Tal (patchofblue) wrote in birthrightrpg, @ 2020-12-29 16:34:00 |
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Entry tags: | tal rainey, ~roman skye |
Come Away With Me
Who: Roman Skye and Tal Rainey
What: A surprise Christmas Gift
Where: Searchlight and Kauai, Hawaii
When: 23 December 2020 [backdated]
Ratings/Warnings: Low for Fluffiness
Tal had packed up his stuff from the El Rey, checked out, and drove to his ‘nest’ in Las Vegas. He put the stuff away, thinking he would spend his holidays in the City. But then he went all the way back to the auto shop in Searchlight. One more little project. You couldn’t easily pull the workaholic away.
It was a few little tinkerings on a car project he had in one of the bays. “Okay, done. It can wait til next week,” he told himself as he locked up the shop and turned around - almost bumping into Roman.
A wild hair.
He was known for those once in a while. It was absolutely like him to want to flaunt his money around now and then. Tal didn’t always give him the opportunity and it was frustrating. And refreshing. But Christmas was nearly upon them. Instead of going home to California into the lion’s den, he preferred to whisk himself and a plus one to a faraway place.
The Navigator eased into the lot of the Auto Shop. Roman suspected Tal would be here - the man was a workaholic but damn was he good with those hands.
Roman approached the establishment in good spirits. And his suspicions were correct, there was the hulk of a man locking up the shop. His smile grew instantly. “Ah, there you are. Finished with work?”
Whatever lay ahead was not important. At least, not in the context of what he had in mind.
“I was hoping to give you your Christmas present a bit early. What do you say?” That smile grew a bit, Roman offered a purr.
Tal’s calendar was open for Christmas. He wasn’t one to pass by an open buffet on the strip or just check in with friends. But Roman being there right in front of him was a surprise.
“Hey, yeah. I just needed to check on one little thing,” he smiled softly. The mechanic was feeling more and more comfortable with Roman, looking forward to seeing him when time allowed.
“Oh? A present?” Tal blinked and stepped closer as he pocketed his work keys. “Okay. Then you can be mad at me.” He frowned a little.
When you invested in something you had to be there to ensure the pursuit stayed interesting and on course. He’d wanted the thing to come as a surprise - the visit, the part that followed - and he also wanted it to seem as if it were Tal’s idea. That ensured the personal investment in the endeavor. It was necessary, important.
“It never stops being just one little thing though, does it?” Roman laughed softly. He reached out, brushing fingers across Tal’s forearm gently.
A moment to look a bit confused. “Why ever would I be mad at you, dear?” Then he laughed, shaking his head. “I mean, I could, but then you’d have to have done something to cause that and I don’t see you as that type.”
They'd strayed far from the point but this seemed important.
“Nope,” Tal smiled and reached up to gently catch Roman’s hand with his own.
“I haven’t gotten you anything for Christmas yet.” He frowned and shook his head. Tal had been so busy as always, most days his mind was in an engine. But Roman helped him think of other things.
He felt a bit surprised. Never humbled as one may assume, but his smile grew regardless. “Darling, you don’t have to get anything for me. Really. You are all that I could ever truly need.” Fingers would wind into Tal’s.
“Now, as for you,” he reminded, squeezing that large hand gently. “What if I could take you away from here for a few days? Anywhere you wanted to go. What would you say?”
Tal smiled deeply, curling his fingers around Roman’s hand. “You give me loads of credit, Roman.” And it was true in Tal’s mind - a greasy mechanic befriending and now involved with a rich lawyer? Who would have known?
“I would say ‘yes’ and…,” he grinned and color lightly stained his cheeks. “Anywhere?”
“Because you don’t give yourself enough,” he retorted playfully. “One of us has to believe in you.” Perhaps Tal was rough around the edges but you could smooth out the hardest surfaces if you buffered enough. He drew up one of those large hands and pressed a series of small kisses across the skin.
Then he nodded, grinning, lowering their hands. “Anywhere. You name it.”
The way Tal’s eyes lit up with color was what Roman had been after. “You know, unless you’d rather stay here in Searchlight,” the lawyer murmured, looking around, “though it doesn’t seem very fun around here.”
Tal shrugged a little before nodding. It was true. And the mechanic was still in a bit of awe to have let Roman in as much as he had. He wanted to thank him all the affection and intimacy they had shared already. A breath left his lips at Roman’s kisses.
“Well, it’s a good place if you like quiet and pretty night skies. Uhm, would Hawaii be too far?” Tal asked. He had always wanted to go there.
Boring. Searchlight was boring. If you opened the Dictionary to the word, this town would be the definition. He lingered here only because he was on the pursuit for Tal. Otherwise there was nothing around keeping his interest from waning.
Hawaii. “It’s perfect. When can you go? Do you need to notify…” his free hand lifted and waved a bit at the shop. Roman didn’t know who owned that dump but whomever it was surely needed to be given a proper heads up. “...your boss?”
Tal loved Searchlight. It was nice and a good place to rebuild outside of the hustle and bustle of Las Vegas. But the muscular man was smitten with Roman. Trusting someone as much as he did, he was hopeful.
“Now, I think. I need to pack a bag.” He blinked and then followed where Roman waved. “I had asked for a few days.”
Tal would be met with a smile. Roman nodded, pressing his hands against the bulk of Tal’s chest. “Alright. Where would you like to meet up? I could have us in the air in a couple of hours, if that suits you for a timeline.” He would also have to pack. He kept a bag in his car for emergencies - but that was more for a skipping town and vanishing sort of trip.
Pulling back, Roman whipped out his phone and began to text a few people, including securing their plane tickets and hotel accommodations through his travel person.
Tal’s hands briefly came to rest on Roman’s hips, comfortable with this amount of affection in public. “I can meet you at the airport. It’s okay. Yes, that will suit it.” He grinned, laughing lightly. The larger man was flattered, delighted. It was rare for him to feel this way.
Gently he let his hands fall away from Roman. “I can follow you back to Las Vegas.” Tal felt no reason to question the extravagance of this gift. The other man was well off. And that was okay.
“Why don’t we meet at the airport,” Roman suggested, nodding. He didn’t want Tal to yet know where he lived. “I will text you the gate information.” If the other wanted to follow to the city limits of Vegas, he was fine with that.
He stepped backward, then took another step. “Come on. We can be in the air within the next two hours, dear. Flying to paradise.”
Nodding in return, Tal smiled. He didn’t want anyone to know where he lived. No one he had met and known in Las Vegas or Searchlight knew where he lived. It was his ‘nest’. “Okay.”
The smile deepened and closed the distance to press a kiss to Roman’s cheek. His excitement was almost electric. “I am. I won’t be too long packing my bag once I get into town.”
“Well what are we waiting for?” Roman laughed, beckoning the other man to follow. “Leave your truck if you’d like, I can take you home if you’d like or you can Uber.” That was nearly a challenge amplified only by the smirk on his face.
The lights on the Navigator flickered twice as the fob was pressed.
Tal smiled, but then it faded at the prospect of Roman taking him home. A tell. “I’ll take an Uber.” He nodded. There was the hesitancy to trust rearing up again like a leash brought suddenly taut.
He didn’t take the out personally. In fact that face Roman more room to work with. “I will see you in a little bit, then. Don't linger at home. Pack for the weekend and we can get anything else you may need while we are there.”
With that, Roman turned on a heel and headed for the car. Climbing in, he swung the door closed and headed for Vegas.
~~
Tal blinked, eyes adjusting to the brightness of the day as a young Hawaiian woman reached up to place a pale blue lei over his head and around his neck as they entered the airport proper. He obligated, bowing down to assist. “Thank you.”
With his bag strap resting on his shoulder, he looked over at Roman. There was so much to see as he stepped into the car that waited for them.
Roman inhaled the perfect air deeply. The exhale that followed was a silent promise for more paradise ahead. The same woman had bestowed upon him a green lei which he found fitting.
“This way, dear,” he murmured. A small, careful smile would go to the young woman and then he caught Tal’s large hand and led the other man to the counter.
Before too long they were in a rental vehicle that nearly mimicked his Navigator in luxury, coasting toward the hotel.
Pristine views met them on both sides.
The travel would be light. A half hour brought them to the landscaped, manicured lawn of the posh resort on the water. Valet met them at the archway. Bags would be surrendered. Roman let Tal to the counter to check in and moments later they were entering the most expensive room on the whole island.
“Welcome to paradise, darling.”
There was so much green and blue! Tal smiled, curling his fingers around Roman’s hand as it was taken and then went to the counter.
He still conversed with the other man as they drove to the resort, but his eyes were on the scenery outside his window. He could look at it all day. The crisp air was wonderful, much more humid than that of Searchlight. The mechanic had not thought about a vehicle engine since Roman had proffered him the trip.
Tal followed Roman as they arrived at the resort, walked to the counter. Then he slowed to a stop as they entered their room. Then he smiled so big it was nearly embarrassing.
“Thank you, Roman.” He breathed as he took the other man’s hand and pulled him close. “I think this is the best Christmas present I’ve ever been given.”
“Oh, you’re welcome,” Roman laughed. He closed the door behind them both. Their bags had already arrived.
He looped an arm loosely around Tal, turning his eyes to the view. “I could live here forever and never become bored with it,” he mused. And then his gaze drifted to the other man. “You deserve a chance to relax, Tal. Why don’t you rest for a bit and then we can go check out the resort? Get dinner, perhaps.”
“This is my first time seeing the ocean...other than from the plane,” Tal sighed as he wrapped an arm around Roman’s shoulders. So much blue. Blinking, he looked over at Roman. “That sounds good. I would like that.” Tal was sure he could use a nap, a shower. He was trying to contain his excitement of the possibilities Hawaii had.
“This won’t be the last time you see it,” Roman promised, timbre of his voice dropping some as if they were sharing a secret. If they continued this game there would be more vacations and getaways in the future.
With that, he let Tal go so that the man could go and explore. This was going to be the perfect Christmas, he could feel it already.
Grinned, Tal looked into Roman’s eyes as the promise was uttered. In his mind, he was so surprised and amazed. He felt liked, even loved. Yet deep down a part of him was unsure.
He nodded and ventured further into the room before retiring for a nap. This was going to be a wonderful trip.