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Detective Javier Esposito had a reputation, mostly among the younger officers and the new detectives at the precinct: he was a good cop, but he was a grumpy asshole who never showed any kind of emotion. That’s what made today the weirdest day the rookies had ever experienced.
***
“So anything new today?” Esposito asked as he entered the precinct and threw his jacket over his chair.
“Good morning to you, too.” Castle said, way too chipper for a rainy Tuesday morning. Esposito growled in response.
“Okay, it’s a day like that, understood.” Castle mumbled.
“Give him some slack, Castle.” Beckett smiled before turning to Esposito. “No, there’s nothing new, only a shitload of paperwork you should start.”
Esposito didn’t answer. He sat down at his desk and looked at the top sheet of the enormous pile.
Termination of undercover operation
Esposito swallowed hard. Who was the lucky cop who could go back to their family and friends now?
He turned the paper around and his eyes widened in shock.
Detective Kevin Ryan
“Beckett?” He asked and he turned around to ask her if this was real. But instead, he was faced with him . Kevin fucking Ryan was sitting on Beckett’s desk; with the same sparkling blue eyes and the same boyish innocent face he remembered.
Esposito froze. This couldn’t be true. He was dreaming.
“Hey, Javi.” Ryan smiled affectionately.
Ryan’s voice made Esposito stand up and walk over to him.
“Kev?”
“Can I get a hug?” Ryan asked.
Esposito didn’t hesitate one moment longer. He wrapped his arms around Ryan’s middle and pulled his as close as humanly possible before starting to cry. Ryan rubbed his back.
“I missed you so much.” Esposito whispered against the skin of Ryan’s neck.
“I know, I know, corazon. I missed you too.”
Esposito broke the hug, but didn’t let his boyfriend go. He looked him in the eyes and kissed his lips softly, like he didn’t really believe he was back yet.
“Don’t ever leave again, I don’t think I could handle it.” Esposito said before pulling Ryan close again.
“I’m back, Javi. For real this time. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be, it was your job. Just… Stay with me forever?”
This time it was Ryan who broke the hug, letting Esposito go completely this time.
“That is exactly what I was hoping for.”
Ryan took a box out of his back pocket and sat down on one knee. Esposito gasped and put his hand in front of his mouth like in those romantic comedies his sisters used to make him watch.
“Javier Esposito. The last year and a half have been the most horrible of my life, not being able to see you, touch you or even hear you. I missed you every single second of every single day.”
Esposito was bawling his eyes out. He knew the entire precinct was watching them, but he couldn’t care less.
“Javi, these past 18 months have only taught me more of what I already knew: I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Javier Esposito, would you do me the honor of becoming my husband?”
“Yes, yes, of course, yes!” Esposito exclaimed, laughing. He accepted the ring with shaking hands before taking Ryan in his arms and kissing him intensely.
“I love you so much, Javier.”
“I love you too, Kevin.”
***
“Well, that was unexpected.” Officer Lang said, more to himself than to someone else.
“Did you know that Esposito could show feelings?” One of his colleagues asked.
“Or even smile?”
“Or fall in love?”
"Or cry?"
“Or be gay?”
Everyone glared at Officer Grady who made the last comment.
“At least he won’t be a grumpy asshole anymore.” Officer Lang said before turning back to work.
And Javier Esposito and Kevin Ryan? They lived happily ever after.