Dark pursuit

A few days passed at a hair - raising speed as Ash put all his strenght into fulfilling his boss's request. The only problem was that he had no idea how. What was the use of expertise if he couldn't apply what he had learned in the most crucial moments? He was completly convinced of his failure. And maybe that wasn't even what bothered him the most. It had happened before - things not going exactly as he had planned. Sure, sometimes he took harder hits than he had expected. But all of that was bearable. 

Until now. 

The fact that Lucian might be more important to him than he wanted to admit utterly terrified the man who was always so cold and strong - willed. He often caught himself staring blankly at his phone, lost in thought, as an inexplicable instinct urged him to call the detective who saved his number in his phone.. Maybe he just wanted to hear how his day had been. Some crazy story about his work - something that could distract him from his own, even if only for a fleeting moment. 

Suddenly the quiet of his apartment was broken by three loud knock at the front door. He wondered for a moment if he had just imagined it. But then the knock came again, more insistent this time. He sighed and pushed himself out of his chair, already knowing who it was. It was too obvious for him. No one else ever visited unannounced, and certanly no one else would knock with such confidence. 

Ash opened the door, and he got himself faced with one of his subordinate, and great friend - Damien. He always had a way of showing up in the worst possible timings. Damien smiled, leaning casually against the doorframe. 

- You didn't expect me, right? 

Ash raised an eyebrow. Rolling his eyes as he invited the man inside. 

- What are you doing here? I wasn't exactly in the mood for you. 

Damien shrugged, unfazed. 

- Yeah, well, i figured you could use a little distraction. Got some business to handle, but I thought I'd swing by first. You look like you could use a drink. 

Ash stared at him for a second, the irritation fading as he took in Damien's easygoing grin. That's it. A little distraction was what he needed right now. 

- Fine. - Ash muttered. - But this better not involve getting me shot at again. 

Damien lauged and tapped on Ash's shoulder with a Wide smile. 

- No promises. 

He was aware of the kinds of situations Damien had pulled him into in the past. True, he always handled them in his own way. Yet, it seemed more smart to avoid caution. Ash had no desire to draw any further attention to himself. 

They got really fast to the bar. And Ash felt relieved as they stepped inside. It was a safe heaven for him at least for a few hours. The background  conversations and clicking glasses mactched his thoughts. Lucian. The name weighed on him more than it should have. Every time they crossed paths, Ash felt the tightening noose around his neck. 

Damien slid into the booth opposite Ash, with a bottle of beer in his hand. He wasn't the type to waste time on anything. He said what he was thinking usually.  

- Boss told me something interesting today. - he said, his voice was casual, almost sharp. 

Ash didn't look up. He already had a sinking feeling about where this was going. 

- Yeah? What's that? 

- He mentioned a certain detective. Lucian, right? Said he's been asking about you. 

Ash's stomac lifted. Of course the Boss would inform everybody about possible danger. 

- Lucian. - Ash said softly, swirling his drink. He wasn't sure if he was annoyed or just tired. This was not exactly a distraction he wanted.  - Yeah, he doesn't know anything yet. Just asking around. 

Damien's eyes narrowed.

 - Asking around, huh? That's one way to put it. - he leaned closer, his tone dropped more serious.  - What's going on with him? The Boss was clear that detective is asking too many questions, and it's getting your name mixed up in the middle of it. 

Ash finally met Damien's gaze, his expression hardened. He couldn't lie to him, not now. 

- He's doing his job, but it's not just that. I think he's getting too interested in me, personally. 

Damien stopped in the middle of drinking, a grin played at the edges of his lips. 

- Personal? What, you two got history or something? 

Ash fingers tightened around his glass, his pulse quickened. He wasn't about to go into detail. Not with Damien watching him so closely. 

- It's ... complicated. - he said simply, hoping the conversation would move on. 

Damien was quiet for a moment, considering Ash's words. He then leaned back in his seat, his eyes still locked on Ash. 

- The Boss doesn't care about your 'history' with him. He cares about one thing - if he's poking around, that means trouble for all of us. 

Ash didn't answeared right away. He wasn't sure what to say. 

- I'll figure it out. - he said, the words sounded more final that he intended. - I'll keep him off my back. 

Damien's eyes softened, just for a moment. 

- We both know how things get when the Boss gets involved. You don't want that Ash. 

- Yeah, I know. - Ash sighed. 

- I'll be in touch. Just..be careful. 

Ash gave a nod, his thoughts was elsewhere as Damien moved toward the exit. He didn't trust Damien's optimism about the situation. As he dissappeared into the night, Ash sat there for a while. He needed to get his head straight. Fast. He reached into his pocket, searching for his phone. He debated it for a second. A call now would be risky, but waiting too long? Even worse. 

He pulled out the phone, dialing. One ring. Two. Then, a click. 

- Tell me you have something. - the voice on the other end said impatient. 

Ash exhaled sharply. 

- Not yet. - he admitted. - I'm doing my best. 

- Then make it quick. 

Ash let out a humorless laugh. - Yeah? And how do you suggest I do that? 

- You figure it out. - the voice said. Then the line went dead. 

Ash closed his eyes, gripping the phone tightly before shoving it back into his pocket. Great. Just great. He turned back toward the street, stepping out of the shadows - And he stopped. 

Lucian was leaning against a streetlamp a few feet away, arms crossed, watching him. Like he'd been waiting. 

- Going somewhere? - he asked, smoothly. 

- What, you following me now? - Ash forced a smirk. 

- Like I said. - Lucian hummed, tilting his head slightly. - Maybe I should be watching over you a little more. 

Ash still didn't move at all. He swallowed hard, his pulse pounding in his throat. He should play it cool he thought.  So he smiled. 

- Didn't know you were the clingy type.- he drawled. - Gotta say kind of impressive. 

Lucian didn't take the bait. Instead, he pushed off the steetlamp, closing the distance between them in slow, like a hunter going after his prey. 

- Can't help it.- his voice was low. - You're a hard man to look away from. 

Ash forced himself to hold  his ground, even when Lucian came close enough that the heat of his body brushed against his. Too close. It was always too fucking close with him, like he knew how to make it impossible to think straight. 

- I get that a lot. - his voice was steady, but his fingers twitched at his sides. 

Lucian hummed, as his gaze trailed over Ash's face, lingering at his mouth for just a second too long before flicking back up to his eyes.  Then his fingers brushed against Ash's wrist. Just this small touch was enough to send a heat through his entire body. 

- You in a hurry? - the detective asked, his voice was just above a whisper. 

- Maybe. - Ash voice sounded rough as he said that. He should have stepped back. Should have shut this down quickly. And he actually stepped back, forced out a sharp breath. 

The man smirk didn't waver. If anything, it deepened. 

- Sure. - he said. - Keep telling yourself that. 

Ash turned before Lucian could pull him back, forcing himself to walk away, even when every nerve in his body screamed at him to stay. But the man let him go. Though Ash could feel his gaze, burning into his back the entire time.  He wanted to turn around. God help him, he wanted to. He made it ten steps before he stopped. His breath was unsteady, his skin burning where Lucian had touched him. This was a bad idea. A fucking terrible idea. 

And yet - 

He exhaled sharply and turned back. 

Lucian was still standing there, watching him with that same cheeky smirk, like he'd known all along that Ash wouldn't walk away that easy. And Ash hated that he was right. He didn't speak as he closed the distance, didn't thinking further. Thinking would only make him hesitate, and he'd lose whatever fragile control he still had. The other man didn't move. He just let Ash come to him. Ash grabbed him by the collar, before pressing his mouth on his. It was desperate, messy.  Lucian made a low sound in the back of his throat, his hands finding Ash's waist again, digging in like he'd been waiting for this. 

This wasn't right. Ash should remember why he was here, why he couldn't let himself get too close. But then Lucian bit his lower lip, just enough to make him gasp. Yeah he was so far stopping now. The man pulled him closer, pressing him back until his spine met the cold brick, then he tore his mouth away just enough to peak, his breath was warm against Ash's lips. 

- So. Still think I'm obsessed? 

Ash let out a shaky laugh, tipping his head back against the wall. 

- Oh I know you are. 

Lucian felt it too - Ash could tell by the way his grip tightened. 

- Tell me to stop. - his lips brushed against the pulse hammering in Ash's throat. 

He didn't say that. Instead his fingers curled in Lucian's shirt, pulling him closer, and that was all the answear Lucian needed. A quiet laugh rumbled in his chest, before he kissed him again hungrily like he wanted to devour him