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Kevin Ryan's homosexuality had never been much of a secret. He certainly didn't go around and scream about it, since he was still a NYPD detective, but he wasn't ashamed of it. Beckett had known since the very beginning, when she first introduced Ryan to his new partner and he had stared at Esposito's ass for a second too long. Esposito had found out about a year into their partnership when Beckett tried to set Ryan up with a friend of her's.
Ryan had been most scared for his partner's reaction, but Esposito had assured him he didn't mind a bit and that they were still partners.
Soon after that the two grew closer and were the best of friends. Castle had even thought the two were in a relationship when he first met the team. It took him two months to realize that wasn't the case, but that the two were just hopelessly in love with each other.
Castle didn't like it one bit that two of his closest friends, who were so obviously in love with each other, weren't actually in a relationship. He had talked about it to Beckett on multiple occasions, trying to find a way to make the two admit their feelings to each other.
Of course Beckett had known about their attraction to each other, but she had made it clear to Castle that they shouldn't meddle with their partner's love lives. The two had to work it out themselves. Castle wouldn't be Castle, if he didn't ignore Beckett.
He had made many attempts on subtly getting the two of them together. He had once locked the two of them in the broom closet, hoping they would finally just make out and get it over with, but that definitely didn't go as planned, since Esposito didn't take long to kick the door down and go after Castle, who had ran away screaming like a little girl.
He had even talked about it with Ryan multiple times, trying to get him to confess his feelings for Esposito, but Ryan had just turned red and lied to him in his face, saying he didn't have romantic feelings towards Esposito. Castle was fed up with it. He had been helping them for almost three years and the two still didn't acknowledge the other's feelings.
The team walked back into the precinct after solving yet another case. Castle had turned to Beckett, giving her a wink before turning to the other two detectives. "What do you say we go out for drinks?"
"On you?" Ryan asked, slightly tilting his head with a teasing smile on his face.
"'Course!" Castle replied, getting his stuff from Beckett's desk. "You two in?"
"Why not?" Esposito said as he and Ryan also went to grab their stuff.
Suddenly, Beckett grabbed her partner's arm and pulled him aside. "I know what you're trying to do!"
"And what is that, may I ask?" Castle grinned at her, looking not even a little innocent.
"You're trying to get them drunk and try and set them up again," Beckett hissed. "How many times do I have to tell you that this is something they have to do by themselves."
"Kate, it's been three years since I first came here. That means they have been in love with each other for at least three years and God knows for how long it's actually been. They will never make the first move themselves," Castle whined. "Please let me help them, I can't stand it anymore!"
Before Beckett could give him an answer back, Ryan and Esposito were at their sides, ready to go.
"Let's go!" Castle said, putting his arms around the two love birds as they walked out of the station.
-
They had been at the bar for a little over an hour and Ryan was drunk already (God bless his low alcohol tolerance). Esposito wasn't much better himself, already on his sixth beer, his arm wrapped around his partner and Castle thought that was the perfect timing to get his plan (he called it; Operation get Esposito jealous) going.
"So... Ryan," Castle spoke up, his words a little slurred himself. "You seeing anyone?"
Ryan almost spit out his drink at the question. "Um... no."
"Would you like to start seeing someone?"
"Where are you going with this, Castle?" Espositio grumbled, already starting to get annoyed. Castle could only smirk, his plan was working already.
"I just have this friend and I thought maybe I could set you and him up together?" Castle suggested, looking at Ryan, who was nervously sipping from his drink.
Beckett kicked Castle from under the table, who kept a straight face. She could only sigh.
"I don't know, Castle..." Ryan said, a tad bit uncomfortable at the sudden suggestion.
"C'mon it'd be great! Unless you already have eyes for someone?" Castle said and raised an eyebrow at him.
Ryan turned beet red. "Um..."
All eyes were on Ryan, Esposito looked at him, hoping Ryan wouldn't bring up a random dude he was dating and make him feel bad again for not making a move soon enough.
"Well?"
"I don't know, man," Ryan huffed, taking a long sip from his beer. "It's complicated, I guess?"
"I have all night," Castle grinned, never taking his eyes off the blond, receiving another kick to his shin from Beckett.
"I guess I have eyes for someone," Ryan shrugged. He was much more of a talker when he was drunk. "Have had eyes for him for a while now, but I know he doesn't feel the same way about me."
"Who is it? I only ever see you around Espo?" Castle said. "Did you know about this secret crush, Javier?"
Esposito stayed quiet for a second, his eyes on Ryan as he shook his head. "Who do you have a crush on?" Esposito asked, trying not to sound jealous.
"Ah, um..." Ryan muttered, trying to think of something to say without exposing his hopeless crush on his partner. "It's no one."
Espositio frowned at him, looking a little hurt, not only because Ryan had a crush on someone, but also about the fact he felt like he couldn't trust his best friend with it. "C'mon, bro, you can tell me. I'm your best friend."
Ryan just looked down at his hands and Beckett was actually starting to feel bad for him, but Castle only smirked. Everything was going according to plan.
"Fine, don't tell me," Esposito growled as he stood up from his seat. "I'm going out for a smoke."
Their table was silent for a second as they all watched Esposito go outside. "Fuck," Ryan muttered under his breath, before going after his partner without saying a word to the other two.
"Castle, what the hell was that?!" Beckett said. "You only managed Esposito to get mad at Ryan!"
"Just trust the process."
-
"Hey..." Ryan said slowly as he spotted Esposito, who was leaning against a wall in the alley next to the bar, while smoking his cigarette.
Esposito just sighed, throwing his cigarette away, trying to walk away from Ryan. However, Ryan was quick enough to catch his wrist before that happened. Esposito turned around to look at Ryan with an annoyed expression on his face. "What?"
"I'm sorry," Ryan just said.
"I thought we told each other everything? Why didn't you tell me you had the hots for someone?" Esposito asked him, but before Ryan could say anything, he cut him off, "and don't even think about making some stupid excuses."
"It'd change everything..."
"Kev, how many times do I have to tell you that I don't care that you're gay? It honestly hurts to know you'd think you can't tell me shit like that," Esposito said and frowned at his partner, who scratching his neck.
"I know you don't care that I'm gay..." Ryan sighed. "That's not the reason I didn't tell you."
"Then what the fuck wa-" Esposito was cut off by soft lips smashing against his. The kiss didn't last for more than two seconds, before Ryan pulled away.
"Fuck, Javi, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have done that," Ryan looked like he was about to burst down into tears. "I should probably just leave."
Esposito didn't say anything, but just pushed Ryan against the wall of the alley and pushed their lips together again. Ryan immediately melted against the touch and wrapped his arms around his partner's neck, letting out a soft moan when Esposito pushed his tongue inside. Esposito ran his hands through Ryan's short hair as they made out, but they were rudely interrupted by their two other friends.
The two pulled away from each other, lips slightly swollen and Ryan's normally perfect hair was all over the place.
"I can't believe it actually worked!" Castle yelled and turned to Beckett. "High five!"
Beckett only chuckled as she accepted the high five.
"Wait, you planned this?" Esposito raised a brow at the writer.
"Of course I did! I couldn't stand seeing you two so oblivious to the other's feelings!" Castle explained, the biggest grin on his face any of them had ever seen. "Well, you kids have fun. Mom and Dad will be inside if you need them."
Beckett just shook his head at him, but then smiled at her partners. "Congratulations, you guys."
The two walked off, leaving Ryan and Esposito to stare at each other.
"So..." Esposito started. "I am your secret crush?"
"Maybe," Ryan said, a smile on his face. "What about you? Do you have a secret crush I don't know about?"
"I did, but it's not much of a secret anymore, now is it?" Esposito chuckled and Ryan blushed. "Fuck, Kev... I love you so much. I have loved you for so long, you don't even know."
"I love you too," Ryan said, tears prickling behind his eyes.
"So... how about I take you out on a real date? This Saturday?" Esposito proposed, holding Ryan's hand in his.
"Fuck yes."