Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"Do you think this is all our life will be? " Martin picks up a gun, toying it in his hand while watching his brother writing something on the paper, most likely it is some 'business' document.

His brother - the next in line boss in the Cozner crime family, Kevin merely gazes at him and continues his writing.

"You want to do something else?" He finished signing on the paper of a large drug deal on the west side of the city. This is a high-stake case and the boss - his father, had ordered him to personally attend the deal.

In case some incompetent rat ruined the goods like last time. Kevin snorted at his memory of the last deal that can only be described as catastrophe.

To his favour, that deal was arranged by his enemy - Wesley Allister, that fool thinks he can overtake him just because the boss trusted him. Hah! Not so anymore after the deal.

"I don't know... Just... Have you ever thought about what our normal life will be if we weren't born into this crime organization?" Martin puts down the gun and helps organize the paper, Martin is his most skilled man and his only blood-tied brother, Kevin knows he can trust him.

Only one thing, Martin is a dreamer. He loves to imagine things that never could have happened.

"No." Kevin lights up a cigarette and simply answers. Unlike Martin, he is not a dreamer, he's practical and productive and only interested in the real world rather than some childish imagination.

But Martin is his only baby brother, he looked after him when growing up, so he allows his brother to have that impossible dream to himself.

"You're boring, Kevin. No woman will like you for that." On the contrary of his childish daydream, Martin is a known player in the love field. He had a handful of lovers while Kevin had none.

The Boss seems satisfied with it, said that he will not be affected by women or relationships, and that apparently to him is good quality.

"I don't need women to like me." He takes another cigarette. Women never appeal to him, he never understood why Martin has drowned himself in it.

"Oh so you need man to like you?" The lack of women and relationships in his life often get teased by Martin, it is only natural he guesses.

Kevin said nothing while he just silently stares at Martin. He quickly surrendered by put up both his hands:"Alright, alright. No jokes. "

"Today you're going to get this deal, right? On the west side? " Martin tapped the paper that he organized.

"Yes, The Boss wants to make sure this is a successful deal after Allister. " Kevin finished his cigarette and threw it into the tray.

"Haha that fool Allister, he thought he could fight that next-in Boss title with you! The current boss son!" His baby brother is always the biggest supporter.

"We both know The Boss does not care about the familial ties. However you are right, Allister is a fool himself to even think that he can rival me. " Kevin has his confidence in his job, he will not have a clown to overthrow him, especially not Allister.

"You will come with me, it is time you know how to get a deal done. " Kevin and his brother are only 3 years apart, but at the age of 24, Kevin has seen much more than Martin does or his average age man does.

"Great! I'll not let you down!" Martin is eager to prove himself worthy in the family, but most importantly, he wants to impress his elder brother.

Kevin took care of him after their mother died when he was only 4, after that he was basically raised by Kevin. He idolizes his brother and he will be his best right-hand man.

Kevin nodded and looked out the window. The sun is almost set, which means the NYPD officers are having the next shift soon.

It is Police Academy graduate season and this shift is most likely some new rookie cop. And that's good.

He will have this deal done in no time. The rookie cops are nothing to him.

If only he knew better.

***

"Hey! You are in charge of the east side, now go!" Raymond Holt is a fresh graduate from the police academy in Brooklyn, and he just being appointed as a police officer in Precinct 37. His new precinct is, unfortunately a all-whitey environment and he just became the sore thumb in there.

The sergeant who was in charge of him does not like him, he can immediately tell. Whether it is because of his skin colour, well isn't that obvious enough.

And so Raymond took this as an opportunity, as he wandered himself into the east side, alone, without a partner. Usually a beat cop had a partner, he watched as his other new white colleague walked into other direction with their partner, but Sergeant Nicholson did not assign him any.

One day, he will prove to these people, that he can be the best detective in Brooklyn area. Raymond thought as he balled his fist and turned his head away.

A normal beat cop routine last around 6 hours a shift, Raymond looked at his watch, there was 2 hours left. This area is a heavy industry area consist of a lot of huge factories, which makes this place less than lively after normal working hours.

He walked pretty far from where they have started, he is not even sure is this area is still within the routine but he just keeps going in this dark place with his flashlight only.

The night wind blew on his face and he embraced the chill like a cool guy, he doesn't afraid of the cold, when he looks at the horizon of the dark, he felt weirdly at ease. The place was quiet with some birds chirping and bugs singing, Raymond closed his eyes for a while to enjoy the feeling.

Until something blew up not far away.

Raymond snapped his eyes opened and ran to the direction of the sound while ready his gun, there are smoke flew around the places as he ran a couple more blocks of building.

"NYPD! Stop what you are doing right now! " Raymond pointed his gun at the first thing he found when he makes the turn, surprisingly there was no one in here, the ground had some mini explosives left but there was no actual person here.

He walked a few steps towards the explosives, makes sure it will not have a second blow up then he follows the trails to another building.

It is an old industrial plant area and there was a lot of old warehouse and trailer left around, he looks around with his gun still on point while exploring. The possibilities of getting a case right on his first week of beat cop routine had ignites his passion and fire underneath his skin. He wanted something to prove himself, he wanted something to do, something big and enough.

And this could be it. It very much could be a drug deal went wrong or local gang fight, and he was looking forward to solve it.

After what felt like a century but it was 10 minutes later, Raymond finally caught some noises in the field. There were a few guys talking, he sneaked himself behind a trailer and try his best to listen.

"What the fuck, where are the brothers?! " A man with a low scruffy noise yelled.

"They ran with the stock, I couldn't track them! You know how sneaky they are! " Another guy with a higher voice exclaimed in panic.

"I told you don't look down on them, those two had been in this business fucking longer than you all! " This is the same guy as the first one talking.

"Fuck, if Boss knew this we are dead! Go and find them! " With the order given, the groups - from the sound of the footsteps is likely about 4 people split themselves to find their target.

Raymond was lucky that his hiding spot was not one of the directions they are going, he pulls himself up to the trailer roof slowly and so he can view the field better after all of them are gone.

He already knows what this is, this is definitely a drug deal went wrong, the brothers are likely the buyer, maybe they do not want to pay the money and create the explosions as a distraction to steal away the 'stock'. From the conversation they are likely older and experienced in this field, so maybe he needs to look for man who looks like 30-40 years above...

Raymond took out his binoculars searching the area, and within his eyesight... Aha! There is another man hiding behind another trailer, not far from him.

He went down the trailer and slowly sneaking on the man, he almost certain he is one of the brothers since he is hiding, probably from that group of people. If he can catch him, it was enough for this case.

There he is, he can see his shadow standing behind the trailer, he is very close... very close now.

"NYPD! Put up your hand! " Raymond jumps out and pointed his gun at the man. The man seems startled and put up his hand upon orders, likely surrenders.

Raymond looked at the man, and he was drawn to the pale blue ocean. They looked at each other for a couple second, and it already felt like a decade for him. The man that he caught on... is young, look like a student in fact. He is wearing an old-style glass which could not even hide his beautiful azure eyes. He wears a simple brown sweater vest with a white shirt and black pants, with a book on his hand Raymond can almost certain he is a college student, maybe even in Arts or History major.

"Umm... Officer? " The young man opens his mouth and talk, and it was the smoothest butter-like voice Raymond had ever heard, for a split second he even imagine he use that voice in the class, teaching.

But the voice has also brought him back into the reality rather than drown himself into the beauty of this man. Raymond Holt knew he himself was attracted to his own gender even before the Police Academy, and he also knows himself have a type.

And this man... is perfect.

"Khm... " He swallowed to try not to humiliate himself, the man seems harmless, but he could not let his gun go yet, not before he questioned him.

"Who are you? Why are you at here in this hour? " He tries to make his voice sound authoritative.

"Sorry Officer, I am Kevin Cozner, I just came here to walk and enjoy the view of the old industrial plant. " Cozner passing his ID to him and show him a sketchbook on his hand, from the look on it he was drawing the trailer cars.

"Oh, do you hear the explosions just now? You should leave here, immediately. " Raymond did not suspect anymore - he is a newbie cop after all. He gave back his ID, his heart flutter a little at the touch of his slender finger when he takes back his card.

"Good heavens! I did not hear any explosions; I was wearing the earphone all the time. " Cozner... Kevin - Raymond allow himself to call the young man's first name in his mind - show the earphone that was hanging on his neck.

"Okay, anyway you should not stay here. It is too dangerous, you are a student I guess? " Raymond finally put his gun away, he is letting his guard down too soon, he knows, but somehow his wants to do that. He wants to show this man that he is harmless, too.

"Yes, I am a Classics major from Columbia. " Kevin smiled at him when he replies. A classics major, huh. Raymond can't believe that this guy is basically dancing on his strike zone. And that smile, if it were not now, just by looking at him Raymond would definitely ask him out.

"Okay, I will escort you out of here. Come, follow me. " Raymond force himself to compose and begin his duty as to protect the citizen from the violence crime that is happening in here right now.

And he could not deny that the fact that he is able to protect this pretty boy makes his heart stomped a bit.

Raymond turned himself around and wave his hand to let Kevin follows him, in the meantime he pulled up his gun again.

Right now he was cautious and alerted, he carefully checks the surroundings before he took his first step, but he also is excited, for this is his first mission. And so maybe this is why he missed the sudden and quick expression change from Kevin's face when he saw the gun again.

"Are you ready? " Raymond turned his head to make sure that Kevin is following, Kevin tucked the sketchbook under his arm, lower his body and smiled at him again.

"Yes, I am ready, Officer. "

Somehow Raymond felt that 'Officer' was a little emphasized, but he pays no attention to that. Maybe it is Kevin that showing respect to a police officer.

And so, he took the first step out.

Chapter Text

Kevin somehow knew this was not going to be one smooth deal.

The moment he step out of his car and walk towards the industrial zone, he had a hunch that something is not right. It was a chilly night, but the way the wind crawled on his skin made him feel uncomfortable.

He gazed at Martin, who was walking right beside him with some jumpy steps that clearly shows that he is very excited about the following deals. There was still some distance from the zone, so he still feel somewhat relaxed.

Kevin knew Martin is borderline idolized him and he wants to impress him, and he secretly feels proud of him. His baby brother had grown up, from the crybaby that always asked him where mommy is, to an upright man that is going to be his right-hand man in this cruel world.

"Martin, walk steadily. " However, he still has a lot to learn.

Martin instantly slows down his pace and adjusts his posture to walk, Kevin at one point is satisfied that his brother still listens to him, but he still has to teach him. Despite he does not want to think about it yet, one day, when he was not around, he hopes that Martin can take over things.

"Do not show any emotion during the deal, the moment that you show emotion to these people, they will get the upper hand and start pushing for things that should not happen. " Kevin does not like to be emotional, showing emotion had been doing more harm than good in his experience. He is glad that Martin can keep his innocence throughout the years of being in a crime organization, he had seen much much worse things that it still happens in his nightmare.

"Under any occasion do not show to people that we are brothers. We should act as if we are for business only. " He gave some personal ground rules to his brother before they reach the destination.

They arrived at the agreed point earlier, it is 5 more minutes to 10 pm, the area is quiet, and they are somewhat very deep into the industrial zone. In front of him is an old building that used to be a clothing factory, the rusted iron plate that marked the name of the factory is only clinging to the building, likely to drop anytime soon. This is a place where not even the beat cop will come, so Kevin is not worried about that at all.

Even so, he did come prepared. He had a small bag full of 'normal' people stuff that he carries anywhere he goes, with little supplementary items, Kevin knows he can get any way he wants with his looks.

And yes he very much knows how he resembles a normal college student who studied in arts, not that he purposefully dressed like one but he likes his choice of clothing.

Kevin gave another look at his watch, 2 more minutes. The unsettling feelings had grown larger in his mind, he better brace himself for anything to happen onwards.

And things do happen. Yes. Nothing was too easy in his life, Kevin decided so when he saw the explosives.

When things don’t look right, which means the man from the dealing side doesn't seem to want to pay the amount that they agreed upon. They did not pull out a gun in fact, consider good luck on Kevin's side.

He gave Martin the signal to split when he saw the explosives, Martin got his job to divert the attention, and so he does it perfectly. When the man chased after him, Kevin took the chance and sneaked away with the stock in his hand.

When he finished stashing his stock, he found that he was deep into the trailer zone, where a lot of old and unfunctional trailers and lorry cars has been abandoned. He was going to leave the area when he heard someone's footsteps.

Unfamiliar footsteps, do not belong to any of the 2 large men that he just saw a few moments ago, the footstep belongs to someone even slender, and just who will show up at this hour in here?

Kevin knew the answer as long as he spotted the blues of the uniform.

Ah, an NYPD officer. This is not their patrol line, must be the newbie that went too far and too deep in the area. He will not be able to get away without getting this cop's notice.

Maybe... He thought as he listens to the officer’s footsteps, he is checking the residual explosives. Maybe he can get away with it anyway, he thought while he pulled out a sketchbook as he lies on his back against a trailer car.

To be honest, he never brought himself into this before, he never had to pretend to be someone else despite constantly preparing himself for it, he always does things perfectly before they become a disaster. But this time... maybe he did underestimate Allister after all.

Kevin quickly outlined the trailer opposites of the one that he's leaning onto, he's a skilled artist after all. Apart from the crime gang life, he did have his fair share of hobbies across the year which is more... normal.

He hears the man climbs up on one of the trailers, he knows he must have seen him. Now he just has to wait for his fish to be baited.

***

This is going even smoother than he thought. Kevin think when he follows the beat cop that found him, mistook him as a college student - just as he predicted, then offer to escort him out of this 'danger zone'.

He is kinda cute, the officer he meant. How he flustered upon seeing him, how his fingers lingered a bit when he returns him the ID card, how his face changed when he realised he had to protect him.

The cop is not exactly hiding away his emotion and thoughts, Kevin already know more than he wanted to within the minutes that he met him. He started observing people since he was 7, no newbie beat cop was able to hide in front of him.

He walked carefully in front of him occasionally turning back his head to check on him, he is a good cop, he'll give him that.

However, by the looks of his crouching and walking and the hesitation pause at the junction, this cute officer doesn't actually know the path of leaving this 'danger zone'. And for what he is, Kevin had to voice out and play with him.

"Officer, are you sure this is the right way? " After another junction turn which took Raymond 10 seconds to decide, Kevin started to question. The route that Raymond took is a longer way to the exit but essentially is the right direction, but Kevin wants to have a little fun.

The cop was startled and hastily reply: "Umm... Yes, I think so, I came by this way. " His voice had underlying hesitation like he is not even sure what he is saying, but soon something - Kevin doesn't know what it is, yet - boost his confidence and his next sentence becomes firmer when he said it while facing him: "No worries, Mr Cozner. I will stick to my words and let you get out of here. "

It seems that the pure thought of protecting him had given the officer a boost. Kevin smiled innocently and look up at the man while still crouching: "Thank you, Officer Holt. " - He already knew his last name from the name tag.

The officer grinned largely, as if Kevin’s reply had greatly entertained him. He then extended his hand, eyes looking elsewhere when he proposed: "Umm… Just for the sake of sticking together, do you mind holding my hand while I guide you out?"

Interesting suggestion, and by the looks of the redness on his darker skin tone, this is certainly not standard procedure practiced in the NYPD.

Kevin looked at the hand, it is big - probably bigger than his own hands and the fingers are broad with perfectly trimmed fingernails. He found himself wanting to hold that hand.

And so he did. The larger hand had perfectly wrapped his hand inside, it is dry and surprisingly hot at this time of the night. Officer Holt turned around and resume his route again, but he keep his one hand on him, and by the looks of his face had given a pointer to Kevin. If he does not know now he will be an ignorant idiot to all.

Officer Holt had a crush on him.

Across the 24 years of his life, Kevin met countless women that will throw themselves at him - for his position in the crime business, but none of them sparked his interest. And now... a little police officer was fussing around him and he felt... intrigued.

He squirmed his eyes while continuing to follow Officer Holt, eyeing down his body. He had a broad back, and a strong and straight posture, his uniform fit him perfectly and he can see the muscles on his arms. And the way he talks to him, the way his cheeks redden on his darker skin tone, the way his hands constantly guard him, the way his chestnut brown eyes look at him.

Kevin closed his eyes and feels like wants to groan.

... Maybe he is really into males after all, as Martin often said.

After what felt like a decade had passed, they finally saw the exit to the industrial zone. Kevin is amazed at how Raymond seems to avert his route to avoid all the difficult routes, dead-end routes and criminal-filled routes, as he is fairly sure Allister and his men are still looking for him. Looks like this cop still got a few things up his sleeves.

But peace does not last long, and indeed it does not have a happy ending, as Kevin knew when they nearly made it to the exit, he heard a few voices in front of them and he recognized some of them. It was Allister and his men. No Martin in the sight, looks like he successfully ran away from them.

Officer Holt halted his movement and crouched down while guiding Kevin to do the same. He listens to the conversation carefully while preparing himself for the battle ahead. He is a man that does not shy away from action, and Kevin likes that. But he could not let Allister or his men see him with a cop, that would certainly spoil his reputation among the family and likely cause unnecessary hassle. And Kevin would like to avoid that.

But it is such a shame that they have to part here, Kevin looked at their joined hands, he kind of do not want to let go but he had his job to do. He can already see the NYPD police car from this distance, now he will not have to board the car and direct police into his house, wouldn’t he?

Kevin sigh in his mind and was ready to loosen up his hands while whispering: "Officer Holt, I don’t think this is the place to… hold hands anymore. "

He looks startled when he realized that he is still holding his hand like he had forgotten where his right hand is all these times, and then he let go of his hand completely while mumbling sorry in his mouth.

A couple of moments later, he seems to calm himself down. He speaks softly to him like he was some frightened animal: "They have three people in front. I could not confront them as they might possess weapons. It is best we sneaked around them to the exit. Is it okay? "

Kevin almost want to laugh at this naive plan, sneaking away from three experienced hunters? He doesn’t think so, but then again he would not voice them out, he is still an innocent college student after all. So he just nodded to follow along.

Just as he thought when he slowly followed the cop in front to change their routes, ten seconds later a loud voice exclaimed across them: "Someone is here! "

The officer jolted and quickly shove him into a shadowed corner while whispering hastily: "Please stay here, and do not come out whatever you see or hear, run away when you can. "

He did not even wait for his response before he pulled up his gun and ran in another direction.

Kevin’s heart was stomping when he got shoved into the corner, he is not afraid nor excited about the actions but he did not expect that the cop will do this.

When he hears the running sound and he was thinking of sneaking away just like that. He was not going to risk himself to save the stupid cop who confronted three criminals at once.

But he looks down at his hand, the warmth of another hand still lingering on it, is he really going to let that hand be cold? When he told him to stay here and sneaks when he can, he looks determined and even honoured. Kevin did not want to admit it but he actually thinks he is… very cool.

Kevin sighed, even louder this time as he heard a loud voice exclaiming not far from him: "NYPD! Put up your hands! " The gentle and soft voice just now becomes stern and authoritative.

He must be insane. When he pulled out a firearm with a silencer installed from the secret stash that he carries on him all the time - he will not come unprepared - he thought to himself.

Only this time. And it is for the sake of saving that handsome, gentle, cool police officer, nothing else. He will not see him afterwards anyway, and he only does this because he will feel remorse if he let him die. Oh since when did Kevin Cozner become soft?!

He take down his glasses and with his eyes showing sharp and focus, Kevin loaded his gun and slowly walk towards the sound.

Chapter Text

I am going to die here - is what Raymond thought when he faced three men, two of whom were pointing their guns at him.

He thought of his mother, and his sister, and weirdly thought of the man he just met, and their joined hands a few moments ago. Honestly, it has been a while since Raymond has been interested in a potential romantic partner. Not after he ended up his last relationship badly and sourly, with Frederick. He thought of completely giving up a relationship, no one will understand him, and he will be just fine by himself.

But he does not know what is going on with himself when he meets Kevin. His smile, his squirmed blue eyes when he smiles, his colder and smaller hand, and even his beige sweater vest had triggered something in him. Raymond never believes in love at a first sight, and perhaps this is not it as well, he merely had a great interest to know more about Kevin. And from the response he gets, Kevin is likely in the same field as him.

Though he was going to die here and that will never happen, he will never get to know the cute young college student he just met, he will never know what he likes about classics, will he like classical music as well? Or puzzle? Or model train? Will they ever go to a museum on a date?

He stopped the swirling thoughts while the punks are still pointing their gun and speaking about something that he did not care about, he had sweat on his face and he was trying to pay full attention to try to fire his gun first before they do. This is not his first time pulling the trigger but it is his to pull at a man, a real man not a fake target.

The tension had risen because both parties refused to put down their guns, and something happened.

A bullet seems to come out of nowhere and landed at one of the guys, causing him to drop his gun and scream out of pain. The other man quickly holds onto his friend and the one that remained shouted at Raymond thinking it was him who pulled the trigger.

"Fucking cop he shoots Al!" In a lightning second, all Raymond does under the pressure is pull the trigger as well. He tries to aim for the lower body to throw off the balance first, and he did it. He shoots the lower leg of the man and he too falls like his friend. It was an adrenaline rush shot and Raymond’s heart was speeding, he shouts something at the man that he did not even know what it is.

He tries to pull out the handcuff from his back and at that moment the only uninjured man had to aim at him with his gun, it was too fast for Raymond to react.

Then he hears two shots fired nearly at the same time and his world explodes with a burning sensation.

Amid the pain, he heard the other man’s scream, so maybe the first gunman helped him, he do not know who it is but he thinks he should thank him. Maybe if he did not die from this pain. After some moment someone put pressure on his wounds causing him to wince and moan a little bit, and he thought he was dreaming.

Because he hears Kevin again. Kevin’s beautiful voice, tells him to hang on a bit, and that he will call help.

Raymond nearly snorted at his own ridiculous imagination, Kevin should leave here by now, it is not possible that he is still here. Even if he is, he will be disappointed in himself for getting taken down. If not for the first gunman, he could never pull that trigger, he is an incompetent police officer, not the hero that he thought he will be. It is best for Kevin to leave here, he does not want to let him see who he really is.

Another pressure was pressing on his wounds and he was feeling light and dizzy, likely falling into sleep. The imagined Kevin’s voice still continues, saying something like help is on the way. He even can see Kevin blurrily, he did not have his glasses on and his pretty blue eyes are looking at him, making his heart jumps a little. If this is a dream, then it seems pretty good for having Kevin in his last dream.

He falls into the dark while feeling the warmth wrapped around his hand.

***

Kevin cannot believe what he was doing right now.

A well-known underground man like him, helping a cop now? He even just made his first call to the police station, a police station! And now what is he doing? He is trying to get the blood flow stopped from the cop’s abdomen by wrapping his jacket around it like he doesn’t have a better piece of cloth.

"Zzz…" His phone buzzed in his pocket but he did not bother to look at it. He is paying attention to preventing this little officer dies on him. "Hang in there, Officer Holt. " He said. "The help is on the way. " He said.

It was not long until he heard a vague ambulance sound, maybe even the other cops are nearby. He could not stay here any longer.

Kevin makes sure the wrap on his waist is alright and then looks at him one last time before he turns around and disappears in the dark.

"Goodbye, Officer Holt. " He does not know if that was their only encounter, but somehow he hopes they will meet again in the future, maybe in an even more peaceful situation.

As for the other three guys - two of them are shot by him, and he pays zero attention to them after making sure they are fainted and will not see what he is doing to that cop.

He fishes out the phone from his pocket, it was a message from Martin.

'stocks r in m clear' He reads the message and sighs. He does not appreciate these meaningless abbreviations that Martin was so fond of. But he was proud of him today, Martin manages to escape from Allister’s man and successfully return the stocks without causing any further correlation damage, either to him or to the stock.

As for Allister… The boss will be hearing about this first thing tomorrow. Kevin is no snitcher, but Allister deserves a lesson and destroying the boss’s confidence in him is the first step. Kevin will make him regret ever picking him to mess up with. As a man who grew up in a crime family, he really does not like violence if possible, he is more of a brain guy after all.

Kevin chuckled at his own juvenile use of words, then started tapping on his phone to reply: Good job. I will be back in 30 minutes.

This means after 30 minutes Martin is to be expected in his room, then they can talk about today and Martin will tell him how he manages to sneak away and carry back the stock. He is interested in the details and as a payback, he will tell him about what he will do to Allister.

As for a certain handsome black cop…

Maybe he will leave it as it is for now.

***

Raymond woke up and see a white ceiling, judging by the antiseptic that he smells, he is in the hospital. He is relieved by the fact that he is still alive, but then he is confused. How did he even get here? Who found him?

His heart skips a beat when he thinks of a certain possibility, but he brushes it off for now because he can see Debbie is sleeping by his side. It seems like he had worried his family, this was not his intention when he joined the force.

His stir was soon detected by Debbie because she essentially jumps from her sleep and yelled immediately when she saw Raymond: "Raymond! You worried us to death!!! " Typical dramatic Debbie.

"Debbie, this is the hospital. " Oh no, his mum, the honourable judge is here as well.

"Oops! Sorry! Sorry! " Debbie significantly lower her voice, and that is when Raymond started talking: "What happened...? " His brain is still in the state of mushy and he likes to clear that off.

"We have been told that you got involved in a drug trafficking case when you are in your routine and therefore, you have gunshot wounds on your abdomen as a result of interfering. " The honourable judge sounds calm but Raymond knew his mother has been worried about him as well.

"Yes, that is what happened. I am sorry for keeping you worried. " Raymond was feeling guilty, he was supposed to protect his family and this is only his first week.

"Oh please do not fret over this. We are glad that you are fine now. " His mother and Debbie both look each other in the eye before she replied, sometimes Raymond does not understand what the woman in his household thinks.

But there are still so many doubts and questions. For example, "Did someone find me? How do they know I am there? " It was passing midnight by the time he confronted those men, there is no way anyone will know he is there unless the punk themselves call the police, but it is impossible.

"Hmm, I do not have much information about this. But whoever calls the police is likely the one that leaves you this jacket. They were found on you, tighten on your wounds and even the doctor praised on the professional handling of the knot. " To Raymond's left he saw a beige jacket, which is a piece of clothing that he is not familiar with.

"So he is not with the NYPD? " Despite not knowing it, Raymond had a deja-vu feeling with the jacket.

"No, your colleague told me that whoever they are, they call through your phone and were nowhere to be seen by the time they arrived at the scene. " The honourable judge is understandably sceptical, but whoever they are, they saved their son and she is grateful for it.

"Isn't it strange? I mean, normally people will stay until the police come right? " Debbie visibly toned down her voice.

"Perhaps they do not want to get involved in this case. The civilian is not supposed to be there at this time anyway. " The slight hesitation in Raymond's voice was subtle, but the honourable judge catches it.

"Do you know who it is? "

Raymond does not know for sure, but he had a hunch, and his hunch is usually right. The voice that he heard when he thought it was dreaming... It might not be a dream after all. Kevin might do help him, but after he told him to run away, he still came and helped. It was a stupid action but he did save him. He did save him.

In that split second, in that sudden, he just really, really wants to see Kevin again. He wants to thank him, he wants to be close to him, and he wants to know more about him.

"It was just a speculation. Nothing to be proven of. Please drop this. " Raymond regains his composure and decides not to tell anyone about his little crush first. It was probably nothing, he once felt that way about his ex-boyfriend anyway, and that did not turn out well. How can he not learn his lesson?

Still, he would like to return his jacket, and maybe ask him out for a dinner as a token of appreciation. He wonders about the chance of meeting Kevin again, perhaps he should take the routine route around the Columbia University.

His mother and Debbie left after a while to get their lunch, leaving Raymond all by himself in his ward. He looks at the jacket again, it was being washed so his blood will not stain it.

One day. Raymond thought secretly when he shifts his gaze back from the jacket to his lunch.

One day I will find him again.

Chapter Text

Hey, guys it's been a while since the last chapter and I apologize that this is not an update but rather news.

This fic will be on hiatus for a while and no date for me to guarantee, my laptop broke and all my fics are gone including this one that I'm writing and at least two new chapters are gone.
I'm broke to replace a new laptop as of now and recently life has been tough and I will need to focus on real life first ><
I will probably write some one-shot as some comfort hobby but probably not this one because this takes more effort for me to write.

That is all with my announcement, I wish everyone luck in your life :D See you in the near future!