OOM: Sitting
It’s one of those summer days in Portugal where the weather can’t make up its mind what its doing. Ramon sits by the window that overlooks the beach and watches heavy grey clouds cross skies that are deep blue when they get a chance to be; he sees droplets of rain fall for only a few minutes before changing their mind and letting the sun dry them out again. It’s transfixing, in its way.
It’s unusual for him to be so still, he normally does his best thinking when moving in some fashion. Walking sometimes, running when he’s a cat. Pacing and posturing in front of employees and victims - even when scrapping with someone, although thoughts by that stage aren’t usually the most coherent. But not today. Today he sits and stares out over the ocean helplessly, knowing exactly what’s about to happen and completely powerless to stop it.
He tried. He really really had. That last conversation with Random on the subject has run through his head endlessly for the last few months, along with the promise he made himself. And his thoughts on it haven’t changed in the slightest, though he’s done his best to suppress them. But there comes a point where everyone has to admit defeat and for him, that point was reached the moment Narcissa Malfoy refused to back down when he threatened her child.
It starts raining again and it’s heavy this time. He watches the flowers in the garden wilt slightly under the sudden onslaught and there’s a brief, humourless, smile.
Tried, Random. But this is an opportunity I can’t turn down. You just asked me to think about things before I did them, and decide whether the risk is worth it. And this time, it is. Can I help it if I like the risk as well?
The idea had walked into his head fully formed, knowledge of what to do had dropped in and set up camp and there was no way it was leaving until he acted on it. And this time, he’s pretty sure there won’t be any interruptions. Nothing to prove he's behind it. Oh sure, it’s a safe bet that Bauer’s going to suspect him - but what can he do? Without proof or a confession - and there won’t be one, he’s sure - there won’t be any separation from Random. Few consequences to deal with, nothing beyond suspicion really and he’s used to that.
Normally I’d do this overtly. Announce to the world that it was me and laugh in everyone’s faces as I leave the bar and get away with it. Can’t do that this time Random, I’ve got business there I have to go back to. So I’m learning, see? They won’t catch me. It’ll be OK.
It’s what he tells himself, always. It’ll be fine. It’s him doing it, how could it not be? But then, he has to admit that things are a little different this time. It’s not in his nature to be covert about his crimes but he’ll make an exception on this occasion - still, no matter which way he paints things in his head, if Random finds out he’s going to be pissed. Ramon’s not afraid of retribution from Jack but the fallout if Random finds out won’t be pretty.
You said you didn’t want me to get locked up with the blood of the Malfoys on my hands. I’ll be doing you one better. No blood at all, and you know how rare that is for me. If it weren’t for you, I’d just kill her and be done with it. Kill both of them. But I won’t, this time. And no getting locked up either - Bauer won’t do anything without being sure it’s me. He’s not a vigilante. And I’ll never tell. You see? It’ll be fine.
He tells himself that over again, and believes it. Of course he believes it. He expects that things will go right, and so they do. Always.
Right?
If he were given to introspection, he might wonder why he’s not thinking like he usually does, why he’s sitting and staring over an ocean he can no longer see because of the rain.
Should I do this?
‘It’ll be fine.’
He says it out loud, but quietly. There’s a pause and then he grins.
No. But I’m going to anyway.
Because he’s Ramon Salazar and no one gets away with a crime against him.
There’s a rumble of thunder in the distance and he sits and watches the first flashes of lightening start to break over the water.
It’s going to be a good show.