Secret Santa fic: Nice Try, Esposito.
Title: Nice try, Esposito.
Author: adja999
Summary: Written for the Ryan & Esposito Secret Santa Fan Fic Exchange. For coffeebuddha who requested: "After Ryan and Jenny break up, Esposito decides to throw caution to the wind and attempt to woo Ryan. The more awkward his attempts are, the better."
Pairings: Ryan/Esposito
Word Count: 5,001 (geez, couldn’t even round it up)
Rating: PG-13, I guess?
Beta: none, too much in a hurry. I hope everything looks okay, I reread it carefully.
Author's Notes: This is a fill in for someone that dropped out if I understood correctly, so it may be late. I honestly have no clue. I did as fast as I could but I didn’t want to rush the fic either and give you something crappy. It ended up being more painful mishaps/misfire than awkward, but I hope you like it anyway.
Unlike most stories you’ll read, this one went downhill pretty much from the get go. Actually, my friends started at the bottom of the hill, and dug.
And yes, it is widely known, I am an author of fiction and an adept of the emphasis, but in this case, I swear it is neither invented nor exaggerated.
xXx
Javier Esposito came to work on time. Or so he’d assumed before he walked in and found Castle already poised by Beckett’s desk, in deep conversation with the hot shot detective about the pertinence wording and use of literary metaphors in police reports. By the look of things,
Ryan was here too, albeit nowhere to be seen, as indicated by his coat and jacket hanging respectively from the rack and the back of his desk chair.
When his presence was known, Esposito instantly knew something was wrong when met his colleagues’ eyes. “What’s up?” he asked, ready to gear up, head to meet a new body and lose his appetite for the pack of doughnut holes he was carrying.
Castle jerked his chin towards the conference room, and Esposito recognized his partner sitting alone and seemingly brooding. “I think he’ll want to tell you himself.”
With a deep frown, Javier absently offered them the food he suddenly wasn’t feeling like anymore and went to his partner, stomach heavy with worry. “Hey bro.” He greeted softly when Ryan looked up at him.
“Hey, Javi.” He said with a small voice. “Is everyone worried out there, I don’t mean to bother-…”
“Shut up, we’re family. Tell me what’s wrong.” Esposito told him as he plopped down on the seat net to Ryan’s.
His partner’s lips twitched at Javier’s comeback, even though Ryan’s eyes shown the bleariness of someone who hasn’t slept much in the previous night. Or possibly cried a lot. This thought alone was deeply disturbing. One look at the partnership and people always assumed Javier was the toughest because he was the biggest. Granted, he was as hard to punch into as a brick wall and stood taller and wider than his coworker and best friend, but it didn’t mean Ryan was a precious flower. Javier had often been amazed at how resilient the man was. To physical pain, to fear, to sorrow. He’d never seen Ryan cry. Yes, he’d seen him with his face twisted in pain or with desperation in his eyes, but never tears. On the other hand, Ryan had seen him cry on two occasions. One, a couple of months after the start of their partnership, when he’d been shot in the leg. Hitting the bone is epically painful, and no ex marine would be ashamed to have their eyes water on that occasion. Two, when his grandma died and he asked the captain if he could take a few days off to go to her funeral. When he’d told his best friend, he hadn’t been able to help the tears.
Still, Ryan stayed silent, staring at something on Esposito’s shirt and lost in his thoughts. To grab his attention, Javier reached out and put a hand on his forearm. “Kev, you’re worrying me.” This brought the man back and he glanced briefly down at the point of contact before meeting Javier’s eyes sheepishly and covering the tanned hand with his own. He pursed his lips, then looked down at their piled hands, rubbing his thumb along the outside of Javier’s hand. “Jenny’s filling for divorce.”
Javier bit his lower lip, frown deepening in compassion. He’d feared something along those lines. “Shit, man.”
Kevin gave a bitter chuckle. “Yeah.”
All Esposito could do was squeeze his friend’s arm gently. He knew about the fights, the tensed atmosphere and the pulling away, but as far as he knew Jenny, he was sure she’d given an explanation. “Wanna talk about it? About why?”
Kevin’s thumb stilled on Javier’s skin and with a sigh, he withdrew his hand. Javier left his, it’s not because his friend didn’t ask him to hang on that he was going to stop being there.
“She, uh… she found someone who apparently…” he frowned, swallowed and rephrased. “She said she can’t fill my needs or something. I think… I dunno. I’m wondering if it’s not that she’s simply fallen in love with someone else.”
“Shit.” Esposito said, angry at himself for not finding anything more eloquent to say.
“It’s okay.” Kevin said, and Javier’s eyebrows shot up. How could it be okay? “If I’m not the one to make her happy, then… she shouldn’t be with me.”
Esposito stared for a while. “… aren’t you gonna fight for her?”
“I would fight for someone.” Kevin said, shrugging. “Hell, you know I fought for her, but… fight to make her miserable? Fuck, no.”
It made sense. “I guess I get that. I’m sorry, bro.”
Kevin gave him a small, but genuine smile. “I know.”
They’d been through tough times together and it meant a lot to them. They stayed silent for a while, Javier lost in his thoughts about how his best friend’s life was suddenly thrown upside down and he hated the look of a little lost boy in Kevin’s eyes. And suddenly he thought of something. Pulling his hand back, he leant forward, his elbows on his knees. “So what happens with your place?” Kevin had sold his place to move in with Jenny.
“Oh, I’m staying at Castle’s.” Kevin said with a smile. You could see he was excited about that. Of course, the penthouse was amazing.
“… oh. Uh, okay.”
Ryan frowned at him. “Why?”
Esposito sat back, a physical distance between him and his partner that Ryan was quick to pick up on. “I dunno. Nevermind.”
Kevin twisted in his seat. “Jav, what?”
Feeling ridiculous, Javier avoided his eyes. “I guess I assumed you’d crash with me, but it makes sense. Guest rooms and all.”
Blue eyes crinkled with a smile. “I like your couch, Javi, I really do. But occasionally.”
As it turned out, it was probably better. Esposito didn’t sleep at all that night. He kept wandering back and forth between his room and the living room, trying to lie down in bed before getting back up and trying to watch tv instead. All of that due to one little thing. One thing that had been stamped ‘Not Gonna Happen’ in his mind. And that night, his subconscious at scribbled an addition to that title. It now read. Not gonna happen unless you do something.
Because yes, Javier Esposito, who hadn’t had a thing with a guy since college -DADT notwithstanding- had been in love with his best friend and partner since what seemed like forever.
xXx
It had been a couple of months, and now that everything was more or less final, you could see the strain of the procedures was starting to wash off Kevin’s shoulders. He had stayed at Castle about a month and found a place through a friend of Martha’s. It was conveniently situated between Javier’s and the precinct. After nights of reflection and seeing his best friend move on, Esposito had come to a decision.
Maybe it would make things uncomfortable, but he knew he and Kevin would get over it, but he owed it to them both to give it a shot.
Now, he’d never courted a dude. His experiences had been random hookups at parties that had, for some, evolved into something that was still called, back then, ‘going steady’ for a bit.
Oh well, he’d improvise.
He first tried with flowers. It seemed lame, but Ryan had always had this particular love for sunflowers. They made him smile and Esposito liked when he smiled.
So he picked out a huge bouquet of them -those bitches are hard to find in NYC- and set it on his partner’s desk while no one was watching. He went to get them both coffee and watched with curiosity when Ryan came back in the main room. When he spotted the flowers, his step faltered and, contrary to what Javier had expected, his brows drew together in a frown and he took off…. Towards the break room and Esposito.
“Hey. What’s wrong?” Javier asked, genuinely confused. Sunflowers usually equaled sunny smiles.
“I think… why would she do that?” Kevin rubbed his forehead. “I think Jenny was here.”
Javier’s heart skipped a beat. “Why? Because of the flowers?”
Kevin blushed. “You saw.”
“Yeah. You love those.”
Kevin shrugged. “She’s always made fun of me for that. I mean… they’re probably here to remind me that I’m the big girl in all this.” His head was bowed.
Well, shit.
When they headed back, Javier offered to get them off Kevin’s desk and to the break room so everyone to enjoy. Kevin nodded, lost in his depressed thoughts. As Javier installed them near the coffee machine, he picked up the card he’d scribbled in them and threw it in the trash.
He’d only succeeded in one thing. Making his partner sad and moody until they withered and were thrown away.
That had to be for all the people he’d had to shoot in his life.
Karma:1, Esposito:0.
xXx
One the day they decided to resume their ritual of Friday-night-beer-game-takeout, Esposito tried to go in for a change.
He knew how much Kevin liked Javier’s momma’s cooking so he called her for the specific on a recipe and got to work. All went right until Kevin arrived, then, distracted by the presence of the man and the beer, everything burned and it turned completely different.
So they had to watch the game while waiting for takeout, frozen on the spot because the windows were wide open to chase the burnt smell outside, letting all the January air in. And Kevin couldn’t get over the hilarity of it all.
All in all, Javier should have been happy, he’d managed to put Kevin in a good mood. But somehow his bruised ego didn’t allow it. At some point, he snapped. “You know I did this for you, right?!” he barked with more bite than he intended.
Ryan seemed stunned by the sudden shift in mood. “Uh,… what?”
“I did this for you. This is what you like. And you keep poking fun at me.” He accused, bruised ego sulking.
Ryan looked at him for a moment in silence, then his expression closed off. Esposito had barely enough time to register surprise before his friend got angry in turn. “So, someone needs to take care of me? Is that it?”
“What?!” Javier sat up. “No. I didn’t mean that. I just tried to do something to make you happy.”
Kevin got up and glared. “So, you don’t think you’re enough? That our Friday night ritual doesn’t make me happy? That I’m high maintenance?!”
Startled to his feet, Javier tried to calm things down. “Dude, no, I don’t think that. I was trying to do something different, I just…” he couldn’t bring up Jenny, but still, obviously, there were two bruised ego in the room.
“Right. You just…” Kevin quoted, glaring down at the coffee table. “I’m gonna go.”
“Kev..”
“It’s late, man. This isn’t going well. Why not just go to sleep and get to tomorrow?”
Defeated, Esposito just shrugged and watched his best friend go.
Long after that, he lay in bed staring at the ceiling, reconsidering his plans.
xXx
I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have been pissed.
Kevin’s texted reply came back a couple of minutes later. Me neither. Been down lately. Not ur fault, shouldn’t take it out on u. We’re ok.
Javier swallowed back his fear and closed his eyes in relief, feeling the queasiness at fighting with your best friend lessening. I’m glad. U should know I’m always here 4 u.
Sure. Same here, Javi.
Needing ur best friend right now doesn’t make u needy. Ur in a though spot.
JAVI! It’s 2am. I’m turning off my phone.
Karma:2, Esposito:0.
xXx
“Come on, you need to clear your head. There’s this new Irish bar down 3rd I wanted to check out.” Esposito insisted. Ryan needed cheering up and if it required his friends to tackle the problem, so be it.
Plus, bar, alcohol, maybe he’d be more comfortable trying to clue Kevin in in a different setting than their usual.
All he did was clue in Castle.
Perfect.
It all started pretty awesome. Kevin texted Beckett and -oh surprise- being at the Old Haunt, she told Castle were they were. So the whole gang, complete with their favorite ME, gathered in MacLeod’s -original, isn’t it? Ryan ended up being the popular guy, being the social Irish butterfly, he was given free drinks at every tables and talked to no one but them.
Beckett didn’t see through Esposito’s sullen façade, she was too busy giggling and singing along Irish classics with Lanie. But Castle…
Oh, that man would made been a fine detective. At the very least, he was a very intuitive character analyzer. “You’re jealous.” He decided and Javier had to stop his staring contest with the bottom of his glass to redirect his glare to the author.
He played it well, he thought. “Jealous of what?”
“Come on.” Castle gave him an unusual smile. Not the victorious ‘I figured you out’ smile, but a sympathetic one. “He may be blinded by his own drama, but if I can see it, Kate probably knows too.”
Javier considered. “Great.” He spat bitterly. After a while he sighed. “Got any ideas.”
“Oh, do not.” Castle shook his palms in his direction. “Last time I tried giving love advice to someone, I had to find two read heads glaring at me when I got home the following night. I am not good at this.”
“Join the club.” Javier said and down the rest of his beer.
Castle sighed and raised his hand. “We need shots here.” He called.
xXx
“You were right, Javi…” Kevin beamed at his partner, hanging heavily off his shoulder. “I needed this. I’m all cheer… cheered up.”
“Stop drooling on my jacket.”
“Aw, you need cheering too. Lemme give you a hug.” Before Esposito could react, Kevin was wrapped around his chest
Not that, in itself, it was a bad sensation, but it meant jack squat, and in the middle of a stair case, with the dead weight of a drunk guy, and Javier not quite sober himself it could get fairly unsteady. “Dude, get off. You’re gonna make us dive.”
They resumed climbing with effort, until they reached the first floor. “You’re mad at me.” Kevin stated when Javier finally got his door open.
“No, man. I’m not.” Javier guided his friend to his room. “I’m tired.”
“You’re mad.”
“Maybe a little. I wanted to spend time with you tonight.”
“You’re adorable.” Kevin grabbed a hold of Javier’s face and planted a kiss on his cheek. Or, more exactly, at the very corner of his mouth. Realizing what he’s done, Kevin pulled back and blinked, smile goofy with drunken glee. “Oops. That seemed more than a little undecided.” He’d always been a very articulate drunk. “I’m sorry I wasn’t with you tonight. Here. Forgive me.” And with that, he pressed a sloppy, but very purposefully aimed kiss to Javier’s lips.
By the time Javier reacted, Kevin had dropped his hands and himself and was passed out sideways on his bed.
Javier went home with the feel of a misaligned kiss on his lips. Wondering what the hell that meant, what the hell he should or shouldn’t have done and what the hell was going to happen tomorrow.
xXx
What happened the next day was this:
“I fucking hate your guts.” Kevin moaned from his desk when Javier set his usual coffee down in front of him.
“Bro.” Javier’s lips twisted in a small smile. It wasn’t exactly the first time they’d drunk a little too much. Granted, usually they didn’t have to come to the precinct on Saturdays, but still.
Kevin looked up at him and glared. “Seriously, I hate you.”
Esposito’s face fell. He wasn’t joking. As if the fact that it had been his idea to go out meant that he’d somehow made Ryan chug down everything he found. “Dude, be fair.” He said coolly. “I didn’t see you all night save for dragging your sorry ass home so I sure as Hell didn’t feed you those shots.”
“Guys! Cut it out.” Beckett’s voice snapped between the two. “Focus. We’ve got a murder to solve and our prime suspect is getting ready to skip town.”
Karma: 3, Esposito: 0.
xXx
“How did we get this?” Kevin asked, looking around at the fancy restaurant. At least Esposito could get out safe on this one, he could treat his best friend to a classy meal for his birthday without being accused of mothering him. “Castle, I guess.”
“I’m guessing you mean the annoying guy that’s been working with us and has strangely grown on us for the past years?”
Kevin smiled. “Yep.”
Proud of his connections, Javier grinned. “Then close, but no cigar. Wrong Castle, actually.”
Kevin looked around in awe once more, as I everything was brighter now that he knew the young woman was the one who pulled it off. “Alexis got us this reservation?”
“Yup. She interviewed the Chef for a paper for uni or something. They got along pretty well and he said to call him if she ever wanted to have reservations.”
“Handy.”
“I know, right?” Esposito smiled. “I happened to mention your birthday the other day and she said, knowing what you ate at their place, that you’d probably love it here. Though I’d probably mourn my T bones.”
Kevin laughed, it was a very good sound to hear, something that made him more gorgeous. “You think so?”
“I dunno.” Esposito considered the menu. “I love my steaks but they’ve got some pretty intriguing things in here too.”
“Yeah? You made your choice?”
Javier nodded. “Think so.”
Kevin flagged the waiter. “You gentlemen ready to order?” he asked, when he came close. Kevin nodded. “I’ll flag a colleague for you. I only do drinks, let me know if you need more of that Cabernet.”
“Mh. Organization here is fantastic.” Kevin said when the waiter was off, imitating his mother, before bring his champagne to his lips.
“Hi, my name is Jenny, and I’ll be your waitress for the night. I can take your order if you’re ready.”
Javier knew the world was crashing down even before Kevin choked on his sip. He coughed and the very confused waitress took their orders. It took fifteen minute of strained conversations and awkward silences before Kevin bolted to his feet. “I can’t. I’m… I’m sorry, Javi. I just…”
His departure happened to coincide with the return of the waitress with the steaming plates on her hands. “Is your boyfriend coming back?” she asked gently.
Javier blinked. He wondered himself if Kevin was ever coming back from it. Not bothering to correct her, he sighed. “I’m so sorry. I don’t think he is. I’ll, uh…. I guess I’ll take the check.”
Karma: 4, Esposito: 0.
xXx
Javier almost jumped to the ceiling when Kevin burst into his apartment. He’d forgotten his friend had a key and surely didn’t expect him to barge in like that. “Jesus H Christ, Kevin! Something wrong?” he said, alarmed.
“Yes.” The blond man took the time to close the door and joined Javier in the middle of the living room. They were now both standing in front of the couch. “Javi. What’s wrong?”
Esposito’s mind was utterly blank. “Uh, what? I don’t…”
“What’s wrong with us? There’s something off and we keep fighting and we’re weird around each other, so…. What’s wrong with us?”
Esposito stared at him. “You think I know that?”
“Yes.” Kevin nodded, looking sure. “I’ve been thinking about things and I know I’ve been edgy because of the divorce but you’re the one being weird.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It makes me mad to need you right now, because as much as we have each other’s backs, always, and you know that…”
“I do.”
“… I hate needing you so badly right now. I lost one whole side of my life and while I find a way to build it back I need something I know to hold on to. But I hate feeling so dependent. And I resent you because I’m losing my footing with you. Something’s weird, so I don’t have that thing I knew. And I’m mad at me for being mad at you because, really, it’s not your fucking problem. But all I can say is that I think there’s some elephant in the room whose shadow I just saw and maybe that’s all we need to find that balance again.”
Javier looked down. “I’m sorry I’ve been weird. I know I have, I’ve been trying hard not to be though I wanted….”
Kevin edged closer, looking at him softly, trying to encourage and understand. “You wanted what?”
“I hate seeing you miserable over jenny.”
Kevin shook his head. “I’m over Jenny, Javi. I’m down because I’m recently single and I don’t really know where I stand, but I’m over Jenny.”
Javier looked up, then breathed in and nodded. “Okay.”
There was hope in Kevin’s eyes. “Okay, now we move to the point?”
“I guess.” Esposito said, steeling himself. “Kevin, I know I’m risking a lot here, but I wanted to be there for you. I wanted to be the supportive best friend when your marriage ended but I also wanted you to see me differently. Now that you’re single. I’ve…. All those mishaps were me trying to… court you, I guess.”
Kevin barked a laugh, then turned serious, and ended up glaring. “You think I’m gay?”
“No.” Javier said. “I don’t know that you are. But I don’t know that you aren’t. I just think we’re brilliant as friends and we’d be even better together. I just knew that I needed to try now before someone else snatches my chance. So this is it, now. We can forget about it tomorrow. I trust that you care enough to get over it if it’s not returned but… I want to know if you’d let me try being the one to make you happy. I want to know if you can see it, when you think about it.”
Kevin’s eyes were wide, he rubbed the back of his neck. “I… wow.”
Esposito looked at something on Ryan’s chest to avoid his eyes. “It may be too soon, but I figured, probably better too soon than too late. Especially with all he awkwardness between us.”
When he dared looking up, he couldn’t make sense of all the emotions fleeting on Kevin’s face, all he could see was that there was turmoil. Kevin’s hands were curling into fists and back, a clear sign of his internal conflict. And anger. Esposito was definitely not comfy with that last part.
Kevin huffed, licked his lips and brought his hand to pinch the bridge of his nose. “Javi, since when do guys need romance?” he said, voice strained. Their eyes clashed, Kevin’s as cold as their ice blue color suggested. The Irish man took a step forward. “All you needed to do was saw…. I have a thing, maybe you have a thing. I’d like to kiss you now.”
Javier hung on to hope. “Do you want me to say that to you?”
Kevin snorted in laughter. “No, actually, that was me saying it.” He corrected. “I’d like to kiss you now.”
Javier blinked, heartbeat soaring. When Kevin took a final step towards him, he felt he needed to confess something to be completely honest. “You, um… you know you’ve done it before?”
Kevin blushed, his eyes lowering and he smiled to himself. “I was wondering if I’d just dreamt that.” He reached out, looking up at Javier with eyes there were now anything but angry. “I promise this time I’ll aim better and I won’t pass out on you.”
I may, Javier thought. But then Kevin’s lips grazed his and he was so awake, there was no way in hell he’d feel faint ever again.
That first catch of lips make his body catch on fire, and he held Kevin reflexively. At that Kevin made a sound and pressed himself closer to Javier, pulling back to look him in the eye. He smiled and, having found whatever he was looking for there, looked back down at Javier’s lips.
They met each other half way, lips dancing together, hands gripping and pulling closer. It was more than a first kiss, it was a reunion hug as well. They’d both been off kilter with the awkwardness between them and it was all suddenly all out the window. Granted, there would probably be some fumbling in time, but they knew where they stood.
Esposito made the most embarrassing noise when Ryan’s tongue came to seek out his upper lip, and his partner chuckled against his mouth. He took revenge by kissing him as thoroughly as he’d dream, learning everything he could do with his tongue that made Kevin’s knees go weak.
Somehow, they ended up on the couch, curled into each other. “You know…” Kevin said, picking at the front pocket of Javier’s shirt. “When Jenny and I broke up she said I needed you more than I needed her, and I might as well try to get everything from you.”
Javier was way too stoned on what had just happened to make more than a strangled noise.
“She was right, I think. I’ve always needed you.” He said with a shy smile, looking down. “I’d love to do that. Be with you.”
Javier looked at him, and for once, he found the right, non awkward thing to do. He lifted Kevin’s chin and kissed him gently in answer.
Screw karma.
xXx
You might think this was the end of the misunderstandings. How wrong you’d be!
Javier would probably chalk it up to Kevin being a little bitch when he wanted to be and getting whacked on the butt to prove his point. Kevin would say it’s all because Javier can’t romance someone for shit and he absolutely sucks at being subtle but somehow still tries it.
I don’t know who’s right, but I still believe they’re a perfect match. Although, just for the pleasure of seeing them cringe, I’ll share with you one last thing.
xXx
“What is this?” Kevin was staring at him like a deer caught in headlights. They really had a bad track record with this restaurant.
From his position, Javier babbled. “Wha- I thought I was pretty clear just now.”
“Do you think I’m a chick or something? cause um… if you do, I’ve clearly been doing something wrong.” People were staring, this was getting really embarrassing.
“What? No!”
Kevin was still looking puzzled and huffed. “So… what’s with the bent knee and the fancy restaurant and the ring and everything!? I don’t have a pretty princess proposal dream.”
“Oh, sheesh.” Javier got up and threw the now closed box on the table. “If you want to say no, say it, but don’t lecture me on my technique, okay. It’s not like I’ve had the practice.”
Kevin glared. “What, so I have?!”
“No! I didn’t mean….” Why would any one of them bring Jenny into this? “Geez, I meant… I never asked a guy to marry me. And funny enough, they don’t make lots of movies about that, so… I just…” he trailed off. “Would you just answer the damn question?!”
Kevin got up and took a deep breath, and took his time blowing it out. Looking his boyfriend in the eye, he said, “Of course I’ll marry you, you idiot… But it doesn’t mean you had to do all this, I don’t need-…”
Esposito silenced him with his lips and tired -hard- to ignore the cheering from their ‘audience’.
When he pulled back he also tried -just as hard- to ignore the people shushing each other to be able hear the rest. “Well, maybe I had a pretty princess proposal dream. And maybe you just ruined it.”
Kevin laughed and cupped his cheek. “Sorry.” He said, smiling. “To make it up to you I’ll let you have the veil.”
“Shut up.”
Kevin’s face was flushed and grinning, he had his hand over Javier’s heart. He was happy. That’s all that mattered. “And the fluffy dress.”
Javier mock glared. “Shut up or I put this ring through your nose instead.” He threatened, holding up the boxed jewelry.
Kevin laughed and pulled him in again for a quick kiss.
They sat back, doing their best to ignore the gawkers. The attention subsided after a while, so when Javier slid the band over Kevin’s finger, he was free to ask. “So what is this… an engagement ring?”
“I guess. A promise ring or something. You can pick one out for me if you want.” He said, toying with Kevin’s fingers. “I thought you’d want to go with claddaghs for the actual wedding bands.”
Kevin squeezed his hand and gave him a very fond look. “I love you so much.”
Javier pulled their hands to his lips and pressed a kiss to Kevin’s knuckles. “I love you too.” He said. “It makes me do stupid things, and I’m so very lucky to have you.”
Kevin smiled back and then cracked a small laugh. “Beckett’s gonna cry her eyes out.”
When they left the restaurant, an old lady caught Esposito by the elbow and nodded at them. “You’re right, they should make more movies like this.”
xXx
Rocky beginnings, indeed.
And yet, my friends, here we all are. Kevin and Javier’s friendship and partnership only fortified and magnified over time. And I am happy to be Kevin’s best man, and now I turn to my own better half and witness to Javier and say… “Top that, Nikki Heat!”
Author: adja999
Summary: Written for the Ryan & Esposito Secret Santa Fan Fic Exchange. For coffeebuddha who requested: "After Ryan and Jenny break up, Esposito decides to throw caution to the wind and attempt to woo Ryan. The more awkward his attempts are, the better."
Pairings: Ryan/Esposito
Word Count: 5,001 (geez, couldn’t even round it up)
Rating: PG-13, I guess?
Beta: none, too much in a hurry. I hope everything looks okay, I reread it carefully.
Author's Notes: This is a fill in for someone that dropped out if I understood correctly, so it may be late. I honestly have no clue. I did as fast as I could but I didn’t want to rush the fic either and give you something crappy. It ended up being more painful mishaps/misfire than awkward, but I hope you like it anyway.
Unlike most stories you’ll read, this one went downhill pretty much from the get go. Actually, my friends started at the bottom of the hill, and dug.
And yes, it is widely known, I am an author of fiction and an adept of the emphasis, but in this case, I swear it is neither invented nor exaggerated.
xXx
Javier Esposito came to work on time. Or so he’d assumed before he walked in and found Castle already poised by Beckett’s desk, in deep conversation with the hot shot detective about the pertinence wording and use of literary metaphors in police reports. By the look of things,
Ryan was here too, albeit nowhere to be seen, as indicated by his coat and jacket hanging respectively from the rack and the back of his desk chair.
When his presence was known, Esposito instantly knew something was wrong when met his colleagues’ eyes. “What’s up?” he asked, ready to gear up, head to meet a new body and lose his appetite for the pack of doughnut holes he was carrying.
Castle jerked his chin towards the conference room, and Esposito recognized his partner sitting alone and seemingly brooding. “I think he’ll want to tell you himself.”
With a deep frown, Javier absently offered them the food he suddenly wasn’t feeling like anymore and went to his partner, stomach heavy with worry. “Hey bro.” He greeted softly when Ryan looked up at him.
“Hey, Javi.” He said with a small voice. “Is everyone worried out there, I don’t mean to bother-…”
“Shut up, we’re family. Tell me what’s wrong.” Esposito told him as he plopped down on the seat net to Ryan’s.
His partner’s lips twitched at Javier’s comeback, even though Ryan’s eyes shown the bleariness of someone who hasn’t slept much in the previous night. Or possibly cried a lot. This thought alone was deeply disturbing. One look at the partnership and people always assumed Javier was the toughest because he was the biggest. Granted, he was as hard to punch into as a brick wall and stood taller and wider than his coworker and best friend, but it didn’t mean Ryan was a precious flower. Javier had often been amazed at how resilient the man was. To physical pain, to fear, to sorrow. He’d never seen Ryan cry. Yes, he’d seen him with his face twisted in pain or with desperation in his eyes, but never tears. On the other hand, Ryan had seen him cry on two occasions. One, a couple of months after the start of their partnership, when he’d been shot in the leg. Hitting the bone is epically painful, and no ex marine would be ashamed to have their eyes water on that occasion. Two, when his grandma died and he asked the captain if he could take a few days off to go to her funeral. When he’d told his best friend, he hadn’t been able to help the tears.
Still, Ryan stayed silent, staring at something on Esposito’s shirt and lost in his thoughts. To grab his attention, Javier reached out and put a hand on his forearm. “Kev, you’re worrying me.” This brought the man back and he glanced briefly down at the point of contact before meeting Javier’s eyes sheepishly and covering the tanned hand with his own. He pursed his lips, then looked down at their piled hands, rubbing his thumb along the outside of Javier’s hand. “Jenny’s filling for divorce.”
Javier bit his lower lip, frown deepening in compassion. He’d feared something along those lines. “Shit, man.”
Kevin gave a bitter chuckle. “Yeah.”
All Esposito could do was squeeze his friend’s arm gently. He knew about the fights, the tensed atmosphere and the pulling away, but as far as he knew Jenny, he was sure she’d given an explanation. “Wanna talk about it? About why?”
Kevin’s thumb stilled on Javier’s skin and with a sigh, he withdrew his hand. Javier left his, it’s not because his friend didn’t ask him to hang on that he was going to stop being there.
“She, uh… she found someone who apparently…” he frowned, swallowed and rephrased. “She said she can’t fill my needs or something. I think… I dunno. I’m wondering if it’s not that she’s simply fallen in love with someone else.”
“Shit.” Esposito said, angry at himself for not finding anything more eloquent to say.
“It’s okay.” Kevin said, and Javier’s eyebrows shot up. How could it be okay? “If I’m not the one to make her happy, then… she shouldn’t be with me.”
Esposito stared for a while. “… aren’t you gonna fight for her?”
“I would fight for someone.” Kevin said, shrugging. “Hell, you know I fought for her, but… fight to make her miserable? Fuck, no.”
It made sense. “I guess I get that. I’m sorry, bro.”
Kevin gave him a small, but genuine smile. “I know.”
They’d been through tough times together and it meant a lot to them. They stayed silent for a while, Javier lost in his thoughts about how his best friend’s life was suddenly thrown upside down and he hated the look of a little lost boy in Kevin’s eyes. And suddenly he thought of something. Pulling his hand back, he leant forward, his elbows on his knees. “So what happens with your place?” Kevin had sold his place to move in with Jenny.
“Oh, I’m staying at Castle’s.” Kevin said with a smile. You could see he was excited about that. Of course, the penthouse was amazing.
“… oh. Uh, okay.”
Ryan frowned at him. “Why?”
Esposito sat back, a physical distance between him and his partner that Ryan was quick to pick up on. “I dunno. Nevermind.”
Kevin twisted in his seat. “Jav, what?”
Feeling ridiculous, Javier avoided his eyes. “I guess I assumed you’d crash with me, but it makes sense. Guest rooms and all.”
Blue eyes crinkled with a smile. “I like your couch, Javi, I really do. But occasionally.”
As it turned out, it was probably better. Esposito didn’t sleep at all that night. He kept wandering back and forth between his room and the living room, trying to lie down in bed before getting back up and trying to watch tv instead. All of that due to one little thing. One thing that had been stamped ‘Not Gonna Happen’ in his mind. And that night, his subconscious at scribbled an addition to that title. It now read. Not gonna happen unless you do something.
Because yes, Javier Esposito, who hadn’t had a thing with a guy since college -DADT notwithstanding- had been in love with his best friend and partner since what seemed like forever.
xXx
It had been a couple of months, and now that everything was more or less final, you could see the strain of the procedures was starting to wash off Kevin’s shoulders. He had stayed at Castle about a month and found a place through a friend of Martha’s. It was conveniently situated between Javier’s and the precinct. After nights of reflection and seeing his best friend move on, Esposito had come to a decision.
Maybe it would make things uncomfortable, but he knew he and Kevin would get over it, but he owed it to them both to give it a shot.
Now, he’d never courted a dude. His experiences had been random hookups at parties that had, for some, evolved into something that was still called, back then, ‘going steady’ for a bit.
Oh well, he’d improvise.
He first tried with flowers. It seemed lame, but Ryan had always had this particular love for sunflowers. They made him smile and Esposito liked when he smiled.
So he picked out a huge bouquet of them -those bitches are hard to find in NYC- and set it on his partner’s desk while no one was watching. He went to get them both coffee and watched with curiosity when Ryan came back in the main room. When he spotted the flowers, his step faltered and, contrary to what Javier had expected, his brows drew together in a frown and he took off…. Towards the break room and Esposito.
“Hey. What’s wrong?” Javier asked, genuinely confused. Sunflowers usually equaled sunny smiles.
“I think… why would she do that?” Kevin rubbed his forehead. “I think Jenny was here.”
Javier’s heart skipped a beat. “Why? Because of the flowers?”
Kevin blushed. “You saw.”
“Yeah. You love those.”
Kevin shrugged. “She’s always made fun of me for that. I mean… they’re probably here to remind me that I’m the big girl in all this.” His head was bowed.
Well, shit.
When they headed back, Javier offered to get them off Kevin’s desk and to the break room so everyone to enjoy. Kevin nodded, lost in his depressed thoughts. As Javier installed them near the coffee machine, he picked up the card he’d scribbled in them and threw it in the trash.
He’d only succeeded in one thing. Making his partner sad and moody until they withered and were thrown away.
That had to be for all the people he’d had to shoot in his life.
Karma:1, Esposito:0.
xXx
One the day they decided to resume their ritual of Friday-night-beer-game-takeout, Esposito tried to go in for a change.
He knew how much Kevin liked Javier’s momma’s cooking so he called her for the specific on a recipe and got to work. All went right until Kevin arrived, then, distracted by the presence of the man and the beer, everything burned and it turned completely different.
So they had to watch the game while waiting for takeout, frozen on the spot because the windows were wide open to chase the burnt smell outside, letting all the January air in. And Kevin couldn’t get over the hilarity of it all.
All in all, Javier should have been happy, he’d managed to put Kevin in a good mood. But somehow his bruised ego didn’t allow it. At some point, he snapped. “You know I did this for you, right?!” he barked with more bite than he intended.
Ryan seemed stunned by the sudden shift in mood. “Uh,… what?”
“I did this for you. This is what you like. And you keep poking fun at me.” He accused, bruised ego sulking.
Ryan looked at him for a moment in silence, then his expression closed off. Esposito had barely enough time to register surprise before his friend got angry in turn. “So, someone needs to take care of me? Is that it?”
“What?!” Javier sat up. “No. I didn’t mean that. I just tried to do something to make you happy.”
Kevin got up and glared. “So, you don’t think you’re enough? That our Friday night ritual doesn’t make me happy? That I’m high maintenance?!”
Startled to his feet, Javier tried to calm things down. “Dude, no, I don’t think that. I was trying to do something different, I just…” he couldn’t bring up Jenny, but still, obviously, there were two bruised ego in the room.
“Right. You just…” Kevin quoted, glaring down at the coffee table. “I’m gonna go.”
“Kev..”
“It’s late, man. This isn’t going well. Why not just go to sleep and get to tomorrow?”
Defeated, Esposito just shrugged and watched his best friend go.
Long after that, he lay in bed staring at the ceiling, reconsidering his plans.
xXx
I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have been pissed.
Kevin’s texted reply came back a couple of minutes later. Me neither. Been down lately. Not ur fault, shouldn’t take it out on u. We’re ok.
Javier swallowed back his fear and closed his eyes in relief, feeling the queasiness at fighting with your best friend lessening. I’m glad. U should know I’m always here 4 u.
Sure. Same here, Javi.
Needing ur best friend right now doesn’t make u needy. Ur in a though spot.
JAVI! It’s 2am. I’m turning off my phone.
Karma:2, Esposito:0.
xXx
“Come on, you need to clear your head. There’s this new Irish bar down 3rd I wanted to check out.” Esposito insisted. Ryan needed cheering up and if it required his friends to tackle the problem, so be it.
Plus, bar, alcohol, maybe he’d be more comfortable trying to clue Kevin in in a different setting than their usual.
All he did was clue in Castle.
Perfect.
It all started pretty awesome. Kevin texted Beckett and -oh surprise- being at the Old Haunt, she told Castle were they were. So the whole gang, complete with their favorite ME, gathered in MacLeod’s -original, isn’t it? Ryan ended up being the popular guy, being the social Irish butterfly, he was given free drinks at every tables and talked to no one but them.
Beckett didn’t see through Esposito’s sullen façade, she was too busy giggling and singing along Irish classics with Lanie. But Castle…
Oh, that man would made been a fine detective. At the very least, he was a very intuitive character analyzer. “You’re jealous.” He decided and Javier had to stop his staring contest with the bottom of his glass to redirect his glare to the author.
He played it well, he thought. “Jealous of what?”
“Come on.” Castle gave him an unusual smile. Not the victorious ‘I figured you out’ smile, but a sympathetic one. “He may be blinded by his own drama, but if I can see it, Kate probably knows too.”
Javier considered. “Great.” He spat bitterly. After a while he sighed. “Got any ideas.”
“Oh, do not.” Castle shook his palms in his direction. “Last time I tried giving love advice to someone, I had to find two read heads glaring at me when I got home the following night. I am not good at this.”
“Join the club.” Javier said and down the rest of his beer.
Castle sighed and raised his hand. “We need shots here.” He called.
xXx
“You were right, Javi…” Kevin beamed at his partner, hanging heavily off his shoulder. “I needed this. I’m all cheer… cheered up.”
“Stop drooling on my jacket.”
“Aw, you need cheering too. Lemme give you a hug.” Before Esposito could react, Kevin was wrapped around his chest
Not that, in itself, it was a bad sensation, but it meant jack squat, and in the middle of a stair case, with the dead weight of a drunk guy, and Javier not quite sober himself it could get fairly unsteady. “Dude, get off. You’re gonna make us dive.”
They resumed climbing with effort, until they reached the first floor. “You’re mad at me.” Kevin stated when Javier finally got his door open.
“No, man. I’m not.” Javier guided his friend to his room. “I’m tired.”
“You’re mad.”
“Maybe a little. I wanted to spend time with you tonight.”
“You’re adorable.” Kevin grabbed a hold of Javier’s face and planted a kiss on his cheek. Or, more exactly, at the very corner of his mouth. Realizing what he’s done, Kevin pulled back and blinked, smile goofy with drunken glee. “Oops. That seemed more than a little undecided.” He’d always been a very articulate drunk. “I’m sorry I wasn’t with you tonight. Here. Forgive me.” And with that, he pressed a sloppy, but very purposefully aimed kiss to Javier’s lips.
By the time Javier reacted, Kevin had dropped his hands and himself and was passed out sideways on his bed.
Javier went home with the feel of a misaligned kiss on his lips. Wondering what the hell that meant, what the hell he should or shouldn’t have done and what the hell was going to happen tomorrow.
xXx
What happened the next day was this:
“I fucking hate your guts.” Kevin moaned from his desk when Javier set his usual coffee down in front of him.
“Bro.” Javier’s lips twisted in a small smile. It wasn’t exactly the first time they’d drunk a little too much. Granted, usually they didn’t have to come to the precinct on Saturdays, but still.
Kevin looked up at him and glared. “Seriously, I hate you.”
Esposito’s face fell. He wasn’t joking. As if the fact that it had been his idea to go out meant that he’d somehow made Ryan chug down everything he found. “Dude, be fair.” He said coolly. “I didn’t see you all night save for dragging your sorry ass home so I sure as Hell didn’t feed you those shots.”
“Guys! Cut it out.” Beckett’s voice snapped between the two. “Focus. We’ve got a murder to solve and our prime suspect is getting ready to skip town.”
Karma: 3, Esposito: 0.
xXx
“How did we get this?” Kevin asked, looking around at the fancy restaurant. At least Esposito could get out safe on this one, he could treat his best friend to a classy meal for his birthday without being accused of mothering him. “Castle, I guess.”
“I’m guessing you mean the annoying guy that’s been working with us and has strangely grown on us for the past years?”
Kevin smiled. “Yep.”
Proud of his connections, Javier grinned. “Then close, but no cigar. Wrong Castle, actually.”
Kevin looked around in awe once more, as I everything was brighter now that he knew the young woman was the one who pulled it off. “Alexis got us this reservation?”
“Yup. She interviewed the Chef for a paper for uni or something. They got along pretty well and he said to call him if she ever wanted to have reservations.”
“Handy.”
“I know, right?” Esposito smiled. “I happened to mention your birthday the other day and she said, knowing what you ate at their place, that you’d probably love it here. Though I’d probably mourn my T bones.”
Kevin laughed, it was a very good sound to hear, something that made him more gorgeous. “You think so?”
“I dunno.” Esposito considered the menu. “I love my steaks but they’ve got some pretty intriguing things in here too.”
“Yeah? You made your choice?”
Javier nodded. “Think so.”
Kevin flagged the waiter. “You gentlemen ready to order?” he asked, when he came close. Kevin nodded. “I’ll flag a colleague for you. I only do drinks, let me know if you need more of that Cabernet.”
“Mh. Organization here is fantastic.” Kevin said when the waiter was off, imitating his mother, before bring his champagne to his lips.
“Hi, my name is Jenny, and I’ll be your waitress for the night. I can take your order if you’re ready.”
Javier knew the world was crashing down even before Kevin choked on his sip. He coughed and the very confused waitress took their orders. It took fifteen minute of strained conversations and awkward silences before Kevin bolted to his feet. “I can’t. I’m… I’m sorry, Javi. I just…”
His departure happened to coincide with the return of the waitress with the steaming plates on her hands. “Is your boyfriend coming back?” she asked gently.
Javier blinked. He wondered himself if Kevin was ever coming back from it. Not bothering to correct her, he sighed. “I’m so sorry. I don’t think he is. I’ll, uh…. I guess I’ll take the check.”
Karma: 4, Esposito: 0.
xXx
Javier almost jumped to the ceiling when Kevin burst into his apartment. He’d forgotten his friend had a key and surely didn’t expect him to barge in like that. “Jesus H Christ, Kevin! Something wrong?” he said, alarmed.
“Yes.” The blond man took the time to close the door and joined Javier in the middle of the living room. They were now both standing in front of the couch. “Javi. What’s wrong?”
Esposito’s mind was utterly blank. “Uh, what? I don’t…”
“What’s wrong with us? There’s something off and we keep fighting and we’re weird around each other, so…. What’s wrong with us?”
Esposito stared at him. “You think I know that?”
“Yes.” Kevin nodded, looking sure. “I’ve been thinking about things and I know I’ve been edgy because of the divorce but you’re the one being weird.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It makes me mad to need you right now, because as much as we have each other’s backs, always, and you know that…”
“I do.”
“… I hate needing you so badly right now. I lost one whole side of my life and while I find a way to build it back I need something I know to hold on to. But I hate feeling so dependent. And I resent you because I’m losing my footing with you. Something’s weird, so I don’t have that thing I knew. And I’m mad at me for being mad at you because, really, it’s not your fucking problem. But all I can say is that I think there’s some elephant in the room whose shadow I just saw and maybe that’s all we need to find that balance again.”
Javier looked down. “I’m sorry I’ve been weird. I know I have, I’ve been trying hard not to be though I wanted….”
Kevin edged closer, looking at him softly, trying to encourage and understand. “You wanted what?”
“I hate seeing you miserable over jenny.”
Kevin shook his head. “I’m over Jenny, Javi. I’m down because I’m recently single and I don’t really know where I stand, but I’m over Jenny.”
Javier looked up, then breathed in and nodded. “Okay.”
There was hope in Kevin’s eyes. “Okay, now we move to the point?”
“I guess.” Esposito said, steeling himself. “Kevin, I know I’m risking a lot here, but I wanted to be there for you. I wanted to be the supportive best friend when your marriage ended but I also wanted you to see me differently. Now that you’re single. I’ve…. All those mishaps were me trying to… court you, I guess.”
Kevin barked a laugh, then turned serious, and ended up glaring. “You think I’m gay?”
“No.” Javier said. “I don’t know that you are. But I don’t know that you aren’t. I just think we’re brilliant as friends and we’d be even better together. I just knew that I needed to try now before someone else snatches my chance. So this is it, now. We can forget about it tomorrow. I trust that you care enough to get over it if it’s not returned but… I want to know if you’d let me try being the one to make you happy. I want to know if you can see it, when you think about it.”
Kevin’s eyes were wide, he rubbed the back of his neck. “I… wow.”
Esposito looked at something on Ryan’s chest to avoid his eyes. “It may be too soon, but I figured, probably better too soon than too late. Especially with all he awkwardness between us.”
When he dared looking up, he couldn’t make sense of all the emotions fleeting on Kevin’s face, all he could see was that there was turmoil. Kevin’s hands were curling into fists and back, a clear sign of his internal conflict. And anger. Esposito was definitely not comfy with that last part.
Kevin huffed, licked his lips and brought his hand to pinch the bridge of his nose. “Javi, since when do guys need romance?” he said, voice strained. Their eyes clashed, Kevin’s as cold as their ice blue color suggested. The Irish man took a step forward. “All you needed to do was saw…. I have a thing, maybe you have a thing. I’d like to kiss you now.”
Javier hung on to hope. “Do you want me to say that to you?”
Kevin snorted in laughter. “No, actually, that was me saying it.” He corrected. “I’d like to kiss you now.”
Javier blinked, heartbeat soaring. When Kevin took a final step towards him, he felt he needed to confess something to be completely honest. “You, um… you know you’ve done it before?”
Kevin blushed, his eyes lowering and he smiled to himself. “I was wondering if I’d just dreamt that.” He reached out, looking up at Javier with eyes there were now anything but angry. “I promise this time I’ll aim better and I won’t pass out on you.”
I may, Javier thought. But then Kevin’s lips grazed his and he was so awake, there was no way in hell he’d feel faint ever again.
That first catch of lips make his body catch on fire, and he held Kevin reflexively. At that Kevin made a sound and pressed himself closer to Javier, pulling back to look him in the eye. He smiled and, having found whatever he was looking for there, looked back down at Javier’s lips.
They met each other half way, lips dancing together, hands gripping and pulling closer. It was more than a first kiss, it was a reunion hug as well. They’d both been off kilter with the awkwardness between them and it was all suddenly all out the window. Granted, there would probably be some fumbling in time, but they knew where they stood.
Esposito made the most embarrassing noise when Ryan’s tongue came to seek out his upper lip, and his partner chuckled against his mouth. He took revenge by kissing him as thoroughly as he’d dream, learning everything he could do with his tongue that made Kevin’s knees go weak.
Somehow, they ended up on the couch, curled into each other. “You know…” Kevin said, picking at the front pocket of Javier’s shirt. “When Jenny and I broke up she said I needed you more than I needed her, and I might as well try to get everything from you.”
Javier was way too stoned on what had just happened to make more than a strangled noise.
“She was right, I think. I’ve always needed you.” He said with a shy smile, looking down. “I’d love to do that. Be with you.”
Javier looked at him, and for once, he found the right, non awkward thing to do. He lifted Kevin’s chin and kissed him gently in answer.
Screw karma.
xXx
You might think this was the end of the misunderstandings. How wrong you’d be!
Javier would probably chalk it up to Kevin being a little bitch when he wanted to be and getting whacked on the butt to prove his point. Kevin would say it’s all because Javier can’t romance someone for shit and he absolutely sucks at being subtle but somehow still tries it.
I don’t know who’s right, but I still believe they’re a perfect match. Although, just for the pleasure of seeing them cringe, I’ll share with you one last thing.
xXx
“What is this?” Kevin was staring at him like a deer caught in headlights. They really had a bad track record with this restaurant.
From his position, Javier babbled. “Wha- I thought I was pretty clear just now.”
“Do you think I’m a chick or something? cause um… if you do, I’ve clearly been doing something wrong.” People were staring, this was getting really embarrassing.
“What? No!”
Kevin was still looking puzzled and huffed. “So… what’s with the bent knee and the fancy restaurant and the ring and everything!? I don’t have a pretty princess proposal dream.”
“Oh, sheesh.” Javier got up and threw the now closed box on the table. “If you want to say no, say it, but don’t lecture me on my technique, okay. It’s not like I’ve had the practice.”
Kevin glared. “What, so I have?!”
“No! I didn’t mean….” Why would any one of them bring Jenny into this? “Geez, I meant… I never asked a guy to marry me. And funny enough, they don’t make lots of movies about that, so… I just…” he trailed off. “Would you just answer the damn question?!”
Kevin got up and took a deep breath, and took his time blowing it out. Looking his boyfriend in the eye, he said, “Of course I’ll marry you, you idiot… But it doesn’t mean you had to do all this, I don’t need-…”
Esposito silenced him with his lips and tired -hard- to ignore the cheering from their ‘audience’.
When he pulled back he also tried -just as hard- to ignore the people shushing each other to be able hear the rest. “Well, maybe I had a pretty princess proposal dream. And maybe you just ruined it.”
Kevin laughed and cupped his cheek. “Sorry.” He said, smiling. “To make it up to you I’ll let you have the veil.”
“Shut up.”
Kevin’s face was flushed and grinning, he had his hand over Javier’s heart. He was happy. That’s all that mattered. “And the fluffy dress.”
Javier mock glared. “Shut up or I put this ring through your nose instead.” He threatened, holding up the boxed jewelry.
Kevin laughed and pulled him in again for a quick kiss.
They sat back, doing their best to ignore the gawkers. The attention subsided after a while, so when Javier slid the band over Kevin’s finger, he was free to ask. “So what is this… an engagement ring?”
“I guess. A promise ring or something. You can pick one out for me if you want.” He said, toying with Kevin’s fingers. “I thought you’d want to go with claddaghs for the actual wedding bands.”
Kevin squeezed his hand and gave him a very fond look. “I love you so much.”
Javier pulled their hands to his lips and pressed a kiss to Kevin’s knuckles. “I love you too.” He said. “It makes me do stupid things, and I’m so very lucky to have you.”
Kevin smiled back and then cracked a small laugh. “Beckett’s gonna cry her eyes out.”
When they left the restaurant, an old lady caught Esposito by the elbow and nodded at them. “You’re right, they should make more movies like this.”
xXx
Rocky beginnings, indeed.
And yet, my friends, here we all are. Kevin and Javier’s friendship and partnership only fortified and magnified over time. And I am happy to be Kevin’s best man, and now I turn to my own better half and witness to Javier and say… “Top that, Nikki Heat!”