Work Text:
Case 427, the biggest case in history, well in history for the Narrator after all his days as a detective. It wasn't murder or anything that drastic. No, it was more like robbery and prize stuff being stolen.
But to him, it was all the same as he step out of his car and lit a cigarette. In his head jazz was constantly playing and everything was a simple back and white. It was just another robbery that will lead them nowhere. This guy that they're tracking was slick and clever to not leave evidence. So much so they don't even know what he looks like.
So they have just been calling them 427. Just like the case file.
Mariella, a co-worker walked up to him and proceeded to walk with him to the scene of the crime.
"So what do we get?" The narrator asked as he puff on his cigarette.
"Oh just same oh, same oh. He snuck in, a guard was asleep, stole something, and disarmed the alarms. Blah blah blah. No one got hurt and another load of money was stolen. At this point, he's just another pain in the neck. I mean what's next he steals the crown jewelers?" She stated.
"He?"
"It's better than it. And who knows maybe get you a man that's a criminal."
"I am happily married, Mariella." He argued as they step inside the place to take a look around anyways.
Though it would be a miracle to get any clues on it.
"You don't seem very happy otherwise you wouldn't be living at the station the past week." She stated. "You know you do start to smell after a while and it's not good for you." She then added.
"Can we not do this here? We're at work."
"You know it's the same thing, we're going to find nothing and we'll have to report back to your so-called sister and then she gets mad which makes you mad and it pushes you to work harder but at this point is it worth it?"
"That's what he wants us to think so he can win and we're not going to let that happen. So please just do your job for god sake." He huffs before walking away from her.
Though like the clock work Detective Narrator finds nothing, he reports back, his sister and he get into an argument about this and that before he sulks at his desk to try and cool off. Then probably sneak booze into his mouth that's in his desk drawers. Before looking at the case file trying to find anything that might be a single clue on what they were dealing with.
All they know is he's smart and slick. Goes in and goes out like no problem. Like the wind. Hopefully, this guy slip up soon.
Just then his phone rings and he answers it.
"Hello?"
"Hey, it's me. I saw you're not home so, thought I call."
"Stanley I don't have time for this I got to get back to work." Narrator stated.
"Wait don't just-" Stanley gets cut off as the other hangs up the phone.
Leaving him in this little state of disappointment. If you would have told him that he would get ignored by his husband when he meet him he would of laugh in your face. After all, it was good. Their dates, their little dances they do at home. Their nightly cuddles. Movies nights and the fact they would shower each other with food and gifts.
But now, it was bitter, to say the least. The narrator has been becoming a workaholic at work for the past half a year and leaving no room for Stanley.
It's not like Stanley hasn't tried, he knows he tries but every time he does he just gets pushed away like he's nothing.
Stanley sit there for a few minutes before getting up from bed and go feed Bucket, his Australian shepherd dog he got just to keep the loneliness at bay.
He then looks over at the big bag of cash he just got as that's the only time he seems to get his husband's attention by committing crimes like robbery because at least then he knows the other wants him. And that's probably the most depressing thing about all of this. But it's better than nothing at all.
Slowly but surely he put the money in his little hiding hole where he keeps all the other stuff before going back to bed and surrounding himself with Bucket and a lot of blankets trying to feel at least warm.
He knows that this depression has been keeping him from going to work and he hates that because he's stuck here being the male wife while his husband does amazing things. It was getting better till it wasn't and now if he didn't take the dog in he probably wither away in this bed, and his husband would never even notice.
Bucket makes things a little better since she needs to go outside to use the bathroom and needed walks and food. So that's what's been keeping him going for the last few months.
He doesn't know if he was staring at the darkness for a few hours or if he slept but morning soon came and he gets up to feed the dog. Even let her out to use the bathroom. Letting the sun hit him in the face and just stay calm for a little bit.
Soon he heard the front door being opened and walk back inside to see his darling husband getting excited to see him as it felt like weeks since he had seen him. The Narrator enters their home and gets his coat off as Stanley walked up to him.
"Hey. Welcome home so glad you're back." Stanley greeted him and try to hug him only to be walked passed. "If you want I think we got time for pancakes and such!" He try to brush it off as he suggested something small he can do for him.
Though the Narrator just crashes onto the couch and immediately fell asleep. Leaving the other unsatisfied with how the other treated him. Not even a hello? Or at least a smile. Not even an attempt to match his energy when seeing him.
Stanley frowns as he gets a blanket over the other and sits down near him. Trying to sleep while leaning on the couch as that's the closest he'll be with him this month.
Surprisingly he slept for who knows how long, but the next time he woke it was by Bucket licking his face. He gently pet the dog before seeing his husband was gone from the couch.
He sighs and gets up to take care of Bucket for a bit before heading to his room. Only to see the Narrator getting dressed up with his hair still slightly damp.
For a moment Stanley seems hesitant to speak but when will he ever get a chance like this to try and talk to him?
"Hey..." He muttered and that seems to get the other attention as he turn his head before fixing his shirt a bit.
The narrator turns himself around, letting the silence between them be still for a few seconds before replying. "Hey."
Stanly looks around and leans against the door frame then try to smile. "Man feels like it's been too long since we've been in the same house together."
"Yeah, well I've been busy." The narrator tells him.
"Yeah..." He rubs the back of his neck and lets his smile fall. "I'm sure they can deal without having you for a little bit longer. How about we try having a movie night? Like old time?" He try to suggest though he knew the answer already. "There's this crime movie I thought might be fun. It's about a guy taking gemstones from jewelry. Might be fun." He turns away trying to tempt him into coming to the living room.
"I have to get back to work."
Even though Stanley expected this to happen it still hurts. He paused a bit at the door and close his eyes as he try his hardest to not break down and cry. Letting himself take a deep breath in and a deep breath out. He then opens his eyes with a slight shake of his head before looking back over at his husband. Sighing at him.
"You don't owe anyone anything." He tells him.
"You don't understand I need to do this. Someone has to and I'm not like everyone."
"What?" Stanley shakes his head again. "It doesn't have to be you. Do you think being here is easier? But I deal with it because I love you."
"And I love you-" Narrator gets cut off.
"Then prove it." Stanley gets closer to him. "Stay, just a little bit longer..."
To that Narrator stayed silent for a bit, looking at the ground as if he didn't have the strength to look at his darling husband in the eyes. He wants this world to be a better place for them, and someone has to do it. And it has to be him. But soon he looks at Stanley.
"I can't..." He tells him.
This makes Stanley blink a bit at him as he responds. "So what? I'm just supposed to stay here and wait for you? And just hope you don't get yourself killed? While in this hell hole, we've created ourselves here?"
"It's not a hell hole it's our home."
"You haven't slept in our bed for almost a year now. You still forget we have a dog here. You miss our anniversary. I can't even remember when the last time we went out together. And I have tried to make this work..." His voice breaks a bit as he stops talking for a bit just to ground himself.
The narrator shakes his head as he tries to walk out of the house. He can't do this right now but it only made Stanley try to stop him.
"Hey stop." Stanley went after him and grab him by the face. "Hey..." He gently cups his face trying anything to make him stay just a bit longer. "Hey, come on. We got each other, we got this family. This shouldn't be more important than this right now. Or for god sake your health."
They stand there in silence as Stanley gently runs his thumb against the other cheek. Watching him with glossy eyes as the other was in deep thought. But the Narrator had already made this choice way before and though it pains him to turn his head away from the other it must be done.
Stanley sniffles and pull away from him. Turning his back to him and wipes his eyes a bit as he knew this was just another losing battle he has to deal with. Slowly tried to calm himself as he gulps and clean himself up a bit.
"I can't keep doing this with you...I'm not doing this again and I won't."
"And that's entirely up to you." The Narrator stated as he stand there and seems hesitant to go comfort him but, in the end, went to work again.
Leaving Stanley alone. This sadness he was feeling made him frustrated and he soon started trashing the house and crying to himself till he tired down from it all. Their house was ruined and he felt unloved.
He doesn't know why this keeps happening, he falls in love with someone, giving them his love and all of his heart only to later get it ripped out again. His husband was more interested in work than him. Even before he started committing crimes.
And at the time it was the only way to get his attention.
But he knows he can't keep doing this. He needs a new start. He has half a mind to get in the car and drive till he reaches the end of the road or the car runs out of gas and starts an entirely new life. Because he can't keep doing this anymore. He just can't.
The next few days were hard as he packed everything that can fit in his car, taking Bucket with him as well. He plans on staying in a hotel for a few days till he figures out how to close ties around here.
At the moment he was reading up on the news and saw something that perk his interest. A jewelry exhibit was happening. Sounding like a promising moment to steal all those gems. But if he wants to do this right he'll somehow have to alert the police first to tell him that he's hitting this place. It won't be easy.
But then again nothing he does has been easy.
Meanwhile, the Narrator finally gets home for a bit of rest only to see that the place has been more empty than he liked it to be. But he shrugs it off as Stanley must be doing spring cleaning or something. He tries calling out to him only to get no response. Probably at the park. So he try calling him over the phone, but it went straight to voicemail.
That's when he starts to worry a bit. Some of his stuff was still here so there's no way he left. Right?
It was then he got the call from the station, he couldn't hear well due to all the yelling but he assume it was bad and rushed back over there.
It was a shock to see that someone had broken into the station and filled the wall to-wall of posters with this expensive ring with blue sapphire all around. With spray paint saying 'Next Heist and Finale Heist. Catch me if you can Losers! XD'
The narrator growls as he looks at this display. Fine, if that's how the other wants to play then bring it on.
This took a few days of planning to do but eventually, they were ready as they ever could be. The event was one of those fancy places. Wine and butlers handing out things. With jazz playing in the background. The rich showed off the fancy gems they put on metal. And to add more to this rich place people were wearing party masks.
Meanwhile, Stanley was dressed up like a server keeping a watchful eye on everyone and everything. He probably has one shot at getting this and if he fails well, he'll just have to deal with it. Just one more score and he'll be done for good.
He sneaked into the room while the head guard went to talk to one of the police officers. It was simple chess being one move ahead of the others. Five minutes to take the ring and get far as possible from this place before the alarm goes off and the cops start looking for him.
Unfortunately, five minutes isn't a lot of time to get out with the place crowded the way it was and never mind how big it was. But he stays calm, as long he still looks the part no one should suspect him.
To that, he was half right as the Narrator hear the alarm going off and went by him to go see what was going on. Only to stop mid-track as he thought he saw someone familiar and does a double take.
Stanly assuming he got caught try to disappear into the crowd, which only caused him to get caught more as police were blowing their whistles at him and started chasing him. He quickly threw his tray at one of them hopping to slow them down before getting into the streets. Hearing them firing their guns and even managed to move out of the way in time when the Narrator try to tackle him to the ground. Soon he dashed off into a random building to use to hopefully lose them.
The narrator quickly gets up and huffs as he shakes his head. Running after him into the building. He was breathing heavily as he looks around the place, another packed place he couldn't stand.
"Keep your eyes open he could be anywhere." He spoke on the walkie-talkie before going deeper into the place.
Stanley was grinning to himself as he looks over at the ring, taking it out of his pocket. A little beautiful thing all for him and free of charge. He wasn't paying attention to where he was going and didn't much care till the ring go knocked out of his hand thanks to someone running into him trying to flee from the polices.
He was dazed for a moment before quickly sprinting into action trying to catch the ring, as it bounced in and out of his hands until he finally catches it and stumbled over onto the floor as if in a drunken dazed.
"Freeze dumbass!" Mariella yelled at him.
He quickly shakes his head to not be dazed and slaps down a smoke bomb then dashes off with the ring in hand. Chuckling to himself. He should have done this sooner, it seems so fun confusing them. He soon dashed into a room to use as an escape plan. And to catch his breath. He shut the door behind him and locked it so he had time to open the door and leave.
At least that's what was supposed to happen but it doesn't as he feels a cold barrel of a gun against his head.
"Put your hands where I can see them, 427, "The narrator ordered.
Stanley smirked and slowly raised his hands, slowly turning towards the other. The narrator took a step forward, ready to cuff him, but suddenly Stanley lunged forward and knocked the gun out of his hand. The narrator stumbled back, and Stanley took advantage of the moment to make a run for it.
The narrator chased after him, but Stanley was fast. He made it to the window and kicked it open, the glass shattering as he climbed out onto the fire escape. The narrator followed him outside, but Stanley was already halfway down the ladder.
The narrator knew he couldn't let him get away, not since he had been so close to getting him. He grabbed onto the ladder and began to climb down after him. But as he reached the bottom, Stanley swung around and kicked him in the face, sending him tumbling to the ground.
The narrator was dazed, but he managed to pull himself together just in time to see Stanley grabbing his cuffs and handcuffing him to the nearby pole, taking the keys with him.
"I must admit, this has been fun, but this is the only and last time you'll ever see me and to that, I only have one final gift for you." Stanley toss his wedding ring at him, which the other clumsy catches and almost recognized it.
After all, he spent a month finding the perfect one. But he didn't piece it together.
"You bastard! What did you do to him!" He yelled assuming the other had been killed.
"It doesn't matter. He gone." The other shrugs. "You're never going to see him again." He started to walk away.
This just makes the other piss off as he tries to struggle against the pole, trying to get free from this situation, yelling at the top of his lungs till his voice was raw.
"Come back here you coward! You're going to pay for this, you bastard! I swear if you touch a single hair on his head I'm going rip your spine out and wear it as a necklace! Get back here!"
This just made Stanley smirk as he glance at him. "See you around Detective. Perhaps in a different life." He then disappears into the night.
The Narrator knew he had failed to catch him, and it was a bitter pill to swallow...in more ways than one...