Work Text:
"I can't believe that we are more successful cleaning houses in the Renaissance than protecting pistachios " Balthazar Cavendish and Vinnie Dakota were strolling along the Danville park,
reconciling after their recent mission.
" yeah... but it was kinda good we failed? Nut jobber-dominated future and all? "
" I suppose so " cavendish answered still lost in thoughts.
" but still, it's frustrating to fail as of some unpredictable hazzard, forced upon us by murphy's law ."
"yeah, hey let's ask milo but a little crash course on managing murphy's law. Or wait! Maybe he has some relatives in the future who would join us" The Italian joked
cavendish gave a skeptical look ": I don't know, a little briefing by milo is surely advised but a new partner?
I'm rather content, with the two of us. "
"you are?" Dakota crocked, looking up.
"Granted we didn't quite got along at first, which had me rather concerned about our carrier's future and yes there still is room for improvement.
But when the situation calls for it, we make quite a good team. "
Dakota couldn't help but flash a bright smile. Happy at his partner's conclusion.
Since it was still early they decided to stay in the park. They walked by some snack stands, before seating themselves on a nearby bench.
" you know it's amusing actually," cavendish continued after a few minutes of silence, "if you didn't hijack my car that day, we would have never even met .. "
While cavendish stroked his chin thinking
Dakota relaxed into the bench, feet stretched out in front of him. He chuckled not knowing how he deserved cavendish in such a good mood.
" well what do you know, paid off listening to my gut" the Italian placed one hand on his stomach.
cavendish however seemed more confused by this answer.
"your gut ?"
" well yeah speaking of which. " Dakota said looking around the park until his eyes locked on a food stand. "I could use a little snack"
"We just had breakfast " Cavendish declared with a serious eyeroll.
Dakota shrugged and got up, digging through his pockets for cash.
"My gut says otherwise"
"So that's how you make all your major decisions? By following some random feelings of your gastrointestinal organs. " cavendish had crossed his arms and looked at Dakota with angry eyes.
"Oh come on, you just admitted that that's why we met in the first place " the other one teased
"Oh how lovely to know we're only partners thanks to your gluttonous desires. "
Dakota was starting to get annoyed by his partner.
For Cavendish mood - swings were somewhat normal. And while Dakota could normally ignore him going on about his eating habits, today he had a hard time just shrugging it of. Especially with Cavendish so happy before, it just didn't fit. Dakota had a feeling that this wasn't just about his need for food.
However, his thoughts were interrupted by a still rambling cavendish.
" one imagine I decided to bring tea instead of a Lolli.
Maybe I should pin one to our objectives, seeing how it's the one thing to catch your attention. "
The brit finished, arms and legs crossed. He almost looked like a pounding child thought the Italian.
Then it suddenly hit Vinnie.
So that was cavendish's problem. He should have guessed. it seemed that he had misjudged his partner. He was better at hiding his emotions than Vinnie thought.
" Cav if there's something you wanna know you can just ask" the Italian calmly stated seating him next to cavendish again. "you know?" He added looking his partner in the eyes.
Cavendish looked like he wanted to say something but decided against it. Instead, he turned his head forward to the lake in front of the bench.
"I m afraid I can't follow." was his only response
********
Dakota waited for a minute, giving Cavendish time to change his mind. But he didn't. Vinnie sighed, shoulders slouching* like the rest of his posture. it was starting to get to him.
Cours' If Cavendish didn't want to talk about it there's nothing he could do. But then again, why would he mention their first hook-up* if he didn't want to talk about it?
"well tell me once you catch up," Vinnie said standing up. He waited for a moment before turning around and continuing his sentence "In the meantime let's get those lollipops!" He raised his eyebrows at Cavendish who only now seemed to get out of his trance
"What?" the Brit said a confused look in his eyes.
"You know the candies you gonna pin to our objectives?" The Italian repeated. "The idea didn't sound too bad. Although we might want to get the multi-layered wrapped ones*. For better Hygiene eh.?
It took Cavendish a while to respond to that. But when he finally did it was in his best sarcastic tone." I already regret my comment. Is there anything that concerns you unrelated to leisure activities? "
"Hey, that's not fair."Dakota promptly replied "First of all leisure is important stuff. You know keeps the boat afloat. Secondly, I do care about other things. I just don't get all worked up about...
work and, guidelines, work relations, and all that twack. You know? I just deal with what gets thrown our way. Why overthink every little choice? Just go with the flow. "
" Well, I just believed you...
, we were... I always saw that day as.. .argh never mind. " The Brit finished shaking his head. He had closed himself off even more while talking. A stubborn look on his face. Eyes pinned to the ground.
Dakota could only smile a sad smile.
He placed one hand on the back of the bench*, carefully leaning in towards Cavendish." Cav.. "he started,
softly laying the words out in his head, when suddenly, he was cut off by his partner.
" I just thought it meant smth. to you " he blurts out*, Vinnie could only blink in surprise " You hijacking my car on the day of the examination. Us saving those kids. I thought we were supposed to be partners. That it was somehow fate. I thought you had some reason for it. That,
at the very least you didn't just choose at random. " He took some deep breaths, " but I should have known." The Brit finished, back to his grumpy self. It seemed he was ready to move on but Vinnie wasn't.
The Italian wanted to talk it out but Cavendish didn't cooperate. He didn't even let him start:
" Don't. -Just Don't. I feel stupid enough as it is ."
There was a pause.
" Don't be so hard on yourself" Vinnie simply said,
"cause you're actually right, you know? The reason part that is...Don't know about fate.. "
Vinnie paused thinking. Index finger against his chin.
"And?" cavendish asked
"And what?" Vinnie shot back.
"what's your reason?" the Brit asked with an impatient eye-roll. Yet Vinnie could hear the nervous undertone in his voice.
"It was because of my first impression of you."
" that I was an unfunny stick in the mud?"
cavendish asked dryly. It made Vinnie chuckle a little. "no, not at first, also I almost changed my mind after you started talking." Vinnie joked earning another dry
" very funny" from Cavendish.
Vinnie didn't stop ": no you weren't one of those dead serious agents. You looked like fun. " Vinnie hesitated. Cavendish's facial expression had thrown him off. He looked weird. Like he wasn't really here, he had a blank look on his face*.
"Like, like the rule book, " Vinnie continued." You got all excited over, over some boring guidelines. Or how you celebrated over a Lollie. It looked silly, but also different,.. passionate." There was a pause " That's what made me wanna know you. That's why I kidnapped your car " There was a pause." And yeah, I almost changed my mind after that. Cause when you just went on about those rules, chin high up and all better than though you seemed just like them, one of 100 boring, serious agents. But I realized that I was wrong. What I saw back then, your quirks, they were still there, Well among other things. But for some reason, you try to hide them.
I don't know why.
Maybe to impress our boss, to get a promotion.
But you shouldn't, at least in my opinion.
I mean we wouldn't have saved those kiddos without you being all nerdy doofie, over some rule tome. Would we? " Dakota gave Cavendish a light clap on the back. The Brit looked more relaxed now. But not nearly as relaxed as two hours ago, when they got there. He still seemed guarded.
" Let's get a drink, " Dakota suggest. Cavendish got up without a word. While they walked over to the stand Vinnie tried to lighten the mood. He made some jokes about his dry throat and that Cav sure
was ruthless making him explain everything in such detail.
Yet when they got to the stand it was already closed. For Milo Murphy related reasons from the looks of it. "Ah, man," Dakota said, those drinks they sold were his favorites. "Well let's head home.." He said already walking towards the park's exit. Cavendish didn't follow.
"Yes, you go home. I think I rather still stay out for a bit," he said.
Vinnie hesitated, one hand on his neck fidgeting. "Cav?" the Italian asked, "everythings alright?*". He thought it came out pretty cool, casual, well he was wrong.
" Yes! For crying out loud, Vinnie! I'm just gonna take a walk around the block!"
Was Cavendish´s energetic respons. He gestured towards the end of the park, all the while staring into Vinnies eyes as if looking could find an explanation for the Italians unusually worry .*
Well, the brit wasn´t as furious as before, but he was back to his old self.
And that was all the reinsurance Vinnie needed.
The Italian nodded. "ok,.. whatever floods your boot." He lazily raised his hand to say goodbye. The Brit tipped his hat in response. Vinnie even caught a glimpse of a shy smile as it spread across his partner's face. Or at least he thought so. It was hard to tell, in the distance.
So Cavendish valued, needed, his opinion of him. It surprised the Italian but he was glad he got Cav to open up.
And while he wished Cav would tell him, what went through his mind after Dakota told him about his quirks and why he really hid them, Vinnie still was happy to have his partner back to normal. For the most part at least. And hey, now that he knew how to get under Cav`s skin, he could get more out of him. And maybe Cav would even let Vinnie help him.