latino_menace | OOM: Unbreakable

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OOM: Unbreakable

The studio had been nice and it's easy to sleep anywhere when you're with someone you care about. Still, it's nice to be home and be able to clean up properly. Ramon's heading to the bathroom to shower and shave, his thoughts turning towards coffee and lazing about - maybe doing a bit of paperwork later, maybe not. He's tired, but happily so. He wouldn't have thought it possible, so soon after their seperation, for he and Random to settle back into such a rhythm. He's not complaining, obviously. It's nice to be able to believe that the time spent apart hasn't damaged them as badly as he feared it might.

Which isn't to say things are perfect. For example, while it's nice to spend all their time in bed (if exhausting), Ramon can't pretend to himself that it's simply a matter of lust. But it doesn't matter. They're not going to be apart again. He knows it, and that's good enough for him.

Something feels a little off today though, but he can't put his finger on what. Maybe it's just that the hot weather on Haven has broken a little and the green sky outside is a touch overcast. Still, it niggles at him and continues to do so as he takes a hot shower, then a cold one to wake himself up. Ten minutes later, he's wearing only jeans and standing in front of the bathroom mirror, shaving carefully. And that's when he notices what's different.

It's a ring.

He's wearing a ring.

He'd always worn one, actually, until he was put in prison. But this is not a gold one with a black stone, worn on the little finger of his right hand. No, this is quite different.

This is a

(wedding ring)

thin gold band, and it's on the fourth finger of his left hand.

He's frozen in place for minutes. Literally minutes. And then he...well, he swallows, and notices that even under the shaving foam and his tan, his face is a little white. But he finishes what he's doing because he can't cope with this situation with half a stubbly face. He needs time to think.

I'm wearing a wedding ring.

...why the hell didn't he tell me?

Because there's only one person it could have come from, of course. This is not the same ring he wore briefly when he was officially married. That had been large, thick. Practically a signet ring. But this one is thin, gold, understated.

He finishes what he's doing, managing to cut himself rather spectacularly in the process because he can't take his eyes off the thing.

'Fuck!'

But it's OK, really. Because, for whatever reason, Random's given him a ring that'll tell the world he's off the market. And he doesn't mind at all.

He's smiling as he leaves the bathroom, holding a wad of tissue to his chin. With his right hand, because he's still looking at his left. It almost feels heavier, now he's noticed it - but a good way. He toys at it with his thumb, twisting it, getting used to it. Because he's not taking it off.

Not ever.

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His lover's asleep. He was up during the night, ye see, and that makes for late-ish mornings.

Except, oh, maybe not. He opens his eyes drowsily and smiles at him, before yawning and rolling over.

Ramon watches him silently, even after he wakes up. The smile is gone; he just looks blank. Shell-shock will do that to a man.

'I...'

You gave me a wedding ring.

'...seem to be sprouting gold.'

Abrupt, maybe. But, y'know. Shell-shock.

"Er. Yes."

That's because I love you.

He hides his face in the pillow.

"You can take it off if you want."

Ramon stares for a moment longer. Then realises he's staring, and stops. He pulls the tissue from his face instead, realises he's still bleeding and puts it back. His thumb doesn't stop twirling the ring.

'Random.'

He says his (husband) lover's name quietly, and sits next to him. He stops fiddling with the band when he places his left hand on Random's back. It looks good against his tanned hand; good against Random's pale skin too.

'I'm not taking it off.'

He turns his head to look up at him, with a huge smile, which turns to concern.

"You hurt yourself?"

Lover mine. Mine.

'Cut myself shaving,' he says ruefully. He doesn't look concerned. Random's smile made him smile and now he can't seem to stop.

'Doesn't matter. But...'

Why? Why now?

'...I don't understand.'

"I really, really love you."

He tilts his head to look up at him properly.

"Enough to want you forever. To promise you myself for forever. I don't ever want you or anyone else to forget what that means. That is's us. No matter where we are, in what time and what universe, it'll always be us."

He swallows.

"Together."

He's staring again. He's floored again. Amazing how Random can keep finding new ways to do that.

He looks at the ring, shining against sun-browned skin.

'I told you once that I'd marry you in a heartbeat.'

Beat.

'I guess it's even more unecessary now.'

He leans down and kisses him gently. He feels like they've got it all. He has no need or real desire for any kind of ceremony, he thinks they're entirely pointless. But now he has this, and it's more than enough.

'I love you. And will, always.'

"And you're a little bit Catholic."

He kisses Ramon softly.

"Figured I'd make an honest man out of you."

He doesn't know what to do with himself. Random's statement hits him like a ton of rose-coloured bricks, and all he can do is stare while, internally, every last one of his defences collapse like a house of cards folding slowly in on itself.

Christ.

He's really done it. He's really married me. This is really it, forever.

he's known for a long time. But in this moment, it feels so clear to him. Like every emotion he has for him is suddenly right there. He's never felt so utterly exposed. But it doesn't matter because he's with Random and they're together and it's OK. He can be whatever he wants, show every emotion, and the man won't walk away. He gave him a ring. He won't walk away.

He swallows, even whiter now. The tissue is tossed away and he slowly, carefully, (as though moving too fast might break this), he twines their fingers. All he can offer is a weak smile and a rather lame,

'First time for everything I suppose.'

Made an honest man out of me. Married me. Fucking hell.

Random gives him a very, very concerned look.

"Are you sure you're alright? Fuck, I shouldn't have. I should have woken you up. Ramon?"

He waves his right hand vaguely, the left still holding Random's like a lifeline, though it's gentle.

'No. No, it's fine. I'm just...'

I don't know.

'I'm just surprised. Don't know what to say, you know I'm useless at this sort of thing.'

He has no clue how to go about putting into words what this feels like, and doesn't know if he should even try.

Random grabs the hand with the ring on it, lifts it to his lips to kiss his palm, then his fingers, his knuckles, the very tip of his thumb.

"You're not useless. Just say you'll be married to me? I'll even do a ceremony if you really, really want. Anything. Just make me yours."

'You are mine,' he murmurs, quietly.

'And I'm yours.'

He lies next to him properly, leaving him his hand (in marriage), looking into his eyes.

'Yes. Of course I'll be married to you. We don't have to do a ceremony, it doesn't matter.'

A soft kiss, and a slightly more steady smile.

'I love you. I only want you. So yes, of course.'

He lets out a long sigh, of relief, and then rests his forehead to Ramon's, just touching.

"Thank you."

Because he'd never wanted anything more in his life.

Ramon doesn't say anything because, truly, it's hard to get his head around this. But he knows he wants it. He just doesn't know how to deal with it yet.

So he just rests with him, eyes closed, still holding his hand.

Conversationally,

"You're better at the whole 'married' thing than I am, baby. If I do something wrong, just tell me."

'Better?'

A small laugh.

'You didn't know me when I was married before. I don't think better is the right word.'

He did not make a good husband. Such is life.

'Anyway, it won't be any different to how we are now.'

Which isn't true. He already feels different, though he's not quite sure how. This is all a bit overwhelming - but he's sure he can get used to it. It's overwhelming in a good way.

"Oh, right. Well, just don't be that with me."

A short kiss, and he relaxes into his arms.

"And then we're good."

'Haven't up until now. I think I can resist the temptation.'

He's joking - but he almost didn't say it, all the same. But then, the hooker wasn't exactly temptation. A bit more complicated than that.

'I wouldn't treat you that way. It's a whole different situation.'

He doesn't want him to worry about that. Random won't get anything less than love.

"There'll be questions, when we get back to the bar."

A small wincing smile, because he's still sort of awkward about the idea.

"What are you going to tell people?"

Ramon strokes a finger lightly over his cheekbone, watching him openly, but quietly.

'If they ask, I'll tell them you gave it to me. They can work out the rest for themselves.'

He's wondering about getting one for Random. After being surprised by this so nicely, surely it means that he'd wear one too? But he's not sure. Random's always been so skittish about marriage - although he did just say that he wanted everyone to know what they were to each other. So. Maybe. He wants to get him one but doesn't want to ask outright if it would get any use. So he's quiet, and thinking, and happy and content to lie here and feel overwhelmed.

Random has drawn Ramon's hand to his mouth, and is kissing his fingers again, because they look very nice, with his little band of gold on them.

"Given to you with all my love."

He can't believe he's this lucky.

He thinks that Random's would look just as nice decorated the same way. His instinct is to buy a matching one, because that's sort of the point, isn't it? His ego is telling him to buy platinum, of course, but that's the wrong colour. Still. Either way, Random will be getting one.

'You're my perfection, you know that? Just when I think I can anticipate you, you do something like this.'

"Predictable isn't why you love me."

He nuzzles the side of Ramon's neck, with a small grin of pleasure. Any sort of ring, he'll wear. Love, and wear. He'd wear a newspaper hat if Ramon told him it mattered.

"And you do it too, you know that? Every time I think I have it, I think we're set and going, you make me see how blindingly lucky I am. With the littlest things. My birthday, the idea. To give me space. That you care enough to give me space."

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