latino_menace | OOM: Haven. Post-wedding (both of 'em :D)

'We never worked together, not really. From eighteen to twenty-one I was off learning various aspects of the trade, doing grunt work like other people - learning the smuggling routes, bringing stuff through the jungle, finding out about the way bribes work at the various borders, starting to make contact with people in government and the American military, that sort of thing.'

Making outside contacts for information had been his idea. His father hadn't approved because he knew of the sort of things that would have to be done to enforce co-operation from such people. Ramon? Had no such qualms.

'And then he died and I took over. The 'bringing us out of the backstreets' part, that was all him. He did something major when I was eight and all of a sudden we were living on a ranch outside of town, I was learning to ride horses and drive motorbikes and there was a lot less need to protect yourself from other kids stabbing you. We didn't really move out of Columbia and Panama, as a business I mean, until I got my hands on it though. There was a war.'

He sets the empty plate aside and lights a cigarette, propping himself on pillows and holding him with one arm. 'So you don't really know who your mother was? You didn't see her much or something? What was she like, that you remember?'

"Oberon slept around."

Blunt. Emotionless. It doesn't hurt to talk about it, it's a reality he's lived with forever.

"But he married, too. There were rumours that my birth had been less than honest, but within a few years of my birth people were saying I was legitimate. To mine and Oberon's face, at least. The woman who I remember had very little interest in me, yes. I remember her as passing in the corridors, where I'd bow as she went by. Skirts rustling over stone, long blonde hair. I always thought she was beautiful, and so did Oberon, evidently. On my birthday she called me to her room, and we had tea together: and then she left. Oberon probably killed her. Rumour was they found her body at the base of the cliff... but that might be just a rumour, I'm not sure."

He takes the cigarette, after a moment, taking one long breath of it and then handing it back to him.

"Your mother? What was she like?"

He strokes through Random's hair as he talks, once more finding that he hates Oberon for what he's done to him. It would have been nice to think of Random getting at least a happy childhood with his mother loving him. Ramon is not a sentimental type of man and normally just shrug and say, 'That's life.' But - not when it's Random that's been abused.

'She was pretty. And religious. And my father loved her to distraction, from what I remember. So did Hector, he was the mamma's boy.' He takes the cigarette and smokes idly. 'She was a pretty typical Catholic working-class woman. Get on the wrong side of her, she'd hate forever. A hell of a temper and free with the slaps if you did something wrong. Prayed a lot. She was a good mother, but I didn't appreciate that - we fought every time I was home for the vacations after I went to boarding school. She could see what was happening, I used to meet her for lunch in the city when I should have been at school.' He laughs. 'She always used to say she'd pray for me. Probably did too - but she loved me as well. I upset her though, always. She died a few years after my father and that was that.'

He shrugs. They'd never been close really, not after the money came. But he thinks of her well enough.

'So does it bother you baby? I mean...' He's hesitant to ask this, but wants to know. '...it might have been nice for you to have her. Was there no one that was nice to you?'

"Benedict, when he was there."

He shrugs. You can't miss what you've never had. Not really. And he doesn't.

"I don't know how he survived, but he did. Oberon murdered his two older brothers and his mother, and probably would have got him if he hadn't been strong enough. He let me sit with him, and gave me wine sometimes at dinner, if he thought people weren't looking. Corwin too, though in a much different way. Benedict was gruff where Corwin wanted me to do things for him, like listen in here for the price of spun sugar and whatnot."

He likes the sound of Ramon's mother, despite his apparent lack of affection for her. She sounded rather familiar, somehow.

"My tutors attempted to 'bond' with me and steer me, but they were all either employed by my mother or father, and after I turned thirteen I knew it and didn't speak to them. When I was younger there were nurses, and they were a comfort, though none of them remained long. My real companion- well, I was friends with a milk maid, at least, that's what she called herself. She was really a worker from the scullery, though I met her when I was eight, and didn't find out until were were both in our late teens. She was... a year older? Younger? First girl I kissed, too."

He stubs the cigarette out and sprawls, trying to pull Random a little closer.

'Just kissed? I bet she tried more, knowing you were a prince.' He grins, but then sobers. 'It sounds lonely. I can't imagine what just regular life would be like in that castle though. I mean - dinner? Was it formal every night and was Oberon there all the time? Did your brother's work or just go find Shadows to play in? And were you all expected to pay your own way, or were you rich - being royalty I mean, there must have been a lot of funds available.'

"That makes sense." He smirks, and rests against him. "And she did indeed, and we did indeed, and that's the story of how I lost my virginity in a hay loft."

He steals the cigarette with a grin.

"Romantic, isn't it? But that aside... we do have money available. I just avoid dipping into it, because it makes me feel dependant. As for my brothers... no idea. Probably a bit of both, but to the youngest in the family? No, I was seldom welcome in the courts. Unless Oberon wanted me in there, as happened on occasion. What about you?"

Ramon snickers. 'How old were you then? I suppose it is romantic at that - was it any good? C'mon, I want to hear this story.'

And then he deadpans, 'No, Oberon never really wanted me in the courts either. Bastard.'

He laughs, and rolls his eyes, letting his head rest back.

"I was, hmm, let me see. Fifteen, possibly a bit younger or a bit younger, maybe older. Those years sort of blend a touch. I was upset over something Oberon, or rather, Caine, or Bleys... anyways. I was upset, and I ran and found her, and I was in tears and she pulled me up the ladder and when we were hidden she kissed me. Ended up on a blanket."

He wrinkles his nose.

"I didn't like it very much. It was itchy, and it left me feeling shaky, and sort of sick to my stomach. I wasn't ready, I suppose. But she was happy, and the next time it felt better, and there was something good about having a secret like that, so I kept coming to her. She loved me, and I loved the things she brought me, and said the words and we were very happy."

He blinks down at him, a little saddened. 'You didn't love her but you were happy anyway? What happened to her in the end? Did she find out you'd been lying?'

He likes hearing about him and where he came from, but it's a little disquieting too. All those things I can't make right for him. And at the same time, everything that's happened to him makes up the man he loves now - but it's still strange to hear about things that happened so long ago.

"I thought I loved her. I loved the idea of having a lady fair and ruling our own kingdom in some shadow somewhere, then I sort of learned something about my dad, and started getting heavily into politics, and became quite different, and she went off. Don't remember, we drifted apart."

He likes sharing it. It's nice to tell him. To share it.

"Tell me something about yourself, then?"

'Ummm...' It's that sort of pause that always happens when someone says 'tell me something about yourself' - even the most verbose people tend to go blank.

He wonders whether he should ask what he found out about Oberon. It's hard to know, at times, what's going to upset Random. And he really doesn't want to upset him. At the same time, he wants to know everything - although he knows it won't be possible, probably. Too long a life and some things that'll just never come to light. And perhaps better that they don't.

'I can't really imagine you heavily into politics. Although I imagine the shiftiness of it all would quite appeal - did you choose to go learn to be an assassin, or were you made to?'

And he doesn't say anything about himself simply because he can't really think of anything to tell him.

"At that point, I accepted anything that'd draw me out of the city. Corwin took me aside and told me not to let it eat my soul."

He traces a pattern on Ramon's skin, with the very tips of his fingers.

"Oberon, when I was very small, used to keep me on his lap, when he was in a particularly dangerous political meeting. Someone finally pointed out that this wasn't because he was particularly affectionate. It was a bid on the fact that the assassins in the room wouldn't risk hitting a four year old. This rather changed my impression of things, when it was discovered. I still wanted his approval..."

He takes a long drag of the cigarette, and sighs.

"...and I thought being like him would probably get me it. So that's what I started doing. Thank God for Cor, huh?"

'Oh.' He's quiet because, yes, he imagines that would hurt. Even if Random hadn't come right out and said that it did.

He leans down and kisses the top of his head. 'You're better than he is. Yes, thank God for Corwin.'

There's another pause but it's easy and comfortable, what with Random drawing on his skin. And then he asks out of nowhere, 'Is danOberon an official surname, ot just one of those descriptive things, like when you introduce yourself as being 'of Amber'? Have you got any other names? In the middle or titles or anything?'

He knows about the Prince thing, obviously. It just doesn't seem enough for him. Not for someone like Random, who has a father as powerful as Oberon.

"Descriptive. Picked it up when I was in Scotland."

He's right, it did hurt, and yes, it bothers, but he's here, and wrapped in Ramon's arms, and that's alright.

"I just trade names ever so often. DanOberon, of Amber, switch around. Keeps a certain amount of confusion if I should happen to leak into historical records."

Which is to say- he justifies something that amuses him with logic, and does it for fun.

'What were you doing in Scotland?' He mock shudders. 'Bizarre place. Pretty enough though, I suppose, even if the natives make almost no sense at all.'

He edges down the bed a little, so that he's more lying flat and less propped on pillows. Easier to wrap around Random like that, and warmer. He runs a finger down the man's cheek lightly and smiles, examining his face closely.

"Just fooling around. Drinks, and sex, and making up for Amber, in general. You know what I mean?"

He relaxes too, and lets Ramon touch him, because he's dowing the same to the other man's throat.

"What about you? Visit other parts of the world a lot?"

He leans forward and kisses him. 'Talking to you is like reading a good story - only it's better because you're real.' He thinks a moment. 'And you let me touch you, that's good too.'

There's a rather cheeky grin and then he nods. 'Si, I suppose so. More working than holidays, although they were always disguised as vacations. Hot places. Some time in the Middle East although not for the last fifteen years or so, obviously.' Not stupid enough to be seen there anymore - and anyway, he's got people to do make that sort of trip for him now.

'I visited a lot of big places when I was younger and wanted to avoid being at home - I especially like Hong Kong. Could probably even go back now that it doesn't belong to the British any more. But mainly I stay in South America because...' A shrug. '...there's no one else I trust to do my job, not even Hector. And I like being in the thick of things.'

He kisses him again because this is nice. He likes hearing about him and there's no better place to do it than wrapped up in bed with him. 'Most of the kids got sent abroad though, to school. Sometimes I had to go to Europe to see about things with them.'

"It sounds like an adventure."

He smiles into the kiss, and then rests his head down again.

"Quite the life. If I ever get a chance, I'll go there with you. Play our game. Mmmm, been too long since I got to do any good acting."

'An adventure? Yes, I suppose so. I never thought of it like that really.' He laughs. 'I see films about the life, Hollywood thinks it's cool. And it is, really. But it's reality for me and it makes me laugh, that people think they can ever really know. And it's not what everyone thinks - there are whole years at a time, sometimes, when things are relatively smooth and no one dies or gets blown up or whatever. Of course, it takes a lot of security to make it that way but still. We're all careful.'

He muses quietly for a time. 'It was like that before I got arrested. Business as usual. Well, not really quiet, we did some big things when Jack was around. But I'd got to spend a few months at Columbia House as well - that's the main ranch in the mountains that's mostly legitimate - before he came. It was fun.' Beat. A long beat. 'I miss that place.'

That's not something he admits often, about anything.

"Jack. Ugh, lets keep him out of our bed."

He flicks Ramon's skin with idle fingers.

"What was your prison like? Were you with others? Alone? Where about? Or cold?"

It's something he does, on occasion, wander about.

'Si. Sorry caro.' He kisses him apologetically, then catches the flicking fingers and kisses the tips of them too before releasing them.

'The prison is...small. My case hasn't gone to trial yet but I'm still in maximum security, because they know there's a chance I'll get out if I'm not. Hector and I were working on it before I came here.' He barks a laugh. 'We're wrangling, at the moment, about where I'll go to prison after I cut my deal. They want to send me to Minnesota - it's fucking freezing there. I'm demanding Florida. It's a deal breaker as far as I'm concerned but the lawyer is dragging his feet.'

The laugh fades. 'My life at the moment. There, anyway. If Hector doesn't get his act together then I'll have to talk, because they're pushing for the electric chair if I don't. I think they think they've got more on me than they have - there's a lot they don't know yet.' He sighs, because this is depressing, even when it's months in the past and there's a warm bed and comfortable arms to protect him from it right now. 'But to answer your question - Los Angeles. It's warm. September. Small cell on my own, at the end of a row of other small cells. I'm one of those they know they can't trust with general population, you see?'

And they're right not to. He knows that, Random should too.

"You make me proud, babe."

He has little to no sympathy for people who work in, and make their living off prisons. Because... well.

"And that sounds annoying. Small, too. And if you get back there, be some twist of fate, and you do need to get out? I will come for you."

He's instantly eased closer and Ramon kisses him gently. 'I don't deserve you, you know that?' A wave of gratitude sweeps through him though, a silent thank you to the air for letting him have this.

'It is small. But I know I get out, somehow. If I'm going to die, it's highly unlikely it'll be in there.' He chuckles. 'Unless I really manage to piss Luiz off. He's the District Attorney. Hates me with a passion but I haven't managed to get him to raise a fist to me yet. Bastard. Still - there won't be a way to reach you, I think. Unless the Trumps go with me but I doubt they will.' He stops suddenly and sighs. 'Can we not talk about it please? I told myself I wouldn't think about anything depressing until after Christmas is over - and I'm far too much in love with you to worry about things that are ages away at the moment.'

Ages if the door doesn't show up. If you don't leave, like you said you would. If...no. Not doing this. After Christmas. Everything can wait until then, everything.

"No, don't worry."

He turns, kissing him, and it's convincing.

"None of it matters. None of it. Here and now and happy, babe. Tell me about something else? Or ask me a question? There are so many little things I haven't got a chance to ask you, talk to you about. Start off easy:"

He smirks, teasing.

"Favourite sex position?"

Yes. It is convincing and everything's just fine. There's nothing that can't be pushed away when there's this much happy around.

He laughs and runs a hand through his hair. 'That's a difficult one actually - there's quite a few we haven't tried yet, y'know? And they change depending on my mood. So I'll say...missionary when I want to make love to you, because then I get to give it to you but see your face as well. And when we're fucking?' He pauses to think, then adds, 'Of course I still love you when it's raw like that as well baby...but I like you from behind then. I can do it harder and watch what's going on.'

He reaches for another cigarette and lights it. 'Yours?'

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