[#112] Fall Weather (FAKE)

[badly_knitted]

Theme Prompt: #112 – Autumn Rain
Title: Fall Weather
Fandom: FAKE
Rating/Warnings: PG
Bonus: Yes
Word Count: 1000
Summary: Dee is in a bad mood because of the weather, but he and Ryo still have to do their job, even if they have to get wet doing it.



“I don’t get why you like the fall so much,” Dee grumbled, staring through the windshield at the drizzling rain. His favourite time of year was summer, with its heat and sunshine, blue skies, and sexy bodies in skimpy clothing. Okay, so summer in New York also brought with it the stink of overripe garbage, and hot weather was better for lazing on a beach than for working in a building with antiquated air conditioning, or chasing suspects through the streets, but you couldn’t have everything.

“What’s not to like about the fall? Cooler temperatures, the trees changing color, the freshness of the air first thing in the morning, the…”

“The grey skies, the rain, the fallen leaves goin’ all wet and mushy underfoot.” Dee had slipped on wet leaves earlier and landed unceremoniously on his butt, which was at least partly why he was feeling so grumpy.

“I was going to say the morning mists, and the crunch of dried leaves underfoot.”

“Good luck with gettin’ a crunch outta anything in this weather, ‘cept maybe a broken ankle or wrist.”

“Get out of the wrong side of bed this morning, did you?” Ryo teased his lover. Nothing and nobody was going to dampen his good mood, even if this wasn’t the kind of autumn weather he preferred.

Dee just muttered something under his breath.

“What was that? I didn’t quite catch it.”

“I said, if you’re gonna be so goddamned cheerful I’m gonna drop ya at the side of the road and ya can walk the rest of the way, really get to enjoy the fall weather.”

Ryo snorted. “Maybe it’s escaped your notice, but I’m the one driving so if anyone has to get out and walk it’ll be you. I get the feeling you’re not too keen on that idea though.”

“Why would I be? We’re both gonna be out in the rain soon, and we don’t have an umbrella. Think I’m gonna take that up with the old badger when we get back to the precinct. All unmarked police vehicles should come equipped with at least one umbrella.”

“Chief Smith would just tell you to get your own.”

“I’ve got one. It’s in my car, which is parked outside your place because I stayed over last night.” They’d driven to work in Ryo’s car. “Where’s yours?”

“At your place. I left it behind last time I was there. Anyway, I don’t know why you’re making such a fuss. It’s only water; a bit of rain won’t hurt your hair.”

“Leave my hair outta this!”

“Sometimes I just don’t understand you,” Ryo said, rolling his eyes.

“Yeah? Well that makes two of us!”

“So you’re saying you don’t understand yourself?”

“What? No!” Dee glared at his partner. “That’s not what I meant. It’s you I don’t understand. Why’re we stoppin’?”

“Because we’ve arrived.”

“Oh.” Dee relaxed. “For a moment there I thought you were gonna make me get out and walk.”

“I am, but if it’s any consolation, I’ll be walking with you. Work to do.”

“Damn. Can’t we just stay here in the dry until the rain stops?” With the engine off and the windshield wipers no longer flicking back and forth, Dee dismally watched raindrops trickling down the glass.

“What makes you think it’ll stop? It might get worse.”

“Thought you were supposed to be cheerin’ me up, not makin’ me more depressed! We should’a stopped somewhere and bought an umbrella. Least that way we could keep mostly dry.”

Ryo wasn’t listening, he was already out of the car. “Are you coming or not?”

Dee was seriously tempted to stay put, but they were supposed to be canvassing for witness to a homicide, something no cop with any sense would do on their own in a neighbourhood like this one. There was a reason cops worked in pairs. Scowling up at the sky, he slid from the passenger seat and shut the door. A raindrop hit him in the eye.

“Fuck it!”

“You can’t intimidate the clouds by glaring sat them.”

“Smartass.” Dee glared at his partner instead.

“I’m not intimidated either, I know you too well. Save it for when we find the murderer.”

“If we ever do. Can’t see anyone around here tellin’ us anything. Safer to keep their suspicions to themselves; probably live longer that way.”

“You sound like Drake. I never knew pessimism was contagious.”

“Funny. C’mon, let’s get movin’. We’re gettin’ wet just standin’ here.”

By the time they left the first tenement the rain was coming down harder. Dee broke into a run, leading the way to the next building on the block, eager to get inside. Just like in the first building they’d canvassed, no one in the first-floor apartments had seen or heard anything. The two detectives still had water dripping from their hair when they made their way to the second floor, knocked on the first door they came to and identified themselves.

An elderly lady answered.

“Oh my. Is it raining?”

“Just a bit.” Ryo smiled at her. “If you don’t mind, we’d like to ask you some questions.”

“Ask away. I doubt I can be any help though. I don’t see too well these days.”

As predicted, she couldn’t tell them anything, but as they were leaving she offered them something. “You look like you could use an umbrella. Here, take this one.”

Ryo thanked her. “That’s very generous of you. We’ll make sure to bring it back before we leave.”

“No need for that, it’s not mine, I’ve got a yellow one. I found this one sticking out of a trash bin this morning. It’s shocking the things people throw away these days.”

Accepting the umbrella, the end of which was smeared with something dark and sticky, Dee asked exactly where it had been found, then he and Ryo left.

“That was lucky,” Ryo commented.

“Lucky? We get an umbrella and still can’t use it ‘cause it could be the frickin’ murder weapon!”


The End