever feel like I'm inflicting myself on you, or trying to monopolize your time. We already see eachother almost every day in life and death situations.I don't want to ever be here with you if you don't want me to be here."
"Aw bro. I hope I haven't given you that feeling, 'cause I've loved every minute with you. I hope you're not trying to tell me something..."
"No! Absolutely not. I just want to try to be sure that it stays that way. Like I know you have stuff outside of work, and I don't want to take you away from that, and I don't want you to think I'm expecting to sleep with you every night - unless you want to of course." Ryan looked up shyly.
Javier just smiled back at him for a long moment. "You are so sweet and considerate, dude. And you're thinking ahead better than me. I have to admit, I haven't even thought about most of this extra stuff."
Esposito pulled Kevin to him and he felt the Irishman shivering. "Kev please don't be nervous. It'll all work out I promise. I'm not about to blow you off. Blow you, maybe. Blow you off, nuh-uh."
Kevin snickered but turned serious again. "I-I just don't want to be a clingy... you know."
Javier kissed his new lover on the neck. "If I remember, I'm the one who usually has his hands all over you. In fact, I remember a few times I'd be looking over your shoulder in the bullpen and you'd get kind of defensive and kept trying to get me to back off."
"You know why? You were making me crazy."
"Actually, I was doing it partly to tease you. And you always smell nice."
Ryan smiled. "It's incentive to smell nice when you have a hot partner ."
"Still, don't worry. If it makes you feel better, I think one of my favorite times of the weekend was when we were just playing Madden."
"Wow, really?" Kevin pulled Javier back so he could look him in the eyes.
"Yes, really." Esposito grinned. "It was different because of where we're at now, but... maybe for us it's a romantic thing. And this is great too, just being here close to you."
"Damn. I just feel like at some point I'm going to wake up and all this was a dream."
"It's not a dream bro, it's real. And I'm not gonna let you go." Javier pulled Ryan close to him in a tight hug. Then he whispered in Kevin's ear, "Do you have any idea how special you are?"
"Stop it." Ryan whispered hoarsely.
"No." Esposito started to lick Kevin's ear.
Ryan wriggled a little in Javier's embrace and giggled. "That tickles, bro."
"Good. I love making you laugh. But seriously." Esposito stopped and held Kevin's shoulders.
Ryan looked up shyly at his hot new lover. "What?"
"I--I forgot what I was going to say. Kev, man, just trust me. Now more than ever I feel so close to you, and I... I really care for you."
"I just don't..."
"Shut up. I'll tell you if you're ever imposing on me. But a schedule's a good idea. Want to go to the gym with me?"
"Oh hell no, and get intimidated by you doing weights?"
"You said you do kickboxing, that's pretty intense."
"And you knew I was lying. I do cardio. Ellipse, running. Weights scare me."
"Yeah I knew you were a big nerdy liar. It's all good. But you know doing some weight training is good for you. But no pressure. Kev, you're shaking again." He pulled the slim Irishman to him and gently rubbed his back. "Are you sure you're okay? Where's my cocky Leprechaun?Where's that Kevin Ryan I know with the sexy walk and cute smile and some great sluething that shames even Castle?"
"I'm just, I dunno, scared." Ryan clung to the strong Latino Detective. "This is all so new, and happened so fast."
"I would never, ever hurt you. And if you remember I'm the one who kissed you the other night. "
Kevin felt his eyes tearing up and his body shaking. He hated himself for being such a wimp right now.
"Kev, its okay."
"You must think I'm some pathetic... gay guy. All the odd behavior and crazy girlfriends were a farce."
"Bro, you're the smartest, cutest guy I know. So just shut up okay?" Javier gently kissed his lover and Ryan responded, pulling the muscular Latino Detective into a passionate embrace.
"Oh man..." Kevin moaned
"If you want I'll kiss you in the middle of the precinct to let everyone know..."
"God, I'd never ask you to do that."
"I know, that's why I volunteered. Come here." Esposito grinned, pulled Ryan to him, both just in their underwear. It was not a sexual embrace at all (well maybe somewhat sexual). Kevin kept shivering for a while till Javier's body warmed him and they just cuddled together. Then things started to get a little heated...
##
"Detective Ryan, delivery! Please come to the front desk." The receptionist's page rang throughout the bullpen.
##
Montgomery walked into the bullpen to check case progress. Only Castle and Beckett were there. "Ohhkay. I know a few people are out, but where's Esposito?"
"He said he had some results to go over with Ryan downstairs in Tech, and he'd be right here." Beckett volunteered.
"Speaking of Ryan, guess who got a dozen roses delivered a few minutes ago?" Castle grinned. "Do you know how rare it is for guys to get flowers delivered to them even in Manhattan? Even *I* haven't gotten that from most women. Someone's got a new honey."
"You mean 'a' honey, period. Ryan is mostly talk, though I'd be happy for him... Adams, what do you need?" Beckett asked, her attention switching to the far desks and making no attempt to hide her dislike for the fact he'd obviously been listening in on their conversation as he lurked there.
"Uhh, sorry, I didn't mean to intrude but I have the info on the fake ears for the Trekker case."
"I'll be right there."
After the door closed, Castle and Beckett leaned in close.
"Any idea who it could be?" Castle whispered. "When a girl sends a guy flowers, that's... wow."
"A-hem!" Montgomery raised his eyebrows.
##
"Javi, they're beautiful, but you didn't have to-"
"But I wanted to bro, just to let you know how much I enjoyed the weekend, and to make you show off a little bit that someone has the hots for you."
"I don't know what else to say. No one's ever sent me flowers before." Kevin smiled, feeling himself turning red.
"Won't be the last time, stud." Esposito grinned.
"Now I know how it feels..."
##
Beckett walked into the downstairs Tech bullpen and found Javier having a quiet conversation with Ryan. Their heads were very close together, and both were smiling - grinning even. She overheard Kevin saying "Now I know how it feels..."
'This got serious fast. Though it's all conjecture, no evidence. Just body language, roses, and... hello, a bruise.' The senior Detective thought.
"Well, there you two are" Beckett said dryly. "Montgomery was looking for you upstairs."
"Oh, sorry Beckett. I was... just going over something with Ryan."
"So I see." Beckett's glance fell on Kevin's neck and the Irishman reflexively pulled his collar higher to try to conceal the hickey. But Kate went on with hardly a pause. "We have a 419 at the Plaza, suspicious circumstances. Why don't you two take this one, even though we're short-handed with a few people out, it's slow right now. Just keep out of... trouble." Beckett glanced back and forth between the two of them.
Kevin took a deep breath and settled himself. "Yes, I'll be okay, I promise to be on my best behavior. But I can't speak for THAT guy" He nodded in Esposito's direction.
"Uh-huh... and Ryan, nice flowers." With that she tried to stifle a smile.
If Kevin could have turned as red as those deep burgundy roses, he would have.
##
"Look it's romance boy and his sidekick." Castle said with his usual sarcasm as he passed Ryan and Javier in the hall; Kevin was struggling with his tie, which was suddently too tight for him. Then Castle sniffed; it was difficult to eliminate the smell of the roses; apparently Ryan had practically rolled in them. 'Definitely Esposito's cologne.' But hadn't he smelled it on Kevin the other day...? 'Surely not those two. Ryan maybe, but Javier?... and with Kevin? No way.' Castle shook his head as if trying to get the image out of his mind. On his way back to Beckett's desk he ran into her. "So, Detective, did you get any more out of our resident loverboy about his amorous weekend encounters?"
"Wouldn't you like to know. Why don't you get your own life, Castle?"
"I'll have you know I have a very active social life outside of my *philanthropic* work here. But back to my question, I just happened to realize that when Ryan was looking a bit frazzled and disheveled, he was reeking of cologne that Esposito wears." He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.
By now they had reached Beckett's desk and Kate threw down the folders she was carrying. Noncommitally she asked, "So you're suggesting Esposito... and Ryan?" She tossed her hair. "Ryan may have a little wild boy in him, but Esposito, he's a military sniper. Don't you think it's hard to imagine they come any straighter than him?"
"But you see how he always has his hands on Ryan. Patting him on the shoulder, the head, the chest."
"You're crazy Castle. Esposito treats Ryan like his partner, and kind of a little brother. It's nice. Maybe that's where your super sensitive nose picked up the cologne. Esposito patting Ryan on the shoulder sometimes at work, encouraging him. You know Ryan can be a sensitive guy."
"If you say so."
"I do. Now please let's get back to work."
But he couldn't get the salacious images of Ryan and Esposito together... naked... doing unspeakable things... out of his very active, fertile, experienced mind. 'Could they really be...? How did that work exactly? Ryan has to be the 'girl'... right?'
As unlikely as it seemed, the idea of the hunky Latino and the funny Irishman together kind of made him smile. He considered finding out the florist and doing a little sleuthing of his own. But both Esposito and Ryan were great Detectives and partners, and-as unlikely as it seemed - if they were hooking up, they deserved a little privacy. Though under department protocols... all the more reason to leave it alone, discourage those I.A. worms, and leave it up to Beckett. But Castle allowed himself another little smile.
Beckett too, couldn't stop thinking about it, but she let herself run wilder than Castle. 'I bet those two would be hot as hell together.But Esposito's gotta be kind of conservative as far as the kinky stuff, and with all those odd girlfriends Ryan's gotta be the wanna-be wild boy. Recipe for inferno!'
##
Javier and Kevin arrived at a palatial penthouse suite on an upper floor of the Plaza. Ryan felt the same thing he felt every time they entered a crime scene; nervous and important and scared all at the same time. He kept his gaze steely and followed Esposito like a shadow.
There were a couple of uniforms waiting for them in the living area. One approached them. "The body's in the tub, young guy. Name according to the roommate is Kelley Jason. Looks like suicide. His buddy's over there in the bedroom, Grant Brady. Says he found him like that and called 911. Coroner's already in the bathroom. Here are their wallets, just IDs and cash. Brady played coy when I asked how he was paying for the room. IDs look fake to me but a pretty professional job. The room was reserved by a third party, a woman, on her credit card."
"Thanks." Javier nodded to the officer, then looked at Kevin over his shoulder. "Shall we?"
A young handsome guy with shaggy dark hair was sitting on the large bed, still in wet bloody clothes, huddled in a blanket. He looked up at Esposito and Ryan for a moment with red-rimmed eyes, then back at the floor. Kevin thought there was something familiar about him. As they went into a foyer that led to two bathrooms, Javier gave Ryan a quizzical look. Kevin wiggled his eyebrows.
In one bathroom, Dr. Sidney Perlmutter was with the body. In the oversized Jacuzzi tub was a young blond, probably in his early 20's, partially dressed. His wrists were slashed, the water full of blood. One arm was draped out over the floor, where more blood had dripped. It looked like a suicide.
They went in and breathed deep at the sight.
"Doctor Death, where's Lanie, and what's the story?" Esposito asked casually.
"Don't call me that, don't know, don't care and liver temp is 96; I'd say he can't have been dead more than two hours, but the water temp could throw it off. The roommate discovered the body half an hour ago. Cause of death appears to be exsanguination, but there are some disturbing other signs."
Javier knelt down to look more closely. "The cuts to the wrists are longitudinal, but there's no blood splatter on the hand draped outside the tub. Cutting those arteries would have spurt all over the hands. The cuts seem awfully neat too."
"And something else. Look at these bruises on the neck. It looks like he could have been choked. Of course there could be other wounds; I won't know till I get him back for autopsy. I might be able to get prints off the neck too."
"Hmm, choked to unconsciousness, put in the tub and wrists cut to make it look like a suicide? We'll have to take a closer look at the rest of the suite and then get the investigators in but doesn't look like any signs of a struggle. Everything seemed in order. And setting him up like this would take some time; either the killer didn't know there was a roommate or he didn't think he'd be back for awhile."
Suddenly Ryan remembered where he's seen the guy sitting on the bed. "Espo, can I talk to you?"
"What is it bro?" Javier couldn't help letting a little trepidation creep into his tone.
Kevin cocked his head to the other bathroom; they went inside and closed the door most of the way, careful not to touch the handle. "That young guy sitting on the bed, he's a celebrity."
"Really? From what? He didn't look familiar to me. And he apparently didn't say anything about it to the uniforms, though I guess that kind of explains how two guys in their 20's are in a penthouse at the Plaza, unless they're dealing. Usually though celebrities can't wait to tell you they are, unless they have something to hide..." Esposito's voice trailed off.
"Yeah. Two handsome young guys, one bed."
"Who is he?"
To Be Continued...
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Comments, Con-Crit, etc. always appreciated.