OOM: Unbreakable

[latino_menace]

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.

Comments

[latino_menace]

Ramon laughs and wraps his arms around him tightly, twining theit legs in an effort to wrap him up as much as he can. Because he's his, and it's nice to lie here and just enjoy each other. Especially on a day like today, where things are perfect.

'Good to know. And you know I will too. This is for always, baby.'

He's never believed anything more.

[underwater-owl.livejournal.com]

"A whole year."

He keeps kissing, down his jaw, reaching the skin of his throat.

"And it only burns brighter each minute."

[latino_menace]

'I kept waiting for it to go away, in the beginning,' he says conversationally, playing his fingers through Random's hair.

'And it never did.'

He's so glad it didn't.

[underwater-owl.livejournal.com]

"And I kept waiting for it to even out. To become domesticity. Or boredom. Or anything."

A long kiss.

"And it never did."

[latino_menace]

He makes a small sound as he's kissed, which turns out to be agreement a minute later, when he adds,

'That too. But it's never been boring. I think you and I are too volatile for that.'

He's touching Random's face again, gently and just because he likes it.

'I know it'll stay interesting. We've got enough things to do.'

[underwater-owl.livejournal.com]

"We do."

His lips curve under Ramon's fingers, into a wider smile. Just helpless adoration at this point.

"Tell me something. Anything."

[latino_menace]

'Alright.'

He thinks for a moment, gently stroking over the tiny cleft that runs from under Random's nose to his upper lip.

'If I had the option to change or remove anything we've been through to get us here, I don't think I would. Even all the bad stuff.'

Everything. Including the curse, his trip back to possible death, the seperation.

'If if hadn't happened, we might not be here right now,' and married. 'And I wouldn't want to lose this.'

[underwater-owl.livejournal.com]

"Really?"

Random gives him the sunny sort of smile that means 'hearing that means the world to me' and a slow kiss.

"Do you remember asking me to move in?"

[latino_menace]

'Mmm, really.'

It's a nice kiss.

'Moving in. When I was in the cells? Yeah, I remember, I think.'

Vaguely. His head had been a bit full of things at the time.

'I think I kind of sprung it on you out of nowhere and for a while I thought you were going to freak out and run.'

[underwater-owl.livejournal.com]

"I almost did."

He kisses him again, because he likes it too.

"You were so delightfully earnest. It was just sort of 'I want you with me.'"

[latino_menace]

Ramon has the grace to look somewhat bashful. As much as he can ever pull off that expression anyway.

'Yeah. Well. I wasn't myself at the time. But I meant it. And if that curse hadn't happened, I might never have said it.'

Another kiss, just as sweet.

'So it was worth it, just for that.'

[underwater-owl.livejournal.com]

"Really?"

That's quite something, that Ramon would say that. Would mean that. That was a mean curse.

"I don't think I'd have been able to stay with you if it weren't for that, either."

[latino_menace]

'If I hadn't asked you to move in with me?'

He does mean it. It was the worst thing he's ever experienced, but something wonderful came out of it. If it weren't for that enchantment, chances are he would have buggered up the whole relationship with his pride.

'I didn't think it was that big a deal.'

[underwater-owl.livejournal.com]

"Not the moving in. The way things went during the curse. Where we got so close together we'd listen to each other breathing for the sake of it. Where I got to see that you were a little bit human. That I got to take care of you."

He rests his cheek against Ramon's.

"I think that's when we became us."

[latino_menace]

'Just a little bit human?'

He laughs, but quietly, because they're cheek to cheek and that sort of quiet intimacy shouldn't be broken.

'You didn't think I was before that?'

[underwater-owl.livejournal.com]

"You were a Risk. Something I shouldn't be doing. Something I shouldn't like so much. Something I shouldn't care about."

He sighs, and is glad they can talk like this.

"And then I started seeing you and why you maybe needed to have someone fall head over heels in love with you."

[latino_menace]

He doesn't pull his head back to look at him because it's too nice to ruin, lying close like this. But if he did, his expresion would be very confused. But a little bit amused as well.

'You think I needed that? I don't get it.'

[underwater-owl.livejournal.com]

"When you were in the cells? With everyone hating you and your own memories killing you?"

He sighs, and his breath shifts the hair on the back of Ramon's neck, the side of his head.

"I think you needed me."

[latino_menace]

'...yeah. I did.'

He says it quietly and follows it with a soft kiss to his jaw. He really had needed him.

'I probably would have killed myself if it weren't for you. It was bad.'

So bad he tries to never ever think about it now. But this is OK. He has Random, so everything's alright.

[underwater-owl.livejournal.com]

"And that's when you started being you and not just this thing that had happened to me."

A small nip to Ramon's ear.

"I'm glad I was there."

[latino_menace]

'm'glad you were too.'

He surprised to find he doesn't feel uncomfortable about saying these things. He usually does, a little. But today? No. Random gave him a ring and that means something.

'Don't know what I'd do without you. Need you now, too.'

[underwater-owl.livejournal.com]

"I know. So do I."

He sighs again, then turns his mouth so it doesn't tickle.

"I know there are times I wouldn't have got through if it weren't for you."

[latino_menace]

Ramon starts stroking through the hair at the back of his head, the other traces the curve of his shoulder blade on his back. It's nice to touch for no other reason than you want to.

'There were? Tell me.'

He smiles cheekily.

'I hear of so few times when I've actually helped someone with something.'

Which is true, but he's not going to pretend that it bothers him.

[underwater-owl.livejournal.com]

"When Martin first came. It shook me up really badly."

He closes his eyes and stays close.

"When I found out about Mary Anne. And sometimes in the night.

I don't tell you, but I wake up and look at you and know if I were alone I'd start sobbing."

[latino_menace]

He hadn't known that. Hadn't even suspected. He does pull back now but leaves his hands on him, holding him carefully.

'...why?'

He never wants Random to cry again. Ever. Wants to protect him, always.