I CH-CH-CHOOSE YOU [for Asher; plot: ILU Day]

[speakscanadian]

Ray had always been a fan of Valentine's Day - it was the best excuse to try and schmooze a woman without losing too much face. This year though, he hadn't really found himself in the schmoozing mood, so he'd just eaten candy hearts and slurped down coffee all day, pouring over the remaining reports he still had to catch up on and avoiding the scary little cherubs embarrassing people left, right and centre. Luckily, when he'd gotten his message, it had been received in the relative privacy if the IPD office. He had a fair idea who mighta sent it, even glanced around to see if he was right. No luck.

The next day didn't start much different, unless you counted the fact it began two hours earlier than normal due to a not-so-peaceful night's sleep. Ray had two things on his mind as he left his hut: coffee and doctors. Cooper wasn't expecting a visit but that was what made Ray hopeful - catch him off-guard and maybe there'd be something to spill. His hunch was still firmly hunched but he was no further forward in knowing what it was he was looking for. There was just something about the Talos siblings that simultaneously fascinated him and made him suspicious as all hell.

Slipping on sunglasses to shield his tired eyes from the bright light, he made his way to the Compound, caffeine-anticipation spurring him on. With one holiday out of the way and the winged Cupid guy having not caused too much trouble on the island, there was at least one thing for Ray to be thankful for today.

Comments

[asher_talos]

If Asher was anything like his sister he would have gone looking for a confrontation two days ago, back when Stephen had let it slip between whining about Frank that 'the bald cop' had been asking questions about him and Danica. But he wasn't like her. He thought before most actions, which was definitely to both his and Vecchio's benefit.

Two days ago he would have said or done something incredibly stupid, he was sure of it. Today, though, cooled down with a slightly more level head, there was only about a forty-five percent chance that he'd do something he'd wind up regretting.

Maybe it was a little close to fifty.

Returning to the compound from Del's, Asher couldn't help but roll his eyes; he'd know that bald head anywhere, and what was worse was the fact that the bastard had the nerve to wear shades while the sun was bouncing off of his head, practically blinding Asher as he reached the stairs a few paces behind him. "Jackass, how 'bout you do the rest of us a favor and try sporting a hat."

[speakscanadian.livejournal.com]

Back when he was playing at being a stable boy Ray had learned that Asher had more in common with Kowalski than just the head: neither man was the type of person Ray could deal well with in the mornings and seven of those in a row not too long ago had taught him not to bother trying anymore.

Pressing his lips in a flat line, he pushed open the Compound door and hoped it swung back in time to hit the guy behind. "Sure, just as soon as you fix the muzzle back over your trap," he shot back, ripping off his shades as soon as he'd gotten inside and rubbing his eyes with a thumb and forefinger.

[asher_talos]

"I thought you liked hearing people talk," Asher said, slipping through the door before it closed, never even having to bother to pull his hands from his pockets. It was probably safer if they stayed in there. "Granted, probably not as much as you like hearing yourself talk, but that's an issue for another time."

[speakscanadian.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, y'know what?" Ray hooked an arm of his shades down the front of his shirt and turned around, pretty sick and tired of being fobbed off by one Talos and definitely not in the mood today to get fobbed off by another. "I do like hearing people talk," he told him, more aggressive than he'd intended to be, but at least with Asher he had no qualms about getting up close and personal, "so maybe you and I oughta have a little chat and..."

Asher's eyes were so blue, how had he not noticed that before? It was beautiful, like staring into a crystal clear ocean, only Ray was pretty sure an ocean had never made him want to get down on both knees and beg a man to love him back before.

"...get to know each other better," he finished on a breath, which was practically a medical impossibility because Asher had taken it away as soon as he'd seen those baby blues. His own eyes brightened at the thought, his entire body having been given a new and overwhelming lease of life.

[asher_talos]

"Okay," he replied almost immediately, his defensive posture seeming to melt away in an instant, suddenly compelled to tell Ray just about anything he wanted to know and wanting to know absolutely everything about him in return.

His chest hurt, though it wasn't the sort of pain he wanted to go away; he felt better with it there, complete, as strange as that idea was. He hadn't felt anything like it in centuries, but it didn't really take a rocket scientist to figure out what that feeling was.

"Your eyes are hazel," he said dumbly, like it was something Ray might have missed over the course of his entire life. Before now, Asher had just always written them off as being some unspectacular shade brown or another, but they were most definitely hazel.

[speakscanadian.livejournal.com]

Ray was finding it really hard to figure out why he'd been a jackass to Asher, what with the way his heart was skipping beats and his face was heating up and his hands were getting clammy with nerves. Sure, he could remember why but he couldn't believe he'd ever been suspicious. Not of Asher. The guilt was almost as powerful as the fluttering in his stomach and he was about to blurt out an apology and ask him if he could ever, ever forgive him when...

...Asher had to go and say that. Ray ducked his head instantly, blush rising and oh God, this was so embarrassing. Act cool, Vecchio, but all he could think about was how Asher was probably, maybe, definitely the most beautiful person he'd ever seen, both inside and out, and with the Puppy Love lyrics circling his head, it took a moment for his tongue to actually work.

He let out a breath he hadn't known he'd been holding, a small laugh escaping with it as he looked back up. "You noticed. I've kind of...really, really wanted you to notice." For a whole thirty seconds now but time was irrelevant in matters of the heart. "They're my thing," he admitted, extremely conscious of the fact he was a whole lot closer to Asher now than a moment ago.

[asher_talos]

"I noticed," he echoed quietly. It was pretty damn hard not to (the past three months not withstanding), even before the loss of most of the personal space between them. Asher didn't miss a single inch of it when it was gone.

"Where were you, uh... headed?" He probably could have stood there all day and just stared at him without getting tired of it, but that probably would have gotten in the way of much more important things Ray could have been doing. Unlike Asher, he was a productive member of island society.

[speakscanadian.livejournal.com]

"To the bathroom," Ray answered, tripping over his words, then immediately felt bad again about the lie. But he didn't want to leave, not yet. He was magnetised. "You wanna...come with?"

To the bathroom. Dio mio, that would not impress Asher. But he couldn't tell him he'd been on his way to see Dr. Cooper to investigate him, could he? He couldn't risk losing what felt like the best thing that had ever happened to him in his entire life. Not so fast.

[asher_talos]

"Do I want to come with you... to the bathroom?" Yeah, it sounded just as strange when he said it, too, but he had to make sure that he heard it right. Was that some sort of weird test or something? If he answered yes then Ray was going to write him off as some sick fuck? Who could blame him if he did? He'd probably do the same.

"Uh... what about after that?" There. He couldn't get the answer wrong if he never actually gave one.

[speakscanadian.livejournal.com]

So many questions; Ray's head was spinning. If Asher didn't already know Ray was lying then he would any second now and dishonesty could destroy a relationship, if he even dared to hope that maybe one day this could become something like that.

"I was going to find Dr. Cooper to ask him about you," he admitted quietly, earnest gaze flicking up to Asher's. "I am so sorry, I'm so stupid. And I uh, I respect you too much to lie to you so, that's where I was going." That was it. Ray could feel himself crying a river inside, a river filled with shame and loss. But he was a Vecchio, dammit, and Vecchios fought for what they wanted. "But before you tell me to fuck off please just," he grabbed Asher's forearms in desperation, "please gimme another chance. It won't happen again, I swear."

[asher_talos]

Asher's brows knitted together, his heart sinking to the pit of his stomach. He wasn't sure how well these sorts of things turned out in the end when one person was suspicious of the other. Not just suspicious, though, but practically running some sort of actual investigation. First Stephen and now the Pretty Boy Doctor? It hurt, a little, but what was worse was the fact that Ray was right to have those suspicions.

Part of him wished that he could be as honest as Ray was being just then, but he couldn't. He knew he was going to hate himself for it, and he'd just have to live with that option. It was a lot easier to stomach than the thought of Ray hating him.

"Don't... You're not stupid. You're just doing your job. I can't blame you for that." Never mind the fact that he had been looking to do exactly that only a few minutes ago, not that it mattered much to him now.

[speakscanadian.livejournal.com]

Relief flooded Ray but he was still eager to prove that he was sorry.

"Yeah, well not anymore," he insisted, offering Asher a smile. "I had nothing more to go on than my own pig-headedness anyway. I shouldn't have jumped to...conclusions..." He trailed off, distracted by his own hands still wrapped around Asher's arms. He swallowed. "Uh..." Slowly, Ray let his hands drift down each arm until they reached Asher's wrists, where they disappeared into his pockets. Since he hadn't been shoved away yet, he rubbed a thumb minutely over skin much paler than his own. "Clean slate?"

[asher_talos]

Asher's gaze drifted down between them and he finally pulled his hands from his pockets, threading his fingers with Ray's before looking back up at him. "That does seem to be the overall theme of this place." Blank slates and new beginnings and, sure, he'd been there for over three years now, but maybe it was never too late for a fresh start. It wasn't too hard to believe that when the chance at one was staring right back at him.

"Do you... wanna go get a cup of coffee or something? It can wait till after, if that thing about the bathroom wasn't completely a cover up."

[speakscanadian.livejournal.com]

Despite the fact they'd arranged a date, Ray and Asher had managed to spend a lot more time together between then and now. Ray had the photos to prove it and he'd just finished sneaking around down in the basement with one of them. He'd thought about giving it to Asher in person but he wanted something more special; he wanted Asher to know that he loved him even when they weren't in the same room together. So he'd written a message on the photo and slipped it under Asher's pillow, so that he'd never forget how Ray felt.

Except for one with both of them in it that he'd hidden in his own wallet, the rest of the polaroids were in his hand and he flicked through them as he walked, perma-smile on his face. On the beach. Kissing under a tree. Asher on the other end of a see-saw. Ray on the floor after having fallen off the see-saw, body wracked with laughter. Cuddling on the couch, Asher rubbing Ray's booboo. Joined hands. A couple of them had been taken by strangers, with both of them caught off-guard and looking happy.

Ray's chest hurt so fucking much. He really wished Fraser were here to see this. Ridiculous odds and a speck of hope that they'd beat them - that really was all it had taken, in the end. And he and Asher were beating them hands down.

Loitering on the boardwalk, he slipped the photos into the pocket of his suit and straightened the cuffs, making sure he looked more that just presentable. He didn't know what Asher had planned but he did know he wanted to look his absolute best for him.

[asher_talos]

Asher felt like he'd been non-stop, which probably had something to do with the fact that he had been. Preparations for his leg of the date later on that evening started right after he and Ray parted ways that morning. Or almost right after, anyway. There might have been ten minutes of sulking before he actually got to work, but he just missed Ray so damn much when he'd gone and so it really couldn't be helped.

When he wasn't busy in the kitchen he was with the twins or Danica or making one of a half dozen runs down to the docks, all of that broken up with a few intermittent bouts of much appreciated (and needed) downtime with Ray. He should have been exhausted, but he was running on adrenaline and pure excitement, maybe a little anxiety near the end, wondering if he'd forgotten to get to anything.

Asher smoothed down his tie while he concentrated on running down his mental checklist for the fifth time as he made his way down the boardwalk. All that concentration was shot to hell once he saw Ray, though, a smile in place in an instant. "Someone stand you up, gorgeous?" he asked, coming up beside him and shrugging a shoulder. "Their loss."

[speakscanadian.livejournal.com]

Ray had just finished checking his breath for the fifth or sixth time when Asher appeared beside him. The surprise he could handle, but how damn good Asher looked had him choking on his tongue.

"Jesus Christ, I'm going to hell." The words hadn't been filtered by his brain seeing as that was currently short-circuiting and so they were filled with unrestrained awe. It was clear he had absolutely no problem ending up in hell if he was there because of Asher. He kind of wanted to just tear the suit of him, the fine specimen that he was, and get to work but the nerves niggling in his gut stopped him. He gave him a grin instead. "Miss me?"

[asher_talos]

"You have no idea," Asher said on a breath, leaning in to give Ray a quick kiss. "Hell's gonna have to wait for another day, 'cause I've got other plans and you already agreed to them. No backing out now."

Taking hold of Ray's hand, he led him down the boardwalk, heading toward the dock. "... You're not prone to seasickness, are you?" That was probably something he should have asked in advance, but he wanted to keep the surprise up for as long as he could. Ray being sick the entire time would have been a different sort of surprise, one that Asher really hoped wouldn't be an issue.

[speakscanadian.livejournal.com]

Ray cocked his head to the side at the question, giving Asher a sidelong glance. He'd gotten a little sick on the raft when he and Fraser had been dumped down in the middle of nowheresville but that was mostly to do with the fact there had been a waterfall up ahead. And while he really wanted to share the story with Asher, he thought it best to save that for another time.

"Nah." Especially not on nice, impressive vessels. "That mean you're taking me on a boat?" he asked, lips tugging back again. That really would be alone-alone together, just them, away from the island. Just like Ray had longed for.

[asher_talos]

"Maybe. Or maybe that question is just a fake out and we're actually going rock climbing." In suits. Stranger things had happened, especially there on the island.

He's had the boat for over a year now, and he could count how many times he'd actually taken it out on the water without breaking into double digits. Tonight seemed like a good night to add to that count, and the current company would definitely beat the usual company Onyx provided.

[speakscanadian.livejournal.com]

"Did I mention I'm prone to rock climbing...sickness?" Ray replied, eyes shining in amusement. He lifted their joined hands to his lips and pressed a kiss to the back of Asher's, just grazing his knuckles. There was something about the man that made Ray feel so good about himself.

"Should I close my eyes?" With his free hand, he slipped a couple of fingers just below the knot of his tie, pulling it out a little and glancing over at Asher. "Blindfold myself?" He tried not to think about what they could do with two ties when they were all alone.

[asher_talos]

"No, but you should definitely save that thought for later. I don't want to be held responsible if you misstep and fall into the water." But if Ray was just struck by the overwhelming urge to strip as they walked, Asher sure as fuck wasn't going to start complaining.

Once they reached the dock, with not a rock climbing wall in sight, Asher pointed his boat out of the bunch, hoping Ray wasn't too disappointed by the fact that it wasn't one of the fucking pirate ship looking vessels. Clearly, some people on the island were trying to compensate for something.

[speakscanadian.livejournal.com]

At the thought of falling in, Ray tightened his hold on Asher's hand just a bit because this was a nice suit and he didn't want Asher seeing him all bedraggled and wet. That wasn't the look he was going for.

"That baby's yours?" He asked, eyes wide with wonder. He started towards it automatically; it had the same irrestible pull on him that his own Riv did. That Asher did. "Christ, you know how to work this thing?" Asher was such a multi-talented individual. How could Ray not be impressed?

[asher_talos]

"Sure, it's just like riding a bike." Except it was nothing like that. Or maybe it was, how was he supped to know? He'd never actually been on a bike before. He hadn't died in it yet, though, so that had to count for something as far as his skills operating it went.

"Watch your step climbing on," he told him, motioning to the steps and beginning to untie the rope attaching the boat to the dock.

[speakscanadian.livejournal.com]

Unbeknownst to Ray, he probably looked something akin to Onyx when the dog tries to get out of the boat. His gaze swung from vessel to Asher, Asher to vessel, back to Asher again.

Oh man, this was so embarrassing. He'd been on boats before. With people he had to impress too but this was different. If only the thing would stop moving for one second...

"Uh...hey, is that your sister?" Ray pointed behind Asher, hoping he'd look, then shut his eyes and jumped. "Oh fuck, oh...I made it," he mumbled, straightening up, thoroughly surprised that he was on dry...boat. "I mean, oops," he called out, "it was just a bird, never mind."

[asher_talos]

"Ohhh, real smooth," Asher said, laughing quietly as he turned back just in time to catch the tail end of that little display. He boarded a bit more gracefully, tossing the rope aside once he was on. "Maybe we should have brought you a set of water wings, just in case," he teased with an easy smile.

"Uh, you can go inside, if you want. It's gonna take a few minutes to get us out on open water. And there's something for you on the table." Technically, it was an entire plate of somethings. Cupcakes, just like Ray would have won if their pool game had turned out differently that day. Also on the table was a note, directing Ray to the small refrigerator where he could find the buttermilk to go with them, and informing him that he'd feel sort of put out if he really did wind up calling him Nero at any point that night.