Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Tim sat down at his usual seat at the breakfast table with a bowl of cornflakes and a glass of orange juice. Raylan was already there (as disconcerting as that was given the hour) in what had become his customary spot, sitting sideways in his chair so that he was leaning against the wall, book in hand and a mug of black coffee on the table.

“Is that what I think it is?” Tim asked, gesturing towards the book.

Raylan shushed him, not looking up from the page he was reading. “I’m getting to the good part. The Princess is about to summon the animals to raid the evil trapper’s den.”

Tim gave Raylan a look that the other man didn’t acknowledge but Tim was sure he could feel, before shaking his head and scooping up some cornflakes. The book he was referring to was the Native American book of folklore that he’d been reading during the Drew Thompson case, the same book that Raylan had teased him endlessly about. Tim didn’t know whether it was a sign of boredom, desperation or something else that had prompted Raylan to begin reading it himself.

Raylan had been back from Salt Lake City for exactly five days and Tim knew the other man was feeling every moment of his suspension. At least in Salt Lake, he’d been occupied with Winona and preparing for the arrival of his baby girl, but back in Lexington he was bored out of his mind. The only positive thing that had come out of the suspension so far was that they’d finally been able to test their living together compatibility and it was a lot smoother than Tim had ever imagined. Raylan had officially moved in during the height of the Drew Thompson case, but once that wrapped up, he’d had to deal with Nicky Augustine. It was true they’d spent that weekend in Harlan, but Raylan’s description of a weekend getaway had been apt. Before Tim knew it, Raylan had flown off to Salt Lake City. Still, Tim didn’t feel like he’d been left behind for the two weeks that Raylan had been away. In fact, the opposite had happened. Tim had become acutely aware of Raylan’s soon-to-be-presence in his house and he’d begun seriously considering the practical implications of living with the other man. He’d thought a lot about Raylan’s comment that first night about “maintaining certain appearances” and realized how perceptive Raylan had been about what that would actually translate into. So five days into their new living arrangement, they’d mostly arrived at a routine. Rosa had already met Raylan once and she’d instantly liked him. (The cowboy had turned on the charm.) Even Art had stopped by (my god, was the boss actually checking up on them?) and that visit had turned out surprisingly well with the aid of “some good bourbon.”

Raylan put down the book and took a drink of his coffee.

“The next one’s even better,” Tim began.

“No spoilers,” Raylan cut him off.

“Are you discovering your inner Native American princess?”

“Alive and kicking apparently. So, what are you up to today?”

Raylan asked that a lot. At this point, even the minutia of work was interesting to him.

“The usual. Catching bad guys. The real question is, what are you doing today?”

Raylan gave him a pained expression.

“You should learn knitting or crochet,” Tim went on. “Like those rehabilitation programs. They always teach some kind of arts and crafts or a vocational skill.”

“You want me to darn you a pair of socks?”

“A pullover would be nice.”

Tim grinned evilly as Raylan’s mobile began to ring. Raylan picked it up, simultaneously returning Tim’s look with a glare of his own, until the caller ID caught his interest and his expression shifted to one of curiosity.

“Please tell me this ain’t a social call,” Raylan said by way of greeting.

Tim didn’t know who was on the other end, but their answer clearly amused Raylan.

“Well, there was that one time you called about your brother’s wedding,” Raylan reminded the caller. There was a pause, followed by a chuckle. “What can I do for you, Dan?”

Dan, Tim thought. Probably Dan Grant, Raylan’s former boss.

“You’re kidding. He fell off the grid, what? Three, four years ago? We all thought the cartel was on to him.”

Tim continued to eat his cornflakes, thinking that the conversation was starting to get interesting. At least, based on the half he was hearing. Unfortunately, he didn’t get to hear any more of it because the doorbell rang. He took a quick drink of his orange juice before standing up to see who was at the door.

* * * * *

Raylan watched as Tim stood up and made his way to the front door. It was unusual, somebody ringing the bell at this hour. Actually, it wasn’t that early, but quarter to eight was plenty early for him. Some of Tim’s good habits were rubbing off on him after all. Dan was still talking in his ear and Raylan made an effort to pick up the conversation again.

“I need you to fly up here, Ray.”

“That’s easier said than done.”

“I know you’re Art’s golden boy, but he can spare you for 24 hours.”

“I’m his golden boy, all right. His suspended golden boy.”

Dan’s laughter was so loud that Raylan took the phone away from his ear lest he go deaf.

“What’d he suspend you for?” Dan asked, when his laughter finally subsided.

“Doing my job, mostly,” Raylan answered, watching as Tim came back accompanied by another man with dark hair that looked to be about Tim’s age. The guy was military, Raylan could tell that right away. Maybe one of Tim’s Ranger buddies.

“I’ll give Art a call,” Dan was saying. “This is too important to let slide.”

“Good luck with that,” Raylan said before hanging up the phone.

“Raylan,” Tim said. “This is Kelly. We served together in Afghanistan.”

“Hey,” Raylan said in reply, standing up to shake Kelly’s proffered hand. The man had a good firm grip.

“Raylan and I work together,” Tim explained.

“Another Marshal,” Kelly said, giving Tim a look. “I feel safer already.”

“Do you need protection?” Raylan asked, only partially joking.

“Only from himself,” Tim answered. “Kelly’s gonna stay here for a little while, if that’s okay.”

“’Course it’s okay,” Raylan said. “It’s your house.”

Tim looked like he was about to correct Raylan and then thought better of it. “Raylan moved in recently,” Tim said, turning to his friend. “So all I got is the couch now, but it’s comfortable.”

“Hey, I should’ a called first,” Kelly replied. “Instead of just dropping in on you like this.”

“It’s not like you haven’t done it before,” Tim reminded him.

Kelly laughed. “True,” he agreed. “My point is that if a friend crashes at a friend’s place, he ain’t gonna complain about where he’s actually crashing. The couch will do just fine.”

“Well, now that that’s settled,” Raylan said, taking his leave.

“You’re leaving before me?” Tim asked incredulously. “What about my pullover?”

“If you want to buy me some needles, yarn and an instruction manual, I’m sure I can figure it out,” Raylan replied.

Tim looked amused but still miffed. “Where are you going?”

“Talking to Dan reminded me that I got a small job to do.”

“You mean those small jobs that’re also illegal?”

“It’s not illegal if I’m suspended.”

“I don’t think Art would agree with that sentiment.”

“Seeing as you’re not going to tell him, that’s not going to be a problem.” Raylan gave Tim one of those looks and all Tim could do was sigh in reply. Then Raylan addressed their new guest. “Kelly, it was nice to meet you. I guess I’ll be seeing you later.”

“Nice to meet you too, Raylan.” When Raylan disappeared down the hallway and was out of earshot, Kelly turned to Tim and said, “Jesus, Gutterson. Are you –?”

“We’re not having that conversation,” Tim said.

* * * * *

It was a slow day at the office. No fugitives on the radar and a backlog of paperwork to go through. Art stopped by his desk once with the instructions to tell Raylan to come to work tomorrow.

“Does he need to know what for?” Tim had asked.

“He already knows,” Art had sighed.

Tim figured it had something to do with the phone call Raylan had received that morning. Only Raylan could cause Art stress by not even being in the office.

“Y’know, Tim,” Art had said. “I really thought that Raylan being suspended would be a peaceful time for me.”

“Didn’t think you were that optimistic, boss.”

By the time Tim got home, Raylan and Kelly were both there watching a baseball game in the living room and Tim wasn’t sure how to feel about that. Raylan was relaxing at one end of the sofa, his right arm stretched along the sofa’s back. Kelly was at the other end, sitting in one of the armchairs facing the coffee table. They both had cold beers, although Raylan’s beer was on the end table beside him. Tim walked in, went straight to the sofa and sat beside Raylan, near enough that he was clearly in the other man’s personal space and Raylan’s arm was behind his head. Raylan gave him a sidelong glance and Tim simply shrugged, settling more comfortably into the other man’s side. Kelly, who had been watching them, stood up.

“I’m gonna get another beer,” he said. “Can I get you guys one?”

“I’m good, thanks,” Raylan replied.

“I could use one,” Tim admitted.

“One beer coming up,” Kelly said as he went to the kitchen.

“Thanks,” Tim called after him.

Raylan dropped his arm from the back of the sofa once they were alone and leaned over, pressing a kiss to Tim’s temple.

“You really gonna let your friend sleep on the couch?” he asked.

“You really gonna give up your room?” Tim asked in return.

“It’s not exactly a hardship, Tim. As long as you’re okay with it.”

“Kelly’s all right.”

The man in question returned from the kitchen just as Raylan was standing up.

“Listen, Kelly. There’s no need for you to sleep on the couch,” Raylan told him. “Just gonna get some stuff and then that room’s all yours.” Raylan didn’t actually say where he’d be sleeping but the answer was fairly obvious.

“I don’t want to put you out,” Kelly replied.

Raylan shook his head. “It’s no trouble,” he assured him. He gave Tim a final look before disappearing down the hallway.

“Your beer.” Kelly handed Tim an already uncapped bottle of beer.

“Thanks,” Tim said, taking a drink as Kelly sat back down in the armchair.

“So, you and Raylan, huh?”

“Told you we’re not having that conversation.”

* * * * *

Kelly prepared dinner that night, and Tim’s barbecue talent aside, he had more culinary skill than Tim and Raylan combined.

“I don’t remember your cooking being this good,” Tim remarked at one point.

“You can stay as long as you like,” Raylan added.

Kelly laughed. “It’s a good way to earn my keep at friends’ places,” he admitted. “You two need to go shopping more,” he added. “There’s like beer and ice cream in your fridge.”

“And a coupla eggs,” Raylan commented.

“Not anymore,” Kelly told him.

“Milk and orange juice too,” Tim added. “Mr. Suspended here was supposed to make a run at the supermarket today.”

“I was busier than I expected to be,” Raylan said. “It’ll be on my To-Do list for tomorrow.”

“Don’t forget the knitting needles.”

“I don’t think you can buy those at the supermarket.”

“That reminds me,” Tim said suddenly. “Art wants you to come in tomorrow.”

“He does, does he?” Raylan replied with a thoughtful expression. “Dan’s more persuasive than I thought.”

“You know what it’s about, don’t you?”

“Yeah. Best we save that.” The for when we’re alone remained unsaid.

Kelly, who had been observing the interaction of the two men said, “I guess that’s my cue.”

“Cue?” Tim asked.

“To clear the table, wash the dishes,” Kelly answered.

“Hell, no,” Tim quickly objected. “We got that covered. You cooked the meal. Fair’s fair.”

“Parity’s a big deal with you guys, huh?”

“We’re working on it,” Raylan replied.

* * * * *

Later, when Tim and Raylan were finally alone in bed, Tim was so obviously distracted that Raylan eventually sat back and asked him, “Is it too weird? Having sex with your ex down the hall?”

“What? No, I mean . . .” Tim sat up as well, flustered by the question. He took a deep breath. “Yeah, it’s a little weird having somebody else here,” he said after a moment. “But Kelly’s not my ex.”

“Isn’t he?”

“We hooked up a couple of times,” Tim admitted. “But it was to relieve tension. Wasn’t anything more than that.”

“Just for fun then.”

“Don’t know if you could call it that either,” Tim scoffed. “We were too damn scared of getting caught all the time.” He stopped abruptly, looking as though he’d revealed too much. Tim didn’t talk about his exes. It’s not like he had many to begin with but it was too sensitive a topic.

“Huh,” Raylan said in a non-committal sort of way, lying back down on the bed beside the other man. Tim was still leaning against the headboard. “C’mere,” Raylan said after a moment.

Tim glanced down at him and for a moment Raylan thought that Tim would withdraw, but instead he slid down and shifted over, fitting neatly into Raylan’s side and allowing Raylan’s arm to curl around his back.

“Thought we didn’t cuddle,” he said.

“This ain’t cuddling,” Raylan told him. “It’s the manly hug of reassurance.”

“Whatever,” Tim replied, sounding very much like he was going to call Raylan out on his bullshit.

Raylan, however, had that way of circumventing him and he demonstrated it once again with his next question.

“You still scared of getting caught?”

Tim sucked in a sharp breath, unsure of whether or not he could answer the question. This was firmly in the territory of shit they didn’t talk about, unless they were comfortable enough. Tim guessed that this was Raylan’s way of asking whether or not he was more comfortable with it and to Tim’s own surprise, the answer was ‘Yes.’

“Not like before,” he said with a sigh. “It’s different here. With you.”

“Good different, I hope.”

“Good different,” Tim assured him, turning over so that he was lying on his stomach. Raylan’s hand was still on his back, aimlessly drawing patterns with his fingers as Tim propped himself up on his elbows. “But I do think about it,” he admitted. “I mean, what I would do if other people found out about us.”

“What would you do?”

“Depends upon who found out, I guess.”

There was a pause and Raylan’s hand stilled on Tim’s back, flat, warm and comforting. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

“Shit, you told someone.”

“More like someone observed.”

Tim’s mind was in a whirl. Who could have observed them so carefully? The first name that popped into his mind was Boyd Crowder. He remembered how easily Boyd had put things together that day at Raylan’s house nearly three weeks ago.

“Hey.” Raylan was tapping him on the back. “It’s Rachel.”

“Rachel?” Tim felt himself relax. Rachel was unexpected but certainly not disastrous. “Thought you only told her about moving in.”

“I did,” Raylan confirmed. “But the next morning she saw the look on your face when I made that joke about the sex being easier.”

“Oh, god,” Tim groaned. He remembered that joke and he remembered how shocked he’d been that Raylan had actually made it. And then he distinctly remembered how he’d wanted to kill Raylan at that moment. Apparently, Rachel had observed all that.

“She asked me about it on the way up to Nobles’ and I couldn’t lie to her,” Raylan went on. “But I also told her not to mention it to you ‘cos I wasn’t sure how comfortable you were with all of this.”

“Lookin’ out for me, huh?”

“I do try.”

Tim grinned.

“She’ll keep our secret,” Raylan added.

“Yeah, Rachel’s trustworthy like that,” Tim agreed. “Y’know, for a moment there I thought you were gonna say ‘Boyd Crowder.’”

“I haven’t told Boyd shit, but I reckon I don’t have to.” Raylan paused. “You don’t need to worry about him. He’s not gonna use this against you.”

“What you’re not saying is,” Tim translated. “He might use this against you.”

“He might,” Raylan conceded. “But maybe not in the way you’re thinking.”

To Tim the next obvious question was, What am I thinking? But Raylan was looking at him carefully and they both knew that they’d just touched upon Raylan’s territory of ‘shit they don’t talk about’ and Raylan didn’t look like he was about to take that avenue of conversation any further.

Tim cleared his throat. “You really don’t care, do you? If people find out.”

“I don’t advertise,” Raylan said. “But it wouldn’t bother me either.” He paused. “I’m following your lead on this. Whatever you’re comfortable with is what we’ll do. Take your friend, Kelly. You seemed okay with him putting things together.”

“Kelly’s an exception, but there aren’t many of them.” Tim lay back down on his back. “Are we really not having sex tonight?” he asked after a while.

Raylan chuckled. “I’m following your lead on that too,” he replied.

“Aw, hell.”

* * * * *

Tim woke to the feeling of slicked fingers moving inside him and when they touched upon that spot that sent a jolt of electricity up his spine, he instinctively pushed back trying to get those fingers to brush that nub again.

“Tell me if you want me to stop,” Raylan said in his ear.

“Fuck, you can’t stop now,” Tim hissed back.

Raylan’s soft laughter was warm against his neck, and Tim lifted his left leg so that his thigh was against his chest and Raylan had better access. Those fingers stroked his prostrate again and Tim let out a loud moan.

“We have a guest,” Raylan reminded him.

“Thought the whole point of finger fucking me now was so that he’d be asleep,” Tim said, pushing back on those fingers once more.

“I’m hoping, but you’re gonna wake him if you keep that up.”

“Christ, Raylan. Get on with it.”

“And you think I’m bossy.”

Tim’s reply was cut off by the two fingers that were shoved in his mouth at the same time that the fingers from his ass were removed. He sucked on them as Raylan shifted behind him, positioning himself until Tim could feel the blunt head of Raylan’s cock at his entrance. Tim sucked harder in an effort to stave off another moan as Raylan pushed inside. He thought Raylan was damn lucky that he hadn’t bitten those fingers off at the rate the other man was going. The same thought must’ve crossed Raylan’s mind because he withdrew those fingers too, running his hand down Tim’s body until it landed firmly on Tim’s waist. He began with shallow thrusts that Tim matched easily. While the angle on their side was good, it didn’t really allow for the hard fuck that they both preferred so it wasn’t long before Raylan was pushing Tim onto his front. Tim moved easily, spreading his legs wide as he felt Raylan's arm curl around his waist, supporting him at a better angle.

“You want me on my knees?” Tim asked.

“Can’t have you banging the headboard tonight,” Raylan said with the perfect thrust that jolted Tim forward and did precisely that.

“Shit,” Tim muttered, both at the realization and the fact that Raylan had stilled after that last thrust. “Raylan,” he hissed, pushing back in an effort to get the other man moving again. But Raylan was moving in entirely the wrong direction.

“Floor,” he said, getting off Tim and pulling the top cover and the top sheet along with him.

“What?” Tim almost laughed.

“Floor,” Raylan repeated. “Now.”

Tim didn’t argue. He got off the bed as well, settling on his hands and knees on top of the hastily thrown bed sheets and was relieved when Raylan settled behind him, both hands on Tim’s hips, pulling Tim backwards as he pushed himself inside. Tim exhaled slowly as Raylan filled him, somehow managing to focus on his own breathing, which had started coming out in harsh pants, once Raylan began to move. Raylan came first, but Tim was still hard and aching. He was about to reach down and finish himself off until Raylan’s voice stopped him.

“I’ve got you.”

Tim breathed a sigh of relief as he lay back down on his back, legs spread to accommodate Raylan who was trailing a quick line of kisses down his body that ended in the wet heat of Raylan’s mouth around his cock. Tim still wasn’t sure how he felt about Raylan growing his hair a little longer but he had to admit it was convenient at times like this when he could reach down and run his fingers through it, giving Raylan that extra bit of encouragement. Encouragement gave way to bliss and then Tim’s grip on Raylan’s hair was tugging with a different kind of encouragement, the kind that was silently asking Raylan to move back up so that Tim could kiss him. Raylan obliged after one last lick and then Tim felt that familiar weight on top of him followed by the slow languid kisses that he’d come to favor just after sex.

“I guess we’ll be changing our routine with Kelly here,” Tim commented as Raylan licked his collarbone. “We could go for the shower tomorrow night,” he suggested.

Raylan lifted his head and Tim could see the apologetic smile on his face through the moonlight that filtered into the room. “I got a bit sidetracked earlier but I forgot to mention that I’m flying to Miami in a couple of hours.”

Tim sighed. “We have the strangest pillow talk.”

“We need a pillow,” Raylan realized, reaching up with his right hand and rummaging around the bed until he grasped one of the pillows there. It was probably Tim’s since they’d landed on Tim’s side of the floor. He pulled it down and they comfortably shared it as Tim slotted into his side again in a way that totally did not resemble cuddling.

“What’s in Miami?” Tim asked.

“An old C.I. of mine just popped up. He won’t talk to anyone else. Dan seems to think he’s on to something, enough to fly me in to have a chat with him. Shouldn’t take more than a day to sort out.”

Tim began to laugh.

“What?” Raylan asked, miffed.

“You make it sound simple,” Tim told him. “But nothing’s ever that simple with you.”

“Ronny Baker’s a simple man,” Raylan said, referring to his C.I. “I can’t imagine what Dan thinks he knows.”

“You’ll find out soon enough.”

“Feel like coming to Miami with me?”

Tim would’ve shot Raylan an incredulous look except that he was much too comfortable where he was, so he settled for saying, “I can’t just drop everything and fly to Miami with you.”

“You sure? Dan said their Armed Response Team is short a sniper. You could fill in, especially if this thing goes for longer than 24 hours, which you seem to think it will.”

“The mere fact that the Miami office has an Armed Response Team tells me that they don’t need me. ‘Sides, we’re the ones who are short here with you being suspended.”

Tim stifled a yawn.

“Bed, Sleeping Beauty?”

“In a bit. It’s kinda comfortable here. Sort of like camping.”

“Yeah, without the trees and stones and wildlife.”

“Shut up.”

* * * * *

The second time Tim woke up, it was still dark and he was back in the bed. Even more disturbingly Raylan wasn’t there but he was aware of the other man’s presence in the room. “Is the world ending?” he asked. “What are you doing up before me?”

“Art called,” Raylan explained. He was packing a small overnight bag. “He booked me an earlier flight.”

“This is starting to sound not so simple.”

“Well, the sooner I leave, the sooner I get back.” Raylan zipped up the overnight bag. It was small enough to hand carry. He gave Tim a mischievous look and said, “If you get lonely, you could always ask Kelly to keep you company.”

“Are we that kind of couple?”

“I dunno. Are we?”

Tim laughed. “I’ll manage till you get back.”

* * * * *

Art was waiting for Raylan at the departure gate. “Didn’t think you were going to make it, cowboy.”

Raylan shrugged. “I got five minutes, give or take,” he answered. “Sweet of you to hold my hand while I get on the plane, Art.”

“You’re still suspended,” Art said sternly.

“I s’ppose that’s why you’re giving me back my gun and my badge,” Raylan asked, taking the two items from Art as he handed them over.

“I mean it, Raylan. This is a favor to Dan. You’re a . . .” Art searched for an appropriate word. “Consultant,” he said at last.

Raylan was about to laugh but he somehow managed to hold it in. “Consultant. Got it,” he said with just a touch of mocking sarcasm in his voice.

“Raylan.”

“I heard you, Art.”

“If you get into any shit down there, I’m sending Rachel after you.”

“Better yet, send Tim. He could use a tan. Hell, send both of ‘em if you’re so concerned. That’s only half the office.” Raylan paused. “Relax, Art. It’ll be fine.”

“Famous last words,” Art muttered as he watched the Stetson disappear from view.