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Inference sighs, propping up his head with one hand as he flips through the papers in front of him. This case has been… very time-consuming, to say the least. They have virtually no leads, but there are several suspects based on vague witness reports. He taps the tip of his pen against the files, making quick notes about each of the suspects based on the information he’s been able to gather about them. His task would certainly be a lot easier if not for a certain someone distracting him every time he looks up.
He’s sure that Ronald is acutely aware of what he’s doing; he’s likely planned it all. And who is Inference to ignore him? The detective sighs again, glancing up from his papers as he watches Ronald fussing with something a bit too loudly in the corner of the office, humming under his breath. The actor isn’t dressed in garishly expensive fabrics for once; the simple white button-down and black trousers almost give Inference a domestic feeling. And then he feels silly for thinking that way, but how is he supposed to ignore the strange flicker it lights inside of him? He forces himself to look back down at the files spread in front of him, though, because this case isn’t going to solve itself.
It feels like it’s only been ten minutes- and it likely hasn’t actually been much longer- when Inference glances up once more at the sound of a familiar crackle a second before music begins to fill the room from the dusty record player he’s nearly forgotten about. He raises a brow inquisitively, tapping the end of his pen lightly against his lips as Ronald approaches him.
"May I have this dance, detective?" The actor offers his hand with a deep bow, gleam bright within his eye.
Despite himself, Inference shakes his head, biting back the smile that finally threatens to crawl up the edges of his lips as he takes a puff from his pipe. "You're ridiculous," he says, the fondness of his tone betraying the halfhearted bite of his words.
Ronald sits down on the edge of Inference's desk, barely avoiding knocking over a tower of papers piled there precariously. He picks them up and sets them aside on a different part of the table, ignoring the look Inference sends him as he answers. "Is that a yes?"
"Is it?" Inference responds, dodging the question and aiming it right back at the actor skillfully. He is ever the image of the perfect detective. The only thing that betrays his cool facade is the glint of his own eyes as he exhales a cloud of smoke, placing his pen down neatly on the desk.
Ronald accepts the challenge readily, leaning over until his face is inches from Inference's. "I asked you first," he quips. His breath fans gently across Inference's face, warm and sweet and infuriatingly teasing. After a moment of contemplation, Inference simply leans in to close the gap between them, but Ronald moves back slightly at the last moment, and the detective turns an accusatory stare upon him.
Ronald laughs, sliding off of Inference's desk to stand. "I'll let you kiss me if you dance with me first," he offers, in a way that he must think is quite generous. Inference isn't having it; he stands as well, placing his pen down at last along with his pipe. "I'll dance with you after," he counters. "That's as good a deal as you'll get."
Ronald, however, isn't one to be out-bargained. He leans down to press a kiss to Inference's cheek before standing back with a grin. "Alright, I kissed you. Now you have to dance with me."
Inference's glare turns even more sour than before. "You cheated," he accuses, in a tone reminiscent of a moody five-year-old's.
"Me?" Ronald places a hand to his chest in mock offense. "You wound me, really. I'll have you know I'm not a cheater in any sense of the word. In fact, you must be the cheater, since you clearly don't intend to follow up with your end of our deal." He sighs, shaking his head in a display of false disappointment. "Who would've thought? The great Detective Inference..."
Inference finally decides it's time to take the reins of the situation once more. He reaches out to snatch Ronald's hand in his own before laying his other hand on the actor's waist, spinning him out to the center of the room in an unsteady circle. Ronald yelps in surprise at the sudden action, hand flying up to grip Inference's shoulder on instinct. "I wasn't ready!" he complains even as he laughs, teeth flashing brightly. It's a genuine smile, something reserved for Inference's eyes only- and something the detective simply values all the more because of it.
Inference twirls Ronald, stepping back. “Now you're complaining?" he asks with a poorly fabricated attempt at appearing miffed, though there's no true bite in his words.
Ronald steals the lead position with a smooth transition, dipping Inference down in the same motion. "No; how could I complain when I have someone so pretty in my arms?" he answers without hesitation. It's obviously something that he's rehearsed; Inference knows that while Ronald of Ness is smooth as can be, Norton Campbell is anything but. Still, he feels a flush crawl up his cheeks at the words and does his best to hide it with a quick glance to the side.
Ronald smirks, and Inference knows he's been seen through anyway as the actor dips him down. Their faces are barely an inch apart, and Inference can feel Ronald's breath against his lips, torturously close and teasing.
"Norton" he says, exasperation filtering through his tone once more.
"Hmm?" Ronald pulls back as he hums in response, leading Inference into a simple box step.
Inference simply glares, causing Ronald to giggle like he's a goddamned schoolgirl. "You shouldn't frown so much," the actor points out. "Your face will get stuck like that. Er... more than it already is, I mean," he adds, just as a quick afterthought.
"But I thought you said I'm pretty? Just how I am?" Inference reminds him with a crook of his brow. He only brings it back up to tease Ronald; he's successful at that, at least, and the taller clears his throat, lashes lowering over the amber of his eye as he glances over to the side.
"Well... you are," he says at last, twirling Inference around again- likely so that the detective (very conveniently) won't be able to see his face as he speaks.
Inference tilts his head back against Ronald's shoulder, feeling the steady rise and fall of the actor's chest at his back. "Really now? Then say it again, to my face," he challenges, an oddly nostalgic feeling of boldness rising within his gut.
"I said it to your face! Earlier." Though Inference can't see Ronald's face, he can hear the pout in the other's voice. He spins himself back around, looping his arms around Ronald's neck and tugging the actor down to eye level. Ronald goes easily, ever pliant under his hands. Only for Inference.
The song ends, but neither of them even notice, too caught up in the unspoken buzz between them. "Naib..." Ronald- no, Norton- starts to say, but Naib shuts him up efficiently with a kiss, finally claiming the actor's lips with his own. Norton makes a muffled sound of surprise against his mouth before melting into him, returning the gesture eagerly. Naib reaches up, wrapping his fingers tight around the fabric of Norton's slightly open collar and pulling him down further. Norton releases a small sound that Naib swallows eagerly as he pulls the actor forwards until their bodies are flush against each other.
When they finally part for breath, both panting and somewhat red-faced, Norton reaches up to lace his fingers with Naib's, still wrapped around his now- rumpled collar. Naib feels the familiar texture of scarred flesh sliding against his own as he gently releases Norton's shirt. He keeps his hand right there, lingering over the other's collarbone, hesitant to move lest he disturb the quiet atmosphere between them. The sensation of the actor's damaged skin would, perhaps, be enough to disturb some weaker-minded individuals, those who believed they could distinguish character by looks alone. But as Naib lifts his eyes to Norton's face, he sees nothing but allure.
He realizes Norton is staring back at him, a bit too intensely; he wonders if his hair is in his face, and moves his free hand up in a self-conscious attempt to sweep over his cheeks and forehead. Norton stops him in his tracks, taking his hand in his own and holding it tentatively. His eye searches the detective's features for a second more; then, as if it takes a lot out of him to say it, he quickly blurts, "You're… beautiful ." As soon as he says the words, he shuts his mouth quickly, as if he's an innocent boy confessing.
Naib had forgotten the teasing request he'd made, and so the words take him off guard at first; then, once he recovers, he can't hold back the chuckle rising in his throat. Norton eyes him like a wounded cat, but that only makes him laugh harder, feeling tears form in his eyes. It isn't even that funny, but even Norton's presence makes him feel strange in a good way that he hasn't for years, and he can't hold back. When he finally manages to calm down, he pats a rather alarmed-looking Norton on the shoulder to reassure him. "Thank you. So are you."
The corners of Norton's mouth rise slightly, softly, in a smile reserved for Naib's eyes only. He sweeps the detective back into his arms, pressing a kiss to his cheek and then to the top of his head. He pauses, as if he wants to say something but isn't sure if it's the right thing to say right now. Then he mutters a swift "Love you," into Naib's hair.
Naib hums. "Love you too," he answers. The words come easier to his lips now, after a long time of becoming accustomed to them. Once, Naib would not have spoken such sentiments aloud so easily, but now he's come to realize there's no point in withholding them. After all, Norton already knows how deep Naib's devotion to him runs. Paperwork forgotten, the detective begins to feel drowsy, clasped safely in Norton's arms. Perhaps he's been overworking himself a bit too much...
When he doesn't respond, Norton glances down to check on him, only to find that he's completely passed out against him. The actor sighs with a shake of his head, reaching down to scoop the other into a bridal carry. He supposes this has at least been one way of forcing Naib to get some much-needed rest.