Rating: Yaoi

Love Me
(based on the song by Elvis Presley)

Standard Disclaimers Apply

Notes:

Italics = Song Lyrics
:: = JJ's thoughts in present tense


Thanks and gratitude go out to SlyverBlade and Kurama for reading my fic! ^^

By D_12

The people meandering in the halls instinctively hugged the walls as JJ ran through to throw himself at his target.

"JJ! YAMETE!!"

Dee's eyes rounded in shock as JJ jumped through the air and pounced on him for the billionth time since knowing him. Dropping to the ground with more than 100 pounds of amorous JJ on him, Dee immediately began to struggle and yell. As per usual.

JJ just cuddled as close as he could to Dee's chest and let out a small sigh of contentment with a smile. As per usual.


... but love me.


After long minutes of the one-sided fight, Dee just stayed on the floor as his colleagues milled around him, many trying not to laugh outright and others failing to stifle their guffaws.

"JJ."

Looking up when he noticed his Dee-Sempai had stopped moving, he looked up with a happy grin.

"Hai, Dee-Sempai?", he inquired with affection.

"You're an idiot."


Break my faithful heart, tear it all apart, ...


JJ frowned. "Doshite?"

Dee looked at his incredulously and his ire began to show as his body started to twitch spastically.


... but love me.


"Doshite!? You always jump on me like a weasel in heat whose never seen another weasel before!" came the angry inarticulate cry.

JJ looked at his Sempai with a concerned tilt of his head but retained his tight embrace. "You're not a weasel, Sempai, and neither am I."

Dee began to push at JJ's shoulders again, irritated at being misunderstood.

"I KNOW I'm NOT a WEASEL, BAKA!"

JJ's grip slackened slightly as he tried to grasp the point of Dee's "weasel talk" and Dee instantly began to squirm away with relief and annoyance.

As Dee crawled away, he began to mutter to himself. "Damn it, anyone could see I'm not interested. I mean, he's tried to ravish me a million times and I always yell at him. Can anyone say 'dense'? At least Ryo starts to give in sometimes so that's encouraging and all but I never have! I don't know why he keeps at it..."

Dee's voice finally trailed away as he scurried around the corner, leaving JJ to regard his Sempai crawling away from him as his cute derriere swayed back and forth.

JJ settled himself onto his knees and lowered his gaze to the floor as he thought momentarily of his Sempai's indignant soliloquy.

"Anou,... I'm not dense, Sempai. Just hopeful."

If you ever go, darling, I'll be oh so lonely. I'll be sad and blue crying over you, dear, only.


The sharp sounds of a bullet cracked against the air, instantly followed by three more before silence. Pulling off sound-proof earphones, JJ waited momentarily as his silhouette came whirring in front of him via the conveyer belt.

All six of his shots had hit the center accurately and he smiled to himself with pride. He knew he was a good shot, but it never hurt to fine-tune his precision. Setting the safety on his gun, JJ was readying himself to leave when he heard Dee-Sempai's and Ryo-Sempai's vocal approach.

An inexplicable urge and a mischievous idea popped into his head. He was always curious as to what really went on when Dee-Sempai and Ryo-Sempai were alone. JJ knew his Sempai seemed to have some sort of crush on his partner but he didn't know how Ryo-Sempai felt and was very curious. A sense of self-preservation faintly nagged at him, whispering he might not like what he would hear but he mentally batted it away and hid in a dark and shadowy spot by the door. Close enough to hear clearly and peek occasionally if he was careful, JJ settled himself in for the show performed by unwitting actors.

Moments later, the pair came in. Dee was chattering teasingly about how much Ryo needed the shooting practice, and how he'd end up being kicked out of the precinct and would end up heartbroken because he couldn't have such a wonderful partner anymore. JJ couldn't help but smile at voice. His Sempai was so adorable in his one-sided banter.

He heard the creak of a chair and his Sempai's animal grunt of discomfort, to where Ryo voiced his concern. JJ's eye's widened as he heard his own name as part of the reason. "Oh, my ass is sore because of JJ! He knocked me right off my feet today and cracked my ass into fours!"

JJ's eyes narrowed in remorse. He hadn't wanted to hurt his Sempai of course, he just wanted to show how he felt. Maybe he should bring a pillow for his Sempai to sit on tomorrow? No, he couldn't, JJ remembered. Or Dee- Sempai would find out about his eavesdropping, kill him, and be hauled in for homicide!

An incorrigible voice murmured flirtatiously in his head, "Who cares? Offer to massage his butt for him!"

JJ almost laughed out loud but covered his mouth at the last moment, turning a bright crimson in the shadows.

Tuning back into the conversation, he heard Dee-Sempai briefly curse at Ryo-Sempai, who was chuckling. JJ frowned. Just what had he missed?

He tried to peek and saw Ryo-Sempai take aim at his target and was shocked out of his small surge of annoyance as a round of bullets abruptly rang off. JJ pulled himself back into the darkness after the thunderous noise issued momentary peace. Within less than a minute, they sounded again and then once again after a slightly longer pause.

JJ could hear the whir of the conveyer belt as the silhouette was summoned closer for the results of the shooting practice.

"Bull's Eye!", he heard Dee-Sempai proclaim.

JJ smirked to himself. He knew Ryo-Sempai was nearly as good a shot as he was. He had seen Ryo-Sempai in action and had been grudgingly impressed with his skills with a gun.

"Anyway, JJ's really getting on my nerves lately. I don't know what he's thinking, jumping me every time he sees me! The words 'Dee-Sempai' are going to always strike terror in me, knowing my virtue's going to be compromised!"

JJ's lips turned down in a frown a second time as he heard these words and Ryo's sudden incredulous laughter. Damn, was his message that hard to interpret?

He listened, perturbed that he could still be so misunderstood by the object of his affections. Ryo-Sempai's laughter died down after Dee-Sempai cursed at him again, and JJ heard a quiet voice begin to speak.

"Dee, it's pretty obvious, isn't it? JJ's infatuated with you, it's a crush. He'll get over it.", was the reasonable advisement, though it peaked anger in the hidden young officer, whose lavender brows furrowed at the words.

Well, that was totally wrong, JJ thought to himself. He hoped Dee-Sempai didn't believe such a thing. He knew what he felt for his Sempai and it was considerably more intense than a fleeting fancy.

::Don't believe him, Sempai. Don't believe him...::

Apparently allowing Dee a moment to himself to think on his partner's observation, Ryo-Sempai turned back to the new silhouette and readied himself for another round.

The bullet shots became background noise to JJ's thoughts as he huddled into himself further.

::Maybe I should change my approach to Dee-Sempai? If he can't tell how I feel from me jumping his bones than maybe I should just fess up and lay my feelings on the line...should I?::

Possible outcomes stemming from his potential declaration of love flooded his already confused mind. Thoughts of Dee-Sempai becoming hopeful and delighted that JJ was interested in him for his heart and not just his body,... imagining Dee-Sempai welcoming his affection with open arms.... Dee looking disturbed and turning him away, breaking his heart into a million shattered icy pieces.....

"Or maybe he's actually in love with you."

::What!?::

JJ was startled at the abrupt comment from Ryo-Sempai, not even noticing that he had finished practicing. It seemed to have shocked Dee-Sempai as well, for he exploded with a thunderous "NANI!?"

::K'so! He didn't have to sound SO shocked at the idea!::

And had he heard a tremor of worry in Ryo-Sempai's voice at his statement or was that just wishful thinking on his part? ::Huh, if Ryo-Sempai considered him a possible threat to their non-relationship, then he may have a better chance with Dee-Sempai than he knew.::

Hope and anticipation began to bubble energetically through his veins and he felt his face start to flush with the excited possibility.

"L..Love? Honto ni?"

Oh, but his Sempai sounded so quietly contemplative and still so hesitant to believe. JJ sighed mentally, brimming with confusion and adoration. He did dearly adore just hearing his name and the word 'love' in one of Dee- Sempai's conversations.

::Yes, love, Dee-Sempai. Really.::

Ears pricked up to hear ever murmured word, he thanked the little devil inside himself that moved him to eavesdrop on this conversation.

Dee-Sempai's voice sounded like it was coming from a different area of the room now, so JJ knew his love must be pacing. Dee-Sempai had a tendency to do that during the more serious situations. Either that, or yell.

"He's never said anything! How..how can he love me?" The words began with a beat of anger but ended up sounded laden with curiosity, the deep voice sounding alternately louder and quieter as the man moved.

JJ leaned his back against the wall and closed his eyes briefly as his heart tripped at the emotions beginning to fill the air.

::Sempai sounded curious! That means he wants to know more about my love! Oh Kami-Sama, thank you for that.::

"Ryo, what do-", Dee-Sempai began only to be interrupted by a voice tinged with nervousness.

"Dee, you shouldn't sound so amazed.....it's-it's not that hard...", Ryo-Sempai began to murmur and JJ leaned from his wall with a silent snarl to peer at the light-haired man who had his arms wrapped around himself and was looking toward the floor.

He knew what was happening!! Ryo-Sempai's worried that Dee-Sempai's going to become interested and is now acting all vulnerable because he's losing him! ::Don't fall for it, Dee-Sempai!::, JJ's mind cried as his eyes narrowed on the seemingly upset man not so far away from him.

"It's not that hard to fall in love with me, Ryo?"

::Oh Kami-Sama, of course not!::

The atmosphere began to become tense and JJ automatically stiffened in response to it.

"I don't...what would you think if JJ was in love with you, Dee?" JJ saw Ryo's head look up then turn away quickly, skittishly.

Leaning back he closed his eyes again and clenched in fists, but this time in a mantra. "Love me back. Love me back. Love me back...", he internally echoed to himself. His breathing quickened a little as moments passed in silence before the agonizingly slow response commenced.
"I think.....if maybe circumstances had been different, and if he definitely stopped attacking me, I think I could become attracted to him, you know? Maybe...I think we could have been something together."

Elation and frustration caused JJ's eyes to sting, a shuddering breath slightly shaking his crouched form.

::What does that mean!? Was it hopeless then? WHY couldn't he get a straight answer!?!::

He suddenly heard Ryo-Sempai drawn a breath sharply and JJ began scrubbing at his burning eyes against tears that had yet to fall. Cursing over his lack of control over his feelings, he leaned forward to spy on the two men causing his emotional upheaval.

Seeing what he did, he felt the tears brim and track down his face and he fell back against the wall, trembling. A tirade of sadness, anger and unrequited love spilled and drowned his heart suddenly and JJ winced from the pain.

Dee-Sempai was leaning so close to Ryo-Sempai, a hand tangled in his short golden-brown hair, gazing at the man intently. Getting ready to kiss him, JJ knew. It was all too obvious.

JJ wanted to leave badly now. He didn't want to see his hopes dashed away with a single traitorous kiss. And hearing the next words uttered from Dee-Sempai's mouth made him wish to be deaf as well.

"But Ryo,...that's only if there hadn't been you. Everything is for you."

Ryo-Sempai's soft surprised "Dee" was audibly smothered and JJ viciously rubbed at his eyes with the palm of his hand, trying not to make a sound in his anguish.

"Just you....my Ryo..."

"Dee..."

JJ bit his lip and bore the awful pain that his love unknowingly betrayed. His mental urges for the couple to leave and allow himself a reprieve came nearly after five minutes of torturous sounds of returned desire that he had no part of.

When the pair finally left, JJ allowed himself a loud sob of self-defeat, curled up in his corner, and allowed himself to cry out his tattered heart.

***

I would beg and steal just to feel your heart beating close to mine.


[A week later at the precinct]

"Dee-Sempai."

Dee swivelled around in his business chair to come face-to-face with that serious countenance of JJ's that been the norm for the past few days.

Regarding him in an equally solemn manner, he studied the young officer's face for a moment, wondering what was amiss.

"Hmm?"

***

JJ had finally screwed up enough of his courage to tell his Sempai how he really felt. It had been a hard decision to make after hearing what he had but JJ knew he had to try, if only for the sake of knowing that he did make the attempt to win the man he loved so much.

JJ's voice quavered a bit with the anxiety he felt, but he knew it couldn't be helped. Regarding the bright green gems that seemed to see right to the heart of him, he managed to tear his gaze away to pull up a chair in front of Dee-Sempai. Knowing his actions were silently being watched and analyzed, JJ heaved a heavy breath, clasped his hands together and gathered his strength as he peered sightlessly at the ground. JJ looked up after a moment and opened his mouth to finally put his heart on the line.

"Dee-Sempai...can I just call you Dee for now, Sempai? Kudasai?"

Starting off was hard. He watched as Dee-Sempai blinked in surprise at the request but nodded with a small quirk of his lips.

Looking down again, he tried to relax. Every action his Sempai made, -Dee-, the more tense he felt. It was like having the fondest dream placed just out of hand?s reach.

::Just dive right in, there's no other way to do it...::

He looked up again and saw his Sempai looked a bit concerned. At least his Sempai was taking him seriously.

"I don't think you know how I...really feel about you, Dee." Speaking his beloved's name without adding the "Sempai" suffix seemed to make it more real and intimate to JJ.

"You like me. And you've made it pretty obvious that you want me. My ass is black and blue in proof of that.", Dee answered with a sardonic half-smile and a slight tilt of his head.

JJ winced at the answer. Not exactly the answer he was looking for, but that was his Sempai for him. He nodded slowly, causing lavender bangs to fall haphazardly across his eyes. The fact that he couldn't see his Sempai clearly anymore made it easier for him to continue with his declaration.

"Dee...", the name rolling off JJ's tongue like so much molasses. He cleared his throat. "It's actually considerably more than just liking you, much more."

With a lift of his head, he pushed the bangs away, revealing bright shining eyes glimmering with hope, anxiety, love, and still more hope.

Taking a deep breath, he softly murmured,

"Ai shiteru, Dee."

Motivated by the thought that this was a once-in-a-lifetime chance, he pulled himself forward and embraced the startled older officer, wrapping his arms around the strong figure with a heartfelt hug.

Moving his head back, JJ looked at Dee from a vantage point of merely a few millimeters away. Both men were still, their exhalations becoming the other's next breath.


Ev'ry night I pray to the stars that shine above me, Begging on my knees, all I ask is please, please, love me.


JJ froze a moment, not wanting to force his Sempai into anything but craving the closeness more than he ever remembered needing anything before. He wanted to immortalize the image of Dee at this very moment, bewildered and beautiful, for Dee's reaction to his feelings could have been so much worse.

Gradually coming out of his quiet trance, Dee's handsome face looked back at him, his arms still at his sides. Then he softly said in his deep voice that could be so mellifluous at times, "No one's ever told me they loved me and meant it so sincerely before."

The wonder in those words were so unexpected that they provoked a tear to escape from JJ's light eyes.

::How could anyone not love this man?::, JJ thought as he looked longingly at his Dee-Sempai.

Deciding to take Dee's words as an invitation, JJ gently placed his lips atop his loved one's.

Dee stiffened and pulled back automatically, but JJ held on tightly, unable to prevent the hoarse pleading sound from escaping his throat.

He felt his Sempai pause, then miraculously tugged his arms free and wrapped them lightly around JJ's waist. JJ felt like his heart was going to burst as he felt the lips underneath his soften and pliantly open.

A quick swipe of his Sempai's tongue across his lips brought him to the first stages of Nirvana. Kissing and being kissed by the person he loved was the sweetest of all treasures...

JJ felt his Sempai begin to end the sweet kiss and daringly fed his own tongue into Dee's mouth, hoping that Dee would understand. The kiss they had just shared had been about caring. He now wanted one of passion...

He didn't know what was going on in his Sempai's mind but apparently was feeling kind of late, for he leaned in and proceeded to ravish JJ's mouth.

JJ's eyes popped open and saw the dark lashes curved against his Sempai's cheek as he felt his mouth being expertly probed. Eyes falling shut at the furious desire roving through his blood, he pulled himself closer, twisting a hand through Dee's hair and attempting to press himself closer still with a raspy groan.

Running his other hand down his Sempai's muscular back, JJ learned what desire tasted like, and the sinful taste was embodied in Dee's mouth.

The kiss ended in a sudden wrenching apart of lips. Air was gasped in, and JJ's face was crimson. His lips were swollen red from the pressure and he ran an exhausted tongue across them.

"Oh, Kami-Sama...", JJ said unsteadily.


Treat me like a fool, treat me mean and cruel, but love me. Break my faithful heart, tear it all apart, but love me.


Dee-Sempai was sitting back in his chair, running a hand through his hair. His hair was mussed and his shirt was bunched unevenly, his cheeks the barest tinges of red.

::He is undeniably beautiful....::

Catching his voice finally, JJ quietly ask Dee a question that had suddenly occurred to him.

"Dee."

"Mmm, ...Hai, JJ?"

"You said I was the first person to ever say they genuinely...loved you. What about Ryo-Sempai?"

Dee shook his head, looked up at the ceiling and said ruefully, "Geez, you kiss a guy once!" He sighed and said, "He'll probably try and kick my ass for telling you this but whatever. Ryo barely wants to admit he likes me much less the dreaded 'L' word. He always freaks out when we kiss, too. Sometimes I think he doesn't really like me at all..."

JJ was surprised Dee revealed so much to him. Apparently his Sempai realized what he had said when he looked at him, as well, for he looked perturbed but quickly shrugged it off.

Disbelief that Ryo-Sempai could be so callous with his Sempai's feelings spiked through him, as well as a flash of jealousy that Dee wanted someone who wasn't him.

So overcome with emotion, JJ couldn't help himself. Standing up in a self-righteous stance, he shook a fist in the air, declaring noisily that Ryo-Sempai must be mentally troubled and glared at nothing in particular.

Dee grinned at the awesome performance JJ was making in his defense and stood up next to him.

"Wakarenai, JJ. Ryo's just hard to get, I guess." Pulling out a cigarette from the pack on his desk, he fidgeted for a lighter when JJ produced one. Raising an eyebrow at the fact JJ even had one, he reached out and gently steadied JJ's hand as he took as couple of puffs.

JJ couldn't help but sigh at the touch of his Sempai's hand as it was let go. Gazing at Dee with worshipful stars in his eyes for the moment, he flushed red when Dee commented with all seriousness, "After that little make-out session we had, I need a cigarette, don't you think?"

Dee chuckled at the flustered expression on JJ's face and ruffled the shorter cop's hair a little.

Dee was about to offer JJ one as well, when JJ's unusually hesitant question broke through.

"Dee? What happens now?"

JJ watched as Dee puffed away before butting the cigarette out, his eyes looking thoughtful. He hoped Sempai would answer the question and not say something that would take away from the seriousness of the moment, like suggest he set up JJ as his mistress or something.

Weird images of such a situation began to float through JJ's mind when Dee spoke.

"JJ, you know how I feel about Ryo."

::Yes, yes he did but did Dee feel nothing when they kissed? JJ knew that he did, he had felt it.::

A small voice protested in JJ's mind, "He feels about Ryo the way you feel about him."

Casting the unreasonable voice away, he awaited Dee to continue. ::Kami-Sama, please don't let this have been hopeless from the start...::

Hands reached out and rested on his shoulder's and JJ was now seeing Dee instead of his focusing on his inward reflections.

"But I want to thank you so much for loving me. It's nice to know that it's possible.", Dee said seriously.

"Dee...", JJ said, teary with the words he just heard.

Sucking in a breath he nodded and raised a hand to hold onto the one resting on his right shoulder.

"I don't see how someone couldn't, Dee." he responded somewhat shakily but in all honesty.

Dee smirked and pulled his hands away, leaving JJ feeling bereft.

"You will someday, JJ. But for the time being, thank you."

Grabbing his jacket from the back of his business chair, he murmured he was going to take a walk to the corner store deli. JJ nodded as he watched Dee shrug on his blazer and sauntered to the front door.

His gaze outlining the tall exiting figure, JJ realized Dee had turned around to speak.

"JJ?"

"Hai, Dee-Sempai?"

Lounging against the doorjamb, Dee winked and grinned rakishly. "Maybe we could have a threesome someday. You, me and Ryo. That should be fun to look forward to, ne?"

Chuckling as JJ's face turned red, he turned and left, leaving the younger officer with forbidden erotic images tickling his brain.

Shaking his head rapidly before he became too engrossed in them, JJ ran both of his hands through his lavender hair and rested them on his neck.

Dee-Sempai was incorrigible!, JJ mused. He couldn't help but sigh at the idea, but in his heart, he knew...

"I'd rather just have you, Dee."

***

If you ever go, darling, I'll be oh so lonely. I'll be sad and blue crying over you, dear, only.

[Days Later...]

"JJ!!"
"Dee-Sempai?! Slow down!!"
"BANZAI!!"

Dee charged through the office toward the young officer at admirable speed, knocking the files out of JJ's hands and into the air as he was pounced upon.

JJ fell with a hard "oof" sound with his Sempai on top of him. Dazed, he took a moment before lifting his head up to see Dee grinning oddly at him from his position, which happened to be straddling JJ's lower waist.

The people in the office, quite used to the abnormal behavior, attempted to ignore them and walked around the pair. Though many couldn't help but smirk at their antics as they passed.

"Oi! That was pretty fun! No wonder you do it so much. I should try it on Ryo.", Dee ended thoughtfully, though the manic smile never left his face.

JJ barely heard a word, as it were, for he was far too busy swatting away the little circle of yellow birds flying around his head, chirping, "Pyo Pyo".

"Damn, JJ. One might think you wouldn't care about me. I mean, I take all this trouble to jump you and you start...I don't know what you're doing, put your hands down already! Shit! I must be losing my touch!"

The little yellow chicks finally scattering away, JJ finally clued into what his Sempai was saying and where exactly his Sempai was saying it from. Looking down to where his Sempai's legs were spread on top of him, JJ couldn't help the excitement that started to swell up in him. He wanted to preserve this forever!

Feeling bold, JJ looked up into the handsome cop's face and said sweetly, "Like you could ever lose your touch, Sempai. But if you could just rock back and forth a bit, that'd be nice."

Dee leaned over a bit and JJ noted that his green eyes seemed a little overly bright. ::He seems intoxicated but Sempai doesn't normally drink before coming to work, even if it is the evening watch::, JJ thought as best he could with Dee sitting on him.

"Oh yeah?", Dee purred, allowing JJ to finally smell his breath and realize that his Sempai was definitely a bit tipsy.

"Oh yeah!", JJ agreed enthusiastically, not one to give up such a wonderful opportunity.

Dee just grinned at him for a moment before wiggling himself off of JJ, leaving the cop underneath him groaning.

"JJ! Ryo would kick my ass if I did that!" Dee plopped onto the ground beside JJ, who sat up.

"Where is Ryo-Sempai anyway?" Not that he really cared, but JJ knew Ryo-Sempai would not leave his partner alone in this condition and the fact that Dee was alone at all in his current state was a little odd.

"Oh, I dunno. Me and the guys asked him to come to have an early dinner with us but Noooooo~! He wants to catch up on paperwork!" Dee blew out a raspberry at this, and JJ chuckled. He had never seen his Sempai so...floopy before.

"Me and the guys went, right? And I didn't order anything alcoholic, but I guess they messed up my order or something, because I feel a little...fuzzy."

JJ smirked. Their colleagues probably switched Dee's drinks on purpose just to see what he would do. They did that to him once, and JJ had ended up with a horrendous hangover. But he had vaguely remembered having a fun time along the way...

"Dee-Sempai, you should probably get a taxi home. I'll tell the Commissioner you got sick or something.", JJ advised, purposely resting a hand on Dee's shoulder.

"Don't tell that Baka Rose some woosie excuse like that! Tell him I was shot in the line of duty or something!", Dee argued proudly, only to lose his balance and fall over.

JJ sweat-dropped at the scene but agreed and called a cab for his Sempai.

Placing Dee's jacket securely around his shoulders, he tried to walk a stumbling Dee-Sempai outside.

A cool biting wind blew past and Dee shivered as they waited. JJ, sympathizing and always looking for an excuse to touch his handsome police officer, stood in front of him and tugged the collar of the blazer up to cover his Sempai's neck.

"JJ!"

Dee's loud voice startled him and he stopped his actions.

"Nani?"

"You keep touching me! I know what you're trying to do! You're trying to steal my virtue!!"

The idea was so preposterous and unexpected, and the fact that his drunken barely-balanced Dee-Sempai was saying it in intoxicated seriousness, caused JJ to blink once, guffaw in surprise and begin to laugh hysterically.

Clutching his stomach, JJ laughed and laughed while Dee looked on in an obvious huff, hands resting on his hips.

The cab arrived and JJ tried to usher Dee inside as his chuckles subsided. Looking as indignant as a drunk could, Dee stepped inside, muttering, "It wasn't THAT funny..."

"Oh, it sooo was, Sempai.", JJ couldn't help saying before slamming the cab door shut but not before earning a raspberry in return.

The cab sped off and JJ turned to enter the precinct, rubbing slightly cool hands together, but smiling broadly.

"Oh, how I love that drunk."


I would beg and steal just to feel your heart beating close to mine.


The next day, JJ had taken himself to task and made himself sort through the paperwork that had buried his desk. Well, he had decided to do it after he had gotten reamed by Rose but that little fact was unimportant really.

Sweat-dropping as he sorted through the tall piles of status reports and the like, JJ?s focus was broken by the unusually loud return of Dee and Ryo-Sempai.

They had been out on a routine investigation that was relatively easy to handle but necessary nonetheless. It was nothing to kick a fuss over, so their argument, JJ reasoned inquisitively as he tried to glance inconspicuously toward the foyer, must be about something personal.

It was easy to hear what Dee-Sempai was saying and JJ became suspicious of the topic when he heard the loud, hostile statement,

"You're the one that said I should talk to him in the first place!!"

::Hmm...Curiouser and curiouser....::

JJ could hear Ryo angrily whispered for Dee to talk more quietly and decided then and there that it was his right to know what they were saying.

They were most likely talking about him after all, he concluded as he rose from his desk.

Sneaking closer to the door, JJ just smiled innocently as the people passing by looked at him quizzically.

::What?, a man can't just lean against a wall for no good reason anymore? What was the world coming to!::

JJ paused in his errant thoughts as he heard Dee-Sempai speak again.

"Don't shush me!", Dee said indignantly but quieter.

"You kissed him!", Ryo returned with barely repressed anger in his voice that made JJ blink in surprise.

::Whoa! It was about time Ryo-Sempai acted like he gave a damn!::, a voice in his head piped up as his suspicions were confirmed.

::He usually just walks away when Sempai and I are together... No, wait! That's no good! Then Sempai will definitely choose him over me!::, a more forceful voice chided.

JJ shook his head a little, wondering briefly if he becoming schizophrenic.

"If you'd just let me finish talking, I can tell you the damn reason! Now do you want to hear it or don't you?!"

JJ winced a little. ::Dee-Sempai, that's not the greatest attitude to take right now..::.

It was quiet for a moment when he heard Ryo utter softly and seriously,

"What's the reason then?"

JJ heard someone shuffle around and stood up straighter when Dee-Sempai spoke, for his voice was suddenly much closer.

He considered sitting back down at his desk, but he very much wanted to hear why his Sempai allowed him that special yet oh so quick moment of soft kisses and flickering glimpses of what affection must genuinely be like. It still seemed unclear to him.

"It's, well...it's like this...", the reluctance in Dee's voice was obvious but Ryo immediately prodded him to continue.

"It's like what?"

JJ heard his Sempai heave a big sigh and could envision him running a hand through his dark hair, like Dee usually did when frustrated.

"JJ told me he loved me.", Dee said softly. JJ melted a little at the careful tone.

::Dee-Sempai sounds like he really cares that I love him...::., JJ couldn't help but think wistfully, longing to seeing his Sempai's expression right then.

Restraining himself forcefully, JJ closed his eyes and made himself just listen as his beloved Sempai continued.

"You were right. And, I...well, he just looked so sincere and no one's ever told me they loved me before. Well, except for Sister Helen. But, I just felt really grateful that he could love me like that --", Dee abruptly cut himself off.

JJ leaned his head against the wall, head tipped upwards as he stood staring at the ceiling.

::Gratitude. He loved Dee-Sempai with everything he knew and he was given gratitude in return....::

"Dee. Gomen Nasai...I didn't know.", he heard Ryo-Sempai murmur through his haze of bitterness. A brisk unhappy chuckle emitted from his Sempai and JJ couldn't help but feel hurt at the sound.

::So that what bitterness sounds like::, JJ thought, his own growing bitterness easing a bit in the face of another's. He himself didn't want to sound like that and he definitely did not want Dee to bear anymore grief because of his own secret pain. JJ decided than and there that he would protect Dee from ever seeing it.

"Gee, thanks, Ryo. What would top this all too special moment would be your pity, so now it's perfect."

Hearing steps immediately start toward him, he gave a mental "Yipe!" and scurried as fast as he could toward his desk.

Throwing himself at his chair in the nick of time, JJ tried to catch his breath. Catching Ris lifting an eyebrow at him knowingly, he managed a toothy grin before swiveling to face his desk fully.

Attempting to look hard at work, JJ picked up some papers and pretended to be engrossed in reading them as Ryo- Sempai and Dee-Sempai entered the room. Looking up, he caught Ryo-Sempai's eye and grinned.

"Hey, how'd things go?"

Ryo smiled a little and he pulled off his jacket. "It went fine. Nothing too serious, but just showing up helped everyone somehow. I think that's all they really wanted in the first place."

JJ nodded, knowing that feeling secure after a scare was an important thing and sometimes they were able to provide that feeling merely with their authoritative presence.

JJ looked at his Dee-Sempai as he passed without a word, but gave him a grin that caused JJ's own smile to grow to manic proportions.

The two officers both sat down at their desks and began to go through their own paperwork without another word to him or each other. Shrugging, JJ went back to his task.

They worked quietly like that for a little over two hours, sparing words only to greet friendly colleagues as they came by. However the uninterrupted silence among the three remained until Dee piped up. "I forgot to tell you,"

JJ looked up to see him looking at Ryo-Sempai, who was now looking back at Dee a bit warily.

"What?"

"I jumped JJ the other day. Not in the dirty way really, but literally. I was kind of tipsy, thanks to the guys. But just thought you'd want to know."

Silence greeted his little confession and now JJ hesitated to look in Ryo-Sempai's direction just in case it would be a little to scary to face.

::Kowaii!::

After a minute, he heard Ryo stoically murmur, "I'm sure you had your reasons."

"Nope. Just drunk."

Daring to look at Ryo-Sempai after that nonchalant remark, JJ peeked to see him looking straight at Dee with a faint twitch overtaking his right eye.

A part of him just wanted to laugh out loud whereas another part sympathized with Ryo, though the latter feeling wasn't as strong as the former.

"And I did always wonder what it would be like."

JJ sat up, suddenly more alert at these words. ::Dee-Sempai had been wondering what it would be like to jump me??::, he thought gleefully.

The twitch in Ryo-Sempai's eye began to flutter more rapidly. JJ had the fleeting thought that Ryo-Sempai's eye might fly away soon at the speed it was going.

"And how was it?", questioned a tight voice.

::Maybe I should intervene::, thought the young cop as he rested his chin on his hand, eyes volleying between the two cops.

::Yeah, but would could I possibly say? That I asked an intoxicated yet utterly gorgeous cop to rock back and forth as he straddled me??:: The image brought a happy flush to his face, but sharing that picture with Ryo-Sempai would probably cause him to throw Dee-Sempai out the window! And then he'd be without a Sempai.

::No, no. I should keep quiet.::